KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak has been overturned after the state’s top prosecutor said it likely violates the state constitution.

The Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to undo the order that limited in-person religious services and funerals to 10 people. The move came after Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said that while the order was “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow,” he was discouraging law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.

Governor Laura Kelly during Tuesday's news conference

With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order Tuesday because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings. Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, said 165 had been sickened in those outbreaks.

“In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order,” wrote Schmidt, adding that Kansas statutory and constitutional law provide substantially more protection for religious freedoms than does federal law.

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew Wednesday to 1,008, up from 900 Tuesday, with 38 deaths.

The sickened include 56 patients and staff members at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Kansas City, Kansas. Six have died and seven are hospitalized, health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday.

State health officials are monitoring the outbreak. Previously that state’s largest outbreak had been at the Life Care Center of Burlington, where 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive. One resident at that facility has died.

Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.

By STEPHEN KORANDA &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-lawmakers-wiped-out-gov-laura-kellys-covid-19-ban-big-church-gatherings#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas Republican leadership 
seemingly had enough of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive orders, 
with a limit on church gatherings marking the final straw.

The 
Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to strip the state 
of any ban on the number of people who could gather at one time to stop 
the spread of the coronavirus.

No more than 10 people have been 
allowed to gather for a while, but on Tuesday, Kelly specified that it 
would apply to churches and funerals. Kansas officials have said three 
clusters of coronavirus have been directly tied to church services, 
leading to 165 illnesses and 12 deaths.

Plus, Easter is this Sunday, and the decision rankled Republican leadership.

“I
 can’t approve this,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, who often 
clashes with Kelly. “We did take an oath to uphold (religious freedoms 
in the constitution).”

It is now up to Kelly whether to establish
 another order that limits gatherings. She delayed an afternoon news 
conference as soon as the LCC’s vote happened.

Kansas House 
Speaker Pro Tem Finch said he hoped everyone will stay home, adding that
 it isn’t worth the risk to go to a church service this weekend and 
thanked church leaders for holding online services.

Those who 
voted to overturn the executive order, via conference call, were Wagle, 
Finch, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and
 House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins. The two Democrats, Sen. Anthony 
Hensley and House Rep. Tom Sawyer, wanted to keep the order.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda">@kprkoranda</a>.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTHKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak has been overturned after the state’s top prosecutor said it likely violates the state constitution.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/pHrW7sAiqY">pic.twitter.com/pHrW7sAiqY</a>&mdash; Speaker Ryckman (@RonRyckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonRyckman/status/1247989645973032960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to undo the order that limited in-person religious services and funerals to 10 people. The move came after Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said that while the order was “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow,” he was discouraging law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586287905649.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Governor Laura Kelly during Tuesday's news conferenceWith Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order Tuesday because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings. Dr. Lee Norman, the state health department’s head, said 165 had been sickened in those outbreaks.“In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order,” wrote Schmidt, adding that Kansas statutory and constitutional law provide substantially more protection for religious freedoms than does federal law.Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew Wednesday to 1,008, up from 900 Tuesday, with 38 deaths.The sickened include 56 patients and staff members at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation in Kansas City, Kansas. Six have died and seven are hospitalized, health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday.State health officials are monitoring the outbreak. Previously that state’s largest outbreak had been at the Life Care Center of Burlington, where 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive. One resident at that facility has died.Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.----------By STEPHEN KORANDA &amp; CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-lawmakers-wiped-out-gov-laura-kellys-covid-19-ban-big-church-gatherings#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — Kansas Republican leadership 
seemingly had enough of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive orders, 
with a limit on church gatherings marking the final straw.The 
Legislative Coordinating Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to strip the state 
of any ban on the number of people who could gather at one time to stop 
the spread of the coronavirus.No more than 10 people have been 
allowed to gather for a while, but on Tuesday, Kelly specified that it 
would apply to churches and funerals. Kansas officials have said three 
clusters of coronavirus have been directly tied to church services, 
leading to 165 illnesses and 12 deaths.Plus, Easter is this Sunday, and the decision rankled Republican leadership.“I
 can’t approve this,” said Senate President Susan Wagle, who often 
clashes with Kelly. “We did take an oath to uphold (religious freedoms 
in the constitution).”It is now up to Kelly whether to establish
 another order that limits gatherings. She delayed an afternoon news 
conference as soon as the LCC’s vote happened.Kansas House 
Speaker Pro Tem Finch said he hoped everyone will stay home, adding that
 it isn’t worth the risk to go to a church service this weekend and 
thanked church leaders for holding online services.Those who 
voted to overturn the executive order, via conference call, were Wagle, 
Finch, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, House Speaker Ron Ryckman and
 House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins. The two Democrats, Sen. Anthony 
Hensley and House Rep. Tom Sawyer, wanted to keep the order.This is a breaking news story and will be updated.Stephen Koranda is the Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda">@kprkoranda</a>.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ">@celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org.

Update: Kan. lawmakers wipe out Gov.'s ban on church gatherings 

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Wednesday afternoon.

<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here </a>for additional details.

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Wednesday afternoon.<a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here </a>for additional details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586378408382.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 38 deaths

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prosecutor says a new executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak likely violates the state constitution.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said in a news release Wednesday that limiting religious services and funerals to 10 people is “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow” but discouraged law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.

According to the media release, “The Office of Attorney General strongly encourages all Kansans participating in religious services or activities to voluntarily comply with the new restrictions on religious mass gatherings in order to protect public health.” Schmidt wrote in a memorandum to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide. “Nevertheless, … we also strongly discourage law enforcement from attempting to enforce the requirements of EO 20-18 as violations of the criminal law. In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order.”

Wednesday's memorandum is the second Schmidt has provided to assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide in navigating the legally uncertain world of enforcing emergency orders during the current COVID-19 crisis. He said today’s further guidance was necessary because the new executive order singles out for additional regulation the exercise of a fundamental freedom expressly protected by the Kansas Constitution and by state statute. Schmidt noted that Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, as well as the state’s Preservation for Religious Freedom Act, both set strict limits on the authority of any state or local government authority, including the governor, to restrict the religious freedoms of Kansans.

With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order&nbsp; because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings.&nbsp;

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/addendum-1-to-law-enforcement-duties-and-authorities-memo.pdf?sfvrsn=7a60ac1a_2">Click here to read</a> a copy of the attorney general’s memorandum&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286859667.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly issued the executive order during her news conference Tuesday afternoon." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly issued the executive order during her news conference Tuesday afternoon.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ top prosecutor says a new executive order from Gov. Laura Kelly restricting the size of religious gatherings amid the coronavirus outbreak likely violates the state constitution.Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican, said in a news release Wednesday that limiting religious services and funerals to 10 people is “sound public-health advice that Kansans should follow” but discouraged law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide from attempting to enforce the requirements.According to the media release, “The Office of Attorney General strongly encourages all Kansans participating in religious services or activities to voluntarily comply with the new restrictions on religious mass gatherings in order to protect public health.” Schmidt wrote in a memorandum to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors statewide. “Nevertheless, … we also strongly discourage law enforcement from attempting to enforce the requirements of EO 20-18 as violations of the criminal law. In our view, Kansas statute and the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights each forbid the governor from criminalizing participation in worship gatherings by executive order.”Wednesday's memorandum is the second Schmidt has provided to assist law enforcement and prosecutors statewide in navigating the legally uncertain world of enforcing emergency orders during the current COVID-19 crisis. He said today’s further guidance was necessary because the new executive order singles out for additional regulation the exercise of a fundamental freedom expressly protected by the Kansas Constitution and by state statute. Schmidt noted that Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, as well as the state’s Preservation for Religious Freedom Act, both set strict limits on the authority of any state or local government authority, including the governor, to restrict the religious freedoms of Kansans.With Easter approaching, Kelly, a Democrat, issued the order&nbsp; because of three outbreaks that had been connected to religious gatherings.&nbsp;<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/addendum-1-to-law-enforcement-duties-and-authorities-memo.pdf?sfvrsn=7a60ac1a_2">Click here to read</a> a copy of the attorney general’s memorandum&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. AG tells police not to enforce Gov's order on religious gatherings

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A woman who ran a Kansas town's post office was sentenced to probation for stealing gift cards from the mail.

