By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-06-19/in-kansas-an-underfunded-mental-health-system-relies-on-police-for-help">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — Activists and citizens in Kansas 
communities from Dodge City to the Kansas City suburbs are reconsidering
 the involvement of police in their communities — including whether 
officers should continue to help respond to mental health crises.

What
 that response looks like is drastically different depending on 
population density. But Kansas mental health workers say officers are an
 essential and unavoidable part of an underfunded system. Police are 
often responsible for keeping mental health workers safe on calls, 
bringing in people who are experiencing a crisis or finding them when 
responding to reports of domestic violence or other disturbances.

“We
 have a very close relationship with law enforcement in all three 
counties (we serve),” said Keith Rickard, executive director of the 
Guidance Center, a community mental health center in northeast Kansas 
with locations in Leavenworth, Atchison and Oskaloosa.

For mental 
health providers, a crisis is defined as anything needing immediate 
attention. Caring for people going through those experiences involves 
getting them to calm down, making sure they’re safe, figuring out what’s
 wrong and connecting them with long-term care — whether that’s 
hospitalization, therapy or addiction treatment.

The crises 
themselves look different, too: It could be a person going off of 
psychiatric medication and having delusions and hallucinations, someone 
threatening to hurt herself or other people, and someone getting so sick
 he can’t take care of himself properly.

The Guidance Center 
employs only a few people who specialize in crisis response. And it’s 
easy for them to burn out, Rickard said, especially with the state’s 
shortage of social workers, therapists and other mental health 
providers.

“Crisis work is trauma-inducing,” he said. “Right now, we just kind of work them day in and day out. And it’s very unfortunate.”

For
 many people going through a mental health crisis in Kansas, their first
 interaction for help will be a police officer, EMT or emergency room 
nurse.

But seeing a mental health provider first can make a big 
difference, reducing the rate of future suicide attempts, 
hospitalizations and incarcerations, according to Andy Brown, the 
behavioral health commissioner for the Kansas Department for Aging and 
Disability Services.

“The difference of having a qualified mental 
health professional arriving at your house when you’re in a crisis 
versus having a law enforcement officer or an EMT is pretty 
significant,” he said.

But smaller, more rural Kansas communities 
have few resources for people who are going through a crisis, Brown 
said. His agency helps provide mental health services throughout the 
state, which has 26 community mental health centers for Kansas’ 105 
counties.

Most centers are privately operated nonprofits funded by
 a combination of grants and local, county and state tax dollars. A few 
are operated by local governments.

Many of the smaller centers contract with a private company to provide a <a href="https://www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/behavioral-health/consumers-and-families/cmhc-24-hour-crisis-lines" target="_blank">24-hour crisis hotline</a>, and callers might receive a check-up from police if they seem like they’re in imminent danger.

Some
 cities, like Hays, Manhattan and Kansas City, Kansas, have crisis 
stabilization centers dedicated solely to serving people who need 
immediate mental health care. These centers are safe places for people 
to get treatment without taking up an emergency room bed, Brown said, 
and also reduce interactions with police.

Like other mental health
 services, not every person in Kansas has access to a crisis 
stabilization center. One possible solution, Brown said, is to create a 
statewide mobile response team that travels to patients directly. The 
caveat: The state doesn’t have enough funding to make that a reality, he
 said.

“About half the state of Kansas is still either considered 
rural or frontier,” Brown said. “There is a logistical issue just around
 the geographical distance.”

Mental
 health training for police in Kansas also varies. Some don’t get 
extensive training, while others invest in a program called Crisis 
Intervention Training, which lasts several hours.

Sgt. Jason 
Hinkle with the Lenexa Police Department said it’s a type of “mental 
health first aid,” focusing on de-escalating tense situations, 
communication skills and quick decision-making.

Officers work closely with the Johnson County Mental Health Center, said Hinkle, who is also chairman of the <a href="http://www.kansascit.org/" target="_blank">Kansas Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Team Council</a>.

“To
 lower their emotion and raise their rational thinking, that is our 
Number One goal,” he said of people who are going through a mental 
health crisis. “I absolutely am convinced that it's made for safer 
outcomes.”

More than half of the officers in the Lenexa Police 
Department have been trained in crisis intervention, he said. But the 
amount of trained officers in any given department can vary.

Many 
towns don’t have the resources to pay for the training, and KDADS has 
trained about 75 officers in rural communities in the past year.

While some activists pushing for police reform have suggested that officers no longer respond to <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/long-before-defund-the-police-mental-health-advocates-have-been-redefining-public-safety-2020-06-11" target="_blank">mental health calls</a>,
 Hinkle believes it’s unrealistic. The majority of people with mental 
illnesses are not violent, he said, but officers are necessary to keep 
mental health providers safe in case someone behaves violently or there 
are weapons in a house.

“The Number One issue, before you can even
 get a clinician involved in a crisis call, is making sure the scene is 
safe,” he said. “It needs to be controlled before somebody gets hurt... 
When we’re going to these things, that’s why there can be violence.”

Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592602417525.png" alt="Police are often first responders to mental health calls in Kansas. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Police are often first responders to mental health calls in Kansas. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-06-19/in-kansas-an-underfunded-mental-health-system-relies-on-police-for-help">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE — Activists and citizens in Kansas 
communities from Dodge City to the Kansas City suburbs are reconsidering
 the involvement of police in their communities — including whether 
officers should continue to help respond to mental health crises.What
 that response looks like is drastically different depending on 
population density. But Kansas mental health workers say officers are an
 essential and unavoidable part of an underfunded system. Police are 
often responsible for keeping mental health workers safe on calls, 
bringing in people who are experiencing a crisis or finding them when 
responding to reports of domestic violence or other disturbances.“We
 have a very close relationship with law enforcement in all three 
counties (we serve),” said Keith Rickard, executive director of the 
Guidance Center, a community mental health center in northeast Kansas 
with locations in Leavenworth, Atchison and Oskaloosa.For mental 
health providers, a crisis is defined as anything needing immediate 
attention. Caring for people going through those experiences involves 
getting them to calm down, making sure they’re safe, figuring out what’s
 wrong and connecting them with long-term care — whether that’s 
hospitalization, therapy or addiction treatment.The crises 
themselves look different, too: It could be a person going off of 
psychiatric medication and having delusions and hallucinations, someone 
threatening to hurt herself or other people, and someone getting so sick
 he can’t take care of himself properly.The Guidance Center 
employs only a few people who specialize in crisis response. And it’s 
easy for them to burn out, Rickard said, especially with the state’s 
shortage of social workers, therapists and other mental health 
providers.“Crisis work is trauma-inducing,” he said. “Right now, we just kind of work them day in and day out. And it’s very unfortunate.”<h2>Who provides help</h2>For
 many people going through a mental health crisis in Kansas, their first
 interaction for help will be a police officer, EMT or emergency room 
nurse.But seeing a mental health provider first can make a big 
difference, reducing the rate of future suicide attempts, 
hospitalizations and incarcerations, according to Andy Brown, the 
behavioral health commissioner for the Kansas Department for Aging and 
Disability Services.“The difference of having a qualified mental 
health professional arriving at your house when you’re in a crisis 
versus having a law enforcement officer or an EMT is pretty 
significant,” he said.But smaller, more rural Kansas communities 
have few resources for people who are going through a crisis, Brown 
said. His agency helps provide mental health services throughout the 
state, which has 26 community mental health centers for Kansas’ 105 
counties.Most centers are privately operated nonprofits funded by
 a combination of grants and local, county and state tax dollars. A few 
are operated by local governments.Many of the smaller centers contract with a private company to provide a <a href="https://www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/behavioral-health/consumers-and-families/cmhc-24-hour-crisis-lines" target="_blank">24-hour crisis hotline</a>, and callers might receive a check-up from police if they seem like they’re in imminent danger.Some
 cities, like Hays, Manhattan and Kansas City, Kansas, have crisis 
stabilization centers dedicated solely to serving people who need 
immediate mental health care. These centers are safe places for people 
to get treatment without taking up an emergency room bed, Brown said, 
and also reduce interactions with police.Like other mental health
 services, not every person in Kansas has access to a crisis 
stabilization center. One possible solution, Brown said, is to create a 
statewide mobile response team that travels to patients directly. The 
caveat: The state doesn’t have enough funding to make that a reality, he
 said.“About half the state of Kansas is still either considered 
rural or frontier,” Brown said. “There is a logistical issue just around
 the geographical distance.”<h2>Police training</h2>Mental
 health training for police in Kansas also varies. Some don’t get 
extensive training, while others invest in a program called Crisis 
Intervention Training, which lasts several hours.Sgt. Jason 
Hinkle with the Lenexa Police Department said it’s a type of “mental 
health first aid,” focusing on de-escalating tense situations, 
communication skills and quick decision-making.Officers work closely with the Johnson County Mental Health Center, said Hinkle, who is also chairman of the <a href="http://www.kansascit.org/" target="_blank">Kansas Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Team Council</a>.“To
 lower their emotion and raise their rational thinking, that is our 
Number One goal,” he said of people who are going through a mental 
health crisis. “I absolutely am convinced that it's made for safer 
outcomes.”More than half of the officers in the Lenexa Police 
Department have been trained in crisis intervention, he said. But the 
amount of trained officers in any given department can vary.Many 
towns don’t have the resources to pay for the training, and KDADS has 
trained about 75 officers in rural communities in the past year.While some activists pushing for police reform have suggested that officers no longer respond to <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/long-before-defund-the-police-mental-health-advocates-have-been-redefining-public-safety-2020-06-11" target="_blank">mental health calls</a>,
 Hinkle believes it’s unrealistic. The majority of people with mental 
illnesses are not violent, he said, but officers are necessary to keep 
mental health providers safe in case someone behaves violently or there 
are weapons in a house.“The Number One issue, before you can even
 get a clinician involved in a crisis call, is making sure the scene is 
safe,” he said. “It needs to be controlled before somebody gets hurt... 
When we’re going to these things, that’s why there can be violence.”Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

Underfunded mental health system relies on police for help 

FORD COUNTY—In addition to the rain, Sunday's summer storm brought funnel clouds, land spouts,&nbsp; hail and damaging winds to many areas of Kansas.

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of 80 miles per hour in Dodge City and Great Bend and over 70 miles per hour in Ness City and in Kingman County.

The wind downed trees and power poles south of Dodge City and in  Reno County and caused considerable damage around Great Bend.&nbsp;

Wind gusts of 50 and over 60 miles were reported across many areas of southwest and central Kansas. There are no reports of injury.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592822879129.png" alt="Strong wind gusts tipped over a camper in Great Bend Sunday afternoon -photo by Peyton Campbell" />
 <figcaption>Strong wind gusts tipped over a camper in Great Bend Sunday afternoon -photo by Peyton Campbell</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY—In addition to the rain, Sunday's summer storm brought funnel clouds, land spouts,&nbsp; hail and damaging winds to many areas of Kansas.The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of 80 miles per hour in Dodge City and Great Bend and over 70 miles per hour in Ness City and in Kingman County.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Part of a roof or siding looks to be from dillons is laying in the road in Great Bend <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSWichita?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NWSWichita</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LisaTeachman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LisaTeachman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KSNStormTrack3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KSNStormTrack3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/h3psUclQp1">pic.twitter.com/h3psUclQp1</a>&mdash; peyton campbell (@Peytoncampbe) <a href="https://twitter.com/Peytoncampbe/status/1274841565622685697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The wind downed trees and power poles south of Dodge City and in Reno County and caused considerable damage around Great Bend.&nbsp;Wind gusts of 50 and over 60 miles were reported across many areas of southwest and central Kansas. There are no reports of injury.

Strong winds cause damage during summer storm 

Just after 12:30 p.m., the Hays Police Department announced the explosive material found in the 300 block of West 11th has been removed, giving residents the all-clear to return to the area. Officers continue to work in the area.

The materials thought to be explosive have been removed from the scene. Law enforcement remains on scene.

Law enforcement on scene said the explosive materials will be transported from the scene soon.

Law enforcement has several blocks around the area closed to traffic as they continue to work the scene.

ELLIS COUNTY —The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Hays Police Department are investigating a crime scene that also included explosive materials.

Just before 7p.m. Sunday, the police were called to the 300 block of west 11th Street for a disturbance, according to a media release.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A search warrant was obtained for drug related items. &nbsp;

Explosive materials were located inside the house. &nbsp;

The scene was&nbsp; processed by the Kansas Highway Patrol’s Hazardous Devices Unit. &nbsp;

&nbsp;For safety purposes police asked the public stay out of the area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592848073140.jpeg" alt="Police on the scene Monday afternoon in Hays" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene Monday afternoon in Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE 12:35 p.m.Just after 12:30 p.m., the Hays Police Department announced the explosive material found in the 300 block of West 11th has been removed, giving residents the all-clear to return to the area. Officers continue to work in the area.UPDATE: 11:41 a.m.The materials thought to be explosive have been removed from the scene. Law enforcement remains on scene.UPDATE: 10:35 a.m.Law enforcement on scene said the explosive materials will be transported from the scene soon.Law enforcement has several blocks around the area closed to traffic as they continue to work the scene.---------ELLIS COUNTY —The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Hays Police Department are investigating a crime scene that also included explosive materials.Just before 7p.m. Sunday, the police were called to the 300 block of west 11th Street for a disturbance, according to a media release.&nbsp;&nbsp;A search warrant was obtained for drug related items. &nbsp;Explosive materials were located inside the house. &nbsp;The scene was&nbsp; processed by the Kansas Highway Patrol’s Hazardous Devices Unit. &nbsp;&nbsp;For safety purposes police asked the public stay out of the area.

