TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials are making plans to free some Kansas prison inmates who are close to finishing their sentences amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Priority will be given to inmates with “viable plans,” such as a place to live or a job. She offered no specific numbers and noted that the state will coordinate with local officials so that there will be “no surprises.”

Gov. Laura Kelly said at a news conference Tuesday that “hopefully we will be able to move quite a few of those folks back into their community.” 

The announcement comes after corrections officials announced that an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and nine staff members.

Jails in Shawnee and Sedgwick County previously took steps to incarcerate fewer inmates. Several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, have been urging state officials to take similar steps.

On Tuesday, the top federal public defender in Kansas also demanded the release of vulnerable defendants in a written statement. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas has opposed these requests in recent weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586286806900.png" alt="Laura Kelly discussed the issue Tuesday&nbsp; during her coronavirus news conference" />
 <figcaption>Laura Kelly discussed the issue Tuesday&nbsp; during her coronavirus news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials are making plans to free some Kansas prison inmates who are close to finishing their sentences amid the coronavirus outbreak.Priority will be given to inmates with “viable plans,” such as a place to live or a job. She offered no specific numbers and noted that the state will coordinate with local officials so that there will be “no surprises.”Gov. Laura Kelly said at a news conference Tuesday that “hopefully we will be able to move quite a few of those folks back into their community.” The announcement comes after corrections officials announced that an outbreak at the Lansing Correctional Facility had grown to eight inmates and nine staff members.Jails in Shawnee and Sedgwick County previously took steps to incarcerate fewer inmates. Several groups, including the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, have been urging state officials to take similar steps.On Tuesday, the top federal public defender in Kansas also demanded the release of vulnerable defendants in a written statement. But the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Kansas has opposed these requests in recent weeks.

Kan. officials review inmates for possible early release amid pandemic

COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday police responded to a residence at 706 S. Sixth Street in Arkansas City for a report of a physical disturbance in progress, according to Arkansas City police.

Officers learned 29-year-old&nbsp; Blas Orlando Ibarra allegedly broke open the front door of the residence and entered without permission. 

Once inside, he allegedly struck a 63-year-old man in the face and threatened to kill him.

During the altercation, the door was broken and then Ibarra left. He was found across the street and taken into custody without further incident on requested charges of felony&nbsp; aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling,&nbsp; battery and criminal damage to property.

He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield in lieu of $25,000 bond

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586203512827.png" alt="Ibarra photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Ibarra photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday police responded to a residence at 706 S. Sixth Street in Arkansas City for a report of a physical disturbance in progress, according to Arkansas City police.Officers learned 29-year-old&nbsp; Blas Orlando Ibarra allegedly broke open the front door of the residence and entered without permission. Once inside, he allegedly struck a 63-year-old man in the face and threatened to kill him.During the altercation, the door was broken and then Ibarra left. He was found across the street and taken into custody without further incident on requested charges of felony&nbsp; aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling,&nbsp; battery and criminal damage to property.He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield in lieu of $25,000 bond

Police: Kansas man broke into house, battered 63-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;Police can pull over a car when they know only that its owner's license is invalid, even if they don't know who's behind the wheel, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.

The court said in an 8-1 decision that unless there's reason to believe otherwise, it's common sense for an officer to think the car's owner will be driving.

Empirical studies demonstrate what common experience readily reveals: Drivers with revoked licenses frequently continue to drive and therefore to pose safety risks to other motorists and pedestrians,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court.

The high court reversed a&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court ruling that found police violated a driver’s constitutional rights when they stopped his pickup based only on information that the truck owner’s license had been revoked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586208701830.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;Police can pull over a car when they know only that its owner's license is invalid, even if they don't know who's behind the wheel, the Supreme Court ruled Monday.The court said in an 8-1 decision that unless there's reason to believe otherwise, it's common sense for an officer to think the car's owner will be driving.Empirical studies demonstrate what common experience readily reveals: Drivers with revoked licenses frequently continue to drive and therefore to pose safety risks to other motorists and pedestrians,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court.Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented.The high court reversed a&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Supreme Court ruling that found police violated a driver’s constitutional rights when they stopped his pickup based only on information that the truck owner’s license had been revoked.

Supreme Court reverses Kan. decision, backs police in traffic stops

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly says religious services and funerals will be limited to 10 people after Kansas officials identified three coronavirus clusters related to church gatherings. 

Kelly’s initial statewide stay-at-home order allowed for religious gatherings as long as social distancing was maintained.

Her new order takes effect Wednesday, just days before Easter. She noted that most churches already had taken action, including by livestreaming services or offering drive-up gatherings in which people stay in their vehicles. Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900. Twenty-five people have died.

During Tuesday's news conference, the Governor also answered questions on many topics including the issues with the virus in state prisons, difficulty in working with the federal government during this pandemic and some thoughts on economic recovery plans.

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly says religious services and funerals will be limited to 10 people after Kansas officials identified three coronavirus clusters related to church gatherings. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F790101771515530%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’s initial statewide stay-at-home order allowed for religious gatherings as long as social distancing was maintained.Her new order takes effect Wednesday, just days before Easter. She noted that most churches already had taken action, including by livestreaming services or offering drive-up gatherings in which people stay in their vehicles. Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 grew by 6.5% Tuesday to 900. Twenty-five people have died.During Tuesday's news conference, the Governor also answered questions on many topics including the issues with the virus in state prisons, difficulty in working with the federal government during this pandemic and some thoughts on economic recovery plans.-The AP contributed to this report

🎥 Kansas limits size of church services heading into Easter

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is racing to craft the next coronavirus rescue package, but President Donald Trump’s sudden request Tuesday to pump $250 billion more into a just-launched payroll program for small businesses may hit roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says more money is needed. 

The $350 billion program took off last Friday but was quickly overrun. Companies jumped at the chance to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans to keep paychecks flowing while workers stay home. Mnuchin requested the funds in private calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats largely support it. But McConnell wants to swiftly jam it through Congress this week, making the outcome uncertain. The action is set for Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are jolting ahead with another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>rescue package as President Donald Trump indicated that Americans will need more aid during the stark pandemic and economic shutdown.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said another $1 trillion is needed, beyond the just-passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7927456d58b4c29c843252506685e02">$2.2 trillion effort</a>. She wants another round of direct payments to Americans and more money for companies to keep making payroll. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ade6f4a0853ceb4c3500a8238ad6cd7f">said in recent days&nbsp;</a>that health care should top the list, signaling his intent to get to work on a new bill.

“We’re going to take good care of our people,” Trump said Monday at his daily White House briefing. “It was not their fault.”

It’s a rare sign of emerging consensus as Washington responds to the public health emergency and severe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0aa967875547c5d63f22575dd2cf1aaa">economic fallout&nbsp;</a>that is ransacking communities nationwide, a crisis on par with a war effort or the Great Depression.

The contours of the package are still being debated and any votes in Congress remain a logistical conundrum. The House and Senate adjourned for most of the month, as part of strict stay-at-home orders from public health officials to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.

On an afternoon conference call with House Democrats, Pelosi told lawmakers at least another $1 trillion would be needed, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.

