The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to locating missing 23-year-old Savanah Schneider of Wichita. The KBI issued a statewide endangered persons advisory for her last week.

The investigation led to a search Tuesday of an area south of Haysville after it was learned Schneider’s cell phone last pinged in the Haysville area, according to officer Charley Davidson.

WPD detectives, Sedgwick County Sheriff Detectives, WPD mounted unit, cadaver K9’s, and article search K9’s searched the area.

Schneider was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo.&nbsp; She is described as 5-foot-8”, 110pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.

Police and family are concerned for her and need help locating her.&nbsp; If you have any information on this case or Schneider’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide endangered persons advisory for a missing Wichita woman.

The whereabouts of Savanah Schneider, 23, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.

She was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo in Wichita.

She is described as 5-foot-8, 110 pounds., with blue eyes and blonde hair. Savanah has an intellectual disability, and WPD is concerned for her welfare.

If you know the whereabouts of Savanah or see her, please call 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591390996010.png" alt="Savanah Schneider" />
 <figcaption>Savanah Schneider</figcaption>
 </figure>The Wichita Police Department (WPD) is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to locating missing 23-year-old Savanah Schneider of Wichita. The KBI issued a statewide endangered persons advisory for her last week.The investigation led to a search Tuesday of an area south of Haysville after it was learned Schneider’s cell phone last pinged in the Haysville area, according to officer Charley Davidson.WPD detectives, Sedgwick County Sheriff Detectives, WPD mounted unit, cadaver K9’s, and article search K9’s searched the area.Schneider was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo.&nbsp; She is described as 5-foot-8”, 110pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.Police and family are concerned for her and need help locating her.&nbsp; If you have any information on this case or Schneider’s whereabouts, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.----------SEDGWICK COUNTY –&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide endangered persons advisory for a missing Wichita woman.The whereabouts of Savanah Schneider, 23, are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate her.She was last seen on Sunday, May 31, at her home in the 10300 block of West Alamo in Wichita.She is described as 5-foot-8, 110 pounds., with blue eyes and blonde hair. Savanah has an intellectual disability, and WPD is concerned for her welfare.If you know the whereabouts of Savanah or see her, please call 911 immediately.

KBI: Endangered person advisory continues for missing woman

WASHINGTON (AP) — A stronger than expected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d7e34eeb80b8030d5c1f77f5358318c1">jobs report</a>&nbsp;could further scramble an already uncertain picture for passing a fifth and possibly final coronavirus aid bill. The positive statistics are feeding the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b8ff8edae31f9ee3a59d36cbee1aacde">wait-and-see approach</a>&nbsp;of the White House and its GOP allies in Congress.

Republicans say the numbers vindicate their decision to take a pause and assess the almost $3 trillion in assistance they already have approved. The White House was already showing little urgency about pursing another trillion-dollar response bill, much less the $3.5 trillion measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8b23a28a572ebcbb180ddb54558d262c">passed by the House</a>&nbsp;last month, and prefers to concentrate on reopening the economy.

The coming weeks are expected to bring difficult negotiations over what the package should contain, just months before an election where the White House and control of Congress are at stake.

For lawmakers, tough decisions loom about how much money to allocate to states, how to extend unemployment benefits for millions of people and whether to create lawsuit protections for businesses and schools as they reopen during the pandemic.

Friday’s jobs report showed a 2.5 million gain instead of an expected loss of millions more, complicating prospects for the aid talks. Trump is difficult to gauge, but talks often of pursing public works spending and a payroll tax cut, which is a nonstarter on Capitol Hill.

“They are less than urgent, less than inclined for another package,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a GOP leader when his party was in the majority. “There is less urgency to go strike a hard deal — and this one would be a hard deal. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, I just think the urgency is far lessened.”

Democrats looked at the jobs report and saw job losses for 600,000 public employees that are likely to worsen if Washington doesn’t help cash-starved state and local governments. Despite the positive jobs news, unemployment nationwide is at 13%, so the looming expiration of a supplemental $600 per week jobless benefit promises to provide a catalyst for action.

Top Democrats such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York are united behind the $3.5 trillion “HEROES Act,” which contains party priorities such as jobless aid, another round of $1,200 checks and money for essential workers, local schools, colleges and people missing mortgages and rent payments.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republicans are opposed to the Democratic plan. But they are struggling with their own divisions, with more pragmatic lawmakers favoring aid to states and local governments and recognizing that additional jobless aid is inevitable if there is to be an agreement.

GOP Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Cory Gardner of Colorado back a significant state aid package, and there’s strong support across Congress for help for smaller municipalities. But concerns about piling additional trillions of dollars onto the national debt have risen, and some Republicans believe Congress has done enough.

McConnell has already said Republicans won’t extend the $600 per week supplemental unemployment benefit, which they say is taking away incentive for people to return to the job market. A recent Congressional Budget Office report estimated that 5 out of 6 people would earn more by continuing to receive the higher benefits than returning to work and that extending the benefit would harm the economy next year.

What is plain is that the enormous sense of urgency that produced the first four aid bills has faded, along with the freewheeling dynamic that inflated the price tags. That dynamic helped Democrats to win gains in the $2 trillion CARES Act in March that they might not have gotten through a more deliberate process.

“Unlike the CARES Act, where we really did need to act in a matter of days, here we have a little bit of luxury of time, but that time is not indefinite,” said Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the U.S Chamber of Commerce. “We don’t have months.”

Now, Republicans have set a goal of keeping the cost of the next bill below $1 trillion. That’s going to be a hard sell for Pelosi, who devoted almost $1 trillion just to states and localities.

Supporters of a deal had hoped to reach an agreement this month, but acknowledge the annual August recess is now looking more like the informal deadline. For starters, leadership aides in both parties acknowledge there have been virtually no bipartisan talks so far, with Pelosi and McConnell communicating through their public statements.

“Future efforts must be laser-focused on helping schools reopen safely in the fall, helping American workers continue to get back on the job, and helping employers reopen and grow,” McConnell said Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591475437460.png" alt="Kansas Senator Pat Roberts avoiding reporters on Wednesday in Washington-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Senator Pat Roberts avoiding reporters on Wednesday in Washington-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A stronger than expected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d7e34eeb80b8030d5c1f77f5358318c1">jobs report</a>&nbsp;could further scramble an already uncertain picture for passing a fifth and possibly final coronavirus aid bill. The positive statistics are feeding the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b8ff8edae31f9ee3a59d36cbee1aacde">wait-and-see approach</a>&nbsp;of the White House and its GOP allies in Congress.Republicans say the numbers vindicate their decision to take a pause and assess the almost $3 trillion in assistance they already have approved. The White House was already showing little urgency about pursing another trillion-dollar response bill, much less the $3.5 trillion measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8b23a28a572ebcbb180ddb54558d262c">passed by the House</a>&nbsp;last month, and prefers to concentrate on reopening the economy.The coming weeks are expected to bring difficult negotiations over what the package should contain, just months before an election where the White House and control of Congress are at stake.For lawmakers, tough decisions loom about how much money to allocate to states, how to extend unemployment benefits for millions of people and whether to create lawsuit protections for businesses and schools as they reopen during the pandemic.Friday’s jobs report showed a 2.5 million gain instead of an expected loss of millions more, complicating prospects for the aid talks. Trump is difficult to gauge, but talks often of pursing public works spending and a payroll tax cut, which is a nonstarter on Capitol Hill.“They are less than urgent, less than inclined for another package,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., a GOP leader when his party was in the majority. “There is less urgency to go strike a hard deal — and this one would be a hard deal. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, I just think the urgency is far lessened.”Democrats looked at the jobs report and saw job losses for 600,000 public employees that are likely to worsen if Washington doesn’t help cash-starved state and local governments. Despite the positive jobs news, unemployment nationwide is at 13%, so the looming expiration of a supplemental $600 per week jobless benefit promises to provide a catalyst for action.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588696644712.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the passage of the $3.5T HEROES Act last month-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the passage of the $3.5T HEROES Act last month-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Top Democrats such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York are united behind the $3.5 trillion “HEROES Act,” which contains party priorities such as jobless aid, another round of $1,200 checks and money for essential workers, local schools, colleges and people missing mortgages and rent payments.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republicans are opposed to the Democratic plan. But they are struggling with their own divisions, with more pragmatic lawmakers favoring aid to states and local governments and recognizing that additional jobless aid is inevitable if there is to be an agreement.GOP Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Cory Gardner of Colorado back a significant state aid package, and there’s strong support across Congress for help for smaller municipalities. But concerns about piling additional trillions of dollars onto the national debt have risen, and some Republicans believe Congress has done enough.McConnell has already said Republicans won’t extend the $600 per week supplemental unemployment benefit, which they say is taking away incentive for people to return to the job market. A recent Congressional Budget Office report estimated that 5 out of 6 people would earn more by continuing to receive the higher benefits than returning to work and that extending the benefit would harm the economy next year.What is plain is that the enormous sense of urgency that produced the first four aid bills has faded, along with the freewheeling dynamic that inflated the price tags. That dynamic helped Democrats to win gains in the $2 trillion CARES Act in March that they might not have gotten through a more deliberate process.“Unlike the CARES Act, where we really did need to act in a matter of days, here we have a little bit of luxury of time, but that time is not indefinite,” said Neil Bradley, chief policy officer at the U.S Chamber of Commerce. “We don’t have months.”Now, Republicans have set a goal of keeping the cost of the next bill below $1 trillion. That’s going to be a hard sell for Pelosi, who devoted almost $1 trillion just to states and localities.Supporters of a deal had hoped to reach an agreement this month, but acknowledge the annual August recess is now looking more like the informal deadline. For starters, leadership aides in both parties acknowledge there have been virtually no bipartisan talks so far, with Pelosi and McConnell communicating through their public statements.“Future efforts must be laser-focused on helping schools reopen safely in the fall, helping American workers continue to get back on the job, and helping employers reopen and grow,” McConnell said Friday.

