LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Two University of Kansas students are suing the school over refunds and other funds they believe they should have received after the classes and activities were moved online or canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Several universities across the country are facing similar lawsuits. The two anonymous female students based in Johnson County contend the university has refused to issue refunds for campus fees for activities they could not participate in since being sent home in March. 

They also object to receiving credits for dining packages, rather than refunds. Kansas spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said the university would not comment on the lawsuit.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Two University of Kansas students are suing the school over refunds and other funds they believe they should have received after the classes and activities were moved online or canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Several universities across the country are facing similar lawsuits. The two anonymous female students based in Johnson County contend the university has refused to issue refunds for campus fees for activities they could not participate in since being sent home in March. They also object to receiving credits for dining packages, rather than refunds. Kansas spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said the university would not comment on the lawsuit.

University of Kansas sued over refunds related to COVID-19

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The mayor of Atlanta, one of dozens of U.S. cities hit by massive protests, has a message for demonstrators: “If you were out protesting last night, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week.”

As more beaches, churches, mosques, schools and businesses reopened worldwide, civil unrest in the United States over repeated racial injustice is raising fears of new coronavirus outbreaks in a country that has more infections and deaths than anywhere else in the world. And it’s not just in the U.S. — London hosted a large anti-racism protest Sunday that certainly violated government social distancing rules.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms warned that “there is still a pandemic in America that’s killing black and brown people at higher numbers.”

“We have two crises that are sandwiched on top of one other,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.

Violent protests over the death of George Floyd by police have shaken the country from Minneapolis to New York, from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Some protests have turned into riots and clashes with police, leaving stores in flames and torched cars in the streets. City officials ordered overnight curfews to quell the violence.

Floyd, a black man, died May 25 in Minneapolis saying “I can’t breathe” after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck. It was the latest in a series of deaths of black men and women at the hands of police in America.

Health experts fear that silent carriers of the virus could unwittingly infect others at protests where people are packed cheek to jowl, many without masks, many chanting, singing or shouting. The virus is dispersed by microscopic droplets in the air when people cough, sneeze, sing or talk.

“Whether they’re fired up or not, that doesn’t prevent them from getting the virus,” said Bradley Pollock, chairman of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California, Davis.

The U.S. has seen over 1.7 million infections and nearly 104,000 deaths in the pandemic, which has disproportionately affected racial minorities in a nation that does not have universal health care.

Even the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bee77c500c44054c48448d6f1f2602b7">many protesters</a>&nbsp;wearing masks are not guaranteed protection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cloth masks keep infected people from spreading the virus but are not designed to protect wearers from getting it.

Mass protests in connection with Floyd’s death were also being held in Europe.

In London,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/37d16fa47a8cbc13e12552eb8516cc61">thousands of people marched Sunday&nbsp;</a>chanting “No justice! No peace!” while carrying signs reading “Justice for George Floyd” and “Racism is a global issue.” Many demonstrators were not wearing masks and most in the crowd at Trafalgar Square were packed closely together.

In Berlin, hundreds of protesters picketed outside the U.S. Embassy on Saturday night under the motto: “Justice for George Floyd.” Others marched near the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Many Americans returned Sunday to in-person church services for the first time in weeks and tens of thousands of mosques reopened across the Middle East, but countries from India to Colombia still saw rising numbers of new infections.

Nearly 6.1 million infections have been reported worldwide, with nearly 370,000 people dying, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The true death toll is believed to be significantly higher, since many victims died of the virus without ever being tested.

The situation worsened Sunday in India, where new daily cases topped 8,000 for the first time and 193 more deaths were reported. Despite that, India still is easing restrictions on shops and public transport in more states beginning Monday, although subways and schools will remain closed.

In Saudi Arabia, mosques reopened Sunday for the first time in more than two months, but Islam’s holiest site in Mecca remained closed. In Jerusalem, throngs of worshippers waited outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque before it reopened. Many wore surgical masks and waited for temperature checks as they entered.

In Bogota, the capital of Colombia, authorities were locking down an area of nearly 1.5 million people as cases continued to rise. Mayor Claudia Lopez said no one in the working-class Kennedy area — inaugurated by the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961 — will be allowed out, except to seek food or medical care or in case of an emergency. Factories must also close. The area has reported more nearly 2,500 infections and hospitals are reaching their limits.

In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Sunday that he would ask Parliament for a final two-week extension of the nation’s state of emergency that is set to expire on June 7. That allows the government to keep ordering lockdown measures to control its coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed at least 27,000 lives, many of them in overwhelmed nursing homes.

“We have almost reached safe harbor,” Sánchez said.

Elite sporting events will be allowed to resume in England starting Monday without spectators, paving the way for the planned June 17 return of the Premier League, the world’s richest soccer competition.

But England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam warned that the situation remained precarious even before Sunday’s protest in London. Britain has seen nearly 38,500 virus deaths, the second-highest in the world after the United States, and the Conservative government has been criticized for being to slow to react to the crisis.

“I believe this is also a very dangerous moment,” he said. “We have to get this right.”

At the Vatican, Pope Francis cautioned people against being pessimistic as they emerge from coronavirus lockdowns.

During Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark Pentecost Sunday, Francis noted a tendency to say that “nothing will return as before.” That kind of thinking, Francis said, guarantees that “the one thing that certainly does not return is hope.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590798329342.png" alt="Many protesters wore masks in Kansas City over the weekend&nbsp; -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Many protesters wore masks in Kansas City over the weekend&nbsp; -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — The mayor of Atlanta, one of dozens of U.S. cities hit by massive protests, has a message for demonstrators: “If you were out protesting last night, you probably need to go get a COVID test this week.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591018759361.png" alt="Protest rally Sunday night in Lawrence&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Protest rally Sunday night in Lawrence&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>As more beaches, churches, mosques, schools and businesses reopened worldwide, civil unrest in the United States over repeated racial injustice is raising fears of new coronavirus outbreaks in a country that has more infections and deaths than anywhere else in the world. And it’s not just in the U.S. — London hosted a large anti-racism protest Sunday that certainly violated government social distancing rules.Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms warned that “there is still a pandemic in America that’s killing black and brown people at higher numbers.”“We have two crises that are sandwiched on top of one other,” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590940900894.png" alt="Protest rally Saturday in Wichita -photo courtesy Police Chief Gordon Ramsay" />
 <figcaption>Protest rally Saturday in Wichita -photo courtesy Police Chief Gordon Ramsay</figcaption>
 </figure>Violent protests over the death of George Floyd by police have shaken the country from Minneapolis to New York, from Atlanta to Los Angeles. Some protests have turned into riots and clashes with police, leaving stores in flames and torched cars in the streets. City officials ordered overnight curfews to quell the violence.Floyd, a black man, died May 25 in Minneapolis saying “I can’t breathe” after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck. It was the latest in a series of deaths of black men and women at the hands of police in America.Health experts fear that silent carriers of the virus could unwittingly infect others at protests where people are packed cheek to jowl, many without masks, many chanting, singing or shouting. The virus is dispersed by microscopic droplets in the air when people cough, sneeze, sing or talk.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925459037.png" alt="Protest rally on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City on Saturday evening-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protest rally on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City on Saturday evening-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>“Whether they’re fired up or not, that doesn’t prevent them from getting the virus,” said Bradley Pollock, chairman of the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California, Davis.The U.S. has seen over 1.7 million infections and nearly 104,000 deaths in the pandemic, which has disproportionately affected racial minorities in a nation that does not have universal health care.Even the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/bee77c500c44054c48448d6f1f2602b7">many protesters</a>&nbsp;wearing masks are not guaranteed protection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cloth masks keep infected people from spreading the virus but are not designed to protect wearers from getting it.Mass protests in connection with Floyd’s death were also being held in Europe.In London,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/37d16fa47a8cbc13e12552eb8516cc61">thousands of people marched Sunday&nbsp;</a>chanting “No justice! No peace!” while carrying signs reading “Justice for George Floyd” and “Racism is a global issue.” Many demonstrators were not wearing masks and most in the crowd at Trafalgar Square were packed closely together.In Berlin, hundreds of protesters picketed outside the U.S. Embassy on Saturday night under the motto: “Justice for George Floyd.” Others marched near the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.Many Americans returned Sunday to in-person church services for the first time in weeks and tens of thousands of mosques reopened across the Middle East, but countries from India to Colombia still saw rising numbers of new infections.Nearly 6.1 million infections have been reported worldwide, with nearly 370,000 people dying, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The true death toll is believed to be significantly higher, since many victims died of the virus without ever being tested.The situation worsened Sunday in India, where new daily cases topped 8,000 for the first time and 193 more deaths were reported. Despite that, India still is easing restrictions on shops and public transport in more states beginning Monday, although subways and schools will remain closed.In Saudi Arabia, mosques reopened Sunday for the first time in more than two months, but Islam’s holiest site in Mecca remained closed. In Jerusalem, throngs of worshippers waited outside the Al-Aqsa Mosque before it reopened. Many wore surgical masks and waited for temperature checks as they entered.In Bogota, the capital of Colombia, authorities were locking down an area of nearly 1.5 million people as cases continued to rise. Mayor Claudia Lopez said no one in the working-class Kennedy area — inaugurated by the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961 — will be allowed out, except to seek food or medical care or in case of an emergency. Factories must also close. The area has reported more nearly 2,500 infections and hospitals are reaching their limits.In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Sunday that he would ask Parliament for a final two-week extension of the nation’s state of emergency that is set to expire on June 7. That allows the government to keep ordering lockdown measures to control its coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed at least 27,000 lives, many of them in overwhelmed nursing homes.“We have almost reached safe harbor,” Sánchez said.Elite sporting events will be allowed to resume in England starting Monday without spectators, paving the way for the planned June 17 return of the Premier League, the world’s richest soccer competition.But England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam warned that the situation remained precarious even before Sunday’s protest in London. Britain has seen nearly 38,500 virus deaths, the second-highest in the world after the United States, and the Conservative government has been criticized for being to slow to react to the crisis.“I believe this is also a very dangerous moment,” he said. “We have to get this right.”At the Vatican, Pope Francis cautioned people against being pessimistic as they emerge from coronavirus lockdowns.During Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark Pentecost Sunday, Francis noted a tendency to say that “nothing will return as before.” That kind of thinking, Francis said, guarantees that “the one thing that certainly does not return is hope.”___

