CLOUD COUNTY—A Manhattan man died in an accident just before 10p.m. Sunday in Cloud County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford Econoline van driven by Marco&nbsp;Lopez, 47, Kansas City, Missouri, was westbound on U.S. 24 five and one half miles west of Miltonvale.

The van traveled into the eastbound lane and struck a 2015 Yamaha motorcycle driven by James Ray&nbsp; Dille, 63, Manhattan. After impact the motorcycle came to rest in the south ditch. The van entered the south ditch, struck a power pole and came to rest in a field.

Dille was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home. Lopez and two passengers in the van were not injured.&nbsp; Dille was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

CLOUD COUNTY—A Manhattan man died in an accident just before 10p.m. Sunday in Cloud County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Ford Econoline van driven by Marco&nbsp;Lopez, 47, Kansas City, Missouri, was westbound on U.S. 24 five and one half miles west of Miltonvale.The van traveled into the eastbound lane and struck a 2015 Yamaha motorcycle driven by James Ray&nbsp; Dille, 63, Manhattan. After impact the motorcycle came to rest in the south ditch. The van entered the south ditch, struck a power pole and came to rest in a field.Dille was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home. Lopez and two passengers in the van were not injured.&nbsp; Dille was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after van strikes a motorcycle

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police are asking the public for help to find a Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day.

The Wichita Police are working to locate 33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez, who is wanted for violating his pre-trial restrictions.&nbsp;On Friday, he cut his ankle monitor, according to Wichita Police.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718711572362.png" alt="GONZALES-GUTIERREZ-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>GONZALES-GUTIERREZ-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police are asking the public for help to find a Kansas man accused in a deadly gunfight on Father's Day.The Wichita Police are working to locate 33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez, who is wanted for violating his pre-trial restrictions.&nbsp;On Friday, he cut his ankle monitor, according to Wichita Police.On June 16, police arrested Gonzalez-Gutierrez on requested charges including first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Aron Lara.Just after 8:30p.m. on Father's Day, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford.While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.First responders discovered Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital where he died.Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital.The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the Gonzales-Gutierrez earlier in the evening.&nbsp; Gonzales-Gutierrez allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.It is believed that two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719004330105.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>If you have any information on Gonzalez-Gutierrez whereabouts, please call 911 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407. To provide anonymous tips call 316-267-2111 or scan the code above.

Suspect in deadly Kansas BBQ gunfight still missing

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a single-vehicle accident that critically injured two children.

Just before 11:30p.m. Saturday, a Dodge Charger was westbound on 23rd Street at Stark Avenue at a high rate of speed, according to&nbsp;.Officer Alayna Gonzalez

The driver lost control and the car traveled off the road. The vehicle struck a roadway sign, shearing it off at the base, and started flipping over.

 The car crossed over the eastbound lanes of 23rd Street, struck the rock wall and landed on its wheels.

 An unrestrained 2-year-old and 13-year-old were ejected from the vehicle. A 10-year-old and an adult female passenger, although unrestrained, remained in the back seat of the car.

 The driver, who was not injured in the collision, was taken into custody for alleged impairment. EMS transported the toddler and&nbsp; teen to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a single-vehicle accident that critically injured two children.Just before 11:30p.m. Saturday, a Dodge Charger was westbound on 23rd Street at Stark Avenue at a high rate of speed, according to&nbsp;.Officer Alayna GonzalezThe driver lost control and the car traveled off the road. The vehicle struck a roadway sign, shearing it off at the base, and started flipping over. The car crossed over the eastbound lanes of 23rd Street, struck the rock wall and landed on its wheels. An unrestrained 2-year-old and 13-year-old were ejected from the vehicle. A 10-year-old and an adult female passenger, although unrestrained, remained in the back seat of the car. The driver, who was not injured in the collision, was taken into custody for alleged impairment. EMS transported the toddler and&nbsp; teen to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KCPD: Driver arrested after toddler, teen ejected in crash

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as Justin R. Diaz, 26, Raymore, Missouri.

Just before noon June 19, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of N. 33rd Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found Diaz outside with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released suspect details or reported an arrest.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as Justin R. Diaz, 26, Raymore, Missouri.Just before noon June 19, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of N. 33rd Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found Diaz outside with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released suspect details or reported an arrest.Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

Homicide: Police ID Missouri man as victim in Kan. shooting

ALLEN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Sunday in Allen County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Colorado driven by Donald Brian&nbsp;Gaylord, 64, Magnolia,Texas, was southbound on U.S. 169 at Minnesota Road. The pickup crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2015 Volo semi in the trailer.

Gaylord was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Country Side Funeral Home. The semi driver Luis Alberto&nbsp;Martinez San Miguel, 39, Davenport, Florida, was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ALLEN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Sunday in Allen County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevy Colorado driven by Donald Brian&nbsp;Gaylord, 64, Magnolia,Texas, was southbound on U.S. 169 at Minnesota Road. The pickup crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2015 Volo semi in the trailer.Gaylord was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Country Side Funeral Home. The semi driver Luis Alberto&nbsp;Martinez San Miguel, 39, Davenport, Florida, was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Man dies after pickup strikes semi's trailer on Kan. highway

KANSAS CITY – A chiropractor was sentenced in federal court last week for receiving and distributing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

Eric Hedman, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to seven years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Hedman to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration.

Hedman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

Hedman, who operated his own practice at Hedman Chiropractic at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty on Dec. 14, 2023, to receiving and distributing child pornography.

Hedman sent a video and a photo of child pornography to two other users of the Kik messenger in July and August 2022. Kik made two Cybertipline Reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which forwarded the reports to the Southwest Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force for investigation.

Investigators searched Hedman’s multiple Kik accounts and discovered 31 files that contained child pornography. The images depicted children as young as two years old. Additionally, log files indicated that Hedman had transmitted child pornography to at least six other users on July 8 and 9, 2022.

