TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is recommending voluntary 14-day self-quarantine for those Kansans who traveled to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, over the Memorial Day weekend and did not use protective measures, such as social distancing and face masks.&nbsp;

Over the holiday weekend, large crowds were reported at the Lake of the Ozarks with no protective practices being followed.

“The reckless behavior displayed during this weekend risks setting our community back substantially for the progress we’ve already made in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “If you traveled to Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend, we urge you to act responsibly and self-quarantine to protect your neighbors, co-workers and family.”

While Lake of the Ozarks is not currently on the mandated travel list, KDHE urges those who traveled over the Memorial Day weekend to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return to Kansas.

The areas on the mandated travel advisory include

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic didn't stop people from packing the central Missouri vacation hot spot of the Lake of the Ozarks for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, despite state social distancing orders.

Crowds flooded some bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, which attracts Missouri residents, as well as people in surrounding states, including Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Iowa.

One video&nbsp;posted on social media shows a crammed pool where people lounged close together without masks.

Camden County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Chris Twitchell on Sunday said the typically crowded resort region has been even busier than normal this year. He said people with second houses on the lake moved in a few months ago to quarantine there, plus Memorial Day vacationers too worried to travel by airplane flocked to the mid-Missouri region instead.

“Our normal holiday weekend without all this COVID is ridiculously crazy,” Twitchell said. “So add COVID to it and all the people influxing down here to get away from everywhere else, (and) it just adds more to it. It’s a perfect storm.”

Missouri’s statewide stay-at-home order expired earlier this month, but an order from the state health director requires 6-foot social distancing until at least the end of May.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/pdf/economic-reopening.pdf">order</a>&nbsp;leaves it up to local and state health officials to enforce social distancing.

It’s unclear what steps Lake of the Ozarks-area health officials are taking to enforce that order. Associated Press requests for comment left with local health departments were not immediately returned Sunday.

Twitchell said the Camden County Sheriff's Department is struggling to keep up with an increase of reported crime because of the surge of people. He said there's no way the department has enough deputies to enforce social distancing on top of that.

“We’ve had such an influx of people down here at the lake, we’re just overwhelmed,” he said.

Since the pandemic first hit Missouri, the state health department has reported 38 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Camden County and four in Miller County, which cover some of the Lake of the Ozarks area.

In total, the health department reported that the virus has sickened at least 11,988 people, up 236 cases compared to what was reported Saturday. The confirmed death toll is 681, up from 676 reported deaths Saturday.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590412088066.png" alt="Snapchat video of the crowds at Lake of the Ozarks" />
 <figcaption>Snapchat video of the crowds at Lake of the Ozarks</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is recommending voluntary 14-day self-quarantine for those Kansans who traveled to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, over the Memorial Day weekend and did not use protective measures, such as social distancing and face masks.&nbsp;Over the holiday weekend, large crowds were reported at the Lake of the Ozarks with no protective practices being followed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590504469923.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary</figcaption>
 </figure>“The reckless behavior displayed during this weekend risks setting our community back substantially for the progress we’ve already made in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “If you traveled to Lake of the Ozarks over the weekend, we urge you to act responsibly and self-quarantine to protect your neighbors, co-workers and family.”While Lake of the Ozarks is not currently on the mandated travel list, KDHE urges those who traveled over the Memorial Day weekend to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return to Kansas.The areas on the mandated travel advisory include<ol>
 <li>Connecticut</li><li>Illinois</li><li>Maryland</li><li>Massachusetts</li><li>Rhode Island</li><li>New Jersey</li><li>New York</li><li>Been on a cruise ship or river cruise</li><li>Traveled internationally</li>
 </ol>-------COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic didn't stop people from packing the central Missouri vacation hot spot of the Lake of the Ozarks for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, despite state social distancing orders.Crowds flooded some bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, which attracts Missouri residents, as well as people in surrounding states, including Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas and Iowa.One video&nbsp;posted on social media shows a crammed pool where people lounged close together without masks.Camden County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Chris Twitchell on Sunday said the typically crowded resort region has been even busier than normal this year. He said people with second houses on the lake moved in a few months ago to quarantine there, plus Memorial Day vacationers too worried to travel by airplane flocked to the mid-Missouri region instead.“Our normal holiday weekend without all this COVID is ridiculously crazy,” Twitchell said. “So add COVID to it and all the people influxing down here to get away from everywhere else, (and) it just adds more to it. It’s a perfect storm.”Missouri’s statewide stay-at-home order expired earlier this month, but an order from the state health director requires 6-foot social distancing until at least the end of May.The&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/pdf/economic-reopening.pdf">order</a>&nbsp;leaves it up to local and state health officials to enforce social distancing.It’s unclear what steps Lake of the Ozarks-area health officials are taking to enforce that order. Associated Press requests for comment left with local health departments were not immediately returned Sunday.Twitchell said the Camden County Sheriff's Department is struggling to keep up with an increase of reported crime because of the surge of people. He said there's no way the department has enough deputies to enforce social distancing on top of that.“We’ve had such an influx of people down here at the lake, we’re just overwhelmed,” he said.Since the pandemic first hit Missouri, the state health department has reported 38 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Camden County and four in Miller County, which cover some of the Lake of the Ozarks area.In total, the health department reported that the virus has sickened at least 11,988 people, up 236 cases compared to what was reported Saturday. The confirmed death toll is 681, up from 676 reported deaths Saturday.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

KDHE urges self-quarantine if you traveled to Lake of the Ozarks

English is not a static language. Yesterday’s dictionary lacks many new terms bantered about today. And old words gain new or added meanings. Semantic change picks up speed during times of upheaval and new or modified words are appearing daily just in the realm of education during this pandemic.

“State-ordered closure,” “state-recommended closure” and “closures determined at school/district levels” helped citizens wake up to the fact that education is a state right and responsibility. According to&nbsp;Education Week, 32 states have now waived their minimal number of hours or days of schooling.

“Distance learning,” “remote learning” or “continuous learning” plans were required by most states. Jurisdiction for these actions varied according to the various educational governance systems of each state. However, it rapidly became evident that requiring school districts to have plans does not mean that actual education continued for each student. But “better education through paperwork” has always been more about appearances than reality.

“Summer melt” is the traditional term for the loss in learning that occurs over the summer break. “COVID-melt” now refers to the far greater loss that will occur from an absence that is over twice as long as summer vacation—despite the attempts to provide distance learning.

“Re-acclimation” is the adjustment students make when they return to school in the fall. School usually normalizes by the end of the second week back. But prolonged absence combined with new health safeguards and fears of contagion suggests re-acclimation next fall will be much harder.

“Homeschooling” previously referred only to students voluntarily schooled at home by parent(s) in normal times. Now “homeschooling” is used for all parents quarantined at home with responsibility to help their students. They are not trained teachers. This is often little more than babysitting, despite the best of parental intentions.

“Truancy” was formerly failure of a student to attend school or homeschooling. Despite schools attempting to offer coursework online or by correspondence, up to 40 percent of students in some areas are now completely disconnected from any such learning connection. Some “absence” is due to inability to access digital services. But some students are homeless—couch-surfing or sleeping in cars. Attending school was their one remaining personal connection. And many more students simply do not respond to impersonal distance learning.

In regions lacking broadband service or digital devices, some teachers have resorted to education through lessons delivered via printed “packets.”&nbsp; Some schools combine delivery and pick-up of lesson packets with meals distributed by school buses. This is a return of the old college&nbsp; “correspondence courses” delivered by mail before the digital age. The completion rate of correspondence courses was about ten percent, a figure likely to reflect the success of this “new” methodology.

