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Headlines for Monday, July 6, 2020

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Newspaper Owner: Sorry for Equating Mask Rule to Holocaust

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas county Republican Party chairman who owns a weekly newspaper has apologized for a cartoon posted on the paper's Facebook page that equated the Democratic governor's coronavirus-inspired order for people to wear masks in public with the mass murder of Jews by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Anderson County Review owner Dane Hicks said in a statement Sunday on Facebook that he was removing the cartoon after "heartfelt and educational conversations" with Jewish leaders. The newspaper posted the cartoon Friday, and it drew dozens of critical responses and international attention. A blog post by Hicks on Saturday defending it also drew critical responses.

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Nearly 17,000 COVID-19 Cases Recorded in Kansas, Including 280 Deaths

TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Kansas has recorded 16,901 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. That number includes 280 deaths. Cases have now been confirmed in 98 of the 105 Kansas counties. Wyandotte and Johnson Counties have the most cases, with 2,655 and 2.349, respectively.  State health officials released those figures today (MON). Another update is expected Wednesday. 

( Kansas health officials release new data on COVID-19 case numbers on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.)

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Kansas Reports 982 More Cases Linked to Coronavirus Outbreak

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas reported 982 more confirmed coronavirus cases and three more deaths as the state seeks to combat the surging outbreak with a mask mandate. The state Department of Health and Environment reported Monday that Kansas has had 16,901 cases, up 6% from Friday. Kansas also has reported 280 COVID-19-related deaths. Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order Thursday requiring people to wear masks in public and in their workplaces because of a surge in cases, and it took effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Counties, however, can opt out of Kelly’s mask order. 

Kansas Sets New Record for Increase in Number of COVID-19 Cases 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has set another record for its worst two-week spike in reported coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. The state Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 982 more confirmed coronavirus cases since Friday. The increase of 6% that brought the total number of cases to 16,901. The health department also reported another three COVID-19-related deaths to bring the total for the pandemic to 280. During the past two weeks, Kansas reported an average of 317 new coronavirus cases a day. That was nearly 15% higher than the 276 average for the two weeks ending Friday that was previously the largest spike.

Record COVID-19 Spike Prompts Warning from Kansas Governor

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has set a new record for its worst two-week spike in reported coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. That prompted the state's Democratic governor to issue a stern public warning Monday in hopes of pushing the public and local officials into accepting masks in public as necessary. Gov. Laura Kelly said the state has seen at least seven new clusters of two or more reported cases in the past five days directly related tied to bars and restaurants. During the past two weeks, Kansas reported an average of 317 new coronavirus cases a day. That was nearly 15% higher than the previous record. 

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Fireworks Causes Estimated $10,500 in Damage in Kansas

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are blaming fireworks for a blaze that caused an estimated $10,500 in damage to a Junction City duplex. WIBW-TV reports that the fire was reported around 4:20 a.m. Sunday on the northeast edge of the city. Junction City Fire Department officials said the blaze was caused by disposed fireworks inside a plastic trash receptacle. Crews found heavy fire in the front of the residence and the garage area upon arriving. Four people and a pair of dogs were evacuated.

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2 Killed in Separate Shootings in Kansas City, Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two men have been killed in separate shootings in Kansas City, Kansas. Police identified the victims in a news release as 27-year-old Edwin Pinto and 34-year-old Dennis Barnett. The release said officers found Pinto dead while responding to a shooting call around 2:20 a.m. Sunday. Barnett was found dead about two hours later as officers responded to another shooting call. Police say the shootings are under investigation. No suspect information has been released.

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Police Investigate Robbery-Turned-Homicide Inside Olathe Home

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after finding a homicide victim inside a suburban Kansas City home while responding to a burglary. Olathe police say the burglary was reported around 3 am on Sunday in Olathe. The victim was identified as 42-year-old Jessica L. Smith. Police say the killer apparently fled before officers arrived. 

