SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a detention deputy after a weekend arrest.

On Saturday, Maize Police arrested&nbsp;Off-duty Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy 28-year-old Nieka Rasberry on on a requested charge of of Domestic Battery, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

Rasberry has been employed by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office since October 2023 as a detention deputy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rasberry is currently suspended from duty, pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal investigation.

After meeting the requirement of bond, she is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726002792299.png" alt="Rasberry photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Rasberry photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a detention deputy after a weekend arrest.On Saturday, Maize Police arrested&nbsp;Off-duty Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy 28-year-old Nieka Rasberry on on a requested charge of of Domestic Battery, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.Rasberry has been employed by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office since October 2023 as a detention deputy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rasberry is currently suspended from duty, pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal investigation.After meeting the requirement of bond, she is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas jail deputy held in jail where she worked

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating an alleged school threat in a Kansas City area school district have made an arrest.

&nbsp;On Monday,&nbsp; police in Lee's Summit were made aware of a threatening post on social media that contained a detailed threat towards the East Trails Middle School,&nbsp;1001 SE Bailey Road, in Lee’s Summit, according to a media release.

  Investigators from the Police Department worked into the evening and located a juvenile suspect in the case. Contact was made with the suspect and a parent. Police took a juvenile suspect into custody. 

 The Police Department is thankful for the assistance given by partners with the FBI as well as our partnership with the R-7 School District to work quickly to identify and arrest a suspect in the case and keep the schools safe and free from violence.

Following the arrest, Superintendent&nbsp;Dr. David Buck sent a letter to parents.

Yesterday evening, East Trails Middle School&nbsp;and district administration, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the FBI swiftly responded to a threatening message posted on TikTok referencing that school.

LSPD officers have since identified and made contact with a student connected to the post. That student was taken into police custody and is not in school today thanks to this quick action.

Earlier this week, we communicated to four school buildings about a vague social media threat that police were unable to corroborate. Threats like the ones we have responded to this week disrupt the learning environment for students and consume staff resources. Please help us emphasize to all students that making a threat against a public school, even as a joke, has serious legal and disciplinary consequences. We are processing this incident in full accordance with school policy and in partnership with our police partners.

These situations reinforce the importance of each and every member of our school community always reporting any threatening post or communication to our school staff and police. We will continue to encourage an environment where students, staff, and families feel empowered to report anything that might be suspicious or out of the ordinary; prompt reporting is important in enabling us to be proactive in maintaining a safe school environment. We’re grateful to the students and parents who exhibited this quick thinking this week.

Finally, if you see a social media threat, please don’t forward or repost it. Instead, take a screenshot and share it with our school administrators and police. Sharing the post makes it harder to find out who started it and slows down the investigation. Our SafeSchool hotlines, accessible on our school websites, are another way to confidentially share information with our leaders.

Thank you for your cooperation, support and patience as we make decisions to keep our students and staff safe. Please also help us thank our law enforcement partners who partner with us each and every day to support safe learning environments in LSR7.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697128767642.png" alt="School threat" />
 <figcaption>School threat</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating an alleged school threat in a Kansas City area school district have made an arrest.&nbsp;On Monday,&nbsp; police in Lee's Summit were made aware of a threatening post on social media that contained a detailed threat towards the East Trails Middle School,&nbsp;1001 SE Bailey Road, in Lee’s Summit, according to a media release. Investigators from the Police Department worked into the evening and located a juvenile suspect in the case. Contact was made with the suspect and a parent. Police took a juvenile suspect into custody. The Police Department is thankful for the assistance given by partners with the FBI as well as our partnership with the R-7 School District to work quickly to identify and arrest a suspect in the case and keep the schools safe and free from violence.Following the arrest, Superintendent&nbsp;Dr. David Buck sent a letter to parents.Dear LSR7 Families &amp; Staff:Yesterday evening, East Trails Middle School&nbsp;and district administration, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the FBI swiftly responded to a threatening message posted on TikTok referencing that school.LSPD officers have since identified and made contact with a student connected to the post. That student was taken into police custody and is not in school today thanks to this quick action.Earlier this week, we communicated to four school buildings about a vague social media threat that police were unable to corroborate. Threats like the ones we have responded to this week disrupt the learning environment for students and consume staff resources. Please help us emphasize to all students that making a threat against a public school, even as a joke, has serious legal and disciplinary consequences. We are processing this incident in full accordance with school policy and in partnership with our police partners.These situations reinforce the importance of each and every member of our school community always reporting any threatening post or communication to our school staff and police. We will continue to encourage an environment where students, staff, and families feel empowered to report anything that might be suspicious or out of the ordinary; prompt reporting is important in enabling us to be proactive in maintaining a safe school environment. We’re grateful to the students and parents who exhibited this quick thinking this week.Finally, if you see a social media threat, please don’t forward or repost it. Instead, take a screenshot and share it with our school administrators and police. Sharing the post makes it harder to find out who started it and slows down the investigation. Our SafeSchool hotlines, accessible on our school websites, are another way to confidentially share information with our leaders.Thank you for your cooperation, support and patience as we make decisions to keep our students and staff safe. Please also help us thank our law enforcement partners who partner with us each and every day to support safe learning environments in LSR7.

Police, FBI make arrest after threat toward KC area middle school

PHILADELPHIA&nbsp; — For over 90 minutes, Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump faced off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate. Below are some of the highlights.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726016863083.png" alt="Image courtesy ABC via CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy ABC via CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILADELPHIA&nbsp; — For over 90 minutes, Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump faced off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate. Below are some of the highlights.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE --&gt; ABC Presidential Debate Simulcast <a href="https://t.co/hNTcMAdx1e">https://t.co/hNTcMAdx1e</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833656962824978933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Handshake between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump as the ABC News Presidential Debate begins. <a href="https://t.co/p0UO3sZUds">pic.twitter.com/p0UO3sZUds</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833673429964247202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;She has no policy. Everything that she believed...is out the window. She&#39;s going to my philosophy now. In fact I was going to send her a MAGA hat...If she ever got elected she&#39;d change it...She&#39;s a Marxist. Everyone knows she&#39;s s Marxist.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PnSmAkOxJH">pic.twitter.com/PnSmAkOxJH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833677387348709584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CLIP: Former President Trump and VP Harris on abortion and IVF at ABC News Presidential Debate. <a href="https://t.co/jKFFf0oPBf">pic.twitter.com/jKFFf0oPBf</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833681436898992364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VP Harris: &quot;People start leaving his rallies early out of exhausting and boredom.&quot; Former President Trump: &quot;People don&#39;t go to her rallies...people don&#39;t leave my rallies. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/MbUWFmTA21">pic.twitter.com/MbUWFmTA21</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833681793255436767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VP Kamala Harris on endorsements from Republicans: &quot;If you want to really know the inside track on who the former president is...just ask people who have worked with him...&quot; Former President Trump: &quot;I fired most of those people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/nIEAKl5ReN">pic.twitter.com/nIEAKl5ReN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833683283323855317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump to Vice President Harris: &quot;Wait a minute. I&#39;m talking now. If you don&#39;t mind. Please. Does that sound familiar?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0muInrNeT9">pic.twitter.com/0muInrNeT9</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833684182305759366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump on January 6th: &quot;I had nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech.&quot; VP Harris: &quot;On that day the president of the United States incited a violent mob...the former president has been indicted and impeached exactly for that reason.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TlOOP1CSAK">pic.twitter.com/TlOOP1CSAK</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833687269271568768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;She hates Israel. If she&#39;s president I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now. VP Harris: &quot;He&#39;s trying to again divide and distract from the reality...he admire dictators, wants to be a dictator on day one according to himself.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/BdpYpM6V7v">pic.twitter.com/BdpYpM6V7v</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833690931477852379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">David Muir: &quot;Do you want Ukraine to win this war? Former President Trump: &quot;I want this war to stop. I want to save lives...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/rcM8DOGICi">pic.twitter.com/rcM8DOGICi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833692540551274992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vice President Harris: &quot;You&#39;re not running against Joe Biden. You&#39;re running against me...If Donald Trump were president right not, Putin would be sitting in Kiev right now.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/aX3WdHTToh">pic.twitter.com/aX3WdHTToh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833692662873890842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;You said she went to went to negotiate with Vladimir Putin. Vice President Harris have you ever met Vladimir Putin? Can you clarify?&quot; VP Harris: &quot;I said at the beginning of this debate, you&#39;re going to hear a bunch of lies coming from this fella, and that is another one.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gttiose1qR">pic.twitter.com/gttiose1qR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833693206476939641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vice President Kamala Harris: &quot;This business about taking everyone&#39;s guns away; Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. We&#39;re not taking anybody&#39;s guns away so stop with the continuous lying about this stuff.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/I7Kc1KIdZR">pic.twitter.com/I7Kc1KIdZR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833696590701162496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.

