SEATTLE&nbsp;– Frontline Boeing workers voted 64% against accepting the latest contract proposal put forth by their employer, according to a media release from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Jon Holden, President of IAM District 751 and Brandon Bryant, President of IAM District W24, issued the following joint statement following the votes being tallied:

“The elected negotiating committee of workers did not recommend for or against this particular proposal. After 10 years of sacrifices, we still have ground to make up, and we’re hopeful to do so by resuming negotiations promptly. This is workplace democracy – and also clear evidence that there are consequences when a company mistreats its workers year after year. Workers across America know what it’s like for a company to take and take – and Boeing workers are saying they are fully and strongly committed to balancing that out by winning back more of what was taken from them by the company for more than a decade. Ten years of holding workers back unfortunately cannot be undone quickly or easily, but we will continue to negotiate in good faith until we have made gains that workers feel adequately make up for what the company took from them in the past.”

IAM International President Brian Bryant&nbsp;issued the following statement:

“The entire IAM Union, all 600,000 members across North America, stand with our District 751 and W24 membership. Their fight is our fight – and we support their decision to continue this strike for fairness and dignity for Boeing workers.”

33,000 IAM District 751 and W24 members at Boeing in Washington state, Oregon and California are seeking to make up ground for nearly 10 years of stagnant wages and many givebacks that were part of prior negotiations. Their strike will continue and the union said it plans to immediately send new dates for further negotiations to the company.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727171580133.png" alt="Photo International Association of Machinists &amp; Aerospace Workers" />
 <figcaption>Photo International Association of Machinists &amp; Aerospace Workers</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE&nbsp;– Frontline Boeing workers voted 64% against accepting the latest contract proposal put forth by their employer, according to a media release from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.Jon Holden, President of IAM District 751 and Brandon Bryant, President of IAM District W24, issued the following joint statement following the votes being tallied:“The elected negotiating committee of workers did not recommend for or against this particular proposal. After 10 years of sacrifices, we still have ground to make up, and we’re hopeful to do so by resuming negotiations promptly. This is workplace democracy – and also clear evidence that there are consequences when a company mistreats its workers year after year. Workers across America know what it’s like for a company to take and take – and Boeing workers are saying they are fully and strongly committed to balancing that out by winning back more of what was taken from them by the company for more than a decade. Ten years of holding workers back unfortunately cannot be undone quickly or easily, but we will continue to negotiate in good faith until we have made gains that workers feel adequately make up for what the company took from them in the past.”IAM International President Brian Bryant&nbsp;issued the following statement:“The entire IAM Union, all 600,000 members across North America, stand with our District 751 and W24 membership. Their fight is our fight – and we support their decision to continue this strike for fairness and dignity for Boeing workers.”33,000 IAM District 751 and W24 members at Boeing in Washington state, Oregon and California are seeking to make up ground for nearly 10 years of stagnant wages and many givebacks that were part of prior negotiations. Their strike will continue and the union said it plans to immediately send new dates for further negotiations to the company.

Boeing workers reject new labor contract, extending strike

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.

A Suzuki Reno was eastbound on MO 210 Highway at N Kimball Drive, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a large concrete traffic signal pole. The driver was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; Police have not released the names of the victims.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.A Suzuki Reno was eastbound on MO 210 Highway at N Kimball Drive, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the left and struck a large concrete traffic signal pole. The driver was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; Police have not released the names of the victims.

KCPD: Passenger dead after car strikes traffic signal pole

BUTLER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) are investigating a suspected homicide that occurred at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.

Just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday, the correctional facility notified the KBI of a suspicious death.&nbsp;The investigation indicates that 40-year-old Brooks Vonthaer was found unresponsive in his cell by corrections officers at approximately 5 p.m. Vonthaer had sustained multiple fatal injuries. Medical personnel pronounced him deceased at 5:18 p.m.

A 34-year-old male suspect was identified. He is incarcerated at the facility and was Vonthaer’s cellmate. The KBI did not release the name of the cellmate.

By statute, the KBI investigates the deaths of prisoners in the custody of Kansas jails and prisons, unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.

Once the investigation is completed, findings will be presented to the Butler County Attorney’s Office for determination of charges.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609080609892.png" alt="Vonthaer from a Dec. 2020 arrest in Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Vonthaer from a Dec. 2020 arrest in Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) are investigating a suspected homicide that occurred at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.Just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday, the correctional facility notified the KBI of a suspicious death.&nbsp;The investigation indicates that 40-year-old Brooks Vonthaer was found unresponsive in his cell by corrections officers at approximately 5 p.m. Vonthaer had sustained multiple fatal injuries. Medical personnel pronounced him deceased at 5:18 p.m.A 34-year-old male suspect was identified. He is incarcerated at the facility and was Vonthaer’s cellmate. The KBI did not release the name of the cellmate.By statute, the KBI investigates the deaths of prisoners in the custody of Kansas jails and prisons, unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.Once the investigation is completed, findings will be presented to the Butler County Attorney’s Office for determination of charges.&nbsp;

KBI: Kansas inmate accused of killing his cellmate

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

A reporter for a Kansas City television station was struck by a bullet fragment Tuesday while covering a shooting range campaign event for Democrat Lucas Kunce.

Kunce, a Marine veteran hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, provided first aid to KSHB reporter Ryan Gamboa after a bullet fragment ricocheted off a target and struck him in the arm.

<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kshb-41-reporter-injured-at-lucas-kunce-campaign-event" target="_blank">KSHB reports</a>&nbsp;Gamboa’s injuries were minor and he was released from the hospital on Tuesday.

Kunce was holding an event at a shooting range near Kansas City with former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican. After the event, Kunce released a statement on social media reminding shooters to “<a href="https://x.com/LucasKunceMO/status/1848886246749184008" target="_blank">always have your first aid kit handy</a>.”

“Shrapnel can always fly when you hit a target like today,” Kunce said, “and you’ve got to be ready to go. We had four first aid kits, so we were able to take care of the situation, and I’m glad Ryan is okay and was able to continue reporting.”

Hawley was quick to&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/1848884106077127065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1848884106077127065%7Ctwgr%5Ee19a1ddce1021972d3df84fa37f490823eff4b4b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.komu.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2Ftv-reporter-struck-by-bullet-fragment-at-lucas-kunce-campaign-event%2Farticle_b74dd53a-90dc-11ef-9bfb-53ccc95f1294.html" target="_blank">mock Kunce for the shooting range incident</a>, jokingly posting on social media: “I condemn all acts of violence against reporters and call on Kunce never to shoot another one.”

<a href="https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/1848906167130493056" target="_blank">He added</a>: “I know the Kunce campaign needed a shot in the arm, but this is taking it a little far.”

Kunce later responded by sharing&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LucasKunceMO/status/1848887386840686785" target="_blank">video footage of Hawley fleeing from a mob of rioters</a>&nbsp;after they breached the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election.

“The last time Josh Hawley saw a gun,” Kunce wrote,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/abigailmarone/status/1848887632509481230" target="_blank">garnering a response</a>&nbsp;from Hawley’s spokeswoman: “You just shot someone, relax.”

Every public poll of the race has shown Hawley in the lead, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2024/missouri/hawley-vs-kunce" target="_blank">most putting the Republican up by double digits</a>. And Missouri hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2018.

