By CORINNE BOYER <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/emails-show-kansas-agencies-helped-keep-meatpacking-plants-open-despite-concerns-about">Kansas News Service</a>

GARDEN CITY — In mid-May, Finney County’s 
top public health physician sent an email to state health officials 
repeating worries she’d made clear a month earlier to her local 
colleagues.

Finney County Health Department Medical Director 
Lindsay Byrnes warned that the coronavirus outbreak at the local 
meatpacking plant continued to put workers there, and the surrounding 
community, at risk.

The factory-scale slaughterhouses that employ
 thousands of people — largely immigrants whose close-quarters jobs fuel
 the economy of southwest Kansas — had already become COVID-19 hotspots.
 Three workers in nearby Dodge City had died.

Byrnes, an 
internist and pediatrician with a master’s degree in public health, said
 the Tyson Fresh Meats plant in her hometown of Holcomb, Kansas, just 
outside Garden City, needed to do more.

“The numbers of infected and the pattern of spread makes it very 
clear that transmission was occurring there weeks ago, and due to the 
natural course of disease, is now evidenced in those who are sick, 
hospitalized and dying in my community,” Byrnes said in an email to the 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“Whatever the plant 
is doing now is too little too late,” the email continued, “but 
hopefully they will keep up their practices.”

Despite worker 
complaints to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, massive
 outbreaks, deaths and input from a local doctor, Kansas meatpacking 
plants never shut down.

Months later, case numbers, clusters and deaths have continued to climb.

The
 Kansas News Service received OSHA logs through a Freedom of Information
 Act request. Through a Kansas Open Records Act request, the news 
service got emails between the Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment and local health departments.

Those 780 emails showed
 that state officials played a role in keeping meatpacking plants open 
before President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating that plants 
continue operating.

In fact, the state’s guidelines said that even if workers had knowingly come in contact with someone who had the disease, <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article242852011.html">they could still work</a> as long as they were asymptomatic and took precautions such as wearing masks.

As
 cases of the virus began showing up in Kansas in March, the state’s 
agriculture department said in an email it had no plans to close packing
 plants.

“Our priority is to keep facilities functioning across 
the state so that the food supply chain is not interrupted,” spokeswoman
 Heather Landsdowne wrote. “At this point, we see no indication that 
these plants will be directed to shut down operations.”

In April,
 meatpacking plant employees filed complaints with OSHA about exposure 
to the coronavirus on the job in Lyon and Ford counties.

A 
complaint from an employee at Tyson Fresh Meats in Emporia said, 
“Employees are not protected from health hazards associated with the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” It continued, “the employer has 
not implemented all feasible engineering and administrative controls as 
outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
guidelines.”

By the end of the month, one worker in Dodge City 
had died from COVID-19. Within two weeks, two more workers at the 
meatpacking hub had died from the virus.

As of August 14, Kansas 
packing plants have reported 3,287 cases, 17 deaths and 16 cluster 
outbreaks. Plants are the largest source of outbreaks in the state. 
They’ve reported more than double the number of cases tied to long-term 
care facilities — the second largest source.

KDHE and Gov. Laura Kelly have publicly said Kansas didn’t have to close any plants. On a July 14 visit to&nbsp;Brookover Feed Yard in Garden City, Kelly said the state took an “aggressive response” to outbreaks in packing plants.

“We called in the CDC. They brought in a SWAT team of contract 
tracers, testing and engineering types to figure out how we could set up
 our plants, so that they were safe to work in,” Kelly said.&nbsp;

The state also set up housing so workers could quarantine “to keep their families safe.”

Kelly
 was not available for an interview for this story. In an email, the 
governor’s spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said: “The guidance our state 
issued put restrictions in place, while minimizing risk within the work 
environment. This included requirements for engineering and 
administrative controls that would allow the plants to stay open.”

In fact, the plants installed plastic shields between workstations, started requiring masks and employee temperature checks.

When the CDC visited <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1240/CDC-KDHE-Cargill-Memo-PDF---5-10-20">Cargill</a>, two <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1242/CDC-KDHE-Tyson-Memo-PDF---5-10-20">Tyson</a> locations in Lyon and Finney counties and two <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1241/CDC-KDHE-National-Beef-PDF---5-10-20">National Beef</a>
 locations in Ford and Seward counties in late April, about 2,500 
workers were out. The missing employees had tested positive, were in 
quarantine or simply hadn’t shown up.

In a May interview with WBUR’s Here &amp; Now, KDHE Secretary Lee Norman said the state had the power to shut down the plants.

“We
 have that statutory authority in the state of Kansas that can be done 
by a local health officer in that county, and we could override the 
local health officer and shut down the production in these packing 
plants,” Norman said. “That has not been necessary to do, fortunately.”

Norman
 was unavailable for an interview. KDHE spokeswoman Kristi Zears said in
 an email that the CDC released guidance and recommendations for packing
 plants shortly before the CDC and National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (NIOSH) visited plants.

“The visit was for 
technical assistance and not regulatory/inspection,” Zears said. “KDHE 
continues to work with meat packing plants, large and small, to make 
recommendations for controls they can put in place to limit the spread 
of COVID-19 in their facilities.”

On April 15, Byrnes sent an 
email to Finney County employees after the first case of the virus was 
found at Tyson. The county announced multiple cases and community spread
 at the plant on April 22.

“Given the experience of other 
communities with cases and subsequent large clusters located in meat 
packing plants, it seems obvious to me that we take aggressive action,” 
Byrnes wrote. “I am in favor of closing the plant to allow for broad 
testing and cleaning.”

In the same mid-April email, Byrnes wrote 
that she had discussed the situation with the state’s health agency, but
 an agency employee didn’t think a closure was necessary.

In an August interview, Byrnes said that’s how she felt at the time.

“Now
 four months later, I can probably say something different. I think at 
the time I felt very strongly. They needed to be shut down,” she said. 
“Temporarily, like I said, just try and get as many sick people out of 
there as we could and stop the transmission.”

Byrnes said that in her conversations with KDHE, the agency’s focus was on public health.

Now she isn’t sure that the plants should have been shut down.

“I
 don’t know,” she said. “We had a really large outbreak here … I feel 10
 deaths is too many deaths. I do. It was a very significant hit to our 
community.”