Strong jobs report diminishes GOP appetite for more virus aid

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend accident and have identified the victims.

Just after 8:30p.m. Saturday, deputies responded to an injury accident in the 2400 block of SE 45th&nbsp;Street in Shawnee County, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

A Ford Edge driven by&nbsp;Lisa L. Reser, 61, of Topeka and a Cadillac Deville driven by Donald L. Doty, Jr. 52, Topeka,&nbsp; were involved in a head-on collision.

Both drivers were pronounced deceased on scene.&nbsp; There were no other passengers in the vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Authorities released no additional details of the accident.

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal weekend accident and have identified the victims.Just after 8:30p.m. Saturday, deputies responded to an injury accident in the 2400 block of SE 45th&nbsp;Street in Shawnee County, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.A Ford Edge driven by&nbsp;Lisa L. Reser, 61, of Topeka and a Cadillac Deville driven by Donald L. Doty, Jr. 52, Topeka,&nbsp; were involved in a head-on collision.Both drivers were pronounced deceased on scene.&nbsp; There were no other passengers in the vehicles.&nbsp;&nbsp;Authorities released no additional details of the accident.

Sheriff IDs 2 victims in Kansas head-on crash

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Lansing Correctional Facility is largest single source of Kansas’ 10,393 coronavirus cases, followed by a Tyson Foods meatpacking plant near Garden City, according to a report by state health officials.

The Kansas public health report on the outbreak was generated from Columbia University’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation, which has been gathering government documents related to the coronavirus from around the country. The confidential report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lists details of every outbreak in the state as of May 19.

The Lansing prison is linked to at least 846 cases of the virus and six deaths. The Tyson plant had 571 virus cases and one death, according to the report. Several other meatpacking plants in the state also had sizable coronavirus outbreaks.

State officials provided the report to county health departments and left it up to local officials to decide whether to release details of outbreaks in their areas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman acknowledged that some states routinely release details of outbreaks.

“You could argue that that’s a good idea as well because you may not be able to ... contact trace everyone,” Norman said. “So an argument could be made both ways. We prefer to let that go to the county.”

The confined conditions at the Lansing prison made it easy for the virus to spread among inmates, but state health officials have said the facility has made significant progress at containing the coronavirus.

“What we’re seeing … is the good result from cohorting inmates away from those that aren’t (positive,” Norman told reporters last week.

Meatpacking plants in Kansas have been linked to at least 2,767 cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths. The report says those cases include the Tyson plant near Garden City in Finney County, 503 cases at a National Beef plant in Ford County, 342 cases at a Cargill facility in Ford County and 317 cases at a National beef plant in Seward County

Before the state report was released, local officials were reluctant to release details of the outbreaks at meatpacking plants.

“We have not been publicly reporting on private business or private business COVID-19 status,” Ford County administrator Jonathan Gilbert wrote in an email. “Ford County is a relatively small community and commenting on any cases/number of cases related to a private business can allow for the identification of individual COVID-19 status and we want to avoid that.”

Tyson spokeswoman Liz Croston said the company’s Kansas facilities are “operating near capacity” but would not provide an update on the number of cases currently associated with the plants.

She said Tyson has implemented a number of safety measures, including employee temperature checks before each shift, providing mandatory face masks, and putting physical barriers between workstations and in break rooms.

National Beef spokesman Keith Welty declined to comment on details of safety measures the company has taken at its plants and did not respond to questions about the level of production at each facility.

“Our focus throughout this COVID-19 situation has been to take the necessary steps to protect the health, wellness and safety of our employees while operating our processing plants producing high quality products to meet the demand of our customers across the United States,” Welty wrote in an email.

Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan said the facility is currently operating at about 80% capacity. He said Cargill has implemented temperature checks, installed protective barriers at the plant and has been providing masks to workers. The company is also giving employees up to 80 hours of paid leave for absences related to COVID-19

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589303013090.png" alt="Coronavirus testing in Wichita&nbsp; -image courtesy&nbsp;HealthCore Clinic" />
 <figcaption>Coronavirus testing in Wichita&nbsp; -image courtesy&nbsp;HealthCore Clinic</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Lansing Correctional Facility is largest single source of Kansas’ 10,393 coronavirus cases, followed by a Tyson Foods meatpacking plant near Garden City, according to a report by state health officials.The Kansas public health report on the outbreak was generated from Columbia University’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation, which has been gathering government documents related to the coronavirus from around the country. The confidential report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment lists details of every outbreak in the state as of May 19.The Lansing prison is linked to at least 846 cases of the virus and six deaths. The Tyson plant had 571 virus cases and one death, according to the report. Several other meatpacking plants in the state also had sizable coronavirus outbreaks.State officials provided the report to county health departments and left it up to local officials to decide whether to release details of outbreaks in their areas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman acknowledged that some states routinely release details of outbreaks.“You could argue that that’s a good idea as well because you may not be able to ... contact trace everyone,” Norman said. “So an argument could be made both ways. We prefer to let that go to the county.”The confined conditions at the Lansing prison made it easy for the virus to spread among inmates, but state health officials have said the facility has made significant progress at containing the coronavirus.“What we’re seeing … is the good result from cohorting inmates away from those that aren’t (positive,” Norman told reporters last week.Meatpacking plants in Kansas have been linked to at least 2,767 cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths. The report says those cases include the Tyson plant near Garden City in Finney County, 503 cases at a National Beef plant in Ford County, 342 cases at a Cargill facility in Ford County and 317 cases at a National beef plant in Seward CountyBefore the state report was released, local officials were reluctant to release details of the outbreaks at meatpacking plants.“We have not been publicly reporting on private business or private business COVID-19 status,” Ford County administrator Jonathan Gilbert wrote in an email. “Ford County is a relatively small community and commenting on any cases/number of cases related to a private business can allow for the identification of individual COVID-19 status and we want to avoid that.”Tyson spokeswoman Liz Croston said the company’s Kansas facilities are “operating near capacity” but would not provide an update on the number of cases currently associated with the plants.She said Tyson has implemented a number of safety measures, including employee temperature checks before each shift, providing mandatory face masks, and putting physical barriers between workstations and in break rooms.National Beef spokesman Keith Welty declined to comment on details of safety measures the company has taken at its plants and did not respond to questions about the level of production at each facility.“Our focus throughout this COVID-19 situation has been to take the necessary steps to protect the health, wellness and safety of our employees while operating our processing plants producing high quality products to meet the demand of our customers across the United States,” Welty wrote in an email.Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan said the facility is currently operating at about 80% capacity. He said Cargill has implemented temperature checks, installed protective barriers at the plant and has been providing masks to workers. The company is also giving employees up to 80 hours of paid leave for absences related to COVID-19For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness.

