UPDATE: Kansas Statewide Total of COVID-19 Cases Hits 34
As of today (THUR), officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment report 34 cases of COVID-19 statewide, with 16 cases in Johnson County alone.
Earlier reporting...
COVID-19 Cases Continue to Rise in Kansas; Statewide Total Hits 21 / Missouri Reports 15
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — As of Wednesday, Kansas health officials reported the statewide total of COVID-19 cases had risen to 21. At least six Kansas counties (Butler, Douglas, Franklin, Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte) reported one or more cases. Ford and Miami counties also reported COVID-19 cases but those involved out-of-state residents. Missouri's health department is reporting 15 positive cases of coronavirus. As of Tuesday the agency reported cases of COVID-19 in Boone, Cass, Cole, Greene, Henry, Jackson and St. Louis counties, as well as one case in the city of St. Louis.
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Governor Closes Kansas Schools; Asks Some State Workers to Stay Home
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has closed the state's public and private K-12 school buildings for the rest of the academic year, moving teaching online throughout the state to try to lessen the spread of the new coronavirus. Her action on Tuesday moves teaching online throughout the state to try to lessen the spread of the new coronavirus. Kelly also said that most of the 18,000 state workers under her supervision will be directed to stay at home for two weeks so agencies can plan for having some work from home and place others on paid administrative leave. Some Republican legislators objected to the school closings.
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UPDATE: GOP Kansas Lawmakers Curb Democrat Kelly's Emergency Powers
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have extended a state of emergency prompted by the coronavirus crisis after making sure it gave the GOP-controlled Legislature oversight over the actions of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The Senate voted 39-0 and the House voted 115-0 Thursday to approve a resolution to extend the state of emergency until May 1 and to allow legislative leaders to extend it further every 30 days. Kelly declared a state of emergency last week, and without the resolution, it would have expired March 27. The Kansas health department says at least 34 people have tested positive for the virus in Kansas.
(–earlier reporting–)
GOP Right Pushes Back on Kansas Governor for Closing Schools
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) _ Conservative Republican legislators in Kansas are moving to limit Democratic Governor Laura Kelly's power to address the coronavirus pandemic. Their move Wednesday was a response to an order from her closing the state's K-12 schools for the rest of the spring semester. They included language from GOP conservatives in a resolution that would extend a state of emergency declared by Kelly last week to prevent her from invoking a state law giving the governor broad powers to act to protect the state's population. Conservatives said Kelly's order Tuesday to close schools was an overreaction. The measure also would prohibit her from confiscating guns.
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State of Kansas Issues New Quarantine Mandates
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP / KPR) - The state of Kansas has issued strict quarantine mandates for people who have traveled or had close contact with those with confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, part of an effort to limit community spread. But community spread was inevitable. Lee Norman, the state's health secretary, says five of 11 cases in Johnson County are the result of community spread. Overall, the state's number of COVID-10 cases ticked up to 21. Health officials say Johnson County residents with mild symptoms will not be tested but instead advised to self-isolate. Elsewhere, the Douglas County Health Officer announced that public gatherings of more than 10 people will be prohibited in the county until April 1. The order restricts the size of all indoor and outdoor gatherings with the exception of governmental and judicial functions, healthcare facilities, private business operations, religious and faith-based activities, weddings and funerals. The order also closes restaurants, bars, taverns, night clubs and movie theaters. However, restaurants will be allowed to provide drive-through and delivery services of food and beverages at this time.
The Kansas News Service maintains this online resource about the pandemic: Updated Regularly: What Kansans Need to Know About COVID-19 and Coronavirus
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Missouri Records 1st Coronavirus Death; Local Elections Delayed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Governor Mike Parson says the first reported coronavirus death in the state has occurred in Boone County. Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said the case was travel-related. He said that the individual is the same person who tested positive for COVID-19 Tuesday in Boone County. Concerns about the coronavirus have prompted Missouri's governor to push back local elections for two months, forced the closure of one of the state's most iconic landmarks and led St. Louis' mayor to warn about possible community spread. Twenty-four cases have been confirmed in Missouri. Twenty-four cases have now been confirmed in Missouri.
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Missouri Lab Says It Has Developed Test for Coronavirus
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) — A clinical lab in Missouri says it has developed a test for the novel coronavirus that is more than 99% accurate. KCUR reports that Viracor Eurofins in Lee's Summit claims it is capable of performing more than 1,000 tests per day and returning results the same day. Officials say the test would allow for expanding testing to patients who don't currently meet the eligibility criteria for public laboratory testing established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has given the go-ahead for testing to begin.
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Kansas Governor Bans Home and Business Evictions Until May 1
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has banned home and business evictions until May 1 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Kelly signed an executive order Tuesday that she says is designed to mitigate the financial fallout for many Kansans during the spread of the virus. The order, which the governor's office did not announce, requires financial institutions to suspend business and home evictions. Earlier Tuesday, the governor signed another executive order ordering the state's K-12 schools to close and to move all teaching online for the rest of the semester.
