ABILENE --&nbsp;Memorial Health System employees are benefiting from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP, which is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Approximately&nbsp;323&nbsp;full and part-time employees are still working and receiving their normal pay, thanks to the PPP.

As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the economy to a screeching halt, many small businesses either closed their doors or saw an enormous decrease in activity. Memorial Health System was not immune. MHS entities experienced a drastic decrease in patient activity as elective procedures and non-emergent appointments were cancelled or postponed.

The PPP loan is a Small Business Administration loan administered by local banks. MHS worked with Pinnacle Bank, an SBA 7(a) lender, in Abilene, to apply for and receive approval for the funds.

The $3.52 million loan should be forgiven if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks, and as long as 75% of the money is used for payroll (MHS’s eligible payroll for eight weeks amounts to $2.64 million, and 25% is spent on rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

“We are very thankful we were able to obtain this loan,” Harold Courtois, MHS CEO said. “It has allowed us to delay any major changes to employment.” Before receiving the loan, MHS had begun the process of furloughing and decreasing hours for a number of employees due to low census. “We were able to bring back anyone who was furloughed and restore anyone’s hours that we had to reduce due to low volumes throughout the health system.”

Although census is low, MHS employees are staying busy. “Health system nursing staff, where census has slowed down, have been working in other areas like the emergency department, inpatient unit, or at Village Manor where additional help is needed,” Andrea Taylor, MHS Chief Operating Officer said. “We also now have clinical staff screening everyone who comes through the front door. As we work through this challenging time, employees are learning new tasks and helping out where they are needed.”

Looking ahead, after the eight weeks have passed, things may be drastically different, but no one really knows what is going to happen. “MHS will continue to look for ways to keep moving forward with as little disruption to staff as possible,” Taylor said. “We cannot thank our employees enough for the grace and compassion they have shown to each other.”

ABILENE --&nbsp;Memorial Health System employees are benefiting from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP, which is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll during the Coronavirus pandemic. Approximately&nbsp;323&nbsp;full and part-time employees are still working and receiving their normal pay, thanks to the PPP.As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the economy to a screeching halt, many small businesses either closed their doors or saw an enormous decrease in activity. Memorial Health System was not immune. MHS entities experienced a drastic decrease in patient activity as elective procedures and non-emergent appointments were cancelled or postponed.The PPP loan is a Small Business Administration loan administered by local banks. MHS worked with Pinnacle Bank, an SBA 7(a) lender, in Abilene, to apply for and receive approval for the funds.The $3.52 million loan should be forgiven if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks, and as long as 75% of the money is used for payroll (MHS’s eligible payroll for eight weeks amounts to $2.64 million, and 25% is spent on rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.“We are very thankful we were able to obtain this loan,” Harold Courtois, MHS CEO said. “It has allowed us to delay any major changes to employment.” Before receiving the loan, MHS had begun the process of furloughing and decreasing hours for a number of employees due to low census. “We were able to bring back anyone who was furloughed and restore anyone’s hours that we had to reduce due to low volumes throughout the health system.”Although census is low, MHS employees are staying busy. “Health system nursing staff, where census has slowed down, have been working in other areas like the emergency department, inpatient unit, or at Village Manor where additional help is needed,” Andrea Taylor, MHS Chief Operating Officer said. “We also now have clinical staff screening everyone who comes through the front door. As we work through this challenging time, employees are learning new tasks and helping out where they are needed.”Looking ahead, after the eight weeks have passed, things may be drastically different, but no one really knows what is going to happen. “MHS will continue to look for ways to keep moving forward with as little disruption to staff as possible,” Taylor said. “We cannot thank our employees enough for the grace and compassion they have shown to each other.”

MHS keeps employees working thanks to PPP

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday.

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

At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1,705 confirmed cases in Kansas and 84 deaths. A further breakdown of statewide numbers:

•This is an increase of 117 cases from yesterday.

•375 of 1,377 (27.2%) cases have been hospitalized.

•There have been 15,196 negative test results received.

•The median age for a positive case is 52.

KDHE has launched a new website with detailed information: <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/</a>.

Governor Kelly’s Statewide Stay-at-Home order is in effect until May 3rd, 2020. Social distancing is imperative. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of staying home and only going out for essential tasks. Saline County continues to receive reports of alleged non-compliance with the Statewide Stay-atHome order. Alleged violations can be reported through our online submission form at <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a>. If you have a question about a business being essential or not, please visit the Governor’s website at <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/keff">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff</a> to see the order, list of essential functions, and frequently asked questions.

Help our community in stopping 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="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday.The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional cases of COVID-19 to report today.At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1,705 confirmed cases in Kansas and 84 deaths. A further breakdown of statewide numbers:•This is an increase of 117 cases from yesterday.•375 of 1,377 (27.2%) cases have been hospitalized.•There have been 15,196 negative test results received.•The median age for a positive case is 52.KDHE has launched a new website with detailed information: <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/</a>.Governor Kelly’s Statewide Stay-at-Home order is in effect until May 3rd, 2020. Social distancing is imperative. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of staying home and only going out for essential tasks. Saline County continues to receive reports of alleged non-compliance with the Statewide Stay-atHome order. Alleged violations can be reported through our online submission form at <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a>. If you have a question about a business being essential or not, please visit the Governor’s website at <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/keff">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff</a> to see the order, list of essential functions, and frequently asked questions.Help our community in stopping 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="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/">https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Saline County: No new COVID-19 cases

TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly and Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard this week announced the agency will begin issuing an emergency food assistance benefit to current program households. The emergency
 allotment increases a household’s monthly benefit to the maximum allowed for the size of the family. The maximum monthly benefit for a family of four is $646.

“The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows states to provide this emergency assistance,” Howard said. “We know these additional
 funds will allow families to purchase more essential groceries for their family while also reducing their visits to grocery stores during this time of social distancing.”


“At a time when we are seeing long lines at food distribution sites these additional funds are necessary to keep Kansans fed,” Kelly said. “I also want to thank all of the eligibility workers who are making sure
 this money gets to families quickly.”


No application is necessary to receive the emergency funds. Families should start to see their March emergency benefit on their EBT card beginning April 15. The distribution will follow the standard alphabetical
 schedule. DCF will distribute April emergency benefits in mid to late May.


Households that already receive the maximum monthly allotment are not eligible for emergency assistance. The allotment is for March and April only.

Those interested in applying for food assistance can visit the DCF website at
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcf.ks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184898520&amp;sdata=lldH%2FHluxjAmACvzUTerP%2BMPrE0%2FU6Q7ZeS0VhC5eMc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.dcf.ks.gov</a>.

For more information on COVID-19 visit:
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184908478&amp;sdata=ENme12t9pM%2FqYsvopzF7gjpWZU7K1%2FJnu0EcJMtx%2BzY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

DCFTOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly and Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard this week announced the agency will begin issuing an emergency food assistance benefit to current program households. The emergency
 allotment increases a household’s monthly benefit to the maximum allowed for the size of the family. The maximum monthly benefit for a family of four is $646.“The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows states to provide this emergency assistance,” Howard said. “We know these additional
 funds will allow families to purchase more essential groceries for their family while also reducing their visits to grocery stores during this time of social distancing.”
“At a time when we are seeing long lines at food distribution sites these additional funds are necessary to keep Kansans fed,” Kelly said. “I also want to thank all of the eligibility workers who are making sure
 this money gets to families quickly.”
No application is necessary to receive the emergency funds. Families should start to see their March emergency benefit on their EBT card beginning April 15. The distribution will follow the standard alphabetical
 schedule. DCF will distribute April emergency benefits in mid to late May.
Households that already receive the maximum monthly allotment are not eligible for emergency assistance. The allotment is for March and April only.
Those interested in applying for food assistance can visit the DCF website at
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcf.ks.gov%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184898520&amp;sdata=lldH%2FHluxjAmACvzUTerP%2BMPrE0%2FU6Q7ZeS0VhC5eMc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.dcf.ks.gov</a>. 

