MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ coronavirus positivity rate has climbed above 20%, even as one top GOP lawmaker pushed back against Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s call for a statewide mask mandate to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“I’ve stated all along, and still believe, a one-size-fits-all COVID solution doesn’t work for our diverse state,” Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said Thursday in a written statement. “Local leaders have done a great job in dictating local responses after public hearings and discussions with their constituents.”

More than 90 of the state’s 105 counties have opted out of the current mask order. That’s why Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-topeka-phil-griffin-kansas-1d391dc693eed0754c33ab83624dad8b">said</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that she plans to speak with House and Senate leadership to work toward a bipartisan mask requirement with more teeth.

Her announcement came as the seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Kansas rose from 15.04% on Oct. 7 to 20.64% on Wednesday, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project. Only three states fared worse. The seven-day average for new cases also set another record of 757 on Wednesday, with many of the new cases coming from rural parts of the state.

Earlier this month, the state’s top public health official, Dr. Lee Norman, blamed the state’s worsening numbers on residents’ refusal to consistently follow public health guidelines for mask-wearing, social distancing and avoiding large public gatherings.

But many lawmakers are resistant to imposing statewide restrictions, wanting the decisions left to local officials. Kelly said during a news conference that there would be legislative challenges but that the research was clear: masks work.

“People don’t have time for us to wait around for an election to be over with,” Kelly said. “We need to start these conversations. We need to come to a resolution as soon as we can. We know we have a problem, and that’s why we need a solution.”

Even in Wichita, the state’s largest city, restrictions have been weakened. An ordinance there requiring protective face masks was quietly allowed to expire by the City Council this week. That means control over masks now shifts to Sedgwick County. The county commission has twice rejected mask orders from Kelly, though orders from county health officer have been allowed to stay in place.

But police cannot write tickets for violations of the county’s public health order, as they could under the city’s stronger ordinance. The county version can only be enforced through the lengthy procedure of filing a civil lawsuit and obtaining a court order, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/coronavirus/article246562573.html" target="_blank">reports</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603360957118.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly puts on her face mask following a press briefing Wednesday in Topeka." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly puts on her face mask following a press briefing Wednesday in Topeka.</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ coronavirus positivity rate has climbed above 20%, even as one top GOP lawmaker pushed back against Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s call for a statewide mask mandate to curb the spread of COVID-19.“I’ve stated all along, and still believe, a one-size-fits-all COVID solution doesn’t work for our diverse state,” Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, said Thursday in a written statement. “Local leaders have done a great job in dictating local responses after public hearings and discussions with their constituents.”More than 90 of the state’s 105 counties have opted out of the current mask order. That’s why Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-topeka-phil-griffin-kansas-1d391dc693eed0754c33ab83624dad8b">said</a>&nbsp;Wednesday that she plans to speak with House and Senate leadership to work toward a bipartisan mask requirement with more teeth.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603300066901.png" alt="Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Her announcement came as the seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Kansas rose from 15.04% on Oct. 7 to 20.64% on Wednesday, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project. Only three states fared worse. The seven-day average for new cases also set another record of 757 on Wednesday, with many of the new cases coming from rural parts of the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599689971178.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during a Sept. press conference in Topeka." />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during a Sept. press conference in Topeka.</figcaption>
 </figure>Earlier this month, the state’s top public health official, Dr. Lee Norman, blamed the state’s worsening numbers on residents’ refusal to consistently follow public health guidelines for mask-wearing, social distancing and avoiding large public gatherings.But many lawmakers are resistant to imposing statewide restrictions, wanting the decisions left to local officials. Kelly said during a news conference that there would be legislative challenges but that the research was clear: masks work.“People don’t have time for us to wait around for an election to be over with,” Kelly said. “We need to start these conversations. We need to come to a resolution as soon as we can. We know we have a problem, and that’s why we need a solution.”Even in Wichita, the state’s largest city, restrictions have been weakened. An ordinance there requiring protective face masks was quietly allowed to expire by the City Council this week. That means control over masks now shifts to Sedgwick County. The county commission has twice rejected mask orders from Kelly, though orders from county health officer have been allowed to stay in place.But police cannot write tickets for violations of the county’s public health order, as they could under the city’s stronger ordinance. The county version can only be enforced through the lengthy procedure of filing a civil lawsuit and obtaining a court order, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/coronavirus/article246562573.html" target="_blank">reports</a>.

Kansas coronavirus positivity rate climbs above 20%

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Health officials are monitoring a nursing facility in Kansas City that has reported three deaths and more than 140 cases of COVID-19 among patients and staff.

Ninety-eight residents and 44 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Garden Valley Healthcare Center, the Kansas City Health Center said Wednesday. The 156-bed skilled nursing facility offers rehabilitation and care for memory problems, Alzheimer’s and other long term care.

State health officials have been requiring regular testing and infection control measures since the outbreak began about Sept. 15, department spokeswoman Michelle Pekarsky said.

Garden Valley has had COVID-19 protocols in place since March, including restricted visits and regular screening of staff, said Fred Stratmann, a spokesman for Garden Valley’s parent company, CommuniCare.

The facility also has an isolation wing for patients who test positive and observation units for those awaiting test results.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1488 to a total of 74,456, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Statewide, Missouri reported 1,854 more confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 162,723. The state has reported 2,657 deaths, up 16 from Wednesday.

Prisons in central Missouri are also reporting increases in confirmed cases, with 115 inmates and 42 staff at the Jefferson City Correctional Center as of Wednesday, which is an increase from a total of 51 cases since Oct. 13.

The growth comes after the state expanded testing after finding more evidence of the coronavirus in wastewater from the prisons in Jefferson City, said Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the state corrections department.

The Algoa Correctional Center reported 86 inmates and 24 staff had tested positive as of Wednesday, with another 13 inmates and 11 staff having recovered, according to Missouri Department of Corrections data.

The Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center reported 109 active cases among inmates and 11 staff cases after testing Oct. 13-15, Pojmann said.

Two corrections department staff members have died after testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, but Pojmann declined to release any information about them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603391790576.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — Health officials are monitoring a nursing facility in Kansas City that has reported three deaths and more than 140 cases of COVID-19 among patients and staff.Ninety-eight residents and 44 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Garden Valley Healthcare Center, the Kansas City Health Center said Wednesday. The 156-bed skilled nursing facility offers rehabilitation and care for memory problems, Alzheimer’s and other long term care.State health officials have been requiring regular testing and infection control measures since the outbreak began about Sept. 15, department spokeswoman Michelle Pekarsky said.Garden Valley has had COVID-19 protocols in place since March, including restricted visits and regular screening of staff, said Fred Stratmann, a spokesman for Garden Valley’s parent company, CommuniCare.The facility also has an isolation wing for patients who test positive and observation units for those awaiting test results.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603300066901.png" alt="Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1488 to a total of 74,456, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Statewide, Missouri reported 1,854 more confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 162,723. The state has reported 2,657 deaths, up 16 from Wednesday.Prisons in central Missouri are also reporting increases in confirmed cases, with 115 inmates and 42 staff at the Jefferson City Correctional Center as of Wednesday, which is an increase from a total of 51 cases since Oct. 13.The growth comes after the state expanded testing after finding more evidence of the coronavirus in wastewater from the prisons in Jefferson City, said Karen Pojmann, a spokeswoman for the state corrections department.The Algoa Correctional Center reported 86 inmates and 24 staff had tested positive as of Wednesday, with another 13 inmates and 11 staff having recovered, according to Missouri Department of Corrections data.The Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center reported 109 active cases among inmates and 11 staff cases after testing Oct. 13-15, Pojmann said.Two corrections department staff members have died after testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, but Pojmann declined to release any information about them.

