LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — Two police officers who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ks-state-wire-kansas-nashville-shootings-police-60a1d9c5f6bf391ef717928da8d2abb7">shot and killed a man from Tennessee</a>&nbsp;in May were justified in their actions, Johnson County Attorney Steve Howe said Friday.

Darren Dejuan Chandler, 34, of Nashville, was killed on May 25 at an Extended Stay America hotel in Lenexa.

Lenexa officers went to the hotel after police received several calls about a possible domestic violence situation in one of the rooms. Callers said they could hear screams and a woman yelling in pain.

During a news conference Friday, Howe showed clips from police body cameras from the confrontation.

The clips show that after officers were unable to get into room, they kicked down the door. Gunshots were fired and officers retreated, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/johnson-county-district-attorney-may-shooting-involving-lenexa-police-justified" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Howe said Chandler advanced toward the officers as they retreated and they returned fire, killing him. No officers were injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628885876832.png" alt="Police body camera images of the shooting courtesy Johnson County District Attorney" />
 <figcaption>Police body camera images of the shooting courtesy Johnson County District Attorney</figcaption>
 </figure>LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — Two police officers who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ks-state-wire-kansas-nashville-shootings-police-60a1d9c5f6bf391ef717928da8d2abb7">shot and killed a man from Tennessee</a>&nbsp;in May were justified in their actions, Johnson County Attorney Steve Howe said Friday.Darren Dejuan Chandler, 34, of Nashville, was killed on May 25 at an Extended Stay America hotel in Lenexa.Lenexa officers went to the hotel after police received several calls about a possible domestic violence situation in one of the rooms. Callers said they could hear screams and a woman yelling in pain.During a news conference Friday, Howe showed clips from police body cameras from the confrontation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628885852697.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The clips show that after officers were unable to get into room, they kicked down the door. Gunshots were fired and officers retreated, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/johnson-county-district-attorney-may-shooting-involving-lenexa-police-justified" target="_blank">reported</a>.Howe said Chandler advanced toward the officers as they retreated and they returned fire, killing him. No officers were injured.

Prosecutor: Fatal Kan. police shooting was  justified

BROWN COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Liberty B.&nbsp;Hasenohr, 43, Hiawatha, was turning north into the Walmart parking lot at 701 Hopi Drive.&nbsp; The SUV struck 90-year-old Mary J.&nbsp;Kleppe of Hiawatha.&nbsp; 

EMS transported&nbsp;Kleppe to the hospital in Hiawatha where she was pronounce dead. 

Hasenohr was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Friday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Liberty B.&nbsp;Hasenohr, 43, Hiawatha, was turning north into the Walmart parking lot at 701 Hopi Drive.&nbsp; The SUV struck 90-year-old Mary J.&nbsp;Kleppe of Hiawatha.&nbsp; EMS transported&nbsp;Kleppe to the hospital in Hiawatha where she was pronounce dead. Hasenohr was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

90-year-old Kansas woman dies after struck by SUV

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list to include the state of Louisiana. No new countries have been added and the countries of Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Jersey and The United Kingdom have been removed.

KDHE has also amended its list to include anyone who attends an in-state or out-of-state mass gathering of 500 or more where individuals do not socially distance and wear a mask should follow the quarantine guidelines. Previously, the list included out-of-state mass gatherings only. These changes are effective today, Aug. 13.

“Given the increased transmission of the Delta variant across the state, we now consider attendance at mass gatherings in state to be high risk situations,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “The virus does not know the boundaries of our state and we must all must take steps to protect those close to us by staying home after attending any large events.”

The travel quarantine period is seven days with a negative test result or 10 days without testing, with release from quarantine on Day 8 and Day 11, respectively. Further information on quarantine periods can be found on KDHE’s&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MTMuNDQ1MjcyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292L0RvY3VtZW50Q2VudGVyL1ZpZXcvMTY0MC9TaG9ydGVuZWQtUXVhcmFudGluZS1HdWlkYW5jZS1QREYtLTEyLTgtMjA_YmlkSWQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.hLQcxCOfzX4oJ0WQCn8qZxzFhlh0xaTW6OiqxYw2j2w/s/1305913448/br/110871761903-l" target="_blank">website</a>.

For those traveling internationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring testing within three days of flights into the U.S.&nbsp;For further information on this and other requirements, visit&nbsp;their&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MTMuNDQ1MjcyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi90cmF2ZWxlcnMvaW5kZXguaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.UJI80dssVTvVonxyspciqmCZuo9HG5c54_mrsBKNeJQ/s/1305913448/br/110871761903-l" target="_blank">website</a>.

For those who are fully vaccinated (meaning it has been greater than two weeks since they completed their vaccinations) they are not required to quarantine regarding travel if they meet all of the following criteria:

Persons who do not meet the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.

Additionally, people with previous COVID-19 disease are not required to quarantine following travel if they meet all of the following criteria:

Persons who do not meet all three of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.

The travel quarantine list is determined using a formula to evaluate new cases over a two-week period, then adjusted for population size to provide a case rate per 100,000 population. This provides a number that can then be compared to the rate in Kansas. Locations with significantly higher rates -- approximately 3x higher -- are added to the list.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MTMuNDQ1MjcyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.TYUZKL3cFIhuuot5Xp3nFgKFk4EKHd5XlKCEIwdzwX4/s/1305913448/br/110871761903-l" target="_blank">www.kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has amended its travel quarantine list to include the state of Louisiana. No new countries have been added and the countries of Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Jersey and The United Kingdom have been removed.KDHE has also amended its list to include anyone who attends an in-state or out-of-state mass gathering of 500 or more where individuals do not socially distance and wear a mask should follow the quarantine guidelines. Previously, the list included out-of-state mass gatherings only. These changes are effective today, Aug. 13.“Given the increased transmission of the Delta variant across the state, we now consider attendance at mass gatherings in state to be high risk situations,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “The virus does not know the boundaries of our state and we must all must take steps to protect those close to us by staying home after attending any large events.”<ul>
 <li>Traveled on or after Aug. 13 to Louisiana.</li><li>Traveled on or after July 29 to Isle of Man or Martinique.</li><li>Traveled on or after July 15 to Fiji.</li><li>Traveled between July 29 – Aug. 13 to Botswana, Cuba or Gibraltar.</li><li>Traveled between July 15 – Aug. 13 to British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, Jersey or The United Kingdom.</li><li>Attendance at any out-of-state or in-state mass gatherings of 500 or more where individuals do not socially distance (6 feet) and wear a mask.</li><li>Been on a cruise ship or river cruise on or after March 15, 2020.</li>
 </ul>The travel quarantine period is seven days with a negative test result or 10 days without testing, with release from quarantine on Day 8 and Day 11, respectively. Further information on quarantine periods can be found on KDHE’s&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MTMuNDQ1MjcyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5rZGhla3MuZ292L0RvY3VtZW50Q2VudGVyL1ZpZXcvMTY0MC9TaG9ydGVuZWQtUXVhcmFudGluZS1HdWlkYW5jZS1QREYtLTEyLTgtMjA_YmlkSWQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.hLQcxCOfzX4oJ0WQCn8qZxzFhlh0xaTW6OiqxYw2j2w/s/1305913448/br/110871761903-l" target="_blank">website</a>.For those traveling internationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requiring testing within three days of flights into the U.S.&nbsp;For further information on this and other requirements, visit&nbsp;their&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MTMuNDQ1MjcyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5jZGMuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLzIwMTktbmNvdi90cmF2ZWxlcnMvaW5kZXguaHRtbD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.UJI80dssVTvVonxyspciqmCZuo9HG5c54_mrsBKNeJQ/s/1305913448/br/110871761903-l" target="_blank">website</a>.For those who are fully vaccinated (meaning it has been greater than two weeks since they completed their vaccinations) they are not required to quarantine regarding travel if they meet all of the following criteria:<ul>
 <li>Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2- dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine).</li><li>Have remained asymptomatic since the travel.</li>
 </ul>Persons who do not meet the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.Additionally, people with previous COVID-19 disease are not required to quarantine following travel if they meet all of the following criteria:<ul>
 <li>Have evidence of a previous infection supported by a positive PCR or antigen test</li><li>Are within 6 months following infection. If an investigation was done documenting the date that symptoms resolved, or the date isolation measures were discontinued for asymptomatic patients, then the 6-month period can start from that end date. If those dates are not available, then the period will start from the date of the positive laboratory test. A serology or antibody test may not be substituted for a laboratory report of a viral diagnostic test.</li><li>Have remained asymptomatic since the travel</li>
 </ul>Persons who do not meet all three of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance for travel.The travel quarantine list is determined using a formula to evaluate new cases over a two-week period, then adjusted for population size to provide a case rate per 100,000 population. This provides a number that can then be compared to the rate in Kansas. Locations with significantly higher rates -- approximately 3x higher -- are added to the list.For more information on COVID-19, please visit the KDHE website at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA4MTMuNDQ1MjcyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.TYUZKL3cFIhuuot5Xp3nFgKFk4EKHd5XlKCEIwdzwX4/s/1305913448/br/110871761903-l" target="_blank">www.kdhe.ks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

