MCPHERSON —This week in McPherson, barber Luke Aichele was threatened with an arrest warrant if he continued to work during virus crisis – even though he had already taken thorough safety measures, First District Congressman Roger Marshall and Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle wrote on social media.

Marshall wrote, “In a time of crisis, our country’s foundation in liberty, and our state’s founding in freedom are more important than ever.

When coronavirus hit our state, Kansans were willing to comply within reason to protect their friends and neighbors. But now, we’re seeing an administration in Kansas who is quicker to scrap our God-given freedoms than finding ways to protect our rights, our livelihoods and our local businesses.

I spoke to Luke on the phone today. It's worth adding that because Luke is self-employed – and is the only breadwinner in his household – he is still not able to access unemployment benefits due to the delay and failures of the current administration in Topeka, even though the federal government made those benefits available a long time ago.

I was raised by a Chief of Police. I was raised to respect the law. But I was also raised with basic common sense. Telling someone they cannot work to feed their family, offering them no help, and then threatening their arrest if they safely try to earn a living is wrong.

MCPHERSON —This week in McPherson, barber Luke Aichele was threatened with an arrest warrant if he continued to work during virus crisis – even though he had already taken thorough safety measures, First District Congressman Roger Marshall and Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle wrote on social media.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I have spoken with a barber from McPherson, Luke Aichele, who received an arrest warrant for opening his barbershop. Luke can’t apply for unemployment and he is simply trying to feed his family. <a href="https://t.co/lBlboiPBbX">https://t.co/lBlboiPBbX</a>&mdash; Susan Wagle (@WagleforKansas) <a href="https://twitter.com/WagleforKansas/status/1259199115931594752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Marshall wrote, “In a time of crisis, our country’s foundation in liberty, and our state’s founding in freedom are more important than ever.When coronavirus hit our state, Kansans were willing to comply within reason to protect their friends and neighbors. But now, we’re seeing an administration in Kansas who is quicker to scrap our God-given freedoms than finding ways to protect our rights, our livelihoods and our local businesses.I spoke to Luke on the phone today. It's worth adding that because Luke is self-employed – and is the only breadwinner in his household – he is still not able to access unemployment benefits due to the delay and failures of the current administration in Topeka, even though the federal government made those benefits available a long time ago.I was raised by a Chief of Police. I was raised to respect the law. But I was also raised with basic common sense. Telling someone they cannot work to feed their family, offering them no help, and then threatening their arrest if they safely try to earn a living is wrong.We are so much better than this.”

Kan. lawmakers offer support for barber who operated amid virus

By GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2020/04/29/covid-19-creates-uncertainty-at-kansas-dairies">Kansas Living Magazine</a>

Dan Wiebe and his wife Kerry milk about 100 cows each and every day 
on the last remaining dairy farm in Butler County. The Wiebes have 
watched a “fairly good” milk market fall off a cliff over the past few 
weeks as Covid-19 upended the industry with the closure of restaurants 
and schools.

Still, Dan says Keriel Dairy is fortunate because it has some 
protection through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dairy Margin 
Coverage, a voluntary program that covers some costs if revenue falls 
below the cost to produce milk. The Wiebes signed up for the program in 
the fall, well before the pandemic hit.

“They’re projecting for either April or May that the coverage will be
 paying out $5 per hundredweight (roughly 11.63 gallons of milk,” Dan 
says. “That’s how bad the price is.”

When the year began, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA, the cooperative 
the Wiebes sell their milk through, paid about $18 for every 100 pounds 
of white liquid. The price declined between 20 and 40 percent depending 
on the class of milk produced by early April.

“The problem is that insurance payment is going to lag behind probably 60 days,” Dan says. “There’s going to be a two-month window where we’re getting a third off our normal milk check.”

Freefalling milk prices are the result of sharply reduced demand from
 schools, restaurants and other institutional buyers. The supply chain 
to service those accounts can’t quickly shift to fill retail packages.

One example Dan gave is cheese destined for restaurants is packaged 
in bulk bags or large blocks, both of which are now sitting on packed 
warehouses.

“The price is right,” he says. “The plants would love to buy milk and
 make cheese, but they have no place to put the cheese because it’s not 
going out the door.”

That disconnect has led DFA to dump some milk. While none of the 
Wiebes milk has been dumped, DFA is suggesting dairies consider a 10 
percent reduction in what they produce.

Dan says there are a number of steps dairies can take to reduce their
 milk output, like removing lower-producing cows from the milking 
stream, feeding more to calves than normal, and “drying” cows, or 
increasing the number of days a cow doesn’t produce milk.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act will provide 
help to farmers and ranchers, including those in the dairy industry. The
 details of the package aren’t fully known, but there will be money for 
direct payments and additional funding for Dairy Margin Coverage.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also will partner with regional 
distributors to buy $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat. The 
food products will be packaged in boxes and shipped to food banks, 
community- and faith-based organizations, as well as other nonprofits. 
The goal is to begin shipping boxes as soon as May 15.

The program aims to support those who grow food and those who need it most while minimizing the amount of waste.

At McCarty Family Farms, supply and demand are less of a factor 
because of the dairy’s unique business model. Ken McCarty and his three 
brothers operate five dairies, including three in Kansas. They sell 
their milk on a cost-plus basis to Danone, which turns it into Dannon 
yogurt.

“Basically, our books and our business are fully transparent to 
them,” McCarty says. “We have a guaranteed profit margin, but we work 
collaboratively on things that maybe are important to not only us as a 
company and Danone as a company but society in general.”

Covid-19 hasn’t affected the bottom line at McCarty Family Farms, but it has changed how they and their 200 employees operate.

The McCarty dairies have implemented social distancing policies, restricted access to nonessential vendors, shifted deliveries from essential vendors, limited the number of workers allowed in breakrooms and reevaluated their entire supply chain.

“We have visibility to the direct impact to the team members we see every day,” McCarty says. “We have the good fortune of being able to go to work every day. A lot of people don’t have that.”

McCarty says his teams have had a minimal impact from school 
closures, and there are still plenty of conversations about helping 
workers with spouses who may have lost a job.

McCarty says there’s opportunities for the dairy industry in the form
 of lower input costs for fuel and feed, but he worries that may not be 
enough for some farmers and ranchers.

“The situation in general for the dairy industry and the ag market as a whole is dire,” he says. “We at McCarty Family Farms are very concerned about the long-term implications this will have on rural America.”

McCarty says rural America runs on razor-thin margins in the best of times. He’s worried about how the downturn will affect schools, hospitals and small businesses in the communities where the family milks cows. While McCarty has a guaranteed profit margin, he recognizes many, especially in the dairy industry, are not as fortunate.

“We count our blessings, but we’re still dealing with a tremendous amount of uncertainty even in spite of all the good things we have,” he says. “The stress load is high, and we’re not dealing with a lot of the stress that other people are.”