For more information on COVID-19 visit:
<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fcoronavirus&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C705b2d26924d4648268c08d7e1745c90%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637225762184908478&amp;sdata=ENme12t9pM%2FqYsvopzF7gjpWZU7K1%2FJnu0EcJMtx%2BzY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">
www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus</a>.

DCF to distribute emergency food assistance benefit in Kan.

TOPEKA — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman discuss the state's battle against the coronavirus during their Friday afternoon news conference.

The Governor briefly addressed the lawsuits two Kansas churches and their pastors filed Thursday against her over&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20-18-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights.

Dr. Norman said that after a number of new virus cases were reported in Western Kansas, the KDHE is sending a team to do more testing and investigate. He also discussed work at Kansas State University to determine if mosquitoes can transmit the virus.

Kansas saw its number of confirmed coronavirus cases jump again by more than 100 in a single day, past 1,700 total, the state health department reported Friday. COVID-19 deaths increased to 84.

TOPEKA — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman discuss the state's battle against the coronavirus during their Friday afternoon news conference.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F905155203283172%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>The Governor briefly addressed the lawsuits two Kansas churches and their pastors filed Thursday against her over&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20-18-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights.Dr. Norman said that after a number of new virus cases were reported in Western Kansas, the KDHE is sending a team to do more testing and investigate. He also discussed work at Kansas State University to determine if mosquitoes can transmit the virus.Kansas saw its number of confirmed coronavirus cases jump again by more than 100 in a single day, past 1,700 total, the state health department reported Friday. COVID-19 deaths increased to 84.

🎥 Kan. Gov., KDHE Secretary update fight against virus

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas saw its number of confirmed coronavirus case jump again by more than 100 in a single day, past 1,700 total, the state health department reported Friday. COVID-19 deaths increased to 84.

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

The Department of Health and Environment said the state has 1,705 cases of the novel coronavirus in 66 of its 105 counties. That was an increase of 117, or 7.4% from Thursday, with cases in three additional counties.

The state also reported 100-plus increases in case numbers on Saturday and April 8, but the rate of increase had dropped below 5% for several days this week.

The new figure for deaths represents an increase of four over Thursday’s figure, or 5%. It came as Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area reported four new deaths, bringing its total to 35. The county reports 395 coronavirus cases, the most in the state, and has 23% of the state’s cases and 42% of its COVID-19 related deaths, despite having only 5.7% of its population.

The rise in cases and deaths and the expanding geographical spread of the coronavirus came with Republican legislators increasing pressure on Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to outline a plan for lifting her stay-at-home order for the state’s 2.9 million residents..

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas saw its number of confirmed coronavirus case jump again by more than 100 in a single day, past 1,700 total, the state health department reported Friday. COVID-19 deaths increased to 84.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional numbers from the KDHEThe Department of Health and Environment said the state has 1,705 cases of the novel coronavirus in 66 of its 105 counties. That was an increase of 117, or 7.4% from Thursday, with cases in three additional counties.The state also reported 100-plus increases in case numbers on Saturday and April 8, but the rate of increase had dropped below 5% for several days this week.The new figure for deaths represents an increase of four over Thursday’s figure, or 5%. It came as Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area reported four new deaths, bringing its total to 35. The county reports 395 coronavirus cases, the most in the state, and has 23% of the state’s cases and 42% of its COVID-19 related deaths, despite having only 5.7% of its population.The rise in cases and deaths and the expanding geographical spread of the coronavirus came with Republican legislators increasing pressure on Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to outline a plan for lifting her stay-at-home order for the state’s 2.9 million residents..<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587143522717.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Kansas sees coronavirus cases top 1,700; deaths rise to 84

TOPEKA
— Kansas’ students will receive supplemental education content via television
thanks to an alliance between the Kansas State Department of Education, the
Continuous Learning Task Force and the Kansas Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS).

The
new partnership is called Continuous Learning-Kansas Public Broadcasting
Alliance and will give students of all ages another avenue for learning. Each
30-minute segment of the “Learning Across Kansas” television show will feature
educational content and will be aired on PBS stations across Kansas.

“This
PBS alliance is the perfect partnership to reach every learner in Kansas – from
our most rural communities to our most populated neighborhoods – easily and
effectively,” said Dyane Smokorowski, one of three chairs of the Continuous
Learning Task Force. “For the first time in Kansas history, teachers will be
able to reach all learners through broadcasting and online access while
bringing them inspiration, creativity and fun – all centered around current
classroom content. That’s the magic of public access – it benefits everyone.
Thank you to PBS for this opportunity.”

The
Continuous Learning Task Force was created by Kansas Commissioner of Education
Dr. Randy Watson to offer guidance after Gov. Laura Kelly closed school
buildings for the remainder of the school year because of COVID-19.

The
Task Force is chaired by Smokorowski, an innovation and technology leader for
Andover Unified School District 386 and the 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year;
Cindy Couchman, assistant superintendent at Buhler USD 313 and the 2009 Kansas
Teacher of the Year; and Tabatha Rosproy, an early childhood teacher at
Winfield USD 465, 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year and a 2020 National Teacher
of the Year finalist.

“This
partnership with PBS comes at a time when working together is more important
than ever,” Rosproy said. “Through this alliance, we will be able to help bring
learning from school into the homes of our students through mediums we
previously did not have access to. Together, we are reaching families and
students in a way we hope continues to build on this incredible learning that
takes place every day in our classrooms.”

Couchman
shared in Rosproy’s excitement about the alliance.

“The
partnership between Kansas educators and PBS provides an avenue to continue
educating, inspiring and connecting Kansans,” she said. “Public access to
educational content has never been more needed or more valued.”

After the governor’s
announcement, Eugene Williams, executive director and general manager of KTWU
Public Television in Topeka, began to meet with KTWU’s senior management team
to formulate an idea of how KTWU might be able to assist the public schools.
Williams also met with the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council members and the
Continuous Learning Task Force.

The group will share a series
of programs and promotions on the air to assist students, parents and teachers,
according to Williams.

“Education and information are the hallmarks of public media,”
Williams said. “A number of children, parents, grandparents and teachers
recognize public television as America's largest classroom. And they also
recognize public radio as a primary source of information. In the state of
Kansas, we (KTWU in Topeka; Smoky Hills Public TV in Bunker Hill; KPTS in
Wichita; and KCPT in Kansas City) provide news, information, education and
entertainment content 24 hours on various platforms for the citizens of Kansas.
It is only natural that public media in Kansas is interested in developing an
alliance with KSDE to assist the state in educating its citizens during this
time of crisis and uncertainty.”

The supplemental education content will be geared toward all grade
levels and will be taught by Kansas teachers across the state. The content will
be shared through PBS stations.

Michael Quade, director of broadcasting for Smoky Hills PBS, and
Victor Hogstrom, president and CEO of KPTS, said they are happy to play a role
in the partnership.

“Two of Smoky Hill PBS’ objectives are local productions/programs
and education, and we believe that the Kansas Public Broadcast Alliance with
educators is important for children, educators and parents in Kansas during
this time of the Coronavirus,” Quade said. “We are happy to bring both a local
program and education together for a very good cause.”

Despite the challenges the educational system faces
today, the value of education in Kansas must be maintained and carried out in
the interest of Kansas students, Hogstrom said.

“Kansas public broadcasting has an important role to
play by helping to improve children’s learning and to always help prepare
children for success,” he said. “This is a part of our mission.&nbsp;It is also
a part of the local impact that Kansas public broadcasting has on communities
throughout the state. Every community in Kansas deserves a great public media
outlet - one that is capable of delivering community-building programs and
services that will also help educate.&nbsp;Kansas Public Broadcasting continues
to play that role, such as with the alliance between the Kansas State
Department of Education and the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council.”