Police find explosive materials during investigation in Hays

SPRINGDLE, AR. (AP) — Tyson Foods is looking into reports that China’s customs agency has suspended poultry imports from a Tyson facility in the United States after coronavirus cases were confirmed among its employees.

A Tyson spokesman said Sunday that the plant in question is in Springdale, Arkansas.

“At Tyson, we’re confident our products are safe and we’re hopeful consultations between the U.S. and Chinese governments will resolve this matter,” wrote spokesman Gary Mickelson in an email to The Associated Press.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, and we work closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to ensure that we produce all of our food in full compliance with government safety requirements,” the statement added.

Mickelson also noted that all global and U.S. health organizations, in addition to the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration, agree that there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.

The announcement out of China on Sunday gave no details of the quantity of meat affected.

On Friday, Tyson Foods announced the results of coronavirus testing at its facilities in Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, and said that about 95 percent of employees who ultimately tested positive for the virus didn’t show any symptoms. Of the 3,748 employees tested, 481 tested positive for COVID-19, and 455 were asymptomatic.

There have been several other COVID-19 outbreaks at Tyson plants around the United States, including in North Carolina, Nebraska, and Iowa.

In November, China lifted a five-year ban on U.S. poultry. China had blocked U.S. poultry imports a month after an outbreak of avian influenza in December 2014, closing off a market that brought more than $500 million worth of American chicken, turkey and other poultry products in 2013.

SPRINGDLE, AR. (AP) — Tyson Foods is looking into reports that China’s customs agency has suspended poultry imports from a Tyson facility in the United States after coronavirus cases were confirmed among its employees.A Tyson spokesman said Sunday that the plant in question is in Springdale, Arkansas.“At Tyson, we’re confident our products are safe and we’re hopeful consultations between the U.S. and Chinese governments will resolve this matter,” wrote spokesman Gary Mickelson in an email to The Associated Press.“Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members, and we work closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to ensure that we produce all of our food in full compliance with government safety requirements,” the statement added.Mickelson also noted that all global and U.S. health organizations, in addition to the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration, agree that there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.The announcement out of China on Sunday gave no details of the quantity of meat affected.On Friday, Tyson Foods announced the results of coronavirus testing at its facilities in Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas, and said that about 95 percent of employees who ultimately tested positive for the virus didn’t show any symptoms. Of the 3,748 employees tested, 481 tested positive for COVID-19, and 455 were asymptomatic.There have been several other COVID-19 outbreaks at Tyson plants around the United States, including in North Carolina, Nebraska, and Iowa.In November, China lifted a five-year ban on U.S. poultry. China had blocked U.S. poultry imports a month after an outbreak of avian influenza in December 2014, closing off a market that brought more than $500 million worth of American chicken, turkey and other poultry products in 2013.

Hundreds test positive for virus at Tyson Foods plant 

WELLINGTON – A Kansas woman has been found guilty of theft, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

Cami Jo Scott, 36, Wellington, pleaded no contest Thursday in Sumner County District Court to two misdemeanor counts of theft by deception. 

Chief Judge William Ruhl Mott accepted the plea and sentenced Scott to 24 months probation with an underlying sentence of 24 months in the Sumner County jail. Scott was also ordered to pay restitution to 39 victims totaling $72,123.35.

The case stemmed from an investigation by the Wellington Police Department and the attorney general’s Fraud and Abuse Litigation Division, which discovered that Scott claimed to have cowhides, leather goods and furniture inventory for sale because she was closing her business. Victims paid for these items, which did not exist and were never delivered. The crimes occurred between July 2018 and February 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592589792397.png" alt="Scott photo Sumner County" />
 <figcaption>Scott photo Sumner County</figcaption>
 </figure>WELLINGTON – A Kansas woman has been found guilty of theft, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.Cami Jo Scott, 36, Wellington, pleaded no contest Thursday in Sumner County District Court to two misdemeanor counts of theft by deception. Chief Judge William Ruhl Mott accepted the plea and sentenced Scott to 24 months probation with an underlying sentence of 24 months in the Sumner County jail. Scott was also ordered to pay restitution to 39 victims totaling $72,123.35.The case stemmed from an investigation by the Wellington Police Department and the attorney general’s Fraud and Abuse Litigation Division, which discovered that Scott claimed to have cowhides, leather goods and furniture inventory for sale because she was closing her business. Victims paid for these items, which did not exist and were never delivered. The crimes occurred between July 2018 and February 2019.

Kansas woman sold leather goods, furniture that did not exist

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a stolen vehicle.

On Thursday, deputies were advised of a possible stolen vehicle in the south eastern part of Montgomery County, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

The owner of the stolen vehicle was following the vehicle when it was reported. 

The vehicle was stolen out of Independence Thursday.

During the pursuit, the owner of the stolen vehicle lost sight of it for a short time. 

South Coffeyville Police, Coffeyville Police and Deputies were dispatched to attempt to help locate the vehicle. Officers were able to locate the vehicle on U.S. 169 and State Line, according to Wade.

They arrested&nbsp; 21-year-old Chase Vankirk of Independence and booked him on requested charges of Felony Possession of stolen property.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592572576553.png" alt="Vankirk photo Montgomery County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Vankirk photo Montgomery County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a stolen vehicle.On Thursday, deputies were advised of a possible stolen vehicle in the south eastern part of Montgomery County, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.The owner of the stolen vehicle was following the vehicle when it was reported. The vehicle was stolen out of Independence Thursday.During the pursuit, the owner of the stolen vehicle lost sight of it for a short time. South Coffeyville Police, Coffeyville Police and Deputies were dispatched to attempt to help locate the vehicle. Officers were able to locate the vehicle on U.S. 169 and State Line, according to Wade.They arrested&nbsp; 21-year-old Chase Vankirk of Independence and booked him on requested charges of Felony Possession of stolen property.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Owner helps Kan. deputies track down stolen vehicle

OSAGE COUNTY —Authorities investigating Friday's fatal accident at a rock quarry have identified the victim as&nbsp;Frank J. Rockers Jr., 68, of Emporia, according to Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn.

Just before 2:30p.m. the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an accident at a Harshman Construction rock quarry, 32306 S. California Road, near Melvern, according to Sheriff Laurie Dunn.

First responders discovered that Rockers had been taking samples at the base of a large chat pile when the pile gave way, burying him.

 The accident was witnessed by two workers, who immediately began to recover the victim. 

Fire units had also begun rescue efforts upon their arrival. The victim was eventually removed and was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

OSAGE COUNTY —One person died in an accident Friday in Osage County.

First responders discovered that a man had been taking samples at the base of a large chat pile when the pile gave way, burying him.

