Merck Says Experimental Pill Cuts Worst Effects of COVID-19
WASHINGTON (AP/KPR) — Drugmaker Merck says its experimental COVID-19 pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half in people recently infected with the coronavirus. It said Friday that it would soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize the drug's use. If cleared, the drug would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19. That could be a major step forward in global efforts to control the pandemic. All COVID-19 therapies now authorized in the U.S. require an IV or injection. A pill that could be taken at home could keep many patients out of the hospital. The results have not been peer reviewed by outside experts. An independent group of medical advisers monitoring the trial recommended stopping it early because the interim results were so strong. Kansas health officials have recorded more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 6,000 virus-related deaths in the state since the pandemic began. Experts say vaccines still represent the best way to prevent getting sick from the coronavirus.
(-Related-)
COVID Case Numbers Drop in Kansas for Fourth Week in a Row
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The number of new COVID-19 cases in Kansas has dropped for the fourth week in a row. Sixty-eight hundred new cases were identified in the past week. A month ago, Kansas was seeing more than 10,000 confirmed cases a week. Hospitals are still very busy, with more than 600 COVID inpatients statewide as of late September. But the numbers have been gradually improving for weeks after this summer’s aggressive and swift delta surge.
UPDATE: KDHE: 2,368 New COVID-19 Cases, 17 New COVID Deaths Since Wednesday
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reports there have been 2,368 new COVID-19 cases in the state and 17 new virus-related deaths since Wednesday. KDHE's latest figures, released today (FRI), show there have been 411,302 COVID-19 cases and 6,068 deaths in Kansas seince the start of the pandemic. Another update is expected Monday.
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More in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska Sickened in Multi-State Salmonella Outbreak
ATLANTA, (WDAF) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to investigate an outbreak of salmonella infections that has now sickened more than 400 people across 35 states, including Kansas and Missouri. In an update posted Thursday, the CDC said there have been at least 419 confirmed cases linked to the outbreak, with 66 of those requiring hospitalization. Those numbers have jumped up from the CDC’s update on September 23 when there were 279 cases and 26 hospitalizations across 29 states. WDAF TV in Kansas City reports that so far, no deaths have been linked to the outbreak. The agency noted, however, that the actual number of sick individuals is always likely higher than the number reported, as many of the infected recover without seeking treatment or notifying health officials.
The CDC has still yet to identify a food source linked to the outbreak. In its previous update, officials said this specific strain of Salmonella Oranienburg was found inside a takeout condiment cup that contained cilantro, lime and onions. At the time, the CDC said it was not possible to determine which ingredient or component was contaminated, as the takeout container contained other foods. As such, the CDC is asking the public to follow all applicable food safety measures when washing, cooking or eating foods that carry a risk of food poisoning.
As of September 29, the outbreak had expanded to 35 states, including the following: Oklahoma (63 cases), Kansas (9), Nebraska (6), Missouri (5), Iowa (1), Arkansas (8) and New Mexico (8).
Symptoms of salmonella, which can begin up to six days after ingestion of contaminated food, include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and possible nausea, vomiting or headache. Those experiencing more severe symptoms — including dehydration, prolonged vomiting, prolonged diarrhea, or diarrhea with a fever of over 102 degrees F, among other symptoms — should contact a doctor immediately. More information on this outbreak and salmonella infection can be found at the CDC’s website.
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Pottawatomie County Fixing Systems After Ransomware Attack
WESTMORELAND, Kan. (AP) - Pottawatomie County has been hit by cyber criminals. County officials say computers systems are being restored after they were hit by a ransomware attack. Officials say hackers launched the cyberattack against several servers on September 17. County Administrator Chad Kinsley says they resolved the attack by paying less than 10% of the hackers' original demands. He did not specify how much the county paid. Officials say additional sensors have been installed on all servers to prevent further attacks. The investigation into how hackers accessed the servers is continuing. Officials say most county offices are functional but wait times for various services may be longer than normal.
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Kansas Tax Receipts for September Higher Than Expected
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The state of Kansas is bringing in more tax revenue than expected. According to the Kansas Department of Revenue, September's total tax receipts were more than $876 million. That's nearly 23% higher than anticipated, or about $162 million more than the state projected. Governor Laura Kelly says the latest tax collection numbers continue to show promising growth.
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Midwest Report: Business Confidence in Economy Plummets
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - A new monthly survey of business leaders in the Midwest and Plains states shows their confidence in the economy over the next six month plummeted to its lowest level since the pandemic began. The overall index for September from Creighton University dropped to 61.6. Any score above 50 suggests growth. But the survey's business confidence index, which looks ahead six months, fell more than 16 points to 37. The monthly survey covers Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma and four other states.
