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Widespread 911 outages cause alarm TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some officials charged with upgrading Kansas’ 911 system say a nearly three-hour outage across the southern part of the state on Sunday revealed the potential for future major disruptions to emergency operations. During the outage, which began about 1:35 p.m., multiple counties weren’t able to log into the state’s 911 system. Allen County’s 911 system was among those affected. Calls were rerouted to another department and the county was never without service, a representative said this morning. The impact varied, with some agencies posting alternative emergency phone numbers on social media or rerouting calls before service was re-
Battling COVID-19
Despite efforts to avoid virus, family infected By VICKIE MOSS The Iola Register
Amanda and Chris Belknap had always taken the coronavirus threat seriously. Yet despite precautions, the entire family has become infected with COVID-19 within weeks of each other. “We’d been extremely careful,” Amanda said. “This is exactly what we had worked so hard since March to avoid.” The family’s main concern was their 9-year-old son, Logan, who has asthma. Symptoms of the virus include compromising the lungs, even in children. They limited their interactions, avoiding restaurants and other public places. They wore masks and practice social distancing. They order See FAMILY | Page A5
Chris and Amanda Belknap are shown with their children, from left, Molly, Logan and Ethan. They affectionately refer to themselves as the “CAMEL Family,” using the first letter of each name. At left are some of the cards, snacks and gifts delivered by family and friends as the entire family was stricken with the COVID-19 virus. The family took many precautions to avoid the virus but still became infected. All appear to be on the road to recovery.
See 911 | Page A3
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Barr: No evidence of fraud WASHINGTON (AP) — Disputing President Donald Trump’s persistent, baseless claims, Attorney General William Barr declared the U.S. Justice Department has uncovered no evidence William Barr of widespread voter fraud that could change the outcome of the 2020 election. Barr’s comments, in an interview Tuesday with the The Associated Press, contradict the concerted effort by Trump, his boss, to subvert the results of last month’s voting and block President-elect Joe Biden from taking his place in the White House. Barr told the AP that U.S. attorneys and FBI agents have been working to follow up specific complaints and information they’ve received, but “to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.” The comments, which drew immediate criticism from Trump attorneys, were especially notable coming from Barr, who has been one of the president’s most ardent allies. Before See ELECTION | Page A5
Senate GOP sticking with partisan virus relief plan By ANDREW TAYLOR The Associated Press
Terry Call operates new audio and internet streaming equipment purchased by the county with SPARK funds. REGISTER/TREVOR HOAG
County still spending SPARK dollars By TREVOR HOAG The Iola Register
Tuesday’s meeting of Allen County commissioners was fairly short and sweet, but did provide an opportunity to try out new audio and internet streaming equipment purchased by the county via SPARK funds.
The new equipment acquired with COVID-19 relief money includes microphones, speakers, and the digital means to safely share meetings with those watching online. “One of the biggest complaints we had was that people couldn’t hear when everyone was talking,” noted
commissioner Bill King. Many other improvements are coming to county buildings and spaces thanks to $2.4 million in federal SPARK dollars as well. LISSE Regehr, CEO of the Thrive Allen County, was once again on hand to help See COUNTY | Page A3
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell said he’s largely sticking with a partisan, scaled-back COVID-19 relief bill that has already failed twice this fall, even as Democratic leaders and a bipartisan group of moderates offered concessions in hopes of passing pandemic aid before Congress adjourns for the year. The Kentucky Republican made the announcement Tuesday after President-elect Joe Biden called upon lawmakers to pass a down payment relief bill now with more to come next year. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi resumed talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about a yearend spending package that could include COVID-19 relief provisions. Key Senate moderates rallied behind a scaled-back framework. It’s unclear whether the flurry of activity will lead
Sen. Mitch McConnell to progress. Time is running out on Congress’ lameduck session and Donald Trump’s presidency, many Republicans won’t even acknowledge that Trump has lost the election and good faith between the two parties remains in short supply. McConnell said that his bill, which only modestly tweaks an earlier plan blocked by Democrats, would be signed by Trump and that additional legislation could pass next year. But his initiative fell flat with Democrats and a key GOP moderate. “If it’s identical to what (McConnell) brought forth this summer then it’s going to be a partisan bill that is not going to become law,” See RELIEF | Page A3
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