On Dec. 6, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hedman’s residence and seized his computer and cell phone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718830897069.png" alt="Hedman-photo Greene Co." />
 <figcaption>Hedman-photo Greene Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A chiropractor was sentenced in federal court last week for receiving and distributing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.Eric Hedman, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to seven years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Hedman to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration.Hedman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.Hedman, who operated his own practice at Hedman Chiropractic at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty on Dec. 14, 2023, to receiving and distributing child pornography.Hedman sent a video and a photo of child pornography to two other users of the Kik messenger in July and August 2022. Kik made two Cybertipline Reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which forwarded the reports to the Southwest Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force for investigation.Investigators searched Hedman’s multiple Kik accounts and discovered 31 files that contained child pornography. The images depicted children as young as two years old. Additionally, log files indicated that Hedman had transmitted child pornography to at least six other users on July 8 and 9, 2022.On Dec. 6, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hedman’s residence and seized his computer and cell phone.

SW Mo. chiropractor was sending child porn images online

LAWRENCE COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Sunday in Lawrence County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Equinox driven by Christopher V. Bell, 37, Republic, was eastbound on MO 14 two miles north of Marionville.&nbsp;

The SUV traveled off the road, struck a sign, overturned and the driver was ejected. Bell was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

LAWRENCE COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Sunday in Lawrence County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Chevy Equinox driven by Christopher V. Bell, 37, Republic, was eastbound on MO 14 two miles north of Marionville.&nbsp;The SUV traveled off the road, struck a sign, overturned and the driver was ejected. Bell was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Lakin Funeral Home in Pierce City.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after ejected in rollover accident

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in a hit-and-run that killed a Kansas woman in 2023 has entered a plea in the case.

Chase Faimon, 22, Valley Center, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of the accident, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Police arrested Faimon as part of a police Stunt Rider Project investigation..

On May 27, 2023 the Wichita Police Department Traffic Unit witnessed&nbsp; Faimon riding his motorcycle west on Waterman in Wichita doing a wheelie. Officers cautiously followed Faimon to the parking garage of Gander Mountain, contacted him, and placed him under arrest.

During the investigation, officers learned that Faimon had previously been charged with murder in the 2nd degree after hitting a pedestrian with his motorcycle.

In that case, Faimon was doing a wheelie down Broadway when he struck the pedestrian identified as 48-year-old Kristine Sheffield and killed her. 

Officers impounded the motorcycle that Faimon was riding.&nbsp; He is scheduled for sentencing in August, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676999156108.png" alt="Photo of Faimon from security cameras- Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo of Faimon from security cameras- Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in a hit-and-run that killed a Kansas woman in 2023 has entered a plea in the case.Chase Faimon, 22, Valley Center, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of the accident, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680125106781.png" alt="Faimon-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Faimon-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Police arrested Faimon as part of a police Stunt Rider Project investigation..On May 27, 2023 the Wichita Police Department Traffic Unit witnessed&nbsp; Faimon riding his motorcycle west on Waterman in Wichita doing a wheelie. Officers cautiously followed Faimon to the parking garage of Gander Mountain, contacted him, and placed him under arrest.During the investigation, officers learned that Faimon had previously been charged with murder in the 2nd degree after hitting a pedestrian with his motorcycle.In that case, Faimon was doing a wheelie down Broadway when he struck the pedestrian identified as 48-year-old Kristine Sheffield and killed her. Officers impounded the motorcycle that Faimon was riding.&nbsp; He is scheduled for sentencing in August, according to the district attorney's office.-----------

Kan. stunt rider admits guilt for hit-and-run that killed woman

RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural house fire in Reno County.

Just before 1p.m. Sunday, crews were sent to a single-story house fire at 6820 North Tobacco Road, according to a media release from the Hutchinson Fire Department. Crews found heavy smoke and fire showing from the roof of the home.

Firefighters searched, but found no one home, and looked for extension of fire to the attic. Because of the rural setting, fire crews had to call in partners to bring extra water. Several dogs were inside the residence and two of three dogs found died.&nbsp;

The Hutchinson Fire Marshal is still searching for a cause.

RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural house fire in Reno County.Just before 1p.m. Sunday, crews were sent to a single-story house fire at 6820 North Tobacco Road, according to a media release from the Hutchinson Fire Department. Crews found heavy smoke and fire showing from the roof of the home.Firefighters searched, but found no one home, and looked for extension of fire to the attic. Because of the rural setting, fire crews had to call in partners to bring extra water. Several dogs were inside the residence and two of three dogs found died.&nbsp;The Hutchinson Fire Marshal is still searching for a cause.

Two dogs killed in rural Kansas house fire

ELLIS COUNTY —On Thursday at 7:47 p.m., the Hays Police Department issued a Silver Alert for 66-year-old Randy S. Goodermuth.

Since the Silver Alert was issued, Ellis County law enforcement members have been searching for him.

On Sunday evening, members of the Hays Police Department, with the help of members from the Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association, located Goodermuth's body south of Hays, according to a media release from Hays Police. He was deceased.

The Ellis County Coroner has ruled Goodermuth's death an accidental drowning.

ELLIS COUNTY —The Hays Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Hays man, according to a media release from the KBI.

The whereabouts of 66-year-old Randy S. Goodermuth, of Hays, are unknown and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

Randy is a white male who is 5-feet-8 inches tall and weighs around 180 pounds. He has blue eyes and is balding. Randy was last seen wearing a red Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce jersey (with the number 87 on it) and khaki pants.

Randy has schizophrenia. At the time he was last seen he was hallucinating and ran from his home. He has not yet returned.

He also does not have a vehicle or a cell phone.If you see Randy Goodermuth, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1011.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718964286910.png" alt="Randy Goodermuth- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Randy Goodermuth- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —On Thursday at 7:47 p.m., the Hays Police Department issued a Silver Alert for 66-year-old Randy S. Goodermuth.Since the Silver Alert was issued, Ellis County law enforcement members have been searching for him.On Sunday evening, members of the Hays Police Department, with the help of members from the Kansas Search and Rescue Dog Association, located Goodermuth's body south of Hays, according to a media release from Hays Police. He was deceased.The Ellis County Coroner has ruled Goodermuth's death an accidental drowning.--------------ELLIS COUNTY —The Hays Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Hays man, according to a media release from the KBI.The whereabouts of 66-year-old Randy S. Goodermuth, of Hays, are unknown and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.Randy is a white male who is 5-feet-8 inches tall and weighs around 180 pounds. He has blue eyes and is balding. Randy was last seen wearing a red Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce jersey (with the number 87 on it) and khaki pants.Randy has schizophrenia. At the time he was last seen he was hallucinating and ran from his home. He has not yet returned.He also does not have a vehicle or a cell phone.If you see Randy Goodermuth, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1011.

