CHICAGO (AP) — A sharply worded ruling by a federal appeals court in Chicago on Thursday said the Trump administration policy of threatening to withhold grant money from so-called sanctuary cities to force them to comply with its more stringent immigration policies violates separation-of-powers provisions enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said a freeze of that policy should extend nationwide, rejecting arguments by U.S. Department of Justice lawyers that if an injunction were OKed in the case it should only apply to the city of Chicago.

Broad executive-branch powers on immigration matters don’t include withholding money allocated by the legislative branch to pressure cities and states to comply with an executive-branch policy, said Judge Ilana Rovner, who authored&nbsp;<a href="http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&amp;Path=Y2020/D04-30/C:18-2885:J:Rovner:aut:T:fnOp:N:2508993:S:0" target="_blank">the 95-page ruling</a>.

“Such a concentration of power,” she said, “would allow tyranny to flourish, and our system of government is wisely set up by the Founders to foreclose such a danger.”

She added: “The separation of powers is a foundation of our government, not a formality to be swept aside on the path to achieving goals that the executive branch deems worthy. … The (grant) conditions imposed here are an executive usurpation of the power of the purse.”

One of the three judges on the panel, Daniel Manion, concurred with the bulk of the ruling. But he said in a separate opinion that he disagreed with approval of a nationwide injunction, saying that “broad, sweeping relief of such nature is rarely appropriate.”

Congress established the main grant at issue, called a Byrne JAG grant, to help local law enforcement buy equipment, including body cameras and bulletproof vests. But Judge Rovner wrote that the Trump administration was wielding the grant “as a hammer to further a completely different policy of the executive branch — presenting a city such as Chicago with the stark choice of forfeiting the funds or undermining its own law enforcement effectiveness.”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot described being thrilled by the ruling in the litigation that stretches back to Donald Trump’s first year as president.

“When I got the news from our corporation counsel earlier this morning, I let out a cheer,” Lightfoot told reporters. She added: “This is a great victory, not only for Chicago, but for our immigrant and refugee communities everywhere in the country.”

Then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel initiated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d8ba6d877f3242ab9b3eae1459525fcf/Chicago-files-federal-lawsuit-over-sanctuary-cities-threat">the legal action in 2017</a>&nbsp;against the U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the grants, over the tying of grants to compliance with U.S. immigration law as the Trump administration wants it enforced.

Other cities who opted to similarly limit their cooperation with federal immigration agents also filed lawsuits against the department. Several cases are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f2a328bfa091de9f59b34deee463e2fc">still playing out</a>&nbsp;around the country.

Jeff Sessions was U.S. attorney general when Chicago sued in 2017, decrying what he called in the wake of the lawsuit what he called “open hostility” to enforcing immigration laws. His successor, William Barr, has defended the administration policy just as vigorously.

The suit focused on conditions on Chicago and other cities for grants, which included that they share immigration-status records with U.S. agencies and provide federal agents unfettered access to jails that might hold immigrants without proper documentation.

A Justice Department spokesman declined comment Thursday. The department would have the option of appealing the 7th Circuit decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lightfoot said the city “will be right there with them” if the department goes to the nation’s highest court.

Chicago’s sanctuary policies date back to the mid-1980s and successive city councils have confirmed or expanded the protections.

The city has prohibited police from providing federal immigration and customs officials access to people in police custody, unless they are wanted on a criminal warrant or have serious criminal convictions. Local police are also barred from allowing the federal agents use their facilities for interviews or investigations and from responding to agency inquiries about a person’s custody status or release date.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588347675953.png" alt="Sanctuary cities map courtesy <a href="https://cis.org/">Center for Immigration Studies</a>" />
 <figcaption>Sanctuary cities map courtesy <a href="https://cis.org/">Center for Immigration Studies</a></figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — A sharply worded ruling by a federal appeals court in Chicago on Thursday said the Trump administration policy of threatening to withhold grant money from so-called sanctuary cities to force them to comply with its more stringent immigration policies violates separation-of-powers provisions enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said a freeze of that policy should extend nationwide, rejecting arguments by U.S. Department of Justice lawyers that if an injunction were OKed in the case it should only apply to the city of Chicago.Broad executive-branch powers on immigration matters don’t include withholding money allocated by the legislative branch to pressure cities and states to comply with an executive-branch policy, said Judge Ilana Rovner, who authored&nbsp;<a href="http://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/rssExec.pl?Submit=Display&amp;Path=Y2020/D04-30/C:18-2885:J:Rovner:aut:T:fnOp:N:2508993:S:0" target="_blank">the 95-page ruling</a>.“Such a concentration of power,” she said, “would allow tyranny to flourish, and our system of government is wisely set up by the Founders to foreclose such a danger.”She added: “The separation of powers is a foundation of our government, not a formality to be swept aside on the path to achieving goals that the executive branch deems worthy. … The (grant) conditions imposed here are an executive usurpation of the power of the purse.”One of the three judges on the panel, Daniel Manion, concurred with the bulk of the ruling. But he said in a separate opinion that he disagreed with approval of a nationwide injunction, saying that “broad, sweeping relief of such nature is rarely appropriate.”Congress established the main grant at issue, called a Byrne JAG grant, to help local law enforcement buy equipment, including body cameras and bulletproof vests. But Judge Rovner wrote that the Trump administration was wielding the grant “as a hammer to further a completely different policy of the executive branch — presenting a city such as Chicago with the stark choice of forfeiting the funds or undermining its own law enforcement effectiveness.”Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot described being thrilled by the ruling in the litigation that stretches back to Donald Trump’s first year as president.“When I got the news from our corporation counsel earlier this morning, I let out a cheer,” Lightfoot told reporters. She added: “This is a great victory, not only for Chicago, but for our immigrant and refugee communities everywhere in the country.”Then-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel initiated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d8ba6d877f3242ab9b3eae1459525fcf/Chicago-files-federal-lawsuit-over-sanctuary-cities-threat">the legal action in 2017</a>&nbsp;against the U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees the grants, over the tying of grants to compliance with U.S. immigration law as the Trump administration wants it enforced.Other cities who opted to similarly limit their cooperation with federal immigration agents also filed lawsuits against the department. Several cases are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f2a328bfa091de9f59b34deee463e2fc">still playing out</a>&nbsp;around the country.Jeff Sessions was U.S. attorney general when Chicago sued in 2017, decrying what he called in the wake of the lawsuit what he called “open hostility” to enforcing immigration laws. His successor, William Barr, has defended the administration policy just as vigorously.The suit focused on conditions on Chicago and other cities for grants, which included that they share immigration-status records with U.S. agencies and provide federal agents unfettered access to jails that might hold immigrants without proper documentation.A Justice Department spokesman declined comment Thursday. The department would have the option of appealing the 7th Circuit decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lightfoot said the city “will be right there with them” if the department goes to the nation’s highest court.Chicago’s sanctuary policies date back to the mid-1980s and successive city councils have confirmed or expanded the protections.The city has prohibited police from providing federal immigration and customs officials access to people in police custody, unless they are wanted on a criminal warrant or have serious criminal convictions. Local police are also barred from allowing the federal agents use their facilities for interviews or investigations and from responding to agency inquiries about a person’s custody status or release date.__

Court nixes policy of tying federal grants to immigration enforcement

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the April 23 shooting death of a 37-year-old Kansas man have arrested a third suspect.

On April 24, police released information to the community to help locate 28-year-old Jesse Sweeney, Bobbie Williams-Cox, and William Moore regarding the investigation.&nbsp; 

Just after 4 p.m. on Thursday, an alert citizen called 911 reporting seeing Sweeney at an apartment complex in the 200 block of North Topeka in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers attempted to contact Sweeney at an apartment, and he fled out a window onto the fire escape and onto a separate floor of the apartments.

Police covered off the area, located Sweeney, and arrested him without further incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He is being held on requested charges that include aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon, contempt of court and failure to appear. He is being held on bonds totaling $258,500, according to online jail records.

On Tuesday, Bobbie Williams, 36, was&nbsp; charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend Blake Mayes, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorey.

She and William Moore, 51, were also charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault when they&nbsp;&nbsp;made first appearances in court.