Kent Cornish, president of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters,
said the alliance spotlights two industries that serve their local communities
– teachers and broadcasters. This partnership will allow “public broadcasters
to serve as another conduit to families, while at the same time commercial
broadcasters are airing their own produced material for students and parents,”
Cornish said.

Public broadcasters take their public service obligation and
responsibilities very serious, Williams said.

“This is another
opportunity for us to go beyond the conventional program and to show how our
outreach efforts can impact the communities we live in in a positive way,” he
said. “Public radio and public television have great reach throughout Kansas.
We are happy to put our expertise, skill and talent to work with the alliance
to assist Kansas residents.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587145006466.jpeg" alt="Dyane Smokorowski, an innovation and technology leader for Andover Unified School District 386, 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year and member of the Continuous Learning Task Force, taped her intros and outros in a studio. Photo courtesy Kansas State Department of Education" />
 <figcaption>Dyane Smokorowski, an innovation and technology leader for Andover Unified School District 386, 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year and member of the Continuous Learning Task Force, taped her intros and outros in a studio. Photo courtesy Kansas State Department of Education</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA
— Kansas’ students will receive supplemental education content via television
thanks to an alliance between the Kansas State Department of Education, the
Continuous Learning Task Force and the Kansas Public Broadcasting Service
(PBS).The
new partnership is called Continuous Learning-Kansas Public Broadcasting
Alliance and will give students of all ages another avenue for learning. Each
30-minute segment of the “Learning Across Kansas” television show will feature
educational content and will be aired on PBS stations across Kansas.“This
PBS alliance is the perfect partnership to reach every learner in Kansas – from
our most rural communities to our most populated neighborhoods – easily and
effectively,” said Dyane Smokorowski, one of three chairs of the Continuous
Learning Task Force. “For the first time in Kansas history, teachers will be
able to reach all learners through broadcasting and online access while
bringing them inspiration, creativity and fun – all centered around current
classroom content. That’s the magic of public access – it benefits everyone.
Thank you to PBS for this opportunity.”The
Continuous Learning Task Force was created by Kansas Commissioner of Education
Dr. Randy Watson to offer guidance after Gov. Laura Kelly closed school
buildings for the remainder of the school year because of COVID-19.The
Task Force is chaired by Smokorowski, an innovation and technology leader for
Andover Unified School District 386 and the 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year;
Cindy Couchman, assistant superintendent at Buhler USD 313 and the 2009 Kansas
Teacher of the Year; and Tabatha Rosproy, an early childhood teacher at
Winfield USD 465, 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year and a 2020 National Teacher
of the Year finalist.“This
partnership with PBS comes at a time when working together is more important
than ever,” Rosproy said. “Through this alliance, we will be able to help bring
learning from school into the homes of our students through mediums we
previously did not have access to. Together, we are reaching families and
students in a way we hope continues to build on this incredible learning that
takes place every day in our classrooms.”Couchman
shared in Rosproy’s excitement about the alliance.“The
partnership between Kansas educators and PBS provides an avenue to continue
educating, inspiring and connecting Kansans,” she said. “Public access to
educational content has never been more needed or more valued.”After the governor’s
announcement, Eugene Williams, executive director and general manager of KTWU
Public Television in Topeka, began to meet with KTWU’s senior management team
to formulate an idea of how KTWU might be able to assist the public schools.
Williams also met with the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council members and the
Continuous Learning Task Force.The group will share a series
of programs and promotions on the air to assist students, parents and teachers,
according to Williams.“Education and information are the hallmarks of public media,”
Williams said. “A number of children, parents, grandparents and teachers
recognize public television as America's largest classroom. And they also
recognize public radio as a primary source of information. In the state of
Kansas, we (KTWU in Topeka; Smoky Hills Public TV in Bunker Hill; KPTS in
Wichita; and KCPT in Kansas City) provide news, information, education and
entertainment content 24 hours on various platforms for the citizens of Kansas.
It is only natural that public media in Kansas is interested in developing an
alliance with KSDE to assist the state in educating its citizens during this
time of crisis and uncertainty.”The supplemental education content will be geared toward all grade
levels and will be taught by Kansas teachers across the state. The content will
be shared through PBS stations.Michael Quade, director of broadcasting for Smoky Hills PBS, and
Victor Hogstrom, president and CEO of KPTS, said they are happy to play a role
in the partnership.“Two of Smoky Hill PBS’ objectives are local productions/programs
and education, and we believe that the Kansas Public Broadcast Alliance with
educators is important for children, educators and parents in Kansas during
this time of the Coronavirus,” Quade said. “We are happy to bring both a local
program and education together for a very good cause.”Despite the challenges the educational system faces
today, the value of education in Kansas must be maintained and carried out in
the interest of Kansas students, Hogstrom said.“Kansas public broadcasting has an important role to
play by helping to improve children’s learning and to always help prepare
children for success,” he said. “This is a part of our mission.&nbsp;It is also
a part of the local impact that Kansas public broadcasting has on communities
throughout the state. Every community in Kansas deserves a great public media
outlet - one that is capable of delivering community-building programs and
services that will also help educate.&nbsp;Kansas Public Broadcasting continues
to play that role, such as with the alliance between the Kansas State
Department of Education and the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council.”Kent Cornish, president of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters,
said the alliance spotlights two industries that serve their local communities
– teachers and broadcasters. This partnership will allow “public broadcasters
to serve as another conduit to families, while at the same time commercial
broadcasters are airing their own produced material for students and parents,”
Cornish said.Public broadcasters take their public service obligation and
responsibilities very serious, Williams said.“This is another
opportunity for us to go beyond the conventional program and to show how our
outreach efforts can impact the communities we live in in a positive way,” he
said. “Public radio and public television have great reach throughout Kansas.
We are happy to put our expertise, skill and talent to work with the alliance
to assist Kansas residents.”

Alliance to bring supplemental education content to families’ TVs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are struggling to break a stalemate over President Donald Trump’s $250 billion emergency request for a small-business program, stoking uncertainty about when additional support will be available in a key rescue program now exhausted of funds.

A Senate session quickly adjourned without any progress, though staff aides to House and Senate Democrats and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin convened another conference call, on legislation to shore up the Paycheck Protection Program and demands by Democrats for potential additions. The Small Business Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dded8ead64598a3893f4046bbe857d2e">announced Thursday&nbsp;</a>it has reached its $349 billion lending limit and is no longer accepting applications, and Trump immediately weighed in on Twitter to bash Democrats.

“Democrats are blocking additional funding for the popular Paycheck Protection Program. They are killing American small businesses. Stop playing politics Dems! Support Refilling PPP NOW – it is out of funds!” Trump wrote.

GOP aides said that Mnuchin is prepared to accept additional funding sought by Democrats for hospitals, but that additional aid to state and local governments couldn’t get approval in the current round. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to characterize internal party deliberations.

Thursday’s Senate session featured a short speech by a frustrated majority leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., but no effort to pass Trump’s $250 billion request — or to shame Democrats, were they to block it as they did last week. Instead, McConnell said that he had cleared the $250 billion package on the GOP side but that Democrats would have stopped it.

“Democrats would not let us reopen the program,” McConnell said. “This really should be above politics.”

The Capitol is largely shuttered, requiring consensus from all sides for any legislation to pass, and top GOP leaders are vowing to stick closely to Trump’s request despite Democrats’ additional demands.

The Senate is away from Washington through May 4, but it convenes twice each week for pro forma sessions that could be used to pass more coronavirus aid — though only if no senator objects. The next Senate pro forma is Monday afternoon; no action is expected at a brief Friday House session.

McConnell, asked by a reporter whether he could support any agreement reached by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Mnuchin, was noncommittal.

“Well, look, we’d take a look at it. My members want to plus up the small-business program. We think the need is obvious,” he told reporters. “And all the money for the other programs is not yet out the door. It doesn’t mean we won’t be dealing with them later, but we have an emergency, we ought to deal with it.”