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3 People Die, 2 Hurt in Overnight Shootings in KC Metro

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities said three people were killed and two others were injured in three separate shootings in the Kansas City metro.  The first shooting happened in Kansas City, Missouri, around 11:45 pm Saturday.  Police spokeswoman Doaa El-Ashkar said officers responding to the shooting found an unresponsive man on the sidewalk. He died at the scene. Two other men went to a hospital with gunshot wounds. Police believe they were injured in the same shooting. Kansas City, Kansas, police said two men died in separate shootings early Sunday morning.

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Kansas City Police: Officer Remains in Critical Condition

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City police say an officer who was shot in the head during an exchange of gunfire that left a suspect dead is in critical condition and progressing as expected. Police Spokeswoman, Officer Doaa El-Ashkar, said in an email Saturday that the officer remains in the intensive care unit. Police are not identifying the officer and say his family is asking for privacy. Police were called shortly before 5 pm Thursday to a restaurant where the suspect in the shooting, 31-year-old Ky Johnson of Grandview, was waving a gun, then fled on foot and opened fire on pursuing officers, striking one. A second officer fired back.

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Kansas City Murder Suspect Arrested After Chase into Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police have identified a suspect arrested in a Kansas City shooting death following a police chase into Kansas last week. Authorities say 36-year-old Eric Thomas, of Kansas City, Missouri, has been charged with second-degree murder and other counts in last week's shooting death of 28-year-old Darren Marshall. Marshall's death was among three Kansas City homicides on Wednesday. Police say Thomas was arrested some time later after officers spotted a vehicle matching the description of one being driven during the shooting. Officers tried to stop the car, but it sped away and led police on a high-speed chase into Kansas while running red lights. Police say Thomas was successfully stopped in Kansas and arrested.

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Missouri Brothers Charged in Death During Planned Drug Deal in Kansas City Park

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Jackson County, Missouri, prosecutor says two brothers have been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in the shooting death of a man in a south Kansas City park. Jean Peters Baker announced charges Friday against 29-year-old Terry L. Williams and 20-year-old Tyree L. Williams. The shooting happened around 8 pm Tuesday near Ruskin Way Park.  A witness told police she had gone with 25-year-old Quindell Burrell to the park to meet the brothers for a drug transaction. According to charging documents, the witness said she left and went to the store, and when she returned Burrell had been shot.

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Top Missouri Democrat Stepping Away from State Party Duties

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Democratic Party’s chairwoman is stepping aside until at least September. The Kansas City Star reported that Jean Peters Baker announced this week that she’s stepping back from her state party duties because of recent developments in her job as Jackson County prosecutor. The announcement did not specify those developments, but homicides in Kansas City have reached historic levels. Missouri Democratic Party Vice-Chairman Clem Smith will become acting chairman. State party spokesman Andrew Storey said the arrangement is effective until at least the party’s third quarter committee meeting in September. Baker has led the party since 2018.

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Sheriff: 13-Year-Old Killed in ATV Crash in Rural Kansas

HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a 13-year-old has died after an all-terrain vehicle crash in northeastern Kansas. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that the crash happened around 2 am Sunday on a rural road when the ATV's driver lost control and the vehicle overturned. The 13-year-old was in the front passenger seat and was thrown from the vehicle. Another passenger and an arriving sheriff's deputy performed CPR, but the child died at the scene. Officials had not released the child's name by this (MON) morning. Five other people who had been on the ATV were taken to hospitals for treatment.

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Mask Opponents Protest at Wichita Mayor's Home

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Protesters who oppose a city ordinance requiring that masks be worn in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have gathered outside Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple's home. On Friday, the Wichita City Council voted to require masks in public. The Wichita Eagle reports the ordinance requires people to wear masks where 6-foot social distancing is not possible. The roughly eight protesters Saturday didn't wear masks and didn't meet the 6-feet social distancing guideline, which means they could have been fined $25. A nearby officer said police are choosing education over enforcement for now. Others around Wichita also weren't wearing masks.

