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Headlines for Thursday, January 21, 2021

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COVID-19 Caseload in Kansas Passes 260,000; Virus-Related Deaths Approach 3,600

TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reported Wednesday that there have been 263,412 cases of COVID-19, including 3,575 deaths, since the pandemic began. That's an increase of 3,590 cases and 50 deaths since Monday. KDHE will release another update on coronavirus case numbers Friday.

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Kansas Moves into Second Phase of COVID-19 Immunizations

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is shifting into the second phase of coronavirus immunizations as the Republican-led House chamber on Thursday approved a bill that would extend the state’s pandemic emergency declaration. The 119-3 vote sends the bill to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has until Jan. 26 to act before the declaration expires. It expands the use of telemedicine and adds flexibility in health care licensing through March 31. But it also limits Kelly’s ability to close businesses and allows counties to opt out of mask mandates and other health orders she issues. The move comes as Kelly said communities can move beyond immunizing health care workers and long-term care residents.

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Kansas Moves to Phase 2 of COVID-19 Vaccination Plan 

UNDATED (KNS) – Kansas is moving to its second phase of COVID-19 vaccinations, offering the shots to people over 65 and close-contact essential workers. Governor Laura Kelly issued a press release Wednesday saying the state has given the shots to nearly 130,000 frontline health care workers and elderly Kansans. Nursing homes were among the first places to get the doses. The state will now begin delivering vaccinations to the next group. It covers about one million Kansans. But the next weekly supply of the vaccine for the state will include only about 45,000 doses. Kelly said local health departments will decide how to prioritize vaccinations with the limited supply.
 

Kansas Expects Small Uptick in Vaccine Supply Amid Shortages

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The top health official in Kansas has told lawmakers that the state will likely see a only a small uptick in the immediate supply of the COVID-19 vaccine with the change in presidential administrations. Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state health department, says the state will likely get a 1% or 2% increase in its vaccine supply in the short run. Health officials reported Wednesday that about 3.8% of the state’s population has gotten the vaccine to date. Kansas added another 3,590 COVID-19 cases Wednesday, pushing the state's tally to 263,412 since the start of the pandemic. It reported 50 more deaths, bringing the total to 3,575.

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Kansas Hospitals Report Increased Availability of Hospital Beds 

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — Kansas health officials say they're hopeful that hospitalizations will continue to slowly decline in the state. The number of COVID-19 cases in Kansas continues to grow but hospitals have not seen the spike in new cases they had feared after the holidays. Many of the state's largest hospitals now report being at critical capacity, meaning nearly all of their beds are occupied, but that's an improvement from a month ago when hospitals reported no room to accept transferred patients. Many Kansas hospitals say they remain short on staff but even that has improved in recent weeks. Hospital administrators say that’s possibly because more health workers have now been vaccinated

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Missouri Governor: Mass Vaccination Sites Planned Across Missouri

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri plans mass vaccination sites by the end of the month in an effort to get more protection against COVID-19 to more people. Gov. Mike Parson said Wednesday that he will activate the National Guard to help with new vaccination sites in each of the nine Missouri State Highway Patrol regions. Specific dates and locations for those sites were not announced. Each site will be capable of administering up to 2,500 doses per day. The state also plans to send “targeted vaccination teams” to St. Louis and Kansas City, where they will work with clergy to help get vaccinations to “vulnerable populations.”

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Vote's Timing Is Key Issue with Kansas Anti-Abortion Measure

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers advancing a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution insist that it should go on the state’s August 2022 primary ballot. That prompted criticism from abortion rights supporters Thursday that the measure's backers fear failure if the statewide vote is held in a different election. The GOP-controlled House Federal and State Affairs Committee approved the measure after rejecting a proposed change to put it on the ballot in the November 2022 general election. Its measure goes next to the House. The Republican-controlled Senate planned to debate a separate but identical measure Thursday. Both would overturn a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision protecting abortion rights.