GOP leaders McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are back in Washington to monitor developments. McCarthy, the House minority leader, is closer to Trump, but both seem to fear Mnuchin might be willing to contemplate concessions that rank-and-file Republicans would find objectionable.

At issue is a $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program that is a centerpiece of last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2099a53bb8adf2def7ee7329ea322f9d">massive rescue bill.&nbsp;</a>The Congressional Budget Office issued an estimate for the legislation, passed virtually unanimously last month, pegging its deficit cost at $1.8 trillion. That’s less than the $2.2 trillion informal White House estimate, and the difference is because the CBO believes an almost half-trillion-dollar loan guarantee program designed to stabilize large companies and state and local governments won’t have deficit costs because the money would be paid back.

The program gives grants to businesses with fewer than 500 workers so that they can maintain payroll and pay rent while shutting down their businesses during social distancing edicts.

The program has been swamped by businesses applying for loans and has reached its appropriations limit. Mnuchin says $250 billion more is needed immediately.

But Democrats want money for hospitals burdened under COVID-19 caseloads and additional funding for states and local governments straining as the economy slides into recession.

They also want to make sure the Paycheck Protection Program is opened up more to businesses that don’t have established relationships with banks that have been accepting applications for rescue funding.

Pelosi is pressing to add money to be distributed by community development financial institutions, which are small, nontraditional lenders that focus on making loans in underdeveloped and underserved neighborhoods, typically communities with larger minority populations.

“We want to make sure that, as it gets more money, many more people get access to the credit,” Pelosi said.

Eventually, the need for consensus seems likely to result in a relatively limited package.

Republicans are agitating to help rural hospitals, while Democrats are also keen to boost aid to cash-strapped states and local governments whose revenues have cratered. Aiding the states may be a stretch for now, however, as the issue can easily provoke fights between large, high-tax states like California and New York and smaller states more typically run by Republicans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587127575852.png" alt="Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) Virginia, designated to act as Speaker pro tempore in the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D) Virginia, designated to act as Speaker pro tempore in the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are struggling to break a stalemate over President Donald Trump’s $250 billion emergency request for a small-business program, stoking uncertainty about when additional support will be available in a key rescue program now exhausted of funds.A Senate session quickly adjourned without any progress, though staff aides to House and Senate Democrats and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin convened another conference call, on legislation to shore up the Paycheck Protection Program and demands by Democrats for potential additions. The Small Business Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dded8ead64598a3893f4046bbe857d2e">announced Thursday&nbsp;</a>it has reached its $349 billion lending limit and is no longer accepting applications, and Trump immediately weighed in on Twitter to bash Democrats.“Democrats are blocking additional funding for the popular Paycheck Protection Program. They are killing American small businesses. Stop playing politics Dems! Support Refilling PPP NOW – it is out of funds!” Trump wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696207171.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>GOP aides said that Mnuchin is prepared to accept additional funding sought by Democrats for hospitals, but that additional aid to state and local governments couldn’t get approval in the current round. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to characterize internal party deliberations.Thursday’s Senate session featured a short speech by a frustrated majority leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., but no effort to pass Trump’s $250 billion request — or to shame Democrats, were they to block it as they did last week. Instead, McConnell said that he had cleared the $250 billion package on the GOP side but that Democrats would have stopped it.“Democrats would not let us reopen the program,” McConnell said. “This really should be above politics.”The Capitol is largely shuttered, requiring consensus from all sides for any legislation to pass, and top GOP leaders are vowing to stick closely to Trump’s request despite Democrats’ additional demands.The Senate is away from Washington through May 4, but it convenes twice each week for pro forma sessions that could be used to pass more coronavirus aid — though only if no senator objects. The next Senate pro forma is Monday afternoon; no action is expected at a brief Friday House session.McConnell, asked by a reporter whether he could support any agreement reached by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Mnuchin, was noncommittal.“Well, look, we’d take a look at it. My members want to plus up the small-business program. We think the need is obvious,” he told reporters. “And all the money for the other programs is not yet out the door. It doesn’t mean we won’t be dealing with them later, but we have an emergency, we ought to deal with it.”GOP leaders McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are back in Washington to monitor developments. McCarthy, the House minority leader, is closer to Trump, but both seem to fear Mnuchin might be willing to contemplate concessions that rank-and-file Republicans would find objectionable.At issue is a $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program that is a centerpiece of last month’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2099a53bb8adf2def7ee7329ea322f9d">massive rescue bill.&nbsp;</a>The Congressional Budget Office issued an estimate for the legislation, passed virtually unanimously last month, pegging its deficit cost at $1.8 trillion. That’s less than the $2.2 trillion informal White House estimate, and the difference is because the CBO believes an almost half-trillion-dollar loan guarantee program designed to stabilize large companies and state and local governments won’t have deficit costs because the money would be paid back.The program gives grants to businesses with fewer than 500 workers so that they can maintain payroll and pay rent while shutting down their businesses during social distancing edicts.The program has been swamped by businesses applying for loans and has reached its appropriations limit. Mnuchin says $250 billion more is needed immediately.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585696236815.png" alt="White House" />
 <figcaption>White House</figcaption>
 </figure>But Democrats want money for hospitals burdened under COVID-19 caseloads and additional funding for states and local governments straining as the economy slides into recession.They also want to make sure the Paycheck Protection Program is opened up more to businesses that don’t have established relationships with banks that have been accepting applications for rescue funding.Pelosi is pressing to add money to be distributed by community development financial institutions, which are small, nontraditional lenders that focus on making loans in underdeveloped and underserved neighborhoods, typically communities with larger minority populations.“We want to make sure that, as it gets more money, many more people get access to the credit,” Pelosi said.Eventually, the need for consensus seems likely to result in a relatively limited package.Republicans are agitating to help rural hospitals, while Democrats are also keen to boost aid to cash-strapped states and local governments whose revenues have cratered. Aiding the states may be a stretch for now, however, as the issue can easily provoke fights between large, high-tax states like California and New York and smaller states more typically run by Republicans.

New pressure on lawmakers as virus aid for firms hits limit

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas churches and their pastors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Gov. Laura Kelly over&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20-18-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights.

<a href="https://apdocs.inside.ap.org/documents/150874-churches-lawsuit-04-16-20.html" target="_blank">The lawsuit</a>&nbsp;comes eight days after top Republican legislative leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/79490ae7c241fab1301bd66e87afd224">attempted to revoke</a>&nbsp;Kelly’s order themselves, only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9cc005f93f1daa0edd5fcfbc581351e5">let her order stand</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds, without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions.

The lawsuit also comes with Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature pressuring Kelly to outline a plan for lifting a separate stay-at-home order for all 2.9 million Kansas residents to help the economy recover.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Kansas also alleges that Kelly’s order violates the churches and pastors’ right to assembly, guaranteed along with religious and free-speech rights by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It also contends that it violates a state law meant to protect religious freedom.

The lawsuit was filed by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris. The lawsuit said both churches held indoor services Sunday with 20 or more members of the congregation present, celebrating Easter, often the busiest day of the year for Christian churches.

“The State does not have a compelling reason for prohibiting church services where congregants can otherwise practice adequate social distancing protocol,” the lawsuit said.

Both churches had congregation members sit 6 feet apart, in line with public health recommendations on social distancing and took numerous other steps, such as not using collection plates, the lawsuit said.

Kelly spokeswoman Dena Sattler said the governor’s office is reviewing the lawsuit but added, “This is not about restricting religion, it is about keeping people safe and saving Kansans’ lives.”

The number of coronavirus cases and COVID-19-related deaths are still rising in Kansas. The state reported 1,588 cases as of Thursday, with 80 deaths.

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

Kelly’s statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">stay-at-home order&nbsp;</a>took effect March 30 and is set to remain in effect until May 3. It exempts “essential” activities such as buying groceries and obtaining medical care.

