SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) announced that their newly formed task force, the Joint Fentanyl Impact Team (JFIT), made its first major seizure of fentanyl pills, according to a media release from the KBI.

Just after 12:30p.m. Monday, a JFIT investigation into suspicious activity led to the seizure of an estimated 25,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, commonly referred to as “dirty 30s.” The pills are suspected to contain fentanyl, and in total weighed approximately 11 ½ pounds. The seizure occurred near the intersection of Central and Oliver, in Wichita.

A 27-year-old male from Wichita was detained and questioned for being in possession of the pills. He was later arrested on outstanding warrants and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. Charges related to the fentanyl seizure are pending. The investigation is ongoing.

“Pills containing fentanyl, like those taken off the streets this week, are causing extreme harm to our communities,” said KBI Director Mattivi. “This seizure will likely prevent many poisoning deaths, but we still have much work to do.”

“I have made clear that the resources and energy of the KBI will be focused on the fentanyl threat. This seizure is a result of that focus, in cooperation with KHP,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. “This is a significant victory for Kansas law enforcement in the battle against fentanyl. We will continue to escalate our efforts in the months ahead.”

JFIT was formed in June as the enforcement component of Attorney General Kris Kobach’s strategy to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths. The objective of the JFIT is to identify and disrupt fentanyl trafficking and distribution networks, and remove this deadly drug from Kansas streets. The team is comprised of KBI special agents and KHP troopers experienced in complex narcotics investigations. Team members are embedded alongside KBI agents operating across the state.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686770906639.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) announced that their newly formed task force, the Joint Fentanyl Impact Team (JFIT), made its first major seizure of fentanyl pills, according to a media release from the KBI.Just after 12:30p.m. Monday, a JFIT investigation into suspicious activity led to the seizure of an estimated 25,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills, commonly referred to as “dirty 30s.” The pills are suspected to contain fentanyl, and in total weighed approximately 11 ½ pounds. The seizure occurred near the intersection of Central and Oliver, in Wichita.A 27-year-old male from Wichita was detained and questioned for being in possession of the pills. He was later arrested on outstanding warrants and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. Charges related to the fentanyl seizure are pending. The investigation is ongoing.“Pills containing fentanyl, like those taken off the streets this week, are causing extreme harm to our communities,” said KBI Director Mattivi. “This seizure will likely prevent many poisoning deaths, but we still have much work to do.”“I have made clear that the resources and energy of the KBI will be focused on the fentanyl threat. This seizure is a result of that focus, in cooperation with KHP,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. “This is a significant victory for Kansas law enforcement in the battle against fentanyl. We will continue to escalate our efforts in the months ahead.”JFIT was formed in June as the enforcement component of Attorney General Kris Kobach’s strategy to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths. The objective of the JFIT is to identify and disrupt fentanyl trafficking and distribution networks, and remove this deadly drug from Kansas streets. The team is comprised of KBI special agents and KHP troopers experienced in complex narcotics investigations. Team members are embedded alongside KBI agents operating across the state.

KBI, KHP task force seizes 25K fentanyl-laced pills

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday after having raised it 10 straight times to combat high inflation. But in a surprise move, the Fed signaled that it may raise rates twice more this year, beginning as soon as next month.

The Fed’s move to leave its benchmark rate at about 5.1%, its highest level in 16 years, suggests that it believes the much higher borrowing rates it’s engineered have made some progress in taming inflation. But top Fed officials want to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-federal-reserve-hike-pause-71a4d82e338437a599eef8427b98894f">take time to more fully assess</a>&nbsp;how their rate hikes have affected inflation and the economy.

The central bank’s 18 policymakers envision raising their key rate by an additional half-point this year, to about 5.6%, according to economic forecasts they issued Wednesday.

The economic projections revealed a more hawkish Fed than many analysts had expected. Twelve of the 18 policymakers forecast at least two more quarter-point rate increases. Four supported a quarter-point increase. Only two envisioned keeping rates unchanged. The policymakers also predicted that their benchmark rate will stay higher for longer than they did three months ago.

“We understand the hardship that high inflation is causing, and we remain strongly committed to bring inflation back down to our 2% goal," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference. "The process of getting inflation down is going to be a gradual one — it’s going to take some time.”

Still, Powell stopped short of saying the Fed's policymakers have committed to resuming their rate hikes when they next meet in late July.

One reason why the officials may be predicting additional rate hikes is that they foresee a modestly healthier economy and more persistent inflation that might require higher rates to cool. Their updated forecasts show them predicting economic growth of 1% for 2023, an upgrade from a meager 0.4% forecast in March. And they expect “core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, of 3.9% by year’s end, higher than they expected three months ago.

At his news conference, Powell made clear that the Fed still regards the still-robust job market and the wage growth that has accompanied it as contributing to high inflation. At the same time, he expressed optimism that lower apartment rental costs, among other items, may help slow inflation in the coming months. He stressed that the Fed wants to see an inflation slowdown actually materialize before holding off on further rate hikes.

“We want to see inflation coming down decisively,” he said.

Immediately after the Fed's announcement, which followed its latest policy meeting, stocks sank and Treasury yields surged. The yield on the two-year Treasury note, which tends to track market expectations for future Fed actions, jumped from 4.62% to 4.77%.

The Fed’s aggressive streak of rate hikes, which have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-pause-consumers-d44a6f58eb03ec5edeff78294a167053">mortgages, auto loans, credit cards</a>&nbsp;and business borrowing costlier, have been intended to slow spending and defeat the worst bout of inflation in four decades. Average credit card rates have surpassed 20% to a record high.

The central bank’s rate hikes have coincided with a steady drop in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">consumer inflation</a>, from a peak of 9.1% last June to 4% as of May. But core inflation remains chronically high.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">Core inflation</a>&nbsp;clocked in at 5.3% in May compared with 12 months earlier, well above the Fed’s 2% target.

Powell and other top policymakers have also indicated that they want to assess how much a pullback in bank lending might be weakening the economy. Banks have been slowing their lending — and demand for loans has fallen — as interest rates have risen. Some analysts have expressed concern that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">the collapse of three large banks</a>&nbsp;last spring could cause nervous lenders to sharply tighten their loan qualifications.

The Fed has raised its benchmark rate by a substantial 5 percentage points since March of last year — the fastest pace of increases in 40 years. “Skipping” a rate hike now might have been the most effective way for Powell to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-hikes-recession-130884fbb44313b567096efc33bf00a9">unite a fractious policymaking committee</a>.

The 18 members of the committee have appeared divided between those who favor one or two more rate hikes and those who would like to leave the Fed’s key rate where it is for at least a few months and see whether inflation further moderates. This group is concerned that hiking too aggressively would heighten the risk of causing a deep recession.

In an encouraging sign, inflation data that the government issued this week showed that most of the rise in core prices reflected high rents and used car prices. Those costs are expected to ease later this year.

Wholesale used car prices, for example, fell in May, raising the prospect that retail prices will follow suit. And rents are expected to ease in the coming months as new leases are signed with milder price increases. Those lower prices, though, will take time to feed into the government’s measure.