Kansas Living Magazine is a publication of Kansas Farm Bureau.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588865787208.jpeg" alt="Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2020/04/29/covid-19-creates-uncertainty-at-kansas-dairies">Kansas Living Magazine</a>Dan Wiebe and his wife Kerry milk about 100 cows each and every day 
on the last remaining dairy farm in Butler County. The Wiebes have 
watched a “fairly good” milk market fall off a cliff over the past few 
weeks as Covid-19 upended the industry with the closure of restaurants 
and schools.Still, Dan says Keriel Dairy is fortunate because it has some 
protection through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dairy Margin 
Coverage, a voluntary program that covers some costs if revenue falls 
below the cost to produce milk. The Wiebes signed up for the program in 
the fall, well before the pandemic hit.“They’re projecting for either April or May that the coverage will be
 paying out $5 per hundredweight (roughly 11.63 gallons of milk,” Dan 
says. “That’s how bad the price is.”When the year began, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA, the cooperative 
the Wiebes sell their milk through, paid about $18 for every 100 pounds 
of white liquid. The price declined between 20 and 40 percent depending 
on the class of milk produced by early April.“The problem is that insurance payment is going to lag behind probably 60 days,” Dan says. “There’s going to be a two-month window where we’re getting a third off our normal milk check.”<h2>MODEL INTERUPTED</h2>Freefalling milk prices are the result of sharply reduced demand from
 schools, restaurants and other institutional buyers. The supply chain 
to service those accounts can’t quickly shift to fill retail packages.One example Dan gave is cheese destined for restaurants is packaged 
in bulk bags or large blocks, both of which are now sitting on packed 
warehouses.“The price is right,” he says. “The plants would love to buy milk and
 make cheese, but they have no place to put the cheese because it’s not 
going out the door.”That disconnect has led DFA to dump some milk. While none of the 
Wiebes milk has been dumped, DFA is suggesting dairies consider a 10 
percent reduction in what they produce.Dan says there are a number of steps dairies can take to reduce their
 milk output, like removing lower-producing cows from the milking 
stream, feeding more to calves than normal, and “drying” cows, or 
increasing the number of days a cow doesn’t produce milk.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588865861514.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>CARES ACT</h2>The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act will provide 
help to farmers and ranchers, including those in the dairy industry. The
 details of the package aren’t fully known, but there will be money for 
direct payments and additional funding for Dairy Margin Coverage.The U.S. Department of Agriculture also will partner with regional 
distributors to buy $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat. The 
food products will be packaged in boxes and shipped to food banks, 
community- and faith-based organizations, as well as other nonprofits. 
The goal is to begin shipping boxes as soon as May 15.The program aims to support those who grow food and those who need it most while minimizing the amount of waste.<h2>LIFE UPENDED</h2>At McCarty Family Farms, supply and demand are less of a factor 
because of the dairy’s unique business model. Ken McCarty and his three 
brothers operate five dairies, including three in Kansas. They sell 
their milk on a cost-plus basis to Danone, which turns it into Dannon 
yogurt.“Basically, our books and our business are fully transparent to 
them,” McCarty says. “We have a guaranteed profit margin, but we work 
collaboratively on things that maybe are important to not only us as a 
company and Danone as a company but society in general.”Covid-19 hasn’t affected the bottom line at McCarty Family Farms, but it has changed how they and their 200 employees operate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588865893003.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The McCarty dairies have implemented social distancing policies, restricted access to nonessential vendors, shifted deliveries from essential vendors, limited the number of workers allowed in breakrooms and reevaluated their entire supply chain.“We have visibility to the direct impact to the team members we see every day,” McCarty says. “We have the good fortune of being able to go to work every day. A lot of people don’t have that.”McCarty says his teams have had a minimal impact from school 
closures, and there are still plenty of conversations about helping 
workers with spouses who may have lost a job.<h2>BROADER FALLOUT</h2>McCarty says there’s opportunities for the dairy industry in the form
 of lower input costs for fuel and feed, but he worries that may not be 
enough for some farmers and ranchers.“The situation in general for the dairy industry and the ag market as a whole is dire,” he says. “We at McCarty Family Farms are very concerned about the long-term implications this will have on rural America.”McCarty says rural America runs on razor-thin margins in the best of times. He’s worried about how the downturn will affect schools, hospitals and small businesses in the communities where the family milks cows. While McCarty has a guaranteed profit margin, he recognizes many, especially in the dairy industry, are not as fortunate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588865954519.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“We count our blessings, but we’re still dealing with a tremendous amount of uncertainty even in spite of all the good things we have,” he says. “The stress load is high, and we’re not dealing with a lot of the stress that other people are.”Kansas Living Magazine is a publication of Kansas Farm Bureau.

Covid-19 creates uncertainty at Kansas dairies

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 250 to a total of 6751, the state health department reported Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;

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

Editors note:&nbsp;Starting May 11, the KDHE will stop releasing daily updates of counts of coronavirus cases and move to releasing the information on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, according to KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman.

"The department employees need a combined total of 10 hours a day to produce the data and post it on the KDHE coronavirus website. We can spring free our precious epidemiology staff to do their work, which is actually to push down the disease,” Norman said.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 250 to a total of 6751, the state health department reported Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 157<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589044103666.png" alt="May 9, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>May 9, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Editors note:&nbsp;Starting May 11, the KDHE will stop releasing daily updates of counts of coronavirus cases and move to releasing the information on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, according to KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman."The department employees need a combined total of 10 hours a day to produce the data and post it on the KDHE coronavirus website. We can spring free our precious epidemiology staff to do their work, which is actually to push down the disease,” Norman said.

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting death, have made an arrest and identified the victim as&nbsp;53-year-old Lisa R. Hill of Topeka.

At the scene, police found an a woman dead from a gunshot wound, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

Information was developed at the scene and a person of interest identified as 47-year-old Charles M. Wilson II.&nbsp;

Police located&nbsp; him inside a house nearby in the 1200 block of NE Quincy Street in Topeka.

Crisis Negotiators arrived on scene and began to communicate with the Wilson. Just before&nbsp;&nbsp;6:30 p.m., police took Wilson into custody without incident and questioned him at the Law Enforcement Center.

&nbsp;Wilson was later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of 1st Degree Murder, according to Lt. Matt Danielson.

Hill is the mother of Joseph R. Hill who is the victim from an April 24 homicide. Whether or not these two incidents are related remains under investigation.

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

Just before 4p.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;responded to the 1100 block of NW Central Ave. on a report of a possible shooting.

Information was developed at the scene and a person of interest identified as 47-year-old Charles M. Wilson II.&nbsp; 

Police have not released the identity of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588936608302.png" alt="Wilson photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Wilson photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting death, have made an arrest and identified the victim as&nbsp;53-year-old Lisa R. Hill of Topeka.At the scene, police found an a woman dead from a gunshot wound, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.Information was developed at the scene and a person of interest identified as 47-year-old Charles M. Wilson II.&nbsp;Police located&nbsp; him inside a house nearby in the 1200 block of NE Quincy Street in Topeka.Crisis Negotiators arrived on scene and began to communicate with the Wilson. Just before&nbsp;&nbsp;6:30 p.m., police took Wilson into custody without incident and questioned him at the Law Enforcement Center.&nbsp;Wilson was later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of 1st Degree Murder, according to Lt. Matt Danielson.Hill is the mother of Joseph R. Hill who is the victim from an April 24 homicide. Whether or not these two incidents are related remains under investigation.------------SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting death and have made an arrest.Just before 4p.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;responded to the 1100 block of NW Central Ave. on a report of a possible shooting.At the scene, police found an a woman dead from a gunshot wound, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.Information was developed at the scene and a person of interest identified as 47-year-old Charles M. Wilson II.&nbsp; Police located&nbsp; him inside a house nearby in the 1200 block of NE Quincy Street in Topeka.Crisis Negotiators arrived on scene and began to communicate with the Wilson. Just before&nbsp;&nbsp;6:30 p.m., police took Wilson into custody without incident and questioned him at the Law Enforcement Center.&nbsp;Wilson was later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of 1st Degree Murder, according to Lt. Matt Danielson.Police have not released the identity of the victim.

Update: Kansas man arrested for woman's shooting death

NASHVILLE (AP) — Little Richard, the self-proclaimed “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&amp;B to white America, has died Saturday. He was 87.

Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. Minson said he also spoke to Little Richard’s son and brother.

Minson added that the family is not releasing the cause of death.

Born Richard Penniman, Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream. Richard’s hyperkinetic piano playing, coupled with his howling vocals and hairdo, made him an implausible sensation — a gay, black man celebrated across America during the buttoned-down Eisenhower era.

He sold more than 30 million records worldwide, and his influence on other musicians was equally staggering, from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie. In his personal life, he wavered between raunch and religion, alternately embracing the Good Book and outrageous behavior.

“Little Richard? That’s rock ‘n’ roll,” Neil Young, who heard Richard’s riffs on the radio in Canada, told biographer Jimmy McDonough. “Little Richard was great on every record.”

It was 1956 when his classic “Tutti Frutti” landed like a hand grenade in the Top 40, exploding from radios and off turntables across the country. It was highlighted by Richard’s memorable call of “wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.”

A string of hits followed, providing the foundation of rock music: “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly Miss Molly.” More than 40 years after the latter charted, Bruce Springsteen was still performing “Good Golly Miss Molly” live.

The Beatles’ Paul McCartney imitated Richard’s signature yelps — perhaps most notably in the “Wooooo!” from the hit “She Loves You.” Ex-bandmate John Lennon covered Richard’s “Rip It Up” and “Ready Teddy” on the 1975 “Rock and Roll” album.

When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986, he was among the charter members with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke and others.

Few were quicker to acknowledge Little Richard’s seminal role than Richard himself. The flamboyant singer claimed he paved the way for Elvis, provided Mick Jagger with his stage moves and conducted vocal lessons for McCartney.

“I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll!” Little Richard crowed at the 1988 Grammy Awards as the crowd rose in a standing ovation. “I am the originator!”

Richard Wayne Penniman was born in Macon, Georgia, during the Great Depression, one of 12 children. He was ostracized because he was effeminate and suffered a small deformity: his right leg was shorter than his left.

The family was religious, and Richard sang in local churches with a group called the Tiny Tots. The tug-of-war between his upbringing and rock ‘n’ roll excess tormented Penniman throughout his career.

