KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging 15 people with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to the United State's Attorney.

The defendants allegedly intentionally conspired to distribute cocaine in the state of Kansas and elsewhere between January 2019 and September 2021, according to court documents.

The defendants include Santiago Gamboa-Saenz, 34, Maria Cota, 32, Efrain Garcia-Perez, 37, Dimas Calixto-Filho, 41, Juan Avarez-Perez, 35, Bryan Dominguez-Green, 20, Irlanda Grajeda, 31,

Vladimir Blanco-Garciga, 49, Miguel Vazquez-Rodriguez, 35, Eduardo Ramirez-Ochoa, 32, Jesus Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 30, Homero Baca-Marquez, 23, Jaime Ocampo, 57, Jose Cera-Acosta, 35, and Frank De La Cruz, 36.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Kansas City and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Northeast Kansas Drug Task Force are investigating the case.

“Drug trafficking organizations are all about making money,” said Assistant Agent in Charge Rogeana Patterson-King, DEA lead for the state of Kansas. “This joint federal and state investigation stopped more than a million dollars’ worth of cocaine from reaching our communities, and more than $730,000 of proceeds from returning to the organization. This is particularly satisfying because this illegal industry jeopardizes public safety with these dangerous drugs.”

“HSI special agents, working with their state and federal law enforcement partners, were able to prevent a substantial amount of dangerous narcotics from reaching the streets and jeopardizing the safety of people who live there,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Katherine Greer.

“Our communities are safer when we, law enforcement officers and individuals in the communities we serve, work together collectively to end drug trafficking in our neighborhoods.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632516631969.png" alt="Baca-Marquez from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Baca-Marquez from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging 15 people with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to the United State's Attorney.The defendants allegedly intentionally conspired to distribute cocaine in the state of Kansas and elsewhere between January 2019 and September 2021, according to court documents.The defendants include Santiago Gamboa-Saenz, 34, Maria Cota, 32, Efrain Garcia-Perez, 37, Dimas Calixto-Filho, 41, Juan Avarez-Perez, 35, Bryan Dominguez-Green, 20, Irlanda Grajeda, 31,Vladimir Blanco-Garciga, 49, Miguel Vazquez-Rodriguez, 35, Eduardo Ramirez-Ochoa, 32, Jesus Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 30, Homero Baca-Marquez, 23, Jaime Ocampo, 57, Jose Cera-Acosta, 35, and Frank De La Cruz, 36.Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Kansas City and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Northeast Kansas Drug Task Force are investigating the case.“Drug trafficking organizations are all about making money,” said Assistant Agent in Charge Rogeana Patterson-King, DEA lead for the state of Kansas. “This joint federal and state investigation stopped more than a million dollars’ worth of cocaine from reaching our communities, and more than $730,000 of proceeds from returning to the organization. This is particularly satisfying because this illegal industry jeopardizes public safety with these dangerous drugs.”“HSI special agents, working with their state and federal law enforcement partners, were able to prevent a substantial amount of dangerous narcotics from reaching the streets and jeopardizing the safety of people who live there,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Katherine Greer.“Our communities are safer when we, law enforcement officers and individuals in the communities we serve, work together collectively to end drug trafficking in our neighborhoods.”

Feds uncover Kansas City cocaine distribution conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid quickly left Arrowhead Stadium with an illness after a 30-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, leaving assistant coach Dave Toub to handle questions following a second straight fourth-quarter letdown.

Reid was feeling ill but coached the duration of the game, a team spokesman said, before NFL Network reported the 63-year-old coach went to the hospital in an ambulance as a precaution. The Chiefs did not provide additional comment.

"Coach just wasn't feeling well," Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub said afterward. "He did talk to the team."

In fact, quarterback Patrick Mahomes said his coach "seemed fine on the sideline as well" as the Chiefs (1-2) threw away an opportunity to beat the Chargers with four turnovers, several costly penalties and numerous missed assignments.

"He came in and talked to us and he seemed fine," Mahomes said of the postgame locker room. "That's all I really know."

The Chiefs began the game by turning over the ball on three straight possessions, including a pair of fumbles and a pass from Mahomes that bounced off his intended wide receiver and into the hands of the Chargers' Asante Samuel Jr.

It basically ended with Mahomes throwing another interception with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter.

The game was still tied at that point, but their suspect defense — which had allowed 12 straight red-zone trips to turn into touchdowns to start the season — seemed to make it a foregone conclusion that Los Angeles was headed for the end zone.

The Chiefs allowed a 15-yard pass to Keenan Allen on third down, then DeAndre Baker was called for pass interference on fourth a few minutes later to give Los Angeles a fresh set of down. Justin Herbert then hit Mike Williams with back-to-back passes, and the second with 32 seconds left in the game gave the Chargers the lead for good.

Asked what Reid said afterward, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire replied: "Pretty much it's not going to be over-the-top as far as him getting on us. We know what we did wrong. We know what we need to get corrected."

"He came and told us — it's not necessarily going to be all right, but it's things that we can get fixed that can make it all right. That's what we need to go in and handle tomorrow. That's what it is," Edwards-Helaire added. "Watch the film tonight, see what we can get corrected, come in tomorrow and handle our business."

Edwards-Helaire had one of the Chiefs' two fumbles Sunday, offsetting what was an otherwise solid day with 100 yards rushing and a touchdown reception. Edwards-Helaire also fumbled in the closing minute last week in Baltimore, preventing the Chiefs from having an opportunity to kick a winning field goal in a 36-35 defeat.

"Anybody can watch the film and you'll see that we beat ourselves," Edwards-Helaire said. "It's those small, minute details that hurt us. Like we say, 'It's a game of inches.' It's going to be those small things we see on film: a step here, a step there that we feel like will make a difference. We had four turnovers and it still came down to the wire."

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid quickly left Arrowhead Stadium with an illness after their 30-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving assistant coach Dave Toub to handle questions following a second straight fourth-quarter letdown. 

Reid was feeling ill during the game, a team spokesman said, and NFL Network reported the 63-year-old coach was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The Chiefs did not provide additional comment on the report. The Chiefs have lost back-to-back games to the Ravens and Chargers and are in last place in the AFC West.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid quickly left Arrowhead Stadium with an illness after a 30-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, leaving assistant coach Dave Toub to handle questions following a second straight fourth-quarter letdown.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I’m praying for my Head Coach &amp; I’m hoping you can send up prayers with me!! One of the best men &amp; teachers I’ve been around!!! GOD please show us your mercy!&mdash; Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mathieu_Era/status/1442238966489440257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Reid was feeling ill but coached the duration of the game, a team spokesman said, before NFL Network reported the 63-year-old coach went to the hospital in an ambulance as a precaution. The Chiefs did not provide additional comment."Coach just wasn't feeling well," Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub said afterward. "He did talk to the team."In fact, quarterback Patrick Mahomes said his coach "seemed fine on the sideline as well" as the Chiefs (1-2) threw away an opportunity to beat the Chargers with four turnovers, several costly penalties and numerous missed assignments."He came in and talked to us and he seemed fine," Mahomes said of the postgame locker room. "That's all I really know."The Chiefs began the game by turning over the ball on three straight possessions, including a pair of fumbles and a pass from Mahomes that bounced off his intended wide receiver and into the hands of the Chargers' Asante Samuel Jr.It basically ended with Mahomes throwing another interception with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter.The game was still tied at that point, but their suspect defense — which had allowed 12 straight red-zone trips to turn into touchdowns to start the season — seemed to make it a foregone conclusion that Los Angeles was headed for the end zone.The Chiefs allowed a 15-yard pass to Keenan Allen on third down, then DeAndre Baker was called for pass interference on fourth a few minutes later to give Los Angeles a fresh set of down. Justin Herbert then hit Mike Williams with back-to-back passes, and the second with 32 seconds left in the game gave the Chargers the lead for good.Asked what Reid said afterward, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire replied: "Pretty much it's not going to be over-the-top as far as him getting on us. We know what we did wrong. We know what we need to get corrected.""He came and told us — it's not necessarily going to be all right, but it's things that we can get fixed that can make it all right. That's what we need to go in and handle tomorrow. That's what it is," Edwards-Helaire added. "Watch the film tonight, see what we can get corrected, come in tomorrow and handle our business."Edwards-Helaire had one of the Chiefs' two fumbles Sunday, offsetting what was an otherwise solid day with 100 yards rushing and a touchdown reception. Edwards-Helaire also fumbled in the closing minute last week in Baltimore, preventing the Chiefs from having an opportunity to kick a winning field goal in a 36-35 defeat."Anybody can watch the film and you'll see that we beat ourselves," Edwards-Helaire said. "It's those small, minute details that hurt us. Like we say, 'It's a game of inches.' It's going to be those small things we see on film: a step here, a step there that we feel like will make a difference. We had four turnovers and it still came down to the wire."-----------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs coach Andy Reid quickly left Arrowhead Stadium with an illness after their 30-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving assistant coach Dave Toub to handle questions following a second straight fourth-quarter letdown. Reid was feeling ill during the game, a team spokesman said, and NFL Network reported the 63-year-old coach was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The Chiefs did not provide additional comment on the report. The Chiefs have lost back-to-back games to the Ravens and Chargers and are in last place in the AFC West.

