Today is Sunday, April 12, the 103rd day of 2020. There are 263 days left in the year.

On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began as Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

In 1776, North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Congress authorized the colony's delegates to the Continental Congress to support independence from Britain.

In 1912, Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, died in Glen Echo, Maryland, at age 90.

In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia, at age 63; he was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman.

In 1954, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission opened a hearing on whether Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, scientific director of the Manhattan Project, should have his security clearance reinstated amid questions about his loyalty (it wasn't). Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" in New York for Decca Records.

In 1955, the Salk vaccine against polio was declared safe and effective.

In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to fly in space, orbiting the earth once before making a safe landing.

In 1963, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, charged with contempt of court and parading without a permit. (During his time behind bars, King wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail.")

In 1981, the space shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral on its first test flight. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, 66, died in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1988, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to Harvard University for a genetically engineered mouse, the first time a patent was granted for an animal life form.

In 1990, in its first meeting, East Germany's first democratically elected parliament acknowledged responsibility for the Nazi Holocaust, and asked the forgiveness of Jews and others who had suffered.

In 2006, jurors in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial listened to a recording of shouts and cries in the cockpit as desperate passengers twice charged hijackers during the final half hour of doomed United Flight 93 on 9/11.

In 2009, American cargo ship captain Richard Phillips was rescued from Somali pirates by U.S. Navy snipers who shot and killed three of the hostage-takers. Angel Cabrera became the first Argentine to win the Masters.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama opened a 47-nation nuclear summit in Washington, boosted by Ukraine's announcement that it would give up its weapons-grade uranium. The musical "Next to Normal" won the Pulitzer for drama; Paul Harding's "Tinkers" was the surprise fiction winner.

Five years ago: Hillary Rodham Clinton jumped back into presidential politics, announcing in a video her much-awaited second campaign for the White House. Pope Francis marked the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks, calling it "the first genocide of the 20th century," a politically explosive declaration that provoked a furious reaction from Turkey. Jordan Spieth (speeth) romped to his first major championship with a record-tying performance at the Masters, shooting an 18-under 270 to become the first wire-to-wire winner of the green jacket since 1976.

One year ago: A 5-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was thrown from a third-story balcony at the Mall of America in Minnesota by a stranger who had randomly grabbed the child. (Emmanuel Aranda pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 19 years in prison; the injured child was hospitalized for months.) A former Florida prep school administrator, Mark Riddell, pleaded guilty to taking college entrance exams for students in exchange for cash to help wealthy parents get their kids into elite universities. (Riddell later cooperated with investigators.) Former NFL player and coach Forrest Gregg died in Colorado Springs from complications of Parkinson's disease; he was 85. Actress Georgia Engel, best known as Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died in New Jersey at the age of 70.

Today's Birthdays: Children's author Beverly Cleary is 104. Actress Jane Withers is 94. Playwright Alan Ayckbourn is 81. Jazz musician Herbie Hancock is 80. Rock singer John Kay (Steppenwolf) is 76. Actor Ed O'Neill is 74. Actor Dan Lauria is 73. Talk show host David Letterman is 73. Author Scott Turow is 71. Actor-playwright Tom Noonan is 69. Rhythm-and-blues singer JD Nicholas (The Commodores) is 68. Singer Pat Travers is 66. Actor Andy Garcia is 64. Movie director Walter Salles is 64. Country singer Vince Gill is 63. Actress Suzzanne Douglas is 63. Model/TV personality J Alexander is 62. Rock musician Will Sergeant (Echo &amp; the Bunnymen) is 62. Rock singer Art Alexakis (Everclear) is 58. Country singer Deryl Dodd is 56. Folk-pop singer Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) is 56. Actress Alicia Coppola is 52. Rock singer Nicholas Hexum (311) is 50. Actress Retta is 50. Actor Nicholas Brendon is 49. Actress Shannen Doherty is 49. Actress Marley Shelton is 46. Actress Sarah Jane Morris is 43. Actress Jordana Spiro is 43. Rock musician Guy Berryman (Coldplay) is 42. Actor Riley Smith is 42. Actress Claire Danes is 41. Actress Jennifer Morrison is 41. Actor Matt McGorry is 34. Actress Brooklyn Decker is 33. Contemporary Christian musician Joe Rickard (Red) is 33. Rock singer-musician Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco) is 33. Actress Saoirse Ronan is 26.

Thought for Today: "The surest test of discipline is its absence." — Clara Barton (1821-1912).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Today is Sunday, April 12, the 103rd day of 2020. There are 263 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On April 12, 1861, the Civil War began as Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.On this date:In 1776, North Carolina's Fourth Provincial Congress authorized the colony's delegates to the Continental Congress to support independence from Britain.In 1912, Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, died in Glen Echo, Maryland, at age 90.In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia, at age 63; he was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman.In 1954, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission opened a hearing on whether Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, scientific director of the Manhattan Project, should have his security clearance reinstated amid questions about his loyalty (it wasn't). Bill Haley and His Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" in New York for Decca Records.In 1955, the Salk vaccine against polio was declared safe and effective.In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man to fly in space, orbiting the earth once before making a safe landing.In 1963, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, charged with contempt of court and parading without a permit. (During his time behind bars, King wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail.")In 1981, the space shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral on its first test flight. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis, 66, died in Las Vegas, Nevada.In 1988, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to Harvard University for a genetically engineered mouse, the first time a patent was granted for an animal life form.In 1990, in its first meeting, East Germany's first democratically elected parliament acknowledged responsibility for the Nazi Holocaust, and asked the forgiveness of Jews and others who had suffered.In 2006, jurors in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial listened to a recording of shouts and cries in the cockpit as desperate passengers twice charged hijackers during the final half hour of doomed United Flight 93 on 9/11.In 2009, American cargo ship captain Richard Phillips was rescued from Somali pirates by U.S. Navy snipers who shot and killed three of the hostage-takers. Angel Cabrera became the first Argentine to win the Masters.Ten years ago: President Barack Obama opened a 47-nation nuclear summit in Washington, boosted by Ukraine's announcement that it would give up its weapons-grade uranium. The musical "Next to Normal" won the Pulitzer for drama; Paul Harding's "Tinkers" was the surprise fiction winner.Five years ago: Hillary Rodham Clinton jumped back into presidential politics, announcing in a video her much-awaited second campaign for the White House. Pope Francis marked the 100th anniversary of the slaughter of Armenians by Ottoman Turks, calling it "the first genocide of the 20th century," a politically explosive declaration that provoked a furious reaction from Turkey. Jordan Spieth (speeth) romped to his first major championship with a record-tying performance at the Masters, shooting an 18-under 270 to become the first wire-to-wire winner of the green jacket since 1976.One year ago: A 5-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was thrown from a third-story balcony at the Mall of America in Minnesota by a stranger who had randomly grabbed the child. (Emmanuel Aranda pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to 19 years in prison; the injured child was hospitalized for months.) A former Florida prep school administrator, Mark Riddell, pleaded guilty to taking college entrance exams for students in exchange for cash to help wealthy parents get their kids into elite universities. (Riddell later cooperated with investigators.) Former NFL player and coach Forrest Gregg died in Colorado Springs from complications of Parkinson's disease; he was 85. Actress Georgia Engel, best known as Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," died in New Jersey at the age of 70.Today's Birthdays: Children's author Beverly Cleary is 104. Actress Jane Withers is 94. Playwright Alan Ayckbourn is 81. Jazz musician Herbie Hancock is 80. Rock singer John Kay (Steppenwolf) is 76. Actor Ed O'Neill is 74. Actor Dan Lauria is 73. Talk show host David Letterman is 73. Author Scott Turow is 71. Actor-playwright Tom Noonan is 69. Rhythm-and-blues singer JD Nicholas (The Commodores) is 68. Singer Pat Travers is 66. Actor Andy Garcia is 64. Movie director Walter Salles is 64. Country singer Vince Gill is 63. Actress Suzzanne Douglas is 63. Model/TV personality J Alexander is 62. Rock musician Will Sergeant (Echo &amp; the Bunnymen) is 62. Rock singer Art Alexakis (Everclear) is 58. Country singer Deryl Dodd is 56. Folk-pop singer Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) is 56. Actress Alicia Coppola is 52. Rock singer Nicholas Hexum (311) is 50. Actress Retta is 50. Actor Nicholas Brendon is 49. Actress Shannen Doherty is 49. Actress Marley Shelton is 46. Actress Sarah Jane Morris is 43. Actress Jordana Spiro is 43. Rock musician Guy Berryman (Coldplay) is 42. Actor Riley Smith is 42. Actress Claire Danes is 41. Actress Jennifer Morrison is 41. Actor Matt McGorry is 34. Actress Brooklyn Decker is 33. Contemporary Christian musician Joe Rickard (Red) is 33. Rock singer-musician Brendon Urie (Panic! at the Disco) is 33. Actress Saoirse Ronan is 26.Thought for Today: "The surest test of discipline is its absence." — Clara Barton (1821-1912).Copyright 2020, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- April 12

