KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An update from the Kansas City Chiefs training camp. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An update from the Kansas City Chiefs training camp. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F714968719233690%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="430" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

📹Reid, Mahomes, others field questions during Sunday presser

Kansas City (AP) — Helena Miller listened to teachers, terrified to reenter classrooms, and parents, exhausted from trying to make virtual learning work at home. She heard from school officials who spent hundreds of hours on thousands of details — buses, classrooms, football, arts, special education. She spent countless nights, eyes wide open, her mind wrestling over the safety and education of the 17,000 children she swore to protect.

She thought of her own kids, two in high school and one middle-schooler — the reasons she ran for Rock Hill’s school board six years ago.

And she made the hardest decision of her life: a vote to reopen schools amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, splitting students into two groups that would each spend two days a week in classrooms, with virtual learning the other school days.

“We have an impossible decision to make. And we still have to make it,” Miller said from a tiny box on Zoom at the board’s July meeting.

This Board of Trustees in suburban South Carolina is like thousands of school boards nationwide, where members are tackling a simple but hefty question — do we return to school amid a pandemic? — with no right or even good answers, in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/969fbbf44dd2ba1acea130f95b21ef62">inconsistent testing</a>&nbsp;and a near-constant increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2a03a4e685316eb7d5a6e7181000fbfe">confirmed coronavirus cases.</a>

Behind that question is pressure. Pressure from teachers and bus drivers and janitors, scared to return to work but in need of a paycheck. Pressure from parents and guardians, who need to return to their own jobs but fear for their children’s safety. Pressure from a president who declares&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1290488364362170371?s=20" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>&nbsp;“OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!!” but whose administration provides little tangible guidance for doing so.

In Rock Hill, everyone has an opinion. The district has more than 17,000 students, and that means about 17,000 proposals on how to go back to school, trustees say, only half-joking.

And in South Carolina, with some of the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42513113bc4821cf291b374ac0541f82">worst virus numbers,&nbsp;</a>even state leaders can’t agree. Gov. Henry McMaster contradicted his education superintendent and said schools must allow a five-days-a-week option for working parents. School boards were left to untangle the mess - Rock Hill called an emergency meeting and ultimately kept its staggered plan.

There’s been plenty more to resolve: Should classes be delayed until after Labor Day? How do kids get to school with buses at half-capacity for social distancing? What about masks and protective equipment? Should students have drama or orchestra if there are no public performances? What will student athletes do in a place like Rock Hill, known for sending football stars Jadeveon Clowney and Stephon Gilmore to the NFL?

School boards represent democracy at its local core: the backbone of communities, a check on superintendents, and the most direct way to influence education policy. And Rock Hill’s strategy was very democratic. The board officially listened to eight committees, some made up of dozens of parents and business or community leaders. Each member spent dozens of hours in emails and informal discussions with people in and around their city of about 75,000 people.

There were teachers to consider. Susan Fields told the board last month, in its first in-person meeting since the pandemic, that she has lupus and must protect herself: “I love my kids, and for 25 years I have always put my students first. This is very odd for me ... for once I am standing up as an educator.”

Special education teacher Shannon Gonzalez reminded the board that it promised extra face shields and gloves for those like her who work with students with significant developmental delays.

“It is impossible to teach a class like mine without constant physical contact,” Gonzalez said. “They need hand-over-hand assistance for most everything they do. And for the last eight years, it has been my hand over their hand. It has been my face level with theirs calming them as they come out of a seizure.”

And there were parents. At a July meeting, Emily Bell thanked the board for their careful, thoughtful work and told them she wasn’t sure what she would do with her daughter in elementary school.

“In the morning, I’m ready for virtual school,” Bell said. “And in the afternoon, I’m ready for my child to be back in the classroom.”

Nearly every issued hinged on policy in the school manual, which staffers and board members pored through for hours. Changes had to be passed: Widened circumstances allowing for virtual classes, the end of open-door hours for parents eating lunch with kids, permitting athletes to practice or play if they weren’t physically in school that day.

The board didn’t agree on everything, from big matters to small. Trustee Brent Faulkenberry initially didn’t favor the plan for in-person class only two days a week. He wanted five, to help working parents, with online school available for anyone worried about safety.

“If families can’t work, they can’t provide for these kids,” he said.

Board member Robin Owens told him he made good points, especially about her fear of young children left at home while parents work. The two-day-a-week plan, she said, “falls squarely in the middle, which means that it is probably not going to make anyone happy. Hopefully it will make some people satisfied.”

Faulkenberry’s five-day proposal lost 5-2. The board then unanimously agreed to the staggered schedule and delaying the first day of school to Sept. 8, the latest allowed by state law.

There was no shouting, no claims of fake science, no accusations that trustees didn’t care for kids. At a time when such arguments erupt everywhere from talks shows to Facebook, from the White House to the corner store, this board prides itself on civil discourse.

“I am so thankful to serve on a board where professionalism is put on the forefront,” said Miller, who moved to the United States from Sweden in 1997, became a U.S. citizen in 2006, and has set out since becoming board chairman in 2018 to create a deliberative body that disagrees amiably.

Trustees’ ties are forged through regular meetings, trips for training, and school visits together. Even as they met through Zoom, Miller kept some in-person routine. Trustees stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance as video of a waving flag played played. Miller plunked her gavel on a tiny wood box after votes and to end meetings.

This month, Miller is gently directing the group back to in-person meetings. If trustees are sending children into schools, she said, the board should physically meet, too. Meetings look much like school, with seats spaced 6 feet (2 meters) apart and everyone in masks.

Mask policy was on trustees’ agenda Monday night. Before the pandemic, masks — as face coverings similar to bandanas — could be considered gang attire. Now, students must wear one to enter the building. District officials suggested allowing a classroom “mask break” once teachers and students are settled and socially distanced. Trustees weren’t sure.

“We have very small classrooms in very old schools,” Faulkenberry, who’d opted to participate virtually, said from a video screen placed in his seat. “That air is still recirculating.”

And what about doors? District policy requires that teachers lock doors during class. But health officials recommend open doors for air circulation.

The board approved a preliminary mask policy but agreed to fine-tune it. The issue of doors was left to a future meeting, with only a few weeks until the first day of school.

The trustees agree that their work during the pandemic — for which they’re paid their usual salary of $600 monthly, unlike the 62% of school board members nationwide who get no compensation, according to 2018 National School Boards Association figures — has been the hardest of their tenure.

“We want what’s best for our children,” said trustee Windy Cole, who’s had her own tears and sleepless nights. “I’ve been in all the meetings, I’ve listened to everything I can, and I trust our district is doing the best possible under these horrible circumstances. We have to just keep praying,”

And they’ve been able to find moments of joy. During a long virtual meeting largely focused on the district’s $175 million budget, a school employee announced a summer program where every student from pre-K to grade eight would get a box of books delivered to their home.

The trustees cheered. “This makes my heart so happy,” Cole said.