But Kunce has c<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/16/democrat-lucas-kunce-outraises-missouri-republican-sen-josh-hawley/">onsistently outraised Hawley</a>, including in the last quarter where he reported raising $7.6 million compared to around $4 million for Hawley and a supportive political action committee. But Hawley ended the quarter with more cash on hand, finishing September with $2.6 million for the campaign’s homestretch compared with $1.5 million for Kunce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729709021542.png" alt=" Lucas Kunce applies first aid to KSHB reporter Ryan Gamboa after a bullet fragment ricocheted off a target and struck him in the arm while former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger looks on (photo: Lucas Kunce for Missouri)." />
 <figcaption> Lucas Kunce applies first aid to KSHB reporter Ryan Gamboa after a bullet fragment ricocheted off a target and struck him in the arm while former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger looks on (photo: Lucas Kunce for Missouri).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>A reporter for a Kansas City television station was struck by a bullet fragment Tuesday while covering a shooting range campaign event for Democrat Lucas Kunce.Kunce, a Marine veteran hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, provided first aid to KSHB reporter Ryan Gamboa after a bullet fragment ricocheted off a target and struck him in the arm.<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kshb-41-reporter-injured-at-lucas-kunce-campaign-event" target="_blank">KSHB reports</a>&nbsp;Gamboa’s injuries were minor and he was released from the hospital on Tuesday.Kunce was holding an event at a shooting range near Kansas City with former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican. After the event, Kunce released a statement on social media reminding shooters to “<a href="https://x.com/LucasKunceMO/status/1848886246749184008" target="_blank">always have your first aid kit handy</a>.”“Shrapnel can always fly when you hit a target like today,” Kunce said, “and you’ve got to be ready to go. We had four first aid kits, so we were able to take care of the situation, and I’m glad Ryan is okay and was able to continue reporting.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My grandma is a better shot than Lucas Kunce <a href="https://t.co/rSjnBTlWeh">pic.twitter.com/rSjnBTlWeh</a>&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1848891356942344506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Hawley was quick to&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/1848884106077127065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1848884106077127065%7Ctwgr%5Ee19a1ddce1021972d3df84fa37f490823eff4b4b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.komu.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2Ftv-reporter-struck-by-bullet-fragment-at-lucas-kunce-campaign-event%2Farticle_b74dd53a-90dc-11ef-9bfb-53ccc95f1294.html" target="_blank">mock Kunce for the shooting range incident</a>, jokingly posting on social media: “I condemn all acts of violence against reporters and call on Kunce never to shoot another one.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I condemn all acts of violence against reporters and call on Kunce never to shoot another one 😂😂😂&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1848884106077127065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://x.com/HawleyMO/status/1848906167130493056" target="_blank">He added</a>: “I know the Kunce campaign needed a shot in the arm, but this is taking it a little far.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Will Kamala condemn the gun violence by Kunce and Kinzinger?&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1848905255511331049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kunce later responded by sharing&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LucasKunceMO/status/1848887386840686785" target="_blank">video footage of Hawley fleeing from a mob of rioters</a>&nbsp;after they breached the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election.“The last time Josh Hawley saw a gun,” Kunce wrote,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/abigailmarone/status/1848887632509481230" target="_blank">garnering a response</a>&nbsp;from Hawley’s spokeswoman: “You just shot someone, relax.”Every public poll of the race has shown Hawley in the lead, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2024/missouri/hawley-vs-kunce" target="_blank">most putting the Republican up by double digits</a>. And Missouri hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2018.But Kunce has c<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/16/democrat-lucas-kunce-outraises-missouri-republican-sen-josh-hawley/">onsistently outraised Hawley</a>, including in the last quarter where he reported raising $7.6 million compared to around $4 million for Hawley and a supportive political action committee. But Hawley ended the quarter with more cash on hand, finishing September with $2.6 million for the campaign’s homestretch compared with $1.5 million for Kunce.

TV reporter injured by bullet fragment at Lucas Kunce campaign event

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

This is one in a series of States Newsroom reports on the major policy issues in the presidential race.

WASHINGTON — Democrats have increasingly cried out for new rules for the nation’s highest court, and the 2024 presidential election reflects a clear party divide over how Supreme Court justices should behave and whether they should remain on the bench for life.

The erasure of a nearly 50-year-old national right to abortion, the granting of wide latitude for former presidents to escape criminal accountability and several ethics scandals magnified these questions. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are giving voters very different answers.

Harris’&nbsp;<a href="https://kamalaharris.com/issues/" target="_blank">platform</a>&nbsp;calls for “common-sense” reforms that include term limits for justices and an enforceable ethics code that mirrors the rules that apply to lower federal judges.

When President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-urges-term-limits-us-supreme-court-justices-new-ethics-rules" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;his proposals for Supreme Court ethics reform roughly one week after dropping his bid for reelection, Harris issued a statement reinforcing the need to “restore confidence” in the court.

“That is why President Biden and I are calling on Congress to pass important reforms — from imposing term limits for Justices’ active service, to requiring Justices to comply with binding ethics rules just like every other federal judge. And finally, in our democracy, no one should be above the law. So we must also ensure that no former President has immunity for crimes committed while in the White House,” she said.

While Harris’ campaign did not provide additional details on her platform, Harris has a record of supporting such measures. As a senator in 2019, Harris co-sponsored a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/393?s=4&amp;r=476" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;to enforce a uniform ethics code at every level of the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court.

When asked for comment about Trump’s stance on enforceable ethics rules or term limits at the Supreme Court, Trump campaign Senior Advisor Brian Hughes responded: “President Trump has said that, apart from matters of war and peace, the nomination of a Supreme Court justice is the most important decision an American President can make. As president, he appointed constitutionalist judges who interpret the law as written, and he will do so again when voters send him back to the White House.”

The former president has made his opposition to change known on social media.

Nearly two weeks before Biden’s speech in July to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/29/joe-biden-reform-supreme-court-presidential-immunity-plan-announcement/" target="_blank">roll out</a>&nbsp;his ideas for improving the court, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/112798594310559815" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on Truth Social that the “Radical Left Democrats are desperately trying to ‘Play the Ref’ by calling for an illegal and unConstitutional attack on our SACRED United States Supreme Court.”

“The reason that these Communists are so despondent is that their unLawful Witch Hunts are failing everywhere. The Democrats are attempting to interfere in the Presidential Election, and destroy our Justice System, by attacking their Political Opponent, ME, and our Honorable Supreme Court. We have to fight for our Fair and Independent Courts, and protect our Country. MAGA2024!” he continued, randomly capitalizing words as he often does.

The Republican National Committee stated in its&nbsp;<a href="https://rncplatform.donaldjtrump.com/?_gl=1*1rfs4mg*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3Mjc3MDk0MDAuQ2owS0NRandtT20zQmhDOEFSSXNBT1NiYXBWZlV5WUV5Z0VCSlVrdS1UUFhsSzlBdFlzU1d0cUxVSEJ6Y0dNaEEyaFNrR2NsTm5GOU9TNGFBamVlRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MTc2MjY5MTQ3Ny4xNzI1Mzc2OTQwLjg5MTAzNzIyNy4xNzI4Mzk4NzIwLjE3MjgzOTg5MDQ.&amp;_ga=2.5949424.2129307976.1729440058-1161412080.1725376940&amp;_gac=1.186981850.1727709400.Cj0KCQjwmOm3BhC8ARIsAOSbapVfUyYEygEBJUku-TPXlK9AtYsSWtqLUHBzcGMhA2hSkGclNnF9OS4aAjeeEALw_wcB" target="_blank">platform</a>&nbsp;that the party unequivocally opposes any changes to the number of Supreme Court justices.

“We will maintain the Supreme Court as it was always meant to be, at 9 Justices. We will not allow the Democrat Party to increase this number, as they would like to do, by 4, 6, 8, 10, and even 12 Justices. We will block them at every turn.”

At the Economic Club of Chicago on Oct. 15, Trump appeared to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?539131-1/president-trump-interview-economic-club-chicago" target="_blank">accuse</a>&nbsp;Democrats of wanting to add up to 25 new justices to the Supreme Court bench.

Harris’ 2024 campaign position on the Supreme Court does not include a plan to change the number of justices. During her 2020 presidential run, Harris expressed an openness to expanding the court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/31/harris-biden-supreme-court-reform-00172010?is_magic_link=true&amp;template_id=OTJIR2CRKUD6&amp;template_variant_id=OTVPXN5JGTYRX" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;and other reports. Biden, at the time, remained&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NewsHour/status/1320842408549093378" target="_blank">opposed</a>&nbsp;to changes, including justice term limits.

When Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fueled-lies-trump-charged-seeking-overturn-2020-election-6" target="_blank">charged</a>&nbsp;with federal fraud and obstruction crimes for his attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election results, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-asks-us-supreme-court-pause-federal-trial-over-presidential-immunity-question" target="_blank">escalated</a>&nbsp;his appeal for presidential immunity all the way to the Supreme Court.

On July 1, the justices issued a 6-3&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf" target="_blank">opinion</a>&nbsp;granting former presidents criminal immunity for “core constitutional” duties and presumptive immunity for actions on the “outer perimeter” of official duties, but none for unofficial, personal acts.

Two of the justices who joined the conservative majority ruling — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — were Trump appointees. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, also appointed during Trump’s time in the Oval Office, joined them, concurring in part.

Trump’s case was delayed for the better part of 2024, tied up in the high court process as he campaigned for a second presidency. The delay ultimately closed the door on a trial before November’s election.

The high-profile case not only highlighted the fact that Trump was being judged by his own appointees, but also that two other justices had been recently exposed in ethics scandals involving Republican donors and appearing to show support for Trump’s false claims that he won the 2020 election.

In April 2023, ProPublica&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that Justice Clarence Thomas had been accepting luxury travel and other big ticket gifts from Republican billionaire donor Harlan Crow.

In May of this year, the New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/us/justice-alito-upside-down-flag.html" target="_blank">published</a>&nbsp;photos of an upside-down American flag flying outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito following the violent riot by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The upside-down flag, a general symbol of protest, had been adopted by Trump supporters who believed the 2020 election was stolen.

All parties have denied any wrongdoing, and Alito&nbsp;<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Letter%20from%20Justice%20Alito%20to%20Senators%20Durbin%20and%20Whitehouse.pdf" target="_blank">declined</a>&nbsp;to recuse himself from Trump’s 2020 election subversion case, and another&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/divided-us-supreme-court-wrestles-case-pennsylvania-man-who-joined-jan-6-mob" target="_blank">case</a>&nbsp;brought by a Jan. 6 defendant.

While the Thomas and Alito scandals attracted the most attention, observers of the court say many of the justices’ actions raise ethics questions.

Gabe Roth, founder of the nonpartisan nonprofit Fix the Court, said “no justice has totally behaved ethically.”

Roth cited transgressions by both conservative and liberal justices: socializing with litigants who argue before the court, the use of government resources to promote a personal book and instances of justices not recusing themselves from cases in which they appear to have a stake.

“It hasn’t been to the scale of the things that ProPublica uncovered, but no justice is fully pure when it comes to ethics issues, which is not to say that they’re all corrupt or they’re all compromised by any means. It’s just more, to me, a fact that the whole institution needs to focus more on ethical leadership,” Roth said.

ProPublica&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/propublica-work-joshua-kaplan-justin-elliott-brett-murphy-alex-mierjeski-and-kirsten-berg" target="_blank">published</a>&nbsp;numerous stories in 2023 detailing gifts Thomas never disclosed, as well as a luxury fishing expedition Alito took with a Republican billionaire who argued before the court.

The Supreme Court currently polices itself with its own&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf" target="_blank">code</a>&nbsp;of conduct and maintains justices already follow rules that apply to lower federal judges.

Congressional Democrats have introduced several bills aiming to impose ethics rules on the justices and limit life-time appointments, for example to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4423/text?s=1&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22supreme+court+term+limits%22%7D" target="_blank">18 years</a>.

A bill led by Senate Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ethics-rules-supreme-court-justices-approved-party-line-vote-us-senate-panel" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;the Democratic-led Senate Committee on the Judiciary in July 2023.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/359/text?s=1&amp;r=4&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22supreme+court+ethics%22%5D%7D" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;aimed to mandate an enforceable ethics code, tighten recusal and gift disclosure requirements, and establish a complaints process similar to that of the lower courts.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1djxXNlOjOkGZ" target="_blank">attempt</a>&nbsp;at unanimous consent passage on the Senate floor in June was blocked by Senate Judiciary’s top Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

“Let’s be clear, this is not about improving the court, this is about undermining the court,” Graham said on the floor.

Roth said no matter who wins the presidency and which party takes control of the Senate, the longtime fight for an ethics overhaul and term limits at the high court will continue — and that it shouldn’t be partisan.

“If they’re done right, it doesn’t favor one party or another or one ideology or another. It’s a bit weird that one side is saying they don’t love ethics right now,” Roth continued. “I don’t get it.”