The California Democrat has vowed to put the next package together in time for a House vote this month.

Former Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen joined the private call and warned Democrats the economic fallout will depend on the public health response to the pandemic, the person said. As businesses shutter to stop the virus’ spread, it has hurled the U.S. economy toward a recession.

Yellen said it was impossible to know how deep and long the recession would be, and added that it would depend on the health response.

The former Fed chair also told them the nation’s unemployment rate is now at least 13% and this week’s jobless report will show higher numbers than last week’s.

Yellen said she expects a 30 percent contraction of GDP this year, but has seen models as high as 50 percent, according to a Democratic aide unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.

The earlier relief package, approved in late March, included one-time $1,200 direct payments to Americans, along with forgivable small business loans for companies to keep making payroll. It also included a boost of unemployment pay, money for hospitals and a $500 billion fund for bigger corporations and industries.

Pelosi told Democrats said the $1,200 direct payments to Americans and the paycheck protection program for small businesses are not enough and more needs to be done, the person said.

She also said there needs to be more aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.

Trump has favored direct checks to Americans, and gave a nod to another round in the next package.

“It is absolutely under serious consideration,” he said.

The shifts from the political leaders are stark amid what officials warn could be one of the toughest weeks for the country, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths climbs.

McConnell told The Associated Press on Friday that there will be another package and health care must be at the “top of the list.”

McConnell, R-Ky., said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the earlier $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to “wipe out” the virus.

Pelosi, D-Calif., last week also backed off her more sweeping proposals for an infrastructure package to put people back to work, focusing on the more immediate health care and economic needs.

As governors plead for federal intervention to provide hard-hit hospitals in New York and elsewhere with vital medical ventilators, equipment and supplies, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a better-coordinated effort to care for the many sick people.

Schumer told reporters on a conference call Monday that he’s urging the White House to appoint a single, well-qualified “czar” to handle both the production and distribution of medical supplies and equipment to fight the pandemic.

Right now, Schumer said, governors and other officials have no choice but to search out materials helter-skelter.

“Everyone’s hunting and pecking for the equipment and the supplies they need,” he said. “It’s just not working. It’s like a scavenger hunt for their lives.”

Schumer, D-N.Y., said he spoke to both Vice President Mike Pence and new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and suggested three potential candidates for the job: two former vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Paul Selva and retired Adm. James A. Winnefield, and retired Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, former director of the Defense Logistics Agency.

Trump, displeased with Schumer’s effort, accused the senator of being overtly political.

This would be the fourth package from Congress since the start of the virus outbreak. Two initial efforts were followed by the third last month, which was by far the largest, the most ambitious of its kind in U.S. history. With so much federal aid expected to be pushed so quickly to the public, Congress is also trying to swiftly stand up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91bbb26d8557c7d697f757b931089611">oversight panels</a>.

Pelosi late last week announced the formation of a House select committee with subpoena power to monitor the decision-making and cash flow.

A broader oversight board is being formed to track the Treasury Department’s dispersal of the aid to businesses, particularly the more than $500 billion in corporate and industry aid under Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s discretion.

Schumer named a top economic adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Bharat Ramamurti, as his choice for the pandemic response accountabilty committee established by recently passed legislation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586299015045.png" alt="President Trump opening Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump opening Tuesday's Coronavirus Task Force briefing-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is racing to craft the next coronavirus rescue package, but President Donald Trump’s sudden request Tuesday to pump $250 billion more into a just-launched payroll program for small businesses may hit roadblocks. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says more money is needed. The $350 billion program took off last Friday but was quickly overrun. Companies jumped at the chance to tap up to $10 million in forgivable loans to keep paychecks flowing while workers stay home. Mnuchin requested the funds in private calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Democrats largely support it. But McConnell wants to swiftly jam it through Congress this week, making the outcome uncertain. The action is set for Thursday.------WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are jolting ahead with another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">coronavirus&nbsp;</a>rescue package as President Donald Trump indicated that Americans will need more aid during the stark pandemic and economic shutdown.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said another $1 trillion is needed, beyond the just-passed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f7927456d58b4c29c843252506685e02">$2.2 trillion effort</a>. She wants another round of direct payments to Americans and more money for companies to keep making payroll. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ade6f4a0853ceb4c3500a8238ad6cd7f">said in recent days&nbsp;</a>that health care should top the list, signaling his intent to get to work on a new bill.“We’re going to take good care of our people,” Trump said Monday at his daily White House briefing. “It was not their fault.”It’s a rare sign of emerging consensus as Washington responds to the public health emergency and severe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0aa967875547c5d63f22575dd2cf1aaa">economic fallout&nbsp;</a>that is ransacking communities nationwide, a crisis on par with a war effort or the Great Depression.The contours of the package are still being debated and any votes in Congress remain a logistical conundrum. The House and Senate adjourned for most of the month, as part of strict stay-at-home orders from public health officials to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.On an afternoon conference call with House Democrats, Pelosi told lawmakers at least another $1 trillion would be needed, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.The California Democrat has vowed to put the next package together in time for a House vote this month.Former Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen joined the private call and warned Democrats the economic fallout will depend on the public health response to the pandemic, the person said. As businesses shutter to stop the virus’ spread, it has hurled the U.S. economy toward a recession.Yellen said it was impossible to know how deep and long the recession would be, and added that it would depend on the health response.The former Fed chair also told them the nation’s unemployment rate is now at least 13% and this week’s jobless report will show higher numbers than last week’s.Yellen said she expects a 30 percent contraction of GDP this year, but has seen models as high as 50 percent, according to a Democratic aide unauthorized to discuss the call and granted anonymity.The earlier relief package, approved in late March, included one-time $1,200 direct payments to Americans, along with forgivable small business loans for companies to keep making payroll. It also included a boost of unemployment pay, money for hospitals and a $500 billion fund for bigger corporations and industries.Pelosi told Democrats said the $1,200 direct payments to Americans and the paycheck protection program for small businesses are not enough and more needs to be done, the person said.She also said there needs to be more aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.Trump has favored direct checks to Americans, and gave a nod to another round in the next package.“It is absolutely under serious consideration,” he said.The shifts from the political leaders are stark amid what officials warn could be one of the toughest weeks for the country, as the number of confirmed cases and deaths climbs.McConnell told The Associated Press on Friday that there will be another package and health care must be at the “top of the list.”McConnell, R-Ky., said Congress should focus on correcting any shortcomings in the earlier $2.2 trillion aid bill and rely on health care experts for solutions to “wipe out” the virus.Pelosi, D-Calif., last week also backed off her more sweeping proposals for an infrastructure package to put people back to work, focusing on the more immediate health care and economic needs.As governors plead for federal intervention to provide hard-hit hospitals in New York and elsewhere with vital medical ventilators, equipment and supplies, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called for a better-coordinated effort to care for the many sick people.Schumer told reporters on a conference call Monday that he’s urging the White House to appoint a single, well-qualified “czar” to handle both the production and distribution of medical supplies and equipment to fight the pandemic.Right now, Schumer said, governors and other officials have no choice but to search out materials helter-skelter.“Everyone’s hunting and pecking for the equipment and the supplies they need,” he said. “It’s just not working. It’s like a scavenger hunt for their lives.”Schumer, D-N.Y., said he spoke to both Vice President Mike Pence and new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and suggested three potential candidates for the job: two former vice chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Air Force Gen. Paul Selva and retired Adm. James A. Winnefield, and retired Vice Adm. Mark Harnitchek, former director of the Defense Logistics Agency.Trump, displeased with Schumer’s effort, accused the senator of being overtly political.This would be the fourth package from Congress since the start of the virus outbreak. Two initial efforts were followed by the third last month, which was by far the largest, the most ambitious of its kind in U.S. history. With so much federal aid expected to be pushed so quickly to the public, Congress is also trying to swiftly stand up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91bbb26d8557c7d697f757b931089611">oversight panels</a>.Pelosi late last week announced the formation of a House select committee with subpoena power to monitor the decision-making and cash flow.A broader oversight board is being formed to track the Treasury Department’s dispersal of the aid to businesses, particularly the more than $500 billion in corporate and industry aid under Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s discretion.Schumer named a top economic adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Bharat Ramamurti, as his choice for the pandemic response accountabilty committee established by recently passed legislation.___

