KANSAS CITY(AP) — A man who has been in prison for more than 40 years for a triple murder in Kansas City that many legal and political officials believe he did not commit will have to wait several more weeks before a court hearing that could lead to his release.

Kevin Strickland’s chance of being released seemed to be improving earlier this week, when a judge scheduled a hearing for Thursday for prosecutors to argue that he should be free. Strickland has been imprisoned since 1979.

But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-b9748da3015f827cc009cc10cfb2478d">argued that Strickland is guilty</a>, filed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-kansas-missouri-4b11c90ec6845d9459e44ddaee5be20d">an emergency motion Wednesday to delay the hearing&nbsp;</a>to provide more time for preparation, and a Missouri Court of Appeals panel ruled in Schmitt’s favor.

Instead, during a hearing Thursday, Circuit Judge Judge Kevin Harrell set a Sept. 13 court date for attorneys to argue over motions Schmitt filed in the case. But the date for a hearing that could lead to Strickland’s freedom was not set, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article253932283.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said it was “disappointing” that Strickland’s innocence claim was not heard Thursday and that her office is pushing for an evidentiary hearing to be set as soon as possible.

“It’s just when,” Peters Baker said. “While it is not yet too late, it’s late. This is late.”

Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-06e726b7ef07be53ba7bdb6088282548">announced in May that she and others believe Strickland is innocent</a>&nbsp;because evidence used to convict him in the Kansas City killings on April 25, 1978, has been disproved or recanted.

The Star reported a year ago that two men who pleaded guilty to the killings swore that Strickland was not with them and two other accomplices during the crime.

Under a new law that took effect Saturday, Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">filed a motion Monday&nbsp;</a>to have a hearing to allow her office and the attorney general’s office to present arguments before Harrell would determine whether Strickland should be released.

During the Sept. 13 hearing, Harrell will consider Schmitt’s motion that the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County and its judges will recuse themselves from Strickland’s proceedings because of perceived bias in favor of Strickland’s release.

One of Strickland’s attorneys, Bob Hoffman, of the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, said the delay means Strickland will miss his mother’s funeral Saturday.

Peters Baker and Strickland’s attorneys have argued that the new law does not give the attorney general’s office authority to request discovery or file motions in the case. But the appeals court on Thursday rejected that argument, which will allow Schmitt to file a motion requesting discovery by Friday evening.

Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, a Democrat from Independence who sponsored the new law, said the legislation was not intended to allow the attorney general’s office to file motions in relation to the hearing.

The appeals court ruling sets “dangerous legal precedent” that the attorney general is using to “needlessly delay justice for the wrongfully imprisoned,” Rizzo said in a statement Wednesday.

The new law also could spur action in St. Louis, where Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has said she believes Lamar Johnson has been wrongfully imprisoned for 26 years for the 1994 killing of 25-year-old Marcus Boyd in an alleged drug dispute.

The Missouri Supreme Court in March ruled against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">Gardner’s motion for a new trial in</a>&nbsp;March after Schmitt’s office argued successfully that Gardner lacked authority to seek a new trial so many years after the case was adjudicated.

Gardner’s spokeswoman said in a text Wednesday that Gardner “is finalizing next steps in this case and will be presenting evidence in court to deliver the justice that Lamar Johnson deserves.” Spokeswoman Allison Hawk declined further comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620695920927.png" alt="Strickland-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Strickland-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — A man who has been in prison for more than 40 years for a triple murder in Kansas City that many legal and political officials believe he did not commit will have to wait several more weeks before a court hearing that could lead to his release.Kevin Strickland’s chance of being released seemed to be improving earlier this week, when a judge scheduled a hearing for Thursday for prosecutors to argue that he should be free. Strickland has been imprisoned since 1979.But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-b9748da3015f827cc009cc10cfb2478d">argued that Strickland is guilty</a>, filed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-kansas-missouri-4b11c90ec6845d9459e44ddaee5be20d">an emergency motion Wednesday to delay the hearing&nbsp;</a>to provide more time for preparation, and a Missouri Court of Appeals panel ruled in Schmitt’s favor.Instead, during a hearing Thursday, Circuit Judge Judge Kevin Harrell set a Sept. 13 court date for attorneys to argue over motions Schmitt filed in the case. But the date for a hearing that could lead to Strickland’s freedom was not set, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article253932283.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said it was “disappointing” that Strickland’s innocence claim was not heard Thursday and that her office is pushing for an evidentiary hearing to be set as soon as possible.“It’s just when,” Peters Baker said. “While it is not yet too late, it’s late. This is late.”Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mo-state-wire-michael-brown-06e726b7ef07be53ba7bdb6088282548">announced in May that she and others believe Strickland is innocent</a>&nbsp;because evidence used to convict him in the Kansas City killings on April 25, 1978, has been disproved or recanted.The Star reported a year ago that two men who pleaded guilty to the killings swore that Strickland was not with them and two other accomplices during the crime.Under a new law that took effect Saturday, Peters Baker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">filed a motion Monday&nbsp;</a>to have a hearing to allow her office and the attorney general’s office to present arguments before Harrell would determine whether Strickland should be released.During the Sept. 13 hearing, Harrell will consider Schmitt’s motion that the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County and its judges will recuse themselves from Strickland’s proceedings because of perceived bias in favor of Strickland’s release.One of Strickland’s attorneys, Bob Hoffman, of the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, said the delay means Strickland will miss his mother’s funeral Saturday.Peters Baker and Strickland’s attorneys have argued that the new law does not give the attorney general’s office authority to request discovery or file motions in the case. But the appeals court on Thursday rejected that argument, which will allow Schmitt to file a motion requesting discovery by Friday evening.Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, a Democrat from Independence who sponsored the new law, said the legislation was not intended to allow the attorney general’s office to file motions in relation to the hearing.The appeals court ruling sets “dangerous legal precedent” that the attorney general is using to “needlessly delay justice for the wrongfully imprisoned,” Rizzo said in a statement Wednesday.The new law also could spur action in St. Louis, where Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has said she believes Lamar Johnson has been wrongfully imprisoned for 26 years for the 1994 killing of 25-year-old Marcus Boyd in an alleged drug dispute.The Missouri Supreme Court in March ruled against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-816410e8eab142331d08c9d750153d28">Gardner’s motion for a new trial in</a>&nbsp;March after Schmitt’s office argued successfully that Gardner lacked authority to seek a new trial so many years after the case was adjudicated.Gardner’s spokeswoman said in a text Wednesday that Gardner “is finalizing next steps in this case and will be presenting evidence in court to deliver the justice that Lamar Johnson deserves.” Spokeswoman Allison Hawk declined further comment.

Longtime inmate waits for hearing that could lead to release

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in Kansas City said two people died early Monday in a crash on Interstate 29 caused by a wrong-way driver.

The crash happened just after 5:30 a.m. Monday when a car driven by a 23-year-old woman was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of the interstate, police said. Investigators said the car then collided head-on with another car driven by a 60-year-old man.

The woman died at the scene of the crash, police said. The man was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later. Police have not released their names.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in Kansas City said two people died early Monday in a crash on Interstate 29 caused by a wrong-way driver.The crash happened just after 5:30 a.m. Monday when a car driven by a 23-year-old woman was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of the interstate, police said. Investigators said the car then collided head-on with another car driven by a 60-year-old man.The woman died at the scene of the crash, police said. The man was taken to a hospital, where he died a short time later. Police have not released their names.

