WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is asking states to speed delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older and to others at high risk by no longer holding back the second dose of the two-dose shots, officials said Tuesday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that “the administration in the states has been too narrowly focused.”

As a result, he said, the Trump administration is now asking states to vaccinate people age 65 and over and those under 65 with underlying health conditions that put them at high risk. He said the vaccine production is such that the second dose of the two-shot vaccine can be released without jeopardizing immunization for those who got the first shot.

“We now believe that our manufacturing is predictable enough that we can ensure second doses are available for people from ongoing production, Azar told ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “So everything is now available to our states and our health care providers.”

So far, the vaccine rollout has been primarily to health care workers and nursing home residents, and the slow pace has frustrated many Americans at a time when the coronavirus death toll has continued to rise. More than 376,000 people have died, according to the Johns Hopkins database.

Azar said it was now time to move “to the next phase on the vaccine program” and expand the pool of those eligible to get the first dose.

That also means expanding the number of places where people can be vaccinated by adding community health centers and additional drug stores.

“We’ve already distributed more vaccine than we have health care workers and people in nursing homes,” Azar said. “We’ve got to get to more channels of administration. We’ve got to get it to pharmacies, get it to community health centers.”

He said the federal government “will deploy teams to support states doing mass vaccination efforts if they wish to do so.”

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to give a speech Thursday outlining his plan to speed vaccines to more people in the first part of his administration. His transition team has vowed to release as many vaccine doses as possible, rather than continuing the Trump administration policy of holding back millions of doses to ensure there would be enough supply to allow those getting the first shot to get a second one.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires a second shot about three weeks after the first vaccination. Another vaccine, this one produced by Moderna, requires a second shot about four weeks afterward. One-shot vaccines are still undergoing testing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609958275919.png" alt="Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar received his vaccination earlier this month-photo courtesy HHS" />
 <figcaption>Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar received his vaccination earlier this month-photo courtesy HHS</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is asking states to speed delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older and to others at high risk by no longer holding back the second dose of the two-dose shots, officials said Tuesday.Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said that “the administration in the states has been too narrowly focused.”As a result, he said, the Trump administration is now asking states to vaccinate people age 65 and over and those under 65 with underlying health conditions that put them at high risk. He said the vaccine production is such that the second dose of the two-shot vaccine can be released without jeopardizing immunization for those who got the first shot.“We now believe that our manufacturing is predictable enough that we can ensure second doses are available for people from ongoing production, Azar told ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “So everything is now available to our states and our health care providers.”So far, the vaccine rollout has been primarily to health care workers and nursing home residents, and the slow pace has frustrated many Americans at a time when the coronavirus death toll has continued to rise. More than 376,000 people have died, according to the Johns Hopkins database.Azar said it was now time to move “to the next phase on the vaccine program” and expand the pool of those eligible to get the first dose.That also means expanding the number of places where people can be vaccinated by adding community health centers and additional drug stores.“We’ve already distributed more vaccine than we have health care workers and people in nursing homes,” Azar said. “We’ve got to get to more channels of administration. We’ve got to get it to pharmacies, get it to community health centers.”He said the federal government “will deploy teams to support states doing mass vaccination efforts if they wish to do so.”President-elect Joe Biden is expected to give a speech Thursday outlining his plan to speed vaccines to more people in the first part of his administration. His transition team has vowed to release as many vaccine doses as possible, rather than continuing the Trump administration policy of holding back millions of doses to ensure there would be enough supply to allow those getting the first shot to get a second one.The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires a second shot about three weeks after the first vaccination. Another vaccine, this one produced by Moderna, requires a second shot about four weeks afterward. One-shot vaccines are still undergoing testing.

US shifts to speed COVID shots as cases, deaths rise

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Tuesday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Buick Century driven by Christopher M. Mitchell, 61, Rossville, was westbound on U.S. 24 Highway one mile east of Rossville.&nbsp; The car&nbsp; struck a deer, but was attempting to avoid it. 

The car left the roadway to the right, traveled into the ditch , returned to the road, spun around and struck a 2014 Buick Encore driven by Mary J. Gruber, 57, Silver Lake.

A passenger in the Buick Century Lucinda C. Mitchell, 63, Rossville, was pronounced dead at the scene and she was transported to&nbsp;Shawnee County Morgue. EMS transported Christopher Mitchell and Gruber to Stormont Vail in Topeka. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Tuesday in Shawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Buick Century driven by Christopher M. Mitchell, 61, Rossville, was westbound on U.S. 24 Highway one mile east of Rossville.&nbsp; The car&nbsp; struck a deer, but was attempting to avoid it. The car left the roadway to the right, traveled into the ditch , returned to the road, spun around and struck a 2014 Buick Encore driven by Mary J. Gruber, 57, Silver Lake.A passenger in the Buick Century Lucinda C. Mitchell, 63, Rossville, was pronounced dead at the scene and she was transported to&nbsp;Shawnee County Morgue. EMS transported Christopher Mitchell and Gruber to Stormont Vail in Topeka. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman killed in crash after car strikes deer

WEBB CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former southwest Missouri junior high teacher has pleaded guilty to third-degree child molestation. 

Twenty-nine-year-old Nicholas Popejoy, of Arma, Kansas, agreed to a plea agreement Monday. A second count of sexual contact with a student was dropped. 

Popejoy was a science and math teacher, freshman boys basketball coach and coed track coach at Webb City Junior High School before he was fired in November 2019. 

A probable cause statement said Popejoy inappropriately touched a boy under the age of 14 on school grounds. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for March 1.

WEBB CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas man has been charged with sexually assaulting a student at a Missouri school where he taught and coached.

Twenty-eight-year-old Nicholas Popejoy, of Arma, Kansas, pleaded not guilty Monday to statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy of someone under the age of 14. His attorney, Teresa Grantham, didn’t immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press. His bond is set at $100,000 cash.

Popejoy worked for the Webb City, Missouri, school district from August 2014 to Nov. 18. He was the freshman boys’ basketball coach and the assistant high school track coach. He also taught science and math at the junior high.

The affidavit says Popejoy used his position as a coach to gain private access to the minor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574787047293.png" alt="Nicholas A. Popejoy-Jasper Co." />
 <figcaption>Nicholas A. Popejoy-Jasper Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WEBB CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former southwest Missouri junior high teacher has pleaded guilty to third-degree child molestation. Twenty-nine-year-old Nicholas Popejoy, of Arma, Kansas, agreed to a plea agreement Monday. A second count of sexual contact with a student was dropped. Popejoy was a science and math teacher, freshman boys basketball coach and coed track coach at Webb City Junior High School before he was fired in November 2019. A probable cause statement said Popejoy inappropriately touched a boy under the age of 14 on school grounds. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for March 1.---------WEBB CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas man has been charged with sexually assaulting a student at a Missouri school where he taught and coached.Twenty-eight-year-old Nicholas Popejoy, of Arma, Kansas, pleaded not guilty Monday to statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy of someone under the age of 14. His attorney, Teresa Grantham, didn’t immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press. His bond is set at $100,000 cash.Popejoy worked for the Webb City, Missouri, school district from August 2014 to Nov. 18. He was the freshman boys’ basketball coach and the assistant high school track coach. He also taught science and math at the junior high.The affidavit says Popejoy used his position as a coach to gain private access to the minor.

Teacher from Kan. pleads guilty to molestation of student

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, stoking fears of more bloodshed after last week’s deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol.

An internal FBI bulletin warned, as of Sunday, that the nationwide protests may start later this week and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, according to two law enforcement officials who read details of the memo to The Associated Press. Investigators believe some of the people are members of extremist groups, the officials said. The bulletin was first reported by ABC.

“Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January,” the bulletin said, according to one official. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The FBI issued at least one other bulletin — they go out to law enforcement nationwide on the topic — before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, the second official said.

