TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly during her news conference announced that on Monday, she will sign an executive order to delay opening schools until after the Labor Day holiday.

“I can’t in good conscience open schools when cases in our state are at an all-time high and continuing to rapidly rise,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Every action I have taken throughout this pandemic has been done to keep Kansans healthy, keep our state open for business and get our kids back in school.”

The Governor made this decision in consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Education, which continue to monitor health metrics and disease spread in the state.

On Monday, a record coronavirus spike pushed Kansas past 20,000 total cases. ICU capacity in some of the state’s hospitals are under threat, and nearly 300 Kansans have died.

The Governor will also issue an executive order requiring schools to mandate commonsense mitigation strategies outlined in the Kansas Board of Education’s fall plan for schools. Under the order, masks, social distancing, proper hygiene, and daily temperature checks will be enforced regardless of the Kansas school district.

“The additional three weeks before opening schools will provide schools time to work with their counties to get the necessary mitigation supplies like masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Kansas State Board of Education and I are united in prioritizing the health of our students and faculty, and ensuring we provide a world-class education for our students.”

Further details will be announced next week after the order is released.

On Wednesday morning, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the recommendations for reopening Kansas K-12 schools this fall.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyLrA98vHU&amp;feature=youtu.be">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;a replay of Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting.

TOPEKA —Governor Laura Kelly during her news conference announced that on Monday, she will sign an executive order to delay opening schools until after the Labor Day holiday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F277260523563415%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“I can’t in good conscience open schools when cases in our state are at an all-time high and continuing to rapidly rise,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Every action I have taken throughout this pandemic has been done to keep Kansans healthy, keep our state open for business and get our kids back in school.”The Governor made this decision in consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Education, which continue to monitor health metrics and disease spread in the state.On Monday, a record coronavirus spike pushed Kansas past 20,000 total cases. ICU capacity in some of the state’s hospitals are under threat, and nearly 300 Kansans have died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594844055627.png" alt="Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson during Wednesday's news conference" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson during Wednesday's news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>The Governor will also issue an executive order requiring schools to mandate commonsense mitigation strategies outlined in the Kansas Board of Education’s fall plan for schools. Under the order, masks, social distancing, proper hygiene, and daily temperature checks will be enforced regardless of the Kansas school district.“The additional three weeks before opening schools will provide schools time to work with their counties to get the necessary mitigation supplies like masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Kansas State Board of Education and I are united in prioritizing the health of our students and faculty, and ensuring we provide a world-class education for our students.”Further details will be announced next week after the order is released.On Wednesday morning, the State Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the recommendations for reopening Kansas K-12 schools this fall.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyLrA98vHU&amp;feature=youtu.be">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;a replay of Wednesday's State Board of Education meeting.

🎥  Gov. Kelly will delay school reopening in Kansas until after Labor Day

High 89°	Partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.

High 89°	Partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.

Thursday weather forecast

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that on Monday, she will sign an executive order to delay opening schools until after the Labor Day holiday.

Further details will be announced next week after the order is released.

The Kansas Board of Education approved “Navigating Change 2020” school reopening document Wednesday morning. It includes:

— Students above fifth grade, staff and school visitors should wear masks

— Everyone should wash hands every hour

— Social distancing of at least six feet should occur wherever possible

— Students and employees who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 should be prohibited from school

— Meal service periods should be extended to allow for fewer students in the serving area at one time

— Staff temperatures should be taken daily

— Families should be responsible to take the temperatures of their children

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594844891982.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly opened her Wednesday news conference in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly opened her Wednesday news conference in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that on Monday, she will sign an executive order to delay opening schools until after the Labor Day holiday.“I can’t in good conscience open schools when cases in our state are at an all-time high and continuing to rapidly rise,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“Every action I have taken throughout this pandemic has been done to keep Kansans healthy, keep our state open for business and get our kids back in school.”The Governor made this decision in consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Education, which continue to monitor health metrics and disease spread in the state.On Monday, a record coronavirus spike pushed Kansas past 20,000 total cases. ICU capacity in some of the state’s hospitals are under threat, and nearly 300 Kansans have died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594844055627.png" alt="Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson during Wednesday's news conference." />
 <figcaption>Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson during Wednesday's news conference.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Governor will also issue an executive order requiring schools to mandate commonsense mitigation strategies outlined in the Kansas Board of Education’s fall plan for schools. Under the order, masks, social distancing, proper hygiene, and daily temperature checks will be enforced regardless of the Kansas school district.“The additional three weeks before opening schools will provide schools time to work with their counties to get the necessary mitigation supplies like masks, thermometers, and hand sanitizer,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The Kansas State Board of Education and I are united in prioritizing the health of our students and faculty, and ensuring we provide a world-class education for our students.” Further details will be announced next week after the order is released.The Kansas Board of Education approved “Navigating Change 2020” school reopening document Wednesday morning. It includes:— Students above fifth grade, staff and school visitors should wear masks— Everyone should wash hands every hour— Social distancing of at least six feet should occur wherever possible— Students and employees who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 should be prohibited from school— Meal service periods should be extended to allow for fewer students in the serving area at one time— Staff temperatures should be taken daily— Families should be responsible to take the temperatures of their children

Governor: No school in Kan. until after Labor Day, masks required

&nbsp;Riley County has 7 new positive cases since yesterday’s report and 4 more people have recovered. The Health Department said Wednesday that the totals are now 136 (+3) active, 232 (+4) recovered. &nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan reports no (0) COVID-19 patients and four PUI* patients currently hospitalized. &nbsp; Riley County Statistics for Wednesday, July 15:

*A PUI is a Person Under Investigation; a patient who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.



&nbsp;Riley County has 7 new positive cases since yesterday’s report and 4 more people have recovered. The Health Department said Wednesday that the totals are now 136 (+3) active, 232 (+4) recovered. &nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan reports no (0) COVID-19 patients and four PUI* patients currently hospitalized. &nbsp; Riley County Statistics for Wednesday, July 15:<ul>
 <li>Total positive cases in Riley County Residents:&nbsp;371**</li><li>Total Active:&nbsp;136</li><li>Total Recovered:&nbsp;232</li><li>Currently Hospitalized: 0</li><li>Total deaths:&nbsp;3</li><li>Pending test results:&nbsp;212</li><li>Negative test results:&nbsp;3,529</li><li>Gender: Female:&nbsp;43.9% (163) &nbsp;&nbsp;Male: 56.1 % (208)</li><li>Average age:&nbsp;29.98 years old</li>
 </ul>*A PUI is a Person Under Investigation; a patient who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is waiting for test results.