Kansas City nursing home has 140 COVID-19 cases, 3 deaths

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump posted his full, unedited interview with “60 Minutes” on Facebook before the show’s scheduled Sunday broadcast.

The footage shows Trump growing increasingly prickly as CBS anchor Lesley Stahl presses him on a host of topics, including his response to the coronavirus pandemic, his slipping support among suburban women, the lack of masks at his rallies, and the “Obamacare” replacement plan he has long promised but failed to unveil.

“Look at the bias, hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS,” Trump wrote Thursday as he tweeted the Facebook link. And he again preemptively criticized the moderator of Thursday night’s final presidential debate.

Throughout the interview, Trump returns to attacks on Joe Biden’s son, based on an unconfirmed New York Post report, and accuses the media of being too soft on his Democratic rival.

As Stahl comments at one point that Trump is offering attack after attack, Trump responds: “It’s not attack, it’s defense. It’s defense against attacks.”

“I’m defending myself and I’m defending the institute of the presidency,” he said.

As Trump continued to throw unsubstantiated allegations at Biden and former President Barack Obama, Stahl tried to explain: “This is ‘60 Minutes’ and we can’t put on things we can’t verify.”

But Trump continued to criticize the mainstream media.

“Leslie, you’re discrediting yourself,” he said.

The interview began on a tense footing as Stahl asked the president as the camera started rolling, “Are you ready for some tough questions?” and only grew more testy.

At the end of the nearly 40 minutes, Trump complained: “Are you ready for tough questions. That’s no way to talk. That’s no way to talk.”

“You’re so negative,” he later commented.

Trump eventually cut the interview short and declined to appear with Vice President Mike Pence.

“That’s enough. Let’s go,” he said.

CBS News called the White House’s decision “unprecedented,” but said the interview would air Sunday as planned.

“The White House’s unprecedented decision to disregard their agreement with CBS News and release their footage will not deter 60 MINUTES from providing its full, fair and contextual reporting which presidents have participated in for decades,” the network said in a statement.

“60 MINUTES,” it continued, “is widely respected for bringing its hallmark fairness, deep reporting and informative context to viewers each week. Few journalists have the presidential interview experience Lesley Stahl has delivered over her decades as one of the premier correspondents in America and we look forward to audiences seeing her third interview with President Trump and subsequent interview with Vice President Pence this weekend.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump posted his full, unedited interview with “60 Minutes” on Facebook before the show’s scheduled Sunday broadcast.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDonaldTrump%2Fvideos%2F350524406214941%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The footage shows Trump growing increasingly prickly as CBS anchor Lesley Stahl presses him on a host of topics, including his response to the coronavirus pandemic, his slipping support among suburban women, the lack of masks at his rallies, and the “Obamacare” replacement plan he has long promised but failed to unveil.“Look at the bias, hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS,” Trump wrote Thursday as he tweeted the Facebook link. And he again preemptively criticized the moderator of Thursday night’s final presidential debate.Throughout the interview, Trump returns to attacks on Joe Biden’s son, based on an unconfirmed New York Post report, and accuses the media of being too soft on his Democratic rival.As Stahl comments at one point that Trump is offering attack after attack, Trump responds: “It’s not attack, it’s defense. It’s defense against attacks.”“I’m defending myself and I’m defending the institute of the presidency,” he said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CBS News statement on <a href="https://twitter.com/60Minutes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@60Minutes</a> interview with President Trump <a href="https://t.co/Ivz9NBiU6r">pic.twitter.com/Ivz9NBiU6r</a>&mdash; CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/1319319385132224514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As Trump continued to throw unsubstantiated allegations at Biden and former President Barack Obama, Stahl tried to explain: “This is ‘60 Minutes’ and we can’t put on things we can’t verify.”But Trump continued to criticize the mainstream media.“Leslie, you’re discrediting yourself,” he said.The interview began on a tense footing as Stahl asked the president as the camera started rolling, “Are you ready for some tough questions?” and only grew more testy.At the end of the nearly 40 minutes, Trump complained: “Are you ready for tough questions. That’s no way to talk. That’s no way to talk.”“You’re so negative,” he later commented.Trump eventually cut the interview short and declined to appear with Vice President Mike Pence.“That’s enough. Let’s go,” he said.CBS News called the White House’s decision “unprecedented,” but said the interview would air Sunday as planned.“The White House’s unprecedented decision to disregard their agreement with CBS News and release their footage will not deter 60 MINUTES from providing its full, fair and contextual reporting which presidents have participated in for decades,” the network said in a statement.“60 MINUTES,” it continued, “is widely respected for bringing its hallmark fairness, deep reporting and informative context to viewers each week. Few journalists have the presidential interview experience Lesley Stahl has delivered over her decades as one of the premier correspondents in America and we look forward to audiences seeing her third interview with President Trump and subsequent interview with Vice President Pence this weekend.”

🎥 President leaks '60 Minutes' interview; abruptly walked out

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials Wednesday redefined what counts as close contact with someone with COVID-19 to include briefer but repeated encounters.

For months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said close contact meant spending a solid 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for coronavirus. On Wednesday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html" target="_blank">CDC changed&nbsp;</a>it to a total of 15 minutes or more — so shorter but repeated contacts that add up to 15 minutes over a 24-hour period now count.

The CDC advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks.

The change may prompt health departments to do contact tracing in cases where an exposure might previously have been considered too brief, said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert.

It also serves notice that the coronavirus can spread more easily than many people realize, he added.

The definition change was triggered by a report on that case of a 20-year-old Vermont correctional officer, who was diagnosed with a coronavirus infection in August. The guard, who wore a mask and goggles, had multiple brief encounters with six transferred prisoners before test results showed they were positive. At times, the prisoners wore masks, but there were encounters in cell doorways or in a recreational room where prisoners did not have them on, the report said.

An investigation that reviewed video footage concluded the guard’s brief interactions totaled 17 minutes during an 8-hour shift.

The report didn’t identify the prison but Vermont officials have said that in late July, six inmates tested positive when they arrived at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland.

In a statement, CDC officials said the case highlights again the importance of wearing masks to prevent transmission, and that the agency’s guidance can change as new information comes in.

“As we get more data and understand this COVID we’re going to continue to incorporate that in our recommendations,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said at a press conference in Atlanta.

The CDC also says close contact can include hugging and kissing, sharing eating or drinking utensils with someone infected, and providing home care to someone who is sick. Someone sneezing or coughing on you also counts.