Massive protests raise fears of new virus outbreaks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across America again Sunday, with peaceful demonstrations against police killings of black people overshadowed by unrest that ravaged cities from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and flared near the White House.

City and state officials deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers, enacted strict curfews and shut down mass transit systems to slow protesters’ movements, but that did little to stop parts of many cities from again erupting into mayhem.

Protesters in Philadelphia hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at police, officials said, while thieves in more than 20 California cities smashed their way into businesses and ran off with as much as they could carry — boxes of sneakers, armloads of clothes, and cellphones, TVs and other electronics.

In Minneapolis, a tanker truck driver drove into a massive crowd of demonstrators nearly a week after the death of George Floyd, a black man who pleaded for air as an officer pressed a knee into his neck. No protesters appeared to be injured, and the driver was arrested.

Tensions spiked outside the White House, the scene of three days of demonstrations, where police fired tear gas and stun grenades into a crowd of more than 1,000 chanting protesters across the street in Lafayette Park. The crowd ran away and piled up road signs and plastic barriers to light a raging fire in a nearby street. Some pulled an American flag from a building and threw it into the blaze.

A building in the park with bathrooms and a maintenance office went up in flames and people broke into banks and jewelry stores. As demonstrations persisted past curfew, Washington police said they were responding to multiple fires set around the capital.

The entire Washington, D.C., National Guard — roughly 1,700 soldiers — was called in to help control the protests, according to two Defense Department officials who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

As the protests grew, President Donald Trump retweeted conservative commentator Buck Sexton who called for “overwhelming force” against violent demonstrators.

Secret Service agents had rushed Trump to a White House bunker on Friday night as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion, some of them throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades. The president spent nearly an hour in the bunker designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to publicly discuss private matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. The account was confirmed by an administration official who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, visited the site of protests in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, and talked to some of the demonstrators. He also wrote a post on Medium expressing empathy for those despairing about the killing of George Floyd.

At least 4,400 people have been arrested over days of protests, according to a tally compiled by The Associated Press. Arrests ranged from stealing and blocking highways to breaking curfew.

In Salt Lake City, an activist leader condemned the destruction of property but said broken buildings shouldn’t be mourned on the same level as black men like Floyd.

“Maybe this country will get the memo that we are sick of police murdering unarmed black men,” said Lex Scott, founder of Black Lives Matter Utah. “Maybe the next time a white police officer decides to pull the trigger, he will picture cities burning.”

Yet thousands still marched peacefully in Phoenix, Albuquerque and other cities, with some calling for an end to the fires, vandalism and theft, saying it weakened calls for justice and reform.

“They keep killing our people,” said Mahira Louis, 15, who marched with her mother and several hundred others in a peaceful protest through downtown Boston. “I’m so sick and tired of it.”

But as night fell that demonstration also descended into violence, with some protesters throwing rocks, bricks and glass bottles at officers and lighting a police vehicle on fire.

In downtown Atlanta, authorities fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said two officers had been fired and three placed on desk duty after video showed police surrounding a car Saturday, then pulling a woman out of the passenger seat and appearing to use a stun gun on a man who was driving. Police Chief Erika Shields called it “really shocking to watch.”

In downtown Los Angeles, a police SUV accelerated into several protesters in a street, knocking two people to the ground. The pair got up and ran onto the sidewalk.

Nearby in Santa Monica, not far from a peaceful demonstration, a group broke into a Gap and a Vans sneaker store, where people walked out with boxes of shoes. Others shattered the windows of an REI outdoor supply store and snatched folding chairs, a bike and backpacks. A fire broke out at a restaurant across the street.

About 30 miles&nbsp; south, as hundreds of protesters gathered in Long Beach, scores of thieves swarmed into nearby outlet stores. A steady stream emerged from a Forever 21 store carrying armloads of clothing. Some hauled it away in garbage bags, and a few stopped outside to change into stolen items.

In Minneapolis, Derek Chauvin the officer who pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck, has been charged with murder, but protesters are demanding the other three officers at the scene be prosecuted. All four were fired.

“We’re not done,” said Darnella Wade, an organizer for Black Lives Matter in neighboring St. Paul, where thousands gathered peacefully in front of the state Capitol as state patrolmen and National Guard soldiers lined up in front of about a dozen military-style armored vehicles. “They sent us the military, and we only asked them for arrests.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz brought in thousands of National Guard soldiers on Saturday to help quell violence that had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in Minneapolis over days of protests. That appeared to help minimize unrest both Saturday and Sunday.

Disgust over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/48ef05c89be618a6f6d2bc9a7754aced">generations of racism</a>&nbsp;in a country founded by slaveholders combined with a string of recent racially charged killings to stoke the anger. Adding to that was angst from months of lockdowns brought on by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae27c6f51e97f4eaddb528b3f5027848">coronavirus pandemic</a>, which has disproportionately hurt communities of color, not only in terms of infections but in job losses and economic stress.

The droves of people congregating for demonstrations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1e76c11205a2c551394627667147d208">threatened to trigger new outbreaks</a>, a fact overshadowed by the boiling tensions.

The scale of the coast-to-coast protests rivaled the historic demonstrations of the civil rights and Vietnam War eras.

Curfews were imposed in major cities around the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. About 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen were activated in 15 states and Washington, D.C.

In Indianapolis, two people were reported dead in bursts of downtown violence this weekend, adding to deaths reported in Detroit and Minneapolis in recent days.

In tweets Sunday, Trump blamed anarchists and the media for fueling violence. Attorney General William Barr pointed a finger at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/32bc90566697388645f01675359dcad1">“far left extremist” groups</a>. Police chiefs and politicians accused outsiders of coming in and causing the problems.

At the Minneapolis intersection where Floyd was killed, people gathered with brooms and flowers, saying it was important to protect what they called a “sacred space.”

Among in Minneapolis was Michael Brown Sr., the father of Michael Brown, whose killing by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, set off unrest in 2014.

“I understand what this family is feeling. I understand what this community is feeling,” he said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Protesters took to the streets in Kansas City and across America again Sunday, with violence flaring in pockets of largely peaceful demonstrations fueled by the killings of black people at the hands of police.

A truck driver drove into demonstrators in Minneapolis nearly a week after George Floyd died there after pleading for air as an officer pressed a knee into his neck.

Protests sprang up from Boston to San Francisco, with people stealing from stores in broad daylight in Philadelphia, cities across California and elsewhere. In Minneapolis, the tanker truck sped into a peaceful crowd of thousands on a closed highway, but no one appeared to have been hit, authorities said.

The Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter that the driver’s actions were “very disturbing” and he was arrested. Protesters swarmed the truck and jumped on the hood, even as it kept moving. Police then came in force to clear the highway in the city where violence erupted after the death last week of Floyd, who was black. The protests quickly spread to dozens of cities large and small, and have lasted for days.