Corinne Boyer covers western Kansas for High 
Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on 
Twitter @corinne_boyer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597689046145.jpeg" alt=" At least three workers at National Beef in Dodge City have died due to COVID-19. In Kansas, 17 meatpacking plant workers have died. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> At least three workers at National Beef in Dodge City have died due to COVID-19. In Kansas, 17 meatpacking plant workers have died. Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CORINNE BOYER <a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/emails-show-kansas-agencies-helped-keep-meatpacking-plants-open-despite-concerns-about">Kansas News Service</a>GARDEN CITY — In mid-May, Finney County’s 
top public health physician sent an email to state health officials 
repeating worries she’d made clear a month earlier to her local 
colleagues.Finney County Health Department Medical Director 
Lindsay Byrnes warned that the coronavirus outbreak at the local 
meatpacking plant continued to put workers there, and the surrounding 
community, at risk.The factory-scale slaughterhouses that employ
 thousands of people — largely immigrants whose close-quarters jobs fuel
 the economy of southwest Kansas — had already become COVID-19 hotspots.
 Three workers in nearby Dodge City had died.Byrnes, an 
internist and pediatrician with a master’s degree in public health, said
 the Tyson Fresh Meats plant in her hometown of Holcomb, Kansas, just 
outside Garden City, needed to do more.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597689100405.jpeg" alt=" Finney County, Kansas is home to a Tyson Fresh Meats packing plant. Credit Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Finney County, Kansas is home to a Tyson Fresh Meats packing plant. Credit Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“The numbers of infected and the pattern of spread makes it very 
clear that transmission was occurring there weeks ago, and due to the 
natural course of disease, is now evidenced in those who are sick, 
hospitalized and dying in my community,” Byrnes said in an email to the 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment.“Whatever the plant 
is doing now is too little too late,” the email continued, “but 
hopefully they will keep up their practices.”Despite worker 
complaints to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, massive
 outbreaks, deaths and input from a local doctor, Kansas meatpacking 
plants never shut down.Months later, case numbers, clusters and deaths have continued to climb.The
 Kansas News Service received OSHA logs through a Freedom of Information
 Act request. Through a Kansas Open Records Act request, the news 
service got emails between the Kansas Department of Health and 
Environment and local health departments.Those 780 emails showed
 that state officials played a role in keeping meatpacking plants open 
before President Donald Trump’s executive order mandating that plants 
continue operating.In fact, the state’s guidelines said that even if workers had knowingly come in contact with someone who had the disease, <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article242852011.html">they could still work</a> as long as they were asymptomatic and took precautions such as wearing masks.As
 cases of the virus began showing up in Kansas in March, the state’s 
agriculture department said in an email it had no plans to close packing
 plants.“Our priority is to keep facilities functioning across 
the state so that the food supply chain is not interrupted,” spokeswoman
 Heather Landsdowne wrote. “At this point, we see no indication that 
these plants will be directed to shut down operations.”In April,
 meatpacking plant employees filed complaints with OSHA about exposure 
to the coronavirus on the job in Lyon and Ford counties.A 
complaint from an employee at Tyson Fresh Meats in Emporia said, 
“Employees are not protected from health hazards associated with the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” It continued, “the employer has 
not implemented all feasible engineering and administrative controls as 
outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
guidelines.”By the end of the month, one worker in Dodge City 
had died from COVID-19. Within two weeks, two more workers at the 
meatpacking hub had died from the virus.As of August 14, Kansas 
packing plants have reported 3,287 cases, 17 deaths and 16 cluster 
outbreaks. Plants are the largest source of outbreaks in the state. 
They’ve reported more than double the number of cases tied to long-term 
care facilities — the second largest source.KDHE and Gov. Laura Kelly have publicly said Kansas didn’t have to close any plants. On a July 14 visit to&nbsp;Brookover Feed Yard in Garden City, Kelly said the state took an “aggressive response” to outbreaks in packing plants.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597689144518.jpeg" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly visited Brookover Feed Yard in Garden City on July 14. Credit Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly visited Brookover Feed Yard in Garden City on July 14. Credit Corinne Boyer / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“We called in the CDC. They brought in a SWAT team of contract 
tracers, testing and engineering types to figure out how we could set up
 our plants, so that they were safe to work in,” Kelly said.&nbsp;The state also set up housing so workers could quarantine “to keep their families safe.”Kelly
 was not available for an interview for this story. In an email, the 
governor’s spokeswoman Lauren Fitzgerald said: “The guidance our state 
issued put restrictions in place, while minimizing risk within the work 
environment. This included requirements for engineering and 
administrative controls that would allow the plants to stay open.”In fact, the plants installed plastic shields between workstations, started requiring masks and employee temperature checks.When the CDC visited <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1240/CDC-KDHE-Cargill-Memo-PDF---5-10-20">Cargill</a>, two <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1242/CDC-KDHE-Tyson-Memo-PDF---5-10-20">Tyson</a> locations in Lyon and Finney counties and two <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1241/CDC-KDHE-National-Beef-PDF---5-10-20">National Beef</a>
 locations in Ford and Seward counties in late April, about 2,500 
workers were out. The missing employees had tested positive, were in 
quarantine or simply hadn’t shown up.In a May interview with WBUR’s Here &amp; Now, KDHE Secretary Lee Norman said the state had the power to shut down the plants.“We
 have that statutory authority in the state of Kansas that can be done 
by a local health officer in that county, and we could override the 
local health officer and shut down the production in these packing 
plants,” Norman said. “That has not been necessary to do, fortunately.”Norman
 was unavailable for an interview. KDHE spokeswoman Kristi Zears said in
 an email that the CDC released guidance and recommendations for packing
 plants shortly before the CDC and National Institute for Occupational 
Safety and Health (NIOSH) visited plants.“The visit was for 
technical assistance and not regulatory/inspection,” Zears said. “KDHE 
continues to work with meat packing plants, large and small, to make 
recommendations for controls they can put in place to limit the spread 
of COVID-19 in their facilities.”On April 15, Byrnes sent an 
email to Finney County employees after the first case of the virus was 
found at Tyson. The county announced multiple cases and community spread
 at the plant on April 22.“Given the experience of other 
communities with cases and subsequent large clusters located in meat 
packing plants, it seems obvious to me that we take aggressive action,” 
Byrnes wrote. “I am in favor of closing the plant to allow for broad 
testing and cleaning.”In the same mid-April email, Byrnes wrote 
that she had discussed the situation with the state’s health agency, but
 an agency employee didn’t think a closure was necessary.In an August interview, Byrnes said that’s how she felt at the time.“Now
 four months later, I can probably say something different. I think at 
the time I felt very strongly. They needed to be shut down,” she said. 
“Temporarily, like I said, just try and get as many sick people out of 
there as we could and stop the transmission.”Byrnes said that in her conversations with KDHE, the agency’s focus was on public health.Now she isn’t sure that the plants should have been shut down.“I
 don’t know,” she said. “We had a really large outbreak here … I feel 10
 deaths is too many deaths. I do. It was a very significant hit to our 
community.”Corinne Boyer covers western Kansas for High 
Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on 
Twitter @corinne_boyer.

Despite virus concerns, Kan. agencies helped keep packing plants open 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that sent a boy to the hospital.

Just after 11p.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 2200 Block of South Glendale in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.

When officers arrived, EMS was transporting a 4-year-old boy in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his head, according to Stephens.

Investigators learned that the child climbed up on several items and gained access to a gun that was on a shelf inside the home. The child accidentally fired one shot, which hit him in the head. Stephens said the boy's father owned the gun. It was not in a safe and did not have the safety on.

The boy was listed in serious but stable condition late Monday morning, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Police will present the case to the district attorney's office for possible charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573683844307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that sent a boy to the hospital.Just after 11p.m. Saturday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 2200 Block of South Glendale in Wichita, according to Captain Jason Stephens.When officers arrived, EMS was transporting a 4-year-old boy in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his head, according to Stephens.Investigators learned that the child climbed up on several items and gained access to a gun that was on a shelf inside the home. The child accidentally fired one shot, which hit him in the head. Stephens said the boy's father owned the gun. It was not in a safe and did not have the safety on.The boy was listed in serious but stable condition late Monday morning, according to officer Paul Cruz.Police will present the case to the district attorney's office for possible charges.

Police: 4-year-old Kan. boy shoots himself with dad's gun

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have
 arrested one person after discovering nearly 2,300 pounds of marijuana 
during a motorist assist on Interstate 80.

At approximately 1:30 
p.m. Saturday, August 15, a trooper noticed a commercial box truck 
stopped with mechanical problems on the shoulder of eastbound I-80 at 
mile marker 228, near Cozad. The trooper stopped to assist. During the 
motorist assist, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity.