“While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is supporting our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners with maintaining public safety in the communities we serve,” the bureau said in a statement. “Our efforts are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity.”

The FBI said it wasn’t focused on peaceful protests but “on those threatening their safety and the safety of other citizens with violence and destruction of property.”

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters Monday that the Guard is also looking at any issues across the country,

“We’re keeping a look across the entire country to make sure that we’re monitoring, and that our Guards in every state are in close coordination with their local law enforcement agencies to provide any support requested,” he said.

The riots followed weeks of online calls for violence in the nation’s capital in the waning days of Donald Trump’s presidency. There have been several arrests, and at least two Capitol police officers, one who took a selfie with rioters, and another who put on a Make America Great Again hat, were suspended. At least a dozen more are under investigation, according to lawmakers.

A tweet in which Trump promised that last Wednesday’s event in Washington, D.C., “will be wild” fueled a “month-long frenzy of incitements, strategizing, and embrace of violence against lawmakers,” according to a research group that tracks online extremism activity, In a report issued Saturday, the SITE Intelligence Group also warned that the Capitol attack has emboldened Trump-supporting extremists.

“No matter how all this plays out, its only the beginning,” posted a user on TheDonald message board, according to the report.

Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, said authorities in state capitals and other major cities besides Washington should prepare for the possibility of violent protests next week.

“A lot of people were energized by what happened last week,” he said. “State capitals are a natural place where people might want to show up, especially assuming that they think there might be a huge presence of police and military in D.C. because of what happened last week.”

Pitcavage tracks militia, white supremacists and other far-right extremists, but he said the Capitol siege demonstrated the emergence of a new movement of ”Trumpist extremists, so caught up in the cult of personality around Trump that they may be willing to break the law or engage in violence purely in support of Trump and whatever he wants.”

The talk of armed marches next week isn’t limited to “radicalized” Trump supporters. State capital events on Jan. 17 appear to be promoted by supporters of the anti-government, pro-gun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3783a0cdc0e6cc04b43fd28b6069e960">“boogaloo” movement.</a>&nbsp;Boogaloo followers advocate for a second civil war or the collapse of society, and they don’t adhere to a coherent political philosophy.

Posts on social media sites also have promoted a “Million Militia March” on the day of Biden’s inauguration. Pitcavage said the event, apparently organized by a promoter of the pro-Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-town-hall-qanon-explained-b4614edad1aae27a0cbcb9dfe0c0c44c">“QAnon” conspiracy theory,&nbsp;</a>appears unlikely to draw a massive crowd.

Javed Ali, a former FBI senior intelligence officer who teaches courses in counterterrorism at the University of Michigan, said it can be challenging for law enforcement to identify the line between people exercising their constitutionally protected rights to bear arms and free speech and those who pose “a real operational threat.”

“The FBI just can’t passively sit in websites and forums and social media platforms, waiting to see who’s going to present a direct threat versus just someone who is being highly radicalized,” he said. “There has to be an investigative predicate for the FBI to then start even the lowest form of an investigation.”

David Deitch, an attorney who was a prosecutor in the Justice Department’s counterterrorism section from 2003 to 2007, said law enforcement must recognize a “tenuous balance” between protected free speech and speech that intends to incites violence.

“It’s a very fact-based, case-by-case determination,” he said. “There’s no one factor that’s going to determine all of it. It’s certainly going to be a judgment call on the part of law enforcement about whether and when to intervene.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609972156416.png" alt="Security outside the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021 image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Security outside the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2021 image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, stoking fears of more bloodshed after last week’s deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol.An internal FBI bulletin warned, as of Sunday, that the nationwide protests may start later this week and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, according to two law enforcement officials who read details of the memo to The Associated Press. Investigators believe some of the people are members of extremist groups, the officials said. The bulletin was first reported by ABC.“Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January,” the bulletin said, according to one official. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.The FBI issued at least one other bulletin — they go out to law enforcement nationwide on the topic — before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, the second official said.“While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is supporting our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners with maintaining public safety in the communities we serve,” the bureau said in a statement. “Our efforts are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity.”The FBI said it wasn’t focused on peaceful protests but “on those threatening their safety and the safety of other citizens with violence and destruction of property.”Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters Monday that the Guard is also looking at any issues across the country,“We’re keeping a look across the entire country to make sure that we’re monitoring, and that our Guards in every state are in close coordination with their local law enforcement agencies to provide any support requested,” he said.The riots followed weeks of online calls for violence in the nation’s capital in the waning days of Donald Trump’s presidency. There have been several arrests, and at least two Capitol police officers, one who took a selfie with rioters, and another who put on a Make America Great Again hat, were suspended. At least a dozen more are under investigation, according to lawmakers.A tweet in which Trump promised that last Wednesday’s event in Washington, D.C., “will be wild” fueled a “month-long frenzy of incitements, strategizing, and embrace of violence against lawmakers,” according to a research group that tracks online extremism activity, In a report issued Saturday, the SITE Intelligence Group also warned that the Capitol attack has emboldened Trump-supporting extremists.“No matter how all this plays out, its only the beginning,” posted a user on TheDonald message board, according to the report.Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism, said authorities in state capitals and other major cities besides Washington should prepare for the possibility of violent protests next week.“A lot of people were energized by what happened last week,” he said. “State capitals are a natural place where people might want to show up, especially assuming that they think there might be a huge presence of police and military in D.C. because of what happened last week.”Pitcavage tracks militia, white supremacists and other far-right extremists, but he said the Capitol siege demonstrated the emergence of a new movement of ”Trumpist extremists, so caught up in the cult of personality around Trump that they may be willing to break the law or engage in violence purely in support of Trump and whatever he wants.”The talk of armed marches next week isn’t limited to “radicalized” Trump supporters. State capital events on Jan. 17 appear to be promoted by supporters of the anti-government, pro-gun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3783a0cdc0e6cc04b43fd28b6069e960">“boogaloo” movement.</a>&nbsp;Boogaloo followers advocate for a second civil war or the collapse of society, and they don’t adhere to a coherent political philosophy.Posts on social media sites also have promoted a “Million Militia March” on the day of Biden’s inauguration. Pitcavage said the event, apparently organized by a promoter of the pro-Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-town-hall-qanon-explained-b4614edad1aae27a0cbcb9dfe0c0c44c">“QAnon” conspiracy theory,&nbsp;</a>appears unlikely to draw a massive crowd.Javed Ali, a former FBI senior intelligence officer who teaches courses in counterterrorism at the University of Michigan, said it can be challenging for law enforcement to identify the line between people exercising their constitutionally protected rights to bear arms and free speech and those who pose “a real operational threat.”“The FBI just can’t passively sit in websites and forums and social media platforms, waiting to see who’s going to present a direct threat versus just someone who is being highly radicalized,” he said. “There has to be an investigative predicate for the FBI to then start even the lowest form of an investigation.”David Deitch, an attorney who was a prosecutor in the Justice Department’s counterterrorism section from 2003 to 2007, said law enforcement must recognize a “tenuous balance” between protected free speech and speech that intends to incites violence.“It’s a very fact-based, case-by-case determination,” he said. “There’s no one factor that’s going to determine all of it. It’s certainly going to be a judgment call on the part of law enforcement about whether and when to intervene.”___

FBI: Nationwide armed protests possible next week

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The following is the complete transcript of Governor Laura Kelly’s 2021 State of the State Address.&nbsp;

Typically, I would deliver the State of the State address to the legislature and the public from the House Chamber in the Capitol building.&nbsp;

And I would begin by looking out over all the familiar faces, constitutional officers, cabinet members, and my own family.&nbsp;

But, these aren't typical times. And while I can't see them, I am grateful that my husband, Ted Daughety, and daughters, Kathleen and Molly, are hosting a virtual watch party with members of my family across the country.