The officer who pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck for several minutes has been charged with murder, but protesters demand the other three officers at the scene be prosecuted. All four were fired.

“We’re not done,” said Darnella Wade, organizer for Black Lives Matter in neighboring St. Paul, where thousands gathered peacefully in front of the state Capitol. “They sent us the military, and we only asked them for arrests.”

Minnesota’s governor brought in thousands of National Guard soldiers to help quell violence that had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in Minneapolis over days of protests. The immense deployment appeared to have worked Saturday night, when there was comparatively little destruction.

On Sunday, in a display of force, long lines of state patrolmen and National Guard soldiers were lined up in front of the Capitol, facing the demonstrators, with perhaps a dozen military-style armored vehicles behind them.

For a second day, the protests reached to the White House, where chants could be heard from around 1,000 demonstrators just across the street in Lafayette Park as they faced police in riot gear behind barricades. The scene was defiant but peaceful, though police used flash bangs to stop another group from reaching the park.

As the protests grew, President Donald Trump retweeted conservative commentator Buck Sexton who called for “overwhelming force.”

Outside the White House, Gabrielle Labrosse-Ellis, 30, from Maryland, held a sign that said, “Humanize black lives.”

“This is unacceptable. This is the last straw,” she said. “It has to be.”

Labrosse-Ellis said she planned to leave before dark because she feared a repeat of the violence that occurred Saturday night.

Across America, demonstrators called again for an end to police violence and many joined police in pleading for an end to the looting Many also joined police in pleading for a stop to fires, vandalism and theft, saying it weakened calls for justice and reform.

“They keep killing our people,” said Mahira Louis, 15, who marched with her mother and several hundred others through downtown Boston. “I’m so sick and tired of it.”

The scale of the protests, sweeping from coast to coast and unfolding on a single night, rivaled the historic demonstrations of the civil rights and Vietnam War eras.

There was looting on both ends of California, with video in San Jose showing several people in hoods and masks fleeing a Macy’s department store with large bags, while people in Long Beach carried away armloads of clothing and other goods from the smashed windows of stores at a shopping mall after curfew. As police moved in to try to restore order, some protesters ran in to confront the thieves and condemn them for undercutting the message of the demonstration.

In tweets Sunday, Trump blamed anarchists and the media for fueling the violence. Attorney General William Barr pointed a finger at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/32bc90566697388645f01675359dcad1">“far left extremist” groups</a>. Police chiefs and politicians accused outsiders of coming in and causing the problems.

At the Minneapolis intersection where Floyd was killed, people gathered with brooms and flowers, saying it was important to protect what they called a “sacred space.” The intersection was blocked with the traffic cones while a ring of flowers was laid out.

Among those descending on Minneapolis was Michael Brown Sr., the father of Michael Brown, whose killing by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, set off unrest in 2014.

In Indianapolis, two people were reported dead in bursts of downtown violence, adding to deaths reported in Detroit and Minneapolis in recent days.