Trump seeks $250 billion more from Congress for payrolls

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of Spirit AeroSystems employees in Wichita and other locations are being furloughed for three weeks without pay amid an outbreak of a novel coronavirus that has paralyzed air travel around the globe.

Most managers and hourly employees at Spirit, Wichita’s largest employer, will be placed on 21-day unpaid leave starting Wednesday. It's unclear exactly how many employees will be affected. 

The aircraft parts maker's company profile says it employs around 18,000. The temporary layoffs apply to Spirit employees associated with the company's Boeing commercial program. It includes Spirit employees in San Antonio and in Tulsa and McAlester locations in Oklahoma.

&nbsp;In addition, Siemens Gamesa announced Monday it will furlough a large number of workers in the U.S., including 200 at the Hutchinson facility.&nbsp;

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Thousands of Spirit AeroSystems employees in Wichita and other locations are being furloughed for three weeks without pay amid an outbreak of a novel coronavirus that has paralyzed air travel around the globe.Most managers and hourly employees at Spirit, Wichita’s largest employer, will be placed on 21-day unpaid leave starting Wednesday. It's unclear exactly how many employees will be affected. The aircraft parts maker's company profile says it employs around 18,000. The temporary layoffs apply to Spirit employees associated with the company's Boeing commercial program. It includes Spirit employees in San Antonio and in Tulsa and McAlester locations in Oklahoma.&nbsp;In addition, Siemens Gamesa announced Monday it will furlough a large number of workers in the U.S., including 200 at the Hutchinson facility.&nbsp;

Kansas aircraft parts maker announces temporary layoffs

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here for</a> additional details.

The Kansas Department of Health released the latest coronavirus numbers Tuesday afternoon. <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData">Click here for</a> additional details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586279762813.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Latest coronavirus numbers in Kansas; 27 deaths

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="Williams photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>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 jailed for coughing on people, saying they have coronavirus

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — In many parts of Kansas, people not sick enough for hospitalization still can’t find out if they have COVID-19.

Doctor’s
 offices and hospitals say access to coronavirus testing has improved in
 Kansas, but still remains out of reach for many people.

A clinic runs out of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/covid-19-swab-tests-unpleasant-illustration-1495322" target="_blank">swabs</a> to collect patient samples. A vendor postpones delivery of testing equipment. A private lab becomes backlogged.

Ascension Via Christi Health in Wichita is among hospitals trying to buy <a href="https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-03-27-Abbott-Launches-Molecular-Point-of-Care-Test-to-Detect-Novel-Coronavirus-in-as-Little-as-Five-Minutes" target="_blank">new 5- to 15-minute tests</a>
 that received a temporary emergency greenlight from the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration. But the best the system of hospitals and clinics 
can do for now is get in line, so it has contacted its suppliers.

“We have the equipment,” chief nursing officer Carla Yost said in an email, “but we do not have the test kits.”

For
 now, she says, those kits are heading to areas where the outbreak is 
more acute. So Ascension Via Christi is sending samples to its lab in 
Tulsa. Getting results takes about a day and a half.

“We have couriers running routes to and from our Kansas hospitals multiple times a day,” Yost said. “Seven days a week.”

As of last week, more than 6,500 Kansans had been tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">More than 550</a> had tested positive. The state has a <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">dashboard</a> that lets you explore how many people have been tested in each county.

Some doctors are raising concerns about <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/" target="_blank">false negatives</a>
 — tests that suggest someone doesn’t have the virus when they are 
infected — and encouraging people with coronavirus symptoms who test 
negative to stay home anyway.

Congress passed a law <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">requiring most</a>&nbsp;health plans to cover COVID-19 testing for now without cost to the patient. But patients could get bills anyway, <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation says</a>.

Americans
 often end up at an emergency room outside their insurance network, or 
sometimes go to an in-network hospital or clinic only to find out later 
that the facility used out-of-network labs or staff. Patients might also
 get charged for other services in conjunction with their COVID-19 
tests, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-tests-bills.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.

Uninsured
 people and people with low-quality health insurance should get the 
tests for free, too, under the same federal law, but that will take some
 legwork on the state's part. The Kansas News Service is seeking more 
information from Gov. Laura Kelly's office about what uninsured Kansans 
should do if they receive a bill in the meantime.&nbsp;

As for coronavirus treatment, many insurers may cover it, but <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">they don’t have to</a>.
 On Friday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas announced it would waive 
copays and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment for the next 60 days for 
plans fully under its control. (In other cases, employers will have the 
final say.)&nbsp;

At
 the state lab in Topeka, coronavirus testing took several hours at 
first. Staff worked 16-hour shifts, health secretary Lee Norman has 
said, but still got through fewer than 200 samples a day.

Last weekend, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment received <a href="https://perkinelmer-appliedgenomics.com/home/products/new-coronavirus-2019-ncov-nucleic-acid-detection-kit/" target="_blank">equipment</a> to ramp up to between 700 and 1,000 samples a day. State officials hope to get as many as 64,000 test kits soon.

Kansas has also ordered equipment and supplies for <a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus" target="_blank">45-minute test</a><a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus">s</a> and expects to receive that in the next few weeks.

Yet the specialized nose and throat swabs needed for collecting patient samples are in short supply here and elsewhere.

Private labs, local health agencies and hospitals in Kansas

Some hospitals have purchased testing equipment and kits, too. St Luke’s Health System in the Kansas City area <a href="https://diagnostics.roche.com/us/en/products/params/cobas-sars-cov-2-test.html" target="_blank">set up in-house testing</a> that cut wait time from a few days to hours. The University of Kansas Health System has had <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eEDjrQRAog&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">similar success</a>.

But
 vendors can’t move fast enough to meet demand. Stormont Vail Hospital 
in Topeka expected to receive testing equipment early this week — then 
its supplier pushed back the delivery date to later in the month.

“We
 find that vendors will say that we've been ‘reprioritized’” for various
 coronavirus-related supplies, Stormont CEO Robert Kenagy said. “It's 
very difficult to get vendors to commit.”

For now, many clinics 
and hospitals use external labs. At least four such labs are processing 
tests for Kansas clinics and hospitals.