I know it's not just my family that has had to change our rituals and gatherings. We've all had to adjust. We've all had to get creative with problem solving. We have been forced to spend too much time apart, communicating virtually, instead of sharing moments in person, together.

So this won't be a typical State of the State address.

Instead of giving a speech to the legislature, I'm going to have a conversation with you - the people of Kansas - give you an update on where we are, what's next, and lay out a clear agenda that meets the moment we're living in.

In the weeks and months to come, we need to get every Kansan vaccinated. We need to get our economy moving. And we need to get all our kids back into the classroom.

We need to do it in a way that keeps our budget balanced. And with the sense of urgency and focus that Kansans deserve. We can not let political fights slow us down.

Tonight, I'll speak to each of these issues.

But before I continue - last week I ordered flags lowered to half-staff to remember the more than 3000 Kansans we've lost these past 10 months to Covid-19. I ask you to join me in pausing for a moment in honor of their memory.&nbsp;

To the families and loved ones of those we've lost, please know my heart is with you.&nbsp; The pain you're feeling is immeasurable … Here in Kansas, we're all neighbors, and we're all here to support you, in every way possible.

It's been a time of such loss for so many.

Critical time in the classroom for our children, lost.

The losses in our lives have been countless.

The way that Kansans have stepped up these past 10 months has been nothing short of heroic - from health care workers to first responders, teachers and parents, farmers and ranchers - the character of Kansas has been on full display.

And I want to commend the state and local officials who continue to work around the clock with the public health experts to make sure we're taking the right, aggressive, steps to slow the spread of the virus, while also balancing the need to keep the Kansas economy moving.&nbsp;

And now, after months of struggle and sacrifice, an end to this national nightmare is finally in sight.

Last week, my administration released the phases of our vaccination distribution plan.

We worked diligently for months, together with our federal and local partners, to develop a plan that would prioritize the health of the most vulnerable, reduce the strain on hospitals, and help us kickstart our economy.

While our state initially experienced a reporting lag of vaccines administered, the CDC vaccine tracker is now showing that Kansas is in the top tier for vaccines administered per capita. We are working as quickly as we can to safely, efficiently deliver the vaccine to all Kansans. Much of our ability to distribute the vaccine is dependent on the federal government getting the vaccine to us.

As of today, 84,555 Kansans have been vaccinated. And we will continue this coordinated effort so every Kansan can get vaccinated. My goal is to make sure that each of you know when and where you can get vaccinated in your county.

Like in other states, the first to receive vaccines have been those directly overseeing our COVID response efforts - hospital workers and long term care staff and residents.

We expect to be moving into the second phase before the end of this month, when we will begin vaccinating our seniors, because we know Kansans 65 and older are the biggest at-risk group.

Also in this category: essential frontline workers - these are our police, firefighters and other first responders, our teachers and childcare providers, our grocery store and meat packing plant workers.

As we continue our phased approach, we will add other priority groups including those living in congregate settings, those below the age of 65 with severe medical risks, and other essential workers. And then, hopefully, over the next few months, the rest of the general public. Again, this depends on how quickly the federal government gets the vaccine to Kansas.

But until then, it's imperative that everyone continue to do your part in slowing the spread of the virus - wear a mask, physically distance, and avoid mass gatherings.

We are not out of the woods here. Not by a long shot. Our hospitals are strained and this virus continues to kill our loved ones and our neighbors.

But, we *will* get through this crisis, with the vaccines.

There's been a lot of misinformation out there about the vaccines. Internet conspiracy theories. Complete nonsense. Make no mistake, the science behind the vaccines is solid.&nbsp;

And these vaccines are how we keep ourselves and our fellow Kansans healthy ... and ultimately, how we defeat this virus and move forward with our lives.

The latest information about distribution instructions and timelines will always be available at our website - kansasvaccine.gov.

So, if we've learned anything these past 10 months, it's that every Kansan deserves health care they can afford, good health care facilities near their homes, and for our rural neighbors and friends, more access to telehealth services.

That's why I'll continue to push, over and over again, for what 38 states across the country have done - to expand Medicaid to cover another 165,000 Kansans, to ensure that our rural hospitals remain open, and inject billions of dollars into our economy.

Access to vaccinations and good health care . . . It's the only way we'll truly put this nightmare behind us.

We've already taken a series of strategic steps to keep our economy open. But open isn't good enough. We need to make sure it's growing, with Kansans not just getting back to their old jobs, but also finding new, better-paying jobs.

We are set to launch the Framework for Growth - a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that the Kansas economy continues to thrive and that our most valuable resource -- our young people -- have exciting career opportunities right here at home.

Let me briefly speak to five areas of economic growth that we've focused on: small businesses, infrastructure, new job creation, agriculture, and broadband.

No doubt, this has been a challenging period for small business owners, with so many having to adapt in different ways to the virus. And a very difficult time for anyone who works in a small business.

Small businesses, as we know, aren't just workplaces, they're the heart beat of Main Street in so many Kansas communities. Familiar, friendly faces behind the counter. These folks are our neighbors, our friends.

We have been able to help nearly 3,000 small businesses across the state with grants for payroll and other expenses. But we know more must be done.

That's why I'm pleased about the resurrection of the Kansas Main Street Program and the launch of the Main Street Affiliate Community program. These programs provide funding and technical assistance to help transform and strengthen rural downtowns.

I know for many small business owners, these past few months have been filled with anxiety and heartache – and you're just trying to do right by your employees and customers.

I promise you that I'll do everything in my power to protect small businesses and the Kansans they employ.

But it's not enough to simply save the jobs and businesses that exist. An obvious area for job growth is to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.

I'm proud that Democrats and Republicans came together last year to pass a 10-year infrastructure plan - it's a strategic, practical approach that allows us to prioritize the most urgently needed projects.

As we speak, more than 160 state highway and local road projects are under construction or about to be. And another 230 projects have been awarded for future construction. That's better roads, better bridges, walking and biking paths. A more modern transportation infrastructure from top to bottom – and that's a lot of jobs.

We know this pandemic has put too many Kansans out of work, and I know some Kansans have had difficulty getting their unemployment benefits.

The fact is, the volume of benefit applications absolutely overwhelmed our unemployment system. I want you to know we've fixed many of the immediate problems and more Kansas have received unemployment benefits since the pandemic started ten months ago, than in the eight previous years combined.

To be prepared, should we ever be confronted with a health and economic crisis as staggering as this pandemic, we've committed 37.5 million dollars in this year's budget to update old IT systems that have been neglected for decades.

While it's imperative that we modernize our IT systems, what's more important is making sure unemployed Kansans can get back to work.

So we're moving quickly to bring new jobs to Kansas communities, big and small.

We've announced projects like Urban Outfitters' new distribution center at Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County that will create 2,000 new jobs and invest over 350 million dollars in Kansas.

And Schwan's Company's expansion to its facility in Salina.&nbsp; When the project is complete, Salina's location will be home to the largest frozen pizza production facility in the world - and bring 225 good jobs to the community.

Over these past two years, we've recruited dozens of new businesses and helped create more than 20,000 jobs; that's pumped more than 3 billion dollars into our local economies.

Including into our farming and agriculture communities.

Where, in typical Kansas fashion, Kansas farmers and ranchers have stepped up, even during those first, very scary days of COVID-19, and kept doing their jobs. They knew, pandemic or no pandemic, people need food.

My Administration partnered with local and federal officials to make sure we kept these critical food supply chain workers safe and kept production online. The entire nation, and the entire world owes these Kansans a huge debt of gratitude.

At the state level, we invested 12 million dollars to increase the capacity of the state's food supply system all across Kansas.

And, as my friends in Agriculture may remember, I was the first Democratic governor to publicly support the USMCA, the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada.