Stacy Vasko was sentenced Tuesday to three years of probation for a misdemeanor count of obstructing mail. She was also ordered to pay $200 in restitution.

Vasko intially was charged last summer with two counts of mail theft by a postal employee.

She was living in Salina and was the only employee in the Brookville post office when the thefts occurred. She was caught after a postal investigator determined Vasko had used a gift card taken from a birthday card that went through the Brookville office.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A woman who ran a Kansas town's post office was sentenced to probation for stealing gift cards from the mail.Stacy Vasko was sentenced Tuesday to three years of probation for a misdemeanor count of obstructing mail. She was also ordered to pay $200 in restitution.Vasko intially was charged last summer with two counts of mail theft by a postal employee.She was living in Salina and was the only employee in the Brookville post office when the thefts occurred. She was caught after a postal investigator determined Vasko had used a gift card taken from a birthday card that went through the Brookville office.

Kansas postal employee sentenced for stealing gift cards

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The number dead after a coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City, Kansas, rehabilitation facility has grown to six with another 50 patients and staff testing positive.

Health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday that seven of the sickened residents of Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation are hospitalized.

Wyandotte County’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Greiner, blamed the high number of COVID-19 cases on “a confluence of bad circumstances,” including a lag in testing results. KCUR reports that Greiner also said Tuesday that the close interactions required at a rehab facility helped fuel the spread. Greiner said it appears it was caused by a staff member three weeks ago, although he stressed that officials are “not 100%” certain.

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A rehabilitation facility in Kansas City, Kansas, where four people have died of COVID-19 is one of a few group living facilities in the state that’s dealing with coronavirus outbreaks among their vulnerable residents.

Health officials for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said Monday that the people who died at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center were among 37 who were sickened there. Only four were staff members; the rest were patients.

Meanwhile, three staff members and a resident at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center for people with intellectual disabilities have tested positive, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services said in a news release. The sickened resident has been isolated.

At the Life Care Center of Burlington — the site of the state’s largest outbreak — 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive, Coffey County health officials said. One resident died.

Life Care Centers of America also owns a Seattle area nursing home where 40 died and another in Kansas City, Kansas, where one resident died.

The cases at group living facilities are among 900 that state officials reported Tuesday in 57 counties, up from 845 Monday. Twenty-seven people have died.

Also Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Corrections said an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and seven staff members.

Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said several of the state’s other 11 coronavirus clusters have been tied to nursing homes. And three are tied to church gatherings in Wyandotte County.

Updated projections from the University of Washington show hospital use is expected to peak in Kansas on April 19, eight days earlier previous projections, with deaths expected to peak at 10 per day on April 23.

The model predicts the states’ health care systems will not be as stressed as first expected. Kansas will ultimately need 94 intensive care unit beds; it has 278.

The head of Ascension Via Christi, which operates hospitals and other medical facilities in Wichita, Manhattan, Wamego, Pittsburg and Fort Scott, said Tuesday that the primary concern is staffing.

“The people that are operating the ventilators in a state like Kansas, where people are more precious than products, is a different situation than New York, where people are plentiful and product was scarce. We have a little bit of the reverse situation in Kansas,” said Don King, senior vice president of Ascension and ministry market executive for Kansas.

A respiratory therapist or other caregiver can be responsible for operating as many as eight respirators during an outbreak, and if you have one worker out sick it could impact as many as eight ventilators in a pressing situation, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586045672182.png" alt="Photo courtesy Riverbend&nbsp;Post Acute Rehabilitation Center" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Riverbend&nbsp;Post Acute Rehabilitation Center</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The number dead after a coronavirus outbreak at a Kansas City, Kansas, rehabilitation facility has grown to six with another 50 patients and staff testing positive.Health officials with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County said Wednesday that seven of the sickened residents of Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation are hospitalized.Wyandotte County’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Greiner, blamed the high number of COVID-19 cases on “a confluence of bad circumstances,” including a lag in testing results. KCUR reports that Greiner also said Tuesday that the close interactions required at a rehab facility helped fuel the spread. Greiner said it appears it was caused by a staff member three weeks ago, although he stressed that officials are “not 100%” certain.State health officials are monitoring the outbreak. Previously that state’s largest outbreak had been at the Life Care Center of Burlington, where 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive. One resident at that facility has died.Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900.-------MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A rehabilitation facility in Kansas City, Kansas, where four people have died of COVID-19 is one of a few group living facilities in the state that’s dealing with coronavirus outbreaks among their vulnerable residents.Health officials for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, said Monday that the people who died at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation Center were among 37 who were sickened there. Only four were staff members; the rest were patients.Meanwhile, three staff members and a resident at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center for people with intellectual disabilities have tested positive, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services said in a news release. The sickened resident has been isolated.At the Life Care Center of Burlington — the site of the state’s largest outbreak — 41 residents and one staff member have tested positive, Coffey County health officials said. One resident died.Life Care Centers of America also owns a Seattle area nursing home where 40 died and another in Kansas City, Kansas, where one resident died.The cases at group living facilities are among 900 that state officials reported Tuesday in 57 counties, up from 845 Monday. Twenty-seven people have died.Also Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Corrections said an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and seven staff members.Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said several of the state’s other 11 coronavirus clusters have been tied to nursing homes. And three are tied to church gatherings in Wyandotte County.Most infected people develop mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within three weeks, such as fever and cough. But older adults and people with existing health problems are particularly susceptible to more severe illness, including pneumonia.Updated projections from the University of Washington show hospital use is expected to peak in Kansas on April 19, eight days earlier previous projections, with deaths expected to peak at 10 per day on April 23.The model predicts the states’ health care systems will not be as stressed as first expected. Kansas will ultimately need 94 intensive care unit beds; it has 278.The head of Ascension Via Christi, which operates hospitals and other medical facilities in Wichita, Manhattan, Wamego, Pittsburg and Fort Scott, said Tuesday that the primary concern is staffing.“The people that are operating the ventilators in a state like Kansas, where people are more precious than products, is a different situation than New York, where people are plentiful and product was scarce. We have a little bit of the reverse situation in Kansas,” said Don King, senior vice president of Ascension and ministry market executive for Kansas.A respiratory therapist or other caregiver can be responsible for operating as many as eight respirators during an outbreak, and if you have one worker out sick it could impact as many as eight ventilators in a pressing situation, he said.___

Update: Virus deaths at Kan. rehab facility grow to 6

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders, who saw his once strong lead in the Democratic primary evaporate as the party’s establishment lined swiftly up behind rival Joe Biden, ended his presidential bid on Wednesday, an acknowledgment that the former vice president is too far ahead for him to have any reasonable hope of catching up.

<a href="https://live.berniesanders.com/">Click here to watch his announcement </a>

The Vermont senator’s announcement makes Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in November.

“The path toward victory is virtually impossible,” Sanders told supporters as he congratulated Biden. The former vice president is “a very decent man whom I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward.”

Sanders initially exceeded sky-high expectations about his ability to recreate the magic of his 2016 presidential bid, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcec4d5e82844672b3e330535506135f">even overcame a heart attack last October</a>. But he found himself unable to convert unwavering support from progressives into a viable path to the nomination amid “electability” fears fueled by questions about whether his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0f19aa284fbb49eab5a07dcd28156e83">democratic socialist ideology</a>&nbsp;would be palatable to general election voters.

The 78-year-old senator began his latest White House bid facing questions about whether he could win back the supporters who chose him four years ago as an insurgent alternative to the party establishment’s choice, Hillary Clinton. Despite winning 22 states in 2016, there were no guarantees he’d be a major presidential contender this cycle, especially as the race’s oldest candidate.

Sanders, though, used strong polling and solid fundraising — collected almost entirely from small donations made online — to more than quiet early doubters. Like the first time, he attracted widespread support from young voters and was able to make new inroads within the Hispanic community, even as his appeal with African Americans remained small.

Sanders amassed the most votes in Iowa and New Hampshire, which opened primary voting, and cruised to an easy victory in Nevada — seemingly leaving him well positioned to sprint to the Democratic nomination while a deeply crowded and divided field of alternatives sunk around him.

But a crucial endorsement of Biden by influential South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, and a subsequent, larger-than-expected victory in South Carolina, propelled the former vice president into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fc56521fb4375ffa5375fd6daae3be5b">Super Tuesday, when he won 10 of 14 states</a>.