Kan. travel quarantine list includes mass gatherings

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — The CoreCivic Leavenworth Detention Center is on lockdown after an inmate died there. The Leavenworth police Maj. Dan Nicodemus said 39-year-old Scott Wilson died two days after he was attacked at the center on Aug. 2. 

Nicodemus said a 28-year-old man has been identified as a suspect but no charges were filed as of Friday. Ryan Gustin, spokesman for CoreCivic, said the detention center was  placed on lockdown Aug. 3 and the lockdown remained in effect on Friday. 

Gustin said CoreCivic is working with the U.S. Marshals Service to determine when to lift lockdown. The Leavenworth Detention Center houses pretrial detainees for the Marshals Service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574019674964.png" alt="The Leavenworth Detention Center is owned and operated by CoreCivic" />
 <figcaption>The Leavenworth Detention Center is owned and operated by CoreCivic</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — The CoreCivic Leavenworth Detention Center is on lockdown after an inmate died there. The Leavenworth police Maj. Dan Nicodemus said 39-year-old Scott Wilson died two days after he was attacked at the center on Aug. 2. Nicodemus said a 28-year-old man has been identified as a suspect but no charges were filed as of Friday. Ryan Gustin, spokesman for CoreCivic, said the detention center was placed on lockdown Aug. 3 and the lockdown remained in effect on Friday. Gustin said CoreCivic is working with the U.S. Marshals Service to determine when to lift lockdown. The Leavenworth Detention Center houses pretrial detainees for the Marshals Service.

Kansas prison on lockdown after inmate dies

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2991 to a total of 347,928 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

The state reported 28 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5385.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;

Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases* (see below) in Kansas increased by 2991 to a total of 347,928 the state health department reported Friday afternoon.&nbsp;The state reported 28 new COVID-19 deaths for a total of 5385.<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a> about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628874309662.png" alt="Friday August 13, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Friday August 13, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>As of August 1, 2021, in accordance with an&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">updated CDC/CSTE surveillance case definition</a>, a confirmed case is defined as a person who tested positive by molecular detection (e.g., PCR, NAA) or identification of SARS-CoV-2 through genetic sequencing. A probable case is defined as a person with: a) presumptive lab evidence (antigen) or b) no lab testing but meeting clinical case criteria and is epi-linked. A person will be counted as a new surveillance case (e.g. reinfection) if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 by a diagnostic test (i.e., molecular, antigen) and it has been greater than 90 days since the previous positive diagnostic test. In addition, a person with sequencing results identifying different SARS-CoV-2 lineages regardless of the time since the previous specimen sequenced will be counted as a new surveillance case.&nbsp;Cases occurring between&nbsp;September 1, 2020&nbsp;and July 29, 2021 were classified by&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/" target="_blank">previous CDC/CSTE case definition,&nbsp;</a>and cases prior to September 1, 2020 were classified by the&nbsp;<a href="https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/coronavirus-disease-2019-2020/" target="_blank">original case definition</a>.

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge is refusing landlords' request to put the Biden administration’s new eviction moratorium on hold, though she made clear she thinks it's illegal.

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich on Friday said her “hands are tied” by an appellate ruling the last time courts considered the evictions moratorium in the spring.

Alabama&nbsp;landlords who are challenging the moratorium are likely to appeal.

Friedrich wrote that the new temporary ban on evictions the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imposed last week is substantially similar to the version she ruled was illegal in May. At the time, Freidrich put her ruling on hold to allow the administration to appeal.

This time, she said, she is bound to follow a ruling from the appeals court that sits above her, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

If the D.C. Circuit doesn't give the landlords what they want, they are expected to seek Supreme Court involvement.

In late June, the high court refused by a 5-4 vote to allow evictions to resume. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, part of the slim majority, said he agreed with Friedrich, but was voting to keep the moratorium in place because it was set to expire at the end of July.

Kavanaugh said then that he would reject any additional extension without clear authorization from Congress, which has not been able to take action.

In discussing the new moratorium last week, President Joe Biden acknowledged there were questions about its legality, but said a court fight over the new CDC order would buy time for the distribution of some of the $45 billion in rental assistance that has been approved but not yet used.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628034052731.png" alt="Protesters at the U.S. Capitol on the weekend the eviction moratorium expired. The new moratorium could help keep millions in their homes as the coronavirus’ delta variant has spread and states have been slow to release federal rental aid.-photo courtesy Sen. Cori Bush" />
 <figcaption>Protesters at the U.S. Capitol on the weekend the eviction moratorium expired. The new moratorium could help keep millions in their homes as the coronavirus’ delta variant has spread and states have been slow to release federal rental aid.-photo courtesy Sen. Cori Bush</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK SHERMAN, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge is refusing landlords' request to put the Biden administration’s new eviction moratorium on hold, though she made clear she thinks it's illegal.U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich on Friday said her “hands are tied” by an appellate ruling the last time courts considered the evictions moratorium in the spring.Alabama&nbsp;landlords who are challenging the moratorium are likely to appeal.Friedrich wrote that the new temporary ban on evictions the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imposed last week is substantially similar to the version she ruled was illegal in May. At the time, Freidrich put her ruling on hold to allow the administration to appeal.This time, she said, she is bound to follow a ruling from the appeals court that sits above her, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.If the D.C. Circuit doesn't give the landlords what they want, they are expected to seek Supreme Court involvement.In late June, the high court refused by a 5-4 vote to allow evictions to resume. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, part of the slim majority, said he agreed with Friedrich, but was voting to keep the moratorium in place because it was set to expire at the end of July.Kavanaugh said then that he would reject any additional extension without clear authorization from Congress, which has not been able to take action.In discussing the new moratorium last week, President Joe Biden acknowledged there were questions about its legality, but said a court fight over the new CDC order would buy time for the distribution of some of the $45 billion in rental assistance that has been approved but not yet used.

Judge: CDC evictions moratorium can remain in place

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Most Kansas counties lost residents over the past 10 years as the state’s population concentrated in more populous places, including the Kansas City area, new census figures <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html?linkId=100000060680880">released Thursday showed.</a>

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s once-a-decade count of the nation’s population showed that 80 of the state’s 105 counties declined in population since 2010, 16 of them by more than 10%. Most of those counties were rural.

Five of the top 10 fastest-growing counties were in or close to the Kansas City metropolitan area. The state’s most populous county, Johnson County, has affluent Kansas City suburbs that have been growing for decades, and its population grew another 12.1% in the past 10 years.