Police: Subject of Kan. Silver Alert drowned

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

WASHINGTON — The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.

Arthur —&nbsp; the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year&nbsp; — testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.

Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.

“The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers’ salaries,” said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.

The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.

“It’s still pretty much the same,” he said.

Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/03.09.23-Sanders-Pay-Teachers-Act-text.pdf">introduced a bill</a>&nbsp;in March 2023 that would set an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/766/all-actions">annual base salary</a>&nbsp;of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.

“We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact … nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated,” Sanders said in his opening remarks.

“Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic,” he said.

Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing “the extremely low pay teachers receive” as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.

For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/10_17_2023.asp">National Center for Education Statistics</a>.

Maryland sets $60,000 minimum&nbsp;&nbsp;

But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.

In Maryland, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://marylandmatters.org/2024/06/03/blueprint-blues-local-leaders-cite-school-reform-plans-progress-problems/">Blueprint for Maryland’s Future</a>&nbsp;raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.

William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Maryland’s Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, “addresses all aspects of children’s education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.”

Kirwan said the “Blueprint’s principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats’ solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a “laudable goal.”

But he noted that “the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.”

“More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve,” the Louisiana Republican said.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents’ rights group, argued that “schools don’t have a resource issue” but rather an “allocation issue.”

“There’s a saying: ‘Don’t tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and I’ll tell you what they are.’ Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that don’t directly benefit students,” said Neily.

Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.heritage.org/education/report/equity-elementary-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-staff-public-schools">Heritage Foundation</a>, which found that “standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers).” Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.

Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said “higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.”

“By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably,” he added.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719074599272.png" alt="John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday (Screenshot from committee webcast)/" />
 <figcaption>John Arthur, a teacher at Meadowlark Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on Thursday (Screenshot from committee webcast)/</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>WASHINGTON — The only reason John Arthur is able to be a public school teacher is because his wife makes much more money than he does.Arthur —&nbsp; the 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year&nbsp; — testified on Thursday at a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the challenges facing public school teachers.Arthur, who is also a member of the National Education Association and holds National Board Certification, pointed to pay as the main reason for both teachers leaving the profession and parents not wanting their children to become teachers.“The No. 1 solution to addressing the issues we face must be increasing teachers’ salaries,” said Arthur, who teaches at Meadowlark Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah.Gemayel Keyes, a teacher at Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Philadelphia, told the committee that even as an educator, he still has an additional part-time job.The special education teacher spent most of his career in education as a paraprofessional. At the time he moved into that role, the starting annual salary was $16,000 and the maximum was $30,000.“It’s still pretty much the same,” he said.<h2>Minimum teacher salary&nbsp;</h2>Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sanders.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/03.09.23-Sanders-Pay-Teachers-Act-text.pdf">introduced a bill</a>&nbsp;in March 2023 that would set an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/766/all-actions">annual base salary</a>&nbsp;of $60,000 for public elementary and secondary school teachers.“We understand that the children, young people of this country, are our future and there is, in fact … nothing more important that we can do to provide a quality education to all of our young people, and yet, for decades, public school teachers have been overworked, underpaid, understaffed, and maybe most importantly, underappreciated,” Sanders said in his opening remarks.“Compared to many other occupations, our public school teachers are more likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress and burnout, which was only exacerbated by the pandemic,” he said.Sanders said 44% of public school teachers are quitting their profession within five years, citing “the extremely low pay teachers receive” as one of the primary reasons for a massive U.S. teacher shortage.For the 2023-24 school year, a whopping 86% of K-12 public schools in the country documented challenges in hiring teachers, according to an October report from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/10_17_2023.asp">National Center for Education Statistics</a>.<h2>Maryland sets $60,000 minimum&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>But a minimum annual teacher salary of $60,000 is not far off for every state.In Maryland, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://marylandmatters.org/2024/06/03/blueprint-blues-local-leaders-cite-school-reform-plans-progress-problems/">Blueprint for Maryland’s Future</a>&nbsp;raises the starting salary for teachers to $60,000 a year by July 2026.William E. Kirwan, vice chair of Maryland’s Accountability and Implementation Board, said the multi-year comprehensive plan, passed in 2021 in the Maryland General Assembly, “addresses all aspects of children’s education from birth to high school completion, including most especially, the recruitment, retention and compensation of high quality teachers.”Kirwan said the “Blueprint’s principle for teacher compensation is that, as professionals, teachers should be compensated at the same level as other professionals requiring similar levels of education, such as architects and CPAs.”<h2>An “allocation issue”&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>Sen. Bill Cassidy, ranking member of the committee, dubbed Democrats’ solution of creating a federal minimum salary for teachers as a “laudable goal.”But he noted that “the federal government dictating how states spend their money does not address the root cause of why teachers are struggling to teach in the classroom.”“More mandates and funding cannot be the only answer we come up with. We must examine broken policies that got us here and find solutions to improve,” the Louisiana Republican said.Nicole Neily, president and founder of Parents Defending Education, a parents’ rights group, argued that “schools don’t have a resource issue” but rather an “allocation issue.”“There’s a saying: ‘Don’t tell me where your priorities are, show me where you spend your money, and I’ll tell you what they are.’ Education leaders routinely choose to spend money on programs and personnel that don’t directly benefit students,” said Neily.Neily pointed to a 2021 report from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.heritage.org/education/report/equity-elementary-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-staff-public-schools">Heritage Foundation</a>, which found that “standardized test results show that achievement gaps are growing wider over time in districts with (chief diversity officers).” Such staff members commonly encourage efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said “higher pay does not ease the burden we place on teachers or add hours to their day.”“By all means, raise teacher pay, but do not assume that it will solve teacher shortages or keep good teachers in the classroom. Poor training, deteriorating classroom conditions, shoddy curriculum and spiraling demands have made an already challenging job nearly impossible to do well and sustainably,” he added.