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Kansas K-12 Tests Canceled; Wichita Officials Quarantined
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson says state standardized tests will be canceled this year because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Watson told reporters Thursday that tests are off unless something changes “dramatically” with regard to Kansas Governor Laura Kelly's executive order temporarily shuttering school buildings. Her order includes exceptions for groups of 10 people or less. Meanwhile, Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple and three city council members are self-quarantined after learning that two people at a conference they attended last week tested positive for the coronavirus.
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Help Available for Kansas Workers Taking Hit Due to Pandemic
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) — As thousands of workers across the U.S. are in danger of losing their jobs, President Trump is looking into making direct cash payments to Americans part of a federal emergency stimulus package. The aid package is designed to lessen the blow from the coronavirus pandemic. KWCH TV reports that the Kansas Department of Labor is now fielding a high volume of calls and questions. Thousands of Kansans are now working from home. Others expect pay cuts, layoffs and furloughs. The unprecedented situation brought on by the coronavirus raises many questions, but help is available. Unemployment insurance benefits are available for anyone who is involuntarily unemployed as a result of COVID-19. The amount of benefits depends on a person's salary, but will be within a window of $122 to $488 per week. The average payout in Kansas is nearly $400 per week. Benefits apply to those who are not working and not being paid. Help is also available to workers who have seen their hours or wages reduced due to the virus.
Guide to File for Unemployment Benefits
This week, the Kansas Department of Labor will also consider benefits for parents who are forced to take a leave of absence from work to be home with children since schools have been closed through the end of the academic year. On Tuesday Kansas lawmakers passed a bill that would increase the length of time you can collect unemployment insurance from 16 weeks to 26 weeks. The idea was originally proposed earlier this session to deal with aviation layoffs in Wichita. Now lawmakers are saying it can apply to everyone. Supporters say the bill is an important safety net if the crisis is longlasting.
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GOP Kills Kansas Governor's Plans on Services, Energy Office
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas have killed Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's plans to merge two social services agencies and create an independent energy policy office. The GOP-controlled House on Wednesday passed two resolutions rejecting executive orders Kelly issued in January. Under the state constitution, the votes prevent the orders from taking effect. Democrats saw the votes as partisan, but Republicans said Kelly didn't provide enough details about her plans. One order would have combined the Department for Children and Families with the Department for Aging and Disability Services. The other would have moved the state's energy policy office out from under its utility regulatory commission.
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Kansas Lawmakers Pass Transportation Plan Seen as Stimulus
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have approved a new, 10-year transportation program. Many lawmakers see the transportation bill approved Thursday as a much-needed, $10 billion stimulus to counter the economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic. The Republican-controlled Legislature made promising funding for highway, road and bridge improvements a priority as it tackled measures for addressing the new coronavirus and pushed to finish a $19.9 billion annual budget to keep state government operating after June. Lawmakers planned to finish what they considered their most pressing work before taking an early and unusually long spring break. The transportation plan had broad bipartisan support in both chambers.
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Kansas Fire Danger Forecast: Very High to Extreme
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — While many Kansas residents hunker down at home, hoping to avoid the coronavirus, state officials are reminding residents that the state is still facing other dangers unrelated to the virus, like wildfires. Despite recent rains in some parts of Kansas, the risk of wildland fires continues to grow. The southwest region is of special concern right now, with its dry weather conditions. The risk of fire for that part of the state has been high and things are now getting worse. Today's (THUR) fire danger forecast is in the Very High to Extreme category for almost the entire state. Outdoor burning bans are in effect for some counties and and highly discouraged in others. Last year, Kansas fire departments responded to more than 2,500 vegetation-related fires that caused four deaths and burned almost 28,000 acres in the state. ( Read more.)
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Florida Pilot Killed in Western Kansas Plane Crash
LA CROSSE, Kan. (KAKE) — A pilot was killed when his small plane crash landed in western Kansas. KAKE TV reports that emergency crews were called to the scene in Rush County around 9:20 am Tuesday. Kansas Highway Patrol troopers said the Cessna fixed wing plane crash landed in a field and the pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. He was identified as 56-year-old Anthony Thompson, of Apopka, Florida. The crash remains under investigation.
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No Dice for Casinos in Kansas and Missouri as Governors Shut Down Gambling
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) — Unwilling to gamble with the health of customers, the governors of both Kansas and Missouri have closed casinos in both states, until at least March 30. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that all four state-owned casinos in Kansas would close at the end of business Tuesday. Jeff Morris, a spokesman for Hollywood Casino in Kansas City, Kansas, said, "We are not aware of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 among our team members." Another statement from Hollywood and Argosy’s parent company, Penn National Gaming, said despite the shutdown, employees will be paid through the end of March.
