KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri's execution protocol allows for “surgery without anesthesia” if the typical process of finding a suitable vein to inject the lethal drug doesn't work, lawyers for a death row inmate say in an appeal aimed at sparing his life.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-date-set-brian-dorsey-306c6e0cb8cc344004eb4b7a5ea9a0b4">Brian Dorsey</a>, 52, is scheduled for execution Tuesday for killing his cousin and her husband at their central Missouri home in 2006. His attorneys are seeking clemency from Gov. Mike Parson and have several appeals pending.

A federal court appeal focuses on how Missouri injects the fatal dose of pentobarbital. The written protocol calls for insertion of primary and secondary intravenous lines. But it offers no guidance on how far the execution team can go to find a suitable vein, leaving open the possibility of an invasive “cutdown procedure," Dorsey's attorneys say.

The procedure involves an incision that could be several inches wide and several inches deep. Forceps are used to tear tissue away from a vein that becomes the injection point.

“It's surgery,” said Arin Brenner, a federal public defender and one of the attorneys representing Dorsey. "It would be surgery without anesthesia.”

Brenner said Dorsey faces a higher-than-normal risk of needing a cutdown because he is obese. His veins also might be compromised because he is diabetic and a former IV drug user.

A spokesperson for Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't comment but referred to the state's response to the appeal.

“Cut-down procedures are rarely, if ever, used under Missouri’s execution protocol,” the response stated. “And in the event that a cut-down procedure were necessary, medical personnel have access to pain relieving medications.”

Medication would be inadequate and if the procedure is necessary, Dorsey should receive a local anesthetic, said Megan Crane, another attorney for him.

“It is extremely painful," Crane said. “Even if given an oral pain relief or an opioid, that will not relieve the pain.”

Lawyers for Dorsey say use of the surgical procedure would violate his constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment, and his right to religious freedom because it would prevent him from having meaningful interaction with his spiritual adviser, including the administration of last rites.

Missouri's execution process is shrouded in secrecy, so it's impossible to know if, or how often, cutdown procedures have been required. No independent observer sees the IV line inserted. The spiritual adviser doesn't enter the room until the preparation is complete. Witnesses sit in dark rooms with curtains drawn until corrections officers open them seconds before the drug is injected.

Attorneys for Dorsey wonder if a cutdown procedure was used in January 2023 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-state-government-missouri-legal-proceedings-religion-dbc253bef85af688a63a42a836e00028">Amber McLaughlin was executed</a>. It was believed to be the first execution of an openly transgender person in the U.S.

The Rev. Lauren Bennett of St. Louis served as McLaughlin's spiritual adviser. She recalled McLaughlin saying, “Ouch, ouch, ouch. It hurts," but said McLaughlin was unable to explain the cause of her pain before her death.

Issues with the IV have been problematic in executions elsewhere.

In 2014, Oklahoma inmate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-00a761ac0ea241a4b89f386bfa841d38">Clayton Lockett</a>&nbsp;was declared dead 43 minutes after his execution began, at times writhing in pain and clenching his teeth through the process. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-3adff2e4f63f4f6fa2a7becc6d37967a">state investigation</a>&nbsp;showed that the execution team repeatedly failed to insert an IV line in his arms, jugular vein, foot and subclavian vein in the upper torso, before eventually running a line through a vein in Lockett’s groin.

The review found that Lockett died after the line came loose, and that the deadly chemicals were pumped into the tissue surrounding the injection site instead of directly into his bloodstream. There is no indication in the report that Lockett was ever given an anesthetic.

In 2022, it took more than three hours to execute&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-alabama-executions-forensics-4334707e24158f5fe36607626bc287d4">Joe Nathan James Jr.</a>&nbsp;in Alabama. The state said the process was delayed because of difficulties establishing an IV line. Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor of anesthesiology at Emory University and an expert on lethal injection who witnessed the private autopsy, said he saw “multiple puncture sites on both arms” and two incisions in the middle of the arm, which he said were indications of efforts to perform a cutdown. It's unclear if he received anesthesia.

Messages were left Friday with corrections officials in Oklahoma and Alabama.

Dorsey, formerly of Jefferson City, was convicted of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben, on Dec. 23, 2006, at their home near New Bloomfield. Prosecutors said that earlier that day, Dorsey had called Sarah Bonnie seeking to borrow money to pay two drug dealers who were at his apartment.

Dorsey went to the Bonnies’ home that night. After they went to bed, Dorsey took a shotgun from the garage and killed both of them before sexually assaulting Sarah Bonnie’s body, prosecutors said.

Sarah Bonnie’s parents found the bodies the next day. The couple’s 4-year-old daughter was unhurt.

In the clemency petition, 72 current and former state correctional officers asked Parson, a Republican and a former county sheriff, to commute Dorsey’s sentence to life in prison, citing his virtually spotless record of good behavior while in prison.

“The Brian I have known for years could not hurt anyone,” one officer wrote. “The Brian I know does not deserve to be executed.”

A spokesperson said Parson is still reviewing the clemency request.

An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court centers on the $12,000 flat fee for Dorsey's court-appointed trial attorneys. The appeal argues that with the flat fee, his lawyers had a financial incentive to resolve the case quickly. They encouraged Dorsey to plead guilty, but with no demand that prosecutors agree to life in prison instead of the death penalty.

Dorsey's attorneys also argue that the Missouri Department of Corrections' acting director, Trevor Foley, is unqualified to oversee an execution because he has not been confirmed by the Missouri Senate since his appointment in December.

The Attorney General’s Office said in a court filing that acting directors must be allowed to carry out functions or government could be impeded. A state court sided with the Attorney General's Office this week, but Crane said an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court is planned.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702606426537.png" alt="Dorsey photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Dorsey photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri's execution protocol allows for “surgery without anesthesia” if the typical process of finding a suitable vein to inject the lethal drug doesn't work, lawyers for a death row inmate say in an appeal aimed at sparing his life.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-date-set-brian-dorsey-306c6e0cb8cc344004eb4b7a5ea9a0b4">Brian Dorsey</a>, 52, is scheduled for execution Tuesday for killing his cousin and her husband at their central Missouri home in 2006. His attorneys are seeking clemency from Gov. Mike Parson and have several appeals pending.A federal court appeal focuses on how Missouri injects the fatal dose of pentobarbital. The written protocol calls for insertion of primary and secondary intravenous lines. But it offers no guidance on how far the execution team can go to find a suitable vein, leaving open the possibility of an invasive “cutdown procedure," Dorsey's attorneys say.The procedure involves an incision that could be several inches wide and several inches deep. Forceps are used to tear tissue away from a vein that becomes the injection point.“It's surgery,” said Arin Brenner, a federal public defender and one of the attorneys representing Dorsey. "It would be surgery without anesthesia.”Brenner said Dorsey faces a higher-than-normal risk of needing a cutdown because he is obese. His veins also might be compromised because he is diabetic and a former IV drug user.A spokesperson for Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't comment but referred to the state's response to the appeal.“Cut-down procedures are rarely, if ever, used under Missouri’s execution protocol,” the response stated. “And in the event that a cut-down procedure were necessary, medical personnel have access to pain relieving medications.”Medication would be inadequate and if the procedure is necessary, Dorsey should receive a local anesthetic, said Megan Crane, another attorney for him.“It is extremely painful," Crane said. “Even if given an oral pain relief or an opioid, that will not relieve the pain.”Lawyers for Dorsey say use of the surgical procedure would violate his constitutional guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment, and his right to religious freedom because it would prevent him from having meaningful interaction with his spiritual adviser, including the administration of last rites.Missouri's execution process is shrouded in secrecy, so it's impossible to know if, or how often, cutdown procedures have been required. No independent observer sees the IV line inserted. The spiritual adviser doesn't enter the room until the preparation is complete. Witnesses sit in dark rooms with curtains drawn until corrections officers open them seconds before the drug is injected.Attorneys for Dorsey wonder if a cutdown procedure was used in January 2023 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-state-government-missouri-legal-proceedings-religion-dbc253bef85af688a63a42a836e00028">Amber McLaughlin was executed</a>. It was believed to be the first execution of an openly transgender person in the U.S.The Rev. Lauren Bennett of St. Louis served as McLaughlin's spiritual adviser. She recalled McLaughlin saying, “Ouch, ouch, ouch. It hurts," but said McLaughlin was unable to explain the cause of her pain before her death.Issues with the IV have been problematic in executions elsewhere.In 2014, Oklahoma inmate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/executions-oklahoma-00a761ac0ea241a4b89f386bfa841d38">Clayton Lockett</a>&nbsp;was declared dead 43 minutes after his execution began, at times writhing in pain and clenching his teeth through the process. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-3adff2e4f63f4f6fa2a7becc6d37967a">state investigation</a>&nbsp;showed that the execution team repeatedly failed to insert an IV line in his arms, jugular vein, foot and subclavian vein in the upper torso, before eventually running a line through a vein in Lockett’s groin.The review found that Lockett died after the line came loose, and that the deadly chemicals were pumped into the tissue surrounding the injection site instead of directly into his bloodstream. There is no indication in the report that Lockett was ever given an anesthetic.In 2022, it took more than three hours to execute&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-alabama-executions-forensics-4334707e24158f5fe36607626bc287d4">Joe Nathan James Jr.</a>&nbsp;in Alabama. The state said the process was delayed because of difficulties establishing an IV line. Dr. Joel Zivot, a professor of anesthesiology at Emory University and an expert on lethal injection who witnessed the private autopsy, said he saw “multiple puncture sites on both arms” and two incisions in the middle of the arm, which he said were indications of efforts to perform a cutdown. It's unclear if he received anesthesia.Messages were left Friday with corrections officials in Oklahoma and Alabama.Dorsey, formerly of Jefferson City, was convicted of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben, on Dec. 23, 2006, at their home near New Bloomfield. Prosecutors said that earlier that day, Dorsey had called Sarah Bonnie seeking to borrow money to pay two drug dealers who were at his apartment.Dorsey went to the Bonnies’ home that night. After they went to bed, Dorsey took a shotgun from the garage and killed both of them before sexually assaulting Sarah Bonnie’s body, prosecutors said.Sarah Bonnie’s parents found the bodies the next day. The couple’s 4-year-old daughter was unhurt.In the clemency petition, 72 current and former state correctional officers asked Parson, a Republican and a former county sheriff, to commute Dorsey’s sentence to life in prison, citing his virtually spotless record of good behavior while in prison.“The Brian I have known for years could not hurt anyone,” one officer wrote. “The Brian I know does not deserve to be executed.”A spokesperson said Parson is still reviewing the clemency request.An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court centers on the $12,000 flat fee for Dorsey's court-appointed trial attorneys. The appeal argues that with the flat fee, his lawyers had a financial incentive to resolve the case quickly. They encouraged Dorsey to plead guilty, but with no demand that prosecutors agree to life in prison instead of the death penalty.Dorsey's attorneys also argue that the Missouri Department of Corrections' acting director, Trevor Foley, is unqualified to oversee an execution because he has not been confirmed by the Missouri Senate since his appointment in December.The Attorney General’s Office said in a court filing that acting directors must be allowed to carry out functions or government could be impeded. A state court sided with the Attorney General's Office this week, but Crane said an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court is planned.___