‘Extremely low pay’ cited at U.S. Senate hearing as prime reason for teacher shortage

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

&nbsp;Shortly before 2 a.m. June 19, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a northbound passenger van near 150th&nbsp;and U.S. Highway 75 in rural Jackson County for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The traffic stop led to the discovery of drug contraband.&nbsp; The driver, Daniel Neil Ivan, 58, of Lenexa, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property and no insurance.

The front passenger Pamela Denise Kirtdoll, 47, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

The rear right passenger, Angel Diane Coulter, 51, of Topeka, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

The left rear passenger was identified as Harvey Charles Hamilton, 41, of Topeka, who was arrested on requested charge of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. All four individuals were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001550706.png" alt="Ivan-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ivan-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.&nbsp;Shortly before 2 a.m. June 19, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a northbound passenger van near 150th&nbsp;and U.S. Highway 75 in rural Jackson County for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The traffic stop led to the discovery of drug contraband.&nbsp; The driver, Daniel Neil Ivan, 58, of Lenexa, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property and no insurance.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001675875.png" alt="Kirtdoll photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Kirtdoll photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The front passenger Pamela Denise Kirtdoll, 47, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001505067.png" alt="Coulter -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Coulter -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The rear right passenger, Angel Diane Coulter, 51, of Topeka, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001815861.png" alt="Hamilton-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hamilton-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The left rear passenger was identified as Harvey Charles Hamilton, 41, of Topeka, who was arrested on requested charge of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. All four individuals were booked into the Jackson County Jail.

Kansas suspects caught with drugs, stolen property

Annual report says 40% of kids endure harmful impact of ‘adverse’ life experiences

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

TOPEKA — A 50-state assessment showed the percentage of Kansas children living in poverty declined and the portion of teens not in school or working increased, while there were increases in fourth graders struggling with reading and eighth graders flustered by math.

The 2024 Kids Count report, compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and based on the most recent data, ranked Kansas 19th overall on education, economics, health and family conditions relevant to raising a child. That was a decline from an ranking of 17th in 2023.

Kansas placed among its four neighboring states in the 2024 assessment as Nebraska stood at 9th, Colorado was 17th, Missouri finished 32nd and Oklahoma trailed at 46th.

Looking at changes in household data on child welfare, the Casey Foundation said Kansas had taken steps forward in half of 16 well-being measures contained in the annual report.

Adrienne Olejnik, a vice president at Kansas Action for Children, which partners with the Casey Foundation on the report, said trendlines suggested more could be done by public officials to prepare the next generation of Kansans to enter the workforce or college.

“At the end of the day, we want kids to succeed,” Olejnik said on the Kansas Reflector podcast. “We want the scores to improve. So, we have to keep showing up at the table with good data.”

The new report indicated that in 2021-2022 an estimated 40% of Kansas children experienced one or more “adverse childhood experiences” capable of creating harmful levels of stress and undermining their mental development and ability to cope with life challenges.

Examples of ACEs could range from traumatic episodes related a family death, substance abuse or crime as well as unstable housing, divorce or not having enough to eat.

“These start to stack up. And the reason that they are so important … is that it directly impacts their brain development at that time. We can mitigate these ACEs through trusting relationships with adults,” Olejnik said.

Kids Count says 38,500 or 5% of Kansas children were without health insurance in 2022, which was slightly better than the 6% of 2019. Olejnik said the health care picture would improve if more Kansas families had access to affordable, quality medical services. One option for Kansas lawmakers would be to join 40 states that approved expansion of eligibility under the Medicaid program.

Expiration of COVID-19 federal programs that inflated Medicaid enrollment will leave more families without health coverage in the future.

“Having health insurance reduces the stress in the household&nbsp;so that parents can focus on other things related to their children,” she said.

In terms of other health factors influencing child welfare, Kansas’ percentage of low birth-weight babies climbed to 7.8% in the latest report. That was an increase from 7.6% in 2019.

In addition, the state’s figure for child and teen deaths per 100,000 people went up to 35 in the new report compared to 28 in 2019. The updated report says 29% of Kansas children and teens, aged 10 to 17, were overweight. The national figure stood at 33%.

The net result of state-by-state shifts left Kansas ranked 19th nationally in child health indicators, an upgrade from 22nd in the 2023 report by the Casey Foundation.

The Casey Foundation revealed 69% of fourth-graders in Kansas weren’t proficient in reading and 77% of the state’s eighth-graders had not reached proficiency in math on the 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress. Nationally, 68% of fourth-grade readers and 74% of eighth-grade math students were less than proficient in 2022 on NAEP.

“We’re seeing a decline in proficiencies across the country. Kansas is by no means the worst,” said Ryan Reza, data and policy analyst for Kansas Action for Children. “We’re kind of seeing this general trend&nbsp;with NAPE scores. It started prior to the pandemic, but it was exacerbated by the pandemic.”

The percentage of Kansas children 3 to 4 years of age not in a preschool program climbed to 56% from 2018 to 2022 from 54% in 2013 to 2017.

Meanwhile, Kansas continued to improve its standing in terms of motivating high school students graduate on time. Eighty-eight percent of Kansas students graduated on time in 2020-21, but the pre-COVID-19 benchmark for timely graduation from high school was 87% in 2018-19.

These numbers placed Kansas at 28th in the United States, which was a decline from 26th in last year’s report.

The volume of Kansas children living in poverty was 14% in 2022, up from 13% the previous year and down from 15% in 2019. In 2022, the national average was 16%. In terms of Kansas, that meant about 90,000 children in Kansas resided in homes with a household income of $29,600 for a family of two adults and two children.

The portion of Kansans whose parents lacked secure employment registered at 20% in 2022, which was better than the national average of 26%.

There was an uptick in the percentage of Kansas teens not in school and not working: 6% in 2022 versus 5% in 2019. However, Kansas’ ranking on this factor fell from 11th to 16th compared to the rest of the nation.

