O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cabinet-senate-elections-columbia-elections-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-5bdce5f12a4d13d34cae47530bd2e7c0">Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt</a>&nbsp;won election to the U.S. Senate Tuesday, defeating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-elections-eric-greitens-missouri-552de06cc5c9a085c0d4e6c10dea6a35">Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine</a>&nbsp;and keeping what’s considered a safe Republican seat in GOP hands as the party fought for control of the Senate.

Schmitt, 47, will take the seat occupied for the past 12 years by Republican Roy Blunt, who announced in March 2021 he would not seek a third term — ending a half-century career in politics.

Schmitt largely campaigned against Democratic President Joe Biden and inflation, characterizing Valentine during the campaign as an out-of-touch heiress who would side with the Democratic president over Missourians. Valentine’s campaign catch-phrase was “nobody’s senator but yours,” and she slammed Schmitt for voting as a state senator to allow foreign ownership of farmland and over his support for the state’s ban on abortion.

“Tonight, let’s be clear,” Schmitt told supporters gathered in St. Louis County. “The Biden administration’s unchecked assault on our jobs, on our families, on our liberties, on our values must end. And a new era of fighting back and speaking out for the rights of parents and small business owners and working families is just beginning.”

To those who didn’t vote for him, Schmitt said, “I hope to earn your trust in the Senate because I intend to be a senator for all Missourians.”

Valentine wiped away tears as she spoke to her supporters, urging them to never give up “because there is too much at stake.”

“Tonight did not end the way we hoped,” Valentine said. “Many of us are feeling scared right now. We’re worried about about Missouri’s future and the future erosion of our rights. We feel discouraged because we worked so hard and it’s easy to feel like that work didn’t matter.”

But Valentine said the work did matter “because we reached so many Missourians in every corner of our state.”

Missouri was once a swing state but has become solidly Republican over the past decade. Valentine had plenty of money to spend — she’s the daughter of the late longtime Anheuser-Busch chairman, August Busch Jr. But she lacked name recognition and her campaign never gained momentum.

Schmitt himself has moved to the right since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/54856f7d982745a49aa2cb1b617ea801">Gov. Mike Parson appointed him attorney general</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/josh-hawley">Josh Hawley</a>&nbsp;was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. As a state senator from suburban St. Louis, Schmitt earned a reputation as a moderate willing to work with Democrats. He was elected state treasurer in 2016.

As attorney general, he has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-health-lawsuits-ebc1a38fd82f65b92d27ddf8bb8ea792">filed dozens of lawsuits</a>, many of which were criticized as politically-motivated. He sued school districts over mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. He sued China over the origins of the pandemic, a case that was tossed out by a judge. And since Democrat Joe Biden defeated Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, Schmitt has been involved in more than two dozen lawsuits against the federal government. Schmitt said it’s part of his responsibility as attorney general to stand up to what he views as “disastrous” federal policies.

Schmitt’s win in the general election followed a surprisingly easy win in what was expected to be a competitive Republican primary in August. That race also featured former Gov. Eric Greitens, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, and others.

Greitens’ presence in the race and early indications that he was doing well&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-steve-bannon-roy-blunt-election-2020-elections-c496743d4656aacf4a1c5d76f1d97b80">worried national Republican</a>&nbsp;s, who feared he could win the primary but lose a seat in the general election as the party fought to regain control of the Senate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-campaigns-missouri-jefferson-city-criminal-investigations-2457c44f0ef44394895af26cb0857814">Greitens resigned in June 2018</a>, a year-and-a-half into his first term, in the midst of investigations related to a sex scandal and campaign finance questions.

Greitens, Schmitt and others sought endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who did well in the state in 2016 and 2020. Trump eventually endorsed “Eric” without specifying which one.

Valentine, 65, is a nurse who ran on a pledge to return compassion to politics. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-elections-eric-greitens-roy-blunt-e0a61f089946b0ce0a596174ab2ac6f6">entered the Democratic primary late</a>&nbsp;with a mostly self-funded campaign and edged Marine veteran Lucas Kunce in the August primary.

She spent millions of dollars of her own money in the general election campaign in an unsuccessful bid to turn around recent history in Missouri, where Republicans have become the dominant party.

The Senate race is one of two statewide offices up for grabs in Missouri. In the other, Republican Scott Fitzpatrick faces Democrat Alan Green in the race for auditor. Incumbent Auditor Nicole Galloway is not seeking reelection.

Fitzpatrick is currently state treasurer — at 35, Missouri’s youngest statewide elected official. His campaign platform includes a pledge to audit schools and curriculum to “ensure schools are following the law and keeping politically divisive curriculum like Critical Race Theory, and discussions relating to gender or sexual preferences out of the classroom,” according to his campaign website.

That pledge may be in conflict with the Missouri Constitution, which states no duty shall be imposed on the auditor “which is not related to the supervising and auditing of the receipt and expenditure of public funds.”

Green, of St. Louis County, is a former state representative, police officer and founder of a nonprofit. He wants to expand protections for whistleblowers who provide information about government fraud or waste.

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cabinet-senate-elections-columbia-elections-missouri-tigers-mens-basketball-5bdce5f12a4d13d34cae47530bd2e7c0">Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt</a>&nbsp;won election to the U.S. Senate Tuesday, defeating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-elections-eric-greitens-missouri-552de06cc5c9a085c0d4e6c10dea6a35">Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine</a>&nbsp;and keeping what’s considered a safe Republican seat in GOP hands as the party fought for control of the Senate.Schmitt, 47, will take the seat occupied for the past 12 years by Republican Roy Blunt, who announced in March 2021 he would not seek a third term — ending a half-century career in politics.Schmitt largely campaigned against Democratic President Joe Biden and inflation, characterizing Valentine during the campaign as an out-of-touch heiress who would side with the Democratic president over Missourians. Valentine’s campaign catch-phrase was “nobody’s senator but yours,” and she slammed Schmitt for voting as a state senator to allow foreign ownership of farmland and over his support for the state’s ban on abortion.“Tonight, let’s be clear,” Schmitt told supporters gathered in St. Louis County. “The Biden administration’s unchecked assault on our jobs, on our families, on our liberties, on our values must end. And a new era of fighting back and speaking out for the rights of parents and small business owners and working families is just beginning.”To those who didn’t vote for him, Schmitt said, “I hope to earn your trust in the Senate because I intend to be a senator for all Missourians.”Valentine wiped away tears as she spoke to her supporters, urging them to never give up “because there is too much at stake.”“Tonight did not end the way we hoped,” Valentine said. “Many of us are feeling scared right now. We’re worried about about Missouri’s future and the future erosion of our rights. We feel discouraged because we worked so hard and it’s easy to feel like that work didn’t matter.”But Valentine said the work did matter “because we reached so many Missourians in every corner of our state.”Missouri was once a swing state but has become solidly Republican over the past decade. Valentine had plenty of money to spend — she’s the daughter of the late longtime Anheuser-Busch chairman, August Busch Jr. But she lacked name recognition and her campaign never gained momentum.Schmitt himself has moved to the right since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/54856f7d982745a49aa2cb1b617ea801">Gov. Mike Parson appointed him attorney general</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/josh-hawley">Josh Hawley</a>&nbsp;was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2018. As a state senator from suburban St. Louis, Schmitt earned a reputation as a moderate willing to work with Democrats. He was elected state treasurer in 2016.As attorney general, he has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-health-lawsuits-ebc1a38fd82f65b92d27ddf8bb8ea792">filed dozens of lawsuits</a>, many of which were criticized as politically-motivated. He sued school districts over mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. He sued China over the origins of the pandemic, a case that was tossed out by a judge. And since Democrat Joe Biden defeated Republican Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, Schmitt has been involved in more than two dozen lawsuits against the federal government. Schmitt said it’s part of his responsibility as attorney general to stand up to what he views as “disastrous” federal policies.Schmitt’s win in the general election followed a surprisingly easy win in what was expected to be a competitive Republican primary in August. That race also featured former Gov. Eric Greitens, U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long, and others.Greitens’ presence in the race and early indications that he was doing well&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-steve-bannon-roy-blunt-election-2020-elections-c496743d4656aacf4a1c5d76f1d97b80">worried national Republican</a>&nbsp;s, who feared he could win the primary but lose a seat in the general election as the party fought to regain control of the Senate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-campaigns-missouri-jefferson-city-criminal-investigations-2457c44f0ef44394895af26cb0857814">Greitens resigned in June 2018</a>, a year-and-a-half into his first term, in the midst of investigations related to a sex scandal and campaign finance questions.Greitens, Schmitt and others sought endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who did well in the state in 2016 and 2020. Trump eventually endorsed “Eric” without specifying which one.Valentine, 65, is a nurse who ran on a pledge to return compassion to politics. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-elections-eric-greitens-roy-blunt-e0a61f089946b0ce0a596174ab2ac6f6">entered the Democratic primary late</a>&nbsp;with a mostly self-funded campaign and edged Marine veteran Lucas Kunce in the August primary.She spent millions of dollars of her own money in the general election campaign in an unsuccessful bid to turn around recent history in Missouri, where Republicans have become the dominant party.The Senate race is one of two statewide offices up for grabs in Missouri. In the other, Republican Scott Fitzpatrick faces Democrat Alan Green in the race for auditor. Incumbent Auditor Nicole Galloway is not seeking reelection.Fitzpatrick is currently state treasurer — at 35, Missouri’s youngest statewide elected official. His campaign platform includes a pledge to audit schools and curriculum to “ensure schools are following the law and keeping politically divisive curriculum like Critical Race Theory, and discussions relating to gender or sexual preferences out of the classroom,” according to his campaign website.That pledge may be in conflict with the Missouri Constitution, which states no duty shall be imposed on the auditor “which is not related to the supervising and auditing of the receipt and expenditure of public funds.”Green, of St. Louis County, is a former state representative, police officer and founder of a nonprofit. He wants to expand protections for whistleblowers who provide information about government fraud or waste.