Very worrisome is the drop in reports of child mistreatment from physical abuse. Classroom teachers nationwide are legally mandated reporters of child abuse. But without in-school personal contact with the children, they cannot detect evidence of such abuse. With the home environment even more stressed, few professionals believe that mistreatment has really declined; just the ability to report it.

“Old people technology" is a new term for saving WORD documents and using e-mail. This younger generation of K–12 students are often not familiar with any technology that is not a smartphone app.&nbsp; Since most current business relies on web-based workflow, this pandemic has revealed how schools assumed the new generation was tech-savvy and failed to teach the actual skills needed.

“If students satisfactorily complete their coursework, give them an ‘A’ and move on” has become a K–12 and university mantra, also called a “do no harm” approach to grading. The trend to discard test requirements such as the ACT and SAT has also accelerated. “Test optional” has become a legitimate way to ignore poor academics and pass the unqualified.

And “Zoom” has gone from a small child’s exclamation while playing with toy cars, to a desperate and often problematic medium for group communication—and sometimes a four-letter word.&nbsp; &nbsp;

COVID-19 has serious medical consequences. But the educational damage may last longer.



John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCKEnglish is not a static language. Yesterday’s dictionary lacks many new terms bantered about today. And old words gain new or added meanings. Semantic change picks up speed during times of upheaval and new or modified words are appearing daily just in the realm of education during this pandemic.“State-ordered closure,” “state-recommended closure” and “closures determined at school/district levels” helped citizens wake up to the fact that education is a state right and responsibility. According to&nbsp;Education Week, 32 states have now waived their minimal number of hours or days of schooling.“Distance learning,” “remote learning” or “continuous learning” plans were required by most states. Jurisdiction for these actions varied according to the various educational governance systems of each state. However, it rapidly became evident that requiring school districts to have plans does not mean that actual education continued for each student. But “better education through paperwork” has always been more about appearances than reality.“Summer melt” is the traditional term for the loss in learning that occurs over the summer break. “COVID-melt” now refers to the far greater loss that will occur from an absence that is over twice as long as summer vacation—despite the attempts to provide distance learning.“Re-acclimation” is the adjustment students make when they return to school in the fall. School usually normalizes by the end of the second week back. But prolonged absence combined with new health safeguards and fears of contagion suggests re-acclimation next fall will be much harder.“Homeschooling” previously referred only to students voluntarily schooled at home by parent(s) in normal times. Now “homeschooling” is used for all parents quarantined at home with responsibility to help their students. They are not trained teachers. This is often little more than babysitting, despite the best of parental intentions.“Truancy” was formerly failure of a student to attend school or homeschooling. Despite schools attempting to offer coursework online or by correspondence, up to 40 percent of students in some areas are now completely disconnected from any such learning connection. Some “absence” is due to inability to access digital services. But some students are homeless—couch-surfing or sleeping in cars. Attending school was their one remaining personal connection. And many more students simply do not respond to impersonal distance learning.In regions lacking broadband service or digital devices, some teachers have resorted to education through lessons delivered via printed “packets.”&nbsp; Some schools combine delivery and pick-up of lesson packets with meals distributed by school buses. This is a return of the old college&nbsp; “correspondence courses” delivered by mail before the digital age. The completion rate of correspondence courses was about ten percent, a figure likely to reflect the success of this “new” methodology.Very worrisome is the drop in reports of child mistreatment from physical abuse. Classroom teachers nationwide are legally mandated reporters of child abuse. But without in-school personal contact with the children, they cannot detect evidence of such abuse. With the home environment even more stressed, few professionals believe that mistreatment has really declined; just the ability to report it.“Old people technology" is a new term for saving WORD documents and using e-mail. This younger generation of K–12 students are often not familiar with any technology that is not a smartphone app.&nbsp; Since most current business relies on web-based workflow, this pandemic has revealed how schools assumed the new generation was tech-savvy and failed to teach the actual skills needed.“If students satisfactorily complete their coursework, give them an ‘A’ and move on” has become a K–12 and university mantra, also called a “do no harm” approach to grading. The trend to discard test requirements such as the ACT and SAT has also accelerated. “Test optional” has become a legitimate way to ignore poor academics and pass the unqualified.And “Zoom” has gone from a small child’s exclamation while playing with toy cars, to a desperate and often problematic medium for group communication—and sometimes a four-letter word.&nbsp; &nbsp;COVID-19 has serious medical consequences. But the educational damage may last longer.

John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

Ed. Frontlines: The New Education Language of COVID-19

TOPEKA —The Department for Children and Families in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced this week the creation of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program (P-EBT). The program will help families who have been impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 to purchase food for their children.

“We know the pandemic has made it difficult for families to access food, especially if they relied on school meals,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to the partnership between DCF and KSDE the state will be able to automatically enroll most families into the P-EBT program, so they receive their benefit as quickly as possible.”

“Food insecurity should be the last thing our Kansas children should have to face right now,” Cheryl Johnson KSDE director of child nutrition and wellness said. “P-EBT provides temporary funding to address emergency food needs and avert financial hardship for families affected by the pandemic. I am thankful that through this partnership, Kansas is able to put healthy food on the table for Kansas children.”

P-EBT provides a one-time benefit of up to $291 on a Kansas Benefits Card to Kansas families whose children between the age of 5 to 18 would receive free or reduced-price meals at participating schools. There is no application process to receive the P-EBT benefit.

DCF will issue the benefit in phases. Those Kansas families who currently receive free or reduced-price meals and are enrolled in the food assistance or TANF programs should begin to receive their benefit later this week.

The second phase also will include an automatic match with those families on free or reduced-price meals and who also are receiving Medicaid or child care assistance.

The final phase will include families that need to provide additional information to receive the benefit. Those families will receive access to a parent portal to register for the program beginning June 5. Parents should receive information from their school district on how to access the parent portal.

“Most families should expect to see their benefit in the next two weeks,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “If families have not yet received information about P-EBT, I encourage them to reach out to their local school district.”

In order to provide additional information about P-EBT and to answer questions, DCF is hosting a virtual town hall meeting tomorrow from 11 a.m. to noon.

Use this link to join:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/KansasP-EBTTownHall" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/KansasP-EBTTownHall</a>

TOPEKA —The Department for Children and Families in collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced this week the creation of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program (P-EBT). The program will help families who have been impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 to purchase food for their children.“We know the pandemic has made it difficult for families to access food, especially if they relied on school meals,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Thanks to the partnership between DCF and KSDE the state will be able to automatically enroll most families into the P-EBT program, so they receive their benefit as quickly as possible.”“Food insecurity should be the last thing our Kansas children should have to face right now,” Cheryl Johnson KSDE director of child nutrition and wellness said. “P-EBT provides temporary funding to address emergency food needs and avert financial hardship for families affected by the pandemic. I am thankful that through this partnership, Kansas is able to put healthy food on the table for Kansas children.”P-EBT provides a one-time benefit of up to $291 on a Kansas Benefits Card to Kansas families whose children between the age of 5 to 18 would receive free or reduced-price meals at participating schools. There is no application process to receive the P-EBT benefit.DCF will issue the benefit in phases. Those Kansas families who currently receive free or reduced-price meals and are enrolled in the food assistance or TANF programs should begin to receive their benefit later this week.The second phase also will include an automatic match with those families on free or reduced-price meals and who also are receiving Medicaid or child care assistance.The final phase will include families that need to provide additional information to receive the benefit. Those families will receive access to a parent portal to register for the program beginning June 5. Parents should receive information from their school district on how to access the parent portal.“Most families should expect to see their benefit in the next two weeks,” DCF Secretary Laura Howard said. “If families have not yet received information about P-EBT, I encourage them to reach out to their local school district.”In order to provide additional information about P-EBT and to answer questions, DCF is hosting a virtual town hall meeting tomorrow from 11 a.m. to noon.Virtual P-EBT Town HallThursday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to noon.Use this link to join:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/KansasP-EBTTownHall" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/KansasP-EBTTownHall</a>

Kan. families receive additional food support through Pandemic EBT program

Beginning next week, there are changes to the drive-thru test site locations and hours of operation in El Dorado, Hutchinson, and Salina. 

