JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's House speaker has repaid more than $3,300 in taxpayer dollars that he inappropriately received as reimbursements for travel and other expenses dating back to 2018.

Speaker Dean Plocher so far has repaid the state House $3,379, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/in-latest-dust-up-missouri-house-speaker-pays-back-travel-money/article_423a35ae-728d-11ee-8305-e7ef79dd129c.html?utm_source=stltoday.com&amp;utm_campaign=news-alerts&amp;utm_medium=cio&amp;lctg=fef30702c56ea6c304&amp;tn_email_eh1=49b50ad4ec816619882ff04be1c9b1aaf0101f6256c954be93313f7ef560197c">reported</a>&nbsp;Tuesday.

The Missouri Independent on Monday first reported years of expenses that Plocher received state reimbursement for, even though he paid for the expenses out of his campaign fund and not out of his own pocket.

Missouri law allows elected officials to use money from their political campaigns for some government-related expenses. But it's unlawful to use taxpayer dollars to reimburse campaigns or for political expenses.

In a Monday email to fellow Republican House members, Plocher wrote that his campaign treasurer, his wife, early last week told him he “had received reimbursement from the House for an extra hotel night during a conference I attended that I should not have been reimbursed.”

“When I learned of that, I immediately reimbursed the House,” Plocher wrote. “Because of this error, I reviewed all of my travel reimbursements and it revealed that I had additional administrative errors, to which I have corrected.”

Plocher did not immediately return Associated Press voice and text messages seeking comment Tuesday.

As early as 2018, Plocher used campaign money to pay for conferences, flights and hotels and then asked to be reimbursed by the House, according to the Post-Dispatch. The House denied his request to be reimbursed for valet parking during a July trip to Hawaii for a national conference.

Voters elected Plocher, a lawyer, to the House in 2015. He's banned by term limits from running for re-election in 2024 and instead is vying to be the state's next lieutenant governor.

In Missouri, gubernatorial candidates do not have running mates and campaign separately from would-be lieutenant governors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697056839654.png" alt=" Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's House speaker has repaid more than $3,300 in taxpayer dollars that he inappropriately received as reimbursements for travel and other expenses dating back to 2018.Speaker Dean Plocher so far has repaid the state House $3,379, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/in-latest-dust-up-missouri-house-speaker-pays-back-travel-money/article_423a35ae-728d-11ee-8305-e7ef79dd129c.html?utm_source=stltoday.com&amp;utm_campaign=news-alerts&amp;utm_medium=cio&amp;lctg=fef30702c56ea6c304&amp;tn_email_eh1=49b50ad4ec816619882ff04be1c9b1aaf0101f6256c954be93313f7ef560197c">reported</a>&nbsp;Tuesday.The Missouri Independent on Monday first reported years of expenses that Plocher received state reimbursement for, even though he paid for the expenses out of his campaign fund and not out of his own pocket.Missouri law allows elected officials to use money from their political campaigns for some government-related expenses. But it's unlawful to use taxpayer dollars to reimburse campaigns or for political expenses.In a Monday email to fellow Republican House members, Plocher wrote that his campaign treasurer, his wife, early last week told him he “had received reimbursement from the House for an extra hotel night during a conference I attended that I should not have been reimbursed.”“When I learned of that, I immediately reimbursed the House,” Plocher wrote. “Because of this error, I reviewed all of my travel reimbursements and it revealed that I had additional administrative errors, to which I have corrected.”Plocher did not immediately return Associated Press voice and text messages seeking comment Tuesday.As early as 2018, Plocher used campaign money to pay for conferences, flights and hotels and then asked to be reimbursed by the House, according to the Post-Dispatch. The House denied his request to be reimbursed for valet parking during a July trip to Hawaii for a national conference.Voters elected Plocher, a lawyer, to the House in 2015. He's banned by term limits from running for re-election in 2024 and instead is vying to be the state's next lieutenant governor.In Missouri, gubernatorial candidates do not have running mates and campaign separately from would-be lieutenant governors.

Top Missouri lawmaker repays travel reimbursements wrongly taken from state

WICHITA– A Kansas man has been sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison.

On September 1st, a jury in District Judge Jeffrey Syrios’ courtroom found <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251319">Noe Reyes-Carrera,</a> 34 of Wichita, guilty of rape and three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The crimes were reported by a 14-year-old girl and her 11-year0old sister.

The older girl told police Carrera had been sexually assaulting her since she was seven years old. On Thursday Judge Syrios sentenced Carrera to four 25-to-life terms in prison. The Judge ordered the sentences to be served consecutively.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698102221175.png" alt="REYES-CARRERA-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>REYES-CARRERA-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA– A Kansas man has been sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison.On September 1st, a jury in District Judge Jeffrey Syrios’ courtroom found <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251319">Noe Reyes-Carrera,</a> 34 of Wichita, guilty of rape and three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.The crimes were reported by a 14-year-old girl and her 11-year0old sister.The older girl told police Carrera had been sexually assaulting her since she was seven years old. On Thursday Judge Syrios sentenced Carrera to four 25-to-life terms in prison. The Judge ordered the sentences to be served consecutively.

Kan. man sentenced for sex crimes involving 14 and 11-year-old sisters 

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.

Just after 11:30p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;October 22, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 Highway in Osage County for an alleged traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy located illegal narcotics.

A passenger in the vehicle, Selena M. Servantez, 27, of Topeka, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of possession of fentanyl,&nbsp;methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and Traffic in contraband in a correctional facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698087436680.png" alt="Servantez photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Servantez photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.Just after 11:30p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;October 22, a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 Highway in Osage County for an alleged traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy located illegal narcotics.A passenger in the vehicle, Selena M. Servantez, 27, of Topeka, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of possession of fentanyl,&nbsp;methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and Traffic in contraband in a correctional facility.

Sheriff: Kansas woman caught transporting fentanyl

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating illegal hunting in in Reno County.

On October 22, the Reno County Sheriff's Office notified the Game Warden of a deer laying in a roadway near Woodberry Road and W 125th Street North that appeared to have been shot and dumped on the border of Reno and Harvey Counties, according to a social media report from the game wardens.

Investigators recovered three slugs from the deer, multiple rimfire casings and two spent buckshot shotshells. 

Warden's are requesting the public's help to identify the subjects behind this criminal activity. 

If you have any information, please contact Gamewarden Besthorn at 316-215-2124.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698177407466.png" alt="photo Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>photo Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating illegal hunting in in Reno County.On October 22, the Reno County Sheriff's Office notified the Game Warden of a deer laying in a roadway near Woodberry Road and W 125th Street North that appeared to have been shot and dumped on the border of Reno and Harvey Counties, according to a social media report from the game wardens.Investigators recovered three slugs from the deer, multiple rimfire casings and two spent buckshot shotshells. Warden's are requesting the public's help to identify the subjects behind this criminal activity. If you have any information, please contact Gamewarden Besthorn at 316-215-2124.

Kan. game warden asks for help with poached deer investigation

NEW YORK (AP) —Dozens of U.S. states, including Kansas, Missouri, California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.

<a href="https://coag.gov/app/uploads/2023/10/23.10.24-Doc.-1-Complaint-People-v.-Meta-23cv05448.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the lawsuit

The<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24080215-meta-lawsuit">&nbsp;lawsuit</a>&nbsp;filed by 33 states in federal court in California, claims that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law. In addition, nine attorneys general are filing lawsuits in their respective states, bringing the total number of states taking action to 41 and Washington, D.C.

“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens. Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its social media platforms,” the complaint says. “It has concealed the ways in which these platforms exploit and manipulate its most vulnerable consumers: teenagers and children.”