The&nbsp; figure for Kansans living in households with a high housing cost burden grew to 23% in 2022, an escalation from 22% in 2019.

Reza said Kansas had generally stayed in the top 10 nationally in terms of economic well-being, but dropped out of that elite group in the new Kids County analysis. In the 2024 report, Kansas ranked 12th after falling from seventh in the 2023 report.

“Other states have done more work, especially in the years following the pandemic,” Reza said.

On family and community metrics, the Case Foundation said Kansas ranked 23rd nationally — a nudge to the better from 24th in last year’s edition of the Kids Count report.

For example, the number of Kansas children living in poverty was at 6% based on a four-year average from 2018 to 2022. That was an upgrade from 7% over the 2013 to 2017 period.

Kansas recorded fewer teen births per 1,000 residents in 2022 with 16, which was an improvement from 19 per 1,000 in 2019. Also, the percentage of children living in single-parent families moved to 29% in 2022, a reduction from 30% in 2019. Another improvement: 9% of children had a head of household without a high school diploma in 2022. In 2019, that number for Kansas was 10%.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718814054878.png" alt="Kansas Action for Children vice president Adrienne Olejnik and data and policy analyst Ryan Reza prepare for a recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast. KAC partners with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to produce the annual Kids Count report, which shows Kansas slipping in the overall ranking. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Action for Children vice president Adrienne Olejnik and data and policy analyst Ryan Reza prepare for a recording of the Kansas Reflector podcast. KAC partners with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to produce the annual Kids Count report, which shows Kansas slipping in the overall ranking. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Annual report says 40% of kids endure harmful impact of ‘adverse’ life experiences</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A 50-state assessment showed the percentage of Kansas children living in poverty declined and the portion of teens not in school or working increased, while there were increases in fourth graders struggling with reading and eighth graders flustered by math.The 2024 Kids Count report, compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and based on the most recent data, ranked Kansas 19th overall on education, economics, health and family conditions relevant to raising a child. That was a decline from an ranking of 17th in 2023.Kansas placed among its four neighboring states in the 2024 assessment as Nebraska stood at 9th, Colorado was 17th, Missouri finished 32nd and Oklahoma trailed at 46th.Looking at changes in household data on child welfare, the Casey Foundation said Kansas had taken steps forward in half of 16 well-being measures contained in the annual report.Adrienne Olejnik, a vice president at Kansas Action for Children, which partners with the Casey Foundation on the report, said trendlines suggested more could be done by public officials to prepare the next generation of Kansans to enter the workforce or college.“At the end of the day, we want kids to succeed,” Olejnik said on the Kansas Reflector podcast. “We want the scores to improve. So, we have to keep showing up at the table with good data.”<h2>Out of hand ACEs</h2>The new report indicated that in 2021-2022 an estimated 40% of Kansas children experienced one or more “adverse childhood experiences” capable of creating harmful levels of stress and undermining their mental development and ability to cope with life challenges.Examples of ACEs could range from traumatic episodes related a family death, substance abuse or crime as well as unstable housing, divorce or not having enough to eat.“These start to stack up. And the reason that they are so important … is that it directly impacts their brain development at that time. We can mitigate these ACEs through trusting relationships with adults,” Olejnik said.Kids Count says 38,500 or 5% of Kansas children were without health insurance in 2022, which was slightly better than the 6% of 2019. Olejnik said the health care picture would improve if more Kansas families had access to affordable, quality medical services. One option for Kansas lawmakers would be to join 40 states that approved expansion of eligibility under the Medicaid program.Expiration of COVID-19 federal programs that inflated Medicaid enrollment will leave more families without health coverage in the future.“Having health insurance reduces the stress in the household&nbsp;so that parents can focus on other things related to their children,” she said.In terms of other health factors influencing child welfare, Kansas’ percentage of low birth-weight babies climbed to 7.8% in the latest report. That was an increase from 7.6% in 2019.In addition, the state’s figure for child and teen deaths per 100,000 people went up to 35 in the new report compared to 28 in 2019. The updated report says 29% of Kansas children and teens, aged 10 to 17, were overweight. The national figure stood at 33%.The net result of state-by-state shifts left Kansas ranked 19th nationally in child health indicators, an upgrade from 22nd in the 2023 report by the Casey Foundation.<h2>Education erosion</h2>The Casey Foundation revealed 69% of fourth-graders in Kansas weren’t proficient in reading and 77% of the state’s eighth-graders had not reached proficiency in math on the 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress. Nationally, 68% of fourth-grade readers and 74% of eighth-grade math students were less than proficient in 2022 on NAEP.“We’re seeing a decline in proficiencies across the country. Kansas is by no means the worst,” said Ryan Reza, data and policy analyst for Kansas Action for Children. “We’re kind of seeing this general trend&nbsp;with NAPE scores. It started prior to the pandemic, but it was exacerbated by the pandemic.”The percentage of Kansas children 3 to 4 years of age not in a preschool program climbed to 56% from 2018 to 2022 from 54% in 2013 to 2017.Meanwhile, Kansas continued to improve its standing in terms of motivating high school students graduate on time. Eighty-eight percent of Kansas students graduated on time in 2020-21, but the pre-COVID-19 benchmark for timely graduation from high school was 87% in 2018-19.These numbers placed Kansas at 28th in the United States, which was a decline from 26th in last year’s report.<h2>Economic, family status</h2>The volume of Kansas children living in poverty was 14% in 2022, up from 13% the previous year and down from 15% in 2019. In 2022, the national average was 16%. In terms of Kansas, that meant about 90,000 children in Kansas resided in homes with a household income of $29,600 for a family of two adults and two children.The portion of Kansans whose parents lacked secure employment registered at 20% in 2022, which was better than the national average of 26%.There was an uptick in the percentage of Kansas teens not in school and not working: 6% in 2022 versus 5% in 2019. However, Kansas’ ranking on this factor fell from 11th to 16th compared to the rest of the nation.The&nbsp; figure for Kansans living in households with a high housing cost burden grew to 23% in 2022, an escalation from 22% in 2019.Reza said Kansas had generally stayed in the top 10 nationally in terms of economic well-being, but dropped out of that elite group in the new Kids County analysis. In the 2024 report, Kansas ranked 12th after falling from seventh in the 2023 report.“Other states have done more work, especially in the years following the pandemic,” Reza said.On family and community metrics, the Case Foundation said Kansas ranked 23rd nationally — a nudge to the better from 24th in last year’s edition of the Kids Count report.For example, the number of Kansas children living in poverty was at 6% based on a four-year average from 2018 to 2022. That was an upgrade from 7% over the 2013 to 2017 period.Kansas recorded fewer teen births per 1,000 residents in 2022 with 16, which was an improvement from 19 per 1,000 in 2019. Also, the percentage of children living in single-parent families moved to 29% in 2022, a reduction from 30% in 2019. Another improvement: 9% of children had a head of household without a high school diploma in 2022. In 2019, that number for Kansas was 10%.

