Bartlett’s $375 million facility will process soybeans for food, animal feed and fuel

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

CHERRYVALE — While this southeast Kansas town’s population peaked more than 100 years ago, the opening of the region’s largest ever economic development project means its best days are ahead, Lt. Gov. David Toland said Thursday.

Toland spoke to a crowd of more than 100 state and federal lawmakers, economic development officials and construction company representatives who gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Bartlett soybean crushing plant just south of Cherryvale. The town’s population peaked at 4,700 in 1920 and is now 2,200.

Toland, a Democrat and Iola native who also serves as commerce secretary, said the project reminds him of southeast Kansas’ “glory days.”

“When heavy industry was pouring into this region and our towns were booming,” Toland said of the early 20th century, “it looked a lot like this, and we’re doing it again.”

The $375 million plant, which began accepting shipments of soybeans in February, can house 49 million bushels of the crop and will help create food, animal feed and fuel, officials said. Now that it’s operational, Bartlett executives said, it will employ about 60 full-time workers.

“This impressive facility is far more than a soybean crushing complex,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “This is where community members will find new employment and where the growing demand for renewable biodiesel will be met.”

Kelly said the construction of the facility is part of Kansas’ “economic transformation” that began when she took office in 2019. She said the state had attracted $20 billion in private investment and created or retained tens of thousands of jobs in the past five and a half years.

“We’re focused on creating opportunity everywhere,” Kelly said, “so that Kansans regardless of their ZIP code have the chance to … prosper in one of our state’s strong and vital communities.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, joined state lawmakers to celebrate the new facility and noted it had been 100 years since Cherryvale had a significant manufacturing facility.

“That’s why this is so important,” Marshall said. “It’s taken 100 years to bring something like that back to this particular community.”

Bartlett, which was purchased by Savage in 2018, received both state and local incentives to ensure the plant landed in Cherryvale as the company conducted its nationwide search. Company executives said Kansas officials also quickly approved environmental permits and offered other assistance.

Bill Webster, vice president for Bartlett, said Toland gave him his home phone number.

“This is a level of engagement that is not ceremonial or delegating,” Webster said. “It is hands-on, and it has made a profound difference.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726828240512.png" alt=" The new $375 million Bartlett soybean crushing plant just south of Cherryvale will help create food, animal feed and fuel, officials say. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> The new $375 million Bartlett soybean crushing plant just south of Cherryvale will help create food, animal feed and fuel, officials say. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Bartlett’s $375 million facility will process soybeans for food, animal feed and fuel</h2>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>CHERRYVALE — While this southeast Kansas town’s population peaked more than 100 years ago, the opening of the region’s largest ever economic development project means its best days are ahead, Lt. Gov. David Toland said Thursday.Toland spoke to a crowd of more than 100 state and federal lawmakers, economic development officials and construction company representatives who gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Bartlett soybean crushing plant just south of Cherryvale. The town’s population peaked at 4,700 in 1920 and is now 2,200.Toland, a Democrat and Iola native who also serves as commerce secretary, said the project reminds him of southeast Kansas’ “glory days.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726790263540.png" alt="Photo officer of Gov. Laura Kelly" />
 <figcaption>Photo officer of Gov. Laura Kelly</figcaption>
 </figure>“When heavy industry was pouring into this region and our towns were booming,” Toland said of the early 20th century, “it looked a lot like this, and we’re doing it again.”The $375 million plant, which began accepting shipments of soybeans in February, can house 49 million bushels of the crop and will help create food, animal feed and fuel, officials said. Now that it’s operational, Bartlett executives said, it will employ about 60 full-time workers.“This impressive facility is far more than a soybean crushing complex,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “This is where community members will find new employment and where the growing demand for renewable biodiesel will be met.”Kelly said the construction of the facility is part of Kansas’ “economic transformation” that began when she took office in 2019. She said the state had attracted $20 billion in private investment and created or retained tens of thousands of jobs in the past five and a half years.“We’re focused on creating opportunity everywhere,” Kelly said, “so that Kansans regardless of their ZIP code have the chance to … prosper in one of our state’s strong and vital communities.”U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, joined state lawmakers to celebrate the new facility and noted it had been 100 years since Cherryvale had a significant manufacturing facility.“That’s why this is so important,” Marshall said. “It’s taken 100 years to bring something like that back to this particular community.”Bartlett, which was purchased by Savage in 2018, received both state and local incentives to ensure the plant landed in Cherryvale as the company conducted its nationwide search. Company executives said Kansas officials also quickly approved environmental permits and offered other assistance.Bill Webster, vice president for Bartlett, said Toland gave him his home phone number.“This is a level of engagement that is not ceremonial or delegating,” Webster said. “It is hands-on, and it has made a profound difference.”

Officials celebrate Kansas’ ‘economic transformation’ at new soybean plant

SALINE COUNTY —There have been recent social media posts in reference to the tragic passing of Salina Police K-9 Officer Tyrann which are absolutely untrue. 

In order to be transparent, the Salina Police Department wished to make the public aware of the situation in a timely manner even prior to completing a thorough investigation.

Officers were in the location for a recruiting advertisement when the K-9 Handler allowed Ty out of the vehicle to relieve himself. This location was very familiar to Ty and his Handler which had been used on multiple occasions for training. 

Ty went around a parked vehicle and his Handler went to check on him and discovered the tragedy. Ty was never placed on the ledge or asked to get on the ledge.

It is possible Ty heard the noise from a parade down below and was attempting to see where it was coming from and jumped over the wall.&nbsp; Ty was highly trained, but still a dog. 

Ty was a respected and beloved member of the Salina Police Department and no member of this department would ever place him in a needlessly dangerous position. His loss has greatly affected the Salina Police Department and the community he valiantly protected every day. The Salina Police Department wishes to thank the community for their support and condolences while we grieve and navigate this devastating event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726757775230.jpeg" alt="Photo Salina police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Salina police</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —There have been recent social media posts in reference to the tragic passing of Salina Police K-9 Officer Tyrann which are absolutely untrue. In order to be transparent, the Salina Police Department wished to make the public aware of the situation in a timely manner even prior to completing a thorough investigation.Officers were in the location for a recruiting advertisement when the K-9 Handler allowed Ty out of the vehicle to relieve himself. This location was very familiar to Ty and his Handler which had been used on multiple occasions for training. Ty went around a parked vehicle and his Handler went to check on him and discovered the tragedy. Ty was never placed on the ledge or asked to get on the ledge.It is possible Ty heard the noise from a parade down below and was attempting to see where it was coming from and jumped over the wall.&nbsp; Ty was highly trained, but still a dog. Ty was a respected and beloved member of the Salina Police Department and no member of this department would ever place him in a needlessly dangerous position. His loss has greatly affected the Salina Police Department and the community he valiantly protected every day. The Salina Police Department wishes to thank the community for their support and condolences while we grieve and navigate this devastating event.

Police respond to rumors following Kan. K-9 officer's accident death

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting have made an arrest.

Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, Kansas City, Kansas police&nbsp; officers were dispatched to the area of N. 7h Street and Parallel Parkway on reports of a person lying in the street.

First responders discovered 45-year-old Jimmie Clark, Jr. the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.&nbsp;

Late Thursday, police reported the arrest of 53-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Willie Lee Rucker, of Kansas City, Kansas. The Wyandotte County Attorney has charged him with three felonies including second degree, intentional murder; criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle; and unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to police.