Lawyer: Condemned killer could face 'surgery without anesthesia' if good vein is elusive

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.

Just after 1:30p.m. Saturday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 400 block of NE 103rd in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First arriving crews reported smoke and fire showing from a two-story apartment.&nbsp; Occupants were not home at the time. Searches came back all clear. Multiple cats were found and taken to a local vet by the owners. Residents of two units are displaced. No injuries were reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712435994714.png" alt="Photos KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photos KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.Just after 1:30p.m. Saturday, fire crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 400 block of NE 103rd in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712436049146.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>First arriving crews reported smoke and fire showing from a two-story apartment.&nbsp; Occupants were not home at the time. Searches came back all clear. Multiple cats were found and taken to a local vet by the owners. Residents of two units are displaced. No injuries were reported.

Multiple cats found in Kansas City apartment fire

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Like a loss in the playoffs,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-chiefs-stadiums-kansas-city-1c6691c928234706ec79ac16161d2576">voter rejection</a>&nbsp;of a stadium tax plan will force the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs to reevaluate their approach.

The defeat Tuesday of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">a three-eighths cent sales tax</a>&nbsp;to fund a new downtown Royals ballpark and renovate the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium was almost assuredly not the end of the matter. Other teams and cities have faced similar setbacks, and that hasn't slowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-stadiums-public-funding-nfl-mlb-a81d825286530bb95f227efc99f2e9d3">a wave of stadium construction</a>&nbsp;underway across the U.S.

“The next page in the playbook, if they lose this referendum, would be to threaten to move,” said Brad Humphreys, an economics professor at West Virginia University, who researches sports stadiums.

But that doesn't mean relocation is imminent, or even likely.

Moving to a new stadium within the same region or another state is just one of several options. Teams could tweak their plans and ask voters again. They could build or renovate stadiums without public funds. Or they could avoid a referendum by seeking approval for public subsidies directly from a legislative body such as a city council, county commission or state legislature.

“Usually, team owners just find a new way to get money, and they’ll go the legislative route,” said Geoffrey Propheter, an associate public finance professor at the University of Colorado Denver. “Rarely do team owners just straight up leave.”

From 1990 through 2023, voters cast ballots on 57 stadium and arena proposals across the country, approving 35 and rejecting 22, according to data compiled by Propheter.

In December, Oklahoma City&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-city-thunder-arena-tax-f1ede25523b793e9f5326b907246d35e">voters overwhelmingly approved</a>&nbsp;a 1% sales tax for six years to help fund a new downtown arena for the NBA’s Thunder that is expected to cost at least $900 million.

But last May, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coyotes-arena-vote-951c07342692c22d80e0674a64b21c93?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">rejected a proposal</a>&nbsp;for a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would have included a new arena for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. The defeat marked the latest seatback for the hockey team, which underwent a 2009 bankruptcy and is currently playing in a 5,000-seat arena shared with Arizona State University.

The Coyotes haven’t given up on the Phoenix area yet. The team is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coyotes-arena-561f0f996d24e322e89daa21f05933e0">looking into bidding</a>&nbsp;on a 95-acre tract in north Phoenix.

Public subsidies for stadiums and arenas often get approved by elected officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stadiums-public-funding-nfl-mlb-70f5054b1e1f6862713ef036cbae2a10">without going on the ballot.</a>

Last year, the Nashville City Council approved $760 million in local bonds to go along with $500 million in state bonds — all to help finance a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-tennessee-titans-new-stadium-83e5e8ef8b41d097fca5a8f16983d46d?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">new $2.1 billion football stadium</a>&nbsp;for the Tennessee Titans. There was no public referendum.

Construction also began last year on a new football stadium for the Buffalo Bills that's projected to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bills-new-stadium-cost-overruns-9846e00bd063cf2e8b12406af66c6ef9?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">cost more than $1.6 billion.</a>&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-buffalo-bills-nfl-business-sports-b16413591ee74ffb5a5bd2431d914910?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">total of $850 million</a>&nbsp;is coming from New York and Erie County, with no public referendum.

The proposal from the Royals and Chiefs went to voters because the Missouri Constitution requires a public vote on local taxes. Only voters in Jackson County got a say, because the proposed tax applied only to sales in that county.

Voter approval might not be necessary if the teams can finance their stadiums without a tax. One option is privately financed bonds, but those would still need a funding stream for repayments, said Brent Never, associate public affairs professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

After losing elections, some teams subsequently sidestep voters to get new stadiums.

In 1997, voters in 11 southwestern Pennsylvania counties rejected a proposed half-cent sales tax to replace a stadium shared by the MLB’s Pirates and NFL’s Steelers with two separate facilities and to fund a convention center expansion. But the next year, a regional development district approved public financing for the new facilities without going back to voters.

Similar scenarios played out elsewhere in the mid-1990s. When voters in King County, Washington, rejected a tax plan for a Seattle Mariners ballpark, owners threatened to put the team up for sale. Within a month, state lawmakers authorized a new financing plan for a new baseball stadium.

After Wisconsin voters rejected a sports lottery for a new Milwaukee Brewers ballpark, the state legislature authorized a regional sales tax to help pay for it. Last year, Wisconsin's governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-brewers-american-family-field-repairs-c4a60cddc901fe1d8d5e8a40174837aa">signed a law</a>&nbsp;authorizing an additional $500 million of public aid for stadium renovations, again without a voter referendum.

Teams sometimes bounce back from a stadium election loss to achieve victory with voters.

After Houston voters defeated a new downtown arena for the NBA’s Rockets in 1999, supporters tried again the next year and easily won.

The San Francisco Giants are perhaps the greatest example of electoral persistence.

Voters said “no” to new stadium plans twice in San Francisco, once in Santa Clara County and once in San Jose, before the Giants put forth a privately financed stadium that finally received voter approval for a needed San Francisco zoning change in 1996.

The Oakland A's received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-athletics-move-las-vegas-oakland-manfred-9c517a4bd16e13bd99325a4ebcb5b567?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">MLB approval</a>&nbsp;last year to relocate to Las Vegas, following the path of the NFL's Oakland Raiders who were similarly lured by a new publicly subsidized stadium. But those deals didn't involve public votes.