Penniman was performing with bands by the age of 14, but there were problems at home over his sexual orientation. His father beat the boy and derided him as “half a son.”

Richard left home to join a minstrel show run by a man known as Sugarloaf Sam, occasionally appearing in drag.

In late 1955, Little Richard recorded the bawdy “Tutti Frutti,” with lyrics that were sanitized by a New Orleans songwriter. It went on to sell 1 million records over the next year.

When Little Richard’s hit was banned by many white-owned radio stations, white performers like Pat Boone and Elvis Presley did cover versions that topped the charts.

Little Richard went Hollywood with an appearance in “Don’t Knock the Rock.” But his wild lifestyle remained at odds with his faith, and a conflicted Richard quit the business in 1957 to enroll in a theological school and get married.

Richard remained on the charts when his label released previously recorded material. And he recorded a gospel record, returning to his roots.

A 1962 arrest for a homosexual encounter in a bus station restroom led to his divorce and return to performing.

He mounted three tours of England between 1962 and 1964, with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones serving as opening acts. Back in the States, he put together a band that included guitarist Jimi Hendrix — and later fired Hendrix when he was late for a bus.

In 1968, Richard hit Las Vegas and relaunched his career. Within two years, he had another hit single and made the cover of Rolling Stone.

By the mid-1970s, Richard was battling a $1,000-a-day cocaine problem and once again abandoned his musical career. He returned to religion, selling Bibles and renouncing homosexuality. For more than a decade, he vanished.

“If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody,” Richard said.

But he returned, in 1986, in spectacular fashion. Little Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and appeared in the movie “Down and Out in Beverly Hills.”

A Little Richard song from the soundtrack, “Great Gosh A’Mighty,” even put him back on the charts for the first time in more than 15 years. Little Richard was back to stay, enjoying another dose of celebrity that he fully embraced.

Macon, Georgia, named a street after its favorite son. And Little Richard was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In August 2002, he announced his retirement from live performing. But he continued to appear frequently on television, including a humorous appearance on a 2006 commercial for GEICO insurance.

Richard had hip surgery in November 2009 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and asked fans at the time to pray for him. He lived in the Nashville area at the time.

NASHVILLE (AP) — Little Richard, the self-proclaimed “architect of rock ‘n’ roll” whose piercing wail, pounding piano and towering pompadour irrevocably altered popular music while introducing black R&amp;B to white America, has died Saturday. He was 87.Pastor Bill Minson, a close friend of Little Richard’s, told The Associated Press that Little Richard died Saturday morning. Minson said he also spoke to Little Richard’s son and brother.Minson added that the family is not releasing the cause of death.Born Richard Penniman, Little Richard was one of rock ‘n’ roll’s founding fathers who helped shatter the color line on the music charts, joining Chuck Berry and Fats Domino in bringing what was once called “race music” into the mainstream. Richard’s hyperkinetic piano playing, coupled with his howling vocals and hairdo, made him an implausible sensation — a gay, black man celebrated across America during the buttoned-down Eisenhower era.He sold more than 30 million records worldwide, and his influence on other musicians was equally staggering, from the Beatles and Otis Redding to Creedence Clearwater Revival and David Bowie. In his personal life, he wavered between raunch and religion, alternately embracing the Good Book and outrageous behavior.“Little Richard? That’s rock ‘n’ roll,” Neil Young, who heard Richard’s riffs on the radio in Canada, told biographer Jimmy McDonough. “Little Richard was great on every record.”It was 1956 when his classic “Tutti Frutti” landed like a hand grenade in the Top 40, exploding from radios and off turntables across the country. It was highlighted by Richard’s memorable call of “wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom.”A string of hits followed, providing the foundation of rock music: “Lucille,” “Keep A Knockin’,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Good Golly Miss Molly.” More than 40 years after the latter charted, Bruce Springsteen was still performing “Good Golly Miss Molly” live.The Beatles’ Paul McCartney imitated Richard’s signature yelps — perhaps most notably in the “Wooooo!” from the hit “She Loves You.” Ex-bandmate John Lennon covered Richard’s “Rip It Up” and “Ready Teddy” on the 1975 “Rock and Roll” album.When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986, he was among the charter members with Elvis Presley, Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Sam Cooke and others.Few were quicker to acknowledge Little Richard’s seminal role than Richard himself. The flamboyant singer claimed he paved the way for Elvis, provided Mick Jagger with his stage moves and conducted vocal lessons for McCartney.ADVERTISEMENT“I am the architect of rock ‘n’ roll!” Little Richard crowed at the 1988 Grammy Awards as the crowd rose in a standing ovation. “I am the originator!”Richard Wayne Penniman was born in Macon, Georgia, during the Great Depression, one of 12 children. He was ostracized because he was effeminate and suffered a small deformity: his right leg was shorter than his left.The family was religious, and Richard sang in local churches with a group called the Tiny Tots. The tug-of-war between his upbringing and rock ‘n’ roll excess tormented Penniman throughout his career.Penniman was performing with bands by the age of 14, but there were problems at home over his sexual orientation. His father beat the boy and derided him as “half a son.”Richard left home to join a minstrel show run by a man known as Sugarloaf Sam, occasionally appearing in drag.In late 1955, Little Richard recorded the bawdy “Tutti Frutti,” with lyrics that were sanitized by a New Orleans songwriter. It went on to sell 1 million records over the next year.When Little Richard’s hit was banned by many white-owned radio stations, white performers like Pat Boone and Elvis Presley did cover versions that topped the charts.Little Richard went Hollywood with an appearance in “Don’t Knock the Rock.” But his wild lifestyle remained at odds with his faith, and a conflicted Richard quit the business in 1957 to enroll in a theological school and get married.Richard remained on the charts when his label released previously recorded material. And he recorded a gospel record, returning to his roots.A 1962 arrest for a homosexual encounter in a bus station restroom led to his divorce and return to performing.He mounted three tours of England between 1962 and 1964, with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones serving as opening acts. Back in the States, he put together a band that included guitarist Jimi Hendrix — and later fired Hendrix when he was late for a bus.In 1968, Richard hit Las Vegas and relaunched his career. Within two years, he had another hit single and made the cover of Rolling Stone.By the mid-1970s, Richard was battling a $1,000-a-day cocaine problem and once again abandoned his musical career. He returned to religion, selling Bibles and renouncing homosexuality. For more than a decade, he vanished.“If God can save an old homosexual like me, he can save anybody,” Richard said.But he returned, in 1986, in spectacular fashion. Little Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and appeared in the movie “Down and Out in Beverly Hills.”A Little Richard song from the soundtrack, “Great Gosh A’Mighty,” even put him back on the charts for the first time in more than 15 years. Little Richard was back to stay, enjoying another dose of celebrity that he fully embraced.Macon, Georgia, named a street after its favorite son. And Little Richard was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In August 2002, he announced his retirement from live performing. But he continued to appear frequently on television, including a humorous appearance on a 2006 commercial for GEICO insurance.Richard had hip surgery in November 2009 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, and asked fans at the time to pray for him. He lived in the Nashville area at the time.thanks

Little Richard, flamboyant rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, dead at 87

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) —&nbsp; Kansas City and St. Louis County officials announced Friday that they will proceed with the gradual reopening of businesses but with several restrictions in place as efforts continue to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Kansas City will allow restaurants, bars, gyms, museums, the Kansas City Zoo, government buildings and city-maintained playground equipment to open May 15. Lucas and city health officials had hesitated after 11 COVID-19 cases were confirmed at a senior living complex but the mayor said Friday that the reopening would continue. He planned a news conference on Monday to discuss restrictions at restaurants.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said large venues, including sports courts and playgrounds, public pools, gyms and fitness centers, and banquet rooms, will not be allowed to open May 18.

Employees at businesses such as bars and restaurants that do open will be required to wear masks and may refuse service to customers who don't wear masks, Page said. The several other requirements include frequent disinfecting of the premises, testing of employees in danger of contracting COVID-19, and occupancy limits based on the size of the business.

“As we start to discuss easing these (stay-at-home) orders, it does not mean we should let our guard down,” Page said “This is a gradual process of reopening our county. A gradual, thoughtful, deliberate and measured process will allow us to continue to move forward.”

The St. Louis and Kansas City areas have reported a majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri, which on Friday increased by 148 to 9,489. The state also reported 31 news deaths Friday, raising the total to 449.

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

A Kansas City-area church contends in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday that Jackson County’s reopening plan discriminates against religious institutions by limiting the number of people who can gather to worship.

Jackson County’s stay-at-home order ends Sunday. The first phase of its reopening plan limits gatherings or social events to 10 or fewer people, which includes religious services, funerals and weddings. It also limits locations larger than 10,000 square feet to 10% occupancy.