Chiefs coach leaves Arrowhead Stadium in ambulance

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a massage therapist to three prison terms of 25 years to life for several sex crimes against five people. 

They include a child and three female soccer players at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Douglas County Judge Sally Pokorny sentenced 50-year-old Shawn P. O’Brien on Friday after jurors in August found him guilty on eight counts. 

Three of the charges accused O’Brien of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 for fondling a girl who was either 9 or 10 on three occasions between 2013 and 2015. The sentences will be served concurrently. O'Brien will have to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583523947471.png" alt="Shawn O'Brien-KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Shawn O'Brien-KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a massage therapist to three prison terms of 25 years to life for several sex crimes against five people. They include a child and three female soccer players at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Douglas County Judge Sally Pokorny sentenced 50-year-old Shawn P. O’Brien on Friday after jurors in August found him guilty on eight counts. Three of the charges accused O’Brien of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 for fondling a girl who was either 9 or 10 on three occasions between 2013 and 2015. The sentences will be served concurrently. O'Brien will have to serve at least 25 years before being eligible for parole.

Massage therapist sentenced for sex crimes in Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — Amid the Boy Scouts of America’s complex bankruptcy case, there is worsening friction between the BSA and the major religious groups that help it run thousands of scout units. At issue: the churches’ fears that an eventual settlement — while protecting the BSA from future sex-abuse lawsuits — could leave many churches unprotected.

The Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in an effort to halt individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for thousands of men who say they were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders. At the time, the national organization estimated it might face 5,000 cases; it now faces 82,500.

In July, the BSA proposed an $850 million deal that would bar further lawsuits against it and its local councils. The deal did not cover the more than 40,000 organizations that have charters with the BSA to sponsor scout units, including many churches from major religious denominations that are now questioning their future involvement in scouting.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/bsa-bankruptcy-affects-united-methodist-congregations" target="_blank">United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;— which says up to 5,000 of its U.S. congregations could be affected by future lawsuits — recently advised those churches not to extend their charters with the BSA beyond the end of this year. The UMC said these congregations were “disappointed and very concerned” that they weren’t included in the July deal.

Everett Cygal, a lawyer for Catholic churches monitoring the case, said it is unfair that parishes now face liability “solely as a result of misconduct by Boy Scout troop leaders who frequently had no connection to the parish.”

“Scouting can only be delivered with help of their chartered organizations,” Cygal told The Associated Press. “It’s shortsighted not to be protecting the people they absolutely need to ensure that scouting is viable in the future.”

Officials of several other denominations — including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — have advised their churches to hire their own legal counsel if they fear possible sex-abuse litigation.

The Presbyterian Church said its national leadership can’t act on behalf of member churches because they are separate corporations. The leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran church also said its congregations were on their own, legally speaking, and must decide for themselves whether to continue any relationship with the BSA.

“As a result of the bankruptcy, the congregation cannot confidently rely on the BSA, the local council, or their insurers to defend it,” the Lutheran church warned. “The congregation needs to make sure that it has sufficient insurance and that its own insurance will cover them.”

The Boy Scouts, in a statement provided to the AP, said its partnership with chartered organizations, including churches, “has been critical to delivering the Scouting program to millions of youth in our country for generations.” It said negotiations with those organizations are continuing, and it hopes to conclude the bankruptcy proceedings around the end of this year.

Negotiators face a challenging situation.

According to lawyers representing different parties in the bankruptcy case, the Boy Scouts have suggested chartered organizations have some protection from liability for abuse cases that occurred after 1975, due to an insurance arrangement that took effect in 1976. The BSA has said there’s little or no protection, however, for the many pre-1976 cases, and the best way for organizations to gain protection for that era would be to make a substantial financial contribution to a settlement fund.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took such a step last week, agreeing to contribute $250 million to a compensation fund in exchange for a release from further liability. The denomination, widely known as the Mormon church, pulled its units out of the BSA on Jan. 1, 2020, after decades as the biggest sponsor.

One key distinction: The Latter-day Saints have a centralized governing structure, making possible a contribution covering its vast former network of scout units. The remaining faith-based charter organizations are more decentralized, complicating the question of how contributions to the compensation fund would be mandated and organized.

Jeremy Ryan, a lawyer representing United Methodist churches, said his clients believe there is some pre-1976 insurance available to them under policies the BSA and its local councils held at the time.

Cygal, the lawyer representing Catholic churches, made a similar argument but said some chartered organizations eventually may have to make an appropriate financial contribution “to put an end to this dispute once and for all.”

Another complication in the negotiations: differing views on how much blame lies with the churches.

Some of the churches argue that they merely provided a venue for a local scout unit to meet, while scout leaders were responsible for hiring decisions that might have led to sexual abuse. Some lawyers for the plaintiffs disagree, saying church leaders were often actively involved in those decisions.

“The Scouts had plenty of fault due to their negligence, but the local institutions had plenty of fault also,” said Christopher Hurley, whose Chicago law firm says it represents about 4,000 men who filed claims in the bankruptcy.

“It’s just not OK to pass the buck on this,” Hurley added. “Everybody’s got to suck it up and make a fair contribution to get justice for these guys.”

Stephen Crew, whose Oregon-based law firm represents about 400 plaintiffs, said he sympathizes with faith-based chartered organizations who “worry about being hung out to dry.”

“But survivors also have a lot of anxiety,” said Crew. “And the problem now is that the insurance companies are balking at everybody.”

A third lawyer for plaintiffs, California-based Paul Mones, blamed the churches’ predicament on the BSA, saying its initial bankruptcy strategy failed to properly anticipate the impact on chartered organizations.

“For decades, the religious organizations have been the backbone of the BSA,” Mones said. “They did not sign up thinking they’d have any kind of liability ... and all of a sudden they’re being told, ‘You’re going to get sued.’ It’s a hot mess.”

Some church leaders, such as United Methodist Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., have been blunt in their dismay over the bankruptcy fallout.

“This is a very sad and tragic matter that has occurred within our nation and the Church,” Saenz said in a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greatplainsumc.org/newsdetail/churches-receive-instructions-on-boy-scouts-bankruptcy-15408400" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to the clergy he oversees in Kansas and Nebraska. He said there might be 110 abuse claims in the bankruptcy case potentially connected to UMC churches in his region.

Saenz said the BSA might struggle to move forward post-bankruptcy without participation of the UMC, the biggest active sponsor of Scout units.