The NFL's Chargers are the most recent team to move following voter rejection of a stadium referendum. San Diego voters in 2016&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-c7bb774d0ce345bb87e77e300ea758d4">defeated a plan</a>&nbsp;to raise hotel taxes for a new football stadium and to expand a convention center. The Chargers then moved to a new privately financed stadium in Los Angeles, sharing it with the Rams, who relocated from St. Louis.

The NBA's Charlotte Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002 — later rebranding as the Pelicans — after voters defeated a sweeping plan to fund a new basketball arena, minor league baseball stadium, museums and cultural centers.

But just six months after the team left, the Charlotte City Council approved a plan for a new downtown arena without submitting it to voters. The NBA then awarded Charlotte an expansion team, which later assumed the Hornets name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709665032862.png" alt=" A rendering of the Royals proposed downtown ballpark&nbsp; -courtesy image" />
 <figcaption> A rendering of the Royals proposed downtown ballpark&nbsp; -courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID A. LIEBKANSAS CITY (AP) — Like a loss in the playoffs,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-chiefs-stadiums-kansas-city-1c6691c928234706ec79ac16161d2576">voter rejection</a>&nbsp;of a stadium tax plan will force the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs to reevaluate their approach.The defeat Tuesday of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">a three-eighths cent sales tax</a>&nbsp;to fund a new downtown Royals ballpark and renovate the Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium was almost assuredly not the end of the matter. Other teams and cities have faced similar setbacks, and that hasn't slowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-stadiums-public-funding-nfl-mlb-a81d825286530bb95f227efc99f2e9d3">a wave of stadium construction</a>&nbsp;underway across the U.S.“The next page in the playbook, if they lose this referendum, would be to threaten to move,” said Brad Humphreys, an economics professor at West Virginia University, who researches sports stadiums.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709142006045.jpeg" alt="Arrowhead Stadium- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Arrowhead Stadium- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>But that doesn't mean relocation is imminent, or even likely.Moving to a new stadium within the same region or another state is just one of several options. Teams could tweak their plans and ask voters again. They could build or renovate stadiums without public funds. Or they could avoid a referendum by seeking approval for public subsidies directly from a legislative body such as a city council, county commission or state legislature.“Usually, team owners just find a new way to get money, and they’ll go the legislative route,” said Geoffrey Propheter, an associate public finance professor at the University of Colorado Denver. “Rarely do team owners just straight up leave.”DECADES OF DECISIONSFrom 1990 through 2023, voters cast ballots on 57 stadium and arena proposals across the country, approving 35 and rejecting 22, according to data compiled by Propheter.In December, Oklahoma City&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-city-thunder-arena-tax-f1ede25523b793e9f5326b907246d35e">voters overwhelmingly approved</a>&nbsp;a 1% sales tax for six years to help fund a new downtown arena for the NBA’s Thunder that is expected to cost at least $900 million.But last May, voters in the Phoenix suburb of Tempe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coyotes-arena-vote-951c07342692c22d80e0674a64b21c93?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">rejected a proposal</a>&nbsp;for a $2.3 billion entertainment district that would have included a new arena for the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. The defeat marked the latest seatback for the hockey team, which underwent a 2009 bankruptcy and is currently playing in a 5,000-seat arena shared with Arizona State University.The Coyotes haven’t given up on the Phoenix area yet. The team is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-coyotes-arena-561f0f996d24e322e89daa21f05933e0">looking into bidding</a>&nbsp;on a 95-acre tract in north Phoenix.NO REFERENDUM NEEDEDPublic subsidies for stadiums and arenas often get approved by elected officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stadiums-public-funding-nfl-mlb-70f5054b1e1f6862713ef036cbae2a10">without going on the ballot.</a>Last year, the Nashville City Council approved $760 million in local bonds to go along with $500 million in state bonds — all to help finance a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-tennessee-titans-new-stadium-83e5e8ef8b41d097fca5a8f16983d46d?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">new $2.1 billion football stadium</a>&nbsp;for the Tennessee Titans. There was no public referendum.Construction also began last year on a new football stadium for the Buffalo Bills that's projected to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bills-new-stadium-cost-overruns-9846e00bd063cf2e8b12406af66c6ef9?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">cost more than $1.6 billion.</a>&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-buffalo-bills-nfl-business-sports-b16413591ee74ffb5a5bd2431d914910?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">total of $850 million</a>&nbsp;is coming from New York and Erie County, with no public referendum.The proposal from the Royals and Chiefs went to voters because the Missouri Constitution requires a public vote on local taxes. Only voters in Jackson County got a say, because the proposed tax applied only to sales in that county.Voter approval might not be necessary if the teams can finance their stadiums without a tax. One option is privately financed bonds, but those would still need a funding stream for repayments, said Brent Never, associate public affairs professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.MAKING AN END RUNAfter losing elections, some teams subsequently sidestep voters to get new stadiums.In 1997, voters in 11 southwestern Pennsylvania counties rejected a proposed half-cent sales tax to replace a stadium shared by the MLB’s Pirates and NFL’s Steelers with two separate facilities and to fund a convention center expansion. But the next year, a regional development district approved public financing for the new facilities without going back to voters.Similar scenarios played out elsewhere in the mid-1990s. When voters in King County, Washington, rejected a tax plan for a Seattle Mariners ballpark, owners threatened to put the team up for sale. Within a month, state lawmakers authorized a new financing plan for a new baseball stadium.After Wisconsin voters rejected a sports lottery for a new Milwaukee Brewers ballpark, the state legislature authorized a regional sales tax to help pay for it. Last year, Wisconsin's governor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-brewers-american-family-field-repairs-c4a60cddc901fe1d8d5e8a40174837aa">signed a law</a>&nbsp;authorizing an additional $500 million of public aid for stadium renovations, again without a voter referendum.TRYING AGAINTeams sometimes bounce back from a stadium election loss to achieve victory with voters.After Houston voters defeated a new downtown arena for the NBA’s Rockets in 1999, supporters tried again the next year and easily won.The San Francisco Giants are perhaps the greatest example of electoral persistence.Voters said “no” to new stadium plans twice in San Francisco, once in Santa Clara County and once in San Jose, before the Giants put forth a privately financed stadium that finally received voter approval for a needed San Francisco zoning change in 1996.MOVING OUTThe Oakland A's received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-athletics-move-las-vegas-oakland-manfred-9c517a4bd16e13bd99325a4ebcb5b567?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">MLB approval</a>&nbsp;last year to relocate to Las Vegas, following the path of the NFL's Oakland Raiders who were similarly lured by a new publicly subsidized stadium. But those deals didn't involve public votes.The NFL's Chargers are the most recent team to move following voter rejection of a stadium referendum. San Diego voters in 2016&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-c7bb774d0ce345bb87e77e300ea758d4">defeated a plan</a>&nbsp;to raise hotel taxes for a new football stadium and to expand a convention center. The Chargers then moved to a new privately financed stadium in Los Angeles, sharing it with the Rams, who relocated from St. Louis.The NBA's Charlotte Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002 — later rebranding as the Pelicans — after voters defeated a sweeping plan to fund a new basketball arena, minor league baseball stadium, museums and cultural centers.But just six months after the team left, the Charlotte City Council approved a plan for a new downtown arena without submitting it to voters. The NBA then awarded Charlotte an expansion team, which later assumed the Hornets name.

When voters say 'no' to new stadiums, what do professional sports teams do next?

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Powerball player in Oregon won a jackpot worth more than $1.3 billion on Sunday, ending a winless streak that had stretched more than three months.

The single ticket matched all six numbers drawn to win the jackpot worth $1.326 billion, Powerball said in a statement.

The jackpot has a cash value of $621 million if the winner chooses to take a lump sum rather than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">an annuity</a>&nbsp;paid over 30 years, with an immediate payout followed by 29 annual installments. The prize is subject to federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery winnings.

The winning numbers drawn early Sunday morning were: 22, 27, 44, 52, 69 and the red Powerball 9.

Until the latest drawing, no one had won Powerball’s top prize since New Year’s Day, amounting to 41 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, tying a streak set twice before in 2022 and 2021.

The $1.326 billion prize ranks as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpots-mega-millions-powerball-80fcb836622ba8e18883ce778786c1cc">eighth largest in U.S. lottery history</a>. As the prizes grow, the drawings attract more ticket sales and the jackpots subsequently become harder to hit. The game’s long odds for the weekend drawing were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">1 in 292.2 million</a>.

Saturday night’s scheduled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-lottery-delay-ef6c513ad9fc94dd3d07cd9db2e8e22f">drawing was held up</a>&nbsp;and took place in the Florida Lottery studio just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday to enable one of the organizers to complete required procedures before the scheduled time of 10:59 p.m., Powerball said in a statement.

