KANSAS CITY —A juvenile faces murder in the 2nd Degree and other felony charges in connection with the April 2024 fatal shooting of 11-year-old&nbsp; Kourtney Freeman inside a Kansas City home, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Re'mori T. Roath faces Murder in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.

Roath was certified by a Family Court judge this week to stand trial as an adult. According to court records, KC Police responded to a shooting in area of 33rd and Flora. At the scene, officers found Freeman wounded inside the residence. 

She was declared deceased soon after as a result of her injuries. Six additional victims, not struck by gunfire, were found inside the residence. An occupant told police she was communicating with an unknown individual via social media about a marijuana deal. 

The unknown individual said he was as at the location. Shortly after, someone started shooting into the residence through the front door, striking the girl.

Detectives used video surveillance to track the suspect vehicle's movement as it headed south. The video also gave detectives a license plate number that was linked to the defendant. A search of the defendant's residence produced a firearm that was determined to be the firearm connected to shell casings at the crime scene. It was also determined that the defendant's DNA was on the trigger of the firearm found in the defendant's residence and connected to the crime scene.

Prosecutors requested a $250,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713228804602.png" alt="Kourtney Freeman courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kourtney Freeman courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A juvenile faces murder in the 2nd Degree and other felony charges in connection with the April 2024 fatal shooting of 11-year-old&nbsp; Kourtney Freeman inside a Kansas City home, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713225081501.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>Re'mori T. Roath faces Murder in the 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.Roath was certified by a Family Court judge this week to stand trial as an adult. According to court records, KC Police responded to a shooting in area of 33rd and Flora. At the scene, officers found Freeman wounded inside the residence. She was declared deceased soon after as a result of her injuries. Six additional victims, not struck by gunfire, were found inside the residence. An occupant told police she was communicating with an unknown individual via social media about a marijuana deal. The unknown individual said he was as at the location. Shortly after, someone started shooting into the residence through the front door, striking the girl.Detectives used video surveillance to track the suspect vehicle's movement as it headed south. The video also gave detectives a license plate number that was linked to the defendant. A search of the defendant's residence produced a firearm that was determined to be the firearm connected to shell casings at the crime scene. It was also determined that the defendant's DNA was on the trigger of the firearm found in the defendant's residence and connected to the crime scene.Prosecutors requested a $250,000 cash bond.

Teen will be tried as an adult in the killing of 11-year-old Kansas City girl

Denton Loudermill, falsely accused on social media of being the shooter on Feb. 14 has once again sued state Sens. Rick Brattin, Denny Hoskins and Nick Schroer for defamation and invasion of privacy

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

Three Republican Missouri state senators — including one running for secretary of state — are once again being sued by the man they incorrectly identified in social media posts as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-super-bowl-parade-shooting-kansas-city-d9f4466b69cbb2dfe0f007414aebe730" target="_blank">being the shooter</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory celebration.

Denton Loudermill of Olathe, Kansas, filed lawsuits Thursday against state Sens. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville and Nick Schroer of Defiance. In the individual lawsuits, each is accused of violating Loudermill’s privacy and libeling him with their posts.&nbsp;

Hoskins is the GOP nominee for secretary of state. Brattin is seeking re-election in the 31st Senate District. Schroer, who won his seat in the Senate in 2022, is not on the ballot this year.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Similar lawsuits against all three men&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/21/judge-dismisses-case-against-missouri-senators-over-chiefs-parade-shooting-posts/">were dismissed Oct. 21</a>&nbsp;in Kansas federal court when U.S. District Judge John Broomes ruled he did not have jurisdiction over Brattin, Hoskins and Schroer.

In the more than nine months since the Feb. 14 victory parade and pep rally, people have not stopped making him feel uncomfortable, Loudermill said in a news conference with one of his attorneys, LaRonna Lassiter Saunders.

“They come through looking at me, on video on their phone, saying ‘yeah, that’s him,” he said. “That worries me sometimes.”

In an interview with The Independent, Lassiter Saunders said she believes the jurisdictional issue is solved with the new filing. It was important to refile the cases quickly, she said, because the legal nuances could be missed by a public that has only heard the cases were dismissed.

“It’s reported that the case gets tossed, then they’re thinking, there’s some merit to the Missouri senators position,” Lassiter Saunders said.

Hoskins, reached via text message, declined to respond to the new filing.

“I have not been served and I have no comment at this time,” he said.