The suits seek financial damages and restitution and an end to Meta’s practices that are in violation of the law.

“Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta are to blame,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement. “Meta has profited from children’s pain by intentionally designing its platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted to their platforms while lowering their self-esteem.”

In a statement, Meta said it shares “the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families.”

“We’re disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path,” the company added.

The broad-ranging federal suit is the result of an investigation led by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont. It follows damning newspaper reports, first by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039">The Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;in the fall of 2021, based on the Meta’s own research that found that the company knew about the harms Instagram can cause teenagers — especially teen girls — when it comes to mental health and body image issues. One internal study cited 13.5% of teen girls saying Instagram makes thoughts of suicide worse and 17% of teen girls saying it makes eating disorders worse.

Following the first reports, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers">consortium of news organizations</a>, including The Associated Press, published their own findings based on leaked documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who has testified before Congress and a British parliamentary committee about what she found.

“Meta has been harming our children and teens, cultivating addiction to boost corporate profits,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “With today’s lawsuit, we are drawing the line.”

The use of social media among teens is nearly universal in the U.S. and many other parts of the world.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/">Almost all teens</a>&nbsp;ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media platform, with about a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center.

To comply with federal regulation, social media companies ban kids under 13 from signing up to their platforms — but children have been shown to easily get around the bans, both with and without their parents’ consent, and many younger kids have social media accounts. The states’ complaint says Meta knowingly violated this law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, by collecting data on children without informing and getting permission from their parents.

Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health are also easily circumvented. For instance, TikTok recently introduced a default&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-minors-social-media-china-time-limit-f735bd496ea3513abfc6480e5637abd8">60-minute time limit</a>&nbsp;for users under 18. But once the limit is reached, minors can simply enter a passcode to keep watching. TikTok, Snapchat and other social platforms that have also been blamed for contributing to the youth mental health crisis are not part of Tuesday’s lawsuit.

Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb wouldn’t comment on whether they’re also looking at TikTok or Snapchat. For now they’re focusing on the Meta empire of Facebook and Instagram, he said.

“They’re the worst of the worst when it comes to using technology to addict teenagers to social media, all in the furtherance of putting profits over people.”

In May, U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-kids-social-media-teens-tiktok-instagram-443530d9baa3f91386bf9fbfb313bbaf">Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy</a>&nbsp;called on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take “immediate action to protect kids now” from the harms of social media.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660141848593.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —Dozens of U.S. states, including Kansas, Missouri, California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms.<a href="https://coag.gov/app/uploads/2023/10/23.10.24-Doc.-1-Complaint-People-v.-Meta-23cv05448.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the lawsuitThe<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24080215-meta-lawsuit">&nbsp;lawsuit</a>&nbsp;filed by 33 states in federal court in California, claims that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law. In addition, nine attorneys general are filing lawsuits in their respective states, bringing the total number of states taking action to 41 and Washington, D.C.“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage, and ultimately ensnare youth and teens. Its motive is profit, and in seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its social media platforms,” the complaint says. “It has concealed the ways in which these platforms exploit and manipulate its most vulnerable consumers: teenagers and children.”The suits seek financial damages and restitution and an end to Meta’s practices that are in violation of the law.“Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta are to blame,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement. “Meta has profited from children’s pain by intentionally designing its platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted to their platforms while lowering their self-esteem.”In a statement, Meta said it shares “the attorneys general’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families.”“We’re disappointed that instead of working productively with companies across the industry to create clear, age-appropriate standards for the many apps teens use, the attorneys general have chosen this path,” the company added.The broad-ranging federal suit is the result of an investigation led by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont. It follows damning newspaper reports, first by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-facebook-files-11631713039">The Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;in the fall of 2021, based on the Meta’s own research that found that the company knew about the harms Instagram can cause teenagers — especially teen girls — when it comes to mental health and body image issues. One internal study cited 13.5% of teen girls saying Instagram makes thoughts of suicide worse and 17% of teen girls saying it makes eating disorders worse.Following the first reports, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers">consortium of news organizations</a>, including The Associated Press, published their own findings based on leaked documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who has testified before Congress and a British parliamentary committee about what she found.“Meta has been harming our children and teens, cultivating addiction to boost corporate profits,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “With today’s lawsuit, we are drawing the line.”The use of social media among teens is nearly universal in the U.S. and many other parts of the world.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/">Almost all teens</a>&nbsp;ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. report using a social media platform, with about a third saying they use social media “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center.To comply with federal regulation, social media companies ban kids under 13 from signing up to their platforms — but children have been shown to easily get around the bans, both with and without their parents’ consent, and many younger kids have social media accounts. The states’ complaint says Meta knowingly violated this law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, by collecting data on children without informing and getting permission from their parents.Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health are also easily circumvented. For instance, TikTok recently introduced a default&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-minors-social-media-china-time-limit-f735bd496ea3513abfc6480e5637abd8">60-minute time limit</a>&nbsp;for users under 18. But once the limit is reached, minors can simply enter a passcode to keep watching. TikTok, Snapchat and other social platforms that have also been blamed for contributing to the youth mental health crisis are not part of Tuesday’s lawsuit.Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb wouldn’t comment on whether they’re also looking at TikTok or Snapchat. For now they’re focusing on the Meta empire of Facebook and Instagram, he said.“They’re the worst of the worst when it comes to using technology to addict teenagers to social media, all in the furtherance of putting profits over people.”In May, U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-kids-social-media-teens-tiktok-instagram-443530d9baa3f91386bf9fbfb313bbaf">Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy</a>&nbsp;called on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take “immediate action to protect kids now” from the harms of social media.__

Read lawsuit filed by Mo. claiming Facebook, Instagram harm children's mental health

JERUSALEM — The U.S. is issuing a new warning to ships traveling through the Red Sea after a drone and missile attack launched from Yemen during the Israel-Hamas war.

The U.S. Maritime Administration warning on Tuesday urged vessels to “exercise caution when transiting this region.”

The U.S. Navy says it shot down missiles and drones believed to have been launched by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in recent days amid wider tensions across the Middle East over the war.

In addition, the U.S. Central Command reported the 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Tuesday to bolster U.S. posture to deter further aggression.&nbsp;On Monday, the U.S. military destroyed two one-way attack drones near U.S. and Coalition forces in southwest Syria before they reached their intended targets, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697765298614.png" alt="The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney transits the Suez Canal, Oct. 18. Carney is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. Photo By:Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Lau" />
 <figcaption>The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney transits the Suez Canal, Oct. 18. Carney is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. Photo By:Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Lau</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM — The U.S. is issuing a new warning to ships traveling through the Red Sea after a drone and missile attack launched from Yemen during the Israel-Hamas war.The U.S. Maritime Administration warning on Tuesday urged vessels to “exercise caution when transiting this region.”The U.S. Navy says it shot down missiles and drones believed to have been launched by Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in recent days amid wider tensions across the Middle East over the war.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698161439211.png" alt="Photo U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition, the U.S. Central Command reported the 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Tuesday to bolster U.S. posture to deter further aggression.&nbsp;On Monday, the U.S. military destroyed two one-way attack drones near U.S. and Coalition forces in southwest Syria before they reached their intended targets, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.&nbsp;

U.S. issues warning to ships in the Red Sea 

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A mother is suing a shuttered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-missouri-9aa2d772f73edfa09cde4d2b337fdba2">Christian boarding school</a>&nbsp;in Missouri, blaming her son's death on a gang rape and other abuse he endured there.