🎥 Highlights from Harris, Trump Presidential debate

HUTCHINSON—Fire officials are investigating an incident in a food trailer that injured several people Tuesday evening at the Kansas State Fair.

At 6:25 p.m., the Hutchinson Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a fire at a concession trailer&nbsp;in the south corridor of the Kansas State Fairgrounds, according to a media release from the State Fair.

&nbsp;Crews arrived to find a concession trailer that appeared to have had a small explosion. Two people were transported to the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center with injuries. Several others sustained minor injuries and refused treatment and transport.&nbsp;

The Hutchinson Fire Marshal, in collaboration with State Fire Marshals,&nbsp;are currently investigating the cause of the incident. More details will be released in the coming days.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726018316320.jpeg" alt="A food trailer was damaged in what firefighters called a 'small explosion' at the Kansas State Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Submitted Photo." />
 <figcaption>A food trailer was damaged in what firefighters called a 'small explosion' at the Kansas State Fairgrounds on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Submitted Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON—Fire officials are investigating an incident in a food trailer that injured several people Tuesday evening at the Kansas State Fair.At 6:25 p.m., the Hutchinson Fire Department was dispatched to the report of a fire at a concession trailer&nbsp;in the south corridor of the Kansas State Fairgrounds, according to a media release from the State Fair.&nbsp;Crews arrived to find a concession trailer that appeared to have had a small explosion. Two people were transported to the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center with injuries. Several others sustained minor injuries and refused treatment and transport.&nbsp;The Hutchinson Fire Marshal, in collaboration with State Fire Marshals,&nbsp;are currently investigating the cause of the incident. More details will be released in the coming days.

Two hospitalized after explosion in food trailer at the State Fair

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspects on drug allegaions.&nbsp;

Just before 8p.m. September 7, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white&nbsp; 1996 Chevrolet 1500 for a traffic infraction at U.S. Highway 75&nbsp; and 142nd Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morese.

 A probable cause search was conducted resulting in the discovery of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.

A passenger, Robert Michael Rolin, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail of possession of meth and paraphernalia.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725995489981.png" alt="Rolin -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Rolin -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspects on drug allegaions.&nbsp;Just before 8p.m. September 7, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white&nbsp; 1996 Chevrolet 1500 for a traffic infraction at U.S. Highway 75&nbsp; and 142nd Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morese. A probable cause search was conducted resulting in the discovery of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia.A passenger, Robert Michael Rolin, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail of possession of meth and paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Kansas man accused of transporting meth

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a domestic incident and have made an arest.

Just after 9p.m.&nbsp;September 6, police were dispatched to the Chapel Ridge Apartments, 2363 Chapel Ridge Place in Salina, in response to a domestic disturbance, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

Officers made contact with 21-year-old Yesenia Buenrostro of Salina. She told officers that she got into an argument with the 22-year-old man who also lives in the apartment. Police determined from both parties that during this argument, Buenrostro pulled a. pocketknife and threatened the 22-year-old roommate.

&nbsp;Feldman said the argument began after Buenrostro allegedly discovered that she was missing an item, and said the 22-year-old victim was responsible.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police arrested Buenrostro and booked her into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of aggravated assault.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725980157342.png" alt="Buenrostro photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Buenrostro photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a domestic incident and have made an arest.Just after 9p.m.&nbsp;September 6, police were dispatched to the Chapel Ridge Apartments, 2363 Chapel Ridge Place in Salina, in response to a domestic disturbance, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.Officers made contact with 21-year-old Yesenia Buenrostro of Salina. She told officers that she got into an argument with the 22-year-old man who also lives in the apartment. Police determined from both parties that during this argument, Buenrostro pulled a. pocketknife and threatened the 22-year-old roommate.&nbsp;Feldman said the argument began after Buenrostro allegedly discovered that she was missing an item, and said the 22-year-old victim was responsible.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police arrested Buenrostro and booked her into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of aggravated assault.

Police: Kan. woman threatened roommate with a knife

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A suspect involved in a 7-hour standoff and gunfight with deputies at a Kansas home made his first court appearance Monday.

Robert Cook Jr., 43 of Haysville, is charged with Aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, Interference with law enforcement and Criminal threat, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 1:30p.m. September 4, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Team which consisted of five deputies and one sergeant responded to a residence in the 8100 block of South Bernice in Haysville attempting to serve an arrest warrant for a 43-year-old Robert Cook and began conducting surveillance on the home, according to statement from Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

Deputies conducted interviews and received information confirming that Cook was inside the home. At 2:55pm deputies requested the assistance of a K9 from the Haysville police department to assist with clearing the residence.

After the K9 cleared the residence, a team of Deputies entered the residence and believed Cook was locked in a bedroom. A K9 from the Wichita Police Department responded and remained outside the residence for the duration of the incident.

A sergeant and two deputies exited the residence and prepared to deploy chemical munitions into the bedroom to end the barricade. At 3:48pm, a deputy broke out a bedroom window and Cook fired a gun at the deputies multiple times.

Two deputies returned fire. One deputy fired three rounds from a rifle and another fired five rounds from a handgun. Neither Cook nor the involved deputies were injured in the exchange of gunfire.

The combined Wichita Police and Sedgwick County SWAT team and Wichita Police negotiators were activated at 4:03pm.

At 4:41pm, police negotiators contacted Cook by phone. Throughout the ensuing seven-hour negotiation Cook made multiple statements that this was his “last stand” and that he would shoot at officers if they made entry into the home.

At 9:01pm, after negotiations deteriorated and continued threats by Cook, chemical munitions were deployed into the residence and SWAT operators heard gunshots inside.

Following the deployment of chemical munitions, Cook resumed communication with negotiators, who remained focused on achieving a peaceful resolution. While operators were preparing to introduce a second round of chemical munitions, Cook peacefully surrendered at 11:33pm.

Cook is due back in court on September 26, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725569911182.png" alt="-During the standoff, a deputy broke out a bedroom window and Cook fired a gun at the deputies multiple times. Image from police body camera image provided by Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>-During the standoff, a deputy broke out a bedroom window and Cook fired a gun at the deputies multiple times. Image from police body camera image provided by Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A suspect involved in a 7-hour standoff and gunfight with deputies at a Kansas home made his first court appearance Monday.Robert Cook Jr., 43 of Haysville, is charged with Aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, Interference with law enforcement and Criminal threat, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725586579656.png" alt="Cook-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Cook-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 1:30p.m. September 4, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Team which consisted of five deputies and one sergeant responded to a residence in the 8100 block of South Bernice in Haysville attempting to serve an arrest warrant for a 43-year-old Robert Cook and began conducting surveillance on the home, according to statement from Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.Deputies conducted interviews and received information confirming that Cook was inside the home. At 2:55pm deputies requested the assistance of a K9 from the Haysville police department to assist with clearing the residence.After the K9 cleared the residence, a team of Deputies entered the residence and believed Cook was locked in a bedroom. A K9 from the Wichita Police Department responded and remained outside the residence for the duration of the incident.A sergeant and two deputies exited the residence and prepared to deploy chemical munitions into the bedroom to end the barricade. At 3:48pm, a deputy broke out a bedroom window and Cook fired a gun at the deputies multiple times.Two deputies returned fire. One deputy fired three rounds from a rifle and another fired five rounds from a handgun. Neither Cook nor the involved deputies were injured in the exchange of gunfire.The combined Wichita Police and Sedgwick County SWAT team and Wichita Police negotiators were activated at 4:03pm.At 4:41pm, police negotiators contacted Cook by phone. Throughout the ensuing seven-hour negotiation Cook made multiple statements that this was his “last stand” and that he would shoot at officers if they made entry into the home.At 9:01pm, after negotiations deteriorated and continued threats by Cook, chemical munitions were deployed into the residence and SWAT operators heard gunshots inside.Following the deployment of chemical munitions, Cook resumed communication with negotiators, who remained focused on achieving a peaceful resolution. While operators were preparing to introduce a second round of chemical munitions, Cook peacefully surrendered at 11:33pm.Cook is due back in court on September 26, according to the district attorney's office.