Census figures show that Kansas saw a 3% increase in population over 10 years, to almost 2.94 million. Population shifts within the state mean a shift in political clout away from rural areas and toward Kansas City and a few other areas when the Legislature redraws political boundaries next year.

Zack Pistora, the interim executive director of the Kansas Rural Center, said younger people move to urban areas or college towns and stay for jobs, then attract other younger people.

“You kind of get a domino effect of losing more and more people,” he said of the state’s rural areas.

Census figures also showed that Kansas grew more diverse, with Hispanic or Latino residents increasing to 13% of the population, up from 10.5% a decade ago. The state’s diversity index figure, measuring the likelihood that any two random residents will be of different races or ethnicities, rose to 45.4% from 37.3% in 2010.

Pistora said population losses in rural areas are fueled by a lack of high-speed internet service, shortages of housing, relatively few cultural activities and greater concentration and corporate ownership in farming.

And in Stanton County, along the Colorado border in southwest Kansas, County Clerk Sandy Barton said oil and production in the area has steadily decreased for more than a decade. The county saw a 6.4% drop in its population.

“They’re just not hiring as many people and those jobs aren’t as stable any longer in our area,” said Gina Shores the county clerk in neighboring Morton County, where the population dropped 16.5% over the decade, the state’s largest decline.

Meanwhile, 350 miles to the northeast, a piece of western Pottawatomie County made it the state’s fastest-growing county, with a 17.3% increase over the decade — the only county with more growth than Johnson County.

That was thanks to a small piece of the city of Manhattan with U.S. 24 running through it that has drawn big-box retail stores and restaurants.

The Crestview Christian Church saw the growth coming, and “wanted to be right in the middle of it,” said Lead Pastor Devin Wendt. It moved from a north Manhattan site it was outgrowing to the booming area in Pottawatomie County in March, two weeks before Easter.

“There’s a brand new elementary school just a half-mile away from us as well,” Wendt said. “... There’s cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods popping up all along the Highway 24 corridor.”

Johnson County has seen its population nearly triple in the past 50 years, something local officials attribute to good schools and local amenities.

In Lenexa, the city has developed a new downtown, with shops, a recreation center, a library branch and a school swimming center. City Manager Beccy Yocham said the area also has seen “a ton” of growth in warehousing and moving goods.

The Spring Hill school district in southern Johnson County recently opened a new elementary school and plans to open a new middle school in 2023. Superintendent Wayne Burke said people like having a small-town atmosphere while having suburbs close, and the district has seen its student count grow during his seven-tenure from about 2,500 to more than 3,600.

“We have a lot of starter homes, a lot of new development here,” Burke said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628852369719.png" alt="2020: Population density in Kansas Counties-image U.S. Census Bureau" />
 <figcaption>2020: Population density in Kansas Counties-image U.S. Census Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA and ANDY TSUBASA FIELDTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Most Kansas counties lost residents over the past 10 years as the state’s population concentrated in more populous places, including the Kansas City area, new census figures <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html?linkId=100000060680880">released Thursday showed.</a>Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s once-a-decade count of the nation’s population showed that 80 of the state’s 105 counties declined in population since 2010, 16 of them by more than 10%. Most of those counties were rural.Five of the top 10 fastest-growing counties were in or close to the Kansas City metropolitan area. The state’s most populous county, Johnson County, has affluent Kansas City suburbs that have been growing for decades, and its population grew another 12.1% in the past 10 years.<div><iframe width="100%" height="800px" src="https://mtgis-portal.geo.census.gov/arcgis/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=2566121a73de463995ed2b2fd7ff6eb7" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Census figures show that Kansas saw a 3% increase in population over 10 years, to almost 2.94 million. Population shifts within the state mean a shift in political clout away from rural areas and toward Kansas City and a few other areas when the Legislature redraws political boundaries next year.Zack Pistora, the interim executive director of the Kansas Rural Center, said younger people move to urban areas or college towns and stay for jobs, then attract other younger people.“You kind of get a domino effect of losing more and more people,” he said of the state’s rural areas.Census figures also showed that Kansas grew more diverse, with Hispanic or Latino residents increasing to 13% of the population, up from 10.5% a decade ago. The state’s diversity index figure, measuring the likelihood that any two random residents will be of different races or ethnicities, rose to 45.4% from 37.3% in 2010.Pistora said population losses in rural areas are fueled by a lack of high-speed internet service, shortages of housing, relatively few cultural activities and greater concentration and corporate ownership in farming.And in Stanton County, along the Colorado border in southwest Kansas, County Clerk Sandy Barton said oil and production in the area has steadily decreased for more than a decade. The county saw a 6.4% drop in its population.“They’re just not hiring as many people and those jobs aren’t as stable any longer in our area,” said Gina Shores the county clerk in neighboring Morton County, where the population dropped 16.5% over the decade, the state’s largest decline.Meanwhile, 350 miles to the northeast, a piece of western Pottawatomie County made it the state’s fastest-growing county, with a 17.3% increase over the decade — the only county with more growth than Johnson County.That was thanks to a small piece of the city of Manhattan with U.S. 24 running through it that has drawn big-box retail stores and restaurants.The Crestview Christian Church saw the growth coming, and “wanted to be right in the middle of it,” said Lead Pastor Devin Wendt. It moved from a north Manhattan site it was outgrowing to the booming area in Pottawatomie County in March, two weeks before Easter.“There’s a brand new elementary school just a half-mile away from us as well,” Wendt said. “... There’s cul-de-sacs and neighborhoods popping up all along the Highway 24 corridor.”Johnson County has seen its population nearly triple in the past 50 years, something local officials attribute to good schools and local amenities.In Lenexa, the city has developed a new downtown, with shops, a recreation center, a library branch and a school swimming center. City Manager Beccy Yocham said the area also has seen “a ton” of growth in warehousing and moving goods.The Spring Hill school district in southern Johnson County recently opened a new elementary school and plans to open a new middle school in 2023. Superintendent Wayne Burke said people like having a small-town atmosphere while having suburbs close, and the district has seen its student count grow during his seven-tenure from about 2,500 to more than 3,600.“We have a lot of starter homes, a lot of new development here,” Burke said.___

Census: Most Kansas counties lost residents

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A forensic audit of Salina Fire Department leave time has found that some "Chiefs of Staff" (CoSs) took time off without applying it to vacation.

The audit report is scheduled to be presented to the Salina City Commission at Monday's meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday in room 107 of the City-County Building. As of now, the audit report is scheduled near the end of the meeting.

City officials were made aware of the potential leave time fraud in October 2019, when former Salina firefighter Tim LePage brought it to their attention, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2021/08/05/ff12-investigation-accusations-time-card-fraud-within-salina-fire-department/">Factfinder 12 report</a>&nbsp;by Alex Flippin that aired on KWCH last week. LePage made Flippin aware of his concerns and provided documentation that appeared to back up those concerns.

LePage retired from the Salina Fire Department in July after 22 years of service. He was placed on leave until his retirement because of his reporting to city officials about the alleged time fraud, he said in the KWCH report.

According to the forensics audit report conducted on behalf of the city by Kansas City, Mo., firm BKD CPAs &amp; Advisors, city management "performed a limited initial investigation and based on that investigation, the City and counsel were concerned that deliberate inaccuracies relating to the reporting of payroll may have affected compensation in various specific payroll cycles, and potentially caused overtime and inflated vacation available to be bought back, resulting in misuse of City and taxpayer money to the benefit of the individual employees."

BKD was hired to conduct a forensics accounting audit of fire department leave time from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2020. According to BKD, the "scope of positions analyzed began with the entire Fire Department and was narrowed as the analysis progressed."