Kids Count report shows Kansas children struggling with poverty, reading and math

LAFAYETTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Lafayette County, approximately 35 miles east of Kansas City.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp;2021 Zero-turn Bad Boy mower driven by Mark A. Aldrich, 68, Hollywood, Florida, was southbound at 4751 Oakland School Road.&nbsp; The mower overturned and came to rest on top of the driver.

Aldrich was pronounced dead at the scene and was released to Steward-Hoeffer Funeral Home in Higginsville.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.

LAFAYETTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Lafayette County, approximately 35 miles east of Kansas City.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp;2021 Zero-turn Bad Boy mower driven by Mark A. Aldrich, 68, Hollywood, Florida, was southbound at 4751 Oakland School Road.&nbsp; The mower overturned and came to rest on top of the driver.Aldrich was pronounced dead at the scene and was released to Steward-Hoeffer Funeral Home in Higginsville.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.

Man dies after lawn mower overturns, lands on top of him

JOHNSON COUNTY —A man accused in a deadly stabbing during a robbery has admitted to the crime.

This week, 27-year-old John Daniel Crawford Murray pleaded guilty to second degree intentional murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary in the death of Charles Dillon in October of 2021, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

Just after 11p.m. on October 21, 2021 Merriam police responded to a reported stabbing&nbsp;near Royalty Way and Kings Cove Drive. First responders located a victim, who was later identified as Dillon. He died at the scene.

Merriam police said someone got inside his apartment and stabbed Dillon multiple times. Police said there did not appear to be forced entry. Investigators arrested Murry on Nov. 9,&nbsp; 2021 and his accomplice Devin Braswell the following day.&nbsp; Murry was in custody in Missouri at the time of the charges for another violent crime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719090625167.png" alt="Murry-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Murry-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A man accused in a deadly stabbing during a robbery has admitted to the crime.This week, 27-year-old John Daniel Crawford Murray pleaded guilty to second degree intentional murder, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary in the death of Charles Dillon in October of 2021, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.Just after 11p.m. on October 21, 2021 Merriam police responded to a reported stabbing&nbsp;near Royalty Way and Kings Cove Drive. First responders located a victim, who was later identified as Dillon. He died at the scene.Merriam police said someone got inside his apartment and stabbed Dillon multiple times. Police said there did not appear to be forced entry. Investigators arrested Murry on Nov. 9,&nbsp; 2021 and his accomplice Devin Braswell the following day.&nbsp; Murry was in custody in Missouri at the time of the charges for another violent crime.

Man convicted in Mo. crime admits role in Kan. robbery, killing

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Topeka have identified the victim as 23-year-old Brian M. Wright.

Just before 2:30a.m. Friday, police&nbsp;responded to a call for service regarding gunshots in the area of 3100 SW Westover Road, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith. 

First responders found Wright&nbsp; and a woman with life-threatening gunshot injuries. The victims were transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where Wright was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Police have not released any suspect information or reported an arrest. This is the 7th homicide investigation in Topeka in 2024, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001082126.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide in Topeka have identified the victim as 23-year-old Brian M. Wright.Just before 2:30a.m. Friday, police&nbsp;responded to a call for service regarding gunshots in the area of 3100 SW Westover Road, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith. First responders found Wright&nbsp; and a woman with life-threatening gunshot injuries. The victims were transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where Wright was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Police have not released any suspect information or reported an arrest. This is the 7th homicide investigation in Topeka in 2024, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

Homicide: Police ID man who died in Kansas shooting

HARVEY COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Hyundai Accent driven by Konner Lynne&nbsp;Hayes, 29, Newton, was northbound on Interstate 135 two miles south of Newton.

The car crossed the median and collided with a southbound 2024 Freightliner semi driven by Salpyyev Suleyman, 44, Jacksonville, Florida.

 Vehicle 1 came to rest facing Southwest in the left-hand lane. Vehicle 1 came to rest jackknifed across both Northbound lanes on I135.

Hayes was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the&nbsp;Kansas Forensics Lab. Suleyman was not injured. Hayes was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719092566071.png" alt="First responders on the scene -Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene -Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Harvey County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Hyundai Accent driven by Konner Lynne&nbsp;Hayes, 29, Newton, was northbound on Interstate 135 two miles south of Newton.The car crossed the median and collided with a southbound 2024 Freightliner semi driven by Salpyyev Suleyman, 44, Jacksonville, Florida. Vehicle 1 came to rest facing Southwest in the left-hand lane. Vehicle 1 came to rest jackknifed across both Northbound lanes on I135.Hayes was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the&nbsp;Kansas Forensics Lab. Suleyman was not injured. Hayes was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after crash with a semi

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 10:30p.m. 18, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Ram pickup near SW 21st Street and SW Topeka Boulevard for a registration violation, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the stop, the deputy located illegal drugs. The deputy arrested Matthew Massek, 29, Topeka, on requested charges of Possession of a stimulant, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a registration violation and criminal use of weapons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718879708640.png" alt="Massek-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Massek-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 10:30p.m. 18, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Ram pickup near SW 21st Street and SW Topeka Boulevard for a registration violation, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the stop, the deputy located illegal drugs. The deputy arrested Matthew Massek, 29, Topeka, on requested charges of Possession of a stimulant, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a registration violation and criminal use of weapons.