Suspect charged after gunfight with Kansas deputies

The court ordered Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to tell local election authorities to put Amendment 3 on the Nov. 5 ballot

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missourians will have the opportunity to vote to enshrine abortion in the state constitution this November, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.&nbsp;

In a decision published less than three hours before the constitutional deadline to remove a question from the ballot, the Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling that recommended the measure be stripped from the Nov. 5 ballot.&nbsp;

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft “shall certify to local election authorities that Amendment 3 be placed on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot and shall take all steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot,” the judgment read.

In a lawsuit filed late last month, a number of anti-abortion lawmakers and activists sued Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for certifying Amendment 3 for the ballot.&nbsp;

On the eve of the Supreme Court hearing, Ashcroft announced he was decertifying the measure, a potentially unprecedented attempt to rescind his previous decision in an attempt to block the measure from the ballot.

The Supreme Court judges said Ashcroft missed his statutory deadline to change his mind.

“Respondent Ashcroft certified the petition as sufficient prior to that deadline, and any action taken to change that decision weeks after the statutory deadline expired is a nullity and of no effect,” the judges wrote.&nbsp;

In order to get a citizen-led Amendment on the ballot, the campaign behind the measure must first collect enough signatures from six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. When asked for signatures, state law requires that the amendment be attached in full.&nbsp;

The initiative petition circulated by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom did not include any current law that would be repealed, the issue at the crux of the lower court’s ruling.&nbsp;

There is also a section of state law that requires initiative petitions “include all sections of existing law or of the constitution which would be repealed by the measure.”

Attorneys for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom have&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/06/judge-decides-abortion-amendment-3-missouri-ballot/">said&nbsp;</a>the amendment would not repeal the state’s current abortion law or take it off the books. Instead, they said, it would create a new law that would supersede much of the existing one because not every element of the current law would be rendered moot, including laws protecting women who get abortions from prosecution.&nbsp;

And, they added, anything that falls under the scope of the amendment would be left to the judicial system to interpret.&nbsp;

Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh did not agree. On Friday he ruled that the campaign did not meet the sufficiency requirement through a “failure to include any statute or provision that will be repealed, especially when many of these statutes are apparent.”&nbsp;

While Limbaugh recommended the amendment be taken off the ballot, he ultimately left the decision up to a higher court.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability and protect other reproductive rights, including birth control. Abortion is illegal in Missouri with limited exceptions for medical emergencies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725997401102.png" alt=" The Missouri Supreme Court takes the bench on Tuesday in Jefferson City to hear a case questioning whether an amendment to overturn the state’s abortion ban will remain on the state’s November ballot. From left are Judges Kelly C. Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary R. Russell, Zel. M. Fischer, Paul C. Wilson and Ginger K. Gooch (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch)." />
 <figcaption> The Missouri Supreme Court takes the bench on Tuesday in Jefferson City to hear a case questioning whether an amendment to overturn the state’s abortion ban will remain on the state’s November ballot. From left are Judges Kelly C. Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary R. Russell, Zel. M. Fischer, Paul C. Wilson and Ginger K. Gooch (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The court ordered Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to tell local election authorities to put Amendment 3 on the Nov. 5 ballot</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missourians will have the opportunity to vote to enshrine abortion in the state constitution this November, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.&nbsp;In a decision published less than three hours before the constitutional deadline to remove a question from the ballot, the Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling that recommended the measure be stripped from the Nov. 5 ballot.&nbsp;Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft “shall certify to local election authorities that Amendment 3 be placed on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot and shall take all steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot,” the judgment read.In a lawsuit filed late last month, a number of anti-abortion lawmakers and activists sued Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for certifying Amendment 3 for the ballot.&nbsp;On the eve of the Supreme Court hearing, Ashcroft announced he was decertifying the measure, a potentially unprecedented attempt to rescind his previous decision in an attempt to block the measure from the ballot.The Supreme Court judges said Ashcroft missed his statutory deadline to change his mind.“Respondent Ashcroft certified the petition as sufficient prior to that deadline, and any action taken to change that decision weeks after the statutory deadline expired is a nullity and of no effect,” the judges wrote.&nbsp;In order to get a citizen-led Amendment on the ballot, the campaign behind the measure must first collect enough signatures from six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. When asked for signatures, state law requires that the amendment be attached in full.&nbsp;The initiative petition circulated by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom did not include any current law that would be repealed, the issue at the crux of the lower court’s ruling.&nbsp;There is also a section of state law that requires initiative petitions “include all sections of existing law or of the constitution which would be repealed by the measure.”Attorneys for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom have&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/06/judge-decides-abortion-amendment-3-missouri-ballot/">said&nbsp;</a>the amendment would not repeal the state’s current abortion law or take it off the books. Instead, they said, it would create a new law that would supersede much of the existing one because not every element of the current law would be rendered moot, including laws protecting women who get abortions from prosecution.&nbsp;And, they added, anything that falls under the scope of the amendment would be left to the judicial system to interpret.&nbsp;Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh did not agree. On Friday he ruled that the campaign did not meet the sufficiency requirement through a “failure to include any statute or provision that will be repealed, especially when many of these statutes are apparent.”&nbsp;While Limbaugh recommended the amendment be taken off the ballot, he ultimately left the decision up to a higher court.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability and protect other reproductive rights, including birth control. Abortion is illegal in Missouri with limited exceptions for medical emergencies.

Missouri Supreme Court rules amendment legalizing abortion will remain on ballot

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — As Congress returns from a five-week recess Monday, House Republicans have attached a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections — which is already unlawful — to a stopgap funding bill that is already teeing up a battle with the Senate and White House.

The GOP drive in Congress echoes state lawmakers’ push for&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/05/06/though-noncitizens-can-vote-in-few-local-elections-gop-goes-big-to-make-it-illegal/" target="_blank">ballot measures</a>&nbsp;this November that would bar noncitizens from voting in&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/06/21/idaho-legislators-approve-ballot-info-for-noncitizen-voting-constitutional-amendment/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/18/kentucky-elections-officials-say-noncitizens-arent-voting-in-the-state/" target="_blank">Kentucky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-upholds-ballot-language-to-ban-noncitizen-voting-already-illegal-in-missouri/" target="_blank">Missouri</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-house-republicans-advance-a-proposed-constitutional-amendment-to-prohibit-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">North Carolina</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/06/04/republicans-want-oklahomans-to-reword-constitution-to-make-crystal-clear-noncitizens-cant-vote/" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/08/12/panel-decides-citizenship-question-on-sc-ballots-needs-no-explanation/" target="_blank">South Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/legislators-hold-hearing-on-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">Wisconsin</a>.

It also comes in the heat of the presidential campaign, as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2024/09/03/trump-promises-mass-deportations-of-undocumented-people-how-would-that-work/" target="_blank">&nbsp;repeatedly calls for mass deportations&nbsp;</a>of undocumented immigrants and faces the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, in a crucial Tuesday night debate.

Current federal government spending will expire Oct. 1, so Congress must pass a continuing resolution, or CR, to approve temporary spending beyond that date or risk a shutdown.

The measure that requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, which U.S. House Republicans and some vulnerable Democrats passed in July, has been added by the House GOP to a CR that would extend spending until March 28. A vote by the House is expected this week.

The White House on Monday vowed President Joe Biden would issue a veto if Congress passed the measure in that form.