Police: 2 dead after wrong-way Kansas City crash

Legislator navigates personal journey from hesitancy to acceptance of COVID vaccine

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/03/rep-howe-navigates-personal-journey-from-hesitancy-to-acceptance-of-covid-19-vaccine/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Salina Rep. Steven Howe was among Republican conservatives in the Kansas House skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines.

The virus’ attack on people he knew, including some who died, a 
comprehensive review of vaccine information, and encouragement of 
trusted friends and family convinced him to accept Pfizer’s vaccine in 
August. Rather than keeping his vaccination status private, he’s taken 
an additional step by publicly encouraging others to get the shots.

He said the decision was not to be taken lightly. He believes firmly 
in individual rights and responsibilities, but his embrace of the 
vaccine was part of keeping his family and community safe from a virus 
factoring in the death of nearly 5,600 Kansans.

“Honestly, like many, I struggled to navigate the tremendous amount 
of information and misinformation that is out there,” Howe said. “I 
wanted to do my best to make an informed decision. But ultimately, it 
finally came down to trust, and whether or not I was willing to trust 
those with the education, training and expertise regarding this 
vaccine.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 47.7% of
 eligible residents in Saline County were fully vaccinated. Overall, the
 CDC said, 57.6% of eligible Kansans have been fully vaccinated.

Howe said rising demand for hospital beds, including facilities such 
as the Salina Regional Health Center, was influential in his decision to
 receive the vaccine.

“I believe it is time to start trusting our institutions again, while
 also respecting the freedom of individuals to make health care 
decisions they’re comfortable with,” Howe said. “If you haven’t received
 your vaccine yet, please consider doing so.”

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican seeking 
re-election, stood with Washburn University president Jerry Farley in a 
campus building to take questions from reporters. Moran said impetus of 
the visit was to learn more about how the pandemic was influencing 
higher education, especially in terms of federal funding that flowed to 
colleges and universities.

Both men pivoted to the issue of COVID-19 vaccination of Kansans, and
 their desire for more people to accept this preventative measure.

“It’s impossible for the federal government to continue to just 
provide money to all the places that are damaged by COVID,” Moran said. 
“I’d use this opportunity to encourage students and faculty at Washburn,
 and the people of Kansas, to be vaccinated. We don’t have the resources
 just to continue trying to pay for the consequences of our health 
risks.”

Farley said the motto of Washburn University was “non nobis solum,” 
which could be translated to “not for ourselves alone.” The Latin text 
is cast in bronze outside Morgan Hall where he was standing. The 
pandemic and debate about vaccines places into context the value of 
contributing to the greater good of society apart from self interests, 
he said.

He said the available vaccines for COVID-19 were safe and capable of 
saving lives. And, he said, it was important for people in prominent 
positions of leadership to talk about benefits of vaccination.

“I know there’s a lot of myths out there,” Farley said. “There’s a 
lot of things that are questionable, that are being bandied about on 
social media. But our students understand what it means to think 
critically.”

Moran said he wasn’t in favor of mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, 
because the decision must remain with the individual. He said acceptable
 exceptions include directives by private businesses in terms of 
employees. Several large hospitals in the Kansas City area, including 
the University of Kansas Hospital System, are requiring staff to be 
vaccinated.

“I would just encourage them to think it’s not just about themselves,
 but it’s also about people they know in their families, their neighbors
 and their community,” Moran said. “We continue to promote good science 
and medicine, but people need to make that determination.”

Howe said a small portion of reaction to his support of COVID-19 
vaccination had been negative. He said conservatives in health care 
professions shared appreciation for his public stand.

“I would say probably 95% of reaction I’ve received has been positive,” he said.

The question of how to deal with the pandemic in Kansas became a 
partisan issue as many Republicans worked against executive orders and 
other directives tied to COVID-19. Democrats largely accepted work by 
Gov. Laura Kelly to take sweeping action in 2020 by shifting K-12 and 
college instruction to online formats, requiring wearing of face 
coverings in public as well as designating certain occupations 
nonessential so some workers remained off the job.

Kelly, who has conducted a campaign to convince people to be tested 
and vaccinated, also sustained federal aid to the unemployed after state
 and federal GOP lawmakers insisted she cut off benefits. She hasn’t 
expressed interest in vaccination mandates, but recently ordered 
executive branch employees to work from home if possible as the delta 
variant of COVID-19 surged across the state.

Howe joined with Moran in arguing against a vaccination mandate 
handed down by government because it would likely do more harm than 
good. He said opponents of vaccinations were likely to stiffen their 
resolve. It’s the same thought behind objection to mask mandates, he 
said.

“It’s too heavy handed,” Howe said. “We have to be understanding and respectful of one another.”

He said it was difficult for people to fully grasp circumstances of 
others in terms of vaccination during the pandemic. In his case, he 
said, his mother, a retired nurse, was influential in his decision.

“It’s hard to understand someone else’s journey,” he said. “I always 
error on the side of giving people grace. I think we need to love thy 
neighbor.”

Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630694346403.png" alt="State Rep. Steven Howe, a conservative Republican from Salina, says he agonized over the science of vaccines before accepting a shot for COVID-19 and public urging others to do likewise. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Steven Howe, a conservative Republican from Salina, says he agonized over the science of vaccines before accepting a shot for COVID-19 and public urging others to do likewise. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Legislator navigates personal journey from hesitancy to acceptance of COVID vaccine</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/03/rep-howe-navigates-personal-journey-from-hesitancy-to-acceptance-of-covid-19-vaccine/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Salina Rep. Steven Howe was among Republican conservatives in the Kansas House skeptical about COVID-19 vaccines.The virus’ attack on people he knew, including some who died, a 
comprehensive review of vaccine information, and encouragement of 
trusted friends and family convinced him to accept Pfizer’s vaccine in 
August. Rather than keeping his vaccination status private, he’s taken 
an additional step by publicly encouraging others to get the shots.He said the decision was not to be taken lightly. He believes firmly 
in individual rights and responsibilities, but his embrace of the 
vaccine was part of keeping his family and community safe from a virus 
factoring in the death of nearly 5,600 Kansans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630694441636.jpeg" alt="Rep. Steven Howe, a Salina Republican, said his journey from vaccine hesitancy to acceptance required a filtering of conflicting information and placing faith in the expertise of health professionals urging vaccination. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Steven Howe, a Salina Republican, said his journey from vaccine hesitancy to acceptance required a filtering of conflicting information and placing faith in the expertise of health professionals urging vaccination. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Honestly, like many, I struggled to navigate the tremendous amount 
of information and misinformation that is out there,” Howe said. “I 
wanted to do my best to make an informed decision. But ultimately, it 
finally came down to trust, and whether or not I was willing to trust 
those with the education, training and expertise regarding this 
vaccine.”The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 47.7% of
 eligible residents in Saline County were fully vaccinated. Overall, the
 CDC said, 57.6% of eligible Kansans have been fully vaccinated.Howe said rising demand for hospital beds, including facilities such 
as the Salina Regional Health Center, was influential in his decision to
 receive the vaccine.“I believe it is time to start trusting our institutions again, while
 also respecting the freedom of individuals to make health care 
decisions they’re comfortable with,” Howe said. “If you haven’t received
 your vaccine yet, please consider doing so.”<h2>Non nobis solum</h2>On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican seeking 
re-election, stood with Washburn University president Jerry Farley in a 
campus building to take questions from reporters. Moran said impetus of 
the visit was to learn more about how the pandemic was influencing 
higher education, especially in terms of federal funding that flowed to 
colleges and universities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630694470752.jpeg" alt="U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican seeking re-election in 2022, said he was opposed to COVID-19 vaccination mandates but was strongly supportive of the effort to convince Kansans to voluntarily accept the shot. (Tim Caprenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican seeking re-election in 2022, said he was opposed to COVID-19 vaccination mandates but was strongly supportive of the effort to convince Kansans to voluntarily accept the shot. (Tim Caprenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Both men pivoted to the issue of COVID-19 vaccination of Kansans, and
 their desire for more people to accept this preventative measure.“It’s impossible for the federal government to continue to just 
provide money to all the places that are damaged by COVID,” Moran said. 
“I’d use this opportunity to encourage students and faculty at Washburn,
 and the people of Kansas, to be vaccinated. We don’t have the resources
 just to continue trying to pay for the consequences of our health 
risks.”Farley said the motto of Washburn University was “non nobis solum,” 
which could be translated to “not for ourselves alone.” The Latin text 
is cast in bronze outside Morgan Hall where he was standing. The 
pandemic and debate about vaccines places into context the value of 
contributing to the greater good of society apart from self interests, 
he said.He said the available vaccines for COVID-19 were safe and capable of 
saving lives. And, he said, it was important for people in prominent 
positions of leadership to talk about benefits of vaccination.“I know there’s a lot of myths out there,” Farley said. “There’s a 
lot of things that are questionable, that are being bandied about on 
social media. But our students understand what it means to think 
critically.”Moran said he wasn’t in favor of mandating COVID-19 vaccinations, 
because the decision must remain with the individual. He said acceptable
 exceptions include directives by private businesses in terms of 
employees. Several large hospitals in the Kansas City area, including 
the University of Kansas Hospital System, are requiring staff to be 
vaccinated.“I would just encourage them to think it’s not just about themselves,
 but it’s also about people they know in their families, their neighbors
 and their community,” Moran said. “We continue to promote good science 
and medicine, but people need to make that determination.”<h2>‘Giving people grace’</h2>Howe said a small portion of reaction to his support of COVID-19 
vaccination had been negative. He said conservatives in health care 
professions shared appreciation for his public stand.“I would say probably 95% of reaction I’ve received has been positive,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630694509914.jpeg" alt="Washburn University president Jerry Farley said the university’s motto of “non nobis solum,” or “not for ourselves alone,” captures greater-good rationale for Kansans to be vaccinated for COVID-19. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Washburn University president Jerry Farley said the university’s motto of “non nobis solum,” or “not for ourselves alone,” captures greater-good rationale for Kansans to be vaccinated for COVID-19. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The question of how to deal with the pandemic in Kansas became a 
partisan issue as many Republicans worked against executive orders and 
other directives tied to COVID-19. Democrats largely accepted work by 
Gov. Laura Kelly to take sweeping action in 2020 by shifting K-12 and 
college instruction to online formats, requiring wearing of face 
coverings in public as well as designating certain occupations 
nonessential so some workers remained off the job.Kelly, who has conducted a campaign to convince people to be tested 
and vaccinated, also sustained federal aid to the unemployed after state
 and federal GOP lawmakers insisted she cut off benefits. She hasn’t 
expressed interest in vaccination mandates, but recently ordered 
executive branch employees to work from home if possible as the delta 
variant of COVID-19 surged across the state.Howe joined with Moran in arguing against a vaccination mandate 
handed down by government because it would likely do more harm than 
good. He said opponents of vaccinations were likely to stiffen their 
resolve. It’s the same thought behind objection to mask mandates, he 
said.“It’s too heavy handed,” Howe said. “We have to be understanding and respectful of one another.”He said it was difficult for people to fully grasp circumstances of 
others in terms of vaccination during the pandemic. In his case, he 
said, his mother, a retired nurse, was influential in his decision.“It’s hard to understand someone else’s journey,” he said. “I always 
error on the side of giving people grace. I think we need to love thy 
neighbor.”Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

GOP Kan. representative adds conservative voice to vaccination campaign

TOPEKA— The Kansas Department of Health reported 3,952 new coronavirus cases in Kansas on Friday.&nbsp; That is more than twice as many new COVID-19 cases than the state reported Labor Day weekend a year ago.

On September 4, 2020, the KDHE reported 1,280 new cases and 23 new deaths. Three days later on Labor Day, Monday September 7, the state reported 1,694 new virus cases and 4 additional deaths.&nbsp; 

The state has reported a total of 377,123 virus cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Last Friday, the state reported  49 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,630.

Due to the Labor Day holiday, the KDHE is not updating the <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">COVID-19 dashboard a</a>gain until Wednesday.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection&nbsp;(e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The Kansas Department of Health reported 3,952 new coronavirus cases in Kansas on Friday.&nbsp; That is more than twice as many new COVID-19 cases than the state reported Labor Day weekend a year ago.On September 4, 2020, the KDHE reported 1,280 new cases and 23 new deaths. Three days later on Labor Day, Monday September 7, the state reported 1,694 new virus cases and 4 additional deaths.&nbsp; The state has reported a total of 377,123 virus cases since the beginning of the pandemic. Last Friday, the state reported 49 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5,630.Due to the Labor Day holiday, the KDHE is not updating the <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">COVID-19 dashboard a</a>gain until Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630688409161.png" alt="Friday Sept. 3, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday Sept. 3, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection&nbsp;(e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

Far more COVID cases in Kansas than last Labor Day

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Four people were wounded in a shooting at a festival in Independence, Missouri, prompting police to use Facebook to urge parents to pick up their children from the event.

Independence police responded to the shooting at the SantaCaliGon Festival Sunday night.

“Parents, if you have a child at the Santa Cali Gon festival, please come get them now!” the department posted just after 11 p.m.

Police later said four people had been shot, and all were expected to survive their injuries,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/independence-police-3-people-shot-at-santacaligon/article_ba15612a-0ecb-11ec-90ba-03bb12273315.html?block_id=991162">television station KCTV</a>&nbsp;reported. No arrests were announced. It was not immediately clear what led up to the shooting.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Four people were wounded in a shooting at a festival in Independence, Missouri, prompting police to use Facebook to urge parents to pick up their children from the event.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fipdinfo%2Fposts%2F4611919635507510&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="187" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Independence police responded to the shooting at the SantaCaliGon Festival Sunday night.“Parents, if you have a child at the Santa Cali Gon festival, please come get them now!” the department posted just after 11 p.m.Police later said four people had been shot, and all were expected to survive their injuries,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/independence-police-3-people-shot-at-santacaligon/article_ba15612a-0ecb-11ec-90ba-03bb12273315.html?block_id=991162">television station KCTV</a>&nbsp;reported. No arrests were announced. It was not immediately clear what led up to the shooting.

4 wounded in shooting at festival near Kansas City

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-09-02/some-kansas-kids-will-have-longer-school-days-after-covid-disruptions">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — As more Kansas school districts report 
rising cases of COVID-19 and virus-related quarantines, educators are 
having to navigate a new state law that limits what they can offer 
online.

That’s already having an effect on school schedules in Wellington, where officials <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-27/wellington-school-district-cancels-all-classes-and-activities-due-to-covid-19-outbreaks" target="_blank">abruptly closed all schools through Labor Day</a> and sent students home without a remote-learning option because of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Beginning Sept. 7, the Wellington district will <a href="https://4.files.edl.io/850e/09/02/21/010536-42db9cb2-13c6-439c-aaa0-e1664b04f118.pdf" target="_blank">add 10 minutes to the end of each school day</a> to comply with state guidelines for the minimum number of instructional hours.

A measure Kansas lawmakers passed last spring — <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2134/" target="_blank">House Bill 2134</a> — was intended as a message to districts: Kids should be in school, in person.

