WASHINGTON (AP) — A top U.S. pork producer is pushing federal lawmakers to allow immigrant workers to stay on the job year-round.

A spokeswoman for Iowa Select Farms — the state's largest pork producer — <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/immigrant-farmworkers-are-essential-to-feeding-america">told U.S. senators during </a>a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week that seasonal employment currently allowed under a federal visa program is insufficient to meet the industry’s needs.

Farmers and meatpacking plants are facing severe labor shortages and need immigrant workers to be able to work year-round, said spokeswoman Jen Sorenson.

“If the labor shortage is not addressed, it could lead to farms and packing plants shutting down, causing serious financial harm to the communities in which they operate,” said Sorenson, who’s also president of the National Pork Producers Council.

Wednesday’s hearing focused on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would provide a pathway to legal status for more than 1 million undocumented farmworkers. The U.S. House passed the bill in March.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, also testified at the hearing.

While Sorenson praised the legislation's call for year-round visas, she urged lawmakers to lift its cap on the number of those visas, saying that would force producers to “compete against one another for the same limited number of year-round visas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626980146257.png" alt="&nbsp;Jen Sorenson during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee- image courtesy Judiciary Committee" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Jen Sorenson during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee- image courtesy Judiciary Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A top U.S. pork producer is pushing federal lawmakers to allow immigrant workers to stay on the job year-round.A spokeswoman for Iowa Select Farms — the state's largest pork producer — <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/immigrant-farmworkers-are-essential-to-feeding-america">told U.S. senators during </a>a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last week that seasonal employment currently allowed under a federal visa program is insufficient to meet the industry’s needs.Farmers and meatpacking plants are facing severe labor shortages and need immigrant workers to be able to work year-round, said spokeswoman Jen Sorenson.“If the labor shortage is not addressed, it could lead to farms and packing plants shutting down, causing serious financial harm to the communities in which they operate,” said Sorenson, who’s also president of the National Pork Producers Council.Wednesday’s hearing focused on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would provide a pathway to legal status for more than 1 million undocumented farmworkers. The U.S. House passed the bill in March.U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, also testified at the hearing.While Sorenson praised the legislation's call for year-round visas, she urged lawmakers to lift its cap on the number of those visas, saying that would force producers to “compete against one another for the same limited number of year-round visas.

Pork producer: We need year-round immigrant workers

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-07-22/despite-covid-surge-and-advice-from-health-experts-most-kansas-schoolkids-wont-have-to-wear-masks">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — Overwhelmingly, the guidance from doctors and health agencies to schools weighing whether to require masks goes like this:

Unvaccinated
 people — including elementary students, for whom the COVID-19 shot 
isn’t yet available — should continue wearing face coverings at school.

The
 message comes as the highly contagious delta variant continues to 
spread through Kansas and rage through next-door Missouri, fueling a new
 surge of hospitalizations. The vast majority of cases are among 
unvaccinated people.

So far, though, only one large Kansas 
district has signaled a return to universal masking. The Kansas City, 
Kansas, school board <a href="https://kckps.org/kckpshealthandsafety/" target="_blank">adopted a back-to-school plan</a> requiring all students to wear face masks except those with health exemptions.

Other districts have either not decided on COVID protocols for the coming school year or have said masks <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-07-08/even-with-delta-driving-a-covid-resurgence-most-kansas-schools-ditch-mask-rules" target="_blank">will be recommended — not required</a>.

Earlier
 this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new 
guidelines giving vaccinated students the option to attend class without
 masks. But it said their unvaccinated classmates <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html" target="_blank">should continue to wear masks</a> into the 2021-22 school year.

The <a href="https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/" target="_blank">American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidance</a> urging a return to in-person instruction along with mandatory masks for all students and staff over age 2.

Because
 . . . we want to have all students in school, the AAP advocates for all
 students, teachers and staff to wear masks while indoors in school,” 
Dr. Sonja O’Leary, who heads the group’s school health committee, said 
in a statement.

The group recommended masks for everybody, 
including older students and teachers, because schools lack the 
resources to monitor vaccine status or enforce mask policies based on 
vaccination status.

Kansas doctors and public health officials have weighed in as well.

In a <a href="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/documents/CMO/20210716schoolguidanceletter_final.pdf" target="_blank">letter to superintendents and school board members</a>,
 the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment recommended 
that school boards “implement a policy that requires indoor mask wearing
 among persons who are not fully vaccinated.”

And just this week, a group of 100 Kansas City area doctors, 
including pediatricians and infectious disease specialists, sent an open
 letter to school districts urging them to require masks for 
unvaccinated students and teachers.

“We all agree that our 
students need to be in schools and that they need to be safe,” the 
letter said. “Enacting these policies will give schools the best 
opportunity to do both while minimizing potential instructional 
interruptions due to illness, contact isolations, and quarantine.”

Officials
 with the state’s largest district in Wichita announced last month that 
masks would be optional for all staff, students and visitors.

Sedgwick
 County spokesman Akeam Ashford said the county health department 
doesn’t plan to issue school-specific guidance on masks or other 
measures.

“The decision of county leaders has been to <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article249974939.html" target="_blank">leave that decision up to the local school districts</a>,” he said.

Susan
 Arensman, a spokeswoman for Wichita schools, said the plan is still to 
make masks optional. But “we are monitoring what is happening in the 
community,” she said in an email.

Wichita Superintendent Alicia 
Thompson got advice from public health officials and doctors and 
feedback from a community survey before crafting the district’s <a href="https://www.usd259.org/WPSadvance" target="_blank">back-to-school plan</a>.

In Johnson County, five of six districts have said they will recommend but not require masks. The sixth, <a href="https://www.smsd.org/about/board-of-education" target="_blank">Shawnee Mission</a>, is expected to announce its back-to-school plan Monday.

Brent
 Lewis, president of United Teachers of Wichita, said he’s not concerned
 that the district’s back-to-school plan is at odds with recent health 
guidance.

“We understand that our school district faces difficult 
circumstances and decisions regarding safety during the pandemic,” Lewis
 said this week.

“We simply expect that as conditions and 
recommendations change, the school district will ensure that our 
students and staff are safe within our schools. And we want to stay in 
the classroom.”