“Powerball game rules require that every single ticket sold nationwide be checked and verified against two different computer systems before the winning numbers are drawn,” the statement said. “This is done to ensure that every ticket sold for the Powerball drawing has been accounted for and has an equal chance to win. Tonight, we have one jurisdiction that needs extra time to complete that pre-draw process.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Powerball player in Oregon won a jackpot worth more than $1.3 billion on Sunday, ending a winless streak that had stretched more than three months.The single ticket matched all six numbers drawn to win the jackpot worth $1.326 billion, Powerball said in a statement.The jackpot has a cash value of $621 million if the winner chooses to take a lump sum rather than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">an annuity</a>&nbsp;paid over 30 years, with an immediate payout followed by 29 annual installments. The prize is subject to federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery winnings.The winning numbers drawn early Sunday morning were: 22, 27, 44, 52, 69 and the red Powerball 9.Until the latest drawing, no one had won Powerball’s top prize since New Year’s Day, amounting to 41 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, tying a streak set twice before in 2022 and 2021.The $1.326 billion prize ranks as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-jackpots-mega-millions-powerball-80fcb836622ba8e18883ce778786c1cc">eighth largest in U.S. lottery history</a>. As the prizes grow, the drawings attract more ticket sales and the jackpots subsequently become harder to hit. The game’s long odds for the weekend drawing were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">1 in 292.2 million</a>.Saturday night’s scheduled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-lottery-delay-ef6c513ad9fc94dd3d07cd9db2e8e22f">drawing was held up</a>&nbsp;and took place in the Florida Lottery studio just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday to enable one of the organizers to complete required procedures before the scheduled time of 10:59 p.m., Powerball said in a statement.“Powerball game rules require that every single ticket sold nationwide be checked and verified against two different computer systems before the winning numbers are drawn,” the statement said. “This is done to ensure that every ticket sold for the Powerball drawing has been accounted for and has an equal chance to win. Tonight, we have one jurisdiction that needs extra time to complete that pre-draw process.”

Powerball player wins a $1.3 billion jackpot, ending months without a grand prize

Debate delves into salaries, cancer, border security and professional soccer

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

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature relied on bipartisan House and Senate majorities to send Gov. Laura Kelly a budget bill that financed 5% to 10% raises for most state employees and sidestepped a separate vote on the 93% raise for legislators recommended by a special commission.

Contents of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb28/">Senate Bill 28</a>, including provisions never before considered by either the House or Senate, would invest $17 million in improving services for people with disabilities, $80 million into rates paid hospital and physicians serving Medicaid patients and $900 million for state transportation projects. It also would allow the state treasurer to invest half the state’s $1.8 billion rainy day fund in an attempt to secure a better return.

The $25 billion bill didn’t include Kelly’s proposal for expansion of eligibility for Medicaid. It also excluded the governor’s call for using part of a massive budget surplus to pay down state government debt.

Rep. Troy Waymaster, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the bill would spend $900 million less than the budget championed by the governor in January. He said House negotiators held “fairly well” to the House’s positions when contrary to the Senate’s view of the budget. On the House floor, the chairman faced gentle and hostile commentary from representatives assessing details of the spending deal. It passed 78-44.

“We’re spending a lot of money,” said Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita. “We have a spending problem. Overall, we’re spending more money than we can afford.”

On the other side of the Capitol rotunda, Sen. Rick Billinger, GOP chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, outlined the identical package to colleagues. He, too, was hit with praise and complaints about fine print of the budget. And, it was approved 26-12.

Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, said he was disappointed that negotiators put only $23 million into removing 500 people from waiting lists for services provided to Kansans with intellectual and physical disabilities. The two waiting lists contained names of 7,500 people in February, which amounted to a 35% increase over the past five years. The budget bill would place into law a provision forbidding the combined waiting lists from exceeding 6,800.

Olson said the budget mysteriously earmarked $1 million for restoration of an opera house in Manhattan, a last-minute request submitted by one senator and two representatives.

“I’d be ashamed to put something in the budget like an opera house, while there’s kids that need help that are on a waiting list,” Olson said.

Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, said he was perplexed that Billinger and the two other budget negotiators from the Senate didn’t insist on retention of a provision requiring the House and Senate to vote on their substantial salary increase scheduled to be implemented in 2025. The pay hike would be implemented after House and Senate elections in November.

Under the plan proposed by a commission of retired legislators, the 93% increase would be enacted unless rejected by the Legislature. Pyle convinced the Senate to pass an amendment calling for such a vote on the $3.5 million increase in legislative compensation.

“Five percent for state employees. Ninety-three percent for legislators. Something’s wrong there. Something’s very, very wrong. It’s a sad day for Kansas,” Pyle said.

Billinger said it would have been futile to fight for a vote on salary increases for legislators because the House negotiators said that issue was off the table.

The legislation forwarded to the governor would allow for a general 5% pay hike for state government workers, but about 900 state employees with below-market salaries would qualify for a 10% boost in pay.

“I want to emphasize that all employees receive a raise under this plan,” said Billinger, who also indicated he didn’t like the size of pay increase recommended for legislators.

Rep. Linda Featherston, D-Overland Park, had convinced the House to include in the budget $75,000 so state employees enrolled in the state’s health plan would have access to thorough testing for potential breast cancer. Passage of her amendment was hailed as a demonstration of bipartisan cooperation.

During House and Senate negotiations, the tiny sliver of the budget was deleted from the bill.

“This was stripped for some reason,” she said. “Was it politics? Was it special interests? Was it sexism? Was it spite? Was it a complete lack of regard for women’s health care. The fact that we cannot agree that women’s health should be a priority is appalling.”

Helgerson, the Wichita Democrat, said absence of the breast cancer screening money was odd given the conference committee agreed to spend $49,893 for a bus tour by legislators on the House and Senate budget committees.

Waymaster, who led House negotiations on the budget, said removal of the breast cancer funding was tied to the belief a proposal should be included in the next round of contract negotiations on the state health insurance plan. He said he was offended by suggestions the budget item was deleted due to sexism or out of spite.

“If you really know me,” he said, “you would know that my grandmother is a breast cancer survivor. I have two aunts who are breast cancer survivors. So, I actually took a personal offense to some of the comments that were made.”

Billinger, the Senate budget chairman, said he was pleased the bill retained $15.7 million to finance deployment of Kansas National Guard to the southwest border with Mexico.

The provision called on the governor to activate, mobilize and deploy state resources to prevent drug and human trafficking and “other crimes” such as illegal immigration “contributing to an emergency.”

“The Biden administration has encouraged the flow of drugs,” Billinger said. “We’ve got so many drugs coming into Kansas it’s killing our young people.”

Kelly, who reminded legislators recently that she was commander-in-chief of the Kansas National Guard, would have authority to veto that line-item in the budget while still signing the bill. She has not expressed an interest in directing troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.

Earlier in the 2024 legislative session, the House and Senate adopted resolutions to demonstrate support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has battled President Joe Biden on immigration policy.

In other areas of the budget, state lawmakers allocated $28 million to subsidize the 2026 World Cup soccer competition in the Kansas City area. The budget bill included $36 million for aviation hangers at local airports in Salina and Topeka to engage in commercial aircraft repairs.