The sheriff's office has not released the victim's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592680443107.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Authorities investigating Friday's fatal accident at a rock quarry have identified the victim as&nbsp;Frank J. Rockers Jr., 68, of Emporia, according to Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn.Just before 2:30p.m. the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an accident at a Harshman Construction rock quarry, 32306 S. California Road, near Melvern, according to Sheriff Laurie Dunn.First responders discovered that Rockers had been taking samples at the base of a large chat pile when the pile gave way, burying him. The accident was witnessed by two workers, who immediately began to recover the victim. Fire units had also begun rescue efforts upon their arrival. The victim was eventually removed and was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;-----OSAGE COUNTY —One person died in an accident Friday in Osage County.Just before 2:30p.m. the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an accident at a Harshman Construction rock quarry, 32306 S. California Road, near Melvern, according to Sheriff Laurie Dunn.First responders discovered that a man had been taking samples at the base of a large chat pile when the pile gave way, burying him. The accident was witnessed by two workers, who immediately began to recover the victim. Fire units had also begun rescue efforts upon their arrival. The victim was eventually removed and was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;The sheriff's office has not released the victim's name.

Update: Sheriff ID's Kan. man who died in rock quarry accident

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two Kansas City-area brothers have pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud oil and gas investors out of millions of dollars.

Phil Hudnall, 49, of Lenexa, Kansas, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article243672742.html">reports</a>. Brian Hudnall, 43, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty midweek to the same charge. A third man accused in the scheme, Duc Nguyen, of Houston, Texas, pleaded not guilty this month to wire fraud.

According to court documents, Phil Hudnall, a former cross country coach, solicited more than $4 million from investors in 2019 by promising rapid returns of 20 to 30 percent on their investments.

Instead, Hudnall spent most of that money on a land deal and personal expenses, including a $100,000 sport utility vehicle. Brian Hudnall helped launder the money and took a cut for himself, court records said.

Phil Hudnall transferred more than $1 million to Nguyen to buy oil and gas equipment. But Nguyen spent the money on a car and at casinos instead, according to federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a civil case.

Under their plea agreements, the Hudnalls must repay their victims and forfeit $3.8 million. Sentencing dates have not been set.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two Kansas City-area brothers have pleaded guilty in a scheme to defraud oil and gas investors out of millions of dollars.Phil Hudnall, 49, of Lenexa, Kansas, pleaded guilty Friday to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article243672742.html">reports</a>. Brian Hudnall, 43, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty midweek to the same charge. A third man accused in the scheme, Duc Nguyen, of Houston, Texas, pleaded not guilty this month to wire fraud.According to court documents, Phil Hudnall, a former cross country coach, solicited more than $4 million from investors in 2019 by promising rapid returns of 20 to 30 percent on their investments.Instead, Hudnall spent most of that money on a land deal and personal expenses, including a $100,000 sport utility vehicle. Brian Hudnall helped launder the money and took a cut for himself, court records said.Phil Hudnall transferred more than $1 million to Nguyen to buy oil and gas equipment. But Nguyen spent the money on a car and at casinos instead, according to federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a civil case.Under their plea agreements, the Hudnalls must repay their victims and forfeit $3.8 million. Sentencing dates have not been set.

Kansas brothers plead guilty to oil, gas fraud

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Three Republicans running seeking their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate in a competitive Kansas primary have launched ads opposing transgender rights.

Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said if elected he would offer legislation to withhold federal funds from institutions that allow transgender students in women’s sports.

“It’s important to remember these trans athletes destroyed the dreams of female athletes who trained their whole lives for the honor of winning that championship only to have it snatched away by a biological male,” Kobach said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxZjGRC3RUA&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;fbclid=IwAR1n528OCHf7-okv9nmTEk-VO4OVAjGqamHfRm9NaGVSn28WlYLotVOU-Gg">campaign online video.</a>

Two of Kobach’s Republican rivals have traded their own barbs over transgender issues.

U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall attacked businessman Bob Hamilton in an ad that claims Hamilton “bankrolled a transgender rights group.” The claim is based on Bob Hamilton Plumbing’s past membership in the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, a group that represents LGBT-friendly businesses in the Kansas City region.

Hamilton countered with his own ad calling Marshall’s claim false. “I’m a plumber. Public bathrooms stay separate,” Hamilton says in the ad as a graphic appears on the screen saying, “NO TRANSGENDER BATHROOMS.”

In a statement to The Star, Hamilton did not address a question about his company’s membership in the chamber and whether he stands by the decision to join. Hamilton sold the plumbing company in 2017, though it still carries his name and his name appears in ads.

The attacks against transgender rights are part of a pattern by Kansas Republicans, said Tom Witt, the executive director of Equality Kansas, the state’s leading LGBT organization.

“In the past four years we have had five bills introduced in the Kansas Legislature that single out transgender and gender non-conforming children… and now Kobach is taking this attack on little kids national,” Witt said.

State Sen. Barbara Bollier, the likely Democratic nominee in the Senate race, has praised the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling this week in favor of employment protections for LGBT workers. “Kobach and the Republican candidates want to divide people — even in the middle of a pandemic that has killed over 100,000 Americans,” she said in a statement.

GOP candidates are using transgender rights as a wedge issue much like same-sex marriage was used in past elections, said Stephanie Byers, a trans woman running for the Kansas House as a Democrat.

“There’s nobody else for them to pick on to unite their base together, so now they’re looking at trans people,” Byers said.

Kobach also likened the the fight over transgender rights to the previous battle over same-sex marriage and said Republicans need to take action to prevent a similar societal shift.

“Progressives ‘progress.’ Like the sharks of our imagination, they have to swim forward or they die,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592506181362.png" alt="Kris Kobach -photo Kobach for Senate Campaign" />
 <figcaption>Kris Kobach -photo Kobach for Senate Campaign</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Three Republicans running seeking their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate in a competitive Kansas primary have launched ads opposing transgender rights.Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said if elected he would offer legislation to withhold federal funds from institutions that allow transgender students in women’s sports.“It’s important to remember these trans athletes destroyed the dreams of female athletes who trained their whole lives for the honor of winning that championship only to have it snatched away by a biological male,” Kobach said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxZjGRC3RUA&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;fbclid=IwAR1n528OCHf7-okv9nmTEk-VO4OVAjGqamHfRm9NaGVSn28WlYLotVOU-Gg">campaign online video.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592496908105.jpeg" alt="Candidate Bob Hamilton" />
 <figcaption>Candidate Bob Hamilton</figcaption>
 </figure>Two of Kobach’s Republican rivals have traded their own barbs over transgender issues.U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall attacked businessman Bob Hamilton in an ad that claims Hamilton “bankrolled a transgender rights group.” The claim is based on Bob Hamilton Plumbing’s past membership in the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, a group that represents LGBT-friendly businesses in the Kansas City region.Hamilton countered with his own ad calling Marshall’s claim false. “I’m a plumber. Public bathrooms stay separate,” Hamilton says in the ad as a graphic appears on the screen saying, “NO TRANSGENDER BATHROOMS.”In a statement to The Star, Hamilton did not address a question about his company’s membership in the chamber and whether he stands by the decision to join. Hamilton sold the plumbing company in 2017, though it still carries his name and his name appears in ads.The attacks against transgender rights are part of a pattern by Kansas Republicans, said Tom Witt, the executive director of Equality Kansas, the state’s leading LGBT organization.“In the past four years we have had five bills introduced in the Kansas Legislature that single out transgender and gender non-conforming children… and now Kobach is taking this attack on little kids national,” Witt said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585145252311.png" alt=" Barbara Bollier, a former Republican, is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat.&nbsp; photo by Jim McLean Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Barbara Bollier, a former Republican, is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat.&nbsp; photo by Jim McLean Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>State Sen. Barbara Bollier, the likely Democratic nominee in the Senate race, has praised the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling this week in favor of employment protections for LGBT workers. “Kobach and the Republican candidates want to divide people — even in the middle of a pandemic that has killed over 100,000 Americans,” she said in a statement.GOP candidates are using transgender rights as a wedge issue much like same-sex marriage was used in past elections, said Stephanie Byers, a trans woman running for the Kansas House as a Democrat.“There’s nobody else for them to pick on to unite their base together, so now they’re looking at trans people,” Byers said.Kobach also likened the the fight over transgender rights to the previous battle over same-sex marriage and said Republicans need to take action to prevent a similar societal shift.“Progressives ‘progress.’ Like the sharks of our imagination, they have to swim forward or they die,” he said.