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626989974830.png" alt="Kim Welch, a Wichita preschool teacher, leads a class during a half-day summer program at Cessna Elementary School. Suzanne Perez / KMUW" />
 <figcaption>Kim Welch, a Wichita preschool teacher, leads a class during a half-day summer program at Cessna Elementary School. Suzanne Perez / KMUW</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-07-22/despite-covid-surge-and-advice-from-health-experts-most-kansas-schoolkids-wont-have-to-wear-masks">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — Overwhelmingly, the guidance from doctors and health agencies to schools weighing whether to require masks goes like this:Unvaccinated
 people — including elementary students, for whom the COVID-19 shot 
isn’t yet available — should continue wearing face coverings at school.The
 message comes as the highly contagious delta variant continues to 
spread through Kansas and rage through next-door Missouri, fueling a new
 surge of hospitalizations. The vast majority of cases are among 
unvaccinated people.So far, though, only one large Kansas 
district has signaled a return to universal masking. The Kansas City, 
Kansas, school board <a href="https://kckps.org/kckpshealthandsafety/" target="_blank">adopted a back-to-school plan</a> requiring all students to wear face masks except those with health exemptions.Other districts have either not decided on COVID protocols for the coming school year or have said masks <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/2021-07-08/even-with-delta-driving-a-covid-resurgence-most-kansas-schools-ditch-mask-rules" target="_blank">will be recommended — not required</a>.Updated guidanceEarlier
 this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new 
guidelines giving vaccinated students the option to attend class without
 masks. But it said their unvaccinated classmates <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html" target="_blank">should continue to wear masks</a> into the 2021-22 school year.The <a href="https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/" target="_blank">American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidance</a> urging a return to in-person instruction along with mandatory masks for all students and staff over age 2.Because
 . . . we want to have all students in school, the AAP advocates for all
 students, teachers and staff to wear masks while indoors in school,” 
Dr. Sonja O’Leary, who heads the group’s school health committee, said 
in a statement.The group recommended masks for everybody, 
including older students and teachers, because schools lack the 
resources to monitor vaccine status or enforce mask policies based on 
vaccination status.Kansas doctors and public health officials have weighed in as well.In a <a href="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/documents/CMO/20210716schoolguidanceletter_final.pdf" target="_blank">letter to superintendents and school board members</a>,
 the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment recommended 
that school boards “implement a policy that requires indoor mask wearing
 among persons who are not fully vaccinated.”And just this week, a group of 100 Kansas City area doctors, 
including pediatricians and infectious disease specialists, sent an open
 letter to school districts urging them to require masks for 
unvaccinated students and teachers.“We all agree that our 
students need to be in schools and that they need to be safe,” the 
letter said. “Enacting these policies will give schools the best 
opportunity to do both while minimizing potential instructional 
interruptions due to illness, contact isolations, and quarantine.”Masks optionalOfficials
 with the state’s largest district in Wichita announced last month that 
masks would be optional for all staff, students and visitors.Sedgwick
 County spokesman Akeam Ashford said the county health department 
doesn’t plan to issue school-specific guidance on masks or other 
measures.“The decision of county leaders has been to <a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/education/article249974939.html" target="_blank">leave that decision up to the local school districts</a>,” he said.Susan
 Arensman, a spokeswoman for Wichita schools, said the plan is still to 
make masks optional. But “we are monitoring what is happening in the 
community,” she said in an email.Wichita Superintendent Alicia 
Thompson got advice from public health officials and doctors and 
feedback from a community survey before crafting the district’s <a href="https://www.usd259.org/WPSadvance" target="_blank">back-to-school plan</a>.In Johnson County, five of six districts have said they will recommend but not require masks. The sixth, <a href="https://www.smsd.org/about/board-of-education" target="_blank">Shawnee Mission</a>, is expected to announce its back-to-school plan Monday.Brent
 Lewis, president of United Teachers of Wichita, said he’s not concerned
 that the district’s back-to-school plan is at odds with recent health 
guidance.“We understand that our school district faces difficult 
circumstances and decisions regarding safety during the pandemic,” Lewis
 said this week.“We simply expect that as conditions and 
recommendations change, the school district will ensure that our 
students and staff are safe within our schools. And we want to stay in 
the classroom.”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

Despite warnings, most Kan. schoolkids won't have to wear masks 

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal crash that occurred just before 7p.m. Saturday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a vehicle was southbound on Prairie Road near 240th Street four miles east of Hiawatha.

The vehicle traveled off the road into the west ditch, continued southbound, jumped a creek, struck an embankment, continued southbound in a ditch, struck a wooden post and rolled on its top in a field.

Authorities did not release additional details early Sunday.

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal crash that occurred just before 7p.m. Saturday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a vehicle was southbound on Prairie Road near 240th Street four miles east of Hiawatha.The vehicle traveled off the road into the west ditch, continued southbound, jumped a creek, struck an embankment, continued southbound in a ditch, struck a wooden post and rolled on its top in a field.Authorities did not release additional details early Sunday.

KHP investigates violent, rollover crash

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The number of NFL players in the COVID-19 vaccination process has reached 80%, with nine teams having 90% or more of their players in that category.

Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s medical director, said Friday that nearly all Tier 1 and Tier 2 team employees — those who deal directly with players — have been vaccinated. Five teams are at less than 70% of players who have either received one vaccination shot or both. He is optimistic the number of vaccinated players will continue to rise as training camps open.

“I think we are off to an excellent start,” Sills said. “Those numbers are much higher than what we’re seeing in society as a whole. There has been a lot of movement in that area. As you see players coming to training camp, you will see more players beginning that process (of vaccination).”

Sills cited teams having strong advocates for vaccination among players and coaches, as well as the educational materials available.

“I think that has influenced a lot of players,” he said. “I think we are still seeing a lot of positive momentum. Numbers are changing on a day-by-day basis and I think we’ll be seeing them day by day going up.

“What matters is that individuals have the most accurate information. Let’s not get information from Instagram or Facebook posts. Let’s try to hear from the most reputable professionals. You don’t shout anyone into belief here — there have to be thoughtful conversations. What we can do is provide the facts and make sure the entirety of the medical facts are presented.”

On Thursday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the 32 teams warning that forfeited regular-season games could occur for a COVID-19 outbreak caused by nonvaccinated players.

Dawn Aponte, the league’s chief football administrative officer, reiterated that games will not be postponed to avoid roster issues because of the flexibility built in: COVID-19 replacement players; expanded practice squads to 16 players; a three-week minimum stay on injured reserve instead of six weeks; no limit on activating players from IR.

That means 272 games on time within 18 weeks “safely and responsibly,” she said.

“Flexible and adaptable will continue to be key,” Aponte added, noting that Goodell’s memo was vetted by people in a variety of NFL roles. “We are committed to playing a full season as scheduled. There is the no-play/no-pay provision (from 2020), which has been agreed to with the players’ association and will carry into this season.”

“Health and science truly is what drives and guides these decisions,” she added. “And I think we illustrated that last season and will continue to do so. I think we know a lot more this year ... the biggest difference is a vaccination is available.”

Minnesota has an assistant, Rick Dennison, who is not vaccinated. After ESPN reported that Dennison has been ousted from his role as offensive line coach and run game coordinator, the Vikings released a statement confirming they were in discussions with him regarding league protocols for training camp and preseason games. As of Friday afternoon, Dennison remained a team employee.

“At this time, coach Dennison does not have an exemption to the vaccination requirements of those protocols. We will adhere to the requirements of the protocols and of applicable law,” the Vikings said in their statement.