But due to BSA positions in the case that are detrimental to the UMC, Saenz wrote, “We simply cannot currently commit to the relationship with the BSA as we have in the past.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Amid the Boy Scouts of America’s complex bankruptcy case, there is worsening friction between the BSA and the major religious groups that help it run thousands of scout units. At issue: the churches’ fears that an eventual settlement — while protecting the BSA from future sex-abuse lawsuits — could leave many churches unprotected.The Boy Scouts sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in an effort to halt individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for thousands of men who say they were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders. At the time, the national organization estimated it might face 5,000 cases; it now faces 82,500.In July, the BSA proposed an $850 million deal that would bar further lawsuits against it and its local councils. The deal did not cover the more than 40,000 organizations that have charters with the BSA to sponsor scout units, including many churches from major religious denominations that are now questioning their future involvement in scouting.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umc.org/en/content/bsa-bankruptcy-affects-united-methodist-congregations" target="_blank">United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;— which says up to 5,000 of its U.S. congregations could be affected by future lawsuits — recently advised those churches not to extend their charters with the BSA beyond the end of this year. The UMC said these congregations were “disappointed and very concerned” that they weren’t included in the July deal.Everett Cygal, a lawyer for Catholic churches monitoring the case, said it is unfair that parishes now face liability “solely as a result of misconduct by Boy Scout troop leaders who frequently had no connection to the parish.”“Scouting can only be delivered with help of their chartered organizations,” Cygal told The Associated Press. “It’s shortsighted not to be protecting the people they absolutely need to ensure that scouting is viable in the future.”Officials of several other denominations — including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — have advised their churches to hire their own legal counsel if they fear possible sex-abuse litigation.The Presbyterian Church said its national leadership can’t act on behalf of member churches because they are separate corporations. The leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran church also said its congregations were on their own, legally speaking, and must decide for themselves whether to continue any relationship with the BSA.“As a result of the bankruptcy, the congregation cannot confidently rely on the BSA, the local council, or their insurers to defend it,” the Lutheran church warned. “The congregation needs to make sure that it has sufficient insurance and that its own insurance will cover them.”The Boy Scouts, in a statement provided to the AP, said its partnership with chartered organizations, including churches, “has been critical to delivering the Scouting program to millions of youth in our country for generations.” It said negotiations with those organizations are continuing, and it hopes to conclude the bankruptcy proceedings around the end of this year.Negotiators face a challenging situation.According to lawyers representing different parties in the bankruptcy case, the Boy Scouts have suggested chartered organizations have some protection from liability for abuse cases that occurred after 1975, due to an insurance arrangement that took effect in 1976. The BSA has said there’s little or no protection, however, for the many pre-1976 cases, and the best way for organizations to gain protection for that era would be to make a substantial financial contribution to a settlement fund.The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took such a step last week, agreeing to contribute $250 million to a compensation fund in exchange for a release from further liability. The denomination, widely known as the Mormon church, pulled its units out of the BSA on Jan. 1, 2020, after decades as the biggest sponsor.One key distinction: The Latter-day Saints have a centralized governing structure, making possible a contribution covering its vast former network of scout units. The remaining faith-based charter organizations are more decentralized, complicating the question of how contributions to the compensation fund would be mandated and organized.Jeremy Ryan, a lawyer representing United Methodist churches, said his clients believe there is some pre-1976 insurance available to them under policies the BSA and its local councils held at the time.Cygal, the lawyer representing Catholic churches, made a similar argument but said some chartered organizations eventually may have to make an appropriate financial contribution “to put an end to this dispute once and for all.”Another complication in the negotiations: differing views on how much blame lies with the churches.Some of the churches argue that they merely provided a venue for a local scout unit to meet, while scout leaders were responsible for hiring decisions that might have led to sexual abuse. Some lawyers for the plaintiffs disagree, saying church leaders were often actively involved in those decisions.“The Scouts had plenty of fault due to their negligence, but the local institutions had plenty of fault also,” said Christopher Hurley, whose Chicago law firm says it represents about 4,000 men who filed claims in the bankruptcy.“It’s just not OK to pass the buck on this,” Hurley added. “Everybody’s got to suck it up and make a fair contribution to get justice for these guys.”Stephen Crew, whose Oregon-based law firm represents about 400 plaintiffs, said he sympathizes with faith-based chartered organizations who “worry about being hung out to dry.”“But survivors also have a lot of anxiety,” said Crew. “And the problem now is that the insurance companies are balking at everybody.”A third lawyer for plaintiffs, California-based Paul Mones, blamed the churches’ predicament on the BSA, saying its initial bankruptcy strategy failed to properly anticipate the impact on chartered organizations.“For decades, the religious organizations have been the backbone of the BSA,” Mones said. “They did not sign up thinking they’d have any kind of liability ... and all of a sudden they’re being told, ‘You’re going to get sued.’ It’s a hot mess.”Some church leaders, such as United Methodist Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., have been blunt in their dismay over the bankruptcy fallout.“This is a very sad and tragic matter that has occurred within our nation and the Church,” Saenz said in a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greatplainsumc.org/newsdetail/churches-receive-instructions-on-boy-scouts-bankruptcy-15408400" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to the clergy he oversees in Kansas and Nebraska. He said there might be 110 abuse claims in the bankruptcy case potentially connected to UMC churches in his region.Saenz said the BSA might struggle to move forward post-bankruptcy without participation of the UMC, the biggest active sponsor of Scout units.But due to BSA positions in the case that are detrimental to the UMC, Saenz wrote, “We simply cannot currently commit to the relationship with the BSA as we have in the past.”

Boy Scouts' bankruptcy creates rift with religious partners

JASPER COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Sunday in Jasper County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Jeep Wrangler driven by Russell T. Asbell, 33, Carl Junction, was northbound on Route JJ one mile south of Carl Junction.

The Jeep traveled off the road, struck a post, overturned and the driver was ejected. EMS transported Asbell to Freeman West Hospital where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; The KHP did not report seat belt usage information.

JASPER COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Sunday in Jasper County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Jeep Wrangler driven by Russell T. Asbell, 33, Carl Junction, was northbound on Route JJ one mile south of Carl Junction.The Jeep traveled off the road, struck a post, overturned and the driver was ejected. EMS transported Asbell to Freeman West Hospital where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; The KHP did not report seat belt usage information.

Missouri man dies after ejected when jeep overturns

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas house fire.

Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Fire crews and American Medical Response were sent to report of a house fire in the 300 block of NE Spruce Lane in Topeka, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.

Fire crews found a man and removed him from the residence as others continued to battle the fire. First responders determined the man was deceased under suspicious circumstances, according to Jones.

American Medical Response requested Topeka Police respond to the scene. Topeka Police Detectives and Fire Investigators from the City and State are currently working together to investigate the incident. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632669511894.png" alt="Sunday morning fatal house fire in Topeka- photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Sunday morning fatal house fire in Topeka- photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal Kansas house fire.Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, Fire crews and American Medical Response were sent to report of a house fire in the 300 block of NE Spruce Lane in Topeka, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.Fire crews found a man and removed him from the residence as others continued to battle the fire. First responders determined the man was deceased under suspicious circumstances, according to Jones.American Medical Response requested Topeka Police respond to the scene. Topeka Police Detectives and Fire Investigators from the City and State are currently working together to investigate the incident.

Police investigating fatal Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill strengthening social safety net and climate programs through the House Budget Committee, but one Democrat voted “no,” illustrating the challenges party leaders face in winning the near unanimity they’ll need to push the sprawling package through Congress.

The Democratic-dominated panel, meeting virtually Saturday, approved the measure on a near party-line vote, 20-17. Passage marked a necessary but minor checking of a procedural box for Democrats by edging it a step closer to debate by the full House. Under budget rules, the committee wasn’t allowed to significantly amend the 2,465-page measure, the product of 13 other House committees.

More important work has been happening in an opaque procession of mostly unannounced phone calls, meetings and other bargaining sessions among party leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-jon-tester-50483a8c3be3d60d3d4e171db68dd5c1">President Joe Biden</a>, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have led a behind-the-scenes hunt for compromises to resolve internal divisions and, they hope, allow approval of the mammoth bill soon.

Pelosi told fellow Democrats Saturday that they “must” pass the social and environment package this week, along with a separate infrastructure bill and a third measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-bcc426ff4b7225132bcbf870ecaaf9d8">preventing a government shutdown on Friday</a>. Her letter to colleagues underscored the pile of crucial work Congress’ Democratic majority faces in coming days and seemed an effort to build urgency to resolve long-standing disputes quickly.

“The next few days will be a time of intensity,” she wrote.

Moderate Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., joined all 16 Republicans on the Budget committee in opposing the legislation. His objections included one that troubles many Democrats: a reluctance to back a bill with provisions that would later be dropped by the Senate.

Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law. That preference for voting only on a social and environment bill that’s already a House-Senate compromise could complicate Pelosi’s effort for a House vote this week.

Peters was among three Democrats who earlier this month voted against a plan favored by most in his party to lower pharmaceutical costs by letting Medicare negotiate for the prescription drugs it buys.

Party leaders have tried for weeks to resolve differences among Democrats over the package’s final price tag, which seems sure to shrink. There are also disputes over which initiatives should be reshaped, among them expanded Medicare, tax breaks for children and health care, a push toward cleaner energy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-nancy-pelosi-10f0a84bc96fdaf86a92fa4d3ab69a5c">higher levies on the rich and corporations</a>.

Democrats’ wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate mean compromise is mandatory. Before the measure the Budget panel approved Saturday even reaches the House floor, it is expected to be changed to reflect whatever House-Senate accords have been reached, and additional revisions are likely.

The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals. Budget panel chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., cited “decades of disinvestment” on needs like health care, education, child care and the environment as the rationale for the legislation.

“The futures of millions of Americans and their families are at stake. We can no longer afford the costs of neglect and inaction. The time to act is now,” Yarmuth said.