Buildings around the U.S. were defaced with spray-painted messages, from the facade of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to the historic Hay-Adams hotel near the White House. Some of Floyd’s gasped last words — “I can’t breathe” — were repeated, alongside anti-police messages.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590977417965.png" alt="Police on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City used&nbsp; gas to move a crowd of protesters Sunday -image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City used&nbsp; gas to move a crowd of protesters Sunday -image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across America again Sunday, with peaceful demonstrations against police killings of black people overshadowed by unrest that ravaged cities from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and flared near the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The vehicle set on fire belongs to <a href="https://twitter.com/41actionnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@41actionnews</a>. <a href="https://t.co/6QKQenHYGr">https://t.co/6QKQenHYGr</a>&mdash; kcpolice (@kcpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/kcpolice/status/1267295956908859392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>City and state officials deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers, enacted strict curfews and shut down mass transit systems to slow protesters’ movements, but that did little to stop parts of many cities from again erupting into mayhem.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Due to the items being thrown at officers, the protest has been declared an unlawful assembly. Everyone must leave.&mdash; kcpolice (@kcpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/kcpolice/status/1267268370736521218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Protesters in Philadelphia hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at police, officials said, while thieves in more than 20 California cities smashed their way into businesses and ran off with as much as they could carry — boxes of sneakers, armloads of clothes, and cellphones, TVs and other electronics.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590969658167.png" alt="Truck driver on what was supposed to be closed I-35W in Minneapolis Sunday evening -image courtesy WCCO TV" />
 <figcaption>Truck driver on what was supposed to be closed I-35W in Minneapolis Sunday evening -image courtesy WCCO TV</figcaption>
 </figure>In Minneapolis, a tanker truck driver drove into a massive crowd of demonstrators nearly a week after the death of George Floyd, a black man who pleaded for air as an officer pressed a knee into his neck. No protesters appeared to be injured, and the driver was arrested.Tensions spiked outside the White House, the scene of three days of demonstrations, where police fired tear gas and stun grenades into a crowd of more than 1,000 chanting protesters across the street in Lafayette Park. The crowd ran away and piled up road signs and plastic barriers to light a raging fire in a nearby street. Some pulled an American flag from a building and threw it into the blaze.A building in the park with bathrooms and a maintenance office went up in flames and people broke into banks and jewelry stores. As demonstrations persisted past curfew, Washington police said they were responding to multiple fires set around the capital.The entire Washington, D.C., National Guard — roughly 1,700 soldiers — was called in to help control the protests, according to two Defense Department officials who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.As the protests grew, President Donald Trump retweeted conservative commentator Buck Sexton who called for “overwhelming force” against violent demonstrators.Secret Service agents had rushed Trump to a White House bunker on Friday night as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the executive mansion, some of them throwing rocks and tugging at police barricades. The president spent nearly an hour in the bunker designed for use in emergencies like terrorist attacks, according to a Republican close to the White House who was not authorized to publicly discuss private matters and spoke on condition of anonymity. The account was confirmed by an administration official who also spoke on condition of anonymity.Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, visited the site of protests in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, and talked to some of the demonstrators. He also wrote a post on Medium expressing empathy for those despairing about the killing of George Floyd.At least 4,400 people have been arrested over days of protests, according to a tally compiled by The Associated Press. Arrests ranged from stealing and blocking highways to breaking curfew.In Salt Lake City, an activist leader condemned the destruction of property but said broken buildings shouldn’t be mourned on the same level as black men like Floyd.“Maybe this country will get the memo that we are sick of police murdering unarmed black men,” said Lex Scott, founder of Black Lives Matter Utah. “Maybe the next time a white police officer decides to pull the trigger, he will picture cities burning.”Yet thousands still marched peacefully in Phoenix, Albuquerque and other cities, with some calling for an end to the fires, vandalism and theft, saying it weakened calls for justice and reform.“They keep killing our people,” said Mahira Louis, 15, who marched with her mother and several hundred others in a peaceful protest through downtown Boston. “I’m so sick and tired of it.”But as night fell that demonstration also descended into violence, with some protesters throwing rocks, bricks and glass bottles at officers and lighting a police vehicle on fire.In downtown Atlanta, authorities fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of demonstrators. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said two officers had been fired and three placed on desk duty after video showed police surrounding a car Saturday, then pulling a woman out of the passenger seat and appearing to use a stun gun on a man who was driving. Police Chief Erika Shields called it “really shocking to watch.”In downtown Los Angeles, a police SUV accelerated into several protesters in a street, knocking two people to the ground. The pair got up and ran onto the sidewalk.Nearby in Santa Monica, not far from a peaceful demonstration, a group broke into a Gap and a Vans sneaker store, where people walked out with boxes of shoes. Others shattered the windows of an REI outdoor supply store and snatched folding chairs, a bike and backpacks. A fire broke out at a restaurant across the street.About 30 miles&nbsp; south, as hundreds of protesters gathered in Long Beach, scores of thieves swarmed into nearby outlet stores. A steady stream emerged from a Forever 21 store carrying armloads of clothing. Some hauled it away in garbage bags, and a few stopped outside to change into stolen items.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590840957949.png" alt="Derek Chauvin photo County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Derek Chauvin photo County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>In Minneapolis, Derek Chauvin the officer who pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck, has been charged with murder, but protesters are demanding the other three officers at the scene be prosecuted. All four were fired.“We’re not done,” said Darnella Wade, an organizer for Black Lives Matter in neighboring St. Paul, where thousands gathered peacefully in front of the state Capitol as state patrolmen and National Guard soldiers lined up in front of about a dozen military-style armored vehicles. “They sent us the military, and we only asked them for arrests.”Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz brought in thousands of National Guard soldiers on Saturday to help quell violence that had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in Minneapolis over days of protests. That appeared to help minimize unrest both Saturday and Sunday.Disgust over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/48ef05c89be618a6f6d2bc9a7754aced">generations of racism</a>&nbsp;in a country founded by slaveholders combined with a string of recent racially charged killings to stoke the anger. Adding to that was angst from months of lockdowns brought on by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae27c6f51e97f4eaddb528b3f5027848">coronavirus pandemic</a>, which has disproportionately hurt communities of color, not only in terms of infections but in job losses and economic stress.The droves of people congregating for demonstrations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1e76c11205a2c551394627667147d208">threatened to trigger new outbreaks</a>, a fact overshadowed by the boiling tensions.The scale of the coast-to-coast protests rivaled the historic demonstrations of the civil rights and Vietnam War eras.Curfews were imposed in major cities around the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. About 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen were activated in 15 states and Washington, D.C.In Indianapolis, two people were reported dead in bursts of downtown violence this weekend, adding to deaths reported in Detroit and Minneapolis in recent days.In tweets Sunday, Trump blamed anarchists and the media for fueling violence. Attorney General William Barr pointed a finger at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/32bc90566697388645f01675359dcad1">“far left extremist” groups</a>. Police chiefs and politicians accused outsiders of coming in and causing the problems.At the Minneapolis intersection where Floyd was killed, people gathered with brooms and flowers, saying it was important to protect what they called a “sacred space.”Among in Minneapolis was Michael Brown Sr., the father of Michael Brown, whose killing by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, set off unrest in 2014.“I understand what this family is feeling. I understand what this community is feeling,” he said.--------KANSAS CITY (AP) — Protesters took to the streets in Kansas City and across America again Sunday, with violence flaring in pockets of largely peaceful demonstrations fueled by the killings of black people at the hands of police.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Bottles are now being thrown at officers at 47th and Main.&mdash; kcpolice (@kcpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/kcpolice/status/1267266092197609473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A truck driver drove into demonstrators in Minneapolis nearly a week after George Floyd died there after pleading for air as an officer pressed a knee into his neck.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590969658167.png" alt="Truck driver on what was supposed to be closed I-35W in Minneapolis Sunday evening -image courtesy WCCO TV" />
 <figcaption>Truck driver on what was supposed to be closed I-35W in Minneapolis Sunday evening -image courtesy WCCO TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Protests sprang up from Boston to San Francisco, with people stealing from stores in broad daylight in Philadelphia, cities across California and elsewhere. In Minneapolis, the tanker truck sped into a peaceful crowd of thousands on a closed highway, but no one appeared to have been hit, authorities said.The Minnesota State Patrol said on Twitter that the driver’s actions were “very disturbing” and he was arrested. Protesters swarmed the truck and jumped on the hood, even as it kept moving. Police then came in force to clear the highway in the city where violence erupted after the death last week of Floyd, who was black. The protests quickly spread to dozens of cities large and small, and have lasted for days.The officer who pressed his knee onto Floyd’s neck for several minutes has been charged with murder, but protesters demand the other three officers at the scene be prosecuted. All four were fired.“We’re not done,” said Darnella Wade, organizer for Black Lives Matter in neighboring St. Paul, where thousands gathered peacefully in front of the state Capitol. “They sent us the military, and we only asked them for arrests.”Minnesota’s governor brought in thousands of National Guard soldiers to help quell violence that had damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in Minneapolis over days of protests. The immense deployment appeared to have worked Saturday night, when there was comparatively little destruction.On Sunday, in a display of force, long lines of state patrolmen and National Guard soldiers were lined up in front of the Capitol, facing the demonstrators, with perhaps a dozen military-style armored vehicles behind them.For a second day, the protests reached to the White House, where chants could be heard from around 1,000 demonstrators just across the street in Lafayette Park as they faced police in riot gear behind barricades. The scene was defiant but peaceful, though police used flash bangs to stop another group from reaching the park.As the protests grew, President Donald Trump retweeted conservative commentator Buck Sexton who called for “overwhelming force.”Outside the White House, Gabrielle Labrosse-Ellis, 30, from Maryland, held a sign that said, “Humanize black lives.”“This is unacceptable. This is the last straw,” she said. “It has to be.”Labrosse-Ellis said she planned to leave before dark because she feared a repeat of the violence that occurred Saturday night.Across America, demonstrators called again for an end to police violence and many joined police in pleading for an end to the looting Many also joined police in pleading for a stop to fires, vandalism and theft, saying it weakened calls for justice and reform.“They keep killing our people,” said Mahira Louis, 15, who marched with her mother and several hundred others through downtown Boston. “I’m so sick and tired of it.”Disgust over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/48ef05c89be618a6f6d2bc9a7754aced">generations of racism</a>&nbsp;in a country founded by slaveholders combined with a string of recent racially charged killings to stoke the anger. Adding to that was angst from months of lockdowns brought on by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ae27c6f51e97f4eaddb528b3f5027848">coronavirus pandemic</a>, which has disproportionately hurt communities of color, not only in terms of infections but in job losses and economic stress.The droves of people congregating for demonstrations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1e76c11205a2c551394627667147d208">threatened to trigger new outbreaks</a>, a fact overshadowed by the boiling tensions.“Maybe this country will get the memo that we are sick of police murdering unarmed black men,” said Lex Scott, founder of Black Lives Matter Utah. “Maybe the next time a white police officer decides to pull the trigger, he will picture cities burning.”The scale of the protests, sweeping from coast to coast and unfolding on a single night, rivaled the historic demonstrations of the civil rights and Vietnam War eras.Curfews were imposed in major cities around the U.S., including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. About 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen were activated in 15 states and Washington, D.C.But still trouble flared.There was looting on both ends of California, with video in San Jose showing several people in hoods and masks fleeing a Macy’s department store with large bags, while people in Long Beach carried away armloads of clothing and other goods from the smashed windows of stores at a shopping mall after curfew. As police moved in to try to restore order, some protesters ran in to confront the thieves and condemn them for undercutting the message of the demonstration.In tweets Sunday, Trump blamed anarchists and the media for fueling the violence. Attorney General William Barr pointed a finger at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/32bc90566697388645f01675359dcad1">“far left extremist” groups</a>. Police chiefs and politicians accused outsiders of coming in and causing the problems.At the Minneapolis intersection where Floyd was killed, people gathered with brooms and flowers, saying it was important to protect what they called a “sacred space.” The intersection was blocked with the traffic cones while a ring of flowers was laid out.Among those descending on Minneapolis was Michael Brown Sr., the father of Michael Brown, whose killing by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, set off unrest in 2014.“I understand what this family is feeling. I understand what this community is feeling,” he said.In Indianapolis, two people were reported dead in bursts of downtown violence, adding to deaths reported in Detroit and Minneapolis in recent days.Buildings around the U.S. were defaced with spray-painted messages, from the facade of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York to the historic Hay-Adams hotel near the White House. Some of Floyd’s gasped last words — “I can’t breathe” — were repeated, alongside anti-police messages.___

Unrest overshadows peaceful US protests for another night

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Hundreds of people in Kansas’ largest city flocked to bars and clubs on the first weekend they were open after Gov. Laura Kelly and local officials lifted restrictions meant to check the spread of the coronavirus.

By 11 p.m. Friday, bars in the Old Town district of downtown Wichita were packing in customers for a celebration after being closed for two months. Knots of people moved through the streets, hugging friends they met and, in some cases, turning cartwheels.

“It feels like a freaking high school reunion,” said Megan Gilbert, who works in Old Town and for a roofing company. “I’m seeing all of these people that it seems like I haven’t seen in years.”

Bars and clubs in Wichita reopened as the state reported Friday that coronavirus cases had surpassed 9,200. Johns Hopkins University on Monday reported more than 9,600 cases, with 217 COVID-19-related deaths.

Kelly this week converted her directives for a phased reopening of the state’s economy into recommendations for local officials to follow. Her reopening plan would have kept bars and nightclubs closed over the weekend.

The Democratic governor had been under pressure for weeks from the Republican-controlled Legislature to reopen the economy more quickly. She had planned to keep some restrictions in place until June 23, but ceded the power to set the rules to county officials after vetoing GOP legislation that would have curbed the state’s power to direct the pandemic response.

After the governor’s action, the Sedgwick County Commission decided not to enact any binding rules on businesses, allow Wichita bars and night clubs to reopen.