Said Peter Schaffer, Dennison’s agent: “Rick is 100% committed to and invested in being the best football coach he can be for the Vikings with the singular focus of winning the Super Bowl this year.”

Kansas City is one team well above the threshold of 85% vaccinated players.

“There’s six teams that are over 90%, so we’re glad to be in that area there,” coach Andy Reid said. “We’re one of the teams where the players have really challenged themselves to get things done and take care of business.”

The Chiefs are a prime example of what Sills discussed: NFL vaccinations outpacing those in the community. For Missouri, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report 40.8% of the population is fully vaccinated. In Buchanan County where the Chiefs train in northwest Missouri, that number drops to 19.34%.

The league has said that determining who makes the roster can’t involve whether a player is vaccinated. Policing such roster moves would be difficult, but Aponte dismissed any conspiracy theories.

“Cutting players is for their performance,” she said. “And I don’t think clubs will — I can’t stand in their shoes — but I think there are protocols that have been put in place ... that are not restricting their ability to perform. I don’t see the two tying together.”

Still, it is clear the league and the players’ union are strongly advocating vaccinations with every move they make.

“No one is trying to be punitive or anything like that,” Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said. “Simply, if your choice is not to get vaccinated, it’s going to be a much more difficult season.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The number of NFL players in the COVID-19 vaccination process has reached 80%, with nine teams having 90% or more of their players in that category.Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s medical director, said Friday that nearly all Tier 1 and Tier 2 team employees — those who deal directly with players — have been vaccinated. Five teams are at less than 70% of players who have either received one vaccination shot or both. He is optimistic the number of vaccinated players will continue to rise as training camps open.“I think we are off to an excellent start,” Sills said. “Those numbers are much higher than what we’re seeing in society as a whole. There has been a lot of movement in that area. As you see players coming to training camp, you will see more players beginning that process (of vaccination).”Sills cited teams having strong advocates for vaccination among players and coaches, as well as the educational materials available.“I think that has influenced a lot of players,” he said. “I think we are still seeing a lot of positive momentum. Numbers are changing on a day-by-day basis and I think we’ll be seeing them day by day going up.“What matters is that individuals have the most accurate information. Let’s not get information from Instagram or Facebook posts. Let’s try to hear from the most reputable professionals. You don’t shout anyone into belief here — there have to be thoughtful conversations. What we can do is provide the facts and make sure the entirety of the medical facts are presented.”On Thursday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the 32 teams warning that forfeited regular-season games could occur for a COVID-19 outbreak caused by nonvaccinated players.Dawn Aponte, the league’s chief football administrative officer, reiterated that games will not be postponed to avoid roster issues because of the flexibility built in: COVID-19 replacement players; expanded practice squads to 16 players; a three-week minimum stay on injured reserve instead of six weeks; no limit on activating players from IR.That means 272 games on time within 18 weeks “safely and responsibly,” she said.“Flexible and adaptable will continue to be key,” Aponte added, noting that Goodell’s memo was vetted by people in a variety of NFL roles. “We are committed to playing a full season as scheduled. There is the no-play/no-pay provision (from 2020), which has been agreed to with the players’ association and will carry into this season.”“Health and science truly is what drives and guides these decisions,” she added. “And I think we illustrated that last season and will continue to do so. I think we know a lot more this year ... the biggest difference is a vaccination is available.”Minnesota has an assistant, Rick Dennison, who is not vaccinated. After ESPN reported that Dennison has been ousted from his role as offensive line coach and run game coordinator, the Vikings released a statement confirming they were in discussions with him regarding league protocols for training camp and preseason games. As of Friday afternoon, Dennison remained a team employee.“At this time, coach Dennison does not have an exemption to the vaccination requirements of those protocols. We will adhere to the requirements of the protocols and of applicable law,” the Vikings said in their statement.Said Peter Schaffer, Dennison’s agent: “Rick is 100% committed to and invested in being the best football coach he can be for the Vikings with the singular focus of winning the Super Bowl this year.”Kansas City is one team well above the threshold of 85% vaccinated players.“There’s six teams that are over 90%, so we’re glad to be in that area there,” coach Andy Reid said. “We’re one of the teams where the players have really challenged themselves to get things done and take care of business.”The Chiefs are a prime example of what Sills discussed: NFL vaccinations outpacing those in the community. For Missouri, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report 40.8% of the population is fully vaccinated. In Buchanan County where the Chiefs train in northwest Missouri, that number drops to 19.34%.The league has said that determining who makes the roster can’t involve whether a player is vaccinated. Policing such roster moves would be difficult, but Aponte dismissed any conspiracy theories.“Cutting players is for their performance,” she said. “And I don’t think clubs will — I can’t stand in their shoes — but I think there are protocols that have been put in place ... that are not restricting their ability to perform. I don’t see the two tying together.”Still, it is clear the league and the players’ union are strongly advocating vaccinations with every move they make.“No one is trying to be punitive or anything like that,” Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said. “Simply, if your choice is not to get vaccinated, it’s going to be a much more difficult season.”___

Number of NFL players in vaccination process up to 80%

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld most convictions against a Wichita woman for torturing and killing a man in a crime that the trial judge called “horrific beyond imagination.” 

Heidi Hillard and her husband, Jeff, were convicted of participating in the November 2016 killing of 33-year-old Scottie Goodpaster Jr. of Wichita. She was sentenced in 2018 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years.

The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed Heidi Hillard’s convictions and sentences for premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and rape. It overturned her conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after concluding the state presented insufficient evidence to support that charge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627071335279.png" alt="Hillard photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Hillard photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has upheld most convictions against a Wichita woman for torturing and killing a man in a crime that the trial judge called “horrific beyond imagination.” Heidi Hillard and her husband, Jeff, were convicted of participating in the November 2016 killing of 33-year-old Scottie Goodpaster Jr. of Wichita. She was sentenced in 2018 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627071394249.png" alt="Jeff Hillard is being held in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility -photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Hillard is being held in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility -photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed Heidi Hillard’s convictions and sentences for premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery and rape. It overturned her conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after concluding the state presented insufficient evidence to support that charge.

Kansas court upholds convictions in torture killing 

MARYVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A Nebraska man who set a fire that forced the evacuation of a Missouri county jail has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for arson and other charges.

Ethen Mark Bentley, 29, of Stella, Nebraska, was sentenced July 16 after pleading guilty to first-degree arson for setting a fire in his cell in January at the Nodaway County Jail. Jail officials were forced to evacuate 20 inmates through smoky, narrow hallways. No one was injured.

The inmates were relocated to nearby county jails for about a month while the jail was repaired.

Bentley also pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree domestic assault and one count of felony resisting arrest.

Those charges came after someone saw Bentley assault a woman in a moving vehicle, prosecutors said. He fled when police tried to stop the vehicle and eventually hit a Maryville Public Safety car head on, totaling both vehicles.

