Kansans Eligible for Second Round of Free COVID-19 Tests
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is offering households a second round of five free at-home COVID-19 tests. The hope is people will order the test now so they are on hand by the holidays. The number of reported COVID cases in Kansas is down, at about a third compared to this time last year, but health officials forecast an increase in cases over the winter months. Kansans can order the free tests at accesscovidtests.org.
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1st Infantry Soldiers Honored in Veterans Day Ceremony
CHICAGO, Ill. (WIBW) - Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division were honored at a historic Veterans Day ceremony in Chicago. WIBW reports that dozens of soldiers serving in the "Big Red One" attended the event at Soldier Field to mark the special connection between the 1st Division and the city of Chicago. Wheaton, a suburb of Chicago, is the hone of the First Division Museum, dedicated to the history of the Big Red One. The museum was endowed by Colonel Robert McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, who served in the 1st Division during World War One.
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Former CEO and Former I-T Director of Saint Francis Ministries Indicted
TOPEKA, Kan. (Kansas Reflector) – The Kansas Reflector reports that the former chief executive officer and the former IT director of Saint Francis Ministries have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Robert Smith and William Whymark are accused of scheming to defraud Saint Francis Ministries of at least $4.7 million by using fake invoices. Prosecutors say Smith approved invoices submitted by Whymark that inflated the actual costs of providing information technology services. The indictment says that former CEO Smith also received a $50,000 kickback disguised as an authorized invoice, and used Saint Francis credit cards to pay for personal expenses. The two were also indicted on charges of money laundering. If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Saint Francis is the largest foster care contractor in Kansas, serving Wichita and the western two-thirds of the state.
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Tainted Cheese Recalled at Four Kansas Grocery Stores
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT/KPR) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has added four more Kansas grocery stores in Kansas to a recent cheese recall. KSNT reports that the FDA added four Kansas Dillon's stores to a list of grocery stores that received bulk Brie and Camembert cheese from Old Europe Cheese, which was voluntarily recalled due to a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. The bulk cheese was sold at Dillon's stores in Lawrence, Topeka, Andover, and Hays. A list of products recalled is available at FDA.gov.