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Agreement Reached in Kansas to Comply with National Voter Registration Act
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR)- An agreement between the state and a coalition of advocacy groups announced today (FRI) requires Kansas to do more to help people register to vote. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says the agreement heads off a potential lawsuit against the state for failing to comply with federal law. Under the plan, state agencies that run public assistance programs must help people receiving services register to vote. Agency heads say they’re ready to comply. Many of the organizations that pushed for the agreement are locked in another battle with the state. They’re suing to overturn a new state law that tightens rules governing advance and absentee ballots. The Republican-controlled Legislature passed that law over Governor Kelly’s veto.
(AP version...)
Kansas Governor Expands Voter Registration to State Agencies
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas residents can now register to vote at the state agencies where they receive public benefits. That's under an agreement with civil rights groups that brings the state back into compliance with federal election law. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly says the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Children and Families have expanded opportunities for residents wishing to register or update their voter registration. The National Voter Registration Act requires voter registration assistance for state agencies providing public assistance benefits. The governor's office says previous administrations allowed the agencies to abandon those obligations.
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Enrollment Falls at Most Kansas Public Universities
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Enrollment at most Kansas universities fell again this fall and the latest numbers show significant declines. The University of Kansas reported a slight increase in overall enrollment, less than 1%. Kansas State reported an enrollment decline of about one-half percent. Over the past five years, enrollment at the state’s largest universities is down 8.6 percent. The data from community colleges is even worse -- a decline of 17.5 percent. Kansas Board of Regents officials said schools must reverse the trend to meet workforce needs and recharge the economy. The largest drop was at Pittsburg State, which enrolled 6% fewer students this fall and is down more than 20% over the past five years. Wichita State University is bucking the trend - up about 2% over the same time period. WSU leaders credit recruiting efforts along the I-35 corridor.
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Missouri Supreme Court: Jackson County Judges Can't Hear Arguments in Kevin Strickland Case
LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri Supreme Court judge has ruled that Jackson County judges cannot preside over an evidentiary hearing to determine if a Kansas City man should be exonerated in a triple murder case from 1979. The court ruled Thursday that judges in the 16th Judicial Circuit, which includes most of Kansas City, must be prohibited from presiding over an evidentiary hearing for Kevin Strickland. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt had argued that all the circuit judges should be recused from the hearing because of a perceived bias in favor of Strickland. Chief Justice Paul Wilson said in a ruling Thursday the judges must be removed to avoid even the appearance of partiality or impropriety.
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Kansas Driver Killed, Others Injured After Man Swerved to Avoid Cardboard Box
GREEN, Kan. (AP) — Police say a Kansas driver died and a woman and three children were seriously injured after the driver swerved to avoid a cardboard box in the road. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the crash happened Thursday night in Clay County, while 51-year-old Kevin Dettmer was driving a sport utility vehicle on a county road about 8 miles north of Green. Investigators say Dettmer swerved when he came upon a box in the road, lost control and hit a bridge pillar, killing him. The patrol says a 39-year-old woman and three children, ages 11, 8, and 5, suffered serious injuries. The patrol says none of the occupants of the SUV were using safety restraints.
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Neodesha Cop Stops Vehicle with $3.7 Million Worth of Meth Inside
NEODESHA, Kan. (Montgomery County Chronicle) - A newspaper in southeast Kansas is reporting on a major drug bust. The Montgomery County Chronicle says $3.7 million worth of methamphetamine was discovered during a routine traffic stop in Neodesha Wednesday night. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says a Neodesha police officer stopped a pickup truck on the town's Main Street just before midnight and found 82 pounds of meth inside. Police took two men from Texas into custody and booked them into the Wilson County Jail: the driver, 19-year-old Alejandro Salazar, of Dallas, and his 19-year-old passenger, Roger Mercado, of Garland, Texas. Both face drug charges.
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More than 1,000 Arrested in Wichita Area During Crackdown on Violent Crime
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - The U.S. Marshals Services says a 60-day effort to reduce violent crime in the Wichita area led to more than 1,000 arrests and the seizure of numerous drugs and weapons. The U.S. Marshals Service says Operation Triple Beam-Wichita involved numerous federal and local law enforcement agencies. The arrests in the Wichita area, which included 141 gang members, involved more than 800 felonies and hundreds of misdemeanors. Operation Triple Beam is a national effort developed by the Marshal's Service to reduce gang violence by arresting violent fugitives, gang members and those who have committed violent crimes.