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>This is one in a series of States Newsroom reports on the major policy issues in the presidential race.WASHINGTON — Democrats have increasingly cried out for new rules for the nation’s highest court, and the 2024 presidential election reflects a clear party divide over how Supreme Court justices should behave and whether they should remain on the bench for life.The erasure of a nearly 50-year-old national right to abortion, the granting of wide latitude for former presidents to escape criminal accountability and several ethics scandals magnified these questions. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are giving voters very different answers.Harris’&nbsp;<a href="https://kamalaharris.com/issues/" target="_blank">platform</a>&nbsp;calls for “common-sense” reforms that include term limits for justices and an enforceable ethics code that mirrors the rules that apply to lower federal judges.When President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-urges-term-limits-us-supreme-court-justices-new-ethics-rules" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;his proposals for Supreme Court ethics reform roughly one week after dropping his bid for reelection, Harris issued a statement reinforcing the need to “restore confidence” in the court.“That is why President Biden and I are calling on Congress to pass important reforms — from imposing term limits for Justices’ active service, to requiring Justices to comply with binding ethics rules just like every other federal judge. And finally, in our democracy, no one should be above the law. So we must also ensure that no former President has immunity for crimes committed while in the White House,” she said.While Harris’ campaign did not provide additional details on her platform, Harris has a record of supporting such measures. As a senator in 2019, Harris co-sponsored a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/393?s=4&amp;r=476" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;to enforce a uniform ethics code at every level of the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court.<h2>Trump position</h2>When asked for comment about Trump’s stance on enforceable ethics rules or term limits at the Supreme Court, Trump campaign Senior Advisor Brian Hughes responded: “President Trump has said that, apart from matters of war and peace, the nomination of a Supreme Court justice is the most important decision an American President can make. As president, he appointed constitutionalist judges who interpret the law as written, and he will do so again when voters send him back to the White House.”The former president has made his opposition to change known on social media.Nearly two weeks before Biden’s speech in July to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/07/29/joe-biden-reform-supreme-court-presidential-immunity-plan-announcement/" target="_blank">roll out</a>&nbsp;his ideas for improving the court, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/112798594310559815" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on Truth Social that the “Radical Left Democrats are desperately trying to ‘Play the Ref’ by calling for an illegal and unConstitutional attack on our SACRED United States Supreme Court.”“The reason that these Communists are so despondent is that their unLawful Witch Hunts are failing everywhere. The Democrats are attempting to interfere in the Presidential Election, and destroy our Justice System, by attacking their Political Opponent, ME, and our Honorable Supreme Court. We have to fight for our Fair and Independent Courts, and protect our Country. MAGA2024!” he continued, randomly capitalizing words as he often does.The Republican National Committee stated in its&nbsp;<a href="https://rncplatform.donaldjtrump.com/?_gl=1*1rfs4mg*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3Mjc3MDk0MDAuQ2owS0NRandtT20zQmhDOEFSSXNBT1NiYXBWZlV5WUV5Z0VCSlVrdS1UUFhsSzlBdFlzU1d0cUxVSEJ6Y0dNaEEyaFNrR2NsTm5GOU9TNGFBamVlRUFMd193Y0I.*_gcl_au*MTc2MjY5MTQ3Ny4xNzI1Mzc2OTQwLjg5MTAzNzIyNy4xNzI4Mzk4NzIwLjE3MjgzOTg5MDQ.&amp;_ga=2.5949424.2129307976.1729440058-1161412080.1725376940&amp;_gac=1.186981850.1727709400.Cj0KCQjwmOm3BhC8ARIsAOSbapVfUyYEygEBJUku-TPXlK9AtYsSWtqLUHBzcGMhA2hSkGclNnF9OS4aAjeeEALw_wcB" target="_blank">platform</a>&nbsp;that the party unequivocally opposes any changes to the number of Supreme Court justices.“We will maintain the Supreme Court as it was always meant to be, at 9 Justices. We will not allow the Democrat Party to increase this number, as they would like to do, by 4, 6, 8, 10, and even 12 Justices. We will block them at every turn.”At the Economic Club of Chicago on Oct. 15, Trump appeared to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?539131-1/president-trump-interview-economic-club-chicago" target="_blank">accuse</a>&nbsp;Democrats of wanting to add up to 25 new justices to the Supreme Court bench.Harris’ 2024 campaign position on the Supreme Court does not include a plan to change the number of justices. During her 2020 presidential run, Harris expressed an openness to expanding the court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/31/harris-biden-supreme-court-reform-00172010?is_magic_link=true&amp;template_id=OTJIR2CRKUD6&amp;template_variant_id=OTVPXN5JGTYRX" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;and other reports. Biden, at the time, remained&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NewsHour/status/1320842408549093378" target="_blank">opposed</a>&nbsp;to changes, including justice term limits.<h2>Immunity ruling</h2>When Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fueled-lies-trump-charged-seeking-overturn-2020-election-6" target="_blank">charged</a>&nbsp;with federal fraud and obstruction crimes for his attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election results, he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-asks-us-supreme-court-pause-federal-trial-over-presidential-immunity-question" target="_blank">escalated</a>&nbsp;his appeal for presidential immunity all the way to the Supreme Court.On July 1, the justices issued a 6-3&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-939_e2pg.pdf" target="_blank">opinion</a>&nbsp;granting former presidents criminal immunity for “core constitutional” duties and presumptive immunity for actions on the “outer perimeter” of official duties, but none for unofficial, personal acts.Two of the justices who joined the conservative majority ruling — Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh — were Trump appointees. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, also appointed during Trump’s time in the Oval Office, joined them, concurring in part.Trump’s case was delayed for the better part of 2024, tied up in the high court process as he campaigned for a second presidency. The delay ultimately closed the door on a trial before November’s election.The high-profile case not only highlighted the fact that Trump was being judged by his own appointees, but also that two other justices had been recently exposed in ethics scandals involving Republican donors and appearing to show support for Trump’s false claims that he won the 2020 election.In April 2023, ProPublica&nbsp;<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that Justice Clarence Thomas had been accepting luxury travel and other big ticket gifts from Republican billionaire donor Harlan Crow.In May of this year, the New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/us/justice-alito-upside-down-flag.html" target="_blank">published</a>&nbsp;photos of an upside-down American flag flying outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito following the violent riot by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The upside-down flag, a general symbol of protest, had been adopted by Trump supporters who believed the 2020 election was stolen.All parties have denied any wrongdoing, and Alito&nbsp;<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Letter%20from%20Justice%20Alito%20to%20Senators%20Durbin%20and%20Whitehouse.pdf" target="_blank">declined</a>&nbsp;to recuse himself from Trump’s 2020 election subversion case, and another&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/divided-us-supreme-court-wrestles-case-pennsylvania-man-who-joined-jan-6-mob" target="_blank">case</a>&nbsp;brought by a Jan. 6 defendant.<h2>The call for a new ethics code</h2>While the Thomas and Alito scandals attracted the most attention, observers of the court say many of the justices’ actions raise ethics questions.Gabe Roth, founder of the nonpartisan nonprofit Fix the Court, said “no justice has totally behaved ethically.”Roth cited transgressions by both conservative and liberal justices: socializing with litigants who argue before the court, the use of government resources to promote a personal book and instances of justices not recusing themselves from cases in which they appear to have a stake.“It hasn’t been to the scale of the things that ProPublica uncovered, but no justice is fully pure when it comes to ethics issues, which is not to say that they’re all corrupt or they’re all compromised by any means. It’s just more, to me, a fact that the whole institution needs to focus more on ethical leadership,” Roth said.ProPublica&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/propublica-work-joshua-kaplan-justin-elliott-brett-murphy-alex-mierjeski-and-kirsten-berg" target="_blank">published</a>&nbsp;numerous stories in 2023 detailing gifts Thomas never disclosed, as well as a luxury fishing expedition Alito took with a Republican billionaire who argued before the court.The Supreme Court currently polices itself with its own&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf" target="_blank">code</a>&nbsp;of conduct and maintains justices already follow rules that apply to lower federal judges.Congressional Democrats have introduced several bills aiming to impose ethics rules on the justices and limit life-time appointments, for example to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4423/text?s=1&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22supreme+court+term+limits%22%7D" target="_blank">18 years</a>.A bill led by Senate Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ethics-rules-supreme-court-justices-approved-party-line-vote-us-senate-panel" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;the Democratic-led Senate Committee on the Judiciary in July 2023.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/359/text?s=1&amp;r=4&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22supreme+court+ethics%22%5D%7D" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;aimed to mandate an enforceable ethics code, tighten recusal and gift disclosure requirements, and establish a complaints process similar to that of the lower courts.An&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1djxXNlOjOkGZ" target="_blank">attempt</a>&nbsp;at unanimous consent passage on the Senate floor in June was blocked by Senate Judiciary’s top Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.“Let’s be clear, this is not about improving the court, this is about undermining the court,” Graham said on the floor.Roth said no matter who wins the presidency and which party takes control of the Senate, the longtime fight for an ethics overhaul and term limits at the high court will continue — and that it shouldn’t be partisan.“If they’re done right, it doesn’t favor one party or another or one ideology or another. It’s a bit weird that one side is saying they don’t love ethics right now,” Roth continued. “I don’t get it.”

Reforms at the U.S. Supreme Court: Where do Harris and Trump stand?

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. –Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations following a traffic stop.

Just after 7a.m. Oct. 20, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2024 Nissan Altima for alleged multiple traffic infractions on U.S. Highway 75 near 223rd Lane, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;The driver was identified as 37-year-old Katrina Chantel Barthelemy of Wichita, Kansas. A probable cause search was conducted and resulted in the discovery of ecstasy, hallucinogenic drugs and drug paraphernalia. Barthelemy was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of ecstasy, possession of hallucinogenic drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729615513335.png" alt="Barthelemy-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Barthelemy-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. –Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations following a traffic stop.Just after 7a.m. Oct. 20, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2024 Nissan Altima for alleged multiple traffic infractions on U.S. Highway 75 near 223rd Lane, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;The driver was identified as 37-year-old Katrina Chantel Barthelemy of Wichita, Kansas. A probable cause search was conducted and resulted in the discovery of ecstasy, hallucinogenic drugs and drug paraphernalia. Barthelemy was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of ecstasy, possession of hallucinogenic drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas deputy found ecstasy during traffic stop 

Infections so far led to one death in Colorado and 10 hospitalizations, three of those in the Omaha metro area

OMAHA — A multistate outbreak of E. coli so far has led to one death and 10 hospitalizations — with three of the people hospitalized reportedly from the Omaha metro area. The source has been linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers and onions.

In all, the outbreak has included 49 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in 10 states.

STEC can be spread through undercooked meat, raw milk, unpasteurized juices, contaminated water, and fruits and vegetables that have been contaminated with feces, said the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Federal officials have said that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/where-people-got-sick-e-coli-o157-2024.html" target="_blank">most of the ill people&nbsp;</a>were in Colorado and Nebraska.

Twenty-six cases — including an older person with underlying conditions who died — were reported in Colorado.

Of the nine cases in Nebraska, area health departments said all but one occurred in Douglas and Sarpy Counties — the Omaha metropolitan area. Locally, those affected range in age from 22 to 75 years old.

“There are likely more cases that haven’t been identified yet,” said Justin Frederick, deputy director of the Douglas County Health Department. “We urge the public to contact their health care provider if they are experiencing symptoms and are concerned about a potential exposure.”