Schmitt defeats Busch beer heir in Missouri U.S. Senate race

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters have passed a constitutional amendment that will require Kansas City to spend a larger percentage of its general revenue on the police department.

The amendment requires the city to spend 25% of general revenue on police, up from the current 20% requirement.

Kansas City is the only city in Missouri — and one of the largest cities in the U.S. —- that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-race-and-ethnicity-legislature-reform-029d30c14cef9f500ed98f82d3569552">does not have local control of its police department</a>. Instead, a state board oversees the department's operations, including its budget.

State lawmakers passed a law this year to require the budget increase but feared it would violate the constitution’s unfunded mandate provision. The proposed amendment is meant to resolve any potential conflict.

The amendment was in response to an unsuccessful attempt in 2021 by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and other city leaders to divert a portion of the police department's budget to social service and crime prevention programs.

GOP lawmakers in Jefferson City said the effort was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-archive-michael-brown-96dab8d91e3fa29cd977b156804d7e66">a move to “defund” the police</a>&nbsp;in a city with a high rate of violent crime. City leaders deny that charge and noted that the police department is generally funded above the 20% threshold.

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce had said the proposal created a dangerous exception to state constitutional prohibitions on unfunded mandates for cities.

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican who represents counties in Kansas City’s suburbs, said he sponsored the legislation to stand with law enforcement during a time of “radical attempts across the country by city councils to defund the police.”

Lucas and civil rights leaders said the amendment was a power grab by GOP lawmakers to cement control over a mostly Democratic city with a large Black population. They say the police are well funded, and Amendment 4 won’t improve public safety.

Lucas and a civil rights activist have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-lawsuits-legislature-kansas-city-0c2820c1421022dec9038d49d9ab4433">sued over the proposals</a>. Those lawsuits are pending in court.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters have passed a constitutional amendment that will require Kansas City to spend a larger percentage of its general revenue on the police department.The amendment requires the city to spend 25% of general revenue on police, up from the current 20% requirement.Kansas City is the only city in Missouri — and one of the largest cities in the U.S. —- that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-race-and-ethnicity-legislature-reform-029d30c14cef9f500ed98f82d3569552">does not have local control of its police department</a>. Instead, a state board oversees the department's operations, including its budget.State lawmakers passed a law this year to require the budget increase but feared it would violate the constitution’s unfunded mandate provision. The proposed amendment is meant to resolve any potential conflict.The amendment was in response to an unsuccessful attempt in 2021 by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and other city leaders to divert a portion of the police department's budget to social service and crime prevention programs.GOP lawmakers in Jefferson City said the effort was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-archive-michael-brown-96dab8d91e3fa29cd977b156804d7e66">a move to “defund” the police</a>&nbsp;in a city with a high rate of violent crime. City leaders deny that charge and noted that the police department is generally funded above the 20% threshold.The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce had said the proposal created a dangerous exception to state constitutional prohibitions on unfunded mandates for cities.State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican who represents counties in Kansas City’s suburbs, said he sponsored the legislation to stand with law enforcement during a time of “radical attempts across the country by city councils to defund the police.”Lucas and civil rights leaders said the amendment was a power grab by GOP lawmakers to cement control over a mostly Democratic city with a large Black population. They say the police are well funded, and Amendment 4 won’t improve public safety.Lucas and a civil rights activist have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-lawsuits-legislature-kansas-city-0c2820c1421022dec9038d49d9ab4433">sued over the proposals</a>. Those lawsuits are pending in court.

Missouri voters force Kansas City to raise police spending

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Emanuel Cleaver wins reelection to U.S. House in Missouri's 5th Congressional District.

Check the Post for additional numbers on the election as they become available.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Emanuel Cleaver wins reelection to U.S. House in Missouri's 5th Congressional District.Check the Post for additional numbers on the election as they become available.

Democrat Cleaver wins reelection to U.S. House 

MOSCOW (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/brittney-griner">American basketball star Brittney Griner</a>&nbsp;has been sent to a penal colony in Russia to serve her sentence for drug possession, her legal team said Wednesday.

A Russian court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-russia-prison-appeal-denied-0baf45ba608ec4231642c3d0fe3d1522#:~:text=MOSCOW%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A%20Russian,swap%20between%20Moscow%20and%20Washington.">rejected an appeal of her nine-year sentence</a>&nbsp;last month. The eight-time all-star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/40eccfc427da65b3c02eeabc8a7410ff">was convicted Aug. 4</a>&nbsp;after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia sent troops into Ukraine</a>, and the politically charged case could lead to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-prisoner-exchange-explainer-e5321a583bed0fd3f2311616161d8d3a">high-stakes prisoner exchange</a>&nbsp;between Washington and Moscow.

Griner's legal team said she left a detention center on Nov. 4 for a penal colony — a common type of Russian prison where detainees work for minimal pay. Her lawyers said Wednesday that they did not know exactly where she was or where she would end up — but that they expected to be notified when she reached her final destination. Such transfers can take days.

The 32-year-old star athlete, who was detained while returning to play for a Russian team during the WNBA’s offseason, has admitted that she had the canisters in her luggage. But she testified that she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.

“Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “As we have said before, the U.S. Government made a significant offer to the Russians to resolve the current unacceptable and wrongful detentions of American citizens.”

The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Paul Whelan — an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage — for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/054f3cc0a8895e1ce1d7c632b46f2fe9">Viktor Bout</a>. Bout is a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the “merchant of death.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646510097872.png" alt="-Griner, 31, is one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury" />
 <figcaption>-Griner, 31, is one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/brittney-griner">American basketball star Brittney Griner</a>&nbsp;has been sent to a penal colony in Russia to serve her sentence for drug possession, her legal team said Wednesday.A Russian court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-russia-prison-appeal-denied-0baf45ba608ec4231642c3d0fe3d1522#:~:text=MOSCOW%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A%20Russian,swap%20between%20Moscow%20and%20Washington.">rejected an appeal of her nine-year sentence</a>&nbsp;last month. The eight-time all-star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and a two-time Olympic gold medalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/40eccfc427da65b3c02eeabc8a7410ff">was convicted Aug. 4</a>&nbsp;after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, just days before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia sent troops into Ukraine</a>, and the politically charged case could lead to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-prisoner-exchange-explainer-e5321a583bed0fd3f2311616161d8d3a">high-stakes prisoner exchange</a>&nbsp;between Washington and Moscow.Griner's legal team said she left a detention center on Nov. 4 for a penal colony — a common type of Russian prison where detainees work for minimal pay. Her lawyers said Wednesday that they did not know exactly where she was or where she would end up — but that they expected to be notified when she reached her final destination. Such transfers can take days.The 32-year-old star athlete, who was detained while returning to play for a Russian team during the WNBA’s offseason, has admitted that she had the canisters in her luggage. But she testified that she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent. Her defense team presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.“Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “As we have said before, the U.S. Government made a significant offer to the Russians to resolve the current unacceptable and wrongful detentions of American citizens.”The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that Washington has offered to exchange Griner and Paul Whelan — an American serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage — for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/054f3cc0a8895e1ce1d7c632b46f2fe9">Viktor Bout</a>. Bout is a Russian arms dealer who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. and once earned the nickname the “merchant of death.”