Confidential report details virus outbreaks in Kansas 

TOPEKA — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who surrendered after more than five hours of negotiations and standoff in Topeka.

Just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a home in the 3600 block of SW Skyline Parkway on a check welfare call, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Upon arrival, officers discovered that an adult female victim was being held against her will. A short time later, the victim was able to leave the home safely.

Police ultimately took the suspect identified as&nbsp;38-year-old Brian M. Wright into custod&nbsp; around 6:15 a.m. Sunday.

Wright was is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Domestic Battery,, Criminal Restraint and Aggravated Assault, according to Koenen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591567742989.png" alt="Wright photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wright photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who surrendered after more than five hours of negotiations and standoff in Topeka.Just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a home in the 3600 block of SW Skyline Parkway on a check welfare call, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591553436416.png" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff -image courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff -image courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, officers discovered that an adult female victim was being held against her will. A short time later, the victim was able to leave the home safely.Police ultimately took the suspect identified as&nbsp;38-year-old Brian M. Wright into custod&nbsp; around 6:15 a.m. Sunday.Wright was is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Domestic Battery,, Criminal Restraint and Aggravated Assault, according to Koenen.

Kansas man arrested after 5-hour standoff

Kansas City (AP) — As demonstrators flooded streets across America to decry the killing of George Floyd, public health experts watched in alarm — the close proximity of protesters and their failures in many cases to wear masks, along with the police using tear gas, could fuel new transmissions of the coronavirus.

Many of the protests broke out in places where the virus is still circulating widely in the population. In fact, an Associated Press review found that demonstrations have taken place in every one of the 25 U.S. communities with the highest concentrations of new cases. Some have seen major protests over multiple days, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.

The protests have come just as communities across the nation loosen restrictions on businesses and public life that have helped slow the spread of the virus, deepening concern that the two factors taken together could create a national resurgence in cases.

“As a nation, we have to be concerned about a rebound,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser warned Sunday after days of protests rocked the nation’s capital. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo bemoaned the crowds, saying that hundreds could potentially have been infected, undoing months of social distancing.

A fresh outbreak in the places where protesters gathered could lead to reinstituting shutdowns.

The AP’s review focused on large metro counties — the central counties within metro areas with more than 1 million people — that showed the highest rates of new cases per capita over the past 14 days.

While case numbers and deaths have been trending down in several of the cities where the largest protests have occurred, the number of people in those places infected with the virus — and with the ability to spread it — remains high. And in some of the communities, such as Minneapolis, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has been rising.

Floyd died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes, even as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Minneapolis has been ground zero for the sprawling protests, which have crossed the Mississippi River into neighboring St. Paul.

The unrest has coincided with “the very worst days of the pandemic so far” in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

“Our ICU bed care is at its all-time high and is really on the edge,” he said.

Ramsey and Hennepin counties, home to the Twin Cities, ranked seventh and eighth for the highest per capita new cases in the AP analysis. Each has seen more than 250 cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks, together reporting nearly 2,000 new cases in the last week alone.

Experts point out that other factors associated with protests could accelerate the spread of the virus. For instance, tear gas can cause people to cough and sneeze, as can the smoke from fires set by people bent on destruction. And both also prompt protesters to remove their masks.

Crowding protesters who have been arrested into jail cells can also increase the risk of contagion. An AP tally found that, thus far, more than 5,600 people have been taken into custody.

Protesters and police shouting at one another nose-to-nose also is raising alarms.

Osterholm and other public health experts note, however, that the protests aren’t necessarily as alarming as other events that could fuel new cases because they take place outside and many people are wearing masks. In some cases, hand sanitizer also is being informally distributed.

And Dr. David Eisenman, director of the Center for Public Health and Disasters at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said he feared partisan forces might accuse cities of bringing fresh cases on themselves.

“I’m actually more worried about how, if those spikes occur, how that information will be weaponized against the notion of protests,” he said.

Eisenman called protesting an “essential activity,” possible to practice with reduced risk. He said his grown children protested in Los Angeles and are taking safety precautions now, including isolating themselves at home. They plan to get tested for COVID-19 in about a week.

Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, said the hospitalizations for coronavirus in the Washington metro area have been on the decline but that she knows that could change.

“There are a lot of unknowns about what happens next,” she said.

Wen was the health commissioner for the city of Baltimore during the 2015 uprising after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody and said many health clinics were closed and pharmacies burned down, making it difficult for members of disadvantaged communities to access health care.

“You will have compounded health issues that go beyond COVID-19,” she said.

Public health experts said it will take two to three weeks to know whether the protests cause a surge in coronavirus cases. And even then, they can’t definitively tie it to the demonstrations.

The unrest is happening in tandem with the reopening of gyms, hair salons, restaurants, parks and beaches. It also comes on the heels of the Memorial Day weekend, when many people attended large gatherings, so experts already were bracing for a case increase, said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

In Los Angeles, barbershops and in-person dining were allowed to resume last weekend, just as protests descended into destruction and more than 1,000 people were arrested. Nearly 10,000 new cases have been reported in Los Angeles County in the past week.

Hundreds of people also were arrested in Chicago, where Cook County has had among the highest per capita rates of new cases of any large county in the nation, with 283 new cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks.

“The absolute number of cases is still high. We feel good about the fact that we’ve established a decreasing incidence, but we have a ways to go,” said Dr. Ronald Hershow the director of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Hershow and others noted that the racial disparities laid bare by coronavirus — with communities of color bearing a disproportionate burden of infections and deaths — overlap with the issues being protested on streets across America and around the globe.