The drive-thru testing sites are now available to anyone who meets CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high risk groups without symptoms.&nbsp;Those interested in being tested need to visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.doineedacovid19test.com/" target="_blank">www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com</a>&nbsp;to see if eligible for testing and to make an appointment. To be tested, individuals must have a scheduled appointment and be present in a vehicle.

The testing sites are supported by&nbsp;Walmart,&nbsp;eTrueNorth, and&nbsp;state and local officials. As of Friday, Walmart has 180 active test sites in 27 states that have tested more than 49,000 people. The&nbsp;sites use a self-administered nasal swab test with results from the test being received within three to five business days.

“The self-swab protocol for specimen collection is the FDA-approved, standard-of-care used widely across the country,” said Coral May, eTrueNorth’s CEO. “We have implemented a process whereby the entire self-swab is supervised by a pharmacist. While the individual is inside their vehicle, the pharmacist communicates with the individual regarding angle and positioning of the swab in the nose via both verbal instructions and step-by-step flash card. The key to the self-administrated nasal swab test is that the individual is being instructed, supervised and observed by a pharmacist.”

UPDATED COVID-19 testing for Salina

•Updated Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly, 7–9 a.m.

•Note:&nbsp;The site will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, but will open Tuesday from 7-9 a.m. and resume its regular schedule on Wednesday.

•New Location:&nbsp; Salina Walmart Parking Lot: 2900 South Ninth Street

•This is a self-administered nasal swab test that is performed by the individual is in their vehicle.

•A trained pharmacist observes the self-administration of the specimen collection to ensure the sample is taken correctly, including counting out loud so the individual can hear to ensure the swab is in contact with nasal passage long enough to collect an appropriate sample.

•The nasal-swab specimen collection is the standard of care for COVID-19 testing across the country.

•Once specimens are collected at the drive-through testing sites, they are shipped to certified laboratories across the country for analysis.

•The specimens collected at these drive-through sites are analyzed on the gold standard of laboratory testing instruments.

•The testing method (RT-PCR) is approved by the U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services and is used nationally. In short, the analysis is performed by high quality laboratories, and the results are accurate.

•The sites are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., weather permitting.

•NOTE:&nbsp; The sites will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, but will open Tuesday from 7-9 a.m. and resume their regular schedule on Wednesday.

•Testing is for adults who meet CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high risk groups without symptoms.

•Individuals must be 18 years and older.

•The testing site will require an appointment&nbsp; through&nbsp; eTrueNorth’s&nbsp; online&nbsp;portal at&nbsp; www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com, or by calling the toll-free number at 800-635-8611.

•Once on site, those being tested will need to wear a mask and stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test site is not available to those who walk up.

•The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained Walmart pharmacist to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and drop the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-thru site.

•eTrueNorth will&nbsp;handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested and applicable departments of health.

•The sites will be staffed by Walmart pharmacists and associates.

•While individuals who are tested are awaiting results, please follow&nbsp;CDC guidelines&nbsp;and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in your home and community.

Beginning next week, there are changes to the drive-thru test site locations and hours of operation in El Dorado, Hutchinson, and Salina. The drive-thru testing sites are now available to anyone who meets CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high risk groups without symptoms.&nbsp;Those interested in being tested need to visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.doineedacovid19test.com/" target="_blank">www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com</a>&nbsp;to see if eligible for testing and to make an appointment. To be tested, individuals must have a scheduled appointment and be present in a vehicle.The testing sites are supported by&nbsp;Walmart,&nbsp;eTrueNorth, and&nbsp;state and local officials. As of Friday, Walmart has 180 active test sites in 27 states that have tested more than 49,000 people. The&nbsp;sites use a self-administered nasal swab test with results from the test being received within three to five business days.“The self-swab protocol for specimen collection is the FDA-approved, standard-of-care used widely across the country,” said Coral May, eTrueNorth’s CEO. “We have implemented a process whereby the entire self-swab is supervised by a pharmacist. While the individual is inside their vehicle, the pharmacist communicates with the individual regarding angle and positioning of the swab in the nose via both verbal instructions and step-by-step flash card. The key to the self-administrated nasal swab test is that the individual is being instructed, supervised and observed by a pharmacist.”UPDATED COVID-19 testing for Salina•Updated Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly, 7–9 a.m.•Note:&nbsp;The site will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, but will open Tuesday from 7-9 a.m. and resume its regular schedule on Wednesday.•New Location:&nbsp; Salina Walmart Parking Lot: 2900 South Ninth StreetTESTING OVERVIEW•This is a self-administered nasal swab test that is performed by the individual is in their vehicle.•A trained pharmacist observes the self-administration of the specimen collection to ensure the sample is taken correctly, including counting out loud so the individual can hear to ensure the swab is in contact with nasal passage long enough to collect an appropriate sample.•The nasal-swab specimen collection is the standard of care for COVID-19 testing across the country.•Once specimens are collected at the drive-through testing sites, they are shipped to certified laboratories across the country for analysis.•The specimens collected at these drive-through sites are analyzed on the gold standard of laboratory testing instruments.•The testing method (RT-PCR) is approved by the U.S. Department of Health &amp; Human Services and is used nationally. In short, the analysis is performed by high quality laboratories, and the results are accurate.Additional testing information•The sites are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays weekly from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., weather permitting.•NOTE:&nbsp; The sites will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, but will open Tuesday from 7-9 a.m. and resume their regular schedule on Wednesday.•Testing is for adults who meet CDC and state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers and others with symptoms of COVID-19 and those in high risk groups without symptoms.•Individuals must be 18 years and older.•The testing site will require an appointment&nbsp; through&nbsp; eTrueNorth’s&nbsp; online&nbsp;portal at&nbsp; www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com, or by calling the toll-free number at 800-635-8611.•Once on site, those being tested will need to wear a mask and stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test site is not available to those who walk up.•The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained Walmart pharmacist to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and drop the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-thru site.•eTrueNorth will&nbsp;handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested and applicable departments of health.•The sites will be staffed by Walmart pharmacists and associates.•While individuals who are tested are awaiting results, please follow&nbsp;CDC guidelines&nbsp;and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in your home and community.

COVID-19 drive-thru test site changes announced

The latest Talk305 podcast is out. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:

The latest Talk305 podcast is out. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSD305%2Fposts%2F2966193516762453&width=500" width="500" height="825" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Latest Talk305 reflects on teaching during pandemic

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder said Thursday he will not file criminal charges against people who violate executive orders issued by the governor related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Schroeder attributed his decision to guidance from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article242903531.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

A legal opinion issued Wednesday by the state attorney general calls the legality of the disaster declaration granting her broad emergency powers “doubtful,” suggesting the governor cannot issue “rolling proclamations” of emergency for the same event.