Griner sent to Russian penal colony to serve sentence

A half-cent sales tax designed to increase the starting salary for St. Joseph Police officers will pass in Buchanan County.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting in Buchanan County, 13,775 people, or 70.49% of voters, voted in favor of the half-cent sales tax increase, compared to 5,767 no votes, or 29.51%.

The sales tax hike is expected to raise $5.5 million annually. It will pay for an increase in starting police pay to $49,000 a year and three percent increases annually.

The tax has a 20-year sunset clause. The St. Joseph Police Department has 23 vacancies currently as well.

Elsewhere, Republican Scott Nelson has defeated Democrat Andrew Gibson for Buchanan County commissioner. Nelson garnered 16,542 votes (68.43%) over Gibson's&nbsp; 7,602 (31.45%).

Missouri U.S. Senate and House races

Republican attorney general Eric Schmitt has defeated Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Roy Blunt's retirement.

Schmitt was up 58.78% - 38.82% - leading by more than 140,000 votes, when the race was called with over 28 percent reporting.

Veteran incumbent and Republican Congressman Sam Graves has again won reelection. The Tarkio native had a heavy lead over Democratic challenger Henry Martin 71% - 26.88% with over 78 percent reporting.

Missouri State Senate and House races

Chillicothe native and Republican state congressman Rusty Black has defeated Democrat challenger Michael Baumli in District 12. With 79 percent reporting, Black was up 81.3% - 18.7%.

With 100 percent of the vote reported in State Senate District 34, Parkville native and Republican Tony Luetkemeyer has defeated Democrat challenger Sarah Shorter 59.13% - 40.87%, winning by more than 11,000 votes.

In the state house race in District 1, Republican Jeff Farnan defeated Democrat Jess Piper 75.23% - 24.77% with all precincts reporting.

Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3

With over 28 percent of the vote in here, 51.25% of voters have said no to this amendment, while 48.75% have voted yes.

This would amend the state constitution to legalize marijuana use by adults age 21 and older, and would set a 6% sales tax on marijuana sales. It would also expunge arrest and conviction records of non-violent marijuana offenses, except for driving under the influence and sales to minors.

Kansas U.S. House and governor race

With over 76 percent reporting, Republican incumbent Jake LaTurner leads Democrat Patrick Schmidt 55% - 45%.&nbsp;

With nearly 79 percent reporting, Kansas governor Laura Kelly leads Republican challenger Derek Schmidt 51% - 46%.

More results to come, including state senate races and statewide Missouri races as more results come in. Some information has been updated since initially published.

By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostA half-cent sales tax designed to increase the starting salary for St. Joseph Police officers will pass in Buchanan County.With 100 percent of precincts reporting in Buchanan County, 13,775 people, or 70.49% of voters, voted in favor of the half-cent sales tax increase, compared to 5,767 no votes, or 29.51%.The sales tax hike is expected to raise $5.5 million annually. It will pay for an increase in starting police pay to $49,000 a year and three percent increases annually.The tax has a 20-year sunset clause. The St. Joseph Police Department has 23 vacancies currently as well.Elsewhere, Republican Scott Nelson has defeated Democrat Andrew Gibson for Buchanan County commissioner. Nelson garnered 16,542 votes (68.43%) over Gibson's&nbsp; 7,602 (31.45%).Missouri U.S. Senate and House racesRepublican attorney general Eric Schmitt has defeated Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Roy Blunt's retirement.Schmitt was up 58.78% - 38.82% - leading by more than 140,000 votes, when the race was called with over 28 percent reporting.Veteran incumbent and Republican Congressman Sam Graves has again won reelection. The Tarkio native had a heavy lead over Democratic challenger Henry Martin 71% - 26.88% with over 78 percent reporting.Missouri State Senate and House racesChillicothe native and Republican state congressman Rusty Black has defeated Democrat challenger Michael Baumli in District 12. With 79 percent reporting, Black was up 81.3% - 18.7%.With 100 percent of the vote reported in State Senate District 34, Parkville native and Republican Tony Luetkemeyer has defeated Democrat challenger Sarah Shorter 59.13% - 40.87%, winning by more than 11,000 votes.In the state house race in District 1, Republican Jeff Farnan defeated Democrat Jess Piper 75.23% - 24.77% with all precincts reporting.Missouri Constitutional Amendment 3With over 28 percent of the vote in here, 51.25% of voters have said no to this amendment, while 48.75% have voted yes.This would amend the state constitution to legalize marijuana use by adults age 21 and older, and would set a 6% sales tax on marijuana sales. It would also expunge arrest and conviction records of non-violent marijuana offenses, except for driving under the influence and sales to minors.Kansas U.S. House and governor raceWith over 76 percent reporting, Republican incumbent Jake LaTurner leads Democrat Patrick Schmidt 55% - 45%.&nbsp;With nearly 79 percent reporting, Kansas governor Laura Kelly leads Republican challenger Derek Schmidt 51% - 46%.More results to come, including state senate races and statewide Missouri races as more results come in. Some information has been updated since initially published.

Half-cent sales tax for St. Joseph Police, Scott Nelson win big, Schmitt wins Senate race

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids held on to her Kansas City-area congressional seat in Tuesday’s election, overcoming Republican attacks over crime and the economy and new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-elections-legislature-kansas-topeka-e6e6dfe3cfc63ddae5492980e04a0329">GOP-drawn boundaries</a>&nbsp;designed to make her district harder for her to win.

Davids, the only Democrat representing the state in Congress, defeated Republican challenger Amanda Adkins in a rematch of their 2020 race for the 3rd District seat. Like other GOP candidates, Adkins focused on high inflation and other pocketbook issues, trying to link the Democratic incumbent to President Joe Biden. While Davids highlighted federal funding for local projects and efforts to lower prescription drug costs, she and fellow Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-voting-rights-donald-trump-49ab209fceda7313471b6f3de82563ec">aggressively attacked Adkins on abortion.</a>&nbsp;Adkins supported a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters statewide decisively rejected</a>&nbsp;in August, while Davids opposed it.

Davids was the first lesbian Native American in Congress and is a lawyer and former mixed martial arts fighter. She ousted four-term GOP incumbent Kevin Yoder in the 2018 midterm as suburban voters turned against then-President Donald Trump. Her measured persona has frustrated GOP efforts to portray her as a radical liberal.

Adkins is a former executive with health care technology's Cerner Corp. and a former Kansas Republican Party chair.

The key to their race was the Kansas City suburbs in Johnson County, the state's most populous county. The county leans Republican in voter registration, but Davids carried it in 2020. Adkins was hoping to win back independent and moderate Republicans there upset over the economy.

Two retired Kansas City-area Catholic school teachers in their 70s, Jim and Eladia Gilbert, voted for Adkins. They strongly oppose abortion, side with conservative parents over what’s taught about sexuality and race in classrooms and see the U.S. border with Mexico as too open. But the economy was a key concern.

“We are watching our 401(k)s just go down the drain,” Jim Gilbert said.

The Republican-controlled state Legislature redrew congressional districts earlier this year to rebalance their populations after a decade of shifts and split the Kansas City, Kansas, area. Davids' district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-kansas-kansas-city-topeka-elections-b660dba7114ca83eaa3d9e97604970c9">lost areas where she's performed best</a>&nbsp;and picked up heavily Republican areas in three northeastern Kansas counties.