The Abundant Life Baptist Church, which has sites in Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, alleges in the lawsuit that the occupancy restrictions force the church to choose between violating its religious beliefs by not gathering, or face legal consequences for holding services, KMBC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/lees-summit-missouri-church-files-suit-claiming-jackson-countys-stay-at-home-order-violates-religious-freedom/32415969">reported</a>.

Jackson County offices were closed Friday to celebrate President Harry Truman’s birthday and a spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking reaction.

One of the largest health care companies in the St. Louis area said Friday it is furloughing thousands of workers starting Monday due to economic damage caused by the pandemic. Mercy said the decline in non-coronavirus medical procedures and doctors’ visits has created a financial hardship. The company operates hospitals and medical offices in four states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588183540198.png" alt="Rules for reopening Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Rules for reopening Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) —&nbsp; Kansas City and St. Louis County officials announced Friday that they will proceed with the gradual reopening of businesses but with several restrictions in place as efforts continue to slow the spread of the coronavirus.Kansas City will allow restaurants, bars, gyms, museums, the Kansas City Zoo, government buildings and city-maintained playground equipment to open May 15. Lucas and city health officials had hesitated after 11 COVID-19 cases were confirmed at a senior living complex but the mayor said Friday that the reopening would continue. He planned a news conference on Monday to discuss restrictions at restaurants.St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said large venues, including sports courts and playgrounds, public pools, gyms and fitness centers, and banquet rooms, will not be allowed to open May 18.Employees at businesses such as bars and restaurants that do open will be required to wear masks and may refuse service to customers who don't wear masks, Page said. The several other requirements include frequent disinfecting of the premises, testing of employees in danger of contracting COVID-19, and occupancy limits based on the size of the business.“As we start to discuss easing these (stay-at-home) orders, it does not mean we should let our guard down,” Page said “This is a gradual process of reopening our county. A gradual, thoughtful, deliberate and measured process will allow us to continue to move forward.”The St. Louis and Kansas City areas have reported a majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Missouri, which on Friday increased by 148 to 9,489. The state also reported 31 news deaths Friday, raising the total to 449.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up after two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.A Kansas City-area church contends in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday that Jackson County’s reopening plan discriminates against religious institutions by limiting the number of people who can gather to worship.Jackson County’s stay-at-home order ends Sunday. The first phase of its reopening plan limits gatherings or social events to 10 or fewer people, which includes religious services, funerals and weddings. It also limits locations larger than 10,000 square feet to 10% occupancy.The Abundant Life Baptist Church, which has sites in Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs, alleges in the lawsuit that the occupancy restrictions force the church to choose between violating its religious beliefs by not gathering, or face legal consequences for holding services, KMBC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/lees-summit-missouri-church-files-suit-claiming-jackson-countys-stay-at-home-order-violates-religious-freedom/32415969">reported</a>.Jackson County offices were closed Friday to celebrate President Harry Truman’s birthday and a spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking reaction.One of the largest health care companies in the St. Louis area said Friday it is furloughing thousands of workers starting Monday due to economic damage caused by the pandemic. Mercy said the decline in non-coronavirus medical procedures and doctors’ visits has created a financial hardship. The company operates hospitals and medical offices in four states.

Kansas City plans restricted reopening

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-08/the-kansas-economy-is-reopening-and-experts-say-nursing-homes-arent-ready">Kansas News Service</a>

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the 
requirements imposed on nursing homes by the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid.

TOPEKA — Residents and patients in under-resourced
 nursing homes, where outbreaks have fueled more than half of Kansas’ 
coronavirus deaths, will likely pay the steepest price for the state 
reopening its economy.

Nursing homes, assisted living centers and 
similar state-licensed facilities don’t have enough protective gear or 
testing to shield the people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, 
experts say. And even if the facilities stay on lockdown, the state’s 
decision to lift stay-at-home orders could lead to more asymptomatic 
staff unwittingly carrying the virus to work.

“The more you open 
up the economy, the more you're going to have these rippling effects 
where staff members may be going home to other family members who are 
interacting with other parts of society,” said Carrie Henning-Smith, a 
professor of health policy and management at the University of 
Minnesota.

As of Friday, Kansas’ more than 450 long-term care 
facilities accounted for fewer than 1 in 10 of the state’s confirmed 
cases. Yet the 22 clusters of coronavirus linked to them are the single 
largest source of deaths from the pandemic with 85. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/community/2020-05-07/a-covid-19-hot-spot-in-prairie-village-now-accounts-for-57-known-cases-and-9-death" target="_blank">One cluster in Johnson County</a> has sickened nearly 60 and killed nine and another in <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article241807416.html" target="_blank">Coffey County</a> has had similarly tragic results.

Here’s
 what nursing homes, health policy analysts and academics say needs to 
happen in order to save the lives of older people in Kansas and 
nationally.

COVID-19
 testing has become more common in Kansas in the past few weeks. Yet 
limited supplies mean testing remains largely reserved for people with 
symptoms or known exposure. Overall, the state has lagged most of the 
rest of the country in ramping up access.

Experts say places that 
care for older adults should test all staff regularly — once a week or 
more — regardless of whether they have symptoms. But that remains a 
distant goal for Kansas and the U.S.

“We're nowhere near that,” Henning-Smith said. “Any routine testing would be an improvement over what we have.”

Nursing
 homes and similar facilities rely on sending samples to external labs, 
but could better protect residents with rapid on-site testing.

“We
 could test any and everybody,” says Monte Coffman, executive director 
of Health Management of Kansas, which runs skilled care centers in 
Coffeyville and Iola. “That's how we (could) keep the virus out of 
institutional care.”

Staff
 at many long-term care facilities have spotty access to 
professional-grade protective gear. Instead, nursing home administrators
 say, they wear home-sewn fabric face coverings to help save surgical 
masks for critical times, like bedside care or serving newly admitted, 
temporarily quarantined residents.

Prices for professional gear 
spiked after the pandemic hit. Vendors who were slammed with orders sold
 to bigger buyers. LeadingAge Kansas, the state’s association for 
nonprofit aging services, looked into bulk purchasing for its members, 
but struck out.

CEO Debra Harmon Zehr said the market appears to 
be improving, and she welcomed the federal government’s decision to send
 two weeks of surgical masks, gowns and eye protection to nursing homes.

But, she said, it’s “too little, too late.”

“We
 don't have adequate testing, adequate funding, adequate supplies, and 
yet you've got this wolf in the chicken house,” she said, and “(we’re) 
expected to keep it at bay.”

Kansas
 is among 26 states that recommend but don’t require assisted living 
facilities to keep visitors out during the pandemic, according to <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/data-note-requirements-for-nursing-homes-and-assisted-living-facilities-in-response-to-covid-19-vary-across-states/" target="_blank">the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>. Nor has Kansas adopted requirements for staff to undergo daily coronavirus screenings and don protective gear.

Those
 steps are important, the health organization said, because the federal 
guidance on these measures is only for homes under their regulatory 
control, such as nursing facilities. Much long-term care falls under 
state control, such as assisted living centers.

The lack of 
requirements in states like Kansas is “shocking” given the risks of 
coronavirus spreading in a facility, said Joseph Ouslander, a professor 
of geriatric medicine at Florida Atlantic University and the executive 
editor of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

“It can be like a tinderbox,” he said. “It’s a perfect storm.”

While
 screening workers daily, donning protective gear and banning visitors 
can’t guarantee a facility will be outbreak-free, Ouslander sees them as
 basic steps that shouldn’t be decided facility-by-facility. States can 
require these measures, he said, without penalizing facilities that 
simply can’t get enough protective gear to fully comply.

A 
spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services 
said in an email that adopting the extra state requirements would take 
resources. And right now, she said, the agency’s staff is focused on 
infection-control efforts under guidance from the Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid.

Why aren’t outbreaks being disclosed publicly?

Many
 states publicly report a raft of details about coronavirus outbreaks in
 long-term care facilities, the Kaiser Family Foundation said, <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/state-reporting-of-cases-and-deaths-due-to-covid-19-in-long-term-care-facilities/" target="_blank">but, again, not Kansas</a>. Kansas doesn’t publicly list which nursing homes have COVID-19 cases and deaths.

Some
 local health departments have, like in Johnson County, where COVID-19 
outbreaks at long-term care facilities have killed 25 people. The county
 discloses case counts and deaths by facility <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/mapper.of.the.day.mod.#!/vizhome/covid19_joco_public/Dashboard" target="_blank">on its website</a>.

