Emporia’s Tyson facility continues to remain a focal point of the local outbreak of COVID-19 according to the latest cluster data released by Lyon County Public Health Tuesday evening. Of the 215 local reported cases, there are 95 cases associated with the meat packing plant. Six of those cases are listed as recovered. “We have been, and continue to, follow CDC guidelines throughout this situation,” Tyson Communications Manager Liz Croston said in an email. “We are working closely with our local health officials.” (Read more: Emporia Gazette)

The David Traylor Zoo announced on Friday the arrival of a 1-year-old female American Bison. Her name is “Beulah.” She was donated to the zoo by Madison residents, Randall, Kristi and Cliff Schankie. “Beulah” the bison is doing well in her new surroundings and has a curious personality. She is really small in comparison to the zoo’s 17-year-old bull bison and, in time, they will be introduced to each other. (Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Chase County Sheriff Rich Dorneker said his office will start issuing citations to individuals ignoring statewide stay-at-home orders within the county in a Facebook post Saturday evening. "For all of you that not want to abide by the stay at home order, my office will now start issuing citations to all that [do] not want to follow the orders set forth by the Governor," the post read. "So if you want to drive to Chase County and illegally go to the lake or other places that have been limited you will get a citation written to you and all that are [...]

Lyon County Controller Dan Williams told Lyon County Commissioners during Thursday morning's meeting that the county is in good standing to withstand a financial hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The county will not be able to see the scope of impact the pandemic is having on local sales taxes until May or June, but Williams told the commission he had recently worked out some "Doomsday numbers" in an attempt to predict how the county would handle a significant loss in revenue. He said the good news was that last year the county had collected more than what it had budgeted [...]

Another popular local event fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic Wednesday night. The Flint Hills Rodeo Association announced on social media that this year’s PRCA rodeo — the longest-running in Kansas — is canceled. The decision was made by a unanimous, 11-0 vote, at an emergency meeting Wednesday evening. Started in 1937, this is the first time the Flint Hills Rodeo has been canceled. Even during World War II, when many of the cowboys were fighting overseas, the rodeo was held, with some of the ladies stepping in to compete. (Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Lyon County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic dominated much of the conversation during Thursday's meeting of the Lyon County Commission. County Controller Dan Williams approached the commission with a request for extra funding for the emergency operations center as it continues to work through the pandemic. The funds would be used for supplies and other needs as they arise. Setting up a fund for such purposes required approval by the county commission. "During a situation like this, they might need to move quickly to make some of these purchases," Lyon County Commissioner Scott Briggs said. (Read more: Emporia Gazette)

The Chase County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Thursday afternoon to implement a stay-at-home order from the Chase County Public Health Department. The order begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning and will remain in effect until April 28, unless amended sooner, superseded or rescinded. The order mandates a 14-day home quarantine for Chase County residents who have: "traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission," "traveled to Illinois or New Jersey on or after March 23," visited specific Colorado counties, traveled on a cruise on or after March 15, traveled internationally on or after March 15, traveled for [...]

Lyon County's stay-at-home order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, and all county playgrounds have been closed to the public until April 25. In Emporia, city employees placed caution tape on playground equipment to prevent children from using it during the order. The closures were made to prevent transmission of the COVID-19 disease, which can survive on surfaces for several days, according to the World Health Organization. (Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Lyon County Public Health officials confirmed two more cases of COVID-19 in the county Wednesday. There is one more confirmed COVID-19 case in Lyon County and another patient who is presumed positive, according to Lyon County Public Health. Wednesday’s announcement doubles the amount of cases in the county. (Read more: Emporia Gazette)

Lyon County Public Health Officer Renee Hively issued a stay-at-home order for all county residents during a Facebook live press conference Wednesday morning. The order ... will remain in effect through April 25, unless amended sooner, superseded or rescinded. “A stay-at-home order was signed by me and the county commissioners yesterday,” Hively said. “What does this mean to you? It means currently all individuals living in Lyon County, Kansas, are ordered to stay-at-home or at their place of residence, unless they are going for reasons of essential activities.” (Read more: Emporia Gazette)