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

Would you like to learn to fly? How about without a plane? If that sounds impossible, meet Little Apple Aerials. This company’s talented staff demonstrates aerial arts and teaches participants to do gymnastics up in the air, complete with a sensation of flying.&nbsp;

Damian and Heidi Hilton are the founders and owners of this remarkable business known as Little Apple Aerials. Damian grew up at Great Bend, where he enjoyed athletics. “I was picking up a friend after my high school basketball practice and he was at the Barton County Community College facility working with the Barton cheerleaders,” Damian said. The Barton yell-leaders invited Damian to join the squad also.&nbsp; He tried it and became a Barton yell-leader.

Damian went on to K-State. One of his Barton cheer partners was on the cheer squad at K-State and talked him into trying out. Not only did Damian make the squad, he went on to become assistant coach and then head cheer coach.

While at K-State, Damian got a job managing the Manhattan Gymnastics Center. He also coached youth sports. The gymnastic elements of cheerleading became a passion and then a profession.

One athlete that Damian was coaching suggested that Damian call her sister Heidi. “Of course, I didn’t do it,” Damian said. But when Damian and Heidi met later on, they made the connection. Heidi and Damian married in 2004.

Heidi grew up in Manhattan and attended K-State, where she became the featured twirler and then a Classy Cat for the K-State band. She was also a professional dancer who would later tour cross-country with the Music Man troupe.

In 2005, the K-State Dance department hosted a guest artist named Joshua Carlson.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They needed an expert,” Damian said. “At one point in the performance, he wanted a dancer to fall from a 20-foot-high ladder. The K-State dance staff said, maybe you better call (Damian).” Damian and Joshua became good friends. Joshua helped Damian and Heidi learn more about the art of aerial performance, as practiced in circuses in Europe and Asia.&nbsp;

In 2010, Damian and Heidi started their own business called Little Apple Aerials. The company offers aerial performances for special events, plus classes in the art of aerial gymnastics. Just as gymnasts have routines, aerial gymnasts also perform but do so while suspended in mid-air. The motion can be like flying. “Our aerialists will swing, fly, drop, and ascend,” Damian said. “They will do drops but never fall.”

Safety is top priority. “We will never have someone perform a move high in the air that they haven’t done hundreds of times on the ground,” Damian said. The Hiltons also set up a business called CheerExcel to assist school cheerleading squads.

Little Apple Aerials performs for parties and other events. “When I started, I was used to being the guy underneath, holding the girl up safely,” Damian said. That changed with time. At one performance, Damian was pulled 35 feet up in the air upside down by a chain motor and then Heidi performed a routine where she lay laterally across his feet. “We were the featured aerialists for the show,” Damian said.

Damian and Heidi have trained with professionals at Cirque du Soliel at Las Vegas and Florida. Their son Aidan and daughter Daisy now perform with them also.

Damian and Heidi have performed at various locations, from an audience of thousands at Century II in Wichita to a cheer camp at the rural community of Weskan, population 341 people. Now, that’s rural.

The Hiltons perform and train such techniques as silks, cerceaux, corde’ lisse, and Spanish Web. In June 2020, they will offer their second annual circus camp in Manhattan, where kids can learn the skills of acrobatics, juggling, clowning and more.

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.littleappleaerials.com/" target="_blank">www.littleappleaerials.com</a>. For information on the camp, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.littleapplecircuscamp.com/" target="_blank">www.littleapplecircuscamp.com</a>.

Would you like to learn to fly? How about without a plane? We commend Damian and Heidi Hilton of Little Apple Aerials for making a difference by training people in the aerial arts. I hope their business continues to take off.

Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasprofile.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kansasprofile.com</a>. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityWould you like to learn to fly? How about without a plane? If that sounds impossible, meet Little Apple Aerials. This company’s talented staff demonstrates aerial arts and teaches participants to do gymnastics up in the air, complete with a sensation of flying.&nbsp;Damian and Heidi Hilton are the founders and owners of this remarkable business known as Little Apple Aerials. Damian grew up at Great Bend, where he enjoyed athletics. “I was picking up a friend after my high school basketball practice and he was at the Barton County Community College facility working with the Barton cheerleaders,” Damian said. The Barton yell-leaders invited Damian to join the squad also.&nbsp; He tried it and became a Barton yell-leader.Damian went on to K-State. One of his Barton cheer partners was on the cheer squad at K-State and talked him into trying out. Not only did Damian make the squad, he went on to become assistant coach and then head cheer coach.While at K-State, Damian got a job managing the Manhattan Gymnastics Center. He also coached youth sports. The gymnastic elements of cheerleading became a passion and then a profession.One athlete that Damian was coaching suggested that Damian call her sister Heidi. “Of course, I didn’t do it,” Damian said. But when Damian and Heidi met later on, they made the connection. Heidi and Damian married in 2004.Heidi grew up in Manhattan and attended K-State, where she became the featured twirler and then a Classy Cat for the K-State band. She was also a professional dancer who would later tour cross-country with the Music Man troupe.In 2005, the K-State Dance department hosted a guest artist named Joshua Carlson.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They needed an expert,” Damian said. “At one point in the performance, he wanted a dancer to fall from a 20-foot-high ladder. The K-State dance staff said, maybe you better call (Damian).” Damian and Joshua became good friends. Joshua helped Damian and Heidi learn more about the art of aerial performance, as practiced in circuses in Europe and Asia.&nbsp;In 2010, Damian and Heidi started their own business called Little Apple Aerials. The company offers aerial performances for special events, plus classes in the art of aerial gymnastics. Just as gymnasts have routines, aerial gymnasts also perform but do so while suspended in mid-air. The motion can be like flying. “Our aerialists will swing, fly, drop, and ascend,” Damian said. “They will do drops but never fall.”Safety is top priority. “We will never have someone perform a move high in the air that they haven’t done hundreds of times on the ground,” Damian said. The Hiltons also set up a business called CheerExcel to assist school cheerleading squads.Little Apple Aerials performs for parties and other events. “When I started, I was used to being the guy underneath, holding the girl up safely,” Damian said. That changed with time. At one performance, Damian was pulled 35 feet up in the air upside down by a chain motor and then Heidi performed a routine where she lay laterally across his feet. “We were the featured aerialists for the show,” Damian said.Damian and Heidi have trained with professionals at Cirque du Soliel at Las Vegas and Florida. Their son Aidan and daughter Daisy now perform with them also.Damian and Heidi have performed at various locations, from an audience of thousands at Century II in Wichita to a cheer camp at the rural community of Weskan, population 341 people. Now, that’s rural.The Hiltons perform and train such techniques as silks, cerceaux, corde’ lisse, and Spanish Web. In June 2020, they will offer their second annual circus camp in Manhattan, where kids can learn the skills of acrobatics, juggling, clowning and more.For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.littleappleaerials.com/" target="_blank">www.littleappleaerials.com</a>. For information on the camp, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.littleapplecircuscamp.com/" target="_blank">www.littleapplecircuscamp.com</a>.Would you like to learn to fly? How about without a plane? We commend Damian and Heidi Hilton of Little Apple Aerials for making a difference by training people in the aerial arts. I hope their business continues to take off.Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasprofile.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kansasprofile.com</a>. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Now That’s Rural:  Damian and Heidi Hilton, Little Apple Aerials

Regardless of how you celebrate today, we at Salina Post hope you have a wonderful day. Stay safe and healthy!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586650044676.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/suju-165106/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=4976728">Susanne Jutzeler</a>, suju-foto from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=4976728">Pixabay </a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/suju-165106/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=4976728">Susanne Jutzeler</a>, suju-foto from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=4976728">Pixabay </a></figcaption>
 </figure>Regardless of how you celebrate today, we at Salina Post hope you have a wonderful day. Stay safe and healthy!