In a matter of days, his top former Democratic rivals lined up and announced their endorsement of Biden. The former vice president’s campaign had appeared on the brink of collapse after New Hampshire but found new life as the rest of the party’s more moderate establishment coalesced around him as an alternative to Sanders.

Things only got worse the following week when Sanders lost Michigan, where he had campaigned hard and upset Clinton in 2016. He was also beaten in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho the same night and the results were so decisive that Sanders headed to Vermont without speaking to the media.

<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">The coronavirus outbreak</a>&nbsp;essentially froze the campaign, preventing Sanders from holding the large rallies that had become his trademark and shifting the primary calendar. It became increasingly unclear where he could notch a victory that would help him regain ground against Biden.

Though he will not be the nominee, Sanders was a key architect of many of the social policies that dominated the Democratic primary, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ec36c409be344f23854ae4497ad87ee5">“Medicare for All”&nbsp;</a>universal, government-funded health care plan, tuition-free public college, a $15 minimum wage and sweeping efforts to fight climate change under the “Green New Deal.”

He relished the fact that his ideas — viewed as radical four years ago— had become part of the political mainstream by the next election cycle, as Democratic politics lurched to the left in the Trump era.

Sanders began the 2020 race by arguing that he was the most electable Democrat against Trump. He said his working-class appeal could help Democrats win back Rust Belt states that Trump won in 2016, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. But as the race wore on, the senator reverted to his 2016 roots, repeatedly stressing that he backs a “political revolution” from the bottom up under the slogan “Not me. Us.”

Sanders also faced persistent questions about being the field’s oldest candidate. Those were pushed into the spotlight on Oct. 1, when he was at a rally in Las Vegas and asked for a chair to be brought on stage so he could sit down. Suffering from chest pains afterward, he underwent surgery to insert two stints because of a blocked artery, and his campaign revealed two days later that he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcec4d5e82844672b3e330535506135f">suffered a heart attack</a>.

But a serious health scare that might have derailed other campaigns seemed only to help Sanders as his already-strong fundraising got stronger and rising stars on the Democratic left, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, endorsed him. Many supporters said the heart attack only strengthened their resolve to back him.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren outshone him throughout much of the summer, but Sanders worked his way back up in the polls. The two progressive candidates spent months refusing to attack each other, though Sanders offered a strong defense of Medicare for All after Warren offered a transition plan saying it would take the country years to transition to it.

The two longtime allies finally clashed bitterly, if briefly, in January, when Warren said that Sanders had suggested during a 2018 private meeting that a woman couldn’t be elected president. Sanders denied saying that, but Warren refused to shake his outstretched hand after a debate in Iowa.

Warren left the race after a dismal Super Tuesday showing in which she finished third in her own state.

In 2016, Sanders kept campaigning long after the primaries had ended and endorsed Clinton less than two weeks before their party’s convention. This cycle, he promised to work better with the national and state parties. His dropping out of the race now could be a step toward unity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586362083497.png" alt="Senator Sanders during his announcement from Vermont Wednesday morning." />
 <figcaption>Senator Sanders during his announcement from Vermont Wednesday morning.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders, who saw his once strong lead in the Democratic primary evaporate as the party’s establishment lined swiftly up behind rival Joe Biden, ended his presidential bid on Wednesday, an acknowledgment that the former vice president is too far ahead for him to have any reasonable hope of catching up.<a href="https://live.berniesanders.com/">Click here to watch his announcement </a>The Vermont senator’s announcement makes Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee to challenge President Donald Trump in November.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I know Bernie well. He’s a good man, a great leader, and one of the most powerful voices for change in our country. And it’s hard to sum up his contributions to our politics in one, single tweet. So I won’t try to. <a href="https://t.co/Z6OkCDWFNm">https://t.co/Z6OkCDWFNm</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1247920466603528193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“The path toward victory is virtually impossible,” Sanders told supporters as he congratulated Biden. The former vice president is “a very decent man whom I will work with to move our progressive ideas forward.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The KDP issued the following statement about the 2020 Primary and Bernie Sanders&#39;s decision to suspend his Presidential campaign: <a href="https://t.co/zRgxWT100Z">pic.twitter.com/zRgxWT100Z</a>&mdash; Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasDems/status/1247938223894134784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Sanders initially exceeded sky-high expectations about his ability to recreate the magic of his 2016 presidential bid, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcec4d5e82844672b3e330535506135f">even overcame a heart attack last October</a>. But he found himself unable to convert unwavering support from progressives into a viable path to the nomination amid “electability” fears fueled by questions about whether his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0f19aa284fbb49eab5a07dcd28156e83">democratic socialist ideology</a>&nbsp;would be palatable to general election voters.The 78-year-old senator began his latest White House bid facing questions about whether he could win back the supporters who chose him four years ago as an insurgent alternative to the party establishment’s choice, Hillary Clinton. Despite winning 22 states in 2016, there were no guarantees he’d be a major presidential contender this cycle, especially as the race’s oldest candidate.Sanders, though, used strong polling and solid fundraising — collected almost entirely from small donations made online — to more than quiet early doubters. Like the first time, he attracted widespread support from young voters and was able to make new inroads within the Hispanic community, even as his appeal with African Americans remained small.Sanders amassed the most votes in Iowa and New Hampshire, which opened primary voting, and cruised to an easy victory in Nevada — seemingly leaving him well positioned to sprint to the Democratic nomination while a deeply crowded and divided field of alternatives sunk around him.But a crucial endorsement of Biden by influential South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, and a subsequent, larger-than-expected victory in South Carolina, propelled the former vice president into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fc56521fb4375ffa5375fd6daae3be5b">Super Tuesday, when he won 10 of 14 states</a>.In a matter of days, his top former Democratic rivals lined up and announced their endorsement of Biden. The former vice president’s campaign had appeared on the brink of collapse after New Hampshire but found new life as the rest of the party’s more moderate establishment coalesced around him as an alternative to Sanders.Things only got worse the following week when Sanders lost Michigan, where he had campaigned hard and upset Clinton in 2016. He was also beaten in Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho the same night and the results were so decisive that Sanders headed to Vermont without speaking to the media.<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">The coronavirus outbreak</a>&nbsp;essentially froze the campaign, preventing Sanders from holding the large rallies that had become his trademark and shifting the primary calendar. It became increasingly unclear where he could notch a victory that would help him regain ground against Biden.Though he will not be the nominee, Sanders was a key architect of many of the social policies that dominated the Democratic primary, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ec36c409be344f23854ae4497ad87ee5">“Medicare for All”&nbsp;</a>universal, government-funded health care plan, tuition-free public college, a $15 minimum wage and sweeping efforts to fight climate change under the “Green New Deal.”He relished the fact that his ideas — viewed as radical four years ago— had become part of the political mainstream by the next election cycle, as Democratic politics lurched to the left in the Trump era.Sanders began the 2020 race by arguing that he was the most electable Democrat against Trump. He said his working-class appeal could help Democrats win back Rust Belt states that Trump won in 2016, including Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. But as the race wore on, the senator reverted to his 2016 roots, repeatedly stressing that he backs a “political revolution” from the bottom up under the slogan “Not me. Us.”Sanders also faced persistent questions about being the field’s oldest candidate. Those were pushed into the spotlight on Oct. 1, when he was at a rally in Las Vegas and asked for a chair to be brought on stage so he could sit down. Suffering from chest pains afterward, he underwent surgery to insert two stints because of a blocked artery, and his campaign revealed two days later that he had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fcec4d5e82844672b3e330535506135f">suffered a heart attack</a>.But a serious health scare that might have derailed other campaigns seemed only to help Sanders as his already-strong fundraising got stronger and rising stars on the Democratic left, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, endorsed him. Many supporters said the heart attack only strengthened their resolve to back him.Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren outshone him throughout much of the summer, but Sanders worked his way back up in the polls. The two progressive candidates spent months refusing to attack each other, though Sanders offered a strong defense of Medicare for All after Warren offered a transition plan saying it would take the country years to transition to it.The two longtime allies finally clashed bitterly, if briefly, in January, when Warren said that Sanders had suggested during a 2018 private meeting that a woman couldn’t be elected president. Sanders denied saying that, but Warren refused to shake his outstretched hand after a debate in Iowa.Warren left the race after a dismal Super Tuesday showing in which she finished third in her own state.In 2016, Sanders kept campaigning long after the primaries had ended and endorsed Clinton less than two weeks before their party’s convention. This cycle, he promised to work better with the national and state parties. His dropping out of the race now could be a step toward unity.___

Sanders drops bid; likely nominee Biden responds

BY GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2020/04/06/grocery-stores-keep-shelves-stocked-during-pandemic">Kansas Living Magazine, a publication of Kansas Farm Bureau</a>

Mike Floersch grew up in the 
grocery business with his father running and owning a store in Seneca. 
Floersch now runs five stores in northeast Kansas and another in 
Nebraska. In all that time he’s never experienced anything quite like 
the COVID-19 pandemic, and its effects on the industry.