“Racism kills,” Hershow said. “Sometimes that’s direct, as in the case of George Floyd. And sometimes it’s through a virus like COVID-19.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590799948580.png" alt="Crowds protesting last weekend in Kansas City -image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Crowds protesting last weekend in Kansas City -image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — As demonstrators flooded streets across America to decry the killing of George Floyd, public health experts watched in alarm — the close proximity of protesters and their failures in many cases to wear masks, along with the police using tear gas, could fuel new transmissions of the coronavirus.Many of the protests broke out in places where the virus is still circulating widely in the population. In fact, an Associated Press review found that demonstrations have taken place in every one of the 25 U.S. communities with the highest concentrations of new cases. Some have seen major protests over multiple days, including Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.The protests have come just as communities across the nation loosen restrictions on businesses and public life that have helped slow the spread of the virus, deepening concern that the two factors taken together could create a national resurgence in cases.“As a nation, we have to be concerned about a rebound,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser warned Sunday after days of protests rocked the nation’s capital. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo bemoaned the crowds, saying that hundreds could potentially have been infected, undoing months of social distancing.A fresh outbreak in the places where protesters gathered could lead to reinstituting shutdowns.The AP’s review focused on large metro counties — the central counties within metro areas with more than 1 million people — that showed the highest rates of new cases per capita over the past 14 days.While case numbers and deaths have been trending down in several of the cities where the largest protests have occurred, the number of people in those places infected with the virus — and with the ability to spread it — remains high. And in some of the communities, such as Minneapolis, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has been rising.Floyd died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes, even as he pleaded that he couldn’t breathe. Minneapolis has been ground zero for the sprawling protests, which have crossed the Mississippi River into neighboring St. Paul.The unrest has coincided with “the very worst days of the pandemic so far” in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, said Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.“Our ICU bed care is at its all-time high and is really on the edge,” he said.Ramsey and Hennepin counties, home to the Twin Cities, ranked seventh and eighth for the highest per capita new cases in the AP analysis. Each has seen more than 250 cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks, together reporting nearly 2,000 new cases in the last week alone.Experts point out that other factors associated with protests could accelerate the spread of the virus. For instance, tear gas can cause people to cough and sneeze, as can the smoke from fires set by people bent on destruction. And both also prompt protesters to remove their masks.Crowding protesters who have been arrested into jail cells can also increase the risk of contagion. An AP tally found that, thus far, more than 5,600 people have been taken into custody.Protesters and police shouting at one another nose-to-nose also is raising alarms.Osterholm and other public health experts note, however, that the protests aren’t necessarily as alarming as other events that could fuel new cases because they take place outside and many people are wearing masks. In some cases, hand sanitizer also is being informally distributed.And Dr. David Eisenman, director of the Center for Public Health and Disasters at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, said he feared partisan forces might accuse cities of bringing fresh cases on themselves.“I’m actually more worried about how, if those spikes occur, how that information will be weaponized against the notion of protests,” he said.Eisenman called protesting an “essential activity,” possible to practice with reduced risk. He said his grown children protested in Los Angeles and are taking safety precautions now, including isolating themselves at home. They plan to get tested for COVID-19 in about a week.Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, said the hospitalizations for coronavirus in the Washington metro area have been on the decline but that she knows that could change.“There are a lot of unknowns about what happens next,” she said.Wen was the health commissioner for the city of Baltimore during the 2015 uprising after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody and said many health clinics were closed and pharmacies burned down, making it difficult for members of disadvantaged communities to access health care.It’s a concern for her now, too.“You will have compounded health issues that go beyond COVID-19,” she said.Public health experts said it will take two to three weeks to know whether the protests cause a surge in coronavirus cases. And even then, they can’t definitively tie it to the demonstrations.The unrest is happening in tandem with the reopening of gyms, hair salons, restaurants, parks and beaches. It also comes on the heels of the Memorial Day weekend, when many people attended large gatherings, so experts already were bracing for a case increase, said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.In Los Angeles, barbershops and in-person dining were allowed to resume last weekend, just as protests descended into destruction and more than 1,000 people were arrested. Nearly 10,000 new cases have been reported in Los Angeles County in the past week.Hundreds of people also were arrested in Chicago, where Cook County has had among the highest per capita rates of new cases of any large county in the nation, with 283 new cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks.“The absolute number of cases is still high. We feel good about the fact that we’ve established a decreasing incidence, but we have a ways to go,” said Dr. Ronald Hershow the director of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Illinois-Chicago.Hershow and others noted that the racial disparities laid bare by coronavirus — with communities of color bearing a disproportionate burden of infections and deaths — overlap with the issues being protested on streets across America and around the globe.“Racism kills,” Hershow said. “Sometimes that’s direct, as in the case of George Floyd. And sometimes it’s through a virus like COVID-19.”___

Protests in top virus hot spots ignite fears of contagion

KANSAS CITY – A Kansas man who initially was arrested after throwing water bottles at police officers during protests at the Country Club Plaza was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney's office.

“Hijacking a peaceful protest by attacking police officers engaged in their duty to protect the public carries significant consequences in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison. “Illegally carrying a loaded handgun to a public demonstration multiplies those consequences with federal penalties. I have no tolerance for anyone who hides behind the lawful exercise of constitutional rights as cover for their criminal acts. We are working alongside our local law enforcement partners to protect the public and maintain order.”&nbsp;

Matthew E. Madden, 22, Kansas City, Kan., was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri, with one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.

Today’s criminal complaint alleges that Madden, who is a habitual user of, or addicted to, marijuana, was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on June 2, 2020.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Madden traveled from Kansas City, Kansas, to participate in the protests at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, June 2. During the protests over the previous five days, police officers who monitored the crowd and participated in crowd control reported some violent protesters threw bottles and rocks at them, causing injury to officers and damage to personal and public property. On Tuesday, law enforcement officers observed Madden throwing water bottles at officers who were providing security in the area of 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Later the same evening, officers observed Madden throwing waters bottles from the southwest corner of Mill Creek Park (located at 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway).

Police officers approached Madden as he walked away from the crowd and asked him to stop so they could talk to him. &nbsp;Madden immediately ran away through the park, but officers captured him near a tree line on the east side of the park. During the pursuit, an officer saw Madden discard the black fanny pack that he had been previously observed carrying over his shoulder. Officers recovered the fanny pack, which contained a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with 15 round of ammunition, another magazine containing an additional 27 rounds of ammunition, and 1.23 grams of marijuana. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591476241354.png" alt="Madden -photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Madden -photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A Kansas man who initially was arrested after throwing water bottles at police officers during protests at the Country Club Plaza was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing a firearm, according to the United State's Attorney's office.“Hijacking a peaceful protest by attacking police officers engaged in their duty to protect the public carries significant consequences in this district,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison. “Illegally carrying a loaded handgun to a public demonstration multiplies those consequences with federal penalties. I have no tolerance for anyone who hides behind the lawful exercise of constitutional rights as cover for their criminal acts. We are working alongside our local law enforcement partners to protect the public and maintain order.”&nbsp;Matthew E. Madden, 22, Kansas City, Kan., was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri, with one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm.Today’s criminal complaint alleges that Madden, who is a habitual user of, or addicted to, marijuana, was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun on June 2, 2020.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925459037.png" alt="Protest marchers at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protest marchers at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Madden traveled from Kansas City, Kansas, to participate in the protests at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, June 2. During the protests over the previous five days, police officers who monitored the crowd and participated in crowd control reported some violent protesters threw bottles and rocks at them, causing injury to officers and damage to personal and public property. On Tuesday, law enforcement officers observed Madden throwing water bottles at officers who were providing security in the area of 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Later the same evening, officers observed Madden throwing waters bottles from the southwest corner of Mill Creek Park (located at 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway).Police officers approached Madden as he walked away from the crowd and asked him to stop so they could talk to him. &nbsp;Madden immediately ran away through the park, but officers captured him near a tree line on the east side of the park. During the pursuit, an officer saw Madden discard the black fanny pack that he had been previously observed carrying over his shoulder. Officers recovered the fanny pack, which contained a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun loaded with 15 round of ammunition, another magazine containing an additional 27 rounds of ammunition, and 1.23 grams of marijuana. &nbsp;

Kansas man charged with bringing gun to protest march

TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have made an arrest.

On Friday, officers responded to the 2100 block of SW Edgewater Terrace in Topeka on a report of a possible stabbing, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

The victim, an adult female, sustained non-life threatening injuries in the incident.

Officers developed information at the scene and an attempt to locate was issued for 37-yearold Victorio G. Peres. Peres is known to the victim.

Just after 2:30a.m. Sunday, police located him in the 1000 block of SW Garfield Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested&nbsp;charges of Aggravated Battery and Battery, according to Koenen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591567651175.png" alt="Peres" />
 <figcaption>Peres</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have made an arrest.On Friday, officers responded to the 2100 block of SW Edgewater Terrace in Topeka on a report of a possible stabbing, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.The victim, an adult female, sustained non-life threatening injuries in the incident.Officers developed information at the scene and an attempt to locate was issued for 37-yearold Victorio G. Peres. Peres is known to the victim.Just after 2:30a.m. Sunday, police located him in the 1000 block of SW Garfield Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested&nbsp;charges of Aggravated Battery and Battery, according to Koenen.

Police: Kansas man accused in violent knife attack on woman

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas congressman who has toed the conservative line and steadfastly defended President Donald Trump nevertheless is battling accusations that he’s an impostor in a tough Republican primary race.

Rep. Steve Watkins’ voting record and statements decrying Trump’s impeachment leave little enough room to attack him from the right that the campaign of his main primary challenger, State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, is scrutinizing Watkins’ fundraising to question his loyalties.

Watkins was a political novice when he won the seat in 2018 by less than a percentage point in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district that Trump carried by a wide margin in 2016. His primary race this year is about whether he could self-destruct in the fall and cost Republicans what had been a safe seat. The national Democratic Party&nbsp;<a href="https://dccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/01162020-Battlefield-Expansion.pdf" target="_blank">has said it sees “an opportunity”</a>&nbsp;as part of an expanded list of targeted House races.