Police investigators say the shooting happened after a disturbance occurred between Mayes, Williams and Sweeney.&nbsp;

Police arrested Moore in Wichita and Williams in the Topeka area last weekend.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Sweeney has previously been arrested and convicted of charges of possession of narcotic drugs, according to Davidson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588334948493.png" alt="Sweeney " />
 <figcaption>Sweeney </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating the April 23 shooting death of a 37-year-old Kansas man have arrested a third suspect.On April 24, police released information to the community to help locate 28-year-old Jesse Sweeney, Bobbie Williams-Cox, and William Moore regarding the investigation.&nbsp; Just after 4 p.m. on Thursday, an alert citizen called 911 reporting seeing Sweeney at an apartment complex in the 200 block of North Topeka in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers attempted to contact Sweeney at an apartment, and he fled out a window onto the fire escape and onto a separate floor of the apartments.Police covered off the area, located Sweeney, and arrested him without further incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is being held on requested charges that include aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon, contempt of court and failure to appear. He is being held on bonds totaling $258,500, according to online jail records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587900733026.png" alt="Williams remains jailed on a $150,ooo bond- photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Williams remains jailed on a $150,ooo bond- photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>On Tuesday, Bobbie Williams, 36, was&nbsp; charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her boyfriend Blake Mayes, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorey.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587856746805.png" alt="Moore photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Moore photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>She and William Moore, 51, were also charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault when they&nbsp;&nbsp;made first appearances in court.Police investigators say the shooting happened after a disturbance occurred between Mayes, Williams and Sweeney.&nbsp;Police arrested Moore in Wichita and Williams in the Topeka area last weekend.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sweeney has previously been arrested and convicted of charges of possession of narcotic drugs, according to Davidson.

Police arrest 3rd suspect in murder of Kan. woman's boyfriend

O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The world’s largest pork producer told a judge in Missouri on Thursday that it was working as quickly as it can to comply with federal guidelines that seek to slow the spread of the coronavirus but that it needs some flexibility in an industry where people typically work side by side.

The comments from a lawyer for Smithfield Foods came as a judge weighed whether to issue a mandatory injunction requiring a rural Missouri meat plant to abide by federal guidelines. The lawsuit, filed by a worker identified only as Jane Doe, accuses the Virginia-based company of not doing enough to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/26bf8fc20f2873d9701fd2ea95f87be4">protect workers.</a>

The worker’s attorney, David Muraskin, told the judge that the pork processing plant in Milan, Missouri, is not requiring workers to stand 6 feet apart, is using “small, flimsy” plexiglass to separate workers in break rooms, and is not performing adequate testing for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The hearing came as the state health department revealed that 92 asymptomatic workers at another pork plant had tested positive for the virus. The health department this week tested more than 2,200 workers at Triumph Foods in St. Joseph, where 34 employees with symptoms had previously tested positive. The agency so far has results for 707 workers, with results for 1,500 others still pending. The plant remains open.

“Having this important information will now allow those individuals, who have not been showing symptoms, to self-isolate,” the company said in a statement. “This is good for our workforce, their families and our community.”

Also Thursday, Tyson Foods announced that it was closing a massive beef processing plant in Nebraska from Friday to Monday for deep cleaning after hundreds of people in surrounding communities tested positive for the virus.

President Donald Trump issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fb38a5a53ac1a92039bc0a4b545b19d7">an executive order</a>&nbsp;this week requiring meatpacking plants to stay open amid the coronavirus crisis after more than 20 plants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cb9fd324e9e3276dd56075a78223b7bb">suspended operations</a>&nbsp;under pressure from local authorities and their own workers. The order was widely seen as giving processors protection from liability for workers who become sick on the job, and it came soon after the Missouri lawsuit against Smithfield Foods.

U.S. District Judge Greg Kays offered no timetable Thursday on when he would issue a ruling in the Missouri case. Kays earlier issued a preliminary order telling Smithfield to follow guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Milan is in a remote area of northern Missouri. While hundreds of meat plant workers across the country have tested positive for the coronavirus, Sullivan County, where Milan is located, has no confirmed cases, according to the state health department. But Muraskin said the “risk of harm” merits the injunction.

During the court hearing, Muraskin also cited concerns that Smithfield is paying sick leave only to workers who have tested positive for the virus and are quarantined, while CDC guidance calls for workers with symptoms to stay home.

“They believe they can pick and choose which CDC guidelines to follow,” Muraskin said.

Smithfield attorney Alexandra Cunningham told the judge that the company is doing everything it can to protect workers, consistent with OSHA and CDC guidelines. But she said addressing issues like social distancing “requires a level of judgment” that has some flexibility.

“We are doing what we can as fast as we can,” Cunningham said.

Tyson Foods’ decision to suspend operations at its Dakota City, Nebraska, beef plant followed a surge of coronavirus cases in the area, including in nearby Sioux City, Iowa. Tyson previously disclosed that some of the plant’s 4,300 workers had tested positive for the virus, but it has not said how many. The Arkansas-based company said it was screening Dakota City employees for the virus this week with the help of the Nebraska National Guard.

In Kansas, four counties with packing plants — Seward, Ford, Finney and Lyon — are in the top five of the state’s 105 counties in terms of number of confirmed coronavirus cases per capita. But U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall said that after a recent visit to some plants, he believes they are safe. He said he found that workers had adequate protective equipment, were using it properly and were keeping their distance from each other.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587045646390.png" alt="Image courtesy Smithfield" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Smithfield</figcaption>
 </figure>O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The world’s largest pork producer told a judge in Missouri on Thursday that it was working as quickly as it can to comply with federal guidelines that seek to slow the spread of the coronavirus but that it needs some flexibility in an industry where people typically work side by side.The comments from a lawyer for Smithfield Foods came as a judge weighed whether to issue a mandatory injunction requiring a rural Missouri meat plant to abide by federal guidelines. The lawsuit, filed by a worker identified only as Jane Doe, accuses the Virginia-based company of not doing enough to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/26bf8fc20f2873d9701fd2ea95f87be4">protect workers.</a>The worker’s attorney, David Muraskin, told the judge that the pork processing plant in Milan, Missouri, is not requiring workers to stand 6 feet apart, is using “small, flimsy” plexiglass to separate workers in break rooms, and is not performing adequate testing for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.The hearing came as the state health department revealed that 92 asymptomatic workers at another pork plant had tested positive for the virus. The health department this week tested more than 2,200 workers at Triumph Foods in St. Joseph, where 34 employees with symptoms had previously tested positive. The agency so far has results for 707 workers, with results for 1,500 others still pending. The plant remains open.“Having this important information will now allow those individuals, who have not been showing symptoms, to self-isolate,” the company said in a statement. “This is good for our workforce, their families and our community.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588259947500.png" alt="Entrance to the Tyson Plant in Dakota City, NE -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Entrance to the Tyson Plant in Dakota City, NE -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>Also Thursday, Tyson Foods announced that it was closing a massive beef processing plant in Nebraska from Friday to Monday for deep cleaning after hundreds of people in surrounding communities tested positive for the virus.President Donald Trump issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fb38a5a53ac1a92039bc0a4b545b19d7">an executive order</a>&nbsp;this week requiring meatpacking plants to stay open amid the coronavirus crisis after more than 20 plants&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cb9fd324e9e3276dd56075a78223b7bb">suspended operations</a>&nbsp;under pressure from local authorities and their own workers. The order was widely seen as giving processors protection from liability for workers who become sick on the job, and it came soon after the Missouri lawsuit against Smithfield Foods.U.S. District Judge Greg Kays offered no timetable Thursday on when he would issue a ruling in the Missouri case. Kays earlier issued a preliminary order telling Smithfield to follow guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Milan is in a remote area of northern Missouri. While hundreds of meat plant workers across the country have tested positive for the coronavirus, Sullivan County, where Milan is located, has no confirmed cases, according to the state health department. But Muraskin said the “risk of harm” merits the injunction.During the court hearing, Muraskin also cited concerns that Smithfield is paying sick leave only to workers who have tested positive for the virus and are quarantined, while CDC guidance calls for workers with symptoms to stay home.“They believe they can pick and choose which CDC guidelines to follow,” Muraskin said.Smithfield attorney Alexandra Cunningham told the judge that the company is doing everything it can to protect workers, consistent with OSHA and CDC guidelines. But she said addressing issues like social distancing “requires a level of judgment” that has some flexibility.“We are doing what we can as fast as we can,” Cunningham said.Tyson Foods’ decision to suspend operations at its Dakota City, Nebraska, beef plant followed a surge of coronavirus cases in the area, including in nearby Sioux City, Iowa. Tyson previously disclosed that some of the plant’s 4,300 workers had tested positive for the virus, but it has not said how many. The Arkansas-based company said it was screening Dakota City employees for the virus this week with the help of the Nebraska National Guard.In Kansas, four counties with packing plants — Seward, Ford, Finney and Lyon — are in the top five of the state’s 105 counties in terms of number of confirmed coronavirus cases per capita. But U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall said that after a recent visit to some plants, he believes they are safe. He said he found that workers had adequate protective equipment, were using it properly and were keeping their distance from each other.___

Pork producer says it needs flexibility on virus guidelines

TOPEKA–Law enforcement authorities  investigating a fatal shooting that resulted in the death of two Kansas men is being investigated as a possible self-defense homicide.