“I’ve never seen it like this before,” Floersch says of the near constant demand and a supply chain struggling to keep up.

Floersch says distributors are doing everything they can to meet 
demand as more people stay home to keep from spreading the virus.

“Bread companies, they’re just making their top three items – a wheat
 bread, white bread and sandwich bread,” he says. “We get all of our 
eggs from AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers, and we’re having a hard 
time there. We hooked up with a local guy by Council Grove. He’s 
bringing us 300 dozen. That’s OK, but it’s not enough.”

The problem, Floersch says, isn’t the availability of food in 
distributors’ warehouses, but the people to pull product and put it on 
trucks to ship out.

“We get three trucks a week,” he says. “The warehouse is telling us we could order two more, but they can’t get them pulled.”

Floersch says up until last Sunday (March 26) consumer demand was 
“just unbelievable.” That’s become more manageable, but there’s still 
some items he struggles to keep on the shelves in places like Beloit, 
Clay Center, St. Marys, Council Grove and Seneca.

“You walk the store and think, ‘My God, we don’t have any eggs. We 
don’t have any flour,’ Floersch says. “We cured some of that just by 
making phone calls.”

Floersch drove from Clay Center to Hudson over the weekend to get two
 pallets of flour from the Stafford County Flour Mill. He’s also working
 with a couple of smaller meat lockers to source ground beef.

Still, the stores have struggled to keep items like toilet paper and 
potatoes in stock. Again, that’s not because there’s a shortage of those
 items, rather there’s a distribution bottleneck as wholesalers adjust 
supply chains for people staying at home.

Floersch believes distributors are being fair in how they divvy up the items.

“They’re allocating to everybody, so everybody gets some,” he says. “That way the bigger stores don’t just wipe them out.”

On top of managing what he can in the supply chain, Floersch also is making sure he’s taking care of his employees.

“We’re wiping down more,” Floersch says. “We’re going to put up 
plastic sneeze guards (at registers). There’s so many things we’ve got 
to do because of our employees. We’re on the frontline.”

Floersch is grateful his customers have been understanding throughout the crisis.

“We have not had anyone get upset with us,” he says. “A lot of them 
are thanking us for being here. As a small retailer … we try to serve 
the communities we’re in.”

To learn more about COVID-19, get educational resources and community efforts, visit <a href="http://www.kfb.org/covid19" target="_blank">www.kfb.org/covid19</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586204425388.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY GREG DOERING <a href="https://kansaslivingmagazine.com/articles/2020/04/06/grocery-stores-keep-shelves-stocked-during-pandemic">Kansas Living Magazine, a publication of Kansas Farm Bureau</a> Mike Floersch grew up in the 
grocery business with his father running and owning a store in Seneca. 
Floersch now runs five stores in northeast Kansas and another in 
Nebraska. In all that time he’s never experienced anything quite like 
the COVID-19 pandemic, and its effects on the industry.“I’ve never seen it like this before,” Floersch says of the near constant demand and a supply chain struggling to keep up.Floersch says distributors are doing everything they can to meet 
demand as more people stay home to keep from spreading the virus.“Bread companies, they’re just making their top three items – a wheat
 bread, white bread and sandwich bread,” he says. “We get all of our 
eggs from AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers, and we’re having a hard 
time there. We hooked up with a local guy by Council Grove. He’s 
bringing us 300 dozen. That’s OK, but it’s not enough.”The problem, Floersch says, isn’t the availability of food in 
distributors’ warehouses, but the people to pull product and put it on 
trucks to ship out.“We get three trucks a week,” he says. “The warehouse is telling us we could order two more, but they can’t get them pulled.”Floersch says up until last Sunday (March 26) consumer demand was 
“just unbelievable.” That’s become more manageable, but there’s still 
some items he struggles to keep on the shelves in places like Beloit, 
Clay Center, St. Marys, Council Grove and Seneca.“You walk the store and think, ‘My God, we don’t have any eggs. We 
don’t have any flour,’ Floersch says. “We cured some of that just by 
making phone calls.”Floersch drove from Clay Center to Hudson over the weekend to get two
 pallets of flour from the Stafford County Flour Mill. He’s also working
 with a couple of smaller meat lockers to source ground beef.Still, the stores have struggled to keep items like toilet paper and 
potatoes in stock. Again, that’s not because there’s a shortage of those
 items, rather there’s a distribution bottleneck as wholesalers adjust 
supply chains for people staying at home.Floersch believes distributors are being fair in how they divvy up the items.“They’re allocating to everybody, so everybody gets some,” he says. “That way the bigger stores don’t just wipe them out.”On top of managing what he can in the supply chain, Floersch also is making sure he’s taking care of his employees.“We’re wiping down more,” Floersch says. “We’re going to put up 
plastic sneeze guards (at registers). There’s so many things we’ve got 
to do because of our employees. We’re on the frontline.”Floersch is grateful his customers have been understanding throughout the crisis.“We have not had anyone get upset with us,” he says. “A lot of them 
are thanking us for being here. As a small retailer … we try to serve 
the communities we’re in.”To learn more about COVID-19, get educational resources and community efforts, visit <a href="http://www.kfb.org/covid19" target="_blank">www.kfb.org/covid19</a>.

Grocery stores work to keep shelves stocked during pandemic

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus">Note: A Spanish-language version of this article can be found HERE.</a>

The new coronavirus is spreading quickly <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">around the world</a>, including across Kansas, and setting off a range of responses.

The
 Kansas News Service is boiling down key developments in the state and 
updating the status regularly here. To read this information in Spanish,
 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">go here</a>. This list was last updated at 4:10 p.m. April 7.

900 cases (see map for counties) and 223 hospitalizations

27 deaths&nbsp; (the state is no longer disclosing which counties are seeing deaths)

NOTE: These figures only
 include cases confirmed with lab tests and do not represent the real, 
unknown total. Community transmission is occurring in parts of Kansas. 
View additional charts showing the disease’s spread over time and other 
trends <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">here</a>.

Gov. Laura Kelly is instituting a statewide stay-at-home order as of 
12:01 a.m. March 30. It will last until at least April 19. Stay-at-home 
orders allow people to take care of essential activities (such as 
grocery shopping or going to work) as well as exercise outside, but 
otherwise keep to themselves.&nbsp;

The state’s stay-at-home order 
supersedes at least 13 county-by-county orders. Should the state’s order
 lift before a county’s is through, the county can choose to keep its 
own in effect.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is now mandating&nbsp;home
 quarantine for 14 days if you've traveled to the places listed below. 
If you come down with symptoms (such as a fever of 100.4 degrees or 
higher, coughing or shortness of breath) during those 14 days, contact 
your health care provider and explain your potential COVID-19 
exposure.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Some 
doctors recommend patients with COVID-19 symptoms stay home even if they
 test negative for the disease, because of concerns that current testing
 approaches may be producing a significant number of <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/">false negatives</a>.

Several
 hospitals across the state now offer drive-through testing, but 
patients must get doctor approval in advance or else will be turned 
away. Many Kansans can’t be tested unless they’re sick enough to be 
hospitalized, and results may take up to a week.&nbsp;

That’s because 
testing supplies remain limited and private labs helping many clinics 
and hospitals have large backlogs of samples. Hospitals trying to buy 
equipment for in-house testing say vendors are backlogged, too. The 
state will soon have several portable machines that can conduct 5- to 
15-minute tests, and plans to lend them out to facilities most in need.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">Some Kansas hospitals have succeeded</a>
 in getting the testing materials and can give patients their results 
within a day. The state health department lab in Topeka can handle 
several hundred samples per day — a fraction of the demand.

