MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. health official says the government’s worst-case scenario forecast for the Ebola epidemic in West Africa won’t happen.

In September, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the number of people with Ebola could explode to as many as 1.4 million by mid-January without more help. But on Wednesday, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said, “We don’t think projections from the summer will come to pass.”

Frieden did not provide new estimates. He was speaking at a U.S. Senate hearing in Washington. So far, there have been more than 14,000 cases.

The CDC estimates were based on conditions in late August, before an international surge in medical aid. That work seems to have helped slow the epidemic in Liberia, the hardest-hit of the three countries.

BOSTON (AP) — A consumer watchdog group has released its annual list of what it says are the 10 most unsafe toys as the holiday season approaches.

World Against Toys Causing Harm listed toys including a “light up power” bow and arrow, a pencil with a miniature slingshot-style launcher at its end, and a set of bottle rockets powered by baking soda and vinegar.

The group has released a “worst toys” list for more than 30 years. It urges parents to be extra vigilant during the holiday season, when over 65 percent of toy sales occur.

The group said Wednesday there have been at least 17 toy recalls in the U.S. and Canada so far this year.

Great Plains Theatre

ABILENE, Kan. – The historic Great Plains Theatre is set to be demolished following the fire that destroyed the building in July.

The building, constructed in 1881, was a historic Abilene landmark. Built as the First Presbyterian Church, it served the Community as a place of worship prior to becoming a professional live theatre in 1994. Great Plains Theatre merged its professional live theatre with a cinema and became Abilene’s only movie theater in 2010. From its beautiful oak spiral staircase to its oak octagonal ceiling in Dieter Hall, the theater’s concert hall, the building was used for many functions; live theatre, live concerts, weddings, receptions, and dances all adding joy and value to our community. Following the fire, the theatre staff heard from the community expressing sympathy and retelling memories associated with the building and what it had meant to them.

Due to the intensity of the fire, engineers determined the building had lost its structural functionality. The extreme heat caused intense damage to the limestone blocks rendering them incapable of being used to rebuild, creating the need to completely remove the partially standing structure.

The demolition was set to begin November 18th, with the demolition company attempting to preserve the original cornerstone, along with the historic plaque of the theatre’s incorporation. On November 21st from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 22nd from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Great Plains Theatre patrons and friends will be able to purchase by donation, two limestone bricks per family. The limestone bricks will available for pick-up at the empty parking lot south of Astra Bank on the corner of NW Third Street and Mulberry in Abilene.

Though the historical building that housed the Great Plains Theatre was a tremendous loss, Great Plains Theatre is still producing live professional theatre. Deemed “Kansas’ Premier Professional Theatre” by the state of Kansas, Great Plains Theatre will announce its 21st Season and future plans at the Abilene Civic Center on Nov. 22nd.

The 2015 Season Announcement “Unveiling the Future” will begin at 6:00 p.m. the evening of Nov. 22nd and ticket prices are $20 each. Tickets are on sale now and are available at the theatre office, 311 NW Third Street, or by phone at 785.263.4574.

The final show of Great Plains Theatre’s 20th Season will be Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and will be performed at the Chapman High School. Tickets for this show are available at the office, by phone or on our website www.greatplainstheatre.com.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The mayor of a central Nebraska community is bemoaning the public fervor over a resident’s sign about President Barack Obama.

The Lincoln Journal Star  reports Minden Mayor Ted Griess says he’s asked the property owner who posted the sign to remove it. The sign read, “AIDS Ebola Obama — Thanks Africa.” Griess says the owner has removed the sign from his private property.

Griess says he told the owner that the sign sends the wrong message about the community with a population of just under 3,000. He says the owner had the right to express his political views, but that he and others saw the sign as very “distasteful.”

Nebraska state Sen. Jeremy Nordquist posted on Twitter on Tuesday that he disliked the sign.

ALICIA A. CALDWELL, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says President Barack Obama’s executive immigration actions will be comprehensive and include border security measures.

Johnson says the administration came up with a variety of changes to the immigration system that he believes are not only legal but needed in light of inaction by Congress on immigration.

Johnson spoke briefly about the president’s plan during an event at the National Press Club on Wednesday. He didn’t provide any details about Obama’s plan, saying he didn’t want to get out ahead of the president’s announcement.

Johnson also says more clarity is needed for internal directives outlining how immigration authorities decide which immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported. He didn’t provide details.

WASHINGTON, D.C.–  At the weekly press conference with Republican leaders, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) discussed the House’s relentless legislative efforts to get people back to work, including passing the Hire More Heroes Act to encourage employers to hire more of our nation’s veterans.

View the Congresswoman’s statement here

The following are Congresswoman Jenkins’ remarks:

“Last week many of us spent time at home in our districts honoring and paying tribute to our veterans.

“Unfortunately, the Bureau of Labor statistics has reported showing that are young veterans, especially those of the 9/11 era are struggling more with unemployment than the majority of our workforce.

“That is why the House has been focused like a laser on helping people back to work and helping this economy get back on firm financial footing and we passed the Hire More Heroes Act over to the Senate.

“We are calling upon the Senate to take up that piece of legislation. America’s veterans should not have to wait for a new Senate to be seated in January to receive some help.

“These veterans deserve an opportunity. So whether it’s increasing their opportunities for better healthcare, better mental health, holding the VA accountable, or getting a good job, we are going to help them with that.”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Volunteer prison inmate help might be returning to the Hutchinson Animal Shelter.

The warden of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility pulled the inmates after the shelter’s director said in a report in The Hutchinson News that the inmates were causing problems at the shelter.

Since then, officials with the prison and city have met to air their differences and work on a way that inmates could return. City Manager John Deardoff says the agreement is not final and it might be a few weeks before inmates are back at the shelter.

Shelter Director Richard Havens had said the inmates were not always reliable and sometimes harassed the shelter’s female staff. Warden Sam Cline says he was unaware of the problems until reading about them in the newspaper.