The incumbent’s political troubles are tied largely to missteps and problems unrelated to policy, including rampant social media rumors late last fall that he would resign. The local district attorney in Topeka is investigating whether Watkins violated state election laws by listing a box at a UPS Inc. store as his residence on a voter registration form.

Though he grew up in Topeka, Watkins lived most of his adult life outside Kansas and hadn’t voted in its state or federal races until running for Congress. He wasn’t active in the local or state GOP before he won the 2018 primary with less than 27% of the vote.

“There is just a level of discomfort with Steve Watkins,” said former state Rep. Virgil Peck, chairman of the GOP in Montgomery County in southeast Kansas. “There’s still that little bit of uncertainty, distrust if you will.”

Watkins has the National Right to Life Committee’s endorsement but LaTurner has the backing of the conservative Family Policy Alliance of Kansas.

LaTurner also picked up the Kansas Farm Bureau’s endorsement, which confers cachet in rural areas and signals some nervousness within the GOP establishment about Watkins. Moreover, LaTurner’s honorary campaign co-chairs include a current and a former Republican National Committee member and big GOP donors active in the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.

As Watkins filed for office late last month, LaTurner’s campaign criticized him for accepting more than $20,000 in contributions in 2018 and 2019 from donors who also gave to Democrats.

The attack touched on doubts about Watkins’ fealty to the GOP that have lingered since he eked out a win during his crowded 2018 primary race. Three Democratic operatives said Watkins, a 43-year-old former Army officer and military contractor, had talked to them about running for Congress as a Democrat. He strongly denies it.

“There’s still with a lot of Republicans, grassroots Republicans and others, they haven’t fully verified that he is a conservative,” said former Kansas GOP Chairman Kelly Arnold.

Watkins shrugged off LaTurner’s demand that he return contributions from 10 donors named by LaTurner’s campaign. He said after filing that he’s voted 96% of the time in the House with Trump and said LaTurner is “creating unnecessary division” within the GOP as he seeks to climb the political ladder.

“I’m a guy who would like to do something, as opposed to somebody who wants to be somebody,” Watkins said.

The American Conservative Union recently gave Watkins an 86% rating for 2019. LaTurner, a former state senator, had a 76% rating from the group during his time in the Legislature.

University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller said Watkins has been a conservative congressman and LaTurner’s natural recourse is to raise a persistent question about Watkins from 2018: “Who is he, really?”

Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mike Kuckelman said he is not concerned that the GOP faces as tough a battle to keep Watkins’ 2nd District seat as it did in 2018. The presumed Democratic nominee, Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla, is less well-known than the 2018 nominee, ex-legislative leader Paul Davis, and the $338,000 she raised by the end of March was less than a third of what Davis had raised at the same point in 2018.

And Kuckelman said he’s heard of no problems with Watkins’ voting record as a congressman.

“I’m sure somebody could pick one vote and disagree with it, but overall, I would say he has a solid voting record,” Kuckelman said.

LaTurner cites a Watkins’ vote in November for a measure opposed by the National Rifle Association on big-game hunting overseas, which Watkins’ staff said would protect endangered species.

LaTurner also criticizes Watkins for being one of only five Republicans to vote for a non-binding Democratic resolution in December expressing support for a separate state for the Palestinians. LaTurner describes it as a vote against Trump’s Middle East policy; Watkins later praised a Trump plan for a two-state peace solution.

However, such issues seem secondary to questions about Watkins’ problems as a congressman.

“It’s not that there’s lack of information. It’s that the information that we do know is troubling,” LaTurner said, adding that Watkins narrowly won the 2018 election because Republicans felt “we had to eat our peas” to prevent a Democrat from winning.

Watkins’ problems include a Federal Election Commission review of contributions funneled by Watkins’ father to his 2018 campaign through other donors and a homeowners’ association’s now-resolved lawsuit threatening to foreclose on a condominium Watkins owns in Alaska over $1,535 in delinquent payments.

And there’s the still-ongoing criminal investigation into him registering to vote at a UPS store and whether he voted illegally in a Topeka City Council race. Watkins said he made an inadvertent mistake in listing his mailing address on a form in August, but he had to correct his registration twice within six weeks this winter.

“There’s no question that he has faults and vulnerabilities,” Miller said. “He hasn’t helped himself with these ridiculous gaffes about, where does he actually live?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591476738251.png" alt="Rep. Steve Watkins" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Steve Watkins</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas congressman who has toed the conservative line and steadfastly defended President Donald Trump nevertheless is battling accusations that he’s an impostor in a tough Republican primary race.Rep. Steve Watkins’ voting record and statements decrying Trump’s impeachment leave little enough room to attack him from the right that the campaign of his main primary challenger, State Treasurer Jake LaTurner, is scrutinizing Watkins’ fundraising to question his loyalties.Watkins was a political novice when he won the seat in 2018 by less than a percentage point in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district that Trump carried by a wide margin in 2016. His primary race this year is about whether he could self-destruct in the fall and cost Republicans what had been a safe seat. The national Democratic Party&nbsp;<a href="https://dccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/01162020-Battlefield-Expansion.pdf" target="_blank">has said it sees “an opportunity”</a>&nbsp;as part of an expanded list of targeted House races.The incumbent’s political troubles are tied largely to missteps and problems unrelated to policy, including rampant social media rumors late last fall that he would resign. The local district attorney in Topeka is investigating whether Watkins violated state election laws by listing a box at a UPS Inc. store as his residence on a voter registration form.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fighting Socialism here and at home. I got your six. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KS02?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KS02</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/ih7i7vwyMv">pic.twitter.com/ih7i7vwyMv</a>&mdash; Rep. Steve Watkins (@Rep_Watkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rep_Watkins/status/1261418628152426501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Though he grew up in Topeka, Watkins lived most of his adult life outside Kansas and hadn’t voted in its state or federal races until running for Congress. He wasn’t active in the local or state GOP before he won the 2018 primary with less than 27% of the vote.“There is just a level of discomfort with Steve Watkins,” said former state Rep. Virgil Peck, chairman of the GOP in Montgomery County in southeast Kansas. “There’s still that little bit of uncertainty, distrust if you will.”Watkins has the National Right to Life Committee’s endorsement but LaTurner has the backing of the conservative Family Policy Alliance of Kansas.LaTurner also picked up the Kansas Farm Bureau’s endorsement, which confers cachet in rural areas and signals some nervousness within the GOP establishment about Watkins. Moreover, LaTurner’s honorary campaign co-chairs include a current and a former Republican National Committee member and big GOP donors active in the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.As Watkins filed for office late last month, LaTurner’s campaign criticized him for accepting more than $20,000 in contributions in 2018 and 2019 from donors who also gave to Democrats.The attack touched on doubts about Watkins’ fealty to the GOP that have lingered since he eked out a win during his crowded 2018 primary race. Three Democratic operatives said Watkins, a 43-year-old former Army officer and military contractor, had talked to them about running for Congress as a Democrat. He strongly denies it.“There’s still with a lot of Republicans, grassroots Republicans and others, they haven’t fully verified that he is a conservative,” said former Kansas GOP Chairman Kelly Arnold.Watkins shrugged off LaTurner’s demand that he return contributions from 10 donors named by LaTurner’s campaign. He said after filing that he’s voted 96% of the time in the House with Trump and said LaTurner is “creating unnecessary division” within the GOP as he seeks to climb the political ladder.“I’m a guy who would like to do something, as opposed to somebody who wants to be somebody,” Watkins said.The American Conservative Union recently gave Watkins an 86% rating for 2019. LaTurner, a former state senator, had a 76% rating from the group during his time in the Legislature.University of Kansas political scientist Patrick Miller said Watkins has been a conservative congressman and LaTurner’s natural recourse is to raise a persistent question about Watkins from 2018: “Who is he, really?”Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mike Kuckelman said he is not concerned that the GOP faces as tough a battle to keep Watkins’ 2nd District seat as it did in 2018. The presumed Democratic nominee, Topeka Mayor Michelle de la Isla, is less well-known than the 2018 nominee, ex-legislative leader Paul Davis, and the $338,000 she raised by the end of March was less than a third of what Davis had raised at the same point in 2018.And Kuckelman said he’s heard of no problems with Watkins’ voting record as a congressman.“I’m sure somebody could pick one vote and disagree with it, but overall, I would say he has a solid voting record,” Kuckelman said.LaTurner cites a Watkins’ vote in November for a measure opposed by the National Rifle Association on big-game hunting overseas, which Watkins’ staff said would protect endangered species.LaTurner also criticizes Watkins for being one of only five Republicans to vote for a non-binding Democratic resolution in December expressing support for a separate state for the Palestinians. LaTurner describes it as a vote against Trump’s Middle East policy; Watkins later praised a Trump plan for a two-state peace solution.However, such issues seem secondary to questions about Watkins’ problems as a congressman.“It’s not that there’s lack of information. It’s that the information that we do know is troubling,” LaTurner said, adding that Watkins narrowly won the 2018 election because Republicans felt “we had to eat our peas” to prevent a Democrat from winning.Watkins’ problems include a Federal Election Commission review of contributions funneled by Watkins’ father to his 2018 campaign through other donors and a homeowners’ association’s now-resolved lawsuit threatening to foreclose on a condominium Watkins owns in Alaska over $1,535 in delinquent payments.And there’s the still-ongoing criminal investigation into him registering to vote at a UPS store and whether he voted illegally in a Topeka City Council race. Watkins said he made an inadvertent mistake in listing his mailing address on a form in August, but he had to correct his registration twice within six weeks this winter.“There’s no question that he has faults and vulnerabilities,” Miller said. “He hasn’t helped himself with these ridiculous gaffes about, where does he actually live?”____