The investigation into the death of&nbsp;36-year-old Zennie L. Vasser Jr., whose body was found Wednesday in the 1300 block of SE Locust Street in Topeka, and the shooting death of 37-year-old Mark A Edwards, that occurred late Tuesday in the 1400 block of SE 14th Street in Topeka are connected and stemmed from the same incident, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.

The preliminary investigation indicates Vasser Jr. fired a weapon, striking Edwards. A witness to that incident is believed to have fired a weapon in self-defense striking Vasser Jr. 

This is believed to be an isolated incident and police are not looking for additional suspects. This marks the 7th homicide in the City of Topeka in 2020.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a fatal shooting were alerted to a second death near the original crime scene.

Just before 11:30p.m. Tuesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center began receiving reports of guns shots in the area of the 1400 Block SE 14th in Topeka, according to&nbsp;Police Lieutenant Jerry Monasmith.&nbsp; 

At the scene, officers located 37-year-old Mark Edwards suffering from life-threatening injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call from a citizen who stated that they located a deceased person in the 1300 block of SE Locust Street in Topeka, in the area of the crime scene of Tuesday's homicide investigation, according to police spokesperson&nbsp;Gretchen Koenen.

Officers and medical personnel arrived on scene and&nbsp;identified the victim as 36-year-old Zennie L. Vasser Jr. 

He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; The Shawnee County Coroner’s Office is conducting their investigation to determine the cause of death. Topeka Police are investigating whether or not these deaths are connected. 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 37-year-old Mark Edwards of Topeka, according to Police Lieutenant Jerry Monasmith.

Just before 11:30p.m. Tuesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center began&nbsp;receiving reports of guns shots in the area of the 1400 Block SE 14th in Topeka, according to Monasmith. 

At the scene, officers&nbsp;located Edwards suffering from life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police released no additional information early Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588242119337.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation Wednesday photo by Phil Anderson <a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/One-shot-Tuesday-night-in-east-Topeka-570034481.html">courtesy WIBW TV</a>" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation Wednesday photo by Phil Anderson <a href="https://www.wibw.com/content/news/One-shot-Tuesday-night-in-east-Topeka-570034481.html">courtesy WIBW TV</a></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA–Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting that resulted in the death of two Kansas men is being investigated as a possible self-defense homicide.The investigation into the death of&nbsp;36-year-old Zennie L. Vasser Jr., whose body was found Wednesday in the 1300 block of SE Locust Street in Topeka, and the shooting death of 37-year-old Mark A Edwards, that occurred late Tuesday in the 1400 block of SE 14th Street in Topeka are connected and stemmed from the same incident, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Koenen.The preliminary investigation indicates Vasser Jr. fired a weapon, striking Edwards. A witness to that incident is believed to have fired a weapon in self-defense striking Vasser Jr. This is believed to be an isolated incident and police are not looking for additional suspects. This marks the 7th homicide in the City of Topeka in 2020.--------SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a fatal shooting were alerted to a second death near the original crime scene.Just before 11:30p.m. Tuesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center began receiving reports of guns shots in the area of the 1400 Block SE 14th in Topeka, according to&nbsp;Police Lieutenant Jerry Monasmith.&nbsp; At the scene, officers located 37-year-old Mark Edwards suffering from life-threatening injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.Just after 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call from a citizen who stated that they located a deceased person in the 1300 block of SE Locust Street in Topeka, in the area of the crime scene of Tuesday's homicide investigation, according to police spokesperson&nbsp;Gretchen Koenen.Officers and medical personnel arrived on scene and&nbsp;identified the victim as 36-year-old Zennie L. Vasser Jr. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; The Shawnee County Coroner’s Office is conducting their investigation to determine the cause of death. Topeka Police are investigating whether or not these deaths are connected. -------------SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the victim as 37-year-old Mark Edwards of Topeka, according to Police Lieutenant Jerry Monasmith.Just before 11:30p.m. Tuesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center began&nbsp;receiving reports of guns shots in the area of the 1400 Block SE 14th in Topeka, according to Monasmith. At the scene, officers&nbsp;located Edwards suffering from life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.Police released no additional information early Wednesday.

Police: 2 Kansas men dead in self-defense homicide

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">announced Thursday </a>that she will allow many Kansas businesses to reopen next week if they can maintain social distancing and said she hopes to lift all coronavirus-inspired state limits on mass gatherings and other restrictions by June 15.

Kelly said in a televised speech that she is lifting a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;Monday and moving to gradually reopen the state’s battered economy. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18. Also, local officials will be allowed to impose their own, stricter rules.

<a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">Click here </a>for additional details on the plan.

The governor outlined <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">her plan</a> as Kansas saw its largest spike in confirmed coronavirus cases since its first in early March. Cases jumped by 500 or 13.4% in a single day, to 4,238, largely because of spikes in counties with meat-packing plants and at a state prison. COVID-19-related deaths reached 129, up four.

Meanwhile, the Kansas Department of Corrections said it had begun testing all of the more than 1,730 inmates at the Lansing Correctional Facility, outside the Kansas City area. The number of COVID-19 infections among inmates there who were swabbed after showing symptoms or being housed alongside sick inmates grew to 88.

Kelly called her plan an effort to balance “non-negotiable public health considerations with jaw-dropping, unsustainable economic realities.”

“Kansas will approach this process slowly, gradually and cautiously,” she said in her speech.

The Democratic governor has been under pressure from the Republican-controlled Legislature to lift restrictions in the wake of a surge of claims for unemployment benefits and expectations of a sharp drop in state revenues.

The state Department of Labor reported that 27,663 more Kansas workers filed initial unemployment claims last week, up dramatically from 1,323 during the same week a year ago but down from the 31,849 new claims from two weeks ago.

Top Republican legislators criticized Kelly for treating businesses differently. Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, told reporters during an online Zoom video conference that owners of all kinds of businesses believe they can operate safely with social distancing and other steps, such as deep cleaning.

“We’ve got more bankruptcies coming down the pike every week,” said Wagle, a U.S. Senate candidate and frequent Kelly critic who outlined her own, less restrictive plan earlier this week. “The economy is hitting the cliff. Money’s not coming in. People are having a hard time paying their bills.”

Kelly’s plan envisions four phases to reopening the economy, each lasting 14 days — or more, if public health data calls for lengthening them. Her plan assumes that legislative leaders extend a state of emergency set to expire May 15, for another month. She issued&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EO-20-29-Implementing-Phase-One-of-Ad-Astra-Plan.pdf" target="_blank">an executive order&nbsp;</a>Thursday to put the first phase into effect.

“All of the steps carry benefits and unavoidable risk,” Kelly said.

In Johnson County, the state’s most populous country, and neighboring Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area, officials issued stay at home orders through May 10. The area was the state’s first coronavirus hot spot, and the two counties together account for 95 or nearly 74% of the state’s COVID-19-related deaths.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms clearing up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

The actual number of cases is thought to be far higher than the number confirmed because of limited testing. Also, studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.