The risk of spread is considered to be lower outdoors, but the CDC guidance update “makes scientific sense,” said Dr. Michael Saag, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591480312815.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials Wednesday redefined what counts as close contact with someone with COVID-19 to include briefer but repeated encounters.For months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said close contact meant spending a solid 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone who tested positive for coronavirus. On Wednesday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/quarantine.html" target="_blank">CDC changed&nbsp;</a>it to a total of 15 minutes or more — so shorter but repeated contacts that add up to 15 minutes over a 24-hour period now count.The CDC advises anyone who has been in close contact with a COVID-19 patient to quarantine for two weeks.The change may prompt health departments to do contact tracing in cases where an exposure might previously have been considered too brief, said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert.It also serves notice that the coronavirus can spread more easily than many people realize, he added.The definition change was triggered by a report on that case of a 20-year-old Vermont correctional officer, who was diagnosed with a coronavirus infection in August. The guard, who wore a mask and goggles, had multiple brief encounters with six transferred prisoners before test results showed they were positive. At times, the prisoners wore masks, but there were encounters in cell doorways or in a recreational room where prisoners did not have them on, the report said.An investigation that reviewed video footage concluded the guard’s brief interactions totaled 17 minutes during an 8-hour shift.The report didn’t identify the prison but Vermont officials have said that in late July, six inmates tested positive when they arrived at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland.In a statement, CDC officials said the case highlights again the importance of wearing masks to prevent transmission, and that the agency’s guidance can change as new information comes in.“As we get more data and understand this COVID we’re going to continue to incorporate that in our recommendations,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said at a press conference in Atlanta.The CDC also says close contact can include hugging and kissing, sharing eating or drinking utensils with someone infected, and providing home care to someone who is sick. Someone sneezing or coughing on you also counts.The risk of spread is considered to be lower outdoors, but the CDC guidance update “makes scientific sense,” said Dr. Michael Saag, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.___

CDC redefines COVID-19 close contact, adds brief encounters

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen suspect after a chase and crash.

Just before 2p.m. Wednesday, a citizen contact the Shawnee County Emergency Communication's Center after observing what they believed was a suspect in a stolen vehicle in the area of SW 21st and SW Wanamaker Road, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.

An officer in the area responded and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near SW 29th. The driver later identified as 18-year-old Frank Z. Ward failed to stop and fled.&nbsp;

A short time later Ward crashed the vehicle into an occupied apartment building at 5820 SW Candletree Drive, according to Stanley. After a brief foot-pursuit,&nbsp; police arrested Ward.

AMR transported Ward to a hospital for treatment. He was later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, flee and elude, interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana and reckless driving.

The occupants of the apartment were not injured, according to Stanley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603367699727.png" alt="Ward -photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ward -photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen suspect after a chase and crash.Just before 2p.m. Wednesday, a citizen contact the Shawnee County Emergency Communication's Center after observing what they believed was a suspect in a stolen vehicle in the area of SW 21st and SW Wanamaker Road, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.An officer in the area responded and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near SW 29th. The driver later identified as 18-year-old Frank Z. Ward failed to stop and fled.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603367445263.png" alt="The occupants of the apartment were not injured -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The occupants of the apartment were not injured -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>A short time later Ward crashed the vehicle into an occupied apartment building at 5820 SW Candletree Drive, according to Stanley. After a brief foot-pursuit,&nbsp; police arrested Ward.AMR transported Ward to a hospital for treatment. He was later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, flee and elude, interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and marijuana and reckless driving.The occupants of the apartment were not injured, according to Stanley.

Kan. teen driving stolen car jailed after crash, hospital visit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?477034-1/senate-judiciary-committee-votes-amy-coney-barretts-nomination">CLICK here</a>&nbsp;to watch the hearing that began at 8a.m. CDT

Republicans powered past a Democratic boycott of the session Thursday to keep confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick on track before Election Day. Democratic senators refused to show up in protest of the GOP’s rush to install Trump’s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Senate has never confirmed a Supreme Court nominee so close to a presidential election. 

Senators plan to convene a rare weekend session for procedural actions ahead of a final confirmation vote expected Monday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are set to boycott voting on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court&nbsp;</a>nominee Amy Coney Barrett at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, but there is little they can do to prevent Republicans from rushing to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick before Election Day.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?477034-1/senate-judiciary-committee-votes-amy-coney-barretts-nomination">CLICK here</a> to watch the hearing that begins at 8a.m. CDT

The Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by Republicans, is expected to change the rules if necessary to recommend Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate. Senators are planning a rare weekend session to secure her confirmation on Monday.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer announced the planned boycott in a speech late Wednesday on the Senate floor.

“We should not be moving forward on this nomination,” he said, calling Barrett’s views “so far out of the mainstream.” No Supreme Court nominee has ever been confirmed so close to a presidential election.

He immediately forced a vote to recess the Senate until after the Nov. 3 election, but it failed. “These are all such violations of American norms, values, decency and honor,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set Barrett’s confirmation on a fast-track following the death last month of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If confirmed Monday, Barrett could be seated on the high court that same day.

With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Trump’s pick for the court is almost certain to be confirmed. Boycotting Thursday’s committee hearing won’t stop the process, but could potentially force Republicans on the panel to alter the rules to keep the confirmation on track.

“Judge Barrett deserves a vote and she will receive a vote,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the committee chairman, in a statement. “Barrett deserves to be on the Supreme Court and she will be confirmed.”

Committee rules say at least two members of the minority party, Democrats, would need to be present to constitute a quorum for doing business. Graham made no mention of the process ahead, if Democrats fail to show up.

But Mike Davis, a former top aide on the panel who now advises Senate Republicans, said the committee was well within its normal practice to hold the vote, even if Democrats skip it. He said the longstanding practice has been to allow business to go forward if all members of the majority, Republicans, attend.

Two Republican senators on the panel, Mike Lee and Thom Tillis, tested positive for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">COVID-19&nbsp;</a>after attending the Rose Garden event where Trump announced Barrett as his nominee. The panel established remote operations during the coronavirus pandemic. Those two senators have since returned to in-person sessions, saying their doctors cleared them from quarantine.

Two other Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have objected to the quick vote, but they are not on the panel. Even if they oppose Barrett’s confirmation, Republicans have the votes to push ahead. No Senate Democrats are expected to support Barrett’s confirmation.

Barrett, a 48-year-old appellate court judge who has spoken out against abortion and a court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, is on track to lock in a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court for years to come.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603372432141.png" alt="On Thursday morning, Democrat Senators placed photos of&nbsp;constituents dependent on the Affordable Care Act in their chairs as the Judiciary Committee voted to send Judge Barrett's Nomination to the full Senate&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>On Thursday morning, Democrat Senators placed photos of&nbsp;constituents dependent on the Affordable Care Act in their chairs as the Judiciary Committee voted to send Judge Barrett's Nomination to the full Senate&nbsp; -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination to the full Senate.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?477034-1/senate-judiciary-committee-votes-amy-coney-barretts-nomination">CLICK here</a>&nbsp;to watch the hearing that began at 8a.m. CDTRepublicans powered past a Democratic boycott of the session Thursday to keep confirmation of President Donald Trump’s pick on track before Election Day. Democratic senators refused to show up in protest of the GOP’s rush to install Trump’s nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Senate has never confirmed a Supreme Court nominee so close to a presidential election. Senators plan to convene a rare weekend session for procedural actions ahead of a final confirmation vote expected Monday.-----WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are set to boycott voting on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court&nbsp;</a>nominee Amy Coney Barrett at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, but there is little they can do to prevent Republicans from rushing to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick before Election Day.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?477034-1/senate-judiciary-committee-votes-amy-coney-barretts-nomination">CLICK here</a> to watch the hearing that begins at 8a.m. CDTThe Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by Republicans, is expected to change the rules if necessary to recommend Barrett’s nomination to the full Senate. Senators are planning a rare weekend session to secure her confirmation on Monday.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer announced the planned boycott in a speech late Wednesday on the Senate floor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602523493919.png" alt="Amy Coney Barrett as she waited for day one of her confirmation hearing to begin in the Senate Judiciary Committee-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Amy Coney Barrett as she waited for day one of her confirmation hearing to begin in the Senate Judiciary Committee-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>“We should not be moving forward on this nomination,” he said, calling Barrett’s views “so far out of the mainstream.” No Supreme Court nominee has ever been confirmed so close to a presidential election.He immediately forced a vote to recess the Senate until after the Nov. 3 election, but it failed. “These are all such violations of American norms, values, decency and honor,” he said.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell set Barrett’s confirmation on a fast-track following the death last month of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If confirmed Monday, Barrett could be seated on the high court that same day.With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Trump’s pick for the court is almost certain to be confirmed. Boycotting Thursday’s committee hearing won’t stop the process, but could potentially force Republicans on the panel to alter the rules to keep the confirmation on track.“Judge Barrett deserves a vote and she will receive a vote,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the committee chairman, in a statement. “Barrett deserves to be on the Supreme Court and she will be confirmed.”Committee rules say at least two members of the minority party, Democrats, would need to be present to constitute a quorum for doing business. Graham made no mention of the process ahead, if Democrats fail to show up.But Mike Davis, a former top aide on the panel who now advises Senate Republicans, said the committee was well within its normal practice to hold the vote, even if Democrats skip it. He said the longstanding practice has been to allow business to go forward if all members of the majority, Republicans, attend.Two Republican senators on the panel, Mike Lee and Thom Tillis, tested positive for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak">COVID-19&nbsp;</a>after attending the Rose Garden event where Trump announced Barrett as his nominee. The panel established remote operations during the coronavirus pandemic. Those two senators have since returned to in-person sessions, saying their doctors cleared them from quarantine.Two other Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, have objected to the quick vote, but they are not on the panel. Even if they oppose Barrett’s confirmation, Republicans have the votes to push ahead. No Senate Democrats are expected to support Barrett’s confirmation.Barrett, a 48-year-old appellate court judge who has spoken out against abortion and a court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, is on track to lock in a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court for years to come.