Dr. Lee Norman, the state’s health secretary, called bars and clubs “inherently dangerous” and suggested that people stay away. Several popular Old Town night spots remained closed, some out of concern for the coronavirus and others working to hire and train new staff to replace workers who aren’t coming back after being laid off for two months.

Bars put out fewer tables in an effort to keep at least 6 feet of separation between groups of customers, but most patrons weren’t social distancing. They stood in the spaces between tables and danced in clusters on the dance floor. The only masks to be seen were worn by some servers.

Across the county line in Sumner County, hundreds of people tried their luck at the state-owned Kansas Star Casino.

It was far from capacity but a large enough turnout to surprise 70-year-old Janis Jackson, of Wichita, who was there with her husband to celebrate his birthday.

It was her first leisure excursion since the pandemic hit in March. Slot machines were open on the ends of rows to maintain social distancing.

About a quarter of the casino’s patrons, including Jackson, wore protective masks. She also said hand sanitizer in her purse kept her feeling safer.

“I can’t live in fear,” she said. “I just try to be cautious.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590531890706.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly's reopening plan would have kept bars and nightclubs closed over the weekend." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly's reopening plan would have kept bars and nightclubs closed over the weekend.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Hundreds of people in Kansas’ largest city flocked to bars and clubs on the first weekend they were open after Gov. Laura Kelly and local officials lifted restrictions meant to check the spread of the coronavirus.By 11 p.m. Friday, bars in the Old Town district of downtown Wichita were packing in customers for a celebration after being closed for two months. Knots of people moved through the streets, hugging friends they met and, in some cases, turning cartwheels.“It feels like a freaking high school reunion,” said Megan Gilbert, who works in Old Town and for a roofing company. “I’m seeing all of these people that it seems like I haven’t seen in years.”Bars and clubs in Wichita reopened as the state reported Friday that coronavirus cases had surpassed 9,200. Johns Hopkins University on Monday reported more than 9,600 cases, with 217 COVID-19-related deaths.Kelly this week converted her directives for a phased reopening of the state’s economy into recommendations for local officials to follow. Her reopening plan would have kept bars and nightclubs closed over the weekend.The Democratic governor had been under pressure for weeks from the Republican-controlled Legislature to reopen the economy more quickly. She had planned to keep some restrictions in place until June 23, but ceded the power to set the rules to county officials after vetoing GOP legislation that would have curbed the state’s power to direct the pandemic response.After the governor’s action, the Sedgwick County Commission decided not to enact any binding rules on businesses, allow Wichita bars and night clubs to reopen.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590778958989.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman held a media briefing Friday afternoon in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman held a media briefing Friday afternoon in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Lee Norman, the state’s health secretary, called bars and clubs “inherently dangerous” and suggested that people stay away. Several popular Old Town night spots remained closed, some out of concern for the coronavirus and others working to hire and train new staff to replace workers who aren’t coming back after being laid off for two months.Bars put out fewer tables in an effort to keep at least 6 feet of separation between groups of customers, but most patrons weren’t social distancing. They stood in the spaces between tables and danced in clusters on the dance floor. The only masks to be seen were worn by some servers.Across the county line in Sumner County, hundreds of people tried their luck at the state-owned Kansas Star Casino.It was far from capacity but a large enough turnout to surprise 70-year-old Janis Jackson, of Wichita, who was there with her husband to celebrate his birthday.It was her first leisure excursion since the pandemic hit in March. Slot machines were open on the ends of rows to maintain social distancing.About a quarter of the casino’s patrons, including Jackson, wore protective masks. She also said hand sanitizer in her purse kept her feeling safer.“I can’t live in fear,” she said. “I just try to be cautious.”

Bars, clubs in largest Kansas city packed after rules eased

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

Just after 6:30 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to 1414 SW Bryon, Apt. #2, on a report of a stabbing, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz. 

They located a woman suffering from several stab wounds and she was later transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Detectives followed up some investigative leads and located the suspect identified as 27-year-old Shane Tanner Powell on Friday in the 800 block of N. Kansas Avenue in Topeka.

 He was taken into custody, transported to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590857556304.png" alt="Powell -photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Powell -photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have made an arrest.Just after 6:30 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to 1414 SW Bryon, Apt. #2, on a report of a stabbing, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz. They located a woman suffering from several stab wounds and she was later transported to a local hospital for treatment.Detectives followed up some investigative leads and located the suspect identified as 27-year-old Shane Tanner Powell on Friday in the 800 block of N. Kansas Avenue in Topeka. He was taken into custody, transported to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, according to Munoz.

Kansas man jailed for alleged knife attack on woman

Naee Williams speaks to the group about the injustice that is happening in the world. Photos by Tabitha Barr.

HUTCHINSON— With vehicles adorned with the words "Black Lives Matter" and other signs, a group gathered for a peaceful protest in the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. Local teacher Naee Williams put the gathering together with support from the local chapter of the NAACP and Hutchinson Police.&nbsp;

“I actually noticed some underlying racism here in the community of Hutchinson,” Williams said. “And then with everything going on with the George Floyd case and the Ahmaud Arbery case, I decided we needed to use our platform here to take a stand.”

Guests included officials from the NAACP along with Rep. Jason Probst and Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho.

“Tell me what you want and I’ll do it,” Probst announced. “Day after day I see or read another story of people of color suffering unjust deaths.”

The meeting was set by Williams with support from the NAACP and a meeting with the Hutchinson Police Department.

“The events are tragic and unfortunate,” Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper said. “What’s amazing about Hutchinson and amazing about what’s happened here is that everybody came together with an effort to build things up as opposed to tearing them down.”

Samtella talks about the white/brown privilege that needs to be used for good to help black lives. Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper holds a sign to bring awareness to the situation.

Hooper met with Williams on Thursday and was very positive about the meeting.

“It was a really great conversation, I think we met for a couple of hours on Thursday . . . with her and her group and members of the NAACP,” Hooper said. “She’s a really great young lady, had the right frame of mind and really wanted to get the message out.”

Darrell Pope with the local chapter of the NAACP says it was great to see a large and diverse crowd on hand despite the hot weather.

“We all live in this world together,” Pope said. “It takes all of us to make sure that if there’s justice for one, there’s justice for everyone. And so when we all come together and work together and support what’s right, then that’s when we see people living together and peaceful coexistence.”&nbsp;

Protesters hold signs to show support for those like George Floyd.

For Williams, she hopes it is the start of continued dialogue between law enforcement and the community to address the issues.

“Our political leaders definitely need to do what they're supposed to prevent history from repeating itself,” Williams said. “People just need to stop being so oblivious to what’s going on.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590964256594.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Naee Williams speaks to the group about the injustice that is happening in the world. Photos by Tabitha Barr.By ROD ZOOKHutch PostHUTCHINSON— With vehicles adorned with the words "Black Lives Matter" and other signs, a group gathered for a peaceful protest in the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. Local teacher Naee Williams put the gathering together with support from the local chapter of the NAACP and Hutchinson Police.&nbsp;“I actually noticed some underlying racism here in the community of Hutchinson,” Williams said. “And then with everything going on with the George Floyd case and the Ahmaud Arbery case, I decided we needed to use our platform here to take a stand.”Guests included officials from the NAACP along with Rep. Jason Probst and Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho.“Tell me what you want and I’ll do it,” Probst announced. “Day after day I see or read another story of people of color suffering unjust deaths.”The meeting was set by Williams with support from the NAACP and a meeting with the Hutchinson Police Department.“The events are tragic and unfortunate,” Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper said. “What’s amazing about Hutchinson and amazing about what’s happened here is that everybody came together with an effort to build things up as opposed to tearing them down.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590964278230.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Samtella talks about the white/brown privilege that needs to be used for good to help black lives. Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper holds a sign to bring awareness to the situation.Hooper met with Williams on Thursday and was very positive about the meeting.“It was a really great conversation, I think we met for a couple of hours on Thursday . . . with her and her group and members of the NAACP,” Hooper said. “She’s a really great young lady, had the right frame of mind and really wanted to get the message out.”Darrell Pope with the local chapter of the NAACP says it was great to see a large and diverse crowd on hand despite the hot weather.“We all live in this world together,” Pope said. “It takes all of us to make sure that if there’s justice for one, there’s justice for everyone. And so when we all come together and work together and support what’s right, then that’s when we see people living together and peaceful coexistence.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590964813456.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Protesters hold signs to show support for those like George Floyd.For Williams, she hopes it is the start of continued dialogue between law enforcement and the community to address the issues.“Our political leaders definitely need to do what they're supposed to prevent history from repeating itself,” Williams said. “People just need to stop being so oblivious to what’s going on.”