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Man Arrested for 2 Fatal January Shootings at Wichita Hotel

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police have arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with the fatal shootings in January of another man and a woman in a hotel. The police department said the suspect returned Thursday to Wichita to be booked into the Sedgwick County jail after being arrested outside the U.S. Police said he was arrested on potential charges of capital murder, illegal firearm possession, aggravated burglary and aggravated assault. His case is now in the hands of the Sedgwick County district attorney. The suspect was arrested in connection with the deaths of 27-year-old George Kirksey and 22-year-old Alicia Roman. Both were from Wichita, as is the suspect.

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Some K-State Athletes Protest over Student's Floyd Tweet

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas State athletes have been protesting over an insensitive tweet by a student about the death of George Floyd. The Wichita Eagle reports that those attending the rally in Manhattan on Saturday said the university administration's promise to address racial injustice at the school did not go far enough. Student Jaden McNeil's tweet last month led to an uproar among students, with several football players and other athletes threatening to boycott if the university didn't take any action. The school responded by launching a diversity and education fund to support initiatives but said it would be unlawful to expel McNeil.

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Man Shot by Deputies at Neosho Falls Campground

NEOSHO FALLS, Kan. (AP) — Two sheriff’s deputies shot an armed 41-year-old man at a campground in southeast Kansas following an altercation. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said the shooting Thursday afternoon in Neosho Falls happened as two Woodson County deputies were questioning the man about a vehicle that had been reported stolen.  Both deputies shot the man and he was taken to an area hospital. The man was later flown to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, underwent surgery and remains in stable condition. Neither deputy was hurt.

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Nigerian Man Charged with Cyber Fraud against Companies in Kansas, Other States

CHICAGO (AP) — A Nigerian national has appeared in court in Chicago on charges that he orchestrated an international cyber fraud scheme that defrauded U.S. businesses in six states out of tens of millions of dollars. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago said Friday that 29-year-old Olalekan Jacob Ponle, originally of Lagos, Nigeria, was arrested last month in the United Arab Emirates, where he was living. He was expelled from the country and into FBI custody, and arrived in Chicago Thursday. He's charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud against companies based in Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New York and California.

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Supreme Court Deals Blow to Keystone Oil Pipeline

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has handed another blow to the disputed Keystone XL pipeline from Canada by keeping in place a lower court ruling that blocked a key permit for the project. However, Monday’s order also put on hold the lower court ruling as it pertains to other oil and gas pipelines across the nation. The Trump administration had argued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer permit program that has been in the place since the 1970s was functioning properly when it was cancelled by a Montana judge in April. Critics argued the program allows pipeline companies to skirt responsibility for damage to water bodies.

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New Program in Lawrence Offers Free Courses to Those Who've Lost Jobs Due to COVID-19

LAWRENCE, Kan. (LJW) — Lost your job because of coronavirus?  Live in Douglas County?  A new program in Lawrence offers an opportunity to learn skills for a new profession at no cost.  The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the Peaslee Technical Training Center has launched a new program for Douglas County residents who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic.  The program is aimed at helping participants learn skills for a new profession.  CEO Kevin Kelley said Thursday that the program allows residents to enroll in the tech center’s on-campus courses for free. The program will also accept students who qualify as residents of low-income households.  “We’re trying to give them an opportunity to be retrained into livable-wage jobs,” Kelley said. “For many, it could be a great opportunity to move into something to do for the rest of their lives as a new career.”  Peaslee Tech’s on-campus offerings include many different courses, such as training for auto-body repair, carpentry, plumbing and welding, among many others.  Kelley said the new program currently has about $200,000 of funding, which the tech center estimates will provide no-cost tuition to about 70 people. So far nine people have already been enrolled.  ( Read more in the Lawrence Journal-World.)

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Chiefs Agree to 10-Year Extension for Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a 10-year contract extension with Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, keeping him around through 2031. The Chiefs had Mahomes under contract for the next two seasons but wanted a long-term deal in place with the quarterback who led them to their first championship in 50 years. ESPN.com reported the deal is worth $450 million with an injury guarantee of $140 million.  

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KPR's daily headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays and updated throughout the day.  KPR's weekend summary is usually published by 1 pm Saturdays and Sundays.