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Headlines for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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Sheriff's Officials: Kansas Toddler Likely Died from Heat

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sheriff's officials along the southeastern border of Kansas say a 2-year-old has died, likely from excessive heat. The Cowley County Sheriff's Office says deputies and medics were called just after 6 pm Tuesday to a home in the southern part of the county for reports of an unresponsive child. First responders could not revive the child. Sheriff David Falletti says early indications show the toddler died due to heat. Officials have not released details of how or where the child was found, but Falletti says no foul play is suspected. Most of Kansas has been under a heat advisory this week, and the heat index in Cowley County on Tuesday reached as high as 108 degrees.

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Topeka Mayor to Get Pacemaker After COVID-19 Damages Heart

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla says she will have a pacemaker implanted on Monday because her heart was damaged by COVID-19. De La Isla was hospitalized for 12 days earlier this year because of COVID-19 issues. She credited health care workers at Stormont Vail in Topeka with saving her life. De La Isla also had minor surgery earlier this year after the virus attacked her gastrointestinal system. She has said she contracted the virus from a family member despite having worn a mask, maintaining social distancing and working from home. De La Isla is not seeking a second term as mayor.

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Agreement Commits Kansas to Improving Mental Health Services

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - The state of Kansas has reached an agreement with disability rights advocacy groups to change how adults are treated in the state’s nursing homes for mental health. Previously, residents did not have a case manager to help get them back to living on their own and using community mental health services. In 2019, there was no certainty about when the more than 600 residents with mental health issues in Kansas nursing homes would be discharged. That began to change when the AARP foundation joined with the Kansas Disability Rights Center demanding the state agree to several measures to assure better treatment. Geron Gadd, a senior attorney with the AARP foundation, says she’s encouraged. “It is an enormous step toward reducing the risk of unnecessary institutionalization” Geron said.  The state will make sure more residents receive specialized services and appoint case managers to help create plans for transitioning back to the community. ( Read more.) 

(AP version)

Agreement Commits Kansas to Improving Mental Health Services

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Advocates and state officials say Kansas has committed to expanding mental health services to help move more than 600 people from adult care homes into their communities. The promises to improve services over the next eight years result from a 13-page agreement among two state agencies and five organizations announced Tuesday. The agreement heads off a potential lawsuit by the organizations. It also follows a 2019 report by the Disability Rights Center of Kansas alleging that the state was violating the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by keeping people in adult care homes unnecessarily. The state denied that but one official hailed the agreement as progress. 

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Kansas U.S. Senators Vote Against Infrastructure Plan

LAWRENCE, Kan. (KNS) - Both U.S. Senators from Kansas have voted against a bipartisan, $1 trillion infrastructure bill that includes billions in tax dollars to fix the state’s roads and bridges. The bill passed by the U.S. Senate would spend $2.6 billion to fix Kansas highways, more than $200 million to fix bridges, and $100 to expand broadband internet access across the state.  Kansas Republican Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall both voted no, saying the plan didn't include enough provisions to fund it.  Moran was part of the bipartisan group that originally worked on the structure of the bill.  But he said the final package would add too much to the national debt and he said, the spending was not sufficiently offset with more revenue or with cuts to other spending. Moran was one of three Republican senators who were part of a larger group of bipartisan lawmakers who initially supported the infrastructure deal, but then reversed course.   

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375,000 Missourians Enter Vaccine Lottery; Drawing Friday

UNDATED (AP) - More than 375,000 Missourians have entered the state’s COVID-19 vaccine lottery program, but vaccinations continue to lag, especially in rural areas of the state. State officials say the first of five drawings will be Friday. All told, 800 adults will win $10,000 cash prizes, and 100 people ages 12-17 will win education savings accounts worth $10,000. Only those who have initiated vaccination are eligible. Republican Governor Mike Parson announced the incentive program on July 21. State officials say that vaccinations have risen nearly 50% in the past month. But Missouri continues to lag far behind most states in vaccinations.

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No Mask Mandate for Wichita Public School Students

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The largest school district in Kansas will not require students and staff to wear masks indoors despite the threat posed by COVID-19′s more contagious delta variant. The Wichita Eagle reports that the Wichita school board instead decided to strongly recommend that students and staff wear masks whether or not they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 but to require visitors to wear masks inside. The board's vote for that policy Monday night was 4-3. The district’s students are returning to classes this week. Kansas has seen new COVID-19 cases rise steadily over the past seven weeks as the delta variant has become more widespread.

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Some Americans Getting COVID-19 Boosters Without FDA Approval

DENVER (AP) — An untold number of Americans have managed to get COVID-19 booster shots even though the U.S. government hasn't approved them. They're doing so by taking advantage of the nation’s vaccine surplus and loose tracking of those who have been fully vaccinated. Gina Welch says she got a booster by telling a clinic it was her first shot. The 26-year-old graduate student from Maine has asthma and a liver condition. An Associated Press review of a database run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found health care providers have reported more than 900 instances of people getting a third dose. However, reporting is voluntary.