Schroeder, who was among several officials who had asked the attorney general for his opinion on the matter, said in a news release that he will not prosecute any cases based on executive orders issued after May 1.

Gov. Laura Kelly has apparently failed to comply with a legal requirement for distributing proclamations, meaning all of her executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic “cannot be legally enforced in a criminal courtroom,” Schroeder said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576177238643.jpeg" alt="Reno Co. D.A. Keith Schroeder" />
 <figcaption>Reno Co. D.A. Keith Schroeder</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder said Thursday he will not file criminal charges against people who violate executive orders issued by the governor related to the coronavirus pandemic.Schroeder attributed his decision to guidance from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, The Wichita Eagle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article242903531.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.A legal opinion issued Wednesday by the state attorney general calls the legality of the disaster declaration granting her broad emergency powers “doubtful,” suggesting the governor cannot issue “rolling proclamations” of emergency for the same event.Schroeder, who was among several officials who had asked the attorney general for his opinion on the matter, said in a news release that he will not prosecute any cases based on executive orders issued after May 1.Gov. Laura Kelly has apparently failed to comply with a legal requirement for distributing proclamations, meaning all of her executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic “cannot be legally enforced in a criminal courtroom,” Schroeder said.

Kansas prosecutor: No criminal charges over pandemic orders

Here's Saline County's COVID-19 update for Thursday:

The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional cases of COVID-19 to report today. The Health Department continues to actively monitor two cases who are isolated at home. The rest have met the criteria necessary to be considered recovered and have been released from daily monitoring and isolation.

•The Department for Children and Families announced the creation of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program. This program will help families who have been impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 to purchase food for their children. This program provides a one-time benefit of up to $291 on a Kansas Benefits Card to Kansas families whose children between the ages of 5 to 18 would receive free or reduced-priced meals at participating schools. Visit their website for additional information: <a href="http://www.dcf.ks.gov">www.dcf.ks.gov</a>.

•A new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program that will provide direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic was announced by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. For additional information on how agricultural businesses can apply for assistance, please visit <a href="https://www.farmers.gov/cfap">https://www.farmers.gov/cfap</a>.

Phase 2 of the Ad Astra Reopening Plan begins on Friday, May 22nd. Information on Phase 2 and additional guidance documents can be found on our website: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>. Here are the highlights in Phase 2:

•Mass gatherings of 15 or fewer individuals.

•All businesses/activities allowed in Phase 1 and 1.5 may continue to operate with outlined social distancing, mass gathering, and public health restrictions.

•Nail salons, barbershops, hair salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, and other personal service businesses where close contact cannot be avoided may continue to operate, but only for prescheduled appointments.

•Fitness centers and health clubs may continue to operate. In-person group classes will be allowed to begin with groups of no more than 15 individuals at a time. Locker rooms remain closed except for restroom facilities.

•Community Centers may open as long as they follow the mass gatherings and social distancing restrictions. Due to the high-risk population concerns, the Saline County Senior Center will&nbsp; remain closed; but meals on wheels will continue.

•Indoor leisure paces such as movie theaters, trampoline parks, theaters, museums, and bowling allies may open as long as they follow the mass gathering and social distancing restrictions.

•State-owned and operated casinos will be allowed to operate as long as they follow social distancing and mass gathering restrictions.

•Organized sports facilities, games, and sports practice may operate as long as they follow outlined mass gatherings and social distancing guidelines AND follow guidelines established by the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.

•In-person commencement or graduation ceremonies may continue to occur with no more than 15 individuals in a room, gymnasium, or facility at one time so long as 6-foot social distancing is maintained.

Under Phase 2 these are the things that are NOT allowed to take place:

•Opening of bars and night clubs.

•Outdoor and indoor large entertainment venues with a capacity of 2,000 or more.

•Fairs, festivals, carnivals, and parades.

•Swimming pools (other than backyard pools and those used for physical therapy or first-responder training).

•Summer camps unless they are a licensed child care facility.

Reopening Kansas comes by milestones, not on a timetable. Progress will be measured by monitoring our testing rates, COVID-19 hospitalizations, ability to contact trace, and the availability of personal protectiveequipment. He re’s what you can do to help reach reopening milestones:

•Maximize physical distance (6 feet or more) in public settings.

•Avoid socializing with large groups.

•High-risk individuals should only leave the house for essential needs.

•Check-in (via phone/letter/text/email) with friends and family who are isolated.

Help our community in slowing the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>. Stay Safe &amp; Stay Healthy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590100351799.png" alt="Chart courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Chart courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Here's Saline County's COVID-19 update for Thursday:The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional cases of COVID-19 to report today. The Health Department continues to actively monitor two cases who are isolated at home. The rest have met the criteria necessary to be considered recovered and have been released from daily monitoring and isolation.Announcements:•The Department for Children and Families announced the creation of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program. This program will help families who have been impacted by school closures due to COVID-19 to purchase food for their children. This program provides a one-time benefit of up to $291 on a Kansas Benefits Card to Kansas families whose children between the ages of 5 to 18 would receive free or reduced-priced meals at participating schools. Visit their website for additional information: <a href="http://www.dcf.ks.gov">www.dcf.ks.gov</a>.•A new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program that will provide direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic was announced by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. For additional information on how agricultural businesses can apply for assistance, please visit <a href="https://www.farmers.gov/cfap">https://www.farmers.gov/cfap</a>.Phase 2 of the Ad Astra Reopening Plan begins on Friday, May 22nd. Information on Phase 2 and additional guidance documents can be found on our website: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>. Here are the highlights in Phase 2:•Mass gatherings of 15 or fewer individuals.•All businesses/activities allowed in Phase 1 and 1.5 may continue to operate with outlined social distancing, mass gathering, and public health restrictions.•Nail salons, barbershops, hair salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, and other personal service businesses where close contact cannot be avoided may continue to operate, but only for prescheduled appointments.•Fitness centers and health clubs may continue to operate. In-person group classes will be allowed to begin with groups of no more than 15 individuals at a time. Locker rooms remain closed except for restroom facilities.•Community Centers may open as long as they follow the mass gatherings and social distancing restrictions. Due to the high-risk population concerns, the Saline County Senior Center will&nbsp; remain closed; but meals on wheels will continue.•Indoor leisure paces such as movie theaters, trampoline parks, theaters, museums, and bowling allies may open as long as they follow the mass gathering and social distancing restrictions.•State-owned and operated casinos will be allowed to operate as long as they follow social distancing and mass gathering restrictions.•Organized sports facilities, games, and sports practice may operate as long as they follow outlined mass gatherings and social distancing guidelines AND follow guidelines established by the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.•In-person commencement or graduation ceremonies may continue to occur with no more than 15 individuals in a room, gymnasium, or facility at one time so long as 6-foot social distancing is maintained.Under Phase 2 these are the things that are NOT allowed to take place:•Opening of bars and night clubs.•Outdoor and indoor large entertainment venues with a capacity of 2,000 or more.•Fairs, festivals, carnivals, and parades.•Swimming pools (other than backyard pools and those used for physical therapy or first-responder training).•Summer camps unless they are a licensed child care facility.Reopening Kansas comes by milestones, not on a timetable. Progress will be measured by monitoring our testing rates, COVID-19 hospitalizations, ability to contact trace, and the availability of personal protectiveequipment. He re’s what you can do to help reach reopening milestones:•Stay home if you’re sick.•Wear masks in public settings.•Maximize physical distance (6 feet or more) in public settings.•Avoid socializing with large groups.•High-risk individuals should only leave the house for essential needs.•Minimize nonessential travel.•Check-in (via phone/letter/text/email) with friends and family who are isolated.•Wash your hands frequently.Help our community in slowing the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>. Stay Safe &amp; Stay Healthy.