Republicans attack transgender rights in Kansas Senate race

By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/defense-work-offers-new-opportunities-spirit-aerosystems">Kansas News Service</a>

2020 has not been kind to aviation manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems. 
The continued grounding of the Boeing 737 Max — the company's most 
important program — was compounded by a near shutdown of commercial air 
traffic because of the pandemic. That has resulted in thousands of 
layoffs at Spirit since January, along with furloughs and pay cuts.

Despite the drumbeat of bad news, Spirit has consistently remained optimistic when discussing one topic: Its defense programs.

Spirit says about 15% of its revenue comes from defense work. It wants to grow that number to 40%.

The
 company already is part of the new B-21 bomber supply chain and has 
acquired one company and is in the process of acquiring another that 
does defense work.

"I'm pleasantly surprised as it relates to the
 number of new work opportunities that have been coming our way on the 
defense side," Mark Suchinski, Spirit's senior vice president and chief 
financial officer, said on an earnings conference call last month.

Steve Trimble is the defense editor for Aviation Week. He has covered aviation and the defense industry for nearly 20 years.

He
 talked with Tom Shine and The Range about Spirit's efforts to grow its 
defense business, what makes the company attractive to defense 
contractors and whether defense work is more stable than the commercial 
aviation industry.

The interview was edited for length and clarity.

Can
 you start by talking a little bit about defense spending in general? 
How much money is out there and who would be the big players in that 
pool?

There's a lot of money in defense. The defense 
budget at the moment is in the $730 billion range, thereabouts. The 
biggest defense contractor in the world is Lockheed Martin, and you've 
got Boeing and their defense division not too far behind. Northrop 
Grumman is another big player, with other companies like Raytheon, 
General Dynamics.

There are quite a few companies in that group, 
but few with the sort of capacity and industrial wherewithal of Spirit 
AeroSystems.

Spirit says ... that defense work makes up 
about 15% of their revenue and they want to grow that to about 40%. Is 
that realistic?

I'd say it's realistic. I mean, right 
now, at 15%, that makes them sort of a billion-dollar … company in the 
defense market. To go up to 40% at their current level of revenue would 
make them more like a $3 billion company in the defense market. And that
 should be achievable.

Obviously, you know already 
[Spirit] does some work on defense programs, notably the KC-46 tanker … 
Does that experience position Spirit better for more work in the future?

I
 think the things that really make Spirit AeroSystems stand out in the 
defense market was the win on the B-21 program. And also their 
commercial scale.

In the defense market … the trick is you're 
talking about really highly optimized, almost a handmade-type structure 
for very, very advanced aircraft or missiles. Spirit AeroSystems has the
 ability … to come in as sort of a hybrid model with very advanced 
manufacturing capabilities, but that could produce very high volumes, 
which lowers the [costs]. And that makes them really interesting for 
certain programs that are coming down the line.

The B-21 is … 
still in the development phase. They're about to start ramping up 
production, and as they ramp up production, Spirit AeroSystems is going 
to get a lot of revenue from that. There's a huge demand for bombers. So
 there's only an upside for that program at the moment.

When
 people talk about defense work, they assume that it's steadier than 
commercial work; there's fewer downcycles, fewer dips. Is that true?

I
 wouldn't say there's [not] downcycles, but there is some insulation. 
For example, the COVID-19 crisis. What happens in the commercial market?
 All of the airlines dropped their orders. They stopped flying. 
Everything immediately and very abruptly changes.

In the defense 
market, nothing changes. Everything pretty much goes on as before, for 
at least a little while. Now, you might see in two or three years the 
fiscal effect of the economic stimulus and the COVID-19 impact on the 
economy. That's going to put some new constraints on how much we can 
actually spend.

But the effect of things like this doesn't show 
up for another two or three budget cycles. So there's some insulation 
into long-term planning that you can do to shift your resources.

The Space Force is coming on board here soon. Is there going to be defense money available … for the Space Force?

[Spirit]
 announced in February the acquisition of a company in Maine called FMI 
... What they do are the very sort of exquisite types of thermal 
protection systems and high-temperature composite materials that you 
would use in rockets; very, very advanced missiles, hypersonic missiles.

So
 Spirit AeroSystems has sort of put themselves in a position for at 
least on the launch side of what the Space Force might be doing.

But
 certainly for the new kinds of weapons that are of great interest right
 now across the [Department of Defense] … They all want new hypersonic 
missiles, and they can't get them fast enough, pardon the pun. And FMI 
puts [Spirit] in a pretty good position.