Agape Boarding School has been subjected to a wave of litigation as a series of abuse allegations emerged, but the case filed this month and amended Monday in federal court by Kathleen Britt is believed to be the first wrongful death suit.

The suit said that mental health problems plagued Britt's son, Jason Britt, after he left the private school, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-education-kansas-city-missouri-7accbdddd9dfe3ac387533aa8fb7c102">several staffers subsequently were charged</a>. The suit said he lifted weights obsessively and ingested copious steroids so he would become so strong that he never would be victimized again.

He grew so despondent that he wrote a suicide note. But heart and kidney failure were what claimed his life in February 2022.

“The saddest part of his case is he finally found a cause to live when the circumstances of his choices ended up killing him,” said attorney Rebecca Randles. “It is one of those completely devastatingly sad situations.”

Among those named in the suit are the school, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charles-dickens-94038022dc9af71dd9f73158cd53e945">company</a>&nbsp;that transported students there, and Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary. Agape’s attorney and the sheriff didn't immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Jason Britt's parents turned to Agape because they were worried about his slipping grades and partying. In 2010, the then-16-year-old was awoken in the middle of the night while staying with his girlfriend. The men who transported him to Agape zip tied his hands and told him he had been given up for adoption, the suit said.

Instead of the counseling his parents were promised, the school was “a concentration camp or torture colony cloaked in the guise of religion," the suit said. Upon arriving, his head was shaved. And when he tried to write to his family about what was happening, he was punished. The maltreatment culminated in him being gang raped, the suit said.

The suit said the sheriff's department knew of reports of abuse at Agape and a sister boarding school. But despite those reports, deputies routinely returned runaways to their schools without effectively investigating or reporting concerns to state welfare workers.

Some of the sheriff's department staff also worked at the school, the suit said.

When Jason Britt's mother visited, she was alarmed by her son's demeanor and took him home, the suit said. The family learned he had been abused at the school, but they were ignored by Cedar County authorities, the lawsuit said. Anxious and withdrawn, he finished high school online and grew obsessed with weight lifting.

“The steroids, testosterone, high blood pressure and anxiety coupled with the drug addiction were the mechanism of his death; the cause of his death was the abuse at Agape,” the suit said.

More than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boarding-school-missouri-abuse-lawsuits-settlement-e004668160605c5fbd2239e191292296">dozen</a>&nbsp;other former students have settled lawsuits alleging they were abused at the southwest Missouri school.

When it shut down in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-stockton-missouri-education-6d4bc69348f4349249e49b3ec7c29172">January</a>, it was the fourth and last unlicensed Christian boarding school to close in Cedar County since September 2020. The school’s former director, Bryan Clemensen, said the school, whose enrollment had tumbled, closed because it did not have the funding to continue.

Former Agape students came forward with abuse allegations in 2020. One former student said he was raped at Agape and called “seizure boy” because of his epilepsy. Others said they suffered permanent injuries from being disciplined or forced to work long hours of manual labor.

In 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-missouri-springfield-89eb20fc1edcba8cf5963abdc69e48c8">Agape’s longtime doctor, David Smock</a>, was charged with child sex crimes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-child-abuse-kansas-missouri-a97fcf244d041a1468945b10af5f5f76">five employees were charged</a>&nbsp;with low-level abuse counts. Then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office contended that 22 workers should have been charged, and with more serious crimes.

But in Missouri, only the local prosecutor can file charges, and Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither has said no additional employees would be charged.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632608030678.png" alt="More than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boarding-school-missouri-abuse-lawsuits-settlement-e004668160605c5fbd2239e191292296">dozen</a>&nbsp;other former students have settled lawsuits alleging they were abused at the southwest Missouri school.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>More than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boarding-school-missouri-abuse-lawsuits-settlement-e004668160605c5fbd2239e191292296">dozen</a>&nbsp;other former students have settled lawsuits alleging they were abused at the southwest Missouri school.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A mother is suing a shuttered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-missouri-9aa2d772f73edfa09cde4d2b337fdba2">Christian boarding school</a>&nbsp;in Missouri, blaming her son's death on a gang rape and other abuse he endured there.Agape Boarding School has been subjected to a wave of litigation as a series of abuse allegations emerged, but the case filed this month and amended Monday in federal court by Kathleen Britt is believed to be the first wrongful death suit.The suit said that mental health problems plagued Britt's son, Jason Britt, after he left the private school, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-crime-education-kansas-city-missouri-7accbdddd9dfe3ac387533aa8fb7c102">several staffers subsequently were charged</a>. The suit said he lifted weights obsessively and ingested copious steroids so he would become so strong that he never would be victimized again.He grew so despondent that he wrote a suicide note. But heart and kidney failure were what claimed his life in February 2022.“The saddest part of his case is he finally found a cause to live when the circumstances of his choices ended up killing him,” said attorney Rebecca Randles. “It is one of those completely devastatingly sad situations.”Among those named in the suit are the school, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charles-dickens-94038022dc9af71dd9f73158cd53e945">company</a>&nbsp;that transported students there, and Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary. Agape’s attorney and the sheriff didn't immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.Jason Britt's parents turned to Agape because they were worried about his slipping grades and partying. In 2010, the then-16-year-old was awoken in the middle of the night while staying with his girlfriend. The men who transported him to Agape zip tied his hands and told him he had been given up for adoption, the suit said.Instead of the counseling his parents were promised, the school was “a concentration camp or torture colony cloaked in the guise of religion," the suit said. Upon arriving, his head was shaved. And when he tried to write to his family about what was happening, he was punished. The maltreatment culminated in him being gang raped, the suit said.The suit said the sheriff's department knew of reports of abuse at Agape and a sister boarding school. But despite those reports, deputies routinely returned runaways to their schools without effectively investigating or reporting concerns to state welfare workers.Some of the sheriff's department staff also worked at the school, the suit said.When Jason Britt's mother visited, she was alarmed by her son's demeanor and took him home, the suit said. The family learned he had been abused at the school, but they were ignored by Cedar County authorities, the lawsuit said. Anxious and withdrawn, he finished high school online and grew obsessed with weight lifting.“The steroids, testosterone, high blood pressure and anxiety coupled with the drug addiction were the mechanism of his death; the cause of his death was the abuse at Agape,” the suit said.More than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boarding-school-missouri-abuse-lawsuits-settlement-e004668160605c5fbd2239e191292296">dozen</a>&nbsp;other former students have settled lawsuits alleging they were abused at the southwest Missouri school.When it shut down in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-stockton-missouri-education-6d4bc69348f4349249e49b3ec7c29172">January</a>, it was the fourth and last unlicensed Christian boarding school to close in Cedar County since September 2020. The school’s former director, Bryan Clemensen, said the school, whose enrollment had tumbled, closed because it did not have the funding to continue.Former Agape students came forward with abuse allegations in 2020. One former student said he was raped at Agape and called “seizure boy” because of his epilepsy. Others said they suffered permanent injuries from being disciplined or forced to work long hours of manual labor.In 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-missouri-springfield-89eb20fc1edcba8cf5963abdc69e48c8">Agape’s longtime doctor, David Smock</a>, was charged with child sex crimes and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-child-abuse-kansas-missouri-a97fcf244d041a1468945b10af5f5f76">five employees were charged</a>&nbsp;with low-level abuse counts. Then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office contended that 22 workers should have been charged, and with more serious crimes.But in Missouri, only the local prosecutor can file charges, and Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither has said no additional employees would be charged.

Mother files wrongful death lawsuit against Christian boarding school 

WILSON COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Express van driven by Dustin Hale, 29, Rogers, Arkansas, was eastbound on U.S. 400 three miles from Kansas 47 Highway.