Happy Easter!

MARION COUNTY LAKE -- They had a bit of hail at the Marion County Lake this evening. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Marion-County-Park-and-Lake-119284188098476/">Marion County Park and Lake</a> Facebook page:

MARION COUNTY LAKE -- They had a bit of hail at the Marion County Lake this evening. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Marion-County-Park-and-Lake-119284188098476/">Marion County Park and Lake</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F119284188098476%2Fvideos%2F526350794740835%2F&show_text=1&width=267" width="267" height="709" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

Thunderstorm brings hail to Marion County

Here's the Saturday COVID-19 update from Saline County:

The Saline County Health Department has been notified of one additional positive COVID-19 case in a Saline County resident.

• This case is a male in his 50’s that is associated with a close contact.

At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1268 confirmed cases in Kansas and 55 deaths. Saline County has a total of 9 positive cases.

Governor Kelly’s Statewide Stay-at-Home order is still in effect. Social distancing is imperative. During this time of multiple faith traditions and secular celebrations, the Saline County Health Department encourages celebrating in new and socially distanced ways and making a small sacrifice to protect your loved ones.

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-at-Home 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="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Here's the Saturday COVID-19 update from Saline County:The Saline County Health Department has been notified of one additional positive COVID-19 case in a Saline County resident.• This case is a male in his 50’s that is associated with a close contact.At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1268 confirmed cases in Kansas and 55 deaths. Saline County has a total of 9 positive cases.Governor Kelly’s Statewide Stay-at-Home order is still in effect. Social distancing is imperative. During this time of multiple faith traditions and secular celebrations, the Saline County Health Department encourages celebrating in new and socially distanced ways and making a small sacrifice to protect your loved ones.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-at-Home 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="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Saline County reports another confirmed case of COVID-19

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED HIGH WIND WARNINGS FOR THE COUNTIES IN OUR AREA.

The National Weather Service has moved all of the counties in our area from high wind watches to high wind warnings.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita has issued a high wind warning in effect from 7 a.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday&nbsp; for the following counties in our area.

Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are   expected. North winds will quickly develop from west to east on Sunday as a cold front moves through.

Northerly winds will  quickly pick up from west to east on Sunday as a cold front  moves southeast during the day.&nbsp;

Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines.  Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult  especially for high profile vehicles.

The strong winds may be accompanied by a  wintry mix along the Interstate 70 corridor in the afternoon causing  periods of reduced visibility.

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.

NWS in Topeka has issued a high wind warning from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday for the following counties in our area.

North winds sustained at 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55  mph expected.

Damaging winds could blow down trees and power  lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be  difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

NWS in Hastings, Neb., has issued a high wind warning from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday for the following counties in our area.

Damaging winds could cause damage to trees and power  lines. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile  vehicles.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED HIGH WIND WARNINGS FOR THE COUNTIES IN OUR AREA.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586641873213.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service has moved all of the counties in our area from high wind watches to high wind warnings.The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita has issued a high wind warning in effect from 7 a.m. Sunday to 1 a.m. Monday&nbsp; for the following counties in our area.Ellsworth CountyLincoln CountyMarion CountyMcPherson CountySaline CountyNorthwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are expected. North winds will quickly develop from west to east on Sunday as a cold front moves through.Northerly winds will quickly pick up from west to east on Sunday as a cold front moves southeast during the day.&nbsp;Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult especially for high profile vehicles.The strong winds may be accompanied by a wintry mix along the Interstate 70 corridor in the afternoon causing periods of reduced visibility.People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.NWS in Topeka has issued a high wind warning from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday for the following counties in our area.Clay CountyCloud CountyDickinson CountyOttawa CountyRepublic CountyNorth winds sustained at 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected.Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.NWS in Hastings, Neb., has issued a high wind warning from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday for the following counties in our area.Jewell CountyMitchell CountyDamaging winds could cause damage to trees and power lines. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586612057286.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

UPDATED: NWS issues high wind warnings for the area

UPDATED: The watch and warning for the counties in our area have been allowed to expire.

Several counties in our area are in a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. Saturday and part of one, Marion County, is in a severe thunderstorm warning until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The warning is for the southern and eastern parts of Marion County.

The following counties are included in the severe thunderstorm watch.

UPDATED: The watch and warning for the counties in our area have been allowed to expire.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586646031106.png" alt="thunderstorms 4112020.png" />
 <figcaption>thunderstorms 4112020.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Several counties in our area are in a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. Saturday and part of one, Marion County, is in a severe thunderstorm warning until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The warning is for the southern and eastern parts of Marion County.The following counties are included in the severe thunderstorm watch.Dickinson CountyMarion CountyMcPherson CountySaline County

UPDATED: Severe thunderstorm watch, warning expire



The Salina Area United Way and Be Wealth are teaming up to bring you the BeUnited 1.9k virtual run/walk to benefit the SAUW COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

Let’s take a few minutes out of our extremely busy Netflix filled Saturday to get a little exercise, raise some money for those heavily affected by Covid-19, and flood social media with some positive vibes in a time we all need it.

1.	Accumulate 1.9k or just over a mile of walking, jogging, running, sprinting, frolicking, it doesn’t matter it’s all up to you!

2.	Take a picture or video of yourself or family. Remember, do this on your own or with your family only and abide by social distancing guidelines.

3.	Post said picture or video to Facebook and other platforms if you wish with the hashtag <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/beunited">#beunited</a>

4.	Consider making some type of donation to the SAUW COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Some people/businesses/non profits are more affected by the fallout of this virus than others, and this gives us a great opportunity to give our support. If you can’t donate at this time, you can participate!



The Salina Area United Way and Be Wealth are teaming up to bring you the BeUnited 1.9k virtual run/walk to benefit the SAUW COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.Let’s take a few minutes out of our extremely busy Netflix filled Saturday to get a little exercise, raise some money for those heavily affected by Covid-19, and flood social media with some positive vibes in a time we all need it.Here are the rules:1.	Accumulate 1.9k or just over a mile of walking, jogging, running, sprinting, frolicking, it doesn’t matter it’s all up to you!2.	Take a picture or video of yourself or family. Remember, do this on your own or with your family only and abide by social distancing guidelines.3.	Post said picture or video to Facebook and other platforms if you wish with the hashtag <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/beunited">#beunited</a>4.	Consider making some type of donation to the SAUW COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. Some people/businesses/non profits are more affected by the fallout of this virus than others, and this gives us a great opportunity to give our support. If you can’t donate at this time, you can participate!

SAUW, Be Wealth team up for virtual run/walk today

The Greater Salina Community Foundation recently awarded over $18,000 to 12 charitable projects and organizations in Saline County. Recipients will be recognized on Wednesday through a virtual #CovidCantStopGood grant tour on the community foundation’s Facebook page.

The following organizations received funding:

•The CASTLE Project, $3,275.97 to purchase STEM learning materials and pay the STEM teacher for the 2020 summer program.

•Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas, $2,975.97 to help purchase new computers for the agency.

•Ashby House, $2,801.91 to replace outdated freezers with new upright freezers that will accommodate food donations for the shelter and free store programs.

•Independent Connection, Inc., $2,000 to help provide independent living skills training to students of USD 305’s Opportunity Now and students enrolled in the Jobs for America’s Graduates Program at Salina Central High School.&nbsp;

•Sacred Heart Jr. Sr. High School, $1,898.05 to purchase virtual reality equipment for the STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) curriculum.

•Saline County Health Department, $1,650 to host the Saline County Community Baby Shower, which will provide education and community resources for new and expecting parents.

•USD 307 Ell-Saline, $1,241 for elementary student participation in AmeriTowne, a curriculum that educates on entrepreneurial, personal, civic and professional areas.