Under Kelly’s plan, bars and nightclubs can continue to offer curbside drink service but won’t be allowed to open to patrons until at least May 18, and then at half capacity.

Restaurants don’t face capacity limits but must observe limits on mass gatherings in entrances and lobbies. If tables reach the mass-gathering limits, they must be 6 feet from other tables. If restaurants want to seat people in back-to-back booths, they must erect barriers between them.

Her plan calls for limiting mass gatherings to 10 until May 18, to 30 until June 1 and 90 until June 15. Businesses also are getting industry-specific guidance on&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.ks.gov/" target="_blank">a state website,</a>&nbsp;and people are strongly encouraged to wear masks in public.

Churches won’t have to follow the mass-gathering rules if they practice social distancing, deep clean their facilities and follow other guidance, such as not passing collection plates. Kelly had ordered them to limit the number of congregation members for in-person services to 10, but two churches and their pastors sued her.

“I don’t know if life will ever truly ever go back to ’normal,” Kelly said.

The governor also is feeling pressure from prison inmates’ families to release some prisoners early. She has said she will announce a plan for that but has suggested it won’t affect large numbers.

At the Lansing prison, 75% of 240 inmates from one unit with open dormitory living were found to be positive and not showing symptoms of the disease, though the Department of Corrections said the exact number wasn’t available yet. Seventy-nine staff members — or 19% of its workforce — also have been infected. A facility-wide quarantine will be in place for a minimum of 14 days.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly has announced that she will allow many Kansas businesses to reopen next week if they can maintain social distancing.

She also said Thursday that she hopes to lift all state limits on mass gatherings and other restrictions by June 15. Kelly is lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Monday. 

But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18 and local officials will be allowed to impose stricter rules. Meanwhile, the state began testing all inmates at its prison in Lansing because of a growing coronavirus outbreak.

In a media release from the Governor's office Kelly said, “I am incredibly proud of how the people of Kansas met the moment and answered the call to hunker down. It has been a difficult time that has taken a painful toll … financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually and professionally on Kansans. But because Kansans took this seriously, COVID-19 has inflicted far less devastation on Kansas than it did in other states.”

The framework is structured to return more flexibility to local community response efforts, while still operating under a statewide, regulatory baseline. It allows local governments to impose additional restrictions beyond those outlined at the state level, if they deem it necessary to local COVID-19 response efforts. Local governments that choose not to impose additional restrictions are required to operate within the regulatory baseline established by the state. This approach will increase flexibility for local communities while also ensuring a gradual, safe transition statewide.

"My Ad Astra plan was developed in collaboration with my state health department, state emergency management team, business leaders and a diverse team of community leaders,” Kelly said. “It aims to balance the needs and concerns identified throughout diverse regions of the state, and sectors of the Kansas economy, but without compromising public health and safety. Data must drive this process … not dates.”

The Governor will evaluate the state’s disease spread, testing rates, death rates, hospitalizations, ability of state and local public health authorities to contain outbreaks and conduct contact tracing, and personal protective equipment availability when determining if the state should move to the next “Phase.” Regardless of phase, the State Health Officer retains the authority to impose additional public health interventions in any area that contains an emergent and significant public health risk.

Throughout all these phases, Kansans should continue to adhere to hygiene and social distancing protocols, including:

These are basic public health guidelines that will slow the spread of this disease, regardless of which phase is in effect, and are essential to minimizing community transmission of COVID-19 in the absence of a vaccine.

“Even if Kansans do everything perfectly for the next couple of months, new outbreaks are almost inevitable until a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, manufactured and made widely available. It is essential that we make this transition slowly, gradually and cautiously,” the Governor said.

Kelly’s “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas,” is available in full at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcovid.ks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6afd59ef2fd74370e6c108d7ed67a1e8%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637238901653312866&amp;sdata=P0%2BkIRPtJ9rDIoaoFNJpIMsvSi0oiwitqkgGkrwI5TA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">covid.ks.gov</a>, in addition to industry-specific guidance for Kansas businesses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588289593495.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced her <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">Ad Astra: Plan to Reopen</a> the State during a Thursday evening statewide broadcast" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced her <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">Ad Astra: Plan to Reopen</a> the State during a Thursday evening statewide broadcast</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">announced Thursday </a>that she will allow many Kansas businesses to reopen next week if they can maintain social distancing and said she hopes to lift all coronavirus-inspired state limits on mass gatherings and other restrictions by June 15.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F367751797500343%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>Kelly said in a televised speech that she is lifting a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;Monday and moving to gradually reopen the state’s battered economy. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18. Also, local officials will be allowed to impose their own, stricter rules.<a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">Click here </a>for additional details on the plan.The governor outlined <a href="https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/">her plan</a> as Kansas saw its largest spike in confirmed coronavirus cases since its first in early March. Cases jumped by 500 or 13.4% in a single day, to 4,238, largely because of spikes in counties with meat-packing plants and at a state prison. COVID-19-related deaths reached 129, up four.Meanwhile, the Kansas Department of Corrections said it had begun testing all of the more than 1,730 inmates at the Lansing Correctional Facility, outside the Kansas City area. The number of COVID-19 infections among inmates there who were swabbed after showing symptoms or being housed alongside sick inmates grew to 88.Kelly called her plan an effort to balance “non-negotiable public health considerations with jaw-dropping, unsustainable economic realities.”“Kansas will approach this process slowly, gradually and cautiously,” she said in her speech.The Democratic governor has been under pressure from the Republican-controlled Legislature to lift restrictions in the wake of a surge of claims for unemployment benefits and expectations of a sharp drop in state revenues.The state Department of Labor reported that 27,663 more Kansas workers filed initial unemployment claims last week, up dramatically from 1,323 during the same week a year ago but down from the 31,849 new claims from two weeks ago.Top Republican legislators criticized Kelly for treating businesses differently. Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican, told reporters during an online Zoom video conference that owners of all kinds of businesses believe they can operate safely with social distancing and other steps, such as deep cleaning.“We’ve got more bankruptcies coming down the pike every week,” said Wagle, a U.S. Senate candidate and frequent Kelly critic who outlined her own, less restrictive plan earlier this week. “The economy is hitting the cliff. Money’s not coming in. People are having a hard time paying their bills.”Kelly’s plan envisions four phases to reopening the economy, each lasting 14 days — or more, if public health data calls for lengthening them. Her plan assumes that legislative leaders extend a state of emergency set to expire May 15, for another month. She issued&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/EO-20-29-Implementing-Phase-One-of-Ad-Astra-Plan.pdf" target="_blank">an executive order&nbsp;</a>Thursday to put the first phase into effect.“All of the steps carry benefits and unavoidable risk,” Kelly said.In Johnson County, the state’s most populous country, and neighboring Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area, officials issued stay at home orders through May 10. The area was the state’s first coronavirus hot spot, and the two counties together account for 95 or nearly 74% of the state’s COVID-19-related deaths.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms clearing up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.The actual number of cases is thought to be far higher than the number confirmed because of limited testing. Also, studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.Under Kelly’s plan, bars and nightclubs can continue to offer curbside drink service but won’t be allowed to open to patrons until at least May 18, and then at half capacity.Restaurants don’t face capacity limits but must observe limits on mass gatherings in entrances and lobbies. If tables reach the mass-gathering limits, they must be 6 feet from other tables. If restaurants want to seat people in back-to-back booths, they must erect barriers between them.Her plan calls for limiting mass gatherings to 10 until May 18, to 30 until June 1 and 90 until June 15. Businesses also are getting industry-specific guidance on&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.ks.gov/" target="_blank">a state website,</a>&nbsp;and people are strongly encouraged to wear masks in public.Churches won’t have to follow the mass-gathering rules if they practice social distancing, deep clean their facilities and follow other guidance, such as not passing collection plates. Kelly had ordered them to limit the number of congregation members for in-person services to 10, but two churches and their pastors sued her.“I don’t know if life will ever truly ever go back to ’normal,” Kelly said.The governor also is feeling pressure from prison inmates’ families to release some prisoners early. She has said she will announce a plan for that but has suggested it won’t affect large numbers.At the Lansing prison, 75% of 240 inmates from one unit with open dormitory living were found to be positive and not showing symptoms of the disease, though the Department of Corrections said the exact number wasn’t available yet. Seventy-nine staff members — or 19% of its workforce — also have been infected. A facility-wide quarantine will be in place for a minimum of 14 days.-----TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly has announced that she will allow many Kansas businesses to reopen next week if they can maintain social distancing.She also said Thursday that she hopes to lift all state limits on mass gatherings and other restrictions by June 15. Kelly is lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Monday. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18 and local officials will be allowed to impose stricter rules. Meanwhile, the state began testing all inmates at its prison in Lansing because of a growing coronavirus outbreak.In a media release from the Governor's office Kelly said, “I am incredibly proud of how the people of Kansas met the moment and answered the call to hunker down. It has been a difficult time that has taken a painful toll … financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually and professionally on Kansans. But because Kansans took this seriously, COVID-19 has inflicted far less devastation on Kansas than it did in other states.”The framework is structured to return more flexibility to local community response efforts, while still operating under a statewide, regulatory baseline. It allows local governments to impose additional restrictions beyond those outlined at the state level, if they deem it necessary to local COVID-19 response efforts. Local governments that choose not to impose additional restrictions are required to operate within the regulatory baseline established by the state. This approach will increase flexibility for local communities while also ensuring a gradual, safe transition statewide."My Ad Astra plan was developed in collaboration with my state health department, state emergency management team, business leaders and a diverse team of community leaders,” Kelly said. “It aims to balance the needs and concerns identified throughout diverse regions of the state, and sectors of the Kansas economy, but without compromising public health and safety. Data must drive this process … not dates.”The Governor will evaluate the state’s disease spread, testing rates, death rates, hospitalizations, ability of state and local public health authorities to contain outbreaks and conduct contact tracing, and personal protective equipment availability when determining if the state should move to the next “Phase.” Regardless of phase, the State Health Officer retains the authority to impose additional public health interventions in any area that contains an emergent and significant public health risk.Throughout all these phases, Kansans should continue to adhere to hygiene and social distancing protocols, including:<ol>
 <li>Washing hands frequently, while avoiding contact with one’s face;</li><li>Remaining home when sick or running a fever;</li><li>Following isolation and quarantine orders issued by state or local health officers;</li><li>Wearing a cloth face mask when in public;</li><li>Working remotely, if possible.</li>
 </ol>These are basic public health guidelines that will slow the spread of this disease, regardless of which phase is in effect, and are essential to minimizing community transmission of COVID-19 in the absence of a vaccine.“Even if Kansans do everything perfectly for the next couple of months, new outbreaks are almost inevitable until a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, manufactured and made widely available. It is essential that we make this transition slowly, gradually and cautiously,” the Governor said.Kelly’s “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas,” is available in full at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcovid.ks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C6afd59ef2fd74370e6c108d7ed67a1e8%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637238901653312866&amp;sdata=P0%2BkIRPtJ9rDIoaoFNJpIMsvSi0oiwitqkgGkrwI5TA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">covid.ks.gov</a>, in addition to industry-specific guidance for Kansas businesses.