Brattin and Schroer did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Like thousands of other regional residents, Loudermill went to Union Station in Kansas City for the pep rally that followed the Chiefs’ victory parade after this year’s Super Bowl. As the crowd was departing, an argument in the crowd resulted in gunfire.

The shooting at the end of the victory celebration left one person dead and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/17/kansas-city-super-bowl-rally-shooting-victims-pick-up-pieces-but-gun-violence-haunts-their-lives/">at least 24 people injured</a>.

Loudermill, who was born in Kansas and lives there now, was detained briefly because he was too slow to leave the area of the shooting, he told The Independent earlier this year.

A photo of him, seated, with his hands restrained behind his back, was posted on X, formally known as Twitter, by an account with the name Deep Truth Intel. That post incorrectly identified him with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68353305" target="_blank">name associated with misinformation</a>&nbsp;posted after other shootings and said he was an undocumented immigrant.

Soon after that initial social media post, the Missouri Freedom Caucus, Hoskins, Brattin, Schroer and U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, posted their own versions, some with the photo, some without. Burchett’s post said he was one of the shooters and referred to him as an “illegal alien.”

Burchett later deleted the tweet but included a screenshot of it&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/1759645965445636470?s=20" target="_blank">that is still visible</a>&nbsp;in a separate post.

A lawsuit filed against Burchett in Kansas was also dismissed because of jurisdictional issues. Lassiter Saunders said Thursday that she is working with attorneys in the Washington, D.C., area to refile the case against Burchett.

“He is not off the hook,” she said.&nbsp;

Hoskins’ version on social media shared a screenshot of the initial anonymous post and blamed President Joe Biden and political leaders of Kansas City for making the shooting possible.

Brattin’s first post linking Loudermill to the shooting, since deleted, demanded “#POTUS CLOSE THE BORDER” and incorporated the deleted anonymous post that kicked everything off.

Schroer was the least certain post about the immigration and arrest status of Loudermill among the three.

Schroer’s post included a link to one from Burchett stating, over Loudermill’s photo, that “One of the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade shooters has been identified as an illegal Alien.”

“Can we get any confirmation or denial of this from local officials or law enforcement?” Schroer wrote. “I’ve been sent videos or stills showing at least 6 different people arrested from yesterday but officially told only 3 still in custody. The people deserve answers.”

In the complaint filed against Brattin, attorneys wrote that the lawmakers had no reason to make the comments directed at Loudermill.

“The publication of the false representation that plaintiff was an ‘illegal alien’ and a ‘shooter’ was not made in good faith nor was it made by (Brattin) with any legitimate interest in making or duty to make such assertions,” the filing states.

In the Kansas cases, the lawmakers were represented by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who raised both the jurisdictional objections and claims that the senators were acting in their official capacity when they made their posts on social media. Therefore, the filings stated, they are protected by “legislative immunity.”&nbsp;

When the case was dismissed, Bailey put out a statement saying it was a victory for keeping “questions of Missouri law…in Missouri courts.”

Bailey’s office did not respond immediately to an email asking if the office would again provide representation. Lassiter Saunders said the attorney general should not take the case again.

“I would hope not, but given the track record of the attorney general doing as he pleases, it’s a possibility,” Lassiter Saunders said.

Bailey’s participation in the case generated its own dispute. In a May letter to the commissioner of the Office of Administration, the state agency that certifies payments from Missouri’s legal expense fund, Gov. Mike Parson wrote that no payments related to the lawsuits should be certified “without my approval or a court order.”

Bailey’s claim of legislative immunity is based in the Missouri Constitution’s provisions on legislative privileges. Along with being immune from arrest for minor offenses while the General Assembly is in session, members also “<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++19&amp;bid=36212&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">shall not be questioned</a>&nbsp;for any speech or debate in either house in any other place.”

Social media posts are not statements or speeches made during debates in the chambers, Lassiter Saunders said.

“It wasn’t legitimate legislative activity,” she said. “They were following this story like hundreds of thousands of other people seeing tweets, retweeting, and we don’t believe it was the same.

The lawsuit seeks to vindicate a core American principle, the right to be let alone, Lassiter Saunders said.

“I would like to refocus the attention from politics to the principle of, private citizens should have the right to live their lives privately,” she said. “The elected officials need to be mindful and do a better job of not just speaking out because they have the authority to do so.”

The lawsuit states that because of the hostility of some people in the public, Loudermill has “injuries and actual damages including mental distress, sleeplessness, anxiety, and agitation.”