•USD 306 Southeast of Saline, $1,168 to help purchase a Snapmaker 2.0 Modular 3D printer, which combines 3D printing, laser engraving and a CNC machine.

•USD 306 Southeast of Saline, $1,020 to purchase Osmos, which are hardware accessories that turn iPads into interactive learning experiences.

This round of grants was made possible by three funds at the community foundation: the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, which supports projects and programs that improve the community’s quality of life; the Kansas Health Foundation Fund, which supports preventative programs that support healthy living across Saline County; and the L.P. “Pat” Mullen Fund, which supports hands-on learning opportunities for youth in the areas of arts and humanities and science, technology and invention.

The Greater Salina Community Foundation recently awarded over $18,000 to 12 charitable projects and organizations in Saline County. Recipients will be recognized on Wednesday through a virtual #CovidCantStopGood grant tour on the community foundation’s Facebook page.The following organizations received funding:•The CASTLE Project, $3,275.97 to purchase STEM learning materials and pay the STEM teacher for the 2020 summer program.•Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas, $2,975.97 to help purchase new computers for the agency.•Ashby House, $2,801.91 to replace outdated freezers with new upright freezers that will accommodate food donations for the shelter and free store programs.•Independent Connection, Inc., $2,000 to help provide independent living skills training to students of USD 305’s Opportunity Now and students enrolled in the Jobs for America’s Graduates Program at Salina Central High School.&nbsp;•Sacred Heart Jr. Sr. High School, $1,898.05 to purchase virtual reality equipment for the STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) curriculum.•Saline County Health Department, $1,650 to host the Saline County Community Baby Shower, which will provide education and community resources for new and expecting parents.•USD 307 Ell-Saline, $1,241 for elementary student participation in AmeriTowne, a curriculum that educates on entrepreneurial, personal, civic and professional areas.•USD 306 Southeast of Saline, $1,168 to help purchase a Snapmaker 2.0 Modular 3D printer, which combines 3D printing, laser engraving and a CNC machine.•USD 306 Southeast of Saline, $1,020 to purchase Osmos, which are hardware accessories that turn iPads into interactive learning experiences.This round of grants was made possible by three funds at the community foundation: the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund, which supports projects and programs that improve the community’s quality of life; the Kansas Health Foundation Fund, which supports preventative programs that support healthy living across Saline County; and the L.P. “Pat” Mullen Fund, which supports hands-on learning opportunities for youth in the areas of arts and humanities and science, technology and invention.

GSCF awards $18,000 in community grants

Our COVID-19 crisis has been escalating quickly and with it, the potential collision with the First Amendment over issues involving religious liberty and the right of assembly.

Last month, we thought that stopping the spread of the virus was a matter of washing our hands thoroughly and avoiding touching our faces.

Now, we’re unable to assemble in groups and many of us are confined to our homes.

Three weeks ago,&nbsp;President Trump&nbsp;dreamed of packed churches on Easter Sunday. At the time, many medical experts found that overly optimistic (or as one put it,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/24/coronavirus-response-trump-wants-to-reopen-us-economy-by-easter.html" target="_blank">“not rooted in reality.”</a>) Now, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-us-maps-and-cases/" target="_blank">U.S. approaching 430,000 cases and the death toll nearing 15,000</a>, it seems like an impossibility. Or at least, it should.

But as recently as this past Saturday, President Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-discusses-opening-country-coronavirus-peaks-areas/story?id=69979743" target="_blank">floating the possibility</a>&nbsp;of making a special allowance for churches to have Easter services. He’s not the only politician to contemplate loosening the reins for the holidays. South Carolina&nbsp;Gov. Henry McMaster&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wistv.com/2020/04/07/south-carolinians-under-home-or-work-order-could-face-criminal-charges-disobeying/" target="_blank">recently issued a stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;but still recommended that Easter services continue. Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico currently exempt worship services from their orders prohibiting gatherings in large groups.

The fact that some government officials think this is worth the risk reflects the push back we’ve seen from some religious leaders ever since state and local governments started prohibiting large gatherings and shutting down non-essential businesses, including churches, synagogues and other houses of worship. For example, Louisiana pastor&nbsp;Tony Spell&nbsp;has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.insider.com/pastor-tony-spell-charged-speaks-out-about-continuing-services-2020-4" target="_blank">continued to lead in-person services</a>, calling the closure of his Life Tabernacle Church religious persecution and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/24/us/louisiana-pastor-spell-coronavirus/index.html" target="_blank">questioning why</a>&nbsp;retailers were deemed essential but churches not. “We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says,”&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/news/490657-worshippers-gather-for-louisiana-church-service-after-pastor-charged" target="_blank">Spell said in an interview</a>.

But while Spell is framing the state’s order as a violation of his First Amendment rights, that’s not actually the case. Along with being rooted in the public’s best interest, it’s also important to note that the orders restricting the size of gatherings and shutting down non-essential businesses are, at this time, the least restrictive options available to protect public health. In short, this means they’re almost certainly constitutional — but granting an exemption to one of these orders for houses of worship may not be.

The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause requires that the government treat secular and religious organizations equally, without favoring one over the other. As&nbsp;Rachel Laser, president and chief executive officer of Americans United for Separation of Church and State,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.au.org/media/press-releases/religious-services-shouldnt-be-excluded-from-bans-against-large-gatherings-to" target="_blank">put it</a>, “[W]hen health experts and public officials determine that large gatherings must be cancelled for the public good, we must follow their lead and apply these guidelines to secular and religious gatherings equally. The Constitution not only permits it, but&nbsp;demands&nbsp;it. Such restrictions do not violate religious freedom; they ensure religious freedom is not misused in ways that risk people’s lives.”

This week I had the pleasure of moderating a (virtual) Freedom Forum panel on<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/event/you-mean-i-cant-what-religious-freedom-in-difficult-times/" target="_blank">&nbsp;religious freedom in the time of COVID-19</a>&nbsp;and discussing these issues and more with legal experts&nbsp;Richard Foltin&nbsp;and&nbsp;Maggie Garrett, atheist thought leader&nbsp;Mandisa Thomas&nbsp;and seminary-trained religious liberty advocate&nbsp;Charles Watson Jr.&nbsp;One question from the audience that stood out to me was from an attendee who wondered if there was more to the conversation than just religious freedom versus public health. Did these two values have to be on opposing sides? Weren’t there things that religious communities could proactively do in service of public health — starting with asking their members to stay at home, of course, but going beyond that to encourage them to volunteer their time and monetary resources, donate blood and generally provide assistance to the most vulnerable members of our population? You can find the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfpbwKjKPNA" target="_blank">full webinar</a>&nbsp;on the Freedom Forum’s YouTube channel.

It was a reminder to me of the crucial charitable function that religious organizations have often served in crisis situations. As Baylor University professors&nbsp;Byron Johnson&nbsp;and&nbsp;Thomas Kidd&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/03/29/responding-to-covid-19-would-be-a-lot-harder-without-churches-and-christian-groups/?utm_source=link_newsv9&amp;utm_campaign=item_307619&amp;utm_medium=copy" target="_blank">point out</a>,&nbsp;“When it comes to confronting contemporary social turmoil, communities of faith have always played an important role in working toward solutions.” Many religious organizations are doing this right now. Leaders from the National Association of Evangelicals and&nbsp;Christianity Today&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march-web-only/walter-kim-nae-timothy-dalrymple-cancel-church-or-not.html" target="_blank">published a joint statement&nbsp;</a>reminding people that “God cannot be consigned to a place.” They added: “It is one thing to risk your own life in order to worship together in person; it is quite another to risk the lives of countless others, when so many churches are finding creative and compelling ways to carry on in worship and community from a distance.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/live-blog/coronavirus-updates-live-u-s-slaps-travel-restrictions-most-europe-n1156266/ncrd1157411#blogHeader" target="_blank">suspended all services worldwide on March 12</a>&nbsp;(a lifetime ago in the COVID-19 timeline). Houses of worship have been providing crucial material and social support to those who suddenly find themselves in need of it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the pandemic continues, my hope is that these narratives become more common and stories of church leaders risking the lives of their congregants seem like a distant memory.