Under a new federal law, you should not have to pay for your coronavirus test, regardless of insurance status (but patients <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">could still see related bills</a>).
 Separately, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, the state’s largest 
private insurer, says some patients won’t have to pay for coronavirus 
treatment.

Public
 and private universities and community colleges in the state will 
finish this semester via online classes. Spring sports have been 
canceled. Most staff travel has been suspended. Graduations at KU, 
K-State and Wichita State are postponed or rescheduled.

The 
University of Kansas and Wichita State also plan to hold summer classes 
online. KU and K-State announced hiring freezes in early April.&nbsp;

In mid-March, Kansas became <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-becomes-first-state-end-person-classes-year#stream/0" target="_blank">the first state</a> in the U.S. to shut down school buildings for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. A state task force then <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/rest-school-year-kansas-will-be-short-days-limited-screen-time#stream/0" target="_blank">issued guidance</a> for distance learning, for which students aren’t expected to spend more than a few hours a day.&nbsp;

Some districts that make high schoolers earn more credits than required by the state will <a href="https://lhsbudget.com/news/2020/03/25/school-board-lowers-graduation-requirements-for-seniors/" target="_blank">graduate them this year</a> based on the state’s lower bar.&nbsp;

Districts across the state are still providing free meals to eligible children, but some have <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241621716.html" target="_blank">stopped</a> because of concerns about the coronavirus spreading at meal pickup sites.

WHAT IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IS AFFECTED?&nbsp;

COVID-19
 usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, like a fever or cough. Most 
people with mild symptoms recover in two weeks. More severe cases, found
 in older adults and people with health issues, can have up to six 
weeks’ recovery time or can lead to death.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment: <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html</a>

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/2020/3/1585078791589.png" alt=" Health officials say one way to stop the spread of the new coronavirus is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Health officials say one way to stop the spread of the new coronavirus is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a><a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus">Note: A Spanish-language version of this article can be found HERE.</a>The new coronavirus is spreading quickly <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">around the world</a>, including across Kansas, and setting off a range of responses.The
 Kansas News Service is boiling down key developments in the state and 
updating the status regularly here. To read this information in Spanish,
 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/en-constante-actualizaci-n-lo-que-los-ciudadanos-de-kansas-deben-saber-sobre-el-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">go here</a>. This list was last updated at 4:10 p.m. April 7.<h2>CASES AND DEATHS</h2>900 cases (see map for counties) and 223 hospitalizations27 deaths&nbsp; (the state is no longer disclosing which counties are seeing deaths)NOTE: These figures only
 include cases confirmed with lab tests and do not represent the real, 
unknown total. Community transmission is occurring in parts of Kansas. 
View additional charts showing the disease’s spread over time and other 
trends <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">here</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586352637779.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Gov. Laura Kelly is instituting a statewide stay-at-home order as of 
12:01 a.m. March 30. It will last until at least April 19. Stay-at-home 
orders allow people to take care of essential activities (such as 
grocery shopping or going to work) as well as exercise outside, but 
otherwise keep to themselves.&nbsp;The state’s stay-at-home order 
supersedes at least 13 county-by-county orders. Should the state’s order
 lift before a county’s is through, the county can choose to keep its 
own in effect.<h2>SHOULD I SELF-QUARANTINE?</h2>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is now mandating&nbsp;home
 quarantine for 14 days if you've traveled to the places listed below. 
If you come down with symptoms (such as a fever of 100.4 degrees or 
higher, coughing or shortness of breath) during those 14 days, contact 
your health care provider and explain your potential COVID-19 
exposure.&nbsp;&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Connecticut on or after April 6.</li><li>Louisiana or anywhere in Colorado on or after March 27.</li><li>States with known widespread community transmission (California, Florida, New York and Washington) on or after March 15.</li><li>Illinois or New Jersey on or after March 23.</li><li>Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado (if your visit was March 8th or later).</li><li>Cruise
 ships or river cruises on or after March 15. Anyone previously told to 
quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should also finish out 
their quarantine.</li><li>International destinations on or after March 
15. Anyone previously told to quarantine because of their international 
travel should also finish out their quarantine.</li>
 </ol>Some 
doctors recommend patients with COVID-19 symptoms stay home even if they
 test negative for the disease, because of concerns that current testing
 approaches may be producing a significant number of <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/">false negatives</a>.<h2>TESTING AVAILABILITY</h2>Several
 hospitals across the state now offer drive-through testing, but 
patients must get doctor approval in advance or else will be turned 
away. Many Kansans can’t be tested unless they’re sick enough to be 
hospitalized, and results may take up to a week.&nbsp;That’s because 
testing supplies remain limited and private labs helping many clinics 
and hospitals have large backlogs of samples. Hospitals trying to buy 
equipment for in-house testing say vendors are backlogged, too. The 
state will soon have several portable machines that can conduct 5- to 
15-minute tests, and plans to lend them out to facilities most in need.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">Some Kansas hospitals have succeeded</a>
 in getting the testing materials and can give patients their results 
within a day. The state health department lab in Topeka can handle 
several hundred samples per day — a fraction of the demand.Under a new federal law, you should not have to pay for your coronavirus test, regardless of insurance status (but patients <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0" target="_blank">could still see related bills</a>).
 Separately, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, the state’s largest 
private insurer, says some patients won’t have to pay for coronavirus 
treatment.<h2>HOW ARE UNIVERSITIES RESPONDING?</h2>Public
 and private universities and community colleges in the state will 
finish this semester via online classes. Spring sports have been 
canceled. Most staff travel has been suspended. Graduations at KU, 
K-State and Wichita State are postponed or rescheduled.The 
University of Kansas and Wichita State also plan to hold summer classes 
online. KU and K-State announced hiring freezes in early April.&nbsp;<h2>HOW ABOUT K-12 SCHOOLS?</h2>In mid-March, Kansas became <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-becomes-first-state-end-person-classes-year#stream/0" target="_blank">the first state</a> in the U.S. to shut down school buildings for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. A state task force then <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/rest-school-year-kansas-will-be-short-days-limited-screen-time#stream/0" target="_blank">issued guidance</a> for distance learning, for which students aren’t expected to spend more than a few hours a day.&nbsp;Some districts that make high schoolers earn more credits than required by the state will <a href="https://lhsbudget.com/news/2020/03/25/school-board-lowers-graduation-requirements-for-seniors/" target="_blank">graduate them this year</a> based on the state’s lower bar.&nbsp;Districts across the state are still providing free meals to eligible children, but some have <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241621716.html" target="_blank">stopped</a> because of concerns about the coronavirus spreading at meal pickup sites.<h2>WHAT IN DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IS AFFECTED?&nbsp;</h2><ol>
 <li>Church gatherings and funerals:
 Effective April 8, the governor has prohibited services of more than 10
 people. That doesn’t count people performing the rituals or funeral 
workers, but they must stay six feet apart from each other. </li><li>State tax deadline: Extended until July 15, in line with a delay for filing federal tax forms.</li><li>Evictions: Business and residential evictions are banned until May 1 if a tenant is unable to pay because of the coronavirus.</li><li>Mortgage foreclosures: Foreclosures are banned until May 1.</li><li>Small businesses: May be eligible for emergency federal loans. Find information <a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/covid-19-response/covid-19-response-business-incentives/" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>Hospitality businesses: Kansas created an emergency loan program, which quickly ran out of funds, but businesses <a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/covid-19-response/hospitality-industry-relief-emergency-hire-fund/" target="_blank">can still apply</a> to help the state assess the need for more assistance.</li><li>Utilities: Evergy,
 which serves 950,000 customers in Kansas, will not disconnect 
residential or business services for an unspecified amount of time.&nbsp;</li><li>Gatherings: Restricted to fewer than 10 people throughout the state.</li><li>State of emergency: Kansas’
 declaration is good through May (and can be extended). It gives the 
government more power to marshal resources and Kelly the ability to make
 certain decisions when lawmakers aren’t in session.</li><li>State workers: Access
 to the Statehouse is limited to official business only through April 
19. Most state workers are doing their jobs remotely.</li><li>Prisons and jails: The
 Kansas Department of Corrections ended visitation at all state 
facilities, and will “re-evaluate on an ongoing basis.” It urges 
families to talk to inmates through email, phone calls and video visits.
 County jails largely have ended visitations as well.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><h2>HOW BAD IS THE VIRUS?&nbsp;</h2>COVID-19
 usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, like a fever or cough. Most 
people with mild symptoms recover in two weeks. More severe cases, found
 in older adults and people with health issues, can have up to six 
weeks’ recovery time or can lead to death.<h2>HOW CAN YOU AVOID IT?</h2><ol>
 <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisgnbMfKvI" target="_blank">Wash your hands</a> for at least 20 seconds. Frequently.</li><li>Cover your coughs.</li><li>The
 CDC now recommends wearing a cloth mask in situations where social 
distancing isn’t possible; instructions for sewn and non-sewn versions 
are <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</li><li>If you’re an older Kansan or medically fragile, limit your trips to the grocery store or any public space.</li><li>Stay home if you are sick — this goes for all ages.</li>
 </ol><h2>FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COVID-19</h2>Kansas Department of Health and Environment: <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/</a>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html</a>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.