The budget delivered $4.5 million to cover costs incurred when the Kansas Supreme Court’s computer system was compromised by a ransomware attack that shut down online operations for months. Of the total, $1 million was budgeted to provide one year of credit monitoring services for individuals harmed during the security incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712453442807.png" alt=" Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, said it was shocking House and Senate budget negotiators didn’t retain a provision requiring lawmakers to vote on a plan providing them with a 93% salary increase in 2025 while approving 5% to 10% increases for other state government employees. The House and Senate approved the bill. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, said it was shocking House and Senate budget negotiators didn’t retain a provision requiring lawmakers to vote on a plan providing them with a 93% salary increase in 2025 while approving 5% to 10% increases for other state government employees. The House and Senate approved the bill. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Debate delves into salaries, cancer, border security and professional soccer</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature relied on bipartisan House and Senate majorities to send Gov. Laura Kelly a budget bill that financed 5% to 10% raises for most state employees and sidestepped a separate vote on the 93% raise for legislators recommended by a special commission.Contents of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb28/">Senate Bill 28</a>, including provisions never before considered by either the House or Senate, would invest $17 million in improving services for people with disabilities, $80 million into rates paid hospital and physicians serving Medicaid patients and $900 million for state transportation projects. It also would allow the state treasurer to invest half the state’s $1.8 billion rainy day fund in an attempt to secure a better return.The $25 billion bill didn’t include Kelly’s proposal for expansion of eligibility for Medicaid. It also excluded the governor’s call for using part of a massive budget surplus to pay down state government debt.Rep. Troy Waymaster, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the bill would spend $900 million less than the budget championed by the governor in January. He said House negotiators held “fairly well” to the House’s positions when contrary to the Senate’s view of the budget. On the House floor, the chairman faced gentle and hostile commentary from representatives assessing details of the spending deal. It passed 78-44.“We’re spending a lot of money,” said Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Wichita. “We have a spending problem. Overall, we’re spending more money than we can afford.”On the other side of the Capitol rotunda, Sen. Rick Billinger, GOP chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, outlined the identical package to colleagues. He, too, was hit with praise and complaints about fine print of the budget. And, it was approved 26-12.Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, said he was disappointed that negotiators put only $23 million into removing 500 people from waiting lists for services provided to Kansans with intellectual and physical disabilities. The two waiting lists contained names of 7,500 people in February, which amounted to a 35% increase over the past five years. The budget bill would place into law a provision forbidding the combined waiting lists from exceeding 6,800.Olson said the budget mysteriously earmarked $1 million for restoration of an opera house in Manhattan, a last-minute request submitted by one senator and two representatives.“I’d be ashamed to put something in the budget like an opera house, while there’s kids that need help that are on a waiting list,” Olson said.<h2>The salary debate</h2>Sen. Dennis Pyle, R-Hiawatha, said he was perplexed that Billinger and the two other budget negotiators from the Senate didn’t insist on retention of a provision requiring the House and Senate to vote on their substantial salary increase scheduled to be implemented in 2025. The pay hike would be implemented after House and Senate elections in November.Under the plan proposed by a commission of retired legislators, the 93% increase would be enacted unless rejected by the Legislature. Pyle convinced the Senate to pass an amendment calling for such a vote on the $3.5 million increase in legislative compensation.“Five percent for state employees. Ninety-three percent for legislators. Something’s wrong there. Something’s very, very wrong. It’s a sad day for Kansas,” Pyle said.Billinger said it would have been futile to fight for a vote on salary increases for legislators because the House negotiators said that issue was off the table.The legislation forwarded to the governor would allow for a general 5% pay hike for state government workers, but about 900 state employees with below-market salaries would qualify for a 10% boost in pay.“I want to emphasize that all employees receive a raise under this plan,” said Billinger, who also indicated he didn’t like the size of pay increase recommended for legislators.<h2>Fighting cancer</h2>Rep. Linda Featherston, D-Overland Park, had convinced the House to include in the budget $75,000 so state employees enrolled in the state’s health plan would have access to thorough testing for potential breast cancer. Passage of her amendment was hailed as a demonstration of bipartisan cooperation.During House and Senate negotiations, the tiny sliver of the budget was deleted from the bill.“This was stripped for some reason,” she said. “Was it politics? Was it special interests? Was it sexism? Was it spite? Was it a complete lack of regard for women’s health care. The fact that we cannot agree that women’s health should be a priority is appalling.”Helgerson, the Wichita Democrat, said absence of the breast cancer screening money was odd given the conference committee agreed to spend $49,893 for a bus tour by legislators on the House and Senate budget committees.Waymaster, who led House negotiations on the budget, said removal of the breast cancer funding was tied to the belief a proposal should be included in the next round of contract negotiations on the state health insurance plan. He said he was offended by suggestions the budget item was deleted due to sexism or out of spite.“If you really know me,” he said, “you would know that my grandmother is a breast cancer survivor. I have two aunts who are breast cancer survivors. So, I actually took a personal offense to some of the comments that were made.”<h2>Texas border fight</h2>Billinger, the Senate budget chairman, said he was pleased the bill retained $15.7 million to finance deployment of Kansas National Guard to the southwest border with Mexico.The provision called on the governor to activate, mobilize and deploy state resources to prevent drug and human trafficking and “other crimes” such as illegal immigration “contributing to an emergency.”“The Biden administration has encouraged the flow of drugs,” Billinger said. “We’ve got so many drugs coming into Kansas it’s killing our young people.”Kelly, who reminded legislators recently that she was commander-in-chief of the Kansas National Guard, would have authority to veto that line-item in the budget while still signing the bill. She has not expressed an interest in directing troops to the U.S. border with Mexico.Earlier in the 2024 legislative session, the House and Senate adopted resolutions to demonstrate support for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has battled President Joe Biden on immigration policy.In other areas of the budget, state lawmakers allocated $28 million to subsidize the 2026 World Cup soccer competition in the Kansas City area. The budget bill included $36 million for aviation hangers at local airports in Salina and Topeka to engage in commercial aircraft repairs.The budget delivered $4.5 million to cover costs incurred when the Kansas Supreme Court’s computer system was compromised by a ransomware attack that shut down online operations for months. Of the total, $1 million was budgeted to provide one year of credit monitoring services for individuals harmed during the security incident.

GOP-led Kansas Senate, House send new state budget bill to governor

FRANKLIN COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 10p.m. Saturday in Franklin County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Lexus RX driven by&nbsp; Barbara S.&nbsp;Kjergaard, 62, Stilwell, was southbound on Interstate 35 just east of Colorado Road. The car traveled off the roadway to the right and struck the bridge pillar.&nbsp;

EMS transported Kjergaard to Advent Health where she was pronounced deceased. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

FRANKLIN COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 10p.m. Saturday in Franklin County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Lexus RX driven by&nbsp; Barbara S.&nbsp;Kjergaard, 62, Stilwell, was southbound on Interstate 35 just east of Colorado Road. The car traveled off the roadway to the right and struck the bridge pillar.&nbsp;EMS transported Kjergaard to Advent Health where she was pronounced deceased. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after car strikes bridge pillar

HARVEY COUNTY— Police captured a wanted Kansas felon Friday night after a vehicle pursuit through Newton and into Sedgwick County.

Late Friday, Newton Police and Harvey County Sheriff’s Office were actively looking for a person wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Felony warrants were issued for the person through Harvey County District Court.

While watching a location the suspect was known to frequent, a Harvey County Sheriff’s Investigator saw a vehicle known to be driven by the suspect leave the location at a high speed. The vehicle was located a short time later, and the suspect refused to stop.

The pursuit traveled from west Newton to east Newton and southbound on Interstate 35. The pursuit made its way to South Kansas Avenue and into Sedgwick County. In Park City, the pursuit went back to Interstate 135 and northbound. Near the 101st Street exit, the suspect vehicle reportedly ran out of gas. The driver, the wanted person from the aggravated assault, was taken into custody. 

Bryan Edward Smith, 34, of Newton, was arrested on the warrant for aggravated assault, felony flee &amp; elude, and a multitude of other traffic and drug offenses. His bond was set at $71,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Smith has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated robbery, arson, flee or attempt to elude, criminal threat and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712415542616.png" alt="Smith has over a dozen convictions that include theft, aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated robbery, arson, flee or attempt to elude, criminal threat and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Smith has over a dozen convictions that include theft, aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated robbery, arson, flee or attempt to elude, criminal threat and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY— Police captured a wanted Kansas felon Friday night after a vehicle pursuit through Newton and into Sedgwick County.Late Friday, Newton Police and Harvey County Sheriff’s Office were actively looking for a person wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Felony warrants were issued for the person through Harvey County District Court.While watching a location the suspect was known to frequent, a Harvey County Sheriff’s Investigator saw a vehicle known to be driven by the suspect leave the location at a high speed. The vehicle was located a short time later, and the suspect refused to stop.The pursuit traveled from west Newton to east Newton and southbound on Interstate 35. The pursuit made its way to South Kansas Avenue and into Sedgwick County. In Park City, the pursuit went back to Interstate 135 and northbound. Near the 101st Street exit, the suspect vehicle reportedly ran out of gas. The driver, the wanted person from the aggravated assault, was taken into custody. Bryan Edward Smith, 34, of Newton, was arrested on the warrant for aggravated assault, felony flee &amp; elude, and a multitude of other traffic and drug offenses. His bond was set at $71,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;Smith has over a dozen previous convictions that include theft, aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated robbery, arson, flee or attempt to elude, criminal threat and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

Police chase: Wanted Kan. felon's vehicle ran out of gas

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A man was sentenced to 100 months in prison for bank robbery.

This week, a federal jury convicted Richard Ruston, 54, of Independence, Missouri, for robbing a bank in Shawnee, Kansas, in July 2022.

According to court documents, Ruston entered First Interstate Bank on Shawnee Mission Parkway wearing a red bandana covering his face and neck, a dark bandana covering the top of his head, a long-sleeve shirt with a snake-skin pattern, sunglasses, and gloves. 

He approached a bank teller, lifted his shirt, displayed a firearm in his waistband, and said to her, “Put the money on the counter, do it now, do it now.” Fearing for her safety, the teller complied with the demand. 