Community Health Center 
of Southeast Kansas uses a company with lab sites in Lenexa and St. 
Louis. As of this week, the center had plenty of supplies to gather 
patient samples, but getting back results was taking five to seven days,
 vice president Christi Keating said.

As of April 1, private labs had identified about 75% of known COVID-19 cases in Kansas.

The state lab may sometimes be a faster option, but limited resources have forced Kansas to limit who it tests.

Clinics and hospitals can send samples to the state lab only for patients that <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Testing_Priorities_3-22.20.pdf" target="_blank">fit certain criteria</a>,
 such as health care workers or nursing home residents with coronavirus 
symptoms. Samples from other patients go to private labs.

What about those drive-through testing sites?

Sites such as <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/covid-19-testing-limited-kansas-city-so-dont-expect-get-one-without-doctors-order#stream/0" target="_blank">this one</a> in Wyandotte County where patients can pull up and give a sample to a waiting health worker are springing up across the state.

So
 far these are not places to show up unannounced. You’ll need approval 
and an appointment through a health care provider first. Criteria vary 
by provider, and some <a href="https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/saint-lukes-news-three-covid-19-drive-thru-testing-sites-set-qualifying-saint-lukes" target="_blank">post them on their websites</a>.

Whether
 to order the test in the first place remains up to your health care 
provider. Because of the testing bottleneck, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention recommends prioritizing some patients over 
others, but <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/priority-testing-patients.pdf" target="_blank">its guidelines</a> aren’t binding.

If
 your symptoms aren’t serious, your doctor or nurse practitioner may 
simply ask you to stay home, care for yourself and call if you get 
worse. Most people test negative for COVID-19, and most cases of it are 
mild. Research from other countries suggests about 1 in 5 patients get 
sick enough to need hospitalization.

“It would be nice if we had 
as many COVID-19 tests as we do influenza tests, but it’s not there,” 
said Jim Zauche, a doctor at Garden City’s St. Catherine Hospital.

His
 hospital is focusing on testing people sick enough for hospitalization.
 So for Finney County residents with milder symptoms, he recommends 
calling the public health department or your doctor before showing up at
 the ER in search of a test.

The CDC has a list of coronavirus symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">self-check tool</a> to help people decide when to seek medical care.

What about tests for people without symptoms?

The question of whether to push for <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-testing-paradox-united-states" target="_blank">broader testing</a> remains a matter of debate, with some experts arguing the U.S. shouldn’t ignore people with few or no symptoms.

Kansas
 ultimately wants to launch population studies that include seemingly 
healthy people, to better understand how common the virus is in 
different areas, pinpoint hotspots and stop the spread. Johnson County 
has plans for <a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/johnson-county-board-of-commissioners-oks-additional-covid-19-testing/31984155" target="_blank">a similar effort</a>.

Officials were hopeful this week that enough test kits would come through to help the state achieve that.

“It will allow us to change our thinking,” Norman said. “Until that time, social distancing is the name of the game.”

A Yale University medical professor is among those <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/well/live/coronavirus-symptoms-tests-false-negative.html" target="_blank">urging caution</a>
 among people told they don’t have the coronavirus, and warning of a 
potentially significant rate of people testing negative despite having 
the illness.

KU Health System has double-tested 34 patients so far to check accuracy, and got the same results in each round of testing.

But
 the problem of false negatives may have less to do with the actual test
 and more to do with sample collection, which often involves inserting 
an uncomfortable swab very deep into a person’s nose. That makes 
training medical workers vital, or all bets are off.

“You’re 
putting … the swab back to about where your ear is,” KU infectious 
disease specialist Dana Hawkinson said. “If you have a nice nurse who 
doesn’t want to hurt you, that could be a problem because the sampling 
may not be good.”