Rucker is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $250,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726826834396.png" alt="Rucker-photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Rucker-photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting have made an arrest.Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, Kansas City, Kansas police&nbsp; officers were dispatched to the area of N. 7h Street and Parallel Parkway on reports of a person lying in the street.First responders discovered 45-year-old Jimmie Clark, Jr. the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.&nbsp;Late Thursday, police reported the arrest of 53-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Willie Lee Rucker, of Kansas City, Kansas. The Wyandotte County Attorney has charged him with three felonies including second degree, intentional murder; criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle; and unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to police.Rucker is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $250,000 bond.&nbsp;

Police ID Kansas man found dead in the street, make arrest

Transgender adolescents say a state law barring them from beginning puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones has caused them harm and should be blocked

BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

A lawsuit filed by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-missouri-ban-on-transgender-care-for-minors/">transgender children and their parents</a>&nbsp;challenging a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/10/missouri-house-sends-bill-banning-transgender-health-care-for-minors-to-governor/">one year-old Missouri law</a>&nbsp;restricting minors from accessing cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers heads to trial in Cole County Circuit Court beginning Monday.&nbsp;

Plaintiffs are asking Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter, who typically serves in Wright County, to block the law’s enforcement.

Pretrial briefs filed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Plaintiffs%20Pretrial%20Brief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3289266" target="_blank">plaintiff’s attorneys</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Defendants%20Pretrial%20Brief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3289241" target="_blank">Missouri Attorney General’s office</a>, which is defending the state, have very little in common in the factual background of the case.

The parties have different definitions of gender-affirming care, with Solicitor General Joshua Divine writing that “gender transition interventions are at best experimental and at worst deeply harmful.”&nbsp;

Gillian Wilcox, an attorney with the ACLU of Missouri, labeled the treatment “medically necessary, evidence-based and potentially lifesaving.”

“Gender-affirming medical care does not harm transgender youth,” she wrote. “To the contrary, it allows them to thrive.”

Both sides agree that transgender Missourians electing to start gender-affirming care have a condition called “gender dysphoria,” which is widely defined as distress arising from an incongruence between one’s gender identity and sex as assigned at birth.

But Divine argues this is purely a “psychiatric, not medical condition” and calls for talk therapy as an alternative to cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers.

“The worst thing that could befall plaintiffs from not receiving an injunction is that individuals seeking treatment for gender dysphoria will receive counseling instead of chemical and surgical interventions. That is no harm at all,” he wrote.

Plaintiffs point to therapy as an unsatisfactory alternative, meaning the law has taken away all avenues for this type of care. Wilcox argues that gender dysphoria was once categorized by the World Health Organization in a chapter on mental and behavioral disorders, under the name “gender identity disorder,” but has since been moved to a section on sexual health.

The sides both mark this 2013 change from “gender identity disorder” to “gender dysphoria,” but Divine writes this in a shallower history that he says begins in 2007 when “clinicians in the United States started to experiment with surgical and chemical interventions.”&nbsp;

Wilcox says gender-affirming medical care emerged in the 1920s, with the first clinics in the United States treating transgender patients in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Arguments in the case are scheduled to last approximately two weeks, though both sides have filed motions seeking to exclude the testimony of doctors and other expert witnesses that the opposing party has brought.

Plaintiffs — including families that have changed their child’s care plan because of the law, health care providers and advocacy groups — will argue that the law is unconstitutional. Additionally, they will try to prove that it is subject to higher scrutiny because it discriminates based on sex and “transgender status.”

Defendants — including Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Gov. Mike Parson, among others — argue the state had a compelling governmental interest in enacting and enforcing the law.

The litigation could also determine whether the state can lawfully exclude gender-affirming care coverage from the state’s Medicaid program and covered services in state prisons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676064784756.png" alt="-A case that seeks to block enforcement of a state law restricting transgender minors' access to gender affirming care is scheduled for two&nbsp;weeks of debate in Cole County Circuit Court (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>-A case that seeks to block enforcement of a state law restricting transgender minors' access to gender affirming care is scheduled for two&nbsp;weeks of debate in Cole County Circuit Court (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Transgender adolescents say a state law barring them from beginning puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones has caused them harm and should be blocked</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A lawsuit filed by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-missouri-ban-on-transgender-care-for-minors/">transgender children and their parents</a>&nbsp;challenging a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/10/missouri-house-sends-bill-banning-transgender-health-care-for-minors-to-governor/">one year-old Missouri law</a>&nbsp;restricting minors from accessing cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers heads to trial in Cole County Circuit Court beginning Monday.&nbsp;Plaintiffs are asking Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter, who typically serves in Wright County, to block the law’s enforcement.Pretrial briefs filed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Plaintiffs%20Pretrial%20Brief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3289266" target="_blank">plaintiff’s attorneys</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Defendants%20Pretrial%20Brief.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3289241" target="_blank">Missouri Attorney General’s office</a>, which is defending the state, have very little in common in the factual background of the case.The parties have different definitions of gender-affirming care, with Solicitor General Joshua Divine writing that “gender transition interventions are at best experimental and at worst deeply harmful.”&nbsp;Gillian Wilcox, an attorney with the ACLU of Missouri, labeled the treatment “medically necessary, evidence-based and potentially lifesaving.”“Gender-affirming medical care does not harm transgender youth,” she wrote. “To the contrary, it allows them to thrive.”Both sides agree that transgender Missourians electing to start gender-affirming care have a condition called “gender dysphoria,” which is widely defined as distress arising from an incongruence between one’s gender identity and sex as assigned at birth.But Divine argues this is purely a “psychiatric, not medical condition” and calls for talk therapy as an alternative to cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers.“The worst thing that could befall plaintiffs from not receiving an injunction is that individuals seeking treatment for gender dysphoria will receive counseling instead of chemical and surgical interventions. That is no harm at all,” he wrote.Plaintiffs point to therapy as an unsatisfactory alternative, meaning the law has taken away all avenues for this type of care. Wilcox argues that gender dysphoria was once categorized by the World Health Organization in a chapter on mental and behavioral disorders, under the name “gender identity disorder,” but has since been moved to a section on sexual health.The sides both mark this 2013 change from “gender identity disorder” to “gender dysphoria,” but Divine writes this in a shallower history that he says begins in 2007 when “clinicians in the United States started to experiment with surgical and chemical interventions.”&nbsp;Wilcox says gender-affirming medical care emerged in the 1920s, with the first clinics in the United States treating transgender patients in the ‘60s and ‘70s.Arguments in the case are scheduled to last approximately two weeks, though both sides have filed motions seeking to exclude the testimony of doctors and other expert witnesses that the opposing party has brought.Plaintiffs — including families that have changed their child’s care plan because of the law, health care providers and advocacy groups — will argue that the law is unconstitutional. Additionally, they will try to prove that it is subject to higher scrutiny because it discriminates based on sex and “transgender status.”Defendants — including Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Gov. Mike Parson, among others — argue the state had a compelling governmental interest in enacting and enforcing the law.The litigation could also determine whether the state can lawfully exclude gender-affirming care coverage from the state’s Medicaid program and covered services in state prisons.

Lawsuit seeking to block Missouri ban on gender-affirming care for minors heads to trial

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY – Law enforcement in Kansas Cityinvestigating another homicide have identified the victim as 46-year-old Freddie V. Jackson, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just&nbsp;after midnight Thursday morning, police responded to a shooting in the 2200 block of E.31st street, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte.

First responders found Jackson in the parking lot of the gas station suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him deceased on scene.

Preliminary investigation revealed that there was an argument in the parking lot that led to shots being fired and the Jackson being struck. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and reviewing any available surveillance footage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726751682782.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY – Law enforcement in Kansas Cityinvestigating another homicide have identified the victim as 46-year-old Freddie V. Jackson, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just&nbsp;after midnight Thursday morning, police responded to a shooting in the 2200 block of E.31st street, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte.First responders found Jackson in the parking lot of the gas station suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him deceased on scene.Preliminary investigation revealed that there was an argument in the parking lot that led to shots being fired and the Jackson being struck. Detectives are interviewing witnesses and reviewing any available surveillance footage.