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U.S. Census Bureau Suspends Field Operations on Virus Concerns
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Census Bureau has suspended field operations for two weeks, citing the health and safety of its workers and the U.S. public from the novel coronavirus. The Census Bureau made the announcement today (WED), a week after the start of the 2020 census count. Bureau officials said they were continuing to monitor all operations related to the 2020 census in the wake of the virus spread. As of Wednesday, 11 million households had answered the census questions. Most census workers won't head into the field until May, when they'll knock on the doors of homes that haven't turned in their questionnaires.
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Elective Surgeries Now on Hold at Kansas Hospitals
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) — Hospitals in Lawrence, Topeka and other Kansas communities have put all elective surgeries on hold, as coronavirus threatens to disrupt the delivery of health care to seriously ill patients. Doctors in virtually every field are scrambling to alter care as the virus spreads. In some parts of the country, certain cancer surgeries have been delayed and stent procedures for clogged arteries have been pushed back. The U.S. government continues to rush protective equipment to states, packing planes and trucks with supplies like gloves and masks for medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus fight. Learn more about new procedures and protocols now in place at LMH Health, formerly known as Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
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Hy-Vee Reserves One Hour of Shopping Time for High Risk Customers
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KPR) — Hy-Vee has announced it will reserve one hour of shopping time prior to its new opening time each day for customers considered “high-risk” for becoming infected by coronavirus. “We are extremely concerned about the spread of this virus, and want to respond to our customers who are at higher risk of serious illness by offering them a time where they may feel a bit safer shopping in our stores,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman, CEO and president. The reserved hour will be from 7 am to 8 am, seven days a week, and is designed for these customers:
Ages 60 and older
Expectant mothers
Customers with health conditions making them susceptible to serious illness
Pharmacies in most Hy-Vee locations will also be extending their hours so they can serve this group of customers from 7 am to 8 am.
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Kansas Senator Pushes House to Pass Foster Report Cards Bill
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas legislator is urging the House to approve a bill that would require the state to develop annual academic report cards on all children in foster care. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that less than 40% of the state's 7,000 foster children who were seniors last year completed high school. Senator Molly Baumgardner told House legislators Monday that too many of the state's foster children ended up in correctional facilities when they should be going to college. The Senate has already approved the measure, which mandates for the collection of academic records on each child in foster care.
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Kansas Democrats Urging Voters to Mail Ballots Amid Pandemic
TOPEKA, Kan. (The Kansas City Star) — Kansas Democratic Party officials are encouraging voters to cast their ballots by mail for the presidential primary amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Kansas City Star reports that the party still plans to hold its primary on May 2. Primaries in some other states have been postponed. The party said in a statement issued Tuesday that mail-in ballots will be sent to registered Democrats in late March. Voters will have until April 24 to postmark and return them. Political parties run presidential primaries in Kansas, allowing Democrats to make any necessary changes.
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Widespread Discrimination Alleged at Kansas City VA Hospital
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Black employees at the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center say they have faced years of discrimination from supervisors and retaliation if they report the problems. Their complaints include being subjected to jokes about lynchings and being compared to monkeys, being secretly monitored by white co-workers, lack of promotions and being fired without cause. The workers say complaints they filed have been ignored. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas is asking the hospital for documentation about the complaints and what steps were taken to address the concerns. A hospital spokesman says the medical center doesn't tolerate discrimination.
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Kansas Man Sentenced to Life for Abusing Children
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita man has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing and physically abusing children. Eric McFadden was sentenced Wednesday in federal court. A jury found McFadden guilty of multiple charges in February. Federal prosecutors say a 13-year-old boy walked to a police station in April 2018 to report that his mother's boyfriend was abusing his siblings. The boy was the oldest of nine siblings. All were taken into protective custody. Police determined that McFadden sexually abused two girls in the family and beat all of the children with belts and extension cords.
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Survey Suggests Virus Outbreak to Slow the Economy
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ A new survey of bankers in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states suggests they expect the economy to slow down over the next few months as the nation deals with the coronavirus outbreak. The overall index for the region fell to 35.5 in March from February's healthy 51.6 reading. Any score below 50 suggests a shrinking economy. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said 61 percent of the bankers surveyed expect the measures being taken to fight the coronavirus to lead to a recession. Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
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Automakers Shut North American Plants over Coronavirus Fears
DETROIT (AP) - Concerns about the spreading coronavirus has forced most of North America's auto plants to close temporarily. Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Honda and Toyota said on Wednesday they would shut down all factories in the region, citing concerns for employees who work in close quarters building automobiles. Nissan is closing U.S. factories. In addition, Hyundai closed its Alabama plant after a worker tested positive for the virus. Detroit's three automakers said their closures would begin this week, while Honda and Toyota will start next week. Nissan will close U.S. plants starting Friday. Closings will run from a few days to over two weeks, but most automakers said they'll have to evaluate the spread of the virus before reopening. General Motors has a plant in Kansas City, Kansas, and Ford operates one in Claycomo, Missouri.
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