After all the talk of taxes, missed celebrations for employees, and the logistics of school amid the virus outbreak, Miller reminded her colleagues: It’s not just “doom and gloom.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597321153259.png" alt="Members of the USD 497 school board met in Lawrence on Monday" />
 <figcaption>Members of the USD 497 school board met in Lawrence on Monday</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City (AP) — Helena Miller listened to teachers, terrified to reenter classrooms, and parents, exhausted from trying to make virtual learning work at home. She heard from school officials who spent hundreds of hours on thousands of details — buses, classrooms, football, arts, special education. She spent countless nights, eyes wide open, her mind wrestling over the safety and education of the 17,000 children she swore to protect.She thought of her own kids, two in high school and one middle-schooler — the reasons she ran for Rock Hill’s school board six years ago.And she made the hardest decision of her life: a vote to reopen schools amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the coronavirus pandemic</a>, splitting students into two groups that would each spend two days a week in classrooms, with virtual learning the other school days.“We have an impossible decision to make. And we still have to make it,” Miller said from a tiny box on Zoom at the board’s July meeting.This Board of Trustees in suburban South Carolina is like thousands of school boards nationwide, where members are tackling a simple but hefty question — do we return to school amid a pandemic? — with no right or even good answers, in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/969fbbf44dd2ba1acea130f95b21ef62">inconsistent testing</a>&nbsp;and a near-constant increase in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2a03a4e685316eb7d5a6e7181000fbfe">confirmed coronavirus cases.</a>Behind that question is pressure. Pressure from teachers and bus drivers and janitors, scared to return to work but in need of a paycheck. Pressure from parents and guardians, who need to return to their own jobs but fear for their children’s safety. Pressure from a president who declares&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1290488364362170371?s=20" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>&nbsp;“OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!!” but whose administration provides little tangible guidance for doing so.In Rock Hill, everyone has an opinion. The district has more than 17,000 students, and that means about 17,000 proposals on how to go back to school, trustees say, only half-joking.And in South Carolina, with some of the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42513113bc4821cf291b374ac0541f82">worst virus numbers,&nbsp;</a>even state leaders can’t agree. Gov. Henry McMaster contradicted his education superintendent and said schools must allow a five-days-a-week option for working parents. School boards were left to untangle the mess - Rock Hill called an emergency meeting and ultimately kept its staggered plan.There’s been plenty more to resolve: Should classes be delayed until after Labor Day? How do kids get to school with buses at half-capacity for social distancing? What about masks and protective equipment? Should students have drama or orchestra if there are no public performances? What will student athletes do in a place like Rock Hill, known for sending football stars Jadeveon Clowney and Stephon Gilmore to the NFL?School boards represent democracy at its local core: the backbone of communities, a check on superintendents, and the most direct way to influence education policy. And Rock Hill’s strategy was very democratic. The board officially listened to eight committees, some made up of dozens of parents and business or community leaders. Each member spent dozens of hours in emails and informal discussions with people in and around their city of about 75,000 people.There were teachers to consider. Susan Fields told the board last month, in its first in-person meeting since the pandemic, that she has lupus and must protect herself: “I love my kids, and for 25 years I have always put my students first. This is very odd for me ... for once I am standing up as an educator.”Special education teacher Shannon Gonzalez reminded the board that it promised extra face shields and gloves for those like her who work with students with significant developmental delays.“It is impossible to teach a class like mine without constant physical contact,” Gonzalez said. “They need hand-over-hand assistance for most everything they do. And for the last eight years, it has been my hand over their hand. It has been my face level with theirs calming them as they come out of a seizure.”And there were parents. At a July meeting, Emily Bell thanked the board for their careful, thoughtful work and told them she wasn’t sure what she would do with her daughter in elementary school.“In the morning, I’m ready for virtual school,” Bell said. “And in the afternoon, I’m ready for my child to be back in the classroom.”Nearly every issued hinged on policy in the school manual, which staffers and board members pored through for hours. Changes had to be passed: Widened circumstances allowing for virtual classes, the end of open-door hours for parents eating lunch with kids, permitting athletes to practice or play if they weren’t physically in school that day.The board didn’t agree on everything, from big matters to small. Trustee Brent Faulkenberry initially didn’t favor the plan for in-person class only two days a week. He wanted five, to help working parents, with online school available for anyone worried about safety.“If families can’t work, they can’t provide for these kids,” he said.Board member Robin Owens told him he made good points, especially about her fear of young children left at home while parents work. The two-day-a-week plan, she said, “falls squarely in the middle, which means that it is probably not going to make anyone happy. Hopefully it will make some people satisfied.”Faulkenberry’s five-day proposal lost 5-2. The board then unanimously agreed to the staggered schedule and delaying the first day of school to Sept. 8, the latest allowed by state law.There was no shouting, no claims of fake science, no accusations that trustees didn’t care for kids. At a time when such arguments erupt everywhere from talks shows to Facebook, from the White House to the corner store, this board prides itself on civil discourse.“I am so thankful to serve on a board where professionalism is put on the forefront,” said Miller, who moved to the United States from Sweden in 1997, became a U.S. citizen in 2006, and has set out since becoming board chairman in 2018 to create a deliberative body that disagrees amiably.Trustees’ ties are forged through regular meetings, trips for training, and school visits together. Even as they met through Zoom, Miller kept some in-person routine. Trustees stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance as video of a waving flag played played. Miller plunked her gavel on a tiny wood box after votes and to end meetings.This month, Miller is gently directing the group back to in-person meetings. If trustees are sending children into schools, she said, the board should physically meet, too. Meetings look much like school, with seats spaced 6 feet (2 meters) apart and everyone in masks.Mask policy was on trustees’ agenda Monday night. Before the pandemic, masks — as face coverings similar to bandanas — could be considered gang attire. Now, students must wear one to enter the building. District officials suggested allowing a classroom “mask break” once teachers and students are settled and socially distanced. Trustees weren’t sure.“We have very small classrooms in very old schools,” Faulkenberry, who’d opted to participate virtually, said from a video screen placed in his seat. “That air is still recirculating.”And what about doors? District policy requires that teachers lock doors during class. But health officials recommend open doors for air circulation.The board approved a preliminary mask policy but agreed to fine-tune it. The issue of doors was left to a future meeting, with only a few weeks until the first day of school.The trustees agree that their work during the pandemic — for which they’re paid their usual salary of $600 monthly, unlike the 62% of school board members nationwide who get no compensation, according to 2018 National School Boards Association figures — has been the hardest of their tenure.“We want what’s best for our children,” said trustee Windy Cole, who’s had her own tears and sleepless nights. “I’ve been in all the meetings, I’ve listened to everything I can, and I trust our district is doing the best possible under these horrible circumstances. We have to just keep praying,”And they’ve been able to find moments of joy. During a long virtual meeting largely focused on the district’s $175 million budget, a school employee announced a summer program where every student from pre-K to grade eight would get a box of books delivered to their home.The trustees cheered. “This makes my heart so happy,” Cole said.After all the talk of taxes, missed celebrations for employees, and the logistics of school amid the virus outbreak, Miller reminded her colleagues: It’s not just “doom and gloom.”And she offered them all a virtual hug.

'Impossible': School boards are at heart of reopening debate

The Kansas City Chiefs make it official. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

Remember: You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

The Kansas City Chiefs make it official. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F301811620922895%2F&show_text=1&width=380" width="380" height="658" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Remember: You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

📹Chiefs make Kelce deal official; TE 'here for the long haul'

My in-laws have very generously offered my wife and I
$250,000 to help with a down payment on a home. I know the amount exceeds the
IRS’s yearly gift allowance, but they want to structure it as a family loan and
have already told us they don’t care if we pay it back. If we accept, we
technically owe them a lot of money. If we say no, they may be offended. What
do you think about this and how it might impact the relationship?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Well, it makes sense your wife would be onboard with
the whole thing. It’s her dad making the offer, so of course she would
be a lot more comfortable with the idea than you are.

&nbsp;This is a big
deal, and it’s something you two should have a very serious conversation about.
Get on the same page in every regard. Also, I’d recommend making sure you get everything
in writing. See to it, as well, that it can be forgiven at the maximum allowable
annual <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/grandparent-giving-unspoken-secrets-you-must-know">gift</a>
rate.

In addition, in the event of death make sure it’s
included in the estate, it’s forgiven, and there will be zero call on the note.
In effect, that would make it an advance on your inheritance instead of <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-truth-about-debt-reduction">debt.</a>
Under no circumstances should they, or any other heirs, have grounds to call
the note.&nbsp;

That’s a good question, James. And a nice gift!

I have a full-time job, but I also have a side job
providing firewood to help pay off debt. I make $600 to $1,000 a month with
this project. My log splitter went down recently when a hydraulic line burst,
and the machine caught on fire. I’m not sure how much it will cost to get it
going again. Should I invest in a new one that will increase my productivity
and help me pay off debt faster? 

If I’m in your shoes, I’m going to fix the old one.
Even it means duct tape and glue, I’m going to try to find a way to repair it
instead of spending a bunch of money or going deeper into debt.

If you can’t do that at a reasonable price out of
pocket, I’d be in the market for a decent, used log splitter. And <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/askdave/home-buying/why-wouldnt-you-pay-cash">pay
cash!</a> I get your line of thinking when it comes to
increasing productivity. Splitting wood is real work. But don’t try to justify
buying an expensive, new piece of equipment when it’s just not necessary.

If you’re making that much with a <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/ingredients-for-a-winning-side-hustle?int_cmpgn=new_year_campaign_2018&amp;int_dept=dr_blog_bu&amp;int_lctn=Blog-Text_Link&amp;int_fmt=text&amp;int_dscpn=ny18_jumpstart_day2_make_a_zero_based_budget-winning_side_hustle_link">side
hustle</a>, you can make your money back on a used splitter in a
month or two—three at the most. Be smart about it, Chris!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including&nbsp;The Total Money Makeover.&nbsp;The Dave Ramsey Show&nbsp;is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/">daveramsey.com</a>&nbsp;and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596845065840.jpeg" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>A very generous offerDear Dave,My in-laws have very generously offered my wife and I
$250,000 to help with a down payment on a home. I know the amount exceeds the
IRS’s yearly gift allowance, but they want to structure it as a family loan and
have already told us they don’t care if we pay it back. If we accept, we
technically owe them a lot of money. If we say no, they may be offended. What
do you think about this and how it might impact the relationship?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; JamesDear James,Well, it makes sense your wife would be onboard with
the whole thing. It’s her dad making the offer, so of course she would
be a lot more comfortable with the idea than you are. &nbsp;This is a big
deal, and it’s something you two should have a very serious conversation about.
Get on the same page in every regard. Also, I’d recommend making sure you get everything
in writing. See to it, as well, that it can be forgiven at the maximum allowable
annual <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/grandparent-giving-unspoken-secrets-you-must-know">gift</a>
rate. In addition, in the event of death make sure it’s
included in the estate, it’s forgiven, and there will be zero call on the note.
In effect, that would make it an advance on your inheritance instead of <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-truth-about-debt-reduction">debt.</a>
Under no circumstances should they, or any other heirs, have grounds to call
the note.&nbsp; That’s a good question, James. And a nice gift!DaveKeeping the side hustle aliveDear Dave,I have a full-time job, but I also have a side job
providing firewood to help pay off debt. I make $600 to $1,000 a month with
this project. My log splitter went down recently when a hydraulic line burst,
and the machine caught on fire. I’m not sure how much it will cost to get it
going again. Should I invest in a new one that will increase my productivity
and help me pay off debt faster? ChrisDear Chris,If I’m in your shoes, I’m going to fix the old one.
Even it means duct tape and glue, I’m going to try to find a way to repair it
instead of spending a bunch of money or going deeper into debt.If you can’t do that at a reasonable price out of
pocket, I’d be in the market for a decent, used log splitter. And <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/askdave/home-buying/why-wouldnt-you-pay-cash">pay
cash!</a> I get your line of thinking when it comes to
increasing productivity. Splitting wood is real work. But don’t try to justify
buying an expensive, new piece of equipment when it’s just not necessary. If you’re making that much with a <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/ingredients-for-a-winning-side-hustle?int_cmpgn=new_year_campaign_2018&amp;int_dept=dr_blog_bu&amp;int_lctn=Blog-Text_Link&amp;int_fmt=text&amp;int_dscpn=ny18_jumpstart_day2_make_a_zero_based_budget-winning_side_hustle_link">side
hustle</a>, you can make your money back on a used splitter in a
month or two—three at the most. Be smart about it, Chris!&nbsp;&nbsp; DaveDave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including&nbsp;The Total Money Makeover.&nbsp;The Dave Ramsey Show&nbsp;is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/">daveramsey.com</a>&nbsp;and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