Advocacy
 groups want the information made public so communities can stay 
informed on the toll coronavirus is taking and demand better resources 
and care. Researchers want the data to scour for patterns, such as links
 between outbreaks, staffing levels and other measures of care.

<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/state-reporting-of-cases-and-deaths-due-to-covid-19-in-long-term-care-facilities/" target="_blank">Recent federal guidance</a> will push nursing homes to report cases and details directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“So
 we would expect to see some form of public data available at some 
point,” said Priya Chidambaram, a Medicaid expert at the Kaiser Family 
Foundation. “We don't have a timeline yet.”

Kansas
 nursing home advocates say they plan to make their case to Gov. Laura 
Kelly that elder care in the state needs more funding, something they’ve
 pressed in the Legislature year after year.

Low Medicaid 
reimbursement payments to nursing homes makes it hard for them to keep 
up quality in the best of times, advocates like LeadingAge argue. During
 a pandemic, it means homes can’t afford inflated prices for protective 
gear and other increased costs.

This week, <a href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/npr-news/nursing-home-association-asks-10-billion-federal-coronavirus-relief-funds" target="_blank">a national trade group</a>
 called on the Trump administration to dole out $10 billion in stimulus 
money to nursing homes, but they’ll have to compete with hospitals and 
other health care providers jostling for more of that pot, too.

Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas 
News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ 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/2020/5/1588962826494.png" alt="Protesters outside the Statehouse in Topeka demanded last month that Gov. Laura Kelly let businesses and activities return to normal. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Protesters outside the Statehouse in Topeka demanded last month that Gov. Laura Kelly let businesses and activities return to normal. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-05-08/the-kansas-economy-is-reopening-and-experts-say-nursing-homes-arent-ready">Kansas News Service</a>CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the 
requirements imposed on nursing homes by the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid.TOPEKA — Residents and patients in under-resourced
 nursing homes, where outbreaks have fueled more than half of Kansas’ 
coronavirus deaths, will likely pay the steepest price for the state 
reopening its economy.Nursing homes, assisted living centers and 
similar state-licensed facilities don’t have enough protective gear or 
testing to shield the people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, 
experts say. And even if the facilities stay on lockdown, the state’s 
decision to lift stay-at-home orders could lead to more asymptomatic 
staff unwittingly carrying the virus to work.“The more you open 
up the economy, the more you're going to have these rippling effects 
where staff members may be going home to other family members who are 
interacting with other parts of society,” said Carrie Henning-Smith, a 
professor of health policy and management at the University of 
Minnesota.As of Friday, Kansas’ more than 450 long-term care 
facilities accounted for fewer than 1 in 10 of the state’s confirmed 
cases. Yet the 22 clusters of coronavirus linked to them are the single 
largest source of deaths from the pandemic with 85. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/community/2020-05-07/a-covid-19-hot-spot-in-prairie-village-now-accounts-for-57-known-cases-and-9-death" target="_blank">One cluster in Johnson County</a> has sickened nearly 60 and killed nine and another in <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article241807416.html" target="_blank">Coffey County</a> has had similarly tragic results.Here’s
 what nursing homes, health policy analysts and academics say needs to 
happen in order to save the lives of older people in Kansas and 
nationally.<h2>Where are the tests?</h2>COVID-19
 testing has become more common in Kansas in the past few weeks. Yet 
limited supplies mean testing remains largely reserved for people with 
symptoms or known exposure. Overall, the state has lagged most of the 
rest of the country in ramping up access.Experts say places that 
care for older adults should test all staff regularly — once a week or 
more — regardless of whether they have symptoms. But that remains a 
distant goal for Kansas and the U.S.“We're nowhere near that,” Henning-Smith said. “Any routine testing would be an improvement over what we have.”Nursing
 homes and similar facilities rely on sending samples to external labs, 
but could better protect residents with rapid on-site testing.“We
 could test any and everybody,” says Monte Coffman, executive director 
of Health Management of Kansas, which runs skilled care centers in 
Coffeyville and Iola. “That's how we (could) keep the virus out of 
institutional care.”<h2>Where are the masks and gowns?</h2>Staff
 at many long-term care facilities have spotty access to 
professional-grade protective gear. Instead, nursing home administrators
 say, they wear home-sewn fabric face coverings to help save surgical 
masks for critical times, like bedside care or serving newly admitted, 
temporarily quarantined residents.Prices for professional gear 
spiked after the pandemic hit. Vendors who were slammed with orders sold
 to bigger buyers. LeadingAge Kansas, the state’s association for 
nonprofit aging services, looked into bulk purchasing for its members, 
but struck out.CEO Debra Harmon Zehr said the market appears to 
be improving, and she welcomed the federal government’s decision to send
 two weeks of surgical masks, gowns and eye protection to nursing homes.But, she said, it’s “too little, too late.”“We
 don't have adequate testing, adequate funding, adequate supplies, and 
yet you've got this wolf in the chicken house,” she said, and “(we’re) 
expected to keep it at bay.”<h2>Are the rules consistent at facilities?</h2>Kansas
 is among 26 states that recommend but don’t require assisted living 
facilities to keep visitors out during the pandemic, according to <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/data-note-requirements-for-nursing-homes-and-assisted-living-facilities-in-response-to-covid-19-vary-across-states/" target="_blank">the Kaiser Family Foundation</a>. Nor has Kansas adopted requirements for staff to undergo daily coronavirus screenings and don protective gear.Those
 steps are important, the health organization said, because the federal 
guidance on these measures is only for homes under their regulatory 
control, such as nursing facilities. Much long-term care falls under 
state control, such as assisted living centers.The lack of 
requirements in states like Kansas is “shocking” given the risks of 
coronavirus spreading in a facility, said Joseph Ouslander, a professor 
of geriatric medicine at Florida Atlantic University and the executive 
editor of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.“It can be like a tinderbox,” he said. “It’s a perfect storm.”While
 screening workers daily, donning protective gear and banning visitors 
can’t guarantee a facility will be outbreak-free, Ouslander sees them as
 basic steps that shouldn’t be decided facility-by-facility. States can 
require these measures, he said, without penalizing facilities that 
simply can’t get enough protective gear to fully comply.A 
spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services 
said in an email that adopting the extra state requirements would take 
resources. And right now, she said, the agency’s staff is focused on 
infection-control efforts under guidance from the Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid.<h2>Why aren’t outbreaks being disclosed publicly?</h2>Many
 states publicly report a raft of details about coronavirus outbreaks in
 long-term care facilities, the Kaiser Family Foundation said, <a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/state-reporting-of-cases-and-deaths-due-to-covid-19-in-long-term-care-facilities/" target="_blank">but, again, not Kansas</a>. Kansas doesn’t publicly list which nursing homes have COVID-19 cases and deaths.Some
 local health departments have, like in Johnson County, where COVID-19 
outbreaks at long-term care facilities have killed 25 people. The county
 discloses case counts and deaths by facility <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/mapper.of.the.day.mod.#!/vizhome/covid19_joco_public/Dashboard" target="_blank">on its website</a>.Advocacy
 groups want the information made public so communities can stay 
informed on the toll coronavirus is taking and demand better resources 
and care. Researchers want the data to scour for patterns, such as links
 between outbreaks, staffing levels and other measures of care.<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/state-reporting-of-cases-and-deaths-due-to-covid-19-in-long-term-care-facilities/" target="_blank">Recent federal guidance</a> will push nursing homes to report cases and details directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“So
 we would expect to see some form of public data available at some 
point,” said Priya Chidambaram, a Medicaid expert at the Kaiser Family 
Foundation. “We don't have a timeline yet.”<h2>Will there be more money?</h2>Kansas
 nursing home advocates say they plan to make their case to Gov. Laura 
Kelly that elder care in the state needs more funding, something they’ve
 pressed in the Legislature year after year.Low Medicaid 
reimbursement payments to nursing homes makes it hard for them to keep 
up quality in the best of times, advocates like LeadingAge argue. During
 a pandemic, it means homes can’t afford inflated prices for protective 
gear and other increased costs.This week, <a href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/npr-news/nursing-home-association-asks-10-billion-federal-coronavirus-relief-funds" target="_blank">a national trade group</a>
 called on the Trump administration to dole out $10 billion in stimulus 
money to nursing homes, but they’ll have to compete with hospitals and 
other health care providers jostling for more of that pot, too.Celia
 Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas 
News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ 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.

Economy is reopening, but experts say nursing homes aren’t ready

WASHINGTON, DC - There’s an incredible new opportunity for recovered&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;patients to help their community. 

In coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the&nbsp; American Red Cross (ARC) is seeking people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 to&nbsp;<a href="http://t.givebloodtoday.redcrossblood.org/r/?id=h30c2d963,16642d12,163097fe&amp;med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890" target="_blank">sign up to donate plasma</a>&nbsp;to help current&nbsp;COVID-19 patients.