Not only FMI, but also 
the coupling of what FMI does ... with Spirit AeroSystems' manufacturing
 capacity and scale makes that really interesting to the defense 
department right now because they're essentially inventing a new supply 
chain for this new class of hypersonic weapons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592578402621.jpeg" alt=" Hugo Phan / KMUW " />
 <figcaption> Hugo Phan / KMUW </figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM SHINE <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/defense-work-offers-new-opportunities-spirit-aerosystems">Kansas News Service</a>2020 has not been kind to aviation manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems. 
The continued grounding of the Boeing 737 Max — the company's most 
important program — was compounded by a near shutdown of commercial air 
traffic because of the pandemic. That has resulted in thousands of 
layoffs at Spirit since January, along with furloughs and pay cuts.Despite the drumbeat of bad news, Spirit has consistently remained optimistic when discussing one topic: Its defense programs.Spirit says about 15% of its revenue comes from defense work. It wants to grow that number to 40%.The
 company already is part of the new B-21 bomber supply chain and has 
acquired one company and is in the process of acquiring another that 
does defense work."I'm pleasantly surprised as it relates to the
 number of new work opportunities that have been coming our way on the 
defense side," Mark Suchinski, Spirit's senior vice president and chief 
financial officer, said on an earnings conference call last month.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592578471774.jpeg" alt=" Steve Trimble of Aviation Week. Credit Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption> Steve Trimble of Aviation Week. Credit Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Steve Trimble is the defense editor for Aviation Week. He has covered aviation and the defense industry for nearly 20 years.He
 talked with Tom Shine and The Range about Spirit's efforts to grow its 
defense business, what makes the company attractive to defense 
contractors and whether defense work is more stable than the commercial 
aviation industry.The interview was edited for length and clarity.Can
 you start by talking a little bit about defense spending in general? 
How much money is out there and who would be the big players in that 
pool?There's a lot of money in defense. The defense 
budget at the moment is in the $730 billion range, thereabouts. The 
biggest defense contractor in the world is Lockheed Martin, and you've 
got Boeing and their defense division not too far behind. Northrop 
Grumman is another big player, with other companies like Raytheon, 
General Dynamics.There are quite a few companies in that group, 
but few with the sort of capacity and industrial wherewithal of Spirit 
AeroSystems.Spirit says ... that defense work makes up 
about 15% of their revenue and they want to grow that to about 40%. Is 
that realistic?I'd say it's realistic. I mean, right 
now, at 15%, that makes them sort of a billion-dollar … company in the 
defense market. To go up to 40% at their current level of revenue would 
make them more like a $3 billion company in the defense market. And that
 should be achievable.Obviously, you know already 
[Spirit] does some work on defense programs, notably the KC-46 tanker … 
Does that experience position Spirit better for more work in the future?I
 think the things that really make Spirit AeroSystems stand out in the 
defense market was the win on the B-21 program. And also their 
commercial scale.In the defense market … the trick is you're 
talking about really highly optimized, almost a handmade-type structure 
for very, very advanced aircraft or missiles. Spirit AeroSystems has the
 ability … to come in as sort of a hybrid model with very advanced 
manufacturing capabilities, but that could produce very high volumes, 
which lowers the [costs]. And that makes them really interesting for 
certain programs that are coming down the line.The B-21 is … 
still in the development phase. They're about to start ramping up 
production, and as they ramp up production, Spirit AeroSystems is going 
to get a lot of revenue from that. There's a huge demand for bombers. So
 there's only an upside for that program at the moment.When
 people talk about defense work, they assume that it's steadier than 
commercial work; there's fewer downcycles, fewer dips. Is that true?I
 wouldn't say there's [not] downcycles, but there is some insulation. 
For example, the COVID-19 crisis. What happens in the commercial market?
 All of the airlines dropped their orders. They stopped flying. 
Everything immediately and very abruptly changes.In the defense 
market, nothing changes. Everything pretty much goes on as before, for 
at least a little while. Now, you might see in two or three years the 
fiscal effect of the economic stimulus and the COVID-19 impact on the 
economy. That's going to put some new constraints on how much we can 
actually spend.But the effect of things like this doesn't show 
up for another two or three budget cycles. So there's some insulation 
into long-term planning that you can do to shift your resources.The Space Force is coming on board here soon. Is there going to be defense money available … for the Space Force?[Spirit]
 announced in February the acquisition of a company in Maine called FMI 
... What they do are the very sort of exquisite types of thermal 
protection systems and high-temperature composite materials that you 
would use in rockets; very, very advanced missiles, hypersonic missiles.So
 Spirit AeroSystems has sort of put themselves in a position for at 
least on the launch side of what the Space Force might be doing.But
 certainly for the new kinds of weapons that are of great interest right
 now across the [Department of Defense] … They all want new hypersonic 
missiles, and they can't get them fast enough, pardon the pun. And FMI 
puts [Spirit] in a pretty good position.Not only FMI, but also 
the coupling of what FMI does ... with Spirit AeroSystems' manufacturing
 capacity and scale makes that really interesting to the defense 
department right now because they're essentially inventing a new supply 
chain for this new class of hypersonic weapons.

Defense work offers new opportunities for Kan. aircraft parts maker

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Saturday shooting and have identified the victim as&nbsp;55 year-old Terry Tignor of Topeka.

Just before 6a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the 1200 block of SW Garfield in Topeka regarding an Aggravated Battery, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

On arrival, officers located Tignor suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

Police released no additional details late Saturday.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Saturday shooting and have identified the victim as&nbsp;55 year-old Terry Tignor of Topeka.Just before 6a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the 1200 block of SW Garfield in Topeka regarding an Aggravated Battery, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.On arrival, officers located Tignor suffering from a gunshot wound.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Police released no additional details late Saturday.

Police ID Kansas man who died after reported shooting

By ALEX SMITH <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-06-18/as-kansas-and-missouri-reopen-new-research-says-states-still-lack-enough-contact-tracers-to-slow-covid-19">Kansas News Service</a>

Health experts say that contact tracers—health care workers whose job
 it is to reach out to individuals who may have been exposed to the 
coronavirus to instruct them to isolate—are essential to keep COVID-19 
from spreading. 

But updated research shows that both Kansas and 
Missouri lack adequate numbers of contact tracers even though both 
states have been gradually reopening for weeks. Still, some health 
officials dispute the findings.

While many cities, counties and 
states have made significant progress in COVID-19 preparedness, many 
others are still struggling on contact tracing, including Johnson 
County, Kansas, which has made huge strides in testing but still doesn’t
 have enough contact tracers.

“Right now, no,” wrote Johnson 
County health department spokeswoman Barbara Mitchell in an email, 
explaining that the county is currently understaffed and would be even 
further strained in the event of a new surge of COVID-19 cases.

Nationally,
 few states currently have enough of these workers, according to an 
analysis by NPR using data from George Washington University’s Contact 
Workforce Estimator.

Kansas currently has 12.33 contact tracers, 
including reserve workers, per 100,000 residents, short of the roughly 
17 per 100,000 needed, according to the analysis.

Missouri, 
meanwhile, has only .49 tracers per 100,000 residents, well below the 
roughly 14 per 100,000 needed there, the analysis shows.

However, 
the NPR analysis for Missouri only includes contact tracers working for 
the state health department, not those working in county and local 
health departments. The omission, which was not explained in the NPR 
report, likely makes the state’s capacity appear much lower than it 
actually is.

The George Washington University researchers based their estimates of contact tracer needs on 14-day case counts.

Health
 officials say that efforts to recruit contact tracers have been 
hampered by lack of funding and the time and effort required to hire and
 train these workers.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment 
spokeswoman Ashley Jones-Wisner wrote in an email that, so far, the 
state has generally managed to handle its contact tracing needs.

“Currently,
 our state has adequate contact tracers to assist local health 
departments with multiple surges should they request assistance,” 
Jones-Wisner wrote.