As part of the sentence, Bentley was ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the county.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627073783192.png" alt="Bentley photo Platte Co" />
 <figcaption>Bentley photo Platte Co</figcaption>
 </figure>MARYVILLE, Mo. (AP) — A Nebraska man who set a fire that forced the evacuation of a Missouri county jail has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for arson and other charges.Ethen Mark Bentley, 29, of Stella, Nebraska, was sentenced July 16 after pleading guilty to first-degree arson for setting a fire in his cell in January at the Nodaway County Jail. Jail officials were forced to evacuate 20 inmates through smoky, narrow hallways. No one was injured.The inmates were relocated to nearby county jails for about a month while the jail was repaired.Bentley also pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree domestic assault and one count of felony resisting arrest.Those charges came after someone saw Bentley assault a woman in a moving vehicle, prosecutors said. He fled when police tried to stop the vehicle and eventually hit a Maryville Public Safety car head on, totaling both vehicles.As part of the sentence, Bentley was ordered to pay $5,000 restitution to the county.

Man who set fire to jail sentenced to prison

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery of the Commerce Bank at 6705 Blue Ridge Blvd in the Kansas City suburb of Raytown Saturday, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 The suspect is described as a black male, 5-foot-8-5-foot-10, wearing a white t-shirt and black pants.

The suspect fled in a silver car. If you can identify the suspect, give the FBI a call at 816-512-8200.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627160112016.png" alt="Photos -FBI Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Photos -FBI Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery of the Commerce Bank at 6705 Blue Ridge Blvd in the Kansas City suburb of Raytown Saturday, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627160089300.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> The suspect is described as a black male, 5-foot-8-5-foot-10, wearing a white t-shirt and black pants.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627160137392.png" alt="Screen Shot 2021-07-24 at 3.50.36 PM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screen Shot 2021-07-24 at 3.50.36 PM.png</figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect fled in a silver car. If you can identify the suspect, give the FBI a call at 816-512-8200.

FBI asks for help to ID suspect in KC bank robbery

HARVEY COUNTY— Two people died in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Saturday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Chevy G3500 Van driven by Stephanie Manyseng, 35, Wichita,&nbsp;was southbound on Interstate 135 just north of SE 14th in the city of Newton. 

The van left the roadway to the left, struck a KDOT guardrail, continued southbound, vaulted, stuck the northbound bridge structure and a concrete embankment.

Manyseng and a passenger Rudy A&nbsp;Perez-Marcial, 43, Wichita, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center.

EMS transported Gasasira&nbsp;Laurent, 58; Rosa Sanchez, 48;&nbsp; Manzere Kanyamibwa, 19; David&nbsp; Salinas-Hernandez, 53; Cesar&nbsp;De Lara, 46, all of Wichita to Wesley Medical Center.

Perez-Marcial was the only occupant wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

HARVEY COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol is working a deadly one-vehicle crash in Newton Saturday on Interstate 135 and Southeast 14th Connector.

According to a release from Newton Police, a 16-passenger van carrying seven adults was traveling southbound on I-135 when it left the highway between the two bridges, went down the embankment, and hit the bridge pillar below. There's no indication of why the van left the highway.

Two people were confirmed dead at the scene, two were in very critical condition, and three others had serious injuries.

Interstate 135 remains open to traffic, but please avoid SE 14th Connector as it is still an active scene, according to police.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627153976544.png" alt="According to the KHP, only one person was wearing a seat belt. -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>According to the KHP, only one person was wearing a seat belt. -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY— Two people died in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Saturday in Harvey County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Chevy G3500 Van driven by Stephanie Manyseng, 35, Wichita,&nbsp;was southbound on Interstate 135 just north of SE 14th in the city of Newton. The van left the roadway to the left, struck a KDOT guardrail, continued southbound, vaulted, stuck the northbound bridge structure and a concrete embankment.Manyseng and a passenger Rudy A&nbsp;Perez-Marcial, 43, Wichita, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to the Sedgwick County Forensic Science Center.EMS transported Gasasira&nbsp;Laurent, 58; Rosa Sanchez, 48;&nbsp; Manzere Kanyamibwa, 19; David&nbsp; Salinas-Hernandez, 53; Cesar&nbsp;De Lara, 46, all of Wichita to Wesley Medical Center.Perez-Marcial was the only occupant wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.-------HARVEY COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol is working a deadly one-vehicle crash in Newton Saturday on Interstate 135 and Southeast 14th Connector.According to a release from Newton Police, a 16-passenger van carrying seven adults was traveling southbound on I-135 when it left the highway between the two bridges, went down the embankment, and hit the bridge pillar below. There's no indication of why the van left the highway.Two people were confirmed dead at the scene, two were in very critical condition, and three others had serious injuries.Interstate 135 remains open to traffic, but please avoid SE 14th Connector as it is still an active scene, according to police.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

KHP IDs victims in multi-fatality crash on Interstate 135

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A nearly three-week strike at the Frito-Lay plant in Topeka is over. 

Union members on Friday ratified a new two-year contract. The contract gives union workers at the plant a 4% pay raise over two years and guarantees employees at least one day off a week. 

Union workers went on strike July 5, complaining of forced overtime and a lack of pay raises in recent years. Workers said they were often required to work back-to-back days of 12-hour shifts, with only eight hours between. Employees are expected to return to work Monday. 

They said the shifts were was caused by a severe shortage of workers at the plant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627153713437.png" alt="Workers have been on strike since July 5-photo courtesy WIBW-TV" />
 <figcaption>Workers have been on strike since July 5-photo courtesy WIBW-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A nearly three-week strike at the Frito-Lay plant in Topeka is over. Union members on Friday ratified a new two-year contract. The contract gives union workers at the plant a 4% pay raise over two years and guarantees employees at least one day off a week. Union workers went on strike July 5, complaining of forced overtime and a lack of pay raises in recent years. Workers said they were often required to work back-to-back days of 12-hour shifts, with only eight hours between. Employees are expected to return to work Monday. They said the shifts were was caused by a severe shortage of workers at the plant.

Strike at Kansas plant ends as union approves contract

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have made an arrest.

Just before 1p.m. Thursday, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a person reporting they had been stabbed and they were driving on Westmoreland Road near Cree Road heading to the city of Westmoreland, according to a media release.

First responders located the injured individual in a truck at Westmoreland Road and Rock Creek Road. EMS transported the individual to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. 

Deputies located an individual walking nearby and he was identified as Nigel Breaux, 24, of Westmoreland, Kansas. Further investigation determined that Nigel and the individual had gotten into an altercation and during the altercation the individual was stabbed. 