Peaceful protest Sunday in Hutchinson

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City officials imposed a partial curfew and pleaded for calm on Sunday after overnight protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and law enforcement's treatment of blacks devolved into violence that left several businesses damaged and at least 10 people injured.

Mayor Quinton Lucas said the curfew would last from 8 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday for city parks, downtown, the Westport entertainment district and the County Club Plaza, where officers responded with tear gas Saturday night after protesters smashed windows, burned a police car and threw rocks and bottles at police. People will be subject to arrest if they violate the curfew, which has not been extended beyond Monday morning.

More than 1,000 people participated in Saturday's protest and hundreds more, including U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, gathered Sunday afternoon for another protest.

Lucas and Police Chief Rick Smith vowed to protect peaceful participants, but they said local police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri National Guard would be on hand to try to prevent further violence.

“Peaceful demonstration is not breaking a bunch of windows at a cupcake shop, or raiding through a Gucci store,” Lucas said, adding that he had talked to a black businessman who was among owners trying to assess damage to their businesses on Sunday. “That's not what this is about. What this is about is making sure we can find justice and finding a way to build justice in our community."

Police arrested 85 people and at least 10 people were injured, including two officers who remained hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries Sunday. Smith said every officer on the front lines during the violence was struck by some type of object. A spokesperson for the city's municipal court said 22 citations involving 19 people were issued between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday near the Country Club Plaza.

Oluwatoyin Keji Akinmoladun, 22, of Grandview, an organizer of the protests, said she urged people in the crowds to remain peaceful Saturday but some protesters began throwing objects when police began using tear gas. She also claimed police arrested people who weren't throwing objects, including a man playing a trumpet and another person who was not part of the protest.

“I blame police for the damage,” she said. “No one wants to damage Kansas City, damage a beautiful spot like the Country Club Plaza. But (police) cared a lot more about the Plaza than they do about black people. They didn't want to let us have our First Amendment rights, just worried about getting us off the street. I really wanted a peaceful protest but I can't control everyone."

Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said flash bangs were used, but he could not confirm reports from some protesters that rubber bullets also were used.

Gov. Mike Parson called up the National Guard on Saturday to respond to violence throughout the state, if needed. Smith said he asked for National Guard troops for Kansas City to help officers who are stretched thin by the protests.

Violence also erupted overnight Saturday in Ferguson, the St. Louis suburb that's name has been synonymous with the police treatment of blacks since the 2014 fatal shooting of a black teenager, Michael Brown, by a white police officer. Seven officers were injured after being hit with rocks, bottles or fireworks and at least 11 police and fire vehicles were damaged, as was the Ferguson police headquarters and many businesses, said Sgt. Benjamin Granda of the St. Louis County police department.

A “significant amount” of gunfire was heard in the area of the protests throughout the night, but no arrests were made, Granda said.

Protests were held Sunday in Springfield, Columbia and Boonville, with no immediate reports of violence.

The Missouri cities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/55933b8695e36337a6bfe96728b3e7f3">joined dozens&nbsp;</a>around the country where protests were held over the death Monday of Floyd, who was black and handcuffed when a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin Floyd's neck to the ground during an arrest as Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three others who took part in the arrest were fired, and Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The other three officers haven't been charged.

Akinmoladun said many black residents believe Kansas City police wrongfully shot and killed three black men in recent months and they want such shootings to end.

“We want (police) to understand that we will keep protesting,” she said. “We are here and we are watching and if these shootings continue, we will be back.”

KANSAS CITY —Mayor Quinton Lucas and KCMO Police Chief Rick Smith held a news conference Sunday afternoon to announce there is an 8 p.m. curfew for the Country Club Plaza, Westport and Downtown business districts, as well as all city parks. It extends until 6 a.m. Monday.

Lucas reported police made 85 arrests during Saturday's protests. There was also significant damage to businesses on the Plaza. 

Nearly all officers were hit with frozen water bottles or rocks during Saturday's confrontation, according to Lucas. Two officers hospitalized from being struck - one with an injury to the temple and one with a lacerated liver, according to Chief Smith.

Business owners in Kansas City were assessing damage and cleaning up Sunday after protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the general treatment of blacks by police devolved into violence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590947856878.png" alt="KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas during his Sunday afternoon news conference to announce a curfew" />
 <figcaption>KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas during his Sunday afternoon news conference to announce a curfew</figcaption>
 </figure>LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City officials imposed a partial curfew and pleaded for calm on Sunday after overnight protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and law enforcement's treatment of blacks devolved into violence that left several businesses damaged and at least 10 people injured.Mayor Quinton Lucas said the curfew would last from 8 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday for city parks, downtown, the Westport entertainment district and the County Club Plaza, where officers responded with tear gas Saturday night after protesters smashed windows, burned a police car and threw rocks and bottles at police. People will be subject to arrest if they violate the curfew, which has not been extended beyond Monday morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925459037.png" alt="Protests Saturday at the&nbsp; Country Club Plaza in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Protests Saturday at the&nbsp; Country Club Plaza in Kansas City -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>More than 1,000 people participated in Saturday's protest and hundreds more, including U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, gathered Sunday afternoon for another protest.Lucas and Police Chief Rick Smith vowed to protect peaceful participants, but they said local police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri National Guard would be on hand to try to prevent further violence.“Peaceful demonstration is not breaking a bunch of windows at a cupcake shop, or raiding through a Gucci store,” Lucas said, adding that he had talked to a black businessman who was among owners trying to assess damage to their businesses on Sunday. “That's not what this is about. What this is about is making sure we can find justice and finding a way to build justice in our community."Police arrested 85 people and at least 10 people were injured, including two officers who remained hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries Sunday. Smith said every officer on the front lines during the violence was struck by some type of object. A spokesperson for the city's municipal court said 22 citations involving 19 people were issued between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday near the Country Club Plaza.Oluwatoyin Keji Akinmoladun, 22, of Grandview, an organizer of the protests, said she urged people in the crowds to remain peaceful Saturday but some protesters began throwing objects when police began using tear gas. She also claimed police arrested people who weren't throwing objects, including a man playing a trumpet and another person who was not part of the protest.“I blame police for the damage,” she said. “No one wants to damage Kansas City, damage a beautiful spot like the Country Club Plaza. But (police) cared a lot more about the Plaza than they do about black people. They didn't want to let us have our First Amendment rights, just worried about getting us off the street. I really wanted a peaceful protest but I can't control everyone."Police spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said flash bangs were used, but he could not confirm reports from some protesters that rubber bullets also were used.Gov. Mike Parson called up the National Guard on Saturday to respond to violence throughout the state, if needed. Smith said he asked for National Guard troops for Kansas City to help officers who are stretched thin by the protests.Violence also erupted overnight Saturday in Ferguson, the St. Louis suburb that's name has been synonymous with the police treatment of blacks since the 2014 fatal shooting of a black teenager, Michael Brown, by a white police officer. Seven officers were injured after being hit with rocks, bottles or fireworks and at least 11 police and fire vehicles were damaged, as was the Ferguson police headquarters and many businesses, said Sgt. Benjamin Granda of the St. Louis County police department.A “significant amount” of gunfire was heard in the area of the protests throughout the night, but no arrests were made, Granda said.Protests were held Sunday in Springfield, Columbia and Boonville, with no immediate reports of violence.The Missouri cities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/55933b8695e36337a6bfe96728b3e7f3">joined dozens&nbsp;</a>around the country where protests were held over the death Monday of Floyd, who was black and handcuffed when a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin Floyd's neck to the ground during an arrest as Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. The officer, Derek Chauvin, and three others who took part in the arrest were fired, and Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and manslaughter. The other three officers haven't been charged.Akinmoladun said many black residents believe Kansas City police wrongfully shot and killed three black men in recent months and they want such shootings to end.“We want (police) to understand that we will keep protesting,” she said. “We are here and we are watching and if these shootings continue, we will be back.”----------KANSAS CITY —Mayor Quinton Lucas and KCMO Police Chief Rick Smith held a news conference Sunday afternoon to announce there is an 8 p.m. curfew for the Country Club Plaza, Westport and Downtown business districts, as well as all city parks. It extends until 6 a.m. Monday.Lucas reported police made 85 arrests during Saturday's protests. There was also significant damage to businesses on the Plaza. Nearly all officers were hit with frozen water bottles or rocks during Saturday's confrontation, according to Lucas. Two officers hospitalized from being struck - one with an injury to the temple and one with a lacerated liver, according to Chief Smith.Business owners in Kansas City were assessing damage and cleaning up Sunday after protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the general treatment of blacks by police devolved into violence.