Kansas man caught transporting illegal drugs, a firearm

OTTAWA COUNTY—Law enforcement were investigating an officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis.

Just before 8:30a.m. Saturday, the manager of the Minneapolis Swimming Pool at Markley Grove Park,&nbsp; 161 South Mill in Minneapolis, heard three gunshots, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Minneapolis Police Department were dispatched to the scene. While officers were investigating, more shots were fired.

The KBI said deputies with the Kansas Highway Patrol arrived to assist when the shooter later identified as 46-year-old Artemis Thor Peck, of Minneapolis, fired in the direction of law enforcement and the surveillance drone, according to the KBI. Officers returned fire, striking Peck multiple times.&nbsp;&nbsp;

EMS transported Peck to Salina Regional Health Center and later to a Wichita hospital, according to&nbsp;Ottawa County Attorney Richard Buck..

"All officers involved in todays incident are safe and unharmed. Prayers for all involved are appreciated," the Ottawa County Sheriff's office shared on their social media page.

OTTAWA COUNTY —Law enforcement including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation were on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday, according to Ottawa County Attorney Richard Buck.

Just after 9a.m. Saturday, calls came into police of a person shooting a firearm at Markley Park, 161 South Mill in Minneapolis.&nbsp;

Police, Ottawa County Sheriff's Deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol were among agencies that responded.&nbsp; First responders evacuated the nearby public pool and campers from the park.&nbsp; Officers eventually located and shot the suspect.&nbsp;

EMS transported the suspect to Salina Regional Health Center and later to a Wichita hospital, according to Buck.&nbsp; "All officers involved in todays incident are safe and unharmed. Prayers for all involved are appreciated," the Ottawa County Sheriff's office shared on their social media page.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719092397709.png" alt="Near the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Near the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>OTTAWA COUNTY—Law enforcement were investigating an officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis.Just before 8:30a.m. Saturday, the manager of the Minneapolis Swimming Pool at Markley Grove Park,&nbsp; 161 South Mill in Minneapolis, heard three gunshots, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and the Minneapolis Police Department were dispatched to the scene. While officers were investigating, more shots were fired.The KBI said deputies with the Kansas Highway Patrol arrived to assist when the shooter later identified as 46-year-old Artemis Thor Peck, of Minneapolis, fired in the direction of law enforcement and the surveillance drone, according to the KBI. Officers returned fire, striking Peck multiple times.&nbsp;&nbsp;EMS transported Peck to Salina Regional Health Center and later to a Wichita hospital, according to&nbsp;Ottawa County Attorney Richard Buck.."All officers involved in todays incident are safe and unharmed. Prayers for all involved are appreciated," the Ottawa County Sheriff's office shared on their social media page.----------OTTAWA COUNTY —Law enforcement including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation were on the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday, according to Ottawa County Attorney Richard Buck.Just after 9a.m. Saturday, calls came into police of a person shooting a firearm at Markley Park, 161 South Mill in Minneapolis.&nbsp;Police, Ottawa County Sheriff's Deputies and the Kansas Highway Patrol were among agencies that responded.&nbsp; First responders evacuated the nearby public pool and campers from the park.&nbsp; Officers eventually located and shot the suspect.&nbsp;EMS transported the suspect to Salina Regional Health Center and later to a Wichita hospital, according to Buck.&nbsp; "All officers involved in todays incident are safe and unharmed. Prayers for all involved are appreciated," the Ottawa County Sheriff's office shared on their social media page.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Police ID suspect wounded in Kansas officer shooting 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/lia-chien/">LIA CHIEN</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/19/democratic-women-in-u-s-senate-target-project-2025-on-reproductive-rights/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats held a press conference this week to stand up for reproductive rights and freedoms, criticizing a plan by a conservative think tank that if adopted would hinder abortion and contraception access in a Trump administration.

The lawmakers called attention to the potential restrictions former President Donald Trump could employ to reproductive health care if elected in November outlined in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf">Project 2025</a>, an almost 1,000-page conservative policy proposal.

The plan would restructure the federal government to be in line with Trump’s political beliefs. The Trump campaign has said other groups do not speak for it, but the project is led by former staffers, including the chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management in the Trump administration.

Democratic Sen. Patty Murray from Washington state, who is&nbsp; the former chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, led the press event. She was joined by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.

Murray said Project 2025, drafted by the conservative Heritage Foundation, would pose a threat to access to reproductive care nationwide.

“Donald Trump and his allies are planning a detailed road map, they’ve given it out, to rip away a woman’s right to choose in every single state in America,” she said.

Murray addressed concerns about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/1873-law-banned-mailing-boxing-photos-could-it-block-abortion-pills-too">the Comstock Act</a>, a key element of Republicans’ legal argument in restricting access to abortion in the United States.

In 1873, Congress passed the act to ban mailing of obscene matter, which includes abortion materials. In some interpretations of the law, the act could be used to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-comstock-act-implications-for-abortion-care-nationwide/">prohibit</a>&nbsp;mailing chemical abortion pills, like mifepristone. The Supreme Court last week unanimously&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-rejects-attempt-limit-access-abortion-pill-6">rejected</a>&nbsp;an effort to reduce access to mifepristone by anti-abortion groups.

Abortion pills accounted for 63% of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020">abortions</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. in 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights nonprofit.

In line with the Roe v. Wade ruling that upheld abortion rights, chemical abortion pills were protected and it was legal to mail them. In December 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the Department of Justice&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/application-comstock-act-mailing-prescription-drugs-can-be-used-abortions">determined</a>&nbsp;it is still legal to mail drugs like mifepristone despite the Comstock Act.

Still, Republicans potentially could use the Comstock Act to reduce abortion access under a second Trump presidency, the Project 2025 document indicates. Schumer highlighted a quote at Tuesday’s press conference from Jonathan F. Mitchell, an architect of Project 2025 and lifelong anti-abortion advocate.