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Kansas Election Official Loses Job for Violating Policy

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman says she is losing her job for violating a policy by remotely accessing the state’s voter registration database when working from home while fighting cancer during the coronavirus pandemic. The Wichita Eagle reports that Lehman said Wednesday that Secretary of State Scott Schwab informed her earlier this month that when her term as election commissioner expires on July 19, he did not intend to appoint her to another term. Lehman said she “knowingly chose” to violate Schwab’s policy in order to direct a fair and accurate Presidential election. Schwab says this was “not a hasty decision,” and they could not jeopardize the safety of Kansas election systems to the benefit of one.

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UPDATE: GOP Senators Reject Kansas Appeals Court Nominee for a 2nd Time

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans in the Kansas Senate have rejected Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s nomination of a public defender to the state’s second-highest court for the second time in eight months. The vote Thursday against Carl Folsom III came even though he had support from the state’s top federal prosecutor and dozens of other attorneys. The vote was 18-17, but Folsom needed 21 votes in the 40-member Senate to join the Kansas Court of Appeals. The Senate rejected him in June for a different Court of Appeals vacancy. Democrats said he is well-qualified for the court, but Republicans said his experience isn't broad enough and suggested that he would be an activist judge.

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Kansas Lawmakers Advance Judge Nominations to Full Senate

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly’s nominee for a spot on Kansas's second-highest court says his experience as a public defender would bring real value to an appellate court that is now filled with former civil litigators, former prosecutors and former district judges. The Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination to the full Senate without making a recommendation. If confirmed, Folsom would fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Steve Leben. It also advanced with a favorable recommendation the nomination of Wichita attorney Amy Cline to replace former appeals Judge G. Joseph Pierron Jr.

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Regents Give University CEOs More Power to Fire Employees

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents has approved a temporary policy that gives university CEOs more power to suspend or fire employees, including tenured faculty. The regents unanimously endorsed the change Wednesday, citing financial pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic, cuts in state funding and declining enrollments. The regents gave universities 45 days to submit a framework to determine how they will make employee-related decisions. A representative of the Council of Faculty Senate Presidents told the regents that the policy basically suspends tenure and will damage employee morale. The policy will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2022.

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Small Groups Demonstrate at State Capital During Biden Inauguration

TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — The state of Kansas tightened security after warnings of possible violence at state capitols leading up to President Biden’s inauguration. But there was only a small demonstration in Topeka on Wednesday. There was extra security near the Capitol, with state troopers slowly driving around the building, but ultimately, no violence developed. As President Biden took the oath of office, there were about a half dozen protesters outside the capitol. They were split with some supporting the incoming president and others protesting the ceremony in Washington.  Some held signs with slogans like “Honk if socialism sucks.” Lawmakers had canceled much of their work and the governor closed some nearby office buildings out of an abundance of caution.   

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Kansas Legislative Panel Recommends Changes to Mental Health Treatment

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) — A group of Kansas lawmakers says the state needs to further adjust its mental health system to new demands posed by the pandemic. The new legislative report says the state needs to improve its telemedicine system and gather more information about which Kansans need mental health care. The report also calls for better privacy and standard training for online health care and it says the state needs to gather more robust data about the mental health needs of children. The report suggests the state hire parents of children in the mental health system to act as support for other parents.  

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Authorities: Body Found in Rail Grain Car Near Dodge City

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and local officials in southwest Kansas are investigating after a body was found inside a rail grain car near Dodge City. Television station KAKE reports that the body of a man was found in the grain car Wednesday morning in the unincorporated community of Wright, just northeast of Dodge City. The KBI and Ford County Sheriff's Office are working to identify the man. Authorities say a preliminary investigation does not show any foul play in the case.

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Lawrence Agrees to Return Sacred Prayer Rock to Kaw Nation

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Lawrence City Council has unanimously approved a measure to return to a Native American tribe a prayer rock that was transformed into a monument honoring Kansas settlers. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the council voted 5-0 Tuesday to return the rock to the Kaw Nation. Before the Kaw people were forcibly moved from Kansas to what is now Oklahoma in 1873, they held ceremonies and gatherings before the 23-ton boulder known as the “Big Red Rock.” As Lawrence prepared for its 75th anniversary in 1929, the rock was moved to a park in town. Last month, the tribe sent a letter to the city seeking the rock's return.