The economy has so far fared better than the central bank and most economists had expected at the beginning of the year. Companies are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-inflation-layoffs-economy-federal-reserve-e1ec3c376117935a0d85e466e3a20af4">still hiring at a robust pace</a>, which has helped encourage many people to keep spending, particularly on travel, dining out and entertainment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve kept its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday after having raised it 10 straight times to combat high inflation. But in a surprise move, the Fed signaled that it may raise rates twice more this year, beginning as soon as next month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;In light of how far we&#39;ve come in tightening policy, the uncertain lags with which monetary policy affects the economy and potential headwinds from credit tightening, today we decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/XYDbWk7gb7">pic.twitter.com/XYDbWk7gb7</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1669052448881664010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Fed’s move to leave its benchmark rate at about 5.1%, its highest level in 16 years, suggests that it believes the much higher borrowing rates it’s engineered have made some progress in taming inflation. But top Fed officials want to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-federal-reserve-hike-pause-71a4d82e338437a599eef8427b98894f">take time to more fully assess</a>&nbsp;how their rate hikes have affected inflation and the economy.The central bank’s 18 policymakers envision raising their key rate by an additional half-point this year, to about 5.6%, according to economic forecasts they issued Wednesday.The economic projections revealed a more hawkish Fed than many analysts had expected. Twelve of the 18 policymakers forecast at least two more quarter-point rate increases. Four supported a quarter-point increase. Only two envisioned keeping rates unchanged. The policymakers also predicted that their benchmark rate will stay higher for longer than they did three months ago.“We understand the hardship that high inflation is causing, and we remain strongly committed to bring inflation back down to our 2% goal," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference. "The process of getting inflation down is going to be a gradual one — it’s going to take some time.”Still, Powell stopped short of saying the Fed's policymakers have committed to resuming their rate hikes when they next meet in late July.One reason why the officials may be predicting additional rate hikes is that they foresee a modestly healthier economy and more persistent inflation that might require higher rates to cool. Their updated forecasts show them predicting economic growth of 1% for 2023, an upgrade from a meager 0.4% forecast in March. And they expect “core” inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, of 3.9% by year’s end, higher than they expected three months ago.At his news conference, Powell made clear that the Fed still regards the still-robust job market and the wage growth that has accompanied it as contributing to high inflation. At the same time, he expressed optimism that lower apartment rental costs, among other items, may help slow inflation in the coming months. He stressed that the Fed wants to see an inflation slowdown actually materialize before holding off on further rate hikes.“We want to see inflation coming down decisively,” he said.Immediately after the Fed's announcement, which followed its latest policy meeting, stocks sank and Treasury yields surged. The yield on the two-year Treasury note, which tends to track market expectations for future Fed actions, jumped from 4.62% to 4.77%.The Fed’s aggressive streak of rate hikes, which have made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-interest-rate-hike-pause-consumers-d44a6f58eb03ec5edeff78294a167053">mortgages, auto loans, credit cards</a>&nbsp;and business borrowing costlier, have been intended to slow spending and defeat the worst bout of inflation in four decades. Average credit card rates have surpassed 20% to a record high.The central bank’s rate hikes have coincided with a steady drop in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">consumer inflation</a>, from a peak of 9.1% last June to 4% as of May. But core inflation remains chronically high.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-4c0ea8315ab90c1b832ef6fa67dc0c7a">Core inflation</a>&nbsp;clocked in at 5.3% in May compared with 12 months earlier, well above the Fed’s 2% target.Powell and other top policymakers have also indicated that they want to assess how much a pullback in bank lending might be weakening the economy. Banks have been slowing their lending — and demand for loans has fallen — as interest rates have risen. Some analysts have expressed concern that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">the collapse of three large banks</a>&nbsp;last spring could cause nervous lenders to sharply tighten their loan qualifications.The Fed has raised its benchmark rate by a substantial 5 percentage points since March of last year — the fastest pace of increases in 40 years. “Skipping” a rate hike now might have been the most effective way for Powell to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-hikes-recession-130884fbb44313b567096efc33bf00a9">unite a fractious policymaking committee</a>.The 18 members of the committee have appeared divided between those who favor one or two more rate hikes and those who would like to leave the Fed’s key rate where it is for at least a few months and see whether inflation further moderates. This group is concerned that hiking too aggressively would heighten the risk of causing a deep recession.In an encouraging sign, inflation data that the government issued this week showed that most of the rise in core prices reflected high rents and used car prices. Those costs are expected to ease later this year.Wholesale used car prices, for example, fell in May, raising the prospect that retail prices will follow suit. And rents are expected to ease in the coming months as new leases are signed with milder price increases. Those lower prices, though, will take time to feed into the government’s measure.The economy has so far fared better than the central bank and most economists had expected at the beginning of the year. Companies are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-inflation-layoffs-economy-federal-reserve-e1ec3c376117935a0d85e466e3a20af4">still hiring at a robust pace</a>, which has helped encourage many people to keep spending, particularly on travel, dining out and entertainment.

🎥 Fed keeps rates unchanged for first time in 15 months

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

An expert in the field of sex trafficking and relationship violence told a summit assembled in Hays on Monday that addressing child abuse is needed to deal with sex trafficking.

Dorthy Stucky Halley, founder of the Family Peace initiative, said most victims of sex trafficking, sex traffickers and sex buyers were abused as children.

Stucky Halley has worked in the field since 1986. She taught social work at Pittsburg State University for a decade before becoming the state’s victim rights coordinator and directing the Victim Services Division of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

"It is important that we prioritize funds and really give attention to stopping child abuse," Stucky Halley said in a short interview after her lecture. "As long as child abuse is going on, these problems will continue to happen."

Seventy to 90 percent of people who are commercially sexually exploited have a history of childhood sexual abuse. This includes 90 percent of strippers as well.&nbsp;

Stucky Halley said people say that strippers choose to strip.&nbsp;

"They should be handing out thank you cards to their uncle, to their mother, to their father, to whomever sexually abused them because you wouldn't be watching them on stage had that person not sexually abused them," she said.

Stucky Halley said victims of child sexual abuse may see the sex trade as their least bad option.

Victims of the sex trade may have children to feed and a criminal history and selling themselves for sex may be the only thing they can think of that pays that kind of money given their circumstances, Stucky Halley said.

"As far as those who are already caught up in it, I think we need to have effective intervention services for those who have been victims and intervention services for those who are buyers and those who are traffickers," she said.

"Putting them in jail for a short amount of time is not going to resolve the issue," she said.&nbsp;

The number of trafficking cases per year in Options&nbsp;Domestic and Sexual Violence Services coverage area in northwest Kansas is usually less than 10 per year, said Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp, director of client services for Options.&nbsp;

However, Options advocates are training to better recognize human trafficking, which may happen in conjunction with child abuse, adult sexual abuse or domestic violence, she said.

Complex trauma as a child, which is often called adverse childhood experiences or ACEs, is a predictor of people becoming victims of sex trafficking. Of the 10 ACEs, 44 percent of women who were sex trafficked had four to seven of these traumatic experiences in their childhoods.&nbsp;

An additional 48 percent had scores of eight or more.

If a person has an ACE score of six or more, their life expectancy is 20 years or more shorter than the general public.

"In the background of human trafficking, we have child abuse. We've got sexual abuse, and we've got domestic violence. Really most victims of human trafficking that I've worked with and talked with have at least one of those in their background,"&nbsp;Stucky Halley said.

"If we are really going to get rid of human trafficking, we've got to get rid of those three," she said. "As long as we have those three going on, we're going to have victims that are vulnerable to get involved in some kind of sex trafficking."

Stucky Halley went on to break some myths about who offenders are. The same childhood traumas that were in the backgrounds of human trafficking victims were in the backgrounds of the traffickers.

Seventy-two percent of traffickers are male, and 28 percent are female. Communities often assume that all traffickers are male, but she noted that 1 in 4 are females.

Sixty-four percent of traffickers did not finish high school.

Eighty-eight percent of traffickers were physically abused in childhood, and 76 percent were sexually abused as children. Eighty-eight percent of human traffickers also experienced domestic violence in the home.&nbsp;

Eighty-four percent witnessed substance abuse in their homes as children.