The
 new law dictates that long-term online or hybrid learning models — 
anything over 40 hours per student per year — could mean losing up to 
two-thirds of state funding for that student.

The law allows districts to offer online options, such as Wichita’s <a href="https://www.usd259.org/domain/5079" target="_blank">Education Imagine Academy</a>. But students enrolled in traditional in-person schools cannot go fully remote.

Mark
 Tallman, a lobbyist with the Kansas Association of School Boards, said 
there are lots of questions about the new law, which allows some 
exemptions for health issues or emergencies.

“What I think 
legislators objected to was districts just saying, ‘We’re going to 
operate for all kids in a hybrid or remote environment because we don’t 
want the schools to be open,’ ” he said.

“If you’re in a situation
 where a student either has COVID and is missing or would be 
quarantined, that’s tied to an individual student with a specific health
 issue. . . . That’s a different situation than the law was designed to 
deal with.”

Ultimately, the Kansas Department of Education will decide what hours count when it audits attendance figures.

In Wichita, the state’s largest district, more than 1,600 students have <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-23/wichita-boe-votes-to-mandate-masks-for-students-employees" target="_blank">missed school due to COVID isolation</a>
 or quarantine protocols. Beginning Sept. 8, the district plans to offer
 “simultaneous learning” for students who are not able to attend class 
in person.

According to the new plan, teachers will lead their 
in-person class as normal, and the quarantined student will watch 
lessons through video conferencing. A paraeducator or buddy student will
 monitor the remote student, respond to questions by chat and share the 
student’s questions with the teacher.

Teachers instructing an in-person class and a remote student will be paid an additional $50 a day.

“I
 know the need for limited remote learning will still remain,” Deputy 
Superintendent Gil Alvarez said in an email to employees.

Allowing
 quarantined students the option to tap into classrooms via computer “is
 a reasonable compromise in order to assure the greatest possible 
opportunity for our students to receive instruction directly from our 
teachers,” he said.

Between Aug. 2 and Aug. 25, the Wichita district <a href="https://www.usd259.org/Page/20944" target="_blank">reported 466 positive COVID cases</a> among students and 84 cases among employees.

At least <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://www.usd259.org//cms/lib/KS01906405/Centricity/Domain/5644/Reports/Weekly+COVID-19+Staff+Quarantine+Report+08.26.21.pdf" target="_blank">133 employees were under quarantine</a>.

District officials said they are tracking but not reporting or publishing the number of quarantined students.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment this week reported <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">21 active COVID-19 clusters at schools</a> — 14 more than the previous week — with at least 114 positive cases.

Only
 two school outbreaks were publicly identified by the state: Mount Olive
 Lutheran School in Overland Park and Central Elementary School in 
Lyons.

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita 
and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT 
or email her at perez@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630687392939.png" alt="A kindergartner at Colvin Elementary School in Wichita. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>A kindergartner at Colvin Elementary School in Wichita. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-09-02/some-kansas-kids-will-have-longer-school-days-after-covid-disruptions">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — As more Kansas school districts report 
rising cases of COVID-19 and virus-related quarantines, educators are 
having to navigate a new state law that limits what they can offer 
online.That’s already having an effect on school schedules in Wellington, where officials <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-27/wellington-school-district-cancels-all-classes-and-activities-due-to-covid-19-outbreaks" target="_blank">abruptly closed all schools through Labor Day</a> and sent students home without a remote-learning option because of COVID-19 outbreaks.Beginning Sept. 7, the Wellington district will <a href="https://4.files.edl.io/850e/09/02/21/010536-42db9cb2-13c6-439c-aaa0-e1664b04f118.pdf" target="_blank">add 10 minutes to the end of each school day</a> to comply with state guidelines for the minimum number of instructional hours.A measure Kansas lawmakers passed last spring — <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2134/" target="_blank">House Bill 2134</a> — was intended as a message to districts: Kids should be in school, in person.The
 new law dictates that long-term online or hybrid learning models — 
anything over 40 hours per student per year — could mean losing up to 
two-thirds of state funding for that student.The law allows districts to offer online options, such as Wichita’s <a href="https://www.usd259.org/domain/5079" target="_blank">Education Imagine Academy</a>. But students enrolled in traditional in-person schools cannot go fully remote.Mark
 Tallman, a lobbyist with the Kansas Association of School Boards, said 
there are lots of questions about the new law, which allows some 
exemptions for health issues or emergencies.“What I think 
legislators objected to was districts just saying, ‘We’re going to 
operate for all kids in a hybrid or remote environment because we don’t 
want the schools to be open,’ ” he said.“If you’re in a situation
 where a student either has COVID and is missing or would be 
quarantined, that’s tied to an individual student with a specific health
 issue. . . . That’s a different situation than the law was designed to 
deal with.”Ultimately, the Kansas Department of Education will decide what hours count when it audits attendance figures.In Wichita, the state’s largest district, more than 1,600 students have <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-08-23/wichita-boe-votes-to-mandate-masks-for-students-employees" target="_blank">missed school due to COVID isolation</a>
 or quarantine protocols. Beginning Sept. 8, the district plans to offer
 “simultaneous learning” for students who are not able to attend class 
in person.According to the new plan, teachers will lead their 
in-person class as normal, and the quarantined student will watch 
lessons through video conferencing. A paraeducator or buddy student will
 monitor the remote student, respond to questions by chat and share the 
student’s questions with the teacher.Teachers instructing an in-person class and a remote student will be paid an additional $50 a day.“I
 know the need for limited remote learning will still remain,” Deputy 
Superintendent Gil Alvarez said in an email to employees.Allowing
 quarantined students the option to tap into classrooms via computer “is
 a reasonable compromise in order to assure the greatest possible 
opportunity for our students to receive instruction directly from our 
teachers,” he said.Between Aug. 2 and Aug. 25, the Wichita district <a href="https://www.usd259.org/Page/20944" target="_blank">reported 466 positive COVID cases</a> among students and 84 cases among employees.At least <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://www.usd259.org//cms/lib/KS01906405/Centricity/Domain/5644/Reports/Weekly+COVID-19+Staff+Quarantine+Report+08.26.21.pdf" target="_blank">133 employees were under quarantine</a>.District officials said they are tracking but not reporting or publishing the number of quarantined students.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment this week reported <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">21 active COVID-19 clusters at schools</a> — 14 more than the previous week — with at least 114 positive cases.Only
 two school outbreaks were publicly identified by the state: Mount Olive
 Lutheran School in Overland Park and Central Elementary School in 
Lyons.Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita 
and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT 
or email her at perez@kmuw.org.

Some kids will have longer school days after COVID disruptions 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mary Taboniar went 15 months without a paycheck, thanks to the COVID pandemic. A housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort in Honolulu, the single mother of two saw her income completely vanish as the virus devastated the hospitality industry.

For more than a year, Taboniar depended entirely on boosted unemployment benefits and a network of local foodbanks to feed her family. Even this summer as the vaccine rollout took hold and tourists began to travel again, her work was slow to return, peaking at 11 days in August — about half her pre-pandemic workload.

Taboniar is one of millions of Americans for whom Labor Day 2021 represents a perilous crossroads. Two primary anchors of the government’s COVID protection package are ending or have recently ended. Starting Monday, an estimated 8.9 million people will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-jobless-claims-382a89695d83991a42f23e8da3fe7fa9">lose all unemployment&nbsp;</a>benefits. A federal eviction moratorium already has expired.