I will always support our agricultural employers and workers because we all know that agriculture built Kansas, and it will be a driving force in rebuilding our economy as we emerge from this pandemic.

And agriculture is one of many industries increasingly relying on high speed internet to meet the demands of their customers and for their day to day operations.

In fact, in today's economy, businesses small and large depend upon broadband - both because this pandemic has required many of us to work remotely, and because of the broader shift we have seen from retail to etail commerce.

It's an issue my administration has treated with the urgency it mandates.

I signed an Executive Order establishing Kansas's first Office of Broadband Development - and through it, we've distributed nearly 50 million dollars in Connectivity Emergency Response Grants, to communities like Spring Hill, Valley Center, Dodge City, Topeka, Derby and others.

We have to keep pushing on this issue. It needs to be a bi-partisan push.

Because access to high speed internet will be a game changer for these communities. It's a tool to recruit new businesses and keep existing ones from leaving.

It's also a tool to provide care through telehealth services to rural and underserved Kansans.

And it's a tool for our children and their education. This pandemic has taught us that learning remotely is difficult enough, but to do it without reliable internet is impossible.

It's been a long 10 months for our children, their parents … and perhaps especially for their teachers ... many of whom are juggling the teaching of our children while also looking after their own.

I can't say enough about the job that Kansas teachers have done throughout this pandemic.

Teaching under less-than-ideal circumstances, but never wavering in their commitment to our children.

Stepping up under tough conditions is nothing new for Kansas teachers. They've been doing it for years.&nbsp;

Remember, when we took office two years ago, the state was still reeling from a disastrous tax experiment that absolutely crushed our public schools, even forcing some to go to 4-day school weeks.

We fixed our public schools once already - bringing Republicans and Democrats together to constitutionally fund education for the first time in many years.

And now that the pandemic has created a new set of challenges - I want you to know that we're going to get every Kansas student back in the classroom as soon as possible, and provide their teachers with the tools and resources they need to get our kids back on track.

From day one, I pledged to Kansans that we'd never return to those days of broken budgets and fiscal irresponsibility.

That's why I'm committed to closing the Bank of KDOT by 2023. Past Administrations have used these critical highway construction dollars as a slush fund for their ideological experiments - which undermined opportunities for infrastructure investments and economic growth.

Once again, we brought Democrats and Republicans together to balance the budget and constitutionally fund our schools - all without a tax increase. In fact, because we prioritized wisely and found new efficiencies, I'm proud to report that even during this pandemic, the state will close out this fiscal year with a projected 600 million dollar ending balance.

But we must remain vigilant. We're just a few years removed from the Brownback tax experiment, and it seems as though some of my colleagues in the Legislature have already forgotten just how devasting that experiment was to our economy, our schools, and our future.

The tough, pragmatic budget choices we have made to this point have given us flexibility to protect our core services - like education, infrastructure, and economic development tools -&nbsp;&nbsp; from COVID-related cuts, and have been an historically potent tool we have to recruit businesses to Kansas.

As we recover from the economic damage caused by effects of this virus, we must continue to prioritize strategic and inclusive economic policies, not Brownback 2.0 tax cuts.

Each year in this speech, and almost every day in between, I call for bi-partisanship. To work together, Democrats and Republicans have to do what's best for Kansas. To be better than what we see in Washington.

In light of the destruction, violence, and sedition that took place at the United States Capitol last week, we can't simply treat this like any other moment. That would be an insult to Kansans - and all they've seen these past 10 days and all they've experienced these past 10 months in their own lives.&nbsp;

This year, working together isn't simply something I want - it's something we owe to the people of Kansas.

This year, as leaders, we must commit ourselves to set an example. In how we conduct ourselves. In the things we say to each other, what we post on social media, in what we tell people back home in our communities.

This year, we must show Kansans that, even when we stand on opposite sides of the aisle, we still always share a common bond as Kansans and Americans.

And right now, that means doing whatever it takes to get Kansans back to work, back to school - and back to a place where we treat each other with respect and dignity.

We need to listen to public health experts. We need to listen to each other. We need to listen to the people of Kansas.