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Pittsburg State University Offers Generous Vaccination Incentives for Students and Staff  

PITTSBURG, Kan. (KNS) - Pittsburg State University could spend millions of dollars on COVID-19 vaccination incentives. PSU President Steve Scott announced the initiative Monday. He says it’s critical for students and staff to get the vaccine as the COVID-19 delta variant surges across the state, leading to increased hospitalizations and deaths. The university will offer employees a $1,000 incentive to get vaccinated. The program is retroactive for workers who already received the vaccine. The school is also offering a $500 scholarship to all the school’s 6000 students as an incentive to get the shot. Students who can prove they’ve received both doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will qualify for entry into a raffle to win $8500. The scholarships will be applied to the spring 2022 semester. For students graduating in December, the scholarships will be applied retroactively to the fall 2021 semester and the university will issue refunds. Federal funding will pay for the incentives.

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Only 35 Garth Brooks Fans Get Vaccines Before Concert

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Health Department says only 35 of the more than 70,000 people who attended the Garth Brooks concert in Kansas City on Saturday took advantage of a chance to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The health department ran the clinic for four hours before Saturday's concert, and offered a drawing for upgraded floor seats as an incentive. Brooks, who says he is fully vaccinated, has urged his fans to get the vaccine. Maggie Green, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City manager's office, said the 35 people were in addition to 333 vaccinations the health department administered at various events and clinics last week.

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Kansas City Man Indicted on Hate Crime Charge After Shooting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted a 25-year-old Kansas City man who is accused of trying to kill a teenager because of the victim's sexual orientation. Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that Malachi Robinson was charged with hate crime and firearm violations. He allegedly shot the victim on May 29, 2019, causing significant injuries. If convicted, Robinson would face up to life in prison on the hate crime charge, and a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, on the firearm charge. Federal prosecutors did not say where the shooting occurred.

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U.S. Investigates Latest Case of Rare Tropical Disease

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are investigating the latest fatal case of a rare tropical disease typically found in South Asia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the unidentified person died last month in Georgia. It was the fourth U.S. case this year of melioidosis caused by a bacteria that lives in soil and water. None of the cases from Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota or Texas traveled internationally, puzzling experts. The CDC said two died. Federal health officials have sent an alert about the latest case to doctors. Experts say the infection is treatable if caught early and treated correctly.

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Missouri Man Gets 15-Year Prison Term for Trying to Drown Infant

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for trying to drown his infant daughter in a pond. Jonathan Zicarelli walked into the Greenwood police station in December 2018 and reported that he had drowned his 6-month-old daughter in a nearby pond. Police rushed to the pond and rescued the child. According to court documents, Zicarelli told officers he tried to kill his daughter to make things easier for his wife. Former Greenwood Police Chief Greg Hallgrimson pleaded guilty last month to violating Zicarelli's civil rights. Hallgrimson was accused of punching Zicarelli after helping to rescue the baby.

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Missouri Judge: Medicaid Expansion Must be Allowed

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge says Governor Mike Parson can no longer deny Medicaid health care to thousands more newly eligible adults. Cole County Judge Jon Beetem issued the order Tuesday. Missouri voters in 2020 approved the constitutional amendment making more low-income adults eligible for the government health care program. But Republican Governor Mike Parson refused to implement the amendment after the GOP-led Legislature didn’t provide any funding. The latest ruling is a major victory for supporters of Medicaid expansion. It remains unclear how the state will pay for health care for the newly eligible recipients. The Legislature may have to hold a special session to set aside more money for Medicaid.

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No-Cost ACA Could Reduce Number of Uninsured Kansans

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KNS) - A new report from Congresswoman Sharice Davids' office indicates that the number of uninsured Kansans in the 3rd congressional district could be reduced by half. But that’s only if those residents sign up for no-cost or reduced-rate insurance plans by Sunday. There are approximately 33,000 uninsured Kansans in the 3rd District, which includes Kansas City area suburbs. Those residents are eligible for free plans under the Affordable Care Act because of the American Rescue Plan. Additional subsidies are also available for people with existing plans. They can go to the health care exchange and adjust their plan for a lower price. The report says the average cost saving for Kansans in the third district would be $3,800 annually per household. Residents need to sign up on healthcare.gov by Sunday, August 15th.  

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Patrol: Missouri Man Drowned in Lake of the Ozarks

LAKE OZARK, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man has drowned in the Lake of the Ozarks — the state's second fatal drowning over the past weekend. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says 21-year-old Sean Jouglard of Waterloo was swimming in the lake Sunday afternoon when he drowned. The patrol says Jouglard was in a boat when he jumped into the water to swim, but did not resurface. He was pronounced dead just before 3 pm Sunday. Investigators say he was not wearing a life jacket. On Friday, a 6-year-old Kansas City boy drowned in the Elk River. The patrol says the boy waded out into the water and was not wearing a safety floatation device. The boy's name has not been released.