🎥 Senate panel advances Barrett nomination despite Dems' boycott

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is again calling for a statewide mask mandate as the coronavirus case count continues to climb in rural parts of the state that don’t require them.

Kelly said Wednesday that two-thirds of the state’s COVID-19 cases are now coming from outside the Wichita and Kansas City region.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2ed56b6d64038adee0dc17465073232b" target="_blank">Over the summer,&nbsp;</a>she issued an order requiring Kansas residents to wear masks, but more than 90 counties chose to opt out. She said she now plans to speak with House and Senate leadership to work toward a bipartisan requirement with more teeth.

“We cannot sit by as the cases continue to rise in our rural communities, threatening lives and businesses,” she said.

Her announcement came after the state health department reported that Kansas had 1,488 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, bringing the total number of infections reported in the state to 74,456. That pushed the rolling seven-day average for new cases to another record of 757. The department also reported 80 additional COVID-19-related deaths, most of them stemming from a review of death certificates, bringing the state’s fatality toll to 952.

According to data from The COVID Tracking Project, the seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 15% on Oct. 6 to 19.4% on Tuesday. Only four other states are faring worse.

On Monday, the health department in rural Norton County reported a coronavirus outbreak killed 10 residents in a nursing home in northwestern Kansas. It said all 62 residents and an unspecified number of employees at the Andbe Home in Norton had tested positive for the virus.

“For months, many have mistakenly shared the idea that this virus would never reach our rural and lower population communities. Now it is worse in those towns and counties than it is in in our cities,” she said. “Harmful anti-mask and anti-science rhetoric has politicized our ability to tackle a public health issue, much of it coming from our elected officials.”

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a Republican from Overland Park, said in a statement shared by a spokesman that he had not been contacted by the governor’s office to discuss a statewide mask mandate yet but is “happy to talk and discuss a mask mandate because it is better than a business shutdown, which he doesn’t want to talk about.” Denning added that he wants the discussions to include a statewide testing plan that is “crucial to dealing with the virus.”

Meanwhile, a 45-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1533/DRAFT-COVID-19-Vaccination-Plan-for-Kansas-Version11-10162020" target="_blank">plan that Kansas filed</a>&nbsp;in the past week with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that health care workers and long-term care residents will be among those who will get the coronavirus vaccine first. Other groups that will be prioritized for the initial rounds of vaccinations include people with underlying medical conditions, people 65 and older and essential workers.

Phil Griffin, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment bureau director for disease control and prevention, said the agency will use advisory committees to help determine who should receive the vaccine next. The plan indicates the health department is taking input from groups representing individuals with disabilities, people of color, children and other demographics, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article246584938.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603360957118.png" alt="Laura Kelly " />
 <figcaption>Laura Kelly </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is again calling for a statewide mask mandate as the coronavirus case count continues to climb in rural parts of the state that don’t require them.Kelly said Wednesday that two-thirds of the state’s COVID-19 cases are now coming from outside the Wichita and Kansas City region.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2ed56b6d64038adee0dc17465073232b" target="_blank">Over the summer,&nbsp;</a>she issued an order requiring Kansas residents to wear masks, but more than 90 counties chose to opt out. She said she now plans to speak with House and Senate leadership to work toward a bipartisan requirement with more teeth.“We cannot sit by as the cases continue to rise in our rural communities, threatening lives and businesses,” she said.Her announcement came after the state health department reported that Kansas had 1,488 new confirmed and probable coronavirus cases since Monday, bringing the total number of infections reported in the state to 74,456. That pushed the rolling seven-day average for new cases to another record of 757. The department also reported 80 additional COVID-19-related deaths, most of them stemming from a review of death certificates, bringing the state’s fatality toll to 952.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603300066901.png" alt="Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>According to data from The COVID Tracking Project, the seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 15% on Oct. 6 to 19.4% on Tuesday. Only four other states are faring worse.On Monday, the health department in rural Norton County reported a coronavirus outbreak killed 10 residents in a nursing home in northwestern Kansas. It said all 62 residents and an unspecified number of employees at the Andbe Home in Norton had tested positive for the virus.“For months, many have mistakenly shared the idea that this virus would never reach our rural and lower population communities. Now it is worse in those towns and counties than it is in in our cities,” she said. “Harmful anti-mask and anti-science rhetoric has politicized our ability to tackle a public health issue, much of it coming from our elected officials.”Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a Republican from Overland Park, said in a statement shared by a spokesman that he had not been contacted by the governor’s office to discuss a statewide mask mandate yet but is “happy to talk and discuss a mask mandate because it is better than a business shutdown, which he doesn’t want to talk about.” Denning added that he wants the discussions to include a statewide testing plan that is “crucial to dealing with the virus.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603307055514.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Meanwhile, a 45-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1533/DRAFT-COVID-19-Vaccination-Plan-for-Kansas-Version11-10162020" target="_blank">plan that Kansas filed</a>&nbsp;in the past week with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that health care workers and long-term care residents will be among those who will get the coronavirus vaccine first. Other groups that will be prioritized for the initial rounds of vaccinations include people with underlying medical conditions, people 65 and older and essential workers.Phil Griffin, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment bureau director for disease control and prevention, said the agency will use advisory committees to help determine who should receive the vaccine next. The plan indicates the health department is taking input from groups representing individuals with disabilities, people of color, children and other demographics, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article246584938.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Kansas governor calls for help with statewide mask mandate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiations on a COVID-19 relief bill are inching forward, but it’s clear the window for action before the Nov. 3 election is closing and the issue will be tossed to a postelection lame-duck session of Congress.

The only thing that seems certain beyond that is uncertainty, with Capitol Hill veterans cautioning against expecting a quick and smooth resolution for an aid package that has tied Washington in knots for months.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke again Wednesday but her office signaled no real progress, and she acknowledged for the first time publicly that the measure won’t pass before the election.