The incident had occurred on Westmoreland Road. Deputies arrested Breaux on requested charges of Aggravated Battery and Domestic Battery.&nbsp; He is currently confined at the Pottawatomie County Jail awaiting bond.&nbsp;

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have made an arrest.Just before 1p.m. Thursday, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a person reporting they had been stabbed and they were driving on Westmoreland Road near Cree Road heading to the city of Westmoreland, according to a media release.First responders located the injured individual in a truck at Westmoreland Road and Rock Creek Road. EMS transported the individual to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Deputies located an individual walking nearby and he was identified as Nigel Breaux, 24, of Westmoreland, Kansas. Further investigation determined that Nigel and the individual had gotten into an altercation and during the altercation the individual was stabbed. The incident had occurred on Westmoreland Road. Deputies arrested Breaux on requested charges of Aggravated Battery and Domestic Battery.&nbsp; He is currently confined at the Pottawatomie County Jail awaiting bond.&nbsp;

Kan. deputies find knife attack suspect walking rural road

JOHNSON COUNTY—Two men died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Saturday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F250 driven by&nbsp; Sam E. Wilson, 23, Greenwood, Missouri, was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 just south of Lamar Avenue in Mission, Kansas.

The pickup collided head-on with a northbound 2003 GMC Sierra driven by Robert D. Mangelsdorf, Jr., 23, Tonganoxie.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported&nbsp;Mangelsdorf to KU Medical Center where he died. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

JOHNSON COUNTY—Two men died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Saturday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F250 driven by&nbsp; Sam E. Wilson, 23, Greenwood, Missouri, was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 35 just south of Lamar Avenue in Mission, Kansas.The pickup collided head-on with a northbound 2003 GMC Sierra driven by Robert D. Mangelsdorf, Jr., 23, Tonganoxie.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported&nbsp;Mangelsdorf to KU Medical Center where he died. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

2 men dead after wrong-way, head-on Kan. crash

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self says he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement Friday on the school's Twitter account that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will isolate at his home in Lawrence.

Self was tested after feeling minor symptoms on Thursday as he was preparing to travel to watch recruits at various tournaments. 

He said two tests confirmed that he has the virus. Self said he believes he would be feeling much worse if he had not been vaccinated, and encouraged people to get the vaccine.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self says he is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19. Self, who is fully vaccinated, said in a statement Friday on the school's Twitter account that he was “feeling pretty good right now.” He will isolate at his home in Lawrence.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A statement from <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBillSelf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBillSelf</a> <a href="https://t.co/2U0EOHyOz8">pic.twitter.com/2U0EOHyOz8</a>&mdash; Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUHoops/status/1418695211107168260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Self was tested after feeling minor symptoms on Thursday as he was preparing to travel to watch recruits at various tournaments. He said two tests confirmed that he has the virus. Self said he believes he would be feeling much worse if he had not been vaccinated, and encouraged people to get the vaccine.

KU coach Bill Self in isolation after positive COVID-19 test

Unemployment modernization council prepares for interim report

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/22/kansas-kicks-7k-off-unemployment-benefits-for-failing-to-meet-new-work-search-requirement/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — About 7,000 Kansans lost
 unemployment benefits this week because they did not meet a deadline to
 sign up for a new state program designed to help people find a job.

Legislators inserted the work search requirement into <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2196/">House Bill 2196</a> earlier this year. Mike
 Beene, director of workforce development at the Department of Commerce,
 told legislators Thursday many people who receive unemployment benefits
 were still adjusting to the policy.

The Kansas Department of Labor issued referrals to the online <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/12/kansas-labor-department-pushes-new-reemployment-program-as-council-considers-facial-recognition-strategies/">My Reemployment Plan</a> program for weeks in advance of the deadline.

“The activity of a work search 
requirement is almost a cultural shift for people right now because they
 have gone so long during the pandemic without that requirement,” Beene 
told the Kansas Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement 
Council.

The council met in anticipation of
 a preliminary report to the Legislative Coordinating Council updating 
leading lawmakers on progress made modernizing the state’s 40-year-old 
unemployment system. Updates on why some claims were being denied and 
modernization vendor search were provided, in addition to a look at My 
Reemployment.&nbsp;

Gov. Laura Kelly expressed concern with the requirements keeping so many from receiving their benefits.

“We tried as much as we could to 
get information out to people, and we’ll continue to work with those 
7,000 people to rectify their situation so that they can continue 
receiving the benefits,” Kelly said.

Using the week of July 10 as a 
baseline, KDOL deputy secretary Peter Brady said 87.7% of all pandemic 
unemployment program claims were paid. The remaining 12.3% either 
encountered a mainframe error, an eligibility issue with their claim, a 
requirement of additional information, or most prominently, triggered a 
fraud flag.

Brady was hopeful this snapshot 
would help the council better understand how claims were being processed
 in Kansas and how the system modernization project could improve these 
numbers for the upcoming council report.

“Different presenters we’ve had 
before this council have all made a lot of similar points of what the 
core requirements and functions of a modern UI system are. This is what 
it needs to do,” Brady said, urging the council to consider these 
presentations in the report when choosing a vendor for the modernization
 project. “These are all the criteria that will need to be looked at for
 a modernized system vendor.”

HB2196, which took effect May 13, 
created the council, initiated the needed modernization effort, and 
required a report recommending a vendor to be issued within 60 days.

With vendor selection taking 
longer than initially anticipated, Brady and others urged a more 
forward-looking report when the council takes that up on Friday. Rep. 
Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater, said while the initial 60-day window appeared
 ample enough time, once in the process he saw that wasn’t as feasible 
as previously thought.