Other states reporting infections between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 included Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

E. coli symptoms&nbsp;include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting or a low fever and signs of dehydration, according to the Douglas County Health Department. Blood and urine may be present in stools. If someone is suffering from the symptoms for more than two days, health officials recommend contacting a doctor immediately.

State and county health officials in Nebraska say they are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to communicate with patients and identify other potential cases.

The CDC is not advising against eating McDonald’s food, however, saying that potentially contaminated items have been removed from the menu in affected states.

A statement&nbsp;<a href="https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/always-putting-food-safety-first.html" target="_blank">from McDonald’s</a>&nbsp;said that out of “an abundance of caution,” it is temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area that includes Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do,” said the statement from Cesar Piña, the fast food restaurant’s North America chief supply chain officer.

McDonald’s said that initial findings indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.

It said local restaurants have been instructed to remove that product from their supply and that McDonald’s has paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.

USDA is also looking into the beef patties on the Quarter Pounder hamburgers, Colorado officials reported.

McDonald’s said it was working with suppliers to replenish supply for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks. It said that other menu items are unaffected and available.

After being exposed to STEC, symptoms usually occur after three to four days but could take as little as one day and as long as 10 days, Nebraska health officials said.

STEC infections can make individuals of all ages sick. In some cases, especially in young kids, older adults or people with weakened immune systems, STEC can cause a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and other health problems, including death.

One of the persons infected in the outbreak developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Symptoms include little or no urination, losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or rash of tiny red spots, blood in urine and decreased alertness.

The CDC said that the true number of sick people in the outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. The federal agency said that’s because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.

In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

More information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O157.html" target="_blank">CDC’s website.</a>

Nebraska Examiner, a States Newsroom affiliate,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/22/nebraska-colorado-mostly-affected-in-multi-state-outbreak-of-e-coli/" target="_blank">produced this story</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729692566058.png" alt="Map shows where people in this E. coli outbreak live. The number is likely higher, as many people recover without medical care and are not tested. Image CDC" />
 <figcaption>Map shows where people in this E. coli outbreak live. The number is likely higher, as many people recover without medical care and are not tested. Image CDC</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Infections so far led to one death in Colorado and 10 hospitalizations, three of those in the Omaha metro area</h2>OMAHA — A multistate outbreak of E. coli so far has led to one death and 10 hospitalizations — with three of the people hospitalized reportedly from the Omaha metro area. The source has been linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers and onions.In all, the outbreak has included 49 cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in 10 states.STEC can be spread through undercooked meat, raw milk, unpasteurized juices, contaminated water, and fruits and vegetables that have been contaminated with feces, said the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.Federal officials have said that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/where-people-got-sick-e-coli-o157-2024.html" target="_blank">most of the ill people&nbsp;</a>were in Colorado and Nebraska.Twenty-six cases — including an older person with underlying conditions who died — were reported in Colorado.Of the nine cases in Nebraska, area health departments said all but one occurred in Douglas and Sarpy Counties — the Omaha metropolitan area. Locally, those affected range in age from 22 to 75 years old.“There are likely more cases that haven’t been identified yet,” said Justin Frederick, deputy director of the Douglas County Health Department. “We urge the public to contact their health care provider if they are experiencing symptoms and are concerned about a potential exposure.”<h2>Removed from the menu</h2>Other states reporting infections between Sept. 27 and Oct. 11 included Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming.E. coli symptoms&nbsp;include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, vomiting or a low fever and signs of dehydration, according to the Douglas County Health Department. Blood and urine may be present in stools. If someone is suffering from the symptoms for more than two days, health officials recommend contacting a doctor immediately.State and county health officials in Nebraska say they are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to communicate with patients and identify other potential cases.The CDC is not advising against eating McDonald’s food, however, saying that potentially contaminated items have been removed from the menu in affected states.A statement&nbsp;<a href="https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/always-putting-food-safety-first.html" target="_blank">from McDonald’s</a>&nbsp;said that out of “an abundance of caution,” it is temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area that includes Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma.“We take food safety extremely seriously and it’s the right thing to do,” said the statement from Cesar Piña, the fast food restaurant’s North America chief supply chain officer.McDonald’s said that initial findings indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers.It said local restaurants have been instructed to remove that product from their supply and that McDonald’s has paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.USDA is also looking into the beef patties on the Quarter Pounder hamburgers, Colorado officials reported.McDonald’s said it was working with suppliers to replenish supply for the Quarter Pounder in the coming weeks. It said that other menu items are unaffected and available.<h2>Infections likely higher than reported</h2>After being exposed to STEC, symptoms usually occur after three to four days but could take as little as one day and as long as 10 days, Nebraska health officials said.STEC infections can make individuals of all ages sick. In some cases, especially in young kids, older adults or people with weakened immune systems, STEC can cause a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and other health problems, including death.One of the persons infected in the outbreak developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Symptoms include little or no urination, losing pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or rash of tiny red spots, blood in urine and decreased alertness.The CDC said that the true number of sick people in the outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. The federal agency said that’s because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.More information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O157.html" target="_blank">CDC’s website.</a>Nebraska Examiner, a States Newsroom affiliate,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/10/22/nebraska-colorado-mostly-affected-in-multi-state-outbreak-of-e-coli/" target="_blank">produced this story</a>.

Nebraska, Colorado mostly affected in multi-state outbreak of E. coli

GOP’s two-thirds majorities in House, Senate important on veto overrides

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly expressed optimism a group of quality Democratic candidates and influence of her $2 million political action committee would break in the Nov. 5 election the partisan supermajorities held by Republicans in the both the House and Senate.

Democrats’ priority in this election cycle is picking up a total of five seats in the Legislature to end the GOP’s two-thirds advantage. The GOP supermajorities have been a thorn in the Democratic governor’s side whether the Legislature was voting on individual bills or attempted overrides of Kelly’s vetoes.

“I do think that we will get the two seats that we need in the House and the three that we need in the Senate. Would I like more? Sure, yeah,” Kelly said for the Kansas Reflector podcast.

“I do know that we have&nbsp;really superb candidates running in a lot of our targeted races. Many of them are based in Johnson County, and I think the road to breaking the supermajority will go through Johnson County,” the governor said.

The House is divided among 85 Republicans and 40 Democrats. A two-thirds majority in the House equals 84, meaning Democrats must snatch two seats from Republicans to move the partisan split below the supermajority threshold. Republicans have led the House with a supermajority since 2010.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said the Election Day clash over the supermajority was nothing new. He anticipated the GOP would hold onto their House seats and possibly knock off a couple Democrats to pad their margin heading into the 2025 legislative session.

Over in the Senate, there are 29 Republicans and 11 Democrats. A two-thirds majority would be 27, so Democrats set their sights on claiming three seats. Republicans have operated with a Senate supermajority since the election of 1992.

Kelly, who served in the Kansas Senate and is halfway through her second term as governor, said outcome of 2024 legislative elections would color her final two years in office.

“We’ve really been able to get a whole lot of things done, but there are other things that we’ve got to get done if Kansas is going to continue to move forward,” Kelly said. “If we don’t break the supermajority, then the Legislature is going to continue to pass bad bills that impact our ability in Kansas to really prosper and grow.”

The large numerical advantage of Republicans has blocked bills tied to medicinal marijuana and expansion of eligibility for Medicaid health benefits, she said.

She said if voters perpetuated GOP supermajorities in Kansas it would embolden Republicans to push for more restrictions on abortion, resume attacks on the LGBTQ community and advance questionable tax reform.

“I need Democrats in those seats now to help sustain vetoes on bad legislation,” Kelly said. “That way we’re more attractive for our own people to stay here …&nbsp;instead of leaving the state&nbsp;and much more attractive to businesses coming in.”

Kelly said the campaign work of Democrats in this election cycle was heightened because a cadre of Republican legislators who occasionally crossed party lines to sustain her vetoes decided not to seek reelection.