"It's really easy to denounce them and call them the evil people. It's another thing to view the trafficker and realize that they were victims in another part of their lives," Stucky Halley said.

Stucky Halley also said the motivations of sex traffickers also lined up with those of domestic violence abusers. She said, in her experience,&nbsp; often sex trafficking is discovered when an intimate partner is admitted to a psychiatric facility for care.

Stucky Halley found that one-third to one-half of sex trafficking victims were trafficked by family members. One-quarter to one-third were trafficked by their husbands.

Sex buyers, or "Johns" as they are called on the street, also tend to have many of the same traumatic childhood experiences in their backgrounds, Stucky Halley said.

Sex buyers tend to be white, middle or upper class, married, and often in positions of authority or respect in their communities, she said.

Almost one in five buyers were in positions in which they worked with children, including teachers, coaches and Boy Scout leaders.

Ninety-nine percent of the sex buyers were male.

Twenty-two percent involved a position of authority, including attorneys, law enforcement, ministers and members of the military.&nbsp;

Often sadistic sex buyers or traffickers, those who wish to inflict pain on others, are the ones who will donate to women's shelters or other charities.&nbsp;

Not only do they enjoy inflicting pain on others, but they also derive pleasure in being able to fool others about their violent behavior,&nbsp;Stucky Halley said.

This can lead to victims not being believed because of the status of the offender.

Stucky Halley gave the example of a postmaster in a small community in Missouri who tortured a developmentally disabled woman to the point she had a heart attack.

"What if she had in the middle of the night gone pounding on someone's door in the community and said the postmaster and these men who are considered very reputable in the community are doing these crazy, horrible things to me,"&nbsp;Stucky Halley said. "How many people would have believed her?

"How many of them would have said, 'The postmaster, you've got to be joking. I take my grandkid in when I go pick up my mail, and he's giving my grandkid a lollipop. He's a very nice, considerate man.'"

Stucky Halley said some places in the state have implemented "John schools," which are similar to batterer intervention programs for offenders who have been convicted of domestic violence.

However, she said there are only a few of these programs in the state.

Stucky Halley said Kansas and our nation need ways to hold sex buyers and sex traffickers accountable for the harm they have caused others but also give them a path to heal the trauma that led them to those offenses in the first place.

"Accountability is necessary," she said. "It's just not the solution. Those who have been violent with others need to be accountable for all the violence they've done, but the second thing they have to be accountable for is for healing from the violence that happened to them long before they could do anything about it."

She said she has talked to women who are in prison, and they tell about the circumstances that led them to transition from being a victim to a trafficker.

"So, who are you dealing with then?" Stucky Halley said. "Are you dealing with a trafficker or a victim?"

Rotary's Community Action Against Human Trafficking Project in Shawnee County is giving women who have been in jail options other than returning to their traffickers.

Many women who have been in jail have no one to turn to for clean clothes, a place to stay or food other than their traffickers. They are the only ones waiting when they get out, she said.

Participation is voluntary. The women are provided with mentors. Kits, including clean clothes and hygiene items, are provided to the women upon their release.

The women can access ongoing services after their release.

The average woman who experiences domestic violence will try to leave their abuser seven times before they finally leave permanently.

Stucky Halley said sex trafficking victims also often will go back to the streets multiple times before they make permanent life changes. She said this can be very frustrating for advocates, especially when youth are being trafficked, and the urgency to get them out of that life is so great.

"We know people do not make transformational change overnight," she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686693453207.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAn expert in the field of sex trafficking and relationship violence told a summit assembled in Hays on Monday that addressing child abuse is needed to deal with sex trafficking.Dorthy Stucky Halley, founder of the Family Peace initiative, said most victims of sex trafficking, sex traffickers and sex buyers were abused as children.Stucky Halley has worked in the field since 1986. She taught social work at Pittsburg State University for a decade before becoming the state’s victim rights coordinator and directing the Victim Services Division of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office."It is important that we prioritize funds and really give attention to stopping child abuse," Stucky Halley said in a short interview after her lecture. "As long as child abuse is going on, these problems will continue to happen."Seventy to 90 percent of people who are commercially sexually exploited have a history of childhood sexual abuse. This includes 90 percent of strippers as well.&nbsp;Stucky Halley said people say that strippers choose to strip.&nbsp;"They should be handing out thank you cards to their uncle, to their mother, to their father, to whomever sexually abused them because you wouldn't be watching them on stage had that person not sexually abused them," she said.Stucky Halley said victims of child sexual abuse may see the sex trade as their least bad option.Victims of the sex trade may have children to feed and a criminal history and selling themselves for sex may be the only thing they can think of that pays that kind of money given their circumstances, Stucky Halley said."As far as those who are already caught up in it, I think we need to have effective intervention services for those who have been victims and intervention services for those who are buyers and those who are traffickers," she said."Putting them in jail for a short amount of time is not going to resolve the issue," she said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686672716428.jpeg" alt="Adverse childhood experiences or ACEs." />
 <figcaption>Adverse childhood experiences or ACEs.</figcaption>
 </figure>The number of trafficking cases per year in Options&nbsp;Domestic and Sexual Violence Services coverage area in northwest Kansas is usually less than 10 per year, said Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp, director of client services for Options.&nbsp;However, Options advocates are training to better recognize human trafficking, which may happen in conjunction with child abuse, adult sexual abuse or domestic violence, she said.Complex trauma as a child, which is often called adverse childhood experiences or ACEs, is a predictor of people becoming victims of sex trafficking. Of the 10 ACEs, 44 percent of women who were sex trafficked had four to seven of these traumatic experiences in their childhoods.&nbsp;An additional 48 percent had scores of eight or more.If a person has an ACE score of six or more, their life expectancy is 20 years or more shorter than the general public.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686674500711.jpeg" alt="Sex trafficking victims, their traffickers and sex buyers all tend to have histories of child abuse, domestic violence and/or sexual abuse in their backgrounds, according to&nbsp;Dorthy Stucky Halley." />
 <figcaption>Sex trafficking victims, their traffickers and sex buyers all tend to have histories of child abuse, domestic violence and/or sexual abuse in their backgrounds, according to&nbsp;Dorthy Stucky Halley.</figcaption>
 </figure>"In the background of human trafficking, we have child abuse. We've got sexual abuse, and we've got domestic violence. Really most victims of human trafficking that I've worked with and talked with have at least one of those in their background,"&nbsp;Stucky Halley said."If we are really going to get rid of human trafficking, we've got to get rid of those three," she said. "As long as we have those three going on, we're going to have victims that are vulnerable to get involved in some kind of sex trafficking."Stucky Halley went on to break some myths about who offenders are. The same childhood traumas that were in the backgrounds of human trafficking victims were in the backgrounds of the traffickers.Seventy-two percent of traffickers are male, and 28 percent are female. Communities often assume that all traffickers are male, but she noted that 1 in 4 are females.Sixty-four percent of traffickers did not finish high school.Eighty-eight percent of traffickers were physically abused in childhood, and 76 percent were sexually abused as children. Eighty-eight percent of human traffickers also experienced domestic violence in the home.&nbsp;Eighty-four percent witnessed substance abuse in their homes as children."It's really easy to denounce them and call them the evil people. It's another thing to view the trafficker and realize that they were victims in another part of their lives," Stucky Halley said.Stucky Halley also said the motivations of sex traffickers also lined up with those of domestic violence abusers. She said, in her experience,&nbsp; often sex trafficking is discovered when an intimate partner is admitted to a psychiatric facility for care.Stucky Halley found that one-third to one-half of sex trafficking victims were trafficked by family members. One-quarter to one-third were trafficked by their husbands.Sex buyers, or "Johns" as they are called on the street, also tend to have many of the same traumatic childhood experiences in their backgrounds, Stucky Halley said.Sex buyers tend to be white, middle or upper class, married, and often in positions of authority or respect in their communities, she said.Almost one in five buyers were in positions in which they worked with children, including teachers, coaches and Boy Scout leaders.Ninety-nine percent of the sex buyers were male.Twenty-two percent involved a position of authority, including attorneys, law enforcement, ministers and members of the military.&nbsp;Often sadistic sex buyers or traffickers, those who wish to inflict pain on others, are the ones who will donate to women's shelters or other charities.&nbsp;Not only do they enjoy inflicting pain on others, but they also derive pleasure in being able to fool others about their violent behavior,&nbsp;Stucky Halley said.This can lead to victims not being believed because of the status of the offender.Stucky Halley gave the example of a postmaster in a small community in Missouri who tortured a developmentally disabled woman to the point she had a heart attack."What if she had in the middle of the night gone pounding on someone's door in the community and said the postmaster and these men who are considered very reputable in the community are doing these crazy, horrible things to me,"&nbsp;Stucky Halley said. "How many people would have believed her?"How many of them would have said, 'The postmaster, you've got to be joking. I take my grandkid in when I go pick up my mail, and he's giving my grandkid a lollipop. He's a very nice, considerate man.'"Stucky Halley said some places in the state have implemented "John schools," which are similar to batterer intervention programs for offenders who have been convicted of domestic violence.However, she said there are only a few of these programs in the state.Stucky Halley said Kansas and our nation need ways to hold sex buyers and sex traffickers accountable for the harm they have caused others but also give them a path to heal the trauma that led them to those offenses in the first place."Accountability is necessary," she said. "It's just not the solution. Those who have been violent with others need to be accountable for all the violence they've done, but the second thing they have to be accountable for is for healing from the violence that happened to them long before they could do anything about it."She said she has talked to women who are in prison, and they tell about the circumstances that led them to transition from being a victim to a trafficker."So, who are you dealing with then?" Stucky Halley said. "Are you dealing with a trafficker or a victim?"Rotary's Community Action Against Human Trafficking Project in Shawnee County is giving women who have been in jail options other than returning to their traffickers.Many women who have been in jail have no one to turn to for clean clothes, a place to stay or food other than their traffickers. They are the only ones waiting when they get out, she said.Participation is voluntary. The women are provided with mentors. Kits, including clean clothes and hygiene items, are provided to the women upon their release.The women can access ongoing services after their release.The average woman who experiences domestic violence will try to leave their abuser seven times before they finally leave permanently.Stucky Halley said sex trafficking victims also often will go back to the streets multiple times before they make permanent life changes. She said this can be very frustrating for advocates, especially when youth are being trafficked, and the urgency to get them out of that life is so great."We know people do not make transformational change overnight," she said.