Had the new lines been in place in 2020, both Davids' and Biden's 10-point margins of victory would have been cut in half. And Republicans counted on economic issues helping them bridge the gap this year.

But Democrats were energized by the state abortion vote in August. Adkins said abortion should be settled by the states and that she wouldn't support a federal abortion law. Adkins has not been specific about how far she thinks an abortion law should go in Kansas, which bans most abortions at the 22nd week, but said that she would favor any new, incremental state measures that would reduce the number of abortions.

For Kansas City-area retirees Elizabeth and Dave White, both in their 60s, preserving access to abortion was a crucial issue and both voted for Davids.

“I don’t believe other people should make decisions on a person’s body, whether you’re male or female,” Elizabeth Gilbert said.

Even with the 3rd District’s new, more Republican leanings, 67.5% of its voters opposed the anti-abortion measure in August.

The state’s three other incumbent U.S. House members, all Republicans, were expected to win reelection. They are Tracey Mann, in a 1st District redrawn so that it includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-election-2020-kansas-city-kansas-donald-trump-85844d07388c25e71440059be29b7a6e">the liberal northeastern Kansas community of Lawrence</a>&nbsp;along with rural central and western Kansas; Jake LaTurner, in the 2nd District of eastern Kansas, and Ron Estes in the 4th District in the Wichita area.

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids held on to her Kansas City-area congressional seat in Tuesday’s election, overcoming Republican attacks over crime and the economy and new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-elections-legislature-kansas-topeka-e6e6dfe3cfc63ddae5492980e04a0329">GOP-drawn boundaries</a>&nbsp;designed to make her district harder for her to win.Davids, the only Democrat representing the state in Congress, defeated Republican challenger Amanda Adkins in a rematch of their 2020 race for the 3rd District seat. Like other GOP candidates, Adkins focused on high inflation and other pocketbook issues, trying to link the Democratic incumbent to President Joe Biden. While Davids highlighted federal funding for local projects and efforts to lower prescription drug costs, she and fellow Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-voting-rights-donald-trump-49ab209fceda7313471b6f3de82563ec">aggressively attacked Adkins on abortion.</a>&nbsp;Adkins supported a proposed anti-abortion amendment to the Kansas Constitution that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters statewide decisively rejected</a>&nbsp;in August, while Davids opposed it.Davids was the first lesbian Native American in Congress and is a lawyer and former mixed martial arts fighter. She ousted four-term GOP incumbent Kevin Yoder in the 2018 midterm as suburban voters turned against then-President Donald Trump. Her measured persona has frustrated GOP efforts to portray her as a radical liberal.Adkins is a former executive with health care technology's Cerner Corp. and a former Kansas Republican Party chair.The key to their race was the Kansas City suburbs in Johnson County, the state's most populous county. The county leans Republican in voter registration, but Davids carried it in 2020. Adkins was hoping to win back independent and moderate Republicans there upset over the economy.Two retired Kansas City-area Catholic school teachers in their 70s, Jim and Eladia Gilbert, voted for Adkins. They strongly oppose abortion, side with conservative parents over what’s taught about sexuality and race in classrooms and see the U.S. border with Mexico as too open. But the economy was a key concern.“We are watching our 401(k)s just go down the drain,” Jim Gilbert said.The Republican-controlled state Legislature redrew congressional districts earlier this year to rebalance their populations after a decade of shifts and split the Kansas City, Kansas, area. Davids' district&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-kansas-kansas-city-topeka-elections-b660dba7114ca83eaa3d9e97604970c9">lost areas where she's performed best</a>&nbsp;and picked up heavily Republican areas in three northeastern Kansas counties.Had the new lines been in place in 2020, both Davids' and Biden's 10-point margins of victory would have been cut in half. And Republicans counted on economic issues helping them bridge the gap this year.But Democrats were energized by the state abortion vote in August. Adkins said abortion should be settled by the states and that she wouldn't support a federal abortion law. Adkins has not been specific about how far she thinks an abortion law should go in Kansas, which bans most abortions at the 22nd week, but said that she would favor any new, incremental state measures that would reduce the number of abortions.For Kansas City-area retirees Elizabeth and Dave White, both in their 60s, preserving access to abortion was a crucial issue and both voted for Davids.“I don’t believe other people should make decisions on a person’s body, whether you’re male or female,” Elizabeth Gilbert said.Even with the 3rd District’s new, more Republican leanings, 67.5% of its voters opposed the anti-abortion measure in August.The state’s three other incumbent U.S. House members, all Republicans, were expected to win reelection. They are Tracey Mann, in a 1st District redrawn so that it includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-election-2020-kansas-city-kansas-donald-trump-85844d07388c25e71440059be29b7a6e">the liberal northeastern Kansas community of Lawrence</a>&nbsp;along with rural central and western Kansas; Jake LaTurner, in the 2nd District of eastern Kansas, and Ron Estes in the 4th District in the Wichita area.

Democratic Rep. Davids reelected in redrawn Kansas district

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis won reelection to a second term Tuesday in a victory over Democrat Charlie Crist, bolstering his rise as a prominent GOP star with potential White House ambitions.

Kansas junior Senator Roger Marshall was among the first to send his congratulations.&nbsp;

DeSantis’ win continues a rightward shift for what was once the nation’s largest swing state, as voters embraced a governor who reveled in culture war politics and framed his candidacy as a battle against the “woke agenda” of liberals.

In the lead-up to the election, DeSantis harnessed the power of incumbency to assemble media, often on short notice and far outside major markets, for news conferences where he would spend significant time honing critiques of Democratic President Joe Biden, liberal policies and the mainstream media, delivered before cheering crowds.

He gained significant national attention during the start of the coronavirus pandemic through his outspoken opposition to continued lockdowns and to mask and vaccine mandates, and eventually displayed an eagerness to wade into nearly any cultural divide, including immigration, gender, education and more.

His ceaseless combative posture, and ability to leverage the power of state government to his will, endeared DeSantis to major GOP donors and built him into a natural heir to former President Donald Trump in the minds of some Republican voters.

Weeks before the election, DeSantis directed the state to fly groups of migrants from Texas to the upscale liberal enclave of Martha’s Vineyard, as a protest over the federal government’s immigration policies at the southern border. DeSantis said the move was a way to make immigration a “front-burner issue” before the midterms, with his critics questioning the legality of the flights as they accused officials of lying to the passengers.

Election Day came as Florida continued to recover from the Category 4 Hurricane Ian, which slammed into the state in late September and killed more than 100 people and caused widespread damage.

Politically, the storm provided DeSantis a platform to project a unifying tone in the final stretch of the campaign, displaying his ability to set aside the culture warrior role and shift into a competent crisis manager. The response brought DeSantis and Biden together in southwest Florida as the pair surveyed damage, met with locals and briefed reporters, with DeSantis at one point saying “we appreciate the team effort.”

The victory is certain to further speculation of a potential DeSantis presidential run. DeSantis has so far dodged questions on his possible Washington aspirations, skirting the subject repeatedly during his only gubernatorial debate with Crist in late October. Trump, who credits himself for propelling DeSantis to a first term in the governor’s office, has grown frustrated with DeSantis’ refusal to rule out a 2024 run, according to people familiar with Trump’s thinking.

The governor was able to raise substantially more money than Crist, a 66-year-old Democrat who had previously served as a Republican governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011. Crist aimed his candidacy at moderate voters in Florida, criticizing DeSantis as a bully, as he sought to reverse a losing streak for Democrats in the state. Crist resigned a congressional seat to run for governor this year.

Democrats, the minority party in the state government, faced considerable challenges in a state recently considered to be a perennial political battleground but that has drifted rightward. Trump won the state twice and Republicans have been aggressive in organizing at the local level and made a sustained push on voter registration.

Last year, in a significant milestone, the GOP notched more registered voters in the state than Democrats for the first time in modern history, and then continued to widen the gap into November.