She explained that contact tracing is usually 
performed by people working in local and county health departments, and 
that state tracers are only used when local and county workers are 
overwhelmed.

She says that the state contact tracers, which 
include dozens of reassigned staff members and volunteers, have only 
been called upon to help in two local Kansas outbreaks, in Ford and 
Jackson counties.

Many state and local health departments, 
including Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas and Jackson County 
and the city of Kansas City in Missouri, are currently hiring full-time 
contact tracers to work on a temporary basis.

Missouri’s 
Department of Health and Senior Services did not immediately respond on 
Thursday to inquiries regarding contact tracers, but some local health 
departments in the Kansas City area indicated that they were struggling.

The
 Kansas City, Missouri, health department currently has a total of three
 full-time workers doing contact tracing, with other staff currently 
reassigned to do the work part time, according to spokesman Bill Snook.

Kansas
 City, Missouri has received no state or federal funding for contact 
tracing, Snook wrote in an email, and is currently funding the work 
through the local health levy.

Many of the city’s contact tracers have also been experiencing fatigue with the work.

“Some
 contacts or cases do not understand the need or want to comply our 
instructions which adds to the stress and emotional, mental and physical
 toll it takes on the multiple teams working multiple parts of the 
pandemic response,” Snook wrote in an email.

The Jackson County, 
Missouri, health department is aiming to complete its contact tracing 
team during the next two months, according to spokeswoman Kayla Parker.

Parker
 says the health department plans to have 10 contact tracers per 100,000
 residents, which she acknowledges is less than the recommended capacity
 of 15-30 tracers per 100,000. She notes that the health department did 
not receive the full amount of federal CARES funding it requested.

She says that lack of public cooperation also continues to derail contact tracing efforts.

“One
 obstacle we continue to face is resistance from some individuals in the
 community to provide information,” Parker wrote in an email. “In order 
to protect our population, it is imperative that people respond to our 
calls and give their contacts.”

Alex Smith is a health reporter for KCUR 89.3.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592578627821.png" alt="Ashley Peterson is a contact tracer for the Kansas City Health Department. Kansas City Health Department photo" />
 <figcaption>Ashley Peterson is a contact tracer for the Kansas City Health Department. Kansas City Health Department photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEX SMITH <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-06-18/as-kansas-and-missouri-reopen-new-research-says-states-still-lack-enough-contact-tracers-to-slow-covid-19">Kansas News Service</a>Health experts say that contact tracers—health care workers whose job
 it is to reach out to individuals who may have been exposed to the 
coronavirus to instruct them to isolate—are essential to keep COVID-19 
from spreading. But updated research shows that both Kansas and 
Missouri lack adequate numbers of contact tracers even though both 
states have been gradually reopening for weeks. Still, some health 
officials dispute the findings.While many cities, counties and 
states have made significant progress in COVID-19 preparedness, many 
others are still struggling on contact tracing, including Johnson 
County, Kansas, which has made huge strides in testing but still doesn’t
 have enough contact tracers.“Right now, no,” wrote Johnson 
County health department spokeswoman Barbara Mitchell in an email, 
explaining that the county is currently understaffed and would be even 
further strained in the event of a new surge of COVID-19 cases.Nationally,
 few states currently have enough of these workers, according to an 
analysis by NPR using data from George Washington University’s Contact 
Workforce Estimator.Kansas currently has 12.33 contact tracers, 
including reserve workers, per 100,000 residents, short of the roughly 
17 per 100,000 needed, according to the analysis.Missouri, 
meanwhile, has only .49 tracers per 100,000 residents, well below the 
roughly 14 per 100,000 needed there, the analysis shows.However, 
the NPR analysis for Missouri only includes contact tracers working for 
the state health department, not those working in county and local 
health departments. The omission, which was not explained in the NPR 
report, likely makes the state’s capacity appear much lower than it 
actually is.The George Washington University researchers based their estimates of contact tracer needs on 14-day case counts.Health
 officials say that efforts to recruit contact tracers have been 
hampered by lack of funding and the time and effort required to hire and
 train these workers.Kansas Department of Health and Environment 
spokeswoman Ashley Jones-Wisner wrote in an email that, so far, the 
state has generally managed to handle its contact tracing needs.“Currently,
 our state has adequate contact tracers to assist local health 
departments with multiple surges should they request assistance,” 
Jones-Wisner wrote.She explained that contact tracing is usually 
performed by people working in local and county health departments, and 
that state tracers are only used when local and county workers are 
overwhelmed.She says that the state contact tracers, which 
include dozens of reassigned staff members and volunteers, have only 
been called upon to help in two local Kansas outbreaks, in Ford and 
Jackson counties.Many state and local health departments, 
including Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas and Jackson County 
and the city of Kansas City in Missouri, are currently hiring full-time 
contact tracers to work on a temporary basis.Missouri’s 
Department of Health and Senior Services did not immediately respond on 
Thursday to inquiries regarding contact tracers, but some local health 
departments in the Kansas City area indicated that they were struggling.The
 Kansas City, Missouri, health department currently has a total of three
 full-time workers doing contact tracing, with other staff currently 
reassigned to do the work part time, according to spokesman Bill Snook.Kansas
 City, Missouri has received no state or federal funding for contact 
tracing, Snook wrote in an email, and is currently funding the work 
through the local health levy.Many of the city’s contact tracers have also been experiencing fatigue with the work.“Some
 contacts or cases do not understand the need or want to comply our 
instructions which adds to the stress and emotional, mental and physical
 toll it takes on the multiple teams working multiple parts of the 
pandemic response,” Snook wrote in an email.The Jackson County, 
Missouri, health department is aiming to complete its contact tracing 
team during the next two months, according to spokeswoman Kayla Parker.Parker
 says the health department plans to have 10 contact tracers per 100,000
 residents, which she acknowledges is less than the recommended capacity
 of 15-30 tracers per 100,000. She notes that the health department did 
not receive the full amount of federal CARES funding it requested.She says that lack of public cooperation also continues to derail contact tracing efforts.“One
 obstacle we continue to face is resistance from some individuals in the
 community to provide information,” Parker wrote in an email. “In order 
to protect our population, it is imperative that people respond to our 
calls and give their contacts.”Alex Smith is a health reporter for KCUR 89.3.&nbsp;

Research: States still lack enough contact tracers to slow virus

SEWARD COUNTY —&nbsp;One person died in an accident during just after 8:30p.m. Saturday in Seward County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Seward County was in pursuit of a 2006 Jeep Liberty driven by&nbsp; Carlos Garcia-Alamos, 34, Liberal, on&nbsp;County Road 13 seven miles north and three miles east of the Kansas 53 and U.S. 83 Junction.

The driver&nbsp; failed to navigate a right turn on County Road 13 and entered the east ditch. The Jeep overturned once and the driver was ejected.

EMS transported Garcia-Alamos to&nbsp;Southwest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. 