President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, accused Pelosi of slow-walking the talks. Trump’s most powerful Senate GOP ally, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, is warning against a costly deal that could drive a wedge between the president and his fellow Republicans.

No one knows whether Election Day will bring much more clarity.

“I’m never very optimistic about the lame duck and I’ve never been surprised,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. “You don’t get near as much done as you think you’re going to get done.”

Those Republicans willing to speculate about a Trump loss in two weeks say not to expect much, either.

“I think Democrats would want to wait until the new president is sworn in and do it then and I think Republicans probably would say ... the economy’s taking care of it,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

At issue is a huge virus relief bill that would send another $1,200 direct payment to most Americans, restart bonus unemployment benefits, fund additional testing and vaccines, provide aid to schools and allocate money to states and local governments, a Democratic priority.

A $1.8 trillion rescue plan in March passed virtually unanimously. The Pelosi-pushed package today is even larger but has run into resolute opposition from Republicans. Taking care of the issue would clear the decks for a fresh start on the congressional agenda next year.

Pelosi remains optimistic, even after Washington was blanketed with media reports that McConnell, R-Ky., has warned the White House against sealing a $2 trillion or so relief deal with Pelosi before the election.

“Let’s keep working so that we can do it after the election,” Pelosi said Wednesday on MSNBC.

“We obviously want to have a deal by Nov. 3,” Pelosi told SiriusXM radio. “That really is going to be up to whether the president can convince Mitch McConnell to do so.”

McConnell says the GOP-controlled Senate is not buying the need for legislation as large as Trump wanted. And Meadows told reporters that Pelosi is still too uncompromising.

“We haven’t seen a lot of action from Speaker Pelosi,” Meadows said. “Most of the progress we’ve made have been concessions that the president has made.”

Senate Democrats blocked a Senate GOP plan that McConnell brought to a vote Wednesday. The measure contained more than $100 billion for schools, a $300 per week supplemental unemployment insurance benefit, and more subsidies for businesses especially hard hit by pandemic-related downturns and closures. It does not include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/61b3d38360745d64a98a2ab813501b13">$1,200 direct payments</a>&nbsp;that are so important to Trump.

Trump says that if he wins reelection, aid will flow immediately. When former President Barack Obama won reelection in 2012, for instance, he went on to prevail in “fiscal cliff” negotiations on taxes.

If he loses, it’s unclear whether Trump’s enthusiasm for delivering it will be as strong. Lame-duck sessions during White House changeovers in 2008 and 2016 didn’t deliver much.

But Pelosi said she believes McConnell “might not mind doing it after the election.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., acknowledged that lame-duck sessions typically aren’t very productive, but he added, “Normally they don’t have this kind of emergency, either.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603361575738.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged for the first time publicly that the virus relief measure won’t pass before the election." />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi acknowledged for the first time publicly that the virus relief measure won’t pass before the election.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiations on a COVID-19 relief bill are inching forward, but it’s clear the window for action before the Nov. 3 election is closing and the issue will be tossed to a postelection lame-duck session of Congress.The only thing that seems certain beyond that is uncertainty, with Capitol Hill veterans cautioning against expecting a quick and smooth resolution for an aid package that has tied Washington in knots for months.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke again Wednesday but her office signaled no real progress, and she acknowledged for the first time publicly that the measure won’t pass before the election.President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, accused Pelosi of slow-walking the talks. Trump’s most powerful Senate GOP ally, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, is warning against a costly deal that could drive a wedge between the president and his fellow Republicans.No one knows whether Election Day will bring much more clarity.“I’m never very optimistic about the lame duck and I’ve never been surprised,” said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. “You don’t get near as much done as you think you’re going to get done.”Those Republicans willing to speculate about a Trump loss in two weeks say not to expect much, either.“I think Democrats would want to wait until the new president is sworn in and do it then and I think Republicans probably would say ... the economy’s taking care of it,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.At issue is a huge virus relief bill that would send another $1,200 direct payment to most Americans, restart bonus unemployment benefits, fund additional testing and vaccines, provide aid to schools and allocate money to states and local governments, a Democratic priority.A $1.8 trillion rescue plan in March passed virtually unanimously. The Pelosi-pushed package today is even larger but has run into resolute opposition from Republicans. Taking care of the issue would clear the decks for a fresh start on the congressional agenda next year.Pelosi remains optimistic, even after Washington was blanketed with media reports that McConnell, R-Ky., has warned the White House against sealing a $2 trillion or so relief deal with Pelosi before the election.“Let’s keep working so that we can do it after the election,” Pelosi said Wednesday on MSNBC.“We obviously want to have a deal by Nov. 3,” Pelosi told SiriusXM radio. “That really is going to be up to whether the president can convince Mitch McConnell to do so.”McConnell says the GOP-controlled Senate is not buying the need for legislation as large as Trump wanted. And Meadows told reporters that Pelosi is still too uncompromising.“We haven’t seen a lot of action from Speaker Pelosi,” Meadows said. “Most of the progress we’ve made have been concessions that the president has made.”Senate Democrats blocked a Senate GOP plan that McConnell brought to a vote Wednesday. The measure contained more than $100 billion for schools, a $300 per week supplemental unemployment insurance benefit, and more subsidies for businesses especially hard hit by pandemic-related downturns and closures. It does not include the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/61b3d38360745d64a98a2ab813501b13">$1,200 direct payments</a>&nbsp;that are so important to Trump.Trump says that if he wins reelection, aid will flow immediately. When former President Barack Obama won reelection in 2012, for instance, he went on to prevail in “fiscal cliff” negotiations on taxes.If he loses, it’s unclear whether Trump’s enthusiasm for delivering it will be as strong. Lame-duck sessions during White House changeovers in 2008 and 2016 didn’t deliver much.But Pelosi said she believes McConnell “might not mind doing it after the election.”Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., acknowledged that lame-duck sessions typically aren’t very productive, but he added, “Normally they don’t have this kind of emergency, either.”

COVID-19 relief bill faces uncertainty now, after the election

HUTCHINSON — The Kansas Supreme Court has refused to address the case of a Hutchinson man who received an eight-year departure from his prison sentence in the death of a Hutchinson man.&nbsp;

The Kansas Court of Appeals reversed the sentence against Taylor Lukone. Lukone was given the two-year sentence for a conviction of reckless second-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Jose Lopez. 

Lopez was on a bicycle when Lukone rammed him with a car after a confrontation between the two.

At the time, Judge Trish Rose granted her own departure in the case, going against the plea agreement from both the state and the defense. Rose cited Lukone’s lack of criminal history and age as reasons for the 99-month departure.

But the Court of Appeals disagreed and ordered a new sentence that could run from nine to 11 years in prison. The matter moved to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court declined to hear the matter and sent the case back to Reno County where Lukone will be resentenced.

At the time of the ruling, the Court of Appeals stated that the extent of Rose’s departure was not proportionate to the severity level of Lukone's crimes. As a result, Rose’s 99-month departure was outside the framework of the legal standards and statutory limitations placed on it by the KSGA grid. Thus, this constituted an abuse of discretion.