Ruston took the money and fled the scene.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Shawnee, Kansas Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Merriam, Kansas Police Department, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, investigated the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712175422320.png" alt="Ruston photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Ruston photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A man was sentenced to 100 months in prison for bank robbery.This week, a federal jury convicted Richard Ruston, 54, of Independence, Missouri, for robbing a bank in Shawnee, Kansas, in July 2022.According to court documents, Ruston entered First Interstate Bank on Shawnee Mission Parkway wearing a red bandana covering his face and neck, a dark bandana covering the top of his head, a long-sleeve shirt with a snake-skin pattern, sunglasses, and gloves. He approached a bank teller, lifted his shirt, displayed a firearm in his waistband, and said to her, “Put the money on the counter, do it now, do it now.” Fearing for her safety, the teller complied with the demand. Ruston took the money and fled the scene.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Shawnee, Kansas Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Merriam, Kansas Police Department, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, investigated the case.

Man showed teller a gun during Kansas bank robbry

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on drug allegations.

Just after 6:30p.m. April 1, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Ford Windstar van on Arizona and Banner Road in Holton around 6:30 P.M.&nbsp; for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drug contraband inside the vehicle.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested&nbsp; 56-year-old Mary Jayne Johnson and 69-year-old Peggie Loretta Sierra both of Holton on drug allegations.

During the course of the investigation deputies served a search warrant at the residence where both subjects were staying.&nbsp; Deputies and Holton Police served a search warrant around 10 P.M. at 813 Wisconsin Avenue in Holton.&nbsp; They seized illegal drugs and contraband from the home. Two additional individuals 35-year-old&nbsp; Joshua Allyn Johnson and Jeannine Elizabeth Jim both of Holton.

Mary Jayne Johnson, 56, of Holton, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp;on requested charges of  aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, 2 counts of possession of controlled substance&nbsp;and 2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Peggie Loretta Sierra, 69, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, 2 counts of possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;2 counts of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of cocaine,&nbsp;possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jeannine Elizabeth Jim, 31, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua Allyn Johnson, 35, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested for a probation violation and&nbsp;on requested charges of  aggravated endangering a child, expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possession of controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351189255.png" alt="Johnson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Johnson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects on drug allegations.Just after 6:30p.m. April 1, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2003 Ford Windstar van on Arizona and Banner Road in Holton around 6:30 P.M.&nbsp; for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drug contraband inside the vehicle.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested&nbsp; 56-year-old Mary Jayne Johnson and 69-year-old Peggie Loretta Sierra both of Holton on drug allegations.During the course of the investigation deputies served a search warrant at the residence where both subjects were staying.&nbsp; Deputies and Holton Police served a search warrant around 10 P.M. at 813 Wisconsin Avenue in Holton.&nbsp; They seized illegal drugs and contraband from the home. Two additional individuals 35-year-old&nbsp; Joshua Allyn Johnson and Jeannine Elizabeth Jim both of Holton.Mary Jayne Johnson, 56, of Holton, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail&nbsp;on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, 2 counts of possession of controlled substance&nbsp;and 2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351166116.png" alt="Sierra-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Sierra-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Peggie Loretta Sierra, 69, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, 2 counts of possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;2 counts of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of cocaine,&nbsp;possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;2 counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351139467.png" alt="Jim-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jim-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jeannine Elizabeth Jim, 31, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of THC, possession of a controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712351106916.png" alt="Johnson-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Johnson-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Joshua Allyn Johnson, 35, of Holton,&nbsp;was arrested for a probation violation and&nbsp;on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child, expose to meth chemicals, possession of certain stimulant within 1000 feet of a school, possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possession of controlled substance and&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas traffic stop leads to search warrant and 4 in jail

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pg-earnings-economy-prices-30f7be157579994c9d5cdf3ae01eb923">Procter &amp; Gamble</a>&nbsp;is recalling more than 8 million bags of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel laundry detergent packets sold in the U.S. and Canada due to a defect in the products' child-resistant packaging.

According to Friday notices from both P&amp;G and product-safety regulators in the U.S. and Canada, the outer packaging meant to prevent easy access to the liquid laundry detergent pods can split open near the zipper track, posing serious risks to children and others who may ingest them, in addition to possible skin or eye injuries.

So far, there have been no confirmed injuries directly tied to the defect. During the time period that the recalled lots were sold, there were four reports of children accessing the laundry packets in the U.S., including three ingestion cases — but whether these pods actually came from the recalled bags is still unknown, P&amp;G and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The recall impacts select batches of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel laundry detergents that were manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024 and sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target, CVS and Amazon.

The recalled products, which can be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/bags/">identified by lot code</a>, vary in scent and size. About 8.2 million were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Procter-Gamble-Recalls-8-2-Million-Defective-Bags-of-Tide-Gain-Ace-and-Ariel-Laundry-Detergent-Packets-Distributed-in-US-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury">sold in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;and more than 56,700 were&nbsp;<a href="https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-lots-liquid-laundry-detergent-pods-bags-pg-recalled-due-potentially-damaged">sold in Canada</a>.

Consumers in possession of the now-recalled bags are instructed to keep the products out of the reach and sight of children and contact Cincinnati-based P&amp;G for a full refund and replacement child-resistant bag to store the detergent, which itself remains safe to use for laundry purposes.

Health risks tied to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-election-laundry-detergent-giveaway-9e0ad520dffe86e2455530568e67ae79">ingestion of liquid laundry detergent</a>&nbsp;has been well-documented — notably in light of the social media-fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-804c363c292245e3950ec61fbfe7adb1">"Tide Pod challenge"</a>&nbsp;that skyrocketed several years ago. Eating the detergents' chemicals can cause vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney damage, and even death.

Beyond online trends, experts warn that children are especially vulnerable to accidentally ingesting liquid laundry packets, as they may confuse the products with candy — urging consumers to always store them safely.

P&amp;G will Refund or Replace Affected Product Packages

Consumers should immediately secure the recalled bags out of sight and reach of children and contact Procter &amp; Gamble for a full refund and a free replacement child resistant bag to store the product. Consumers can also receive a cabinet lock for securing laundry materials.

Consumers should check to see if their bag is part of the recall by checking the lot code on their bag. Recalled lot codes will be listed at&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;esheet=53923267&amp;newsitemid=20240405233949&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;index=1&amp;md5=89d06830c5900316032d144e675bd990" rel="nofollow">www.pg.com/bags</a>&nbsp;and can be found on the bottom of the bag package. Consumers with recalled bags can submit a photo of the recalled product, showing the lot code, to participate in the recall.

Consumers can contact Procter &amp; Gamble toll-free at 833-347-5764 from Monday through Friday, 9 AM ET to 6 PM ET, Saturday, 9 AM ET to 5:30 PM ET, or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;esheet=53923267&amp;newsitemid=20240405233949&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;index=2&amp;md5=99d2fc0a2724aff11434221dff7f0403" rel="nofollow">www.pg.com/bags</a>.

This recall involves about 8.2 million units sold in the U.S. and about 56,741 sold in Canada of certain lot codes of Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods, and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in flexible film bags that were manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024. 

Recalled products range from bags with 12 to 39 laundry detergent packets and include the following:

There have been no confirmed cases of incidents or injuries directly relating to this packaging defect.&nbsp;P&amp;G has received four reports of children in the United States accessing the liquid laundry packets, three of which reported ingestion during the time period that the recalled lots were sold, but it is not known if these laundry packets came from recalled bags.