Police: Argument in KC gas station parking lot led to fatal shooting

Vice President Kamala Harris participated in an online town hall&nbsp; Thursday evening with former talk show host Oprah Winfrey. The "Unite for America" event in Michigan featured a number of celebrities.

Harris discussed abortion rights, gun violence and the economy.

The Harris campaign livestreamed the event on YouTube and other social media platforms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726796309324.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Vice President Kamala Harris participated in an online town hall&nbsp; Thursday evening with former talk show host Oprah Winfrey. The "Unite for America" event in Michigan featured a number of celebrities.Harris discussed abortion rights, gun violence and the economy.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bZasBoVhuUA?si=t0Y7R3kt2ONgkg8C&amp;start=787" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Harris campaign livestreamed the event on YouTube and other social media platforms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726796287122.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The election is November 5.

🎥Oprah and Kamala Harris host online town hall

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police have not reported an arrest and continue asking the public for help to find a Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day.

Wichita Police have reported no new update on missing 33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez, who is wanted for violating his pre-trial restrictions.&nbsp;On June 21, he cut his ankle monitor, according to Wichita Police.

On June 16, police arrested Gonzalez-Gutierrez on requested charges including first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara.

Just after 8:30p.m. on Father's Day, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.

While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.

First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital where he died.

Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital.

The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the Gonzales-Gutierrez earlier in the evening.&nbsp; Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim.

If you have any information on Gonzalez-Gutierrez whereabouts, please call 911 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407. To provide anonymous tips call 316-267-2111

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718711572362.png" alt="GONZALES-GUTIERREZ" />
 <figcaption>GONZALES-GUTIERREZ</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police have not reported an arrest and continue asking the public for help to find a Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day.Wichita Police have reported no new update on missing 33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez, who is wanted for violating his pre-trial restrictions.&nbsp;On June 21, he cut his ankle monitor, according to Wichita Police.On June 16, police arrested Gonzalez-Gutierrez on requested charges including first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara.Just after 8:30p.m. on Father's Day, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital where he died.Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital.The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the Gonzales-Gutierrez earlier in the evening.&nbsp; Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim.If you have any information on Gonzalez-Gutierrez whereabouts, please call 911 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407. To provide anonymous tips call 316-267-2111

Search continues for suspect in deadly Kan. BBQ gunfight

SEDGWICK COUNTY —After officially moving Wichita into stage 2 of its drought response, Wichita has continued to see a decline in levels at Cheney Reservoir, which now sits less than 59% full overall and less than 67% of the 12-month average of the conservation pool, according to a media release from the city/

Stage 3 of the drought response will be discussed should water levels within Cheney’s conservation pool reach a 12-month average of below 50%. In stage 3 of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://library.municode.com/ks/wichita/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT17WA_CH17.14WASUEM_S17.14.020DE">drought response plan</a>, all outdoor watering for non-exempt customers is prohibited. This would include lawn and non-vegetable garden watering, private pool use and more.

All water customers are urged to continue to find ways to cut back on water usage. Even though outdoor irrigation season is coming to a close, there are many ways to save water through small habit changes throughout the house. To date, 302 warning letters have been issued to water customers who have been reported to have been watering outside of their allotted outdoor watering day.

Tuesdays typically see the biggest spike in water usage across the community. After seeing an initial drastic decline the first several weeks of drought restrictions, community water use is starting to inch back up. 

Before stage 2 restrictions, weekly highest water use was around 74 million gallons a day (MGD). The first week of restrictions, weekly highest water use was just over 55 MGD. Last week, the highest water usage was 64 MGD. During the last two months, efforts on education were prioritized over issuing fines. Going forward, staff plans to increase enforcement, including issuance of fines if warranted, while still continuing educational efforts on ways to cut back on water use.

&nbsp;Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wichita.gov/499/Save-Wichita-Water">here</a>&nbsp;for more tips and information on Wichita’s drought response.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722530622759.png" alt="Stage 2 drought watering schedule-image city of Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Stage 2 drought watering schedule-image city of Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —After officially moving Wichita into stage 2 of its drought response, Wichita has continued to see a decline in levels at Cheney Reservoir, which now sits less than 59% full overall and less than 67% of the 12-month average of the conservation pool, according to a media release from the city/Stage 3 of the drought response will be discussed should water levels within Cheney’s conservation pool reach a 12-month average of below 50%. In stage 3 of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://library.municode.com/ks/wichita/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT17WA_CH17.14WASUEM_S17.14.020DE">drought response plan</a>, all outdoor watering for non-exempt customers is prohibited. This would include lawn and non-vegetable garden watering, private pool use and more.All water customers are urged to continue to find ways to cut back on water usage. Even though outdoor irrigation season is coming to a close, there are many ways to save water through small habit changes throughout the house. To date, 302 warning letters have been issued to water customers who have been reported to have been watering outside of their allotted outdoor watering day.Tuesdays typically see the biggest spike in water usage across the community. After seeing an initial drastic decline the first several weeks of drought restrictions, community water use is starting to inch back up. Before stage 2 restrictions, weekly highest water use was around 74 million gallons a day (MGD). The first week of restrictions, weekly highest water use was just over 55 MGD. Last week, the highest water usage was 64 MGD. During the last two months, efforts on education were prioritized over issuing fines. Going forward, staff plans to increase enforcement, including issuance of fines if warranted, while still continuing educational efforts on ways to cut back on water use.&nbsp;Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wichita.gov/499/Save-Wichita-Water">here</a>&nbsp;for more tips and information on Wichita’s drought response.

Wichita to increase enforcement of mandatory water restrictions

JOHNSON COUNTY —A suspect&nbsp; in a 19-year-old murder is now in custody in a Kansas jail.

On September 15, 2005, police responded to the report of suspicious activity at an apartment in the 11900 block of W. 77th Terrace in Lenexa, according to a media release.

 Officers arrived and found 30-year-old Maria Morfin-Rojas of Lenexa. She had been stabbed to death.&nbsp;

Lenexa detectives quickly identified a suspect in this case, identified as Angel Maria Herrera, of Shawnee, Kansas. Detectives learned that Herrera fled the United States into Mexico a few days prior to the discovery of Morfin-Rojas’ body at the Lenexa apartment.

On September 17, 2005, the Johnson County District Attorney’s charged Herrera with 1st Degree Murder in this case, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On April 27, 2023, detectives were notified that Herrera had been arrested in El Salvador and was being held pending extradition to the United States.

On Wednesday, the lead detective for the Lenexa Police Department who has been working on this case since 2005 flew to El Salvador along with federal agents to take custody of Herrera and extradite him back to Johnson County. 

Herrera was booked into the Johnson County Adult Detention Center Thursday morning to await his arraignment in Johnson County District Court for the murder of Morfin-Rojas.