“I’m just getting all the attention still,” he said. “ I just want them to pay for that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730420656214.png" alt="Denton Loudermill, right, appears with his attorney, LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, at an online news conference held Thursday to discuss his new defamation lawsuits against three Missouri state senators. (Screenshot via Zoom)" />
 <figcaption>Denton Loudermill, right, appears with his attorney, LaRonna Lassiter Saunders, at an online news conference held Thursday to discuss his new defamation lawsuits against three Missouri state senators. (Screenshot via Zoom)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Denton Loudermill, falsely accused on social media of being the shooter on Feb. 14 has once again sued state Sens. Rick Brattin, Denny Hoskins and Nick Schroer for defamation and invasion of privacy</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Three Republican Missouri state senators — including one running for secretary of state — are once again being sued by the man they incorrectly identified in social media posts as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-super-bowl-parade-shooting-kansas-city-d9f4466b69cbb2dfe0f007414aebe730" target="_blank">being the shooter</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory celebration.Denton Loudermill of Olathe, Kansas, filed lawsuits Thursday against state Sens. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, Rick Brattin of Harrisonville and Nick Schroer of Defiance. In the individual lawsuits, each is accused of violating Loudermill’s privacy and libeling him with their posts.&nbsp;Hoskins is the GOP nominee for secretary of state. Brattin is seeking re-election in the 31st Senate District. Schroer, who won his seat in the Senate in 2022, is not on the ballot this year.The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Similar lawsuits against all three men&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/21/judge-dismisses-case-against-missouri-senators-over-chiefs-parade-shooting-posts/">were dismissed Oct. 21</a>&nbsp;in Kansas federal court when U.S. District Judge John Broomes ruled he did not have jurisdiction over Brattin, Hoskins and Schroer.In the more than nine months since the Feb. 14 victory parade and pep rally, people have not stopped making him feel uncomfortable, Loudermill said in a news conference with one of his attorneys, LaRonna Lassiter Saunders.Loudermill works at a car wash.“They come through looking at me, on video on their phone, saying ‘yeah, that’s him,” he said. “That worries me sometimes.”In an interview with The Independent, Lassiter Saunders said she believes the jurisdictional issue is solved with the new filing. It was important to refile the cases quickly, she said, because the legal nuances could be missed by a public that has only heard the cases were dismissed.“It’s reported that the case gets tossed, then they’re thinking, there’s some merit to the Missouri senators position,” Lassiter Saunders said.Hoskins, reached via text message, declined to respond to the new filing.“I have not been served and I have no comment at this time,” he said.Brattin and Schroer did not respond to messages seeking comment.Like thousands of other regional residents, Loudermill went to Union Station in Kansas City for the pep rally that followed the Chiefs’ victory parade after this year’s Super Bowl. As the crowd was departing, an argument in the crowd resulted in gunfire.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707939847272.png" alt="Image from online coverage of the victory parade" />
 <figcaption>Image from online coverage of the victory parade</figcaption>
 </figure>The shooting at the end of the victory celebration left one person dead and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/17/kansas-city-super-bowl-rally-shooting-victims-pick-up-pieces-but-gun-violence-haunts-their-lives/">at least 24 people injured</a>.Loudermill, who was born in Kansas and lives there now, was detained briefly because he was too slow to leave the area of the shooting, he told The Independent earlier this year.A photo of him, seated, with his hands restrained behind his back, was posted on X, formally known as Twitter, by an account with the name Deep Truth Intel. That post incorrectly identified him with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68353305" target="_blank">name associated with misinformation</a>&nbsp;posted after other shootings and said he was an undocumented immigrant.Soon after that initial social media post, the Missouri Freedom Caucus, Hoskins, Brattin, Schroer and U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, posted their own versions, some with the photo, some without. Burchett’s post said he was one of the shooters and referred to him as an “illegal alien.”Burchett later deleted the tweet but included a screenshot of it&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/timburchett/status/1759645965445636470?s=20" target="_blank">that is still visible</a>&nbsp;in a separate post.A lawsuit filed against Burchett in Kansas was also dismissed because of jurisdictional issues. Lassiter Saunders said Thursday that she is working with attorneys in the Washington, D.C., area to refile the case against Burchett.“He is not off the hook,” she said.&nbsp;Hoskins’ version on social media shared a screenshot of the initial anonymous post and blamed President Joe Biden and political leaders of Kansas City for making the shooting possible.Brattin’s first post linking Loudermill to the shooting, since deleted, demanded “#POTUS CLOSE THE BORDER” and incorporated the deleted anonymous post that kicked everything off.Schroer was the least certain post about the immigration and arrest status of Loudermill among the three.Schroer’s post included a link to one from Burchett stating, over Loudermill’s photo, that “One of the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade shooters has been identified as an illegal Alien.”“Can we get any confirmation or denial of this from local officials or law enforcement?” Schroer wrote. “I’ve been sent videos or stills showing at least 6 different people arrested from yesterday but officially told only 3 still in custody. The people deserve answers.”In the complaint filed against Brattin, attorneys wrote that the lawmakers had no reason to make the comments directed at Loudermill.“The publication of the false representation that plaintiff was an ‘illegal alien’ and a ‘shooter’ was not made in good faith nor was it made by (Brattin) with any legitimate interest in making or duty to make such assertions,” the filing states.In the Kansas cases, the lawmakers were represented by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who raised both the jurisdictional objections and claims that the senators were acting in their official capacity when they made their posts on social media. Therefore, the filings stated, they are protected by “legislative immunity.”&nbsp;When the case was dismissed, Bailey put out a statement saying it was a victory for keeping “questions of Missouri law…in Missouri courts.”Bailey’s office did not respond immediately to an email asking if the office would again provide representation. Lassiter Saunders said the attorney general should not take the case again.“I would hope not, but given the track record of the attorney general doing as he pleases, it’s a possibility,” Lassiter Saunders said.Bailey’s participation in the case generated its own dispute. In a May letter to the commissioner of the Office of Administration, the state agency that certifies payments from Missouri’s legal expense fund, Gov. Mike Parson wrote that no payments related to the lawsuits should be certified “without my approval or a court order.”Bailey’s claim of legislative immunity is based in the Missouri Constitution’s provisions on legislative privileges. Along with being immune from arrest for minor offenses while the General Assembly is in session, members also “<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++19&amp;bid=36212&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">shall not be questioned</a>&nbsp;for any speech or debate in either house in any other place.”Social media posts are not statements or speeches made during debates in the chambers, Lassiter Saunders said.“It wasn’t legitimate legislative activity,” she said. “They were following this story like hundreds of thousands of other people seeing tweets, retweeting, and we don’t believe it was the same.The lawsuit seeks to vindicate a core American principle, the right to be let alone, Lassiter Saunders said.“I would like to refocus the attention from politics to the principle of, private citizens should have the right to live their lives privately,” she said. “The elected officials need to be mindful and do a better job of not just speaking out because they have the authority to do so.”The lawsuit states that because of the hostility of some people in the public, Loudermill has “injuries and actual damages including mental distress, sleeplessness, anxiety, and agitation.”He rarely goes out, Loudermill said.“I’m just getting all the attention still,” he said. “ I just want them to pay for that.”