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2 Ex-Leavenworth Prison Guards Indicted on Smuggling Counts
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — Federal authorities say two former prison guards at Leavenworth Detention Center have been indicted by a federal grand jury on counts accusing them of smuggling drugs and other contraband into the prison. The U.S. Department of Justice says 25-year-old Jacqueline Sifuentes, of Laredo, Texas, and 29-year-old Cheyonte Harris, of Raytown, Missouri, were both indicted September 22. Sifuentes was arrested Tuesday and is charged with bribery, conspiring to commit bribery and provide contraband, and providing contraband to an inmate. She faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted. Harris was arrested Monday and is charged with conspiring to commit bribery and provide contraband and making false statements to federal agents. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
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Autopsy: No Fatal Injuries Found in Death of Kansas Teen While in Custody
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Authorities say preliminary autopsy results show that a 17-year-old youth who died after being restrained at a Kansas juvenile facility didn't suffer any injuries that would have been life-threatening. Law enforcement officials said Thursday they are awaiting a toxicology report as they investigate the circumstances surrounding his in-custody death last weekend. Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter says the early results of the autopsy found only scratches and a bruise on Cedric "CJ" Lofton's body. Lofton's cause of death is undetermined. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said he expects to receive a report from investigators either next week or the following week once the toxicology results come back.
(Earlier AP report...)
Authorities: Staff Struggled with Wichita Teen Who Died in Custody
BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in Kansas say multiple staff members at a juvenile facility engaged in a physical struggle with a 17-year-old youth who was restrained and died two days later at a hospital. Details of the events leading up to Sunday's in-custody death of Cedric “CJ’ Lofton emerged this week in a news release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that also identified the Wichita teen for the first time. The KBI says an autopsy has been conducted and a cause of death is pending further investigation and toxicology results.
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Kansas Senator's Bid to Stop President Biden's Vaccine Mandate Fails
WASHINGTON, DC (KPR) - The U.S. Senate has rejected Kansas GOP Senator Roger Marshall’s effort to block Democratic President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Marshall’s amendment to prohibit the use of federal funds to enforce the vaccine mandate failed on a straight party-line vote. The U.S. Department of Labor is currently working to implement the mandate announced earlier this month. It will cover most federal employees plus businesses that employ more than 100 people. Republican Kansas Congressman Jake LaTurner is also co-sponsoring a bill to block the mandate, but it stands little chance of passing in the Democratically-controlled U.S. House. Meanwhile, a new Associated Press poll shows that a narrow majority of Americans,51%, support Biden’s vaccine mandate while 34% oppose it.
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Police Recover Some Art Stolen from a Native American Exhibit at KU's Spencer Art Museum
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) - A piece of public art, stolen from the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, is now in the hands of law enforcement. The work called “Native Hosts” by artist Edgar Heap of Birds was vandalized earlier this month. Museum staffers were preparing to install four new replacement panels when the fifth panel was stolen. Director Saralyn Reece Hardy says they’re committed to re-installing the work with added security. "The resolve of the museum - and of the university, is the importance of displaying public art with power and intention," she said. The signs include names of Native tribes from the region now called Kansas. Colonial names are printed backwards, and the names of the original occupants are printed forwards. A public conversation will be scheduled to talk about the vandalism and theft of the artwork --- and its impact on the community.
(AP version...)
KU Native American Art Exhibit Targeted by Vandals Partially Recovered
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Police have recovered a stolen panel from a Native American art exhibit at the University of Kansas, weeks after other panels in the exhibit were vandalized. One panel from the art installation outside the Spencer Museum of Art was reported stolen on Wednesday. University police say the panel was found on Thursday and police are speaking to a person of interest in the case. Four other panels were vandalized on September 4 and were taken down to be repaired. Museum and university officials said they are determined to reinstall the exhibit, called "Native Host."
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Racial Incidents Alleged at 2 Kansas City-Area Schools
RAYTOWN, Mo. (AP) - A suburban Kansas City school district says it is investigating reports that a teacher used a racial epithet in front of students. Raytown school Superintendent Allan Markley told parents and guardians in a letter that a high school teacher used an epithet directed at Black people during a class discussion on Wednesday. Markley said he could not disclose any potential disciplinary actions facing the teacher. Also Wednesday, a mother of a student of a Blue Springs middle school alleged in a column in the Kansas City Star that her son, who is Black, was taunted because of his race by another student. The district said it could not comment on specific student's cases.
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Federal Report Criticizes Missouri Foster Care System
LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) _ A federal report says Missouri's child welfare agency does not properly report children who are missing from foster care and does little to ensure that children who are found do not go missing again. The U.S. inspector general's office said in a report issued Thursday the state also does not comply with requirements that could reduce the risk of foster children going missing. The federal agency recommended that Missouri develop strategies for identifying foster children who are at risk of going missing, and better monitor case workers to ensure they follow reporting requirements involving foster children.
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Researchers at Pittsburg State Take a Swing at Developing New Golf Balls Made from... Soybeans?