KC mayor imposes curfew, pleads for peaceful demonstration

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas suspect in connection with two incidents at a residence in Shawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 5:30 a.m. Friday, deputies responded to a domestic incident in the 700 block of SW Greenview Drive, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

At the residence, a&nbsp;reported that a male suspect identified as 47-year-old&nbsp;Jason G. Gfeller of Topeka  was possibly inside the residence and possibly armed with a weapon. 

Deputies cleared the residence but did not locate Gfeller.

&nbsp;Members of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrants Unit began searching for him, according to Anderson.

At approximately 11:30a.m. deputies located him at motel in the 700 block of SW Fairlawn Road. 

Police arrested Jason G. Gfeller into custody, transported him for questioning and then booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requsted charges of&nbsp;Domestic aggravated assault, Aggravated intimidation of a victim, Aggravated criminal threat and Criminal damage to property.

Gfeller was also arrested on charges stemming from another incident occurring on May 24 including Aggravated assault, Criminal damage to property and Assault

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590858323912.png" alt="Gfeller&nbsp; has previous convictions making a false writing, DUI(2x, Flee or attempt to elude police and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Gfeller&nbsp; has previous convictions making a false writing, DUI(2x, Flee or attempt to elude police and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas suspect in connection with two incidents at a residence in Shawnee County.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 5:30 a.m. Friday, deputies responded to a domestic incident in the 700 block of SW Greenview Drive, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.At the residence, a&nbsp;reported that a male suspect identified as 47-year-old&nbsp;Jason G. Gfeller of Topeka was possibly inside the residence and possibly armed with a weapon. Deputies cleared the residence but did not locate Gfeller.&nbsp;Members of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrants Unit began searching for him, according to Anderson.At approximately 11:30a.m. deputies located him at motel in the 700 block of SW Fairlawn Road. Police arrested Jason G. Gfeller into custody, transported him for questioning and then booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requsted charges of&nbsp;Domestic aggravated assault, Aggravated intimidation of a victim, Aggravated criminal threat and Criminal damage to property.Gfeller was also arrested on charges stemming from another incident occurring on May 24 including Aggravated assault, Criminal damage to property and Assault

Deputies find, arrest wanted Kansas felon at motel 

Target and CVS are temporarily closing certain locations after some were damaged during weekend protests over the death of George Floyd.

Target said it was closing 105 stores in 10 states, including 46 stores in&nbsp;California&nbsp;and 33 in&nbsp;Minnesota, where the company is based and where the protests over Floyd's death began. Target is also closing some stores in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Oregon, Michigan and Texas.

CVS didn't say how many stores it had closed, but it said the shuttered locations are in more than 20 states and the District of Columbia. A spokeswoman for the company said pharmacies at closed stores will reroute customers to a nearby CVS so they can get prescriptions filled.

“Employee and customer safety is our top priority, so we are continually monitoring protests as they occur in the communities we serve and will close stores, if needed, to help ensure the safety of employees and customers,” CVS said in a statement.

Floyd, who was black and handcuffed, died while being arrested by Minneapolis police for suspicion of passing a counterfeit bill on May 25. Cellphone video showed that a white officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes while Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. 

Chauvin now faces murder and manslaughter charges. The other three officers who took part in the arrest were fired but haven't been charged.

“We are heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and the pain it is causing communities across the country,” Target said in a statement. “Our focus will remain on our team members’ safety and helping our community heal.”

Target said employees at stores that are closed will be paid for up to 14 days, including premiums they are earning due to the coronavirus pandemic. They will also be able to work at Target locations that remain open.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590953587047.png" alt="Rioters looting at a Target store in Minneapolis on Thursday night -image courtesy WCCO" />
 <figcaption>Rioters looting at a Target store in Minneapolis on Thursday night -image courtesy WCCO</figcaption>
 </figure>BY DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated PressTarget and CVS are temporarily closing certain locations after some were damaged during weekend protests over the death of George Floyd.Target said it was closing 105 stores in 10 states, including 46 stores in&nbsp;California&nbsp;and 33 in&nbsp;Minnesota, where the company is based and where the protests over Floyd's death began. Target is also closing some stores in Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Georgia, Oregon, Michigan and Texas.CVS didn't say how many stores it had closed, but it said the shuttered locations are in more than 20 states and the District of Columbia. A spokeswoman for the company said pharmacies at closed stores will reroute customers to a nearby CVS so they can get prescriptions filled.“Employee and customer safety is our top priority, so we are continually monitoring protests as they occur in the communities we serve and will close stores, if needed, to help ensure the safety of employees and customers,” CVS said in a statement.Floyd, who was black and handcuffed, died while being arrested by Minneapolis police for suspicion of passing a counterfeit bill on May 25. Cellphone video showed that a white officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes while Floyd pleaded for air and eventually stopped moving. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590840957949.png" alt="Derek Chauvin photo County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Derek Chauvin photo County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>Chauvin now faces murder and manslaughter charges. The other three officers who took part in the arrest were fired but haven't been charged.“We are heartbroken by the death of George Floyd and the pain it is causing communities across the country,” Target said in a statement. “Our focus will remain on our team members’ safety and helping our community heal.”Target said employees at stores that are closed will be paid for up to 14 days, including premiums they are earning due to the coronavirus pandemic. They will also be able to work at Target locations that remain open.

Target, CVS temporarily close stores due to protest dangers

States have tried for years to tackle the skyrocketing price of air ambulances

BY CELIS LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-27/kansas-supreme-court-mulling-whether-the-state-can-police-medical-bills-from-air-pirates">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Fed-up with sticker shock from air ambulance bills, one insurer has pressed its case all the way to the Kansas Supreme Court.

A justice on the state’s high court seemed sympathetic, even as he 
questioned whether state courts hold the power to tackle practices that 
critics see as predatory.

“We understand that you’re trying to 
fight federally sanctioned air pirates,” Justice Dan Biles told an 
attorney for the insurance company during <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FR0p04ZRA0U?autoplay=1&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">oral arguments</a> in Topeka in January. “But … it seems like your fight is with Congress.”

The Kansas Supreme Court has yet to rule in <a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/117903.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">the case</a>. It involves <a href="http://www.flyeaglemed.com/" target="_blank">EagleMed</a>,
 a company that billed Travelers Insurance tens of thousands of dollars 
in 2013 for each of four people flown from rural areas to hospitals in 
Wichita and Garden City.

The insurer balked at the bills and offered far lower payouts based on Medicare rates.

Massive
 bills for air ambulance rides are common. The Kansas News Service wrote
 this week about Alvin Letner, a retired school teacher facing <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/a-kansans-50k-medical-bill-shows-that-you-dont-always-owe-what-youre-charged" target="_blank">a nearly $50,000 bill</a> for a 30-mile transport following a traffic accident.

Such bills are notoriously tricky for states to rein in, because 
federal law shields air ambulance companies from many of their attempts 
at regulation. Because the EagleMed case involved injured workers, 
however, the insurer hoped that would give Kansas authority to review 
EagleMed’s charges.

The Kansas Division of Workers’ Compensation sets pay rates for other medical services stemming from workplace injuries.

In <a href="https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/16/16-8064.pdf" target="_blank">a similar case from Wyoming</a>, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2017 that states couldn’t set rates.

Wyoming
 had limited its workers’ compensation fund to paying out $3,900 for 
transporting an injured worker by helicopter (plus a modest mileage 
fee).

Air ambulance operators sued, and federal judges agreed that
 Wyoming couldn’t set that price. Why? Because medical helicopters and 
planes fall under the same 1978 federal aviation law that regulates 
airlines and prevents states from setting airline prices.

Kansas 
is one of at least two states where supreme courts are considering 
similar cases. In the Kansas case, Travelers Insurance argues the state 
can review air ambulance charges without actually setting their rates 
the way Wyoming had done.

The other pending case is in <a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/Case.aspx?cn=18-0216&amp;coa=cossup" target="_blank">Texas</a>.

In 2015, <a href="https://www.tdi.texas.gov/medcases/soah15/454-15-0681.M4(R).pdf" target="_blank">an administrative judge</a> there concluded he could weigh
 in on prices. He pegged the fair payout for air ambulances in workers’ 
compensation cases at about 1.5 times Medicare rates. That, he said, 
ensured the helicopter company “a reasonable profit.”

Outrage at air ambulance prices is fueled in part by dramatic increases. <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/697684.pdf" target="_blank">Federal investigators</a> compared 2010 and 2014 prices and found they had doubled.