"An initial kickoff call was held on Oct. 27, 2020 where City Management walked through the data and how to utilize and interpret the data. Management also identified individuals of focus and discrepancies to be aware of," BKD noted.

BKD reported finding a pattern of some "Chiefs of Staff" (CoSs) collecting time worked beyond the normal work day or shift and taking the time off later. According to the report, this is "what is commonly referred to as 'compensation time.' Generally, this time is referred to in the Fire Department's historic data as 'admin time' or 'admin days,' and more recently referred to as 'executive leave.'"

According to the report, city policies and procedures do not permit compensation time, such as admin time or admin days.

The audit noted that "Chiefs of Staff" includes the fire chief, interim fire chief, battalion chiefs, fire marshal, EMS chief, and training chiefs. It is important to note, however that, per the audit, only some of this group took admin time/executive leave.

While use of admin days ranged from one to 13 per person per year, one CoS had 20 such days in 2019, the audit noted.

"A total of 265 shifts were identified during our scope period as time off not applied to vacation, which is valued at over $198,000. In addition, we identified 24 shifts where it appears to be additional personal time or sick time not reported, valued at over $18,000," the audit report noted.

According to the report, the use of admin time did not impact the amount of vacation time the CoSs accrued.

"Therefore, the CoSs had their full allowable vacation time and/or were able to sell up to 50% of unused vacation in addition to the admin days," the audit report stated.

The report continued, "Our analysis calculated that the impermissible use of admin time facilitated over $75,000 of vacation buybacks during our scope period that would not have been possible had vacation days been used to provide the admin time off."

Additionally, the report noted the "cascading effect" the use of admin time by CoSs had on lower-ranking member of the Salina Fire Department. For instance, if a CoS took admin time, a lower-ranking member of the department had to take on the CoS's duties. Other employees would then have to assume the duties of the person filling in for the CoS.

The BKD report specifically mentioned a "Use of Executive Leave" memo from May 1, 2007, that "appeared to authorize the use of executive leave by the CoS under the Executive Staff Manual section on 'Exempt Employees.'"

Following are observations made by BKD in the report.

●The fire department did not seek permission or receive authorization from the city for authorizing executive leave for the CoSs, nor was there an attempt to confirm authorization later with the city.

●The Executive Leave Memo did not comply with the Executive Staff Manual's section for exempt employees on key points, namely the requirement for city manager approval for consecutive executive leave beyond one day.

●Leave was not being used by CoSs as authorized by the Executive Leave Memo.

●While the Executive Leave Memo allegedly solidified the practice of executive leave, admin time had been taken by CoSs prior to the 2007 Executive Leave Memo.

●The Executive Leave Memo was not well circulated among CoSs until knowledge of the city's investigation into admin time came to light.

To read the report of the forensics audit of Salina Fire Department leave time plus accompanying documents, including a timeline (37 pages),&nbsp;<a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=475631&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA forensic audit of Salina Fire Department leave time has found that some "Chiefs of Staff" (CoSs) took time off without applying it to vacation.The audit report is scheduled to be presented to the Salina City Commission at Monday's meeting. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday in room 107 of the City-County Building. As of now, the audit report is scheduled near the end of the meeting.City officials were made aware of the potential leave time fraud in October 2019, when former Salina firefighter Tim LePage brought it to their attention, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2021/08/05/ff12-investigation-accusations-time-card-fraud-within-salina-fire-department/">Factfinder 12 report</a>&nbsp;by Alex Flippin that aired on KWCH last week. LePage made Flippin aware of his concerns and provided documentation that appeared to back up those concerns.LePage retired from the Salina Fire Department in July after 22 years of service. He was placed on leave until his retirement because of his reporting to city officials about the alleged time fraud, he said in the KWCH report.According to the forensics audit report conducted on behalf of the city by Kansas City, Mo., firm BKD CPAs &amp; Advisors, city management "performed a limited initial investigation and based on that investigation, the City and counsel were concerned that deliberate inaccuracies relating to the reporting of payroll may have affected compensation in various specific payroll cycles, and potentially caused overtime and inflated vacation available to be bought back, resulting in misuse of City and taxpayer money to the benefit of the individual employees."BKD was hired to conduct a forensics accounting audit of fire department leave time from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2020. According to BKD, the "scope of positions analyzed began with the entire Fire Department and was narrowed as the analysis progressed.""An initial kickoff call was held on Oct. 27, 2020 where City Management walked through the data and how to utilize and interpret the data. Management also identified individuals of focus and discrepancies to be aware of," BKD noted.BKD reported finding a pattern of some "Chiefs of Staff" (CoSs) collecting time worked beyond the normal work day or shift and taking the time off later. According to the report, this is "what is commonly referred to as 'compensation time.' Generally, this time is referred to in the Fire Department's historic data as 'admin time' or 'admin days,' and more recently referred to as 'executive leave.'"According to the report, city policies and procedures do not permit compensation time, such as admin time or admin days.The audit noted that "Chiefs of Staff" includes the fire chief, interim fire chief, battalion chiefs, fire marshal, EMS chief, and training chiefs. It is important to note, however that, per the audit, only some of this group took admin time/executive leave.While use of admin days ranged from one to 13 per person per year, one CoS had 20 such days in 2019, the audit noted."A total of 265 shifts were identified during our scope period as time off not applied to vacation, which is valued at over $198,000. In addition, we identified 24 shifts where it appears to be additional personal time or sick time not reported, valued at over $18,000," the audit report noted.According to the report, the use of admin time did not impact the amount of vacation time the CoSs accrued."Therefore, the CoSs had their full allowable vacation time and/or were able to sell up to 50% of unused vacation in addition to the admin days," the audit report stated.The report continued, "Our analysis calculated that the impermissible use of admin time facilitated over $75,000 of vacation buybacks during our scope period that would not have been possible had vacation days been used to provide the admin time off."Additionally, the report noted the "cascading effect" the use of admin time by CoSs had on lower-ranking member of the Salina Fire Department. For instance, if a CoS took admin time, a lower-ranking member of the department had to take on the CoS's duties. Other employees would then have to assume the duties of the person filling in for the CoS.The BKD report specifically mentioned a "Use of Executive Leave" memo from May 1, 2007, that "appeared to authorize the use of executive leave by the CoS under the Executive Staff Manual section on 'Exempt Employees.'"Following are observations made by BKD in the report.●The fire department did not seek permission or receive authorization from the city for authorizing executive leave for the CoSs, nor was there an attempt to confirm authorization later with the city.●The Executive Leave Memo did not comply with the Executive Staff Manual's section for exempt employees on key points, namely the requirement for city manager approval for consecutive executive leave beyond one day.●Leave was not being used by CoSs as authorized by the Executive Leave Memo.●While the Executive Leave Memo allegedly solidified the practice of executive leave, admin time had been taken by CoSs prior to the 2007 Executive Leave Memo.●The Executive Leave Memo was not well circulated among CoSs until knowledge of the city's investigation into admin time came to light.To read the report of the forensics audit of Salina Fire Department leave time plus accompanying documents, including a timeline (37 pages),&nbsp;<a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=475631&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

Audit of Salina Fire department leave time shows misuse

STANTON COUNTY—Authorities continue working to determine the cause of a fatal home explosion and fire in southwest Kansas, according Stanton County Sheriff Jason Stewart.&nbsp; 

Investigators were at the scene on the day of the explosion and again on&nbsp; Monday, according to the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office.

Just after 10a.m. August 7, fire crews responded to the explosion at a home in the 300 Block of Lake Street in Johnson City, according to Stewart.

First responders found the body of 64-year-old Rhonda Morris. She was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; An air-medical transport flew her husband Jerry Morris from the home to a Wichita hospital where he remains in stable condition, according to Stewart.

Grant County fire crews assisted Stanton County in putting out the fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;

STANTON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal home explosion and fire in Johnson City in southwest Kansas.