Expert: Child abuse common thread among sex victims, traffickers, buyers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph hospital in Wichita have authorized a strike in a vote held this week, according to National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United. 

Nurses at the hospital, which is owned by Ascension, voted 90% yes to the strike. They say they’ve had enough of the company’s practices putting profits before patients.

St. Joseph is the second Ascension-owned Wichita hospital where nurses have recently authorized a strike, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/st-francis-nurses-vote-overwhelmingly-to-strike" target="_blank">RNs at nearby Ascension Via Christi St. Francis also voted 93% yes to authorize a strike</a>&nbsp;at the end of May.

Nurses at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/wichita-nurses-rally-as-ascension-christi-st-francis-rns-begin-historic-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">both facilities</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">begun bargaining</a>&nbsp;their first union contract with Ascension after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-francis-hospital-in-wichita-kansas-vote-to-join-nnu" target="_blank">voting to join NNU</a>&nbsp;within the last year. St. Joseph is also the third Ascension-owned facility where nurses have voted to authorize a strike in recent weeks, joining St. Francis and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas</a>. Nurses will provide standard notice of a plan to strike at least ten days in advance.

“We have a staffing crisis at our hospital because management refuses to get serious about nurse recruitment and retention,” said Marvin Ruckle, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “We know a strong union contract is the best way to address this, and we’re prepared to show management that we’ll fight for our patients at the table and on the strike line.”

Nurses say they believe a strong contract is the way to make progress on all the issues they fear are impacting patient care, including workplace violence, staffing, and nurse recruitment and retention. A strong union contract could codify violence prevention plans, mandate safe staffing levels, and generally improve the poor conditions that management has created, which are driving nurses away from the hospitals.

“As nurses, we’re here to take care of our patients,” said Whitney Steinike, RN in the adolescent psychiatric unit. “When management puts roadblocks between us and patient care, we’re going to rally together to knock them down. If that means striking to show them we’re serious, now we know where our membership stands with this vote.”

In March 2023, Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph nurses&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-joseph-hospital-vote-overwhelmingly-to-join-nnoc-nnu" target="_blank">voted to join NNOC/NNU</a>. St. Joseph’s is the second Ascension-owned Wichita facility where nurses elected to join the union, following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/Nurses%20at%20Ascension%20Via%20Christi%20St.%20Joseph%20Hospital%20in%20Wichita%2C%20Kansas%20vote%20overwhelmingly%20to%20join%20nation%E2%80%99s%20largest%20RN%20union" target="_blank">Ascension Via Christi St. Francis</a>. Nurses at both facilities&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">recently held a rally</a>&nbsp;calling on Ascension management to bargaining with both facilities on a joint contract, as the hospitals are mere miles apart and serve overlapping patient populations. Between St. Joseph and St. Francis, NNOC/NNU represents a total of nearly 1,000 Wichita-area nurses, with more than 650 at St. Francis and 300 at St. Joseph.

Nationwide, three Ascension-owned facilities have joined NNOC/NNU in less than a year. Over 900 nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/article/landslide-union-victory-in-texas" target="_blank">won a landslide union election to join in September 2022&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/rns-at-ascension-seton-medical-center-austin-begin-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">began bargaining in November</a>. The Austin nurses also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">recently voted to authorize a strike with 98% yes</a>.