UPDATE: What Kansans need to know about the COVID-19 coronavirus

By DAN MARGOLIES, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/leawood-kansas-group-seeks-emergency-support-struggling-rural-hospitals#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

Rural
 hospitals face “catastrophic cash shortages” brought on by the COVID-19
 crisis and need congressional action to save them, according to a 
Leawood, Kansas, advocacy group that represents hundreds of rural 
hospitals.

In a letter Monday addressed to the leaders of the 
U.S. House and Senate, the National Rural Health Association asks that 
20% of the $100 billion in funding for hospitals in the CARES Act, the 
$2 trillion coronavirus response bill passed by Congress last month, be 
set aside for rural providers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It also asks Congress to 
accelerate Medicare payments, ensure that rural hospitals can access the
 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and pass legislation to provide 
additional funding for rural health care providers. The PPP, also part 
of the CARES Act, is a $350 billion program aimed at enabling small 
businesses to keep current workers or rehire those who were laid off.

“The
 loss of revenue over the last few weeks due to the inability to provide
 non-emergency care is destabilizing core health services in rural 
America,” the letter states.

Rural hospitals were hurting before 
the pandemic, with about half of them posting financial losses. In the 
last 10 years, 128 rural hospitals have shuttered, including six in 
Kansas and seven in Missouri, <a href="https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/" target="_blank">according to the University of North Carolina’s Rural Health Research Program</a>.

Just
 last month, Sumner Community Hospital in Wellington, Kansas, abruptly 
closed. The owner of the hospital, Kansas City-based RHG Consolidated, 
blamed a revenue shortfall and lack of patient demand. The closest 
hospital is about 25 miles away, in Winfield, Kansas.

The 
National Rural Hospital Association boasts 21,000 members, including 
hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses and other health care providers.

Brock
 Slabach, the group’s senior vice president of member services, said 
many of the association’s members were “hanging on by a thread” because 
of a surge in patients that “they’re having a very difficult time 
keeping up with and managing.”

“But then more importantly, more 
hospitals all over the country in rural areas are seeing a depletion of 
their patients due to the cancelation of elective and non-emergent 
services, creating 40, 50, and in some cases, 60% less revenue that 
they're experiencing now because of that,” Slabach said.

Although
 the lower population density of rural areas makes it less likely that 
COVID-19 will spread there than in densely populated urban areas, rural 
populations tend to be older and have more underlying health conditions,
 increasing their risk of dying from the disease.

<a href="https://lernercenter.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Monnat.pdf" target="_blank">A recent report by the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion </a>at
 Syracuse University said that many rural hospitals, already stretched 
thin, “may not survive from the financial hit of the coronavirus.”

“Cancellations
 of regular doctor’s visits by fearful patients and postponement of 
‘non-urgent’ elective medical procedures to prepare for a surge in 
coronavirus cases means that these hospitals are missing out on a 
substantial portion of their regular revenue,” the report said, echoing 
Slabach. “At the same time, hospitals are finding themselves in a 
position to expend precious funds on high-cost personal protective 
equipment, such as masks and other essential resources.

“Many 
rural hospitals will not be able to withstand these financial losses for
 very long before shutting down for good,” the report concluded.

Even
 before the advent of the novel coronavirus, the cause of COVID-19, The 
Chartis Center for Rural Health estimated that 450 rural hospitals 
nationwide were<a href="http://file:///C:/Users/margoliesd/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/0SSYEGDL/Policy%20Institute%20Infographic%20Rural%20Hospital%20Performance.pdf" target="_blank"> “performing at levels similar to rural hospitals at the time of their closure.”</a>

“We
 came into this (coronavirus) emergency about 10 steps behind already,” 
Slabach said. “And then you see the volumes plummet from where they were
 before the emergency. And if you’ve only got 33 days cash on hand, 
which is the median for an average rural hospital, you don’t have a lot 
of margin for error.”

Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies">@DanMargolies</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586271311342.jpeg" alt=" Visitors at the now shuttered Mercy Hospital Fort Scott in southeastern Kansas would pass this tall white cross en route to the hospital's entrance. The hospital closed in December 2018. Christopher Smith / Kaiser Health News" />
 <figcaption> Visitors at the now shuttered Mercy Hospital Fort Scott in southeastern Kansas would pass this tall white cross en route to the hospital's entrance. The hospital closed in December 2018. Christopher Smith / Kaiser Health News</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAN MARGOLIES, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/leawood-kansas-group-seeks-emergency-support-struggling-rural-hospitals#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>Rural
 hospitals face “catastrophic cash shortages” brought on by the COVID-19
 crisis and need congressional action to save them, according to a 
Leawood, Kansas, advocacy group that represents hundreds of rural 
hospitals.In a letter Monday addressed to the leaders of the 
U.S. House and Senate, the National Rural Health Association asks that 
20% of the $100 billion in funding for hospitals in the CARES Act, the 
$2 trillion coronavirus response bill passed by Congress last month, be 
set aside for rural providers.&nbsp;&nbsp;It also asks Congress to 
accelerate Medicare payments, ensure that rural hospitals can access the
 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and pass legislation to provide 
additional funding for rural health care providers. The PPP, also part 
of the CARES Act, is a $350 billion program aimed at enabling small 
businesses to keep current workers or rehire those who were laid off.“The
 loss of revenue over the last few weeks due to the inability to provide
 non-emergency care is destabilizing core health services in rural 
America,” the letter states.Rural hospitals were hurting before 
the pandemic, with about half of them posting financial losses. In the 
last 10 years, 128 rural hospitals have shuttered, including six in 
Kansas and seven in Missouri, <a href="https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/" target="_blank">according to the University of North Carolina’s Rural Health Research Program</a>.Just
 last month, Sumner Community Hospital in Wellington, Kansas, abruptly 
closed. The owner of the hospital, Kansas City-based RHG Consolidated, 
blamed a revenue shortfall and lack of patient demand. The closest 
hospital is about 25 miles away, in Winfield, Kansas.The 
National Rural Hospital Association boasts 21,000 members, including 
hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses and other health care providers.Brock
 Slabach, the group’s senior vice president of member services, said 
many of the association’s members were “hanging on by a thread” because 
of a surge in patients that “they’re having a very difficult time 
keeping up with and managing.”“But then more importantly, more 
hospitals all over the country in rural areas are seeing a depletion of 
their patients due to the cancelation of elective and non-emergent 
services, creating 40, 50, and in some cases, 60% less revenue that 
they're experiencing now because of that,” Slabach said.Although
 the lower population density of rural areas makes it less likely that 
COVID-19 will spread there than in densely populated urban areas, rural 
populations tend to be older and have more underlying health conditions,
 increasing their risk of dying from the disease.<a href="https://lernercenter.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Monnat.pdf" target="_blank">A recent report by the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion </a>at
 Syracuse University said that many rural hospitals, already stretched 
thin, “may not survive from the financial hit of the coronavirus.”“Cancellations
 of regular doctor’s visits by fearful patients and postponement of 
‘non-urgent’ elective medical procedures to prepare for a surge in 
coronavirus cases means that these hospitals are missing out on a 
substantial portion of their regular revenue,” the report said, echoing 
Slabach. “At the same time, hospitals are finding themselves in a 
position to expend precious funds on high-cost personal protective 
equipment, such as masks and other essential resources.“Many 
rural hospitals will not be able to withstand these financial losses for
 very long before shutting down for good,” the report concluded.Even
 before the advent of the novel coronavirus, the cause of COVID-19, The 
Chartis Center for Rural Health estimated that 450 rural hospitals 
nationwide were<a href="http://file:///C:/Users/margoliesd/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/0SSYEGDL/Policy%20Institute%20Infographic%20Rural%20Hospital%20Performance.pdf" target="_blank"> “performing at levels similar to rural hospitals at the time of their closure.”</a>“We
 came into this (coronavirus) emergency about 10 steps behind already,” 
Slabach said. “And then you see the volumes plummet from where they were
 before the emergency. And if you’ve only got 33 days cash on hand, 
which is the median for an average rural hospital, you don’t have a lot 
of margin for error.”Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies">@DanMargolies</a>.