Riley County has seven new COVID-19 cases

&nbsp; The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced earlier this month that the City of Manhattan will receive the maximum state award amount of $2,897,774 to fund a portion of the North Campus Corridor project. This portion of the North Campus Corridor project will improve 2,422 lane feet of Kimball Avenue between College Avenue and Denison Avenue, and construct a new frontage road to the north. Kimball Avenue will be widened and a protected median will be added to improve safety. “That is a critical project for the full functioning of NBAF,” said Senator Tom Hawk.&nbsp; “Progress and hiring to open NBAF is on schedule and this North Campus work is critical for full functioning of NBAF and the area around it. Our community and the state has invested heavily in this $1.25B Federal Facility and this cost share program will certainly facilitate the full operation of NBAF, movement of traffic, and job creation in this section of Kansas.” The City of Manhattan will be responsible for a $5,000,000 cash match to fund the remainder of this portion of the project. Kansas State University is also participating in funding for the North Campus Corridor Project. The University will contribute $10 million over the next 20 years and K-State Athletics will contribute $3 million toward developing infrastructure in the North Campus Corridor. “KDOT’s Cost Share Award for the North Campus Corridor infrastructure recognizes the significance of this strategic development not only to the local Manhattan community but to the State of Kansas,” said K-State President Richard Myers. “North Campus Corridor is attracting and leveraging a concentration of talent, research, physical assets, workforce training, and innovative industries related to animal health, food safety, and biosecurity. The many entities collaborating within the North Campus Corridor have the capability to generate solutions for many challenges impacting the world today. We appreciate KDOT’s support with these infrastructure improvements that are critical for us to help the state with future growth in this area.” An average of 20,000 vehicles travel the Kimball Avenue corridor every day, according to at 2014 traffic study. The North Campus Corridor (NCC) project will expand the major roadways near K-State University and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF): Kimball, Denison, College, and North Manhattan Avenues. Kimball Avenue serves as the arterial roadway connecting Kansas Highway 113 and U.S. Highway 24 to NBAF. Improvements in the area will include lane widening, traffic signal and crosswalk innovations, pedestrian walkways, medians, bus stops, bicycle infrastructure improvements, as well as streetscape and lighting enhancements. Work in progress on College Avenue is expected to be complete by the end of August. The intersection of College and Kimball is also nearing completion and is expected to reopen completely later this fall. Find information about&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=cce1821966&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">active projects</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan including the North Campus Corridor project &nbsp;online at&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=2e4de53e13&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">www.cityofmhk.com</a>. The mission of the City of Manhattan is to sustain order and protect public safety, promote public health, preserve the built environment, and enhance economic vitality. The city supports a regional community in which individuals and families develop and thrive. More information about the City of Manhattan is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=6a34884e08&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">www.cityofmhk.com</a>, on Facebook at /Cityofmanhattan and on Twitter @cityofmhk.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594836644624.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Vivienne UcceloPublic Information Officer, Manhattan&nbsp; The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced earlier this month that the City of Manhattan will receive the maximum state award amount of $2,897,774 to fund a portion of the North Campus Corridor project. This portion of the North Campus Corridor project will improve 2,422 lane feet of Kimball Avenue between College Avenue and Denison Avenue, and construct a new frontage road to the north. Kimball Avenue will be widened and a protected median will be added to improve safety. “That is a critical project for the full functioning of NBAF,” said Senator Tom Hawk.&nbsp; “Progress and hiring to open NBAF is on schedule and this North Campus work is critical for full functioning of NBAF and the area around it. Our community and the state has invested heavily in this $1.25B Federal Facility and this cost share program will certainly facilitate the full operation of NBAF, movement of traffic, and job creation in this section of Kansas.” The City of Manhattan will be responsible for a $5,000,000 cash match to fund the remainder of this portion of the project. Kansas State University is also participating in funding for the North Campus Corridor Project. The University will contribute $10 million over the next 20 years and K-State Athletics will contribute $3 million toward developing infrastructure in the North Campus Corridor. “KDOT’s Cost Share Award for the North Campus Corridor infrastructure recognizes the significance of this strategic development not only to the local Manhattan community but to the State of Kansas,” said K-State President Richard Myers. “North Campus Corridor is attracting and leveraging a concentration of talent, research, physical assets, workforce training, and innovative industries related to animal health, food safety, and biosecurity. The many entities collaborating within the North Campus Corridor have the capability to generate solutions for many challenges impacting the world today. We appreciate KDOT’s support with these infrastructure improvements that are critical for us to help the state with future growth in this area.” An average of 20,000 vehicles travel the Kimball Avenue corridor every day, according to at 2014 traffic study. The North Campus Corridor (NCC) project will expand the major roadways near K-State University and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF): Kimball, Denison, College, and North Manhattan Avenues. Kimball Avenue serves as the arterial roadway connecting Kansas Highway 113 and U.S. Highway 24 to NBAF. Improvements in the area will include lane widening, traffic signal and crosswalk innovations, pedestrian walkways, medians, bus stops, bicycle infrastructure improvements, as well as streetscape and lighting enhancements. Work in progress on College Avenue is expected to be complete by the end of August. The intersection of College and Kimball is also nearing completion and is expected to reopen completely later this fall. Find information about&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=cce1821966&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">active projects</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan including the North Campus Corridor project &nbsp;online at&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=2e4de53e13&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">www.cityofmhk.com</a>. The mission of the City of Manhattan is to sustain order and protect public safety, promote public health, preserve the built environment, and enhance economic vitality. The city supports a regional community in which individuals and families develop and thrive. More information about the City of Manhattan is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=6a34884e08&amp;e=8c33f27c6f" target="_blank">www.cityofmhk.com</a>, on Facebook at /Cityofmanhattan and on Twitter @cityofmhk.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Manhattan awarded grant funding for Kimball Avenue project

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart will require customers to wear face coverings at all of its namesake and Sam’s Club stores, making it the largest retailer to introduce such a policy that has otherwise proven difficult to enforce without state and federal requirements.

The company said the policy will go into effect on Monday to allow time to inform stores and customers. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said that currently about 65% of its more than 5,000 stores and clubs are located in areas where there is already some form of government mandate on face coverings.

The retailer also said it will create the role of health ambassador at its Walmart stores and will station them near the entrance to remind customers without masks of its new requirements. These workers, who will be wearing black polo shirts, will receive special training to “help make the process as smooth as possible for customers.”

Walmart joins a growing list of retailers that have instituted mask mandates throughout their chains. Best Buy, the nation’s largest consumer electronics retailer, announced Tuesday that it will have a mask mandate for its customers at all of its stores. Starbucks announced last week that customers who visit its company-owned café locations in the U.S. will be required to wear face coverings. Both policies were in effect Wednesday.

The moves come as new COVID-19 cases are spiking in many states, particularly Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Retailers have been challenged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/338c74ad760b8795d29bd3927da1cb24">striking a balance</a>&nbsp;between keeping shoppers safe while making them feel comfortable.

Last week, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Walmart, Best Buy and other major chains,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/80db3dc5dc9a0015bde700266008fe8f">publicized a letter</a>&nbsp;it sent to state governors to mandate store customers to wear face coverings. It said the hodgepodge of rules around the country have created confusion for shoppers and that has led to conflict between customers and workers trying to enforce store rules.

The National Governors Association said last week that its members are discussing the letter and others like it from different retail groups.

Social media is full of videos capturing clashes between those who are asked to wear masks, and employees who are under orders to make sure people wear them.

Fewer than half of U.S. states require masks in public places, according to the RILA. And only a handful of major retailers including teen clothing chain American Eagle Outfitters has a mask mandate for customers for all of its stores. Costco Wholesale Club was one of the first major retailers to require face coverings for customers at all of its stores. The policy went into effect in early May.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people cover their mouth and nose when around other people to help reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

“We know some people have differing opinions on this topic,” wrote Dacona Smith, chief operating officer at Walmart U.S. and Lance de la Rosa, chief operating officer at Sam’s Club in a blog posted Wednesday. “We also recognize the role we can play to help protect the health and well-being of the communities we serve by following the evolving guidance of health officials like the CDC.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594829714989.png" alt="Customers wait to enter a Kansas Walmart store" />
 <figcaption>Customers wait to enter a Kansas Walmart store</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart will require customers to wear face coverings at all of its namesake and Sam’s Club stores, making it the largest retailer to introduce such a policy that has otherwise proven difficult to enforce without state and federal requirements.The company said the policy will go into effect on Monday to allow time to inform stores and customers. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said that currently about 65% of its more than 5,000 stores and clubs are located in areas where there is already some form of government mandate on face coverings.The retailer also said it will create the role of health ambassador at its Walmart stores and will station them near the entrance to remind customers without masks of its new requirements. These workers, who will be wearing black polo shirts, will receive special training to “help make the process as smooth as possible for customers.”Walmart joins a growing list of retailers that have instituted mask mandates throughout their chains. Best Buy, the nation’s largest consumer electronics retailer, announced Tuesday that it will have a mask mandate for its customers at all of its stores. Starbucks announced last week that customers who visit its company-owned café locations in the U.S. will be required to wear face coverings. Both policies were in effect Wednesday.The moves come as new COVID-19 cases are spiking in many states, particularly Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Retailers have been challenged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/338c74ad760b8795d29bd3927da1cb24">striking a balance</a>&nbsp;between keeping shoppers safe while making them feel comfortable.Last week, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents Walmart, Best Buy and other major chains,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/80db3dc5dc9a0015bde700266008fe8f">publicized a letter</a>&nbsp;it sent to state governors to mandate store customers to wear face coverings. It said the hodgepodge of rules around the country have created confusion for shoppers and that has led to conflict between customers and workers trying to enforce store rules.The National Governors Association said last week that its members are discussing the letter and others like it from different retail groups.Social media is full of videos capturing clashes between those who are asked to wear masks, and employees who are under orders to make sure people wear them.Fewer than half of U.S. states require masks in public places, according to the RILA. And only a handful of major retailers including teen clothing chain American Eagle Outfitters has a mask mandate for customers for all of its stores. Costco Wholesale Club was one of the first major retailers to require face coverings for customers at all of its stores. The policy went into effect in early May.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people cover their mouth and nose when around other people to help reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.“We know some people have differing opinions on this topic,” wrote Dacona Smith, chief operating officer at Walmart U.S. and Lance de la Rosa, chief operating officer at Sam’s Club in a blog posted Wednesday. “We also recognize the role we can play to help protect the health and well-being of the communities we serve by following the evolving guidance of health officials like the CDC.”___