Defamation case against lawmakers over Chiefs parade shooting posts refiled in Missouri

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after standoff at a home in Topeka.

Just after 5:00 p.m. Thursday police&nbsp;responded to an accident investigation in the area of the Expocentre,&nbsp;1 Expocentre Drive in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Jason Schumacher.

During the investigation officers were led to the 1500 Block of SW Shunga Drive where one individual from the accident was located in a residence. While officers were continuing their investigation an individual fired shots from inside a residence. No officers were injured.

Just after 12:30.m. Friday, police took a suspect into custody after a standoff with police. There are no other outstanding individuals at this point and the Criminal Investigation Bureau is actively continuing their investigation of this incident.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the suspect or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730457533801.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after standoff at a home in Topeka.Just after 5:00 p.m. Thursday police&nbsp;responded to an accident investigation in the area of the Expocentre,&nbsp;1 Expocentre Drive in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Jason Schumacher.During the investigation officers were led to the 1500 Block of SW Shunga Drive where one individual from the accident was located in a residence. While officers were continuing their investigation an individual fired shots from inside a residence. No officers were injured.Just after 12:30.m. Friday, police took a suspect into custody after a standoff with police. There are no other outstanding individuals at this point and the Criminal Investigation Bureau is actively continuing their investigation of this incident.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the suspect or additional details.

Suspect fired shots at police from Kansas home following accident

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a child at a home in the Kansas City area

Just after 8p.m. Wednesday, emergency personnel were called to the area of 32nd and Crysler Avenue, according to a social media report from police.