The Court of Appeals ruling went on to say that anger that leads a person to murder someone in revenge is not condoned under the KSGA. And anger unrestrained, like the murder in this case, is required to be punished according to the grid under the KSGA.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603362145099.png" alt="Lukone-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Lukone-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON — The Kansas Supreme Court has refused to address the case of a Hutchinson man who received an eight-year departure from his prison sentence in the death of a Hutchinson man.&nbsp;The Kansas Court of Appeals reversed the sentence against Taylor Lukone. Lukone was given the two-year sentence for a conviction of reckless second-degree murder in the death of 51-year-old Jose Lopez. Lopez was on a bicycle when Lukone rammed him with a car after a confrontation between the two.At the time, Judge Trish Rose granted her own departure in the case, going against the plea agreement from both the state and the defense. Rose cited Lukone’s lack of criminal history and age as reasons for the 99-month departure.But the Court of Appeals disagreed and ordered a new sentence that could run from nine to 11 years in prison. The matter moved to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court declined to hear the matter and sent the case back to Reno County where Lukone will be resentenced.At the time of the ruling, the Court of Appeals stated that the extent of Rose’s departure was not proportionate to the severity level of Lukone's crimes. As a result, Rose’s 99-month departure was outside the framework of the legal standards and statutory limitations placed on it by the KSGA grid. Thus, this constituted an abuse of discretion.The Court of Appeals ruling went on to say that anger that leads a person to murder someone in revenge is not condoned under the KSGA. And anger unrestrained, like the murder in this case, is required to be punished according to the grid under the KSGA.

Court declines appeal for death of Kan. bicycle rider

State needs better education, business links and more apprenticeships

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/21/kansas-chamber-analysis-plants-seed-of-statewide-workforce-development-overhaul/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas 
Chamber released a blueprint for upgrading workforce development 
Wednesday that relies on expanding high school and college students’ 
preparation for high-demand careers, massive growth of apprenticeship 
opportunities and investment in recruiting of younger adults leaving the
 military and former Kansans living in nearby Midwest cities.

At the core of the analysis was the belief states
 successful in building a bigger talent pipeline to educate, train, 
recruit and retain a qualified workforce would exceed economic progress 
in states that fell short on that front. The report sponsored by the 
Kansas Chamber and produced by Economic Leadership, a consulting firm in
 Raleigh, N.C., focused on how education could better align with 
staffing needs of industries.

“You’re in competition 
with the other states in the country and labor is the top issue,” said 
Ted Abernathy, of Economic Leadership. “You cannot have a state that’s 
going to be successful that isn’t able to grow its labor and isn’t able 
to continue to give its labor the skills that they need in a pretty fast
 changing world.”

The
 report concluded Kansas businesses were having difficulty finding 
workers with required skills, employers weren’t sufficiently involved in
 the education system’s workforce development and the state’s colleges 
and universities should more quickly respond to economic shifts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We
 expect this report to be a living plan that will improve and expand in 
the next few years as&nbsp; the Chamber meets and works with other 
stakeholders committed to addressing our state’s workforce challenges,” 
said Alan Cobb, president of the Kansas Chamber.

The report included 20 
reform ideas, including a suggestion Kansas labor law be amended to 
allow people under 18 to get more work experience and to extend school 
district liability coverage to protect businesses that take on young 
employees or interns.

Local chambers of commerce
 should help small and mid-size businesses connect with K-12 schools for
 job fairs, mentoring, job shadowing, site visits and in-school 
presentations, the report said.

The
 study recommends the 2021 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly work 
together on a scholarship program targeted at Kansas high school 
graduates studying in high-demand fields at community and technical 
colleges. The initiative should require recipients of the financial aid 
stay in Kansas for two years after completing a degree or certificate 
program.

The
 report said Kansas ought to establish a goal of reaching the national 
average for the number of active apprentices per 100,000 people in the 
working age population, which would require doubling this number from 
132 to 263 within five years.

“Those numbers still look 
low to me. We also need to look at youth apprenticeships,” said Cynthia 
Lane, chairwoman of the Governor’s Council on Education.

In fact, the state of Missouri has an apprenticeship program in information technology with more than 5,000 participants.

The
 consultants said Kansas could create an apprenticeship tax credit for 
businesses in a manner adopted by South Carolina and Alabama. With an 
infusion of state funding, Kansas could deepen the number of registered 
apprenticeship programs sponsored by the community or technical colleges
 as well as industry association boards.

The
 Kansas Department of Corrections should form more partnerships with 
community and technical colleges to train incarcerated adults and youth 
in preparation for their release from custody, the report said.

There should be statewide 
goals for higher education institutions in terms of the percentage of 
students placed in workplace internships, the report said. In addition, 
Kansas college scholarship programs, including nursing and engineering, should be tied to post-graduation residency requirements.

“Recruiting
 talent back to Kansas can get very expensive. It’s much easier to keep 
talent that’s here,” said Blake Flanders, president of the Kansas Board 
of Regents, which has oversight of 32 public colleges and universities.

Flanders
 said Kansas universities were able to replace with out-of-state 
students the Kansas high school graduates who enroll at college in other
 states. The problem is many of these nonresident at Kansas universities
 leave the state after graduating because they can earn more money in 
jobs elsewhere, he said.

For
 example, he said, an electrical engineering graduate from Kansas can 
make $15,000 more a year in Missouri and $20,000 more annually in Texas.

The consultants 
recommended Kansans use state or private funds to recruit former 
residents of the state in nearby Midwest cities, especially those in the
 family-formation stage of their lives. The selling points ought to be 
quality of life and affordable cost of living, the report said.

The report also proposed Kansas increase career transition outreach efforts to military personnel in Kansas who are preparing to enter civilian life.