“We don’t want to hold it up, but 
we also don’t want to rush it just for a report,” Hoffman said. “If the 
LCC understands that this report is preliminary I think that covers the 
statutory requirement of sending a report.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627070593842.png" alt="Mike Beene, director of workforce development at the Department of Commerce, appears Thursday before the Kansas Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council. (Screen capture from YouTube video)" />
 <figcaption>Mike Beene, director of workforce development at the Department of Commerce, appears Thursday before the Kansas Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement Council. (Screen capture from YouTube video)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Unemployment modernization council prepares for interim report</h2>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/22/kansas-kicks-7k-off-unemployment-benefits-for-failing-to-meet-new-work-search-requirement/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — About 7,000 Kansans lost
 unemployment benefits this week because they did not meet a deadline to
 sign up for a new state program designed to help people find a job.Legislators inserted the work search requirement into <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2196/">House Bill 2196</a> earlier this year. Mike
 Beene, director of workforce development at the Department of Commerce,
 told legislators Thursday many people who receive unemployment benefits
 were still adjusting to the policy.The Kansas Department of Labor issued referrals to the online <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/07/12/kansas-labor-department-pushes-new-reemployment-program-as-council-considers-facial-recognition-strategies/">My Reemployment Plan</a> program for weeks in advance of the deadline.“The activity of a work search 
requirement is almost a cultural shift for people right now because they
 have gone so long during the pandemic without that requirement,” Beene 
told the Kansas Unemployment Compensation Modernization and Improvement 
Council.The council met in anticipation of
 a preliminary report to the Legislative Coordinating Council updating 
leading lawmakers on progress made modernizing the state’s 40-year-old 
unemployment system. Updates on why some claims were being denied and 
modernization vendor search were provided, in addition to a look at My 
Reemployment.&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly expressed concern with the requirements keeping so many from receiving their benefits.“We tried as much as we could to 
get information out to people, and we’ll continue to work with those 
7,000 people to rectify their situation so that they can continue 
receiving the benefits,” Kelly said.Using the week of July 10 as a 
baseline, KDOL deputy secretary Peter Brady said 87.7% of all pandemic 
unemployment program claims were paid. The remaining 12.3% either 
encountered a mainframe error, an eligibility issue with their claim, a 
requirement of additional information, or most prominently, triggered a 
fraud flag.Brady was hopeful this snapshot 
would help the council better understand how claims were being processed
 in Kansas and how the system modernization project could improve these 
numbers for the upcoming council report.“Different presenters we’ve had 
before this council have all made a lot of similar points of what the 
core requirements and functions of a modern UI system are. This is what 
it needs to do,” Brady said, urging the council to consider these 
presentations in the report when choosing a vendor for the modernization
 project. “These are all the criteria that will need to be looked at for
 a modernized system vendor.”HB2196, which took effect May 13, 
created the council, initiated the needed modernization effort, and 
required a report recommending a vendor to be issued within 60 days.With vendor selection taking 
longer than initially anticipated, Brady and others urged a more 
forward-looking report when the council takes that up on Friday. Rep. 
Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater, said while the initial 60-day window appeared
 ample enough time, once in the process he saw that wasn’t as feasible 
as previously thought.“We don’t want to hold it up, but 
we also don’t want to rush it just for a report,” Hoffman said. “If the 
LCC understands that this report is preliminary I think that covers the 
statutory requirement of sending a report.”

Kan. kicks 7K off unemployment for failing to meet work search requirement

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Authorities have identified a Kansas man who died in an accident just before 9p.m. Friday in Shawnee County as&nbsp;46-year-old&nbsp; Terrell M. Myers of Topkea, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

A 2000 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Myers southbound in the 3100 Block of Croco Road and struck a&nbsp;2012 Honda CRV that was attempting to turn north onto Croco Road from the Swim Beach parking lot.

The two occupants of the Honda, a 46-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man were not injured. Preliminary investigation shows speed may have been a factor, according to Christian.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Authorities have identified a Kansas man who died in an accident just before 9p.m. Friday in Shawnee County as&nbsp;46-year-old&nbsp; Terrell M. Myers of Topkea, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.A 2000 Suzuki motorcycle driven by Myers southbound in the 3100 Block of Croco Road and struck a&nbsp;2012 Honda CRV that was attempting to turn north onto Croco Road from the Swim Beach parking lot.Myers was pronounced dead the scene.The two occupants of the Honda, a 46-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man were not injured. Preliminary investigation shows speed may have been a factor, according to Christian.

Sheriff IDs Kan. man who died in motorcycle, SUV crash

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Police arrested a Kansas felon after he thought he was soliciting a 14- year-old.

Instead 35-year-old Kelly Andrade of Hutchinson was texting and sending email to a police officer. He's being held in the Reno County Jail on a bond of $25,500.

Andrade was arrested in a case which dates back to November of last year. He’s accused of attempting to contact a 14-year-old and asking to meet that subject. Police took him into custody and a search of his home turned up meth and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

He is currently on parole for 2007 convictions out of&nbsp; Reno County on drug manufacturing and possession along with trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. He was released in July of 2019.

Andrade is expected to be back in court July 30 for the formal reading of charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627056487896.jpeg" alt="Andrade has six previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Andrade has six previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Police arrested a Kansas felon after he thought he was soliciting a 14- year-old.Instead 35-year-old Kelly Andrade of Hutchinson was texting and sending email to a police officer. He's being held in the Reno County Jail on a bond of $25,500.Andrade was arrested in a case which dates back to November of last year. He’s accused of attempting to contact a 14-year-old and asking to meet that subject. Police took him into custody and a search of his home turned up meth and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;He is currently on parole for 2007 convictions out of&nbsp; Reno County on drug manufacturing and possession along with trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. He was released in July of 2019.Andrade is expected to be back in court July 30 for the formal reading of charges.

Police: Kan. felon was texting officer not teen girl

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota Highlander driven by Bradley S. Dupin, 62, Overland Park, was northbound on Interstate 35 ramp to Southwest Boulevard. 

For an unknown reason, a possible medical condition, caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a building.

Dupin was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 7a.m. Friday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota Highlander driven by Bradley S. Dupin, 62, Overland Park, was northbound on Interstate 35 ramp to Southwest Boulevard. For an unknown reason, a possible medical condition, caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a building.Dupin was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after SUV strikes a building

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and looking for possible suspects.

Just after 1:30 a.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at Harry and Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; 

Officers located an 18-year-old who had been shot.&nbsp; He was transported to an area hospital, treated, and released.

The investigation revealed a disturbance occurred at apartments in the 4900 block of East Harry between multiple individuals.&nbsp; A dark color Ford Fusion&nbsp; was leaving the parking lot of the apartments when shots were fired that struck the victim and an unoccupied white Nissan Quest.&nbsp; Officers also located a shell casing in the parking lot.

This was not a random incident, according to Davidson. Police have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627066372162.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the shooting investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the shooting investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and looking for possible suspects.Just after 1:30 a.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call at Harry and Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp; Officers located an 18-year-old who had been shot.&nbsp; He was transported to an area hospital, treated, and released.The investigation revealed a disturbance occurred at apartments in the 4900 block of East Harry between multiple individuals.&nbsp; A dark color Ford Fusion&nbsp; was leaving the parking lot of the apartments when shots were fired that struck the victim and an unoccupied white Nissan Quest.&nbsp; Officers also located a shell casing in the parking lot.This was not a random incident, according to Davidson. Police have not reported an arrest.

Police: Kan. teen shot driving from parking lot disturbance

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will not stop paying extended federal unemployment benefits that started during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Laura Kelly said.

Business groups, companies and Republican leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-government-and-politics-347b82421fea01e0f12ca9527a857d92">have been pressuring Kelly to end the benefits</a>, which include extra $300 weekly unemployment payments. They argue the additional benefits are discouraging people from searching for work, at a time when businesses can’t find enough employees.

Kelly said Thursday the state focused on improving child care&nbsp;and other programs that would help people return to work.

”What we did is we evaluated what happened in other states that had eliminated those benefits and we really found that wasn’t a silver bullet that is going to solve the workforce problem,” Kelly said.

The federal program is scheduled to end Sept. 6.

Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from Stillwell, said people who lost work during the pandemic should be back in the workforce.