🎥 The Latest: Kan. to lift limits Monday on many businesses, not all

LABETTE COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr driven by Matayea R. Lomax, 20, Pittsburg, was westbound on U.S. 400&nbsp; six miles west of U.S. 59.

The car crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a 2016 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Smith, Melinda M. Smith, Neodesha, head-on.&nbsp;

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics.

EMS transported Lomax and passengers in the Chevy Wilfredo Mai, 31; Stetson Ringle, 4; Kimber Ringle, 7, and Cailen Ringle, 8, all of Neodesha, to&nbsp;Labette County Medical Center where Lomax died.

A passenger in the Lincoln Eliana Gonzales, 19, Pittsburg, was not injured. All seven were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

LABETTE COUNTY — Two people died in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Labette County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr driven by Matayea R. Lomax, 20, Pittsburg, was westbound on U.S. 400&nbsp; six miles west of U.S. 59.The car crossed into the eastbound lane and struck a 2016 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Smith, Melinda M. Smith, Neodesha, head-on.&nbsp;Smith was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics.EMS transported Lomax and passengers in the Chevy Wilfredo Mai, 31; Stetson Ringle, 4; Kimber Ringle, 7, and Cailen Ringle, 8, all of Neodesha, to&nbsp;Labette County Medical Center where Lomax died.A passenger in the Lincoln Eliana Gonzales, 19, Pittsburg, was not injured. All seven were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

2 Kan. women dead, 4 hospitalized after head-on crash

TOPEKA —Kansas House Republican leadership responded to Governor Kelly's Thursday evening televised address asking for more details.&nbsp; In a social media press release, House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Majority Leader Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch said the governor's addressed left Kansans with more questions than answers.&nbsp; Earlier this week, Senate president Susan Wagle, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, issued her own plan to reopen the Kansas economy.

Kelly is lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Monday. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18 and local officials will be allowed to impose stricter rules.

TOPEKA —Kansas House Republican leadership responded to Governor Kelly's Thursday evening televised address asking for more details.&nbsp; In a social media press release, House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Majority Leader Dan Hawkins and Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch said the governor's addressed left Kansans with more questions than answers.&nbsp; Earlier this week, Senate president Susan Wagle, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, issued her own plan to reopen the Kansas economy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">House Republican leadership responds to the lack of detail in Governor Kelly’s address tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReopenKansas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReopenKansas</a> <a href="https://t.co/jIkZI5pTNQ">pic.twitter.com/jIkZI5pTNQ</a>&mdash; Dan Hawkins (@DanHawkinsKS) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanHawkinsKS/status/1256028007921324032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kelly is lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Monday. But her plan won’t allow bars, gyms, theaters, barbershops, hair and nail salons or state-owned casinos to reopen until at least May 18 and local officials will be allowed to impose stricter rules.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FREEKANSAS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FREEKANSAS</a> Two days ago, I outlined a detailed plan to re-open Kansas safely. We can no longer be held captive by a stay at home order. Governor, implement my plan protecting the vulnerable while allowing Kansans to work SAFELY with social distancing. End the shut down! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/frEk7IALM5">pic.twitter.com/frEk7IALM5</a>&mdash; Susan Wagle (@SenatorWagle) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorWagle/status/1255885591344005120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kan. GOP leadership respond to Governor's address 

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City-area man was arrested Wednesday, the same day he shared pornographic images over the internet that he had just taken of a 5-year-old child victim, was charged in federal court, according to the United State's Attorney's office.

Justin Swift, 35, Independence, Mo. was charged in a two-count criminal complaint with producing child pornography and with distributing child pornography over the internet. Swift, who was arrested on Tuesday, April 28, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Swift shared 11 images of child pornography on Tuesday, April 28, with another person using the Kik message application on his phone. Swift falsely claimed the child victim was his 5-year-old daughter, the affidavit says, and commented that he took the photos either the night before or a few minutes before distributing them.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Swift’s residence later on the same day. Swift, an unidentified woman, and four children – including the child victim – were present. Officers seized Swift’s phone, the affidavit says, which contained numerous sexually explicit images of the child victim, including the same photos Swift had previously distributed via the Kik application. Swift was placed under arrest.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

&nbsp;His first court hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588255251062.png" alt="Swift has a previous conviction for domestic assault, according to the Missouri Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Swift has a previous conviction for domestic assault, according to the Missouri Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City-area man was arrested Wednesday, the same day he shared pornographic images over the internet that he had just taken of a 5-year-old child victim, was charged in federal court, according to the United State's Attorney's office.Justin Swift, 35, Independence, Mo. was charged in a two-count criminal complaint with producing child pornography and with distributing child pornography over the internet. Swift, who was arrested on Tuesday, April 28, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday.According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, Swift shared 11 images of child pornography on Tuesday, April 28, with another person using the Kik message application on his phone. Swift falsely claimed the child victim was his 5-year-old daughter, the affidavit says, and commented that he took the photos either the night before or a few minutes before distributing them.Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Swift’s residence later on the same day. Swift, an unidentified woman, and four children – including the child victim – were present. Officers seized Swift’s phone, the affidavit says, which contained numerous sexually explicit images of the child victim, including the same photos Swift had previously distributed via the Kik application. Swift was placed under arrest.The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.&nbsp;His first court hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.