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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603312206759.png" alt="Alan Cobb, president of the Kansas Chamber, says a new workforce development report shows businesses need to form stronger bonds with K-12, college and university programs to create a workforce of the future. The state also must work harder to recruit young adults to Kansas for the quality of life offered. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Alan Cobb, president of the Kansas Chamber, says a new workforce development report shows businesses need to form stronger bonds with K-12, college and university programs to create a workforce of the future. The state also must work harder to recruit young adults to Kansas for the quality of life offered. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>State needs better education, business links and more apprenticeships</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/21/kansas-chamber-analysis-plants-seed-of-statewide-workforce-development-overhaul/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas 
Chamber released a blueprint for upgrading workforce development 
Wednesday that relies on expanding high school and college students’ 
preparation for high-demand careers, massive growth of apprenticeship 
opportunities and investment in recruiting of younger adults leaving the
 military and former Kansans living in nearby Midwest cities.At the core of the analysis was the belief states
 successful in building a bigger talent pipeline to educate, train, 
recruit and retain a qualified workforce would exceed economic progress 
in states that fell short on that front. The report sponsored by the 
Kansas Chamber and produced by Economic Leadership, a consulting firm in
 Raleigh, N.C., focused on how education could better align with 
staffing needs of industries.“You’re in competition 
with the other states in the country and labor is the top issue,” said 
Ted Abernathy, of Economic Leadership. “You cannot have a state that’s 
going to be successful that isn’t able to grow its labor and isn’t able 
to continue to give its labor the skills that they need in a pretty fast
 changing world.”The
 report concluded Kansas businesses were having difficulty finding 
workers with required skills, employers weren’t sufficiently involved in
 the education system’s workforce development and the state’s colleges 
and universities should more quickly respond to economic shifts.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We
 expect this report to be a living plan that will improve and expand in 
the next few years as&nbsp; the Chamber meets and works with other 
stakeholders committed to addressing our state’s workforce challenges,” 
said Alan Cobb, president of the Kansas Chamber.The report included 20 
reform ideas, including a suggestion Kansas labor law be amended to 
allow people under 18 to get more work experience and to extend school 
district liability coverage to protect businesses that take on young 
employees or interns.Local chambers of commerce
 should help small and mid-size businesses connect with K-12 schools for
 job fairs, mentoring, job shadowing, site visits and in-school 
presentations, the report said.The
 study recommends the 2021 Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly work 
together on a scholarship program targeted at Kansas high school 
graduates studying in high-demand fields at community and technical 
colleges. The initiative should require recipients of the financial aid 
stay in Kansas for two years after completing a degree or certificate 
program.The
 report said Kansas ought to establish a goal of reaching the national 
average for the number of active apprentices per 100,000 people in the 
working age population, which would require doubling this number from 
132 to 263 within five years.“Those numbers still look 
low to me. We also need to look at youth apprenticeships,” said Cynthia 
Lane, chairwoman of the Governor’s Council on Education.In fact, the state of Missouri has an apprenticeship program in information technology with more than 5,000 participants.The
 consultants said Kansas could create an apprenticeship tax credit for 
businesses in a manner adopted by South Carolina and Alabama. With an 
infusion of state funding, Kansas could deepen the number of registered 
apprenticeship programs sponsored by the community or technical colleges
 as well as industry association boards.The
 Kansas Department of Corrections should form more partnerships with 
community and technical colleges to train incarcerated adults and youth 
in preparation for their release from custody, the report said.There should be statewide 
goals for higher education institutions in terms of the percentage of 
students placed in workplace internships, the report said. In addition, 
Kansas college scholarship programs, including nursing and engineering, should be tied to post-graduation residency requirements.“Recruiting
 talent back to Kansas can get very expensive. It’s much easier to keep 
talent that’s here,” said Blake Flanders, president of the Kansas Board 
of Regents, which has oversight of 32 public colleges and universities.Flanders
 said Kansas universities were able to replace with out-of-state 
students the Kansas high school graduates who enroll at college in other
 states. The problem is many of these nonresident at Kansas universities
 leave the state after graduating because they can earn more money in 
jobs elsewhere, he said.For
 example, he said, an electrical engineering graduate from Kansas can 
make $15,000 more a year in Missouri and $20,000 more annually in Texas.The consultants 
recommended Kansans use state or private funds to recruit former 
residents of the state in nearby Midwest cities, especially those in the
 family-formation stage of their lives. The selling points ought to be 
quality of life and affordable cost of living, the report said.The report also proposed Kansas increase career transition outreach efforts to military personnel in Kansas who are preparing to enter civilian life.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.

Kansas Chamber plants seed of workforce development overhaul

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged stalking and have made an arrest.

Wichita police officials learned a suspect identified 31-year-old Ryan Jones, a 4-year-veteran of the Wichita Police Department, was possibly stalking a woman.

Wichita Police requested the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office&nbsp; investigate in order to avoid conflicts of interest.&nbsp;

On Tuesday evening Jones was arrested and booked into the County Jail on a charge of misdemeanor stalking, according to Davidson.

Jones has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigation.&nbsp;The Sheriff's office is still actively investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603294508181.png" alt="Jones photo Sedgwick County Sheriff's office" />
 <figcaption>Jones photo Sedgwick County Sheriff's office</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of alleged stalking and have made an arrest.Wichita police officials learned a suspect identified 31-year-old Ryan Jones, a 4-year-veteran of the Wichita Police Department, was possibly stalking a woman.Wichita Police requested the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office&nbsp; investigate in order to avoid conflicts of interest.&nbsp;On Tuesday evening Jones was arrested and booked into the County Jail on a charge of misdemeanor stalking, according to Davidson.Jones has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and internal investigation.&nbsp;The Sheriff's office is still actively investigating the case.

Kansas police officer accused of stalking woman

PAWNEE COUNTY—&nbsp;Michael Patrick Stacey, 20 of Larned, was sentenced Wednesday on&nbsp;a conviction of Attempted Rape. District Judge Bruce Gatterman sentenced Stacey to 61 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. He will also be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.

On Sept. 18, Stacey entered a no contest plea in the case.&nbsp;

Had the matter proceeded to trial, the State would have presented testimony that on the night of October 25, 2019,&nbsp; Stacey entered the bedroom of a female roommate at his Larned home and attempted have sexual intercourse without her consent, according to McNett.

&nbsp;Stacey is eligible to earn up to 15% good time credit. The defendant will be subject to 36 months post release and lifetime registration as a sexual offender.

Stacey has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since his arrest on November 12, 2019. He will receive jail credit towards his prison sentence.

PAWNEE COUNTY–A Kansas man waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a No Contest plea Thursday afternoon in the Pawnee County District Court to one count of Attempted Rape, according to Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett.

Had the matter proceeded to trial, the State would have presented testimony that on the night of October 25, 2019, Michael Patrick Stacey, 20, Larned, entered the bedroom of a female roommate at his Larned home and attempted have sexual intercourse without her consent, according to McNett.

Defense counsel indicated his client had no objection to the proffer as the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the incident and has limited memory.

After hearing the proffer of evidence and reviewing the defendant’s understanding of the consequences of his plea, District Judge Bruce Gatterman accepted the plea and found Stacey guilty of the amended charge.

 Sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2020. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to waive his right to appeal the conviction and will be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.

The defendant was originally charged with: (1) Rape of a victim overcome by force or fear; and (2) Battery. The crimes involve a single incident alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County on or about October 25, 2019. The Larned Police Department handled the investigation.

Stacey has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since his arrest on November 12, 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573769468888.png" alt="Michael Stacey-photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Michael Stacey-photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—&nbsp;Michael Patrick Stacey, 20 of Larned, was sentenced Wednesday on&nbsp;a conviction of Attempted Rape. District Judge Bruce Gatterman sentenced Stacey to 61 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett. He will also be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.On Sept. 18, Stacey entered a no contest plea in the case.&nbsp;Had the matter proceeded to trial, the State would have presented testimony that on the night of October 25, 2019,&nbsp; Stacey entered the bedroom of a female roommate at his Larned home and attempted have sexual intercourse without her consent, according to McNett.&nbsp;Stacey is eligible to earn up to 15% good time credit. The defendant will be subject to 36 months post release and lifetime registration as a sexual offender.Stacey has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since his arrest on November 12, 2019. He will receive jail credit towards his prison sentence.-----------PAWNEE COUNTY–A Kansas man waived his right to a preliminary hearing and entered a No Contest plea Thursday afternoon in the Pawnee County District Court to one count of Attempted Rape, according to Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett.Had the matter proceeded to trial, the State would have presented testimony that on the night of October 25, 2019, Michael Patrick Stacey, 20, Larned, entered the bedroom of a female roommate at his Larned home and attempted have sexual intercourse without her consent, according to McNett.Defense counsel indicated his client had no objection to the proffer as the defendant was intoxicated at the time of the incident and has limited memory.After hearing the proffer of evidence and reviewing the defendant’s understanding of the consequences of his plea, District Judge Bruce Gatterman accepted the plea and found Stacey guilty of the amended charge. Sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2020. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant agreed to waive his right to appeal the conviction and will be subject to lifetime Sex Offender Registration.The defendant was originally charged with: (1) Rape of a victim overcome by force or fear; and (2) Battery. The crimes involve a single incident alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County on or about October 25, 2019. The Larned Police Department handled the investigation.Stacey has been in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff since his arrest on November 12, 2019.

Kansas man sentenced for attempted rape

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a a fatal stabbing and have identified the victim as&nbsp;Tyler S. Parkinson, 31 of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a fight at a residence located in the 3200 block of NE Seward in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.