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272128141.jpeg" alt=" Drive-through testing sites are popping up across Kansas, but don't show up without an appointment. J. Schafer / Kansas Public Radio" />
 <figcaption> Drive-through testing sites are popping up across Kansas, but don't show up without an appointment. J. Schafer / Kansas Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/how-coronavirus-testing-works-if-you-live-kansas#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — In many parts of Kansas, people not sick enough for hospitalization still can’t find out if they have COVID-19.Doctor’s
 offices and hospitals say access to coronavirus testing has improved in
 Kansas, but still remains out of reach for many people.A clinic runs out of <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/covid-19-swab-tests-unpleasant-illustration-1495322" target="_blank">swabs</a> to collect patient samples. A vendor postpones delivery of testing equipment. A private lab becomes backlogged.Ascension Via Christi Health in Wichita is among hospitals trying to buy <a href="https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2020-03-27-Abbott-Launches-Molecular-Point-of-Care-Test-to-Detect-Novel-Coronavirus-in-as-Little-as-Five-Minutes" target="_blank">new 5- to 15-minute tests</a>
 that received a temporary emergency greenlight from the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration. But the best the system of hospitals and clinics 
can do for now is get in line, so it has contacted its suppliers.“We have the equipment,” chief nursing officer Carla Yost said in an email, “but we do not have the test kits.”For
 now, she says, those kits are heading to areas where the outbreak is 
more acute. So Ascension Via Christi is sending samples to its lab in 
Tulsa. Getting results takes about a day and a half.“We have couriers running routes to and from our Kansas hospitals multiple times a day,” Yost said. “Seven days a week.”As of last week, more than 6,500 Kansans had been tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/updated-regularly-what-kansans-need-know-about-covid-19-coronavirus#stream/0" target="_blank">More than 550</a> had tested positive. The state has a <a href="https://public.tableau.com/profile/kdhe.epidemiology#!/vizhome/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData" target="_blank">dashboard</a> that lets you explore how many people have been tested in each county.Some doctors are raising concerns about <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/02/nation/how-accurate-are-coronavirus-tests-doctors-raise-concern-about-false-negative-results/" target="_blank">false negatives</a>
 — tests that suggest someone doesn’t have the virus when they are 
infected — and encouraging people with coronavirus symptoms who test 
negative to stay home anyway.<h2>Is testing free?</h2>Congress passed a law <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">requiring most</a>&nbsp;health plans to cover COVID-19 testing for now without cost to the patient. But patients could get bills anyway, <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">Kaiser Family Foundation says</a>.Americans
 often end up at an emergency room outside their insurance network, or 
sometimes go to an in-network hospital or clinic only to find out later 
that the facility used out-of-network labs or staff. Patients might also
 get charged for other services in conjunction with their COVID-19 
tests, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-tests-bills.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a> reported.Uninsured
 people and people with low-quality health insurance should get the 
tests for free, too, under the same federal law, but that will take some
 legwork on the state's part. The Kansas News Service is seeking more 
information from Gov. Laura Kelly's office about what uninsured Kansans 
should do if they receive a bill in the meantime.&nbsp;As for coronavirus treatment, many insurers may cover it, but <a href="https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/issue-brief/private-health-coverage-of-covid-19-key-facts-and-issues/" target="_blank">they don’t have to</a>.
 On Friday, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas announced it would waive 
copays and deductibles for COVID-19 treatment for the next 60 days for 
plans fully under its control. (In other cases, employers will have the 
final say.)&nbsp;<h2>How much testing does Kansas do?</h2>At
 the state lab in Topeka, coronavirus testing took several hours at 
first. Staff worked 16-hour shifts, health secretary Lee Norman has 
said, but still got through fewer than 200 samples a day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272211245.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Last weekend, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment received <a href="https://perkinelmer-appliedgenomics.com/home/products/new-coronavirus-2019-ncov-nucleic-acid-detection-kit/" target="_blank">equipment</a> to ramp up to between 700 and 1,000 samples a day. State officials hope to get as many as 64,000 test kits soon.Kansas has also ordered equipment and supplies for <a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus" target="_blank">45-minute test</a><a href="https://www.cepheid.com/coronavirus">s</a> and expects to receive that in the next few weeks.Yet the specialized nose and throat swabs needed for collecting patient samples are in short supply here and elsewhere.<h2>Private labs, local health agencies and hospitals in Kansas</h2>Some hospitals have purchased testing equipment and kits, too. St Luke’s Health System in the Kansas City area <a href="https://diagnostics.roche.com/us/en/products/params/cobas-sars-cov-2-test.html" target="_blank">set up in-house testing</a> that cut wait time from a few days to hours. The University of Kansas Health System has had <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eEDjrQRAog&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">similar success</a>.But
 vendors can’t move fast enough to meet demand. Stormont Vail Hospital 
in Topeka expected to receive testing equipment early this week — then 
its supplier pushed back the delivery date to later in the month.“We
 find that vendors will say that we've been ‘reprioritized’” for various
 coronavirus-related supplies, Stormont CEO Robert Kenagy said. “It's 
very difficult to get vendors to commit.”For now, many clinics 
and hospitals use external labs. At least four such labs are processing 
tests for Kansas clinics and hospitals.Community Health Center 
of Southeast Kansas uses a company with lab sites in Lenexa and St. 
Louis. As of this week, the center had plenty of supplies to gather 
patient samples, but getting back results was taking five to seven days,
 vice president Christi Keating said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586272249249.jpeg" alt=" View from a patient's car while waiting for testing. Credit Submitted" />
 <figcaption> View from a patient's car while waiting for testing. Credit Submitted</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Who gets tested through which lab?</h2>As of April 1, private labs had identified about 75% of known COVID-19 cases in Kansas.The state lab may sometimes be a faster option, but limited resources have forced Kansas to limit who it tests.Clinics and hospitals can send samples to the state lab only for patients that <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/toolkit/COVID-19_Testing_Priorities_3-22.20.pdf" target="_blank">fit certain criteria</a>,
 such as health care workers or nursing home residents with coronavirus 
symptoms. Samples from other patients go to private labs.<h2>What about those drive-through testing sites?</h2>Sites such as <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/covid-19-testing-limited-kansas-city-so-dont-expect-get-one-without-doctors-order#stream/0" target="_blank">this one</a> in Wyandotte County where patients can pull up and give a sample to a waiting health worker are springing up across the state.So
 far these are not places to show up unannounced. You’ll need approval 
and an appointment through a health care provider first. Criteria vary 
by provider, and some <a href="https://www.saintlukeskc.org/about/news/saint-lukes-news-three-covid-19-drive-thru-testing-sites-set-qualifying-saint-lukes" target="_blank">post them on their websites</a>.<h2>Who can get tested?</h2>Whether
 to order the test in the first place remains up to your health care 
provider. Because of the testing bottleneck, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention recommends prioritizing some patients over 
others, but <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/priority-testing-patients.pdf" target="_blank">its guidelines</a> aren’t binding.If
 your symptoms aren’t serious, your doctor or nurse practitioner may 
simply ask you to stay home, care for yourself and call if you get 
worse. Most people test negative for COVID-19, and most cases of it are 
mild. Research from other countries suggests about 1 in 5 patients get 
sick enough to need hospitalization.“It would be nice if we had 
as many COVID-19 tests as we do influenza tests, but it’s not there,” 
said Jim Zauche, a doctor at Garden City’s St. Catherine Hospital.His
 hospital is focusing on testing people sick enough for hospitalization.
 So for Finney County residents with milder symptoms, he recommends 
calling the public health department or your doctor before showing up at
 the ER in search of a test.The CDC has a list of coronavirus symptoms and a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html" target="_blank">self-check tool</a> to help people decide when to seek medical care.<h2>What about tests for people without symptoms?</h2>The question of whether to push for <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/covid-19-coronavirus-testing-paradox-united-states" target="_blank">broader testing</a> remains a matter of debate, with some experts arguing the U.S. shouldn’t ignore people with few or no symptoms.Kansas
 ultimately wants to launch population studies that include seemingly 
healthy people, to better understand how common the virus is in 
different areas, pinpoint hotspots and stop the spread. Johnson County 
has plans for <a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/johnson-county-board-of-commissioners-oks-additional-covid-19-testing/31984155" target="_blank">a similar effort</a>.Officials were hopeful this week that enough test kits would come through to help the state achieve that.“It will allow us to change our thinking,” Norman said. “Until that time, social distancing is the name of the game.”<h2>What about false negatives?</h2>A Yale University medical professor is among those <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/well/live/coronavirus-symptoms-tests-false-negative.html" target="_blank">urging caution</a>
 among people told they don’t have the coronavirus, and warning of a 
potentially significant rate of people testing negative despite having 
the illness.KU Health System has double-tested 34 patients so far to check accuracy, and got the same results in each round of testing.But
 the problem of false negatives may have less to do with the actual test
 and more to do with sample collection, which often involves inserting 
an uncomfortable swab very deep into a person’s nose. That makes 
training medical workers vital, or all bets are off.“You’re 
putting … the swab back to about where your ear is,” KU infectious 
disease specialist Dana Hawkinson said. “If you have a nice nurse who 
doesn’t want to hurt you, that could be a problem because the sampling 
may not be good.”Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" target="_blank">@celia_LJ</a>
 or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

This is how coronavirus testing works if you live in Kansas 

By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/jobs-topeka-diner-so-many-across-kansas-might-not-survive-covid-19#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — Set apart from its fast-food 
neighbors by a vintage neon sign that speaks of another era, the Hanover
 Pancake House sits a few short blocks from the Kansas Statehouse. It’s 
been a Capital mainstay for more than 50 years.

But today, like most dine-in restaurants across the state, it’s closed because of the coronavirus.

Those
 closures have thrown tens of thousands of Kansans out of work and 
deprived hundreds of thousands more the comfort of friends in familiar 
places.

When owner Scott Albrecht shut it down on March 20, he told his 32 employees that he hoped to re-open in a matter of weeks.

Anything longer than two or three weeks, Albrecht said, “and I’ll need some help.”

The
 challenges facing Albrecht and his displaced workers confront thousands
 of other businesses across the state. They all will need state and 
federal lifelines to survive the crisis.&nbsp;

For Marsha 
Dighera-Neria, surviving after losing her job at the Pancake House meant
 getting unemployment checks as quickly as possible.&nbsp;

In just the last two weeks,<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/UI%20Weekly%20Review.pdf" target="_blank"> 79,353 Kansans filed initial unemployment claims.</a>That’s a record.