Walmart to require customers to wear masks at all its stores

Dogs, cooking, rocketry, there is no project to tall

Choose your mode of transportation with care

No horses or motor vehicles will get you there

The clue for Wednesday, July 154-H offers fun and educational for allDogs, cooking, rocketry, there is no project to tallChoose your mode of transportation with careNo horses or motor vehicles will get you there

Golden Clover Hunt clue for July 15

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

CHRISTOPHER JOSHUA HILL, 37, Junction City, Failure to Appear; Bond $5000

THADDEUS MAURICE JORDAN, 32, Junction City,&nbsp;Driving while suspended; 3rd or subsequent
conviction Vehicle liability insurance; Knowingly drive
uninsured vehicle; Bond $3000

BRIAN WADE MOLDEN, 46, St. George, Failure to Appear; $280.50

AUTUMN ANN CARROL GAUL, 27, Wichita, Probation Violation (2x) Bond $3000

SHAKEERA MARIE WILSON, 26, Hampton, VA.,&nbsp;Possession of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Bond $2000

BENJAMIN GEORGE, 37, OF MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT TUTTLE CREEK BLVD &amp; E POYNTZ AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING (14-104) ON JULY 6, 2,020 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:10 PM.

TRAVIS LAYNE, 31, OF RANDOLPH, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2700 BLK TUTTLE CREEK BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR X DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION, FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS And FOR X INSURANCE;LIABILITY REQUIRED (43104AG1) ON JULY 14, 2,020 AT APPROXIMATELY12:34 AM.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594822250308.png" alt="Christopher Hill-photo Geary County" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Hill-photo Geary County</figcaption>
 </figure>The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.CHRISTOPHER JOSHUA HILL, 37, Junction City, Failure to Appear; Bond $5000THADDEUS MAURICE JORDAN, 32, Junction City,&nbsp;Driving while suspended; 3rd or subsequent
conviction Vehicle liability insurance; Knowingly drive
uninsured vehicle; Bond $3000BRIAN WADE MOLDEN, 46, St. George, Failure to Appear; $280.50AUTUMN ANN CARROL GAUL, 27, Wichita, Probation Violation (2x) Bond $3000SHAKEERA MARIE WILSON, 26, Hampton, VA.,&nbsp;Possession of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Bond $2000 
CITATION REPORTBENJAMIN GEORGE, 37, OF MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT TUTTLE CREEK BLVD &amp; E POYNTZ AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING (14-104) ON JULY 6, 2,020 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:10 PM.TRAVIS LAYNE, 31, OF RANDOLPH, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2700 BLK TUTTLE CREEK BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR X DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION, FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS And FOR X INSURANCE;LIABILITY REQUIRED (43104AG1) ON JULY 14, 2,020 AT APPROXIMATELY12:34 AM.

Riley Co. Arrest Report Wednesday July 15

UPDATE:&nbsp;Kansas Highway Patrol is reporting that one westbound lane is now open.

DICKINSON COUNTY — First responders are on the scene of semi rollover accident on Interstate 70 near Abilene.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reports both westbound lanes are blocked. Authorities have not reported any injuries.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594818319335.png" alt="Photo courtesy KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE:&nbsp;Kansas Highway Patrol is reporting that one westbound lane is now open.------DICKINSON COUNTY — First responders are on the scene of semi rollover accident on Interstate 70 near Abilene.The Kansas Highway Patrol reports both westbound lanes are blocked. Authorities have not reported any injuries.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Update: Westbound I-70 closed after semi rollover 

High 81°	Not as warm. Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

High 81°	Not as warm. Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday weather forecast

USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden will give parents an option for educating their children in the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools, said the two primary instructional delivery options provided by the district will be remote learning and onsite learning.

Remote learning will include all learning via internet access without the need to enter a school building. Instruction will be provided by certified teaching professionals of USD 383 using district curriculum and materials. Wade noted that remote learning will have a higher degree of accountability on the part of both the district and the family than was evident during the Continuous Learning Plan implemented at the end of the past school year.

When the onsite learning option is chosen, that will indicate a desire for the child to receiving instruction in a school building with an understanding the district may need to make adjustments during the course of the year in response to COVID-19 conditions.

The two options are based on current public health recommendations and may be subject to change. If health circumstances become worse, USD 383 has created two contingency plans that could be instituted any time during the school year.

A Hybrid Learning model could be used if there becomes a need to reduce the number of students physically attending school at the same time, In this instance, students will still be educated in the school building, but the amount of time in the school will be reduced and elements of Remote Learning will be implemented along with Onsite Learning.

Under a Distance Learning model if COVID-19 conditions warrant closing of school buildings, the district may transition to All Distance Learning.&nbsp; In that scenario K-12 students will receive instruction online until school buildings can safely reopen.&nbsp;

Wade said Remote Learning will be available to start the school year and officials tentatively plan on the Onsite Learning option. However, the decision about which option will be in effect when school opens ( Onsite, Hybrid or All Distance Learning ) will be made closer to the start of school - after factors including input from the Riley County Health Department are given careful consideration.

USD 383 understands this brief introduction is not enough to help parents make an informed decision about which option is best for their family, so more information about each option will be provided on Friday ( July 17 ). That will allow parents time to consider which option is best for each of their children before completing registration.

Online Registration, which is the preferred method of registering students opens Monday ( July 20 ). It can be done any time of day and does not require going to a physical location. People are encouraged as soon as possible and definitely by July 30. Parents will be asked to identify which instructional delivery option they prefer for each of their children.

Central Registration will be held Friday, July 24, at the Manhattan High School West Campus from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. All participants will be required to wear a face covering and to answer some health-related questions as they enter the building.&nbsp; As with Online Registration, parents will be asked to identify which instructional delivery option they prefer for each of their children.&nbsp;

The USD 383 Board of Education has approved technology purchases as part of the district's response to COVID-19. New access points and hotspots will increase internet access and new iPads will allow USD 383 to provide every K-12 student with an iPad for use at school and / or home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594770093815.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden will give parents an option for educating their children in the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools, said the two primary instructional delivery options provided by the district will be remote learning and onsite learning.Remote learning will include all learning via internet access without the need to enter a school building. Instruction will be provided by certified teaching professionals of USD 383 using district curriculum and materials. Wade noted that remote learning will have a higher degree of accountability on the part of both the district and the family than was evident during the Continuous Learning Plan implemented at the end of the past school year.When the onsite learning option is chosen, that will indicate a desire for the child to receiving instruction in a school building with an understanding the district may need to make adjustments during the course of the year in response to COVID-19 conditions.The two options are based on current public health recommendations and may be subject to change. If health circumstances become worse, USD 383 has created two contingency plans that could be instituted any time during the school year.A Hybrid Learning model could be used if there becomes a need to reduce the number of students physically attending school at the same time, In this instance, students will still be educated in the school building, but the amount of time in the school will be reduced and elements of Remote Learning will be implemented along with Onsite Learning.Under a Distance Learning model if COVID-19 conditions warrant closing of school buildings, the district may transition to All Distance Learning.&nbsp; In that scenario K-12 students will receive instruction online until school buildings can safely reopen.&nbsp;Wade said Remote Learning will be available to start the school year and officials tentatively plan on the Onsite Learning option. However, the decision about which option will be in effect when school opens ( Onsite, Hybrid or All Distance Learning ) will be made closer to the start of school - after factors including input from the Riley County Health Department are given careful consideration.USD 383 understands this brief introduction is not enough to help parents make an informed decision about which option is best for their family, so more information about each option will be provided on Friday ( July 17 ). That will allow parents time to consider which option is best for each of their children before completing registration.Online Registration, which is the preferred method of registering students opens Monday ( July 20 ). It can be done any time of day and does not require going to a physical location. People are encouraged as soon as possible and definitely by July 30. Parents will be asked to identify which instructional delivery option they prefer for each of their children.Central Registration will be held Friday, July 24, at the Manhattan High School West Campus from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. All participants will be required to wear a face covering and to answer some health-related questions as they enter the building.&nbsp; As with Online Registration, parents will be asked to identify which instructional delivery option they prefer for each of their children.&nbsp;The USD 383 Board of Education has approved technology purchases as part of the district's response to COVID-19. New access points and hotspots will increase internet access and new iPads will allow USD 383 to provide every K-12 student with an iPad for use at school and / or home.