Ascension is one of the largest not-for-profit and Catholic hospital chains in the nation and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/business/hospital-staffing-ascension.html" target="_blank">the central focus of the 2022 New York Times exposé</a>, “How a Sprawling Hospital Chain Ignited Its Own Staffing Crisis.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686762325589.png" alt="Photo courtesy National Nurses United" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy National Nurses United</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph hospital in Wichita have authorized a strike in a vote held this week, according to National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United. Nurses at the hospital, which is owned by Ascension, voted 90% yes to the strike. They say they’ve had enough of the company’s practices putting profits before patients.St. Joseph is the second Ascension-owned Wichita hospital where nurses have recently authorized a strike, as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/st-francis-nurses-vote-overwhelmingly-to-strike" target="_blank">RNs at nearby Ascension Via Christi St. Francis also voted 93% yes to authorize a strike</a>&nbsp;at the end of May. Nurses at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/wichita-nurses-rally-as-ascension-christi-st-francis-rns-begin-historic-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">both facilities</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">begun bargaining</a>&nbsp;their first union contract with Ascension after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-francis-hospital-in-wichita-kansas-vote-to-join-nnu" target="_blank">voting to join NNU</a>&nbsp;within the last year. St. Joseph is also the third Ascension-owned facility where nurses have voted to authorize a strike in recent weeks, joining St. Francis and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas</a>. Nurses will provide standard notice of a plan to strike at least ten days in advance.“We have a staffing crisis at our hospital because management refuses to get serious about nurse recruitment and retention,” said Marvin Ruckle, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). “We know a strong union contract is the best way to address this, and we’re prepared to show management that we’ll fight for our patients at the table and on the strike line.”Nurses say they believe a strong contract is the way to make progress on all the issues they fear are impacting patient care, including workplace violence, staffing, and nurse recruitment and retention. A strong union contract could codify violence prevention plans, mandate safe staffing levels, and generally improve the poor conditions that management has created, which are driving nurses away from the hospitals.“As nurses, we’re here to take care of our patients,” said Whitney Steinike, RN in the adolescent psychiatric unit. “When management puts roadblocks between us and patient care, we’re going to rally together to knock them down. If that means striking to show them we’re serious, now we know where our membership stands with this vote.”In March 2023, Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph nurses&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/nurses-at-ascension-via-christi-st-joseph-hospital-vote-overwhelmingly-to-join-nnoc-nnu" target="_blank">voted to join NNOC/NNU</a>. St. Joseph’s is the second Ascension-owned Wichita facility where nurses elected to join the union, following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/Nurses%20at%20Ascension%20Via%20Christi%20St.%20Joseph%20Hospital%20in%20Wichita%2C%20Kansas%20vote%20overwhelmingly%20to%20join%20nation%E2%80%99s%20largest%20RN%20union" target="_blank">Ascension Via Christi St. Francis</a>. Nurses at both facilities&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-christi-st-joseph-nurses-rally-for-wichita-nurse-unity" target="_blank">recently held a rally</a>&nbsp;calling on Ascension management to bargaining with both facilities on a joint contract, as the hospitals are mere miles apart and serve overlapping patient populations. Between St. Joseph and St. Francis, NNOC/NNU represents a total of nearly 1,000 Wichita-area nurses, with more than 650 at St. Francis and 300 at St. Joseph.Nationwide, three Ascension-owned facilities have joined NNOC/NNU in less than a year. Over 900 nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/article/landslide-union-victory-in-texas" target="_blank">won a landslide union election to join in September 2022&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/rns-at-ascension-seton-medical-center-austin-begin-contract-negotiations" target="_blank">began bargaining in November</a>. The Austin nurses also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/ascension-seton-nurses-overwhelmingly-vote-to-authorize-strike" target="_blank">recently voted to authorize a strike with 98% yes</a>.Ascension is one of the largest not-for-profit and Catholic hospital chains in the nation and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/business/hospital-staffing-ascension.html" target="_blank">the central focus of the 2022 New York Times exposé</a>, “How a Sprawling Hospital Chain Ignited Its Own Staffing Crisis.”

Nurses at 2nd Kansas hospital authorize strike

WICHITA – A bench trial ended Tuesday for a man charged in connection with a shooting in the Wichita section of Old Town in August of 2022

Sa’Qorea Sweeney, 25 of Wichita, was found guilty of obstructing apprehension or prosecution, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Sweeney was scheduled for a jury trial this week but waived his right to a jury trial and asked for a bench trial. 

After hearing the evidence Tuesday morning, Judge Chrystal Krier found Sweeney guilty.

Just after 1:30a.m. August 14, police working part-time in the Old Town area of Wichita heard several gunshots just north of 126 N. Mosely, according to Office Chad Ditch. Moments later they heard gunshots near 100 N. Washington.

Officers ran in the direction of the second round of shots and found&nbsp; 22-year-old Deandre Greenley, of Wichita unconscious and not breathing. He had several gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Ditch.

First responders provided lifesaving efforts. EMS pronounced Greenley deceased on the scene.

Investigators learned that suspects 21-year-old Christopher Dyas and 24-year-old Saquorea Sweeney, both of Wichita&nbsp; arrived in a black 2008 Ford Edge. They then walked right up to Greenley, shot him several times striking him in the upper body and fled the scene.

Officers quickly determined the suspect vehicle from witnesses, cameras in Old Town and by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/">utilizing FLOCK</a>, according to Ditch. The FLOCK system is designed to capture sight, sound and situations, which give police objective evidence needed to investigate and solve crime, according to the company web site.&nbsp; The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/about/why-flock">FLOCK system</a>&nbsp;captures the license plate and state details of every car that drives by, day or night.

A short time later, police took both Sweeney and Dyas&nbsp; into custody in different areas of town without incident.

On May 15, Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Dyas to 216 months in prison after he pled guilty to second degree murder and aggravated assault.

On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Krier continued Sweeney’s bond. He is free until sentencing which is scheduled for July 25, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660522964880.png" alt="Sweeney as shown in his August 2022 booking photo from Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Sweeney as shown in his August 2022 booking photo from Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA – A bench trial ended Tuesday for a man charged in connection with a shooting in the Wichita section of Old Town in August of 2022Sa’Qorea Sweeney, 25 of Wichita, was found guilty of obstructing apprehension or prosecution, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Sweeney was scheduled for a jury trial this week but waived his right to a jury trial and asked for a bench trial. After hearing the evidence Tuesday morning, Judge Chrystal Krier found Sweeney guilty.Just after 1:30a.m. August 14, police working part-time in the Old Town area of Wichita heard several gunshots just north of 126 N. Mosely, according to Office Chad Ditch. Moments later they heard gunshots near 100 N. Washington.Officers ran in the direction of the second round of shots and found&nbsp; 22-year-old Deandre Greenley, of Wichita unconscious and not breathing. He had several gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to Ditch.First responders provided lifesaving efforts. EMS pronounced Greenley deceased on the scene.Investigators learned that suspects 21-year-old Christopher Dyas and 24-year-old Saquorea Sweeney, both of Wichita&nbsp; arrived in a black 2008 Ford Edge. They then walked right up to Greenley, shot him several times striking him in the upper body and fled the scene.Officers quickly determined the suspect vehicle from witnesses, cameras in Old Town and by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/">utilizing FLOCK</a>, according to Ditch. The FLOCK system is designed to capture sight, sound and situations, which give police objective evidence needed to investigate and solve crime, according to the company web site.&nbsp; The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flocksafety.com/about/why-flock">FLOCK system</a>&nbsp;captures the license plate and state details of every car that drives by, day or night.A short time later, police took both Sweeney and Dyas&nbsp; into custody in different areas of town without incident.On May 15, Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced Dyas to 216 months in prison after he pled guilty to second degree murder and aggravated assault.On Tuesday afternoon, Judge Krier continued Sweeney’s bond. He is free until sentencing which is scheduled for July 25, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man found guilty of role in murder remains free until sentencing

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas doctor saved his daughter when she became trapped by their overturned raft in a rushing Colorado river, but was unable to save himself.

Dustin Harker, 47, a neurologist from Hutchinson, was on a whitewater rafting trip Friday with friends from church and four of his 13 children when the accident happened in the Sunshine Falls area on the Arkansas River.

The family had rafted the same river in previous years but the rapids were more turbulent than usual due to high amounts of rainfall, Harker's sister-in-law, Sharon Neu Young, said in an email to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/12/hutchinson-clinic-physician-dies/70313496007/">Hutchinson News</a>.

A raft carrying Harker and three of his children capsized.

“Everyone struggled to get above water,” Young wrote. “In the tumult, Dustin threw the capsized raft off his youngest daughter who was trapped underneath.” She did not disclose the girl's age.

Everyone made it to shore and Harker was even able to speak, but he “had already taken on too much water” and soon became unresponsive, Young wrote. He died despite CPR efforts.

Cheryl Gonsalves, marketing manager for Hutchinson Clinic, said Harker cared deeply about his patients.