Just after 10a.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to the explosion at a home in the 300 Block of Lake Street in Johnson City, according to Stanton County Sheriff Jason Stewart.

First responders found the body of a woman who died. An air-medical transport flew a man from the home to a Wichita hospital for treatment, according to Stewart.&nbsp;

Grant County fire crews assisted Stanton County in putting out the fire. Names of the victims have not been released.&nbsp;Both victims had lived in the community for a number of years, according to the sheriff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628608305992.png" alt="The explosion destroyed the home-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The explosion destroyed the home-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>STANTON COUNTY—Authorities continue working to determine the cause of a fatal home explosion and fire in southwest Kansas, according Stanton County Sheriff Jason Stewart.&nbsp; Investigators were at the scene on the day of the explosion and again on&nbsp; Monday, according to the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office.Just after 10a.m. August 7, fire crews responded to the explosion at a home in the 300 Block of Lake Street in Johnson City, according to Stewart.First responders found the body of 64-year-old Rhonda Morris. She was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; An air-medical transport flew her husband Jerry Morris from the home to a Wichita hospital where he remains in stable condition, according to Stewart.Grant County fire crews assisted Stanton County in putting out the fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;-------------STANTON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal home explosion and fire in Johnson City in southwest Kansas.Just after 10a.m. Saturday, fire crews responded to the explosion at a home in the 300 Block of Lake Street in Johnson City, according to Stanton County Sheriff Jason Stewart.First responders found the body of a woman who died. An air-medical transport flew a man from the home to a Wichita hospital for treatment, according to Stewart.&nbsp;Grant County fire crews assisted Stanton County in putting out the fire. Names of the victims have not been released.&nbsp;Both victims had lived in the community for a number of years, according to the sheriff.

Sheriff: Still working on cause of fatal Kan. home explosion

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday refused to block a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/in-state-wire-indiana-university-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-d3f4a9d9cf8285e0377839c67be9bf92">plan by Indiana University</a>&nbsp;to require students and employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Barrett’s action came in response to an emergency request from eight students, and it marked the first time the high court has weighed in on a vaccine mandate. Some corporations, states and cities have adopted vaccine requirements for workers or even to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-health-coronavirus-pandemic-ed794bb206c13fd2500fee4ddfcc876c">dine indoors</a>, and others are considering doing so.

The students said in court papers that they have “a constitutional right to bodily integrity, autonomy, and of medical treatment choice in the context of a vaccination mandate.” They wanted the high court to issue an order barring the university from enforcing the mandate. Seven of the students qualify for a religious exemption.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-colleges-divided-student-coronavirus-vaccination-8c46ab65afc4538cb060c320ed94fc54">College officials across the country have struggled</a>&nbsp;with whether to require vaccinations, with some schools mandating them and others questioning whether they have legal authority to do so. Similar lawsuits against student vaccine requirements have been filed in other states.

The court’s newest justice rejected the plea without even asking the university for a response or getting her colleagues to weigh in. Justices often act on their own in such situations when the legal question isn’t particularly close. Barrett handles emergency matters from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, which includes Indiana.

A three-judge federal appeals court panel, including two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump, was one of two lower courts to side with Indiana University and allow it to require the vaccinations, even as legal proceedings continue. The plan announced in May requires roughly 90,000 students and 40,000 employees on seven campuses to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall semester.

Students who don’t comply will have their registration canceled and workers who don’t will lose their jobs. The policy does have religious and medical exemptions, but exempt students must be tested twice a week for the disease. The school recently announced that for now, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask indoors while on campus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628850615753.png" alt="Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected the plea without even asking the university for a response or getting her colleagues to weigh in.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected the plea without even asking the university for a response or getting her colleagues to weigh in.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday refused to block a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/in-state-wire-indiana-university-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-education-d3f4a9d9cf8285e0377839c67be9bf92">plan by Indiana University</a>&nbsp;to require students and employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19.Barrett’s action came in response to an emergency request from eight students, and it marked the first time the high court has weighed in on a vaccine mandate. Some corporations, states and cities have adopted vaccine requirements for workers or even to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-health-coronavirus-pandemic-ed794bb206c13fd2500fee4ddfcc876c">dine indoors</a>, and others are considering doing so.The students said in court papers that they have “a constitutional right to bodily integrity, autonomy, and of medical treatment choice in the context of a vaccination mandate.” They wanted the high court to issue an order barring the university from enforcing the mandate. Seven of the students qualify for a religious exemption.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-colleges-divided-student-coronavirus-vaccination-8c46ab65afc4538cb060c320ed94fc54">College officials across the country have struggled</a>&nbsp;with whether to require vaccinations, with some schools mandating them and others questioning whether they have legal authority to do so. Similar lawsuits against student vaccine requirements have been filed in other states.The court’s newest justice rejected the plea without even asking the university for a response or getting her colleagues to weigh in. Justices often act on their own in such situations when the legal question isn’t particularly close. Barrett handles emergency matters from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, which includes Indiana.A three-judge federal appeals court panel, including two judges appointed by former President Donald Trump, was one of two lower courts to side with Indiana University and allow it to require the vaccinations, even as legal proceedings continue. The plan announced in May requires roughly 90,000 students and 40,000 employees on seven campuses to receive COVID-19 vaccinations for the fall semester.Students who don’t comply will have their registration canceled and workers who don’t will lose their jobs. The policy does have religious and medical exemptions, but exempt students must be tested twice a week for the disease. The school recently announced that for now, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask indoors while on campus.

Supreme Court justice refused to block college vaccine mandate

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that’s what it took to get shots in arms. But as new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-b0811d7287ef240ae619ba1e385e0a63">coronavirus infections soar</a>, he’s testing a tougher approach.

In just the past two weeks, Biden has forced millions of federal workers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-86f2d25311d0251bfdb776fdf092b081">attest to their vaccination status</a>&nbsp;or face onerous new requirements. He’s met with business leaders at the White House to press them to do the same.

Meanwhile, the administration has taken steps toward mandating shots for people traveling into the U.S. from overseas. And the White House is weighing options to be more assertive at the state and local level, including potential support for school districts imposing rules to prevent spread of the virus over the objection of Republican leaders.

“To the mayors, school superintendents, educators, local leaders, who are standing up to the governors politicizing mask protection for our kids: thank you,” Biden said Thursday. “Thank God that we have heroes like you, and I stand with you all, and America should as well.”

But even as Biden becomes more aggressive, he has refrained from using all his powers to pressure Americans to get vaccinated. He’s held off, for instance, on proposals to require vaccinations for all air travelers or, for that matter, the federal workforce. The result is a precarious balancing act as Biden works to make life more uncomfortable for the unvaccinated without spurring a backlash in a deeply polarized country that would only undermine his public health goals.

Vaccine mandates are “the right lever at the right time,” said Ben Wakana, the deputy director of strategic communications and engagement for the White House COVID-19 response, noting the public’s increasing confidence in the vaccines and adding that it marks a new phase in the government’s campaign to encourage Americans to get shots.

Many Republicans, particularly those eyeing the party’s 2024 presidential nomination, disagree and warn of federal overreaching into decisions that should be left to individuals. Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, an epicenter of the latest virus wave, have spent weeks feuding over the proper role of government during a public health crisis.

There is notable support for vaccine mandates. According to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 51% of Americans say the federal government should recommend that employers require their workers to get vaccinated, while 45% say it should not.

For now, Biden has required most federal workers to attest to their vaccination status under potential criminal penalties, with those who have not received a dose required to maintain social distancing, test weekly for the virus and face other potential restrictions on their work.

Health workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services will be required to get vaccinated, and the Pentagon has announced that it intends to mandate vaccines for the military by next month.