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Kansas GOP Senator Roger Marshall Criticizes Trial for President Trump as Divisive

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall opposes an impeachment trial for President Donald Trump.  He argued Tuesday that a trial would further divide the nation. Marshall attended President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Wednesday. He said leaders must ensure that “the levers of government are fully operational.” Fellow Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran has not made a statement on a Senate trial. The House’s impeachment article charges Trump with “incitement of insurrection” over a deadly January 6 riot in which a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. Marshall condemned the violence but still opposed certifying Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for Biden.

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KC Mayor to Chiefs Fans: Celebrate with COVID-19 in Mind

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is a big fan of the Chiefs, but he can't help but worry after watching news coverage of fans celebrating close together following the team's 22-17 NFL playoff game win over Cleveland. Now, with the Chiefs hosting Buffalo in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Lucas is urging fans to keep COVID-19 preventative measures in mind as they gather to watch. The city will keep in contact with entertainment districts to make sure crowds next weekend don't leave "a lot of people sick around the Super Bowl." Lucas says the same measures will be in place on February 7 if the Chiefs advance to the Super Bowl.

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Kansas City Payday Lender Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ The co-owner of a one-time Kansas City payday lending company has pleaded guilty to a bankruptcy fraud count related to his 2015 personal bankruptcy, in which prosecutors say he hid more than $1 million in assets. The Kansas City Star reports that 53-year-old Del Kimball pleaded guilty Tuesday and faces up to five years in prison when he's sentenced on June 2. Federal officials have accused Kimball of concealing assets, bank accounts and income from his bankruptcy disclosures. Those included the sale of a warehouse for nearly $1 million, the sale of three cars for more than $120,000, eight wristwatches worth more than $29,000 and a painting by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood. 

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Kansas Coach Who Survived Lung Transplant Dies of Virus

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. (AP) _ A Kansas football coach who survived and even resumed coaching following a double-lung transplant three years ago has died of COVID-19 complications. The Wichita Eagle reports that 50-year-old Aaron Flores, of Coffeyville, died last week following a battle with the virus. Flores was the student affairs director at Coffeyville Community College. He had also been the head football coach of the school's Red Ravens football team until a progressive lung disease required him to undergo the lung transplant in 2018. He and three other members of his immediate family were diagnosed with the virus in mid-December, and Flores was flown to the Omaha, Nebraska, hospital where he had received the transplant to be treated. He died there Friday. 

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KBI: Man Found Dead in Arcadia Killed in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says a man whose body was found in Arcadia, Kansas, was killed in Kansas City, Missouri. Crawford County authorities found the body on January 13 at the home of 37-year-old Nicholas Adam Carrillo. Deputies went to the property after receiving a tip that a body was there. Carrillo fled when the body was discovered. He was arrested Friday. The KBI announced Tuesday the victim was reported missing to Kansas City, Missouri, police and investigators believe he was killed there. They have not released the victim's identity.

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Woman Who Drowned in Texas in 1966 Identified as Kansan

PECOS, Texas. (AP) — Police in west Texas say a woman who drowned in a pool there in 1966 has been identified as a Salina, Kansas, native. Police in Pecos, Texas, announced Tuesday that the drowning victim was 17-year-old Jolaine Hemmy. She drowned on July 5, 1966, at the Ropers Motel in Pecos, where she was staying with a man. Police said the man, who has not been identified, was in the couple's motel room when Hemmy died. He left with their belongings as emergency responders were trying to revive her. Police reopened the cold case last year and exhumed the body. Pecos police say Hemmy's death remains under investigation.

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Kansas Crop Artist's Unity Work Part of Biden Inauguration

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence artist known for large, intricate crop art had his work featured in a virtual celebration of Joe Biden's inauguration. Stan Herd was asked by the inauguration team to contribute to a “Parade Across America” video that was shown Wednesday during the inauguration. Herd and a crew charred the phrase “America United” into a former hay field outside Lawrence. They finished Sunday. The large, block text covers about one acre of land belonging to one of Herd’s supporters. The team cut the words with weed trimmers and then used a butane torch to burn the interior part of the letters.