Saline County: No new cases; reopening information

TOPEKA – An order issued by the Kansas Corporation Commission Thursday morning requires utilities under its jurisdiction to offer 12-month payment plans and waive late fees through the end of the year to help residential and small business customers avoid disconnection, according to a media release from the commission.

The Commission’s earlier order suspending disconnections is set to expire on May 31. Today’s order will help customers, struggling with the economic effects of COVID-19, pay off past due balances gradually while avoiding disconnection of service. Customers are also encouraged to apply for available utility assistance programs. Information is posted on <a href="https://kcc.ks.gov/consumer-information/utility-assistance-programs">the KCC website&nbsp;</a>

KCC staff filed a report with the Commission on May 6 recommending baseline customer protections prior to the end of the disconnect suspension order. Utilities had the opportunity to respond to the recommendations prior to today’s order. Several utilities have advised they plan to offer protections in excess of the minimums required.

The order states utilities may defer any extraordinary bad debt expense and lost fee revenue that arises from the required customer protections into a regulatory asset for accounting purposes only. Any recovery requests will be considered in a utility’s next rate case or rate recovery filing.

The Commission may extend the consumer protections outlined in Thursday order if the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into 2021.&nbsp; Click here to<a href="https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/20200521111445.pdf?Id=932794de-f0cc-4397-b1bf-948512be107e"> view the order</a>

TOPEKA – An order issued by the Kansas Corporation Commission Thursday morning requires utilities under its jurisdiction to offer 12-month payment plans and waive late fees through the end of the year to help residential and small business customers avoid disconnection, according to a media release from the commission.The Commission’s earlier order suspending disconnections is set to expire on May 31. Today’s order will help customers, struggling with the economic effects of COVID-19, pay off past due balances gradually while avoiding disconnection of service. Customers are also encouraged to apply for available utility assistance programs. Information is posted on <a href="https://kcc.ks.gov/consumer-information/utility-assistance-programs">the KCC website&nbsp;</a>KCC staff filed a report with the Commission on May 6 recommending baseline customer protections prior to the end of the disconnect suspension order. Utilities had the opportunity to respond to the recommendations prior to today’s order. Several utilities have advised they plan to offer protections in excess of the minimums required.The order states utilities may defer any extraordinary bad debt expense and lost fee revenue that arises from the required customer protections into a regulatory asset for accounting purposes only. Any recovery requests will be considered in a utility’s next rate case or rate recovery filing.The Commission may extend the consumer protections outlined in Thursday order if the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into 2021.&nbsp; Click here to<a href="https://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx/20200521111445.pdf?Id=932794de-f0cc-4397-b1bf-948512be107e"> view the order</a>

Utilities ordered to offer payment plans, waive late fees through 2020

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas pushed Wednesday to greatly limit Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s power to keep businesses closed during the coronavirus pandemic and give the GOP-controlled Legislature’s leaders the final say over how federal coronavirus relief funds are spent.

GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee included the measures in a bill that the full Senate expects to consider Thursday, when the Legislature is scheduled for one, final day in session this year. Republicans tied their proposals to two must-have measures for Kelly — a formal ratification of Kelly’s previous coronavirus orders and an extension of state of emergency that she declared so that she could legally exercise broad powers.

A dispute between the Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5e209a4b50d4e80632e9613458d31b7c">has grown increasingly bitter</a>&nbsp;over who controls the reopening of the state’s economy and the spending of coronavirus aid. Many GOP lawmakers contend Kelly is moving too slowly to reopen on the economy and dislike that her plan for lifting restrictions in phases between now and late June treats different kinds of businesses differently.

Republicans’ proposal would allow Kelly to close businesses only for a total of 15 days during the pandemic. After those 15 days, the health officers in each of the state’s 105 counties would decide whether businesses remained closed, subject to the approval of local county commissions. Because many Kansas businesses already have been shuttered longer than 15 days, it wasn’t immediately clear whether county officials could step immediately if the measure becomes law.

“One size doesn’t fit all,” said state Sen. Eric Rucker, a conservative Topeka Republican who drafted the language on business closings. “The overarching cry that we hear is the long-lasting — possibly lasting decades into the future — damage that has been caused economically.”

The bill cleared the Judiciary Committee on an 8-2 party-line vote, with only Republicans voting yes.

Kansas Republicans acted on the same day Kelly and GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas met with President Donald Trump, who said both had “done a fantastic job.”

Kelly joins Democratic governors in other states, most notably Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, in facing a backlash from Republican legislators over their actions to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City Democrat, said he’s concerned about limiting the governor’s to impose statewide restrictions because someone could travel between counties and “become a carrier.”

“This virus does not respect geo-political boundaries,” Haley said.

Kelly’s existing state of emergency will remain in place only through Monday, Memorial Day. Kelly has acknowledged that she may be forced to accept limits on her power to get lawmakers to extend the state of emergency — or watch her 30 coronavirus-related orders expire. Her top lawyer and legislators concede it’s an open question whether Kelly has the authority to keep issuing new declarations for the same emergency.

The bill also would give the Legislature’s top seven leaders, five of them Republicans, the final say over how $1.25 billion in coronavirus relief funds are spent after a review by a joint House-Senate budget committee.

Kelly appointed a 20-member task force to oversee the distribution of the money and help her manage the reopening of the state’s economy, and five legislators are members, including three Republicans. She and other Democrats argue that the task force will provide adequate oversight.

And Republican Sen. Randall Hardy of Salina worried that an extra layer of oversight could unnecessarily delay much-needed funds to cities and counties to cover their coronavirus costs.

But many GOP lawmakers argue that the Legislature has the duty to oversee how the aid is spent, just as it approves an annual state budget.

Without legislative oversight, the governor could decide how the funds are spent “on her sole authority,” said Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a Kansas City-area Republican who is serving on Kelly’s task force.