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The following is the complete transcript of Governor Laura Kelly’s 2021 State of the State Address.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F1084745795339331%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Good evening.Typically, I would deliver the State of the State address to the legislature and the public from the House Chamber in the Capitol building.&nbsp;And I would begin by looking out over all the familiar faces, constitutional officers, cabinet members, and my own family.&nbsp;But, these aren't typical times. And while I can't see them, I am grateful that my husband, Ted Daughety, and daughters, Kathleen and Molly, are hosting a virtual watch party with members of my family across the country.I know it's not just my family that has had to change our rituals and gatherings. We've all had to adjust. We've all had to get creative with problem solving. We have been forced to spend too much time apart, communicating virtually, instead of sharing moments in person, together.So this won't be a typical State of the State address.Instead of giving a speech to the legislature, I'm going to have a conversation with you - the people of Kansas - give you an update on where we are, what's next, and lay out a clear agenda that meets the moment we're living in.In the weeks and months to come, we need to get every Kansan vaccinated. We need to get our economy moving. And we need to get all our kids back into the classroom.We need to do it in a way that keeps our budget balanced. And with the sense of urgency and focus that Kansans deserve. We can not let political fights slow us down.Tonight, I'll speak to each of these issues.But before I continue - last week I ordered flags lowered to half-staff to remember the more than 3000 Kansans we've lost these past 10 months to Covid-19. I ask you to join me in pausing for a moment in honor of their memory.&nbsp;To the families and loved ones of those we've lost, please know my heart is with you.&nbsp; The pain you're feeling is immeasurable … Here in Kansas, we're all neighbors, and we're all here to support you, in every way possible.It's been a time of such loss for so many.Too many precious lives lost.Businesses lost.Jobs lost.Critical time in the classroom for our children, lost.Lost moments with loved ones.The losses in our lives have been countless.But … we never lost hope.The way that Kansans have stepped up these past 10 months has been nothing short of heroic - from health care workers to first responders, teachers and parents, farmers and ranchers - the character of Kansas has been on full display.And I want to commend the state and local officials who continue to work around the clock with the public health experts to make sure we're taking the right, aggressive, steps to slow the spread of the virus, while also balancing the need to keep the Kansas economy moving.&nbsp;And now, after months of struggle and sacrifice, an end to this national nightmare is finally in sight.Last week, my administration released the phases of our vaccination distribution plan.We worked diligently for months, together with our federal and local partners, to develop a plan that would prioritize the health of the most vulnerable, reduce the strain on hospitals, and help us kickstart our economy.While our state initially experienced a reporting lag of vaccines administered, the CDC vaccine tracker is now showing that Kansas is in the top tier for vaccines administered per capita. We are working as quickly as we can to safely, efficiently deliver the vaccine to all Kansans. Much of our ability to distribute the vaccine is dependent on the federal government getting the vaccine to us.As of today, 84,555 Kansans have been vaccinated. And we will continue this coordinated effort so every Kansan can get vaccinated. My goal is to make sure that each of you know when and where you can get vaccinated in your county.Like in other states, the first to receive vaccines have been those directly overseeing our COVID response efforts - hospital workers and long term care staff and residents.We expect to be moving into the second phase before the end of this month, when we will begin vaccinating our seniors, because we know Kansans 65 and older are the biggest at-risk group.Also in this category: essential frontline workers - these are our police, firefighters and other first responders, our teachers and childcare providers, our grocery store and meat packing plant workers.As we continue our phased approach, we will add other priority groups including those living in congregate settings, those below the age of 65 with severe medical risks, and other essential workers. And then, hopefully, over the next few months, the rest of the general public. Again, this depends on how quickly the federal government gets the vaccine to Kansas.But until then, it's imperative that everyone continue to do your part in slowing the spread of the virus - wear a mask, physically distance, and avoid mass gatherings.We are not out of the woods here. Not by a long shot. Our hospitals are strained and this virus continues to kill our loved ones and our neighbors.But, we *will* get through this crisis, with the vaccines.There's been a lot of misinformation out there about the vaccines. Internet conspiracy theories. Complete nonsense. Make no mistake, the science behind the vaccines is solid.&nbsp;And these vaccines are how we keep ourselves and our fellow Kansans healthy ... and ultimately, how we defeat this virus and move forward with our lives.The latest information about distribution instructions and timelines will always be available at our website - kansasvaccine.gov.So, if we've learned anything these past 10 months, it's that every Kansan deserves health care they can afford, good health care facilities near their homes, and for our rural neighbors and friends, more access to telehealth services.That's why I'll continue to push, over and over again, for what 38 states across the country have done - to expand Medicaid to cover another 165,000 Kansans, to ensure that our rural hospitals remain open, and inject billions of dollars into our economy.Access to vaccinations and good health care . . . It's the only way we'll truly put this nightmare behind us.We've already taken a series of strategic steps to keep our economy open. But open isn't good enough. We need to make sure it's growing, with Kansans not just getting back to their old jobs, but also finding new, better-paying jobs.We are set to launch the Framework for Growth - a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that the Kansas economy continues to thrive and that our most valuable resource -- our young people -- have exciting career opportunities right here at home.Let me briefly speak to five areas of economic growth that we've focused on: small businesses, infrastructure, new job creation, agriculture, and broadband.First, small businesses.No doubt, this has been a challenging period for small business owners, with so many having to adapt in different ways to the virus. And a very difficult time for anyone who works in a small business.Small businesses, as we know, aren't just workplaces, they're the heart beat of Main Street in so many Kansas communities. Familiar, friendly faces behind the counter. These folks are our neighbors, our friends.We have been able to help nearly 3,000 small businesses across the state with grants for payroll and other expenses. But we know more must be done.That's why I'm pleased about the resurrection of the Kansas Main Street Program and the launch of the Main Street Affiliate Community program. These programs provide funding and technical assistance to help transform and strengthen rural downtowns.I know for many small business owners, these past few months have been filled with anxiety and heartache – and you're just trying to do right by your employees and customers.I promise you that I'll do everything in my power to protect small businesses and the Kansans they employ.But it's not enough to simply save the jobs and businesses that exist. An obvious area for job growth is to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.I'm proud that Democrats and Republicans came together last year to pass a 10-year infrastructure plan - it's a strategic, practical approach that allows us to prioritize the most urgently needed projects.As we speak, more than 160 state highway and local road projects are under construction or about to be. And another 230 projects have been awarded for future construction. That's better roads, better bridges, walking and biking paths. A more modern transportation infrastructure from top to bottom – and that's a lot of jobs.We know this pandemic has put too many Kansans out of work, and I know some Kansans have had difficulty getting their unemployment benefits.The fact is, the volume of benefit applications absolutely overwhelmed our unemployment system. I want you to know we've fixed many of the immediate problems and more Kansas have received unemployment benefits since the pandemic started ten months ago, than in the eight previous years combined.To be prepared, should we ever be confronted with a health and economic crisis as staggering as this pandemic, we've committed 37.5 million dollars in this year's budget to update old IT systems that have been neglected for decades.While it's imperative that we modernize our IT systems, what's more important is making sure unemployed Kansans can get back to work.So we're moving quickly to bring new jobs to Kansas communities, big and small.We've announced projects like Urban Outfitters' new distribution center at Kansas Speedway in Wyandotte County that will create 2,000 new jobs and invest over 350 million dollars in Kansas.And Schwan's Company's expansion to its facility in Salina.&nbsp; When the project is complete, Salina's location will be home to the largest frozen pizza production facility in the world - and bring 225 good jobs to the community.Over these past two years, we've recruited dozens of new businesses and helped create more than 20,000 jobs; that's pumped more than 3 billion dollars into our local economies.Including into our farming and agriculture communities.Where, in typical Kansas fashion, Kansas farmers and ranchers have stepped up, even during those first, very scary days of COVID-19, and kept doing their jobs. They knew, pandemic or no pandemic, people need food.My Administration partnered with local and federal officials to make sure we kept these critical food supply chain workers safe and kept production online. The entire nation, and the entire world owes these Kansans a huge debt of gratitude.At the state level, we invested 12 million dollars to increase the capacity of the state's food supply system all across Kansas.And, as my friends in Agriculture may remember, I was the first Democratic governor to publicly support the USMCA, the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada.To me, this isn't about politics.I will always support our agricultural employers and workers because we all know that agriculture built Kansas, and it will be a driving force in rebuilding our economy as we emerge from this pandemic.And agriculture is one of many industries increasingly relying on high speed internet to meet the demands of their customers and for their day to day operations.In fact, in today's economy, businesses small and large depend upon broadband - both because this pandemic has required many of us to work remotely, and because of the broader shift we have seen from retail to etail commerce.It's an issue my administration has treated with the urgency it mandates.I signed an Executive Order establishing Kansas's first Office of Broadband Development - and through it, we've distributed nearly 50 million dollars in Connectivity Emergency Response Grants, to communities like Spring Hill, Valley Center, Dodge City, Topeka, Derby and others.We have to keep pushing on this issue. It needs to be a bi-partisan push.Because access to high speed internet will be a game changer for these communities. It's a tool to recruit new businesses and keep existing ones from leaving.It's also a tool to provide care through telehealth services to rural and underserved Kansans.And it's a tool for our children and their education. This pandemic has taught us that learning remotely is difficult enough, but to do it without reliable internet is impossible.It's been a long 10 months for our children, their parents … and perhaps especially for their teachers ... many of whom are juggling the teaching of our children while also looking after their own.I can't say enough about the job that Kansas teachers have done throughout this pandemic.Teaching under less-than-ideal circumstances, but never wavering in their commitment to our children.Stepping up under tough conditions is nothing new for Kansas teachers. They've been doing it for years.&nbsp;Remember, when we took office two years ago, the state was still reeling from a disastrous tax experiment that absolutely crushed our public schools, even forcing some to go to 4-day school weeks.We fixed our public schools once already - bringing Republicans and Democrats together to constitutionally fund education for the first time in many years.And now that the pandemic has created a new set of challenges - I want you to know that we're going to get every Kansas student back in the classroom as soon as possible, and provide their teachers with the tools and resources they need to get our kids back on track.From day one, I pledged to Kansans that we'd never return to those days of broken budgets and fiscal irresponsibility.That's why I'm committed to closing the Bank of KDOT by 2023. Past Administrations have used these critical highway construction dollars as a slush fund for their ideological experiments - which undermined opportunities for infrastructure investments and economic growth.Once again, we brought Democrats and Republicans together to balance the budget and constitutionally fund our schools - all without a tax increase. In fact, because we prioritized wisely and found new efficiencies, I'm proud to report that even during this pandemic, the state will close out this fiscal year with a projected 600 million dollar ending balance.But we must remain vigilant. We're just a few years removed from the Brownback tax experiment, and it seems as though some of my colleagues in the Legislature have already forgotten just how devasting that experiment was to our economy, our schools, and our future.The tough, pragmatic budget choices we have made to this point have given us flexibility to protect our core services - like education, infrastructure, and economic development tools -&nbsp;&nbsp; from COVID-related cuts, and have been an historically potent tool we have to recruit businesses to Kansas.As we recover from the economic damage caused by effects of this virus, we must continue to prioritize strategic and inclusive economic policies, not Brownback 2.0 tax cuts.Each year in this speech, and almost every day in between, I call for bi-partisanship. To work together, Democrats and Republicans have to do what's best for Kansas. To be better than what we see in Washington.In light of the destruction, violence, and sedition that took place at the United States Capitol last week, we can't simply treat this like any other moment. That would be an insult to Kansans - and all they've seen these past 10 days and all they've experienced these past 10 months in their own lives.&nbsp;This isn't like any other moment.We're being tested like never before.This year, working together isn't simply something I want - it's something we owe to the people of Kansas.This year, as leaders, we must commit ourselves to set an example. In how we conduct ourselves. In the things we say to each other, what we post on social media, in what we tell people back home in our communities.This year, we must show Kansans that, even when we stand on opposite sides of the aisle, we still always share a common bond as Kansans and Americans.And right now, that means doing whatever it takes to get Kansans back to work, back to school - and back to a place where we treat each other with respect and dignity.We need to listen to public health experts. We need to listen to each other. We need to listen to the people of Kansas.And then we need to lock arms, not as politicians from one party or the other, but as Kansans.And in that spirit, I'd like to say a word about my friend - Senator Pat Roberts, who has retired after 40 years of elected service to our state.Pat was and remains famous, not only for his wit, but for his ability and willingness to work across the aisle.He and I are in different political parties, but we're united in our love for Kansas and its people.That's why he and I have been in such frequent contact about this pandemic, because we know that it's important for the state and federal government to work hand in hand. It's the right way to serve.As we tackle the challenges of these historically uncertain times in the weeks and months to come, let us all do it with leaders like Pat Roberts in mind.And let us always remember that our children and grandchildren are watching.These days, they're watching extra closely.The decisions we make, and the example we set, in the coming weeks and months will have a lasting impact on their lives. And on our beloved state of Kansas.This is a time like none other we've seen.Let's rise, together, to meet this moment.May God keep the people of Kansas healthy and on the road to prosperity.Thank you and good night.-------TOPEKA—&nbsp;&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly delivered the annual 2021 State of the State address&nbsp;&nbsp;virtually, to the people of Kansas.&nbsp;The governor will report to the Kansas Legislature and to the state her administration's priorities for the 2021 legislative session.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎥  Governor's State of the State address