The truck was towed to the NSP office in Lexington for a probable cause search, with assistance from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office. The search revealed 2,295 pounds of marijuana, which was concealed inside cardboard boxes marked as electronics and other items. The estimated street value of the marijuana is more than $5 million.

The driver, Nolan Amado, 33, of Buckeye, Arizona, was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp. Amado was lodged in Dawson County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597682414569.png" alt="Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have
 arrested one person after discovering nearly 2,300 pounds of marijuana 
during a motorist assist on Interstate 80.At approximately 1:30 
p.m. Saturday, August 15, a trooper noticed a commercial box truck 
stopped with mechanical problems on the shoulder of eastbound I-80 at 
mile marker 228, near Cozad. The trooper stopped to assist. During the 
motorist assist, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597682360884.png" alt="NSP" />
 <figcaption>NSP</figcaption>
 </figure>The truck was towed to the NSP office in Lexington for a probable cause search, with assistance from the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office. The search revealed 2,295 pounds of marijuana, which was concealed inside cardboard boxes marked as electronics and other items. The estimated street value of the marijuana is more than $5 million.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597682394746.png" alt="NSP" />
 <figcaption>NSP</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, Nolan Amado, 33, of Buckeye, Arizona, was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp. Amado was lodged in Dawson County Jail.

More than a ton of pot found after Nebraska motorist assist

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1282 to a total of 35,167 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 405, an increase of 3.

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 1282 to a total of 35,167 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 405, an increase of 3.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597683997667.png" alt="August 17, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>August 17, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

HARVEY COUNTY —The Harvey County Health Department, in conjunction with Bethel College, has confirmed a cluster of COVID-19 cases on the Bethel campus in North Newton.

The cluster includes 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have been 482 individuals tested, according to a media release. Some test results are pending.

The cluster was identified through precautionary COVID-19 testing conducted by Bethel College. The school requires all students, faculty, staff and administrators to be tested for COVID-19 and also requires daily temperature checks, health status monitoring through a self-screening app and individuals to wear a face mask indoors and outdoors on the campus.

“Mandatory testing during reopening is an effective way to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in our student and employee population at the start of the semester,” said Bethel College

President Jon Gering. “Our efforts have provided valuable public health information and revealed important health information for students and their families.”

The individuals have been able to self-isolate on campus or at their permanent residence. Bethel College’s Emergency Response Team, along with the Health Department, will regularly monitor the health of the individuals, as well as follow up on all close contacts.

Students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, can consult Bethel’s COVID-19 information clearinghouse on its website -<a href="https://www.bethelks.edu/coronavirus-information">Click here.</a>&nbsp; The site includes a link to Bethel’s “COVID procedures,” which outlines scenarios based on possible infections and infection rates.

“We appreciate Bethel’s proactive approach to preparing for its in-person fall semester,” said Harvey County Health Department Director Lynnette Redington. “We are of course glad that the individuals in these cases are generally in good health and good spirits. Being able to identify these individuals with COVID-19 now helps protect not just the Bethel community, but the communities of Harvey County as a whole.”

Some of the confirmed cases reside out-of-county or out-of-state when the college is not in session. However, these individuals will be included in Harvey County’s COVID-19 statistics, as Harvey County is their current place of residence. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584219029698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —The Harvey County Health Department, in conjunction with Bethel College, has confirmed a cluster of COVID-19 cases on the Bethel campus in North Newton.The cluster includes 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There have been 482 individuals tested, according to a media release. Some test results are pending.The cluster was identified through precautionary COVID-19 testing conducted by Bethel College. The school requires all students, faculty, staff and administrators to be tested for COVID-19 and also requires daily temperature checks, health status monitoring through a self-screening app and individuals to wear a face mask indoors and outdoors on the campus.“Mandatory testing during reopening is an effective way to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in our student and employee population at the start of the semester,” said Bethel CollegePresident Jon Gering. “Our efforts have provided valuable public health information and revealed important health information for students and their families.”The individuals have been able to self-isolate on campus or at their permanent residence. Bethel College’s Emergency Response Team, along with the Health Department, will regularly monitor the health of the individuals, as well as follow up on all close contacts.Students, faculty and staff, as well as community members, can consult Bethel’s COVID-19 information clearinghouse on its website -<a href="https://www.bethelks.edu/coronavirus-information">Click here.</a>&nbsp; The site includes a link to Bethel’s “COVID procedures,” which outlines scenarios based on possible infections and infection rates.“We appreciate Bethel’s proactive approach to preparing for its in-person fall semester,” said Harvey County Health Department Director Lynnette Redington. “We are of course glad that the individuals in these cases are generally in good health and good spirits. Being able to identify these individuals with COVID-19 now helps protect not just the Bethel community, but the communities of Harvey County as a whole.”Some of the confirmed cases reside out-of-county or out-of-state when the college is not in session. However, these individuals will be included in Harvey County’s COVID-19 statistics, as Harvey County is their current place of residence.

Officials confirm COVID-19 cluster at Bethel College

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide and have identified the victim as 42-year-old Alicia Bottelo, according to Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens.

At approximately 11:00 p.m., Saturday, officers responded to a shooting at a residence in the 600 block of West 25th St South in Wichita.

 Upon arrival, officers located Bottelo outside the residence with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

 A 44-year-old man identified as&nbsp;Victor Rodriguez Martinez  was also located on the scene with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and later died from his injuries, according to officer Paul Cruz.

According to investigators, Martinez arrived at the home where Botello and the couple's 16 and 20-year-old sons lived.

There was a reported argument between the victim and Martinez over property, according to Stephens. During the incident, Martinez pulled a handgun and shot Bottelo and then himself.&nbsp; The sons were home at the time of the incident, according to Stephens.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police did not have any record of recent violent history between the two, according to Stephens.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that fatality injured a woman.

At approximately 11:00 p.m., Saturday, officers responded to a shooting at a residence in the 600 block of West 25th St South, according to officer Paul Cruz.

 Upon arrival, officers located a deceased, 42-year-old woman victim, with a gunshot wound. A 44-year-old male was also located on the scene with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and later died from his injuries.

There was a reported argument between the victim and her husband and during the incident, the husband pulled a handgun and shot the victim and then himself.&nbsp; 

Cruz did not release their names as the investigation continues.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide and have identified the victim as 42-year-old Alicia Bottelo, according to Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens.At approximately 11:00 p.m., Saturday, officers responded to a shooting at a residence in the 600 block of West 25th St South in Wichita. Upon arrival, officers located Bottelo outside the residence with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. A 44-year-old man identified as&nbsp;Victor Rodriguez Martinez was also located on the scene with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and later died from his injuries, according to officer Paul Cruz.According to investigators, Martinez arrived at the home where Botello and the couple's 16 and 20-year-old sons lived.There was a reported argument between the victim and Martinez over property, according to Stephens. During the incident, Martinez pulled a handgun and shot Bottelo and then himself.&nbsp; The sons were home at the time of the incident, according to Stephens.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police did not have any record of recent violent history between the two, according to Stephens.---------SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that fatality injured a woman.At approximately 11:00 p.m., Saturday, officers responded to a shooting at a residence in the 600 block of West 25th St South, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased, 42-year-old woman victim, with a gunshot wound. A 44-year-old male was also located on the scene with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital and later died from his injuries.There was a reported argument between the victim and her husband and during the incident, the husband pulled a handgun and shot the victim and then himself.&nbsp; Cruz did not release their names as the investigation continues.