While other aspects of pandemic assistance including rental aid and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monthly-child-payments-poverty-bd4643ad09e6986ef4b526ebd5a3272b">expanded Child Tax Credit</a>&nbsp;are still widely available, untold millions of Americans will face Labor Day with a suddenly shrunken social safety net.

“This will be a double whammy of hardship,” said Jamie Contreras, secretary-treasurer of the SEIU, a union that represents custodians in office buildings and food service workers in airports. “We’re not anywhere near done. People still need help. ... For millions of people nothing has changed from a year and a half ago.”

For Taboniar, 43, that means her unemployment benefits will completely disappear — even as her work hours vanish again. A fresh virus surge prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-honolulu-6753de40faf5e667bb070ac4a8ed64c1">Hawaii’s governor to recommend&nbsp;</a>that vacationers delay their plans.

“It’s really scaring me,” she said. “How can I pay rent if I don’t have unemployment and my job isn’t back?”

She’s planning to apply for the newly expanded SNAP assistance program, better known as food stamps, but doubts that will be enough to make up the difference. “I’m just grasping for anything,” she said.

President Joe Biden’s administration believes the U.S. economy is strong enough not to be rattled by evictions or the drop in unemployment benefits. Officials maintain that other elements of the safety net, like the Child Tax Credit and the SNAP program (which Biden permanently boosted earlier this summer) are enough to smooth things over. On Friday, a White House spokesperson said there were no plans to reevaluate the end of the unemployment benefits.

“Twenty-two-trillion-dollar economies work in no small part on momentum and we have strong momentum going in the right direction on behalf of the American workforce,” said Jared Bernstein, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said he believed the country’s labor force was ready for the shift.

“Overall the economy is moving forward and recovering,” Walsh said in an interview. “I think the American economy and the American worker are in a better position going into Labor Day 2021 than they were on Labor Day 2020.”

Walsh and others point to encouraging job numbers; as of Friday the unemployment rate was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-jobless-claims-382a89695d83991a42f23e8da3fe7fa9">down to a fairly healthy 5.2%</a>. But Andrew Stettler, a senior fellow with the Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank, says the end of the expanded unemployment benefits is still coming too early.

Rather than setting an arbitrary deadline, Stettler says the administration should have tied the end of the the protections to specific economic recovery metrics. He suggests three consecutive months with nationwide unemployment below 5% as a reasonable benchmark to trigger the end of the unemployment benefits.

“This does seem to be the wrong policy decision based on where we are,” Stettler said.

The end to these protections while the economic crisis persists could have a devastating impact on lower-middle class families that were barely holding on through the pandemic. Potentially millions of people “will have a more difficult time regaining the foothold in the middle class that they lost,” Stettler said.

Biden and the Democrats who control Congress are at a crossroads, allowing the aid to expire as they focus instead on his more sweeping “build back better” package of infrastructure and other spending. The $3.5 trillion proposal would rebuild many of the safety net programs, but it faces hurdles in the closely divided Congress.

In the meantime, families will have to make do.

“These are two very important things that are expiring. There’s no doubt that there will be families impacted by their expiration and that they will have additional hardship,” Sharon Parrott, the president of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, said in an interview.

The COVID-19 response has been sweeping in its size and scope, some $5 trillion in federal expenditures since the virus outbreak in 2020, an unprecedented undertaking.

Congressional Republicans had supported some of the initial COVID-19 outlays, but voted lockstep against Biden’s $1.9 trillion recovery package earlier this year as unnecessary. Many argued against extending another round of unemployment aid, and Republicans vow to oppose Biden’s $3.5 trillion package lawmakers are expected to consider later this month.

There are still multiple avenues of support available, although in some cases the actual delivery of that support has been problematic.

States with higher levels of unemployment can use the $350 billion worth of aid they received from the relief package to expand their own jobless payments, as noted by an Aug. 19 letter by Walsh and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Federal rental assistance funds remain available, though the money has been slow to get out the door, leaving the White House and lawmakers pushing state and local officials to disperse funds more quickly to both landlords and tenants.

The investment bank Morgan Stanley estimated Thursday that the economy will grow at an annual pace of 2.9% in the third quarter, down sharply from its prior forecast of 6.5%. That decline largely reflects a pullback in federal aid spending and supply chain bottlenecks.

And the economy still faces hurdles. Union officials says sectors like hotel housekeepers and office janitorial staffs have been the slowest to recover.

“Our industry is the tip of the spear when it comes to COVID,” said D. Taylor, president of UNITE HERE, a union that represents hotel housekeepers — a field that is “primarily staffed by women and people of color.”

Many of those housekeepers never returned to full employment even as Americans resumed traveling and hotel occupancy rates swelled over the summer.

Taylor said several major hotel chains have moved to permanently cut down on labor costs by reducing levels of service under the guise of COVID. Taboniar’s hotel in Hawaii for example has shifted to cleaning rooms every five days unless the guest specifically requests otherwise in advance. Even as the hotel was at more than 90% occupancy in August, she was only employed for half her usual pre-pandemic number of days.

The delta variant of the coronavirus also poses a challenge, threatening future school closures and the delay of plans to return workers to their offices.

Walsh called the delta variant “an asterisk on everything.”

The sudden lapse of a crucial element of the pandemic safety net has fueled calls for a re-evaluation of the entire unemployment benefits system. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the chairman of the Finance Committee, said in an interview it’s crucial that Congress modernizes the unemployment insurance system as part of the package.

“It’s heartbreaking to know it didn’t have to be this way,” Wyden said.