The investigation involved the death of 7-year-old that occurred sometime in the evening hours on Wednesday.&nbsp; 

Police have released no additional details.&nbsp; Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730424613910.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a child at a home in the Kansas City areaJust after 8p.m. Wednesday, emergency personnel were called to the area of 32nd and Crysler Avenue, according to a social media report from police.The investigation involved the death of 7-year-old that occurred sometime in the evening hours on Wednesday.&nbsp; Police have released no additional details.&nbsp; Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Police investigate death of 7-year-old at KC area home

NEWTON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Thursday in Newton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 GMC Sierra driven by Jeb S. Hann, 60, Granby, was southbound on Highway B in Granby.

The pickup struck pedestrians identified as Vidalia M. Boyer, 20, Seneca, and a 3-year-old boy.&nbsp; Boyer was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported the boy to Mercy Joplin. Hann was not injured and properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NEWTON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Thursday in Newton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 GMC Sierra driven by Jeb S. Hann, 60, Granby, was southbound on Highway B in Granby.The pickup struck pedestrians identified as Vidalia M. Boyer, 20, Seneca, and a 3-year-old boy.&nbsp; Boyer was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported the boy to Mercy Joplin. Hann was not injured and properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. woman dead, 3-year-old injured after struck by pickup

By ALLISON KITE&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

Residents of a southeast Missouri town were forced to evacuate their homes Wednesday when a fire erupted at a nearby battery recycler.

Madison County 911 posted on Facebook around 2 p.m. on behalf of the county sheriff’s office telling residents north and west of Fredericktown to leave the area.

“If you can see or smell smoke in this area, you need to evacuate!” the post says.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fredericktownfire/posts/950399390464012" target="_blank">In a separate post later in the afternoon</a>, Madison County 911 and the Fredericktown Fire Department said only residents on Madison County Road 277 needed to evacuate. The county urged other residents to shelter in place. The post said the city of Fredericktown was not affected by the order.&nbsp;

“Close windows, doors and turn off window AC systems,” the post says. “…Again, if you see smoke, stay indoors.”&nbsp;

Around 7:45 p.m., an emergency dispatcher told The Independent crews were still fighting the fire.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/madisoncountymo911/posts/1076786274446874" target="_blank">Photos posted on Facebook by Madison County 911</a>&nbsp;show Critical Mineral Recovery, one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery processing facilities, with a hole in its partially-collapsed roof. Smoke billowed from the charred building and a slight glow of remnant fire could be seen inside.

According to the company’s website, the plant processes electric vehicle and consumer-grade lithium-ion batteries and retrieves valuable metals and minerals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese and aluminum. The recycled materials can be used to build new batteries.&nbsp;

The fire erupted in spite of what the company’s website calls “likely the most sophisticated automated and remote supervised and controlled fire suppression systems in the world.”

“The state-of-the-art fire prevention system is designed to detect fires before they start,” the company’s site says. “The system covers all areas where battery materials are stored or processed. It is monitored remotely 24/7 employing high-intensity industrial forward looking infrared…camera technology.”&nbsp;

County officials, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the company could not be immediately reached for comment.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730402952833.png" alt=" Smoke billows out of the roof of Critical Mineral Recovery’s lithium-ion battery recycling plant near Fredericktown, Missouri. The plant caught fire Wednesday, forcing evacuations (Madison County 911)." />
 <figcaption> Smoke billows out of the roof of Critical Mineral Recovery’s lithium-ion battery recycling plant near Fredericktown, Missouri. The plant caught fire Wednesday, forcing evacuations (Madison County 911).</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Residents of a southeast Missouri town were forced to evacuate their homes Wednesday when a fire erupted at a nearby battery recycler.Madison County 911 posted on Facebook around 2 p.m. on behalf of the county sheriff’s office telling residents north and west of Fredericktown to leave the area.“If you can see or smell smoke in this area, you need to evacuate!” the post says.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fredericktownfire/posts/950399390464012" target="_blank">In a separate post later in the afternoon</a>, Madison County 911 and the Fredericktown Fire Department said only residents on Madison County Road 277 needed to evacuate. The county urged other residents to shelter in place. The post said the city of Fredericktown was not affected by the order.&nbsp;“Close windows, doors and turn off window AC systems,” the post says. “…Again, if you see smoke, stay indoors.”&nbsp;Around 7:45 p.m., an emergency dispatcher told The Independent crews were still fighting the fire.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/madisoncountymo911/posts/1076786274446874" target="_blank">Photos posted on Facebook by Madison County 911</a>&nbsp;show Critical Mineral Recovery, one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery processing facilities, with a hole in its partially-collapsed roof. Smoke billowed from the charred building and a slight glow of remnant fire could be seen inside.According to the company’s website, the plant processes electric vehicle and consumer-grade lithium-ion batteries and retrieves valuable metals and minerals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese and aluminum. The recycled materials can be used to build new batteries.&nbsp;The fire erupted in spite of what the company’s website calls “likely the most sophisticated automated and remote supervised and controlled fire suppression systems in the world.”“The state-of-the-art fire prevention system is designed to detect fires before they start,” the company’s site says. “The system covers all areas where battery materials are stored or processed. It is monitored remotely 24/7 employing high-intensity industrial forward looking infrared…camera technology.”&nbsp;County officials, the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the company could not be immediately reached for comment.&nbsp;