“He was absolutely revered here,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686587629636.jpeg" alt="Dustin Harker -photo courtesy Hutch Clinic" />
 <figcaption>Dustin Harker -photo courtesy Hutch Clinic</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas doctor saved his daughter when she became trapped by their overturned raft in a rushing Colorado river, but was unable to save himself.Dustin Harker, 47, a neurologist from Hutchinson, was on a whitewater rafting trip Friday with friends from church and four of his 13 children when the accident happened in the Sunshine Falls area on the Arkansas River.The family had rafted the same river in previous years but the rapids were more turbulent than usual due to high amounts of rainfall, Harker's sister-in-law, Sharon Neu Young, said in an email to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2023/06/12/hutchinson-clinic-physician-dies/70313496007/">Hutchinson News</a>.A raft carrying Harker and three of his children capsized.“Everyone struggled to get above water,” Young wrote. “In the tumult, Dustin threw the capsized raft off his youngest daughter who was trapped underneath.” She did not disclose the girl's age.Everyone made it to shore and Harker was even able to speak, but he “had already taken on too much water” and soon became unresponsive, Young wrote. He died despite CPR efforts.Cheryl Gonsalves, marketing manager for Hutchinson Clinic, said Harker cared deeply about his patients.“He was absolutely revered here,” she said.

Kan. doctor dies saving daughter from drowning on Colorado raft trip

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted a massive concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate Juneteenth, the country’s newest federal holiday which the president said will “breathe a new life in the very essence of America.”

“To me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was a statement of fact for this country to acknowledge the origin of the original sin of slavery, to understand the war was never fought over it, it wasn’t just about a union, but it was most fundamentally about the country and freedom.”

Vice President Kamala Harris said Juneteenth is an occasion to “honor Black excellence, culture and community.”

“America is a promise — a promise of freedom, liberty and justice,” Harris said. “The story of Juneteenth as we celebrate it is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise. Not for some, but all.”

The concert also commemorated Black Music Month, and featured artists such as Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and singer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson.

In 2021, Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">holiday marks the date</a>&nbsp;when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free — which occurred June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers told enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, news of their freedom.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden hosted a massive concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate Juneteenth, the country’s newest federal holiday which the president said will “breathe a new life in the very essence of America.”(click below to watch the event)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F274009471703001%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=153" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“To me, making Juneteenth a federal holiday wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was a statement of fact for this country to acknowledge the origin of the original sin of slavery, to understand the war was never fought over it, it wasn’t just about a union, but it was most fundamentally about the country and freedom.”Vice President Kamala Harris said Juneteenth is an occasion to “honor Black excellence, culture and community.”“America is a promise — a promise of freedom, liberty and justice,” Harris said. “The story of Juneteenth as we celebrate it is a story of our ongoing fight to realize that promise. Not for some, but all.”The concert also commemorated Black Music Month, and featured artists such as Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and singer and talk show host Jennifer Hudson.In 2021, Biden signed bipartisan legislation establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-juneteenth-f77ddd12436ad02d8124e7d48abe9db4">holiday marks the date</a>&nbsp;when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free — which occurred June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers told enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, news of their freedom.

🎥Biden celebrates Juneteenth with massive concert at the White House

By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A pardon for the only Kansas City police officer ever&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">convicted of killing a Black man</a>&nbsp;would invite a backlash dangerous to the city and police, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker wrote in a letter Tuesday to Gov. Mike Parson.

Baker told Parson that she was reacting to reports that the governor was considering a pardon for Eric DeValkenaere, who is out of prison on bail while appealing his conviction.&nbsp;

Parson has made no public statements about his intentions, but Democratic legislative leaders, reacting to the same rumors, also issued statements asking Parson to refrain until the appeals process is completed.

His office did not respond to an inquiry from The Independent.

Acting before the appeal is heard “would preempt Attorney General Bailey’s defense of this conviction and subvert the rule of law,” Baker wrote.

DeValkenaere was sentenced in March 2022 to six years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for the Dec. 3, 2019, shooting of Cameron Lamb. According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">the Kansas City Star</a>, Lamb, 26, was at home, backing his pickup truck into his garage, when DeValkenaere fired several shots, killing him.

DeValkenaere, a Kansas City Police Department officer for 20 years, was investigating a vehicle crash, responding to reports that a red pickup was chasing a purple Ford Mustang. Lamb was spotted in his truck by helicopter officers.&nbsp;

DeValkenaere said he fired when Lamb pointed a gun at his partner. Police reportedly found Lamb in his truck, hanging out the driver’s side window and a handgun on the ground near his left hand.

Prosecutors have contended the gun was planted.

A pardon now is an “extreme action” that “will ignite distrust, protests, and public safety concerns for citizens and for police,” Baker wrote to Parson.

Democratic legislative leaders, in statements issued Tuesday, said a pardon would destroy trust in the criminal justice system.

“By pardoning convicted killer Eric DeValkenaere, the governor not only would deny justice to the victim but shred any faith Missourians have that the law applies equally to all,” said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield.

The leader of the Legislative Black Caucus, Rep. Marlene Terry of Florissant, said a pardon would perpetuate racism in criminal justice. She tied a possible pardon of DeValkenaere to Parson’s decision to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after they pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their home in a gated community in St. Louis.

“If the governor follows through with his plan to pardon a former Kansas City police officer convicted of wrongfully killing a Black Missourian, it would only bolster the impression he left in 2021 that he believes different systems of justice should exist for white Missourians and Missourians of color,” Terry said.

The timeline for the Western District Court of Appeals to hear DeValkenaere’s case is uncertain. Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article276053091.html">has missed six deadlines</a>&nbsp;for filing the state’s brief in defense of the conviction.

Baker urged Parson to meet with Lamb’s family and convene a public meeting in Kansas City to gauge support for a pardon. Baker said a pardon would make all investigations more difficult.

“A pardon of this convicted former police officer will accelerate that distrust that we already see in our system,” Baker wrote. “Witnesses don’t want to testify, and victims decline to prosecute their attackers, even after suffering great injury.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666641520630.png" alt="Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A pardon for the only Kansas City police officer ever&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">convicted of killing a Black man</a>&nbsp;would invite a backlash dangerous to the city and police, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker wrote in a letter Tuesday to Gov. Mike Parson.Baker told Parson that she was reacting to reports that the governor was considering a pardon for Eric DeValkenaere, who is out of prison on bail while appealing his conviction.&nbsp;Parson has made no public statements about his intentions, but Democratic legislative leaders, reacting to the same rumors, also issued statements asking Parson to refrain until the appeals process is completed.His office did not respond to an inquiry from The Independent.Acting before the appeal is heard “would preempt Attorney General Bailey’s defense of this conviction and subvert the rule of law,” Baker wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592994941014.png" alt="DeValkenaere-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>DeValkenaere-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>DeValkenaere was sentenced in March 2022 to six years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for the Dec. 3, 2019, shooting of Cameron Lamb. According to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article259052668.html">the Kansas City Star</a>, Lamb, 26, was at home, backing his pickup truck into his garage, when DeValkenaere fired several shots, killing him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619745438017.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Dec. 2019 shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Dec. 2019 shooting investigation photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>DeValkenaere, a Kansas City Police Department officer for 20 years, was investigating a vehicle crash, responding to reports that a red pickup was chasing a purple Ford Mustang. Lamb was spotted in his truck by helicopter officers.&nbsp;DeValkenaere said he fired when Lamb pointed a gun at his partner. Police reportedly found Lamb in his truck, hanging out the driver’s side window and a handgun on the ground near his left hand.Prosecutors have contended the gun was planted.A pardon now is an “extreme action” that “will ignite distrust, protests, and public safety concerns for citizens and for police,” Baker wrote to Parson.Democratic legislative leaders, in statements issued Tuesday, said a pardon would destroy trust in the criminal justice system.“By pardoning convicted killer Eric DeValkenaere, the governor not only would deny justice to the victim but shred any faith Missourians have that the law applies equally to all,” said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield.The leader of the Legislative Black Caucus, Rep. Marlene Terry of Florissant, said a pardon would perpetuate racism in criminal justice. She tied a possible pardon of DeValkenaere to Parson’s decision to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges after they pointed guns at Black Lives Matter protesters marching past their home in a gated community in St. Louis.“If the governor follows through with his plan to pardon a former Kansas City police officer convicted of wrongfully killing a Black Missourian, it would only bolster the impression he left in 2021 that he believes different systems of justice should exist for white Missourians and Missourians of color,” Terry said.The timeline for the Western District Court of Appeals to hear DeValkenaere’s case is uncertain. Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article276053091.html">has missed six deadlines</a>&nbsp;for filing the state’s brief in defense of the conviction.Baker urged Parson to meet with Lamb’s family and convene a public meeting in Kansas City to gauge support for a pardon. Baker said a pardon would make all investigations more difficult.“A pardon of this convicted former police officer will accelerate that distrust that we already see in our system,” Baker wrote. “Witnesses don’t want to testify, and victims decline to prosecute their attackers, even after suffering great injury.”