Republicans say the proposal is unneeded, unaffordable amid accumulated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">federal debt exceeding $28 trillion&nbsp;</a>and reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives. Its tax boosts will cost jobs and include credits for buying electric vehicles, purchases often made by people with comfortable incomes, they said.

“This bill is a disaster for working-class families,” said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the committee’s top Republican. “It’s a big giveaway to the wealthy, it’s a laundry list of agenda items pulled right out of the Bernie Sanders socialist playbook.”

The unusual weekend session occurred as top Democrats amp up efforts to end increasingly bitter disputes between the party’s centrist and progressive wings that threaten to undermine Biden’s agenda.

Biden conceded Friday that talks among Democrats were at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-b9fb060c728da28709fc9effaecb0b9a">“stalemate,”</a>&nbsp;though Pelosi and Schumer have been more positive in an apparent effort to build momentum and soothe differences. A collapse of the measure at his own party’s hands would be a wounding preview to the coming election year, in which House and Senate control are at stake.

To nail down moderates’ support for an earlier budget blueprint, Pelosi promised to begin House consideration by Monday of another pillar of Biden’s domestic plans: a $1 trillion collection of roadway and other infrastructure projects. Pelosi reaffirmed this week that the infrastructure debate would begin Monday.

But many moderates who consider the infrastructure bill their top goal also want to cut the $3.5 trillion social and environment package and trim or reshape some programs. They include Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.

In response, progressives — their top priority is the $3.5 trillion measure — are threatening to vote against the infrastructure bill if it comes up for a vote first. Their opposition seems likely to be enough to scuttle it, and Pelosi hasn’t definitively said when a vote on final passage of the infrastructure measure will occur.

With each portion of the party threatening to upend the other’s most cherished goal —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-elections-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-5a5a71aab543b990464207e1062c32aa">a political disaster in the making for Democrats</a>&nbsp;— top Democrats are using the moment to accelerate talks on the massive social and climate legislation. The party can lose no votes in the Senate and a maximum of three in the House to succeed in the narrowly split Congress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632661305209.png" alt="Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law.&nbsp; Photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law.&nbsp; Photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill strengthening social safety net and climate programs through the House Budget Committee, but one Democrat voted “no,” illustrating the challenges party leaders face in winning the near unanimity they’ll need to push the sprawling package through Congress.The Democratic-dominated panel, meeting virtually Saturday, approved the measure on a near party-line vote, 20-17. Passage marked a necessary but minor checking of a procedural box for Democrats by edging it a step closer to debate by the full House. Under budget rules, the committee wasn’t allowed to significantly amend the 2,465-page measure, the product of 13 other House committees.More important work has been happening in an opaque procession of mostly unannounced phone calls, meetings and other bargaining sessions among party leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-jon-tester-50483a8c3be3d60d3d4e171db68dd5c1">President Joe Biden</a>, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have led a behind-the-scenes hunt for compromises to resolve internal divisions and, they hope, allow approval of the mammoth bill soon.Pelosi told fellow Democrats Saturday that they “must” pass the social and environment package this week, along with a separate infrastructure bill and a third measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-bcc426ff4b7225132bcbf870ecaaf9d8">preventing a government shutdown on Friday</a>. Her letter to colleagues underscored the pile of crucial work Congress’ Democratic majority faces in coming days and seemed an effort to build urgency to resolve long-standing disputes quickly.“The next few days will be a time of intensity,” she wrote.Moderate Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., joined all 16 Republicans on the Budget committee in opposing the legislation. His objections included one that troubles many Democrats: a reluctance to back a bill with provisions that would later be dropped by the Senate.Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law. That preference for voting only on a social and environment bill that’s already a House-Senate compromise could complicate Pelosi’s effort for a House vote this week.Peters was among three Democrats who earlier this month voted against a plan favored by most in his party to lower pharmaceutical costs by letting Medicare negotiate for the prescription drugs it buys.Party leaders have tried for weeks to resolve differences among Democrats over the package’s final price tag, which seems sure to shrink. There are also disputes over which initiatives should be reshaped, among them expanded Medicare, tax breaks for children and health care, a push toward cleaner energy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-nancy-pelosi-10f0a84bc96fdaf86a92fa4d3ab69a5c">higher levies on the rich and corporations</a>.Democrats’ wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate mean compromise is mandatory. Before the measure the Budget panel approved Saturday even reaches the House floor, it is expected to be changed to reflect whatever House-Senate accords have been reached, and additional revisions are likely.The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals. Budget panel chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., cited “decades of disinvestment” on needs like health care, education, child care and the environment as the rationale for the legislation.“The futures of millions of Americans and their families are at stake. We can no longer afford the costs of neglect and inaction. The time to act is now,” Yarmuth said.Republicans say the proposal is unneeded, unaffordable amid accumulated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-limit-explained-8c9cbcd3d0c4a8fe989a0110f5159f7c">federal debt exceeding $28 trillion&nbsp;</a>and reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives. Its tax boosts will cost jobs and include credits for buying electric vehicles, purchases often made by people with comfortable incomes, they said.“This bill is a disaster for working-class families,” said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the committee’s top Republican. “It’s a big giveaway to the wealthy, it’s a laundry list of agenda items pulled right out of the Bernie Sanders socialist playbook.”The unusual weekend session occurred as top Democrats amp up efforts to end increasingly bitter disputes between the party’s centrist and progressive wings that threaten to undermine Biden’s agenda.Biden conceded Friday that talks among Democrats were at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-bills-b9fb060c728da28709fc9effaecb0b9a">“stalemate,”</a>&nbsp;though Pelosi and Schumer have been more positive in an apparent effort to build momentum and soothe differences. A collapse of the measure at his own party’s hands would be a wounding preview to the coming election year, in which House and Senate control are at stake.To nail down moderates’ support for an earlier budget blueprint, Pelosi promised to begin House consideration by Monday of another pillar of Biden’s domestic plans: a $1 trillion collection of roadway and other infrastructure projects. Pelosi reaffirmed this week that the infrastructure debate would begin Monday.But many moderates who consider the infrastructure bill their top goal also want to cut the $3.5 trillion social and environment package and trim or reshape some programs. They include Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.In response, progressives — their top priority is the $3.5 trillion measure — are threatening to vote against the infrastructure bill if it comes up for a vote first. Their opposition seems likely to be enough to scuttle it, and Pelosi hasn’t definitively said when a vote on final passage of the infrastructure measure will occur.With each portion of the party threatening to upend the other’s most cherished goal —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-joe-biden-elections-campaigns-race-and-ethnicity-5a5a71aab543b990464207e1062c32aa">a political disaster in the making for Democrats</a>&nbsp;— top Democrats are using the moment to accelerate talks on the massive social and climate legislation. The party can lose no votes in the Senate and a maximum of three in the House to succeed in the narrowly split Congress.

Panel OKs Dems' $3.5T bill, crunch time for Biden agenda

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Reported sexual assaults have sparked large protests on college campuses in at least seven states just weeks into the new school year, which advocates say reflects both a greater vulnerability among students who spent last school year learning remotelyand a greater ability among young people to make themselves heard on the issue.

Such protests aren’t new, but there seems to have been an unusually large number already this semester, with demonstrations over the past month at schools in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Alabama, Michigan, Massachusetts and Missouri. Protesters have accused their schools of doing too little to protect students and being too lenient with on the accused.

Those pushing for tougher measures against sexual violence also say the protests are being led by students familiar with the #MeToo movement and cases like that of former USA Gymnastics team doctor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/simone-biles-gymnastics-sexual-abuse-larry-nassar-cb63ffbfd09d9d4ffe21561aa63d3ca5">Larry Nassar</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-cosby-conviction-overturned-5c073fb64bc5df4d7b99ee7fadddbe5a">Bill Cosby.</a>&nbsp;And they say a protest on one campus inspires them on others.

“It is this national push that we’re starting to see for accountability of colleges,” said Tracey Vitchers, executive director of It’s On Us, a nonprofit focused on building a movement to combat sexual violence on campuses.

More than half of sexual assaults against students occur between the start of fall classes and the Thanksgiving break, and generally freshmen and transfer students are the most vulnerable to sexual assault because they aren’t familiar with the campuses and haven’t solidified their social networks. Victims’ advocates call the period “the red zone.”

“We’re in a period of a double red zone,” said Shiwali Patel, senior counsel for the National Women’s Law Center, who also directs its efforts to provide justice for assault survivors. “We have the first-year students and the second-year students who are now being on campus for the first time.”