Fire erupts in southeast Missouri at one of world’s largest lithium-ion battery facilities

TOPEKA — The Virginia-based political action committee controlled by a former U.S. secretary of state took the unusual step Wednesday of endorsing a Kansas Senate candidate for the seat serving portions of Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.

Mike Pompeo, the nation’s top diplomat from 2018 to 2021 in the administration of President Donald Trump, said Champion American Values PAC of Springfield, Virginia, favored Republican nominee Jeff Klemp in the 5th District. Pompeo was a GOP congressman from Wichita from 2011 to 2017.

“The fight to restore American greatness begins at the state and local level,” Pompeo said. “Jeff has spent years building successful businesses and serving his community, and he is a leader who understands the challenges facing families throughout Kansas.”

Klemp, of Lansing, is attempting to win the seat held by Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat elected to the Senate in 2020 who previously served four years in the Kansas House.

Pittman said Pompeo’s preference for legislative representation of Leavenworth, Lansing, Basehor and western Wyandotte County wasn’t significant to the Senate contest.

“He’s irrelevant to Kansas, especially because he sold out and went to the D.C. swamp to serve his own interests,” Pittman said. “He doesn’t understand anything about Senate District 5.”

Pittman said the endorsement by Pompeo’s PAC suggested Klemp had grown desperate less than one week before the Tuesday election.

“I think he’s desperate because I’ve delivered for my community over and over again,” Pittman said.

Pittman has been endorsed by the Mainstream Coalition, Kansas Fraternal Order of Police, Kansas National Education Association PAC as well as the Kansas Farm Bureau PAC, Kansas Livestock Association, Game On for Kansas Schools and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC.

In a statement, Klemp said Pompeo’s expression of support meant a great deal to his campaign.

“Secretary Pompeo’s dedication to our nation and his strong record of serving Kansans are truly admirable, and I’ve long respected his commitment to our shared values,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647123002389.png" alt="Pompeo served the 4th District of Kansas in the U.S. House before joining the administration of President Donald Trump -Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pompeo served the 4th District of Kansas in the U.S. House before joining the administration of President Donald Trump -Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — The Virginia-based political action committee controlled by a former U.S. secretary of state took the unusual step Wednesday of endorsing a Kansas Senate candidate for the seat serving portions of Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties.Mike Pompeo, the nation’s top diplomat from 2018 to 2021 in the administration of President Donald Trump, said Champion American Values PAC of Springfield, Virginia, favored Republican nominee Jeff Klemp in the 5th District. Pompeo was a GOP congressman from Wichita from 2011 to 2017.“The fight to restore American greatness begins at the state and local level,” Pompeo said. “Jeff has spent years building successful businesses and serving his community, and he is a leader who understands the challenges facing families throughout Kansas.”Klemp, of Lansing, is attempting to win the seat held by Sen. Jeff Pittman, a Leavenworth Democrat elected to the Senate in 2020 who previously served four years in the Kansas House.Pittman said Pompeo’s preference for legislative representation of Leavenworth, Lansing, Basehor and western Wyandotte County wasn’t significant to the Senate contest.“He’s irrelevant to Kansas, especially because he sold out and went to the D.C. swamp to serve his own interests,” Pittman said. “He doesn’t understand anything about Senate District 5.”Pittman said the endorsement by Pompeo’s PAC suggested Klemp had grown desperate less than one week before the Tuesday election.“I think he’s desperate because I’ve delivered for my community over and over again,” Pittman said.Pittman has been endorsed by the Mainstream Coalition, Kansas Fraternal Order of Police, Kansas National Education Association PAC as well as the Kansas Farm Bureau PAC, Kansas Livestock Association, Game On for Kansas Schools and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce PAC.In a statement, Klemp said Pompeo’s expression of support meant a great deal to his campaign.“Secretary Pompeo’s dedication to our nation and his strong record of serving Kansans are truly admirable, and I’ve long respected his commitment to our shared values,” he said.