Update: 2 dead after shooting at Kansas home

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/16/kansas-professors-experience-with-covid-19-heightens-concern-for-campus-culture/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Richard Sleezer could only
 watch the careless attitudes many have taken toward the pandemic for so
 long before he felt compelled to share his ongoing COVID-19 experience.

In mid-June, after coping 
with what he described as a “really bad allergy attack,” Sleezer was 
tested for the virus. He expected to hear good news when he spoke with 
his physician’s nurse but instead was told he had tested positive.

Sleezer, a physical 
sciences professor at Emporia State University, immediately quarantined 
himself from his wife and three children.

“I had worn a mask, washed
 my hands constantly and, heck, I was even standing 10 feet away from 
people. I still got it and had to quarantine,” Sleezer said. “It isn’t 
easy being physically alone through that process, but it did give me a 
lot of time to think.”

The pandemic has uprooted 
lives like Sleezer’s in almost every county across Kansas since the 
virus was first detected in early March. So far, 33,885 people have been
 infected and 402 have died statewide.

Despite steady case numbers, universities under the Kansas Board of Regents plan to return in force this fall, with varying <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/07/ksu-ku-taking-different-avenues-on-covid-19-testing-of-students/">plans for testing and face-to-face classes</a>.

In the nearly two weeks 
Sleezer spent in his basement, and the time since, he has found himself 
contemplating the feasibility of universities reopening safely and 
questioning the cavalier attitudes he sees many taking toward science 
amid such a threatening virus.

Sleezer, who wanted to 
make it clear that he speaks for himself and not the university, 
understand the threat of the virus. On top of uncontrollable sneezing, 
runny nose, and extreme fatigue present before his diagnosis, Sleezer 
found each day brought a new nightmarish experience.

The first night he 
developed an intense fever and chills. He began coughing frequently — to
 the point of expelling blood and, for a day, struggled to control his 
bowel movements. After about a week of symptoms, he developed severe 
headaches and light sensitivity.

“It was to the point where
 I had to shut off every light, close every window and just lay down 
with my eyes closed,” Sleezer said. “I’ve had the flu, strep throat, and
 plenty of other bad sicknesses. Nothing compared to how miserable I 
felt during that time.”

The symptoms Sleezer 
experienced are, for the most part, common, said Dana Hawkinson, medical
 director of infection prevention and control at The University of 
Kansas Health System. One symptom reported, a series of red bumps that 
became cold sores in Sleezer’s mouth, is a bit more uncommon but has 
been infrequently reported.

“Understanding the virus 
and its full effects on our body continues to remain an ongoing 
process,” Hawkinson said. “It is certainly reasonable that the 
ulcerations may have been a part of the infection, either a direct viral
 infection or as a part of our immune system’s reaction to the virus. We
 learn more about the symptoms and manifestations every day.”

That uncertainty may be what concerns Sleezer most. He hasn’t contracted a secondary infection during his recovery <a href="https://www.medicalnewsnetwork.org/NewsNetwork/DocTalk/C/Coronavirus%20Media%20Briefing%20Thursday%208-13-20">as some do</a>, but he was prescribed antibiotics out of caution and carries an inhaler to deal with shortness of breath.

He left his basement two weeks ago, but he still feels weighed down physically and mentally.

Sleezer is back at work 
now, preparing for the school year and maintaining the same precautions 
he had before his bout with COVID-19 — wearing a mask, practicing good 
hygiene and maintaining social distancing.

While he works, his mind 
fills with concerns for the safety and health of those returning to 
face-to-face learning environments, himself among them.

He isn’t critical of any 
universities or their plans, but is worried if someone who took every 
precaution, like himself, couldn’t avoid the virus, how will a campus 
full of staff and stir-crazy students avoid widespread illness?

“It seems like we are 
hanging our hats on this idea that if we wash our hands, disinfect, wear
 a mask and keep space between us we can still interact with other 
people and still open up safely,” Sleezer said. “That’s hard to do, 
especially when you consider it’s a serious change in behavior after six
 months of abnormality.”

Sleezer remembers his 
college days, which, he admits, weren’t always filled with the best 
decisions. Reports of community-wide outbreaks stemming from teenage 
parties further convince him an issue of some sort is inevitable on 
campus.

People congregate, Sleezer
 said. It’s human nature. Even as he answered questions in an interview 
for this story, he saw two students walk past his car, masks off and 
well within 6 feet of each other.

“I don’t know there’s a 
way to fully control that behavior on campus,” said Erin Sorrell, an 
assistant professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at 
Georgetown University. “The best way to make students support the 
guidelines is to involve them in the process. They are numb to the same 
instructions over and over. Engaging beyond educating.”

Sleezer is keeping his 
fingers crossed people are on their best behavior, but based on what 
he’s seen since the onset of the pandemic in March, he isn’t getting his
 hopes up.

Sleezer recently went to a
 regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment. Just to see the doctor, he 
had to clear several hurdles because his lingering shortness of breath 
is a symptom of COVID-19.

On his way out, Sleezer 
shared his frustration over the ordeal and the reckless behavior he 
observed in his community with the receptionist. She urged him to share 
his story.

“She said with all the 
misinformation out there it would be a good thing for people to tell 
their stories,” Sleezer said. “There was definitely some urgency for 
someone to speak up about the way people have dragged science.”

The receptionist’s words 
stuck with Sleezer. He criticized those who have spent the duration of 
the virus working to tear down public health officials, instead of 
working to support and solve the problem with them.

“People often think that 
because I am a professor I am a flaming liberal, but I was raised and 
consider myself conservative — and I’m not trying to be political or 
criticize anyone here, but science and disease shouldn’t be about 
politics,” Sleezer said.

Classes begin Monday at 
Emporia State. There will be mass testing for students and staff, masks 
are required, and classrooms will be thoroughly disinfected.

Whether people have lost 
the meaning behind the number of the infected or just do not care, 
Sleezer said, the best he can do is focus on the things he can control 
and hope the steps the universities take are sufficient.

“Someone is inevitably 
going to get sick this fall,” Sleezer said. “That’s the scariest part of
 this virus, isn’t it? You never know who it’s going to hit, how fast 
it’s going to spread and how it’s going to affect those people.”