Affected packages were sold at Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, and other major stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com and other websites from September 2023 through present for between $5 (one 12 ct. bag) and $30 (four 39 ct. bags in a box).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712339157870.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pg-earnings-economy-prices-30f7be157579994c9d5cdf3ae01eb923">Procter &amp; Gamble</a>&nbsp;is recalling more than 8 million bags of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel laundry detergent packets sold in the U.S. and Canada due to a defect in the products' child-resistant packaging.According to Friday notices from both P&amp;G and product-safety regulators in the U.S. and Canada, the outer packaging meant to prevent easy access to the liquid laundry detergent pods can split open near the zipper track, posing serious risks to children and others who may ingest them, in addition to possible skin or eye injuries.So far, there have been no confirmed injuries directly tied to the defect. During the time period that the recalled lots were sold, there were four reports of children accessing the laundry packets in the U.S., including three ingestion cases — but whether these pods actually came from the recalled bags is still unknown, P&amp;G and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.The recall impacts select batches of Tide, Gain, Ace and Ariel laundry detergents that were manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024 and sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target, CVS and Amazon.The recalled products, which can be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/bags/">identified by lot code</a>, vary in scent and size. About 8.2 million were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Procter-Gamble-Recalls-8-2-Million-Defective-Bags-of-Tide-Gain-Ace-and-Ariel-Laundry-Detergent-Packets-Distributed-in-US-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury">sold in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;and more than 56,700 were&nbsp;<a href="https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-lots-liquid-laundry-detergent-pods-bags-pg-recalled-due-potentially-damaged">sold in Canada</a>.Consumers in possession of the now-recalled bags are instructed to keep the products out of the reach and sight of children and contact Cincinnati-based P&amp;G for a full refund and replacement child-resistant bag to store the detergent, which itself remains safe to use for laundry purposes.Health risks tied to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-election-laundry-detergent-giveaway-9e0ad520dffe86e2455530568e67ae79">ingestion of liquid laundry detergent</a>&nbsp;has been well-documented — notably in light of the social media-fueled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-804c363c292245e3950ec61fbfe7adb1">"Tide Pod challenge"</a>&nbsp;that skyrocketed several years ago. Eating the detergents' chemicals can cause vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney damage, and even death.Beyond online trends, experts warn that children are especially vulnerable to accidentally ingesting liquid laundry packets, as they may confuse the products with candy — urging consumers to always store them safely.P&amp;G will Refund or Replace Affected Product PackagesConsumers should immediately secure the recalled bags out of sight and reach of children and contact Procter &amp; Gamble for a full refund and a free replacement child resistant bag to store the product. Consumers can also receive a cabinet lock for securing laundry materials.Consumers should check to see if their bag is part of the recall by checking the lot code on their bag. Recalled lot codes will be listed at&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;esheet=53923267&amp;newsitemid=20240405233949&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;index=1&amp;md5=89d06830c5900316032d144e675bd990" rel="nofollow">www.pg.com/bags</a>&nbsp;and can be found on the bottom of the bag package. Consumers with recalled bags can submit a photo of the recalled product, showing the lot code, to participate in the recall.Consumer Contact InformationConsumers can contact Procter &amp; Gamble toll-free at 833-347-5764 from Monday through Friday, 9 AM ET to 6 PM ET, Saturday, 9 AM ET to 5:30 PM ET, or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;esheet=53923267&amp;newsitemid=20240405233949&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=www.pg.com%2Fbags&amp;index=2&amp;md5=99d2fc0a2724aff11434221dff7f0403" rel="nofollow">www.pg.com/bags</a>.Recall DetailsThis recall involves about 8.2 million units sold in the U.S. and about 56,741 sold in Canada of certain lot codes of Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods, and Ariel Pods liquid laundry detergent packets packaged in flexible film bags that were manufactured between September 2023 and February 2024. Recalled products range from bags with 12 to 39 laundry detergent packets and include the following:Gain Flings OriginalTide Simply Pods Plus Oxi BoostGain Flings Moonlight Breeze ScentTide Pods Clean Breeze ScentGain Flings Blissful Breeze ScentTide Pods Free &amp; GentleGain Flings Spring Daydream ScentTide Pods OxiGain Flings Plus Ultra OxiTide Pods Ultra OxiGain Flings Plus Odor DefenseAce Pods Clean BreezeTide Pods OriginalAce Pods Spring MeadowTide Pods Spring Meadow ScentAriel Pods Alpine BreezeTide Pods LightThere have been no confirmed cases of incidents or injuries directly relating to this packaging defect.&nbsp;P&amp;G has received four reports of children in the United States accessing the liquid laundry packets, three of which reported ingestion during the time period that the recalled lots were sold, but it is not known if these laundry packets came from recalled bags.Affected packages were sold at Big Lots, CVS, Family Dollar, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Target, Walmart, and other major stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com and other websites from September 2023 through present for between $5 (one 12 ct. bag) and $30 (four 39 ct. bags in a box).For information on impact in C

Recall: Laundry packets sold at Walmart, Family Dollar and Target

The Missouri State Highway Patrol asks the public to be aware of and plan for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. The viewing path in Missouri will cover more than 115 miles of the state.

Totality enters Missouri as it will follow a diagonal line crossing over Poplar Bluff, MO, and exit Missouri at Cape Girardeau, MO, as it crosses the Mississippi River at 2:04 p.m. Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive in the days leading up to the event. This influx of additional motorists will affect traffic patterns. Please plan your trip accordingly.

o avoid the heaviest traffic when traveling for the event, it will be helpful to leave early and plan to remain at your viewing location until a period after the eclipse to avoid any congestion afterwards. For the most up-to-date information on the roads, visit the Patrol's website,&nbsp;<a href="https://notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov/si01/si01p001.nsf/9300de8f24f618a68625729800536892/www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov">www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov</a>, to check road conditions on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map or download the Traveler Information Map to your smart device.The Patrol reminds every driver to pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and wear a seat belt.

&nbsp;Don’t stop along the interstate or park on the shoulder.

· Find a safe location to view the event and get there early.

· Don’t take photographs while driving.·

 Turn your headlights on and do not rely on your automatic headlights.

· Prepare for extra congestion, especially on interstates, on the day before, day of and day after the eclipse.

· Watch out for increased pedestrian traffic along smaller roads. People may randomly park and walk alongside roads in the hour before the total eclipse to get the best viewing.

· Avoid travel during the eclipse or in the area of the path of totality if you can.

· Never wear eclipse glasses when driving a car or operating a boat.

· Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and has a full tank of gas.· Bring along water and snacks in your vehicle.

If you have planned a day on the water for April 8, make sure your boat has the proper lighting if you will be on the water during the eclipse. It will become quite dark. Be aware of your surroundings and what hazards exist near your boat leading up to the eclipse, so you're prepared when the eclipse occurs. Always keep a safe distance between yourself and other boaters. Swimmers will be hard to see as the eclipse occurs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712317899499.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Missouri State Highway Patrol asks the public to be aware of and plan for the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. The viewing path in Missouri will cover more than 115 miles of the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712085263547.png" alt="Image AP" />
 <figcaption>Image AP</figcaption>
 </figure>Totality enters Missouri as it will follow a diagonal line crossing over Poplar Bluff, MO, and exit Missouri at Cape Girardeau, MO, as it crosses the Mississippi River at 2:04 p.m. Thousands of visitors are expected to arrive in the days leading up to the event. This influx of additional motorists will affect traffic patterns. Please plan your trip accordingly.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711653160174.png" alt="You can wear eclipse glasses to safely view the Sun during the partial eclipse phases of a solar eclipse, before and after totality. NASA photo by Mamta Patel Nagaraja" />
 <figcaption>You can wear eclipse glasses to safely view the Sun during the partial eclipse phases of a solar eclipse, before and after totality. NASA photo by Mamta Patel Nagaraja</figcaption>
 </figure>o avoid the heaviest traffic when traveling for the event, it will be helpful to leave early and plan to remain at your viewing location until a period after the eclipse to avoid any congestion afterwards. For the most up-to-date information on the roads, visit the Patrol's website,&nbsp;<a href="https://notes.mshp.dps.mo.gov/si01/si01p001.nsf/9300de8f24f618a68625729800536892/www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov">www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov</a>, to check road conditions on MoDOT’s Traveler Information Map or download the Traveler Information Map to your smart device.The Patrol reminds every driver to pay attention, obey all traffic laws, and wear a seat belt.Additional safe driving tips include:&nbsp;Don’t stop along the interstate or park on the shoulder.· Find a safe location to view the event and get there early.· Don’t take photographs while driving.· Turn your headlights on and do not rely on your automatic headlights.· Prepare for extra congestion, especially on interstates, on the day before, day of and day after the eclipse.· Watch out for increased pedestrian traffic along smaller roads. People may randomly park and walk alongside roads in the hour before the total eclipse to get the best viewing.· Avoid travel during the eclipse or in the area of the path of totality if you can.· Never wear eclipse glasses when driving a car or operating a boat.· Make sure your vehicle is in good condition and has a full tank of gas.· Bring along water and snacks in your vehicle.If you have planned a day on the water for April 8, make sure your boat has the proper lighting if you will be on the water during the eclipse. It will become quite dark. Be aware of your surroundings and what hazards exist near your boat leading up to the eclipse, so you're prepared when the eclipse occurs. Always keep a safe distance between yourself and other boaters. Swimmers will be hard to see as the eclipse occurs.

Patrol:  Total solar eclipse safety reminders

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Fort Hays State University Professor Hsin-Yen Yang was preparing for a presentation on her homeland of Taiwan for the American Democracy Project this week, reminiscing about its natural beauty.

Yang, professor of communication studies, received a jarring text from her brother in Taipei that a massive earthquake had hit Taiwan Wednesday, killing 10, injuring 1,000 and toppling 100s of buildings.

Although the quake could be felt in Taipei, shaking items off of shelves, Yang's family, who live in the capital, were uninjured.

"We are heartbroken to see the devastation," she said.

She and her husband, a Kansas native, just visited the Hualien area last year, which was the quake's epicenter. It is a popular international tourist destination.