Former U.S. Secretary of State offers endorsement in Kansas Senate campaign

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigitng a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 10:30a.m.&nbsp;October 29, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at exit 160 on Interstate 35 for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells.

 During the stop, the deputy found illegal drugs. Jenni E. Hardin, 40, of Olathe was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730215702855.png" alt="Hardin-photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Hardin-photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigitng a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 10:30a.m.&nbsp;October 29, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at exit 160 on Interstate 35 for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal drugs. Jenni E. Hardin, 40, of Olathe was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Interference with law enforcement.

Sheriff's K9 unit found illegal drugs during Kan. traffic stop

The seven-figure check sends a message of hope to those opposing abortion ‘who have been waiting to see the donor class jump in big time to help,’ said the campaign manager for Vote No on 3

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A group associated with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/01/dark-money-leonard-leo-judicial-activism-00084864" target="_blank">conservative activist Leonard Leo</a>&nbsp;donated $1 million on Tuesday to a campaign opposing Missouri’s abortion-rights amendment.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/07/nonprofit-leonard-leo-00162364" target="_blank">The Concord Fund,&nbsp;</a>an advocacy organization funded by groups connected to Leo, stepped into the fight over Amendment 3 with a $1 million check to a PAC called Vote No on 3, according to filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The Concord Fund’s previous spending in Missouri was focused on boosting Will Scharf’s unsuccessful GOP primary campaign for attorney general, where it donated $5 million to PACs supporting Scharf.&nbsp;

Leo, a lawyer and activist who is a longtime leader at the conservative Federalist Society, also has ties to<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-man-behind-rights-supreme-court-supermajority" target="_blank">&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley.</a>&nbsp;He’s been involved in one way or another with almost every high-profile conservative judicial appointment in recent decades.

Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability. Abortion is illegal in Missouri, with exceptions only for medical emergencies.&nbsp;

Vote No on 3 is among a handful of political action committees hoping to defeat the amendment, including Missouri Stands with Women and the Missouri Right to Life. The donation from the Concord Fund is the single largest contribution made yet to a PAC opposing the amendment.&nbsp;

It also came a week before a General Election that’s already seen&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/30/increasing-every-day-voters-line-up-across-missouri-for-chance-to-cast-ballot-early/">huge early voter turnout.</a>&nbsp;

Cassidy Anderson, campaign manager for Vote No on 3, said the late-in-the-race donation was motivated in part by positive internal polling showing “Missourians really don’t want this.”

<a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/september-2024-missouri-poll-republican-candidates-lead-in-president-governor-senate-races/" target="_blank">A September Emerson College poll</a>&nbsp;found 58% of those surveyed support Amendment 3, with 30% opposed. An August&nbsp;<a href="https://www.slu.edu/research/research-institute/big-ideas/slu-poll/index.php" target="_blank">SLU/YouGov Poll</a>&nbsp;found that 52% supported the amendment and 34% opposed.

“Public polling in Missouri has consistently shown what we know to be true — there is overwhelming support among Missourians for ending the state’s abortion ban and protecting reproductive freedom,” Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the campaign behind Amendment 3, said in a statement in response to Anderson.&nbsp;

Despite a recent influx of cash, including $250,000 from a PAC called Conservative Leadership for Missouri, the anti-abortion campaign remains markedly outraised and outspent.&nbsp;

As of Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/29/missouri-abortion-amendment-3-fundraising-election/">Missourians for Constitution had raised more than $31 million,</a>&nbsp;including several seven-figure donations from liberal groups including&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/13/missouri-abortion-rights-campaign-doubles-fundraising-fairness-project/">Sixteen Thirty Fund, the Fairness Project and Open Source Action Fund,&nbsp;</a>all based out of Washington D.C.&nbsp;

Anderson, with Vote No on 3, said the donation will help the PAC launch “one last big education push” through TV and digital ads in the days leading up to the election, adding that the seven-figure check sends a message of hope to Missourians opposing abortion “who have been waiting to see the donor class jump in big time to help.”