Freshman Kan. congressman faces attacks labeling him GOP impostor

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Three civil rights organizations say they will continue to pressure Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith to resign over long-simmering tension between police and minorities in the city, despite procedural changes announced this week.

The Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, the Urban League of Greater Kansas City and More2 issued a statement Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8fd5d3554646ec3a353ebd16e96e4359">calling&nbsp;</a>for Smith's resignation because of his handling of excessive force complaints and police actions during recent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners and Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=apnews.comb51e6c727b5b749fa9b29080364ab03d">several changes</a>&nbsp;to police procedures designed to improve accountability and oversight of the Police Department, including having outside agencies investigate all officer-involved shootings.

The Rev. Dr. Rodney Williams, president of the Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, said Friday that the proposed changes are appreciated but that the coalition wants to see entirely new police leadership, beginning with Smith's resignation.

“(The changes) are hopeful but we need to see them actually become reality," Williams said. “This is not just about the protests, this goes much further. We do not believe police are protecting the constitutional rights of African Americans and the head of that agency needs to resign.”

Smith has said he doesn't intend to resign and Lucas said Thursday that Smith will remain as police chief. Brad Lemon, president of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police, called the requests for Smith's resignation “ridiculous."

The tension comes after a week of protests over the death of Floyd, a black man who was handcuffed when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck for several minutes even after he stopped movign and pleading for air.

During the first days of protests, violence erupted after dark. Police used tear gas and made several arrests. The protests have been relatively calm since Tuesday, when police changed tactics to “de-escalate” the tension.

The calm continued Friday, when several hundred people gathered in downtown Kansas City to hear speeches and demonstrate in front of City Hall, the Police Department and the Jackson County Courthouse — a change of scene from earlier protests at the Country Club Plaza and Westport entertainment districts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591275596951.png" alt="Chief Rick Smith and Mayor Lucas spoke to the media prior to a protest march last week" />
 <figcaption>Chief Rick Smith and Mayor Lucas spoke to the media prior to a protest march last week</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Three civil rights organizations say they will continue to pressure Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith to resign over long-simmering tension between police and minorities in the city, despite procedural changes announced this week.The Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, the Urban League of Greater Kansas City and More2 issued a statement Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8fd5d3554646ec3a353ebd16e96e4359">calling&nbsp;</a>for Smith's resignation because of his handling of excessive force complaints and police actions during recent protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners and Mayor Quinton Lucas on Thursday announced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&amp;q=apnews.comb51e6c727b5b749fa9b29080364ab03d">several changes</a>&nbsp;to police procedures designed to improve accountability and oversight of the Police Department, including having outside agencies investigate all officer-involved shootings.The Rev. Dr. Rodney Williams, president of the Kansas City chapter of the NAACP, said Friday that the proposed changes are appreciated but that the coalition wants to see entirely new police leadership, beginning with Smith's resignation.“(The changes) are hopeful but we need to see them actually become reality," Williams said. “This is not just about the protests, this goes much further. We do not believe police are protecting the constitutional rights of African Americans and the head of that agency needs to resign.”Smith has said he doesn't intend to resign and Lucas said Thursday that Smith will remain as police chief. Brad Lemon, president of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police, called the requests for Smith's resignation “ridiculous."The tension comes after a week of protests over the death of Floyd, a black man who was handcuffed when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck for several minutes even after he stopped movign and pleading for air.During the first days of protests, violence erupted after dark. Police used tear gas and made several arrests. The protests have been relatively calm since Tuesday, when police changed tactics to “de-escalate” the tension.The calm continued Friday, when several hundred people gathered in downtown Kansas City to hear speeches and demonstrate in front of City Hall, the Police Department and the Jackson County Courthouse — a change of scene from earlier protests at the Country Club Plaza and Westport entertainment districts.

Groups still want Kansas City police chief to be ousted

By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/pandemic-has-pushed-more-kansans-buy-local-butchers-and-farmers">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — For the last two months, employees
 at Walnut Valley Packing in El Dorado have been working extra hours, 
even Saturdays, to cut, grind and package meat so it can keep up with a 
sudden spike in demand.

“I think the first time in March when 
somebody walked into Walmart or Dillon’s and saw that there’s no meat, I
 think people kind of freaked out,” said Matt Carselowey, <a href="http://www.walnutvalleypacking.com/" target="_blank">Walnut Valley Packing</a>’s plant manager.&nbsp;

The lack of meat in grocery store chains is due in part to <a href="https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/22993-covid-19-meat-plant-map">c</a><a href="https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/22993-covid-19-meat-plant-map" target="_blank">oronavirus-related slowdowns and closures of meatpacking plants around the country</a>. But those supply chain difficulties are creating an opportunity for local food producers — from cattle to cabbage.

Before
 the pandemic, Walnut Valley was preparing to open up a second 
storefront in a nearby town. Carselowey said he had an entire store’s 
worth of inventory in the freezer, ready to be sold.

It was barely enough to meet demand. The small, family-owned beef, pork and game processor quickly sold out of everything.

“We’ve had a lot of new customers come through the door that might not have came in otherwise,” he said.

Many were just people trying to find meat anywhere they could. But for Carselowey, it was also an opportunity.

“I
 think this has kind of opened a lot more people’s eyes to ‘Where is my 
meat coming from,’” he said, adding that people might be realizing too 
that “small processors … can offer a different product or … unique 
products.”

Walnut Valley also processes meat for local cattle 
ranchers, who sell it under their own private label (it’s called direct 
marketing).

Normally, those ranchers can get meat processed in 
about a month. But now is far from normal, and Walnut Valley’s first 
open slot is May 2021.

“We are really struggling to meet demand for our product,” said Linda Pechin-Long, co-owner of <a href="https://www.grazetheprairie.com/" target="_blank">Graze The Prairie cattle ranch in the Flint Hills</a>. “Which is a good problem to have, I guess.”

Pechin-Long
 and her husband sell their meat online and at a few local farmers 
markets. But like many direct market ranchers, they’re struggling to get
 a spot at any of the few dozen local processors left in Kansas.

“Right
 now, we’re looking at not having summer sausage for Christmas because 
we usually schedule that for processing in October, and they are booked 
through January or February of next year,” she said.

The coronavirus also 
appears to be pushing people to tap into other local producers — at 
least more than they normally would. That includes farmers markets.

