Coronavirus 

US Energy Department assesses Covid-19 likely resulted from lab leak, furthering US intel divide over virus origin

US Energy Department assesses Covid-19 likely resulted from lab leak, furthering US intel divide over virus origin

The US Department of Energy has assessed that the Covid-19 pandemic most likely came from a laboratory leak in China, according to a newly updated classified intelligence report.

Protests erupt across China in unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid policy

Protests erupt across China in unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping’s zero-Covid policy

Protests are erupting across China, including at universities and in Shanghai where hundreds protested in an unprecedented show of defiance against the country’s stringent and increasingly costly zero-Covid policy.

US government to end free at-home Covid test program this week

US government to end free at-home Covid test program this week

Both the White House and the website where people can claim their tests blamed Congress for failing to provide additional funding for the program, which provided up to 16 free tests per household since the beginning of the year.

Sedgwick County remains at high risk for COVID transmission

Sedgwick County remains at high risk for COVID transmission

For the third consecutive week,  Sedgwick County remains at high risk for COVID-19 transmission.

President Biden COVID-positive...again

President Biden COVID-positive...again

The President has tested positive for COVID-19 again.

Rising COVID cases are forcing Kansas to move inmates between prisons

Rising COVID cases are forcing Kansas to move inmates between prisons

Corrections records confirmed 55 positive cases at the El Dorado men’s prison as of June 26, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Army Guard troops risk dismissal as vaccine deadline looms

Army Guard troops risk dismissal as vaccine deadline looms

Up to 40,000 Army National Guard soldiers across the country — or about 13% of the force — have not yet gotten the mandated COVID-19 vaccine, and as the deadline for shots looms, at least 14,000 of them have flatly refused

FDA authorizes 1st COVID-19 shots for infants, preschoolers

FDA authorizes 1st COVID-19 shots for infants, preschoolers

U.S. kids under 5 — roughly 18 million youngsters — are eligible for the shots, about 1 1/2 years after the vaccines first became available in the U.S. for adults, who have been hit the hardest during the pandemic.

Dr. Fauci diagnosed with COVID-19

Dr. Fauci diagnosed with COVID-19

Dr. Anthony Fauci has tested positive for COVID-19.

China calls COVID ‘lab leak’ theory a lie after WHO report

China calls COVID ‘lab leak’ theory a lie after WHO report

China has attacked the theory that the coronavirus pandemic may have originated as a leak from a Chinese laboratory

Virtual learning apps tracked and shared kids' data and online activities during pandemic

Virtual learning apps tracked and shared kids' data and online activities during pandemic

Millions of students who participated in virtual learning during the Covid-19 pandemic had their personal data and online behaviors tracked by educational apps and websites without their consent

Pfizer says 3 COVID shots protect children under 5

Pfizer says 3 COVID shots protect children under 5

The news comes after months of anxious waiting by parents desperate to vaccinate their babies, toddlers and preschoolers, especially as COVID-19 cases once again are rising.

Louisiana justices toss COVID-related charges against pastor

Louisiana justices toss COVID-related charges against pastor

The Louisiana Supreme Court threw out charges Friday against a pastor who flouted restrictions on gatherings early in the coronavirus pandemic, ruling 5-2 that the governor's executive orders violated freedom of religion.

Kansas governor vetoes Republican plan to ban mask mandates

Kansas governor vetoes Republican plan to ban mask mandates

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Friday vetoed a bill that would prohibit government mask mandates in Kansas and curb the power of state and local health officials during outbreaks of infectious diseases.

'Unthinkable tragedy': U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpasses 1 million

'Unthinkable tragedy': U.S. COVID-19 death toll surpasses 1 million

One million Americans have now died from the coronavirus, according to an announcement made Thursday by President Joe Biden, marking a long-dreaded milestone for an incomprehensible tragedy.

FDA restricts J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot risk

FDA restricts J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot risk

U.S. regulators on Thursday strictly limited who can receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine due to a rare but serious risk of blood clots.

FDA sets June meetings on COVID vaccines for youngest kids

FDA sets June meetings on COVID vaccines for youngest kids

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday set tentative dates in June to publicly review COVID-19 vaccines for the youngest American children, typically the final step before authorizing the shots.

Health and childcare workers react to Moderna's proposal to authorize vaccine for kids under 6

Health and childcare workers react to Moderna's proposal to authorize vaccine for kids under 6

Thursday Moderna announced its seeking authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration for kids under the age of 6.

Wichita Public Library encourages residents to share their COVID stories

Wichita Public Library encourages residents to share their COVID stories

No matter what your world looked like during the pandemic or maybe still looks like, the Wichita Public Library wants to hear about it.

Arkansas turning down remaining federal rental assistance

Arkansas turning down remaining federal rental assistance

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Friday said he was refusing most of $146 million in federal pandemic rental assistance the state was to receive, citing the state’s low unemployment rate and economic climate.

COVID-19 was third leading cause of death in the United States in 2021, CDC reports

COVID-19 was third leading cause of death in the United States in 2021, CDC reports

The overall age-adjusted death rate for all causes in the US was about 1% higher in 2021 that in was in 2020, but the death rate from COVID-19 increased by nearly 20%.

City of Wichita drops mask mandate for airport, other public transportation

City of Wichita drops mask mandate for airport, other public transportation

The move comes a day after a federal judge struck down the Biden administration's mask mandate for airplanes and other public transport methods.

Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel

Florida judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel

A federal judge in Florida struck down the national mask mandate covering airlines and other public transportation Monday, and the Biden administration said the rule would not be enforced while federal agencies decide how to respond to the judge’s order.

Federal judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel

Federal judge voids US mask mandate for planes, other travel

The decision Monday by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention improperly failed to justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking.

A million empty spaces: chronicling COVID's terrible toll

A million empty spaces: chronicling COVID's terrible toll

One million people have died due to complications from COVID, but the ones they left behind haven't forgotten.