DAVE SAYS: A very generous offer and a side hustle

Yes! From The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

Yes! From The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F621960522065489%2F&show_text=1&width=380" width="380" height="658" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Remember: You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

This never gets old! 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The operator of a privately run federal prison in Kansas and its phone provider have agreed to pay $3.7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by attorneys who alleged that calls with their clients at the facility were illegally recorded.

CoreCivic, which runs the Leavenworth Detention Center, and its phone provider, Securus Technologies, agreed to pay the money into a fund that will be distributed among attorneys who had in-person or phone communications intercepted.

A judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri approved the agreement. The settlement comes a year after the companies agreed to pay $1.6 million to current and former detainees who made similar allegations.

CoreCivic told the newspaper in an email that the company maintains that there was no wrongdoing on the part of its company or its employees.

“We’ve worked hard with all parties to resolve this issue in a professional and courteous manner,” CoreCivic spokeswoman Amanda Gilchrist said.

The attorneys for the plaintiffs and Securus Technologies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Attorneys who had their in-person clients visits or phone calls intercepted or recorded will be entitled to up to $10,000 in compensation under the terms of the settlement. Those who had both in person and phone communications intercepted will be entitled to up to $20,000.

David Johnson and Adam Crane, the named litigants who sued in 2016, will each be awarded $25,000. Just under $1.3 million will be set aside for attorneys fees.

The rest of the money will be donated to Legal Aid of Western Missouri and Kansas Legal Services.

Last year, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson held the U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas in contempt of court, finding it willfully violated court orders during an independent investigation of the systemic practice. The judge also found that some federal prosecutors improperly listened to recorded communications between inmates and their attorneys.

More than a hundred criminal defendants have filed petitions seeking to get their sentences vacated or indictments dismissed. Those proceedings are ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1566842526567.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — The operator of a privately run federal prison in Kansas and its phone provider have agreed to pay $3.7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by attorneys who alleged that calls with their clients at the facility were illegally recorded.CoreCivic, which runs the Leavenworth Detention Center, and its phone provider, Securus Technologies, agreed to pay the money into a fund that will be distributed among attorneys who had in-person or phone communications intercepted.A judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri approved the agreement. The settlement comes a year after the companies agreed to pay $1.6 million to current and former detainees who made similar allegations.CoreCivic told the newspaper in an email that the company maintains that there was no wrongdoing on the part of its company or its employees.“We’ve worked hard with all parties to resolve this issue in a professional and courteous manner,” CoreCivic spokeswoman Amanda Gilchrist said.The attorneys for the plaintiffs and Securus Technologies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Attorneys who had their in-person clients visits or phone calls intercepted or recorded will be entitled to up to $10,000 in compensation under the terms of the settlement. Those who had both in person and phone communications intercepted will be entitled to up to $20,000.David Johnson and Adam Crane, the named litigants who sued in 2016, will each be awarded $25,000. Just under $1.3 million will be set aside for attorneys fees.The rest of the money will be donated to Legal Aid of Western Missouri and Kansas Legal Services.Last year, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson held the U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas in contempt of court, finding it willfully violated court orders during an independent investigation of the systemic practice. The judge also found that some federal prosecutors improperly listened to recorded communications between inmates and their attorneys.More than a hundred criminal defendants have filed petitions seeking to get their sentences vacated or indictments dismissed. Those proceedings are ongoing.

Kan. prison operator to pay for illegally recorded phone calls

I’m single, and I’ll be a pilot in the military for
the next 10 years. I’m also debt-free, have a fully funded emergency fund, and
I’m saving 15% of my income for retirement. After my military days are over, I
plan to work as a commercial pilot. I’ve done the math, and I have about
$20,000 a year to give, have fun with and build wealth. My question is about
wealth building. When it comes to rental properties, I know you don’t like the
idea of a long-distance landlord. Being in the military, there’s a good chance
I’ll move around a bit. What should I do?&nbsp;


First, thank you for your service to our country. And,
wow! You’re in a tremendous position financially and career-wise. You’ve got a
great future ahead of you as a pilot in the military and after, plus
you’ve followed my plan item by item. You’ve got so many options, and you can
make a difference in your community and in the lives around you right now by <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/give-a-little-until-you-can-give-a-lot">giving.</a>

When it comes to wealth building, I hope you’ve
already taken advantage of the TSP, or Thrift Savings Plan, which is kind of
the military version of the 401(k). For wealth building beyond that, I’d get
with a good investment pro—one with the heart of a teacher—and dive into some
growth stock mutual funds. You could have a lot of money piled up just by the
end of your military career. Who knows? You may even be able to <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/mortgage-questions">buy
a nice home</a> with cash when you leave the service.
Beyond that, you may be able to settle into some real estate and pay cash for
those investments.

You are one cool, smart lady, Rachel. Congratulations
on setting yourself up for a wonderful life—one where you can live and
give like no one else!

Dave Ramsey is CEO of
Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The
Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600
radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/">daveramsey.com</a>
and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596845065840.jpeg" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,I’m single, and I’ll be a pilot in the military for
the next 10 years. I’m also debt-free, have a fully funded emergency fund, and
I’m saving 15% of my income for retirement. After my military days are over, I
plan to work as a commercial pilot. I’ve done the math, and I have about
$20,000 a year to give, have fun with and build wealth. My question is about
wealth building. When it comes to rental properties, I know you don’t like the
idea of a long-distance landlord. Being in the military, there’s a good chance
I’ll move around a bit. What should I do?&nbsp;
RachelDear Rachel,First, thank you for your service to our country. And,
wow! You’re in a tremendous position financially and career-wise. You’ve got a
great future ahead of you as a pilot in the military and after, plus
you’ve followed my plan item by item. You’ve got so many options, and you can
make a difference in your community and in the lives around you right now by <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/give-a-little-until-you-can-give-a-lot">giving.</a> When it comes to wealth building, I hope you’ve
already taken advantage of the TSP, or Thrift Savings Plan, which is kind of
the military version of the 401(k). For wealth building beyond that, I’d get
with a good investment pro—one with the heart of a teacher—and dive into some
growth stock mutual funds. You could have a lot of money piled up just by the
end of your military career. Who knows? You may even be able to <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/mortgage-questions">buy
a nice home</a> with cash when you leave the service.
Beyond that, you may be able to settle into some real estate and pay cash for
those investments. You are one cool, smart lady, Rachel. Congratulations
on setting yourself up for a wonderful life—one where you can live and
give like no one else!—DaveDave Ramsey is CEO of
Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The
Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600
radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/">daveramsey.com</a>
and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

DAVE SAYS: This lady’s getting it done!

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican legislator in Kansas was hospitalized last month after testing positive for the novel coronavirus and didn’t disclose it to colleagues until this week. The state’s Democratic governor declared Thursday that she’ll get tested because the two of them attended a meeting together after he was hospitalized.

Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr.’s delayed acknowledgment of his hospitalization — in an email to fellow House Republicans after Tuesday’s primary — concerned colleagues, particularly Democrats. Gov. Laura Kelly called his decision to attend a July 29 meeting at the Statehouse “reckless and dangerous.”

Ryckman, from the Kansas City area, is the highest-ranking official in Kansas known to have been infected.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b7f0791859d371ed8e8bb6bbe2173d87">Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt</a>&nbsp;of Oklahoma tested positive last month.

Ryckman said in an interview that he tested positive on July 13, began showing symptoms that evening and was hospitalized for about a week starting July 16. He said he remained isolated, both at home and in the hospital and was cleared by a doctor to attend of the State Finance Council on July 29. The governor and eight top legislative leaders make up the council, and state law has required it to review orders from Kelly to deal with the pandemic.

“I was hospitalized, have followed doctor’s orders, and self-isolated during that time,” Ryckman, a Kansas City-area Republican, said in his email to colleagues. “I am now past what doctors consider the contagious stage and am on the road to recovery.”