Felon caught with alleged child porn victim at home

HARVEY COUNTY— Charges were filed Thursday against a Kansas couple for alleged threats of possibly spreading the coronavirus at a Walmart store in Newton on April 6, according to&nbsp;Harvey County Chief Deputy Attorney Jason Lane.

Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston are accused of stating and portraying that Williams was infected with COVID-19, to customers and employees inside the Walmart business in an attempt to cause fear.

Hamrick faces two felony counts of criminal threat. Each count carries a penalty range of 5-to-17 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

Williams faces two felony counts of aiding and abetting criminal threat. Each count carries a penalty range of 5-to-17 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

Both individuals also face one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. The maximum penalty of that count is one month in county jail and a fine of up to $500.

Both individuals have posted bond, which was set by the District Court at $5,000 each.

Hamrick’s and Williams’ first appearances are scheduled for June 2 at 3 p.m.

HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a viral video of two people walking through Walmart in Newton coughing on other people and saying they have coronavirus, according to a social media report police in Newton.

Police were not called at the time of this incident, but Newton officers began investigating after seeing the video on social media. Police identified the suspects, interviewed them and have arrested Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston,&nbsp; on requested charges of felony criminal threat and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. They've been booked into Harvey County Jail.

Both admitted to walking around Walmart with Williams coughing on people while Hamrick verbalized that Williams had the coronavirus. They both indicated they don't take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and thought it would be funny.

Harvey County Attorney's Office has indicated they will aggressively pursue prosecution of the two individuals, including other potential criminal charges, according to police

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586278382349.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Williams photo Harvey CountyHARVEY COUNTY— Charges were filed Thursday against a Kansas couple for alleged threats of possibly spreading the coronavirus at a Walmart store in Newton on April 6, according to&nbsp;Harvey County Chief Deputy Attorney Jason Lane.Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston are accused of stating and portraying that Williams was infected with COVID-19, to customers and employees inside the Walmart business in an attempt to cause fear.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588282116224.png" alt="Hazel Hamrick -photo Harvey Co." />
 <figcaption>Hazel Hamrick -photo Harvey Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Hamrick faces two felony counts of criminal threat. Each count carries a penalty range of 5-to-17 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.Williams faces two felony counts of aiding and abetting criminal threat. Each count carries a penalty range of 5-to-17 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.Both individuals also face one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. The maximum penalty of that count is one month in county jail and a fine of up to $500.Both individuals have posted bond, which was set by the District Court at $5,000 each.Hamrick’s and Williams’ first appearances are scheduled for June 2 at 3 p.m.--------HARVEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a viral video of two people walking through Walmart in Newton coughing on other people and saying they have coronavirus, according to a social media report police in Newton.Police were not called at the time of this incident, but Newton officers began investigating after seeing the video on social media. Police identified the suspects, interviewed them and have arrested Hazel Hamrick, 29, and Ernest Williams, 47, both of Hesston,&nbsp; on requested charges of felony criminal threat and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. They've been booked into Harvey County Jail.Both admitted to walking around Walmart with Williams coughing on people while Hamrick verbalized that Williams had the coronavirus. They both indicated they don't take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously and thought it would be funny.Harvey County Attorney's Office has indicated they will aggressively pursue prosecution of the two individuals, including other potential criminal charges, according to police

Kan. couple charged in coronavirus coughing prank

By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-30/kansas-prisons-are-fighting-a-lawsuit-to-release-prisoners-to-reduce-covid-19-spread">Kansas News Service</a>

LAWRENCE — As coronavirus cases have climbed above 100
 in state prisons, the Kansas Department of Corrections is enmeshed in a
 legal battle that could result in thousands of inmates being released.

The
 American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas sued the agency and three 
state prisons on April 9, asking the state to release people who have 
been convicted of minor crimes, have less than 18 months left on their 
sentences or are vulnerable due to age or medical conditions.

At 
the time, less than 20 staff and inmates in the system had tested 
positive for COVID-19, all of them at the Lansing Correctional Facility 
in northeast Kansas. As of Thursday, it had increased to 160 cases 
across four facilities, including a juvenile prison. Less than half of 
the infected people have recovered, and two people incarcerated at 
Lansing have died.

Corrections facilities across the U.S. have 
released people from prisons and jails to prevent the spread of the 
virus. In Kansas, the Sedgwick County Jail released 200 people in March.
 Jails in New York City, New Jersey and Detroit also have released 
hundreds of people. And Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are 
planning to release more than 1,000 prisoners.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has said she is considering releasing some inmates, though has not announced anything yet.

The
 ACLU’s lawsuit was originally filed in the Kansas Supreme Court, but 
later moved to the Leavenworth County Court. The Lansing facility is in 
Leavenworth County.

In its lawsuit, the ACLU argues that the 
Department of Corrections is endangering the lives of prisoners and 
violating their constitutional rights by not enforcing proper social 
distancing or providing adequate soap and cleaning supplies.

Inmates
 named in the suit alleged the state dilutes cleaning supplies. They 
also say some prisoners need to buy soap from the commissary, which can 
be expensive — and prison jobs typically pay pennies an hour.

Other
 inmates have told the Kansas News Service in emails that despite being 
given masks and directed to socially distance in some situations, people
 still sleep and eat in close quarters.

The corrections department
 argued in court filings that inmates aren’t in substantial danger and 
that releasing such a large number — an estimated 5,300, more than half 
of the state’s prison population — would be impractical and dangerous, 
and could possibly result in people convicted of violent crimes walking 
free.

The agency also argued in an April 27 court filing that the 
Leavenworth County Court didn’t have jurisdiction over most of the 
state’s prisons, which are located elsewhere. It suggested that inmates 
would face a similar shortage of soap and ventilators outside of prisons
 and said it wasn’t reasonable to take every possible precaution to 
prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

The Department of Corrections declined to comment on the lawsuit to the Kansas News Service.

ACLU
 of Kansas Executive Director Nadine Johnson said that releasing people 
from prison would actually improve public safety by reducing the reach 
of a deadly virus.

“Every day that we are waiting, these 
individuals are at an increased risk of contracting the virus,” she 
said. “And by virtue of that, they’re at risk of spreading to other 
people.”

The ACLU expects that a judge in Leavenworth County will make a decision soon.

The Department of Corrections announced Thursday that all who are incarcerated there will be tested for COVID-19.

Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588276619329.png" alt="The ACLU sued Kansas prisons in April, seeking the release of more than 5,000 prisoners. Nomin Ujiyediin/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>The ACLU sued Kansas prisons in April, seeking the release of more than 5,000 prisoners. Nomin Ujiyediin/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOMIN UJIYEDIIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-04-30/kansas-prisons-are-fighting-a-lawsuit-to-release-prisoners-to-reduce-covid-19-spread">Kansas News Service</a>LAWRENCE — As coronavirus cases have climbed above 100
 in state prisons, the Kansas Department of Corrections is enmeshed in a
 legal battle that could result in thousands of inmates being released.The
 American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas sued the agency and three 
state prisons on April 9, asking the state to release people who have 
been convicted of minor crimes, have less than 18 months left on their 
sentences or are vulnerable due to age or medical conditions.At 
the time, less than 20 staff and inmates in the system had tested 
positive for COVID-19, all of them at the Lansing Correctional Facility 
in northeast Kansas. As of Thursday, it had increased to 160 cases 
across four facilities, including a juvenile prison. Less than half of 
the infected people have recovered, and two people incarcerated at 
Lansing have died.Corrections facilities across the U.S. have 
released people from prisons and jails to prevent the spread of the 
virus. In Kansas, the Sedgwick County Jail released 200 people in March.
 Jails in New York City, New Jersey and Detroit also have released 
hundreds of people. And Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are 
planning to release more than 1,000 prisoners.Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has said she is considering releasing some inmates, though has not announced anything yet.The
 ACLU’s lawsuit was originally filed in the Kansas Supreme Court, but 
later moved to the Leavenworth County Court. The Lansing facility is in 
Leavenworth County.In its lawsuit, the ACLU argues that the 
Department of Corrections is endangering the lives of prisoners and 
violating their constitutional rights by not enforcing proper social 
distancing or providing adequate soap and cleaning supplies.Inmates
 named in the suit alleged the state dilutes cleaning supplies. They 
also say some prisoners need to buy soap from the commissary, which can 
be expensive — and prison jobs typically pay pennies an hour.Other
 inmates have told the Kansas News Service in emails that despite being 
given masks and directed to socially distance in some situations, people
 still sleep and eat in close quarters.The corrections department
 argued in court filings that inmates aren’t in substantial danger and 
that releasing such a large number — an estimated 5,300, more than half 
of the state’s prison population — would be impractical and dangerous, 
and could possibly result in people convicted of violent crimes walking 
free.The agency also argued in an April 27 court filing that the 
Leavenworth County Court didn’t have jurisdiction over most of the 
state’s prisons, which are located elsewhere. It suggested that inmates 
would face a similar shortage of soap and ventilators outside of prisons
 and said it wasn’t reasonable to take every possible precaution to 
prevent the further spread of COVID-19.The Department of Corrections declined to comment on the lawsuit to the Kansas News Service.ACLU
 of Kansas Executive Director Nadine Johnson said that releasing people 
from prison would actually improve public safety by reducing the reach 
of a deadly virus.“Every day that we are waiting, these 
individuals are at an increased risk of contracting the virus,” she 
said. “And by virtue of that, they’re at risk of spreading to other 
people.”The ACLU expects that a judge in Leavenworth County will make a decision soon.The Department of Corrections announced Thursday that all who are incarcerated there will be tested for COVID-19.Nomin
 Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas
 News Service. You can email her at nomin@kcur.org and follow
 her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a>.