Lata Nott is a Freedom Forum Fellow. Contact her via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lnott@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">lnott@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow her on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/latanott" target="_blank">@LataNott</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1572283561997.png" alt="Lata Nott" />
 <figcaption>Lata Nott</figcaption>
 </figure>By LATA NOTTOur COVID-19 crisis has been escalating quickly and with it, the potential collision with the First Amendment over issues involving religious liberty and the right of assembly.Last month, we thought that stopping the spread of the virus was a matter of washing our hands thoroughly and avoiding touching our faces.Now, we’re unable to assemble in groups and many of us are confined to our homes.Three weeks ago,&nbsp;President Trump&nbsp;dreamed of packed churches on Easter Sunday. At the time, many medical experts found that overly optimistic (or as one put it,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/24/coronavirus-response-trump-wants-to-reopen-us-economy-by-easter.html" target="_blank">“not rooted in reality.”</a>) Now, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/health/coronavirus-us-maps-and-cases/" target="_blank">U.S. approaching 430,000 cases and the death toll nearing 15,000</a>, it seems like an impossibility. Or at least, it should.But as recently as this past Saturday, President Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-discusses-opening-country-coronavirus-peaks-areas/story?id=69979743" target="_blank">floating the possibility</a>&nbsp;of making a special allowance for churches to have Easter services. He’s not the only politician to contemplate loosening the reins for the holidays. South Carolina&nbsp;Gov. Henry McMaster&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wistv.com/2020/04/07/south-carolinians-under-home-or-work-order-could-face-criminal-charges-disobeying/" target="_blank">recently issued a stay-at-home order</a>&nbsp;but still recommended that Easter services continue. Kansas, Michigan and New Mexico currently exempt worship services from their orders prohibiting gatherings in large groups.The fact that some government officials think this is worth the risk reflects the push back we’ve seen from some religious leaders ever since state and local governments started prohibiting large gatherings and shutting down non-essential businesses, including churches, synagogues and other houses of worship. For example, Louisiana pastor&nbsp;Tony Spell&nbsp;has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.insider.com/pastor-tony-spell-charged-speaks-out-about-continuing-services-2020-4" target="_blank">continued to lead in-person services</a>, calling the closure of his Life Tabernacle Church religious persecution and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/24/us/louisiana-pastor-spell-coronavirus/index.html" target="_blank">questioning why</a>&nbsp;retailers were deemed essential but churches not. “We hold our religious rights dear and we are going to assemble no matter what someone says,”&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/news/490657-worshippers-gather-for-louisiana-church-service-after-pastor-charged" target="_blank">Spell said in an interview</a>.But while Spell is framing the state’s order as a violation of his First Amendment rights, that’s not actually the case. Along with being rooted in the public’s best interest, it’s also important to note that the orders restricting the size of gatherings and shutting down non-essential businesses are, at this time, the least restrictive options available to protect public health. In short, this means they’re almost certainly constitutional — but granting an exemption to one of these orders for houses of worship may not be.The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause requires that the government treat secular and religious organizations equally, without favoring one over the other. As&nbsp;Rachel Laser, president and chief executive officer of Americans United for Separation of Church and State,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.au.org/media/press-releases/religious-services-shouldnt-be-excluded-from-bans-against-large-gatherings-to" target="_blank">put it</a>, “[W]hen health experts and public officials determine that large gatherings must be cancelled for the public good, we must follow their lead and apply these guidelines to secular and religious gatherings equally. The Constitution not only permits it, but&nbsp;demands&nbsp;it. Such restrictions do not violate religious freedom; they ensure religious freedom is not misused in ways that risk people’s lives.”This week I had the pleasure of moderating a (virtual) Freedom Forum panel on<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/event/you-mean-i-cant-what-religious-freedom-in-difficult-times/" target="_blank">&nbsp;religious freedom in the time of COVID-19</a>&nbsp;and discussing these issues and more with legal experts&nbsp;Richard Foltin&nbsp;and&nbsp;Maggie Garrett, atheist thought leader&nbsp;Mandisa Thomas&nbsp;and seminary-trained religious liberty advocate&nbsp;Charles Watson Jr.&nbsp;One question from the audience that stood out to me was from an attendee who wondered if there was more to the conversation than just religious freedom versus public health. Did these two values have to be on opposing sides? Weren’t there things that religious communities could proactively do in service of public health — starting with asking their members to stay at home, of course, but going beyond that to encourage them to volunteer their time and monetary resources, donate blood and generally provide assistance to the most vulnerable members of our population? You can find the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfpbwKjKPNA" target="_blank">full webinar</a>&nbsp;on the Freedom Forum’s YouTube channel.It was a reminder to me of the crucial charitable function that religious organizations have often served in crisis situations. As Baylor University professors&nbsp;Byron Johnson&nbsp;and&nbsp;Thomas Kidd&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/03/29/responding-to-covid-19-would-be-a-lot-harder-without-churches-and-christian-groups/?utm_source=link_newsv9&amp;utm_campaign=item_307619&amp;utm_medium=copy" target="_blank">point out</a>,&nbsp;“When it comes to confronting contemporary social turmoil, communities of faith have always played an important role in working toward solutions.” Many religious organizations are doing this right now. Leaders from the National Association of Evangelicals and&nbsp;Christianity Today&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march-web-only/walter-kim-nae-timothy-dalrymple-cancel-church-or-not.html" target="_blank">published a joint statement&nbsp;</a>reminding people that “God cannot be consigned to a place.” They added: “It is one thing to risk your own life in order to worship together in person; it is quite another to risk the lives of countless others, when so many churches are finding creative and compelling ways to carry on in worship and community from a distance.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/live-blog/coronavirus-updates-live-u-s-slaps-travel-restrictions-most-europe-n1156266/ncrd1157411#blogHeader" target="_blank">suspended all services worldwide on March 12</a>&nbsp;(a lifetime ago in the COVID-19 timeline). Houses of worship have been providing crucial material and social support to those who suddenly find themselves in need of it.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the pandemic continues, my hope is that these narratives become more common and stories of church leaders risking the lives of their congregants seem like a distant memory.Lata Nott is a Freedom Forum Fellow. Contact her via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lnott@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">lnott@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow her on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/latanott" target="_blank">@LataNott</a>.

First Five: Religious groups have role in COVID-19 fight

In support of its students and with their feedback,&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan announced Friday that it will move its annual spring commencement ceremony to Saturday, August 15.

The university had previously announced that the May 9 ceremony would not take place as scheduled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After consulting with several groups, including the 2020 senior class, the decision was made to hold an on-ground ceremony early in the 2020-21 academic year.

“We are pleased to offer an on-ground commencement ceremony for the class of 2020,” said Dr.&nbsp;Matt&nbsp;Thompson, President and CEO of KWU. “We reviewed all options and explored virtual possibilities, but by polling the seniors, we discovered that the vast majority preferred to simply reschedule the ceremony. We’re glad to make it a part of our year-opening events, and we hope many seniors return to celebrate this momentous occasion.&nbsp;This date will also allow classmates of the graduates to also attend the ceremony. In addition, the university is planning some special ways to recognize these graduates during the rest of spring semester to ensure they know how proud we are of them as they achieve this major milestone.”

Mike Gonzales `84, a member of the KWU Board of Trustees, will remain the scheduled speaker. The event will begin with a class photo at 9 a.m., before the scheduled processional starts at 9:30 a.m. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwu.edu/graduation2020" target="_blank">www.kwu.edu/graduation2020</a>.