“It’s just really a safety check,” Denning said of legislative oversight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590058732968.png" alt="Members of the Kansas Senate worked late Wednesday in advance of Thursday's final day of the legislative session -photo courtesy Senate President Susan Wagle" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Kansas Senate worked late Wednesday in advance of Thursday's final day of the legislative session -photo courtesy Senate President Susan Wagle</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kansas pushed Wednesday to greatly limit Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s power to keep businesses closed during the coronavirus pandemic and give the GOP-controlled Legislature’s leaders the final say over how federal coronavirus relief funds are spent.GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee included the measures in a bill that the full Senate expects to consider Thursday, when the Legislature is scheduled for one, final day in session this year. Republicans tied their proposals to two must-have measures for Kelly — a formal ratification of Kelly’s previous coronavirus orders and an extension of state of emergency that she declared so that she could legally exercise broad powers.A dispute between the Democratic governor and Republican legislative leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5e209a4b50d4e80632e9613458d31b7c">has grown increasingly bitter</a>&nbsp;over who controls the reopening of the state’s economy and the spending of coronavirus aid. Many GOP lawmakers contend Kelly is moving too slowly to reopen on the economy and dislike that her plan for lifting restrictions in phases between now and late June treats different kinds of businesses differently.Republicans’ proposal would allow Kelly to close businesses only for a total of 15 days during the pandemic. After those 15 days, the health officers in each of the state’s 105 counties would decide whether businesses remained closed, subject to the approval of local county commissions. Because many Kansas businesses already have been shuttered longer than 15 days, it wasn’t immediately clear whether county officials could step immediately if the measure becomes law.“One size doesn’t fit all,” said state Sen. Eric Rucker, a conservative Topeka Republican who drafted the language on business closings. “The overarching cry that we hear is the long-lasting — possibly lasting decades into the future — damage that has been caused economically.”The bill cleared the Judiciary Committee on an 8-2 party-line vote, with only Republicans voting yes.Kansas Republicans acted on the same day Kelly and GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas met with President Donald Trump, who said both had “done a fantastic job.”Kelly joins Democratic governors in other states, most notably Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, in facing a backlash from Republican legislators over their actions to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.Sen. David Haley, a Kansas City Democrat, said he’s concerned about limiting the governor’s to impose statewide restrictions because someone could travel between counties and “become a carrier.”“This virus does not respect geo-political boundaries,” Haley said.Kelly’s existing state of emergency will remain in place only through Monday, Memorial Day. Kelly has acknowledged that she may be forced to accept limits on her power to get lawmakers to extend the state of emergency — or watch her 30 coronavirus-related orders expire. Her top lawyer and legislators concede it’s an open question whether Kelly has the authority to keep issuing new declarations for the same emergency.The bill also would give the Legislature’s top seven leaders, five of them Republicans, the final say over how $1.25 billion in coronavirus relief funds are spent after a review by a joint House-Senate budget committee.Kelly appointed a 20-member task force to oversee the distribution of the money and help her manage the reopening of the state’s economy, and five legislators are members, including three Republicans. She and other Democrats argue that the task force will provide adequate oversight.And Republican Sen. Randall Hardy of Salina worried that an extra layer of oversight could unnecessarily delay much-needed funds to cities and counties to cover their coronavirus costs.But many GOP lawmakers argue that the Legislature has the duty to oversee how the aid is spent, just as it approves an annual state budget.Without legislative oversight, the governor could decide how the funds are spent “on her sole authority,” said Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a Kansas City-area Republican who is serving on Kelly’s task force.“It’s just really a safety check,” Denning said of legislative oversight.___

GOP plan would keep Kansas governor from closing businesses

The pandemic is a difficult experience for all of us. The longer it goes on, the harder it gets to stay disciplined. The good news is that we are making progress in limiting the impact of the virus and communities are starting to relax restrictions in phases. This does not mean that we have reached the finish line. The medical experts warn that we are a long way from defeating this disease. The most important thing now is to maintain our discipline. This is tough as we are all tired of living in a world where we can"t have the social interaction we desire.

It is our individual discipline that has gotten us to where we are today. If we lose self-regulation, we risk going backward and winding up in a more restrictive situation. Just what we don't want. I have often seen this in my 40-year military career, where given life or death situations, or with mission accomplishment on the line, some did not have the discipline or willpower to continue doing what had kept them and their colleagues safe. When discipline broke down in these situations, the outcome was predictable and dire.

Our ultimate success is also a measure of our own compassion. Noted columnist and author David Brooks stated on "PBS NewsHour" on April 17 the way to overcome this pandemic is to exhibit social solidarity and surrender to the common good. This is not easy in America, where our individualism is prized. But when we are all challenged by a complex virus, we have to come together in ways that we have not had to do for most of our lives. We have to follow state and community guidelines. Yes, it is tough, but it is the&nbsp;only rational choice.

Kansas State University has an important mission. It is critical to individual success and the economic health of our nation. We want to return to in-person classes as soon as possible. Please be a part of the solution by staying mentally tough and disciplined. We are only as strong as our weakest link — none of us want to be the weak link that pushes us back to greater restrictions.

We started early in the pandemic urging our students, faculty and staff to be "K-State Strong." Their resiliency has been amazing.&nbsp;Now is the time for all of us to stay disciplined&nbsp;and strong for the sake of each other.

Richard B. Myers is the president of Kansas State University.&nbsp;From 2001-2005, he served as the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the principal military adviser to the U.S. president, secretary of defense and the National Security Council.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590064827869.jpeg" alt="Kansas State University President Richard B. Myers. Photo courtesy Kansas State University" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State University President Richard B. Myers. Photo courtesy Kansas State University</figcaption>
 </figure>By RICHARD B. MYERS The pandemic is a difficult experience for all of us. The longer it goes on, the harder it gets to stay disciplined. The good news is that we are making progress in limiting the impact of the virus and communities are starting to relax restrictions in phases. This does not mean that we have reached the finish line. The medical experts warn that we are a long way from defeating this disease. The most important thing now is to maintain our discipline. This is tough as we are all tired of living in a world where we can"t have the social interaction we desire.It is our individual discipline that has gotten us to where we are today. If we lose self-regulation, we risk going backward and winding up in a more restrictive situation. Just what we don't want. I have often seen this in my 40-year military career, where given life or death situations, or with mission accomplishment on the line, some did not have the discipline or willpower to continue doing what had kept them and their colleagues safe. When discipline broke down in these situations, the outcome was predictable and dire.Our ultimate success is also a measure of our own compassion. Noted columnist and author David Brooks stated on "PBS NewsHour" on April 17 the way to overcome this pandemic is to exhibit social solidarity and surrender to the common good. This is not easy in America, where our individualism is prized. But when we are all challenged by a complex virus, we have to come together in ways that we have not had to do for most of our lives. We have to follow state and community guidelines. Yes, it is tough, but it is the&nbsp;only rational choice.Kansas State University has an important mission. It is critical to individual success and the economic health of our nation. We want to return to in-person classes as soon as possible. Please be a part of the solution by staying mentally tough and disciplined. We are only as strong as our weakest link — none of us want to be the weak link that pushes us back to greater restrictions.We started early in the pandemic urging our students, faculty and staff to be "K-State Strong." Their resiliency has been amazing.&nbsp;Now is the time for all of us to stay disciplined&nbsp;and strong for the sake of each other.Richard B. Myers is the president of Kansas State University.&nbsp;From 2001-2005, he served as the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the principal military adviser to the U.S. president, secretary of defense and the National Security Council.

OPINION: Discipline and strength required to vanquish pandemic foe

WASHINGTON —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly met with President Trump Wednesday afternoon to discus the state’s phased reopening, statewide virus testing strategy and much more.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?472315-1/president-trump-meeting-governors-arkansas-kansas">Click here to watch</a> a portion of Governor Kelly's visit with the President.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and&nbsp; Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr.&nbsp; Debra Birx also attended the meeting.

Trump said both governors have done "a fantastic job.”&nbsp;

"I know Laura will speak her mind and so will some of the others and if she was unhappy she'd be letting you know it," the President said.

"We've done a really great job. We've gotten along great with the democrat governors."