Ryckman’s disclosure roiled Kansas politics immediately after it was first reported Thursday by the Sunflower State Journal. Kelly spokesman Sam Coleman said the governor’s office “was not aware” of Ryckman’s positive test and that Kelly will get tested “as soon as we can set it up.”

The governor said she wishes Ryckman good health and is glad he is recovering but added that she was “dismayed” to learn that he’d been infected.

“Speaker Ryckman’s decision to attend the State Finance Council meeting after being released from the hospital, while concealing his diagnosis from those of us in the room and taking his mask off, was reckless and dangerous,” Kelly said in a statement. “As elected officials, we have a unique responsibility to set the right example for the people of Kansas, and to follow the commonsense guidance from medical experts.”

Ryckman later accused Kelly in&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RonRyckman/status/1291568153118617600" target="_blank">a tweet&nbsp;</a>of “fear mongering and public shaming” and said he’d told people with whom he’d been in contact. He said his personal precautions went beyond state and federal COVID-19 guidelines and that he opted to share his story more broadly later to “help reduce the stigma” faced by people who’ve been infected.

Kansas saw its reported coronavirus cases reach nearly 30,000 as of Wednesday after increasing almost 93% in July, according to state health department statistics. The state also is reporting 368 COVID-19-related deaths.

The University of Kansas is requiring all students, faculty and staff returning to its campuses in Lawrence and the Kansas City area to take a free COVID-19 test before the fall semester begins Aug. 24,&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2020/aug/05/ku-will-mandate-initial-covid-19-testing-for-campus-community-girod-says/" target="_blank">The Lawrence Journal-World reported.</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, health officials in Wabaunsee County west of Topeka are encouraging anyone who attended the county fair on July 24-27 to monitor themselves for symptoms because one person who attended tested positive.

Kelly and Republican lawmakers have been at odds for months over how best to check the spread of the coronavirus, with the GOP preferring to allow local officials make decisions because the number of reported cases per 1,000 residents continues to vary widely. After weeks of complaints that Kelly was moving too slowly to reopen the state’s coronavirus-battered economy, she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a5e30a0ec7a5943ada9f03af22ee1970">lifted statewide restrictions</a>&nbsp;on businesses and public gatherings on May 26.

The state’s 105 counties now set the rules and most have opted of a July 2 order from Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f218e1a38cce6b2af63c1cd23f1d234e">requiring people to wear masks&nbsp;</a>in public. Also, the Republican-controlled State Board of Education&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6a64799654f6a9ccb944299898f8d367">blocked a plan</a>&nbsp;from Kelly to delay the reopening of public and private K-12 schools from mid-August until after Labor Day, leaving the start of fall classes to 286 locally elected school boards.

Kansas House Democrats reacted angrily to the news of Ryckman’s coronavirus infection, tweeting on their official account that he had “knowingly putting lives at risk.”

“Not alerting every member of the House and Senate is indefensible,” they tweeted. “He must be held accountable for his negligence.”

And Heather Scanlon, chief of staff for House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer, sent The Associated Press a July 29 text that said was in response to news from a staffer that Ryckman intended to phone into the Finance Council meeting. She asked whether Ryckman was doing OK, and the reply was, “Oh he’s doing fine.”

Scanlon tweeted back, “Oh ok good. I heard he had covid.” She got no reply to that message, she said.

Ryckman said he was notified July 10 by phone by that he’d been in contact with someone who might have the virus and began self-isolating. He said that person did not have coronavirus, and his family also did not get infected.

As for the House Democrats’ criticism of him, he said in a text to The AP that he understand that the unknowns surrounding COVID-19 “make people uncomfortable.”

“That’s why I listened to my doctor for my medical care and clearance before end(ing) self-isolating,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596795733282.png" alt="House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Jr.&nbsp;is the highest-ranking official in Kansas known to have been infected- photo courtesy Kansas House of Representatives" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Jr.&nbsp;is the highest-ranking official in Kansas known to have been infected- photo courtesy Kansas House of Representatives</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican legislator in Kansas was hospitalized last month after testing positive for the novel coronavirus and didn’t disclose it to colleagues until this week. The state’s Democratic governor declared Thursday that she’ll get tested because the two of them attended a meeting together after he was hospitalized.Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr.’s delayed acknowledgment of his hospitalization — in an email to fellow House Republicans after Tuesday’s primary — concerned colleagues, particularly Democrats. Gov. Laura Kelly called his decision to attend a July 29 meeting at the Statehouse “reckless and dangerous.”Ryckman, from the Kansas City area, is the highest-ranking official in Kansas known to have been infected.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b7f0791859d371ed8e8bb6bbe2173d87">Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt</a>&nbsp;of Oklahoma tested positive last month.Ryckman said in an interview that he tested positive on July 13, began showing symptoms that evening and was hospitalized for about a week starting July 16. He said he remained isolated, both at home and in the hospital and was cleared by a doctor to attend of the State Finance Council on July 29. The governor and eight top legislative leaders make up the council, and state law has required it to review orders from Kelly to deal with the pandemic.“I was hospitalized, have followed doctor’s orders, and self-isolated during that time,” Ryckman, a Kansas City-area Republican, said in his email to colleagues. “I am now past what doctors consider the contagious stage and am on the road to recovery.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Governor’s public response to my personal experience with COVID is fear mongering and public shaming. I informed everyone I came into contact with &amp; took precautions far beyond CDC &amp; KDHE guidelines. Today, I opted to share my story more broadly. Here are the facts. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/jDCN2nuutN">pic.twitter.com/jDCN2nuutN</a>&mdash; Speaker Ryckman (@RonRyckman) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonRyckman/status/1291568153118617600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Ryckman’s disclosure roiled Kansas politics immediately after it was first reported Thursday by the Sunflower State Journal. Kelly spokesman Sam Coleman said the governor’s office “was not aware” of Ryckman’s positive test and that Kelly will get tested “as soon as we can set it up.”The governor said she wishes Ryckman good health and is glad he is recovering but added that she was “dismayed” to learn that he’d been infected.“Speaker Ryckman’s decision to attend the State Finance Council meeting after being released from the hospital, while concealing his diagnosis from those of us in the room and taking his mask off, was reckless and dangerous,” Kelly said in a statement. “As elected officials, we have a unique responsibility to set the right example for the people of Kansas, and to follow the commonsense guidance from medical experts.”Ryckman later accused Kelly in&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RonRyckman/status/1291568153118617600" target="_blank">a tweet&nbsp;</a>of “fear mongering and public shaming” and said he’d told people with whom he’d been in contact. He said his personal precautions went beyond state and federal COVID-19 guidelines and that he opted to share his story more broadly later to “help reduce the stigma” faced by people who’ve been infected.Kansas saw its reported coronavirus cases reach nearly 30,000 as of Wednesday after increasing almost 93% in July, according to state health department statistics. The state also is reporting 368 COVID-19-related deaths.The University of Kansas is requiring all students, faculty and staff returning to its campuses in Lawrence and the Kansas City area to take a free COVID-19 test before the fall semester begins Aug. 24,&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.ljworld.com/news/ku/2020/aug/05/ku-will-mandate-initial-covid-19-testing-for-campus-community-girod-says/" target="_blank">The Lawrence Journal-World reported.</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, health officials in Wabaunsee County west of Topeka are encouraging anyone who attended the county fair on July 24-27 to monitor themselves for symptoms because one person who attended tested positive.Kelly and Republican lawmakers have been at odds for months over how best to check the spread of the coronavirus, with the GOP preferring to allow local officials make decisions because the number of reported cases per 1,000 residents continues to vary widely. After weeks of complaints that Kelly was moving too slowly to reopen the state’s coronavirus-battered economy, she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/a5e30a0ec7a5943ada9f03af22ee1970">lifted statewide restrictions</a>&nbsp;on businesses and public gatherings on May 26.The state’s 105 counties now set the rules and most have opted of a July 2 order from Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f218e1a38cce6b2af63c1cd23f1d234e">requiring people to wear masks&nbsp;</a>in public. Also, the Republican-controlled State Board of Education&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6a64799654f6a9ccb944299898f8d367">blocked a plan</a>&nbsp;from Kelly to delay the reopening of public and private K-12 schools from mid-August until after Labor Day, leaving the start of fall classes to 286 locally elected school boards.Kansas House Democrats reacted angrily to the news of Ryckman’s coronavirus infection, tweeting on their official account that he had “knowingly putting lives at risk.”“Not alerting every member of the House and Senate is indefensible,” they tweeted. “He must be held accountable for his negligence.”And Heather Scanlon, chief of staff for House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer, sent The Associated Press a July 29 text that said was in response to news from a staffer that Ryckman intended to phone into the Finance Council meeting. She asked whether Ryckman was doing OK, and the reply was, “Oh he’s doing fine.”Scanlon tweeted back, “Oh ok good. I heard he had covid.” She got no reply to that message, she said.Ryckman said he was notified July 10 by phone by that he’d been in contact with someone who might have the virus and began self-isolating. He said that person did not have coronavirus, and his family also did not get infected.As for the House Democrats’ criticism of him, he said in a text to The AP that he understand that the unknowns surrounding COVID-19 “make people uncomfortable.”“That’s why I listened to my doctor for my medical care and clearance before end(ing) self-isolating,” he said.