“Instead of meeting the security and disaster needs of the Nation, this bill includes unrelated cynical legislation that would do nothing to safeguard our elections, but would make it much harder for all eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk that eligible voters are purged from voter rolls,” the White House<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/H.R.-9494%E2%80%94-Continuing-Appropriations-and-Other-Matters-Act-2025-Final.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;said in a statement&nbsp;</a>Monday. “It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections — it is a Federal crime punishable by prison and fines.”

The voting language is a nonstarter among Senate Democrats, who hold a slim majority in the chamber.

“As we have said repeatedly, avoiding a government shutdown requires bipartisanship, not a bill drawn up by one party,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray of Washington said in a joint statement Friday.

“If Speaker Johnson drives House Republicans down this highly partisan path, the odds of a shutdown go way up, and Americans will know that the responsibility of a shutdown will be on the House Republicans’ hands,” they continued.

Democrats have argued that the bill is an attempt to sow distrust in U.S. elections ahead of November elections.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has stressed that noncitizen voting in federal elections is an issue, although research has found&nbsp;<a href="https://campaignlegal.org/update/false-claims-noncitizen-voting-harm-our-democracy" target="_blank">it rarely happens.&nbsp;</a>

“As the 2024 election nears, it is imperative that Congress does everything within our power to protect the integrity of our nation’s election system,” he said in a statement.

In April, Johnson while at Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/12/trump-supports-u-s-house-speaker-johnson-elections-agenda-in-joint-appearance/" target="_blank">announced the House would pass a bill relating to noncitizen voting</a>. The former president has often falsely blamed voting by large numbers of undocumented people for his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton as the reason he lost the popular vote.

Other Democrats objected to passing a CR that would last until next year.

The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, criticized the six-month measure because it is “shortchanging veterans and jeopardizing their care by kicking the can down the road until March.”

“A continuing resolution to the end of March provides Republicans with more leverage to attempt to force their unpopular cuts to services that American families depend on to make ends meet,” she said in a statement.

The original noncitizen voting bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr8281rh/pdf/BILLS-118hr8281rh.pdf" target="_blank">H.R.8281,</a>&nbsp;was first introduced by Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. It&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024345?Page=2" target="_blank">passed 221-198</a>, with five Democrats voting with Republicans, but stalled in the Senate.

Those five Democrats who voted in support of the measure are: Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Donald Davis of North Carolina, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

Under current U.S. law, only citizens can vote in federal elections, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2" target="_blank">National Voter Registration Act</a>&nbsp;of 1993 prohibits states from confirming citizenship status.

Along with the ballot measures, hundreds of Republican state legislators have also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.onlycitizensvotecoalition.com/state-leaders-pledge" target="_blank">on to a letter</a>&nbsp;by the Only Citizens Vote Coalition urging Congress to pass a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections.

The Only Citizens Vote Coalition includes election denier activists, organizations headed by former Trump aides and anti-immigrant groups. It was founded by Cleta Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-pick-rnc-chief-worked-top-election-deniers-group" target="_blank">a key figure who tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election&nbsp;</a>and is now running a grassroots organization to aggressively monitor elections in November.

Five of the eight states — Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin — with votes set on ballot measures have state legislators who sponsored bills to put the question on the ballot and are signed on to the letter by Only Citizens Vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725930223008.png" alt=" The U.S. House as it returns from a five-week recess is preparing to vote on a stopgap spending bill that also includes a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption> The U.S. House as it returns from a five-week recess is preparing to vote on a stopgap spending bill that also includes a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — As Congress returns from a five-week recess Monday, House Republicans have attached a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections — which is already unlawful — to a stopgap funding bill that is already teeing up a battle with the Senate and White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a>: &quot;I believe we can fund the government responsibly and I believe that we can do right by the American people and ensure the security of our elections. I defy anybody to give me any logical argument why we shouldn&#39;t do that. That&#39;s why I&#39;m so resolute about this.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SHvLqS0QPj">pic.twitter.com/SHvLqS0QPj</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833521566954475819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The GOP drive in Congress echoes state lawmakers’ push for&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/05/06/though-noncitizens-can-vote-in-few-local-elections-gop-goes-big-to-make-it-illegal/" target="_blank">ballot measures</a>&nbsp;this November that would bar noncitizens from voting in&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/06/21/idaho-legislators-approve-ballot-info-for-noncitizen-voting-constitutional-amendment/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/18/kentucky-elections-officials-say-noncitizens-arent-voting-in-the-state/" target="_blank">Kentucky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-upholds-ballot-language-to-ban-noncitizen-voting-already-illegal-in-missouri/" target="_blank">Missouri</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-house-republicans-advance-a-proposed-constitutional-amendment-to-prohibit-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">North Carolina</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/06/04/republicans-want-oklahomans-to-reword-constitution-to-make-crystal-clear-noncitizens-cant-vote/" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/08/12/panel-decides-citizenship-question-on-sc-ballots-needs-no-explanation/" target="_blank">South Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/legislators-hold-hearing-on-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">Wisconsin</a>.It also comes in the heat of the presidential campaign, as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2024/09/03/trump-promises-mass-deportations-of-undocumented-people-how-would-that-work/" target="_blank">&nbsp;repeatedly calls for mass deportations&nbsp;</a>of undocumented immigrants and faces the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, in a crucial Tuesday night debate.Current federal government spending will expire Oct. 1, so Congress must pass a continuing resolution, or CR, to approve temporary spending beyond that date or risk a shutdown.The measure that requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, which U.S. House Republicans and some vulnerable Democrats passed in July, has been added by the House GOP to a CR that would extend spending until March 28. A vote by the House is expected this week.The White House on Monday vowed President Joe Biden would issue a veto if Congress passed the measure in that form.“Instead of meeting the security and disaster needs of the Nation, this bill includes unrelated cynical legislation that would do nothing to safeguard our elections, but would make it much harder for all eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk that eligible voters are purged from voter rolls,” the White House<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/H.R.-9494%E2%80%94-Continuing-Appropriations-and-Other-Matters-Act-2025-Final.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;said in a statement&nbsp;</a>Monday. “It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections — it is a Federal crime punishable by prison and fines.”<h2>Senate opposition</h2>The voting language is a nonstarter among Senate Democrats, who hold a slim majority in the chamber.“As we have said repeatedly, avoiding a government shutdown requires bipartisanship, not a bill drawn up by one party,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray of Washington said in a joint statement Friday.“If Speaker Johnson drives House Republicans down this highly partisan path, the odds of a shutdown go way up, and Americans will know that the responsibility of a shutdown will be on the House Republicans’ hands,” they continued.Democrats have argued that the bill is an attempt to sow distrust in U.S. elections ahead of November elections.House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has stressed that noncitizen voting in federal elections is an issue, although research has found&nbsp;<a href="https://campaignlegal.org/update/false-claims-noncitizen-voting-harm-our-democracy" target="_blank">it rarely happens.&nbsp;</a>“As the 2024 election nears, it is imperative that Congress does everything within our power to protect the integrity of our nation’s election system,” he said in a statement.The bill is also supported by Trump.In April, Johnson while at Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/12/trump-supports-u-s-house-speaker-johnson-elections-agenda-in-joint-appearance/" target="_blank">announced the House would pass a bill relating to noncitizen voting</a>. The former president has often falsely blamed voting by large numbers of undocumented people for his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton as the reason he lost the popular vote.Other Democrats objected to passing a CR that would last until next year.The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, criticized the six-month measure because it is “shortchanging veterans and jeopardizing their care by kicking the can down the road until March.”“A continuing resolution to the end of March provides Republicans with more leverage to attempt to force their unpopular cuts to services that American families depend on to make ends meet,” she said in a statement.<h2>Texas congressman spearheads bill</h2>The original noncitizen voting bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr8281rh/pdf/BILLS-118hr8281rh.pdf" target="_blank">H.R.8281,</a>&nbsp;was first introduced by Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. It&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024345?Page=2" target="_blank">passed 221-198</a>, with five Democrats voting with Republicans, but stalled in the Senate.Those five Democrats who voted in support of the measure are: Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Donald Davis of North Carolina, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.Under current U.S. law, only citizens can vote in federal elections, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2" target="_blank">National Voter Registration Act</a>&nbsp;of 1993 prohibits states from confirming citizenship status.Along with the ballot measures, hundreds of Republican state legislators have also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.onlycitizensvotecoalition.com/state-leaders-pledge" target="_blank">on to a letter</a>&nbsp;by the Only Citizens Vote Coalition urging Congress to pass a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections.The Only Citizens Vote Coalition includes election denier activists, organizations headed by former Trump aides and anti-immigrant groups. It was founded by Cleta Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-pick-rnc-chief-worked-top-election-deniers-group" target="_blank">a key figure who tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election&nbsp;</a>and is now running a grassroots organization to aggressively monitor elections in November.Five of the eight states — Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin — with votes set on ballot measures have state legislators who sponsored bills to put the question on the ballot and are signed on to the letter by Only Citizens Vote.