In support of its students and with their feedback,&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan announced Friday that it will move its annual spring commencement ceremony to Saturday, August 15.The university had previously announced that the May 9 ceremony would not take place as scheduled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After consulting with several groups, including the 2020 senior class, the decision was made to hold an on-ground ceremony early in the 2020-21 academic year.“We are pleased to offer an on-ground commencement ceremony for the class of 2020,” said Dr.&nbsp;Matt&nbsp;Thompson, President and CEO of KWU. “We reviewed all options and explored virtual possibilities, but by polling the seniors, we discovered that the vast majority preferred to simply reschedule the ceremony. We’re glad to make it a part of our year-opening events, and we hope many seniors return to celebrate this momentous occasion.&nbsp;This date will also allow classmates of the graduates to also attend the ceremony. In addition, the university is planning some special ways to recognize these graduates during the rest of spring semester to ensure they know how proud we are of them as they achieve this major milestone.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582771758721.jpeg" alt="KWU commencement speaker Mike Gonzales. Photo courtesy KWU" />
 <figcaption>KWU commencement speaker Mike Gonzales. Photo courtesy KWU</figcaption>
 </figure>Mike Gonzales `84, a member of the KWU Board of Trustees, will remain the scheduled speaker. The event will begin with a class photo at 9 a.m., before the scheduled processional starts at 9:30 a.m. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwu.edu/graduation2020" target="_blank">www.kwu.edu/graduation2020</a>.

KWU moves commencement ceremony to August

MANHATTAN – Whether we planned to or not, many of us are spending more time at home because of the new coronavirus outbreak, and that likely means more time in the kitchen.

Now may be the best time to learn or review safe food handling practices and the reasons behind them, aimed at keeping foodborne illnesses at bay.

Kansas State University food safety specialists say the four main concepts include:

“Wash your hands often,” said Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension food safety specialist. “Use water and any soap, rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinse with water and dry with a clean towel. The soap bubbles and rubbing are your best defense for clean hands.”

Food safety details, including information about those sometimes confusing “sell by” and “use by” dates on food packaging are included in a K-State Research and Extension fact sheet,&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2465.pdf" target="_blank">At-Home Safe Food Handling: It’s in Your Hands</a>, available online. Tips include:

Grocery shopping – If running several errands, shop for food last to avoid leaving it too long in a (sometimes) hot car. Keep meat, poultry, fish or seafood separate from other food items in the cart.

Storing – Keep refrigerator at 40 degrees F. or colder to slow bacterial growth.

Cooking – Cook food thoroughly to kill any bacteria. Use a food thermometer to help determine doneness.

Serving – Keep raw and cooked meat, poultry, fish or seafood separate. Never place cooked foods on an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. Refrigerate leftover food within two hours of preparing, serving and eating.

Leftovers – Divide large amounts of leftover foods, such as soup, into shallow containers for quicker cooling.

If there are children at home, this is a great time to not only include them in preparing meals and snacks, but also to teach them how and why it’s important to handle food properly and safely.

“Even though there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food or food packaging, it is always important to use good food safety practices, which will help control foodborne illness, as well as COVID-19,” said extension food safety specialist Londa Nwadike.

In addition to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2465.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>, more information is available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/index.html" target="_blank">Extension Food Safety page</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension offices</a>&nbsp;across the state also have training and resources available on this and a range of topics.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586609477738.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Shutterbug75-2077322/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=1238252">Shutterbug75</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=1238252">Pixabay </a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/Shutterbug75-2077322/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=1238252">Shutterbug75</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=1238252">Pixabay </a></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – Whether we planned to or not, many of us are spending more time at home because of the new coronavirus outbreak, and that likely means more time in the kitchen.Now may be the best time to learn or review safe food handling practices and the reasons behind them, aimed at keeping foodborne illnesses at bay.Kansas State University food safety specialists say the four main concepts include:<ol>
 <li>Clean. Wash hands and surfaces often.</li><li>Chill. Refrigerate promptly.</li><li>Separate. Don’t cross-contaminate.</li><li>Cook. Cook to proper temperatures.</li>
 </ol>“Wash your hands often,” said Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension food safety specialist. “Use water and any soap, rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, rinse with water and dry with a clean towel. The soap bubbles and rubbing are your best defense for clean hands.”Food safety details, including information about those sometimes confusing “sell by” and “use by” dates on food packaging are included in a K-State Research and Extension fact sheet,&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2465.pdf" target="_blank">At-Home Safe Food Handling: It’s in Your Hands</a>, available online. Tips include:Grocery shopping – If running several errands, shop for food last to avoid leaving it too long in a (sometimes) hot car. Keep meat, poultry, fish or seafood separate from other food items in the cart.Storing – Keep refrigerator at 40 degrees F. or colder to slow bacterial growth.Cooking – Cook food thoroughly to kill any bacteria. Use a food thermometer to help determine doneness.Serving – Keep raw and cooked meat, poultry, fish or seafood separate. Never place cooked foods on an unwashed plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. Refrigerate leftover food within two hours of preparing, serving and eating.Leftovers – Divide large amounts of leftover foods, such as soup, into shallow containers for quicker cooling.If there are children at home, this is a great time to not only include them in preparing meals and snacks, but also to teach them how and why it’s important to handle food properly and safely.“Even though there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food or food packaging, it is always important to use good food safety practices, which will help control foodborne illness, as well as COVID-19,” said extension food safety specialist Londa Nwadike.In addition to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2465.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>, more information is available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/foodsafety/topics/index.html" target="_blank">Extension Food Safety page</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension offices</a>&nbsp;across the state also have training and resources available on this and a range of topics.

More kitchen time a good time to review food safety tips

Today is Saturday, April 11, the 102nd day of 2020. There are 264 days left in the year.

On April 11, 1980, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued regulations specifically prohibiting sexual harassment of workers by supervisors.

In 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as Emperor of the French and was banished to the island of Elba. (Napoleon later escaped from Elba and returned to power in March 1815, until his downfall in the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815.)

In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln spoke to a crowd outside the White House, saying, "We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart." (It was the last public address Lincoln would deliver.)

In 1921, Iowa became the first state to impose a cigarette tax, at 2 cents a package.

In 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald in Germany.

In 1951, President Harry S. Truman relieved Gen. Douglas MacArthur of his commands in the Far East.

In 1961, former SS officer Adolf Eichmann went on trial in Israel, charged with crimes against humanity for his role in the Nazi Holocaust. (Eichmann was convicted and executed.)

In 1965, dozens of tornadoes raked six Midwestern states on Palm Sunday, killing 271 people.

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which included the Fair Housing Act, a week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1970, Apollo 13, with astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert, blasted off on its ill-fated mission to the moon.

In 1974, Palestinian gunmen killed 16 civilians, mostly women and children, in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan returned to the White House from the hospital, 12 days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt. Race-related rioting erupted in the Brixton district of south London.

In 1996, 7-year-old Jessica Dubroff, who hoped to become the youngest person to fly cross-country, was killed along with her father and flight instructor when their plane crashed after takeoff from Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Ten years ago: Thousands of people stood in the streets of Poland's cities in a silent tribute to President Lech Kaczynski and the other 95 people killed in a plane crash the day before. After a five-month hiatus, golfer Tiger Woods tied for fourth at the Masters, as Phil Mickelson earned his third green jacket.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raoul Castro sat down together on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas in Panama City in the first formal meeting of the two countries' leaders in half a century.

One year ago: British police brought Julian Assange from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had taken refuge for nearly seven years, and the U.S. charged the WikiLeaks founder with conspiring with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to get their hands on government secrets; the arrest came after Ecuador revoked the political asylum that had protected Assange in the embassy. (Assange continues to fight extradition to the United States.) Sudan's military overthrew President Omar al-Bashir after months of bloody protests against his repressive 30-year rule. (A military-civilian government now rules Sudan.)

Today's Birthdays: Ethel Kennedy is 92. Actor Joel Grey is 88. Actress Louise Lasser is 81. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman is 79. Movie writer-director John Milius is 76. Actor Peter Riegert is 73. Movie director Carl Franklin is 71. Actor Bill Irwin is 70. Country singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 63. Songwriter-producer Daryl Simmons is 63. Rock musician Nigel Pulsford is 59. Actor Lucky Vanous is 59. Country singer Steve Azar is 56. Singer Lisa Stansfield is 54. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is 54. Actor Johnny Messner is 51. Rock musician Dylan Keefe (Marcy Playground) is 50. Actor Vicellous Shannon is 49. Rapper David Banner is 46. Actress Tricia Helfer is 46. Rock musician Chris Gaylor (The All-American Rejects) is 41. Actress Kelli Garner is 36. Singer Joss Stone is 33. Actress-dancer Kaitlyn Jenkins is 28.