Kan. prisons fighting lawsuit to release prisoners to reduce virus spread 

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The effort to reopen the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic has set off a conflict at the state and federal level that is escalating by the day over how much legal protection companies should get if their returning workers get sick.

The White House, governors, members of congress and state lawmakers are all getting pressured by business leaders who want to be shielded from potential lawsuits brought by sick workers. They are also feeling heat on the other side from unions that want bolstered safety at workplaces and from the influential trial lawyers lobby, which hopes to preserve legal protections to go after corporations in court if people are sickened on the job.

The issue has vaulted to the forefront of the debate in Congress over the next, and fifth, coronavirus relief bill that’s still in its infancy. The safety of returning workers has dominated union negotiations between casino workers and their employers in Las Vegas. And governors in some states are imposing restrictions on the ability of people to collect unemployment if they choose not to return to work out of fear for their safety.

The debate has put policy makers on the hot seat at the same time that they are moving forward with reopening their states.

Utah lawmakers have moved to protect businesses from being sued if a customer or employee is exposed to the coronavirus after reopening, with supporters like Republican Rep. Norm Thurston saying establishments need to be rewarded for being willing to open their doors again.

The proposal passed the Republican-controlled Legislature the day before Gov. Gary Herbert announced the state would allow the reopening of restaurants, gyms and salons starting Friday. The governor has not yet signed it.

Skeptics like Democratic Rep. Brian King called the legislation a “get-out-of-liability-free card.”

“If a business wants to get open and make some money, that means they have to be responsible for the safety of both their employees and the public,” King said Wednesday. “They don’t get it both ways. They don’t get to both make money and be insulated from their negligent decision-making.”

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pushing the Republican-led state Legislature to expand protections from liability lawsuits to manufacturers, businesses, health care workers and first responders. Mississippi and North Carolina are considering similar protections for businesses.

“They don’t need to be concerned about liability from opportunistic people that might be trying to find a chink in their armor, to sue them for trying to do the right thing,” said chamber president Dan Mehan on Tuesday. “Lawsuit protection is paramount for this recovery.”

President Donald Trump’s executive action Tuesday ordering meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns about the nation’s food supply also put a spotlight on the delicate balance between protecting companies without leaving workers unfairly exposed.

The order, which was developed in consultation with industry leaders including Tyson and Smithfield, is designed, in part, to provide companies with additional liability protections in case workers get sick.

Unions fired back at Trump’s action, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.

In California, Democratic state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez proposed legislation that would allow employees to qualify for workers’ compensation if they contracted coronavirus on the job, a provision that unions have advocated.

Business, insurers and local government organizations pushed back with a letter this week to legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, saying the move could cost $2.2 billion to $33.6 billion annually, depending on the details of the plan. The workers are already covered under state law if they get the virus, opponents argue.

A separate legislative proposal by a Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez of California would protect small businesses by barring those who obtain unemployment benefits from also suing their employers.

As Congress prepares the next coronavirus relief bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made the issue a top priority. He has portrayed the protections as necessary to fend off opportunistic trial lawyers.

“Just as soon as the pandemic recedes, the lawyers will come in, and this is the important part of getting our country back to business,” McConnell said Wednesday on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”

The casino workers’ Culinary Union in Las Vegas said it is negotiating reopening protocols with casino companies to ensure there are stronger safety standards. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, has not said when he will allow casinos to reopen.

John Whiting isn’t going to rely on an employer to keep him safe. He was working at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta when the pandemic hit and had been planning to find a summer job until he returns to his job as a teacher next school year. But the 26-year-old is intentionally staying away from public-facing jobs out of fear he’ll get sick and infect the aunt and uncle he’s staying with. He’s instead trying to find a job where he can telecommute in a field like tech support.

“I have to think about them as well. I’d rather not risk that because we only go out for groceries, in terms of being out in the public like that. So I thought it was better to find something virtual,” Whiting said.

States are also focusing on unemployment rules as some leaders fret that workers’ fears of getting the virus or comfort with expanded unemployment benefits could keep them home.

State officials in Iowa this week warned furloughed workers that they will lose their unemployment benefits if they refuse to return when their employer calls them back to work, which is considered a “voluntary quit.” Restaurants, some bars, malls and retail stores will reopen in 77 of the state’s 99 counties Friday.

Iowa Workforce Development urged employers to report workers who don’t return for a good reason as soon as possible and warned that the federal law providing an additional $600 weekly in benefits contains “serious consequences” for fraudulent claims.

In Texas, several groups representing workers sent a letter Wednesday calling on state regulators to change unemployment rules to allow people who can’t go back to work because they or their family member face a high risk of contracting the coronavirus to still get unemployment benefits.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, on Monday outlined a plan to allow the state’s restaurants, retailers, movie theaters and malls to start letting customers trickle into their establishments starting Friday. He didn’t address whether employees might lose their jobs if they didn’t return to work, but said he understands the concerns and that no worker or business is required to return to work.

“You have every right to choose your own pathway in life and you have ultimate control over your own personal safety,” Abbott said.

The recent suggestion by an Oklahoma official that the state might ask the federal government to stop the $600-a-week federal government payments to unemployed people raised eyebrows, but the state’s Department of Commerce spokeswoman Leslie Blair said in a statement Wednesday there is no plan to stop those federal payments.

She did acknowledge, however, that there is “legitimate concern” that people won’t go back to work because they can make more money in unemployment with the added federal stimulus fund than at their jobs.