Kan. group seeks emergency support for struggling rural hospitals 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering changing its guidelines for self-isolation to make it easier for those who have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus to return to work if they are asymptomatic.

The public health agency, in conjunction with the White House coronavirus task force, is considering an announcement as soon as Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.

Under the proposed guidance, people who are exposed to someone infected would be allowed back on the job if they are asymptomatic, test their temperature twice a day and wear a face mask, said a person familiar with the proposal under consideration. The person described the proposal on the condition of anonymity because the draft had not been finalized.

The new policy is aimed in particular at workers in critical jobs. But it also comes as the Trump administration is eyeing what it calls a “stabilization” in infection rates and looks toward rolling back some of the restrictive social-distancing guidelines and restarting the nation’s stalled economy.

The proposed guidance would follow recommendations made by the CDC that eased self-isolation requirements for front-line medical workers who were exposed to the virus. Under CDC guidance, medical workers who have been exposed to the virus without protective equipment but who have no symptoms can return to work with a mask and temperature checks after 14 days.

Pence on Tuesday said the White House is focusing on the “point of need” for the current situation but is also operating on another track to consider future recommendations for the public.

“Some of the best minds here at the White House are beginning to think about what recommendations will look like that we give to businesses, that we give to states, but it will all, I promise you, be informed on putting the health and well-being of the American people first,” Pence said.

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

In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be trying to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586341574111.png" alt="Vice President Mike Pence answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Mike Pence answers questions during Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing -image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering changing its guidelines for self-isolation to make it easier for those who have been exposed to someone with the coronavirus to return to work if they are asymptomatic.The public health agency, in conjunction with the White House coronavirus task force, is considering an announcement as soon as Wednesday, Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday.Under the proposed guidance, people who are exposed to someone infected would be allowed back on the job if they are asymptomatic, test their temperature twice a day and wear a face mask, said a person familiar with the proposal under consideration. The person described the proposal on the condition of anonymity because the draft had not been finalized.The new policy is aimed in particular at workers in critical jobs. But it also comes as the Trump administration is eyeing what it calls a “stabilization” in infection rates and looks toward rolling back some of the restrictive social-distancing guidelines and restarting the nation’s stalled economy.The proposed guidance would follow recommendations made by the CDC that eased self-isolation requirements for front-line medical workers who were exposed to the virus. Under CDC guidance, medical workers who have been exposed to the virus without protective equipment but who have no symptoms can return to work with a mask and temperature checks after 14 days.Pence on Tuesday said the White House is focusing on the “point of need” for the current situation but is also operating on another track to consider future recommendations for the public.“Some of the best minds here at the White House are beginning to think about what recommendations will look like that we give to businesses, that we give to states, but it will all, I promise you, be informed on putting the health and well-being of the American people first,” Pence said.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.In fashioning the recommendations, the administration appeared to be trying to balance political concerns about wanting to preserve as much normalcy as possible with public health concerns that some infections are being spread by people who seem to be healthy.

CDC weighs loosening guidelines for some exposed to virus

TOPEKA, Kan. – Two people have been taken into custody for questioning following a Kansas Highway Patrol pursuit.

Just after 4 p.m. Monday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper&nbsp; observed a vehicle in the 500 block of SW Lane matching the description of a vehicle involved in a Topeka Police Department investigation, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.

The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver initiated a brief pursuit. The driver of the vehicle identified as 21-year-old Keshawn Ivy was taken into custody a short time later without incident. 

A passenger fled the vehicle on foot. That suspect&nbsp; was taken into custody in the 200 block of SW Quinton at approximately 5:30 p.m.

A collaborative effort between the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office led to the apprehension of those involved.&nbsp;

Ivy is being held on requested charges of Interference with Law Enforcement Officer; Obstruction, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Violation of Governor’s Proclamation. A female passenger was also arrested for a City of Topeka traffic warrant. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586285893757.png" alt="Ivy photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Ivy photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. – Two people have been taken into custody for questioning following a Kansas Highway Patrol pursuit.Just after 4 p.m. Monday, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper&nbsp; observed a vehicle in the 500 block of SW Lane matching the description of a vehicle involved in a Topeka Police Department investigation, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver initiated a brief pursuit. The driver of the vehicle identified as 21-year-old Keshawn Ivy was taken into custody a short time later without incident. A passenger fled the vehicle on foot. That suspect&nbsp; was taken into custody in the 200 block of SW Quinton at approximately 5:30 p.m.A collaborative effort between the Topeka Police Department, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office led to the apprehension of those involved.&nbsp;Ivy is being held on requested charges of Interference with Law Enforcement Officer; Obstruction, Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Violation of Governor’s Proclamation. A female passenger was also arrested for a City of Topeka traffic warrant.

Police: Kan. felon, woman arrested after KHP pursuit

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — If Wisconsin was a test case for voting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">in the age of the coronavirus</a>, it did not go well for many voters.

Thousands were forced to congregate for hours in long lines on Tuesday with no protective gear. Thousands more stayed home, unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived.

Voters reported being afraid, angry and embarrassed by the state’s unwillingness to postpone their presidential primary elections as more than a dozen other states have already done. Neither&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fe9a5d1194c24ca7a826652f0c63187e">Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;will be declared a winner at least until next Monday in accordance with one of several court orders that shaped the contest.

And there was evidence that minority voters were disproportionately impacted by widespread poll closures in their communities. Michael Claus, 66, wore a protective mask and a Tuskegee Airmen cap, as he waited to vote.

The African American man said he tried to vote absentee and requested a ballot in March but it never showed up. His only option was to vote in person. He blamed the Republican-controlled state legislature.

“They could have delayed the election with no problem,” Claus said. “They decided if they can suppress the vote in Milwaukee and Madison, where you have a large minority presence, you can get people elected you want elected. And that’s sad.”

The chaos in Wisconsin, a premiere general election battleground, was expected to reverberate across states that still have primaries ahead. Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio are conducting contests by mail this month, and other states, including Georgia, are slated to hold in-person voting in May.

Election experts warned that Wisconsin was an example of what not to do. And the experience added immediate context to the broader debate about protecting voting rights this November.

“We have moved forward with an election, but we have not moved forward with democracy in the state of Wisconsin,” warned Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukee’s election commission.

With results not coming until next week, the state did not offer Biden the knockout blow he hoped for in his presidential nomination fight against Sanders. The candidates spoke out late Tuesday on separate livestreams from the safety of their homes hundreds of miles (kilometers) away but had little to say about the Wisconsin contest.

Sanders didn’t say a word about the election on Tuesday after warning the night before that the holding the election was “dangerous” and “may prove deadly.” Biden, too, said in-person voting shouldn’t have taken place.

Democrats in and out of Wisconsin had pushed for the contestto be postponed, yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97db30e6564b9b5eedfc300234ea6630">Republicans — and the conservative-majority state Supreme Court — would not give in</a>. The fight over whether to postpone the election was influenced by a state Supreme Court election also being held Tuesday. A lower turnout was thought to benefit the conservative candidate.

Lest there be any doubt about the GOP’s motivation, President Donald Trump on Tuesday broke from health experts who have encouraged all Americans to stay home by calling on his supporters to “get out and vote NOW” for the conservative judicial candidate.

The election was unlike virtually any other in recent memory. Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, opened just five of its 180 traditional polling places, forced to downsize after hundreds of poll workers stepped down because of health risks. The ensuing logjam forced voters to wait together in lines spanning several blocks in some cases. Many did not have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34b6b5c689c8c6993cb21475b017baa4">facial coverings</a>.

As of Tuesday night, Wisconsin reported more than 2,500 coronavirus infections and 92 related deaths — 49 of them in Milwaukee County, where the voting lines were longest.