USD 383 will provide an enrollment choice for the upcoming school year

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Organizers say they have canceled the 2021 Rose Parade because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on planning for the New Year’s tradition and the risk of spreading infections. 

The Pasadena, California, Tournament of Roses Association said Wednesday the decision was put off until organizers were certain that safety restrictions would prevent staging of the 132nd parade. Since its inception in 1891, the parade has only not occurred during the wartime years of 1942, 1943 and 1945. The association says planning is continuing for the Rose Bowl college football game that normally follows the parade.&nbsp;

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Organizers say they have canceled the 2021 Rose Parade because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on planning for the New Year’s tradition and the risk of spreading infections. The Pasadena, California, Tournament of Roses Association said Wednesday the decision was put off until organizers were certain that safety restrictions would prevent staging of the 132nd parade. Since its inception in 1891, the parade has only not occurred during the wartime years of 1942, 1943 and 1945. The association says planning is continuing for the Rose Bowl college football game that normally follows the parade.&nbsp;

2021 Rose Parade cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic

By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/college-football-schedules-unsettled-coronavirus-cases-spike-kansas-and-us">Kansas News Service</a>

BALDWIN CITY, Kansas — College athletics departments
 in Kansas are needing to make a call as the number of coronavirus cases
 climb across the country and in their own ranks: Cancel fall sports, 
delay them until the spring, try in-conference games only or something 
in between.

At the center of it all is football — the 
high-contact sport that brings in money from the top college level to 
the small schools.&nbsp;

Dozens of schools have reported coronavirus 
cases among team members at voluntary workouts. And earlier this summer,
 Kansas State became one of the first major college teams in the country
 to shut the workouts down because of a high number of positive tests. 
The University of Kansas soon followed suit.

Already, three of 
the five major college conferences (Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference 
and Pac-12) have said they’ll only play against teams in their 
conference. The Ivy and Patriot leagues are calling off their fall 
seasons entirely. The National Junior College Athletic Association voted
 to move football to the spring.

The Big 12, which includes KU and K-State, is expected to make its decision at the end of the month.

Without
 the money from big-time sports, universities that are already hurting 
financially after having to shift fully online in the spring will 
suffer. But so will the college towns.

Baker University drives 
the economy in Baldwin City, Kansas, a town of more than 4,700 that’s 
about a half-hour from Lawrence. Of the roughly 800-plus students on 
campus at Baker, 66% play one of the school’s 24 varsity sports.

In
 early June, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 
(NAIA) announced that all of its schools — Baker included — would be 
reduced to nine regular-season games from 11. It’s still uncertain if 
fans will be allowed to attend the home games because the NAIA is 
leaving it up to schools to follow state and local requirements.

“The potential of not having our family at games, it’s something 
that’s going to be very, very different,” Baker athletics director Nate 
Houser said.

Already, Baldwin City’s 63rd annual Maple Leaf 
Festival has been cancelled for the fall. Apryl Strawn, the manager of 
Jo’s Diner in town, said the possibility of football without fans could 
be devastating to their business.&nbsp;

“It’ll be awful,” Strawn said. “It’ll be absolutely awful.”&nbsp;

The athletes’ health vs. financial health&nbsp;

Whether
 football is played in Baldwin City or at KU, the issue is the same: How
 do you avoid transmission of coronavirus in a sport where you’re lined 
up next to each other and hit other players constantly?

It’s a question KU Director of Athletics Jeff Long has been pondering all summer, and hasn’t been able to answer.

"We
 don’t know what the impact of practicing, closed-quarters hitting, 
tackling, all those things will have on a team,” Long said during a 
Kansas City Public Library virtual forum last month.

Players came
 back to campus for voluntary workouts from all over the country, 
including Texas, which has seen a dramatic spike in cases.&nbsp;

But epidemiologist Dr. Chris Hostler, who is a consultant for the NFL
 and the Big 12 (which KU and K-State are a part of), said coronavirus 
can be anywhere.

“We’re going to continue to have athletes and 
staff who are positives, who are coming from different areas of the 
country,” said Hostler, who is based in Durham, North Carolina. “Or even
 just remaining in their communities.”

And there’s another thing 
to consider: If any scholarship athlete, man or woman, chooses to sit 
out this fall as a health precaution, would he or she lose that full 
ride to college? The Pac-12 says no. With the Big 12 leaving it up to 
its members — K-State says it will honor scholarships but is still 
working out the terms of the language, while KU hadn’t provided its 
policy by the time this story went to print.&nbsp;

But more than 
anything, college administrators are aware of the added financial pinch 
if there are no college football games this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When people 
ask, ‘Why is it so important for you to play football, play basketball?”
 It’s to generate the revenue to fund that program,” Long said.

A major college football program like KU or K-State generates an average of $78 million according to a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/04/14/college-football-major-programs-could-see-billions-revenue-go-away/2989466001/">recent study by USA Today</a>.

Within
 the Big 12, the Texas schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU) 
figure to already see less money. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently 
mandated that no schools can have more than 50% fan capacity at home 
games.

But Hostler said what’s happening in Texas won’t dictate a uniform set of recommendations.

“What
 happens in West Virginia is going to be very different than what 
happens a couple states away in Iowa or in Oklahoma,” he said.

Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758329334.png" alt=" Kansas State's football team had several players test positive for COVID-19 this summer. Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo" />
 <figcaption> Kansas State's football team had several players test positive for COVID-19 this summer. Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG ECHLIN <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/college-football-schedules-unsettled-coronavirus-cases-spike-kansas-and-us">Kansas News Service</a>BALDWIN CITY, Kansas — College athletics departments
 in Kansas are needing to make a call as the number of coronavirus cases
 climb across the country and in their own ranks: Cancel fall sports, 
delay them until the spring, try in-conference games only or something 
in between.At the center of it all is football — the 
high-contact sport that brings in money from the top college level to 
the small schools.&nbsp;Dozens of schools have reported coronavirus 
cases among team members at voluntary workouts. And earlier this summer,
 Kansas State became one of the first major college teams in the country
 to shut the workouts down because of a high number of positive tests. 
The University of Kansas soon followed suit.Already, three of 
the five major college conferences (Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference 
and Pac-12) have said they’ll only play against teams in their 
conference. The Ivy and Patriot leagues are calling off their fall 
seasons entirely. The National Junior College Athletic Association voted
 to move football to the spring.The Big 12, which includes KU and K-State, is expected to make its decision at the end of the month.Without
 the money from big-time sports, universities that are already hurting 
financially after having to shift fully online in the spring will 
suffer. But so will the college towns.Baker University drives 
the economy in Baldwin City, Kansas, a town of more than 4,700 that’s 
about a half-hour from Lawrence. Of the roughly 800-plus students on 
campus at Baker, 66% play one of the school’s 24 varsity sports.In
 early June, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics 
(NAIA) announced that all of its schools — Baker included — would be 
reduced to nine regular-season games from 11. It’s still uncertain if 
fans will be allowed to attend the home games because the NAIA is 
leaving it up to schools to follow state and local requirements.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758388532.jpeg" alt=" Nate House is Baker University's athletic director. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Nate House is Baker University's athletic director. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>“The potential of not having our family at games, it’s something 
that’s going to be very, very different,” Baker athletics director Nate 
Houser said.Already, Baldwin City’s 63rd annual Maple Leaf 
Festival has been cancelled for the fall. Apryl Strawn, the manager of 
Jo’s Diner in town, said the possibility of football without fans could 
be devastating to their business.&nbsp;“It’ll be awful,” Strawn said. “It’ll be absolutely awful.”&nbsp;The athletes’ health vs. financial health&nbsp;Whether
 football is played in Baldwin City or at KU, the issue is the same: How
 do you avoid transmission of coronavirus in a sport where you’re lined 
up next to each other and hit other players constantly?It’s a question KU Director of Athletics Jeff Long has been pondering all summer, and hasn’t been able to answer."We
 don’t know what the impact of practicing, closed-quarters hitting, 
tackling, all those things will have on a team,” Long said during a 
Kansas City Public Library virtual forum last month.Players came
 back to campus for voluntary workouts from all over the country, 
including Texas, which has seen a dramatic spike in cases.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594758418685.jpeg" alt=" The field before last year's KU vs. K-State rivarly game. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo" />
 <figcaption> The field before last year's KU vs. K-State rivarly game. Credit Greg Echlin / KCUR 89.3 file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>But epidemiologist Dr. Chris Hostler, who is a consultant for the NFL
 and the Big 12 (which KU and K-State are a part of), said coronavirus 
can be anywhere.“We’re going to continue to have athletes and 
staff who are positives, who are coming from different areas of the 
country,” said Hostler, who is based in Durham, North Carolina. “Or even
 just remaining in their communities.”And there’s another thing 
to consider: If any scholarship athlete, man or woman, chooses to sit 
out this fall as a health precaution, would he or she lose that full 
ride to college? The Pac-12 says no. With the Big 12 leaving it up to 
its members — K-State says it will honor scholarships but is still 
working out the terms of the language, while KU hadn’t provided its 
policy by the time this story went to print.&nbsp;But more than 
anything, college administrators are aware of the added financial pinch 
if there are no college football games this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When people 
ask, ‘Why is it so important for you to play football, play basketball?”
 It’s to generate the revenue to fund that program,” Long said.A major college football program like KU or K-State generates an average of $78 million according to a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2020/04/14/college-football-major-programs-could-see-billions-revenue-go-away/2989466001/">recent study by USA Today</a>.Within
 the Big 12, the Texas schools (Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU) 
figure to already see less money. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently 
mandated that no schools can have more than 50% fan capacity at home 
games.But Hostler said what’s happening in Texas won’t dictate a uniform set of recommendations.“What
 happens in West Virginia is going to be very different than what 
happens a couple states away in Iowa or in Oklahoma,” he said.Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter.