Noah Taborda started his journalism career in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri, covering local government and producing an episode of the podcast Show Me The State while earning his bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Noah then made a short move to Kansas City, Missouri, to work at KCUR as an intern on the talk show Central Standard and then in the newsroom, reporting on daily news and feature stories.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597673938094.jpeg" alt="Richard Sleezer, a professor at Emporia State University who was infected with COVID-19, questioned whether students returning to campus will take safety precautions seriously. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Richard Sleezer, a professor at Emporia State University who was infected with COVID-19, questioned whether students returning to campus will take safety precautions seriously. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/16/kansas-professors-experience-with-covid-19-heightens-concern-for-campus-culture/">Kansas Reflector</a>Richard Sleezer could only
 watch the careless attitudes many have taken toward the pandemic for so
 long before he felt compelled to share his ongoing COVID-19 experience.In mid-June, after coping 
with what he described as a “really bad allergy attack,” Sleezer was 
tested for the virus. He expected to hear good news when he spoke with 
his physician’s nurse but instead was told he had tested positive.Sleezer, a physical 
sciences professor at Emporia State University, immediately quarantined 
himself from his wife and three children.“I had worn a mask, washed
 my hands constantly and, heck, I was even standing 10 feet away from 
people. I still got it and had to quarantine,” Sleezer said. “It isn’t 
easy being physically alone through that process, but it did give me a 
lot of time to think.”The pandemic has uprooted 
lives like Sleezer’s in almost every county across Kansas since the 
virus was first detected in early March. So far, 33,885 people have been
 infected and 402 have died statewide.Despite steady case numbers, universities under the Kansas Board of Regents plan to return in force this fall, with varying <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/07/ksu-ku-taking-different-avenues-on-covid-19-testing-of-students/">plans for testing and face-to-face classes</a>.In the nearly two weeks 
Sleezer spent in his basement, and the time since, he has found himself 
contemplating the feasibility of universities reopening safely and 
questioning the cavalier attitudes he sees many taking toward science 
amid such a threatening virus.Sleezer, who wanted to 
make it clear that he speaks for himself and not the university, 
understand the threat of the virus. On top of uncontrollable sneezing, 
runny nose, and extreme fatigue present before his diagnosis, Sleezer 
found each day brought a new nightmarish experience.The first night he 
developed an intense fever and chills. He began coughing frequently — to
 the point of expelling blood and, for a day, struggled to control his 
bowel movements. After about a week of symptoms, he developed severe 
headaches and light sensitivity.“It was to the point where
 I had to shut off every light, close every window and just lay down 
with my eyes closed,” Sleezer said. “I’ve had the flu, strep throat, and
 plenty of other bad sicknesses. Nothing compared to how miserable I 
felt during that time.”The symptoms Sleezer 
experienced are, for the most part, common, said Dana Hawkinson, medical
 director of infection prevention and control at The University of 
Kansas Health System. One symptom reported, a series of red bumps that 
became cold sores in Sleezer’s mouth, is a bit more uncommon but has 
been infrequently reported.“Understanding the virus 
and its full effects on our body continues to remain an ongoing 
process,” Hawkinson said. “It is certainly reasonable that the 
ulcerations may have been a part of the infection, either a direct viral
 infection or as a part of our immune system’s reaction to the virus. We
 learn more about the symptoms and manifestations every day.”That uncertainty may be what concerns Sleezer most. He hasn’t contracted a secondary infection during his recovery <a href="https://www.medicalnewsnetwork.org/NewsNetwork/DocTalk/C/Coronavirus%20Media%20Briefing%20Thursday%208-13-20">as some do</a>, but he was prescribed antibiotics out of caution and carries an inhaler to deal with shortness of breath.He left his basement two weeks ago, but he still feels weighed down physically and mentally.<h2>Returning to school</h2>Sleezer is back at work 
now, preparing for the school year and maintaining the same precautions 
he had before his bout with COVID-19 — wearing a mask, practicing good 
hygiene and maintaining social distancing.While he works, his mind 
fills with concerns for the safety and health of those returning to 
face-to-face learning environments, himself among them.He isn’t critical of any 
universities or their plans, but is worried if someone who took every 
precaution, like himself, couldn’t avoid the virus, how will a campus 
full of staff and stir-crazy students avoid widespread illness?“It seems like we are 
hanging our hats on this idea that if we wash our hands, disinfect, wear
 a mask and keep space between us we can still interact with other 
people and still open up safely,” Sleezer said. “That’s hard to do, 
especially when you consider it’s a serious change in behavior after six
 months of abnormality.”Sleezer remembers his 
college days, which, he admits, weren’t always filled with the best 
decisions. Reports of community-wide outbreaks stemming from teenage 
parties further convince him an issue of some sort is inevitable on 
campus.People congregate, Sleezer
 said. It’s human nature. Even as he answered questions in an interview 
for this story, he saw two students walk past his car, masks off and 
well within 6 feet of each other.“I don’t know there’s a 
way to fully control that behavior on campus,” said Erin Sorrell, an 
assistant professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at 
Georgetown University. “The best way to make students support the 
guidelines is to involve them in the process. They are numb to the same 
instructions over and over. Engaging beyond educating.”Sleezer is keeping his 
fingers crossed people are on their best behavior, but based on what 
he’s seen since the onset of the pandemic in March, he isn’t getting his
 hopes up.<h2>Not science fiction</h2>Sleezer recently went to a
 regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment. Just to see the doctor, he 
had to clear several hurdles because his lingering shortness of breath 
is a symptom of COVID-19.On his way out, Sleezer 
shared his frustration over the ordeal and the reckless behavior he 
observed in his community with the receptionist. She urged him to share 
his story.“She said with all the 
misinformation out there it would be a good thing for people to tell 
their stories,” Sleezer said. “There was definitely some urgency for 
someone to speak up about the way people have dragged science.”The receptionist’s words 
stuck with Sleezer. He criticized those who have spent the duration of 
the virus working to tear down public health officials, instead of 
working to support and solve the problem with them.“People often think that 
because I am a professor I am a flaming liberal, but I was raised and 
consider myself conservative — and I’m not trying to be political or 
criticize anyone here, but science and disease shouldn’t be about 
politics,” Sleezer said.Classes begin Monday at 
Emporia State. There will be mass testing for students and staff, masks 
are required, and classrooms will be thoroughly disinfected.Whether people have lost 
the meaning behind the number of the infected or just do not care, 
Sleezer said, the best he can do is focus on the things he can control 
and hope the steps the universities take are sufficient.“Someone is inevitably 
going to get sick this fall,” Sleezer said. “That’s the scariest part of
 this virus, isn’t it? You never know who it’s going to hit, how fast 
it’s going to spread and how it’s going to affect those people.”Noah Taborda started his journalism career in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri, covering local government and producing an episode of the podcast Show Me The State while earning his bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Noah then made a short move to Kansas City, Missouri, to work at KCUR as an intern on the talk show Central Standard and then in the newsroom, reporting on daily news and feature stories.

Kan. prof’s COVID-19 experience heightens concern for campus safety

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a weekend arrest.

Just before&nbsp;4 am Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped to assist a motorist near 150th and Q.4 Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputy subsequently arrested, Jessie Dale Earwood, 43, of Topeka. 

He was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, two misdemeanor drug counts, driving while suspended and transporting an open container, according to Morse.

The passenger identified as Janelle Velta Marie Martin, 35, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and two misdemeanor drug counts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597609853992.png" alt="Earwood-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Earwood-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a weekend arrest.Just before&nbsp;4 am Saturday, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped to assist a motorist near 150th and Q.4 Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The deputy subsequently arrested, Jessie Dale Earwood, 43, of Topeka. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, two misdemeanor drug counts, driving while suspended and transporting an open container, according to Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597609827342.png" alt="Martin-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Martin-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The passenger identified as Janelle Velta Marie Martin, 35, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and two misdemeanor drug counts.

Kan. deputy stops to assist motorist, makes 2 arrests

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is <a href="https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/documents/election-mail/election-mail-2020-pages-26-51.pdf">warning states coast to coast </a>that it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted, even if mailed by state deadlines, raising the possibility that millions of voters could be disenfranchised.

Voters and lawmakers in several states are also complaining that some curbside mail collection boxes are being removed.

Even as President Donald Trump rails against wide-scale voting by mail, the post office is bracing for an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The warning letters sent to states raise the possibility that many Americans eligible for mail-in ballots this fall will not have them counted. But that is not the intent, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in his own letter to Democratic congressional leaders.

The post office is merely “asking elected officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works, and be mindful of our delivery standards, in order to provide voters ample time to cast ballots through the mail,” wrote DeJoy, a prominent Trump political donor who was recently appointed. The warning letters wre first reported by The Washington Post.