The van crossed the center line and struck a 2022 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp; Scott Allen Bryant, 52, Wichita, head-on.&nbsp; After impact the SUV&nbsp;spun counter clockwise into the eastbound ditch where it caught fire.

Hale and Bryant were pronounced dead at the scene. Hale was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP. The agency had not seat belt information for Bryant.

WILSON COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in Wilson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Express van driven by Dustin Hale, 29, Rogers, Arkansas, was eastbound on U.S. 400 three miles from Kansas 47 Highway.The van crossed the center line and struck a 2022 Ford Escape driven by&nbsp; Scott Allen Bryant, 52, Wichita, head-on.&nbsp; After impact the SUV&nbsp;spun counter clockwise into the eastbound ditch where it caught fire.Hale and Bryant were pronounced dead at the scene. Hale was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP. The agency had not seat belt information for Bryant.

Kansas man among 2 dead in head-on SUV, van crash and fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 261 officials are investigating after a student brought a gun to&nbsp; Campus High School Tuesday in Haysville.

According to a message sent to parents, on Tuesday the Campus administration was made aware that a student brought a gun into the building. 

The Haysville Police Department was immediately notified and the building was placed in a “HOLD” mode. Students were to stay in their classroom or area and the hallways were to be cleared. The school administrators located the student and the gun was confiscated by the Haysville Police Department. 

No threats were made toward staff or students and no one was hurt during the incident. There will be additional police presence at the building.

Campus administration is working with the Haysville Police Department as they are investigating the incident.&nbsp; 

"Our staff and administrators strive to always communicate with parents and guardians when it comes to the well-being of students. We appreciate the people who reported the situation to the administration."&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities and USD 261 officials are investigating after a student brought a gun to&nbsp; Campus High School Tuesday in Haysville.According to a message sent to parents, on Tuesday the Campus administration was made aware that a student brought a gun into the building. The Haysville Police Department was immediately notified and the building was placed in a “HOLD” mode. Students were to stay in their classroom or area and the hallways were to be cleared. The school administrators located the student and the gun was confiscated by the Haysville Police Department. No threats were made toward staff or students and no one was hurt during the incident. There will be additional police presence at the building.Campus administration is working with the Haysville Police Department as they are investigating the incident.&nbsp; "Our staff and administrators strive to always communicate with parents and guardians when it comes to the well-being of students. We appreciate the people who reported the situation to the administration."&nbsp;

Police investigate after student brought gun to Kansas high school

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting.

Just after 8:30p.m. Monday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 4200 block of Benton Boulevard in Kansas City on a sound of shots call, according to Police Sergeant Jacob Becchina

While officers were on the way they received several more 911 calls for sound of gunshots. On arrival officers located evidence of gunfire at the location. Minutes later Central Patrol officers were dispatched to University Health for a shooting victim that showed up by private vehicle. 

The shooting was reported to have happened at the 4200 block of Benton location. That shooting victim, an adult male, was declared deceased at the hospital.

Homicide detectives are at both locations along with Crime Scene investigators, processing the scene for evidence and canvassing for witnesses. Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698156676640.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting-photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting-photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting.Just after 8:30p.m. Monday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 4200 block of Benton Boulevard in Kansas City on a sound of shots call, according to Police Sergeant Jacob BecchinaWhile officers were on the way they received several more 911 calls for sound of gunshots. On arrival officers located evidence of gunfire at the location. Minutes later Central Patrol officers were dispatched to University Health for a shooting victim that showed up by private vehicle. The shooting was reported to have happened at the 4200 block of Benton location. That shooting victim, an adult male, was declared deceased at the hospital.Homicide detectives are at both locations along with Crime Scene investigators, processing the scene for evidence and canvassing for witnesses. Police released no additional details.

KCPD: Shooting victim dies after private vehicle trip to hospital

The top lawmaker in the Missouri House filed false expense reports numerous times since 2018 and began paying back the money he received last week

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

Weeks after his return from a conference in Hawaii, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher was trying to convince legislative staff to reimburse him for the cost of his trip.&nbsp;

He’d filed an expense report that included $1,199.60 for a plane ticket to represent Missouri at the 2023 Uniform Law Commission conference, but he was informed he’d missed his window. The ticket was purchased in January, and it was already August — well outside the 90-day timeframe laid out in House rules to file for reimbursement.&nbsp;

Plocher pled his case in an Aug. 11 phone call and letter to Chief Clerk of the House Dana Miller, arguing this was official business and he’d saved taxpayer money by buying the ticket early and getting a good deal. He filed for reimbursement, he wrote, as soon as he got back to Missouri.&nbsp;

The House ultimately agreed to pay him the money. But as it turns out, the cost of the ticket didn’t come out of Plocher’s bank account. It came out of his campaign.&nbsp;

Seven months earlier, “Plocher for Missouri” reported paying $1,199.60 for airfare to Hawaii for the ULC conference.

A review of Plocher’s expense reports over the years, obtained in early October by The Independent through Missouri’s Sunshine Law, shows the Hawaii expense wasn’t an isolated event.&nbsp;

On at least nine occasions since 2018, Plocher spent campaign money on conference registration, airfare, hotels and other travel expenses, and then also sought reimbursement from the legislature.

In each instance, Plocher was required to sign a sworn statement declaring that he had used “personal funds” to pay the expenses.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Campaign and legal experts interviewed by The Independent say an elected official is allowed to use campaign money for official business. Or, they can use personal money and then request reimbursement from the state.&nbsp;

But doing both could violate state and federal law.&nbsp;

“You have to choose one way or the other,” said Chuck Hatfield, a longtime Democratic attorney in Jefferson City. “ You can’t do both. And depending on what the facts are, there could be reason to believe there was a crime.”

Plocher began paying back some of the money he has received inappropriately last week, sending a letter to House administration on Friday saying he “inadvertently sought and received reimbursements.”&nbsp;

In an emailed statement to The Independent on Monday, Plocher said he sent the letter prior to being contacted by The Independent.

“I am in the process of completing a full review of all expenditures and will correct any additional administrative errors in the spirit of full transparency,” Plocher said.

News about Plocher’s spending comes as he was already facing scrutiny — including drawing the attention of federal law enforcement — over his push to convince the House to spend $800,000 to hire a private company to manage constituent information.&nbsp;Nonpartisan staff&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/22/missouri-lawmaker-accused-of-unlawful-conduct-in-push-for-contract-drawing-fbi-scrutiny/">accused Plocher of illegal and unethical conduct</a>&nbsp;in pursuit of the contract, including threatening the employment of the chief clerk.

In the fallout from the controversy, Plocher fired his chief of staff.&nbsp;

On Friday, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/J_Hancock/status/1715469497874661579">House ethics committee is scheduled to convene</a>&nbsp;to discuss a “personnel inquiry.” While the committee members have given no hints about the focus of the closed-door hearing, either publicly or privately, it is widely believed to be about Plocher.&nbsp;

Plocher’s actions could have violated at least three state laws.&nbsp;

Submitting false expense reports&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=570.030">could be prosecuted as stealing</a>&nbsp;from the state, a class A misdemeanor. It could also be considered&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=575.060">false declaration</a>, a class B misdemeanor that involves knowingly submitting any written false statement.