One of the changes he proposes is to have jobless benefits more linked to economic conditions, so they won’t expire in times of need. “We got to take the unemployment system into the 21st century,” he said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mary Taboniar went 15 months without a paycheck, thanks to the COVID pandemic. A housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort in Honolulu, the single mother of two saw her income completely vanish as the virus devastated the hospitality industry.For more than a year, Taboniar depended entirely on boosted unemployment benefits and a network of local foodbanks to feed her family. Even this summer as the vaccine rollout took hold and tourists began to travel again, her work was slow to return, peaking at 11 days in August — about half her pre-pandemic workload.Taboniar is one of millions of Americans for whom Labor Day 2021 represents a perilous crossroads. Two primary anchors of the government’s COVID protection package are ending or have recently ended. Starting Monday, an estimated 8.9 million people will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-jobless-claims-382a89695d83991a42f23e8da3fe7fa9">lose all unemployment&nbsp;</a>benefits. A federal eviction moratorium already has expired.While other aspects of pandemic assistance including rental aid and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monthly-child-payments-poverty-bd4643ad09e6986ef4b526ebd5a3272b">expanded Child Tax Credit</a>&nbsp;are still widely available, untold millions of Americans will face Labor Day with a suddenly shrunken social safety net.“This will be a double whammy of hardship,” said Jamie Contreras, secretary-treasurer of the SEIU, a union that represents custodians in office buildings and food service workers in airports. “We’re not anywhere near done. People still need help. ... For millions of people nothing has changed from a year and a half ago.”For Taboniar, 43, that means her unemployment benefits will completely disappear — even as her work hours vanish again. A fresh virus surge prompted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-honolulu-6753de40faf5e667bb070ac4a8ed64c1">Hawaii’s governor to recommend&nbsp;</a>that vacationers delay their plans.“It’s really scaring me,” she said. “How can I pay rent if I don’t have unemployment and my job isn’t back?”She’s planning to apply for the newly expanded SNAP assistance program, better known as food stamps, but doubts that will be enough to make up the difference. “I’m just grasping for anything,” she said.President Joe Biden’s administration believes the U.S. economy is strong enough not to be rattled by evictions or the drop in unemployment benefits. Officials maintain that other elements of the safety net, like the Child Tax Credit and the SNAP program (which Biden permanently boosted earlier this summer) are enough to smooth things over. On Friday, a White House spokesperson said there were no plans to reevaluate the end of the unemployment benefits.“Twenty-two-trillion-dollar economies work in no small part on momentum and we have strong momentum going in the right direction on behalf of the American workforce,” said Jared Bernstein, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said he believed the country’s labor force was ready for the shift.“Overall the economy is moving forward and recovering,” Walsh said in an interview. “I think the American economy and the American worker are in a better position going into Labor Day 2021 than they were on Labor Day 2020.”Walsh and others point to encouraging job numbers; as of Friday the unemployment rate was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-jobless-claims-382a89695d83991a42f23e8da3fe7fa9">down to a fairly healthy 5.2%</a>. But Andrew Stettler, a senior fellow with the Century Foundation, a left-leaning think tank, says the end of the expanded unemployment benefits is still coming too early.Rather than setting an arbitrary deadline, Stettler says the administration should have tied the end of the the protections to specific economic recovery metrics. He suggests three consecutive months with nationwide unemployment below 5% as a reasonable benchmark to trigger the end of the unemployment benefits.“This does seem to be the wrong policy decision based on where we are,” Stettler said.The end to these protections while the economic crisis persists could have a devastating impact on lower-middle class families that were barely holding on through the pandemic. Potentially millions of people “will have a more difficult time regaining the foothold in the middle class that they lost,” Stettler said.Biden and the Democrats who control Congress are at a crossroads, allowing the aid to expire as they focus instead on his more sweeping “build back better” package of infrastructure and other spending. The $3.5 trillion proposal would rebuild many of the safety net programs, but it faces hurdles in the closely divided Congress.In the meantime, families will have to make do.“These are two very important things that are expiring. There’s no doubt that there will be families impacted by their expiration and that they will have additional hardship,” Sharon Parrott, the president of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, said in an interview.The COVID-19 response has been sweeping in its size and scope, some $5 trillion in federal expenditures since the virus outbreak in 2020, an unprecedented undertaking.Congressional Republicans had supported some of the initial COVID-19 outlays, but voted lockstep against Biden’s $1.9 trillion recovery package earlier this year as unnecessary. Many argued against extending another round of unemployment aid, and Republicans vow to oppose Biden’s $3.5 trillion package lawmakers are expected to consider later this month.There are still multiple avenues of support available, although in some cases the actual delivery of that support has been problematic.States with higher levels of unemployment can use the $350 billion worth of aid they received from the relief package to expand their own jobless payments, as noted by an Aug. 19 letter by Walsh and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.Federal rental assistance funds remain available, though the money has been slow to get out the door, leaving the White House and lawmakers pushing state and local officials to disperse funds more quickly to both landlords and tenants.The investment bank Morgan Stanley estimated Thursday that the economy will grow at an annual pace of 2.9% in the third quarter, down sharply from its prior forecast of 6.5%. That decline largely reflects a pullback in federal aid spending and supply chain bottlenecks.And the economy still faces hurdles. Union officials says sectors like hotel housekeepers and office janitorial staffs have been the slowest to recover.“Our industry is the tip of the spear when it comes to COVID,” said D. Taylor, president of UNITE HERE, a union that represents hotel housekeepers — a field that is “primarily staffed by women and people of color.”Many of those housekeepers never returned to full employment even as Americans resumed traveling and hotel occupancy rates swelled over the summer.Taylor said several major hotel chains have moved to permanently cut down on labor costs by reducing levels of service under the guise of COVID. Taboniar’s hotel in Hawaii for example has shifted to cleaning rooms every five days unless the guest specifically requests otherwise in advance. Even as the hotel was at more than 90% occupancy in August, she was only employed for half her usual pre-pandemic number of days.The delta variant of the coronavirus also poses a challenge, threatening future school closures and the delay of plans to return workers to their offices.Walsh called the delta variant “an asterisk on everything.”The sudden lapse of a crucial element of the pandemic safety net has fueled calls for a re-evaluation of the entire unemployment benefits system. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the chairman of the Finance Committee, said in an interview it’s crucial that Congress modernizes the unemployment insurance system as part of the package.“It’s heartbreaking to know it didn’t have to be this way,” Wyden said.One of the changes he proposes is to have jobless benefits more linked to economic conditions, so they won’t expire in times of need. “We got to take the unemployment system into the 21st century,” he said.

 Pandemic safety nets ending impacting millions

JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged burglary. 

On Friday, a rural Jackson County resident reporting finding a man sleeping on the porch of their home, according to Sheriff Tim Morse

Just before 7a.m., deputies responded to 10755 X Road in southeastern Jackson County and located a man identified as 30-year-old&nbsp; Jared Matthew Harris of Mayetta. 

 Deputies also located a Nissan Altima believed to have been driven by Harris&nbsp; near 114th and W.6 Road. 

 Deputies discovered that a home at that location had been burglarized. Investigators recovered property that had been taken from the residence allegedly connecting Harris to the burglary. 

 Harris is being held in the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of burglary, theft, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630687543719.png" alt="Harris photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Harris photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for alleged burglary. On Friday, a rural Jackson County resident reporting finding a man sleeping on the porch of their home, according to Sheriff Tim MorseJust before 7a.m., deputies responded to 10755 X Road in southeastern Jackson County and located a man identified as 30-year-old&nbsp; Jared Matthew Harris of Mayetta. Deputies also located a Nissan Altima believed to have been driven by Harris&nbsp; near 114th and W.6 Road. Deputies discovered that a home at that location had been burglarized. Investigators recovered property that had been taken from the residence allegedly connecting Harris to the burglary. Harris is being held in the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of burglary, theft, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kan. burglary suspect caught sleeping on porch

TOPEKA —Authorities are investigating the cause of a Saturday house fire in Topeka.

Just before 8:30p.m. fire crews responded to a fire in a multi-family residence at&nbsp; 307 S.W. Harrison Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Tod Harrison.&nbsp;Upon arrival, firefighters found flames showing from a second-story window of a two-story home. 

Fire crews quickly contained and extinguished the flames. Two occupants inside the structure who were able to escape without injury. 

The estimated dollar loss – $11,000; of which $10,000 is associated with structural damage and $1,000 is associated with content loss, according to Harrison.

No working smoke detectors were located within the structure, according to Harrison.

TOPEKA —Authorities are investigating the cause of a Saturday house fire in Topeka.Just before 8:30p.m. fire crews responded to a fire in a multi-family residence at&nbsp; 307 S.W. Harrison Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Tod Harrison.&nbsp;Upon arrival, firefighters found flames showing from a second-story window of a two-story home. Fire crews quickly contained and extinguished the flames. Two occupants inside the structure who were able to escape without injury. The estimated dollar loss – $11,000; of which $10,000 is associated with structural damage and $1,000 is associated with content loss, according to Harrison.No working smoke detectors were located within the structure, according to Harrison.

Cause of Kansas house fire under investigation

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges.

On Friday,&nbsp;the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 100 Block SW Clay related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

While conducting the search warrant, the officers located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

As a result, Jayleene Snoke, 28, of Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of meth and Possession of drug paraphernalia 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630792632060.png" alt="Snoke photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Snoke photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug charges.On Friday,&nbsp;the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 100 Block SW Clay related to an ongoing investigation, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.While conducting the search warrant, the officers located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.As a result, Jayleene Snoke, 28, of Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of meth and Possession of drug paraphernalia

Drug task force arrests Kan. woman after investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is collaborating on a <a href="https://www.getctc.org/en">new internet site</a> to help more Americans apply for and receive the expanded child tax credit, a monthly payment of as much as $300 per child that was part of the coronavirus relief package.