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—One person died in an accident Tuesday in Montgomery County.

Just before noon Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to County Road 3670 east of County 4150 for a report of an overturned tractor, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found a tractor overturned in a creek.

The driver of the tractor identified as 76-year-old Dr. Richard (Doc) Barta had not survived the accident. 

&nbsp;The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, according to Wade. <a href="https://www.bartaanimalhospital.net/">Barta was a veterinarian</a> in Independence.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—One person died in an accident Tuesday in Montgomery County.Just before noon Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to County Road 3670 east of County 4150 for a report of an overturned tractor, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.When deputies arrived on scene, they found a tractor overturned in a creek.The driver of the tractor identified as 76-year-old Dr. Richard (Doc) Barta had not survived the accident. &nbsp;The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, according to Wade. <a href="https://www.bartaanimalhospital.net/">Barta was a veterinarian</a> in Independence.

Sheriff: Kan. man dies when tractor overturns in creek

By STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/students-kansas-largest-school-districts-return-classrooms-during-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>

Since March, K-12 students at the state’s largest districts have been
 sent home, brought back and then told to leave their classrooms again.

Now,
 many of those students will return to school buildings again this month
 as educators and researchers redefine what it means to hold in-person 
classes safely.

Topeka Public Schools <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/education/2020/12/30/topeka-public-schools-returning-in-person-classes/4094303001/" target="_blank">reopened its doors</a> to all students last week. <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2020/12/15/usd-437-will-tentatively-start-spring-semester-with-some-in-person-learning/43270965/" target="_blank">Auburn-Washburn</a>
 brought students back, with middle and high school students using a 
hybrid model. Shawnee Heights, Olathe and Wichita Public Schools all 
welcomed students back this month.

Pushback from parents, new 
state guidelines and research suggesting schools are not superspreaders 
caused districts to bring kids back. Some teacher unions support the 
return to classrooms.

But community spread remains uncontrolled. 
The vaccine rollout has stumbled. November saw administrators pulled in 
to teach while many regular classroom teachers were stuck in quarantine.
 Teachers still worry what reopening means for their safety.

Concerns
 about student health did not shut classroom doors in November — they 
closed because districts just didn’t have the staff.

In November,
 so many teachers were quarantined that districts did not have enough 
educators to cover all their classes. Administrators were pulled from 
offices and put in classrooms to help fill the need. By the end of the 
month, 16% of the staff at Wichita Public Schools was quarantining.

“We
 were pulling in anyone in a building that we could to cover these 
classes, and they were more monitoring kids rather than teaching,” said 
Kimberly Howard, president of the United Teachers of Wichita.

Wichita
 Public Schools had planned throughout November, despite opposition from
 teachers, to let middle and high school students return for in-person 
classes.

But with so few educators available, the board reversed 
course. Instead of bringing middle and high school students back, the 
district kept them at home and also sent elementary students home as 
well for online learning. Olathe Public Schools sent students home for 
the same reason.

But <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/school-coronavirus-spread/2020/12/29/bbfac9d8-3697-11eb-a997-1f4c53d2a747_story.html" target="_blank">new research</a>
 suggests teachers and students rarely become infected in school 
buildings. Contact tracers found little evidence of infections within 
schools — most teachers became infected in their local communities 
instead.

That caused the Kansas State Department of Education to suggest schools <a href="https://www.ksde.org/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/kansas-state-board-of-education-december-highlights-board-members-approve-change-to-school-gating-criteria-1" target="_blank">keep elementary students inside the classroom</a>, no matter how bad the local spread of the virus gets.

On
 Monday night, the Wichita school board voted to let elementary students
 return Wednesday. Middle and high school students will come back when 
the new semester starts Jan. 25. Students in any grade can still learn 
remotely if that’s what their parents prefer.

Olathe Public 
Schools said it reopened classrooms because public health indicators 
said it was safe based on the guidelines the board passed in August.

But
 Superintendent John Allison said the district is considering updating 
those guidelines because its own local data showed the same results as 
the national research — little indication of the virus spreading inside 
the schools.

“Schools have not been the superspreaders everyone was concerned about,” Allison said.

An analysis of Wichita public schools by The Wichita Eagle seems to <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article248407765.html" target="_blank">contradict that national research</a>.
 In-person elementary students were three times as likely to have a 
positive coronavirus test result. Wichita Public Schools employees had 
nearly twice as many cases per capita than the community as a whole.

Researchers
 add the caveat that schools still need to keep students and staff 
masked and distanced to keep that spread low. As Olathe and other 
districts bring back middle and high school students, they’re sticking 
with a hybrid model, which includes in-person and remote learning.

Some
 Kansas teachers unions have said they support loosening guidelines 
based on medical experts — so long as those preventive measures still 
happen in the classroom. The Kansas National Education Association said 
in several Kansas school districts, masks still aren’t required for 
students and staff.

The union also wants teachers to have the 
option to stay home. If a teacher lives with someone who’s at risk for 
serious complications from contracting COVID-19, they’re often still 
required to show up when a school reopens.

Olathe Public Schools 
said that’s the same risk taken at any in-person job during the pandemic
 — even less because of the evidence suggesting little school spread. 
But that hasn’t completely assuaged the KNEA’s concerns.

“You 
have a circumstance there where you’re really being asked to roll the 
dice,” said Marcus Baltzell, the director of communications for KNEA.

Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en" target="_blank">@SteveBisaha</a> or email him at bisaha@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610471213382.png" alt="Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Stephan Bisaha / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By STEPHAN BISAHA <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/students-kansas-largest-school-districts-return-classrooms-during-pandemic">Kansas News Service</a>Since March, K-12 students at the state’s largest districts have been
 sent home, brought back and then told to leave their classrooms again.Now,
 many of those students will return to school buildings again this month
 as educators and researchers redefine what it means to hold in-person 
classes safely.Topeka Public Schools <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/education/2020/12/30/topeka-public-schools-returning-in-person-classes/4094303001/" target="_blank">reopened its doors</a> to all students last week. <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2020/12/15/usd-437-will-tentatively-start-spring-semester-with-some-in-person-learning/43270965/" target="_blank">Auburn-Washburn</a>
 brought students back, with middle and high school students using a 
hybrid model. Shawnee Heights, Olathe and Wichita Public Schools all 
welcomed students back this month.Pushback from parents, new 
state guidelines and research suggesting schools are not superspreaders 
caused districts to bring kids back. Some teacher unions support the 
return to classrooms.But community spread remains uncontrolled. 
The vaccine rollout has stumbled. November saw administrators pulled in 
to teach while many regular classroom teachers were stuck in quarantine.
 Teachers still worry what reopening means for their safety.<h2>Back in session</h2>Concerns
 about student health did not shut classroom doors in November — they 
closed because districts just didn’t have the staff.In November,
 so many teachers were quarantined that districts did not have enough 
educators to cover all their classes. Administrators were pulled from 
offices and put in classrooms to help fill the need. By the end of the 
month, 16% of the staff at Wichita Public Schools was quarantining.“We
 were pulling in anyone in a building that we could to cover these 
classes, and they were more monitoring kids rather than teaching,” said 
Kimberly Howard, president of the United Teachers of Wichita.Wichita
 Public Schools had planned throughout November, despite opposition from
 teachers, to let middle and high school students return for in-person 
classes.But with so few educators available, the board reversed 
course. Instead of bringing middle and high school students back, the 
district kept them at home and also sent elementary students home as 
well for online learning. Olathe Public Schools sent students home for 
the same reason.But <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/school-coronavirus-spread/2020/12/29/bbfac9d8-3697-11eb-a997-1f4c53d2a747_story.html" target="_blank">new research</a>
 suggests teachers and students rarely become infected in school 
buildings. Contact tracers found little evidence of infections within 
schools — most teachers became infected in their local communities 
instead.That caused the Kansas State Department of Education to suggest schools <a href="https://www.ksde.org/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/kansas-state-board-of-education-december-highlights-board-members-approve-change-to-school-gating-criteria-1" target="_blank">keep elementary students inside the classroom</a>, no matter how bad the local spread of the virus gets.On
 Monday night, the Wichita school board voted to let elementary students
 return Wednesday. Middle and high school students will come back when 
the new semester starts Jan. 25. Students in any grade can still learn 
remotely if that’s what their parents prefer.Olathe Public 
Schools said it reopened classrooms because public health indicators 
said it was safe based on the guidelines the board passed in August.But
 Superintendent John Allison said the district is considering updating 
those guidelines because its own local data showed the same results as 
the national research — little indication of the virus spreading inside 
the schools.“Schools have not been the superspreaders everyone was concerned about,” Allison said.An analysis of Wichita public schools by The Wichita Eagle seems to <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article248407765.html" target="_blank">contradict that national research</a>.
 In-person elementary students were three times as likely to have a 
positive coronavirus test result. Wichita Public Schools employees had 
nearly twice as many cases per capita than the community as a whole.<h2>Worried return</h2>Researchers
 add the caveat that schools still need to keep students and staff 
masked and distanced to keep that spread low. As Olathe and other 
districts bring back middle and high school students, they’re sticking 
with a hybrid model, which includes in-person and remote learning.Some
 Kansas teachers unions have said they support loosening guidelines 
based on medical experts — so long as those preventive measures still 
happen in the classroom. The Kansas National Education Association said 
in several Kansas school districts, masks still aren’t required for 
students and staff.The union also wants teachers to have the 
option to stay home. If a teacher lives with someone who’s at risk for 
serious complications from contracting COVID-19, they’re often still 
required to show up when a school reopens.Olathe Public Schools 
said that’s the same risk taken at any in-person job during the pandemic
 — even less because of the evidence suggesting little school spread. 
But that hasn’t completely assuaged the KNEA’s concerns.“You 
have a circumstance there where you’re really being asked to roll the 
dice,” said Marcus Baltzell, the director of communications for KNEA.Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/stevebisaha?lang=en" target="_blank">@SteveBisaha</a> or email him at bisaha@kmuw.org.

Students in Kan. largest districts returning to classrooms

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas House Democrats started the process Tuesday to oust a newly elected lawmaker over multiple issues that include the 20-year-old’s rhetoric on Twitter and allegations of harassing and threatening girls and young women.

A formal compliant filed in the House about State Rep. Aaron Coleman will kick off a bipartisan investigation that will culminate in a recommendation and vote about his future in the Legislature. A two-thirds majority would be necessary to oust Coleman, of Kansas City, Kansas, who was sworn in on Monday.

“He is a danger to women,” said Minority Leader Tom Sawyer in a statement. “His removal is necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of legislators and Capitol staff.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has said Coleman is unfit to serve in the House.

Coleman, who was elected as a Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron4KS37/status/1349019093354086402/photo/1" target="_blank">tweeted&nbsp;</a>Tuesday that he was unaffiliating with the party. He wrote that Democratic leaders in the House have “done everything possible” to deny the people of his district the right to representation in the Legislature.

“I am ready to get to work for the people of Kansas,” he said, adding that he is being stymied. While the censure inquiry is underway, he won’t be assigned to any committees or given an office.

He didn’t immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Coleman ran on a progressive platform that included providing universal health coverage, ending college tuition and legalizing marijuana. He won his primary race even after admitting on social media that he had circulated revenge porn as a “sick and troubled” middle school-aged boy.

He faced only write-in candidates in the general election, even as at least two other cases in which he was accused of threatening or abusing girls or young women came to light.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-state-courts-legislature-kansas-city-lawsuits-fa6cd16ccb10518f157e4796522d214b">Last week, he reached a legal agreement&nbsp;</a>with Brandie Armstrong, the campaign manager for the veteran lawmaker Coleman narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary in August. The order ended an anti-stalking court order against him.

Armstrong said in her request for the court order that Coleman repeatedly sent harassing texts and personal messages to her during the campaign, came to her home in June and October and attempted to file “false and bogus” complaints against her landlord to try to get her evicted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610477940395.png" alt="Photo courtesy Rep. Aaron Coleman&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Rep. Aaron Coleman&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas House Democrats started the process Tuesday to oust a newly elected lawmaker over multiple issues that include the 20-year-old’s rhetoric on Twitter and allegations of harassing and threatening girls and young women.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Complaint Filed Against Rep. Aaron Coleman <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/7dAl3xHgpR">pic.twitter.com/7dAl3xHgpR</a>&mdash; Kansas House Dems (@KSHouseDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSHouseDems/status/1349050518979665923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A formal compliant filed in the House about State Rep. Aaron Coleman will kick off a bipartisan investigation that will culminate in a recommendation and vote about his future in the Legislature. A two-thirds majority would be necessary to oust Coleman, of Kansas City, Kansas, who was sworn in on Monday.“He is a danger to women,” said Minority Leader Tom Sawyer in a statement. “His removal is necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of legislators and Capitol staff.”Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has said Coleman is unfit to serve in the House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 01-12-2021 Statement from House District 37 Representative Aaron Coleman on Unaffiliating with Democratic Leadership and Registering as an Independent. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UsNotMe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UsNotMe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YangGang?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YangGang</a> <a href="https://t.co/OXFbNxrMVA">pic.twitter.com/OXFbNxrMVA</a>&mdash; Rep. Aaron Coleman 🌹✡️ (@Aaron4KS37) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron4KS37/status/1349019093354086402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Coleman, who was elected as a Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron4KS37/status/1349019093354086402/photo/1" target="_blank">tweeted&nbsp;</a>Tuesday that he was unaffiliating with the party. He wrote that Democratic leaders in the House have “done everything possible” to deny the people of his district the right to representation in the Legislature.“I am ready to get to work for the people of Kansas,” he said, adding that he is being stymied. While the censure inquiry is underway, he won’t be assigned to any committees or given an office.He didn’t immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment.Coleman ran on a progressive platform that included providing universal health coverage, ending college tuition and legalizing marijuana. He won his primary race even after admitting on social media that he had circulated revenge porn as a “sick and troubled” middle school-aged boy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My seat and view when we are in session! :) <a href="https://t.co/OJ2ucd39Y2">pic.twitter.com/OJ2ucd39Y2</a>&mdash; Rep. Aaron Coleman 🌹✡️ (@Aaron4KS37) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aaron4KS37/status/1348749586534424582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He faced only write-in candidates in the general election, even as at least two other cases in which he was accused of threatening or abusing girls or young women came to light.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-state-courts-legislature-kansas-city-lawsuits-fa6cd16ccb10518f157e4796522d214b">Last week, he reached a legal agreement&nbsp;</a>with Brandie Armstrong, the campaign manager for the veteran lawmaker Coleman narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary in August. The order ended an anti-stalking court order against him.Armstrong said in her request for the court order that Coleman repeatedly sent harassing texts and personal messages to her during the campaign, came to her home in June and October and attempted to file “false and bogus” complaints against her landlord to try to get her evicted.