Thought for Today: "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." — Kurt Vonnegut, American author (born 1922, died this date in 2007).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Today is Saturday, April 11, the 102nd day of 2020. There are 264 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On April 11, 1980, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued regulations specifically prohibiting sexual harassment of workers by supervisors.On this date:In 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as Emperor of the French and was banished to the island of Elba. (Napoleon later escaped from Elba and returned to power in March 1815, until his downfall in the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815.)In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln spoke to a crowd outside the White House, saying, "We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart." (It was the last public address Lincoln would deliver.)In 1921, Iowa became the first state to impose a cigarette tax, at 2 cents a package.In 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald in Germany.In 1951, President Harry S. Truman relieved Gen. Douglas MacArthur of his commands in the Far East.In 1961, former SS officer Adolf Eichmann went on trial in Israel, charged with crimes against humanity for his role in the Nazi Holocaust. (Eichmann was convicted and executed.)In 1965, dozens of tornadoes raked six Midwestern states on Palm Sunday, killing 271 people.In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which included the Fair Housing Act, a week after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.In 1970, Apollo 13, with astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert, blasted off on its ill-fated mission to the moon.In 1974, Palestinian gunmen killed 16 civilians, mostly women and children, in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona.In 1981, President Ronald Reagan returned to the White House from the hospital, 12 days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt. Race-related rioting erupted in the Brixton district of south London.In 1996, 7-year-old Jessica Dubroff, who hoped to become the youngest person to fly cross-country, was killed along with her father and flight instructor when their plane crashed after takeoff from Cheyenne, Wyoming.Ten years ago: Thousands of people stood in the streets of Poland's cities in a silent tribute to President Lech Kaczynski and the other 95 people killed in a plane crash the day before. After a five-month hiatus, golfer Tiger Woods tied for fourth at the Masters, as Phil Mickelson earned his third green jacket.Five years ago: President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raoul Castro sat down together on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas in Panama City in the first formal meeting of the two countries' leaders in half a century.One year ago: British police brought Julian Assange from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he had taken refuge for nearly seven years, and the U.S. charged the WikiLeaks founder with conspiring with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to get their hands on government secrets; the arrest came after Ecuador revoked the political asylum that had protected Assange in the embassy. (Assange continues to fight extradition to the United States.) Sudan's military overthrew President Omar al-Bashir after months of bloody protests against his repressive 30-year rule. (A military-civilian government now rules Sudan.)Today's Birthdays: Ethel Kennedy is 92. Actor Joel Grey is 88. Actress Louise Lasser is 81. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman is 79. Movie writer-director John Milius is 76. Actor Peter Riegert is 73. Movie director Carl Franklin is 71. Actor Bill Irwin is 70. Country singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 63. Songwriter-producer Daryl Simmons is 63. Rock musician Nigel Pulsford is 59. Actor Lucky Vanous is 59. Country singer Steve Azar is 56. Singer Lisa Stansfield is 54. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock is 54. Actor Johnny Messner is 51. Rock musician Dylan Keefe (Marcy Playground) is 50. Actor Vicellous Shannon is 49. Rapper David Banner is 46. Actress Tricia Helfer is 46. Rock musician Chris Gaylor (The All-American Rejects) is 41. Actress Kelli Garner is 36. Singer Joss Stone is 33. Actress-dancer Kaitlyn Jenkins is 28.Thought for Today: "We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." — Kurt Vonnegut, American author (born 1922, died this date in 2007).

Today in History -- April 11

By BECCY TANNER &amp; The Journal, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/century-ago-one-kansan-showed-world-how-fight-pandemics#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

If Samuel Crumbine were alive today, he’d recognize the precautions that Kansans are taking to limit COVID-19.

There’s little doubt he would approve of the closing of schools, theaters and restaurants.

He would worry about Kansas hospitals and wonder if their staffs are prepared for a crisis.

But
 mostly, he’d be determining how, once again, the government could 
persuade the public to take seriously the threat of a global pandemic.

It
 was 102 years ago that Crumbine, a public health reformer and executive
 officer of the Kansas State Board of Health faced down a similar crisis
 — the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

At the turn of the 20th 
century, he had led public health campaigns that encouraged Kansans to 
“swat the fly” to combat the spread of diseases, had “Don’t Spit on the 
Sidewalk” emblazoned on bricks and had encouraged the replacement of 
common drinking cups on trains and in public buildings with paper cups.

“If
 you are talking about Crumbine, then you realize he was a very early, 
early leader in public health – not just in Kansas, but nationally,” 
said Marilyn Irvin Holt, a historian and author based in Abilene and a 
consultant for PBS documentaries.

The 1918 flu pandemic began at 
Crumbine’s back door — in western Kansas — and flared up among men 
reporting for duty at Fort Riley. It soon spread worldwide in three 
distinct waves during 1918 and 1919, causing more than 50 million deaths
 and infecting nearly a third of the world’s population.

Because 
of Crumbine and a legion of nurses who helped champion public health, 
Kansas in the late 1800s and early 1900s was a leader in hygiene and 
disease prevention.

Several
 times over its 159-year history, Kansas has been called on to be a 
leader in the field of public health. In April 1957, the aptly named 
town of Protection in Comanche County became the first community in the 
nation in which everyone was immunized against polio.

Dave Webb, a
 Kansas historian and retired assistant director of the Kansas Heritage 
Center, was 8 years old when the Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, 
later known as the March of Dimes, arrived in Protection.

“They 
staged some events and took newsreel footage of it and used it in a 
national campaign,” Webb said, “to say that ‘Everyone in Protection is 
protected against polio. Why, you should be, too!’ ”

There was a barbecue and town parade, and Webb remembers riding on a float, dressed as a pioneer boy.

“I
 know that ABC ran a segment about it on the evening news and I was 
playing outside and Mom yelled, ‘Come in, quick!’ And, I didn’t come in 
very quickly and when I got there, she said, ‘Well, you were just on the
 evening news.’ They had a clip of the parade and showed the float I was
 riding on. I was crushed. I had missed my TV debut.”

It was a 
time when local swimming pools were closed. Watermelon was avoided. 
Children were encouraged to play only on their neighborhood blocks — all
 in the hopes of avoiding polio.

Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum remembers a childhood friend who nearly died from polio.

“He was a year older than I was, and so it made a big impression,” she said.

She’s spent the past few weeks hunkered down at her Morris County ranch and has been thinking of Kansans.

“What
 is important, when things are as serious as they are, is to lend a 
voice of quiet leadership, and it is enormously important for 
(government officials) to coordinate,” she said. “It was wise for the 
(Kansas) governor to make the decision she did with the schools. It is 
also important for families to realize the responsibility they have.

“What
 is really disappointing is how slow we were to pick up that we were 
going to need far more medical test kits, ventilators and medical 
garments for those in the health field to wear. That is unfortunate.”

She worries for people in rural communities who have medical needs and how rural hospitals struggle.

“Will Kansans be innovative and rally? I think they already are.”

One
 of Crumbine’s greatest strengths was being able to tap into the sense 
of social solidarity Kansans have with one another, even those for whom 
public health wasn’t the chief concern. Kansans have a long history, 
dating back to the state’s earliest days, of trying to help one another 
through a crisis.

There’s evidence Kansans still demonstrate that
 spirit. From Manhattan to Council Grove to the Riverside neighborhood 
in Wichita and beyond, people are placing teddy bears in front windows 
so families can go on “bear hunts.”

Talented seamsters and seamstresses are producing protective masks.

In
 Kingman, people are working together to create a Porch Angels group to 
help groceries get delivered. Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City is 
making and giving away hand sanitizer.

In Andover and Overland 
Park, teachers formed motorized parades and drove through neighborhoods 
to say goodbye and give their students a chance to do the same.

On Saturday nights, the town of Seneca has hosted a Quarantine Cruise Night for residents to cruise Main Street.

And that’s the idea that Kansans have historically rallied around.

“The
 thing about Crumbine was that he wasn’t just progressive, he also had a
 forward-thinking outlook to foresee and understand the way people 
spread disease,” Holt says. “He not only understood public policy, he 
knew how to get politicians to pay attention to public health.”