“They can walk into just about any store and get a vaccine and get back into the workforce,” Tarwater said Thursday. “COVID should no longer be an excuse to not work. We all woke up this morning and went to work, why didn’t they? Are they special? Why are they different than us?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627077845617.png" alt="Laura Kelly at the grand opening of Evergy Plaza in downtown Topeka on Friday" />
 <figcaption>Laura Kelly at the grand opening of Evergy Plaza in downtown Topeka on Friday</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will not stop paying extended federal unemployment benefits that started during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Laura Kelly said.Business groups, companies and Republican leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-health-coronavirus-pandemic-business-government-and-politics-347b82421fea01e0f12ca9527a857d92">have been pressuring Kelly to end the benefits</a>, which include extra $300 weekly unemployment payments. They argue the additional benefits are discouraging people from searching for work, at a time when businesses can’t find enough employees.Kelly said Thursday the state focused on improving child care&nbsp;and other programs that would help people return to work.”What we did is we evaluated what happened in other states that had eliminated those benefits and we really found that wasn’t a silver bullet that is going to solve the workforce problem,” Kelly said.The federal program is scheduled to end Sept. 6.Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from Stillwell, said people who lost work during the pandemic should be back in the workforce.“They can walk into just about any store and get a vaccine and get back into the workforce,” Tarwater said Thursday. “COVID should no longer be an excuse to not work. We all woke up this morning and went to work, why didn’t they? Are they special? Why are they different than us?”

Kansas will continue extended federal unemployment benefits

KANSAS CITY (AP) — As the delta variant of COVID-19 makes its way through the Kansas City area, the region's medical leaders appear to be on the verge of calling for new mask mandates.

Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System, said that region is seeing a big increase in patients, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article252958273.html">Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;reported.

“We are past the tipping point,” Stites said. “We are in trouble.”

Missouri is at the epicenter of the summer surge of the coronavirus, a surge driven by the fast-spreading delta variant and low vaccination rates in rural areas.

The spread has made its way to the urban areas, too. St. Louis city and county leaders have not ruled out new measures such as a mask mandate or social distancing requirements, as that region faces increasing cases and hospitalizations.

In the Missouri part of the Kansas City region, information from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows that 319 people are hospitalized — nearly triple the number from early April. The number of intensive care unit patients has more than doubled since June, to 84.

Stites said medical leaders from the Kansas City area were in agreement about mandates.

“I think you are going to find the chief medical officers are going to call for a reinstitution of the mask mandates and social distancing because we had that discussion this morning and we were all in favor of it because we’re in trouble in the hospitals,” Stites said during a briefing.

Southwestern Missouri continues to see the worst of the surge, and Republican Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday that 10 advanced life support ambulances, 20 medical professionals, two “strike team” leaders and a logistics specialist are being sent to Springfield. Their role will be to help with transporting patients in a city where hospitals are near capacity.

They were expected to arrive Friday from Arkansas, and will remain for up to two weeks. A news release from Parson's office said a mutual aid agreement between states “allows for the sharing of critical resources when needed.”

“We will continue to do all we can to support the Springfield area and surrounding communities as we experience this increase in COVID-19 spread,” Parson said in a news release.

Springfield and Greene County earlier this month asked the state to fund an alternate care site to help handle the overflow of patients. Parson said the city and county are specifically asking that a hotel be converted into a temporary medical facility. The request has been submitted to federal emergency management officials, Parson's news release said.

State data shows 544 people hospitalized and 222 in ICU in southwestern Missouri, numbers that exceed the worst of the winter peak of the virus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584374089535.png" alt="Steve Stites, MD, Chief Medical Officer" />
 <figcaption>Steve Stites, MD, Chief Medical Officer</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — As the delta variant of COVID-19 makes its way through the Kansas City area, the region's medical leaders appear to be on the verge of calling for new mask mandates.Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health System, said that region is seeing a big increase in patients, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article252958273.html">Kansas City Star</a>&nbsp;reported.“We are past the tipping point,” Stites said. “We are in trouble.”Missouri is at the epicenter of the summer surge of the coronavirus, a surge driven by the fast-spreading delta variant and low vaccination rates in rural areas.The spread has made its way to the urban areas, too. St. Louis city and county leaders have not ruled out new measures such as a mask mandate or social distancing requirements, as that region faces increasing cases and hospitalizations.In the Missouri part of the Kansas City region, information from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services shows that 319 people are hospitalized — nearly triple the number from early April. The number of intensive care unit patients has more than doubled since June, to 84.Stites said medical leaders from the Kansas City area were in agreement about mandates.“I think you are going to find the chief medical officers are going to call for a reinstitution of the mask mandates and social distancing because we had that discussion this morning and we were all in favor of it because we’re in trouble in the hospitals,” Stites said during a briefing.Southwestern Missouri continues to see the worst of the surge, and Republican Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday that 10 advanced life support ambulances, 20 medical professionals, two “strike team” leaders and a logistics specialist are being sent to Springfield. Their role will be to help with transporting patients in a city where hospitals are near capacity.They were expected to arrive Friday from Arkansas, and will remain for up to two weeks. A news release from Parson's office said a mutual aid agreement between states “allows for the sharing of critical resources when needed.”“We will continue to do all we can to support the Springfield area and surrounding communities as we experience this increase in COVID-19 spread,” Parson said in a news release.Springfield and Greene County earlier this month asked the state to fund an alternate care site to help handle the overflow of patients. Parson said the city and county are specifically asking that a hotel be converted into a temporary medical facility. The request has been submitted to federal emergency management officials, Parson's news release said.State data shows 544 people hospitalized and 222 in ICU in southwestern Missouri, numbers that exceed the worst of the winter peak of the virus.

Kansas City-area medical leaders may urge new mask mandate

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp; investigating a shooting incident in Arkansas City, with no injuries reported.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the 600 block of North Seventh Street for a report of multiple gunshots.

Cowley County Emergency Communications learned through multiple 911 calls that a person residing in that block reported a bullet had been shot into their residence.

Officers arrived at the residence, contacted the victim and learned a single bullet had struck the front of the residence. No injuries were reported or observed, according to police.

Witnesses in the area described a gold-colored sedan and a dark car that were both seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Arkansas City Police Department at (620) 441-4444.

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are&nbsp; investigating a shooting incident in Arkansas City, with no injuries reported.Just before 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to the 600 block of North Seventh Street for a report of multiple gunshots.Cowley County Emergency Communications learned through multiple 911 calls that a person residing in that block reported a bullet had been shot into their residence.Officers arrived at the residence, contacted the victim and learned a single bullet had struck the front of the residence. No injuries were reported or observed, according to police.Witnesses in the area described a gold-colored sedan and a dark car that were both seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed.Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Arkansas City Police Department at (620) 441-4444.

Police: Drive-by shooting damages Kansas home

Reports of athletes, lawmakers and others getting the coronavirus despite vaccination may sound alarming but top health experts point to overwhelming evidence that the shots are doing exactly what they are supposed to: dramatically reducing severe illness and death.