Kan. House speaker had coronavirus; governor to get tested

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans brimmed with newfound confidence Wednesday about keeping an open Senate seat in Kansas after establishment-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6646c990bce8bd3d93e2722015de87f0">Rep. Roger Marshall won&nbsp;</a>the party’s nomination, advancing to face an unusually formidable Democrat in a tough year for the GOP.

Marshall’s first tasks were quickly refilling his campaign treasury and rebuilding Republican unity after an often-bitter primary campaign. But he and other Republicans immediately previewed the fall campaign in which they are expected to use the threat of Democrats capturing a Senate majority to try and blunt Barbara Bollier’s efforts to woo GOP-leaning independent voters and moderate Republicans.

Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states such as Arizona, Colorado and Maine and the coronavirus pandemic causing President Donald Trump’s standing with voters to slide. GOP leaders had feared that the Kansas seat would be in play if lightning-rod conservative Kris Kobach won the nomination after losing the 2018 Kansas governor’s race.

But Marshall prevailed comfortably and won 85 of the state’s 105 counties, including four of its five most populous ones. Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34a6a9737f0e78ceed84cf312234ab25">who had refused to intervene</a>&nbsp;in the primary despite prodding from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1290952940602130437" target="_blank">tweeted</a>&nbsp;his “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Marshall early Wednesday morning.

“It not only landed butter-side up, but I think it was toasted and had a little cinnamon on it — cinnamon toast,” said retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who had endorsed Marshall. “We avoided a situation where it would be very difficult for us.”

Bollier, a state senator and retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist, raised more than $8.2 million through July; her campaign said the total is now $9 million and that she began the fall campaign with $4.5 million cash. Marshall, a two-term congressman for western and central Kansas, said he had about $600,000 in cash when Tuesday’s polls closed, after raising about $2.9 million ahead of the primary.

Marshall can count on a more-robust statewide Republican organization, and registered GOP voters outnumber Democrats by more than 3-to-2. The GOP has won every Senate race in Kansas since 1932, and Roberts won a contentious race in 2014 by nearly 11 percentage points largely by arguing that Republicans couldn’t recapture a Senate majority that year without his reelection.

“THE issue is who controls the Senate majority. It’s going to be razor-thin one way or the other,” Marshall said. “We have to have a Republican senator from Kansas to keep the Senate majority.”

Bollier said Wednesday that it didn’t matter to her which GOP candidate won the primary because she is running as an independent and commonsense moderate who can work with Republicans. She was a lifelong GOP moderate until she switched parties at the end of 2018.

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokeswoman Helen Kalla called Marshall “an underwhelming candidate” who is “stumbling into the general election.” McConnell’s first choice for the GOP nominee was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3ed4092dc1c21261dcb008672d5fc131">Pompeo definitively declined</a>&nbsp;to enter the race in January.

“The bottom line is, I will be a person who listens and I am a voice of reason,” Bollier said Wednesday. “They’re (voters) going to have a very definitive choice.”

Bollier’s fundraising has worried Republicans because she has raised more than the top GOP candidates combined — and more than enough for a competitive race in a low-cost media state like Kansas. She has seen a flood of donations from outside Kansas, indicating that Democrats nationwide are eager to flip the seat.

The late date of the state’s primary gives Republicans a limited amount of time for attacks on Bollier to sink in with voters well after she’s used her own ads to build a positive profile. The GOP primary also featured a political action committee with Democratic ties spending more than $4 million on ads that aggressively attacked Marshall as a “swamp creature” and “fake, fake, fake.”

“What happened yesterday is that Republicans lived to fight another day,” said Josh Holmes, a former McConnell chief of staff and campaign manager. “Regardless of how red Kansas is, the Democrat has been running unopposed for practically a year. And there will have to be a concerted effort to make sure Marshall is heavily fortified.”

But many Democrats saw Kobach as easier for Bollier to beat, thanks to a longtime advocacy of tough immigration restrictions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">brash style</a>&nbsp;that alienate independent and moderate GOP voters.

“Marshall does not have a caustic personality,” said Joan Wagnon, a former Kansas Democratic Party chairwoman and Topeka mayor. “He doesn’t engender that ‘Oh, God, we’ve got to get rid of him,’ like even the Republicans were feeling about Kobach.”

Kobach on Wednesday attributed his defeat to attacks by PACs aligned with McConnell and the GOP establishment. But he said his supporters will back Marshall instead not voting in November.

“Of course, they’ll be going to vote for President Trump, so staying home’s not an option,” Kobach said.

Kelly Arnold, a former Kansas Republican Party chairman, predicted that Republicans will unite quickly behind Marshall because of the threat to the party’s Senate majority. He said Marshall’s nomination “successfully stopped” Democrats from flipping the seat.

“It deflates the Democrats’ balloon,” Arnold said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596742060060.png" alt="Rep. Roger Marshall listens to a congratulatory phone call from President Trump on election night-photo courtesy Marshall for Senate" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Roger Marshall listens to a congratulatory phone call from President Trump on election night-photo courtesy Marshall for Senate</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans brimmed with newfound confidence Wednesday about keeping an open Senate seat in Kansas after establishment-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6646c990bce8bd3d93e2722015de87f0">Rep. Roger Marshall won&nbsp;</a>the party’s nomination, advancing to face an unusually formidable Democrat in a tough year for the GOP.Marshall’s first tasks were quickly refilling his campaign treasury and rebuilding Republican unity after an often-bitter primary campaign. But he and other Republicans immediately previewed the fall campaign in which they are expected to use the threat of Democrats capturing a Senate majority to try and blunt Barbara Bollier’s efforts to woo GOP-leaning independent voters and moderate Republicans.Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states such as Arizona, Colorado and Maine and the coronavirus pandemic causing President Donald Trump’s standing with voters to slide. GOP leaders had feared that the Kansas seat would be in play if lightning-rod conservative Kris Kobach won the nomination after losing the 2018 Kansas governor’s race.But Marshall prevailed comfortably and won 85 of the state’s 105 counties, including four of its five most populous ones. Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/34a6a9737f0e78ceed84cf312234ab25">who had refused to intervene</a>&nbsp;in the primary despite prodding from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1290952940602130437" target="_blank">tweeted</a>&nbsp;his “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Marshall early Wednesday morning.“It not only landed butter-side up, but I think it was toasted and had a little cinnamon on it — cinnamon toast,” said retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, who had endorsed Marshall. “We avoided a situation where it would be very difficult for us.”Bollier, a state senator and retired Kansas City-area anesthesiologist, raised more than $8.2 million through July; her campaign said the total is now $9 million and that she began the fall campaign with $4.5 million cash. Marshall, a two-term congressman for western and central Kansas, said he had about $600,000 in cash when Tuesday’s polls closed, after raising about $2.9 million ahead of the primary.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> on winning the Kansas Senate primary! Roger will be a great fighter for conservative values and <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> in the Senate! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kssen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kssen</a> <a href="https://t.co/lWLI7QB7PV">pic.twitter.com/lWLI7QB7PV</a>&mdash; Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPChairwoman/status/1290849680998440960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Marshall can count on a more-robust statewide Republican organization, and registered GOP voters outnumber Democrats by more than 3-to-2. The GOP has won every Senate race in Kansas since 1932, and Roberts won a contentious race in 2014 by nearly 11 percentage points largely by arguing that Republicans couldn’t recapture a Senate majority that year without his reelection.“THE issue is who controls the Senate majority. It’s going to be razor-thin one way or the other,” Marshall said. “We have to have a Republican senator from Kansas to keep the Senate majority.”Bollier said Wednesday that it didn’t matter to her which GOP candidate won the primary because she is running as an independent and commonsense moderate who can work with Republicans. She was a lifelong GOP moderate until she switched parties at the end of 2018.Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokeswoman Helen Kalla called Marshall “an underwhelming candidate” who is “stumbling into the general election.” McConnell’s first choice for the GOP nominee was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3ed4092dc1c21261dcb008672d5fc131">Pompeo definitively declined</a>&nbsp;to enter the race in January.“The bottom line is, I will be a person who listens and I am a voice of reason,” Bollier said Wednesday. “They’re (voters) going to have a very definitive choice.”Bollier’s fundraising has worried Republicans because she has raised more than the top GOP candidates combined — and more than enough for a competitive race in a low-cost media state like Kansas. She has seen a flood of donations from outside Kansas, indicating that Democrats nationwide are eager to flip the seat.The late date of the state’s primary gives Republicans a limited amount of time for attacks on Bollier to sink in with voters well after she’s used her own ads to build a positive profile. The GOP primary also featured a political action committee with Democratic ties spending more than $4 million on ads that aggressively attacked Marshall as a “swamp creature” and “fake, fake, fake.”“What happened yesterday is that Republicans lived to fight another day,” said Josh Holmes, a former McConnell chief of staff and campaign manager. “Regardless of how red Kansas is, the Democrat has been running unopposed for practically a year. And there will have to be a concerted effort to make sure Marshall is heavily fortified.”But many Democrats saw Kobach as easier for Bollier to beat, thanks to a longtime advocacy of tough immigration restrictions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c51d18affef34e919d63c19612d767f2">brash style</a>&nbsp;that alienate independent and moderate GOP voters.“Marshall does not have a caustic personality,” said Joan Wagnon, a former Kansas Democratic Party chairwoman and Topeka mayor. “He doesn’t engender that ‘Oh, God, we’ve got to get rid of him,’ like even the Republicans were feeling about Kobach.”Kobach on Wednesday attributed his defeat to attacks by PACs aligned with McConnell and the GOP establishment. But he said his supporters will back Marshall instead not voting in November.“Of course, they’ll be going to vote for President Trump, so staying home’s not an option,” Kobach said.Kelly Arnold, a former Kansas Republican Party chairman, predicted that Republicans will unite quickly behind Marshall because of the threat to the party’s Senate majority. He said Marshall’s nomination “successfully stopped” Democrats from flipping the seat.“It deflates the Democrats’ balloon,” Arnold said.___