The investigation, arrest, and extradition of Herrera are the culmination of many years of diligent work by Lenexa officers, detectives, the Johnson County Crime Lab, the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and others who have tirelessly sought for justice for Maria Morfin-Rojas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726766972266.png" alt="Herrera photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Herrera photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A suspect&nbsp; in a 19-year-old murder is now in custody in a Kansas jail.On September 15, 2005, police responded to the report of suspicious activity at an apartment in the 11900 block of W. 77th Terrace in Lenexa, according to a media release. Officers arrived and found 30-year-old Maria Morfin-Rojas of Lenexa. She had been stabbed to death.&nbsp;Lenexa detectives quickly identified a suspect in this case, identified as Angel Maria Herrera, of Shawnee, Kansas. Detectives learned that Herrera fled the United States into Mexico a few days prior to the discovery of Morfin-Rojas’ body at the Lenexa apartment.On September 17, 2005, the Johnson County District Attorney’s charged Herrera with 1st Degree Murder in this case, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.On April 27, 2023, detectives were notified that Herrera had been arrested in El Salvador and was being held pending extradition to the United States.On Wednesday, the lead detective for the Lenexa Police Department who has been working on this case since 2005 flew to El Salvador along with federal agents to take custody of Herrera and extradite him back to Johnson County. Herrera was booked into the Johnson County Adult Detention Center Thursday morning to await his arraignment in Johnson County District Court for the murder of Morfin-Rojas.The investigation, arrest, and extradition of Herrera are the culmination of many years of diligent work by Lenexa officers, detectives, the Johnson County Crime Lab, the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and others who have tirelessly sought for justice for Maria Morfin-Rojas.

Suspect in Kan. woman's murder extradited from El Salvador

The description of Brandon Pace dying in April 2023 after being pepper-sprayed mirrors allegations made in Cole County murder charges against four corrections officers for the December death Othel Moore

By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri corrections officers drenched an inmate with pepper spray and ignored his pleas for help for four hours, responding only when his screaming stopped as he died in the Tipton Correctional Center, a federal lawsuit filed this month alleges.

The events that led to Brandon Pace’s death on April 7, 2023, began when correctional officers intervened in an altercation between Pace and another inmate, according to the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.&nbsp;

Both men were taken into administrative segregation in restraints.

When Pace refused to give up what corrections officers believed to be methamphetamine, the lawsuit states, they put him in a holding cell and ordered him to strip for a search. When he refused, the officers called the Correctional Emergency Response Team, a unit used in cases where use of force may be required to deal with an inmate who will not comply with officer instructions.

An officer from the team used a fire extinguisher-sized can of pepper spray, a type usually used for riot situations, to subdue Pace.

The officers “took the&nbsp;<a href="https://danasafetysupply.com/mk-46-crowd-control-size-pepper-spray-oc-cs-aerosol-projector/" target="_blank">MK-46 canister of OC</a>&nbsp;and sprayed Mr. Pace with an excessive dose of the chemical agent at close range while Mr. Pace was in a confined space and, based upon information and belief, Mr. Pace’s hands were restrained behind his back and his legs shackled,” the lawsuit filed on behalf of Pace’s mother, Tammy Reed, states. “Mr. Pace began screaming in pain, gasping for air, and saying ‘I can’t breathe.’ He kept saying, ‘Help me, I can’t breathe,’ over and over.”

The lawsuit names former department Director Anne Precythe, current acting director Trevor Foley, three deputy directors, the department’s general counsel, former Tipton warden Brock Van Loo, medical care contractor Centurion Health, 12 corrections officers and a nurse as defendants.

The 11 counts in the lawsuit seek damages for wrongful death, civil rights violations and Missouri Sunshine Law violations for refusing to turn over any of the records, including video recordings, of the events prior to Pace’s death.

The lawsuit relies on statements from other men, held in nearby cells, for many of the allegations.

“The Department of Corrections is duty-bound to protect those individuals like Brandon Pace, who are in state custody,” said Lynn Ellenberger, one of Reed’s attorneys . “They’re obligated to provide for his well being and for his care, and in this case, that was not done.”

The department does not comment on pending litigation, Foley said last week.

The lawsuit is the latest in a string of cases filed this year related to inmate deaths. Despite a one-third reduction in the number of men and women being held by the department over the past decade, inmate deaths are at record levels.

In June, four former correctional officers were&nbsp;charged with assault and murder&nbsp;and a fifth was charged with involuntary manslaughter for the December death of Othel Moore while he was incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.

Moore, 38, was pepper-sprayed in the face multiple times, had his face improperly covered by a hood that blocked his nose and mouth and was left unattended in a cell for more than 30 minutes, according to documents filed in the criminal case.

The charges against one of the corrections officers have been dropped and the remaining defendants were charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Joint%20Indictment.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3293395" target="_blank">assault and second-degree murder</a>&nbsp;in September by the Cole County Grand Jury. An arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 16.

The criminal charges came after four officers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article286346160.html" target="_blank">were fired in March</a>&nbsp;and the warden at the Jefferson City prison was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/warden-of-missouri-prison-replaced-after-investigation-of-inmate-death/">fired in June</a>.

“We take seriously our responsibility for creating the safest environment possible and will not tolerate behaviors or conditions that endanger the wellbeing of Missourians working or living in our facilities,” the corrections department said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://doc.mo.gov/media-center/newsroom/moore-investigation" target="_blank">statement issued after the charges</a>&nbsp;were filed. “The department has begun implementing body-worn cameras in restrictive-housing units at maximum-security facilities, starting with Jefferson City Correctional Center, to bolster both security and accountability.”

The family of Othel Moore began&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/jefferson-city/2023/12/19/family-of-man-who-died-in-jefferson-city-correctional-center-asks-for-video/" target="_blank">publicly agitating for release of records</a>, including video showing the actions of the officers, in the weeks following his Dec. 8 death. The case was investigated by the Cole County Sheriff’s office.

No outside agency has investigated Pace’s death, said Tom Porto, an attorney working with Pace’s family.&nbsp;

“That’s not going to be done until the facts are brought to light,” Porto said. “There’s not going to be an investigation from the police, from the prosecutor’s office, from the Attorney General’s Office, until you smack them with the facts right in their face.”

Tony Wheatley, Moniteau County sheriff, said in an interview Wednesday that he has not received a complaint from the family about Pace’s death and he has not been asked to investigate by the department. His office has the necessary resources and no conflicts that would prevent him from investigating.

“What really upsets me is, and this happens all the time, is everybody wants to blame the local sheriff’s office because they didn’t do anything,” Wheatley said.

The only way he can act is if he gets a call, Wheatley said.

“I have not once heard from the family, I have not once heard from the state, I have not heard from anybody on this,” Wheatley said.

If Reed or her attorneys send him the complaint, Wheatley said, he will read it and evaluate whether it warrants further action.

The mother of another man who died in custody, Willa Hynes, won a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/24/missouri-prison-agency-to-pay-60k-for-sunshine-law-violations-over-inmate-death-records/">$60,000 judgment against the department</a>&nbsp;for withholding records in the death of her son Jahi, who died April 4, 2021, at the Southeast Missouri Correctional Center in Charleston.

Jahi Hynes, who was 27, was serving a 13-year sentence for first degree robbery when he hanged himself with a bedsheet while in solitary confinement.

On April 1, Willa Hynes filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=24MI-CV00185&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0005_CT33#header" target="_blank">wrongful death lawsuit</a>&nbsp;accusing the department, Centurion Health and 11 corrections employees of negligence in allowing her son to possess the bedsheet and failing to conduct required checks on inmates in administrative segregation.

A hearing is set for Monday in Charleston on a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Pace’s death was one of 134 among people being held by the Department of Corrections in 2023. This year, with 96 deaths through Aug. 31, could exceed the record 136 deaths in 2022.

Only eight of the inmate deaths over the three years were executions of men sentenced for capital crimes.&nbsp;

“My main concern being an organizer and an advocate is to make sure this information is publicized,” said Michelle Smith, director of the Missouri Justice Coalition, who compiles data on inmate deaths.

Smith, who in January led a memorial service for the deceased inmates at the Missouri Capitol Building, said most elected officials have yet to take the problem seriously.