🎥U.S. House GOP sets up fight over noncitizen voting in bill averting government shutdown

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that damaged three homes on Monday night in Topeka.

Just after&nbsp;11:30 p.m., crews responded to report of a house fire 406 SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to spokesperson Rosie Nichols

First responders found heavy smoke and flames coming from a two-story home.&nbsp; There were no residents home and no injuries reported.

The fire originated on the second floor of the home.&nbsp;Heat from the fire caused an estimated $10,000 in structural damages to a neighboring house and approximately $4,000 to a second neighboring house.

The total estimated loss at the home where the fire originated was approximately $18,500, including approximately $4,500 in structural damages. 

Working smoke detectors were not located in the house where the fire originated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725978031146.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the Monday night fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the Monday night fire -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire that damaged three homes on Monday night in Topeka.Just after&nbsp;11:30 p.m., crews responded to report of a house fire 406 SW Clay Street in Topeka, according to spokesperson Rosie NicholsFirst responders found heavy smoke and flames coming from a two-story home.&nbsp; There were no residents home and no injuries reported.The fire originated on the second floor of the home.&nbsp;Heat from the fire caused an estimated $10,000 in structural damages to a neighboring house and approximately $4,000 to a second neighboring house.The total estimated loss at the home where the fire originated was approximately $18,500, including approximately $4,500 in structural damages. Working smoke detectors were not located in the house where the fire originated.

Fire at Kansas home damages two adjacent houses

Schwab urges U.S. Postal Service to guarantee timely delivery of postmarked ballots

TOPEKA — The Kansas secretary of state said in a letter to the U.S. postmaster general that approximately 1,000 August primary voters in Kansas were disenfranchised because ballots mailed before Election Day in August arrived in county offices more than three days after the deadline or without an essential postmark.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who serves as the state’s chief elections officer, told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy there was cause to be “extremely concerned” about “a troubling pattern that persists in the U.S. Postal Service’s processing and handling of ballots.” He send the same letter to the six members of the Kansas congressional delegation.

During the August primary, Schwab said, 18% of Kansans exercised the constitutional right to vote by sending ballots through the mail. Nearly 1,000 of those individuals, or 2% of ballots transmitted by mail in Kansas, weren’t counted “due to USPS administrative failures,” he said.

In correspondence released Monday, Schwab sought assurances that the USPS would guarantee every mail ballot in the November general election received a postmark so it could be counted. Schwab also asked that ballots placed in USPS custody before Election Day would be delivered to county offices before the three-day, post-election window closed.

“The USPS’ proper and timely handling of mail ballots is a key aspect to maintaining trust in our election system by assuring the public that utmost care is taken to preserve the safety and security of their ballot,” Schwab said. “Kansas has had mail voting in some form since the Civil War, but never has a lack of confidence in the delivery of our ballot been questioned as it has in the 21st century.”

Kansas law requires advance mail-in ballots to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Only ballots received in county election offices within three days of a primary or general election could be counted in Kansas.

Schwab said a post-election survey showed county election offices in the state received ballots from the postal service days or weeks after they were mailed. He said some ballots placed in the mail ahead of Election Day didn’t get a postmark.

Approximately half the state’s county clerks reported receiving mail-in ballots without a postmark or after the three-day grace period permitted under statute, he said.

“It is unacceptable that voters, who follow the rules for requesting, voting and returning their mail ballot, are disenfranchised by the USPS because ballots that were properly and timely mailed were delivered without a postmark or not at all,” Schwab said.

In July, the USPS’ office of inspector general recommended the postal service make changes to allow postmarking of ballots that erroneously didn’t receive one. The operational shift could help voters feel more confident their ballot would move efficiently through USPS, the inspector general said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720316487639.png" alt="Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, send a letter to the U.S. postmaster general and the Kansas congressional delegation complaining that nearly 1,000 advance ballots dropped in the mail before Election Day in the August primary weren't counted because envelopes lacked the required postmark or arrived after the three-day grace period&nbsp;authorized under state law.-Post file photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, send a letter to the U.S. postmaster general and the Kansas congressional delegation complaining that nearly 1,000 advance ballots dropped in the mail before Election Day in the August primary weren't counted because envelopes lacked the required postmark or arrived after the three-day grace period&nbsp;authorized under state law.-Post file photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Schwab urges U.S. Postal Service to guarantee timely delivery of postmarked ballots</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas secretary of state said in a letter to the U.S. postmaster general that approximately 1,000 August primary voters in Kansas were disenfranchised because ballots mailed before Election Day in August arrived in county offices more than three days after the deadline or without an essential postmark.Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who serves as the state’s chief elections officer, told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy there was cause to be “extremely concerned” about “a troubling pattern that persists in the U.S. Postal Service’s processing and handling of ballots.” He send the same letter to the six members of the Kansas congressional delegation.During the August primary, Schwab said, 18% of Kansans exercised the constitutional right to vote by sending ballots through the mail. Nearly 1,000 of those individuals, or 2% of ballots transmitted by mail in Kansas, weren’t counted “due to USPS administrative failures,” he said.In correspondence released Monday, Schwab sought assurances that the USPS would guarantee every mail ballot in the November general election received a postmark so it could be counted. Schwab also asked that ballots placed in USPS custody before Election Day would be delivered to county offices before the three-day, post-election window closed.“The USPS’ proper and timely handling of mail ballots is a key aspect to maintaining trust in our election system by assuring the public that utmost care is taken to preserve the safety and security of their ballot,” Schwab said. “Kansas has had mail voting in some form since the Civil War, but never has a lack of confidence in the delivery of our ballot been questioned as it has in the 21st century.”Kansas law requires advance mail-in ballots to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Only ballots received in county election offices within three days of a primary or general election could be counted in Kansas.Schwab said a post-election survey showed county election offices in the state received ballots from the postal service days or weeks after they were mailed. He said some ballots placed in the mail ahead of Election Day didn’t get a postmark.Approximately half the state’s county clerks reported receiving mail-in ballots without a postmark or after the three-day grace period permitted under statute, he said.“It is unacceptable that voters, who follow the rules for requesting, voting and returning their mail ballot, are disenfranchised by the USPS because ballots that were properly and timely mailed were delivered without a postmark or not at all,” Schwab said.In July, the USPS’ office of inspector general recommended the postal service make changes to allow postmarking of ballots that erroneously didn’t receive one. The operational shift could help voters feel more confident their ballot would move efficiently through USPS, the inspector general said.

Kansas election official says nearly 1,000 primary ballots tossed due to mail processing issues

KANSAS CITY—Over the weekend police continued enforcement against criminals performing illegal sideshows all around Kansas City, including both sides of the river, according to a social media report from Kansas City Police.

Police made two arrests had six vehicles towed and issued 57 citations, including for spectating.

Property Crimes detectives also joined, as some vehicles were stolen. Officers also recovered four guns.

"Officers put their personal safety at risk against hundreds of criminals who chose not to obey the law, but the streets belong to all of us, and we will continue the work."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725931467781.png" alt="Guns recovered during the side show arrests in Kansas City-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Guns recovered during the side show arrests in Kansas City-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Over the weekend police continued enforcement against criminals performing illegal sideshows all around Kansas City, including both sides of the river, according to a social media report from Kansas City Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725931670203.png" alt="Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>Police made two arrests had six vehicles towed and issued 57 citations, including for spectating.