College football schedules unsettled as virus cases spike

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Left-hander Danny Duffy will start for the Kansas City Royals when they open the season against the Indians in Cleveland next week. The 31-year-old Duffy will make his third start on opening day, although this one is far different than the others. 

The game July 24 will begin a season shortened to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic that will last through August and September. Duffy went 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts last season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Left-hander Danny Duffy will start for the Kansas City Royals when they open the season against the Indians in Cleveland next week. The 31-year-old Duffy will make his third start on opening day, although this one is far different than the others. The game July 24 will begin a season shortened to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic that will last through August and September. Duffy went 7-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 23 starts last season.

Danny Duffy to start opening day for Royals against the Indians

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals hope their youth gives them a unique ability to adapt to the rapidly changing environment in which they hope to not just complete a 60-game abbreviated season but actually contend into the final weeks of September. 

Already, that flexibility has been put to the test with four positive COVID-19 tests, including both of the catchers on their 40-man roster. All were asymptomatic and they hope all of them are back for the start of the season next week in Cleveland.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals hope their youth gives them a unique ability to adapt to the rapidly changing environment in which they hope to not just complete a 60-game abbreviated season but actually contend into the final weeks of September. Already, that flexibility has been put to the test with four positive COVID-19 tests, including both of the catchers on their 40-man roster. All were asymptomatic and they hope all of them are back for the start of the season next week in Cleveland.

Royals hope youthful flexibility a plus during unique season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed with defensive tackle Chris Jones on a four-year, $85 million contract extension that includes $60 million in guarantees, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday. 

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the signing. The Chiefs and representatives for Jones have been working on a contract extension ever since last year, when they remained far apart on terms and the Pro Bowl selection skipped the entirety of the offseason program. Jones was back in time for training camp and helped the Chiefs win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in February.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed with defensive tackle Chris Jones on a four-year, $85 million contract extension that includes $60 million in guarantees, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the signing. The Chiefs and representatives for Jones have been working on a contract extension ever since last year, when they remained far apart on terms and the Pro Bowl selection skipped the entirety of the offseason program. Jones was back in time for training camp and helped the Chiefs win their first Super Bowl in 50 years in February.

AP; Chiefs, Jones agree to 4-year, $85M extension

Kansas State Athletics has confirmed that only two student-athletes are currently being isolated for active COVID-19, as of Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Since the department began testing in June a total of 29 student-athletes had tested positive for COVID-19 following PCR ( polymerase chain reaction ) testing of 190 student-athletes.

The football program began its summer access program on Monday, which includes eight hours of weight training, conditioning and film review per week. The men's basketball, women's basketball, soccer and volleyball are continuing voluntary workouts.

Kansas State Athletics has confirmed that only two student-athletes are currently being isolated for active COVID-19, as of Monday afternoon.&nbsp;Since the department began testing in June a total of 29 student-athletes had tested positive for COVID-19 following PCR ( polymerase chain reaction ) testing of 190 student-athletes.The football program began its summer access program on Monday, which includes eight hours of weight training, conditioning and film review per week. The men's basketball, women's basketball, soccer and volleyball are continuing voluntary workouts.

K-State athletics provides a COVID-19 update

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;One of the top returning defensive ends in the nation in 2020, Kansas State junior&nbsp;Wyatt Hubert&nbsp;has been named to the watch list for the 26th&nbsp;annual Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

Hubert is the first Kansas State Wildcat to land on the watch list for the Bednarik Award – presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year – since&nbsp;D.J. Reed&nbsp;in 2017. He is the eighth player in school history to be considered for the award, which includes 1996 finalist&nbsp;Chris Canty&nbsp;and 2012 semifinalist&nbsp;Arthur Brown.

A 2019 First Team All-Big 12 performer, Hubert enters his junior season ranked 12th&nbsp;nationally among active players in career sacks per game (0.50) and 13th&nbsp;in career tackles for loss per game (0.91). Hubert, who earned votes for both the league’s defensive player and defensive lineman of the year awards last year, has recorded 11.5 sacks over his first two seasons, tied for the second most ever by a Wildcat prior to his junior campaign.

Hubert, a native of Topeka, Kansas, started 12 games last season with 33 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He tied for second in the Big 12 in sacks and was 10th&nbsp;in TFLs. He tied his career high with 2.0 sacks against both Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, while he had a season-high for tackles and 1.5 TFLs in K-State’s win over No. 5 Oklahoma.

Assistant Athletics Director for Communications

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;One of the top returning defensive ends in the nation in 2020, Kansas State junior&nbsp;Wyatt Hubert&nbsp;has been named to the watch list for the 26th&nbsp;annual Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.Hubert is the first Kansas State Wildcat to land on the watch list for the Bednarik Award – presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year – since&nbsp;D.J. Reed&nbsp;in 2017. He is the eighth player in school history to be considered for the award, which includes 1996 finalist&nbsp;Chris Canty&nbsp;and 2012 semifinalist&nbsp;Arthur Brown.A 2019 First Team All-Big 12 performer, Hubert enters his junior season ranked 12th&nbsp;nationally among active players in career sacks per game (0.50) and 13th&nbsp;in career tackles for loss per game (0.91). Hubert, who earned votes for both the league’s defensive player and defensive lineman of the year awards last year, has recorded 11.5 sacks over his first two seasons, tied for the second most ever by a Wildcat prior to his junior campaign.Hubert, a native of Topeka, Kansas, started 12 games last season with 33 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He tied for second in the Big 12 in sacks and was 10th&nbsp;in TFLs. He tied his career high with 2.0 sacks against both Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, while he had a season-high for tackles and 1.5 TFLs in K-State’s win over No. 5 Oklahoma.RYAN LACKEYAssistant Athletics Director for Communications

Wyatt Hubert is named to the Bednarick Award watch list

Catfish anglers from multiple states will travel to Tuttle Creek Lake near Manhattan on Aug. 29 for a King Kat Tournament Trail qualifier event.&nbsp;&nbsp;Local and traveling anglers will be vying for cash, prizes, and an opportunity to compete at the 2020 King Kat Classic which will feature a guaranteed payout of $120,000 in cash and prizes.