“If we break the supermajority, then it will require leadership in both the House and the Senate to work with us and with the Democrat caucus in their respective chambers,” Kelly said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729533905311.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly predicts voters in the Nov. 5 election will enable Democrats to claim at least two more seats in the Kansas House and three more seats in the Kansas Senate to eliminate the two-thirds supermajority held by Republicans at the Statehouse. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly predicts voters in the Nov. 5 election will enable Democrats to claim at least two more seats in the Kansas House and three more seats in the Kansas Senate to eliminate the two-thirds supermajority held by Republicans at the Statehouse. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>GOP’s two-thirds majorities in House, Senate important on veto overrides</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly expressed optimism a group of quality Democratic candidates and influence of her $2 million political action committee would break in the Nov. 5 election the partisan supermajorities held by Republicans in the both the House and Senate.Democrats’ priority in this election cycle is picking up a total of five seats in the Legislature to end the GOP’s two-thirds advantage. The GOP supermajorities have been a thorn in the Democratic governor’s side whether the Legislature was voting on individual bills or attempted overrides of Kelly’s vetoes.“I do think that we will get the two seats that we need in the House and the three that we need in the Senate. Would I like more? Sure, yeah,” Kelly said for the Kansas Reflector podcast.“I do know that we have&nbsp;really superb candidates running in a lot of our targeted races. Many of them are based in Johnson County, and I think the road to breaking the supermajority will go through Johnson County,” the governor said.The House is divided among 85 Republicans and 40 Democrats. A two-thirds majority in the House equals 84, meaning Democrats must snatch two seats from Republicans to move the partisan split below the supermajority threshold. Republicans have led the House with a supermajority since 2010.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said the Election Day clash over the supermajority was nothing new. He anticipated the GOP would hold onto their House seats and possibly knock off a couple Democrats to pad their margin heading into the 2025 legislative session.Over in the Senate, there are 29 Republicans and 11 Democrats. A two-thirds majority would be 27, so Democrats set their sights on claiming three seats. Republicans have operated with a Senate supermajority since the election of 1992.Kelly, who served in the Kansas Senate and is halfway through her second term as governor, said outcome of 2024 legislative elections would color her final two years in office.“We’ve really been able to get a whole lot of things done, but there are other things that we’ve got to get done if Kansas is going to continue to move forward,” Kelly said. “If we don’t break the supermajority, then the Legislature is going to continue to pass bad bills that impact our ability in Kansas to really prosper and grow.”The large numerical advantage of Republicans has blocked bills tied to medicinal marijuana and expansion of eligibility for Medicaid health benefits, she said.She said if voters perpetuated GOP supermajorities in Kansas it would embolden Republicans to push for more restrictions on abortion, resume attacks on the LGBTQ community and advance questionable tax reform.“I need Democrats in those seats now to help sustain vetoes on bad legislation,” Kelly said. “That way we’re more attractive for our own people to stay here …&nbsp;instead of leaving the state&nbsp;and much more attractive to businesses coming in.”Kelly said the campaign work of Democrats in this election cycle was heightened because a cadre of Republican legislators who occasionally crossed party lines to sustain her vetoes decided not to seek reelection.“If we break the supermajority, then it will require leadership in both the House and the Senate to work with us and with the Democrat caucus in their respective chambers,” Kelly said.

Gov. Kelly predicts Democrats will break Republican supermajorities in Kansas Legislature

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a home burglary and made an arrest.

Just after 8p.m. October 19, sheriff’s deputies responded to a residential alarm in the 30500 block of South Stubbs Road, near Quenemo, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

Deputies discovered that the residence had been burglarized. Information was gathered from a neighbor, the homeowner, and surveillance cameras that revealed suspect and vehicle descriptions.

On October 20, a deputy patrolling Quenemo located a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle used in the burglary. Deputies contacted 44-year-old Travis King at a residence in the 100 block of South 8th Street in Quenemo. A search warrant for King’s residence was executed, revealing items taken from the burglary on Stubbs Road. All items were recovered.

&nbsp;King was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Burglary and Criminal damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729539942799.png" alt="King-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>King-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a home burglary and made an arrest.Just after 8p.m. October 19, sheriff’s deputies responded to a residential alarm in the 30500 block of South Stubbs Road, near Quenemo, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.Deputies discovered that the residence had been burglarized. Information was gathered from a neighbor, the homeowner, and surveillance cameras that revealed suspect and vehicle descriptions.On October 20, a deputy patrolling Quenemo located a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle used in the burglary. Deputies contacted 44-year-old Travis King at a residence in the 100 block of South 8th Street in Quenemo. A search warrant for King’s residence was executed, revealing items taken from the burglary on Stubbs Road. All items were recovered.&nbsp;King was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Burglary and Criminal damage to property.

Deputies recover items taken in Kansas home burglary

BAGHDAD –&nbsp;During the early morning of Oct. 22, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), enabled by Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), conducted strikes and follow on raids on multiple ISIS locations in Central Iraq, targeting several senior ISIS leaders and killing at least seven ISIS operatives, according to a media release from the U.S. Central Comand.

During the Iraqi-led operation, two U.S. military personnel were wounded&nbsp;while assisting Iraqi forces with site exploitation. They are in stable condition.&nbsp;

CJTF-OIR also provided technical support and intelligence that enabled the missions, which will disrupt and degrade ISIS attack networks in Iraq.

The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, detachments from&nbsp;Iraq’s&nbsp;National Security Service, under the supervision and planning of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, successfully conducted the raids on the ISIS locations.&nbsp;

“U.S. Central Command, alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will aggressively pursue ISIS and other terrorists that pose a threat to US forces, allies, partners, and security in the region,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729640015401.png" alt="U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary during the briefing on Tuesday afternoon- image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary during the briefing on Tuesday afternoon- image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BAGHDAD –&nbsp;During the early morning of Oct. 22, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), enabled by Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), conducted strikes and follow on raids on multiple ISIS locations in Central Iraq, targeting several senior ISIS leaders and killing at least seven ISIS operatives, according to a media release from the U.S. Central Comand.During the Iraqi-led operation, two U.S. military personnel were wounded&nbsp;while assisting Iraqi forces with site exploitation. They are in stable condition.&nbsp;CJTF-OIR also provided technical support and intelligence that enabled the missions, which will disrupt and degrade ISIS attack networks in Iraq.The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, detachments from&nbsp;Iraq’s&nbsp;National Security Service, under the supervision and planning of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, successfully conducted the raids on the ISIS locations.&nbsp;“U.S. Central Command, alongside our coalition and Iraqi partners, will aggressively pursue ISIS and other terrorists that pose a threat to US forces, allies, partners, and security in the region,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.

2 US soldiers injured in mission that killed ISIS Commander in Iraq

PHELPS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Tuesday in Phelps County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Steven W. MacCash, 49, Rolla, was eastbound on County Road 7340 four miles southwest of Rolla.

The motorcycle struck a deer in the road.&nbsp; MacCash was ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

PHELPS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Tuesday in Phelps County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Steven W. MacCash, 49, Rolla, was eastbound on County Road 7340 four miles southwest of Rolla.The motorcycle struck a deer in the road.&nbsp; MacCash was ejected from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after motorcycle strikes a deer in the road

KANSAS CITY—A pedestrian run over by a bus in a crosswalk in Kansas City on Sunday died of her injuries, according to&nbsp;KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino..

Just after 1p.m. Sunday, the pedestrian was inside a marked crosswalk, crossing 6th Street at Wyandotte from south to north, according to DiMartino.

A passenger bus was making a left turn from southbound Wyandotte to eastbound 6th Street. The bus struck and ran over the pedestrian and then left the scene without stopping.

EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; Just after 6p.m. police reported the bus had been located and the driver was cooperating.

DiMartino confirmed the woman died of her injuries on Monday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is fatality #76 compared to #80 at this time last year. The incident remains under investigation.