Property Crimes detectives also joined, as some vehicles were stolen. Officers also recovered four guns.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725931448287.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Officers put their personal safety at risk against hundreds of criminals who chose not to obey the law, but the streets belong to all of us, and we will continue the work."

KCPD busts more sideshows, seizes guns, cars and makes arrests

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will take the stage next week in the only planned debate between the respective Democratic and GOP presidential candidates between now and November.

It’s the first presidential debate since President Joe Biden bowed out of the race following his own disastrous debate performance in late June against Trump. Biden, who faced mounting calls to resign,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pass-torch-biden-addresses-nation-why-he-wont-seek-second-term" target="_blank">passed the torch</a>&nbsp;to Harris back in July.

The veep has embarked on an unprecedented and expedited campaign as she and Trump vie for the Oval Office. The election is just two months away.

Though the Harris and Trump campaigns clashed over debate procedures in recent weeks, both candidates have agreed to the finalized rules. ABC News, host of the debate, released the rules Wednesday.

The debate will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. Eastern time at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The debate will be 90 minutes long and include two commercial breaks,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.com/news/5e38600c-4732-4cd2-a99c-3dedfa81beb0/category/1138628" target="_blank">according to ABC</a>.

The Keystone State — where both Harris and Trump have spent a lot of time campaigning — could determine the outcome of the presidential election. The battleground state has narrowly flip-flopped in recent elections, with Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">turning Pennsylvania blue</a>&nbsp;in 2020 after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">secured a red win</a>&nbsp;in 2016.

The debate will air live on ABC News and will also be streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.

ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the debate.

Harris and Trump will each have two minutes to answer questions and two minutes to give rebuttals. They will also be granted one additional minute to clarify or follow up on anything.

Microphones will be muted when it’s not a candidate’s turn to speak, just like the previous debate between Biden and Trump in June.

The candidates will not give opening statements. Trump won a coin flip to determine the order of closing statements and podium placement. Trump, who selected the statement order, will give the final closing statement.

Each closing statement will be two minutes long.

Harris and Trump are not allowed to bring any props or prewritten notes to the debate stage. They will each receive a pen, a pad of paper and a water bottle.

There will be no live audience at the National Constitution Center, as was the case in the last presidential debate.

Harris and Trump are not permitted to interact with their campaign staff during the two commercial breaks.

Trump went on the attack over the details of the debate, telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/town-hall-no-questions-trump-grouses-about-polls-attacks-debate-host" target="_blank">Fox News’ Sean Hannity</a>&nbsp;during an interview Wednesday in Pennsylvania that “ABC is the worst network in terms of fairness” and “the most dishonest network, the meanest, the nastiest.”

He accused the network of releasing poor polls on purpose ahead of a previous election to drive down voter turnout.

Trump also claimed, without evidence, that Harris would get the questions in advance of the debate. ABC’s debate rules state that no candidates or campaigns will receive any topics or questions ahead of the event.

Meanwhile, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance will battle it out at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/mark-your-calendar-vp-candidates-walz-and-vance-debate-oct-1" target="_blank">vice presidential debate</a>&nbsp;hosted by CBS News on Oct. 1 in New York City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724867447394.png" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will take the stage next week in the only planned debate between the respective Democratic and GOP presidential candidates between now and November.It’s the first presidential debate since President Joe Biden bowed out of the race following his own disastrous debate performance in late June against Trump. Biden, who faced mounting calls to resign,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pass-torch-biden-addresses-nation-why-he-wont-seek-second-term" target="_blank">passed the torch</a>&nbsp;to Harris back in July.The veep has embarked on an unprecedented and expedited campaign as she and Trump vie for the Oval Office. The election is just two months away.Though the Harris and Trump campaigns clashed over debate procedures in recent weeks, both candidates have agreed to the finalized rules. ABC News, host of the debate, released the rules Wednesday.<h2>When and where is the debate?</h2>The debate will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. Eastern time at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The debate will be 90 minutes long and include two commercial breaks,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.com/news/5e38600c-4732-4cd2-a99c-3dedfa81beb0/category/1138628" target="_blank">according to ABC</a>.The Keystone State — where both Harris and Trump have spent a lot of time campaigning — could determine the outcome of the presidential election. The battleground state has narrowly flip-flopped in recent elections, with Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">turning Pennsylvania blue</a>&nbsp;in 2020 after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">secured a red win</a>&nbsp;in 2016.<h2>How can I watch the debate?</h2>The debate will air live on ABC News and will also be streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the debate.Harris and Trump will each have two minutes to answer questions and two minutes to give rebuttals. They will also be granted one additional minute to clarify or follow up on anything.<h2>Will the mics be muted?</h2>Microphones will be muted when it’s not a candidate’s turn to speak, just like the previous debate between Biden and Trump in June.The candidates will not give opening statements. Trump won a coin flip to determine the order of closing statements and podium placement. Trump, who selected the statement order, will give the final closing statement.Each closing statement will be two minutes long.Harris and Trump are not allowed to bring any props or prewritten notes to the debate stage. They will each receive a pen, a pad of paper and a water bottle.<h2>Will there be a live audience?</h2>There will be no live audience at the National Constitution Center, as was the case in the last presidential debate.Harris and Trump are not permitted to interact with their campaign staff during the two commercial breaks.<h2>Trump slams ABC ahead of debate</h2>Trump went on the attack over the details of the debate, telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/town-hall-no-questions-trump-grouses-about-polls-attacks-debate-host" target="_blank">Fox News’ Sean Hannity</a>&nbsp;during an interview Wednesday in Pennsylvania that “ABC is the worst network in terms of fairness” and “the most dishonest network, the meanest, the nastiest.”He accused the network of releasing poor polls on purpose ahead of a previous election to drive down voter turnout.Trump also claimed, without evidence, that Harris would get the questions in advance of the debate. ABC’s debate rules state that no candidates or campaigns will receive any topics or questions ahead of the event.Meanwhile, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance will battle it out at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/mark-your-calendar-vp-candidates-walz-and-vance-debate-oct-1" target="_blank">vice presidential debate</a>&nbsp;hosted by CBS News on Oct. 1 in New York City.

5 things to know about the Harris-Trump presidential debate  

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal crash involving two vehicles in Shawnee County on Sunday have identified the victim as 45-year-old&nbsp; Julie A. Tibbits of Topeka.

According to Deputy Abigail Christian, a southbound Dodge sedan with two occupants and a Buick SUV with four occupants collided at NE Kincaid Road and 62nd Street.&nbsp;

Tibbits was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to Deputy Christian. American Medical Response transported four others to a local hospital.&nbsp; The crash remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725840465323.png" alt="View of the fatal crash scene -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>View of the fatal crash scene -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal crash involving two vehicles in Shawnee County on Sunday have identified the victim as 45-year-old&nbsp; Julie A. Tibbits of Topeka.According to Deputy Abigail Christian, a southbound Dodge sedan with two occupants and a Buick SUV with four occupants collided at NE Kincaid Road and 62nd Street.&nbsp;Tibbits was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to Deputy Christian. American Medical Response transported four others to a local hospital.&nbsp; The crash remains under investigation.

Sheriff IDs Kan. woman who died in crash that injured 4 others

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 1 a.m. Friday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck without an operable tag light in the 1100 block of NW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver had a revoked driver’s license and illegal narcotics were located.

The passenger, Kimberly D. Fish, 50, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.&nbsp; The driver was not arrested.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725718597721.png" alt="Fish-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Fish-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just before 1 a.m. Friday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck without an operable tag light in the 1100 block of NW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver had a revoked driver’s license and illegal narcotics were located.The passenger, Kimberly D. Fish, 50, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.&nbsp; The driver was not arrested.

Kan. driver did not know passenger was in possession of drugs 

As of Monday afternoon, Amendment 3 was no longer listed on the secretary of state’s website as appearing on the November ballot

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Brief%20of%20Respondent%20Secretary%20of%20State%20John%20R.%20Ashcroft.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=201733" target="_blank">Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft decertified</a>&nbsp;a ballot measure that would legalize abortion, a move aimed at blocking it from appearing on the November ballot, according to a brief filed Monday with the state Supreme Court.