The lawsuit argues that Kelly’s order limiting church gatherings to 10 or fewer members of a congregation discriminates against and “shows hostility” toward churches when many secular businesses still can operate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586807038792.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly listens to questions during a press conference Monday in Topeka" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly listens to questions during a press conference Monday in Topeka</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas churches and their pastors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Gov. Laura Kelly over&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20-18-Executed.pdf" target="_blank">an order</a>&nbsp;banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights.<a href="https://apdocs.inside.ap.org/documents/150874-churches-lawsuit-04-16-20.html" target="_blank">The lawsuit</a>&nbsp;comes eight days after top Republican legislative leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/79490ae7c241fab1301bd66e87afd224">attempted to revoke</a>&nbsp;Kelly’s order themselves, only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9cc005f93f1daa0edd5fcfbc581351e5">let her order stand</a>&nbsp;on technical grounds, without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions.The lawsuit also comes with Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature pressuring Kelly to outline a plan for lifting a separate stay-at-home order for all 2.9 million Kansas residents to help the economy recover.The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Kansas also alleges that Kelly’s order violates the churches and pastors’ right to assembly, guaranteed along with religious and free-speech rights by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It also contends that it violates a state law meant to protect religious freedom.The lawsuit was filed by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris. The lawsuit said both churches held indoor services Sunday with 20 or more members of the congregation present, celebrating Easter, often the busiest day of the year for Christian churches.“The State does not have a compelling reason for prohibiting church services where congregants can otherwise practice adequate social distancing protocol,” the lawsuit said.Both churches had congregation members sit 6 feet apart, in line with public health recommendations on social distancing and took numerous other steps, such as not using collection plates, the lawsuit said.Kelly spokeswoman Dena Sattler said the governor’s office is reviewing the lawsuit but added, “This is not about restricting religion, it is about keeping people safe and saving Kansans’ lives.”The number of coronavirus cases and COVID-19-related deaths are still rising in Kansas. The state reported 1,588 cases as of Thursday, with 80 deaths.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.Kelly’s statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/dbec40f995b83b9a88cfe56cd1149708">stay-at-home order&nbsp;</a>took effect March 30 and is set to remain in effect until May 3. It exempts “essential” activities such as buying groceries and obtaining medical care.The lawsuit argues that Kelly’s order limiting church gatherings to 10 or fewer members of a congregation discriminates against and “shows hostility” toward churches when many secular businesses still can operate.___

Kansas governor sued over order limiting religious services

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump gave governors a road map Thursday for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out “a phased and deliberate approach” to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.

He added, “This is a gradual process.”

The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while holding the line in harder-hit locations. They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned, with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak. And they largely reinforce plans already in the works by governors, who have primary responsibility for public health in their states.

“You’re going to call your own shots,” Trump told the governors Thursday afternoon in a conference call, according to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press. “We’re going to be standing alongside of you.”

Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phase gradual reopening of businesses and schools.

In phase one, for instance, the plan recommends strict social distancing for all people in public. Gatherings larger than 10 people are to be avoided and nonessential travel is discouraged.

In phase two, people are encouraged to maximize social distancing and limit gatherings to no more than 50 people unless precautionary measures are taken. Travel could resume.

Phase three envisions a return to normalcy for most Americans, with a focus on identification and isolation of any new infections.

Trump said recent trends in some states were so positive that they could almost immediately begin taking the steps laid out in phase one.

“They will be able to go literally tomorrow,” Trump said.

Governors of both parties made clear they will move at their own pace.

Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, said the guidelines “seem to make sense.”

“We’re days, maybe weeks away from the starting line and then you have to have 14 days of declining cases, of declining symptoms and hospital capacity that exists in case you have a rebound,” he said.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Trump ally, cautiously floated the idea of reopening parts of the state, but said testing capacity and contact tracing would need to be considerably ramped up before restrictions could be safely lifted.

“All would be forgotten very quickly if we moved into a stage quicker than we should, and then we got into a situation where we had people dying like flies,” Justice told reporter

At the earliest, the guidelines suggest, some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after a month of evaluating whether easing up on restrictions has led to a resurgence in virus cases. In other parts of the country, or if virus cases pick up, it could be substantially longer.

In briefing governors on the plan, Trump said they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states. Just days before, he had drawn swift pushback for claiming he had absolute authority to determine how and when states reopen.

“We have a very large number of states that want to get going and they’re in very good shape,” Trump said. “That’s good with us, frankly.”

The guidelines also include general recommendations to businesses as they plan for potential reopenings, suggesting temperature-taking, rapid COVID-19 testing and widespread disinfection efforts in workplaces.

Those most susceptible to the respiratory disease are advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase — and even then are encouraged to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people.

Governors, for their part, have been moving ahead with their own plans for how to safely revive normal activity. Seven Midwestern governors announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening their economies. Similar pacts were announced earlier in the week in the West and Northeast.

Two in three Americans expressed concerns that restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus would be eased too quickly, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Thursday. More than 30,000 people in the United States have died from the virus.

Trump also held conference calls Thursday with lawmakers he named to a new congressional advisory task force on reviving the economy. The economic costs were clear in new federal data showing that at least 22 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the last month. But the legislators repeatedly urged the president not to sacrifice public health by moving too quickly.

“My highest priority on this task force will be to ensure the federal government’s efforts to reopen our economy are bipartisan, data-driven, and based on the expertise of public health professionals,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.

The federal government envisions a gradual recovery from the virus, in which disruptive mitigation measures may be needed in some places at least until a vaccine is available — a milestone unlikely to be reached until sometime next year.

“It’s not going to immediately be a situation where we have stadiums full of people,” said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Thursday. “We’re Americans. We will adapt,” he added.

Trump on Thursday claimed the U.S. has “built the most advanced and robust testing anywhere in the world.” But even people close to him warned more would be necessary.

“We are struggling with testing at a large scale,” South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told ABC’s “The View.” “You really can’t go back to work until we have more tests.”

There was also concern that the White House was taking too rosy a view on trends in the U.S.

“I would not declare a peak almost anywhere in the U.S. yet,” said Marc Lipsitch, a Harvard epidemiology professor who is director of the university’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics. He recommended “working to enhance surveillance and testing so if we do hit a peak, it will be possible to identify it with greater certainty.”

But some of Trump’s conservative allies, like economist Stephen Moore, have encouraged him to act swiftly, warning of “a mini Great Depression if we keep the economy shut down.”

“That is a catastrophic outcome for our country. Period,” Moore said he advised the president.

A big testing ground for Trump’s road map could be Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has stuck close to federal guidance throughout the crisis, will lay out his reopening plan Friday. Abbott has said the process will be gradual, but he is facing pressure from conservative lawmakers to get Texas back to work.

The White House proposal presented Thursday is different from what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended last week, according to a draft of the recommendation obtained by The Associated Press. The CDC talked about using more specific criteria and in many cases looking for improvement over longer periods of time before easing restrictions in high-transmission areas. Examples include wanting to see sustained reductions over 30 days in positive tests for coronavirus, and sustained reductions over 15 days in numbers of coronavirus deaths.

WASHINGTON (AP) — New White House guidelines outline a phased approach to restoring normal commerce and services, but only for places with strong testing and seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.

President Donald Trump unveiled his administration’s plans to ease social distancing requirements on a call Thursday with the nation’s governors. The new guidelines are aimed at clearing the way for an easing of restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while keeping them in place in harder-hit locations.

Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phased gradual reopening of businesses and schools, with each phase lasting at least 14 days, meant to ensure that the virus outbreak doesn’t accelerate again.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the guidelines before their public release.

The recommendations make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned, with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak.

At earliest, the guidelines suggest that some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after a month of evaluating whether the easing of restrictions leads to a resurgence in virus cases. In other parts of the country, or if virus cases resume an up-tick, it could be substantially longer.

Trump briefed the nation’s governors on the plan Thursday afternoon, saying they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states.