“They think that I and other people are just being hyperbolic and exaggerating the issues at the Department of Corrections,” she said. “We need legislation, we need transparency, we need accountability at DOC.”

In his opinion in the Hynes case alleging Sunshine Law violations, Western District Court of Appeals Judge Edward Ardini wrote that the department deliberately withheld public records, including video recordings and a death investigation report, to hinder her wrongful death lawsuit.

The department argued unsuccessfully that the material was inmate medical records protected from disclosure even to the family of an inmate.&nbsp;

The same violations are occurring in the case of Pace, his mother’s lawsuit alleges. Reed, who is a former corrections officer, asked for all the video from that day that shows officers with her son. The video recordings being withheld include one recorded by a member of the emergency response team of the pepper spray being used on Pace.

Pace was autopsied two weeks after his death by the Boone/Callaway Medical Examiner’s Office and the toxicology tests showed methamphetamine and Narcan, used by officers as they tried to revive him. The report says Van Loo told the medical examiner’s office he investigated Pace’s death personally and that video showed Pace swallowing the methamphetamine.

“Plaintiff has been denied all video evidence of the events that occurred that day – including the video defendant Van Loo says exists – despite lawful requests for such evidence,” the lawsuit states.

The autopsy report lists the cause of death as accidental due to methamphetamine intoxication, the court filing states.

The lawsuit accuses Van Loo of lying to the medical examiner’s office by stating Pace was taken to a medical unit after he was seen ingesting the unknown substance, and that there was an emergency response in an attempt to revive him when he stopped breathing while in the unit.

Based on statements of other inmates in nearby cells, the lawsuit alleges “other inmates at Tipton were charged with spurious infractions because they said things such as ‘Rest in Pace’ or otherwise referred to Mr. Pace’s death,” the lawsuit states. “The correctional officer defendants did this to instill fear in the inmates to stop them from speaking about the brutality and callousness that led to Mr. Pace’s death.”

In the recitation of events after Pace was doused with pepper spray, the lawsuit alleges the corrections officers joked about his agony. When corrections officer Billie Webb told another officer, Randy Witt, that Pace was “saying he can’t breathe,” Witt allegedly responded, “I don’t give a f**k.”

A nurse “talked and laughed” with another corrections officer stationed outside the cell where Pace was held but never entered the cell to check on Pace. She only did so at the urging of inmates after Pace had stopped crying out for help.

“Defendant (Terry) Payne said to other correctional officers present words to the effect of, ‘make sure you get the restraints off of him before the ambulance arrives,’ in an attempt to cover-up that Mr. Pace was restrained when he suffered and died,” the lawsuit states.

The degrading comments about Pace by corrections officers did not stop when he died, the lawsuit alleges.