Milwaukee is home to the state’s largest concentration of black voters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b52e4e9a63d64e3a25109f09010508b6">a community that has been hit harder than others</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic. Reduced minority turnout would benefit Republicans in a series of state and local elections.

The unprecedented challenge created chaotic scenes across the state — and a variety of health risks for voters and the elected officials who fought to keep polls open.

They included Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the state Assembly, who joined more than 2,500 National Guard troops dispatched to help staff voting stations. While many voters stranded in lines for more than an hour did not have any protective equipment, Vos donned a face mask, safety glasses, gloves and a full protective gown.

In Madison, city workers erected Plexiglas barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots.

Tens of thousands of voters who received absentee ballots had not returned them as of Tuesday, Albrecht said. He noted that his office received hundreds of calls from people who didn’t get an absentee ballot or were concerned theirs hadn’t been delivered to election officials.

Milwaukee resident Megan Nakkula, 30, was forced to vote in person after requesting an absentee ballot but never receiving it.

“It’s been a very emotional day thinking about what the outcome of this could be,” she said, holding back tears. “It just doesn’t feel like it was the safest decision to do. I saw a lot of elderly voters, people who were high risk and everyone is taking as many precautions as they could. We were 6 feet apart, but you know, we don’t know what we don’t know about this virus at this point in time, and it’s really scary.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — If Wisconsin was a test case for voting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">in the age of the coronavirus</a>, it did not go well for many voters.Thousands were forced to congregate for hours in long lines on Tuesday with no protective gear. Thousands more stayed home, unwilling to risk their health and unable to be counted because requested absentee ballots never arrived.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This feels like an era-defining image <a href="https://t.co/rgEwnhmk8O">pic.twitter.com/rgEwnhmk8O</a>&mdash; Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1247581715511627776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Voters reported being afraid, angry and embarrassed by the state’s unwillingness to postpone their presidential primary elections as more than a dozen other states have already done. Neither&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d5c415b99a6945dbbecf60d57bcf68cb">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;nor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fe9a5d1194c24ca7a826652f0c63187e">Bernie Sanders</a>&nbsp;will be declared a winner at least until next Monday in accordance with one of several court orders that shaped the contest.And there was evidence that minority voters were disproportionately impacted by widespread poll closures in their communities. Michael Claus, 66, wore a protective mask and a Tuskegee Airmen cap, as he waited to vote.The African American man said he tried to vote absentee and requested a ballot in March but it never showed up. His only option was to vote in person. He blamed the Republican-controlled state legislature.“They could have delayed the election with no problem,” Claus said. “They decided if they can suppress the vote in Milwaukee and Madison, where you have a large minority presence, you can get people elected you want elected. And that’s sad.”The chaos in Wisconsin, a premiere general election battleground, was expected to reverberate across states that still have primaries ahead. Alaska, Wyoming and Ohio are conducting contests by mail this month, and other states, including Georgia, are slated to hold in-person voting in May.Election experts warned that Wisconsin was an example of what not to do. And the experience added immediate context to the broader debate about protecting voting rights this November.“We have moved forward with an election, but we have not moved forward with democracy in the state of Wisconsin,” warned Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukee’s election commission.With results not coming until next week, the state did not offer Biden the knockout blow he hoped for in his presidential nomination fight against Sanders. The candidates spoke out late Tuesday on separate livestreams from the safety of their homes hundreds of miles (kilometers) away but had little to say about the Wisconsin contest.Sanders didn’t say a word about the election on Tuesday after warning the night before that the holding the election was “dangerous” and “may prove deadly.” Biden, too, said in-person voting shouldn’t have taken place.Democrats in and out of Wisconsin had pushed for the contestto be postponed, yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/97db30e6564b9b5eedfc300234ea6630">Republicans — and the conservative-majority state Supreme Court — would not give in</a>. The fight over whether to postpone the election was influenced by a state Supreme Court election also being held Tuesday. A lower turnout was thought to benefit the conservative candidate.Lest there be any doubt about the GOP’s motivation, President Donald Trump on Tuesday broke from health experts who have encouraged all Americans to stay home by calling on his supporters to “get out and vote NOW” for the conservative judicial candidate.The election was unlike virtually any other in recent memory. Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, opened just five of its 180 traditional polling places, forced to downsize after hundreds of poll workers stepped down because of health risks. The ensuing logjam forced voters to wait together in lines spanning several blocks in some cases. Many did not have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34b6b5c689c8c6993cb21475b017baa4">facial coverings</a>.As of Tuesday night, Wisconsin reported more than 2,500 coronavirus infections and 92 related deaths — 49 of them in Milwaukee County, where the voting lines were longest.Milwaukee is home to the state’s largest concentration of black voters,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b52e4e9a63d64e3a25109f09010508b6">a community that has been hit harder than others</a>&nbsp;during the pandemic. Reduced minority turnout would benefit Republicans in a series of state and local elections.The unprecedented challenge created chaotic scenes across the state — and a variety of health risks for voters and the elected officials who fought to keep polls open.They included Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the state Assembly, who joined more than 2,500 National Guard troops dispatched to help staff voting stations. While many voters stranded in lines for more than an hour did not have any protective equipment, Vos donned a face mask, safety glasses, gloves and a full protective gown.In Madison, city workers erected Plexiglas barriers to protect poll workers, and voters were encouraged to bring their own pens to mark the ballots.Tens of thousands of voters who received absentee ballots had not returned them as of Tuesday, Albrecht said. He noted that his office received hundreds of calls from people who didn’t get an absentee ballot or were concerned theirs hadn’t been delivered to election officials.Milwaukee resident Megan Nakkula, 30, was forced to vote in person after requesting an absentee ballot but never receiving it.“It’s been a very emotional day thinking about what the outcome of this could be,” she said, holding back tears. “It just doesn’t feel like it was the safest decision to do. I saw a lot of elderly voters, people who were high risk and everyone is taking as many precautions as they could. We were 6 feet apart, but you know, we don’t know what we don’t know about this virus at this point in time, and it’s really scary.”___

Voters forced to choose between health, democracy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials are making plans to free some Kansas prison inmates who are close to finishing their sentences amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Priority will be given to inmates with “viable plans,” such as a place to live or a job. She offered no specific numbers and noted that the state will coordinate with local officials so that there will be “no surprises.”

Gov. Laura Kelly said at a news conference Tuesday that “hopefully we will be able to move quite a few of those folks back into their community.” 

The announcement comes after corrections officials announced that an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and nine staff members.

Jails in Shawnee and Sedgwick County previously took steps to incarcerate fewer inmates. Several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, have been urging state officials to take similar steps.

On Tuesday, the top federal public defender in Kansas also demanded the release of vulnerable defendants in a written statement. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas has opposed these requests in recent weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286806900.png" alt="Laura Kelly discussed the issue Tuesday&nbsp; during her coronavirus news conference" />
 <figcaption>Laura Kelly discussed the issue Tuesday&nbsp; during her coronavirus news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials are making plans to free some Kansas prison inmates who are close to finishing their sentences amid the coronavirus outbreak.Priority will be given to inmates with “viable plans,” such as a place to live or a job. She offered no specific numbers and noted that the state will coordinate with local officials so that there will be “no surprises.”Gov. Laura Kelly said at a news conference Tuesday that “hopefully we will be able to move quite a few of those folks back into their community.” The announcement comes after corrections officials announced that an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and nine staff members.Jails in Shawnee and Sedgwick County previously took steps to incarcerate fewer inmates. Several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, have been urging state officials to take similar steps.On Tuesday, the top federal public defender in Kansas also demanded the release of vulnerable defendants in a written statement. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas has opposed these requests in recent weeks.

Kan. officials review inmates for possible early release amid pandemic

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586203512827.png" alt="Ibarra photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Ibarra photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday police responded to a residence at 706 S. Sixth Street in Arkansas City for a report of a physical disturbance in progress, according to Arkansas City police.Officers learned 29-year-old&nbsp; Blas Orlando Ibarra allegedly broke open the front door of the residence and entered without permission. Once inside, he allegedly struck a 63-year-old man in the face and threatened to kill him.During the altercation, the door was broken and then Ibarra left. He was found across the street and taken into custody without further incident on requested charges of felony&nbsp; aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling,&nbsp; battery and criminal damage to property.He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield in lieu of $25,000 bond