"Many foreigners go to Hualien because they see it's one of the most beautiful places on earth," Yang said. ... "In that one place, you can see the beautiful ocean, coastlines, and gorgeous, beautiful mountains. You can't find them elsewhere in the world."

It's a popular launching point for whale watchers, has hot springs and is famous for its marble quarries.

Taiwan is part of the earthquake-prone region in the Pacific Rim known as the Ring of Fire. Although milder quakes are common in the region, this one measured a magnitude of 7.4, the strongest quake in 25 years, according to the Geological Survey.

Rescuers were still searching the rubble Thursday for survivors of the quake, according to the Associated Press.

Yang said many indigenous people make the region home near the Taroko National Park.

Hundreds of people were stranded when rocks and mud blocked the roads leading to their hotel, campground or work site — though most were safe while they awaited rescue. It wasn’t clear Thursday if any people were still trapped in buildings, according to the Associated Press.

Yang said she has been thankful for social media and international news coverage of the earthquake, which has allowed her to keep up with the recovery efforts in Taiwan.

She said many of her colleagues and friends have reached out to her, expressing concern for her and her family and her friends in Taiwan.

"I'm very grateful for the warm emails, well wishes, and thoughts and prayers from all my colleagues and friends," she said.

Yang said the people of Taiwan are giving and unite in times of disaster. Other countries, including Japan, have been raising funds to help those affected by the disaster.

After the last major quake in Taiwan in 1999 in Nantou County, Yang and friends loaded a van with relief supplies and drove aid to the region that was hardest hit by the quake.&nbsp;

She said they stopped for gas, and the gas station owner waved them on, saying they did not need to pay because they were bringing supplies to disaster victims.

"I was almost in tears. He said this to every vehicle," she said. "I think this time Taiwan is even more prepared. Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is one of the most advanced in the world."

Yang said she believes that preparedness prevented further injuries and death.

The government is acting very quickly to relocate people displaced by the quake and address buildings rendered unsafe, she said.&nbsp;

The losses in Hualien will extend beyond the immediate devastation of the infrastructure from the earthquake. Because the region is a travel destination, tourism is a major driver of the local economy, Yang said.

Hotels in the region that were 70 percent booked for&nbsp;a long Taiwanese holiday weekend from April 4 to April 7&nbsp;are now only 20 percent booked.

Yang suggested anyone who wishes to donate to the disaster relief efforts in Taiwan make donations to: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is&nbsp;an official organization&nbsp;set up by&nbsp;under&nbsp;the Ministry of Health and Welfare&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taiwan.

Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0" target="_blank">https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344136151.jpeg" alt="A building is near collapse in the Hualien area of Taiwan after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Hualien region. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>A building is near collapse in the Hualien area of Taiwan after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Hualien region. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFort Hays State University Professor Hsin-Yen Yang was preparing for a presentation on her homeland of Taiwan for the American Democracy Project this week, reminiscing about its natural beauty.Yang, professor of communication studies, received a jarring text from her brother in Taipei that a massive earthquake had hit Taiwan Wednesday, killing 10, injuring 1,000 and toppling 100s of buildings."My heart sunk," she said.Although the quake could be felt in Taipei, shaking items off of shelves, Yang's family, who live in the capital, were uninjured."We are heartbroken to see the devastation," she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344244847.jpeg" alt="Two trapped workers of Taroko National Park have a physical examination after being rescued in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)" />
 <figcaption>Two trapped workers of Taroko National Park have a physical examination after being rescued in Hualien County, eastern Taiwan, Thursday, April 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)</figcaption>
 </figure>She and her husband, a Kansas native, just visited the Hualien area last year, which was the quake's epicenter. It is a popular international tourist destination."Many foreigners go to Hualien because they see it's one of the most beautiful places on earth," Yang said. ... "In that one place, you can see the beautiful ocean, coastlines, and gorgeous, beautiful mountains. You can't find them elsewhere in the world."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344368401.jpeg" alt="A photo taken in Hualien County a year ago by FHSU Professor Hsin-Yen Yang when she and her husband were visiting the region a year ago prior to the earthquake. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>A photo taken in Hualien County a year ago by FHSU Professor Hsin-Yen Yang when she and her husband were visiting the region a year ago prior to the earthquake. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>It's a popular launching point for whale watchers, has hot springs and is famous for its marble quarries.Taiwan is part of the earthquake-prone region in the Pacific Rim known as the Ring of Fire. Although milder quakes are common in the region, this one measured a magnitude of 7.4, the strongest quake in 25 years, according to the Geological Survey.Rescuers were still searching the rubble Thursday for survivors of the quake, according to the Associated Press.Yang said many indigenous people make the region home near the Taroko National Park.Hundreds of people were stranded when rocks and mud blocked the roads leading to their hotel, campground or work site — though most were safe while they awaited rescue. It wasn’t clear Thursday if any people were still trapped in buildings, according to the Associated Press.Yang said she has been thankful for social media and international news coverage of the earthquake, which has allowed her to keep up with the recovery efforts in Taiwan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344504127.jpeg" alt="Yang and her husband in Hualien County a year before this week's major earthquake. Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Yang and her husband in Hualien County a year before this week's major earthquake. Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>She said many of her colleagues and friends have reached out to her, expressing concern for her and her family and her friends in Taiwan."I'm very grateful for the warm emails, well wishes, and thoughts and prayers from all my colleagues and friends," she said.Yang said the people of Taiwan are giving and unite in times of disaster. Other countries, including Japan, have been raising funds to help those affected by the disaster.After the last major quake in Taiwan in 1999 in Nantou County, Yang and friends loaded a van with relief supplies and drove aid to the region that was hardest hit by the quake.&nbsp;She said they stopped for gas, and the gas station owner waved them on, saying they did not need to pay because they were bringing supplies to disaster victims."I was almost in tears. He said this to every vehicle," she said. "I think this time Taiwan is even more prepared. Taiwan's earthquake preparedness is one of the most advanced in the world."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712344618441.jpeg" alt="A worker helps a man injured in the quake in Hualien County, Taiwan. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>A worker helps a man injured in the quake in Hualien County, Taiwan. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Yang said she believes that preparedness prevented further injuries and death.The government is acting very quickly to relocate people displaced by the quake and address buildings rendered unsafe, she said.&nbsp;The losses in Hualien will extend beyond the immediate devastation of the infrastructure from the earthquake. Because the region is a travel destination, tourism is a major driver of the local economy, Yang said.Hotels in the region that were 70 percent booked for&nbsp;a long Taiwanese holiday weekend from April 4 to April 7&nbsp;are now only 20 percent booked.Yang suggested anyone who wishes to donate to the disaster relief efforts in Taiwan make donations to: Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is&nbsp;an official organization&nbsp;set up by&nbsp;under&nbsp;the Ministry of Health and Welfare&nbsp;of&nbsp;Taiwan.Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0" target="_blank">https://www.tf4dr.org/Message/MessageView?itemid=568&amp;mid=140&amp;page=0&amp;groupid=0</a>

FHSU professor from Taiwan shares concerns for homeland after earthquake

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—A former Kansas corrections officer was sentenced for attempted trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

Lucas Alan Ray, 36, of Holton, was employed with the Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer beginning in January of 2020.&nbsp; In August of 2023, Sheriff Morse opened an investigation into a report that an employee was trafficking contraband into the jail facility. 

The investigation alleged that an employee was receiving monies on a cash app from friends or relatives of inmates for legal items. Ray was placed on administrate leave, and at the investigations conclusion and terminated from employment with the Sheriff’s Office on August 31, 2023.&nbsp;

 A complaint was forwarded to the Jackson County Attorney’s Office where Ray was eventually charged and summoned to court. Ray pled no contest to attempted trafficking contraband. Ray was sentenced on Friday March 29 and given probation of 18 months with court services with an underlying sentence of 8 months in prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712328512805.png" alt="Ray photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ray photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—A former Kansas corrections officer was sentenced for attempted trafficking contraband into a correctional facility, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.Lucas Alan Ray, 36, of Holton, was employed with the Sheriff’s Office as a corrections officer beginning in January of 2020.&nbsp; In August of 2023, Sheriff Morse opened an investigation into a report that an employee was trafficking contraband into the jail facility. The investigation alleged that an employee was receiving monies on a cash app from friends or relatives of inmates for legal items. Ray was placed on administrate leave, and at the investigations conclusion and terminated from employment with the Sheriff’s Office on August 31, 2023.&nbsp; A complaint was forwarded to the Jackson County Attorney’s Office where Ray was eventually charged and summoned to court. Ray pled no contest to attempted trafficking contraband. Ray was sentenced on Friday March 29 and given probation of 18 months with court services with an underlying sentence of 8 months in prison.Sheriff Tim Morse commented, “It is imperative to protect those in our custody. It is as important for law enforcement agencies to demand integrity of its employees, and justice should apply to all.”