Those investigators also found that air ambulances aren’t subject to the same type of <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/686167.pdf" target="_blank">price competition</a> as airlines.

A
 person unconscious after a traffic accident can’t call around for price
 quotes or ask emergency responders to find an air ambulance within 
their insurance network.

Air ambulance companies, meanwhile, argue that higher prices for some privately insured customers help balance out <a href="https://www.xcenda.com/news-and-events/news/0417_air-medical-services-costs" target="_blank">lower payments</a> for serving people on Medicare, Medicaid or without insurance.

Some companies also argue that a sharp increase in air ambulances <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/686167.pdf" target="_blank">vying for patients</a> has cut into each chopper’s workload, making it harder to maintain profit margins.

Still, the growing chorus of complaints over hefty bills has prompted Congress to create <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/AAPB" target="_blank">a special committee</a> that’s looking into the problem. That body met for the first time in January.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.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/2020/5/1590675173475.png" alt="Crysta Henthorne / KCUR" />
 <figcaption>Crysta Henthorne / KCUR</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>States have tried for years to tackle the skyrocketing price of air ambulances</h2>BY CELIS LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-27/kansas-supreme-court-mulling-whether-the-state-can-police-medical-bills-from-air-pirates">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Fed-up with sticker shock from air ambulance bills, one insurer has pressed its case all the way to the Kansas Supreme Court.A justice on the state’s high court seemed sympathetic, even as he 
questioned whether state courts hold the power to tackle practices that 
critics see as predatory.“We understand that you’re trying to 
fight federally sanctioned air pirates,” Justice Dan Biles told an 
attorney for the insurance company during <a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FR0p04ZRA0U?autoplay=1&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">oral arguments</a> in Topeka in January. “But … it seems like your fight is with Congress.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590675381919.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Supreme Court has yet to rule in <a href="https://www.kscourts.org/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/117903.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">the case</a>. It involves <a href="http://www.flyeaglemed.com/" target="_blank">EagleMed</a>,
 a company that billed Travelers Insurance tens of thousands of dollars 
in 2013 for each of four people flown from rural areas to hospitals in 
Wichita and Garden City.The insurer balked at the bills and offered far lower payouts based on Medicare rates.Massive
 bills for air ambulance rides are common. The Kansas News Service wrote
 this week about Alvin Letner, a retired school teacher facing <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-26/a-kansans-50k-medical-bill-shows-that-you-dont-always-owe-what-youre-charged" target="_blank">a nearly $50,000 bill</a> for a 30-mile transport following a traffic accident.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590675306655.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Such bills are notoriously tricky for states to rein in, because 
federal law shields air ambulance companies from many of their attempts 
at regulation. Because the EagleMed case involved injured workers, 
however, the insurer hoped that would give Kansas authority to review 
EagleMed’s charges.The Kansas Division of Workers’ Compensation sets pay rates for other medical services stemming from workplace injuries.In <a href="https://www.ca10.uscourts.gov/opinions/16/16-8064.pdf" target="_blank">a similar case from Wyoming</a>, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2017 that states couldn’t set rates.Wyoming
 had limited its workers’ compensation fund to paying out $3,900 for 
transporting an injured worker by helicopter (plus a modest mileage 
fee).Air ambulance operators sued, and federal judges agreed that
 Wyoming couldn’t set that price. Why? Because medical helicopters and 
planes fall under the same 1978 federal aviation law that regulates 
airlines and prevents states from setting airline prices.Kansas 
is one of at least two states where supreme courts are considering 
similar cases. In the Kansas case, Travelers Insurance argues the state 
can review air ambulance charges without actually setting their rates 
the way Wyoming had done.The other pending case is in <a href="http://www.search.txcourts.gov/Case.aspx?cn=18-0216&amp;coa=cossup" target="_blank">Texas</a>.In 2015, <a href="https://www.tdi.texas.gov/medcases/soah15/454-15-0681.M4(R).pdf" target="_blank">an administrative judge</a> there concluded he could weigh
 in on prices. He pegged the fair payout for air ambulances in workers’ 
compensation cases at about 1.5 times Medicare rates. That, he said, 
ensured the helicopter company “a reasonable profit.”Outrage at air ambulance prices is fueled in part by dramatic increases. <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/697684.pdf" target="_blank">Federal investigators</a> compared 2010 and 2014 prices and found they had doubled.Those investigators also found that air ambulances aren’t subject to the same type of <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/686167.pdf" target="_blank">price competition</a> as airlines.A
 person unconscious after a traffic accident can’t call around for price
 quotes or ask emergency responders to find an air ambulance within 
their insurance network.Air ambulance companies, meanwhile, argue that higher prices for some privately insured customers help balance out <a href="https://www.xcenda.com/news-and-events/news/0417_air-medical-services-costs" target="_blank">lower payments</a> for serving people on Medicare, Medicaid or without insurance.Some companies also argue that a sharp increase in air ambulances <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/686167.pdf" target="_blank">vying for patients</a> has cut into each chopper’s workload, making it harder to maintain profit margins.Still, the growing chorus of complaints over hefty bills has prompted Congress to create <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/AAPB" target="_blank">a special committee</a> that’s looking into the problem. That body met for the first time in January.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.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.

High court mulling if state can police medical bills from 'air pirates'

Police on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Saturday photo courtesy KCTV

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Saturday evening activated the Missouri National Guard to help respond to protests around the state that he described as creating hazards to safety, welfare and property that are beyond the abilities of local authorities to manage.

Protests continued Saturday in Kansas City and elsewhere in the state in response to the death of George Floyd after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck during an arrest.

In Kansas City, five people were arrested in Saturday evening protests in and near the Country Club Plaza shopping and entertainment district, the Kansas City Star reported. Mayor Quinton Lucas had earlier told reporters that he knew there was a lot of pain in the community and nation and called on the hundreds gathered near the Plaza to think about change and to protest peacefully.

Local media reported that police used tear gas to force protesters out of streets and onto sidewalks in the Plaza area. The Plaza managers announced earlier in the day that the shops and restaurants in the district would close Saturday afternoon and remain closed Sunday because of planned protests.

On the other side of the state, the Post-Dispatch reported about 500 people were protesting peacefully Saturday evening in Ferguson, where 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in 2014. The resulting protests strengthened the fledgling Black Lifes Matter movement. Protesters marched in other St. Louis-area communities earlier in the day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925487256.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Police on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Saturday photo courtesy KCTVKANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Saturday evening activated the Missouri National Guard to help respond to protests around the state that he described as creating hazards to safety, welfare and property that are beyond the abilities of local authorities to manage.Protests continued Saturday in Kansas City and elsewhere in the state in response to the death of George Floyd after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck during an arrest.In Kansas City, five people were arrested in Saturday evening protests in and near the Country Club Plaza shopping and entertainment district, the Kansas City Star reported. Mayor Quinton Lucas had earlier told reporters that he knew there was a lot of pain in the community and nation and called on the hundreds gathered near the Plaza to think about change and to protest peacefully.Local media reported that police used tear gas to force protesters out of streets and onto sidewalks in the Plaza area. The Plaza managers announced earlier in the day that the shops and restaurants in the district would close Saturday afternoon and remain closed Sunday because of planned protests.On the other side of the state, the Post-Dispatch reported about 500 people were protesting peacefully Saturday evening in Ferguson, where 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in 2014. The resulting protests strengthened the fledgling Black Lifes Matter movement. Protesters marched in other St. Louis-area communities earlier in the day.On Friday night, protesters blocked a downtown St. Louis interstate, set a fire in the road and broke into trucks.Protesters blocked Interstate 44 for nearly three hours after taking to the streets Friday night, the Post-Dispatch reported. One protester died after climbing between two trailers of a FedEx truck and was killed when it drove away. Police said they were investigating.The crowd dispersed after a few gunshots were fired. Police did not report any arrests.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925459037.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tear gas used on protesters near the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City on Saturday photo courtesy KCTVIn Kansas City, police used pepper spray on people marching through its Westport bar-and-entertainment district Friday night and Saturday morning, The Star reported.Kansas City Police Capt. David Jackson said the pepper spray was used on about 50 “non-lawful protesters” around 1 a.m. Saturday in order to disperse them. Jackson said some in the crowd had thrown rocks and bottles, shattered three business windows and damaged police cars.At least five people were arrested for offenses such as disorderly conduct, Jackson said.Benny Cardella, the owner of a hair-styling shop. said barber tools were taken from his business after the front window was broken but more valuable TVs and artwork were not removed.