“You’re going to call your own shots,” Trump told governors, according to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press. “We’re going to be standing along side of you.”

Meanwhile, under the federal guidelines, those most susceptible to the respiratory disease would be advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase — and even then are advised to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people.

The federal guidelines come after seven governors in the Midwest announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening the economy, after similar pacts were announced earlier this week in the West and Northeast.

Trump held conference calls earlier Thursday with lawmakers he named to a new congressional advisory task force. The economic costs were clear in new federal data showing that at least 22 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the last month. But the legislators repeatedly urged the president not to sacrifice public health in an effort to reopen the economy.

Business leaders, too, raised concerns to the president in a round of calls Wednesday, warning that a dramatic increase in testing and wider availability of protective equipment will be necessary before they can safely revive operations.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said at a news conference before the call with the White House that he planned to ask the president for “direct cash assistance,” citing the state’s troubled tax revenues. He also said he would press for “robust health care infrastructure” and mass testing with quick turnaround times before reopening the economy.

Trump said Wednesday that data indicates the U.S. is “past the peak” of the COVID-19 epidemic. He said the numbers have “put us in a very strong position to finalize guidelines for states on reopening the country.”

Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, added that data from across the country showed the nation “improving,” but that Americans had to recommit to social distancing to keep up the positive momentum.

She said nine states have fewer than 1,000 cases and just a few dozen new cases per day. She said those would likely be the first to see a lifting in social distancing restrictions at the direction of their governors under the guidelines set to be released Thursday.

But participants in a Wednesday call with Trump that included executives of dozens of leading American companies raised concerns about the testing issue, according to one participant who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private discussion.

Another participant said it was stressed to Trump that expansion of testing and contact tracing was crucial, as well as guidelines for best practices on reopening businesses in phases or in one fell swoop.

The participant said those on the call noted to the administration that there was about to be a rush on personal protective equipment. Many businesses that are now shuttered will need the protective equipment to keep their employees and customers safe.

Trump was told “the economy will look very different and operations will look very different,” one participant said.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican close to Trump, said the lack of widespread testing was an impediment to lifting the social distancing guidelines. “We are struggling with testing at a large scale.,” he told ABC’s “The View.” “You really can’t go back to work until we have more tests.”

“That is a catastrophic outcome for our country. Period,” Moore said he advised the president. “We can’t have 30 million people in this country unemployed or you’re going to have social chaos.”

The panel, which Trump dubbed the new Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, also could help give him a measure of cover. If cases surge once restrictions are lifted, as many experts have warned, Trump will be able to tell the public he didn’t act alone and the nation’s top minds — from manufacturing to defense to technology — helped shape the plan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587087044524.png" alt="President Trump answers questions Thursday on the plan during the Coronavirus Task Force briefing- Image courtesy White House&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answers questions Thursday on the plan during the Coronavirus Task Force briefing- Image courtesy White House&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump gave governors a road map Thursday for recovering from the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, laying out “a phased and deliberate approach” to restoring normal activity in places that have strong testing and are seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.He added, “This is a gradual process.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587086887250.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The new guidelines are aimed at easing restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while holding the line in harder-hit locations. They make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned, with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak. And they largely reinforce plans already in the works by governors, who have primary responsibility for public health in their states.“You’re going to call your own shots,” Trump told the governors Thursday afternoon in a conference call, according to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press. “We’re going to be standing alongside of you.”Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phase gradual reopening of businesses and schools.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587086594833.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In phase one, for instance, the plan recommends strict social distancing for all people in public. Gatherings larger than 10 people are to be avoided and nonessential travel is discouraged.In phase two, people are encouraged to maximize social distancing and limit gatherings to no more than 50 people unless precautionary measures are taken. Travel could resume.Phase three envisions a return to normalcy for most Americans, with a focus on identification and isolation of any new infections.Trump said recent trends in some states were so positive that they could almost immediately begin taking the steps laid out in phase one.“They will be able to go literally tomorrow,” Trump said.Governors of both parties made clear they will move at their own pace.Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, said the guidelines “seem to make sense.”“We’re days, maybe weeks away from the starting line and then you have to have 14 days of declining cases, of declining symptoms and hospital capacity that exists in case you have a rebound,” he said.West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Trump ally, cautiously floated the idea of reopening parts of the state, but said testing capacity and contact tracing would need to be considerably ramped up before restrictions could be safely lifted.“All would be forgotten very quickly if we moved into a stage quicker than we should, and then we got into a situation where we had people dying like flies,” Justice told reporterAt the earliest, the guidelines suggest, some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after a month of evaluating whether easing up on restrictions has led to a resurgence in virus cases. In other parts of the country, or if virus cases pick up, it could be substantially longer.In briefing governors on the plan, Trump said they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states. Just days before, he had drawn swift pushback for claiming he had absolute authority to determine how and when states reopen.“We have a very large number of states that want to get going and they’re in very good shape,” Trump said. “That’s good with us, frankly.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587086755141.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The guidelines also include general recommendations to businesses as they plan for potential reopenings, suggesting temperature-taking, rapid COVID-19 testing and widespread disinfection efforts in workplaces.Those most susceptible to the respiratory disease are advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase — and even then are encouraged to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people.Governors, for their part, have been moving ahead with their own plans for how to safely revive normal activity. Seven Midwestern governors announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening their economies. Similar pacts were announced earlier in the week in the West and Northeast.Two in three Americans expressed concerns that restrictions meant to slow the spread of the virus would be eased too quickly, according to a Pew Research Center survey released Thursday. More than 30,000 people in the United States have died from the virus.Trump also held conference calls Thursday with lawmakers he named to a new congressional advisory task force on reviving the economy. The economic costs were clear in new federal data showing that at least 22 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the last month. But the legislators repeatedly urged the president not to sacrifice public health by moving too quickly.“My highest priority on this task force will be to ensure the federal government’s efforts to reopen our economy are bipartisan, data-driven, and based on the expertise of public health professionals,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.The federal government envisions a gradual recovery from the virus, in which disruptive mitigation measures may be needed in some places at least until a vaccine is available — a milestone unlikely to be reached until sometime next year.“It’s not going to immediately be a situation where we have stadiums full of people,” said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Thursday. “We’re Americans. We will adapt,” he added.Trump on Thursday claimed the U.S. has “built the most advanced and robust testing anywhere in the world.” But even people close to him warned more would be necessary.“We are struggling with testing at a large scale,” South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham told ABC’s “The View.” “You really can’t go back to work until we have more tests.”There was also concern that the White House was taking too rosy a view on trends in the U.S.“I would not declare a peak almost anywhere in the U.S. yet,” said Marc Lipsitch, a Harvard epidemiology professor who is director of the university’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics. He recommended “working to enhance surveillance and testing so if we do hit a peak, it will be possible to identify it with greater certainty.”But some of Trump’s conservative allies, like economist Stephen Moore, have encouraged him to act swiftly, warning of “a mini Great Depression if we keep the economy shut down.”“That is a catastrophic outcome for our country. Period,” Moore said he advised the president.A big testing ground for Trump’s road map could be Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has stuck close to federal guidance throughout the crisis, will lay out his reopening plan Friday. Abbott has said the process will be gradual, but he is facing pressure from conservative lawmakers to get Texas back to work.The White House proposal presented Thursday is different from what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended last week, according to a draft of the recommendation obtained by The Associated Press. The CDC talked about using more specific criteria and in many cases looking for improvement over longer periods of time before easing restrictions in high-transmission areas. Examples include wanting to see sustained reductions over 30 days in positive tests for coronavirus, and sustained reductions over 15 days in numbers of coronavirus deaths.___WASHINGTON (AP) — New White House guidelines outline a phased approach to restoring normal commerce and services, but only for places with strong testing and seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.President Donald Trump unveiled his administration’s plans to ease social distancing requirements on a call Thursday with the nation’s governors. The new guidelines are aimed at clearing the way for an easing of restrictions in areas with low transmission of the coronavirus, while keeping them in place in harder-hit locations.Places with declining infections and strong testing would begin a three-phased gradual reopening of businesses and schools, with each phase lasting at least 14 days, meant to ensure that the virus outbreak doesn’t accelerate again.The Associated Press obtained a copy of the guidelines before their public release.The recommendations make clear that the return to normalcy will be a far longer process than Trump initially envisioned, with federal officials warning that some social distancing measures may need to remain in place through the end of the year to prevent a new outbreak.At earliest, the guidelines suggest that some parts of the country could see a resumption in normal commerce and social gatherings after a month of evaluating whether the easing of restrictions leads to a resurgence in virus cases. In other parts of the country, or if virus cases resume an up-tick, it could be substantially longer.Trump briefed the nation’s governors on the plan Thursday afternoon, saying they were going to be responsible for deciding when it is safe to lift restrictions in their states.“You’re going to call your own shots,” Trump told governors, according to an audio recording obtained by The Associated Press. “We’re going to be standing along side of you.”Meanwhile, under the federal guidelines, those most susceptible to the respiratory disease would be advised to remain sheltered in place until their area enters the final phase — and even then are advised to take precautions to avoid close contact with other people.The federal guidelines come after seven governors in the Midwest announced Thursday they will coordinate on reopening the economy, after similar pacts were announced earlier this week in the West and Northeast.Trump held conference calls earlier Thursday with lawmakers he named to a new congressional advisory task force. The economic costs were clear in new federal data showing that at least 22 million Americans have been thrown out of work in the last month. But the legislators repeatedly urged the president not to sacrifice public health in an effort to reopen the economy.“My highest priority on this task force will be to ensure the federal government’s efforts to reopen our economy are bipartisan, data-driven, and based on the expertise of public health professionals,” said Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.Business leaders, too, raised concerns to the president in a round of calls Wednesday, warning that a dramatic increase in testing and wider availability of protective equipment will be necessary before they can safely revive operations.The federal government envisions a gradual recovery from the virus, in which disruptive mitigation measures may be needed in some places at least until a vaccine is available — a milestone unlikely to be reached until sometime next year.“It’s not going to immediately be a situation where we have stadiums full of people,” said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Thursday. “We’re Americans. We will adapt,” he added.New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said at a news conference before the call with the White House that he planned to ask the president for “direct cash assistance,” citing the state’s troubled tax revenues. He also said he would press for “robust health care infrastructure” and mass testing with quick turnaround times before reopening the economy.Trump said Wednesday that data indicates the U.S. is “past the peak” of the COVID-19 epidemic. He said the numbers have “put us in a very strong position to finalize guidelines for states on reopening the country.”Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, added that data from across the country showed the nation “improving,” but that Americans had to recommit to social distancing to keep up the positive momentum.She said nine states have fewer than 1,000 cases and just a few dozen new cases per day. She said those would likely be the first to see a lifting in social distancing restrictions at the direction of their governors under the guidelines set to be released Thursday.But participants in a Wednesday call with Trump that included executives of dozens of leading American companies raised concerns about the testing issue, according to one participant who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the private discussion.Another participant said it was stressed to Trump that expansion of testing and contact tracing was crucial, as well as guidelines for best practices on reopening businesses in phases or in one fell swoop.The participant said those on the call noted to the administration that there was about to be a rush on personal protective equipment. Many businesses that are now shuttered will need the protective equipment to keep their employees and customers safe.Trump was told “the economy will look very different and operations will look very different,” one participant said.South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican close to Trump, said the lack of widespread testing was an impediment to lifting the social distancing guidelines. “We are struggling with testing at a large scale.,” he told ABC’s “The View.” “You really can’t go back to work until we have more tests.”But some of Trump’s conservative allies, like economist Stephen Moore, have encouraged him to act swiftly, warning of “a mini Great Depression if we keep the economy shut down.”“That is a catastrophic outcome for our country. Period,” Moore said he advised the president. “We can’t have 30 million people in this country unemployed or you’re going to have social chaos.”The panel, which Trump dubbed the new Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups, also could help give him a measure of cover. If cases surge once restrictions are lifted, as many experts have warned, Trump will be able to tell the public he didn’t act alone and the nation’s top minds — from manufacturing to defense to technology — helped shape the plan.___