The wave of protests started after a student reported being sexually assaulted at a University Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity house just before midnight on Aug. 24. Police received&nbsp;<a href="https://scsapps.unl.edu/policereports/MainPage.aspx" target="_blank">a separate report</a>&nbsp;about a “wild party” there.

The following night, about 1,000 protesters surrounded the fraternity house. Police are investigating the assault report and the university temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sexual-assault-dc3c1be455b779b007350a3faa8475c2">suspended the fraternity’s operations</a>&nbsp;as it reviews the group’s conduct.

Protests at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vandalism-sexual-assault-5f64aa41280eb2f801e77f9199d7df86">the University of Iowa</a>&nbsp;began less than a week later against a chapter of the same fraternity over a year-old allegation of sexual assault that authorities are still investigating.

In Kansas, students protested at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-lawrence-university-of-kansas-07864830812de6692b15706ddc628fbe">the University of Kansas,</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-kansas-sexual-assault-wichita-wichita-state-university-9ba9be87606eaa283e6fbbe05389c82d">Wichita State University</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-sexual-assault-topeka-166184303274524b67835ea2ca3f2f8a">Topeka West High School</a>&nbsp;last week over various reported assaults, and students at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-sexual-assault-auburn-auburn-university-a9fce03c533a39e2a2e034894f7152f9">Auburn University</a>&nbsp;in Alabama and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/09/16/eastern-michigan-fraternities-under-review-sexual-assault/5769232001/" target="_blank">Eastern Michigan University</a>&nbsp;also held demonstrations. Protests this week included one at the University of Massachusetts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/19/metro/hundreds-students-protest-outside-umass-fraternity-house-alleging-sexual-assault/" target="_blank">in Amherst.</a>

At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/cmu-students-call-for-accountability-for-sexual-misconduct/article_4e1357a6-1bfb-11ec-8371-3b42c3151b24.html" target="_blank">Central Methodist University,</a>&nbsp;a small Missouri liberal arts school between Kansas City and St. Louis, about 50 students protested this week in support of Layla Beyer, a 19-year-old sophomore who said a fellow music student sexually assaulted her during the first semester of her freshman year.

The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify sexual assault victims, but Beyer allowed her name to be used.

The university said it can’t comment about an individual student’s case, but spokesperson Scott Queen said, “There will be ongoing discussions regarding the topics addressed at the protest.”

Beyer reported the assault and said she received a no-contact order against her assailant, who played the same instrument and was constantly around. But she said he repeatedly violated it without facing serious consequences.

“A lot of times, survivors don’t have anybody to stand up for them besides themselves,” Beyer said.

Administrators at other colleges have said they’re committed to helping victims and educating students about appropriate behavior.

University of Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie Green outlined plans that included expanding from two members to four a team that helps victims, and improving training and education about sexual assault.

Eastern Michigan’s new initiatives include annual training for students and separate training to encourage people to intervene if they see inappropriate behavior. It also is considering the future of a fraternity at the center of multiple sexual assault allegations.

“Students speak out, protest and take action because they want to see their institutions respond with the same level of anger, determination and commitment to keep their communities safe,” said Walter Kraft, Eastern Michigan’s vice president of communications.

Vitchers said helping survivors is no longer enough. She said universities must educate students to prevent assaults and punish the perpetrators and groups fostering an environment in which sexual violence is viewed as normal or no big deal.

Older advocates said current students have better access to social media and embrace activism more readily than their predecessors. Angela Esquivel Hawkins, a Stanford University administrator and CEO of a group that helps victims’ friends and families, said students now are wiser about things such as choosing hashtags to make messages trend on Twitter.

“The more iterations of social media that come up in the future, the more that people are going to get more and more connected and more and more savvy about how to organize and be efficient in their efforts,” Hawkins said.

At the University of Iowa, 18-year-old freshman Amelia Keller and her friends turned to Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to rally people to the recent protest at the school. Keller also has worked with a campus group advocating for rape victims.

“We want to be able to trust and depend upon those who claim to care about the protection of vulnerable students,” Keller said in texts to The Associated Press. “Right now, we cannot.”

At Eastern Michigan, 18-year-old freshman Abbie Francis helped organize last week’s protest at that school and used an app to attract dozens of members within two hours to a new Sexual Assault and Rape Awareness group. Eastern Michigan students also held a protest in March.

“Everyone that I have talked to in the past few weeks has expressed that they feel extremely unsafe,” she said in an email to The Associated Press.

At Central Methodist, Beyer said she felt forced to choose between dropping out of band or having to face her assailant frequently despite repeatedly telling administrators that he should be the one to leave. She said the administrators “completely invalidated me.”

And Beyer said she lost her passion for music because of the assault and her subsequent treatment. She dropped her music education major and is now majoring in psychology instead.

“You get to the point where, no one’s hearing you and nobody’s doing anything for you,” Beyer said. “Having students, especially ones that go to your school, to be by your side and stand up for you, it means a lot.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631616617472.png" alt="Protests at the University of Kansas photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Protests at the University of Kansas photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA and SUMMER BALLENTINETOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Reported sexual assaults have sparked large protests on college campuses in at least seven states just weeks into the new school year, which advocates say reflects both a greater vulnerability among students who spent last school year learning remotelyand a greater ability among young people to make themselves heard on the issue.Such protests aren’t new, but there seems to have been an unusually large number already this semester, with demonstrations over the past month at schools in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Alabama, Michigan, Massachusetts and Missouri. Protesters have accused their schools of doing too little to protect students and being too lenient with on the accused.Those pushing for tougher measures against sexual violence also say the protests are being led by students familiar with the #MeToo movement and cases like that of former USA Gymnastics team doctor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/simone-biles-gymnastics-sexual-abuse-larry-nassar-cb63ffbfd09d9d4ffe21561aa63d3ca5">Larry Nassar</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-cosby-conviction-overturned-5c073fb64bc5df4d7b99ee7fadddbe5a">Bill Cosby.</a>&nbsp;And they say a protest on one campus inspires them on others.“It is this national push that we’re starting to see for accountability of colleges,” said Tracey Vitchers, executive director of It’s On Us, a nonprofit focused on building a movement to combat sexual violence on campuses.More than half of sexual assaults against students occur between the start of fall classes and the Thanksgiving break, and generally freshmen and transfer students are the most vulnerable to sexual assault because they aren’t familiar with the campuses and haven’t solidified their social networks. Victims’ advocates call the period “the red zone.”“We’re in a period of a double red zone,” said Shiwali Patel, senior counsel for the National Women’s Law Center, who also directs its efforts to provide justice for assault survivors. “We have the first-year students and the second-year students who are now being on campus for the first time.”The wave of protests started after a student reported being sexually assaulted at a University Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity house just before midnight on Aug. 24. Police received&nbsp;<a href="https://scsapps.unl.edu/policereports/MainPage.aspx" target="_blank">a separate report</a>&nbsp;about a “wild party” there.The following night, about 1,000 protesters surrounded the fraternity house. Police are investigating the assault report and the university temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sexual-assault-dc3c1be455b779b007350a3faa8475c2">suspended the fraternity’s operations</a>&nbsp;as it reviews the group’s conduct.Protests at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vandalism-sexual-assault-5f64aa41280eb2f801e77f9199d7df86">the University of Iowa</a>&nbsp;began less than a week later against a chapter of the same fraternity over a year-old allegation of sexual assault that authorities are still investigating.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631914182570.png" alt="Protest at Topeka West High School -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Protest at Topeka West High School -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>In Kansas, students protested at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-lawrence-university-of-kansas-07864830812de6692b15706ddc628fbe">the University of Kansas,</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-kansas-sexual-assault-wichita-wichita-state-university-9ba9be87606eaa283e6fbbe05389c82d">Wichita State University</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-sexual-assault-topeka-166184303274524b67835ea2ca3f2f8a">Topeka West High School</a>&nbsp;last week over various reported assaults, and students at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-sexual-assault-auburn-auburn-university-a9fce03c533a39e2a2e034894f7152f9">Auburn University</a>&nbsp;in Alabama and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/09/16/eastern-michigan-fraternities-under-review-sexual-assault/5769232001/" target="_blank">Eastern Michigan University</a>&nbsp;also held demonstrations. Protests this week included one at the University of Massachusetts&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/09/19/metro/hundreds-students-protest-outside-umass-fraternity-house-alleging-sexual-assault/" target="_blank">in Amherst.</a>At&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/cmu-students-call-for-accountability-for-sexual-misconduct/article_4e1357a6-1bfb-11ec-8371-3b42c3151b24.html" target="_blank">Central Methodist University,</a>&nbsp;a small Missouri liberal arts school between Kansas City and St. Louis, about 50 students protested this week in support of Layla Beyer, a 19-year-old sophomore who said a fellow music student sexually assaulted her during the first semester of her freshman year.The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify sexual assault victims, but Beyer allowed her name to be used.The university said it can’t comment about an individual student’s case, but spokesperson Scott Queen said, “There will be ongoing discussions regarding the topics addressed at the protest.”Beyer reported the assault and said she received a no-contact order against her assailant, who played the same instrument and was constantly around. But she said he repeatedly violated it without facing serious consequences.“A lot of times, survivors don’t have anybody to stand up for them besides themselves,” Beyer said.Administrators at other colleges have said they’re committed to helping victims and educating students about appropriate behavior.University of Nebraska Chancellor Ronnie Green outlined plans that included expanding from two members to four a team that helps victims, and improving training and education about sexual assault.Eastern Michigan’s new initiatives include annual training for students and separate training to encourage people to intervene if they see inappropriate behavior. It also is considering the future of a fraternity at the center of multiple sexual assault allegations.“Students speak out, protest and take action because they want to see their institutions respond with the same level of anger, determination and commitment to keep their communities safe,” said Walter Kraft, Eastern Michigan’s vice president of communications.Vitchers said helping survivors is no longer enough. She said universities must educate students to prevent assaults and punish the perpetrators and groups fostering an environment in which sexual violence is viewed as normal or no big deal.Older advocates said current students have better access to social media and embrace activism more readily than their predecessors. Angela Esquivel Hawkins, a Stanford University administrator and CEO of a group that helps victims’ friends and families, said students now are wiser about things such as choosing hashtags to make messages trend on Twitter.“The more iterations of social media that come up in the future, the more that people are going to get more and more connected and more and more savvy about how to organize and be efficient in their efforts,” Hawkins said.At the University of Iowa, 18-year-old freshman Amelia Keller and her friends turned to Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to rally people to the recent protest at the school. Keller also has worked with a campus group advocating for rape victims.“We want to be able to trust and depend upon those who claim to care about the protection of vulnerable students,” Keller said in texts to The Associated Press. “Right now, we cannot.”At Eastern Michigan, 18-year-old freshman Abbie Francis helped organize last week’s protest at that school and used an app to attract dozens of members within two hours to a new Sexual Assault and Rape Awareness group. Eastern Michigan students also held a protest in March.“Everyone that I have talked to in the past few weeks has expressed that they feel extremely unsafe,” she said in an email to The Associated Press.At Central Methodist, Beyer said she felt forced to choose between dropping out of band or having to face her assailant frequently despite repeatedly telling administrators that he should be the one to leave. She said the administrators “completely invalidated me.”And Beyer said she lost her passion for music because of the assault and her subsequent treatment. She dropped her music education major and is now majoring in psychology instead.“You get to the point where, no one’s hearing you and nobody’s doing anything for you,” Beyer said. “Having students, especially ones that go to your school, to be by your side and stand up for you, it means a lot.”