The back-and-forth comes amid a vigorous campaign by Trump to sow doubts about mail-in voting as he faces a difficult fight for reelection against Democrat Joe Biden.

Though Trump casts his own ballots by mail, he’s repeatedly criticized efforts to allow more people to do so, which he argues without evidence will lead to increased voter fraud that could cost him the election. Meanwhile, members of Congress from both parties have voiced concerns that curbside mailboxes, which is how many will cast their ballots, have abruptly been removed in some states.

At the same time that the need for timely delivery of the mail is peaking, service has been curtailed amid cost-cutting and efficiency measures ordered by the DeJoy, the new postmaster general, who is a former supply-chain CEO and a financial supporter of Trump and other Republicans. He has implemented measures to eliminate overtime pay and hold mail over if distribution centers are running late.

The Post Office <a href="https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/documents/election-mail/election-mail-2020-pages-26-51.pdf">released letters </a>it sent to all 50 states and the District Columbia on its website.

&nbsp;<a href="https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/documents/election-mail/election-mail-2020-pages-26-51.pdf">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read the warning letter.

While some states with permissive vote-by- mail laws were given a less stringent warning, the majority with more restrictive requirements that limit when a ballot must be cast were given a more dire warning.

The laws, the letter said, create a “risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted.”

Many state officials criticized the move.

“This is a deeply troubling development in what is becoming a clear pattern of attempted voter suppression by the Trump administration,” Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. “I am committed to making sure all Virginians have access to the ballot box, and will continue to work with state and federal lawmakers to ensure safe, secure and accessible elections this fall.”

Kim Wyman, the Republican secretary of state in Washington state, where all voting is by mail, said sending fall ballot material to millions of voters there is a “routine operation of the U.S. Postal Service.”

“Politicizing these administrative processes is dangerous and undermines public confidence in our elections,” she said in a statement. “This volume of work is by no means unusual, and is an operation I am confident the U.S. Postal Service is sufficiently prepared to fulfill.”

Meanwhile, the removal of Postal Service collection mailboxes triggered concerns and anger in Oregon and Montana. Boxes were also removed in Indiana.

In Montana, postal officials said the removals were part of a program to eliminate underused drop boxes. But after the outcry, which included upset members of Congress, the officials said they were suspending the program in Montana. It was unclear if the program was also suspended in other states.

At least 25 mailboxes were removed in mid-July in Montana with another 30 scheduled to be taken away soon, said Julie Quilliam, president of the Montana Letter Carriers Association. She rejected the claim that the boxes were removed because of low usage.

“Some of the boxes scheduled to be removed from downtown Billings are nearly overflowing daily,” Quilliam wrote in a Facebook message.

All three members of Montana’s congressional delegation — two of whom are Republican — raised concerns about the removal of mailboxes in letters sent to Postmaster DeJoy.

“These actions set my hair on fire and they have real life implications for folks in rural America and their ability to access critical postal services like paying their bills and voting in upcoming elections,” said Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat.

Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, both Republicans, raised similar concerns in letters to DeJoy about the effect the removal of the mailboxes might have on delivery times. All three asked for information on how the agency decided which boxes to remove and whether any more removals were planned.

“During the current public health crisis it is more important than ever the USPS continue to provide prompt, dependable delivery service,” said Gianforte.

Postal Service spokesperson Ernie Swanson said the Oregon removals were due to declining mail volume and said duplicate mailboxes were taken from places that had more than one. The Postal Service said four mailboxes were removed in Portland this week.

“First-class mail volume has declined significantly in the U.S., especially since the pandemic,” Swanson said. “That translates to less mail in collection boxes.”

Separately, the National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 300,000 current and retired workers, endorsed Biden.

The union said Trump has been hostile to the post office and has undermined it and its workers while Biden “is — was — and will continue to be — a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service,” said union president Fredric Rolando.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597456642329.png" alt="Photo courtesy USPS" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy USPS</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is <a href="https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/documents/election-mail/election-mail-2020-pages-26-51.pdf">warning states coast to coast </a>that it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted, even if mailed by state deadlines, raising the possibility that millions of voters could be disenfranchised.Voters and lawmakers in several states are also complaining that some curbside mail collection boxes are being removed.Even as President Donald Trump rails against wide-scale voting by mail, the post office is bracing for an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.The warning letters sent to states raise the possibility that many Americans eligible for mail-in ballots this fall will not have them counted. But that is not the intent, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in his own letter to Democratic congressional leaders.The post office is merely “asking elected officials and voters to realistically consider how the mail works, and be mindful of our delivery standards, in order to provide voters ample time to cast ballots through the mail,” wrote DeJoy, a prominent Trump political donor who was recently appointed. The warning letters wre first reported by The Washington Post.The back-and-forth comes amid a vigorous campaign by Trump to sow doubts about mail-in voting as he faces a difficult fight for reelection against Democrat Joe Biden.Though Trump casts his own ballots by mail, he’s repeatedly criticized efforts to allow more people to do so, which he argues without evidence will lead to increased voter fraud that could cost him the election. Meanwhile, members of Congress from both parties have voiced concerns that curbside mailboxes, which is how many will cast their ballots, have abruptly been removed in some states.At the same time that the need for timely delivery of the mail is peaking, service has been curtailed amid cost-cutting and efficiency measures ordered by the DeJoy, the new postmaster general, who is a former supply-chain CEO and a financial supporter of Trump and other Republicans. He has implemented measures to eliminate overtime pay and hold mail over if distribution centers are running late.The Post Office <a href="https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/documents/election-mail/election-mail-2020-pages-26-51.pdf">released letters </a>it sent to all 50 states and the District Columbia on its website.&nbsp;<a href="https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/documents/election-mail/election-mail-2020-pages-26-51.pdf">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read the warning letter.While some states with permissive vote-by- mail laws were given a less stringent warning, the majority with more restrictive requirements that limit when a ballot must be cast were given a more dire warning.The laws, the letter said, create a “risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted.”Many state officials criticized the move.“This is a deeply troubling development in what is becoming a clear pattern of attempted voter suppression by the Trump administration,” Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement. “I am committed to making sure all Virginians have access to the ballot box, and will continue to work with state and federal lawmakers to ensure safe, secure and accessible elections this fall.”Kim Wyman, the Republican secretary of state in Washington state, where all voting is by mail, said sending fall ballot material to millions of voters there is a “routine operation of the U.S. Postal Service.”“Politicizing these administrative processes is dangerous and undermines public confidence in our elections,” she said in a statement. “This volume of work is by no means unusual, and is an operation I am confident the U.S. Postal Service is sufficiently prepared to fulfill.”Meanwhile, the removal of Postal Service collection mailboxes triggered concerns and anger in Oregon and Montana. Boxes were also removed in Indiana.In Montana, postal officials said the removals were part of a program to eliminate underused drop boxes. But after the outcry, which included upset members of Congress, the officials said they were suspending the program in Montana. It was unclear if the program was also suspended in other states.At least 25 mailboxes were removed in mid-July in Montana with another 30 scheduled to be taken away soon, said Julie Quilliam, president of the Montana Letter Carriers Association. She rejected the claim that the boxes were removed because of low usage.“Some of the boxes scheduled to be removed from downtown Billings are nearly overflowing daily,” Quilliam wrote in a Facebook message.All three members of Montana’s congressional delegation — two of whom are Republican — raised concerns about the removal of mailboxes in letters sent to Postmaster DeJoy.“These actions set my hair on fire and they have real life implications for folks in rural America and their ability to access critical postal services like paying their bills and voting in upcoming elections,” said Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat.Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, both Republicans, raised similar concerns in letters to DeJoy about the effect the removal of the mailboxes might have on delivery times. All three asked for information on how the agency decided which boxes to remove and whether any more removals were planned.“During the current public health crisis it is more important than ever the USPS continue to provide prompt, dependable delivery service,” said Gianforte.Postal Service spokesperson Ernie Swanson said the Oregon removals were due to declining mail volume and said duplicate mailboxes were taken from places that had more than one. The Postal Service said four mailboxes were removed in Portland this week.“First-class mail volume has declined significantly in the U.S., especially since the pandemic,” Swanson said. “That translates to less mail in collection boxes.”Separately, the National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 300,000 current and retired workers, endorsed Biden.The union said Trump has been hostile to the post office and has undermined it and its workers while Biden “is — was — and will continue to be — a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service,” said union president Fredric Rolando.___