Before leaving Topeka, Kelly said the President understands that state and local governments need assistance well beyond stimulus three, the Cares Act, that will allow states to pay the bills for COVID-19 but will not allow states to cover any of the revenue losses that both the state government and local entities are experiencing.&nbsp;

Kelly is expected to share more about her visit with the President during her Thursday afternoon press conference.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590011287498.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly and President Trump during Wednesday afternoon's meeting in the White House Cabinet Room -image scourtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly and President Trump during Wednesday afternoon's meeting in the White House Cabinet Room -image scourtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly met with President Trump Wednesday afternoon to discus the state’s phased reopening, statewide virus testing strategy and much more.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?472315-1/president-trump-meeting-governors-arkansas-kansas">Click here to watch</a> a portion of Governor Kelly's visit with the President.Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and&nbsp; Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr.&nbsp; Debra Birx also attended the meeting.Trump said both governors have done "a fantastic job.”&nbsp;"I know Laura will speak her mind and so will some of the others and if she was unhappy she'd be letting you know it," the President said."We've done a really great job. We've gotten along great with the democrat governors."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590012624852.png" alt="President Trump with a message board to show Governor Kelly what the Feds have done for Kansas during the pandemic providing 108, 332,082 surgical and exam gloves, 341,262 eye and face shields, 6,975,130 N95 masks and 1,714, 626 isolation and surgical gowns." />
 <figcaption>President Trump with a message board to show Governor Kelly what the Feds have done for Kansas during the pandemic providing 108, 332,082 surgical and exam gloves, 341,262 eye and face shields, 6,975,130 N95 masks and 1,714, 626 isolation and surgical gowns.</figcaption>
 </figure>Before leaving Topeka, Kelly said the President understands that state and local governments need assistance well beyond stimulus three, the Cares Act, that will allow states to pay the bills for COVID-19 but will not allow states to cover any of the revenue losses that both the state government and local entities are experiencing.&nbsp;Kelly is expected to share more about her visit with the President during her Thursday afternoon press conference.

🎥 Governor Kelly meets with President at the White House

ABILENE -- The Dickinson County Health Department today announced the county's third confirmed COVID-19 case.

The new case is a 71-year-old female who is maintaining in-home isolation and is stable, according to a news release from the health department. This person has had limited close contacts. All contacts have been notified and will monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms, the health department noted.

ABILENE -- The Dickinson County Health Department today announced the county's third confirmed COVID-19 case.The new case is a 71-year-old female who is maintaining in-home isolation and is stable, according to a news release from the health department. This person has had limited close contacts. All contacts have been notified and will monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms, the health department noted.

Dickinson County reports third COVID-19 case

Following is Saline County's COVID-19 update for Wednesday.

The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional cases of COVID-19 to report today.

Saline County has had 28 cases. Out of the total number of cases, four citizens continue to be actively monitored and isolated and there have been two deaths. The rest have met the criteria necessary to be considered recovered and have been released from daily monitoring and isolation.

KDHE reported the following in their release and can be found at <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>:

•A total of 8,539 cases with 178 deaths reported.

•There have been 62,664 negative tests conducted at KDHE and private labs.

•The age range is 0 years to 100 years (median 42 years).

•In preparation for the upcoming 2020 elections, the Saline County Clerk’s Office is mailing information to all registered voters in Saline County. Included in their mailing is important information about voter registration and applications to receive a ballot by mail if voters wish to do so. Visit their website or contact their office for additional information or questions <a href="http://www.saline.org/departments/elections-office">www.saline.org/departments/elections-office</a> or 785-309-5820.

In addition, the Election Office is actively recruiting poll workers to work on Election Day. Those interested must be a registered voter in Saline County or a 16 or 17-year-old who is otherwise eligible to register to vote, except for not yet being of legal age.

•The City of Salina Drive-thru Recycling Center will reopen on Wednesday, June 3rd with several modifications to its operating hours and procedures. To see their full press release, visit

<a href="http://salina.ks.us/news/?FeedID=5777">http://salina.ks.us/news/?FeedID=5777</a>

Governor Kelly released her plans to move to Phase 2 of the Ad Astra Reopening Plan starting on Friday, May 22nd. All of the updated information has been uploaded to our website: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>.

Here are the highlights in Phase 2:

•Nail salons, barbershops, hair salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, and other personal service&nbsp; businesses where close contact cannot be avoided may continue to operate, but only for prescheduled appointments.

•Community Centers may open as long as they follow the mass gatherings and social distancing restrictions. Due to the high-risk population concerns, the Saline County Senior Center will remain closed; but meals on wheels will continue.

Reopening Kansas comes by milestones, not on a timetable. Progress will be measured by monitoring our testing rates, COVID-19 hospitalizations, ability to contact trace, and the availability of personal protective equipment. Here’s what you can do to help reach reopening milestones:

Help our community in slowing the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>. Stay Safe &amp; Stay Healthy.

Following is Saline County's COVID-19 update for Wednesday.The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional cases of COVID-19 to report today.Saline County has had 28 cases. Out of the total number of cases, four citizens continue to be actively monitored and isolated and there have been two deaths. The rest have met the criteria necessary to be considered recovered and have been released from daily monitoring and isolation.KDHE reported the following in their release and can be found at <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus">www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>:•A total of 8,539 cases with 178 deaths reported.•There have been 62,664 negative tests conducted at KDHE and private labs.•The age range is 0 years to 100 years (median 42 years).Announcements:•In preparation for the upcoming 2020 elections, the Saline County Clerk’s Office is mailing information to all registered voters in Saline County. Included in their mailing is important information about voter registration and applications to receive a ballot by mail if voters wish to do so. Visit their website or contact their office for additional information or questions <a href="http://www.saline.org/departments/elections-office">www.saline.org/departments/elections-office</a> or 785-309-5820.In addition, the Election Office is actively recruiting poll workers to work on Election Day. Those interested must be a registered voter in Saline County or a 16 or 17-year-old who is otherwise eligible to register to vote, except for not yet being of legal age.•The City of Salina Drive-thru Recycling Center will reopen on Wednesday, June 3rd with several modifications to its operating hours and procedures. To see their full press release, visit<a href="http://salina.ks.us/news/?FeedID=5777">http://salina.ks.us/news/?FeedID=5777</a>Governor Kelly released her plans to move to Phase 2 of the Ad Astra Reopening Plan starting on Friday, May 22nd. All of the updated information has been uploaded to our website: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>.Here are the highlights in Phase 2:•Mass gatherings of 15 or fewer individuals.•All businesses/activities allowed in Phase 1 and 1.5 may continue to operate with outlined social distancing, mass gathering, and public health restrictions.•Nail salons, barbershops, hair salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlors, and other personal service&nbsp; businesses where close contact cannot be avoided may continue to operate, but only for prescheduled appointments.•Fitness centers and health clubs may continue to operate. In-person group classes will be allowed to begin with groups of no more than 15 individuals at a time. Locker rooms remain closed except for restroom facilities.•Community Centers may open as long as they follow the mass gatherings and social distancing restrictions. Due to the high-risk population concerns, the Saline County Senior Center will remain closed; but meals on wheels will continue.•Indoor leisure paces such as movie theaters, trampoline parks, theaters, museums, and bowling allies may open as long as they follow the mass gathering and social distancing restrictions.•State-owned and operated casinos will be allowed to operate as long as they follow social distancing and mass gathering restrictions.•Organized sports facilities, games, and sports practice may operate as long as they follow outlined mass gatherings and social distancing guidelines AND follow guidelines established by the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.•In-person commencement or graduation ceremonies may continue to occur with no more than 15 individuals in a room, gymnasium, or facility at one time so long as 6-foot social distancing is maintained.Under Phase 2 these are the things that are NOT allowed to take place:•Opening of bars and night clubs.•Outdoor and indoor large entertainment venues with a capacity of 2,000 or more.•Fairs, festivals, carnivals, and parades.•Swimming pools (other than backyard pools and those used for physical therapy or first-responder training).•Summer camps unless they are a licensed child care facility.Reopening Kansas comes by milestones, not on a timetable. Progress will be measured by monitoring our testing rates, COVID-19 hospitalizations, ability to contact trace, and the availability of personal protective equipment. Here’s what you can do to help reach reopening milestones:•Stay home if you’re sick.•Wear masks in public settings.•Maximize physical distance (6 feet or more) in public settings.•Avoid socializing with large groups.•High-risk individuals should only leave the house for essential needs.•Minimize nonessential travel.•Check-in (via phone/letter/text/email) with friends and family who are isolated.•Wash your hands frequently.Help our community in slowing the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a>. Stay Safe &amp; Stay Healthy.