Kan. House Dems move to oust member over issues with women

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects in connection with the burglary of police equipment from an off-duty officer's vehicle in rural Saline County and several other burglaries in the county.

Between 8:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and 3:20 a.m. Dec. 30, someone entered the unlocked personal vehicle of the officer in the unincorporated Saline County Community of Kipp, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

The suspect took&nbsp; the officers's badge, ballistic vest, a taser, a body camera, a Kenwood portable radio, a Glock 9mm hand gun, flashlight, 52 rounds of 9mm ammunition, OC spray (pepper spray), an ASP expandable baton,&nbsp; emergency tourniquet belt holder,&nbsp;&nbsp;black duty belt, a black and blue knife, a handcuff pouch and a magazine pouch The total loss was estimated at $5,036, according to Soldan.

On Dec. 31, deputies executed a search warrant in the case at 110 Raleigh Street in Salina, according to Soldan.&nbsp;

As the warrant was being executed, Byron Neef, 23, of Salina, attempted to flee and a magazine believed to be from the Glock stolen in Kipp fell out of his pocket, according to the sheriff. When Neef was stopped, the Glock and part of a magazine for the Glock were located in his vehicle.

During the search of the residence, deputies found the officer's badge, radio and mic, part of the vest carrier, the knife, methamphetamine, and marijuana, according to Soldan.

&nbsp;Deputies also found a victim's wallet from a burglary in the 7200 block of East Farrelly Road and checks from two other burglaries.

A suspect in the case, 25-year-old Jeremy Cullen of Salina, who law enforcement hoped to find during the search was not at the residence, according to Soldan.

On Jan. 3, deputies executed another search warrant at 1844 North Fifth Street in Salina. Investigators found part of the officer's vest carrier, a third magazine for the Glock, the taser holster, and a double magazine ammunition holder.

Deputies also found a rifle reported stolen in a burglary in the 6900 block of Thorstenberg Road.

During the search, deputies arrested 52-year-old Richard Blevins who lives at the North Fifth Street address.

On January. 6, police located Cullen at a Wichita motel and arrested him on multiple active warrants out of Saline County, according to Soldan. Cullen was also booked on requested charges&nbsp;burglary, theft, possession of stolen property,&nbsp;&nbsp;theft of a firearm,&nbsp;distribution of a firearm to a felon, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Attempted unlawful use of a financial card

Salina police arrested Neef on Dec. 31, according to Soldan. He was booked on requested charges that include Possession of a stolen firearm, Possession of stolen property, Felon in possession of a firearm, Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, Possession of drug paraphernalia, No tax stamp, Unlawful drug proceeds, Interference with a law enforcement officer, Driving while suspended

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609515247267.jpeg" alt="Byron Neef photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Byron Neef photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects in connection with the burglary of police equipment from an off-duty officer's vehicle in rural Saline County and several other burglaries in the county.Between 8:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and 3:20 a.m. Dec. 30, someone entered the unlocked personal vehicle of the officer in the unincorporated Saline County Community of Kipp, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.The suspect took&nbsp; the officers's badge, ballistic vest, a taser, a body camera, a Kenwood portable radio, a Glock 9mm hand gun, flashlight, 52 rounds of 9mm ammunition, OC spray (pepper spray), an ASP expandable baton,&nbsp; emergency tourniquet belt holder,&nbsp;&nbsp;black duty belt, a black and blue knife, a handcuff pouch and a magazine pouch The total loss was estimated at $5,036, according to Soldan.On Dec. 31, deputies executed a search warrant in the case at 110 Raleigh Street in Salina, according to Soldan.&nbsp;As the warrant was being executed, Byron Neef, 23, of Salina, attempted to flee and a magazine believed to be from the Glock stolen in Kipp fell out of his pocket, according to the sheriff. When Neef was stopped, the Glock and part of a magazine for the Glock were located in his vehicle.During the search of the residence, deputies found the officer's badge, radio and mic, part of the vest carrier, the knife, methamphetamine, and marijuana, according to Soldan.&nbsp;Deputies also found a victim's wallet from a burglary in the 7200 block of East Farrelly Road and checks from two other burglaries.A suspect in the case, 25-year-old Jeremy Cullen of Salina, who law enforcement hoped to find during the search was not at the residence, according to Soldan.On Jan. 3, deputies executed another search warrant at 1844 North Fifth Street in Salina. Investigators found part of the officer's vest carrier, a third magazine for the Glock, the taser holster, and a double magazine ammunition holder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1609944154195.jpeg" alt="Blevins photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Blevins photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies also found a rifle reported stolen in a burglary in the 6900 block of Thorstenberg Road.During the search, deputies arrested 52-year-old Richard Blevins who lives at the North Fifth Street address.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610473097101.png" alt="Cullen photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Cullen photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On January. 6, police located Cullen at a Wichita motel and arrested him on multiple active warrants out of Saline County, according to Soldan. Cullen was also booked on requested charges&nbsp;burglary, theft, possession of stolen property,&nbsp;&nbsp;theft of a firearm,&nbsp;distribution of a firearm to a felon, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Attempted unlawful use of a financial cardSalina police arrested Neef on Dec. 31, according to Soldan. He was booked on requested charges that include Possession of a stolen firearm, Possession of stolen property, Felon in possession of a firearm, Possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, Possession of drug paraphernalia, No tax stamp, Unlawful drug proceeds, Interference with a law enforcement officer, Driving while suspended&nbsp;Blevins was booked on requested of charges of Felon in possession of a firearm, Possession of a stolen firearm, Possession of stolen property, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia.--------SALINE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating the burglary of a vehicle that belonged to a Salina police officer.Between 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, someone entered the unlocked personal vehicle of a Salina police officer in the unincorporated Saline County Community Kipp, according to Sheriff Roger Solday.The suspect took a the officers's badge, ballistic vest, a taser, a body camera, a Kenwood portable radio, a Glock 9mm hand gun, flashlight, 52 rounds of 9mm ammunition, OC spray (pepper spray), an ASP expandable baton,&nbsp; emergency tourniquet belt holder,&nbsp;&nbsp;black duty belt, a black and blue knife, a handcuff pouch and a magazine pouchThe total loss was estimated at $5,036, according to Soldan."We obviously take the theft of police equipment, to include a department issued handgun, extremely seriously. An Internal Affairs investigation will take place," Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson told Salina Post Wednesday.Saline County deputies were also busy Wednesday taking two other vehicle burglary reports in Kipp and a third report near there, according to Soldan.