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Evel Knievel Museum Reportedly Leaving Topeka for Las Vegas

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — It appears the Evel Knievel Museum might be jumping from Topeka to Las Vegas. A Las Vegas newspaper reported this week that a developer is working to move the museum. On Tuesday, Amanda Beach, the museum's marketing director in Topeka, said the report was premature but the deal is “imminent.” She said the change would not happen immediately and could take a couple of years. Beach said museum supporters believe Las Vegas is the best place for the tourist attraction. The museum filled with artifacts from the late daredevil's career opened in Topeka in 2017.

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Railroad Bidding War for Kansas City Southern Reignited

NEW YORK (AP) — Canadian Pacific is upping its offer for Kansas City Southern to approximately $31 billion, potentially reigniting a bidding war with rival railroad Canadian National. Kansas City Southern is the smallest of the remaining major U.S. railroads, but it also controls critical cross-border routes with Mexico. Its size has long piqued the interest of other railroads as any bid could be the most likely to be approved by U.S. regulators long wary of signing off on railroad mergers out of antitrust concerns. But its cross-border rails give Kansas City a high premium in the eyes of bigger railroads hungry to expand, particularly now as the U.S. economy emerges from a pandemic-induced recession.

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Missouri Marks 200th Birthday with New Citizens and Treats

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri is celebrating its 200th birthday. A ceremony Tuesday at the state Capitol in Jefferson City marked the bicentennial of the day Missouri gained statehood on August 10, 1821. The event included art, music and speeches, and a naturalization ceremony for 33 new U.S. citizens. Later Tuesday, about 200 locations across Missouri were passing out free ice cream to mark the day. Missouri's admittance to the United States was struggle. It was delayed several years because of a debate in Congress over whether slavery should be allowed. It ultimately was. Speakers at Tuesday's bicentennial noted both Missouri's regrettable and praiseworthy moments.

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Kansas to Replace Trees Killed by Ash Borer Infestation

MANHATTAN, Kan. (KNS) - The Kansas Forest Service will soon begin replacing nearly 500 trees killed by the invasive emerald ash borer in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties.  The trees will be planted in Overland Park and Bonner Springs.  Ash trees make up more than 20% of Overland Park’s residential street trees and the state forest service says most of them will need to be cut down within five to ten years. The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle from northeastern Asia that kills even healthy ash trees. At least 70 million trees in the U.S. have already been destroyed by the ash borer and arborists say it's likely that nearly 9 billion North American ash trees will eventually die. It was first discovered in Kansas in 2012 and has spread to 10 counties. The project will be funded by a $120,000 grant from the National Association of State Foresters.

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Deadline Approaching to Subsidized Health Plan on Federal Exchange  

TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Due to the pandemic, many more people qualify for free health insurance and August 15th is the deadline to pick a subsidized health plan on the federal healthcare exchange.  Subsidies to buy a health plan on healthcare.gov have increased under the American Rescue Plan but in Kansas, thousands of people can get a health insurance plan for free or nearly free. Many who already bought exchange plans can go back to the marketplace to get a bigger discount. In Kansas, the average monthly premium for returning customers fell 40% to just under $100. ( Get more information.) 

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Kansas Lawmakers Commence Town Hall Meetings on Redistricting

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have begun five days of town hall meetings on redrawing the state's political boundaries. Their first three sessions, held Monday, came ahead of the release of the census data they need to do the job and with Republicans facing accusations that they are rushing the hearings. The House and Senate redistricting committees held meetings Monday in Manhattan, Salina and Hays and a total of 14 events across the state set through Friday. Democrats have complained the GOP-controlled Legislature is stifling participation by scheduling the hearings over just five days. Republicans say the meetings are just a first step. Census data for cities and counties is set to be released Thursday.  ( Click here for information about town hall meetings in your area.)

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Without "Right to Repair,"' Businesses Lose Time and Money

UNDATED (AP) - As software and other technologies get infused in more and more products, manufacturers are increasingly making those products difficult to repair, potentially costing business owners time and money. Makers of products ranging from smartphones to farm equipment can withhold repair tools and create software-based locks that prevent even simple updates, unless they're done by a repair shop authorized by the company. That can cost independent repair shops valuable business and countless labor hours sourcing parts. Farmers can lose thousands waiting for authorized dealers to fix malfunctioning equipment. And consumers end up paying more for repairs -- or replacing items altogether.

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Kansas City Unveils $3 Million Plan to Restore Satchel Paige House

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A $3 million renovation plan for the fire-damaged former home of baseball great Leroy “Satchel” Paige in Kansas City, Missouri, has been unveiled on the 50th anniversary of his entry to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Kansas City Star reports that some of the possible features announced Monday include a coffee shop, event and meeting space, and a bakery. The project will celebrate Paige’s legacy as a ballplayer in the Negro Leagues. He became famous striking out white major leaguers before the color barrier was broken and Black athletes were allowed into the Major Leagues.

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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 and by 1 pm on weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members.  Become one today!