Saline County: No new COVID-19 cases to report today

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas softened its quarantine guidelines for meatpacking plants after industry executives repeatedly pushed state officials to allow employees who were potentially exposed to the coronavirus to keep working, text messages and emails show.

The Kansas City Star&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article242852011.html" target="_blank">reported that they obtained</a>&nbsp;messages through an open records request showing that executives at Tyson and National Beef pushed Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam to advocate more-lenient federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

Beam told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his role was to “emphasize internally” in Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration that there would be major problems with the nation’s food supply if the plants shut down. Beam worked for the Kansas Livestock Association for 38 years before becoming agriculture secretary in 2019.

“It was a balancing act, and I basically was feeding that into the mix,” he said.

The Star reported that in an April 20 text to Beam, National Beef Chief Operating Officer Terry Wilkerson noted that two meatpacking plants elsewhere in the U.S. were shutting down.

“The sooner we get the CDC new guidance in place the better,” he wrote.

Ruth Bradley, manager of state and local government relations at Tyson, texted Beam on April 15 saying that because of a higher rate of absenteeism among workers, Tyson wanted to follow CDC guidelines allowing workers without symptoms to still work if they wear a mask.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment updated its guidelines on May 2 to allow meatpacking employees who have come into close contact with positive cases to stay on the job as long as they showed no symptoms and took precautions. It previously advised contacts to quarantine for two weeks.

Kansas, which processes more than a quarter of the nation’s beef, has had nearly 2,000 people infected with COVID-19 from outbreaks linked to the state’s meatpacking plants and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1125/Historical---May-18?bidId=" target="_blank">six people have died</a>. With the exception of a Johnsonville plant in Holton, large processors have stayed open in Kansas throughout the pandemic, although operating at a reduced capacity.

During a news conference Tuesday, Kelly pointed “proudly” to plants continuing to operate.

Beam wrote in an April 21 email to Will Lawrence, Kelly’s chief of staff, that it appeared Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman, who has been leading the state’s pandemic health response, was “not wanting to defer” to the less restrictive federal guidance.

Beam said he wanted Lawrence to know the issue was “brewing,” adding, “I sense National Beef, and others, would like to have a response fairly soon.”

Two days later, Beam texted meatpacking contacts that he would be calling “regarding a POSSIBLE path for letting close contacts return to work.”

Beam told the AP that his relationship with Norman remained “cordial” and that the health department changed its guidance after a CDC team physically reviewed Kansas plants. Beam said the final decision was the health department’s.

Health department spokeswoman Ashley Jones-Wisner said in a statement that before the new guidance was issued, conversations among her agency, the Department of Agriculture and the companies occurred regularly as the state tracked “how each plant was doing.”

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 28 directing meatpacking plants to stay open.

“Our concern was, and remains, public health protections within the parameters outlined by the federal government,” Jones-Wisner said.

National Beef Chief Financial Officer Simon McGee requested in an email to Beam that Kelly’s office speak to the union representing workers at the company’s Dodge City plant about the “special responsibility” of meatpacking employees.

Company spokesman Keith Welty said in a statement that the company’s focus throughout the pandemic has been protecting “the health, wellness and safety of our employees.”

Tyson spokeswoman Liz Croston said Tuesday that the company “will not ask anyone to work in our plants unless we are confident that it is safe.” She said correspondence with state officials “reflects our interest in the consistent application of federal safety guidance.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589997636847.png" alt="Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas softened its quarantine guidelines for meatpacking plants after industry executives repeatedly pushed state officials to allow employees who were potentially exposed to the coronavirus to keep working, text messages and emails show.The Kansas City Star&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article242852011.html" target="_blank">reported that they obtained</a>&nbsp;messages through an open records request showing that executives at Tyson and National Beef pushed Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam to advocate more-lenient federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.Beam told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his role was to “emphasize internally” in Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration that there would be major problems with the nation’s food supply if the plants shut down. Beam worked for the Kansas Livestock Association for 38 years before becoming agriculture secretary in 2019.“It was a balancing act, and I basically was feeding that into the mix,” he said.The Star reported that in an April 20 text to Beam, National Beef Chief Operating Officer Terry Wilkerson noted that two meatpacking plants elsewhere in the U.S. were shutting down.“The sooner we get the CDC new guidance in place the better,” he wrote.Ruth Bradley, manager of state and local government relations at Tyson, texted Beam on April 15 saying that because of a higher rate of absenteeism among workers, Tyson wanted to follow CDC guidelines allowing workers without symptoms to still work if they wear a mask.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589997771819.png" alt="Photo courtesy Tyson Foods" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Tyson Foods</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment updated its guidelines on May 2 to allow meatpacking employees who have come into close contact with positive cases to stay on the job as long as they showed no symptoms and took precautions. It previously advised contacts to quarantine for two weeks.Kansas, which processes more than a quarter of the nation’s beef, has had nearly 2,000 people infected with COVID-19 from outbreaks linked to the state’s meatpacking plants and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1125/Historical---May-18?bidId=" target="_blank">six people have died</a>. With the exception of a Johnsonville plant in Holton, large processors have stayed open in Kansas throughout the pandemic, although operating at a reduced capacity.During a news conference Tuesday, Kelly pointed “proudly” to plants continuing to operate.Beam wrote in an April 21 email to Will Lawrence, Kelly’s chief of staff, that it appeared Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Lee Norman, who has been leading the state’s pandemic health response, was “not wanting to defer” to the less restrictive federal guidance.Beam said he wanted Lawrence to know the issue was “brewing,” adding, “I sense National Beef, and others, would like to have a response fairly soon.”Two days later, Beam texted meatpacking contacts that he would be calling “regarding a POSSIBLE path for letting close contacts return to work.”Beam told the AP that his relationship with Norman remained “cordial” and that the health department changed its guidance after a CDC team physically reviewed Kansas plants. Beam said the final decision was the health department’s.Health department spokeswoman Ashley Jones-Wisner said in a statement that before the new guidance was issued, conversations among her agency, the Department of Agriculture and the companies occurred regularly as the state tracked “how each plant was doing.”President Donald Trump signed an executive order on April 28 directing meatpacking plants to stay open.“Our concern was, and remains, public health protections within the parameters outlined by the federal government,” Jones-Wisner said.National Beef Chief Financial Officer Simon McGee requested in an email to Beam that Kelly’s office speak to the union representing workers at the company’s Dodge City plant about the “special responsibility” of meatpacking employees.Company spokesman Keith Welty said in a statement that the company’s focus throughout the pandemic has been protecting “the health, wellness and safety of our employees.”Tyson spokeswoman Liz Croston said Tuesday that the company “will not ask anyone to work in our plants unless we are confident that it is safe.” She said correspondence with state officials “reflects our interest in the consistent application of federal safety guidance.”

Coronavirus Update