If you have recovered from a positive&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;diagnosis and wish to be a convalescent plasma donor, or if you know somebody who has recovered and may want to help in this way, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="http://t.givebloodtoday.redcrossblood.org/r/?id=h30c2d963,16642d12,163097ff&amp;med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890" target="_blank">COVID-19&nbsp;Convalescent Plasma Donor Information Page.</a>&nbsp;You could be eligible to help&nbsp;if you:

Historically, convalescent plasma has been used as a potentially lifesaving treatment when new diseases or infections develop quickly, and no treatments or vaccines are available yet.

&nbsp;<a href="http://t.givebloodtoday.redcrossblood.org/r/?id=h30c2d963,16642d12,16309801&amp;med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890" target="_blank">The&nbsp;Red Cross&nbsp;program</a>&nbsp;will allow for efficient distribution of convalescent plasma to wherever it’s needed most across the country. Your plasma may be the key to&nbsp;saving lives.

If you have recently recovered from&nbsp;COVID-19,&nbsp;please take a moment to learn more about our convalescent plasma program and fill out our <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html?med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890">online form</a> to help those fighting&nbsp;the virus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588801216356.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ARCWASHINGTON, DC - There’s an incredible new opportunity for recovered&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;patients to help their community. In coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the&nbsp; American Red Cross (ARC) is seeking people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 to&nbsp;<a href="http://t.givebloodtoday.redcrossblood.org/r/?id=h30c2d963,16642d12,163097fe&amp;med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890" target="_blank">sign up to donate plasma</a>&nbsp;to help current&nbsp;COVID-19 patients.If you have recovered from a positive&nbsp;COVID-19&nbsp;diagnosis and wish to be a convalescent plasma donor, or if you know somebody who has recovered and may want to help in this way, please visit our&nbsp;<a href="http://t.givebloodtoday.redcrossblood.org/r/?id=h30c2d963,16642d12,163097ff&amp;med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890" target="_blank">COVID-19&nbsp;Convalescent Plasma Donor Information Page.</a>&nbsp;You could be eligible to help&nbsp;if you:<ol>
 <li>Meet standard blood donation eligibility&nbsp;<a href="http://t.givebloodtoday.redcrossblood.org/r/?id=h30c2d963,16642d12,16309800&amp;med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890" target="_blank">(FAQs)</a></li><li>Have a verified, prior diagnosis&nbsp;of COVID-19</li><li>Are now symptom free and fully recovered&nbsp;from COVID-19</li>
 </ol>Historically, convalescent plasma has been used as a potentially lifesaving treatment when new diseases or infections develop quickly, and no treatments or vaccines are available yet.&nbsp;<a href="http://t.givebloodtoday.redcrossblood.org/r/?id=h30c2d963,16642d12,16309801&amp;med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890" target="_blank">The&nbsp;Red Cross&nbsp;program</a>&nbsp;will allow for efficient distribution of convalescent plasma to wherever it’s needed most across the country. Your plasma may be the key to&nbsp;saving lives.If you have recently recovered from&nbsp;COVID-19,&nbsp;please take a moment to learn more about our convalescent plasma program and fill out our <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid-19-patients.html?med=email&amp;source=bioadobe&amp;campdesc=BHQ_IN_WB_ABO_CCPEmail1_NA1_Active_050620&amp;cid=373271110&amp;did=PRDDM60165&amp;bid=818076003&amp;subj=You%20Could%20Help%20Save%20A%20COVID-19%20Patient&amp;prty=normal&amp;nat=conversion&amp;prod=plasma&amp;sender=American%20Red%20Cross&amp;delvId=375663890">online form</a> to help those fighting&nbsp;the virus.

Convalescent COVID plasma donations sought by Red Cross and FDA

<a href="https://northplattepost.com">North Platte Post</a>

Dr. Carol Fassbinder-Orth is a Creighton University biologist, honeybee expert and beekeeper. In this episode of the Post Podcast from North Platte, Neb., she talks about the "murder hornet" with Eagle's Scott Carlson — how it got here, what threat it poses and more.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com">North Platte Post</a>Dr. Carol Fassbinder-Orth is a Creighton University biologist, honeybee expert and beekeeper. In this episode of the Post Podcast from North Platte, Neb., she talks about the "murder hornet" with Eagle's Scott Carlson — how it got here, what threat it poses and more.<div><iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/815590951&color=%232b7fb4&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe></div>

🎙 Post Podcast: Bee expert discusses 'murder hornet'

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who tried but failed to hide from them.

Just after 1p.m. Friday, deputies attempted execute arrest warrants at 260 N. Washington just north of the City of Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

&nbsp;Deputies had three felony warrants for John Paul Zapata but were unable to make contact with the individual him. While deputies were at the location, Zapata took photographs of the Sheriff’s vehicles setting outside of his residence and sent them to other people. 

These other individuals promptly notified the Sheriff’s Office, confirming Zapata was inside the house. 

Zapata also stated in his text messages law enforcement was going to have to come in and get him. Deputies continued to knock and announce their presence and Zapata refused to come to the door. 

A search warrant was obtained, and deputies repeatedly tried to make contact by voice and telephone. Zapata refused to cooperate.

The Sheriff’s office has executed search warrants at this residence before resulting in recovery of guns, methamphetamine and currency, according to Bellendir.

The Sheriff’s office was hesitant to make a forced entry immediately. Teargas was deployed twice. Sheriff’s officers forced entry and after a thorough search of the house Zapata was found hiding in a crawlspace to avoid the effects of the teargas. He refused to come out at which time several Sheriff’s deputies went into the crawlspace and removed him.

Zapata was placed under arrest at about 5:00 PM and transported to the Barton County Jail and booked on charges of interference with law enforcement officer, criminal threat, felony warrant for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony warrant for domestic battery, stalking as well as violation of the PFA and other charges. Zapata is being held without bond on one of the felony warrants and various bonds amounts on the other charges.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Great Bend Fire Department and EMS as well as the K9 officer and a detective from the Great Bend Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588988120890.png" alt="Zapata photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Zapata photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who tried but failed to hide from them.Just after 1p.m. Friday, deputies attempted execute arrest warrants at 260 N. Washington just north of the City of Great Bend, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.&nbsp;Deputies had three felony warrants for John Paul Zapata but were unable to make contact with the individual him. While deputies were at the location, Zapata took photographs of the Sheriff’s vehicles setting outside of his residence and sent them to other people. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588988548314.png" alt="Deputies on the scene of the arrest Friday -photo Barton Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Deputies on the scene of the arrest Friday -photo Barton Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>These other individuals promptly notified the Sheriff’s Office, confirming Zapata was inside the house. Zapata also stated in his text messages law enforcement was going to have to come in and get him. Deputies continued to knock and announce their presence and Zapata refused to come to the door. A search warrant was obtained, and deputies repeatedly tried to make contact by voice and telephone. Zapata refused to cooperate.The Sheriff’s office has executed search warrants at this residence before resulting in recovery of guns, methamphetamine and currency, according to Bellendir.The Sheriff’s office was hesitant to make a forced entry immediately. Teargas was deployed twice. Sheriff’s officers forced entry and after a thorough search of the house Zapata was found hiding in a crawlspace to avoid the effects of the teargas. He refused to come out at which time several Sheriff’s deputies went into the crawlspace and removed him.Zapata was placed under arrest at about 5:00 PM and transported to the Barton County Jail and booked on charges of interference with law enforcement officer, criminal threat, felony warrant for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, felony warrant for domestic battery, stalking as well as violation of the PFA and other charges. Zapata is being held without bond on one of the felony warrants and various bonds amounts on the other charges.The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Great Bend Fire Department and EMS as well as the K9 officer and a detective from the Great Bend Police Department.

Friends help Kansas deputies in arrest of wanted suspect

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are concerned about a rise in deadly shootings across the region.

Seven people died over a five-day period. The killings included an 18-year-old shot in a vehicle, a homicide outside downtown lofts, a fatal police shooting and two men allegedly killed by one shooter. Three homicides also were reported over the past week in Johnson County, Kansas.

Data maintained by the Star shows there have been 60 killings so far in 2020, compared to 48 at this time last year, when leaders vowed to take action and Kansas City police implemented changes aimed at increasing the focus on violent crimes.