“An inmate in administrative segregation said to Defendant (Earl) Roach, ‘they killed that guy,” referring to Brandon Pace,” the filing states. “Defendant Roach responded, ‘we didn’t kill him. He was kinda like a dog that ran out on the street, and we were just the car that hit him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726783866504.png" alt=" Tammy Reed, center, is suing the Missouri Department of Corrections for wrongful death of her son, Brandon Pace, at Tipton Correctional Center. In January, she was joined by Tina Burger, left, and her daughter, Bethany Pace, at a memorial service for the 382 Missourians who died in department custody in 2021, 2022 and 2023 (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Tammy Reed, center, is suing the Missouri Department of Corrections for wrongful death of her son, Brandon Pace, at Tipton Correctional Center. In January, she was joined by Tina Burger, left, and her daughter, Bethany Pace, at a memorial service for the 382 Missourians who died in department custody in 2021, 2022 and 2023 (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The description of Brandon Pace dying in April 2023 after being pepper-sprayed mirrors allegations made in Cole County murder charges against four corrections officers for the December death Othel Moore</h2>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri corrections officers drenched an inmate with pepper spray and ignored his pleas for help for four hours, responding only when his screaming stopped as he died in the Tipton Correctional Center, a federal lawsuit filed this month alleges.The events that led to Brandon Pace’s death on April 7, 2023, began when correctional officers intervened in an altercation between Pace and another inmate, according to the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.&nbsp;Both men were taken into administrative segregation in restraints.When Pace refused to give up what corrections officers believed to be methamphetamine, the lawsuit states, they put him in a holding cell and ordered him to strip for a search. When he refused, the officers called the Correctional Emergency Response Team, a unit used in cases where use of force may be required to deal with an inmate who will not comply with officer instructions.An officer from the team used a fire extinguisher-sized can of pepper spray, a type usually used for riot situations, to subdue Pace.The officers “took the&nbsp;<a href="https://danasafetysupply.com/mk-46-crowd-control-size-pepper-spray-oc-cs-aerosol-projector/" target="_blank">MK-46 canister of OC</a>&nbsp;and sprayed Mr. Pace with an excessive dose of the chemical agent at close range while Mr. Pace was in a confined space and, based upon information and belief, Mr. Pace’s hands were restrained behind his back and his legs shackled,” the lawsuit filed on behalf of Pace’s mother, Tammy Reed, states. “Mr. Pace began screaming in pain, gasping for air, and saying ‘I can’t breathe.’ He kept saying, ‘Help me, I can’t breathe,’ over and over.”The lawsuit names former department Director Anne Precythe, current acting director Trevor Foley, three deputy directors, the department’s general counsel, former Tipton warden Brock Van Loo, medical care contractor Centurion Health, 12 corrections officers and a nurse as defendants.The 11 counts in the lawsuit seek damages for wrongful death, civil rights violations and Missouri Sunshine Law violations for refusing to turn over any of the records, including video recordings, of the events prior to Pace’s death.The lawsuit relies on statements from other men, held in nearby cells, for many of the allegations.“The Department of Corrections is duty-bound to protect those individuals like Brandon Pace, who are in state custody,” said Lynn Ellenberger, one of Reed’s attorneys . “They’re obligated to provide for his well being and for his care, and in this case, that was not done.”The department does not comment on pending litigation, Foley said last week.<h2>Other death cases</h2>The lawsuit is the latest in a string of cases filed this year related to inmate deaths. Despite a one-third reduction in the number of men and women being held by the department over the past decade, inmate deaths are at record levels.In June, four former correctional officers were&nbsp;charged with assault and murder&nbsp;and a fifth was charged with involuntary manslaughter for the December death of Othel Moore while he was incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center.Moore, 38, was pepper-sprayed in the face multiple times, had his face improperly covered by a hood that blocked his nose and mouth and was left unattended in a cell for more than 30 minutes, according to documents filed in the criminal case.The charges against one of the corrections officers have been dropped and the remaining defendants were charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Joint%20Indictment.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3293395" target="_blank">assault and second-degree murder</a>&nbsp;in September by the Cole County Grand Jury. An arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 16.The criminal charges came after four officers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article286346160.html" target="_blank">were fired in March</a>&nbsp;and the warden at the Jefferson City prison was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/warden-of-missouri-prison-replaced-after-investigation-of-inmate-death/">fired in June</a>.“We take seriously our responsibility for creating the safest environment possible and will not tolerate behaviors or conditions that endanger the wellbeing of Missourians working or living in our facilities,” the corrections department said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://doc.mo.gov/media-center/newsroom/moore-investigation" target="_blank">statement issued after the charges</a>&nbsp;were filed. “The department has begun implementing body-worn cameras in restrictive-housing units at maximum-security facilities, starting with Jefferson City Correctional Center, to bolster both security and accountability.”The family of Othel Moore began&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/jefferson-city/2023/12/19/family-of-man-who-died-in-jefferson-city-correctional-center-asks-for-video/" target="_blank">publicly agitating for release of records</a>, including video showing the actions of the officers, in the weeks following his Dec. 8 death. The case was investigated by the Cole County Sheriff’s office.No outside agency has investigated Pace’s death, said Tom Porto, an attorney working with Pace’s family.&nbsp;“That’s not going to be done until the facts are brought to light,” Porto said. “There’s not going to be an investigation from the police, from the prosecutor’s office, from the Attorney General’s Office, until you smack them with the facts right in their face.”Tony Wheatley, Moniteau County sheriff, said in an interview Wednesday that he has not received a complaint from the family about Pace’s death and he has not been asked to investigate by the department. His office has the necessary resources and no conflicts that would prevent him from investigating.“What really upsets me is, and this happens all the time, is everybody wants to blame the local sheriff’s office because they didn’t do anything,” Wheatley said.The only way he can act is if he gets a call, Wheatley said.“I have not once heard from the family, I have not once heard from the state, I have not heard from anybody on this,” Wheatley said.If Reed or her attorneys send him the complaint, Wheatley said, he will read it and evaluate whether it warrants further action.The mother of another man who died in custody, Willa Hynes, won a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/24/missouri-prison-agency-to-pay-60k-for-sunshine-law-violations-over-inmate-death-records/">$60,000 judgment against the department</a>&nbsp;for withholding records in the death of her son Jahi, who died April 4, 2021, at the Southeast Missouri Correctional Center in Charleston.Jahi Hynes, who was 27, was serving a 13-year sentence for first degree robbery when he hanged himself with a bedsheet while in solitary confinement.On April 1, Willa Hynes filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=24MI-CV00185&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0005_CT33#header" target="_blank">wrongful death lawsuit</a>&nbsp;accusing the department, Centurion Health and 11 corrections employees of negligence in allowing her son to possess the bedsheet and failing to conduct required checks on inmates in administrative segregation.A hearing is set for Monday in Charleston on a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.<h2>‘The car that hit him’</h2>Pace’s death was one of 134 among people being held by the Department of Corrections in 2023. This year, with 96 deaths through Aug. 31, could exceed the record 136 deaths in 2022.Only eight of the inmate deaths over the three years were executions of men sentenced for capital crimes.&nbsp;“My main concern being an organizer and an advocate is to make sure this information is publicized,” said Michelle Smith, director of the Missouri Justice Coalition, who compiles data on inmate deaths.Smith, who in January led a memorial service for the deceased inmates at the Missouri Capitol Building, said most elected officials have yet to take the problem seriously.“They think that I and other people are just being hyperbolic and exaggerating the issues at the Department of Corrections,” she said. “We need legislation, we need transparency, we need accountability at DOC.”In his opinion in the Hynes case alleging Sunshine Law violations, Western District Court of Appeals Judge Edward Ardini wrote that the department deliberately withheld public records, including video recordings and a death investigation report, to hinder her wrongful death lawsuit.The department argued unsuccessfully that the material was inmate medical records protected from disclosure even to the family of an inmate.&nbsp;The same violations are occurring in the case of Pace, his mother’s lawsuit alleges. Reed, who is a former corrections officer, asked for all the video from that day that shows officers with her son. The video recordings being withheld include one recorded by a member of the emergency response team of the pepper spray being used on Pace.Pace was autopsied two weeks after his death by the Boone/Callaway Medical Examiner’s Office and the toxicology tests showed methamphetamine and Narcan, used by officers as they tried to revive him. The report says Van Loo told the medical examiner’s office he investigated Pace’s death personally and that video showed Pace swallowing the methamphetamine.“Plaintiff has been denied all video evidence of the events that occurred that day – including the video defendant Van Loo says exists – despite lawful requests for such evidence,” the lawsuit states.The autopsy report lists the cause of death as accidental due to methamphetamine intoxication, the court filing states.The lawsuit accuses Van Loo of lying to the medical examiner’s office by stating Pace was taken to a medical unit after he was seen ingesting the unknown substance, and that there was an emergency response in an attempt to revive him when he stopped breathing while in the unit.Based on statements of other inmates in nearby cells, the lawsuit alleges “other inmates at Tipton were charged with spurious infractions because they said things such as ‘Rest in Pace’ or otherwise referred to Mr. Pace’s death,” the lawsuit states. “The correctional officer defendants did this to instill fear in the inmates to stop them from speaking about the brutality and callousness that led to Mr. Pace’s death.”In the recitation of events after Pace was doused with pepper spray, the lawsuit alleges the corrections officers joked about his agony. When corrections officer Billie Webb told another officer, Randy Witt, that Pace was “saying he can’t breathe,” Witt allegedly responded, “I don’t give a f**k.”A nurse “talked and laughed” with another corrections officer stationed outside the cell where Pace was held but never entered the cell to check on Pace. She only did so at the urging of inmates after Pace had stopped crying out for help.“Defendant (Terry) Payne said to other correctional officers present words to the effect of, ‘make sure you get the restraints off of him before the ambulance arrives,’ in an attempt to cover-up that Mr. Pace was restrained when he suffered and died,” the lawsuit states.The degrading comments about Pace by corrections officers did not stop when he died, the lawsuit alleges.“An inmate in administrative segregation said to Defendant (Earl) Roach, ‘they killed that guy,” referring to Brandon Pace,” the filing states. “Defendant Roach responded, ‘we didn’t kill him. He was kinda like a dog that ran out on the street, and we were just the car that hit him.”

New federal lawsuit pins blame for inmate’s death on Missouri prison officials

CVB Recalls LUCID Platform Beds with Upholstered Square Tufted Headboards Due to Fall and Injury Hazards, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recalled beds can sag, break, or collapse during use, posing fall and injury hazards to consumers.

The firm has received 245 reports of the beds breaking, sagging or collapsing during use, causing 18 injuries, including contusions and bruises.

The beds were sold online at Amazon.com, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, Belk.com, Brookside, eBay, Home Depot, JC Penney, Lowes.com, Lucid, Macys, Menards, Overstock, QVC, Sears.com, Target.com, Malouf VIP, Wayfair and Walmart, and in stores nationwide from September 2019 through April 2024 for between $150 and $250

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled beds and contact Lucid for a free replacement bed frame. Consumers must write “recalled” on the support rails of the bed with a permanent marker and send a photo of the bed, as well as a photo of the support rails on the underside of the bed or a photo of the law label, to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:recall@lucidmattress.com">recall@lucidmattress.com</a>&nbsp;to receive the free replacement product.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726767723365.png" alt="Recalled Lucid Upholstered Square Tufted Platform Bed, photo Consumer Product Safety Commission" />
 <figcaption>Recalled Lucid Upholstered Square Tufted Platform Bed, photo Consumer Product Safety Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>CVB Recalls LUCID Platform Beds with Upholstered Square Tufted Headboards Due to Fall and Injury Hazards, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.The recalled beds can sag, break, or collapse during use, posing fall and injury hazards to consumers.The firm has received 245 reports of the beds breaking, sagging or collapsing during use, causing 18 injuries, including contusions and bruises.The beds were sold online at Amazon.com, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, Belk.com, Brookside, eBay, Home Depot, JC Penney, Lowes.com, Lucid, Macys, Menards, Overstock, QVC, Sears.com, Target.com, Malouf VIP, Wayfair and Walmart, and in stores nationwide from September 2019 through April 2024 for between $150 and $250Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled beds and contact Lucid for a free replacement bed frame. Consumers must write “recalled” on the support rails of the bed with a permanent marker and send a photo of the bed, as well as a photo of the support rails on the underside of the bed or a photo of the law label, to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:recall@lucidmattress.com">recall@lucidmattress.com</a>&nbsp;to receive the free replacement product.