Officers arrived on scene and found Parkinson suffering from what appeared to be apparent stab wounds. 

American Medical Response transported him to a local hospital where he died, according to Johnson.

All involved parties are believed to be accounted for. Police have not reported an arrest.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a a fatal stabbing.

Officers arrived on scene and found one man subject suffering from what appeared to be apparent stab wounds. 

Officers and Detectives remained on the scene and have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603276749639.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday night photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Tuesday night photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a a fatal stabbing and have identified the victim as&nbsp;Tyler S. Parkinson, 31 of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a fight at a residence located in the 3200 block of NE Seward in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene and found Parkinson suffering from what appeared to be apparent stab wounds. American Medical Response transported him to a local hospital where he died, according to Johnson.All involved parties are believed to be accounted for. Police have not reported an arrest.-------------SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a a fatal stabbing.Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a fight at a residence located in the 3200 block of NE Seward in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.Officers arrived on scene and found one man subject suffering from what appeared to be apparent stab wounds. American Medical Response transported him to a local hospital where he died, according to Johnson.Officers and Detectives remained on the scene and have not reported an arrest.

Update: 1 dead after stabbing during fight at  Kan. home

LAWRENCE, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Two people who allegedly drove their vehicles into racial justice protests in Lawrence earlier this year are facing misdemeanor charges, according to court records.

Lynda C. Kitsmiller, of Lawrence, has been issued a summons to appear in court on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and battery. Police allege she accelerated her SUV into protesters occupying an downtown Lawrence intersection during a protest on May 31.

One person suffered minor injuries and declined medical help at the scene, police said.

Mary Ellen Rose, of Baldwin City, has been issued a summons for reckless driving. She allegedly drove her SUV through protesters' makeshift barriers and into a crowd of protesters on June 29. No one in the crowd sought medical treatment in that case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593460402196.png" alt="Protesters blocked a portion of Massachusetts Street in Lawrence photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Protesters blocked a portion of Massachusetts Street in Lawrence photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;Two people who allegedly drove their vehicles into racial justice protests in Lawrence earlier this year are facing misdemeanor charges, according to court records.Lynda C. Kitsmiller, of Lawrence, has been issued a summons to appear in court on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and battery. Police allege she accelerated her SUV into protesters occupying an downtown Lawrence intersection during a protest on May 31.One person suffered minor injuries and declined medical help at the scene, police said.Mary Ellen Rose, of Baldwin City, has been issued a summons for reckless driving. She allegedly drove her SUV through protesters' makeshift barriers and into a crowd of protesters on June 29. No one in the crowd sought medical treatment in that case.Both incidents were captured on video.

2 facing charges after vehicles drove into Kan. protesters

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have identified a man found fatally shot in a fast-food restaurant parking lot in the Hickman Mills neighborhood on the south side of Kansas City.

Officers were called to a McDonald’s parking lot around 11 a.m. Monday and found Rickey Arrington, 35, inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds, police said in a news release. Arrington was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police had not announced an arrest by Wednesday morning, but say detectives have identified a person of interest in this case.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police have identified a man found fatally shot in a fast-food restaurant parking lot in the Hickman Mills neighborhood on the south side of Kansas City.Officers were called to a McDonald’s parking lot around 11 a.m. Monday and found Rickey Arrington, 35, inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds, police said in a news release. Arrington was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Police had not announced an arrest by Wednesday morning, but say detectives have identified a person of interest in this case.

Police ID man found fatally shot in KC restaurant parking lot

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to discuss the state response efforts to the outbreak in Norton County and give an update on COVID-19 in Kansas.&nbsp;She said she will be meeting with House and Senate leaders to find a way to get masks worn across the state. "We know we have a problem and we need to find a solution."

The Governor also announced that&nbsp;Kansans experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in rental assistance.&nbsp;

Approximately $35 million of CARES Act funding is now available through the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkshousingcorp.org%2Feviction-prevention-program%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C5e4d07c80fc24cc027f808d876076d84%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637389121549818230%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=lsyttVT5QOoA8UXNuquSlXeVjWOVED7LYfAwoBf1lQo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Kansas Eviction Prevention Program</a>,&nbsp;which is designed to reduce evictions across the state. The program was recommended by the SPARK taskforce and approved by the State Finance Council.

“Keeping Kansans in their homes and businesses has been a top priority for my administration since the pandemic began,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Through this program, we will provide support to tenants and landlords experiencing pandemic-related financial stress, ensure families and businesses stay put, and keep Kansans safe and healthy.”

<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkshousingcorp.org%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C5e4d07c80fc24cc027f808d876076d84%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637389121549828186%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=6s%2FvZi0fwF0gIRznlkbz8nztyX1qzoOMvvA1r0VeeDE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)</a>&nbsp;will administer the program. Landlords and tenants apply through a joint online process. Approved applicants are eligible for a maximum of nine months of assistance, not to exceed $5,000 per household.&nbsp;

“As more Kansans are doing online learning and teleworking, being able to stay in your home has never been more important,”&nbsp;said Ryan Vincent, KHRC Executive Director. “I want to thank Governor Kelly, the SPARK taskforce, and legislators for providing this much-needed support to Kansas families.”

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly held a press conference Wednesday to discuss the state response efforts to the outbreak in Norton County and give an update on COVID-19 in Kansas.&nbsp;She said she will be meeting with House and Senate leaders to find a way to get masks worn across the state. "We know we have a problem and we need to find a solution."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F267259981278099%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The Governor also announced that&nbsp;Kansans experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in rental assistance.&nbsp;Approximately $35 million of CARES Act funding is now available through the&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkshousingcorp.org%2Feviction-prevention-program%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C5e4d07c80fc24cc027f808d876076d84%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637389121549818230%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=lsyttVT5QOoA8UXNuquSlXeVjWOVED7LYfAwoBf1lQo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Kansas Eviction Prevention Program</a>,&nbsp;which is designed to reduce evictions across the state. The program was recommended by the SPARK taskforce and approved by the State Finance Council.“Keeping Kansans in their homes and businesses has been a top priority for my administration since the pandemic began,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Through this program, we will provide support to tenants and landlords experiencing pandemic-related financial stress, ensure families and businesses stay put, and keep Kansans safe and healthy.”<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkshousingcorp.org%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C5e4d07c80fc24cc027f808d876076d84%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637389121549828186%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=6s%2FvZi0fwF0gIRznlkbz8nztyX1qzoOMvvA1r0VeeDE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC)</a>&nbsp;will administer the program. Landlords and tenants apply through a joint online process. Approved applicants are eligible for a maximum of nine months of assistance, not to exceed $5,000 per household.&nbsp;“As more Kansans are doing online learning and teleworking, being able to stay in your home has never been more important,”&nbsp;said Ryan Vincent, KHRC Executive Director. “I want to thank Governor Kelly, the SPARK taskforce, and legislators for providing this much-needed support to Kansas families.”Program funds are limited, and applications will be processed in the order received until all funds are expended. Kansans are strongly encouraged to get their applications in as soon as possible. To apply, Kansans should visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkshousingcorp.org%2F&amp;data=04%7C01%7C%7C5e4d07c80fc24cc027f808d876076d84%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637389121549828186%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=6s%2FvZi0fwF0gIRznlkbz8nztyX1qzoOMvvA1r0VeeDE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">kshousingcorp.org</a>.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1488 to a total of 74,456, the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 952, an increase of 80.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603300066901.png" alt="Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Oct. 21, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>