And while it is permissible to use campaign money for official government business, campaign contributions&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/2013/title-ix/chapter-130/section-130.034/">can’t be converted to personal use</a>, said Julie Allen, a former executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission who was speaking broadly about the situation without direct knowledge of Plocher’s specific expenses.&nbsp;

“If someone were receiving money from their campaign committee and also seeking reimbursement from some public entity, like the House or Senate, then they are certainly getting double their actual expense,” Allen said. “That could mean they are using campaign money for personal use.”&nbsp;

There is a federal law that could also apply if&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/666">the amount misappropriated exceeds $5,000</a>.&nbsp;

Plocher’s most recent false expense report, according to the records, involves his trip to Hawaii.&nbsp;

On. Jan. 17, his campaign reported spending&nbsp; $1,199.60 for airfare to Hawaii for the ULC conference.

He first mentioned the trip in official correspondence on July 11, when he wrote to the chairman of the House accounts and administration committee advising him that he would be attending the ULC conference and would be seeking reimbursement.&nbsp;

He made no mention in that email of any specific costs.&nbsp;

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

On Aug. 7, after returning from the conference, Plocher formally requested that the House reimburse him for $4,862.77.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Of that total, $3,663.17 was for his seven-day stay at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The remaining $1,199.60 was for his Southwest Airlines flight to Hawaii.&nbsp;

A few days later, legislative staff noticed a problem.&nbsp;

The House was not allowed to cover the nearly $400 that Plocher spent on valet parking, an administrative staffer wrote in an email to his office. And because the airfare was purchased in January it was not eligible for reimbursement.

“The airfare shows it was paid on Jan. 15, 2023,” the legislative staffer wrote, “which is past the 90-day policy for reimbursement. He also has seven charges at $55 each for valet parking that we don’t reimburse for.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plocher called the House clerk to make his case, and the same day wrote a letter stating that he purchased the plane ticket in January in order to get a reduced rate. He said he was unaware of the 90-day rule and wanted to be reimbursed.&nbsp;

In a written note on Plocher’s letter, the chief clerk instructed staff to proceed with payment.&nbsp;

As with all of his requests, Plocher’s expense report stated that the payments were made with “personal funds, for which I have not been reimbursed.”&nbsp;

The first example of what appears to be a false report filed by Plocher dates back to 2018.&nbsp;

His campaign spent $431.96 on airfare with Southwest Airlines in July of that year. Plocher requested the House repay him $112.36 for a portion of the airfare to the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States that wasn’t covered through a scholarship offered by the organization.&nbsp;

That same month, Plocher’s campaign spent $206.05 on “lodging” at a Hyatt hotel. A few weeks later, he requested the House reimburse him $206.05 for accommodations at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch for the Southern Legislative Conference.

His campaign also paid the $300 registration fee for the Southern Legislative Conference, and Plocher was later reimbursed by the House.&nbsp;

In July 2019, Plocher’s campaign reported spending $603.95 on “ULC conference rental car” and $1,923.36 on “ULC conference lodging.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

A month later, he was reimbursed by the House for $603.95 for the rental car. A portion of his lodging was covered by a scholarship, so Plocher only requested the remaining portion — $216.95 — be reimbursed by the House.&nbsp;

His campaign also picked up the $600 registration fee for the ULC conference that year, and Plocher was also reimbursed for that cost.&nbsp;

In June 2022, Plocher was approved by the House to be reimbursed $945 for five nights at a hotel to attend a conference in Philadelphia.&nbsp;

A month later, his campaign spent $963.65 for a hotel in Philadelphia for what was described on the disclosure form as a “campaign conference.” Plocher was reimbursed by the House in August for his stay at the&nbsp;Loews Hotel Philadelphia.

In January of this year, Plocher submitted a notice to the House asking permission to spend $325 to pay the registration to the State Legislative Leaders Foundation conference in Washington, D.C.&nbsp;

A week later, his campaign paid the $325 registration fee, and a week after that he was reimbursed for the cost by the House.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697056839654.png" alt=" Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)" />
 <figcaption> Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The top lawmaker in the Missouri House filed false expense reports numerous times since 2018 and began paying back the money he received last week</h2>By JASON HANCOCK,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Weeks after his return from a conference in Hawaii, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher was trying to convince legislative staff to reimburse him for the cost of his trip.&nbsp;He’d filed an expense report that included $1,199.60 for a plane ticket to represent Missouri at the 2023 Uniform Law Commission conference, but he was informed he’d missed his window. The ticket was purchased in January, and it was already August — well outside the 90-day timeframe laid out in House rules to file for reimbursement.&nbsp;Plocher pled his case in an Aug. 11 phone call and letter to Chief Clerk of the House Dana Miller, arguing this was official business and he’d saved taxpayer money by buying the ticket early and getting a good deal. He filed for reimbursement, he wrote, as soon as he got back to Missouri.&nbsp;The House ultimately agreed to pay him the money. But as it turns out, the cost of the ticket didn’t come out of Plocher’s bank account. It came out of his campaign.&nbsp;Seven months earlier, “Plocher for Missouri” reported paying $1,199.60 for airfare to Hawaii for the ULC conference.A review of Plocher’s expense reports over the years, obtained in early October by The Independent through Missouri’s Sunshine Law, shows the Hawaii expense wasn’t an isolated event.&nbsp;On at least nine occasions since 2018, Plocher spent campaign money on conference registration, airfare, hotels and other travel expenses, and then also sought reimbursement from the legislature.In each instance, Plocher was required to sign a sworn statement declaring that he had used “personal funds” to pay the expenses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Campaign and legal experts interviewed by The Independent say an elected official is allowed to use campaign money for official business. Or, they can use personal money and then request reimbursement from the state.&nbsp;But doing both could violate state and federal law.&nbsp;“You have to choose one way or the other,” said Chuck Hatfield, a longtime Democratic attorney in Jefferson City. “ You can’t do both. And depending on what the facts are, there could be reason to believe there was a crime.”Plocher began paying back some of the money he has received inappropriately last week, sending a letter to House administration on Friday saying he “inadvertently sought and received reimbursements.”&nbsp;In an emailed statement to The Independent on Monday, Plocher said he sent the letter prior to being contacted by The Independent.“I am in the process of completing a full review of all expenditures and will correct any additional administrative errors in the spirit of full transparency,” Plocher said.News about Plocher’s spending comes as he was already facing scrutiny — including drawing the attention of federal law enforcement — over his push to convince the House to spend $800,000 to hire a private company to manage constituent information.&nbsp;Nonpartisan staff&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/22/missouri-lawmaker-accused-of-unlawful-conduct-in-push-for-contract-drawing-fbi-scrutiny/">accused Plocher of illegal and unethical conduct</a>&nbsp;in pursuit of the contract, including threatening the employment of the chief clerk.In the fallout from the controversy, Plocher fired his chief of staff.&nbsp;On Friday, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/J_Hancock/status/1715469497874661579">House ethics committee is scheduled to convene</a>&nbsp;to discuss a “personnel inquiry.” While the committee members have given no hints about the focus of the closed-door hearing, either publicly or privately, it is widely believed to be about Plocher.&nbsp;<h2>Trip to Hawaii</h2>Plocher’s actions could have violated at least three state laws.&nbsp;Submitting false expense reports&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=570.030">could be prosecuted as stealing</a>&nbsp;from the state, a class A misdemeanor. It could also be considered&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=575.060">false declaration</a>, a class B misdemeanor that involves knowingly submitting any written false statement.And while it is permissible to use campaign money for official government business, campaign contributions&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://law.justia.com/codes/missouri/2013/title-ix/chapter-130/section-130.034/">can’t be converted to personal use</a>, said Julie Allen, a former executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission who was speaking broadly about the situation without direct knowledge of Plocher’s specific expenses.&nbsp;“If someone were receiving money from their campaign committee and also seeking reimbursement from some public entity, like the House or Senate, then they are certainly getting double their actual expense,” Allen said. “That could mean they are using campaign money for personal use.”&nbsp;There is a federal law that could also apply if&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/666">the amount misappropriated exceeds $5,000</a>.&nbsp;Plocher’s most recent false expense report, according to the records, involves his trip to Hawaii.&nbsp;On. Jan. 17, his campaign reported spending&nbsp; $1,199.60 for airfare to Hawaii for the ULC conference.He first mentioned the trip in official correspondence on July 11, when he wrote to the chairman of the House accounts and administration committee advising him that he would be attending the ULC conference and would be seeking reimbursement.&nbsp;He made no mention in that email of any specific costs.&nbsp;GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOXSUBSCRIBEOn Aug. 7, after returning from the conference, Plocher formally requested that the House reimburse him for $4,862.77.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of that total, $3,663.17 was for his seven-day stay at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. The remaining $1,199.60 was for his Southwest Airlines flight to Hawaii.&nbsp;A few days later, legislative staff noticed a problem.&nbsp;The House was not allowed to cover the nearly $400 that Plocher spent on valet parking, an administrative staffer wrote in an email to his office. And because the airfare was purchased in January it was not eligible for reimbursement.“The airfare shows it was paid on Jan. 15, 2023,” the legislative staffer wrote, “which is past the 90-day policy for reimbursement. He also has seven charges at $55 each for valet parking that we don’t reimburse for.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Plocher called the House clerk to make his case, and the same day wrote a letter stating that he purchased the plane ticket in January in order to get a reduced rate. He said he was unaware of the 90-day rule and wanted to be reimbursed.&nbsp;In a written note on Plocher’s letter, the chief clerk instructed staff to proceed with payment.&nbsp;As with all of his requests, Plocher’s expense report stated that the payments were made with “personal funds, for which I have not been reimbursed.”&nbsp;<h2>Five years of expenses</h2>The first example of what appears to be a false report filed by Plocher dates back to 2018.&nbsp;His campaign spent $431.96 on airfare with Southwest Airlines in July of that year. Plocher requested the House repay him $112.36 for a portion of the airfare to the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States that wasn’t covered through a scholarship offered by the organization.&nbsp;That same month, Plocher’s campaign spent $206.05 on “lodging” at a Hyatt hotel. A few weeks later, he requested the House reimburse him $206.05 for accommodations at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch for the Southern Legislative Conference.His campaign also paid the $300 registration fee for the Southern Legislative Conference, and Plocher was later reimbursed by the House.&nbsp;In July 2019, Plocher’s campaign reported spending $603.95 on “ULC conference rental car” and $1,923.36 on “ULC conference lodging.”&nbsp;&nbsp;A month later, he was reimbursed by the House for $603.95 for the rental car. A portion of his lodging was covered by a scholarship, so Plocher only requested the remaining portion — $216.95 — be reimbursed by the House.&nbsp;His campaign also picked up the $600 registration fee for the ULC conference that year, and Plocher was also reimbursed for that cost.&nbsp;In June 2022, Plocher was approved by the House to be reimbursed $945 for five nights at a hotel to attend a conference in Philadelphia.&nbsp;A month later, his campaign spent $963.65 for a hotel in Philadelphia for what was described on the disclosure form as a “campaign conference.” Plocher was reimbursed by the House in August for his stay at the&nbsp;Loews Hotel Philadelphia.In January of this year, Plocher submitted a notice to the House asking permission to spend $325 to pay the registration to the State Legislative Leaders Foundation conference in Washington, D.C.&nbsp;A week later, his campaign paid the $325 registration fee, and a week after that he was reimbursed for the cost by the House.&nbsp;