Authorities have not released details on what prompted the chase. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

SEWARD COUNTY —&nbsp;One person died in an accident during just after 8:30p.m. Saturday in Seward County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Seward County was in pursuit of a 2006 Jeep Liberty driven by&nbsp; Carlos Garcia-Alamos, 34, Liberal, on&nbsp;County Road 13 seven miles north and three miles east of the Kansas 53 and U.S. 83 Junction.The driver&nbsp; failed to navigate a right turn on County Road 13 and entered the east ditch. The Jeep overturned once and the driver was ejected.EMS transported Garcia-Alamos to&nbsp;Southwest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Authorities have not released details on what prompted the chase. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. man dies after being ejected from Jeep during chase, crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after the execution of. search warrant Friday in the 6100 block of SW 27th Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Shayna Anderson.

The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit and the US Marshals Task Force apprehended Keegien R. Hamilton, 26, of Topeka on a felony arrest warrant.&nbsp;

This also led to the arrest of Megan H. Cline, 26, of Topeka, on a requested charge of felony interference with law enforcement and multiple drug charges.

Hamilton was booked on a requested charged of felon in possession of a firearm, multiple drug charges and the felony warrant, according to Anderson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592666804651.png" alt="Hamilton" />
 <figcaption>Hamilton</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after the execution of. search warrant Friday in the 6100 block of SW 27th Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Shayna Anderson.The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit and the US Marshals Task Force apprehended Keegien R. Hamilton, 26, of Topeka on a felony arrest warrant.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592666782036.png" alt="Cline" />
 <figcaption>Cline</figcaption>
 </figure>This also led to the arrest of Megan H. Cline, 26, of Topeka, on a requested charge of felony interference with law enforcement and multiple drug charges.Hamilton was booked on a requested charged of felon in possession of a firearm, multiple drug charges and the felony warrant, according to Anderson.

U.S. Marshals Task force makes arrest of 2 in Kan. drug bust

SHERMAN COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating 2 Florida men on multiple charges after a chase on Interstate 70 in portions of eastern Colorado and northwest Kansas.

Just after 1p.m. Thursday, deputies in Colorado notified Kansas authorities they were in pursuit of a 2007 Dodge Ram and a 2012 Nissan Pickup eastbound on Interstate 0 just west of the Kit Carson County Line, according to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Heilman.&nbsp;

A short time later, the suspects ditched the Nissan and continued eastbound in the Dodge.&nbsp; The pickup struck spike strips placed by deputies in Colorado and the KHP but continued traveling on rims until a KHP trooper forced it off the road near mile post 9 in Sherman County.

The two suspects later identified as 24-year-old Taylor Lee Epperhart and 23-year-old Cody M. Rupert both of Florida ran from the vehicle.&nbsp;

Due to temperatures near 90 degrees, they didn't run far. Both are being held in the Kit Carson County Jail in Burlington, Colorado facing multiple charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592591248054.png" alt="Rupert photo Kit Carson County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Rupert photo Kit Carson County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>SHERMAN COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating 2 Florida men on multiple charges after a chase on Interstate 70 in portions of eastern Colorado and northwest Kansas.Just after 1p.m. Thursday, deputies in Colorado notified Kansas authorities they were in pursuit of a 2007 Dodge Ram and a 2012 Nissan Pickup eastbound on Interstate 0 just west of the Kit Carson County Line, according to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Heilman.&nbsp;A short time later, the suspects ditched the Nissan and continued eastbound in the Dodge.&nbsp; The pickup struck spike strips placed by deputies in Colorado and the KHP but continued traveling on rims until a KHP trooper forced it off the road near mile post 9 in Sherman County.The two suspects later identified as 24-year-old Taylor Lee Epperhart and 23-year-old Cody M. Rupert both of Florida ran from the vehicle.&nbsp;Due to temperatures near 90 degrees, they didn't run far. Both are being held in the Kit Carson County Jail in Burlington, Colorado facing multiple charges.

2 suspects in stolen pickup jailed after NW Kan. high speed chase

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting the sent five people to the hospital early Saturday.

Just after 3 a.m., police responded to a shooting call at a motel in the 3700 block of North Rock Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;

 Upon arrival, officers contacted a 20-year-old male, an 18-year-old male, and a 65-year-old female who all had sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.&nbsp; They were transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.&nbsp; Officers also located multiple shell casings outside of the motel building and vehicles that had been damaged by gunfire.

A &nbsp;19-year-old male and a 24-year-old male who were at the incident on Rock road later arrived at an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed a party was occurring in a room of the motel, and a disturbance ensued.&nbsp; The disturbance continued outside, leading to multiple shots being fired, striking the five individuals.&nbsp; The 65-year-old was struck while in a room and was not part of the disturbance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592686353125.png" alt="The shooting occurred in the 3700 Block of North Rock Road Wichita -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The shooting occurred in the 3700 Block of North Rock Road Wichita -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting the sent five people to the hospital early Saturday.Just after 3 a.m., police responded to a shooting call at a motel in the 3700 block of North Rock Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Upon arrival, officers contacted a 20-year-old male, an 18-year-old male, and a 65-year-old female who all had sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.&nbsp; They were transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.&nbsp; Officers also located multiple shell casings outside of the motel building and vehicles that had been damaged by gunfire.A &nbsp;19-year-old male and a 24-year-old male who were at the incident on Rock road later arrived at an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed a party was occurring in a room of the motel, and a disturbance ensued.&nbsp; The disturbance continued outside, leading to multiple shots being fired, striking the five individuals.&nbsp; The 65-year-old was struck while in a room and was not part of the disturbance.

Police: 5 wounded after gunfire during party at Kansas motel

OSAGE COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just after 2p.m. Saturday in Osage County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Yamaha Venture Royale driven by&nbsp; Bryan Thomas Holland, 49, Ottawa,&nbsp;was westbound on K268 and the Kansas 368.

The motorcycle rear-ended a 1995 Ford F150 driven by Arthur C. Hogelin, 72, Vasser, that&nbsp;was stopped at the intersection on K268 westbound waiting to turn south on K368.

Holland was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a passenger&nbsp; on the motorcycle Stacy L. Holland, 48, Ottawa, to a Topeka hospital where she died.

Hogelin was not injured. The occupants of the motorcycle were wearing helmets, according to the KHP.

OSAGE COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just after 2p.m. Saturday in Osage County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Yamaha Venture Royale driven by&nbsp; Bryan Thomas Holland, 49, Ottawa,&nbsp;was westbound on K268 and the Kansas 368.The motorcycle rear-ended a 1995 Ford F150 driven by Arthur C. Hogelin, 72, Vasser, that&nbsp;was stopped at the intersection on K268 westbound waiting to turn south on K368.Holland was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a passenger&nbsp; on the motorcycle Stacy L. Holland, 48, Ottawa, to a Topeka hospital where she died.Hogelin was not injured. The occupants of the motorcycle were wearing helmets, according to the KHP.