Some Democrats have admitted previous organizing and registration efforts in Florida had mostly centered around presidential races, and there were concerns that big donors and the national wing of the party might cede the state after recent losses and DeSantis’ growing popularity.

The Democratic Governors Association has bristled at that characterization and said it considers Florida a competitive battleground. The organization has spent $685,000 to help elect Crist, a spokesperson said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis won reelection to a second term Tuesday in a victory over Democrat Charlie Crist, bolstering his rise as a prominent GOP star with potential White House ambitions.Kansas junior Senator Roger Marshall was among the first to send his congratulations.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDeSantisFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonDeSantisFL</a> on a decisive victory!&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1590154267129958400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>DeSantis’ win continues a rightward shift for what was once the nation’s largest swing state, as voters embraced a governor who reveled in culture war politics and framed his candidacy as a battle against the “woke agenda” of liberals.In the lead-up to the election, DeSantis harnessed the power of incumbency to assemble media, often on short notice and far outside major markets, for news conferences where he would spend significant time honing critiques of Democratic President Joe Biden, liberal policies and the mainstream media, delivered before cheering crowds.He gained significant national attention during the start of the coronavirus pandemic through his outspoken opposition to continued lockdowns and to mask and vaccine mandates, and eventually displayed an eagerness to wade into nearly any cultural divide, including immigration, gender, education and more.His ceaseless combative posture, and ability to leverage the power of state government to his will, endeared DeSantis to major GOP donors and built him into a natural heir to former President Donald Trump in the minds of some Republican voters.Weeks before the election, DeSantis directed the state to fly groups of migrants from Texas to the upscale liberal enclave of Martha’s Vineyard, as a protest over the federal government’s immigration policies at the southern border. DeSantis said the move was a way to make immigration a “front-burner issue” before the midterms, with his critics questioning the legality of the flights as they accused officials of lying to the passengers.Election Day came as Florida continued to recover from the Category 4 Hurricane Ian, which slammed into the state in late September and killed more than 100 people and caused widespread damage.Politically, the storm provided DeSantis a platform to project a unifying tone in the final stretch of the campaign, displaying his ability to set aside the culture warrior role and shift into a competent crisis manager. The response brought DeSantis and Biden together in southwest Florida as the pair surveyed damage, met with locals and briefed reporters, with DeSantis at one point saying “we appreciate the team effort.”The victory is certain to further speculation of a potential DeSantis presidential run. DeSantis has so far dodged questions on his possible Washington aspirations, skirting the subject repeatedly during his only gubernatorial debate with Crist in late October. Trump, who credits himself for propelling DeSantis to a first term in the governor’s office, has grown frustrated with DeSantis’ refusal to rule out a 2024 run, according to people familiar with Trump’s thinking.The governor was able to raise substantially more money than Crist, a 66-year-old Democrat who had previously served as a Republican governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011. Crist aimed his candidacy at moderate voters in Florida, criticizing DeSantis as a bully, as he sought to reverse a losing streak for Democrats in the state. Crist resigned a congressional seat to run for governor this year.Democrats, the minority party in the state government, faced considerable challenges in a state recently considered to be a perennial political battleground but that has drifted rightward. Trump won the state twice and Republicans have been aggressive in organizing at the local level and made a sustained push on voter registration.Last year, in a significant milestone, the GOP notched more registered voters in the state than Democrats for the first time in modern history, and then continued to widen the gap into November.Some Democrats have admitted previous organizing and registration efforts in Florida had mostly centered around presidential races, and there were concerns that big donors and the national wing of the party might cede the state after recent losses and DeSantis’ growing popularity.The Democratic Governors Association has bristled at that characterization and said it considers Florida a competitive battleground. The organization has spent $685,000 to help elect Crist, a spokesperson said.

Marshall congratulates DeSantis for winning 2nd term as Fla. governor

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republican Jerry Moran on Tuesday won a third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Democrat Mark Holland, former mayor of Kansas City, Kansas.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Moran early in 2021, insulating him from a serious Republican primary challenge, though Moran voted to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election the month before Trump’s endorsement. Holland won the Democratic primary in August against five other largely unknown candidates.

Moran’s career has been marked by his ability to retain the support of all factions of the Kansas Republican Party. He represented a western and central Kansas district in the House for 14 years before being elected to the Senate in 2010.

Moran has gained some visibility in Washington in recent years for his work on veterans issues. He is the top Republican on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, after serving a year as chair when the GOP held a majority. He and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, of Montana, led a successful effort this year in their chamber to pass improved health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

Holland is a United Methodist pastor who was elected to local office in 2007, then Kansas City, Kansas, mayor in 2013. He served one term, losing his race for reelection in 2017.

It’s been 90 years since Kansas elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Republican Jerry Moran on Tuesday won a third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Democrat Mark Holland, former mayor of Kansas City, Kansas.Former President Donald Trump endorsed Moran early in 2021, insulating him from a serious Republican primary challenge, though Moran voted to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election the month before Trump’s endorsement. Holland won the Democratic primary in August against five other largely unknown candidates.Moran’s career has been marked by his ability to retain the support of all factions of the Kansas Republican Party. He represented a western and central Kansas district in the House for 14 years before being elected to the Senate in 2010.Moran has gained some visibility in Washington in recent years for his work on veterans issues. He is the top Republican on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, after serving a year as chair when the GOP held a majority. He and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, of Montana, led a successful effort this year in their chamber to pass improved health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.Holland is a United Methodist pastor who was elected to local office in 2007, then Kansas City, Kansas, mayor in 2013. He served one term, losing his race for reelection in 2017.It’s been 90 years since Kansas elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.

Republican US Sen. Moran wins reelection in Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — Guitarist Jeff Cook, who co-founded the country group Alabama and steered them up the charts with such hits as “Song of the South” and “Dixieland Delight,” has died. He was 73.

Cook had Parkinson's disease and disclosed his diagnosis in 2017. He died Tuesday at his home in Destin, Florida, said Don Murry Grubbs, a representative for the band.

Tributes poured in from country stars, including Travis Tritt who called Cook “a great guy and one heckuva bass fisherman,” and Jason Aldean, who tweeted: “ I got a chance to perform with him multiple times over the years and I will never forget it.” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, added: "Everything he did was rooted in his deep love of music, a love he shared with millions.”

As a guitarist, fiddle player and vocalist, Cook — alongside cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry — landed eight No. 1 songs on the country charts between spring 1980 and summer 1982, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame. That run included the pop crossover hits “Love In The First Degree” and “Feels So Right,” as well as “Tennessee River” and “Mountain Music.”

“Jeff Cook, and all of the guys in Alabama, were so generous with wisdom and fun when I got to tour with them as a young artist,” Kenny Chesney said in a statement. “They showed a kid in a T-shirt that country music could be rock, could be real, could be someone who looked like me. Growing up in East Tennessee, that gave me the heart to chase this dream.”

The band had a three-year run as CMA Entertainer of the Year from 1982-1985 and earned five ACM Award Entertainer of the Year trophies from 1981-1985. He stopped touring with Alabama in 2018.

Cook released a handful of solo projects and toured with his Allstar Goodtime Band. He also released collaborations with Charlie Daniels and “Star Trek” star William Shatner. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 as a member of Alabama.