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Audubon Sues over Water Rights at Quivira Wildlife Refuge

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Audubon of Kansas has sued over water rights at a wildlife refuge in central Kansas. The federal lawsuit filed Friday by the environmental group against the U.S. Department of the Interior and various federal and state officials alleges they have failed to protect the senior water rights belonging to the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. The lawsuit contends the 22,135-acre refuge provides sanctuary to a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds and other wetland species. Quivira has suffered from a water shortage because of groundwater pumping upstream in the Rattlesnake Creek basin by irrigators, who the Audubon contends have lesser water rights than the refuge.

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Anonymous Couple Pledges $3.5 Million to Wichita State

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An anonymous couple from Kansas has pledged a $3.5 million estate gift to the Wichita State Foundation. The university announced Tuesday that the money will be used to endow a scholarship fund for students who show financial need. Students who have financial need, have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and hold part-time jobs will be eligible for scholarships that will pay up to half of the cost of their tuition. A preference will be given to students from Kansas. At current tuition rates, the money would provide half-tuition awards for about 35 students annually.

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Man Killed in Crash During Police Chase in Bonner Springs

BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Highway Patrol says one man died and a woman was injured during a police pursuit in Bonner Springs. The chase began early Wednesday after officers responded to a report of a driver speeding in a Bonner Springs neighborhood. Police said the driver reached speeds up to 114 mph in a 45 mph zone before losing control of the vehicle. The car spun and hit a sign and tree before coming to a stop. The driver, 22-year-old Juan Carlos Marquez, of Bonner Springs, died at a hospital. An 18-year-old woman was critically injured. The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating.

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Kansas County Court Clerk Sentenced in Misuse of Funds

LIBERAL, Kan. (AP) — A former southwest Kansas county court clerk was sentenced to a year of probation for keeping traffic court payments for herself. Fifty-seven-year-old Sonia Johnson was sentenced Tuesday for misuse of public funds. She pleaded no contest in August. Johnson was the court clerk in Seward County. The Kansas Attorney General's Office said Johnson kept more than $8,000 in voided traffic court payments. She returned most of the funds but left the court about $3,000 short. Johnson was also ordered to pay $2,962 in restitution and a $2,500 fine. She would serve six months in jail if she violates her probation.

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Bankers Survey Shows Gains in Rural Economy of 10 States

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new monthly survey of bankers suggests growing improvement in the economy in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states. But Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says bank CEOs' biggest fears for 2021 are excessive inflation and higher long-term interest rates. The overall index of January's Rural Mainstreet Survey improved to 52.0 from December’s 51.6 — the highest reading since before the onset last year of the coronavirus pandemic. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

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Pam Johnson, Former Arizona Republic Executive Editor, Dies

PHOENIX (AP) — A former executive editor of Arizona’s largest newspaper has died. The Arizona Republic reported Thursday that Pam Johnson died Jan. 20 at age 74 in Overland Park, Kansas after a lengthy battle with dementia. Johnson led the Republic’s newsroom and that of the sibling Phoenix Gazette for 13 years. She became managing editor of the Gazette in 1988, then was named managing editor and later executive editor of the Republic. A 1969 University of Missouri graduate, Johnson was hired at the Binghamton (New York) Evening Press and joined the copy desk of the Kansas City Times a year later before moving to the Kansas City Star. She was named the first executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at Missouri’s School of Journalism in 2004.

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Negro Leagues Roots: Kansas City T-Bones Renamed Monarchs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City T-Bones of the independent American Association are being renamed the Kansas City Monarchs after the team that played in the Negro Leagues. The original Monarchs were founded in 1924 and won the first Negro League World Series in 1920. The team played in the Negro National League and Negro American League and later as an independent. A museum exhibit is to travel with the team. The Monarchs also plan to establish a youth academy for baseball and softball.

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Sporting KC Signs 2 Teens Among 3 Homegrown Players

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sporting Kansas City has signed homegrown players Grayson Barber, Ozzie Cisneros and Brooks Thompson as the Major League Soccer club continues to get younger by developing players from within its system. The 18-year-old Thompson, along with the 20-year-old Barber and 16-year-old Cisneros, help to form the backbone of a major youth movement by Sporting KC. The average age on their roster is 25 years.

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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.