PITTSBURG, Kan. (HPM) – University researchers in southeast Kansas are exploring a new use for soybeans. The result could benefit farmers, environmentalists, and... golfers. Researchers at Pittsburg State University are investigating the possibility of replacing the oil-based plastics used to manufacture golf balls with materials made from soybean oil. Dr. Ram Gupta is leading the effort. He says his team is searching for new ways to use the ubiquitous soybean plant and reduce the need for oil-based products. The research team has already developed a polymer for the outer shell of the golf ball and is now working on materials for the inside using soybean byproducts. The researchers will then test the balls with the hope that they will perform as well off the tee as the balls they are looking to replace. Gupta says the soybean golf balls will be less expensive to produce than plastic balls but to be marketable, the balls will have to fly as far and as straight as conventional golf balls.
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Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway Sues over Senator Josh Hawley's Reaction to Her Audit
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (AP) — Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway is suing a state board that investigated her after she issued critical audits of U.S. Senator Josh Hawley over his use of funds while he was Missouri Attorney General. Galloway says in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that the State Board of Accountancy is threatening to discipline her and her staff after she issued an audit in 2018 saying that Hawley potentially used state funds for his successful run for the U.S. Senate. In response, Hawley asked the accountancy board to investigate Galloway. In her lawsuit, Galloway is asking a Cole County judge to find that the board's powers don't apply to government agencies reviewed by the state auditor.
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Conservative Koch Network Disavows Bans on Critical Race Theory in Schools
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A prominent backer of Republican causes and candidates is notably absent from efforts by conservative political groups to ban in schools what they call critical race theory. Leaders in the network built by the billionaire Koch family say they oppose government bans on the discussion of any concepts. Koch's philanthropic decision-makers say government stifling of debate runs counter to principles of democracy and the network's own efforts to improve the nation's social climate. However, their record of support for policymaking organizations and candidates working to advance such bans has sparked new cries of hypocrisy from critics. The headquarters for Koch Industries is based in Wichita.
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Blood Donations Urgently Needed; American Red Cross Reports Worst Blood Shortage Since 2015
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage, the worst in six years. A sharp drop in blood donor turnout has contributed to the lowest post-summer blood inventory level since 2015. In some areas, the blood inventory is less than a day's supply. Officials say they must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month for the blood supply to recover and meet hospital and patient needs. Donors of all blood types are needed, but especially those with type O blood. The blood shortage is now so severe that the Red Cross is giving away prizes to those who donate. Those who give blood soon could get a limited-edition, football-inspired Red Cross T-shirt, free haircut coupons from Sport Clips and a coupon for a free Zaxby’s® chicken Sandwich or other freebies. More information is available at RedCrossBlood.org. ( Read more.)
To Make an appointment to give blood or platelets, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call (800) RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
Find a list of area blood drives.
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Lawsuit: Northrop Grumman Knew Chemical Contaminated Homes in Southwest Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A federal lawsuit alleges that defense company Northrop Grumman knew that chemicals from a site it owns near Springfield were contaminating groundwater and seeping into well water serving businesses and homes. A federal lawsuit was filed Wednesday by a law firm representing two Springfield families. It claims Northrop Grumman, which is based in Virginia, did not notify the residents for more than a decade about contamination from trichloroethylene, or TCE, which can cause cancer. The plaintiffs claim the contamination came to light only after TCE was found near the Fantastic Caverns tourist site near Springfield in 2018. Attorneys are seeking class action certification to represent others whose water might have been contaminated.
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No. 6 Oklahoma Visits K-State for First Big 12 Road Game
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Oklahoma hasn't played a true road game in nearly two years thanks to the pandemic, which forced those schools that did allow fans last year to limit capacity, and four consecutive home games to start this season. The sixth-ranked Sooners figure to be in for a rude welcome on Saturday. Not only are they finally venturing out of Norman, they are playing their first Big 12 road game since they announced plans to bolt the conference along with Texas shortly before the season. The decision to head for the SEC was hardly appreciated by longtime cohorts such as Kansas State, who were left on shaky footing. "We really tried to prepare for that all the way through spring," Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said. "You can't knowing that just about half our roster — maybe close to half — hasn't played a full college road game. We've tried to prepare guys for it." Maybe it will help the Sooners (4-0, 1-0) focus knowing Kansas State (3-1, 0-1) will be on the opposite sideline. For all their dominance of the Big 12 the past few years, the Sooners have struggled to deal with the Wildcats, who are trying to win their third straight in the series for the first time since the early 1990s. Kansas State dealt Riley's bunch their only regular-season loss in 2019 before turning the trick again in the second week of the season a year ago. "I would say the kids probably know that we're playing somebody who's ranked but it's nothing that we would emphasize — that, 'This would be a great win because it's over a third-ranked or fourth-ranked team,,'" Wildcats coach Chris Klieman said. "I'll be honest with you: Every win is a great win," Klieman said. "It's hard to win football games."
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today!