A song he co-wrote in 2015, “No Bad Days,” took on new meaning after his diagnosis. “After I got the Parkinson’s diagnosis, people would quote the song to me and say, ‘No bad days,’” Cook told The Tennessean in 2019. “They write me letters, notes and emails and they sign ‘No Bad Days.’ I know the support is there."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667955795772.png" alt="Cook had Parkinson's disease and disclosed his diagnosis in 2017" />
 <figcaption>Cook had Parkinson's disease and disclosed his diagnosis in 2017</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Guitarist Jeff Cook, who co-founded the country group Alabama and steered them up the charts with such hits as “Song of the South” and “Dixieland Delight,” has died. He was 73.Cook had Parkinson's disease and disclosed his diagnosis in 2017. He died Tuesday at his home in Destin, Florida, said Don Murry Grubbs, a representative for the band.Tributes poured in from country stars, including Travis Tritt who called Cook “a great guy and one heckuva bass fisherman,” and Jason Aldean, who tweeted: “ I got a chance to perform with him multiple times over the years and I will never forget it.” Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, added: "Everything he did was rooted in his deep love of music, a love he shared with millions.”As a guitarist, fiddle player and vocalist, Cook — alongside cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry — landed eight No. 1 songs on the country charts between spring 1980 and summer 1982, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame. That run included the pop crossover hits “Love In The First Degree” and “Feels So Right,” as well as “Tennessee River” and “Mountain Music.”“Jeff Cook, and all of the guys in Alabama, were so generous with wisdom and fun when I got to tour with them as a young artist,” Kenny Chesney said in a statement. “They showed a kid in a T-shirt that country music could be rock, could be real, could be someone who looked like me. Growing up in East Tennessee, that gave me the heart to chase this dream.”The band had a three-year run as CMA Entertainer of the Year from 1982-1985 and earned five ACM Award Entertainer of the Year trophies from 1981-1985. He stopped touring with Alabama in 2018.Cook released a handful of solo projects and toured with his Allstar Goodtime Band. He also released collaborations with Charlie Daniels and “Star Trek” star William Shatner. He entered the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005 as a member of Alabama.A song he co-wrote in 2015, “No Bad Days,” took on new meaning after his diagnosis. “After I got the Parkinson’s diagnosis, people would quote the song to me and say, ‘No bad days,’” Cook told The Tennessean in 2019. “They write me letters, notes and emails and they sign ‘No Bad Days.’ I know the support is there."Survivors include his wife, Lisa.

Jeff Cook, co-founder of country band Alabama, dies at 73

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Kansas City police detective&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/933d3aba9b37c83145fba5818d557c02">convicted of shooting</a>&nbsp;and killing a Black man in 2019 is asking that his conviction be overturned or that he be given a new trial.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Dale Youngs convicted Eric DeValkenaere in March of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the death of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb on Dec. 3, 2019.

DeValkenaere, who is white, and his partner shot Lamb within seconds of arriving at a home where Lamb lived. They had followed him after reports of several traffic violations. Lamb was backing a pickup truck into a garage when he was shot.

In announcing the conviction, Youngs said the detectives violated Lamb’s constitutional rights because they had no probable cause to believe he had committed a crime, had no warrant for Lamb’s arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property.

In a motion filed Oct. 27 with the Missouri Court of Appeals, DeValkenaere's attorneys argued that DeValkenaere and his partner had probable cause to be on Lamb's property and to arrest him for the traffic violations, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article268437077.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>. They also argued that police did not trespass on private property, were not the “initial aggressors” and that Lamb's death was a lawful use of force by a police officer.

DeValkenaere testified that he shot Lamb to save his partner's life because he believed Lamb had a firearm. Lamb’s family has said he was not armed and that a gun found at the scene was planted.

DeValkenaere&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-kansas-5168b9935ec869fa74453228a87c166d">was sentenced</a>&nbsp;to three years for involuntary manslaughter and six years for armed criminal action, with the sentences to run consecutively. He has been allowed to remain free while his conviction is appealed.

DeValkenaere was suspended from the police force after his conviction and left the force in January. Police have not said if he was fired, resigned or retired.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592994941014.png" alt="DeValkenaere photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>DeValkenaere photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A former Kansas City police detective&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/933d3aba9b37c83145fba5818d557c02">convicted of shooting</a>&nbsp;and killing a Black man in 2019 is asking that his conviction be overturned or that he be given a new trial.Jackson County Circuit Judge Dale Youngs convicted Eric DeValkenaere in March of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the death of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb on Dec. 3, 2019.DeValkenaere, who is white, and his partner shot Lamb within seconds of arriving at a home where Lamb lived. They had followed him after reports of several traffic violations. Lamb was backing a pickup truck into a garage when he was shot.In announcing the conviction, Youngs said the detectives violated Lamb’s constitutional rights because they had no probable cause to believe he had committed a crime, had no warrant for Lamb’s arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property.In a motion filed Oct. 27 with the Missouri Court of Appeals, DeValkenaere's attorneys argued that DeValkenaere and his partner had probable cause to be on Lamb's property and to arrest him for the traffic violations, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article268437077.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>. They also argued that police did not trespass on private property, were not the “initial aggressors” and that Lamb's death was a lawful use of force by a police officer.DeValkenaere testified that he shot Lamb to save his partner's life because he believed Lamb had a firearm. Lamb’s family has said he was not armed and that a gun found at the scene was planted.DeValkenaere&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-kansas-5168b9935ec869fa74453228a87c166d">was sentenced</a>&nbsp;to three years for involuntary manslaughter and six years for armed criminal action, with the sentences to run consecutively. He has been allowed to remain free while his conviction is appealed.DeValkenaere was suspended from the police force after his conviction and left the force in January. Police have not said if he was fired, resigned or retired.

Kansas City officer appeals conviction in man's shooting death

WASHINGTON – A Kansas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election, according to the United State's Attorney.

Michael Eckerman, 38, of Wichita, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers.

According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Eckerman illegally entered the Capitol grounds. At approximately 2 p.m., Eckerman observed rioters fighting with police officers outside the Capitol and began yelling at officers that they were “traitors to the country.” He and others then walked through scaffolding and up a set of steps leading to the Upper West Terrace. He entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Doors at approximately 2:24 p.m. He joined a crowd in pushing their collective bodies forward to breach a police line in the Crypt. Eckerman and others then surged forward and funneled toward the east side of the Capitol.

Near the Memorial Doors, he and others in the mob encountered another small group of officers who were trying to block access to nearby stairs leading to Statuary Hall and the area near the Speaker’s Lobby. Eckerman pushed his way to the front of the stand-off and once again used his body as part of a collective surge to get past the small line of law enforcement officers. At this moment, he was face to face with an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police, who put his hand on Eckerman’s shoulder. Eckerman moved his body forward to forcibly resist, impede, and interfere with the officer, which, along with the actions of others in the mob, caused the officer to stumble down some steps.

Eckerman continued moving through the building, and at one point entered the Rayburn Conference Room. He finally exited the Capitol at approximately 2:44 p.m.

&nbsp;Eckerman was arrested on Sept. 20, 2021. He is to be sentenced on Feb. 14, 2023. He faces a statutory maximum of eight years in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, as well as potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, and its Wichita Resident Agency, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the FBI’s Boston Field Office and its Lowell, Massachusetts and Bedford, New Hampshire Resident Agencies. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

&nbsp;In the 22 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659042081555.png" alt="Photograph included in the FBI’s affidavit filed against Michael Eckerman" />
 <figcaption>Photograph included in the FBI’s affidavit filed against Michael Eckerman</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – A Kansas man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election, according to the United State's Attorney.Michael Eckerman, 38, of Wichita, pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia to assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers.According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Eckerman illegally entered the Capitol grounds. At approximately 2 p.m., Eckerman observed rioters fighting with police officers outside the Capitol and began yelling at officers that they were “traitors to the country.” He and others then walked through scaffolding and up a set of steps leading to the Upper West Terrace. He entered the Capitol through the Senate Wing Doors at approximately 2:24 p.m. He joined a crowd in pushing their collective bodies forward to breach a police line in the Crypt. Eckerman and others then surged forward and funneled toward the east side of the Capitol.Near the Memorial Doors, he and others in the mob encountered another small group of officers who were trying to block access to nearby stairs leading to Statuary Hall and the area near the Speaker’s Lobby. Eckerman pushed his way to the front of the stand-off and once again used his body as part of a collective surge to get past the small line of law enforcement officers. At this moment, he was face to face with an officer with the U.S. Capitol Police, who put his hand on Eckerman’s shoulder. Eckerman moved his body forward to forcibly resist, impede, and interfere with the officer, which, along with the actions of others in the mob, caused the officer to stumble down some steps.Eckerman continued moving through the building, and at one point entered the Rayburn Conference Room. He finally exited the Capitol at approximately 2:44 p.m.&nbsp;Eckerman was arrested on Sept. 20, 2021. He is to be sentenced on Feb. 14, 2023. He faces a statutory maximum of eight years in prison for assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, as well as potential financial penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office, and its Wichita Resident Agency, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the FBI’s Boston Field Office and its Lowell, Massachusetts and Bedford, New Hampshire Resident Agencies. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.&nbsp;In the 22 months since Jan. 6, 2021, nearly 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.&nbsp;

Kansas man pleads guilty to actions during Jan. 6 capitol breach

LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged illegal hunting and asking the public for help.