Records:  Dean Plocher charged the state for travel already paid for by his campaign

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a police chase and crash.

Just before 11p.m. Sunday., Sugar Creek Police notified officers in Liberty that they were involved in a vehicle pursuit which was coming into the city Liberty, according to a media release.

A short time later, police learned the suspect's vehicle had crashed into a house and the suspect fled on foot.

Officers quickly located the suspect and engaged in a foot pursuit. After a short distance, police took the person into custody. 

A person in the house sustained serious injuries. EMS transported them to a hospital. On Tuesday, police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Brandon Trent of Kansas City. On Monday, the Clay County Prosecutor's Office charged him with Assault 2nd Degree, Felony Resisting Arrest and Property Damage 1st Degree.&nbsp; He is scheduled for court on Thursday, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698155643234.png" alt="Photo Liberty Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Liberty Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a police chase and crash.Just before 11p.m. Sunday., Sugar Creek Police notified officers in Liberty that they were involved in a vehicle pursuit which was coming into the city Liberty, according to a media release.A short time later, police learned the suspect's vehicle had crashed into a house and the suspect fled on foot.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698156093596.png" alt="Trent is being held in Clay County" />
 <figcaption>Trent is being held in Clay County</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers quickly located the suspect and engaged in a foot pursuit. After a short distance, police took the person into custody. A person in the house sustained serious injuries. EMS transported them to a hospital. On Tuesday, police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Brandon Trent of Kansas City. On Monday, the Clay County Prosecutor's Office charged him with Assault 2nd Degree, Felony Resisting Arrest and Property Damage 1st Degree.&nbsp; He is scheduled for court on Thursday, according to online jail records.

Resident injured after car crash into home during KC-area police chase 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/samantha-dietel/">SAMANTHA DIETEL</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/21/kansas-board-of-regents-sculpts-plan-for-boosting-state-aid-to-public-higher-education/?emci=78717300-c858-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=fc107f78-2659-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON — The eight Republican candidates to be speaker of the U.S. House made their cases to their colleagues Monday evening, as the House Republican Conference restarted its process to choose a candidate.

Nine had filed on Sunday to run for speaker but on Monday night Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser dropped out, after announcing just the day before he would make a bid for the post. Meuser cited his promise to run former President Donald Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania as one of the reasons he exited the race.

The chamber has been in turmoil since eight Republicans voted with all House Democrats to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the post last month. The conference has been unable to unite behind a single candidate.

After Monday night’s speeches, the conference was expected to hold a vote or likely multiple votes behind closed doors Tuesday to try to settle on a nominee, then bring that nominee to the floor.

With the exception of Minnesota’s Tom Emmer, the House majority whip, the group is not particularly well known outside of their districts.

Six of the eight voted to object to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, in line with Trump’s position.

With Republicans holding only a 221-212 majority, any would-be speaker will need near-unanimous support from Republicans —&nbsp;a tall order for a deeply divided conference largely still loyal to the former president, but with some members in vulnerable seats.

“It’s a nearly impossible task,” Peter Loge, a professor at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, told States Newsroom. “Because you have to be as conservative and angry and election-denying as Matt Gaetz, but as reasonable and a believer in compromise and democratic institutions as the New York moderates. And you can’t be both at the same time.”

In hopes that Republicans will rally around whoever the party nominates this time, Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska introduced a “<a target="_blank" href="https://flood.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-flood-launches-unity-pledge-speakers-race">unity pledge</a>” for members to sign. As of Monday afternoon, eight of the nine original candidates — all but Gary Palmer of Alabama — have signed the pledge, according to Flood’s office.

“Everyone running for Speaker should sign this,” Michigan Republican Jack Bergman, one of the contenders,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepJackBergman/status/1715529170271309938">wrote on X</a>.

Loge said the field can be divided into long-term members with institutionalist tendencies —&nbsp;Emmer and Texas’ Pete Sessions, for example — and newer members such as Florida’s Byron Donalds, who are more in line with the conference’s anti-establishment wing.