<a href="https://www.getctc.org/en" target="_blank">GetCTC.org</a>&nbsp;was developed by Code for America in collaboration with the White House and Treasury Department, according to a statement Wednesday. The goal is to provide a straight-forward, online form that can be accessible via mobile phones for people who are not legally obligated to file taxes to apply for the tax credit because they don’t earn enough money.

“Our research really shows the simpler you make the process, the more likely people are going to actually successfully make it through,” David Newville, senior program director for tax benefits at Code for America, said in an interview.

Based on a demonstration provided to The Associated Press, it’s possible for a parent to complete the form over the course of just 20 or 25 slides. Code for America has in the past worked with more than 100 partner organizations to help people prepare tax returns. The government previously estimated that at least 88% of children were already able to receive the tax credit when payments began in July.

President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 aid included an expansion of the child tax credit, extending it to families without any tax obligations. Parents of a child under the age of 6 can receive $3,600 annually, some of which can be paid out monthly at $300. Each child from the age of 6 to 17 qualifies for $3,000 annually, or $250 per month.

The expanded child tax credit is set to lapse after a year, though Biden has proposed extending it through 2025 and would like it to be made permanent.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630512415006.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The government is collaborating on a <a href="https://www.getctc.org/en">new internet site</a> to help more Americans apply for and receive the expanded child tax credit, a monthly payment of as much as $300 per child that was part of the coronavirus relief package.<a href="https://www.getctc.org/en" target="_blank">GetCTC.org</a>&nbsp;was developed by Code for America in collaboration with the White House and Treasury Department, according to a statement Wednesday. The goal is to provide a straight-forward, online form that can be accessible via mobile phones for people who are not legally obligated to file taxes to apply for the tax credit because they don’t earn enough money.“Our research really shows the simpler you make the process, the more likely people are going to actually successfully make it through,” David Newville, senior program director for tax benefits at Code for America, said in an interview.Based on a demonstration provided to The Associated Press, it’s possible for a parent to complete the form over the course of just 20 or 25 slides. Code for America has in the past worked with more than 100 partner organizations to help people prepare tax returns. The government previously estimated that at least 88% of children were already able to receive the tax credit when payments began in July.President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion in COVID-19 aid included an expansion of the child tax credit, extending it to families without any tax obligations. Parents of a child under the age of 6 can receive $3,600 annually, some of which can be paid out monthly at $300. Each child from the age of 6 to 17 qualifies for $3,000 annually, or $250 per month.The expanded child tax credit is set to lapse after a year, though Biden has proposed extending it through 2025 and would like it to be made permanent.

New online site helps you get child tax credit

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.

Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 2200 Block of Silver Court in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

They found a man in his late 20s with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital where he died. Police took a suspect into custody. Police have not released the victim's name or additional details.

KANSAS CITY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 2200 Block of Silver Court in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.They found a man in his late 20s with a gunshot wound. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital where he died. Police took a suspect into custody. Police have not released the victim's name or additional details.

Police: 1 dead, suspect in custody after Kan. shooting

Twenty years in Afghanistan offers lessons about sending men, women into combat

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/02/moran-congress-should-vote-on-declarations-of-war-before-triggering-military-power/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran 
said withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of 
fighting affirmed in his mind the United States should operate under 
declarations of war approved by Congress rather than resolutions 
authorizing the executive branch to wage limitless war.

Moran, who toured Washburn University on Thursday, said the Sept. 11,
 2001, terrorist attack in which hijacked passenger jets were 
transformed into missiles hitting New York City and Washington, D.C., 
and crashing into a Pennsylvania field were defining moments. The 
immediate aftermath generated unity of purpose in this country and 
abroad, he said. It also led to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It’s a reminder that when we ask young men and women to go to war, 
we ought to have a plan for how we succeed in that effort,” Moran said. 
“We need to make a case to the American people before we utilize lives 
of men and women.”

More than 2,500 American service members were killed in Afghanistan, 
the nation’s longest war, and approximately 4,500 U.S. troops died in 
Iraq.

Moran, a Republican, said the practice of adopting congressional 
resolutions authorizing military force in other countries should give 
way to votes on declarations of war as the U.S. Constitution envisioned.
 All six Kansans in the congressional delegation, including Moran, voted
 in favor of the 2001 Afghanistan resolution and the 2003 Iraq 
resolution. The last time the United States formally declared war was in
 World War II.

Moran said he was in Afghanistan four years ago and discerned the 
country was on the path for a brighter future. He witnessed Afghans 
working to make their country a better place. In the end, the senator 
said, the wheels fell off the Afghan government and the Taliban took 
control. The last U.S. forces flew out of Kabul, Afghanistan, under an 
agreement negotiated by President Donald Trump and by the Aug. 31 
deadline established by President Joe Biden.

“Ultimately, we’re dealing with a government that couldn’t govern. 
Corruption exists,” Moran said. “It’s just a reminder that we need to be
 very cautious about utilizing our military. Too often, no one 
sacrifices except those who are serving and their families.”

The United States and allies removed about 120,000 people from 
Afghanistan before the withdrawal. It’s unclear how many thousands of 
Afghan people who worked in concert with U.S. forces remain in that 
country and in peril under Taliban rule.

Moran said U.S. veteran suicide hotlines had experienced higher call 
volumes. Callers are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in addition to people
 who served in Vietnam.

“Service men and women who served in Afghanistan are troubled by what
 they are hearing, reading and seeing,” Moran said. “They’re troubled by
 the fact they had an interpreter or someone else who worked 
side-by-side with them that’s still in Afghanistan.”

“The problems we face as a result of how we’re coming out of 
Afghanistan is certainly not the consequence of someone serving in 
Afghanistan in a uniform. It’s about people who wear suits in 
Washington, D.C.”

He was critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the 
airborne departure from Afghanistan. Biden should have prepared well in 
advance a more thoughtful plan for removal of U.S. citizens and Afghan 
allies. That operation should have featured a rapid visa approval 
process, he said.

“There was no process in place for a long time and certainly nothing 
recent that made any of that easy. Everything I know to date is we have 
failed,” Moran said.