In the morning hours of Nov. 6, a deer was shot with a firearm in the area of road 70 and road X south of Hartford, Kansas in Lyon County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.

 Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lyon County Game Warden at (620) 431-9873.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667941977374.png" alt="Photo Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged illegal hunting and asking the public for help.In the morning hours of Nov. 6, a deer was shot with a firearm in the area of road 70 and road X south of Hartford, Kansas in Lyon County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lyon County Game Warden at (620) 431-9873.

Kansas game warden investigating deer poaching

DALLAS COUNTY, MO. —A Missori man drowned just before 9a.m. Monday in Dallas County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 75-year-old Dennis W. Steckline of Lee's Summitt drowned near the Barclay Spring Access of&nbsp; the Niangua River.&nbsp;

The circumstances of the drowning are&nbsp; unknown and there were no witnesses, according to MSHP.&nbsp; Steckline was transported to Cantlon Otterness and Viets Funeral Home in Buffalo.

DALLAS COUNTY, MO. —A Missori man drowned just before 9a.m. Monday in Dallas County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 75-year-old Dennis W. Steckline of Lee's Summitt drowned near the Barclay Spring Access of&nbsp; the Niangua River.&nbsp;The circumstances of the drowning are&nbsp; unknown and there were no witnesses, according to MSHP.&nbsp; Steckline was transported to Cantlon Otterness and Viets Funeral Home in Buffalo.

Missouri man drowns on Niangua River

WASHINGTON (AP) —Why won’t Americans know the winners of Tuesday's election for days?

(Click below to listen to White Press Secretary on the election results)

With polls open across the country, no big problems were reported early on, though there were hiccups in some places, which is typical on any Election Day.

For example, vote tabulators malfunctioned in a county in New Jersey and one in Arizona -- potentially requiring hand-counting instead; some voting sites in Pennsylvania were delayed in opening because workers showed up late, and others scrambled to replenish supplies of paper ballots that were running low.

In 2020, President Donald Trump proclaimed that the lack of final results on election night could be an indicator of something nefarious and used it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">assert without evidence</a>&nbsp;that the election was stolen: “We don’t want them to find any more ballots at 4 o’clock in the morning and add them to the list,” he said.

In reality, however, results released on election night are unofficial and always incomplete. They&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-election-results-change-18343a391f9ccd143f4c0189d6bcd31e?utm_source=hubpage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">inevitably change</a>&nbsp;as more ballots are counted.

Unlike in many countries, elections in the U.S. are highly decentralized, complex and feature long lists of races, from president and Congress all the way down to local measures and town council seats. Some states give local election offices several weeks before Election Day to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-voter-registration-government-and-politics-609866267baef89dd1513e7c9e2f7509">process mailed ballots</a>, including checking signatures and verifying ID information. In other states, that process can't start until Election Day or shortly before, meaning those ballots might not get counted until the next day or even later.

Here’s why results are not always known the night of an election.

SHOULD WE KNOW THE WINNERS BEFORE GOING TO BED?

Republicans in particular have pointed to perceived delays in knowing results as a reason to be suspicious about the integrity of elections.

“We’ve got to get our elections reformed so that every Arizonan, whether they be Democrat, Independent, or Republican, when they go to bed on Election Night they know the winner and they’re satisfied that it was a fair election. We don’t have that right now,” Kari Lake, the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for governor in Arizona, said in August on Twitter.

Not knowing the winner on election night says nothing about the fairness of an election or the accuracy of results. Under Arizona law, all ballots including those that were mailed must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day, but officials have 20 days to finalize their counts.

In Nevada, counties have four days to count late-arriving mailed ballots and give voters two more days to fix mailed ballots that arrive in envelopes with errors or missing information. This week, the elections official in the county that includes Reno reminded voters of that extended timeline and said final, official results are unlikely until the actual canvass of the vote on Nov. 18.

“It will definitely be more than the day after the election for final results of the election," said Jamie Rodriguez, Washoe County's interim registrar of voters.

A close Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania last May triggered comparisons to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-french-election-voting-results-f5b549e3b99930ee05bed17a9d3870b6">French presidential election</a>, which had been held a few weeks earlier.

Trump, in a social media post two days after the Pennsylvania primary, questioned why it was taking so long to find out the winner: “France, same day all paper, had VERIFIED numbers in evening,” Trump wrote. “U.S. is a laughing stock on Elections.”

But in France there was only one contest on the ballot. Presidential and parliamentary elections are held on separate dates. In Pennsylvania, the U.S. Senate GOP primary was just one of several contests being decided, including races for governor, attorney general, Congress and state legislature.

U.S. elections also are not nationalized, but rather overseen by states and run by local officials at the county or even township level. The U.S. has some 10,000 jurisdictions charged with overseeing the voting process.

For presidential elections in France, the Ministry of Interior distributes election-related materials, including ballots, while local officials coordinate staffing of polling places. France also has a Constitutional Council that decides election-related complaints and announces results.

Noah Praetz, the former elections clerk in Cook County, Illinois, said it’s possible to have quick results, but the U.S. has “decided to make voting accessible to everybody and let us vote on everything.” He noted that ballots in the U.S. typically include dozens of offices in contrast to some countries where voters might simply back a party whose leadership then fills many of those positions.

In France, voters choose from lists of local candidates usually associated with a party. The candidate list gaining the most support will receive the most seats in the city and regional councils.

“It’s a fundamentally different view of democracy,” Praetz said.

In addition, voters in France can vote by proxy — designating someone else to vote for them if they are unable to cast a ballot in person on Election Day, which is not allowed in the U.S.

DO MAIL BALLOTS AFFECT THE REPORTING OF RESULTS?

They can. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states were expanding the use of mail ballots and early in-person voting to reduce lines on Election Day and provide more flexibility to voters.

Mail ballots are subject to various security checks, varying by state. Some require voter signatures or ID information to match their registration files, while others require witnesses or notaries to affirm a voter’s identity.

In most states, including Florida and Georgia, the process of validating mail ballots begins well ahead of Election Day -- providing a huge advantage in reporting results quickly. That's not the case in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-voting-donald-trump-wisconsin-3a6e3b0f16933d94bad59297d9912dee">a few political battleground states</a>. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin officials are not allowed to begin that work until Election Day, while Michigan officials can start just two days before. This means most results being reported from these states on election night will be from in-person voting on Election Day or during the early voting period.

“Counting votes and reporting the results take time,” said Leigh Chapman, acting secretary of state in Pennsylvania. “Election officials are focused on accuracy over speed.”

While most states require mail ballots to be received on or before Election Day, 19 states provide a grace period as long as ballots were sent through the mail by Election Day. Such ballots in California can be received up to seven days later.

Voters may not know the outcome of a close race for several days if a significant number of those ballots arrive at local election offices after Election Day.

This also can change results over time. If Democratic voters dominate mail voting while Republican voters largely cast ballots in person, this can mean that early results heavily favor a Republican candidate who then sees that lead slip away as the late-arriving mail ballots are counted.

WOULD HAND COUNTING HELP SPEED UP THE PROCESS?

No. Hand counting of all ballots happens primarily in small towns in the Northeast. For places with a lot of ballots, experts consider it to be more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-voting-las-vegas-617fc7a37e9cd8d1a512e4fb7be77574">time-consuming</a>&nbsp;and susceptible to human error. Hand tallies are used in post-election reviews to ensure accuracy of tabulator machines, but that usually involves only a sample of ballots and is done without the time pressure of trying to report results quickly.

Republican activists and candidates have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-new-hampshire-nevada-donald-trump-elections-3f6785364fd52655cbd034f0708c6f0f">pushing for hand counts</a>, based largely on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-presidential-biden-cabinet-b4a3422d188fdd921d8e6f38f53ea0d0">conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;that voting systems were manipulated to steal the 2020 election. There is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-claims-biden-won-explained-bd53b14ce871412b462cb3fe2c563f18">no evidence</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voter-fraud-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-7fcb6f134e528fee8237c7601db3328f">widespread fraud</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">tampering of machines</a>.