Trump gives governors plan to reopen economy

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Seven more people at a nursing and rehabilitation home in Kansas City, Kansas, have died from COVID-19, taking the facility’s toll to 19 in an outbreak that is believed to have started with an infected worker.

The Wyandotte County-Kansas City health department announced an increase of four deaths Thursday on top of three Wednesday at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation. A total of 116 residents and staff have tested positive at the facility, making it the state’s largest cluster.

A new health department report shows a staff member at the facility started displaying symptoms of the coronavirus around March 24, and went to work on March 27 and 28 with a cough and fever. The report said the employee was allowed to work without appropriate personal protective equipment.

The worker then went to the emergency room on March 29, and the COVID-19 test came back positive the next day. But health officials didn’t confirm until April 3 that the employee worked at Riverbend. By then, residents were getting sick.

Janell Friesen, a spokeswoman for the joint city-county health department, said that it appears a number of people may have been exposed when the employee went to work with symptoms. But she noted that the department is still investigating to see if there may have been an earlier instance of exposure.

“Unfortunately, any setting where many people are grouped together increases the risk of spread, and the risk for serious illness is especially high for older adults and people with underlying health conditions, like many of the residents in a facility like this,” she said in a written statement.

A statement posted on the facility’s website said coronavirus-infected patients on one floor have been “fully stabilized,” while they are hopeful the others will be stabilized soon. They said plans are being made to return hospitalized patients to the home.

The state health department is bringing on 400 volunteers to help assist local departments tracing the contacts of people with the coronavirus. The Wyandotte County health department also has 20 University of Kansas medical student volunteers and five staffers doing contact tracing.

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases increased Thursday to 1,588, a jump of 94 cases from Wednesday. The number of deaths increased by four to 80.

A Lawrence area church has found what it believes is a way to continue meeting despite Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order banning religious gathering with more than 10 worshipers.

On Wednesday, Heritage Baptist Church held a service under a tent, with between 75 and 100 people in attendance. A single protester held a sign that read, “Don’t be selfish — Go home — God will be there too,” the Lawrence Journal-World reports.

The Rev. Scott Hanks, the congregation’s leader, said the church had determined that Kelly’s order, which limits the number of worshipers meeting in “the same building or confined or enclosed space,” would still allow for outdoor services.

Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Jenn Hethcoat said it reached a similar conclusion, as long as social-distancing requirements are observed. The church also held an Easter service in which about 40 vehicles were spotted parked outside. But it wasn’t cited because of a technical issue; Kelly’s order hadn’t yet been published in the state’s legal newspaper.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, nursing and rehabilitation home has seen three more COVID-19-related deaths to bring its total to 15, and the state health department plans to bring on 400 volunteers to help trace people who’ve had contacts with people infected with coronavirus.

The outbreak at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation home in Wyandotte County has become the state’s largest coronavirus cluster, with the number of coronavirus cases likely to surpass 1,500 statewide on Thursday. Wyandotte County also has the state’s highest number of COVID-19-related deaths, with 31 of the 76 reported, or 41%.

<a href="https://twitter.com/UGHealthDept/status/1250544993921572864" target="_blank">The Wyandotte County-Kansas City health department reported</a>&nbsp;that six more people have tested positive for coronavirus at the Riverbend home, making the total 116. Cases have been confirmed in 92 residents and 24 employees, and nine people remain hospitalized.

Nursing homes have been hit hard by the coronavirus, with the state Department of Health and Environment reporting at least a dozen outbreaks with more than 200 cases.

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

Tracing the contacts of people with coronavirus generally is done by local health departments, but the state health department assists, and it is bringing on 400 volunteers. Some will be medical students and others will be existing health department employees.