The next speaker will immediately face a challenge in passing spending bills or a short-term funding measure to keep the government open past a Nov. 17 deadline, as well as an aid package to Israel and Ukraine amid ongoing wars and a farm bill reauthorization.

States Newsroom put together the guide below to help readers get to know the candidates.

First elected in 2016, Bergman is a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general. He sits on the Armed Services, Veterans’ Affairs and Budget committees.

He’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/21/rep-bergman-says-his-hat-is-in-the-ring-for-u-s-house-speaker/">said</a>&nbsp;his priorities as speaker would include funding the government, especially the military, homeland security and aid to foreign allies.

In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1131">announcing his candidacy</a>, Bergman suggested he would stay in the position only through the end of the current Congress,

“We need a leader who shuns permanent power and recognizes the current crisis of leadership,” he said.

Who’s supporting him: Other members of Michigan’s House GOP delegation. They are John James, John Moolenaar, Tim Walberg and Lisa McClain.

A member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, Donalds is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/10/20/floridas-byron-donalds-is-now-a-candidate-for-u-s-house-speaker/">a favorite of the Trump wing</a>&nbsp;of the party. He voted against certifying the 2020 election and has said as recently&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/ron-desantis-florida-successor-freedom-caucus-byron-donalds">as July</a>&nbsp;that President Joe Biden is not legitimate.

First elected in 2020, Donalds, 44, is the youngest to join the field and has been in the House for the shortest time.

He has said his priorities would be to improve border security and “responsibly” pass funding bills.

He sits on the Financial Services Committee. Before coming to Congress, he worked in the finance industry.

The only non-white Republican candidate for speaker, Donalds would be the first Black speaker.

Who’s supporting him: fellow Florida Republicans Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart and Mike Waltz.

Currently the No. 3 House Republican, Emmer is considered by some the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/10/23/handicapping-u-s-rep-tom-emmers-chances-to-become-the-next-speaker/">frontrunner</a>&nbsp;for the top spot and has McCarthy’s endorsement.

In an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, McCarthy praised Emmer’s experience as part of his leadership team.

“He sets himself, head and shoulders, above all those others who want to run,” McCarthy said.

Emmer also developed relationships across the conference when he chaired the House Republican campaign operation in the 2020 and 2022 cycles.

Emmer is one of only two candidates for speaker who voted consistently to certify the 2020 election results. That could make his path harder with the most fervent Trump supporters in the House GOP.

Emmer&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1716536001819017487?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet">posted a video</a>&nbsp;of Trump on Monday saying that he had “always gotten along” with Emmer and saying he would stay out of the speaker race. Emmer wrote that as speaker he would continue their “strong working relationship.”

He won his House seat in 2014 following an unsuccessful run for Minnesota governor.

In his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1715744128166760891/photo/1">letter to colleagues</a>&nbsp;announcing his candidacy, Emmer highlighted national debt and spending, national security and border security as major issues.

The chair of the conservative House Republican Study Committee, Hern could seek support from budget hawks.

The Institute for Legislative Analysis, a limited-government group, gave Hern the highest marks of any candidate for fiscal and tax issues.

Hern has not been shy about his leadership aspirations. He publicly weighed a run for speaker shortly after McCarthy stepped down, but opted not to join that race. He&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/repkevinhern/status/1631785840316674050">has said</a>&nbsp;he at one time dreamed of being an astronaut.

In a letter to colleagues, Hern said Congress has not run well for decades, citing the number of unauthorized programs and a lack of regular order for spending bills. He also listed illegal immigration and drug overdose deaths as problems that Congress should address.

Hern won a special election for his House seat in 2018. Hern owns several McDonald’s franchises in Oklahoma.

As the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, Johnson is something of an establishment candidate. He’s also a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, which Rep. Jim Jordan, the conference’s previous nominee, chairs.

But Johnson also has conservative bonafides, having previously chaired the House Republican Study Committee.

In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeJohnson/status/1715753985540239776/photo/1">his letter</a>&nbsp;to colleagues asking for support, Johnson highlighted the national debt, border security, crime and inflation as major issues.

An attorney, Johnson was on Trump’s defense team for the former president’s Senate impeachment trials in 2019 and 2020.

Palmer called for GOP unity in his speaker candidacy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alabamareflector.com/2023/10/23/alabama-congressman-gary-palmer-to-run-for-u-s-house-speaker/">announcement</a>.

“There is a distinct difference between our vision for a prosperous and strong America and the vision of the Democrats that has done so much harm,” Palmer said in his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/1716219033798717549">statement on X</a>.

Palmer said he “decided to step forward” as a candidate “to do what I can to put our differences behind us and unite Republicans behind a clear path forward, so we can do our job for the benefit of the American people.”

His statement also cited the concerns American families have about the cost of living, child safety, crime in urban areas, fentanyl, federal bankruptcy and national security.

Palmer was first elected to the House in 2014.

Palmer&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://palmer.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses">serves</a>&nbsp;as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. He also sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