He said the U.S. government and allies ought to concentrate on 
preventing Afghanistan’s transformation into a terrorist haven. He said 
Afghanistan would need humanitarian aid because “hunger and famine is 
around the corner.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630685239977.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, said during a stop at Washburn University in Topeka the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan made clear Congress in the future should rely on declarations of war rather than open ended resolutions authorizing the executive branch to wage war. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, said during a stop at Washburn University in Topeka the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan made clear Congress in the future should rely on declarations of war rather than open ended resolutions authorizing the executive branch to wage war. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Twenty years in Afghanistan offers lessons about sending men, women into combat</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/09/02/moran-congress-should-vote-on-declarations-of-war-before-triggering-military-power/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran 
said withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of 
fighting affirmed in his mind the United States should operate under 
declarations of war approved by Congress rather than resolutions 
authorizing the executive branch to wage limitless war.Moran, who toured Washburn University on Thursday, said the Sept. 11,
 2001, terrorist attack in which hijacked passenger jets were 
transformed into missiles hitting New York City and Washington, D.C., 
and crashing into a Pennsylvania field were defining moments. The 
immediate aftermath generated unity of purpose in this country and 
abroad, he said. It also led to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.“It’s a reminder that when we ask young men and women to go to war, 
we ought to have a plan for how we succeed in that effort,” Moran said. 
“We need to make a case to the American people before we utilize lives 
of men and women.”More than 2,500 American service members were killed in Afghanistan, 
the nation’s longest war, and approximately 4,500 U.S. troops died in 
Iraq.Moran, a Republican, said the practice of adopting congressional 
resolutions authorizing military force in other countries should give 
way to votes on declarations of war as the U.S. Constitution envisioned.
 All six Kansans in the congressional delegation, including Moran, voted
 in favor of the 2001 Afghanistan resolution and the 2003 Iraq 
resolution. The last time the United States formally declared war was in
 World War II.Moran said he was in Afghanistan four years ago and discerned the 
country was on the path for a brighter future. He witnessed Afghans 
working to make their country a better place. In the end, the senator 
said, the wheels fell off the Afghan government and the Taliban took 
control. The last U.S. forces flew out of Kabul, Afghanistan, under an 
agreement negotiated by President Donald Trump and by the Aug. 31 
deadline established by President Joe Biden.“Ultimately, we’re dealing with a government that couldn’t govern. 
Corruption exists,” Moran said. “It’s just a reminder that we need to be
 very cautious about utilizing our military. Too often, no one 
sacrifices except those who are serving and their families.”The United States and allies removed about 120,000 people from 
Afghanistan before the withdrawal. It’s unclear how many thousands of 
Afghan people who worked in concert with U.S. forces remain in that 
country and in peril under Taliban rule.Moran said U.S. veteran suicide hotlines had experienced higher call 
volumes. Callers are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in addition to people
 who served in Vietnam.“Service men and women who served in Afghanistan are troubled by what
 they are hearing, reading and seeing,” Moran said. “They’re troubled by
 the fact they had an interpreter or someone else who worked 
side-by-side with them that’s still in Afghanistan.”“The problems we face as a result of how we’re coming out of 
Afghanistan is certainly not the consequence of someone serving in 
Afghanistan in a uniform. It’s about people who wear suits in 
Washington, D.C.”He was critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the 
airborne departure from Afghanistan. Biden should have prepared well in 
advance a more thoughtful plan for removal of U.S. citizens and Afghan 
allies. That operation should have featured a rapid visa approval 
process, he said.“There was no process in place for a long time and certainly nothing 
recent that made any of that easy. Everything I know to date is we have 
failed,” Moran said.He said the U.S. government and allies ought to concentrate on 
preventing Afghanistan’s transformation into a terrorist haven. He said 
Afghanistan would need humanitarian aid because “hunger and famine is 
around the corner.”Tim Carpenter has reported on Kansas for 35 years. He covered the Capitol for 16 years at the Topeka Capital-Journal and previously worked for the Lawrence Journal-World and United Press International.&nbsp;

Moran: Congress should vote before triggering military power

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of two people at a home in the Topeka area and have identified the victims as 20-year-old Hannah L. King of Topeka and the suspect as 21-year-old Connor M. O’mara of Topeka,.

Just after 4p.m. Friday, deputies responded to a residence in the 1600 block of SW 69th Terrace, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Upon arrival, deputies discovered King and Omara deceased from gunshot wounds.

After an initial investigation, it was determined that an altercation occurred inside the residence. During the altercation, King sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Omara then sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Christian.&nbsp;King was Omara's girlfriend, according to Christian. Authorities released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630850860820.png" alt="Investigators on the scene of the incident Friday evening photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Investigators on the scene of the incident Friday evening photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of two people at a home in the Topeka area and have identified the victims as 20-year-old Hannah L. King of Topeka and the suspect as 21-year-old Connor M. O’mara of Topeka,.Just after 4p.m. Friday, deputies responded to a residence in the 1600 block of SW 69th Terrace, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Upon arrival, deputies discovered King and Omara deceased from gunshot wounds.After an initial investigation, it was determined that an altercation occurred inside the residence. During the altercation, King sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Omara then sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Christian.&nbsp;King was Omara's girlfriend, according to Christian. Authorities released no additional details.

Sheriff IDs victim in fatal incident at Kansas home

Nancy Campos’ back ached as she loaded more than 100 Amazon packages onto her truck. The 59-year-old grandmother, a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, had worked 13 days in a row without a lunch break, and now she was delivering on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to keep up with a never-ending flow of boxes.

At the end of her shift that January day, Campos filled out her time sheet. Then she took a picture of it — for proof.

“I knew what was going to happen,” said Campos, who delivers mail in Midland, Texas, “because it happens every pay period.”

Two weeks later, when she checked her paystub in the payroll system, she said she was missing six hours of overtime pay. That added up to about $201 in lost wages — a week’s worth of groceries.

Postal workers across the country share her frustration.

The Postal Service regularly cheats mail carriers out of their pay, according to a Center for Public Integrity investigation. Managers at hundreds of post offices around the country have illegally underpaid hourly workers for years, arbitrators and federal investigators have found.

Private arbitration records tell part of the story. From 2010 to 2019, at least 250 managers in 60 post offices were caught changing mail carriers’ time cards to show them working fewer hours, resulting in unpaid wages, according to a batch of arbitration award summaries obtained by Public Integrity for cases filed by one of the three major postal unions.

Supervisors found to be cheating were rarely disciplined — often receiving only a warning or more training. In four cities, arbitration documents show, post office managers continued to alter time cards after promising union leaders they would stop.

Since 2005, meanwhile, the Postal Service has been cited by the federal government 1,150 times for underpaying letter carriers and other employees, including one case that involved 164 violations, according to Labor Department data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. The agency determined that those workers lost about $659,000 in pay. But it allowed the Postal Service to pay back less than half after negotiations with the agency — a common practice at the Labor Department. About 19% of the cases did not indicate whether the Postal Service paid back employees.

These findings point to widespread wage theft at the iconic quasi-governmental institution. Yet they offer only a partial view of the problem. Not captured are any arbitration cases filed by other postal unions or wage theft grievances settled before reaching arbitration.

Cases keep cropping up as the Postal Service struggles to pay off $188 billion in debt and unfunded liabilities, accrued largely because federal law requires it to prepay retiree healthcare and pension benefits. The agency has cut nearly 142,000 jobs since 2007, and in March 2020, it needed a $10 billion emergency loan from Congress to help pay its bills.

Mail carriers say their supervisors face intense pressure to keep overtime costs down. At the same time, pandemic-fueled spikes in online ordering are overwhelming mail carriers with packages. And they can’t count on getting paid for all their work.

A spokesperson for the Postal Service, David Partenheimer, said the agency does not condone supervisors making unsupported timecard adjustments and takes such allegations seriously.

“This position is messaged to the postal workforce directly from postal leaders, including the Vice President, Delivery Operations, who periodically reissues policies regarding appropriate timecard administration for supervisors,” Partenheimer wrote in an email to Public Integrity. He declined to comment on specific cases.

Campos said the agency still owes her thousands of dollars for two other wage theft grievances they settled before she discovered the missing overtime pay in January. She said her boss promised to pay her back for working the holiday but never did.

“I just had it. Enough is enough,” said Campos, who shared copies of her timesheets and pay stubs with Public Integrity. “We are depending on that money. When you get shorted, it’s the most horrible feeling.”

Every morning, Campos and thousands of other mail carriers across the United States swipe their badges at a local post office to clock in for work. They sort mail for their routes, check undelivered items and load up their trucks. They swipe their badge a few more times when they begin and end their delivery route and other tasks, and once again when they’re done for the day.