Rep. Marshall’s primary win in Kansas buoys GOP Senate hopes

Kansas City Chiefs' Head Coach Andy Reid and players spoke with the media today during training camp. From The Kansas City Chiefs Facebook page:

Kansas City Chiefs' Head Coach Andy Reid and players spoke with the media today during training camp. From The Kansas City Chiefs Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F1336091683260557%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="411" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F219101472746308%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="411" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F995186780937902%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="411" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Remember: You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

Kansas City Chiefs Reid, players talk football Tuesday

The Kansas City Chiefs have gone to great lengths to keep players and staff healthy during training camp. From the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-hXefb6XBFSubWz6Ezf_lA">Kansas City Chiefs</a> YouTube channel:

The Kansas City Chiefs have gone to great lengths to keep players and staff healthy during training camp. From the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-hXefb6XBFSubWz6Ezf_lA">Kansas City Chiefs</a> YouTube channel:<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lqQfVR-qKAQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Remember: You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

📹Chiefs transform Arrowhead for a safe training camp

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Board of Education primary election has drawn more attention than usual after the panel voted against the governor’s plan to delay the start of the school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One member who had been running unopposed, Deena Horst, voted against Gov. Laura Kelly’s order, and the next day a write-in challenger endorsed by a former governor joined the race.

Five of the board’s 10 seats are up for election, but just two have competitive primaries. Horst and two other board members have no opponents on either the primary or general election ballots.

“People generally don’t pay much attention to the state board of ed. In general, they don’t make a lot of typically controversial decisions. There’s nothing like controversy to get people riled up and paying attention,” said Dave Colburn, who launched the write-in campaign against Horst.

Colburn, a Democrat backed by former Democratic Gov. John Carlin, doesn’t need to win more votes than Horst, a Republican, in Tuesday’s primary. Under Kansas law, a write-in candidate needs the votes of 5% of all the registered voters in the district to appear on the general election ballot.

Horst didn’t respond to a request for comment. She previously explained her vote against delaying a return to school by saying it is “very confusing to parents to have their local district making a decision that is trumped by the governor’s executive order.”

Three of the four board members running for reelection — Ann May, Kathy Busch and Jim McNiece — supported the governor’s order delaying the start of school.

The state board of education hasn’t gotten this much attention since debates over teaching evolution in the late 1990s and early 2000s, said Mark Tallman, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards.

At that time, the board was sharply divided by conservative Republicans and a bloc of moderate Republicans and Democrats. In recent years, the board — where Republicans hold an 8-2 majority — hasn’t been as ideologically split, Tallman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596475890304.png" alt="Members of the Kansas Board of Education listen to KDHE Sec. Dr. Lee Norman during their July 22&nbsp; special meeting on Zoom" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Kansas Board of Education listen to KDHE Sec. Dr. Lee Norman during their July 22&nbsp; special meeting on Zoom</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Board of Education primary election has drawn more attention than usual after the panel voted against the governor’s plan to delay the start of the school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.One member who had been running unopposed, Deena Horst, voted against Gov. Laura Kelly’s order, and the next day a write-in challenger endorsed by a former governor joined the race.Five of the board’s 10 seats are up for election, but just two have competitive primaries. Horst and two other board members have no opponents on either the primary or general election ballots.“People generally don’t pay much attention to the state board of ed. In general, they don’t make a lot of typically controversial decisions. There’s nothing like controversy to get people riled up and paying attention,” said Dave Colburn, who launched the write-in campaign against Horst.Colburn, a Democrat backed by former Democratic Gov. John Carlin, doesn’t need to win more votes than Horst, a Republican, in Tuesday’s primary. Under Kansas law, a write-in candidate needs the votes of 5% of all the registered voters in the district to appear on the general election ballot.Horst didn’t respond to a request for comment. She previously explained her vote against delaying a return to school by saying it is “very confusing to parents to have their local district making a decision that is trumped by the governor’s executive order.”Three of the four board members running for reelection — Ann May, Kathy Busch and Jim McNiece — supported the governor’s order delaying the start of school.The state board of education hasn’t gotten this much attention since debates over teaching evolution in the late 1990s and early 2000s, said Mark Tallman, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards.At that time, the board was sharply divided by conservative Republicans and a bloc of moderate Republicans and Democrats. In recent years, the board — where Republicans hold an 8-2 majority — hasn’t been as ideologically split, Tallman said.

Kan. Board of Ed races draw attention after COVID-19 vote

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some of the Kansas City Chiefs' players spoke with the media on Thursday at the beginning of training camp. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some of the Kansas City Chiefs' players spoke with the media on Thursday at the beginning of training camp. From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityChiefs/">The Kansas City Chiefs</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKansasCityChiefs%2Fvideos%2F302917847579319%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="430" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Remember: You can listen to the Chiefs' games on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and 99KG (99.9 FM).

📹Kelce, Mathieu, Hitchens, and Schwartz talk football at start of camp

MANHATTAN — When talking to ranchers about cattle health concerns in the summer, fly control and pinkeye will often come to mind, but one condition that can lead to calf death is pre-weaning pneumonia. &nbsp;

“Research has shown that pre-weaning calf pneumonia appears in about 20% of the herds in the country annually,” said Brad White, K-State veterinarian and director of the Beef Cattle Institute. “Of that 20%, there is a group that experience significant problems.”&nbsp;

White and veterinary colleague Bob Larson discussed their role in the study and the results during a recent Cattle Chat podcast.&nbsp;

“This pneumonia peaks when the calf is about four and a half months old, so for spring born calves we typically see the condition appearing in July and August,” White said. &nbsp;

Larson said that often pre-weaning pneumonia appears first in some of the bigger, stronger calves in the pasture. &nbsp;

White explained that the larger calves tend to be the older calves, and the natural immunity that they got from their dam’s colostrum at birth is starting to fade.&nbsp;

Larson added that some cattle ranchers aren’t watching for this condition because cattle out on pasture don’t display the typical risk for factors for respiratory disease, such as comingling with new animals in confinement.&nbsp;

“This respiratory disease is surprising because it seems to show up sporadically. Some herds go years between outbreaks and other herds have it happen in consecutive years,” Larson said. &nbsp;

White noted that the study alerted the scientists to some factors for increased risk.&nbsp;

“Along with the time of year, calves grouped together tended to spread the sickness,” White said. As an example, White cited, management practices that involve creep feeding or intensive grazing often lead to calves gathering in tighter spaces. &nbsp;

“Also, calves don’t naturally socially distance, but rather group themselves together in the pasture,” White said. &nbsp;

A pneumonia prevention plan may include avoiding management that forces calves to group closely together and a vaccination prevention protocol, they said.&nbsp;

“Work with your veterinarian and extension specialist to see what the right vaccine prevention protocol is for your area,” White said. “It may mean vaccinating the calves when you work them at 60-70 days of age to give them an extra boost of protection.”&nbsp;

To hear the full discussion on pre-weaning pneumonia, listen in to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/media/podcast-2">BCI Cattle Chat podcast</a> online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579916938070.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — When talking to ranchers about cattle health concerns in the summer, fly control and pinkeye will often come to mind, but one condition that can lead to calf death is pre-weaning pneumonia. &nbsp;“Research has shown that pre-weaning calf pneumonia appears in about 20% of the herds in the country annually,” said Brad White, K-State veterinarian and director of the Beef Cattle Institute. “Of that 20%, there is a group that experience significant problems.”&nbsp;White and veterinary colleague Bob Larson discussed their role in the study and the results during a recent Cattle Chat podcast.&nbsp;“This pneumonia peaks when the calf is about four and a half months old, so for spring born calves we typically see the condition appearing in July and August,” White said. &nbsp;Larson said that often pre-weaning pneumonia appears first in some of the bigger, stronger calves in the pasture. &nbsp;White explained that the larger calves tend to be the older calves, and the natural immunity that they got from their dam’s colostrum at birth is starting to fade.&nbsp;Larson added that some cattle ranchers aren’t watching for this condition because cattle out on pasture don’t display the typical risk for factors for respiratory disease, such as comingling with new animals in confinement.&nbsp;“This respiratory disease is surprising because it seems to show up sporadically. Some herds go years between outbreaks and other herds have it happen in consecutive years,” Larson said. &nbsp;White noted that the study alerted the scientists to some factors for increased risk.&nbsp;“Along with the time of year, calves grouped together tended to spread the sickness,” White said. As an example, White cited, management practices that involve creep feeding or intensive grazing often lead to calves gathering in tighter spaces. &nbsp;“Also, calves don’t naturally socially distance, but rather group themselves together in the pasture,” White said. &nbsp;A pneumonia prevention plan may include avoiding management that forces calves to group closely together and a vaccination prevention protocol, they said.&nbsp;“Work with your veterinarian and extension specialist to see what the right vaccine prevention protocol is for your area,” White said. “It may mean vaccinating the calves when you work them at 60-70 days of age to give them an extra boost of protection.”&nbsp;To hear the full discussion on pre-weaning pneumonia, listen in to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/media/podcast-2">BCI Cattle Chat podcast</a> online.&nbsp;

K-State vets: Watch for summer respiratory condition in calves 

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A proposed rezoning of a former school property that received approval by the city planning commission has become a point of contention for neighborhood residents.