Also, hand counts would by themselves prolong the reporting of results, perhaps by several days.

Cobb County, Georgia, performed a hand tally ordered by the state after the 2020 election. It took hundreds of people five days to count just the votes for president on roughly 397,000 ballots. A county election official estimated it would have taken 100 days to count every race on each ballot using the same procedures.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667863478582.png" alt="White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reminded during her Monday press briefing "We may not know all the winners of elections for a few days."" />
 <figcaption>White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reminded during her Monday press briefing "We may not know all the winners of elections for a few days."</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Why won’t Americans know the winners of Tuesday's election for days?(Click below to listen to White Press Secretary on the election results)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/70L_3uqIgRw?start=478" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>With polls open across the country, no big problems were reported early on, though there were hiccups in some places, which is typical on any Election Day.For example, vote tabulators malfunctioned in a county in New Jersey and one in Arizona -- potentially requiring hand-counting instead; some voting sites in Pennsylvania were delayed in opening because workers showed up late, and others scrambled to replenish supplies of paper ballots that were running low.In 2020, President Donald Trump proclaimed that the lack of final results on election night could be an indicator of something nefarious and used it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">assert without evidence</a>&nbsp;that the election was stolen: “We don’t want them to find any more ballots at 4 o’clock in the morning and add them to the list,” he said.In reality, however, results released on election night are unofficial and always incomplete. They&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-election-results-change-18343a391f9ccd143f4c0189d6bcd31e?utm_source=hubpage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">inevitably change</a>&nbsp;as more ballots are counted.Unlike in many countries, elections in the U.S. are highly decentralized, complex and feature long lists of races, from president and Congress all the way down to local measures and town council seats. Some states give local election offices several weeks before Election Day to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-voter-registration-government-and-politics-609866267baef89dd1513e7c9e2f7509">process mailed ballots</a>, including checking signatures and verifying ID information. In other states, that process can't start until Election Day or shortly before, meaning those ballots might not get counted until the next day or even later.Here’s why results are not always known the night of an election.SHOULD WE KNOW THE WINNERS BEFORE GOING TO BED?Republicans in particular have pointed to perceived delays in knowing results as a reason to be suspicious about the integrity of elections.“We’ve got to get our elections reformed so that every Arizonan, whether they be Democrat, Independent, or Republican, when they go to bed on Election Night they know the winner and they’re satisfied that it was a fair election. We don’t have that right now,” Kari Lake, the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for governor in Arizona, said in August on Twitter.Not knowing the winner on election night says nothing about the fairness of an election or the accuracy of results. Under Arizona law, all ballots including those that were mailed must be returned by 7 p.m. on Election Day, but officials have 20 days to finalize their counts.In Nevada, counties have four days to count late-arriving mailed ballots and give voters two more days to fix mailed ballots that arrive in envelopes with errors or missing information. This week, the elections official in the county that includes Reno reminded voters of that extended timeline and said final, official results are unlikely until the actual canvass of the vote on Nov. 18.“It will definitely be more than the day after the election for final results of the election," said Jamie Rodriguez, Washoe County's interim registrar of voters.WHY CAN'T WE BE LIKE FRANCE?A close Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania last May triggered comparisons to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-french-election-voting-results-f5b549e3b99930ee05bed17a9d3870b6">French presidential election</a>, which had been held a few weeks earlier.Trump, in a social media post two days after the Pennsylvania primary, questioned why it was taking so long to find out the winner: “France, same day all paper, had VERIFIED numbers in evening,” Trump wrote. “U.S. is a laughing stock on Elections.”But in France there was only one contest on the ballot. Presidential and parliamentary elections are held on separate dates. In Pennsylvania, the U.S. Senate GOP primary was just one of several contests being decided, including races for governor, attorney general, Congress and state legislature.U.S. elections also are not nationalized, but rather overseen by states and run by local officials at the county or even township level. The U.S. has some 10,000 jurisdictions charged with overseeing the voting process.For presidential elections in France, the Ministry of Interior distributes election-related materials, including ballots, while local officials coordinate staffing of polling places. France also has a Constitutional Council that decides election-related complaints and announces results.Noah Praetz, the former elections clerk in Cook County, Illinois, said it’s possible to have quick results, but the U.S. has “decided to make voting accessible to everybody and let us vote on everything.” He noted that ballots in the U.S. typically include dozens of offices in contrast to some countries where voters might simply back a party whose leadership then fills many of those positions.In France, voters choose from lists of local candidates usually associated with a party. The candidate list gaining the most support will receive the most seats in the city and regional councils.“It’s a fundamentally different view of democracy,” Praetz said.In addition, voters in France can vote by proxy — designating someone else to vote for them if they are unable to cast a ballot in person on Election Day, which is not allowed in the U.S.DO MAIL BALLOTS AFFECT THE REPORTING OF RESULTS?They can. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, states were expanding the use of mail ballots and early in-person voting to reduce lines on Election Day and provide more flexibility to voters.Mail ballots are subject to various security checks, varying by state. Some require voter signatures or ID information to match their registration files, while others require witnesses or notaries to affirm a voter’s identity.In most states, including Florida and Georgia, the process of validating mail ballots begins well ahead of Election Day -- providing a huge advantage in reporting results quickly. That's not the case in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-voting-donald-trump-wisconsin-3a6e3b0f16933d94bad59297d9912dee">a few political battleground states</a>. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin officials are not allowed to begin that work until Election Day, while Michigan officials can start just two days before. This means most results being reported from these states on election night will be from in-person voting on Election Day or during the early voting period.“Counting votes and reporting the results take time,” said Leigh Chapman, acting secretary of state in Pennsylvania. “Election officials are focused on accuracy over speed.”WHAT OTHER FACTORS CAN SLOW RESULTS?While most states require mail ballots to be received on or before Election Day, 19 states provide a grace period as long as ballots were sent through the mail by Election Day. Such ballots in California can be received up to seven days later.Voters may not know the outcome of a close race for several days if a significant number of those ballots arrive at local election offices after Election Day.This also can change results over time. If Democratic voters dominate mail voting while Republican voters largely cast ballots in person, this can mean that early results heavily favor a Republican candidate who then sees that lead slip away as the late-arriving mail ballots are counted.WOULD HAND COUNTING HELP SPEED UP THE PROCESS?No. Hand counting of all ballots happens primarily in small towns in the Northeast. For places with a lot of ballots, experts consider it to be more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-voting-las-vegas-617fc7a37e9cd8d1a512e4fb7be77574">time-consuming</a>&nbsp;and susceptible to human error. Hand tallies are used in post-election reviews to ensure accuracy of tabulator machines, but that usually involves only a sample of ballots and is done without the time pressure of trying to report results quickly.Republican activists and candidates have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-new-hampshire-nevada-donald-trump-elections-3f6785364fd52655cbd034f0708c6f0f">pushing for hand counts</a>, based largely on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-voting-presidential-biden-cabinet-b4a3422d188fdd921d8e6f38f53ea0d0">conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;that voting systems were manipulated to steal the 2020 election. There is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-claims-biden-won-explained-bd53b14ce871412b462cb3fe2c563f18">no evidence</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voter-fraud-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-7fcb6f134e528fee8237c7601db3328f">widespread fraud</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">tampering of machines</a>.Also, hand counts would by themselves prolong the reporting of results, perhaps by several days.Cobb County, Georgia, performed a hand tally ordered by the state after the 2020 election. It took hundreds of people five days to count just the votes for president on roughly 397,000 ballots. A county election official estimated it would have taken 100 days to count every race on each ballot using the same procedures.___

🎥 2022 Election results may not be known for a few days

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.

The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.

The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.

The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.

The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.

The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.

The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.

“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.

“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."

Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.

The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667933043117.jpeg" alt="AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes" />
 <figcaption>AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.The $2.04 billion prize is for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">winner who chooses an annuity</a>, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which was valued at $997.6 million.The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.