Police Capt. David Jackson said a crime reduction initiative introduced last year, which uses geographic information to show where a crime is most like to occur, has shown promise. Some of the city’s most violent neighborhoods have seen a 24% drop in crime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588949536387.png" alt="Matthew D. Harris&nbsp;faces two counts of Murder and two counts of Armed Criminal Action in connection with the fatal shootings of two men in the early morning hours Wednesday in a Kansas City apartment and at a gas station, according to Jackson Co. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker." />
 <figcaption>Matthew D. Harris&nbsp;faces two counts of Murder and two counts of Armed Criminal Action in connection with the fatal shootings of two men in the early morning hours Wednesday in a Kansas City apartment and at a gas station, according to Jackson Co. Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Kansas City police are concerned about a rise in deadly shootings across the region.Seven people died over a five-day period. The killings included an 18-year-old shot in a vehicle, a homicide outside downtown lofts, a fatal police shooting and two men allegedly killed by one shooter. Three homicides also were reported over the past week in Johnson County, Kansas.Data maintained by the Star shows there have been 60 killings so far in 2020, compared to 48 at this time last year, when leaders vowed to take action and Kansas City police implemented changes aimed at increasing the focus on violent crimes.Police Capt. David Jackson said a crime reduction initiative introduced last year, which uses geographic information to show where a crime is most like to occur, has shown promise. Some of the city’s most violent neighborhoods have seen a 24% drop in crime.

Violent week in Kansas City: 7 dead in 5 days

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Stay-at-home orders are beginning to lift in the Kansas City metro, and people will begin coming into closer contact. But the coronavirus pandemic is not over. That means conversations about how to stay safe will involve the new and potentially uncomfortable idea of contact tracing.

“We absolutely know that when the stay-at-home orders are lifted, that we will see increased incidents of cases and therefore we will also see an increased need for additional contact tracing,” says Ashley Wegner, the health planning and policy section chief of the Clay County Public Health Center.

After a health care provider notifies the health department that a person has tested positive for the virus, a staff member calls the person and works to figure out whether they’ve spent more than 10 minutes within a six-foot radius of another person while infected.

“It’s not the government policing us,” Wegner told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-05-05/health-officials-worry-kansas-city-doesnt-have-enough-contact-tracers-to-hold-back-the-next-wave-of-covid-19?mc_cid=1da545c4af&amp;mc_eid=45fc700640">KCUR-FM</a>. “This is what we need to do to keep the community open so people can go to work.”

The number of contacts can vary from person to person. Health care workers on the frontlines will have more contacts compared to people working from home.

“You could identify 30 to 50 contacts for one person just because they’re going to work every day because they have coworkers and then have patients,” Wegner says.

It can take time for a contact tracer to gain a patient’s trust. Someone might struggle with remembering who they came in contact with or be reluctant to admit they didn’t follow the stay-at-home directive.

With a list of people who came in contact with an infected person, the contact tracer notifies everyone on the list and asks them to self-quarantine.

“We run through the signs and symptoms and make sure that they’re not having any symptoms,” says Cass County epidemiologist Brooklyn Lampe. “And then we’re also looking at if they have any underlying health conditions that would put them at high risk.”

Businesses in Clay County began to re-open this week, and Wegner says she’s confident her county is ready to respond, with enough contact tracers to handle a surge of cases.

In Kansas City, where the stay-at-home directive remains in place until later next week, the Health Department has roughly a quarter of the workers it needs.

Kansas City’s 19 contact tracers aren’t enough to handle the nearly 600 cases confirmed as of Monday, says Kansas City Health Department Deputy director Tracie McClendon-Cole.

“We’re not currently able to handle necessarily the capacity that we need to in order to make sure that we’re testing the results as well as following up with each person who has identified as COVID positive in Kansas City,” McClendon-Cole says.

Efforts are underway to increase the workforce. Next week, the Jackson County Legislature is set to vote on spending $5 million on contact tracing. Kansas is recruiting volunteers to do the work.

Contact tracing is not a new idea. It’s been used to fight Ebola and tuberculosis across the world. In Kansas City, contact tracers were already busy stopping the spread of communicable diseases before the novel coronavirus arrived. Now, in addition to tracing contacts of people who contracted COVID-19, they still have to keep up with their usual work managing outbreaks of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea, says McClendon-Cole.

On Sunday, the city posted job openings for five additional contact tracers after the City Council approved funding from the health levy in late April. This falls well short of the 75 to 150 contact tracers McClendon-Cole says the city should have. The National Association of County and City Health Officials estimates a city needs 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 people, which would equal about 148 workers for Kansas City.

“We’re hoping that as we move further into this period, especially as the federal government starts releasing more funds, that more will flow to the local level and we’ll be able to add to our staff,” McClendon-Cole says.

Counties should have gotten federal CARES Act payments on Wednesday, according to an announcement from Missouri State Treasurer. Kansas City hopes this funding will trickle down to the city.

In Kansas, while local health departments conduct investigations, the state is in the process of recruiting 400 volunteers, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Kristi Zears.

“With many LHDs (local health departments) overburdened with case counts and community spread, it makes disease investigation very challenging,” Zears said in an email.

Lafayette County, about 35 miles east of Kansas City, has been training its health department’s board members and volunteers in case there’s a surge in cases, says Lafayette County Health Director Tom Emerson.

“It’s been tough sometimes, but we haven’t been overwhelmed yet. We have had to work weekends and after hours, but that’s just part of it,” Emerson says. “So our current staff has handled what we have now.”

To help manage workload in Clay County, the health department has a text message system that can be used to reach back out to people who are self-quarantined after being exposed to someone with the virus.

“We can, you know, a couple of times a day send out an automatic text that says, ‘Hey, do you have any symptoms? Yes or no?’” Wegner says. “If not, we go about our business. If you do, then yes, we need to have another conversation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588193586788.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman discussed contact tracers during the governor's press conference Wednesday" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman discussed contact tracers during the governor's press conference Wednesday</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Stay-at-home orders are beginning to lift in the Kansas City metro, and people will begin coming into closer contact. But the coronavirus pandemic is not over. That means conversations about how to stay safe will involve the new and potentially uncomfortable idea of contact tracing.“We absolutely know that when the stay-at-home orders are lifted, that we will see increased incidents of cases and therefore we will also see an increased need for additional contact tracing,” says Ashley Wegner, the health planning and policy section chief of the Clay County Public Health Center.After a health care provider notifies the health department that a person has tested positive for the virus, a staff member calls the person and works to figure out whether they’ve spent more than 10 minutes within a six-foot radius of another person while infected.“It’s not the government policing us,” Wegner told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2020-05-05/health-officials-worry-kansas-city-doesnt-have-enough-contact-tracers-to-hold-back-the-next-wave-of-covid-19?mc_cid=1da545c4af&amp;mc_eid=45fc700640">KCUR-FM</a>. “This is what we need to do to keep the community open so people can go to work.”The number of contacts can vary from person to person. Health care workers on the frontlines will have more contacts compared to people working from home.“You could identify 30 to 50 contacts for one person just because they’re going to work every day because they have coworkers and then have patients,” Wegner says.It can take time for a contact tracer to gain a patient’s trust. Someone might struggle with remembering who they came in contact with or be reluctant to admit they didn’t follow the stay-at-home directive.With a list of people who came in contact with an infected person, the contact tracer notifies everyone on the list and asks them to self-quarantine.“We run through the signs and symptoms and make sure that they’re not having any symptoms,” says Cass County epidemiologist Brooklyn Lampe. “And then we’re also looking at if they have any underlying health conditions that would put them at high risk.”Businesses in Clay County began to re-open this week, and Wegner says she’s confident her county is ready to respond, with enough contact tracers to handle a surge of cases.In Kansas City, where the stay-at-home directive remains in place until later next week, the Health Department has roughly a quarter of the workers it needs.Kansas City’s 19 contact tracers aren’t enough to handle the nearly 600 cases confirmed as of Monday, says Kansas City Health Department Deputy director Tracie McClendon-Cole.“We’re not currently able to handle necessarily the capacity that we need to in order to make sure that we’re testing the results as well as following up with each person who has identified as COVID positive in Kansas City,” McClendon-Cole says.Efforts are underway to increase the workforce. Next week, the Jackson County Legislature is set to vote on spending $5 million on contact tracing. Kansas is recruiting volunteers to do the work.Contact tracing is not a new idea. It’s been used to fight Ebola and tuberculosis across the world. In Kansas City, contact tracers were already busy stopping the spread of communicable diseases before the novel coronavirus arrived. Now, in addition to tracing contacts of people who contracted COVID-19, they still have to keep up with their usual work managing outbreaks of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea, says McClendon-Cole.On Sunday, the city posted job openings for five additional contact tracers after the City Council approved funding from the health levy in late April. This falls well short of the 75 to 150 contact tracers McClendon-Cole says the city should have. The National Association of County and City Health Officials estimates a city needs 30 contact tracers for every 100,000 people, which would equal about 148 workers for Kansas City.“We’re hoping that as we move further into this period, especially as the federal government starts releasing more funds, that more will flow to the local level and we’ll be able to add to our staff,” McClendon-Cole says.Counties should have gotten federal CARES Act payments on Wednesday, according to an announcement from Missouri State Treasurer. Kansas City hopes this funding will trickle down to the city.In Kansas, while local health departments conduct investigations, the state is in the process of recruiting 400 volunteers, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokeswoman Kristi Zears.“With many LHDs (local health departments) overburdened with case counts and community spread, it makes disease investigation very challenging,” Zears said in an email.Lafayette County, about 35 miles east of Kansas City, has been training its health department’s board members and volunteers in case there’s a surge in cases, says Lafayette County Health Director Tom Emerson.“It’s been tough sometimes, but we haven’t been overwhelmed yet. We have had to work weekends and after hours, but that’s just part of it,” Emerson says. “So our current staff has handled what we have now.”To help manage workload in Clay County, the health department has a text message system that can be used to reach back out to people who are self-quarantined after being exposed to someone with the virus.“We can, you know, a couple of times a day send out an automatic text that says, ‘Hey, do you have any symptoms? Yes or no?’” Wegner says. “If not, we go about our business. If you do, then yes, we need to have another conversation.”