Recommendations from the planning commission concerning the property are on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Monday in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street.

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/b8cc15db-b49f-4c6f-8dd2-f42a445f16f7">Stadium remodel, proclamation, budget, expo center also on city agenda</a>

At issue are recommendations from from the planning commission to amend the Future Land Use Map designation of the former Lowell Elementary School/Salina Christian Academy site to Urban Residential and to rezone the site from R-1 to PDD(R-2) (Planned Development District/Multi-family residential), according to information in the commission meeting packet.

The Salina Christian Academy purchased the former Lowell Elementary School site from Salina USD 305 in March of 2004. The academy closed its doors on June 4, 2019.

On Jan. 7, 2020, the academy filed an application to rezone the property to R-3 (multi-family residential). If approved, the request would have allowed the existing building to be converted into apartments, but it also would have potentially allowed the 2.04 acre site to be redeveloped with additional multi-family apartment buildings. The meeting packet information noted that no specific redevelopment proposal was submitted with the application.

The planning commission conducted a public hearing on the request on Feb. 18, 2020. At the conclusion of the hearing, the planning commission voted 6-0 to direct the academy to resubmit its application as a Planned Development District, which would allow the planning commission "to review a specific development proposal and site development plan for the property," the meeting packet information noted.

The revised application was scheduled to be heard by the planning commission on March 17, but that meeting was canceled due to the governor's order banning public gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was rescheduled for June 2, however, only the planning commission and city staff were present because of COVID-19 restrictions. The meeting was broadcast by Salina Media Connection on Cox cable and on YouTube, with public comment and listening capacity through a conference telephone line. 

Because of concerns raised by the public concerning the audio and video connections for the June 2 meeting, a new public hearing on the application was scheduled for July 7 in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center to allow for public participation.

At the conclusion of that meeting, the planning commission voted to send to the city commission a recommendation that an amendment be made to the Future Land Use Map designation of the former school site to Urban Residential and to rezone the site from R-1 to PDD(R-2). 

The change from R-3 to R-2 is a reduction in the residential density that would be allowed on the site, should the city commission approve the planning commission recommendations, according to the meeting packet information. The academy has a prospective buyer for the property (Brian Richardson) should the recommendations be approved. His proposal includes the following.

•Create up to 15 apartment units in the existing school building.

•Construct a parking lot north of the school building with 28-30 parking spaces.

•Retain the eastern portion of the property as open space set aside for future development.

A number of residents in the neighborhood are not happy with the planning commission recommendation. Prior to the 14-day protest period expiring on July 21, the city received a petition protesting the proposed zoning changes. Staff reviewed the petition and determined that it contained the required number of signatures of property owners within 200 feet of the site and met the statutory requirements to be a valid protest petition.

Additionally, city staff and/or planning commission received a number of emails concerning the proposal. Following are excerpts of some of those emails.

Carol McFadden wrote, "My family has lived in this neighborhood for approximately 33 years. All my children attended Lowell Elementary School. The neighborhood is quiet, quaint and diverse. If we put our heads together, surely we could come up with more interesting plans than an apartment building. Please oppose rezoning of Salina Christian School Property."

Joan Ratzlaff wrote, "Talk of 'infill' is appropriate for areas of change needing redevelopment. This neighborhood is in need of conservation. The most needed type of affordable housing in Salina is single family homes, not apartments. And the neighborhood is concerned about property values being affected with a concentration of rentals in its heart. Green space however, increases value."

Greg Johnson wrote, "The neighbors wish that the zoning remains as it is (and as all of the neighborhood is). If a school wants to purchase the facility, that is good. Some would prefer to see the existing buildings removed and affordable single family houses developed which would add well to the neighborhood. Salina needs smaller affordable houses for the market according to your own studies."

Amy Adams wrote, "The addition of a crowded half-block of multi-family housing, the elimination of green space and the increased traffic will all have a negative impacts on property values in the surrounding neighborhood. The monetary gain of one developer should not outweigh the investment of an entire neighborhood of Salina citizens."

Pam Barnes wrote, "I was at the Planning Commission meeting on February 18 and I would like to know why we are still talking about putting apartments in that space? Whether there are 14 apartments or a highrise, apartments don't belong in the Highland neighborhood. You heard from neighbors over and over that they do not want to zone it R3 or any other zoning that would allow for apartments."

Sue Dreher wrote, "I would hate to see the old Lowell School &amp; Playground rezoned to R-2 (multi-family)-ApplicationZ20-1. I have lived on Highland for over 47 years and enjoy the quietness and family camaraderie of the neighborhood. I believe putting in apartments and duplexes in an historic district would take away from that. Not only would it take away from property values but the traffic would be terrible. There are lots of kids that would be put in danger. Surely there are other ways to utilize the property to enhance the area instead of rezoning it for multi-family use."

Daniel Peterson wrote, "People who live in this area moved here because of the charm and many would not have moved into the area knowing there was the possibility of an apartment building going right in the midddle of all of the single-family homes. An apartment is not consistent with the neighborhood. That is a big turn-off and I believe it will decrease home values and re-sell ability in the neighborhood. This takes away the charm of the neighborhood."

Tim Ochs wrote, "I own the house at 119 W. Beloit and want to let you know I am in favor of the re-zone of the Christian Academy School. I would hope that with it being re-modeled and re-purposed, would help property values stay consistent instead of the property running down with no use, and actually bringing value down."

Additionally, some of the neighbors have requested that the site be made into a public-use playground/park. According to the meeting packet information, Salina Parks and Recreation has not expressed an interest in owning and managing such a park. In fact, Parks and Recreation personnel explained to at least one of the neighborhood residents that the department "simply does not have the staff or budget to take on any more responsibilities," according to information in the meeting packet.

Sunset Park, located a half mile west of the school site, is identified as the neighborhood park. 

Heritage Conservation District designation

Adding to the issue is the fact that the city included the former Lowell Elementary School building in a Heritage Conservation District that was created in 1997. 

"The Conservation District designation means the school was one of 215 non-contiguous properties that were identified as having historical and/or architectural significance to the City in the 1985 Salina Historic Resources Inventory. The Conservation District ordinance encourages the retention and reuse of these properties. Any proposal to demolish or remove any of the Conservation Properties must be reviewed by the Salina Heritage Commission. Exterior modifications or additions to the structure are not subject to any review by the Heritage Commission," according to information in the city commission meeting packet.