What the Postal Service warned states about mail in ballots

TOPEKA, KAN.&nbsp;– A Kansas man was sentenced to six years in federal prison for heroin trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Terrance Wills, 42, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. In his plea, Wills admitted he met two other men, who had transported the heroin from Texas, at a rest area near Topeka. 

Investigators had been following the load – almost five pounds of heroin -- since the couriers were stopped on Highway 54 near Meade, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597323946794.png" alt="Terrance Wills-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Terrance Wills-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN.&nbsp;– A Kansas man was sentenced to six years in federal prison for heroin trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.Terrance Wills, 42, Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin. In his plea, Wills admitted he met two other men, who had transported the heroin from Texas, at a rest area near Topeka. Investigators had been following the load – almost five pounds of heroin -- since the couriers were stopped on Highway 54 near Meade, Kansas.

Kan. man admits receiving 5 pounds of heroin at rest area

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrats are scrambling to deal with the strong possibility that a 19-year-old candidate for a Kansas House seat in Kansas City will unseat a veteran lawmaker despite making incendiary comments on social media and acknowledging abusive behavior online toward girls in middle school.

Aaron Coleman, a dishwasher and community college student, holds a five-vote lead over seven-term state Rep. Stan Frownfelter, a 69-year-old small business owner. Officials in their home of Wyandotte County are scheduled to meet Monday to review provisional ballots and decide whether to count them, potentially altering Coleman’s 807-802 lead in voting.

Coleman is running a liberal platform that includes universal health coverage, eliminating college tuition, defunding the police and legalizing marijuana. But he received more attention for a social media post suggesting he would “laugh and giggle” if a former GOP state lawmaker died of COVID-19, another post endorsing abortion up to the moment of birth and a third acknowledging that allegations that he engaged in online bullying, blackmail and revenge porn were true. He apologized for the comments and said his past behavior targeting several middle-school girls was that of “a sick and troubled” 14-year-old.

Some Democrats are struggling with the possibility that with no Republican on the ballot in the 37th District this fall, Coleman could sit in the House come January. Frownfelter argues that Coleman’s nomination could hurt Democrats’ efforts to pick up seats in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

“He is not fit to serve in the Legislature,” said Lauren Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Coleman also ran as an independent write-in candidate for governor in 2018. He attributed the results of the House primary to his door-to-door campaigning and said in an email to The Associated Press that he was “absolutely shocked” by the results.

“I ran to talk about how to make Kansas better for working people,” Coleman said. “I never expected I would win.”

Frownfelter won the Kansas City, Kansas, seat in 2006 and hadn’t previously faced a contested primary. He also faced no opponent at all in five of his seven previous elections. Frownfelter said in an interview that he believes that had turnout been higher, he would have won and suggested that young voters came out to back Coleman while older constituents did not vote.

“Everybody I talked to said, ”Oh, you don’t have to worry. You’re going to win,’” Frownfelter said. He added that that many voters didn’t know of Coleman’s social media posts or past behavior.

Coleman’s social media posts about coronavirus and abortion have been taken down, and in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Aaron.Coleman4Kansas/posts/923698718107596?__tn__=-R" target="_blank">an Aug. 1 post</a>&nbsp;on Facebook, he apologized that he had “crossed a boundary.”

“I’m new at politics and so sometimes I speak a little too directly,” he said in his email Friday to AP. “But these issues are life and death.”

The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article244930027.html" target="_blank">detailed the allegations&nbsp;</a>about Coleman’s behavior in middle school in a recent editorial decrying the possibility that he could serve in the House. He did not dispute the newspaper’s account.

The Star said Coleman obtained a nude photo of a girl, threatened distribute it unless she sent him more nude photos and followed through with the threat when she didn’t provide more photos. Asked about the accuracy of those details, Coleman said in his email to the AP, “They’re accurate.”

Coleman said Friday that he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder at age 15. In a June 17 Facebook post, he attributed his problems partly to spending “the vast majority” of his elementary school education “in a closet” instead of getting proper help at school. He said he was home-schooled in middle school.

“I’ve grown a great deal since then,” he said in his Friday email.

Doug Powers, assistant superintendent of the Kansas City-area Turner school district where Coleman went to elementary school, said it does not “put kids in closets.”

State Democratic Party officials are not commenting at least until the vote-counting is done. Jacques Barber, Wyandotte County’s Democratic chairman, said the party shouldn’t try to overturn the result if Coleman is declared the nominee but “try to counsel him and give him as much guidance as we can.”

“He has been elected by the people, and the people have been exposed to what he’s said and done, and apparently, that’s their choice,” Barber said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597491942776.png" alt="Photo courtesy Aaron Coleman for Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Aaron Coleman for Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democrats are scrambling to deal with the strong possibility that a 19-year-old candidate for a Kansas House seat in Kansas City will unseat a veteran lawmaker despite making incendiary comments on social media and acknowledging abusive behavior online toward girls in middle school.Aaron Coleman, a dishwasher and community college student, holds a five-vote lead over seven-term state Rep. Stan Frownfelter, a 69-year-old small business owner. Officials in their home of Wyandotte County are scheduled to meet Monday to review provisional ballots and decide whether to count them, potentially altering Coleman’s 807-802 lead in voting.Coleman is running a liberal platform that includes universal health coverage, eliminating college tuition, defunding the police and legalizing marijuana. But he received more attention for a social media post suggesting he would “laugh and giggle” if a former GOP state lawmaker died of COVID-19, another post endorsing abortion up to the moment of birth and a third acknowledging that allegations that he engaged in online bullying, blackmail and revenge porn were true. He apologized for the comments and said his past behavior targeting several middle-school girls was that of “a sick and troubled” 14-year-old.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597492154851.png" alt="Photo courtesy Stan Frownfelter for Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Stan Frownfelter for Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>Some Democrats are struggling with the possibility that with no Republican on the ballot in the 37th District this fall, Coleman could sit in the House come January. Frownfelter argues that Coleman’s nomination could hurt Democrats’ efforts to pick up seats in the GOP-controlled Legislature.“He is not fit to serve in the Legislature,” said Lauren Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.Coleman also ran as an independent write-in candidate for governor in 2018. He attributed the results of the House primary to his door-to-door campaigning and said in an email to The Associated Press that he was “absolutely shocked” by the results.“I ran to talk about how to make Kansas better for working people,” Coleman said. “I never expected I would win.”Frownfelter won the Kansas City, Kansas, seat in 2006 and hadn’t previously faced a contested primary. He also faced no opponent at all in five of his seven previous elections. Frownfelter said in an interview that he believes that had turnout been higher, he would have won and suggested that young voters came out to back Coleman while older constituents did not vote.“Everybody I talked to said, ”Oh, you don’t have to worry. You’re going to win,’” Frownfelter said. He added that that many voters didn’t know of Coleman’s social media posts or past behavior.Coleman’s social media posts about coronavirus and abortion have been taken down, and in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Aaron.Coleman4Kansas/posts/923698718107596?__tn__=-R" target="_blank">an Aug. 1 post</a>&nbsp;on Facebook, he apologized that he had “crossed a boundary.”“I’m new at politics and so sometimes I speak a little too directly,” he said in his email Friday to AP. “But these issues are life and death.”The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article244930027.html" target="_blank">detailed the allegations&nbsp;</a>about Coleman’s behavior in middle school in a recent editorial decrying the possibility that he could serve in the House. He did not dispute the newspaper’s account.The Star said Coleman obtained a nude photo of a girl, threatened distribute it unless she sent him more nude photos and followed through with the threat when she didn’t provide more photos. Asked about the accuracy of those details, Coleman said in his email to the AP, “They’re accurate.”Coleman said Friday that he was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder at age 15. In a June 17 Facebook post, he attributed his problems partly to spending “the vast majority” of his elementary school education “in a closet” instead of getting proper help at school. He said he was home-schooled in middle school.“I’ve grown a great deal since then,” he said in his Friday email.Doug Powers, assistant superintendent of the Kansas City-area Turner school district where Coleman went to elementary school, said it does not “put kids in closets.”State Democratic Party officials are not commenting at least until the vote-counting is done. Jacques Barber, Wyandotte County’s Democratic chairman, said the party shouldn’t try to overturn the result if Coleman is declared the nominee but “try to counsel him and give him as much guidance as we can.”“He has been elected by the people, and the people have been exposed to what he’s said and done, and apparently, that’s their choice,” Barber said.