“Over the past three weeks, I’ve had consistent crowds showing up,” said Luke Snow, president of the <a href="https://oldtownfarmandartmarket.com/" target="_blank">Old Town Farm and Art Market in Wichita</a>. “Everyone’s I think just happy to get out in the fresh air and sunshine and do some shopping.”

He
 said while the pure number of people attending is a little lower than 
normal, sales have been through the roof. It’s the selling points of 
local food — knowing where it comes from, if chemicals were applied and 
who has handled it — that he thinks are more appealing than ever.

At the <a href="https://kansasgrowninc.com/" target="_blank">Kansas Grown Farmers Market</a>
 across town, Jill Stimatze with Natural to the Corr said they’ve also 
seen lots of new customers this spring.&nbsp;She said she thinks one reason 
is because people feel safer at the market.

“I feel like it’s 
because it’s in the open and actually people are not touching everything
 like they would in a grocery store,” she said.

A few booths 
away, Arno Miller of Miller’s Homestyle Meals told a similar story. He 
and his wife ramped up home-delivery service as the impacts of the 
coronavirus began to set in. In early May, they set a sales record.

“I have no idea whether it will be a long-term benefit or not,” he said. “But for the time being, we’re happy to serve.”

Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/briangrimmett?lang=en">@briangrimmett</a>&nbsp;or
 email him at grimmett@kmuw (dot) org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591216124433.jpeg" alt=" A Walnut Valley Packing employee begins the process of turning a cow into a steak. Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> A Walnut Valley Packing employee begins the process of turning a cow into a steak. Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/pandemic-has-pushed-more-kansans-buy-local-butchers-and-farmers">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — For the last two months, employees
 at Walnut Valley Packing in El Dorado have been working extra hours, 
even Saturdays, to cut, grind and package meat so it can keep up with a 
sudden spike in demand.“I think the first time in March when 
somebody walked into Walmart or Dillon’s and saw that there’s no meat, I
 think people kind of freaked out,” said Matt Carselowey, <a href="http://www.walnutvalleypacking.com/" target="_blank">Walnut Valley Packing</a>’s plant manager.&nbsp;The lack of meat in grocery store chains is due in part to <a href="https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/22993-covid-19-meat-plant-map">c</a><a href="https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/22993-covid-19-meat-plant-map" target="_blank">oronavirus-related slowdowns and closures of meatpacking plants around the country</a>. But those supply chain difficulties are creating an opportunity for local food producers — from cattle to cabbage.Before
 the pandemic, Walnut Valley was preparing to open up a second 
storefront in a nearby town. Carselowey said he had an entire store’s 
worth of inventory in the freezer, ready to be sold.It was barely enough to meet demand. The small, family-owned beef, pork and game processor quickly sold out of everything.“We’ve had a lot of new customers come through the door that might not have came in otherwise,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591216333247.jpeg" alt=" Customers stop into the Walnut Valley retail store while butchers work behind glass. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Customers stop into the Walnut Valley retail store while butchers work behind glass. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Many were just people trying to find meat anywhere they could. But for Carselowey, it was also an opportunity.“I
 think this has kind of opened a lot more people’s eyes to ‘Where is my 
meat coming from,’” he said, adding that people might be realizing too 
that “small processors … can offer a different product or … unique 
products.”Walnut Valley also processes meat for local cattle 
ranchers, who sell it under their own private label (it’s called direct 
marketing).Normally, those ranchers can get meat processed in 
about a month. But now is far from normal, and Walnut Valley’s first 
open slot is May 2021.“We are really struggling to meet demand for our product,” said Linda Pechin-Long, co-owner of <a href="https://www.grazetheprairie.com/" target="_blank">Graze The Prairie cattle ranch in the Flint Hills</a>. “Which is a good problem to have, I guess.”Pechin-Long
 and her husband sell their meat online and at a few local farmers 
markets. But like many direct market ranchers, they’re struggling to get
 a spot at any of the few dozen local processors left in Kansas.“Right
 now, we’re looking at not having summer sausage for Christmas because 
we usually schedule that for processing in October, and they are booked 
through January or February of next year,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591216361857.jpeg" alt=" A sign at the Kansas Grown Farmers Market encourages social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> A sign at the Kansas Grown Farmers Market encourages social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The farmers market rush</h2>The coronavirus also 
appears to be pushing people to tap into other local producers — at 
least more than they normally would. That includes farmers markets.“Over the past three weeks, I’ve had consistent crowds showing up,” said Luke Snow, president of the <a href="https://oldtownfarmandartmarket.com/" target="_blank">Old Town Farm and Art Market in Wichita</a>. “Everyone’s I think just happy to get out in the fresh air and sunshine and do some shopping.”He
 said while the pure number of people attending is a little lower than 
normal, sales have been through the roof. It’s the selling points of 
local food — knowing where it comes from, if chemicals were applied and 
who has handled it — that he thinks are more appealing than ever.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591216400264.jpeg" alt=" Jill Stimatze prepares to bag asparagus for a customer. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Jill Stimatze prepares to bag asparagus for a customer. Credit Brian Grimmett / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>At the <a href="https://kansasgrowninc.com/" target="_blank">Kansas Grown Farmers Market</a>
 across town, Jill Stimatze with Natural to the Corr said they’ve also 
seen lots of new customers this spring.&nbsp;She said she thinks one reason 
is because people feel safer at the market.“I feel like it’s 
because it’s in the open and actually people are not touching everything
 like they would in a grocery store,” she said.A few booths 
away, Arno Miller of Miller’s Homestyle Meals told a similar story. He 
and his wife ramped up home-delivery service as the impacts of the 
coronavirus began to set in. In early May, they set a sales record.“I have no idea whether it will be a long-term benefit or not,” he said. “But for the time being, we’re happy to serve.”Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/briangrimmett?lang=en">@briangrimmett</a>&nbsp;or
 email him at grimmett@kmuw (dot) org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

Pandemic pushed more Kansans to buy from local butchers, farmers

RAEFORD, N.C. (AP) — Protesters streamed into the nation’s capital Saturday for what was expected to be the city’s largest demonstration yet against police brutality, while George Floyd was mourned in his North Carolina hometown, where hundreds of mourners lined up to squeeze into a church to pay their respects.

Military vehicles and officers in fatigues closed off much of downtown Washington to traffic ahead of the planned march, which authorities estimated would attract up to 200,000 people outraged by Floyd’s death 12 days ago at the hands of police in Minneapolis.

Large protests also took place across the U.S. and in major cities overseas, including London, Paris, Berlin and Sydney, Australia.

In Raeford, the small town near Fayetteville where Floyd was born 46 years ago, a long line of people formed outside a church, waiting to enter in small groups for a chance to look at his coffin. A private memorial service was scheduled for later in the day.

The line of people waiting to view the coffin included families with young children and teenagers. One young woman wore a green and gold graduation cap and gown as she walked beside her parents. Most people wore surgical masks or cloth face coverings.

When a hearse bearing Floyd’s coffin arrived, chants of “Black Power,” “George Floyd” and “No justice, no peace,” echoed from beneath the covered entrance.

“It could have been me. It could have been my brother, my father, any of my friends who are black,” said a man in the crowd, Erik Carlos of Fayetteville. “It was a heavy hit, especially knowing that George Floyd was born near my hometown. It made me feel very vulnerable at first.”

Washington has seen daily protests for the past week — largely peaceful, with people marching back and forth from the White House to the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said local officials expected 100,000 to 200,000 protesters for Saturday’s event. The White House has been fortified with new fencing and extra security precautions.

President Donald Trump had no public events on his daily schedule. But about 100 protesters gathered at his golf resort in Doral, Florida, just outside Miami. The protest was organized by Latinos for Black Lives Matter.

In general, demonstrations in the U.S. have shifted to a calmer tenor in recent days after frequent episodes of violence in the early stages. Protesters and their supporters in public office say they are determined to turn the extraordinary outpouring of anger and grief into change, notably in regard to policing policies.

College student Maiya Mack, 19, who protested in Columbus, Ohio, said a key step would be effective discipline against police officers implicated in racist acts of violence.