 Bed, sold at major retailers, recalled after falls and injuries

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran on Wednesday spoke on the Senate Floor about the importance of passing a new Farm Bill and providing&nbsp;immediate&nbsp;support for the ranchers, farmers and producers across&nbsp;Kansas and&nbsp;the United States.

“Decisions&nbsp;not to get a farm&nbsp;bill done&nbsp;have come home to roost,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “Farm income has declined&nbsp;43% over the past 5 years,&nbsp;and net farm income is expected to be 27% lower this year than it&nbsp;was in 2022. Our agricultural trade deficit, something we were always proud about as we exported more than we imported in agriculture, it’s at a $42.5 billion deficit. We import more than we export. That puts our farmers even more at risk, and it threatens the stability and security of our national economy.”

“The current Farm Bill is not adequate to provide relief or safety nets&nbsp;for&nbsp;our nation’s farmers, nor is it reflective of the current state of the farm economy,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “With financial pressures building across the agriculture industry, and due to increased production costs and weakened market prices, the overall financial situation of the farm economy is bleak.”

“The status quo is unacceptable,”&nbsp;concluded Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“We must pass a long-term farm bill this year, and&nbsp;we must also consider immediate relief for farmers with a supplemental.&nbsp;Our farmers deserve and need better, and in the absence of successful farmers, the future of the places many of us call home is bleak.”

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran on Wednesday spoke on the Senate Floor about the importance of passing a new Farm Bill and providing&nbsp;immediate&nbsp;support for the ranchers, farmers and producers across&nbsp;Kansas and&nbsp;the United States.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q-koULidae4?si=tV7R1MAVyOLGQZXl&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“Decisions&nbsp;not to get a farm&nbsp;bill done&nbsp;have come home to roost,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “Farm income has declined&nbsp;43% over the past 5 years,&nbsp;and net farm income is expected to be 27% lower this year than it&nbsp;was in 2022. Our agricultural trade deficit, something we were always proud about as we exported more than we imported in agriculture, it’s at a $42.5 billion deficit. We import more than we export. That puts our farmers even more at risk, and it threatens the stability and security of our national economy.”“The current Farm Bill is not adequate to provide relief or safety nets&nbsp;for&nbsp;our nation’s farmers, nor is it reflective of the current state of the farm economy,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “With financial pressures building across the agriculture industry, and due to increased production costs and weakened market prices, the overall financial situation of the farm economy is bleak.”“The status quo is unacceptable,”&nbsp;concluded Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“We must pass a long-term farm bill this year, and&nbsp;we must also consider immediate relief for farmers with a supplemental.&nbsp;Our farmers deserve and need better, and in the absence of successful farmers, the future of the places many of us call home is bleak.”

🎥Sen. Moran: Congress must pass immediate relief for farmers

KANSAS CITY— A dozen Kansas City metropolitan area men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in at least one death, and to illegally possessing firearms.

Justin D. Rivera, also known as “JD,” 20, Yael Figueroa, also known as “Grit,” 23, Jose R. Lugo, Jr., also known as “El Wey,” 20, Aaron Contreras-Jaquez, also known as “Van Kleefy,” 24, Jose Lorenzo-Medina, 24, and Antonio R. Baeza-Brown, also known as “Tony,” 25, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Simon L. Figueroa, 26, and Jonathan Gonzales, 25, both citizens of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo.; Luis Calvillo-Ortiz, also known as “Loc,” 19, of Independence, Mo.; and Marcos Favian Alvarado, also known as “Baby Face,” 20, Chad B. Green, also known as “Gso Yad,” 24, and Crencio Carbajal-Loya, 18, all of Kansas City, Kansas, were charged in a 35-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 11.

Three residential search warrants also were executed. Law enforcement officers seized 6,738 fentanyl pills, 11 firearms, including a machinegun, five stolen automobiles, and more than $75,000 in cash.

The federal indictment alleges that all 12 of the defendants have participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl since Dec. 1, 2022. The indictment also alleges that all 12 of the defendants have participated in a conspiracy to use and carry firearms in relation to that drug-trafficking conspiracy.

In addition to the drug-trafficking and firearms conspiracies, Rivera is charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim identified as “M.M.” on May 7, 2023. Rivera is also charged with eight counts of distributing fentanyl, three counts of using and carrying firearms during a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of using and carrying a machine gun during a drug-trafficking crime.

Alvarado is also charged with one count of distributing fentanyl, one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.

Yael Figueroa is also charged with four counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.

Medina is also charged with four counts of distributing fentanyl.

Contreras-Jaquez is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl and two counts of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

Calvillo-Ortiz, Gonzales, and Simon Figueroa each are also charged with one count of distributing fentanyl.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726691837457.png" alt="Chad Green is among those included in the indictment-photo from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Chad Green is among those included in the indictment-photo from an earlier arrest in Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A dozen Kansas City metropolitan area men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in at least one death, and to illegally possessing firearms.Justin D. Rivera, also known as “JD,” 20, Yael Figueroa, also known as “Grit,” 23, Jose R. Lugo, Jr., also known as “El Wey,” 20, Aaron Contreras-Jaquez, also known as “Van Kleefy,” 24, Jose Lorenzo-Medina, 24, and Antonio R. Baeza-Brown, also known as “Tony,” 25, all of Kansas City, Mo.; Simon L. Figueroa, 26, and Jonathan Gonzales, 25, both citizens of Mexico residing in Kansas City, Mo.; Luis Calvillo-Ortiz, also known as “Loc,” 19, of Independence, Mo.; and Marcos Favian Alvarado, also known as “Baby Face,” 20, Chad B. Green, also known as “Gso Yad,” 24, and Crencio Carbajal-Loya, 18, all of Kansas City, Kansas, were charged in a 35-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 11.Three residential search warrants also were executed. Law enforcement officers seized 6,738 fentanyl pills, 11 firearms, including a machinegun, five stolen automobiles, and more than $75,000 in cash.The federal indictment alleges that all 12 of the defendants have participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl since Dec. 1, 2022. The indictment also alleges that all 12 of the defendants have participated in a conspiracy to use and carry firearms in relation to that drug-trafficking conspiracy.In addition to the drug-trafficking and firearms conspiracies, Rivera is charged with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim identified as “M.M.” on May 7, 2023. Rivera is also charged with eight counts of distributing fentanyl, three counts of using and carrying firearms during a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of using and carrying a machine gun during a drug-trafficking crime.Alvarado is also charged with one count of distributing fentanyl, one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.Yael Figueroa is also charged with four counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of using and carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime.Medina is also charged with four counts of distributing fentanyl.Contreras-Jaquez is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl and two counts of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.Calvillo-Ortiz, Gonzales, and Simon Figueroa each are also charged with one count of distributing fentanyl.The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Police in KC seized fentanyl, a machine gun, stolen cars and cash.

SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police Department announced on Thursday the passing of K-9 Tyrann, one of its active service dogs. Tyrann died on Wednesday following an accidental fall from an elevated position while on duty.

K-9 Tyrann had served with the department since February 2021. His dedication and service to the community have been acknowledged by the department, which noted that his loss will be deeply felt by both department members and the public.