Candidate in Kan. House race admits revenge porn

Shawnee County—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges after a chase.

Just before 12:30 a.m. Thursday, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed a 2003 Kia Optima fail to stop at a red light at the intersection of SE 29th and California Avenue in Topeka, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

The deputy attempted a traffic stop but the driver later identified as 27-year-old Ivan Blanco of Topeka refused to stop and continued west on SE 29th&nbsp;Street.

He&nbsp; turned north on SE Indiana Ave, east on SE 10th&nbsp;St, and south on SE Locust Street.&nbsp; The pursuit ended in the 1000 block of SE Locust Street.&nbsp; During the pursuit, Shawnee County Sheriff Dispatch notified the deputy that the license plate was reported stolen through the City of Topeka.

Ivan A. Blanco, 27, of Topeka, was arrested and transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Felony flee and elude, DUI, ID Theft, Possession of stolen property, Interference with LEO, Operate motor vehicle without a License, No insurance, Tag not assigned, Transport open container and Multiple traffic violations, according to Stallbaumer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597438131171.png" alt="Blanco photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Blanco photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Shawnee County—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges after a chase.Just before 12:30 a.m. Thursday, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office observed a 2003 Kia Optima fail to stop at a red light at the intersection of SE 29th and California Avenue in Topeka, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.The deputy attempted a traffic stop but the driver later identified as 27-year-old Ivan Blanco of Topeka refused to stop and continued west on SE 29th&nbsp;Street.He&nbsp; turned north on SE Indiana Ave, east on SE 10th&nbsp;St, and south on SE Locust Street.&nbsp; The pursuit ended in the 1000 block of SE Locust Street.&nbsp; During the pursuit, Shawnee County Sheriff Dispatch notified the deputy that the license plate was reported stolen through the City of Topeka.Ivan A. Blanco, 27, of Topeka, was arrested and transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Felony flee and elude, DUI, ID Theft, Possession of stolen property, Interference with LEO, Operate motor vehicle without a License, No insurance, Tag not assigned, Transport open container and Multiple traffic violations, according to Stallbaumer.

Suspect jailed after chase with Kansas deputy

DONIPHAN COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the death of a man that occurred in rural Doniphan County.

Just after 9:45 a.m. August, the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a citizen who reported finding a body in the creek on his land, according to a media release from the KBI.

When deputies responded to the location, which was South of Troy, Kan., in a tributary of Rock Creek, they found a deceased male later identified as Darren A. Blandin, 55, of Horton, Kan. It is unknown how long he had been in the Creek.

An autopsy was conducted on Friday, Aug. 14. At this time, foul play is not suspected, but a full death investigation is being conducted as investigators wish to retrace Blandin’s final weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597622804771.png" alt="Blandin-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Blandin-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>DONIPHAN COUNTY–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the death of a man that occurred in rural Doniphan County.Just after 9:45 a.m. August, the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a citizen who reported finding a body in the creek on his land, according to a media release from the KBI.When deputies responded to the location, which was South of Troy, Kan., in a tributary of Rock Creek, they found a deceased male later identified as Darren A. Blandin, 55, of Horton, Kan. It is unknown how long he had been in the Creek.An autopsy was conducted on Friday, Aug. 14. At this time, foul play is not suspected, but a full death investigation is being conducted as investigators wish to retrace Blandin’s final weeks.

KBI investigating death after man's body found in creek

TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka and have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Colten Hawley.

Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for&nbsp;

Hawley was also being sought by the Topeka Police Department for an attempt to locate and alleged kidnapping, criminal threat and theft,&nbsp;according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Hawley was also wanted on a warrant for a parole violation on the original charge of fleeing and eluding, forgery and criminal possession of a firearm.

The officer located the vehicle Hawley&nbsp; had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. 

The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the Hawley in the lot to the north of the motel.

Hawley&nbsp; was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the Hawley, according to Munoz.

Hawley fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. Hawley was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.

He was later booked on requested charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officer, felon in possession of a firearm and felony obstruction, according to Munoz.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597540083413.png" alt="Hawley" />
 <figcaption>Hawley</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka and have identified the suspect as 22-year-old Colten Hawley.Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for&nbsp;Hawley was also being sought by the Topeka Police Department for an attempt to locate and alleged kidnapping, criminal threat and theft,&nbsp;according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.Hawley was also wanted on a warrant for a parole violation on the original charge of fleeing and eluding, forgery and criminal possession of a firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597509115770.png" alt="The scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation Saturday morning in Topeka. Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation Saturday morning in Topeka. Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The officer located the vehicle Hawley&nbsp; had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the Hawley in the lot to the north of the motel.Hawley&nbsp; was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the Hawley, according to Munoz.Hawley fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. Hawley was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.He was later booked on requested charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officer, felon in possession of a firearm and felony obstruction, according to Munoz.The officer did not sustain any injuries in the incident. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is in charge of the investigation, according to Munoz.&nbsp;----------TOPEKA – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Saturday morning in Topeka.Just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Topeka Police Department was following up on an attempt to locate for a suspect wanted for a felony crime, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.The officer located the vehicle the suspect had been driving in the lot of a motel at 709 SW Fairlawn in Topeka. The officer asked for additional units to assist and as he was waiting, he encountered the suspect in the lot to the north of the motel.The suspect was armed with a firearm and the officer fired their department issued firearm at least once, but did not strike the suspect, according to Munoz.The suspect fled on foot and the officer was able to take him into custody a short distance away. The suspect was taken to a local hospital to be checked out medically.The officer did not sustain any injuries in the incident. The officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave as is standard protocol.The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is in charge of the investigation, according to Munoz. Police have not released the name of the officer or the suspect.