Sexual assault cases spur protests in Kansas, across US

JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a robbery and theft at a Kansas convenience store.

Just after 11 pm Sept 22, deputies responded to report of a robbery at the Seven Eleven store located at 111 U.S. Highway 75 in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The men left after allegedly taking a financial card from the clerk. The suspects drove away in a white Dodge Charger.  Holton Police and Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area. A Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy located the vehicle two miles south of the City of Holton and executed a car stop on the vehicle.

 An assortment of area law enforcement officers descended on the scene where the two men were taken into custody. Mondre Malik Willis, 21, of Flint, Michigan, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of robbery, criminal use of weapons, possession of firearm by an addicted person, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

 Rory Amere Deion Gillespie, 20, of Flint, Michigan was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of robbery, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632512956556.png" alt="Gillespie-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Gillespie-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a robbery and theft at a Kansas convenience store.Just after 11 pm Sept 22, deputies responded to report of a robbery at the Seven Eleven store located at 111 U.S. Highway 75 in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The men left after allegedly taking a financial card from the clerk. The suspects drove away in a white Dodge Charger. Holton Police and Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area. A Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy located the vehicle two miles south of the City of Holton and executed a car stop on the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632512889700.png" alt="Willis-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Willis-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> An assortment of area law enforcement officers descended on the scene where the two men were taken into custody. Mondre Malik Willis, 21, of Flint, Michigan, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of robbery, criminal use of weapons, possession of firearm by an addicted person, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rory Amere Deion Gillespie, 20, of Flint, Michigan was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of robbery, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Suspects captured after armed-robbery at Kan. store

WICHITA&nbsp; — After 70 years, the remains of a Kansas priest who is being considered for sainthood arrived home Saturday afternoon, according to Catholic Diocese of Wichita.

The remains of Rev. Emil Kapaun  were flown back to Kansas from Hawaii and then taken to Pilsen — Kapaun's hometown — before being taken to Wichita, where a funeral is scheduled for Sept. 29. He died in a prisoner of war camp during the Korean War.

Kapaun was captured in 1950 while attending to soldiers during the Korean War. He died of pneumonia at the POW camp while continuing to minister to fellow prisoners.

Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1993, the Catholic church named him a “Servant of God,” which began the lengthy process of canonization.

The Defense Department’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced in March that Kapaun’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-pope-john-paul-ii-kansas-sainthood-2c4b0f8a05d91b0c10b27fd262c3956b">remains had been identified</a>&nbsp;at the agency’s laboratory at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

On March 4, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency reported the remains of Father Emil Kapaun were positively identified.&nbsp; 

&nbsp;A public Vigil service for Fr. Kapaun will be held at Hartman Arena on September 28th&nbsp;at 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday, September 29th&nbsp;a Mass will be held at Hartman Arena at 10:30 a.m. Following the Mass of Christian Burial at Hartman Arena, Father Kapaun's remains will process from Veterans Memorial Park (339 Veterans Memorial Pkwy) by way of horse-drawn caisson from&nbsp;1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception where he will finally be laid to rest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632612695100.png" alt="The remains of Fr. Emil Kapaun arrived in Pilson Saturday -photo courtesy Catholic Diocese of Wichita&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The remains of Fr. Emil Kapaun arrived in Pilson Saturday -photo courtesy Catholic Diocese of Wichita&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA&nbsp; — After 70 years, the remains of a Kansas priest who is being considered for sainthood arrived home Saturday afternoon, according to Catholic Diocese of Wichita.The remains of Rev. Emil Kapaun were flown back to Kansas from Hawaii and then taken to Pilsen — Kapaun's hometown — before being taken to Wichita, where a funeral is scheduled for Sept. 29. He died in a prisoner of war camp during the Korean War.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fflywichita%2Fvideos%2F1468462940176952%2F&show_text=true&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Kapaun was captured in 1950 while attending to soldiers during the Korean War. He died of pneumonia at the POW camp while continuing to minister to fellow prisoners.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614944899732.png" alt="Kapaun, the Marion County-native, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, served as an Army Chaplain during WWII and the Korean War, and was taken as a Prisoner of War in 1951. He continued to minister to Americans as a POW before passing away on May 23, 1951." />
 <figcaption>Kapaun, the Marion County-native, a priest of the Diocese of Wichita, served as an Army Chaplain during WWII and the Korean War, and was taken as a Prisoner of War in 1951. He continued to minister to Americans as a POW before passing away on May 23, 1951.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kapaun was awarded the Medal of Honor. In 1993, the Catholic church named him a “Servant of God,” which began the lengthy process of canonization.The Defense Department’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced in March that Kapaun’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-pope-john-paul-ii-kansas-sainthood-2c4b0f8a05d91b0c10b27fd262c3956b">remains had been identified</a>&nbsp;at the agency’s laboratory at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.On March 4, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency reported the remains of Father Emil Kapaun were positively identified.&nbsp; &nbsp;A public Vigil service for Fr. Kapaun will be held at Hartman Arena on September 28th&nbsp;at 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday, September 29th&nbsp;a Mass will be held at Hartman Arena at 10:30 a.m. Following the Mass of Christian Burial at Hartman Arena, Father Kapaun's remains will process from Veterans Memorial Park (339 Veterans Memorial Pkwy) by way of horse-drawn caisson from&nbsp;1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception where he will finally be laid to rest.

🎥  Remains of revered Kansas priest arrive home

STOCKTON, Mo. (AP) — The attorney general in a letter to the governor wrote that a southwestern Missouri prosecutor is ignoring his advice and going easy on a Christian boarding school accused of abuse.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt in the Thursday letter asked Gov. Mike Parson to to take him off the case over disagreements with the local prosecutor.