The best indicator: U.S. hospitalizations and deaths are nearly all among the unvaccinated, and real-world data from Britain and Israel support that protection against the worst cases remains strong. What scientists call “breakthrough” infections in people who are fully vaccinated make up a small fraction of cases.

“When you hear about a breakthrough infection, that doesn’t necessarily mean the vaccine is failing,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease specialist, told a worried Senate panel this week. The shots are holding up, he said, even in the face of the highly contagious delta variant that is burning through unvaccinated communities

Health authorities have warned that even though the COVID-19 vaccines are incredibly effective -- the Pfizer and Moderna ones about 95% against symptomatic infection in studies -- they’re not perfect. No vaccine is.

But it wasn’t until delta variant began spreading that the risk of breakthroughs started getting much public attention. The barrage of headlines is disconcerting for vaccinated people wondering how to balance getting back to normal with more exposure to unvaccinated strangers — especially if they have vulnerable family members, such as children too young to qualify for the shots.

Sports fans are seeing daily reports about infected athletes, from the New York&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-yankees-science-mlb-baseball-coronavirus-pandemic-60d860682e6c2253f800a39da550c2ca">Yankees</a>&nbsp;to the Summer Olympics. With the Games soon to start, Kara Eaker, a member of the U.S. women’s gymnastic team who said she was vaccinated, tested&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gymnast-covid-2020-tokyo-olympics-44e21e98694b6c82cb57429bf8af4644">positive</a>&nbsp;in a training camp just outside Tokyo. WNBA player Katie Lou Samuelson pulled out of the Olympics and the 3-on-3 basketball competition after testing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-2020-tokyo-olympics-basketball-health-coronavirus-pandemic-84a6a4e504c6cf9fa754256495351a29">positive</a>&nbsp;despite being vaccinated.

And politicians in the nation’s capital are being rattled by reports of breakthrough cases, including from a congressman, Florida Republican Vern Buchanan; some Texas Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-government-and-politics-texas-health-coronavirus-pandemic-d6f7396d3507ed629ecc58c530b0cda7">lawmakers</a>&nbsp;visiting Washington as a political protest; at least two people in the White House and several congressional staff members.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that with 2,000 people on the White House campus each day some breakthrough cases are inevitable, but that the administration will release information if doctors determine any staffer had close contact with the president, vice president or their spouses.

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressReports of athletes, lawmakers and others getting the coronavirus despite vaccination may sound alarming but top health experts point to overwhelming evidence that the shots are doing exactly what they are supposed to: dramatically reducing severe illness and death.The best indicator: U.S. hospitalizations and deaths are nearly all among the unvaccinated, and real-world data from Britain and Israel support that protection against the worst cases remains strong. What scientists call “breakthrough” infections in people who are fully vaccinated make up a small fraction of cases.“When you hear about a breakthrough infection, that doesn’t necessarily mean the vaccine is failing,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government’s top infectious disease specialist, told a worried Senate panel this week. The shots are holding up, he said, even in the face of the highly contagious delta variant that is burning through unvaccinated communitiesHealth authorities have warned that even though the COVID-19 vaccines are incredibly effective -- the Pfizer and Moderna ones about 95% against symptomatic infection in studies -- they’re not perfect. No vaccine is.But it wasn’t until delta variant began spreading that the risk of breakthroughs started getting much public attention. The barrage of headlines is disconcerting for vaccinated people wondering how to balance getting back to normal with more exposure to unvaccinated strangers — especially if they have vulnerable family members, such as children too young to qualify for the shots.Sports fans are seeing daily reports about infected athletes, from the New York&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-yankees-science-mlb-baseball-coronavirus-pandemic-60d860682e6c2253f800a39da550c2ca">Yankees</a>&nbsp;to the Summer Olympics. With the Games soon to start, Kara Eaker, a member of the U.S. women’s gymnastic team who said she was vaccinated, tested&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gymnast-covid-2020-tokyo-olympics-44e21e98694b6c82cb57429bf8af4644">positive</a>&nbsp;in a training camp just outside Tokyo. WNBA player Katie Lou Samuelson pulled out of the Olympics and the 3-on-3 basketball competition after testing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-2020-tokyo-olympics-basketball-health-coronavirus-pandemic-84a6a4e504c6cf9fa754256495351a29">positive</a>&nbsp;despite being vaccinated.And politicians in the nation’s capital are being rattled by reports of breakthrough cases, including from a congressman, Florida Republican Vern Buchanan; some Texas Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-government-and-politics-texas-health-coronavirus-pandemic-d6f7396d3507ed629ecc58c530b0cda7">lawmakers</a>&nbsp;visiting Washington as a political protest; at least two people in the White House and several congressional staff members.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that with 2,000 people on the White House campus each day some breakthrough cases are inevitable, but that the administration will release information if doctors determine any staffer had close contact with the president, vice president or their spouses.One critical question about breakthrough cases is whether the person actually had symptoms, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told The Associated Press. “Or is this somebody just being sampled out of an abundance of caution because they had to go into some place like the Congress?” he added.Indeed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said for months that vaccinated people don’t even need to get tested after a virus exposure unless they develop symptoms. The agency cites limited evidence that they’re less likely to infect others than unvaccinated people who get an asymptomatic infection.But different places have different rules. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- who survived COVID-19 early in the pandemic and now is fully vaccinated -- began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-health-government-and-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-cc5f64eb13bf363534cd905cfcef343f">quarantining</a>&nbsp;over the weekend after contact with someone experiencing mild symptoms from a breakthrough infection.And rigorous testing is required as thousands of athletes, coaches, officials and media -- not all of whom are vaccinated -- descend on Tokyo for the pandemic-delayed Olympics.While there’s not a specific count, it’s clear breakthrough infections are rare. As of July 12, the CDC had tallied 5,492 vaccinated people who were hospitalized or died and also tested positive for coronavirus — out of more than 159 million fully vaccinated Americans. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has said 99.5% of all deaths from COVID-19 are in the unvaccinated.There isn’t a separate count of mild or asymptomatic breakthroughs, although CDC is tracking those through studies such as one that gives weekly virus tests to more than 5,000 essential workers, she told senators.Breakthroughs tend to be mild because a vaccinated person’s immune system doesn’t have to start from scratch to fight the coronavirus. Even if the virus sneaks past vaccine-spurred antibodies and starts replicating in your nose or throat, secondary defenses jump into action and usually, “the virus is stopped in its tracks within a few days,” said University of Pennsylvania immunologist Scott Hensley.There are caveats. The vaccines don’t work as well in people with severely weak immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients.And the government is watching closely for signs that breakthrough cases, especially serious ones, are rising, because that might signal the need for booster vaccinations.But meanwhile White House officials want to “normalize” the concept of breakthrough infections for the public, because they’re worried that these rare, inevitable events could play into the misinformation wars that have helped to keep millions from rolling up their sleeves.“The vaccines were developed to keep us out of those terrible institutions we call hospitals,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University. “We have to keep coming back to that.”___