To view the entire 309-page section of the commission meeting packet devoted to the issue of rezoning the former academy site, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=448852&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595810737521.jpeg" alt="The former Salina Christian Academy property. Salina Post photo" />
 <figcaption>The former Salina Christian Academy property. Salina Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA proposed rezoning of a former school property that received approval by the city planning commission has become a point of contention for neighborhood residents.Recommendations from the planning commission concerning the property are on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Monday in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street.READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/b8cc15db-b49f-4c6f-8dd2-f42a445f16f7">Stadium remodel, proclamation, budget, expo center also on city agenda</a>At issue are recommendations from from the planning commission to amend the Future Land Use Map designation of the former Lowell Elementary School/Salina Christian Academy site to Urban Residential and to rezone the site from R-1 to PDD(R-2) (Planned Development District/Multi-family residential), according to information in the commission meeting packet.History of the rezoning requestThe Salina Christian Academy purchased the former Lowell Elementary School site from Salina USD 305 in March of 2004. The academy closed its doors on June 4, 2019.On Jan. 7, 2020, the academy filed an application to rezone the property to R-3 (multi-family residential). If approved, the request would have allowed the existing building to be converted into apartments, but it also would have potentially allowed the 2.04 acre site to be redeveloped with additional multi-family apartment buildings. The meeting packet information noted that no specific redevelopment proposal was submitted with the application.The planning commission conducted a public hearing on the request on Feb. 18, 2020. At the conclusion of the hearing, the planning commission voted 6-0 to direct the academy to resubmit its application as a Planned Development District, which would allow the planning commission "to review a specific development proposal and site development plan for the property," the meeting packet information noted.The revised application was scheduled to be heard by the planning commission on March 17, but that meeting was canceled due to the governor's order banning public gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was rescheduled for June 2, however, only the planning commission and city staff were present because of COVID-19 restrictions. The meeting was broadcast by Salina Media Connection on Cox cable and on YouTube, with public comment and listening capacity through a conference telephone line. Because of concerns raised by the public concerning the audio and video connections for the June 2 meeting, a new public hearing on the application was scheduled for July 7 in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center to allow for public participation.At the conclusion of that meeting, the planning commission voted to send to the city commission a recommendation that an amendment be made to the Future Land Use Map designation of the former school site to Urban Residential and to rezone the site from R-1 to PDD(R-2). The change from R-3 to R-2 is a reduction in the residential density that would be allowed on the site, should the city commission approve the planning commission recommendations, according to the meeting packet information. The academy has a prospective buyer for the property (Brian Richardson) should the recommendations be approved. His proposal includes the following.•Create up to 15 apartment units in the existing school building.•Construct a parking lot north of the school building with 28-30 parking spaces.•Retain the eastern portion of the property as open space set aside for future development.Pushback from neighborsA number of residents in the neighborhood are not happy with the planning commission recommendation. Prior to the 14-day protest period expiring on July 21, the city received a petition protesting the proposed zoning changes. Staff reviewed the petition and determined that it contained the required number of signatures of property owners within 200 feet of the site and met the statutory requirements to be a valid protest petition.Additionally, city staff and/or planning commission received a number of emails concerning the proposal. Following are excerpts of some of those emails.Carol McFadden wrote, "My family has lived in this neighborhood for approximately 33 years. All my children attended Lowell Elementary School. The neighborhood is quiet, quaint and diverse. If we put our heads together, surely we could come up with more interesting plans than an apartment building. Please oppose rezoning of Salina Christian School Property."Joan Ratzlaff wrote, "Talk of 'infill' is appropriate for areas of change needing redevelopment. This neighborhood is in need of conservation. The most needed type of affordable housing in Salina is single family homes, not apartments. And the neighborhood is concerned about property values being affected with a concentration of rentals in its heart. Green space however, increases value."Greg Johnson wrote, "The neighbors wish that the zoning remains as it is (and as all of the neighborhood is). If a school wants to purchase the facility, that is good. Some would prefer to see the existing buildings removed and affordable single family houses developed which would add well to the neighborhood. Salina needs smaller affordable houses for the market according to your own studies."Amy Adams wrote, "The addition of a crowded half-block of multi-family housing, the elimination of green space and the increased traffic will all have a negative impacts on property values in the surrounding neighborhood. The monetary gain of one developer should not outweigh the investment of an entire neighborhood of Salina citizens."Pam Barnes wrote, "I was at the Planning Commission meeting on February 18 and I would like to know why we are still talking about putting apartments in that space? Whether there are 14 apartments or a highrise, apartments don't belong in the Highland neighborhood. You heard from neighbors over and over that they do not want to zone it R3 or any other zoning that would allow for apartments."Sue Dreher wrote, "I would hate to see the old Lowell School &amp; Playground rezoned to R-2 (multi-family)-ApplicationZ20-1. I have lived on Highland for over 47 years and enjoy the quietness and family camaraderie of the neighborhood. I believe putting in apartments and duplexes in an historic district would take away from that. Not only would it take away from property values but the traffic would be terrible. There are lots of kids that would be put in danger. Surely there are other ways to utilize the property to enhance the area instead of rezoning it for multi-family use."Daniel Peterson wrote, "People who live in this area moved here because of the charm and many would not have moved into the area knowing there was the possibility of an apartment building going right in the midddle of all of the single-family homes. An apartment is not consistent with the neighborhood. That is a big turn-off and I believe it will decrease home values and re-sell ability in the neighborhood. This takes away the charm of the neighborhood."Tim Ochs wrote, "I own the house at 119 W. Beloit and want to let you know I am in favor of the re-zone of the Christian Academy School. I would hope that with it being re-modeled and re-purposed, would help property values stay consistent instead of the property running down with no use, and actually bringing value down."Additionally, some of the neighbors have requested that the site be made into a public-use playground/park. According to the meeting packet information, Salina Parks and Recreation has not expressed an interest in owning and managing such a park. In fact, Parks and Recreation personnel explained to at least one of the neighborhood residents that the department "simply does not have the staff or budget to take on any more responsibilities," according to information in the meeting packet.Sunset Park, located a half mile west of the school site, is identified as the neighborhood park. Heritage Conservation District designationAdding to the issue is the fact that the city included the former Lowell Elementary School building in a Heritage Conservation District that was created in 1997. "The Conservation District designation means the school was one of 215 non-contiguous properties that were identified as having historical and/or architectural significance to the City in the 1985 Salina Historic Resources Inventory. The Conservation District ordinance encourages the retention and reuse of these properties. Any proposal to demolish or remove any of the Conservation Properties must be reviewed by the Salina Heritage Commission. Exterior modifications or additions to the structure are not subject to any review by the Heritage Commission," according to information in the city commission meeting packet.To view the entire 309-page section of the commission meeting packet devoted to the issue of rezoning the former academy site, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=448852&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

City to consider proposal to rezone former school property

MANHATTAN — Water is critical to the survival of all living creatures, but if that water source is compromised, it can have deadly consequences.

For cattle ranchers, watering their livestock from ponds and the presence of high amounts of blue-green algae can be a threat, said Scott Fritz, toxicology resident with the Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic lab.

“It is common when we look at case histories to see a sudden, overnight death associated with blue-green algae,” Fritz said&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2020/07/17/creep-feeding-top-tips-for-creep-feeding-blue-green-algae-concerns-heat-transporting-cattle" target="_blank">during a recent Cattle Chat podcast</a>&nbsp;with the experts at the Beef Cattle Institute.

To avoid this tragedy, Fritz said cattle ranchers need to monitor the ponds that cattle drink from, especially in late summer.

“Blue-green algae are present in every body of water and they are an important part of the ecosystem. However, in mid-summer the water can become stagnant when the rain tapers off, and that is when the algae will rapidly bloom,” Fritz said. When those algae blooms start to die, toxins are released.

He said there are visual cues that ranchers can watch for when monitoring the ponds.

“You’ll first see what looks like pond scum on the top of the water. It can be blue, green or orange,” Fritz said. “Any time the pond looks a little different, it is important to get it tested.”

To test the water, Fritz said producers should collect a sample by using a container, jar or old water bottle.

“The blooms are buoyant, so on a windy day they tend to drift to one side of the pond and that is a great place to make the collection,” Fritz said. He recommended that when ranchers collect a sample, they should try to gather water a few inches below the surface.

When the samples arrive at the lab, they are evaluated under a microscope for the presence of algae. If algae are present then the scientists do follow up testing to determine how much toxin is concentrated, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595731736853.jpeg" alt="Ponds can provide a great water source for cattle in the summer but they must be monitored for the presence of blue-green algae. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Ponds can provide a great water source for cattle in the summer but they must be monitored for the presence of blue-green algae. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN — Water is critical to the survival of all living creatures, but if that water source is compromised, it can have deadly consequences.For cattle ranchers, watering their livestock from ponds and the presence of high amounts of blue-green algae can be a threat, said Scott Fritz, toxicology resident with the Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic lab.“It is common when we look at case histories to see a sudden, overnight death associated with blue-green algae,” Fritz said&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2020/07/17/creep-feeding-top-tips-for-creep-feeding-blue-green-algae-concerns-heat-transporting-cattle" target="_blank">during a recent Cattle Chat podcast</a>&nbsp;with the experts at the Beef Cattle Institute.To avoid this tragedy, Fritz said cattle ranchers need to monitor the ponds that cattle drink from, especially in late summer.“Blue-green algae are present in every body of water and they are an important part of the ecosystem. However, in mid-summer the water can become stagnant when the rain tapers off, and that is when the algae will rapidly bloom,” Fritz said. When those algae blooms start to die, toxins are released.He said there are visual cues that ranchers can watch for when monitoring the ponds.“You’ll first see what looks like pond scum on the top of the water. It can be blue, green or orange,” Fritz said. “Any time the pond looks a little different, it is important to get it tested.”To test the water, Fritz said producers should collect a sample by using a container, jar or old water bottle.“The blooms are buoyant, so on a windy day they tend to drift to one side of the pond and that is a great place to make the collection,” Fritz said. He recommended that when ranchers collect a sample, they should try to gather water a few inches below the surface.When the samples arrive at the lab, they are evaluated under a microscope for the presence of algae. If algae are present then the scientists do follow up testing to determine how much toxin is concentrated, he said.Fritz has observed that blooms are becoming more common and can occur more than once in a summer on an individual pond,&nbsp;which is why monitoring is important. He also said that cattle can be given access to the pond once it is determined through testing that it is safe.“It isn’t economically practical to keep cattle off pastures for years, so the best thing producers can do is monitor the ponds. Once the blooms are gone and the toxins are no longer present, it is safe to put the cows back out there provided the water is going to continue to be monitored,” Fritz said.To learn more about this topic or for resources about managing blue-green algae, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksvdl.org/laboratories/toxicology/" target="_blank">http://www.ksvdl.org/laboratories/toxicology/</a>To hear the full discussion regarding blue-green algae listen in to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2020/07/17/creep-feeding-top-tips-for-creep-feeding-blue-green-algae-concerns-heat-transporting-cattle" target="_blank">BCI Cattle Chat podcast online.</a>