The sharper federal approach comes as nearly 90 million eligible Americans still have not been vaccinated and as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, says shots are the only path for the nation to contain the delta variant.

White House officials say Biden wanted to initially operate with restraint to ensure that Americans were ready for the strong-arming from the federal government. The federal moves have been carefully calibrated to encourage a wave of businesses and governments to follow suit.

Biden administration officials briefed prominent Washington trade groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable, ahead of the federal announcement in hopes their members would follow suit. White House officials have fielded dozens of calls from business executive in recent weeks about how to implement their own vaccination mandates, officials said, sharing best practices and tips for how to protect their workforces.

“Through vaccination requirements, employers have the power to help end the pandemic,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday, naming companies, universities and local governments that have implemented them.

The new restrictions appear to be having the desired effect. The rules — combined with fresh concerns about the surging delta variant — have nearly doubled the average rate that Americans are getting newly vaccinated from last month to about 450,000 per day.

Zients said the White House still has no plans to develop the infrastructure for so-called vaccine passports, despite some criticism from businesses that the patchwork of local and state verification systems leaves them without a clear way to enforce mandates. The Biden administration had promised to share frameworks for verification systems, but ultimately left them all to the private sector and local governments, in part because of political sensitivities.

Still, while more severe measures — such as mandating vaccines for interstate travel or changing how the federal government reimburses treatment for those who are unvaccinated and become ill with COVID-19 — have been discussed, the administration worried that they would be too polarizing for the moment.

That’s not to say they won’t be implemented in the future, as public opinion continues to shift toward requiring vaccinations as a means to restore normalcy.

Lawrence Gostin, a professor of health law at Georgetown University, said Biden would likely need to continue to turn up the pressure on the unvaccinated. “He’s really going to have to use all the leverage the federal government has, and indeed use pressure points,” Gostin said. “And I think there are a few that he can do but he hasn’t done yet.”

“The country is completely fatigued with lockdowns, business closures and masking,” added Gostin, “and vaccines are literally our only tool. We’ve tried masking, distancing, occupancy limits, even entire lockdowns now for coming along nearly two years. And the virus just keeps raging back. And the vaccines are the only thing we have now to defeat the virus. We need to use that tool and we need to use it vigorously. And I think there will be large public support for that.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628817491397.png" alt="“To the mayors, school superintendents, educators, local leaders, who are standing up to the governors politicizing mask protection for our kids: thank you,” President Biden said Thursday-photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>“To the mayors, school superintendents, educators, local leaders, who are standing up to the governors politicizing mask protection for our kids: thank you,” President Biden said Thursday-photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that’s what it took to get shots in arms. But as new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-b0811d7287ef240ae619ba1e385e0a63">coronavirus infections soar</a>, he’s testing a tougher approach.In just the past two weeks, Biden has forced millions of federal workers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-86f2d25311d0251bfdb776fdf092b081">attest to their vaccination status</a>&nbsp;or face onerous new requirements. He’s met with business leaders at the White House to press them to do the same.Meanwhile, the administration has taken steps toward mandating shots for people traveling into the U.S. from overseas. And the White House is weighing options to be more assertive at the state and local level, including potential support for school districts imposing rules to prevent spread of the virus over the objection of Republican leaders.“To the mayors, school superintendents, educators, local leaders, who are standing up to the governors politicizing mask protection for our kids: thank you,” Biden said Thursday. “Thank God that we have heroes like you, and I stand with you all, and America should as well.”But even as Biden becomes more aggressive, he has refrained from using all his powers to pressure Americans to get vaccinated. He’s held off, for instance, on proposals to require vaccinations for all air travelers or, for that matter, the federal workforce. The result is a precarious balancing act as Biden works to make life more uncomfortable for the unvaccinated without spurring a backlash in a deeply polarized country that would only undermine his public health goals.Vaccine mandates are “the right lever at the right time,” said Ben Wakana, the deputy director of strategic communications and engagement for the White House COVID-19 response, noting the public’s increasing confidence in the vaccines and adding that it marks a new phase in the government’s campaign to encourage Americans to get shots.Many Republicans, particularly those eyeing the party’s 2024 presidential nomination, disagree and warn of federal overreaching into decisions that should be left to individuals. Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, an epicenter of the latest virus wave, have spent weeks feuding over the proper role of government during a public health crisis.There is notable support for vaccine mandates. According to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 51% of Americans say the federal government should recommend that employers require their workers to get vaccinated, while 45% say it should not.For now, Biden has required most federal workers to attest to their vaccination status under potential criminal penalties, with those who have not received a dose required to maintain social distancing, test weekly for the virus and face other potential restrictions on their work.Health workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services will be required to get vaccinated, and the Pentagon has announced that it intends to mandate vaccines for the military by next month.The sharper federal approach comes as nearly 90 million eligible Americans still have not been vaccinated and as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, says shots are the only path for the nation to contain the delta variant.White House officials say Biden wanted to initially operate with restraint to ensure that Americans were ready for the strong-arming from the federal government. The federal moves have been carefully calibrated to encourage a wave of businesses and governments to follow suit.Biden administration officials briefed prominent Washington trade groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable, ahead of the federal announcement in hopes their members would follow suit. White House officials have fielded dozens of calls from business executive in recent weeks about how to implement their own vaccination mandates, officials said, sharing best practices and tips for how to protect their workforces.“Through vaccination requirements, employers have the power to help end the pandemic,” White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said Thursday, naming companies, universities and local governments that have implemented them.The new restrictions appear to be having the desired effect. The rules — combined with fresh concerns about the surging delta variant — have nearly doubled the average rate that Americans are getting newly vaccinated from last month to about 450,000 per day.Zients said the White House still has no plans to develop the infrastructure for so-called vaccine passports, despite some criticism from businesses that the patchwork of local and state verification systems leaves them without a clear way to enforce mandates. The Biden administration had promised to share frameworks for verification systems, but ultimately left them all to the private sector and local governments, in part because of political sensitivities.Still, while more severe measures — such as mandating vaccines for interstate travel or changing how the federal government reimburses treatment for those who are unvaccinated and become ill with COVID-19 — have been discussed, the administration worried that they would be too polarizing for the moment.That’s not to say they won’t be implemented in the future, as public opinion continues to shift toward requiring vaccinations as a means to restore normalcy.Lawrence Gostin, a professor of health law at Georgetown University, said Biden would likely need to continue to turn up the pressure on the unvaccinated. “He’s really going to have to use all the leverage the federal government has, and indeed use pressure points,” Gostin said. “And I think there are a few that he can do but he hasn’t done yet.”“The country is completely fatigued with lockdowns, business closures and masking,” added Gostin, “and vaccines are literally our only tool. We’ve tried masking, distancing, occupancy limits, even entire lockdowns now for coming along nearly two years. And the virus just keeps raging back. And the vaccines are the only thing we have now to defeat the virus. We need to use that tool and we need to use it vigorously. And I think there will be large public support for that.

President Biden eyes tougher vaccine rules

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A jury found a massage therapist guilty of sex crimes against five people, including three female soccer players at the University of Kansas. 

Jurors returned guilty verdicts Thursday on all eight counts against Lawrence massage therapist Shawn P. O’Brien. 

Three of the charges accuse O’Brien of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 for fondling a girl who was either 9 or 10 on three occasions between 2013 and 2015. The other five charges accuse him of sexual battery for fondling four women while giving them a massage to treat athletic-related issues between 2016 and 2019.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583523947471.png" alt="Shawn O'Brien photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Shawn O'Brien photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A jury found a massage therapist guilty of sex crimes against five people, including three female soccer players at the University of Kansas. Jurors returned guilty verdicts Thursday on all eight counts against Lawrence massage therapist Shawn P. O’Brien. Three of the charges accuse O’Brien of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 for fondling a girl who was either 9 or 10 on three occasions between 2013 and 2015. The other five charges accuse him of sexual battery for fondling four women while giving them a massage to treat athletic-related issues between 2016 and 2019.