Prosecutor urges governor not to pardon KC cop who killed a Black man

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent attack on a woman.

Just afater 5:30p.m. Monday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a man beating a woman in the 22000 Block of Q. Road south of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The male suspect allegedly fled on foot in a wooded area.&nbsp; The Sheriff’s Office sent out an alert to warn residents to secure their doors and vehicles. 

Deputies started a search using a drone which located the suspect in the wooded area.&nbsp; An aircraft from KHP and a K-9 Team from Topeka Police also assisted with the incident.&nbsp; 

Just after 7:30p.m., deputies took the suspect identified as 30-year-old Daniel Markus Martin into custody. Martin was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery, felony fleeing and eluding law enforcement and felony interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686688358070.png" alt="Martin-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Martin-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent attack on a woman.Just afater 5:30p.m. Monday, sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a man beating a woman in the 22000 Block of Q. Road south of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The male suspect allegedly fled on foot in a wooded area.&nbsp; The Sheriff’s Office sent out an alert to warn residents to secure their doors and vehicles. Deputies started a search using a drone which located the suspect in the wooded area.&nbsp; An aircraft from KHP and a K-9 Team from Topeka Police also assisted with the incident.&nbsp; Just after 7:30p.m., deputies took the suspect identified as 30-year-old Daniel Markus Martin into custody. Martin was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery, felony fleeing and eluding law enforcement and felony interference with law enforcement.

Suspect in violent attack on a woman captured after manhunt

MIAMI (AP) — Donald Trump is characterizing the federal charges against him as “election interference and yet another attempt to rig and steal a presidential election.”

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?528671-1/president-trump-remarks-court-appearance&amp;live">Click here to watch </a>a replay of Trump's remarks

He aired his grievances to hundreds of supporters at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, hours after becoming the first former president to face charges in federal court. He entered a plea of not guilty.

Previewing a possible legal defense, Trump said he had a right to go through boxes and separate personal records from government documents.

He also said he had not had a chance to review all the materials transferred from the White House before FBI agents searched his Mar-a-Lago residence last year.

Trump called the case against him “one of the most outrageous and vicious legal theories ever put forward in an American court of law” and compared his own actions to those of other former senior officials, though the facts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-clinton-classified-documents-republican-claims-7681bc9807ecd8bc37fd3f39b9756cc7">those cases are different</a>.

He called special counsel Jack Smith a “thug” who does “political hit jobs” and said, “This day will go down in infamy.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686704253594.png" alt="Trump during his speech to supporters Tuesday night said,“This day will go down in infamy.”&nbsp; Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump during his speech to supporters Tuesday night said,“This day will go down in infamy.”&nbsp; Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI (AP) — Donald Trump is characterizing the federal charges against him as “election interference and yet another attempt to rig and steal a presidential election.”<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?528671-1/president-trump-remarks-court-appearance&amp;live">Click here to watch </a>a replay of Trump's remarksHe aired his grievances to hundreds of supporters at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, hours after becoming the first former president to face charges in federal court. He entered a plea of not guilty.Previewing a possible legal defense, Trump said he had a right to go through boxes and separate personal records from government documents.He also said he had not had a chance to review all the materials transferred from the White House before FBI agents searched his Mar-a-Lago residence last year.Trump called the case against him “one of the most outrageous and vicious legal theories ever put forward in an American court of law” and compared his own actions to those of other former senior officials, though the facts in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indictment-clinton-classified-documents-republican-claims-7681bc9807ecd8bc37fd3f39b9756cc7">those cases are different</a>.He called special counsel Jack Smith a “thug” who does “political hit jobs” and said, “This day will go down in infamy.”

🎥Trump: Indictment is "election interference," special prosecutor a "thug"

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a body was found in Wyandotte County Lake on Monday have identified the victim as 22-year-old&nbsp;Dejon Akins of Kansas City, Kansas, according to Police Captain Michael&nbsp;Kroening.

Just after 2 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to the lake after receiving a call about the body.

First responders recovered the body but have not released details on a cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled, according to Kroening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686652861496.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a body was found in Wyandotte County Lake on Monday have identified the victim as 22-year-old&nbsp;Dejon Akins of Kansas City, Kansas, according to Police Captain Michael&nbsp;Kroening.Just after 2 p.m. Monday, deputies responded to the lake after receiving a call about the body.First responders recovered the body but have not released details on a cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled, according to Kroening.

Police ID body of 22-year-old Kan. man recovered from lake

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a two day search.

Just after 8p.m. June 8, sheriff's deputies responded to a request for assistance from Elk County Sheriff’s Office, who were involved in a felony vehicle pursuit, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.

&nbsp;Elk County deputies were pursuing a stolen van out of Sedgwick County, being driven by Devon Simmons. 

 Montgomery County deputies joined the pursuit in the area of County Road 1100 at County Road 5400 at the Montgomery and Chautauqua County line.

Simmons continued to elude law enforcement for several miles at a high rate of speed using gravel roads.   The pursuit eventually terminated in the area of County Road 2300 at County Road 3400 where deputies lost sight of the vehicle.

  With the assistance of Elk County and Kansas Highway Patrol, deputies were able to set up a perimeter, covering nearly 560 acres, where they believed Simmons and the vehicle were located.

  At the request of law enforcement, a drone operator with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and KHP’s fixed wing aircraft, equipped with Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR), were contacted to respond to the area. 

 Law enforcement was unable to locate the vehicle or Simmons and ultimately released the perimeter. 

On the morning of June 9, Montgomery County Dispatch received a call advising a Honda ATV was stolen out of a barn in the area of County Road 3400 and County Road 2500. 

 A deputy who’d been in the area patrolling, recalled seeing the ATV approximately 30 minutes prior to it being reported stolen eastbound on County Road 3400. 

 The deputy also believed it was occupied by a white female and male at the time. 

 This theft occurred within ½ mile of the location where the pursuit was terminated the night before. Deputies with Montgomery County again saturated the area attempting to locate the ATV but were unsuccessful. 

 The stolen van was located shortly after, abandoned in a field.  The van was located within the perimeter law enforcement had set the night before.

At approximately 1:20 PM, a deputy with Montgomery County located a man and woman on the east side of Braum’s in Independence.  The deputy recognized them to be the same individuals observed operating the Honda ATV on County Road 3400.  Through his criminal investigation, the deputy was able to identify the subjects as Devon Simmons and Jewels Simmons.