Teams may consist of one to three anglers but limit are based on a two-person team.&nbsp;Early registration can be accomplished on the King Kat website at https://www.kingkatusa.com/Tournament_Registration.cfm. Teams may also enter by calling (502) 384-5924 or by entering at the mandatory pre-tournament seminar on the night before the tournament begins. Late entries are subject to a $25.00 late fee.

Participating anglers must be a member of the King Kat Association (KKA). Membership is $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for spouse and youth memberships.&nbsp;

Anglers will sign up at registration, be given a copy of guidelines for social distancing which will apply during the coronavirus pandemic, be given a copy of the rules, and their weigh-in voucher. At that point, they will leave the registration site.

At the weigh-in, social distancing will be maintained in the weigh-in line and only allow a few teams at a time to be in the line. Other anglers can wait in vehicles and boats. All staff will be wearing face masks and officials encourage all anglers and spectators to do the same.

A pre-tournament seminar will be held the day before the tournament at Four Points by Sheraton. 530 Richards Dr., Manhattan, KS 66502. Only one member of a team may enter at a time to complete registration and receive their voucher.

Late Sign-in begins at 5:00 pm and runs to 7:00 pm. The normal National Sponsor Field Test Product Drawing and seminar will not be held due to the coronavirus.

The tournament weigh-in will be held at Wildcat Marina, 8220 Spillway Marina Rd beginning at 3:00 pm and anglers must be in the weigh-in line by 4:00 pm. Social distancing rules will be followed.

Host lodging is Four Points by Sheraton, 530 Richards Dr. in Manhattan (785-539-5311). The number of rooms in the area may be limited. It is recommended that participants make their reservations early.

This year’s Cabela’s King Kat Classic Championship will be held October 30 – 31, 2020 on Milford Lake in Geary County. The Classic features a guaranteed payout of $120,000 in cash and prizes. The points race is set to payout $30,000 to the top 20 places based on competitor’s the top-five finishes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594481476112.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Catfish anglers from multiple states will travel to Tuttle Creek Lake near Manhattan on Aug. 29 for a King Kat Tournament Trail qualifier event.&nbsp;&nbsp;Local and traveling anglers will be vying for cash, prizes, and an opportunity to compete at the 2020 King Kat Classic which will feature a guaranteed payout of $120,000 in cash and prizes.Teams may consist of one to three anglers but limit are based on a two-person team.&nbsp;Early registration can be accomplished on the King Kat website at https://www.kingkatusa.com/Tournament_Registration.cfm. Teams may also enter by calling (502) 384-5924 or by entering at the mandatory pre-tournament seminar on the night before the tournament begins. Late entries are subject to a $25.00 late fee.Participating anglers must be a member of the King Kat Association (KKA). Membership is $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for spouse and youth memberships.&nbsp;Anglers will sign up at registration, be given a copy of guidelines for social distancing which will apply during the coronavirus pandemic, be given a copy of the rules, and their weigh-in voucher. At that point, they will leave the registration site.At the weigh-in, social distancing will be maintained in the weigh-in line and only allow a few teams at a time to be in the line. Other anglers can wait in vehicles and boats. All staff will be wearing face masks and officials encourage all anglers and spectators to do the same.A pre-tournament seminar will be held the day before the tournament at Four Points by Sheraton. 530 Richards Dr., Manhattan, KS 66502. Only one member of a team may enter at a time to complete registration and receive their voucher.Late Sign-in begins at 5:00 pm and runs to 7:00 pm. The normal National Sponsor Field Test Product Drawing and seminar will not be held due to the coronavirus.The tournament weigh-in will be held at Wildcat Marina, 8220 Spillway Marina Rd beginning at 3:00 pm and anglers must be in the weigh-in line by 4:00 pm. Social distancing rules will be followed.Host lodging is Four Points by Sheraton, 530 Richards Dr. in Manhattan (785-539-5311). The number of rooms in the area may be limited. It is recommended that participants make their reservations early.This year’s Cabela’s King Kat Classic Championship will be held October 30 – 31, 2020 on Milford Lake in Geary County. The Classic features a guaranteed payout of $120,000 in cash and prizes. The points race is set to payout $30,000 to the top 20 places based on competitor’s the top-five finishes.

King Kat Tournament Trail travels to Manhattan

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a>Beginning with a charity exhibition game in October, Kansas State will rekindle its men’s basketball rivalry against Wichita State with a four-game, regular-season series launching in the 2021-22 season, the schools announced on Friday (July 10).</a>

The teams, which last faced off in 2003, will first meet on Saturday, October 24 at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita in a charity exhibition game to benefit organizations providing services for COVID-19 relief. Head coaches&nbsp;Bruce Weber&nbsp;of K-State and&nbsp;Gregg Marshall&nbsp;of Wichita State designated charities to benefit from proceeds raised through ticket sales for the game, including Konza United Way, Crisis Center, Inc., United Way of the Plains and the Wichita Children’s Home. Ticket information for the charity exhibition game will be released at a later date. The charity game has been approved by the NCAA.

The four-game, regular-season agreement calls off-campus at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita on December 5, 2021, where WSU will be designated home team, and at the newly renamed T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on December 22, 2023, with K-State serving as the home team. The Wildcats will host the Shockers on December 3, 2022 at Bramlage Coliseum and the series will wrap up with a game at Charles Koch Arena on December 7, 2024.

“We are excited about renewing the series with Wichita State,” said Weber. “Coach Marshall has built a great program in Wichita and this will be yet another opportunity for our players to play against the best.

“I want to thank WSU athletics director&nbsp;Darron Boatright, Coach Marshall and his staff as well as (Executive Associate AD)&nbsp;Casey Scott&nbsp;and (Director of Operations)&nbsp;Drew Speraw&nbsp;for their hard work in getting this series completed. This is a win-win for the schools, their fan bases and our state.”

The regular-season matchup in December 2021 will be the first meeting between the schools since a 54-50 win by K-State on December 10, 2003 at Bramlage Coliseum. The game at the T-Mobile Center in 2023 will be the first in a city other than Manhattan and Wichita, while the visit to Koch Arena in 2024 will be the first on the WSU campus since a 79-66 win by the Wildcats at then Levitt Arena on December 7, 2002.

TOM GILBERT Director for Men’s Basketball Communications | K-State Athletics

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594393942521.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;<a>Beginning with a charity exhibition game in October, Kansas State will rekindle its men’s basketball rivalry against Wichita State with a four-game, regular-season series launching in the 2021-22 season, the schools announced on Friday (July 10).</a>The teams, which last faced off in 2003, will first meet on Saturday, October 24 at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita in a charity exhibition game to benefit organizations providing services for COVID-19 relief. Head coaches&nbsp;Bruce Weber&nbsp;of K-State and&nbsp;Gregg Marshall&nbsp;of Wichita State designated charities to benefit from proceeds raised through ticket sales for the game, including Konza United Way, Crisis Center, Inc., United Way of the Plains and the Wichita Children’s Home. Ticket information for the charity exhibition game will be released at a later date. The charity game has been approved by the NCAA.The four-game, regular-season agreement calls off-campus at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita on December 5, 2021, where WSU will be designated home team, and at the newly renamed T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on December 22, 2023, with K-State serving as the home team. The Wildcats will host the Shockers on December 3, 2022 at Bramlage Coliseum and the series will wrap up with a game at Charles Koch Arena on December 7, 2024.“We are excited about renewing the series with Wichita State,” said Weber. “Coach Marshall has built a great program in Wichita and this will be yet another opportunity for our players to play against the best.“I want to thank WSU athletics director&nbsp;Darron Boatright, Coach Marshall and his staff as well as (Executive Associate AD)&nbsp;Casey Scott&nbsp;and (Director of Operations)&nbsp;Drew Speraw&nbsp;for their hard work in getting this series completed. This is a win-win for the schools, their fan bases and our state.”The regular-season matchup in December 2021 will be the first meeting between the schools since a 54-50 win by K-State on December 10, 2003 at Bramlage Coliseum. The game at the T-Mobile Center in 2023 will be the first in a city other than Manhattan and Wichita, while the visit to Koch Arena in 2024 will be the first on the WSU campus since a 79-66 win by the Wildcats at then Levitt Arena on December 7, 2002.—www.kstatesports.com—TOM GILBERT Director for Men’s Basketball Communications | K-State Athletics

Charity exhibition and four game regular season series ahead for Kansas State - Wichita State 

BROOKLYN, N.Y.&nbsp;– Former Kansas State forward&nbsp;Michael Beasley&nbsp;has joined the Brooklyn Nets as a Substitute Player for the reminder of the 2019-20 NBA season, which is scheduled to resume later this month at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.