Jury: Kansas massage therapist guilty of sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Thursday said transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems can get an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to better protect them as the delta variant continues to surge.

The late-night announcement by the Food and Drug Administration applies to several million Americans who are especially vulnerable because of organ transplants, certain cancers or other disorders. Several other countries, including France and Israel, have similar recommendations.

It’s harder for vaccines to rev up an immune system suppressed by certain medications and diseases, so those patients don’t always get the same protection as otherwise healthy people — and small studies suggest for at least some, an extra dose may be the solution.

“Today’s action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, the FDA’s acting commissioner, said in a statement.

The FDA determined that transplant recipients and others with a similar level of compromised immunity can receive a third dose of the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna at least 28 days after getting their second shot. The FDA made no mention of immune-compromised patients who received the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine.

The announcement comes as the extra-contagious delta version of the coronavirus surges through much of the country, pushing new cases, hospitalizations and deaths to heights not seen since last winter.

Importantly, the FDA’s decision only applies to this high-risk group, estimated to be no more than 3% of U.S. adults. It’s not an opening for booster doses for the general population.

Instead, health authorities consider the extra dose part of the initial prescription for the immune-compromised. For example, France since April has encouraged that such patients get a third dose four weeks after their regular second shot. Israel and Germany also recently began recommending a third dose of two-dose vaccines.

Separately, U.S. health officials are continuing to closely monitor if and when average people’s immunity wanes enough to require boosters for everyone — but for now, the vaccines continue to offer robust protection for the general population.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to formally recommend the extra shots for certain immune-compromised groups after a meeting Friday of its outside advisers.

Transplant recipients and others with suppressed immune systems know they’re at more risk than the average American and some have been seeking out extra doses on their own, even if it means lying about their vaccination status. The change means now the high-risk groups can more easily get another shot — but experts caution it’s not yet clear exactly who should.

“This is all going to be very personalized,” cautioned Dr. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins University who is running a major National Institutes of Health study of extra shots for organ recipients. For some people, a third dose “increases their immune response. Yet for some people it does not seem to. We don’t quite know who’s who yet.”

One recent study of more than 650 transplant recipients found just over half harbored virus-fighting antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines — although generally less than in otherwise healthy vaccinated people. Another study of people with rheumatoid arthritis and similar autoimmune diseases found only those who use particular medications have very poor vaccine responses.

There’s little data on how well a third dose works, and if it causes any safety problems such as an increased risk of organ rejection. Wednesday, Canadian researchers reported that transplant recipients were more likely to have high levels of antibodies if they got a third dose than those given a dummy shot for comparison. Other small studies have similarly found that some transplant recipients respond to a third dose while others still lack enough protection.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Thursday said transplant recipients and others with severely weakened immune systems can get an extra dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to better protect them as the delta variant continues to surge.The late-night announcement by the Food and Drug Administration applies to several million Americans who are especially vulnerable because of organ transplants, certain cancers or other disorders. Several other countries, including France and Israel, have similar recommendations.It’s harder for vaccines to rev up an immune system suppressed by certain medications and diseases, so those patients don’t always get the same protection as otherwise healthy people — and small studies suggest for at least some, an extra dose may be the solution.“Today’s action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19,” Dr. Janet Woodcock, the FDA’s acting commissioner, said in a statement.The FDA determined that transplant recipients and others with a similar level of compromised immunity can receive a third dose of the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna at least 28 days after getting their second shot. The FDA made no mention of immune-compromised patients who received the single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine.The announcement comes as the extra-contagious delta version of the coronavirus surges through much of the country, pushing new cases, hospitalizations and deaths to heights not seen since last winter.Importantly, the FDA’s decision only applies to this high-risk group, estimated to be no more than 3% of U.S. adults. It’s not an opening for booster doses for the general population.Instead, health authorities consider the extra dose part of the initial prescription for the immune-compromised. For example, France since April has encouraged that such patients get a third dose four weeks after their regular second shot. Israel and Germany also recently began recommending a third dose of two-dose vaccines.Separately, U.S. health officials are continuing to closely monitor if and when average people’s immunity wanes enough to require boosters for everyone — but for now, the vaccines continue to offer robust protection for the general population.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to formally recommend the extra shots for certain immune-compromised groups after a meeting Friday of its outside advisers.Transplant recipients and others with suppressed immune systems know they’re at more risk than the average American and some have been seeking out extra doses on their own, even if it means lying about their vaccination status. The change means now the high-risk groups can more easily get another shot — but experts caution it’s not yet clear exactly who should.“This is all going to be very personalized,” cautioned Dr. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at Johns Hopkins University who is running a major National Institutes of Health study of extra shots for organ recipients. For some people, a third dose “increases their immune response. Yet for some people it does not seem to. We don’t quite know who’s who yet.”One recent study of more than 650 transplant recipients found just over half harbored virus-fighting antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines — although generally less than in otherwise healthy vaccinated people. Another study of people with rheumatoid arthritis and similar autoimmune diseases found only those who use particular medications have very poor vaccine responses.There’s little data on how well a third dose works, and if it causes any safety problems such as an increased risk of organ rejection. Wednesday, Canadian researchers reported that transplant recipients were more likely to have high levels of antibodies if they got a third dose than those given a dummy shot for comparison. Other small studies have similarly found that some transplant recipients respond to a third dose while others still lack enough protection.___

Extra COVID vaccine OK'd for those with weak immune systems

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police have arrested a woman suspected in a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist in southeast Wichita. 

Television station KAKE reports that police <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20072020">arrested 25-year-old Lila Garcia early</a> Thursday morning on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, failure to stop at an accident resulting in death, DUI and a tag violation.

Police say the crash happened around 9 p.m. Wednesday when Garcia's eastbound car reportedly crossed in front of the westbound motorcycle. Investigators say the car then fled the scene. Police have not yet identified the motorcyclist killed in the collision.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628780235399.png" alt="Garcia-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Garcia-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police have arrested a woman suspected in a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist in southeast Wichita. Television station KAKE reports that police <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20072020">arrested 25-year-old Lila Garcia early</a> Thursday morning on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, failure to stop at an accident resulting in death, DUI and a tag violation. Police say the crash happened around 9 p.m. Wednesday when Garcia's eastbound car reportedly crossed in front of the westbound motorcycle. Investigators say the car then fled the scene. Police have not yet identified the motorcyclist killed in the collision.

Kan. woman accused of fatal DUI crash, fleeing scene

DICKINSON COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Thursday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2002 Chevy Equinox driven by Ryan Pack, 34, Abilene, was eastbound on Interstate 70 a mile and a half west of Chapman.

The vehicle crossed the median and struck a westbound 2021 Kenworth semi driven by Garrett Jones, 32, Lawrence.

Pack was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Martin Becker Carlson Funeral Home. Jones was not injured. The KHP did have complete seat belt information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628791633584.png" alt="Fatal accident scene photo courtesy KHP" />
 <figcaption>Fatal accident scene photo courtesy KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Thursday in Dickinson County.The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2002 Chevy Equinox driven by Ryan Pack, 34, Abilene, was eastbound on Interstate 70 a mile and a half west of Chapman.The vehicle crossed the median and struck a westbound 2021 Kenworth semi driven by Garrett Jones, 32, Lawrence.Pack was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Martin Becker Carlson Funeral Home. Jones was not injured. The KHP did have complete seat belt information.

Kansas man dies after I-70 crash, and fire

A Kansas man was arrested after he allegedly struck an acquaintance with a Chevrolet Suburban Wednesday morning in Salina.