Health officials worry not enough contact tracers In Kansas

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — As coronavirus hotspots erupted at major U.S. meatpacking plants, experts criticized extremely tight working conditions that made the factories natural high risk contagion locations. But some Midwestern politicians have pointed the finger at the workers' living conditions, suggesting crowded homes bear some blame.

The comments — including a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice's remark that an outbreak didn't seem to have come from “regular folks” — outraged workers and advocates who slammed them as elitist and critical of immigrants, who make up a big share of America's meatpacking workforce.

And the remarks stood in contrast to public U.S. outpourings of gratitude for other essential workers like police officers, health care professionals and grocery store workers.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, generated ire last month when discussing the closure of a Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls that infected 1,000 employees and people who came in contact with the workers, saying “99% of what’s going on today wasn’t happening inside the facility.”

The spread of the virus happened "more at home, where these employees were going home and spreading some of the virus because a lot of these folks who work at this plant live in the community, the same building, sometimes in the same apartment,” she said on Fox News.

Noem's comments created a foundation for blaming virus outbreaks on the meatpackers' home lives instead of conditions at plants, where employees often worked shoulder to shoulder with little to no protective gear as U.S. virus cases surged, said Taneeza Islam, who runs the refugee and immigrant support group South Dakota Voices for Peace.

Her group organized a letter to Noem to ask "her to listen to the people who have been directly impacted because she has not done that yet, which is very telling about her position in terms of being on the side of the people or being on the side of business.”

Noem wasn't alone. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, took heat for remarks last month after a meatpacking plant virus outbreak in his state.

“Well, we see people concentrated together," Ricketts said. "And that’s certainly true with our food processors where you have people together. But it can also be true in households if you have multiple generations of people living together, or a lot of people living in a household.”

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar cited crowded meatpacking worker living conditions in a call last week with members of Congress, according to a story first reported by Politico. Agency spokesman Michael Caputo on Thursday defended Azar's remarks as “nothing more than a statement of the obvious.”

Achut Deng, a Sudanese refugee who works at the Sioux Falls plant, said after Noem's remarks that the comments offended her, calling them “ridiculous.”

Many of Smithfield's Sioux Falls employees live in well-maintained apartment complexes near the plant, some in multi-generational homes so older family members can be cared for. Others have single-family units and Deng, who was infected and recovered, believes she caught the virus at the plant because she lives only with her three children who have been out of school.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588342380364.jpeg" alt="Northwest Health testing pork plant workers at Triumph in St. Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Northwest Health testing pork plant workers at Triumph in St. Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — As coronavirus hotspots erupted at major U.S. meatpacking plants, experts criticized extremely tight working conditions that made the factories natural high risk contagion locations. But some Midwestern politicians have pointed the finger at the workers' living conditions, suggesting crowded homes bear some blame.The comments — including a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice's remark that an outbreak didn't seem to have come from “regular folks” — outraged workers and advocates who slammed them as elitist and critical of immigrants, who make up a big share of America's meatpacking workforce.And the remarks stood in contrast to public U.S. outpourings of gratitude for other essential workers like police officers, health care professionals and grocery store workers.South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, generated ire last month when discussing the closure of a Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls that infected 1,000 employees and people who came in contact with the workers, saying “99% of what’s going on today wasn’t happening inside the facility.”The spread of the virus happened "more at home, where these employees were going home and spreading some of the virus because a lot of these folks who work at this plant live in the community, the same building, sometimes in the same apartment,” she said on Fox News.Noem's comments created a foundation for blaming virus outbreaks on the meatpackers' home lives instead of conditions at plants, where employees often worked shoulder to shoulder with little to no protective gear as U.S. virus cases surged, said Taneeza Islam, who runs the refugee and immigrant support group South Dakota Voices for Peace.Her group organized a letter to Noem to ask "her to listen to the people who have been directly impacted because she has not done that yet, which is very telling about her position in terms of being on the side of the people or being on the side of business.”Noem wasn't alone. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, also a Republican, took heat for remarks last month after a meatpacking plant virus outbreak in his state.“Well, we see people concentrated together," Ricketts said. "And that’s certainly true with our food processors where you have people together. But it can also be true in households if you have multiple generations of people living together, or a lot of people living in a household.”U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar cited crowded meatpacking worker living conditions in a call last week with members of Congress, according to a story first reported by Politico. Agency spokesman Michael Caputo on Thursday defended Azar's remarks as “nothing more than a statement of the obvious.”Achut Deng, a Sudanese refugee who works at the Sioux Falls plant, said after Noem's remarks that the comments offended her, calling them “ridiculous.”Many of Smithfield's Sioux Falls employees live in well-maintained apartment complexes near the plant, some in multi-generational homes so older family members can be cared for. Others have single-family units and Deng, who was infected and recovered, believes she caught the virus at the plant because she lives only with her three children who have been out of school.In Wisconsin, Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack appeared to downplay the impact of an outbreak at the JBS Packerland beef plant in Green Bay while hearing arguments on a lawsuit seeking to strike down the state's stay-at-home order. Coronavirus cases in Brown County, where Green Bay lies, jumped from 60 to about 800 in two weeks, a state government lawyer told justices this week.“These were due to the meatpacking, though,” responded Roggensack, part of the court's conservative majority. “That’s where Brown County got the flare. It wasn’t just the regular folks in Brown County.”Christine Neumann Ortiz, executive director of the Wisconsin-based Latino advocacy group Voces de la Frontera, said Roggensack's comments “reflected elitist disdain for workers.”“It shows she considers their lives less worthy,” Ortiz said. “It’s an abhorrent comment, especially at this moment.”A court spokesman, Tom Sheehan, said Roggensack was prohibited by court rules from responding.Many U.S. meat plant workers are Latino but in recent years, particularly in the upper Midwest, African immigrants have taken meatpacking jobs. About 40 languages are spoken by workers at the Sioux Falls plant, the Centers for Disease Control has said.Ortiz said many Latino and immigrant families with workers in the sector “are very family-oriented” and that could contribute to the virus' spread. But she insisted that the greater threats are workplace conditions and policies she claimed encourage workers to come in sick and do not provide enough worker virus testing.In South Dakota, Noem said she made her meatpacking company worker living condition comments after the Sioux Falls plant closed and public health officials' focus shifted to stopping the outbreak where the workers lived.She agreed to speak personally with some meatpacking workers after advocacy groups made the demand. Those calls, organized through Smithfield, were scheduled for Thursday night and Friday.In Nebraska, meatpacking worker advocates disputed Ricketts' suggestion that an outbreak could have happened because of crowded worker households at the Tyson Foods beef plant in Dakota City, where hundreds were infected.“The governor’s statement that this is a community issue is completely untrue,” said Rose Godinez, legal counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, and the daughter of retired meatpacking workers.She said plant workers told her that most employees who tested positive own or rent their homes and in general do not live in crowded, small dwellings.Godinez said Ricketts' comments appeared aimed at “trying to deflect some of the companies’ failures.”Blaming workers for workplace safety and illnesses is a longstanding tactic by companies seeking to avoid responsibility, said Celeste Monforton, a Texas State University lecturer and workplace safety expert.“If these workers are deemed to be critical infrastructure workers, deemed to be essential workers, they deserve the utmost respect, the highest level of protection," she said.