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/">Last month, Ashcroft announced&nbsp;</a>the reproductive-rights proposal would appear on the ballot as&nbsp;<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Amendment 3</a>. But a Cole County judge on Friday ruled the amendment violated state law and shouldn’t have been certified.&nbsp;

That ruling is now before the Missouri Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled Tuesday morning and a ruling expected quickly thereafter. The deadline to remove a question from the ballot is also Tuesday.&nbsp;

But before the Supreme Court had the chance to weigh in, Ashcroft said he had changed his mind.&nbsp;

“On further review in light of the circuit court’s judgment, the Secretary believes the amendment is deficient,” the secretary of state argues in a filing with the court.&nbsp;

As of Monday afternoon, Amendment 3 was no longer listed on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures" target="_blank">secretary of state’s website as appearing on the November ballot.</a>

“The amendment proponents cannot evade constitutional requirements that advocates of other amendments must and have satisfied simply because the proposed amendment concerns a highly charged moral topic,” the brief read. “This court should enforce the circuit court’s judgment.”

Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for the campaign behind Amendment 3 — Missourians for Constitutional Freedom — said in a statement Monday that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction at this point, not Ashcroft.

Sweet added the campaign is “confident the court will order the secretary of state to keep Amendment 3 on the ballot.”

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/09/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-state-supreme-court/">Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh ruled last week that the measure should be taken off the ballot,</a>&nbsp;but deferred to a higher court for a final ruling. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom quickly appealed.

Missouri law requires that initiative petitions&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=116.050#:~:text=116.050.,pages%20of%20a%20uniform%20size." target="_blank">“include all sections of existing law or of the constitution which would be repealed by the measure.”&nbsp;</a>

During a circuit court hearing Friday, an attorney representing Ashcroft maintained the office believed that the measure met the minimum requirements to be certified.&nbsp;

The anti-abortion plaintiffs who challenged the legality of the amendment have argued that because the campaign behind the ballot measure didn’t list the exact statutes that would be repealed on the initiative petition, the measure is invalid. Attorneys representing Missourians for Constitutional Freedom continue to argue that the measure, if passed, would not truly repeal any part of Missouri’s constitution, but rather supersede most of the current ban on the books.&nbsp;

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom turned in signatures of more than<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/">&nbsp;380,000 Missourians&nbsp;</a>across the state who supported the issue landing on the ballot. If Amendment 3 is ultimately on the Nov. 5 ballot and wins by a simple majority, Missouri could be the first state to overturn an abortion ban.

<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Amendment 3&nbsp;</a>would establish the constitutional right to an abortion up until fetal viability and grant constitutional protections to other reproductive health care, including birth control. It would also protect those who assist in an abortion from prosecution.&nbsp;

Nearly every abortion, with limited exceptions for the life and health of the mother, has remained illegal in Missouri since June 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure. Missouri’s ban does not include exceptions for victims of rape or incest.

The plaintiffs — state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, state Rep. Hannah Kelly, anti-abortion activist Kathy Forck and shelter operator Marguerite Forrest — said in a statement Friday evening that the amendment’s scope is about more than just abortion and could be interpreted to also include gender-affirming care and human cloning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724262530682.png" alt="-Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined the Midwest March for Life on May 1 at the Missouri State Capitol. “I think regardless of what the legislature does, the people of this state – with hard work – can protect all life in this state,” Ashcroft said (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent). " />
 <figcaption>-Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined the Midwest March for Life on May 1 at the Missouri State Capitol. “I think regardless of what the legislature does, the people of this state – with hard work – can protect all life in this state,” Ashcroft said (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent). </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>As of Monday afternoon, Amendment 3 was no longer listed on the secretary of state’s website as appearing on the November ballot</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Brief%20of%20Respondent%20Secretary%20of%20State%20John%20R.%20Ashcroft.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=201733" target="_blank">Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft decertified</a>&nbsp;a ballot measure that would legalize abortion, a move aimed at blocking it from appearing on the November ballot, according to a brief filed Monday with the state Supreme Court.<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/">Last month, Ashcroft announced&nbsp;</a>the reproductive-rights proposal would appear on the ballot as&nbsp;<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Amendment 3</a>. But a Cole County judge on Friday ruled the amendment violated state law and shouldn’t have been certified.&nbsp;That ruling is now before the Missouri Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled Tuesday morning and a ruling expected quickly thereafter. The deadline to remove a question from the ballot is also Tuesday.&nbsp;But before the Supreme Court had the chance to weigh in, Ashcroft said he had changed his mind.&nbsp;“On further review in light of the circuit court’s judgment, the Secretary believes the amendment is deficient,” the secretary of state argues in a filing with the court.&nbsp;As of Monday afternoon, Amendment 3 was no longer listed on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures" target="_blank">secretary of state’s website as appearing on the November ballot.</a>“The amendment proponents cannot evade constitutional requirements that advocates of other amendments must and have satisfied simply because the proposed amendment concerns a highly charged moral topic,” the brief read. “This court should enforce the circuit court’s judgment.”Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for the campaign behind Amendment 3 — Missourians for Constitutional Freedom — said in a statement Monday that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction at this point, not Ashcroft.Sweet added the campaign is “confident the court will order the secretary of state to keep Amendment 3 on the ballot.”<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/09/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-state-supreme-court/">Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh ruled last week that the measure should be taken off the ballot,</a>&nbsp;but deferred to a higher court for a final ruling. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom quickly appealed.Missouri law requires that initiative petitions&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=116.050#:~:text=116.050.,pages%20of%20a%20uniform%20size." target="_blank">“include all sections of existing law or of the constitution which would be repealed by the measure.”&nbsp;</a>During a circuit court hearing Friday, an attorney representing Ashcroft maintained the office believed that the measure met the minimum requirements to be certified.&nbsp;The anti-abortion plaintiffs who challenged the legality of the amendment have argued that because the campaign behind the ballot measure didn’t list the exact statutes that would be repealed on the initiative petition, the measure is invalid. Attorneys representing Missourians for Constitutional Freedom continue to argue that the measure, if passed, would not truly repeal any part of Missouri’s constitution, but rather supersede most of the current ban on the books.&nbsp;Missourians for Constitutional Freedom turned in signatures of more than<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/">&nbsp;380,000 Missourians&nbsp;</a>across the state who supported the issue landing on the ballot. If Amendment 3 is ultimately on the Nov. 5 ballot and wins by a simple majority, Missouri could be the first state to overturn an abortion ban.<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Amendment 3&nbsp;</a>would establish the constitutional right to an abortion up until fetal viability and grant constitutional protections to other reproductive health care, including birth control. It would also protect those who assist in an abortion from prosecution.&nbsp;Nearly every abortion, with limited exceptions for the life and health of the mother, has remained illegal in Missouri since June 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure. Missouri’s ban does not include exceptions for victims of rape or incest.The plaintiffs — state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, state Rep. Hannah Kelly, anti-abortion activist Kathy Forck and shelter operator Marguerite Forrest — said in a statement Friday evening that the amendment’s scope is about more than just abortion and could be interpreted to also include gender-affirming care and human cloning.

Jay Ashcroft seeks to pull abortion amendment off Mo. ballot weeks after approving it

HUTCHINSON —Kansas State Highway Patrol troopers are very busy at the Kansas State Fair.&nbsp; On Sunday night, troopers recovered a stolen firearm, according to a social media report from Troop Tod Hileman.

On Friday night troopers responded to a subject brandishing a weapon on the fairgrounds, according to Hileman.

The subject was placed under arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of a firearm while intoxicated.&nbsp;

"KHP Troopers are dedicated to your protection even while you’re having fun at the Kansas State Fair"

 The KHP released no additional details including the name of the suspect in the Friday night arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725903728220.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON —Kansas State Highway Patrol troopers are very busy at the Kansas State Fair.&nbsp; On Sunday night, troopers recovered a stolen firearm, according to a social media report from Troop Tod Hileman.On Friday night troopers responded to a subject brandishing a weapon on the fairgrounds, according to Hileman.The subject was placed under arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of a firearm while intoxicated.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725735460237.png" alt="The gun recovered on Friday -photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>The gun recovered on Friday -photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>"KHP Troopers are dedicated to your protection even while you’re having fun at the Kansas State Fair" The KHP released no additional details including the name of the suspect in the Friday night arrest.