Officers were dispatched to the parking lot of 1515 W. Crawford Street in Salina for the report of a man&nbsp; hit by a vehicle., according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

A tan Chevrolet Subruban struck Montana Davis, 26, of Salina, and left the area eastbound on W. Crawford Street.

A witness told police that she saw the Suburban drive past Davis as he was walking on the sidewalk. She said the Suburban made a U-turn, drove back toward Davis, and up onto the sidewalk, striking Davis. 

He had non-life-threatening injuries to his left arm and leg and was transported to Salina Regional Health Center, Forrester said.

Later in the day, a police officer located the Suburban at the intersection of McAdams Road and Sunrise Drive in Salina.

Police arrested the driver, Scott Smith, 28, of Salina. He was found to have a Social Security card in his possession that was reported stolen in a vehicle burglary on June 16, according to Forrester. He is being held on requested charges of Aggravated battery and Possession of stolen property. Smith and were acquainted, according to Forrester.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628760842542.jpeg" alt="Smith photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Kansas man was arrested after he allegedly struck an acquaintance with a Chevrolet Suburban Wednesday morning in Salina.Officers were dispatched to the parking lot of 1515 W. Crawford Street in Salina for the report of a man&nbsp; hit by a vehicle., according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.A tan Chevrolet Subruban struck Montana Davis, 26, of Salina, and left the area eastbound on W. Crawford Street.A witness told police that she saw the Suburban drive past Davis as he was walking on the sidewalk. She said the Suburban made a U-turn, drove back toward Davis, and up onto the sidewalk, striking Davis. He had non-life-threatening injuries to his left arm and leg and was transported to Salina Regional Health Center, Forrester said.Later in the day, a police officer located the Suburban at the intersection of McAdams Road and Sunrise Drive in Salina.Police arrested the driver, Scott Smith, 28, of Salina. He was found to have a Social Security card in his possession that was reported stolen in a vehicle burglary on June 16, according to Forrester. He is being held on requested charges of Aggravated battery and Possession of stolen property. Smith and were acquainted, according to Forrester.

Police: Hit and run driver had stolen Social Security card

ATCHISON COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday in Atchison County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Silverado was driverless and traveling out of control westbound on a private driveway at 3789 U.S. 73 Highway. 

&nbsp;David W. Richardson, 61, St. Joseph, Mo., pursued the pickup on foot. The pickup struck him as it jackknifed.

Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Rupp's Funeral Home.

ATCHISON COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 2p.m. Thursday in Atchison County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy Silverado was driverless and traveling out of control westbound on a private driveway at 3789 U.S. 73 Highway. &nbsp;David W. Richardson, 61, St. Joseph, Mo., pursued the pickup on foot. The pickup struck him as it jackknifed.Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Rupp's Funeral Home.

Man killed by out of control, driverless pickup

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Another Kansas school district is reinstating masking requirements to combat COVID-19 outbreaks and vaccination efforts are increasing as younger patients and staffing shortages strain the state’s hospitals.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 667.57 new cases per day on July 27 to 1,683.57 new cases per day on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

That has led to three active clusters at schools and four active sports outbreaks, according to state health officials.

The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education voted 6-1 at a special meeting Wednesday night to confirm the district’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd383.org/home/showpublisheddocument/30465" target="_blank">updated Pandemic Response Plan</a>. The face mask requirement is regardless of vaccination status.

“I do not want to have to close buildings due to them being understaffed or because we have lots of sick children,” said board vice president Kristin Brighton.

Douglas County leaders also expressed interest Wednesday in potential mask requirements for children who are not yet eligible for vaccination, noting that not all school districts in the county were requiring masks, the Lawrence Journal-World reports.

The rise in cases is straining hospital, which are treating younger patients. Hutchinson Regional Medical Center vice president Chuck Welch said the average age of the 55 COVID-19 patients it has treated since June is 48, compared to 65 last year, The Hutchinson News reported. One patient was just 2 weeks old, Welch told the Reno County Commission.

“We’re seeing it again,” he said. “We’re getting reached out to from Arkansas and Nebraska asking ‘can you take a patient?’ Our response to those folks has primarily been ‘as of yet, we’re not accepting those patients.’”

The reason, Welch said, is that the hospital’s daily census is already up, even without a lot of COVID-19 cases, while skilled nursing staff levels are down about 30%.

According to the Kansas Hospital Association, 13 of Kansas’ 125 hospitals statewide are anticipating “critical” staffing shortages within the next week. Even before the pandemic, nurses were in short supply, with turnover usually higher than 10% and vacancies around 5%, The Kansas City Star reports.

But in 2020, hospitals have seen staff burn out, retire or leave for higher-paying jobs.

Turnover among Kansas RN’s more than doubled from 7% in 2019 to 16% in 2020. At the end of the year, hospitals reported that 9% of RN positions were vacant.

Cindy Samuelson, a spokeswoman for KHA, said staffing has been the number one complaint among hospitals for weeks.

“It continues to be really stressful and challenging for the people that are left to care for patients,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1627997369246.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Another Kansas school district is reinstating masking requirements to combat COVID-19 outbreaks and vaccination efforts are increasing as younger patients and staffing shortages strain the state’s hospitals.The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 667.57 new cases per day on July 27 to 1,683.57 new cases per day on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628700958712.png" alt="Wednesday August 11, 2021 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday August 11, 2021 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>That has led to three active clusters at schools and four active sports outbreaks, according to state health officials.The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education voted 6-1 at a special meeting Wednesday night to confirm the district’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd383.org/home/showpublisheddocument/30465" target="_blank">updated Pandemic Response Plan</a>. The face mask requirement is regardless of vaccination status.“I do not want to have to close buildings due to them being understaffed or because we have lots of sick children,” said board vice president Kristin Brighton.Douglas County leaders also expressed interest Wednesday in potential mask requirements for children who are not yet eligible for vaccination, noting that not all school districts in the county were requiring masks, the Lawrence Journal-World reports.The rise in cases is straining hospital, which are treating younger patients. Hutchinson Regional Medical Center vice president Chuck Welch said the average age of the 55 COVID-19 patients it has treated since June is 48, compared to 65 last year, The Hutchinson News reported. One patient was just 2 weeks old, Welch told the Reno County Commission.“We’re seeing it again,” he said. “We’re getting reached out to from Arkansas and Nebraska asking ‘can you take a patient?’ Our response to those folks has primarily been ‘as of yet, we’re not accepting those patients.’”The reason, Welch said, is that the hospital’s daily census is already up, even without a lot of COVID-19 cases, while skilled nursing staff levels are down about 30%.According to the Kansas Hospital Association, 13 of Kansas’ 125 hospitals statewide are anticipating “critical” staffing shortages within the next week. Even before the pandemic, nurses were in short supply, with turnover usually higher than 10% and vacancies around 5%, The Kansas City Star reports.But in 2020, hospitals have seen staff burn out, retire or leave for higher-paying jobs.Turnover among Kansas RN’s more than doubled from 7% in 2019 to 16% in 2020. At the end of the year, hospitals reported that 9% of RN positions were vacant.Cindy Samuelson, a spokeswoman for KHA, said staffing has been the number one complaint among hospitals for weeks.“It continues to be really stressful and challenging for the people that are left to care for patients,” she said.In south-central Kansas, Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital has sent patients to hospitals in Denver because closer facilities are full, said CEO Ashley Taylor.And she said the nursing staff is tired. Six nurses, about a third of their staff, have left in the past year. Many who were close to retirement left early because of the pandemic. The staff that remains, she said, has become less willing to pick up extra shifts then they were last year.“It’s so hard to bounce back from the mental and physical exhaustion and get your head back in the game” Taylor said.Meanwhile, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is taking aim at the rising cases by partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Kansas Turnpike Authority to offer free COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics at three Kansas Turnpike service areas.“Receiving the vaccine continues to be the best way to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of KDHE, in a news release.