  Jewels revealed the location of the four-wheeler to be in the area of 15th and Poplar hidden behind a vacant property.  Jewels also stated they threw the keys which belonged to the stolen van on top of the house. 

 Deputies were able to recover both the keys and ATV.&nbsp; Deputies transported the suspects to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections on charges of Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, Possession of Stolen Property and Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer were recommended to the County Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686674386949.png" alt="Simmons-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Simmons-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a two day search.Just after 8p.m. June 8, sheriff's deputies responded to a request for assistance from Elk County Sheriff’s Office, who were involved in a felony vehicle pursuit, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.&nbsp;Elk County deputies were pursuing a stolen van out of Sedgwick County, being driven by Devon Simmons. Montgomery County deputies joined the pursuit in the area of County Road 1100 at County Road 5400 at the Montgomery and Chautauqua County line.Simmons continued to elude law enforcement for several miles at a high rate of speed using gravel roads. The pursuit eventually terminated in the area of County Road 2300 at County Road 3400 where deputies lost sight of the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686674338563.png" alt="Simmons-Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>Simmons-Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> With the assistance of Elk County and Kansas Highway Patrol, deputies were able to set up a perimeter, covering nearly 560 acres, where they believed Simmons and the vehicle were located. At the request of law enforcement, a drone operator with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and KHP’s fixed wing aircraft, equipped with Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR), were contacted to respond to the area. Law enforcement was unable to locate the vehicle or Simmons and ultimately released the perimeter. On the morning of June 9, Montgomery County Dispatch received a call advising a Honda ATV was stolen out of a barn in the area of County Road 3400 and County Road 2500. A deputy who’d been in the area patrolling, recalled seeing the ATV approximately 30 minutes prior to it being reported stolen eastbound on County Road 3400. The deputy also believed it was occupied by a white female and male at the time. This theft occurred within ½ mile of the location where the pursuit was terminated the night before. Deputies with Montgomery County again saturated the area attempting to locate the ATV but were unsuccessful. The stolen van was located shortly after, abandoned in a field. The van was located within the perimeter law enforcement had set the night before.At approximately 1:20 PM, a deputy with Montgomery County located a man and woman on the east side of Braum’s in Independence. The deputy recognized them to be the same individuals observed operating the Honda ATV on County Road 3400. Through his criminal investigation, the deputy was able to identify the subjects as Devon Simmons and Jewels Simmons. Jewels revealed the location of the four-wheeler to be in the area of 15th and Poplar hidden behind a vacant property. Jewels also stated they threw the keys which belonged to the stolen van on top of the house. Deputies were able to recover both the keys and ATV.&nbsp; Deputies transported the suspects to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections on charges of Burglary, Criminal Damage to Property, Possession of Stolen Property and Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer were recommended to the County Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;

After 2 day search, deputies capture Kan. burglary suspects

TOPEKA, KAN.– A federal jury convicted a Missouri man on one count of travel with intent to&nbsp;engage in illicit sexual conduct, after he was arrested in an undercover operation. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven E. Spradley, 58, of Kansas City, Missouri, traveled from Jackson County, Missouri, to Osage County, Kansas, in July 2021 to have sex with whom he believed to be a 17-year-old girl he met online. 

Spradley was actually communicating with an investigator from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office posing as a minor.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Spradley faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“While child predators have long been a threat, the internet has greatly extended their reach to seek out victims,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “As these criminals scour for opportunities to prey on our young people, I applaud law enforcement officers for their proactive approach to catching these criminals and hopefully put them behind bars before a child falls victim.”

“This conviction holds Mr. Spradley accountable for his shameful and predatory actions. It underscores our continued commitment to have our children grow up without fear of exploitation and the importance of our state and local law enforcement partnerships in stopping those who

attempt to harm the most vulnerable in our community,” said Charles Dayoub, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625322692210.png" alt="Spradley photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Spradley photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN.– A federal jury convicted a Missouri man on one count of travel with intent to&nbsp;engage in illicit sexual conduct, after he was arrested in an undercover operation. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven E. Spradley, 58, of Kansas City, Missouri, traveled from Jackson County, Missouri, to Osage County, Kansas, in July 2021 to have sex with whom he believed to be a 17-year-old girl he met online. Spradley was actually communicating with an investigator from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office posing as a minor.The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.Spradley faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.“While child predators have long been a threat, the internet has greatly extended their reach to seek out victims,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “As these criminals scour for opportunities to prey on our young people, I applaud law enforcement officers for their proactive approach to catching these criminals and hopefully put them behind bars before a child falls victim.”“This conviction holds Mr. Spradley accountable for his shameful and predatory actions. It underscores our continued commitment to have our children grow up without fear of exploitation and the importance of our state and local law enforcement partnerships in stopping those whoattempt to harm the most vulnerable in our community,” said Charles Dayoub, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.The Osage County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case.

Jury: Man traveled to Kansas to meet juvenile for sex

COWLEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Western Star Cement Mixer driven by&nbsp;Velz, Charles Raymond Velz, 50, Winfield, was eastbound at 2500 West 9th Avenue in Winfield.

The vehicle left the roadway, struck a culvert, and partially overturned in the south ditch. The driver was ejected from the vehicle.

EMS transported Velz to&nbsp; William Newton Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686691611430.png" alt="Photo by Brady Bauman courtesy KSOK" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Brady Bauman courtesy KSOK</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Western Star Cement Mixer driven by&nbsp;Velz, Charles Raymond Velz, 50, Winfield, was eastbound at 2500 West 9th Avenue in Winfield.The vehicle left the roadway, struck a culvert, and partially overturned in the south ditch. The driver was ejected from the vehicle.EMS transported Velz to&nbsp; William Newton Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Kansas man dies after ejected when cement mixer overturns

The Miss Kansas Scholarship Competition, one of the most iconic events in the state, was held in Pratt on June 9-10, 2023. Sixteen remarkable women from n across Kansas competed for the title of Miss Kansas 2023 and vied for over $53,000 in cash scholarships, according to a media release from the organization.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686567718091.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Miss Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Miss Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>The Miss Kansas Scholarship Competition, one of the most iconic events in the state, was held in Pratt on June 9-10, 2023. Sixteen remarkable women from n across Kansas competed for the title of Miss Kansas 2023 and vied for over $53,000 in cash scholarships, according to a media release from the organization. The 2023 competition showcased exceptional talent, intelligence, and poise of these outstanding contestants.After two days and five phases of competition, Courtney Wages of Wichita, was named the winner, being crowned Miss Kansas 2023. Courtney's dedication to her Community Service Initiative “One Vision is Not the Only Vision: Eye See You,” advocating for the visually impaired community, earned her the title and a total of $13,250 in scholarships. Her focus for this initiative is to communicate that vision is not limited to an “impairment” or a form of “eyesight”; it can also be the visions an individual sets for themselves. Wages is a 2021 Wichita State University graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theater.The top five contestants that were recognized for their outstanding performances. The results were as follows:4th Runner up: Alison Nofsinger - Miss Sedgwick County3rd Runner up: Lluvia Escalante - Miss Cottonwood2nd Runner up: Alexis Smith - Miss Wichita1st Runner up: Sierra Marie Bonn - Miss MeadowlarkMiss Kansas 2023: Courtney Wages - Miss Southern KansasThe Miss Kansas Scholarship Competition celebrates the achievements and aspirations of young women across the state. It provides them with a platform to showcase their talents, engage in community service, and further their educational goals. The event's focus on scholarships emphasizes the organization's commitment to empowering women through education and personal growth.