He&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://palmer.house.gov/about/full-biography">led</a>&nbsp;the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years before joining Congress. The Alabama Policy Institute is a conservative think tank with core values surrounding free markets, limited government and “strong families,” according to the organization’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alabamapolicy.org/about/">website</a>.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/samantha-dietel/">SAMANTHA DIETEL</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/21/kansas-board-of-regents-sculpts-plan-for-boosting-state-aid-to-public-higher-education/?emci=78717300-c858-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=fc107f78-2659-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON — The eight Republican candidates to be speaker of the U.S. House made their cases to their colleagues Monday evening, as the House Republican Conference restarted its process to choose a candidate.Nine had filed on Sunday to run for speaker but on Monday night Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser dropped out, after announcing just the day before he would make a bid for the post. Meuser cited his promise to run former President Donald Trump’s campaign in Pennsylvania as one of the reasons he exited the race.The chamber has been in turmoil since eight Republicans voted with all House Democrats to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the post last month. The conference has been unable to unite behind a single candidate.After Monday night’s speeches, the conference was expected to hold a vote or likely multiple votes behind closed doors Tuesday to try to settle on a nominee, then bring that nominee to the floor.With the exception of Minnesota’s Tom Emmer, the House majority whip, the group is not particularly well known outside of their districts.Six of the eight voted to object to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, in line with Trump’s position.With Republicans holding only a 221-212 majority, any would-be speaker will need near-unanimous support from Republicans —&nbsp;a tall order for a deeply divided conference largely still loyal to the former president, but with some members in vulnerable seats.“It’s a nearly impossible task,” Peter Loge, a professor at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University, told States Newsroom. “Because you have to be as conservative and angry and election-denying as Matt Gaetz, but as reasonable and a believer in compromise and democratic institutions as the New York moderates. And you can’t be both at the same time.”In hopes that Republicans will rally around whoever the party nominates this time, Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska introduced a “<a target="_blank" href="https://flood.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-flood-launches-unity-pledge-speakers-race">unity pledge</a>” for members to sign. As of Monday afternoon, eight of the nine original candidates — all but Gary Palmer of Alabama — have signed the pledge, according to Flood’s office.“Everyone running for Speaker should sign this,” Michigan Republican Jack Bergman, one of the contenders,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepJackBergman/status/1715529170271309938">wrote on X</a>.Loge said the field can be divided into long-term members with institutionalist tendencies —&nbsp;Emmer and Texas’ Pete Sessions, for example — and newer members such as Florida’s Byron Donalds, who are more in line with the conference’s anti-establishment wing.The next speaker will immediately face a challenge in passing spending bills or a short-term funding measure to keep the government open past a Nov. 17 deadline, as well as an aid package to Israel and Ukraine amid ongoing wars and a farm bill reauthorization.States Newsroom put together the guide below to help readers get to know the candidates.<h2>Jack Bergman of Michigan</h2>First elected in 2016, Bergman is a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general. He sits on the Armed Services, Veterans’ Affairs and Budget committees.He’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2023/10/21/rep-bergman-says-his-hat-is-in-the-ring-for-u-s-house-speaker/">said</a>&nbsp;his priorities as speaker would include funding the government, especially the military, homeland security and aid to foreign allies.In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1131">announcing his candidacy</a>, Bergman suggested he would stay in the position only through the end of the current Congress,“We need a leader who shuns permanent power and recognizes the current crisis of leadership,” he said.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: No</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes</li>
 </ul>Who’s supporting him: Other members of Michigan’s House GOP delegation. They are John James, John Moolenaar, Tim Walberg and Lisa McClain.<h2>Byron Donalds of Florida</h2>A member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, Donalds is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2023/10/20/floridas-byron-donalds-is-now-a-candidate-for-u-s-house-speaker/">a favorite of the Trump wing</a>&nbsp;of the party. He voted against certifying the 2020 election and has said as recently&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/07/ron-desantis-florida-successor-freedom-caucus-byron-donalds">as July</a>&nbsp;that President Joe Biden is not legitimate.First elected in 2020, Donalds, 44, is the youngest to join the field and has been in the House for the shortest time.He has said his priorities would be to improve border security and “responsibly” pass funding bills.He sits on the Financial Services Committee. Before coming to Congress, he worked in the finance industry.The only non-white Republican candidate for speaker, Donalds would be the first Black speaker.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: No</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Did not vote</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No</li>
 </ul>Who’s supporting him: fellow Florida Republicans Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart and Mike Waltz.<h2>Tom Emmer of Minnesota</h2>Currently the No. 3 House Republican, Emmer is considered by some the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/10/23/handicapping-u-s-rep-tom-emmers-chances-to-become-the-next-speaker/">frontrunner</a>&nbsp;for the top spot and has McCarthy’s endorsement.In an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, McCarthy praised Emmer’s experience as part of his leadership team.“He sets himself, head and shoulders, above all those others who want to run,” McCarthy said.Emmer also developed relationships across the conference when he chaired the House Republican campaign operation in the 2020 and 2022 cycles.Emmer is one of only two candidates for speaker who voted consistently to certify the 2020 election results. That could make his path harder with the most fervent Trump supporters in the House GOP.Emmer&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1716536001819017487?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet">posted a video</a>&nbsp;of Trump on Monday saying that he had “always gotten along” with Emmer and saying he would stay out of the speaker race. Emmer wrote that as speaker he would continue their “strong working relationship.”He won his House seat in 2014 following an unsuccessful run for Minnesota governor.In his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/GOPMajorityWhip/status/1715744128166760891/photo/1">letter to colleagues</a>&nbsp;announcing his candidacy, Emmer highlighted national debt and spending, national security and border security as major issues.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: Yes</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes</li>
 </ul>Who’s supporting him: McCarthy.<h2>Kevin Hern of Oklahoma</h2>The chair of the conservative House Republican Study Committee, Hern could seek support from budget hawks.The Institute for Legislative Analysis, a limited-government group, gave Hern the highest marks of any candidate for fiscal and tax issues.Hern has not been shy about his leadership aspirations. He publicly weighed a run for speaker shortly after McCarthy stepped down, but opted not to join that race. He&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/repkevinhern/status/1631785840316674050">has said</a>&nbsp;he at one time dreamed of being an astronaut.In a letter to colleagues, Hern said Congress has not run well for decades, citing the number of unauthorized programs and a lack of regular order for spending bills. He also listed illegal immigration and drug overdose deaths as problems that Congress should address.Hern won a special election for his House seat in 2018. Hern owns several McDonald’s franchises in Oklahoma.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: No</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: No</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No</li>
 </ul><h2>Mike Johnson of Louisiana</h2>As the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, Johnson is something of an establishment candidate. He’s also a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, which Rep. Jim Jordan, the conference’s previous nominee, chairs.But Johnson also has conservative bonafides, having previously chaired the House Republican Study Committee.In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeJohnson/status/1715753985540239776/photo/1">his letter</a>&nbsp;to colleagues asking for support, Johnson highlighted the national debt, border security, crime and inflation as major issues.An attorney, Johnson was on Trump’s defense team for the former president’s Senate impeachment trials in 2019 and 2020.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: No</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: No</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No</li>
 </ul><h2>Gary Palmer of Alabama</h2>Palmer called for GOP unity in his speaker candidacy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alabamareflector.com/2023/10/23/alabama-congressman-gary-palmer-to-run-for-u-s-house-speaker/">announcement</a>.“There is a distinct difference between our vision for a prosperous and strong America and the vision of the Democrats that has done so much harm,” Palmer said in his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/1716219033798717549">statement on X</a>.Palmer said he “decided to step forward” as a candidate “to do what I can to put our differences behind us and unite Republicans behind a clear path forward, so we can do our job for the benefit of the American people.”His statement also cited the concerns American families have about the cost of living, child safety, crime in urban areas, fentanyl, federal bankruptcy and national security.Palmer was first elected to the House in 2014.Palmer&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://palmer.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses">serves</a>&nbsp;as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. He also sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, as well as the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.He&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://palmer.house.gov/about/full-biography">led</a>&nbsp;the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years before joining Congress. The Alabama Policy Institute is a conservative think tank with core values surrounding free markets, limited government and “strong families,” according to the organization’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alabamapolicy.org/about/">website</a>.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: No</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: No</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: No</li>
 </ul><h2>Austin Scott of Georgia</h2>Scott received&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ohios-jordan-latest-us-house-gop-nominee-speaker-after-days-turmoil">81</a>&nbsp;votes when he&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2023/10/13/ohios-jordan-the-latest-u-s-house-gop-nominee-for-speaker-after-days-of-turmoil/">ran</a>&nbsp;for speaker earlier this month against Jordan, an Ohio Republican.“If we are going to be the majority we need to act like the majority, and that means we have to do the right things the right way,” Scott said in his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/AustinScottGA08/status/1715441064096436424">announcement</a>&nbsp;Friday that he will run again for speaker of the House following Jordan’s withdrawal.He is one of only two members to vote consistently to certify the 2020 presidential election.Scott has been a House member since 2011.Scott sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee. He chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: Yes</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes</li>
 </ul><h2>Pete Sessions of Texas</h2>Sessions has been in Congress the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/who-pete-sessions-and-why-he-running-house-speaker">longest of any of the candidates</a>.Sessions was initially elected to represent the eastern Dallas district in 1999 and continued to serve until he lost to Rep. Colin Allred in 2018. Sessions was then reelected in 2020, this time to represent the district surrounding Waco.He&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sessions.house.gov/about">chaired</a>&nbsp;the National Republican Congressional Committee from 2009 to 2012. Republicans regained control of the House in 2010. He also chaired the House Rules Committee from 2013 to 2019.Sessions voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act last year, as well as the codification of same-sex marriage.In 2019, Sessions was caught in a scandal when he was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2019/10/10/pete-sessions-congressman-1-guliani-associates-indictment/">referred to in an indictment</a>&nbsp;of two men charged with violating campaign finance rules.How he’s voted:<ul>
 <li>Certifying the 2020 election: No</li><li>Sept. 30 continuing resolution to keep government open: Yes</li><li>Sept. 28 Ukraine aid bill: Yes</li>
 </ul>