Former students accused Agape Boarding School of assault and other abuse, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-religion-missouri-f4d983a2e344632334acf8c44de66d1d">several sued the school</a>. Agape officials haven't responded to repeated requests for comment.

Schmitt wrote that he recommended 65 charges against 22 current and former school staffers. Cedar County Prosecutor Ty Gaither has said he plans to go after seven staffers with 14 charges.

“In deciding not to charge a number of other offenses, Mr. Gaither has expressly rejected the assistance and expertise of the Attorney General’s office, and he has indicated that he does not intend to seek justice for all of the thirty-six children who were allegedly victimized by twenty-two members of the Agape Boarding School staff," Schmitt wrote.

Gauthier told The Star that he wasn't aware of Schmitt's request to be removed from the case but he's sure the Attorney General's Office will be of "invaluable assistance."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632608030678.png" alt="Photo courtesy Agape Ranch" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Agape Ranch</figcaption>
 </figure>STOCKTON, Mo. (AP) — The attorney general in a letter to the governor wrote that a southwestern Missouri prosecutor is ignoring his advice and going easy on a Christian boarding school accused of abuse.Attorney General Eric Schmitt in the Thursday letter asked Gov. Mike Parson to to take him off the case over disagreements with the local prosecutor.Former students accused Agape Boarding School of assault and other abuse, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-religion-missouri-f4d983a2e344632334acf8c44de66d1d">several sued the school</a>. Agape officials haven't responded to repeated requests for comment.Schmitt wrote that he recommended 65 charges against 22 current and former school staffers. Cedar County Prosecutor Ty Gaither has said he plans to go after seven staffers with 14 charges.“In deciding not to charge a number of other offenses, Mr. Gaither has expressly rejected the assistance and expertise of the Attorney General’s office, and he has indicated that he does not intend to seek justice for all of the thirty-six children who were allegedly victimized by twenty-two members of the Agape Boarding School staff," Schmitt wrote.Gauthier told The Star that he wasn't aware of Schmitt's request to be removed from the case but he's sure the Attorney General's Office will be of "invaluable assistance."

Missouri AG slams local handling of school abuse case

LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization is recommending a pricey antibody treatment for certain coronavirus patients in the latest update to its guidelines for treating people with COVID-19.

The new guidelines, published Friday in the journal BMJ, say the two antibodies - casirivimab and imdevimab = made by Regeneron should be given to people infected with COVID-19 who are at highest risk of hospitalization and to people whose own immune systems have not mounted a response.

The U.N. health agency said the new advice was based on evidence from experimental trials, including a British-run study that is the world’s largest for testing potential COVID-19 treatments.

In the U.S., the Regeneron treatment is mostly recommended for people with mild to moderate COVID-19, to prevent them from needing hospitalization.

Activists worried that the cost of the treatment - more than $2,000 in the U.S. - means it will mostly be unavailable to people in poorer countries. Doctors Without Borders called for Regeneron to ensure the antibody drugs are accessible to needy patients and for the company to license any proprietary rights and share technological know-how for how to make them.

LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization is recommending a pricey antibody treatment for certain coronavirus patients in the latest update to its guidelines for treating people with COVID-19.The new guidelines, published Friday in the journal BMJ, say the two antibodies - casirivimab and imdevimab = made by Regeneron should be given to people infected with COVID-19 who are at highest risk of hospitalization and to people whose own immune systems have not mounted a response.The U.N. health agency said the new advice was based on evidence from experimental trials, including a British-run study that is the world’s largest for testing potential COVID-19 treatments.In the U.S., the Regeneron treatment is mostly recommended for people with mild to moderate COVID-19, to prevent them from needing hospitalization.Activists worried that the cost of the treatment - more than $2,000 in the U.S. - means it will mostly be unavailable to people in poorer countries. Doctors Without Borders called for Regeneron to ensure the antibody drugs are accessible to needy patients and for the company to license any proprietary rights and share technological know-how for how to make them.

WHO endorses antibody treatment for some fighting COVID

MANHATTAN, KAN. – A Manhattan man has been arrested by the Topeka Police Department in connection to the murder of a 27-year-old woman in Manhattan early Saturday, according to Riley County Police Department spokesperson Aaron Wintermote.

Just before 6:00 a.m., officers responded to report of a man who had possibly murdered a family member in the 400 block of S. 12th Street and left the scene. 

First responders found Shanell Bobian, 27, of Manhattan. She was pronounced dead. Police did release details on where they found her.

Police identified Kamahl Bobian, 27, of Manhattan as the suspect and an attempt to locate was sent to neighboring agencies. 

Just after 7:30a.m., police arrested Bobian in Topeka&nbsp; after he crashed his vehicle near the intersection of Interstate 70 and W. 1st Ave. in Topeka.

Bobian is currently being held by the Topeka Police Department and will be extradited to the Riley County Jail.

MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an apparent homicide in the 400 block of S. 12th Street in Manhattan, according to a social media report from the Riley County Police.

A suspect has been apprehended. This was an isolated incident with no danger to the public.

Check the Post for additional details when they are available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632658331819.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, KAN. – A Manhattan man has been arrested by the Topeka Police Department in connection to the murder of a 27-year-old woman in Manhattan early Saturday, according to Riley County Police Department spokesperson Aaron Wintermote.Just before 6:00 a.m., officers responded to report of a man who had possibly murdered a family member in the 400 block of S. 12th Street and left the scene. First responders found Shanell Bobian, 27, of Manhattan. She was pronounced dead. Police did release details on where they found her.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632593299450.png" alt="Kamahl Bobian has previous convictions for domestic battery, attempt to flee or elude law enforcement and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Kamahl Bobian has previous convictions for domestic battery, attempt to flee or elude law enforcement and for drugs, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>Police identified Kamahl Bobian, 27, of Manhattan as the suspect and an attempt to locate was sent to neighboring agencies. Just after 7:30a.m., police arrested Bobian in Topeka&nbsp; after he crashed his vehicle near the intersection of Interstate 70 and W. 1st Ave. in Topeka.Bobian is currently being held by the Topeka Police Department and will be extradited to the Riley County Jail.--------------MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an apparent homicide in the 400 block of S. 12th Street in Manhattan, according to a social media report from the Riley County Police.A suspect has been apprehended. This was an isolated incident with no danger to the public.Check the Post for additional details when they are available.

Police: Man arrested for murder of woman in Manhattan

COUNCIL GROVE, Kan. (AP) — An assistant coach for a youth football team in Kansas is facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly pushing a player to the ground. Adam Dirks is charged with battery for an incident that happened Sept. 9 in Council Grove. 

Police say an 11-year-old boy told police that Dirks pushed him to the ground during a practice. Dirks also is charged with interference with law enforcement. 

Dirks does not have a listed phone number and it wasn’t immediately clear on Friday if he had an attorney. Dirks is a member of the Morris County Board of Education.

COUNCIL GROVE, Kan. (AP) — An assistant coach for a youth football team in Kansas is facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly pushing a player to the ground. Adam Dirks is charged with battery for an incident that happened Sept. 9 in Council Grove. Police say an 11-year-old boy told police that Dirks pushed him to the ground during a practice. Dirks also is charged with interference with law enforcement. Dirks does not have a listed phone number and it wasn’t immediately clear on Friday if he had an attorney. Dirks is a member of the Morris County Board of Education.

Youth football coach in Kansas accused of pushing 11-year-old

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting made an arrest and continue asking the public for help to locate a second suspect.

On Sept. 17, Lawrence Police, with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 18-year-old Javier Isidro Romero on a requested charge of first-degree murder in the Wednesday death of 21-year-old Christian Willis&nbsp;in the 1500 block of Kentucky Street, according to police department spokesperson Patrick Compton.

Police are also seeking information on the whereabouts of 19-year-old Andrel Darnell Spates, Jr. of Lawrence in connection with the murder.