KANSAS CITY—A pedestrian run over by a bus in a crosswalk in Kansas City on Sunday died of her injuries, according to&nbsp;KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino..Just after 1p.m. Sunday, the pedestrian was inside a marked crosswalk, crossing 6th Street at Wyandotte from south to north, according to DiMartino.A passenger bus was making a left turn from southbound Wyandotte to eastbound 6th Street. The bus struck and ran over the pedestrian and then left the scene without stopping.EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; Just after 6p.m. police reported the bus had been located and the driver was cooperating.DiMartino confirmed the woman died of her injuries on Monday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is fatality #76 compared to #80 at this time last year. The incident remains under investigation.

Woman run over by a bus in Kansas City hit-and-run has died

EL DORADO, KAN. –&nbsp;El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF) resident Brooks Vonthaer, 40, died Tuesday. Vonthaer was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday afternoon, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Vonthaer was serving a 62-month sentence for four convictions of aggravated assault, criminal trespass, theft, and criminal damage in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, the death is under investigation by the agency and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609080609892.png" alt=" Vonthaer from a Dec. 2020 arrest in Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption> Vonthaer from a Dec. 2020 arrest in Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>EL DORADO, KAN. –&nbsp;El Dorado Correctional Facility (EDCF) resident Brooks Vonthaer, 40, died Tuesday. Vonthaer was found unresponsive in his cell Tuesday afternoon, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Vonthaer was serving a 62-month sentence for four convictions of aggravated assault, criminal trespass, theft, and criminal damage in Shawnee County, Kansas.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, the death is under investigation by the agency and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Kan. inmate serving time for aggravated assault found dead in his cell

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man wanted on a warrant is now also facing drug charges.

Just after 9:30a.m. October 20, a sheriff's deputy&nbsp;observed a traffic violation by the driver of a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe near NW 35th Street and NWRochester Road, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the passenger had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest and illegal narcotics were located.

Matthew S. Field, 55, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department on requested&nbsp;charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of marijuana, Operating a vehicle without registration, Failure to stop at a stop sign, Driving while license suspended and No vehicle liability insurance

Field also had a warrant for his arrest out of the City of Topeka.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729597706277.png" alt="Fields photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Fields photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas man wanted on a warrant is now also facing drug charges.Just after 9:30a.m. October 20, a sheriff's deputy&nbsp;observed a traffic violation by the driver of a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe near NW 35th Street and NWRochester Road, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, it was discovered that the passenger had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest and illegal narcotics were located.Matthew S. Field, 55, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department on requested&nbsp;charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of marijuana, Operating a vehicle without registration, Failure to stop at a stop sign, Driving while license suspended and No vehicle liability insuranceField also had a warrant for his arrest out of the City of Topeka.

Wanted Kansas suspect caught transporting illegal drugs

KANSAS CITY —&nbsp;&nbsp;Law enforcement are working to identify a suspect in a bank robbery that occurred Monday at the Hawthorn Bank,&nbsp;17430 E. 39th Street in Independence, Missouri, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The suspect entered the bank, approached the teller, made a verbal demand for cash, and brandished a firearm. The suspect fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash on a blue sports bike

According to reports, the suspect is described as older white male, approximately 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9 tall,&nbsp; short grey hair, black leather jacket with patches, dark pants, grey sneakers dark head covering, Blue surgical mask.

Anyone with info can report a tip online at&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729598346512.png" alt="Photos FBI Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Photos FBI Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —&nbsp;&nbsp;Law enforcement are working to identify a suspect in a bank robbery that occurred Monday at the Hawthorn Bank,&nbsp;17430 E. 39th Street in Independence, Missouri, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.The suspect entered the bank, approached the teller, made a verbal demand for cash, and brandished a firearm. The suspect fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash on a blue sports bike<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729598245884.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to reports, the suspect is described as older white male, approximately 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-9 tall,&nbsp; short grey hair, black leather jacket with patches, dark pants, grey sneakers dark head covering, Blue surgical mask.Anyone with info can report a tip online at&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/49eEgggFOb" target="_blank">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>.

Suspect fled Kansas City bank robbery on a blue sports bike

A state representative from St. Joseph faces opposition in his
race for his fourth and final term.

Rep. Bill Falkner, a Republican, discussed a variety of issues
Tuesday along with Democrat Andrew Gibson, his challenger, during a candidate
forum sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.

Falkner supports a tax incentive package that would give incentives
for child care providers to expand and for businesses to help employees pay for
child care, among other things. But Falkner said the issue goes beyond that.

“One of the things that we can do is take a look at all the
regulations we have placed on child care,” Falkner told an audience gathered at
the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center. “We want to make it safe for the
kids, but we do not want to tie the hands to where the providers of this
service can’t afford to do it.”

The candidate forum that also featured the two candidates
running for the 13th Missouri state representative district as well
as the two candidates up for Buchanan County Western District Commissioner was
broadcast live on KFEQ and <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d42c5cdb-cff2-436a-a7ab-765953fb4557">streamed live on St. Joseph Post</a>.

The child care package has been carried during the last two
legislative sessions by St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields and received the
backing of Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.

Gibson said the failure of the legislature to approve the
package the past two years reflects poorly on Republicans.

“The fact that they couldn’t come to some kind of agreement
this year just kind of highlights the dysfunction of the super majority,”
according to Gibson. “Why are we not attacking the problems of people that this
affects all over, especially within our state?”

Republicans hold a 111 to 51 majority in the Missouri House and a 23 to 9 majority in the Missouri Senate.

Falkner is running for his fourth term in the Missouri House. Term
limits would prohibit him from running again.

Both Falkner and Gibson favor Amendment 2 on the ballot in
November. It would legalize sports betting in Missouri. They differ on
Amendment 3, which would overturn Missouri’s ban on abortion.

Falkner opposes Amendment 3 and advocated changing how easily
the state constitution can be amended.

“Once we vote on something for constitutional changes, we can’t
fix it down in Jefferson City,” Falkner said. “It’s got to go back to the vote
of the people at additional expense to run that election. And so, we found it
in the marijuana issue.”

Missouri voters legalized the use of recreational marijuana in
2022.

Gibson urged voters to do their homework to overcome
misinformation on the issues which will be decided in November.

“That’s very disheartening for me when I’ve knocked on
hundreds of doors, made hundreds of calls this summer only to turn around and
see this misinformation machine is being churned,” Gibson stated. “There’s a
lot of misinformation out there right now about Amendment Three and the things
that’s in there, the things that’s not in there. And it’s time to restore a woman’s
right to choose. This was the law of the land for 50 years.”

The Missouri General Assembly had one of its least productive legislative
sessions in its history this year, approving only 28 bills that were not
related to the $47 billion state budget. It approved the state budget without the Senate
and House meeting in a conference committee, unheard of in a legislative
session.

Falkner said some of the Senate Republicans who regularly
gummed up the works in Jefferson City will not be in the legislature next year,
but added it’s not always a bad thing when few bills pass.

“Because a lot of times we’re working on bills that we passed
hastily, trying to fix them the following years to come,” Falkner said. “I really
believe and I have faith that these next two years will be a very good session
for the state of Missouri as a whole.” 

Gibson acknowledged that if he would defeat Falkner and win election
to the 10th District, he would likely find himself in the minority
party at the state Capitol.

“Obviously, it’s no secret, yes, we would be in a very small
minority,” Gibson conceded. “But I look forward to working across the aisle and
making things happen for the people of Missouri and I think that everyone is down
there for that same reason.&nbsp; And it shouldn’t
really be that hard. We just got to find those common shared values and make
sure that we’re all there for the same reason.”