Troopers recover a stolen gun at the Kansas State Fair

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Wichita Police Department’s “gang list” that targeted young Black and Latino residents based on where they lived, the clothes they wore and funerals they attended will be overhauled after a federal judge approved a settlement agreement in August in a class-action lawsuit.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Kansas Appleseed sued the City of Wichita in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/15/wichita-police-unfairly-target-minorities-with-gang-list-aclu-and-kansas-appleseed-allege-in-lawsuit/">2021</a>&nbsp;alleging constitutional violations on behalf of Progeny, a Wichita-based criminal justice reform organization that focuses on youth empowerment. The suit received class action status in 2023, and the Wichita City Council voted unanimously in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/04/09/wichita-pays-625k-to-settle-lawsuit-over-police-use-of-discriminatory-gang-list/">April</a>&nbsp;to settle the case for $625,000, which went toward litigation costs and the services of a Johnson County judge who will oversee implementation of the policy changes.

“On its inception, our clients were interested in pursuing a change in policy. They were not in it for the money, and so damages claims were never a part of the case,” said Kunyu Ching, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Kansas, in a conversation for the Kansas Reflector podcast.

Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch21/021_063_0013.html" target="_blank">statute</a>&nbsp;deems someone as a criminal gang member if at least three of 10 criteria are met, one of which says someone is a gang member if they adopt a “gang’s style of dress, color, use of hand signs or tattoos.”

The Wichita authorities’ interpretation of the statute resulted in a gang list that contained mostly Black and Latino residents and department policies that put people on the list based on businesses they visited, who they were photographed with and who they were friends with. The advocacy groups said police used unreliable evidence — or no evidence at all — to surveil, harass and discriminate against people they believed were gang members or associates.

The policy changes under the settlement agreement mandate the police department revise its criteria for adding someone’s name to the list, remove all gang associates and inactive gang members or associates from the list, and begin notifying people if they’re added to the list, according to the Aug. 26 written decision from Chief U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren. The new policy allows minors to avoid being added to the list, and it creates an appeals process so people can challenge the appearance of their names on the gang list.

The city plans to create a way for the public to check and see if they are on the police department’s gang list, said Megan Lovely, a City of Wichita spokeswoman, in an emailed statement.

“This mediated agreement is intended to protect the constitutional rights of the citizens of Wichita and allow law enforcement to conduct effective investigations for public safety,” she said.

Marquetta Atkins-Woods, executive director of Progeny, said in a news release the case’s outcome was a “prime example” of youth instigating policy change.

“Our youth were part of the plaintiffs in the case, which is heroic and fierce, to take on something like this,” she said. “I think this lawsuit and settlement are proof positive of how community can come together to be a catalyst for change.”

The settlement agreement also created the position of an ombudsman to oversee a new appeals process, and the Johnson County judge will ensure the agreement’s terms are implemented over the next three years.

Under Wichita’s previous policy, no one was notified if they were on the list, and there was no way to take their name off of it. If convicted of a crime, people who appeared on the list would face higher bond amounts, longer sentences and harsher probation conditions.

“So it’s designed for you to fail,” said Teresa Woody, the litigation director at Kansas Appleseed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617619872501.png" alt="File photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>File photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> TOPEKA — The Wichita Police Department’s “gang list” that targeted young Black and Latino residents based on where they lived, the clothes they wore and funerals they attended will be overhauled after a federal judge approved a settlement agreement in August in a class-action lawsuit.The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Kansas Appleseed sued the City of Wichita in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/04/15/wichita-police-unfairly-target-minorities-with-gang-list-aclu-and-kansas-appleseed-allege-in-lawsuit/">2021</a>&nbsp;alleging constitutional violations on behalf of Progeny, a Wichita-based criminal justice reform organization that focuses on youth empowerment. The suit received class action status in 2023, and the Wichita City Council voted unanimously in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/04/09/wichita-pays-625k-to-settle-lawsuit-over-police-use-of-discriminatory-gang-list/">April</a>&nbsp;to settle the case for $625,000, which went toward litigation costs and the services of a Johnson County judge who will oversee implementation of the policy changes.“On its inception, our clients were interested in pursuing a change in policy. They were not in it for the money, and so damages claims were never a part of the case,” said Kunyu Ching, a staff attorney at the ACLU of Kansas, in a conversation for the Kansas Reflector podcast.Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch21/021_063_0013.html" target="_blank">statute</a>&nbsp;deems someone as a criminal gang member if at least three of 10 criteria are met, one of which says someone is a gang member if they adopt a “gang’s style of dress, color, use of hand signs or tattoos.”The Wichita authorities’ interpretation of the statute resulted in a gang list that contained mostly Black and Latino residents and department policies that put people on the list based on businesses they visited, who they were photographed with and who they were friends with. The advocacy groups said police used unreliable evidence — or no evidence at all — to surveil, harass and discriminate against people they believed were gang members or associates.The policy changes under the settlement agreement mandate the police department revise its criteria for adding someone’s name to the list, remove all gang associates and inactive gang members or associates from the list, and begin notifying people if they’re added to the list, according to the Aug. 26 written decision from Chief U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren. The new policy allows minors to avoid being added to the list, and it creates an appeals process so people can challenge the appearance of their names on the gang list.The city plans to create a way for the public to check and see if they are on the police department’s gang list, said Megan Lovely, a City of Wichita spokeswoman, in an emailed statement.“This mediated agreement is intended to protect the constitutional rights of the citizens of Wichita and allow law enforcement to conduct effective investigations for public safety,” she said.Marquetta Atkins-Woods, executive director of Progeny, said in a news release the case’s outcome was a “prime example” of youth instigating policy change.“Our youth were part of the plaintiffs in the case, which is heroic and fierce, to take on something like this,” she said. “I think this lawsuit and settlement are proof positive of how community can come together to be a catalyst for change.”The settlement agreement also created the position of an ombudsman to oversee a new appeals process, and the Johnson County judge will ensure the agreement’s terms are implemented over the next three years.Under Wichita’s previous policy, no one was notified if they were on the list, and there was no way to take their name off of it. If convicted of a crime, people who appeared on the list would face higher bond amounts, longer sentences and harsher probation conditions.“So it’s designed for you to fail,” said Teresa Woody, the litigation director at Kansas Appleseed.At the time the lawsuit was filed, Wichita’s was the only municipal police department in Kansas using a gang list. The list started as hard-copy files in a box.“Today it’s a database,” Ching said. “But, essentially, it’s a way for the WPD to keep tabs on individuals that they believe are gang members or gang associates.”Wichita police have used a gang list for roughly 30 years, so generations of residents have been impacted, she said. Regardless of whether criminal activity was occurring, police would scout “funerals, weddings, family celebrations, public venues, public gatherings like concerts” as reasons for adding or keeping people on the list, Ching said.Three of the ACLU of Kansas’ clients in the suit were family members, Ching said. Their active status on the gang list was renewed when they gathered at one of their homes for a wake for an infant family member who had died. Police, referencing the nationwide association of street gangs known as the Bloods, called the wake a “Blood party” at the time, Ching said.Black police officers testified that they avoided contact with certain family members because they feared they themselves could be added to the list, she said.Woody said there’s no doubt in her mind that police and the Sedgwick County district attorney knew the list, and the way it was used, was wrong.“I think it was really a way of policing these communities, or over-policing these communities, with an assumption that the folks who lived in those communities were likely criminals,” Woody said.According to an ACLU of Kansas analysis of 2022 data, more than half of people on Wichita’s gang list were Black, nearly 30% were Latino and around 6% were white. Wichita’s population is 68% white with Black residents making up less than 8% of the population and Latino residents making up about 14%. Mostly white police officers staffed Wichita’s gang investigation unit, Woody said.As of May 2022, roughly 5,500 people were on Wichita’s gang list. Woody said roughly two thirds of the people on the list could be removed under the police department’s revised policy, which went into effect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29592/Policy-527--Gang-Offenders-PDF" target="_blank">Aug. 26</a>.