“We don’t need a federal ban when we have Comstock on the books,” Mitchell said,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/17/us/politics/trump-allies-abortion-restrictions.html">quoted</a>&nbsp;in the New York Times.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718886172392.png" alt="Democratic women serving in the U.S. Senate held a press conference on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, about reproductive rights. Left to right, Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Patty Murray of Washington, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York is at right. (Lia Chien/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption>Democratic women serving in the U.S. Senate held a press conference on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, about reproductive rights. Left to right, Sens. Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Patty Murray of Washington, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York is at right. (Lia Chien/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/lia-chien/">LIA CHIEN</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/19/democratic-women-in-u-s-senate-target-project-2025-on-reproductive-rights/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats held a press conference this week to stand up for reproductive rights and freedoms, criticizing a plan by a conservative think tank that if adopted would hinder abortion and contraception access in a Trump administration.The lawmakers called attention to the potential restrictions former President Donald Trump could employ to reproductive health care if elected in November outlined in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf">Project 2025</a>, an almost 1,000-page conservative policy proposal.The plan would restructure the federal government to be in line with Trump’s political beliefs. The Trump campaign has said other groups do not speak for it, but the project is led by former staffers, including the chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management in the Trump administration.Democratic Sen. Patty Murray from Washington state, who is&nbsp; the former chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, led the press event. She was joined by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Jacky Rosen of Nevada.Murray said Project 2025, drafted by the conservative Heritage Foundation, would pose a threat to access to reproductive care nationwide.“Donald Trump and his allies are planning a detailed road map, they’ve given it out, to rip away a woman’s right to choose in every single state in America,” she said.<h2>Comstock Act</h2>Murray addressed concerns about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/1873-law-banned-mailing-boxing-photos-could-it-block-abortion-pills-too">the Comstock Act</a>, a key element of Republicans’ legal argument in restricting access to abortion in the United States.In 1873, Congress passed the act to ban mailing of obscene matter, which includes abortion materials. In some interpretations of the law, the act could be used to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-comstock-act-implications-for-abortion-care-nationwide/">prohibit</a>&nbsp;mailing chemical abortion pills, like mifepristone. The Supreme Court last week unanimously&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-rejects-attempt-limit-access-abortion-pill-6">rejected</a>&nbsp;an effort to reduce access to mifepristone by anti-abortion groups.Abortion pills accounted for 63% of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020">abortions</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. in 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights nonprofit.In line with the Roe v. Wade ruling that upheld abortion rights, chemical abortion pills were protected and it was legal to mail them. In December 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the Department of Justice&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/application-comstock-act-mailing-prescription-drugs-can-be-used-abortions">determined</a>&nbsp;it is still legal to mail drugs like mifepristone despite the Comstock Act.Still, Republicans potentially could use the Comstock Act to reduce abortion access under a second Trump presidency, the Project 2025 document indicates. Schumer highlighted a quote at Tuesday’s press conference from Jonathan F. Mitchell, an architect of Project 2025 and lifelong anti-abortion advocate.“We don’t need a federal ban when we have Comstock on the books,” Mitchell said,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/17/us/politics/trump-allies-abortion-restrictions.html">quoted</a>&nbsp;in the New York Times.In May, Sen. Tina Smith from Minnesota announced she planned to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/1873-law-banned-mailing-boxing-photos-could-it-block-abortion-pills-too">introduce</a>&nbsp;legislation to repeal the Comstock Act altogether.Murray told reporters at Tuesday’s event the DOJ has said Republicans could not use the Comstock Act to restrict abortion access.“Just let me make it very clear,” said Murray. “Our Department of Justice has made it very clear that Comstock does not apply.”<h2>IVF legislation</h2>Schumer slammed Republicans for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-republicans-reject-democrats-bill-ivf-protections">blocking</a>&nbsp;Duckworth’s IVF access legislation last week. The bill needed 60 votes to advance but only&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00197.htm">received</a>&nbsp;48. Only two Republican senators voted to advance it: Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.“In the last two weeks, Senate Republicans have shown that for all their attempts to sound moderate on reproductive care, when it comes time to vote, they choose MAGA extremism,” said Schumer.Schumer announced that he has begun the process of putting a new bill, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/HLA24625.pdf">Reproductive Freedom for Women Act</a>, on the legislative calendar. The proposed legislation co-sponsored by Murray and every Democratic woman in the Senate would express the sense of Congress that lawmakers should “enshrin(e) the protections of Roe into law,” Schumer said.<h2>Trump appointments</h2>The power of the courts was also a prime focus of lawmakers at the press conference.Klobuchar, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted how Trump’s appointments to federal courts had a major impact on not only the overturning of Roe, but in restricting reproductive care across the country, including abortion.She highlighted that judges will be critical in protecting rights to legal standing in bringing cases and prohibiting extreme actions by a possible Trump administration. Senate Democrats are battling to keep control of the chamber in November’s elections.“Every judge we confirm makes a difference,” she said. “We know the American people are with us. They are with us on having judges in place that actually respect the law.”During Trump’s first term, he appointed three&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/nominations/SupremeCourtNominations1789present.htm">justices</a>&nbsp;to the Supreme Court: Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. All three were confirmed to the court by the Senate and will remain&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/26/trump-legacy-supreme-court-422058">significant</a>&nbsp;in writing opinions far beyond Trump’s time in office.<h2>Planned Parenthood</h2>Senators at Tuesday’s event called out a number of plans in Project 2025 that Democrats oppose. For example, the plan says the Department of Health and Human Services should make it clear states can defund Planned Parenthood in their Medicaid plans and should propose rules to disqualify Planned Parenthood from Medicaid.“Planned Parenthood is often the only option for women with low incomes seeking contraception,” Hirono said.Hirono also noted that Project 2025 proposed changing the name of the Department of Health and Human Services to the Department of Life.“This isn’t about protecting life,” said Hirono. “This is about power and control and the Republicans’ obsession with controlling women’s bodies.”Duckworth expressed frustration with Republicans who tell American voters that they care about women’s rights but don’t vote to protect them.“When the rubber meets the road and we ask not just for empty words on Twitter before their vote, they won’t lift a finger to protect women in this country,” she said.Murray vowed to protect women’s rights no matter the outcome of November’s election.“We are fighting back,” said Murray. “We’re doing everything we can to protect women’s rights and we will be here to block anything that the Trump administration tries to do.”