This article has been edited since first published.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729624606896.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce held its candidate forum at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center/Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce held its candidate forum at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center/Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA state representative from St. Joseph faces opposition in his
race for his fourth and final term.Rep. Bill Falkner, a Republican, discussed a variety of issues
Tuesday along with Democrat Andrew Gibson, his challenger, during a candidate
forum sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.Falkner supports a tax incentive package that would give incentives
for child care providers to expand and for businesses to help employees pay for
child care, among other things. But Falkner said the issue goes beyond that.“One of the things that we can do is take a look at all the
regulations we have placed on child care,” Falkner told an audience gathered at
the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center. “We want to make it safe for the
kids, but we do not want to tie the hands to where the providers of this
service can’t afford to do it.”The candidate forum that also featured the two candidates
running for the 13th Missouri state representative district as well
as the two candidates up for Buchanan County Western District Commissioner was
broadcast live on KFEQ and <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d42c5cdb-cff2-436a-a7ab-765953fb4557">streamed live on St. Joseph Post</a>.The child care package has been carried during the last two
legislative sessions by St. Joseph state Rep. Brenda Shields and received the
backing of Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce.Gibson said the failure of the legislature to approve the
package the past two years reflects poorly on Republicans.“The fact that they couldn’t come to some kind of agreement
this year just kind of highlights the dysfunction of the super majority,”
according to Gibson. “Why are we not attacking the problems of people that this
affects all over, especially within our state?”Republicans hold a 111 to 51 majority in the Missouri House and a 23 to 9 majority in the Missouri Senate.Falkner is running for his fourth term in the Missouri House. Term
limits would prohibit him from running again.Both Falkner and Gibson favor Amendment 2 on the ballot in
November. It would legalize sports betting in Missouri. They differ on
Amendment 3, which would overturn Missouri’s ban on abortion.Falkner opposes Amendment 3 and advocated changing how easily
the state constitution can be amended.“Once we vote on something for constitutional changes, we can’t
fix it down in Jefferson City,” Falkner said. “It’s got to go back to the vote
of the people at additional expense to run that election. And so, we found it
in the marijuana issue.”Missouri voters legalized the use of recreational marijuana in
2022.Gibson urged voters to do their homework to overcome
misinformation on the issues which will be decided in November.“That’s very disheartening for me when I’ve knocked on
hundreds of doors, made hundreds of calls this summer only to turn around and
see this misinformation machine is being churned,” Gibson stated. “There’s a
lot of misinformation out there right now about Amendment Three and the things
that’s in there, the things that’s not in there. And it’s time to restore a woman’s
right to choose. This was the law of the land for 50 years.”The Missouri General Assembly had one of its least productive legislative
sessions in its history this year, approving only 28 bills that were not
related to the $47 billion state budget. It approved the state budget without the Senate
and House meeting in a conference committee, unheard of in a legislative
session.Falkner said some of the Senate Republicans who regularly
gummed up the works in Jefferson City will not be in the legislature next year,
but added it’s not always a bad thing when few bills pass.“Because a lot of times we’re working on bills that we passed
hastily, trying to fix them the following years to come,” Falkner said. “I really
believe and I have faith that these next two years will be a very good session
for the state of Missouri as a whole.” Gibson acknowledged that if he would defeat Falkner and win election
to the 10th District, he would likely find himself in the minority
party at the state Capitol.“Obviously, it’s no secret, yes, we would be in a very small
minority,” Gibson conceded. “But I look forward to working across the aisle and
making things happen for the people of Missouri and I think that everyone is down
there for that same reason.&nbsp; And it shouldn’t
really be that hard. We just got to find those common shared values and make
sure that we’re all there for the same reason.”This article has been edited since first published.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph state rep. faces opposition in his quest for 4th and final term

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

The largest electric utility in Kansas and western Missouri will add two natural gas plants by the end of 2030, the company announced Monday.

Evergy, which serves 1.6 million customers in the two states, plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.evergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/evergy-announces-two-new-705-mw-high-efficiency-natural-gas" target="_blank">build combined-cycle natural gas plants</a>&nbsp;— each with a 705-megawatt capacity — in two Kansas counties in 2029 and 2030, respectively.

David Campbell, Evergy’s CEO and chairman, said at a news conference in Hutchinson, Kansas, that the plants would “help maintain a diverse energy mix for our state,” ensuring “reliable, affordable, sustainable energy.”

“They’re flexible resources that can ramp production up and ramp production down based on the needs of the grid,” Campbell said, “so they pair very well with Kansas’ abundant renewable generation resources.”

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, lauded the announcement at the Hutchinson news conference, saying the construction of the plants would create 500 construction jobs and 165 permanent jobs. She said the plants would ensure reliable energy, including in emergencies or periods of high demand, like hot summer days.

“As Kansas continues to transition to more sustainable energy, we’re doing it responsibly,” Kelly said. “These plants are much cleaner than traditional coal plants.”

<a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/natural-gas-and-the-environment.php" target="_blank">According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration</a>, burning natural gas to create electricity produces less carbon dioxide than coal. But natural gas leaks release its primary component, methane, into the atmosphere, accounting for more than one-third of U.S. methane emissions. Methane is a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The announcement marks an increasing reliance on natural gas generation by Evergy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729533611500.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel speaks to the crowd assembled at the Evergy announcement on Monday at the 1861 Club on the Kansas State Fairgrounds on October 21, 2024. Photo by Nick Gosnell." />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel speaks to the crowd assembled at the Evergy announcement on Monday at the 1861 Club on the Kansas State Fairgrounds on October 21, 2024. Photo by Nick Gosnell.</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>The largest electric utility in Kansas and western Missouri will add two natural gas plants by the end of 2030, the company announced Monday.Evergy, which serves 1.6 million customers in the two states, plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://investors.evergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/evergy-announces-two-new-705-mw-high-efficiency-natural-gas" target="_blank">build combined-cycle natural gas plants</a>&nbsp;— each with a 705-megawatt capacity — in two Kansas counties in 2029 and 2030, respectively.David Campbell, Evergy’s CEO and chairman, said at a news conference in Hutchinson, Kansas, that the plants would “help maintain a diverse energy mix for our state,” ensuring “reliable, affordable, sustainable energy.”“They’re flexible resources that can ramp production up and ramp production down based on the needs of the grid,” Campbell said, “so they pair very well with Kansas’ abundant renewable generation resources.”Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, lauded the announcement at the Hutchinson news conference, saying the construction of the plants would create 500 construction jobs and 165 permanent jobs. She said the plants would ensure reliable energy, including in emergencies or periods of high demand, like hot summer days.“As Kansas continues to transition to more sustainable energy, we’re doing it responsibly,” Kelly said. “These plants are much cleaner than traditional coal plants.”<a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/natural-gas-and-the-environment.php" target="_blank">According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration</a>, burning natural gas to create electricity produces less carbon dioxide than coal. But natural gas leaks release its primary component, methane, into the atmosphere, accounting for more than one-third of U.S. methane emissions. Methane is a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.The announcement marks an increasing reliance on natural gas generation by Evergy.In its long-range plan filed with regulators in 2022, Evergy planned to exclusively add wind and solar facilities over the coming decade.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/06/16/evergy-slashes-planned-renewable-energy-additions-proposes-more-natural-gas/" target="_blank">A year later, it scaled back</a>&nbsp;those planned renewable energy facilities, forecasted plans to add natural gas plants and delayed the retirement of the Lawrence coal plant.<a href="https://investors.evergy.com/2024IRPUpdate" target="_blank">Evergy’s latest update</a>, filed earlier this year, almost doubles the amount of natural gas generation the utility will add between now and the early 2030s. At the same time, it increased planned wind and solar additions compared to last year’s plan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729533986696.png" alt="The plant site for the new Evergy plant is near South Hutchinson in Reno County. Graphic courtesy Evergy." />
 <figcaption>The plant site for the new Evergy plant is near South Hutchinson in Reno County. Graphic courtesy Evergy.</figcaption>
 </figure>Zack Pistora, a lobbyist for the environmental nonprofit Sierra Club, questioned whether Evergy would be able to achieve its goals to reduce emissions given its planned investments in natural gas generation.“I don’t know how a utility can claim that it’s affordable, reliable or sustainable,” he said, noting that gas prices can be volatile and natural gas outages contributed to rolling blackouts the Midwest experienced in 2021.Beyond that, he said, burning gas is harmful to the environment.Video of the press event is below.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y_sGnE26DzQ?si=_qHVqdwMkTDq5EQE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>