Headlines for Monday, September 27, 2021

COVID-19 Case Count in Kansas Slowing... but Still Growing

TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas health officials say there have been nearly 2,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 43 new, virus-related deaths since last Friday.  According to the latest figures from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the state has recorded more than 406,000 cases of COVID-19, and more than 6,000 deaths, since the pandemic began.

Total number of COVID-19 Cases recorded by KDHE, as of September 27, 2021: 406,453 (+ 1,994 since Friday)
Total number of virus-related deaths recorded by KDHE, as of September 27, 2021: 6,024 (+ 43 since Friday)

(-Related-)

Number of New Kansas COVID-19 Cases Steadily Dropping

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The number of new COVID-19 cases in Kansas has been steadily dropping.  By the end of last week, the number of cases had dropped for the third week in a row.  Seventy-five hundred new coronavirus cases were identified in Kansas last week. That figure has dropped by a third since late last month. But it’s still a lot of cases. It’s about the same as what Kansas was dealing with in late January. So state health officials are asking people not to let down their guard. ICUs are still struggling with the number of patients. Getting vaccinated is the best way to stay out of the hospital. COVID cases are declining nationally, too.

==========

Kansas to Follow CDC Recommendation of Pfizer Booster

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says the state will adopt the recommendation from the CDC concerning Pfizer booster shots.  The director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, ruled last week that people 65 and older, nursing home residents and those ages 50 and up who have chronic health problems such as diabetes should be offered a booster once they're six months past their last Pfizer dose.  The Democratic governor says she's authorized all COVID-19 vaccine providers to begin administering Pfizer booster shots to all eligible Kansans.  

(-Related-)

CDC: Plenty of Booster Vaccines Available in the U.S.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - With more than 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccines available, U.S. health authorities said they're confident there will be enough for every American who qualifies. A spike in demand is expected after the Centers and Disease Control and Prevention endorsed boosters of the Pfizer vaccine for all Americans 65 and older.  The CDC said younger people at higher risk from the coronavirus because of health conditions or their jobs would also qualify.  Meanwhile, more than 70 million Americans remain unvaccinated. That despite the enticement of lottery prizes, free food or gifts and pleas from exhausted health care workers as the average number of deaths per day climbed to more than 1,900 in recent weeks.  

========== 

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.)

==========

Kansas Restarts Road Projects Delayed by Budget Woes

TOPEKA, Kan.(KPR/KNS) - A highway project may soon be coming to a town near you.  Kansas officials say they’re on their way to finishing the highway projects delayed by budget problems under former Republican Governor Sam Brownback and will start rolling out new projects early next year.  When Democratic Governor Laura Kelly took office in 2019 and appointed Julie Lorenz to head the Kansas Department of Transportation, there were 16 shelved projects. Now, she says, they’re all moving toward completion. “We’ve let 12 of those projects to construction. So that means those are out the door and underway. And one phase of each of the remaining projects will be let by the end of this year," Lorenz said. That means by early next year KDOT can jump start its new, 10-year, $10 billion Eisenhower Legacy Transportation program approved by lawmakers.  Lorenz says one of the first new projects will add an optional toll lane to a stretch of U.S. Highway 69 in suburban Kansas City to ease rush-hour traffic.

==========

Topeka Police Investigate Body Found in Gage Park

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Topeka police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found Saturday in a park. Police said the body of Richmond McDaniels Jr. was found early Saturday morning in Gage Park. Authorities did not release many details about how the 38-year-old died or who found his body.

==========

Retired KU Political Science Professor, Bird Loomis, Dies at 76

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The University of Kansas is mourning the loss of a longtime political science professor.  Burdett Loomis, an emeritus professor who taught at KU for more than 40 years, has died.  Multiple sources confirmed to Kansas Public Radio that the retired professor was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer.  He died Saturday night at the age of 76.  Known to many as "Bird," Loomis had a national profile and was often quoted by the New York Times and other major new outlets about state and national politics.  He was the author of several books, a frequent talk show guest, and a political commentator for Kansas Public Radio and other news outlets.  He also worked as director of administrative communications for Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

========== 

Wichita Man Charged with Manslaughter After Collision Kills Teen

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A Wichita man has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and manslaughter after a head-on collision that killed a 19-year-old from Caldwell. Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick said the crash happened early Saturday around 2:45 a.m. on Kansas Highway 254 in northeastern Sedgwick County. Blick said the 39-year-old man who was arrested was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes of the highway when he collided with a Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Clayton Patterson who died after the collision. The 39-year-old was being held Sunday in lieu of $500,000 bond.

==========

Missouri Man Convicted of Murder Will Remain in Prison, for Now

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) - Supporters of a Missouri man who has been jailed for 30 years in his wife's death are hoping a new state law will allow him to prove his innocence, but so far the prosecutor says there's no reason to take another look at the case. Ken Middleton is serving a life sentence after being convicted of killing his wife, Kathy Middleton, in their Blue Springs home in February 1990. The judge who presided over Middleton's first trial vacated his conviction in 2005 and ordered a new trial, but an appeals court denied the new trial on jurisdictional grounds. The prosecutor's office said its staff has reviewed the case several times and would consider it again if new evidence was presented.  

==========

Sexual Assault Cases Spur Protests on Campuses Across U.S.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Reports of sexual assaults have fueled protests on at least eight U.S. college campuses just weeks into the new school year. Victims' advocates say more young people are vulnerable this year as they settle into campus life after learning remotely because of the pandemic. They also say students seem more engaged in speaking out against campus sexual assault and adept at drumming up support for the cause social media. Sexual assault allegations have led students to demonstrate over the past month at colleges in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Alabama, Michigan, Massachusetts and Missouri. Advocates say COVID-19 restrictions last year kept some sophomores from fully settling into college life, making them more vulnerable to assaults.

==========

Investigation Underway in Olathe into Offensive Sign Used

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) - A suburban Kansas City school district is investigating after a student asked a girl to homecoming using a racillay offensive sign. The sign reads: "If I was Black I would be picking cotton but I'm white so I'm picking you for HOCO." A picture of two white students holding the offensive sign and smiling drew sharp criticism on social media over the weekend. School officials in Olathe said they are working to contact everyone involved, including the parents of the students. In a letter sent to parents, the school district said the students' behavior would be addressed under the district's code of conduct.

==========

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!