Arrangements for services in honor of K-9 Tyrann are currently being made. The Salina Police Department will share details regarding the location, date, and time once finalized. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726757775230.jpeg" alt="Tyrann courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Tyrann courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police Department announced on Thursday the passing of K-9 Tyrann, one of its active service dogs. Tyrann died on Wednesday following an accidental fall from an elevated position while on duty.K-9 Tyrann had served with the department since February 2021. His dedication and service to the community have been acknowledged by the department, which noted that his loss will be deeply felt by both department members and the public.Arrangements for services in honor of K-9 Tyrann are currently being made. The Salina Police Department will share details regarding the location, date, and time once finalized. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

Kansas K-9 Officer dies in an accident while on duty

TOPEKA&nbsp;– With less than one month remaining before voter registration closes for the November general election, Kansas crossed a milestone – 2 million Kansans are on the voter rolls, according to a media release from the Kansas Secretary of State's office.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab announced this week that Kansas met this threshold late last week, and the number is expected to continue to rise before registration closes on October 15th.

Since January 2024, 83,293 new registered voters have been added. “I am pleased to see so many Kansans taking the important step of registering to vote,” Schwab said.

“I remind Kansans that the most secure way to register is through VoteKansas.gov. The use of a .gov address ensures security and lets Kansans know they are accessing an official government site, rather than a third-party one,” Schwab said.

Kansans wishing to participate in the November 5 general election must ensure they are registered and that their voter registration information is up to date by October 15. Also, those who are 17 now but will turn 18 by Election Day can register to vote.

Whether registering to vote for the first time or updating voter registration records, Kansans can do so at&nbsp;<a href="https://votekansas.gov/">VoteKansas.gov</a>&nbsp;or check their voter registration details on Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview" target="_blank">VoterView</a>.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– With less than one month remaining before voter registration closes for the November general election, Kansas crossed a milestone – 2 million Kansans are on the voter rolls, according to a media release from the Kansas Secretary of State's office.Secretary of State Scott Schwab announced this week that Kansas met this threshold late last week, and the number is expected to continue to rise before registration closes on October 15th.Since January 2024, 83,293 new registered voters have been added. “I am pleased to see so many Kansans taking the important step of registering to vote,” Schwab said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Important deadlines for the 2024 General Election. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kselections?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kselections</a> <a href="https://t.co/TrYHZ6KekD">pic.twitter.com/TrYHZ6KekD</a>&mdash; Kansas Secretary of State (@KansasSOS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasSOS/status/1829562681541480804?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I remind Kansans that the most secure way to register is through VoteKansas.gov. The use of a .gov address ensures security and lets Kansans know they are accessing an official government site, rather than a third-party one,” Schwab said.Kansans wishing to participate in the November 5 general election must ensure they are registered and that their voter registration information is up to date by October 15. Also, those who are 17 now but will turn 18 by Election Day can register to vote.Whether registering to vote for the first time or updating voter registration records, Kansans can do so at&nbsp;<a href="https://votekansas.gov/">VoteKansas.gov</a>&nbsp;or check their voter registration details on Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview" target="_blank">VoterView</a>.

83,293 new registered voters in Kansas since January

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City.

Just after 7p.m. Wednesday, patrol officers were dispatched to several reports of shots fired in the 300 block of Maple in Kansas City, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

&nbsp;While en route the call was upgraded to a shooting involving two victims. First responders found two men in Maple Park. They were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Officers began performing life saving measures and ordered emergency medical personnel to the scene. EMS pronounced the victims were deceased at the scene, according to DiMartino.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726740585084.png" alt="Officer on the scene of the investigation -Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Officer on the scene of the investigation -Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City.Just after 7p.m. Wednesday, patrol officers were dispatched to several reports of shots fired in the 300 block of Maple in Kansas City, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.&nbsp;While en route the call was upgraded to a shooting involving two victims. First responders found two men in Maple Park. They were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Officers began performing life saving measures and ordered emergency medical personnel to the scene. EMS pronounced the victims were deceased at the scene, according to DiMartino.

Police: Double-homicide in Kansas City park

ALLEN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage incident and made an arrest of the teen driver for allegedly pointing a gun at occupants of another vehicle.

Shortly before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, two individuals from Chanute, Kansas, reported to the Humboldt Police Department that they had been traveling on Old U.S. Hwy 169 to the gym in Humboldt, according to a statement from the Allen County Sheriff's office.

A Jeep Liberty, reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, passed and repeatedly braked in front of them. The vehicles “leap-frogged” each other a couple of times before a gun was pointed at the Chanute residents as the vehicles crossed the bridge near the Monarch Cement plant.

Officers located the Jeep and two juvenile occupants including&nbsp; a 17-year-old driver from Buffalo, Kansas. They were detained by the Iola Police Department at the Pete’s convenience store on the east side of Iola until a sheriff's deputy arrived.&nbsp;

Deputies removed a .45 caliber handgun matching the description given by the reporting party from the vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 Bottles of liquor, nicotine and THC vapes, along with items alleged to be narcotics and drug paraphernalia, were found also in the vehicle and seized. &nbsp;The gun is believed to belong to the girl’s father, who kept the gun in an unlocked safe.

Deputies took the 17-year-old girl into custody and transported her to the juvenile detention center in Girard. The fifteen-year-old passenger in the vehicle was released to a parent.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The following charges are being forwarded to the Allen County Attorney’s Officer for consideration:&nbsp; Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Narcotics, Possession of THC, Possession of Alcohol by a Minor, Possession of Tobacco/Nicotine by a Minor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

ALLEN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage incident and made an arrest of the teen driver for allegedly pointing a gun at occupants of another vehicle.Shortly before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, two individuals from Chanute, Kansas, reported to the Humboldt Police Department that they had been traveling on Old U.S. Hwy 169 to the gym in Humboldt, according to a statement from the Allen County Sheriff's office.A Jeep Liberty, reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed, passed and repeatedly braked in front of them. The vehicles “leap-frogged” each other a couple of times before a gun was pointed at the Chanute residents as the vehicles crossed the bridge near the Monarch Cement plant.Officers located the Jeep and two juvenile occupants including&nbsp; a 17-year-old driver from Buffalo, Kansas. They were detained by the Iola Police Department at the Pete’s convenience store on the east side of Iola until a sheriff's deputy arrived.&nbsp;Deputies removed a .45 caliber handgun matching the description given by the reporting party from the vehicle.&nbsp;&nbsp; Bottles of liquor, nicotine and THC vapes, along with items alleged to be narcotics and drug paraphernalia, were found also in the vehicle and seized. &nbsp;The gun is believed to belong to the girl’s father, who kept the gun in an unlocked safe.Deputies took the 17-year-old girl into custody and transported her to the juvenile detention center in Girard. The fifteen-year-old passenger in the vehicle was released to a parent.&nbsp;&nbsp;The following charges are being forwarded to the Allen County Attorney’s Officer for consideration:&nbsp; Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Narcotics, Possession of THC, Possession of Alcohol by a Minor, Possession of Tobacco/Nicotine by a Minor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Road rage: 17-year-old Kansas girl arrested, gun seized

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City Fire Department released the name of the firefighter-paramedic&nbsp; who died Tuesday during a training exercise.&nbsp; 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726704459151.png" alt="Kyle Brinker courtesy ph oto" />
 <figcaption>Kyle Brinker courtesy ph oto</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City Fire Department released the name of the firefighter-paramedic&nbsp; who died Tuesday during a training exercise.&nbsp; Kyle Brinker, 33, was a ten year veteran with KCFD with the Rescue Division at Station 35, according to the city.Just before noon,&nbsp;KCFD crews conducted a training exercise when a Brinker experienced a medical emergency.He was taken to North Kansas City Hospital and was pronounced dead at 1 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mayor Lucas issued the following statement on the passing of a Kansas City Fire Department firefighter-paramedic: <a href="https://t.co/mNZfcjtg9O">pic.twitter.com/mNZfcjtg9O</a>&mdash; Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorLucasKC/status/1836136269187027239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Brinker is survived by a wife and his brother, who is also a Kansas City firefighter.