The
 Journal, the print and digital magazine of the Kansas Leadership 
Center, is publishing a digital newsletter that explores what is 
working, what isn’t working and what’s being learned during the response
 to COVID-19. To receive twice-a-week updates, subscribe <a href="https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/contact-us/join-our-email-list/" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586271141430.jpeg" alt="A statue of Samuel Crumbine, a pioneer in Kansas public health, near the Statehouse in Topeka. The Journal " />
 <figcaption>A statue of Samuel Crumbine, a pioneer in Kansas public health, near the Statehouse in Topeka. The Journal </figcaption>
 </figure>By BECCY TANNER &amp; The Journal, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/century-ago-one-kansan-showed-world-how-fight-pandemics#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>If Samuel Crumbine were alive today, he’d recognize the precautions that Kansans are taking to limit COVID-19.There’s little doubt he would approve of the closing of schools, theaters and restaurants.He would worry about Kansas hospitals and wonder if their staffs are prepared for a crisis.But
 mostly, he’d be determining how, once again, the government could 
persuade the public to take seriously the threat of a global pandemic.It
 was 102 years ago that Crumbine, a public health reformer and executive
 officer of the Kansas State Board of Health faced down a similar crisis
 — the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.At the turn of the 20th 
century, he had led public health campaigns that encouraged Kansans to 
“swat the fly” to combat the spread of diseases, had “Don’t Spit on the 
Sidewalk” emblazoned on bricks and had encouraged the replacement of 
common drinking cups on trains and in public buildings with paper cups.“If
 you are talking about Crumbine, then you realize he was a very early, 
early leader in public health – not just in Kansas, but nationally,” 
said Marilyn Irvin Holt, a historian and author based in Abilene and a 
consultant for PBS documentaries.The 1918 flu pandemic began at 
Crumbine’s back door — in western Kansas — and flared up among men 
reporting for duty at Fort Riley. It soon spread worldwide in three 
distinct waves during 1918 and 1919, causing more than 50 million deaths
 and infecting nearly a third of the world’s population.Because 
of Crumbine and a legion of nurses who helped champion public health, 
Kansas in the late 1800s and early 1900s was a leader in hygiene and 
disease prevention.<h2>We’ve been here before</h2>Several
 times over its 159-year history, Kansas has been called on to be a 
leader in the field of public health. In April 1957, the aptly named 
town of Protection in Comanche County became the first community in the 
nation in which everyone was immunized against polio.Dave Webb, a
 Kansas historian and retired assistant director of the Kansas Heritage 
Center, was 8 years old when the Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, 
later known as the March of Dimes, arrived in Protection.“They 
staged some events and took newsreel footage of it and used it in a 
national campaign,” Webb said, “to say that ‘Everyone in Protection is 
protected against polio. Why, you should be, too!’ ”There was a barbecue and town parade, and Webb remembers riding on a float, dressed as a pioneer boy.“I
 know that ABC ran a segment about it on the evening news and I was 
playing outside and Mom yelled, ‘Come in, quick!’ And, I didn’t come in 
very quickly and when I got there, she said, ‘Well, you were just on the
 evening news.’ They had a clip of the parade and showed the float I was
 riding on. I was crushed. I had missed my TV debut.”It was a 
time when local swimming pools were closed. Watermelon was avoided. 
Children were encouraged to play only on their neighborhood blocks — all
 in the hopes of avoiding polio.Former U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum remembers a childhood friend who nearly died from polio.“He was a year older than I was, and so it made a big impression,” she said.She’s spent the past few weeks hunkered down at her Morris County ranch and has been thinking of Kansans.“What
 is important, when things are as serious as they are, is to lend a 
voice of quiet leadership, and it is enormously important for 
(government officials) to coordinate,” she said. “It was wise for the 
(Kansas) governor to make the decision she did with the schools. It is 
also important for families to realize the responsibility they have.“What
 is really disappointing is how slow we were to pick up that we were 
going to need far more medical test kits, ventilators and medical 
garments for those in the health field to wear. That is unfortunate.”She worries for people in rural communities who have medical needs and how rural hospitals struggle.“Will Kansans be innovative and rally? I think they already are.”<h2>Rallying for health</h2>One
 of Crumbine’s greatest strengths was being able to tap into the sense 
of social solidarity Kansans have with one another, even those for whom 
public health wasn’t the chief concern. Kansans have a long history, 
dating back to the state’s earliest days, of trying to help one another 
through a crisis.There’s evidence Kansans still demonstrate that
 spirit. From Manhattan to Council Grove to the Riverside neighborhood 
in Wichita and beyond, people are placing teddy bears in front windows 
so families can go on “bear hunts.”Talented seamsters and seamstresses are producing protective masks.In
 Kingman, people are working together to create a Porch Angels group to 
help groceries get delivered. Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City is 
making and giving away hand sanitizer.In Andover and Overland 
Park, teachers formed motorized parades and drove through neighborhoods 
to say goodbye and give their students a chance to do the same.On Saturday nights, the town of Seneca has hosted a Quarantine Cruise Night for residents to cruise Main Street.And that’s the idea that Kansans have historically rallied around.“The
 thing about Crumbine was that he wasn’t just progressive, he also had a
 forward-thinking outlook to foresee and understand the way people 
spread disease,” Holt says. “He not only understood public policy, he 
knew how to get politicians to pay attention to public health.”The
 Journal, the print and digital magazine of the Kansas Leadership 
Center, is publishing a digital newsletter that explores what is 
working, what isn’t working and what’s being learned during the response
 to COVID-19. To receive twice-a-week updates, subscribe <a href="https://kansasleadershipcenter.org/contact-us/join-our-email-list/" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A century ago, one Kansan showed the world how to fight pandemics 

For the second day in a row, Saline County has no new confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Here's Friday's COVID-19 update from Saline County:

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

At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1166 confirmed cases in Kansas and 50 deaths. Saline County has a total of 8 positive cases.

•The City of Salina issued a press release regarding the modified services in the Community &amp; Development Services Department.

•Governor Kelly issued three Executive Orders yesterday for extending professional and occupational licenses during COVID-19, temporarily allowing notaries and witnesses to use audiovideo communication technology to perform tasks, and suspending the issuance of non-resident spring 2020 turkey permits.

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="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

For the second day in a row, Saline County has no new confirmed COVID-19 cases.Here's Friday's COVID-19 update from Saline County:The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional positive cases of COVID-19 cases to report in Saline County.At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1166 confirmed cases in Kansas and 50 deaths. Saline County has a total of 8 positive cases.Governor Kelly’s Statewide Stay-at-Home order is still in effect. Social distancing is imperative. During this time of multiple faith traditions and secular celebrations, the Saline County Health Department encourages celebrating in new and socially distanced ways and making a small sacrifice to protect your loved ones.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-at-Home 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.Announcements:•The City of Salina issued a press release regarding the modified services in the Community &amp; Development Services Department.•Governor Kelly issued three Executive Orders yesterday for extending professional and occupational licenses during COVID-19, temporarily allowing notaries and witnesses to use audiovideo communication technology to perform tasks, and suspending the issuance of non-resident spring 2020 turkey permits.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="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Saline County: No new confirmed COVID-19 cases

Another arrest was made Thursday in connection to an alleged armed robbery case from Feb. 23.

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e8f47d5eb7f170536021de3">Authorities arrest 5 in alleged armed robbery case</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586525595166.jpeg" alt="Valerie Vogel. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Valerie Vogel. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>Another arrest was made Thursday in connection to an alleged armed robbery case from Feb. 23.READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e8f47d5eb7f170536021de3">Authorities arrest 5 in alleged armed robbery case</a>Saline County Sheriff's Lieutenant Jeremiah Hayes said this morning that after executing two search warrants on Tuesday, deputies executed two more search warrants on Thursday at 1310 East North Street, Apt. 24, the residence of Valerie Vogel, 26. During that search, a couple of pipes and some syringes were located at the residence, he said.Another search warrant was obtained for Vogel's car, and K-9 Maggie located approximately an ounce of methamphetamine in the vehicle, Hayes said.Vogel was arrested on suspicion of the following, he said.Possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a schoolPossession of drug paraphernaliaHayes said the investigation is ongoing.

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