Beasley will playing for his eighth NBA franchise in a professional career that spans 11 seasons and includes stints with the Miami Heat (2008-10; 2013-15), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010-12), Phoenix Suns (2012-13), Houston Rockets (2015-16), Milwaukee Bucks (2016-17), New York Knicks (2017-18) and the L.A. Lakers (2018-19). He has played in 609 games in his NBA career, averaging 12.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting, including 34.9 percent from 3-point range, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.8 minutes per game.

Beasley will be returning to the NBA for the first time since February 2019, as he played in 26 games for the Lakers during the 2018-19 season. He most recently played professionally in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2019, averaging 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in helping the squad to the 2019 CBA Championship.

BROOKLYN, N.Y.&nbsp;– Former Kansas State forward&nbsp;Michael Beasley&nbsp;has joined the Brooklyn Nets as a Substitute Player for the reminder of the 2019-20 NBA season, which is scheduled to resume later this month at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.Beasley will playing for his eighth NBA franchise in a professional career that spans 11 seasons and includes stints with the Miami Heat (2008-10; 2013-15), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010-12), Phoenix Suns (2012-13), Houston Rockets (2015-16), Milwaukee Bucks (2016-17), New York Knicks (2017-18) and the L.A. Lakers (2018-19). He has played in 609 games in his NBA career, averaging 12.4 points on 46.5 percent shooting, including 34.9 percent from 3-point range, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.8 minutes per game.Beasley will be returning to the NBA for the first time since February 2019, as he played in 26 games for the Lakers during the 2018-19 season. He most recently played professionally in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2019, averaging 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in helping the squad to the 2019 CBA Championship.

Beasley returns to the NBA

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating five women in connection with a robbery and theft.

Just after 2:30 p.m.&nbsp; Tuesday, officers responded to a disturbance with weapons call at Academy Sports in the 2700 block of North Maize Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 42-year-old male employee who reported five entering the business and attempting to leave with over $2,000 in merchandise without paying.

The employee attempted to stop the individuals as they were leaving, and he was sprayed with pepper spray. The employee was not injured.

With the assistance of witnesses, officers located a suspect vehicle at 13th and Tyler, and a second suspect vehicle was located at 17th and Tyler. 

Police arrested 20-year-old Kamirah Abbot; 20-year-old Brynaysha Clark, 26-year-old Cierra Hutton; 18-year-old Lakia Clark and 18-year-old Timesha Collins all of Wichita on requested charges of aggravated robbery and theft.  Lakia Clark was also arrested on traffic charges and Abbot on an outstanding warrant, according to Davidson.

The stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to the store.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594832459236.png" alt="Brynaysha Clark " />
 <figcaption>Brynaysha Clark </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating five women in connection with a robbery and theft.Just after 2:30 p.m.&nbsp; Tuesday, officers responded to a disturbance with weapons call at Academy Sports in the 2700 block of North Maize Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594832394928.png" alt="Abbott" />
 <figcaption>Abbott</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594832486008.png" alt="Hutton" />
 <figcaption>Hutton</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, officers contacted a 42-year-old male employee who reported five entering the business and attempting to leave with over $2,000 in merchandise without paying.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594832524504.png" alt="Lakia Clark " />
 <figcaption>Lakia Clark </figcaption>
 </figure>The employee attempted to stop the individuals as they were leaving, and he was sprayed with pepper spray. The employee was not injured.With the assistance of witnesses, officers located a suspect vehicle at 13th and Tyler, and a second suspect vehicle was located at 17th and Tyler. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594832556997.png" alt="Timesha Collins" />
 <figcaption>Timesha Collins</figcaption>
 </figure>Police arrested 20-year-old Kamirah Abbot; 20-year-old Brynaysha Clark, 26-year-old Cierra Hutton; 18-year-old Lakia Clark and 18-year-old Timesha Collins all of Wichita on requested charges of aggravated robbery and theft. Lakia Clark was also arrested on traffic charges and Abbot on an outstanding warrant, according to Davidson.The stolen merchandise was recovered and returned to the store.

Police: Kan. women used pepper spray on employee during store robbery

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas says it will test for COVID-19 all students, faculty and staff who return to campus for the fall semester. 

&nbsp;Chancellor Douglas Girod said in a video message Wednesday that the university has made arrangements with the Clinical Reference Laboratory in nearby Lenexa to conduct the saliva testing. 

On-campus housing at the university will be setting aside rooms for quarantining if students do exhibit COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for the respiratory virus.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas says it will test for COVID-19 all students, faculty and staff who return to campus for the fall semester. &nbsp;Chancellor Douglas Girod said in a video message Wednesday that the university has made arrangements with the Clinical Reference Laboratory in nearby Lenexa to conduct the saliva testing. On-campus housing at the university will be setting aside rooms for quarantining if students do exhibit COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for the respiratory virus.

KU to test all students, staff for COVID-19

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been sentenced to life in prison for killing her estranged husband more than three years ago.

Barbara Frantz, 54, was sentenced Tuesday and will serve at least 25 years before she is eligible for parole.

Leavenworth County prosecutors said Frantz shot Gary Frantz five times on Jan. 27, 2017. Police found him gravely wounded in a parking lot in downtown Leavenworth. Before he died, he told officers his wife had shot him, police said, and investigators found shell casings in her apartment that matched ones found at the shooting scene.

Barbara Frantz had maintained that her son carried out the shooting, and her case was delayed when a judge ruled her mentally unfit to stand trial in 2017. She was later declared well enough to stand trial and was convicted by a jury in 2018.

Her sentencing was delayed after her defense attorneys filed a motion for a new trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594821100361.png" alt="Frantz photo Leavenworth County" />
 <figcaption>Frantz photo Leavenworth County</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman has been sentenced to life in prison for killing her estranged husband more than three years ago.Barbara Frantz, 54, was sentenced Tuesday and will serve at least 25 years before she is eligible for parole.Leavenworth County prosecutors said Frantz shot Gary Frantz five times on Jan. 27, 2017. Police found him gravely wounded in a parking lot in downtown Leavenworth. Before he died, he told officers his wife had shot him, police said, and investigators found shell casings in her apartment that matched ones found at the shooting scene.Barbara Frantz had maintained that her son carried out the shooting, and her case was delayed when a judge ruled her mentally unfit to stand trial in 2017. She was later declared well enough to stand trial and was convicted by a jury in 2018.Her sentencing was delayed after her defense attorneys filed a motion for a new trial.

Kansas woman sentenced to life for killing estranged husband

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas building contractor was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison and fined $25,000 for conspiring to deprive the city of Lawrence of sales tax revenues in connection with the development of a seven-story hotel adjacent to the University of Kansas campus. After completing his sentence, the defendant will serve three years on supervised release.

Thomas S. Fritzel, 54, Lawrence, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy. Fritzel, part owner and manager of Oread Inn LC, was a party to an agreement with the city to finance the more than $40 million hotel project, including $11 million worth of street repairs and a public parking garage.

Oread Inn LC was to pay all costs up front and to be repaid $11 million for public improvements. The money to repay Oread Inn LC was to come from an incremental increase in property tax, a sales tax and an additional 1 percent tax on sales within a portion of the redevelopment district.

In his plea, Fritzel admitted that he and others caused false monthly Kansas sales tax returns to be submitted to the state of Kansas. The reports classified certain sales as occurring within the redevelopment district when in fact they occurred outside the district. As a result, the city of Lawrence lost a portion of sales taxes it was due.

The city of Lawrence filed a civil lawsuit against Fritzel seeking the lost revenue and the parties settled that case in 2017.

TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas building contractor was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison and fined $25,000 for conspiring to deprive the city of Lawrence of sales tax revenues in connection with the development of a seven-story hotel adjacent to the University of Kansas campus. After completing his sentence, the defendant will serve three years on supervised release.Thomas S. Fritzel, 54, Lawrence, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy. Fritzel, part owner and manager of Oread Inn LC, was a party to an agreement with the city to finance the more than $40 million hotel project, including $11 million worth of street repairs and a public parking garage.Oread Inn LC was to pay all costs up front and to be repaid $11 million for public improvements. The money to repay Oread Inn LC was to come from an incremental increase in property tax, a sales tax and an additional 1 percent tax on sales within a portion of the redevelopment district.In his plea, Fritzel admitted that he and others caused false monthly Kansas sales tax returns to be submitted to the state of Kansas. The reports classified certain sales as occurring within the redevelopment district when in fact they occurred outside the district. As a result, the city of Lawrence lost a portion of sales taxes it was due.The city of Lawrence filed a civil lawsuit against Fritzel seeking the lost revenue and the parties settled that case in 2017.

Contractor going to prison for Kansas hotel tax conspiracy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas congressman is accused of providing false information to a sheriff’s deputy to hamper an investigation into whether he broke state election laws by listing a UPS Inc. store postal box as his residence on a state voter registration form.

Republican Rep. Steve Watkins&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9d6046fd12875b3664cf8388708105e8">has been charged</a>&nbsp;in state district court with two election fraud felonies, felony interference with law enforcement and a misdemeanor count of failing to inform the state’s Division of Vehicles of an address change. The charges were announced Tuesday evening by the district attorney in Shawnee County, which includes Watkins’ hometown of Topeka, the state capital.

But Kagay’s announcement did not provide any details about the charges, and he declined to discuss them. The Associated Press on Wednesday obtained a copy of the criminal complaint that Kagay’s office filed.

Watkins called the charges “hyper-political” and said he looks forward to clearing his name.

“I haven’t done anything wrong,” Watkins said Tuesday evening during the only televised debate for GOP candidates before the state’s Aug. 4 primary election. “We’ve cooperated with the district attorney completely.”

The charges against Watkins came three weeks before the state’s Aug. 4 primary election with fellow Republicans pushing to oust him from the eastern Kansas seat he won in 2018. In the primary, Watkins faces State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Dennis Taylor, a Topeka attorney, businessman and former top administrator at several state agencies.

The UPS postal box was listed as Watkins’ residential address for voter registration purposes when he cast a mail-in ballot for a local City Council and school board election in November 2019. He later changed his residential listing to an apartment about 2 miles north of the UPS store — in a different city council district with no race last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575500685589.png" alt="The UPS store store Rep. Watkins location Rep. Watkins listed as his residence on a state voter registration form." />
 <figcaption>The UPS store store Rep. Watkins location Rep. Watkins listed as his residence on a state voter registration form.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas congressman is accused of providing false information to a sheriff’s deputy to hamper an investigation into whether he broke state election laws by listing a UPS Inc. store postal box as his residence on a state voter registration form.Republican Rep. Steve Watkins&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9d6046fd12875b3664cf8388708105e8">has been charged</a>&nbsp;in state district court with two election fraud felonies, felony interference with law enforcement and a misdemeanor count of failing to inform the state’s Division of Vehicles of an address change. The charges were announced Tuesday evening by the district attorney in Shawnee County, which includes Watkins’ hometown of Topeka, the state capital.But Kagay’s announcement did not provide any details about the charges, and he declined to discuss them. The Associated Press on Wednesday obtained a copy of the criminal complaint that Kagay’s office filed.Watkins called the charges “hyper-political” and said he looks forward to clearing his name.“I haven’t done anything wrong,” Watkins said Tuesday evening during the only televised debate for GOP candidates before the state’s Aug. 4 primary election. “We’ve cooperated with the district attorney completely.”The charges against Watkins came three weeks before the state’s Aug. 4 primary election with fellow Republicans pushing to oust him from the eastern Kansas seat he won in 2018. In the primary, Watkins faces State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Dennis Taylor, a Topeka attorney, businessman and former top administrator at several state agencies.The UPS postal box was listed as Watkins’ residential address for voter registration purposes when he cast a mail-in ballot for a local City Council and school board election in November 2019. He later changed his residential listing to an apartment about 2 miles north of the UPS store — in a different city council district with no race last year.Watkins has said he simply made a mistake by listing his mailing address instead of his residential address on the voter registration form and then corrected it.Watkins faces a felony charge of voting without being qualified, and the complaint against him alleges that he voted in the race in the City Council district where the UPS store was located. Another felony charge, unlawful advance voting, alleges that Watkins falsely affirmed to a “material fact” in a form for a mail ballot.The misdemeanor charge alleges that Watkins failed to comply with a state law requiring people to report a change of address to the state Division of Vehicles within 10 days of making the change.___TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A freshman Kansas congressman who had listed a UPS Inc. postal box as his residence on a state voter registration form was charged Tuesday with three felonies, including illegal voting.The charges against GOP Rep. Steve Watkins came three weeks before the state’s Aug. 4 primary election with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/989ace6f0a2711cb2b96398da0a92dfa">fellow Republicans pushing to oust him</a>&nbsp;from the eastern Kansas seat he barely won in 2018, even though he’s largely toed the conservative policy line and supported President Donald Trump. GOP critics already had worried that the months-long investigation into whether Watkins violated state election laws puts the 2nd District seat in play if he wins the primary.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591476738251.png" alt="Rep. Steve Watkins" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Steve Watkins</figcaption>
 </figure>Watkins called the charges “hyper-political” even though the district attorney who filed them also is a Republican. The congressman said during a televised debate Tuesday evening that he hadn’t seen the charges but has done nothing wrong.“I’ll get my name exonerated,” he said during his closing statement.The charges were filed in state district court in Shawnee County, which includes Watkins’ hometown, the state capital of Topeka. District Attorney Mike Kagay announced them less than half an hour before the three GOP candidates’ only scheduled debate began on three stations.The UPS postal box was listed as Watkins’ residential address for voter registration purposes when he cast a mail-in ballot for a local city council and school board election in November 2019. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/07b5cc37067da9b23bd489a8e6eaddbe">later changed</a>&nbsp;his residential listing.The most serious criminal charge accuses Watkins of voting in the 2019 local city and school board election without being qualified. A first-time offender who’s convicted could face a year in prison, though the more typical sentence would be two years’ probation.Kagay also charged Watkins with voting illegally in advance and interfering with law enforcement by providing false information. Both felonies could bring up to seven months in prison, though a year’s probation is the presumed sentence.Watkins also was charged with failing to notify the state Division of Vehicles of a change of address, a misdemeanor.Kagay’s announcement did not provide details about the alleged crimes, and the district attorney said in an email that he could not discuss them “until they are presented in open court.” A hearing in the case was set for Dec. 3 — a month after the November general election.Watkins faces State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and Dennis Taylor, a Topeka attorney, businessman and former top administrator at several state agencies. LaTurner said the charges make the primary contest a two-person race between him and Taylor.“We need to put our best foot forward,” LaTurner said during his opening debate statement. “Clearly, our current congressman, with three felony charges and a misdemeanor charge, is not the person to do that.”Some Republicans had lingering misgivings about Watkins even before questions about his voter registrations. He is a former Army officer and military contractor who lived most of his adult life outside Kansas and hadn’t voted in its state or federal races until running for Congress.Watkins won the November 2018 general election by less than a percentage point in a GOP-leaning district that Trump carried by a wide margin in 2016.The presumed Democratic nominee this year is Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla. The national Democratic Party has said it sees&nbsp;<a href="https://dccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/01162020-Battlefield-Expansion.pdf" target="_blank">“an opportunity”</a>&nbsp;to pick up the seat.“If you want to be trusted to write our laws, you should at least follow them,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in a statement.Watkins filed a state voter registration form in late August 2019 listing a postal box at a UPS store in southwest Topeka as his residential address. The postal box still was listed as his residential address when he cast a mailed-in ballot that included a Topeka City Council race in November.The congressman and his staff have said he inadvertently listed his mailing address instead of his residential address by mistake.Watkins filed a new form in December listing an address at an apartment complex about 2 miles north of the UPS store as his residence, but it was the address for the complex’s office. That address was not in the same City Council district as the UPS store but in a district with no council race last year.In January, Watkins filed another form listing another address for an apartment in the same complex as his residence.The Shawnee County sheriff’s department began investigating Watkins’ voter registrations in December. In late May, Kagay said in an email that his office had reviewed the investigation and “requested follow up be conducted on a specific issue,” without being more specific.___

Local

Region

Sports