The Wyandotte County health department also has 20 University of Kansas medical students are volunteering their time on contact tracing, joining five staffers in doing the work.

“It does not require a medical, a nursing or a technology degree to do the contact tracing,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman. “People can do it from an office or their home. It’s not face-to-face.”

The state saw a 4.8% increase Wednesday in confirmed coronavirus cases, up 68 to 1,494. The number of reported COVID-19 related deaths jumped 10%, up seven to 76.

Wyandotte County has a disproportionately high number of cases, 362, or 24% of the state’s total, despite having only 5.7% of the state’s population.

Sixty-three of the state’s 105 counties have reported cases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587053239931.png" alt="KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during Wednesday's press conference" />
 <figcaption>KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman during Wednesday's press conference</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Seven more people at a nursing and rehabilitation home in Kansas City, Kansas, have died from COVID-19, taking the facility’s toll to 19 in an outbreak that is believed to have started with an infected worker.RIVERBEND OUTBREAKThe Wyandotte County-Kansas City health department announced an increase of four deaths Thursday on top of three Wednesday at Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation. A total of 116 residents and staff have tested positive at the facility, making it the state’s largest cluster.A new health department report shows a staff member at the facility started displaying symptoms of the coronavirus around March 24, and went to work on March 27 and 28 with a cough and fever. The report said the employee was allowed to work without appropriate personal protective equipment.The worker then went to the emergency room on March 29, and the COVID-19 test came back positive the next day. But health officials didn’t confirm until April 3 that the employee worked at Riverbend. By then, residents were getting sick.Janell Friesen, a spokeswoman for the joint city-county health department, said that it appears a number of people may have been exposed when the employee went to work with symptoms. But she noted that the department is still investigating to see if there may have been an earlier instance of exposure.“Unfortunately, any setting where many people are grouped together increases the risk of spread, and the risk for serious illness is especially high for older adults and people with underlying health conditions, like many of the residents in a facility like this,” she said in a written statement.A statement posted on the facility’s website said coronavirus-infected patients on one floor have been “fully stabilized,” while they are hopeful the others will be stabilized soon. They said plans are being made to return hospitalized patients to the home.CONTACT TRACING AND TESTINGThe state health department is bringing on 400 volunteers to help assist local departments tracing the contacts of people with the coronavirus. The Wyandotte County health department also has 20 University of Kansas medical student volunteers and five staffers doing contact tracing.Statewide, the number of confirmed cases increased Thursday to 1,588, a jump of 94 cases from Wednesday. The number of deaths increased by four to 80.RELIGIOUS GROUPSA Lawrence area church has found what it believes is a way to continue meeting despite Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order banning religious gathering with more than 10 worshipers.On Wednesday, Heritage Baptist Church held a service under a tent, with between 75 and 100 people in attendance. A single protester held a sign that read, “Don’t be selfish — Go home — God will be there too,” the Lawrence Journal-World reports.The Rev. Scott Hanks, the congregation’s leader, said the church had determined that Kelly’s order, which limits the number of worshipers meeting in “the same building or confined or enclosed space,” would still allow for outdoor services.Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Jenn Hethcoat said it reached a similar conclusion, as long as social-distancing requirements are observed. The church also held an Easter service in which about 40 vehicles were spotted parked outside. But it wasn’t cited because of a technical issue; Kelly’s order hadn’t yet been published in the state’s legal newspaper.___------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City, Kansas, nursing and rehabilitation home has seen three more COVID-19-related deaths to bring its total to 15, and the state health department plans to bring on 400 volunteers to help trace people who’ve had contacts with people infected with coronavirus.The outbreak at the Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation home in Wyandotte County has become the state’s largest coronavirus cluster, with the number of coronavirus cases likely to surpass 1,500 statewide on Thursday. Wyandotte County also has the state’s highest number of COVID-19-related deaths, with 31 of the 76 reported, or 41%.RIVERBEND OUTBREAK<a href="https://twitter.com/UGHealthDept/status/1250544993921572864" target="_blank">The Wyandotte County-Kansas City health department reported</a>&nbsp;that six more people have tested positive for coronavirus at the Riverbend home, making the total 116. Cases have been confirmed in 92 residents and 24 employees, and nine people remain hospitalized.Nursing homes have been hit hard by the coronavirus, with the state Department of Health and Environment reporting at least a dozen outbreaks with more than 200 cases.For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.CONTACT TRACINGTracing the contacts of people with coronavirus generally is done by local health departments, but the state health department assists, and it is bringing on 400 volunteers. Some will be medical students and others will be existing health department employees.The Wyandotte County health department also has 20 University of Kansas medical students are volunteering their time on contact tracing, joining five staffers in doing the work.“It does not require a medical, a nursing or a technology degree to do the contact tracing,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman. “People can do it from an office or their home. It’s not face-to-face.”CASES, DEATHS RISINGThe state saw a 4.8% increase Wednesday in confirmed coronavirus cases, up 68 to 1,494. The number of reported COVID-19 related deaths jumped 10%, up seven to 76.Wyandotte County has a disproportionately high number of cases, 362, or 24% of the state’s total, despite having only 5.7% of the state’s population.Sixty-three of the state’s 105 counties have reported cases.___

Kansas rehab worker showed up sick; 19 die at facility

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department has reported a 15th confirmed case of COVID-19.

"The latest identified positive case is a female in her 40s who is recovering at home. This case has known exposure at the facility cluster," the department reported in a news release today.

No further information about the new confirmed case will be release, the information from the department noted.

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department has reported a 15th confirmed case of COVID-19."The latest identified positive case is a female in her 40s who is recovering at home. This case has known exposure at the facility cluster," the department reported in a news release today.No further information about the new confirmed case will be release, the information from the department noted.

McPherson County reports 15th COVID-19 case

TOPEKA — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Labor Secretary Delia Garcia announced a new unemployment claims process Thursday during the governor's daily press conference.

The new program asks claimants to file an application for benefits and weekly claims on certain days by the first letter of their last name. 

If you need to file a claim and your last name begins with the letter A - M, file a claim on Sunday (after noon, Tuesday, or Thursday.

If you need to file a claim and your last name begins with the letter N - Z, file a claim on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.

Remember: claims filed on either Sunday or Monday will be paid at the same time, so there is no disadvantage to you if your last name is Zook and you file on Mon. instead of Sun.

Participating in the Labor Department's gating program will help to ensure that all Kansans eligible for unemployment insurance benefits will have access to the system.&nbsp;

TOPEKA — Kansas Governor Laura Kelly and Labor Secretary Delia Garcia announced a new unemployment claims process Thursday during the governor's daily press conference.The new program asks claimants to file an application for benefits and weekly claims on certain days by the first letter of their last name. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F622240108405535%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>If you need to file a claim and your last name begins with the letter A - M, file a claim on Sunday (after noon, Tuesday, or Thursday.If you need to file a claim and your last name begins with the letter N - Z, file a claim on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday.Remember: claims filed on either Sunday or Monday will be paid at the same time, so there is no disadvantage to you if your last name is Zook and you file on Mon. instead of Sun.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587069308691.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Participating in the Labor Department's gating program will help to ensure that all Kansans eligible for unemployment insurance benefits will have access to the system.&nbsp;

🎥 Kansas announces new filing process for unemployment

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas held a noon&nbsp; news conference Thursday to announce and provide further details on the extension of his stay-at-home order to Friday, May 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585236249325.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas held a noon&nbsp; news conference Thursday to announce and provide further details on the extension of his stay-at-home order to Friday, May 15.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fquinton.lucas%2Fvideos%2F317120535923454%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>This order was previously scheduled to expire next Friday, April 24. Lucas said his decision came after health officials from the 9 county metro in Kansas and Missouri made the recommendation Wednesday.<a href="https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/health/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-at-home-order-faq">Click here to read</a> the original stay-at-home order for Kansas City.

Coronavirus Update