Spates is 6-foot tall, 165 pounds and is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information on Spates is encouraged to call the Lawrence Kansas Police Department at 785-832-7509 or Crime Stoppers of Douglas County at 785-843-7477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards and tips can be anonymous.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631931965791.png" alt="Spates is 6-foot tall, 165 pounds and considered armed and dangerous-photo Lawrence PD" />
 <figcaption>Spates is 6-foot tall, 165 pounds and considered armed and dangerous-photo Lawrence PD</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal shooting made an arrest and continue asking the public for help to locate a second suspect.On Sept. 17, Lawrence Police, with assistance from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 18-year-old Javier Isidro Romero on a requested charge of first-degree murder in the Wednesday death of 21-year-old Christian Willis&nbsp;in the 1500 block of Kentucky Street, according to police department spokesperson Patrick Compton.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631932120397.png" alt="Romero photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Romero photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>Police are also seeking information on the whereabouts of 19-year-old Andrel Darnell Spates, Jr. of Lawrence in connection with the murder.Spates is 6-foot tall, 165 pounds and is considered armed and dangerous.Anyone with information on Spates is encouraged to call the Lawrence Kansas Police Department at 785-832-7509 or Crime Stoppers of Douglas County at 785-843-7477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards and tips can be anonymous.

Police: Search continues for suspect in fatal Kan. shooting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers who want to halt all public funds to Planned Parenthood are recommending that the Legislature give Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s administration authority to cancel abortion providers' Medicaid contracts based on behavior in other states deemed illegal or unethical.

The Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Accountability and Taxpayer Protection approved a report with that recommendation on Thursday. Planned Parenthood is Missouri’s only abortion provider.

Abortion providers are already prohibited from using Medicaid funds for abortion except when the mother’s life is in danger or in the cases of rape or incest. Some lawmakers want to pull all public funds, including those for birth control, sexually transmitted disease treatments, cancer screenings and other health care for low-income women.

Democrats warned that the move would trigger a confrontation with the federal government that could threaten the overall Medicaid program.

Senate leaders created the interim committee to “deliver the knockout punch” to Planned Parenthood,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article254470928.html">The Kansas City Star reported</a>.

The committee’s report says the Legislature should change state law to allow the Department of Social Services to cut contracts with any provider when it or its affiliates have “committed fraud, abuse, or unethical behavior and has been removed or prohibited from being a Medicaid provider in another state’s Medicaid program” based on behavior that would be grounds for suspension or cancellation in Missouri.

Texas has already blocked Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds for non-abortion services.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers who want to halt all public funds to Planned Parenthood are recommending that the Legislature give Republican Gov. Mike Parson’s administration authority to cancel abortion providers' Medicaid contracts based on behavior in other states deemed illegal or unethical.The Senate Interim Committee on Medicaid Accountability and Taxpayer Protection approved a report with that recommendation on Thursday. Planned Parenthood is Missouri’s only abortion provider.Abortion providers are already prohibited from using Medicaid funds for abortion except when the mother’s life is in danger or in the cases of rape or incest. Some lawmakers want to pull all public funds, including those for birth control, sexually transmitted disease treatments, cancer screenings and other health care for low-income women.Democrats warned that the move would trigger a confrontation with the federal government that could threaten the overall Medicaid program.Senate leaders created the interim committee to “deliver the knockout punch” to Planned Parenthood,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article254470928.html">The Kansas City Star reported</a>.The committee’s report says the Legislature should change state law to allow the Department of Social Services to cut contracts with any provider when it or its affiliates have “committed fraud, abuse, or unethical behavior and has been removed or prohibited from being a Medicaid provider in another state’s Medicaid program” based on behavior that would be grounds for suspension or cancellation in Missouri.Texas has already blocked Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds for non-abortion services.

Missouri republicans move to cut Planned Parenthood funds

GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — The NBA has denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for a vaccination exemption, leaving the Golden State Warriors swingman ineligible to play home games until he meets San Francisco’s vaccination requirement.

The ruling was announced Friday, hours after the New York Knicks said their entire roster is vaccinated, making all their players eligible to play in their home games.

Because of local coronavirus regulations in New York and San Francisco, the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Warriors are required to be vaccinated to play in their home arenas unless exemptions for medical or religious reasons apply.

Wiggins sought an exemption from the league for religious reasons.

“The NBA has reviewed and denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for religious exemption from the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s order requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all participants age 12 and older at large indoor events,” the league said in a statement. “Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city’s vaccination requirements.”

The San Francisco Department of Public Health made clear earlier Friday there would be no exemption for anyone 12 and older at large indoor gatherings.

“Under the current order, if unvaccinated, they cannot enter indoor areas regardless of the reason they are unvaccinated and cannot test out of this requirement even if they have a medical or religious exemption,” it said in a statement.

Unvaccinated players are allowed to play this season, though the NBA has said that they will have to be tested daily on practice and travel days and at least once — possibly more — on game days, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nba-health-coronavirus-pandemic-6bbc7d1370cf1298eb8761eaf0fab632">fully vaccinated players will not be subject to daily testing</a>.

However, the Knicks, Nets and Warriors face stricter rules because of their local regulations, which the NBA has told teams do not apply to clubs visiting them.

The Knicks are the first of those teams to say they have met the mandate.

“I’m proud to say that our organization — players, coaches and staff — are 100 percent vaccinated,” general manager Scott Perry said Friday. “And I think it’s a credit to our players, too, in particular that they took this thing very seriously and took the responsibility to get that done.”

Nets general manager Sean Marks said earlier this week that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nba-new-york-coronavirus-pandemic-brooklyn-9a86ea1fdacaa1d54f29929e04ae516f">couple players wouldn’t yet be eligible</a>, but he was confident everyone would be able to participate by the time the regular season began on Oct. 19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632575799436.png" alt="Wiggins was the Big 12 freshman of the year at KU in 2013-14. He was a First-team All-Big 12 member and a consensus second-team All-American. photo courtesy Golden State Warriors" />
 <figcaption>Wiggins was the Big 12 freshman of the year at KU in 2013-14. He was a First-team All-Big 12 member and a consensus second-team All-American. photo courtesy Golden State Warriors</figcaption>
 </figure>GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — The NBA has denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for a vaccination exemption, leaving the Golden State Warriors swingman ineligible to play home games until he meets San Francisco’s vaccination requirement.The ruling was announced Friday, hours after the New York Knicks said their entire roster is vaccinated, making all their players eligible to play in their home games.Because of local coronavirus regulations in New York and San Francisco, the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Warriors are required to be vaccinated to play in their home arenas unless exemptions for medical or religious reasons apply.Wiggins sought an exemption from the league for religious reasons.“The NBA has reviewed and denied Andrew Wiggins’ request for religious exemption from the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s order requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all participants age 12 and older at large indoor events,” the league said in a statement. “Wiggins will not be able to play in Warriors home games until he fulfills the city’s vaccination requirements.”The San Francisco Department of Public Health made clear earlier Friday there would be no exemption for anyone 12 and older at large indoor gatherings.“Under the current order, if unvaccinated, they cannot enter indoor areas regardless of the reason they are unvaccinated and cannot test out of this requirement even if they have a medical or religious exemption,” it said in a statement.Unvaccinated players are allowed to play this season, though the NBA has said that they will have to be tested daily on practice and travel days and at least once — possibly more — on game days, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nba-health-coronavirus-pandemic-6bbc7d1370cf1298eb8761eaf0fab632">fully vaccinated players will not be subject to daily testing</a>.However, the Knicks, Nets and Warriors face stricter rules because of their local regulations, which the NBA has told teams do not apply to clubs visiting them.The Knicks are the first of those teams to say they have met the mandate.“I’m proud to say that our organization — players, coaches and staff — are 100 percent vaccinated,” general manager Scott Perry said Friday. “And I think it’s a credit to our players, too, in particular that they took this thing very seriously and took the responsibility to get that done.”Nets general manager Sean Marks said earlier this week that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-nba-new-york-coronavirus-pandemic-brooklyn-9a86ea1fdacaa1d54f29929e04ae516f">couple players wouldn’t yet be eligible</a>, but he was confident everyone would be able to participate by the time the regular season began on Oct. 19.Wiggins still has time, as San Francisco’s mandate doesn’t take effect until the middle of next month. Training camps open Tuesday.The NBA has struck agreements this offseason to have virtually all parties involved in games — referees, coaches, stat-crew workers and anyone else who will be in close proximity to players on or off the court in NBA arenas — vaccinated in order to participate.The one exception: The players themselves, with the National Basketball Players Association rebuking all efforts from the NBA to mandate that they be vaccinated. About 85% of players were vaccinated at the end of last season. The leaguewide figure is believed to have increased since.Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said Friday that one player is completing his vaccine regimen. Everyone else on the roster has been vaccinated, as well as the entire coaching and front office staff.Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau credited the Knicks’ medical staff for keeping the organization educated and aware about virus protocols. Perry praised the players for acting on the information they were given, saying their decision to get vaccinated was unrelated to any rules.“As an organization we’re obviously following laws and mandates for the league and state government, but a lot of this was internal, internally driven,” Perry said.