“We really do need them to return so our economy can get started again,” Blair said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587120134875.png" alt="President Trump announced initial plans to reopen the country during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing -Photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump announced initial plans to reopen the country during a Coronavirus Task Force briefing -Photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The effort to reopen the economy in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic has set off a conflict at the state and federal level that is escalating by the day over how much legal protection companies should get if their returning workers get sick.The White House, governors, members of congress and state lawmakers are all getting pressured by business leaders who want to be shielded from potential lawsuits brought by sick workers. They are also feeling heat on the other side from unions that want bolstered safety at workplaces and from the influential trial lawyers lobby, which hopes to preserve legal protections to go after corporations in court if people are sickened on the job.The issue has vaulted to the forefront of the debate in Congress over the next, and fifth, coronavirus relief bill that’s still in its infancy. The safety of returning workers has dominated union negotiations between casino workers and their employers in Las Vegas. And governors in some states are imposing restrictions on the ability of people to collect unemployment if they choose not to return to work out of fear for their safety.The debate has put policy makers on the hot seat at the same time that they are moving forward with reopening their states.Utah lawmakers have moved to protect businesses from being sued if a customer or employee is exposed to the coronavirus after reopening, with supporters like Republican Rep. Norm Thurston saying establishments need to be rewarded for being willing to open their doors again.The proposal passed the Republican-controlled Legislature the day before Gov. Gary Herbert announced the state would allow the reopening of restaurants, gyms and salons starting Friday. The governor has not yet signed it.Skeptics like Democratic Rep. Brian King called the legislation a “get-out-of-liability-free card.”“If a business wants to get open and make some money, that means they have to be responsible for the safety of both their employees and the public,” King said Wednesday. “They don’t get it both ways. They don’t get to both make money and be insulated from their negligent decision-making.”The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pushing the Republican-led state Legislature to expand protections from liability lawsuits to manufacturers, businesses, health care workers and first responders. Mississippi and North Carolina are considering similar protections for businesses.“They don’t need to be concerned about liability from opportunistic people that might be trying to find a chink in their armor, to sue them for trying to do the right thing,” said chamber president Dan Mehan on Tuesday. “Lawsuit protection is paramount for this recovery.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587045646390.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump’s executive action Tuesday ordering meat processing plants to stay open amid concerns about the nation’s food supply also put a spotlight on the delicate balance between protecting companies without leaving workers unfairly exposed.The order, which was developed in consultation with industry leaders including Tyson and Smithfield, is designed, in part, to provide companies with additional liability protections in case workers get sick.Unions fired back at Trump’s action, saying the White House was jeopardizing lives and prioritizing cold cuts over workers’ health.In California, Democratic state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez proposed legislation that would allow employees to qualify for workers’ compensation if they contracted coronavirus on the job, a provision that unions have advocated.Business, insurers and local government organizations pushed back with a letter this week to legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, saying the move could cost $2.2 billion to $33.6 billion annually, depending on the details of the plan. The workers are already covered under state law if they get the virus, opponents argue.A separate legislative proposal by a Republican Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez of California would protect small businesses by barring those who obtain unemployment benefits from also suing their employers.As Congress prepares the next coronavirus relief bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has made the issue a top priority. He has portrayed the protections as necessary to fend off opportunistic trial lawyers.“Just as soon as the pandemic recedes, the lawyers will come in, and this is the important part of getting our country back to business,” McConnell said Wednesday on Fox News’ “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”The casino workers’ Culinary Union in Las Vegas said it is negotiating reopening protocols with casino companies to ensure there are stronger safety standards. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, has not said when he will allow casinos to reopen.John Whiting isn’t going to rely on an employer to keep him safe. He was working at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta when the pandemic hit and had been planning to find a summer job until he returns to his job as a teacher next school year. But the 26-year-old is intentionally staying away from public-facing jobs out of fear he’ll get sick and infect the aunt and uncle he’s staying with. He’s instead trying to find a job where he can telecommute in a field like tech support.“I have to think about them as well. I’d rather not risk that because we only go out for groceries, in terms of being out in the public like that. So I thought it was better to find something virtual,” Whiting said.States are also focusing on unemployment rules as some leaders fret that workers’ fears of getting the virus or comfort with expanded unemployment benefits could keep them home.State officials in Iowa this week warned furloughed workers that they will lose their unemployment benefits if they refuse to return when their employer calls them back to work, which is considered a “voluntary quit.” Restaurants, some bars, malls and retail stores will reopen in 77 of the state’s 99 counties Friday.Iowa Workforce Development urged employers to report workers who don’t return for a good reason as soon as possible and warned that the federal law providing an additional $600 weekly in benefits contains “serious consequences” for fraudulent claims.In Texas, several groups representing workers sent a letter Wednesday calling on state regulators to change unemployment rules to allow people who can’t go back to work because they or their family member face a high risk of contracting the coronavirus to still get unemployment benefits.Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, on Monday outlined a plan to allow the state’s restaurants, retailers, movie theaters and malls to start letting customers trickle into their establishments starting Friday. He didn’t address whether employees might lose their jobs if they didn’t return to work, but said he understands the concerns and that no worker or business is required to return to work.“You have every right to choose your own pathway in life and you have ultimate control over your own personal safety,” Abbott said.The recent suggestion by an Oklahoma official that the state might ask the federal government to stop the $600-a-week federal government payments to unemployed people raised eyebrows, but the state’s Department of Commerce spokeswoman Leslie Blair said in a statement Wednesday there is no plan to stop those federal payments.She did acknowledge, however, that there is “legitimate concern” that people won’t go back to work because they can make more money in unemployment with the added federal stimulus fund than at their jobs.“We really do need them to return so our economy can get started again,” Blair said.____

Debate flares over legal protections as businesses open up

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 500 to a total of 4238, the state health department reported Thursday afternoon. This is largest 24-hour increase in positive cases.

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

TOPEKA— The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 500 to a total of 4238, the state health department reported Thursday afternoon. This is largest 24-hour increase in positive cases.Coronavirus deaths were reported at 129<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHE<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588271899081.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas

A Kansas lawmaker has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rep.owens/posts/855242734956160">shared a summary </a>of Gov. Laura Kelly's plans to reopen Kansas prior to tonight's press conference.

Rep. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, shared the document — labeled "Confidential" and "Not For Distribution" on his Facebook page late Thursday morning.

"Kansas deserves information as soon as its available. People's livelihoods are at stake. I received a copy of the Govs re-opening plan this morning from an anonymous source."

"I have no reason to doubt it's legitimacy. Governor Kelly will be on TV this evening at 630p and will hopefully clarify and answer questions," Owens wrote on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rep.owens/posts/855242734956160"> his Facebook page.</a>

A Kansas lawmaker has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rep.owens/posts/855242734956160">shared a summary </a>of Gov. Laura Kelly's plans to reopen Kansas prior to tonight's press conference.Rep. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, shared the document — labeled "Confidential" and "Not For Distribution" on his Facebook page late Thursday morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588271621231.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Kansas deserves information as soon as its available. People's livelihoods are at stake. I received a copy of the Govs re-opening plan this morning from an anonymous source."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588271641527.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"I have no reason to doubt it's legitimacy. Governor Kelly will be on TV this evening at 630p and will hopefully clarify and answer questions," Owens wrote on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rep.owens/posts/855242734956160"> his Facebook page.</a>

GOP lawmaker shares summary of reopening plan in advance of press conference

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Spirit AeroSystems is offering voluntary layoffs to all its union-covered technical and professional workers in Wichita as the company continues to respond to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX and the coronavirus pandemic.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many jobs will be affected by the move, which was announced in an email to employees Wednesday night, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article242397886.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. The final day of work for those who take the buyout will be no later than May 14.

Last year, the employees’ union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, represented more than 1,600 technical and professional workers at Spirit, but the company has since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4ac70c229417be48a7191000da3fddcb">announced several layoffs</a>, early retirement offers and furloughs.

The announcement comes after Boeing said Wednesday it would cut its workforce by 10% as the demand for new airplanes continues to drop during the coronavirus pandemic.

Spirit spirit also is struggling because it makes about 70% of the Boeing 737 MAX, which was grounded last spring after two deadly crashes.

The new voluntary layoffs are a “first step” in the company’s plans to deal with Boeing’s announcement, according to the email from Spirit CEO Tom Gentile.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Spirit AeroSystems is offering voluntary layoffs to all its union-covered technical and professional workers in Wichita as the company continues to respond to the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX and the coronavirus pandemic.It wasn’t immediately clear how many jobs will be affected by the move, which was announced in an email to employees Wednesday night, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/business/aviation/article242397886.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. The final day of work for those who take the buyout will be no later than May 14.Last year, the employees’ union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, represented more than 1,600 technical and professional workers at Spirit, but the company has since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4ac70c229417be48a7191000da3fddcb">announced several layoffs</a>, early retirement offers and furloughs.The announcement comes after Boeing said Wednesday it would cut its workforce by 10% as the demand for new airplanes continues to drop during the coronavirus pandemic.Spirit spirit also is struggling because it makes about 70% of the Boeing 737 MAX, which was grounded last spring after two deadly crashes.The new voluntary layoffs are a “first step” in the company’s plans to deal with Boeing’s announcement, according to the email from Spirit CEO Tom Gentile.