“Police who have performed misconduct, they should be held accountable, not just you can still be at home, you can still get paid,” she said.

Theresa Bland, 68, a retired teacher and realtor protesting at the Ohio Statehouse, had a broader agenda in mind

“I’m looking at affordable housing, political justice, prison reform, the whole ball of wax,” she said. “The world is so askew right now ... with people dying from the virus and people dying in prisons and people dying because there’s not enough food.”

There already have been some tangible steps.

In Minneapolis, city officials have agreed to ban chokeholds and neck restraints by police and to require officers to try to stop any other officers they see using improper force. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state’s police training program to stop teaching officers how to use a neck hold that blocks the flow of blood to the brain.

Democrats in Congress are preparing a sweeping package of police reforms, which are expected to included changes to police-accountability laws, such as revising immunity provisions and creating a database of police use-of-force incidents. Revamped training requirements are planned, too, among them a ban on chokeholds.

The House is expected to vote by month’s end. With Democrats in the majority, the bills will almost certainly pass the House. The outcome in the Senate is less certain. Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the chamber would look at the issues, but he has not endorsed any particular legislation.

Meanwhile in New York, two Buffalo police officers were charged with assault Saturday after a video showed them shoving a 75-year-old protester, who fell backwards onto the pavement and was hospitalized. Both pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and were released without bail. The two were suspended without pay Friday after a TV crew captured the confrontation.

In London, thousands of demonstrators endured cold rain to gather in Parliament Square, a traditional venue for protests. They knelt in silence and chanted Floyd’s name before applauding his memory and then starting a march.

In Paris, hundreds of people gathered at the Place de la Concorde in defiance of a police ban on large protests. Members of the multiracial crowd chanted the name of Adama Traore, a black man whose death while in police custody a few years ago has been likened by critics of French police to Floyd’s death in Minnesota.

Chris Trabot, who works for Paris City Hall and is black, said Floyd’s death triggered his decision to demonstrate for the first time in his life.

Trabot said, “The violence happens every day. The moment has come to say stop.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591527693710.png" alt="Protest march on Saturday in Washington photo courtesy WUSA TV" />
 <figcaption>Protest march on Saturday in Washington photo courtesy WUSA TV</figcaption>
 </figure>RAEFORD, N.C. (AP) — Protesters streamed into the nation’s capital Saturday for what was expected to be the city’s largest demonstration yet against police brutality, while George Floyd was mourned in his North Carolina hometown, where hundreds of mourners lined up to squeeze into a church to pay their respects.Military vehicles and officers in fatigues closed off much of downtown Washington to traffic ahead of the planned march, which authorities estimated would attract up to 200,000 people outraged by Floyd’s death 12 days ago at the hands of police in Minneapolis.Large protests also took place across the U.S. and in major cities overseas, including London, Paris, Berlin and Sydney, Australia.In Raeford, the small town near Fayetteville where Floyd was born 46 years ago, a long line of people formed outside a church, waiting to enter in small groups for a chance to look at his coffin. A private memorial service was scheduled for later in the day.The line of people waiting to view the coffin included families with young children and teenagers. One young woman wore a green and gold graduation cap and gown as she walked beside her parents. Most people wore surgical masks or cloth face coverings.When a hearse bearing Floyd’s coffin arrived, chants of “Black Power,” “George Floyd” and “No justice, no peace,” echoed from beneath the covered entrance.“It could have been me. It could have been my brother, my father, any of my friends who are black,” said a man in the crowd, Erik Carlos of Fayetteville. “It was a heavy hit, especially knowing that George Floyd was born near my hometown. It made me feel very vulnerable at first.”Washington has seen daily protests for the past week — largely peaceful, with people marching back and forth from the White House to the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said local officials expected 100,000 to 200,000 protesters for Saturday’s event. The White House has been fortified with new fencing and extra security precautions.President Donald Trump had no public events on his daily schedule. But about 100 protesters gathered at his golf resort in Doral, Florida, just outside Miami. The protest was organized by Latinos for Black Lives Matter.In general, demonstrations in the U.S. have shifted to a calmer tenor in recent days after frequent episodes of violence in the early stages. Protesters and their supporters in public office say they are determined to turn the extraordinary outpouring of anger and grief into change, notably in regard to policing policies.College student Maiya Mack, 19, who protested in Columbus, Ohio, said a key step would be effective discipline against police officers implicated in racist acts of violence.“Police who have performed misconduct, they should be held accountable, not just you can still be at home, you can still get paid,” she said.Theresa Bland, 68, a retired teacher and realtor protesting at the Ohio Statehouse, had a broader agenda in mind“I’m looking at affordable housing, political justice, prison reform, the whole ball of wax,” she said. “The world is so askew right now ... with people dying from the virus and people dying in prisons and people dying because there’s not enough food.”There already have been some tangible steps.In Minneapolis, city officials have agreed to ban chokeholds and neck restraints by police and to require officers to try to stop any other officers they see using improper force. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state’s police training program to stop teaching officers how to use a neck hold that blocks the flow of blood to the brain.Democrats in Congress are preparing a sweeping package of police reforms, which are expected to included changes to police-accountability laws, such as revising immunity provisions and creating a database of police use-of-force incidents. Revamped training requirements are planned, too, among them a ban on chokeholds.The House is expected to vote by month’s end. With Democrats in the majority, the bills will almost certainly pass the House. The outcome in the Senate is less certain. Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said the chamber would look at the issues, but he has not endorsed any particular legislation.Meanwhile in New York, two Buffalo police officers were charged with assault Saturday after a video showed them shoving a 75-year-old protester, who fell backwards onto the pavement and was hospitalized. Both pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault and were released without bail. The two were suspended without pay Friday after a TV crew captured the confrontation.In London, thousands of demonstrators endured cold rain to gather in Parliament Square, a traditional venue for protests. They knelt in silence and chanted Floyd’s name before applauding his memory and then starting a march.In Paris, hundreds of people gathered at the Place de la Concorde in defiance of a police ban on large protests. Members of the multiracial crowd chanted the name of Adama Traore, a black man whose death while in police custody a few years ago has been likened by critics of French police to Floyd’s death in Minnesota.Chris Trabot, who works for Paris City Hall and is black, said Floyd’s death triggered his decision to demonstrate for the first time in his life.Trabot said, “The violence happens every day. The moment has come to say stop.”___

Massive, peaceful protests across US demand police reform

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas education officials are preparing to reopen the state’s schools in the fall but acknowledged that the coronavirus pandemic will force widespread changes.

“We want Kansans to know that we will have school in the fall, and that we are prepared to do everything within our power to keep staff, students and families safe,” Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson said in a news release Friday.

Watson assembled a task force in May to develop comprehensive guidance for safely reopening school buildings. One team is working working on guidance about sanitation, social distancing, busing and food served, while another is focused on instruction.

The Kansas State Board of Education will consider the guidelines at its July meeting.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly became the nation’s first governor to order the closure of school buildings on March 17.

Statewide, Kansas has recorded 232 deaths and 10,300 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591480312815.png" alt="Virus testing image courtesy Sedgwick Co. Health Department" />
 <figcaption>Virus testing image courtesy Sedgwick Co. Health Department</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas education officials are preparing to reopen the state’s schools in the fall but acknowledged that the coronavirus pandemic will force widespread changes.“We want Kansans to know that we will have school in the fall, and that we are prepared to do everything within our power to keep staff, students and families safe,” Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson said in a news release Friday.Watson assembled a task force in May to develop comprehensive guidance for safely reopening school buildings. One team is working working on guidance about sanitation, social distancing, busing and food served, while another is focused on instruction.The Kansas State Board of Education will consider the guidelines at its July meeting.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly became the nation’s first governor to order the closure of school buildings on March 17.Statewide, Kansas has recorded 232 deaths and 10,300 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University.In the Wichita area, where some of <a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/">the largest increases</a> have been recorded, Sedgwick County Health Officer Dr. Garold Minns is raising concerns that the area may have moved too fast to fully reopen the economy. Minns is urging residents to continue social distancing practices, wearing protective face coverings and working from home when possible.