The unprecedented surge in claims has <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-sees-1000-surge-jobless-claims-covid-19-derails-economy" target="_blank">overwhelmed the Kansas Department of Labor,</a> which is averaging more than 200,000 calls a day.&nbsp;

Hospitality workers — a category that includes hotel workers and those employed by Kansas’ <a href="https://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/State-Statistics/kansas.pdf" target="_blank">more than 5,000 bars and restaurants </a>— account for nearly 20% of the new unemployment claims.

Dighera-Neria
 beat the rush by filing right after finishing her final shift. She 
expects to recieve $146 a week until she goes back to work.

“That’s about half of what I was making at the restaurant,” she said.

A federal relief plan aimed to minimize the impact of 
coronavirus-driven shutdowns to the economy will deliver another $600 a 
week to suddenly jobless workers like Dighera-Neria. But it could be 
weeks before those benefits start arriving.

Stuck at home, Dighera-Neria and the other waitresses check in with one other almost every day by phone or on Facebook.

“We all have to take care of each other and that’s what us girls are trying to do,” said Marsha Dighera-Neria.

Some, she said, are handling the uncertainty “better than others.”

“It’s hard,” she said, “when you don’t know how long this is going to go on.”

So
 they worry together about whether the restaurant will survive and how 
the customers they’ve grown accustomed to seeing every day are getting 
by.

“Some people really depend on coming in,” Dighera-Neria said.
 “Elderly people, you know. It’s human contact and now there is none.”

Restaurants
 across the country lost $25 billion in March, according to the National
 Restaurant Association. Thousands of the restaurants closed now will 
never reopen.

Albrecht acknowledges that the restaurant he 
inherited from his father in 1999 could be among those shuttered for 
good if the health crisis persists for months. But for now, he’s laying 
the groundwork to reopen by applying for a Small Business Administration
 loan that he won’t have to repay if he hires everyone back.&nbsp;

“It’s going to be the shot in the arm we need to open back up,” he said.&nbsp;

The relief bill recently passed by Congress contains $350 billion for the<a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp" target="_blank"> Paycheck Protection Program.</a>
 Small business owners must go through their local banks to obtain the 
loans. However, bankers across the country say they’re not ready to 
handle the anticipated volume of applications. They also say federal 
officials <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/paycheck-protection-program-202113050.html" target="_blank">haven’t provided them with detailed instructions </a>on how to run the program.

Albrecht said he caught his banker unaware when he called earlier this week to start the process.&nbsp;

“I was surprised he hadn’t heard anything yet,” Albrecht said.&nbsp;

Once
 the administrative problems are fixed, Albrecht hopes to get about 
$100,000 to cover ongoing expenses. Everything from rent — about $5,000 a
 month — to utility bills and maintenance to keep the restaurant’s water
 softening system, freezers and ice machines working.

“Those things add up real quickly,” he said.

On the day he closed, Albrecht said he had enough cash on hand to pay
 his employees, but he didn’t have enough to cover the roughly $15,000 
he owed the federal and state governments in withholding and sales 
taxes.

He had set that money aside, but he spent it on emergency repairs to an oven and the restaurant’s main freezer.

“Had
 I known this (coronavirus) disaster was going to be happening, I could 
have held those checks and paid them a little later,” he said. “But I 
had no idea we were going to be this drastically affected.”

With
 so many Kansas businesses struggling, state officials know that a 
reckoning is coming. Tax collections that had met or exceeded estimates 
every month for the last two years fell short in March.

Though 
they totaled only $8.6 million less than the expected $523 million, Gov.
 Laura Kelly is bracing for steeper drops in the months ahead.

“We know we’re going to be taking a huge hit in our revenues,” Kelly said in a news conference.

By
 the time Albrecht shut the restaurant down, he was also starting to 
fall behind on payments to the distributors who supplied him with bread,
 eggs, bacon, coffee and other diner staples.

With hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country in similar straits, those companies are also suffering.

Sysco,
 one of Albrecht’s suppliers, is replacing fresh meat and produce with 
frozen fare to cut back on costs. It’s also laying off workers in 
droves. The person who handled Albrecht’s account for the last dozen 
years was among the casualties.

“He was a 12-year veteran of the company,” Albrecht said, and “a good guy.”

The ripple effects of Hanover’s closure are evident in other ways.

Mack
 Smith is the kind of hail-fellow-well-met you’ll find among Capitol 
insiders. He and a half dozen others have met for breakfast at the 
Pancake House nearly every weekday for years. They eat, read newspapers 
and talk about politics, sports, music, movie trivia.

“We have a 
blast,” Smith said. “We have our regular waitresses on certain days. 
It’s quite a relationship that’s developed through the years.”

Smith misses starting each day with “my buddies,” but said he also thinks about the people who have served him over the years.

“I worry about how they’re going to feed the people they love,” he said. “It’s just scary as heck.”

Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>&nbsp;or email jim@kcur.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270635012.jpeg" alt=" Scott Albrecht surveys his empty Topeka restaurant after closing because of the coronavirus. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Scott Albrecht surveys his empty Topeka restaurant after closing because of the coronavirus. Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/jobs-topeka-diner-so-many-across-kansas-might-not-survive-covid-19#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — Set apart from its fast-food 
neighbors by a vintage neon sign that speaks of another era, the Hanover
 Pancake House sits a few short blocks from the Kansas Statehouse. It’s 
been a Capital mainstay for more than 50 years.But today, like most dine-in restaurants across the state, it’s closed because of the coronavirus.Those
 closures have thrown tens of thousands of Kansans out of work and 
deprived hundreds of thousands more the comfort of friends in familiar 
places.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270686953.jpeg" alt=" A couple of blocks from the Kansas Statehouse, the Hanover Pancake House has been a popular breakfast spot for more than 50 years. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> A couple of blocks from the Kansas Statehouse, the Hanover Pancake House has been a popular breakfast spot for more than 50 years. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>When owner Scott Albrecht shut it down on March 20, he told his 32 employees that he hoped to re-open in a matter of weeks.Anything longer than two or three weeks, Albrecht said, “and I’ll need some help.”<h2>Restaurants in peril&nbsp;</h2>The
 challenges facing Albrecht and his displaced workers confront thousands
 of other businesses across the state. They all will need state and 
federal lifelines to survive the crisis.&nbsp;For Marsha 
Dighera-Neria, surviving after losing her job at the Pancake House meant
 getting unemployment checks as quickly as possible.&nbsp;In just the last two weeks,<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/UI%20Weekly%20Review.pdf" target="_blank"> 79,353 Kansans filed initial unemployment claims.</a>That’s a record.The unprecedented surge in claims has <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-sees-1000-surge-jobless-claims-covid-19-derails-economy" target="_blank">overwhelmed the Kansas Department of Labor,</a> which is averaging more than 200,000 calls a day.&nbsp;Hospitality workers — a category that includes hotel workers and those employed by Kansas’ <a href="https://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/State-Statistics/kansas.pdf" target="_blank">more than 5,000 bars and restaurants </a>— account for nearly 20% of the new unemployment claims.Dighera-Neria
 beat the rush by filing right after finishing her final shift. She 
expects to recieve $146 a week until she goes back to work.“That’s about half of what I was making at the restaurant,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270718414.jpeg" alt=" Marsha Dighera-Neria is drawing unemployment, but she wants to get back to work at the restaurant. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Marsha Dighera-Neria is drawing unemployment, but she wants to get back to work at the restaurant. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>A federal relief plan aimed to minimize the impact of 
coronavirus-driven shutdowns to the economy will deliver another $600 a 
week to suddenly jobless workers like Dighera-Neria. But it could be 
weeks before those benefits start arriving.Stuck at home, Dighera-Neria and the other waitresses check in with one other almost every day by phone or on Facebook.“We all have to take care of each other and that’s what us girls are trying to do,” said Marsha Dighera-Neria.Some, she said, are handling the uncertainty “better than others.”“It’s hard,” she said, “when you don’t know how long this is going to go on.”So
 they worry together about whether the restaurant will survive and how 
the customers they’ve grown accustomed to seeing every day are getting 
by.“Some people really depend on coming in,” Dighera-Neria said.
 “Elderly people, you know. It’s human contact and now there is none.”<h2>Saving the diner</h2>Restaurants
 across the country lost $25 billion in March, according to the National
 Restaurant Association. Thousands of the restaurants closed now will 
never reopen.Albrecht acknowledges that the restaurant he 
inherited from his father in 1999 could be among those shuttered for 
good if the health crisis persists for months. But for now, he’s laying 
the groundwork to reopen by applying for a Small Business Administration
 loan that he won’t have to repay if he hires everyone back.&nbsp;“It’s going to be the shot in the arm we need to open back up,” he said.&nbsp;The relief bill recently passed by Congress contains $350 billion for the<a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp" target="_blank"> Paycheck Protection Program.</a>
 Small business owners must go through their local banks to obtain the 
loans. However, bankers across the country say they’re not ready to 
handle the anticipated volume of applications. They also say federal 
officials <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/paycheck-protection-program-202113050.html" target="_blank">haven’t provided them with detailed instructions </a>on how to run the program.Albrecht said he caught his banker unaware when he called earlier this week to start the process.&nbsp;“I was surprised he hadn’t heard anything yet,” Albrecht said.&nbsp;Once
 the administrative problems are fixed, Albrecht hopes to get about 
$100,000 to cover ongoing expenses. Everything from rent — about $5,000 a
 month — to utility bills and maintenance to keep the restaurant’s water
 softening system, freezers and ice machines working.“Those things add up real quickly,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586270743442.jpeg" alt=" Topeka's Hanover Pancake House is one of thousands of Kansas restaurants shut down due to the coronavirus. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Topeka's Hanover Pancake House is one of thousands of Kansas restaurants shut down due to the coronavirus. Credit Jim McLean / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>On the day he closed, Albrecht said he had enough cash on hand to pay
 his employees, but he didn’t have enough to cover the roughly $15,000 
he owed the federal and state governments in withholding and sales 
taxes.He had set that money aside, but he spent it on emergency repairs to an oven and the restaurant’s main freezer.“Had
 I known this (coronavirus) disaster was going to be happening, I could 
have held those checks and paid them a little later,” he said. “But I 
had no idea we were going to be this drastically affected.”<h2>Ripple effects</h2>With
 so many Kansas businesses struggling, state officials know that a 
reckoning is coming. Tax collections that had met or exceeded estimates 
every month for the last two years fell short in March.Though 
they totaled only $8.6 million less than the expected $523 million, Gov.
 Laura Kelly is bracing for steeper drops in the months ahead.“We know we’re going to be taking a huge hit in our revenues,” Kelly said in a news conference.By
 the time Albrecht shut the restaurant down, he was also starting to 
fall behind on payments to the distributors who supplied him with bread,
 eggs, bacon, coffee and other diner staples.With hundreds of thousands of restaurants across the country in similar straits, those companies are also suffering.Sysco,
 one of Albrecht’s suppliers, is replacing fresh meat and produce with 
frozen fare to cut back on costs. It’s also laying off workers in 
droves. The person who handled Albrecht’s account for the last dozen 
years was among the casualties.“He was a 12-year veteran of the company,” Albrecht said, and “a good guy.”The ripple effects of Hanover’s closure are evident in other ways.Mack
 Smith is the kind of hail-fellow-well-met you’ll find among Capitol 
insiders. He and a half dozen others have met for breakfast at the 
Pancake House nearly every weekday for years. They eat, read newspapers 
and talk about politics, sports, music, movie trivia.“We have a 
blast,” Smith said. “We have our regular waitresses on certain days. 
It’s quite a relationship that’s developed through the years.”Smith misses starting each day with “my buddies,” but said he also thinks about the people who have served him over the years.“I worry about how they’re going to feed the people they love,” he said. “It’s just scary as heck.”Jim
 McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service is a 
collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public 
Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy. You can reach him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/jmcleanks" target="_blank">@jmcleanks</a>&nbsp;or email jim@kcur.org.

Restaurant owners wonder if they can survive COVID-19 

By Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press&nbsp;

The first national data on COVID-19 in U.S. children suggest that while the illness usually isn’t severe in kids, some do get sick enough to require hospital treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday shows that fever, cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms in kids, but they occurred less often than in adults. The findings mostly echo reports from China about how the new coronavirus affects children.

The report included nearly 150,000 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases in adults and children from Feb. 12 through April 2. About 2,500 of them, or almost 2%, were children. While most kids didn’t become severely ill, three youngsters died.

About 1 in 5 infected children were hospitalized versus 1 in 3 adults. Cases were more common in older children and teens but serious illness appeared to be more common in infants. Cases were slightly more common in boys than girls.

The authors cautioned that many details were missing from pediatric cases, so the report should be considered preliminary.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including life-threatening pneumonia.

Confirmed U.S. cases top 340,000 with more than 10,000 reported deaths. Globally, there have been more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, and more than 70,000 reported deaths.

The report authors stressed that because people without symptoms, including children, are likely playing a role in transmitting the virus, “social distancing and everyday preventive measures”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html" target="_blank">are recommended&nbsp;</a>for all ages.

Dr. Larry Kociolek, an infectious disease specialist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, said the report should reassure parents and health care workers that children are less likely than adults to get very sick from the new virus. But that can pose a challenge, he said, because “patients with milder illness are less likely to quarantine themselves and may be at similar risk of transmitting.”

Authorities need to take that into account when considering when to lift social distancing policies and reopen schools, Kociolek said.

By Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press&nbsp;The first national data on COVID-19 in U.S. children suggest that while the illness usually isn’t severe in kids, some do get sick enough to require hospital treatment.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Monday shows that fever, cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms in kids, but they occurred less often than in adults. The findings mostly echo reports from China about how the new coronavirus affects children.The report included nearly 150,000 laboratory-confirmed U.S. cases in adults and children from Feb. 12 through April 2. About 2,500 of them, or almost 2%, were children. While most kids didn’t become severely ill, three youngsters died.About 1 in 5 infected children were hospitalized versus 1 in 3 adults. Cases were more common in older children and teens but serious illness appeared to be more common in infants. Cases were slightly more common in boys than girls.The authors cautioned that many details were missing from pediatric cases, so the report should be considered preliminary.For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including life-threatening pneumonia.Confirmed U.S. cases top 340,000 with more than 10,000 reported deaths. Globally, there have been more than 1.3 million confirmed cases, and more than 70,000 reported deaths.The report authors stressed that because people without symptoms, including children, are likely playing a role in transmitting the virus, “social distancing and everyday preventive measures”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html" target="_blank">are recommended&nbsp;</a>for all ages.Dr. Larry Kociolek, an infectious disease specialist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, said the report should reassure parents and health care workers that children are less likely than adults to get very sick from the new virus. But that can pose a challenge, he said, because “patients with milder illness are less likely to quarantine themselves and may be at similar risk of transmitting.”Authorities need to take that into account when considering when to lift social distancing policies and reopen schools, Kociolek said.___

Virus is mostly mild and rarely fatal for US kids, data show

PITTSBURG, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;A Pittsburg man was arrested after he called authorities to say he had fatally shot his father, authorities said.

Crawford County Sheriff Danny Smith said Michael Woodson, 29, called the department Sunday night to say he had shot his father at their home.

He was waiting outside when deputies arrived and was arrested without incident, The Joplin Globe reported.

Deputies found David M. Buckley, 53, dead inside the home. The two men were the only ones at the house when the shooting occurred.

Smith declined to say how many times the father had been shot or with what type of gun.

Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586254458610.png" alt="Woodson-photo Crawford County" />
 <figcaption>Woodson-photo Crawford County</figcaption>
 </figure>PITTSBURG, KAN. (AP) —&nbsp;A Pittsburg man was arrested after he called authorities to say he had fatally shot his father, authorities said.Crawford County Sheriff Danny Smith said Michael Woodson, 29, called the department Sunday night to say he had shot his father at their home.He was waiting outside when deputies arrived and was arrested without incident, The Joplin Globe reported.Deputies found David M. Buckley, 53, dead inside the home. The two men were the only ones at the house when the shooting occurred.Smith declined to say how many times the father had been shot or with what type of gun.Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting.

Kansas man arrested after father is fatally shot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Public Schools has suspended its free meal distribution program for students after a food service worker helping with the effort tested positive for COVID-19, district officials said.

The district announced the suspension Monday, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241807981.html">reported</a>. Officials gave no timeline for when the program might resume, but suggested families go to the Harvesters Community Food Network website to locate food pantries and mobile distribution sites.

“This was not an easy decision,” district spokesman Ray Weikal said. “We understand that many of our families depend on school meals to help meet the nutritional needs of their children.”

It was the second case of coronavirus among the district’s food service workers. Weeks ago, a worker who was out of town at the time tested positive.

Most school districts in the Kansas City area launched grab-and-go food pickup programs when the spread of coronavirus closed schools. The programs were meant to help ensure children in at-risk homes were getting enough to eat. But several of the free meal distribution programs have been interrupted as the spread of the virus has grown, including those at Tonganoxie, Kansas, and Raytown. Raytown resumed its service this week.

Kansas City school officials said they will update plans based on guidance from public health authorities.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Public Schools has suspended its free meal distribution program for students after a food service worker helping with the effort tested positive for COVID-19, district officials said.The district announced the suspension Monday, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article241807981.html">reported</a>. Officials gave no timeline for when the program might resume, but suggested families go to the Harvesters Community Food Network website to locate food pantries and mobile distribution sites.“This was not an easy decision,” district spokesman Ray Weikal said. “We understand that many of our families depend on school meals to help meet the nutritional needs of their children.”It was the second case of coronavirus among the district’s food service workers. Weeks ago, a worker who was out of town at the time tested positive.Most school districts in the Kansas City area launched grab-and-go food pickup programs when the spread of coronavirus closed schools. The programs were meant to help ensure children in at-risk homes were getting enough to eat. But several of the free meal distribution programs have been interrupted as the spread of the virus has grown, including those at Tonganoxie, Kansas, and Raytown. Raytown resumed its service this week.Kansas City school officials said they will update plans based on guidance from public health authorities.

Kansas City public schools suspends free meals amid outbreak

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Monday it will support the government’s $349 billion small business lending program, which had a rocky start Friday.

The Fed said that it will buy loans that banks make to small businesses as part of the program, which is being carried out by banks and the Small Business Administration and was set up under the $2.2 trillion economic&nbsp;relief package.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586199586420.png" alt="Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell" />
 <figcaption>Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Monday it will support the government’s $349 billion small business lending program, which had a rocky start Friday.The Fed said that it will buy loans that banks make to small businesses as part of the program, which is being carried out by banks and the Small Business Administration and was set up under the $2.2 trillion economic&nbsp;relief package.The loans can be forgiven if they are spent on payroll, to encourage firms to keep paying their employees or rehire workers they may have recently laid off.By purchasing the loans, the Fed would create an incentive for the banks to engage in more lending. Buying the loans should free up more cash for banks to lend. Otherwise, when banks make a loan, they are typically required to hold some cash in reserve in the case of default.The Fed’s&nbsp;two-sentence announcement&nbsp;said further details will be provided this week.Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, an advisory firm that works with medium-sized companies, said the Fed’s move is intended to encourage more banks to participate because many are reluctant to lend to small companies.“This should help ... reverse risk aversion among potential lenders to provide bridge financing for small firms that otherwise would likely not survive the first phase of the crisis,” Brusuelas said.The Independent Community Bankers of America,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icba.org/docs/default-source/icba/advocacy-documents/letters-to-regulators/icba-recommendations-for-success-of-paycheck-protection-program.pdf?sfvrsn=73bc2b17_0&amp;utm_source=informz&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=informz&amp;_zs=MJ2Gb&amp;_zl=4OL32" target="_blank">in a letter Saturday</a>, urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to work with the Fed to set up a purchase program for the small business loans. By taking loans off bank balance sheets, they argued that it would make it easier for smaller banks to participate.“This program should not be limited by the balance sheet capacity of participating lenders,” Rebecca Romero Rainey, CEO of the ICBA, said in the letter.It could potentially help some larger banks as well. Wells Fargo said it did $10 billion in loan applications over the weekend, the maximum the bank was allowed to do. Because of the bank’s prior scandals, Wells Fargo is under restraints from the Federal Reserve on how many loans it can hold on its books.The Fed is also expected to launch a program that would aid states and cities by buying municipal bonds. The rescue package approved last month directed Mnuchin to support such an effort as part of the $454 billion the legislation provided the Treasury to backstop the Fed’s efforts to support the banking system and economy.In a phone call with the nation’s governors Monday, Mnuchin said the Trump administration is working with the Fed to roll out a new “state funding facility” to let make it easier for state governments to borrow money, according to audio of the call obtained by The Associated Press.“We know many of you are going to need to borrow additional funds and to the extent that you can’t tap the markets, we will be setting up a funding facility with the Fed,” he said.Mnuchin also said he expects the stimulus payments to individuals to start being sent out by the end of next week and the aid to states to be distributed by April 24th.Many smaller banks have complained that they have had trouble accessing the lending program, according to the ICBA.But Mnuchin told the governors that the “SBA program (is) up and running. Very successful.”__