As of Monday, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom spent more than $10 million on TV ad buys, including $2.6 million for ads that will air in the final days of the campaign.&nbsp;

Groups opposing Amendment 3 have spent about $700,000 on radio and TV ads, with No on 3 accounting for about $340,000 of that with TV ad purchases in the St. Louis market over the last four days.

No new TV ad purchases were reported for Vote No on 3 as of Wednesday afternoon.

Rudi Keller of The Independent staff contributed to this report.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728651006539.png" alt="A handful of people opposed to Amendment 3 protested outside the Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, following a ruling to keep the abortion amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>A handful of people opposed to Amendment 3 protested outside the Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, following a ruling to keep the abortion amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The seven-figure check sends a message of hope to those opposing abortion ‘who have been waiting to see the donor class jump in big time to help,’ said the campaign manager for Vote No on 3</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A group associated with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/01/dark-money-leonard-leo-judicial-activism-00084864" target="_blank">conservative activist Leonard Leo</a>&nbsp;donated $1 million on Tuesday to a campaign opposing Missouri’s abortion-rights amendment.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/06/07/nonprofit-leonard-leo-00162364" target="_blank">The Concord Fund,&nbsp;</a>an advocacy organization funded by groups connected to Leo, stepped into the fight over Amendment 3 with a $1 million check to a PAC called Vote No on 3, according to filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission.The Concord Fund’s previous spending in Missouri was focused on boosting Will Scharf’s unsuccessful GOP primary campaign for attorney general, where it donated $5 million to PACs supporting Scharf.&nbsp;Leo, a lawyer and activist who is a longtime leader at the conservative Federalist Society, also has ties to<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-man-behind-rights-supreme-court-supermajority" target="_blank">&nbsp;U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley.</a>&nbsp;He’s been involved in one way or another with almost every high-profile conservative judicial appointment in recent decades.Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability. Abortion is illegal in Missouri, with exceptions only for medical emergencies.&nbsp;Vote No on 3 is among a handful of political action committees hoping to defeat the amendment, including Missouri Stands with Women and the Missouri Right to Life. The donation from the Concord Fund is the single largest contribution made yet to a PAC opposing the amendment.&nbsp;It also came a week before a General Election that’s already seen&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/30/increasing-every-day-voters-line-up-across-missouri-for-chance-to-cast-ballot-early/">huge early voter turnout.</a>&nbsp;Cassidy Anderson, campaign manager for Vote No on 3, said the late-in-the-race donation was motivated in part by positive internal polling showing “Missourians really don’t want this.”<a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/september-2024-missouri-poll-republican-candidates-lead-in-president-governor-senate-races/" target="_blank">A September Emerson College poll</a>&nbsp;found 58% of those surveyed support Amendment 3, with 30% opposed. An August&nbsp;<a href="https://www.slu.edu/research/research-institute/big-ideas/slu-poll/index.php" target="_blank">SLU/YouGov Poll</a>&nbsp;found that 52% supported the amendment and 34% opposed.“Public polling in Missouri has consistently shown what we know to be true — there is overwhelming support among Missourians for ending the state’s abortion ban and protecting reproductive freedom,” Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the campaign behind Amendment 3, said in a statement in response to Anderson.&nbsp;Despite a recent influx of cash, including $250,000 from a PAC called Conservative Leadership for Missouri, the anti-abortion campaign remains markedly outraised and outspent.&nbsp;As of Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/29/missouri-abortion-amendment-3-fundraising-election/">Missourians for Constitution had raised more than $31 million,</a>&nbsp;including several seven-figure donations from liberal groups including&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/13/missouri-abortion-rights-campaign-doubles-fundraising-fairness-project/">Sixteen Thirty Fund, the Fairness Project and Open Source Action Fund,&nbsp;</a>all based out of Washington D.C.&nbsp;Anderson, with Vote No on 3, said the donation will help the PAC launch “one last big education push” through TV and digital ads in the days leading up to the election, adding that the seven-figure check sends a message of hope to Missourians opposing abortion “who have been waiting to see the donor class jump in big time to help.”As of Monday, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom spent more than $10 million on TV ad buys, including $2.6 million for ads that will air in the final days of the campaign.&nbsp;Groups opposing Amendment 3 have spent about $700,000 on radio and TV ads, with No on 3 accounting for about $340,000 of that with TV ad purchases in the St. Louis market over the last four days.No new TV ad purchases were reported for Vote No on 3 as of Wednesday afternoon.Rudi Keller of The Independent staff contributed to this report.&nbsp;

Missouri anti-abortion PAC gets $1 million boost from group tied to Leonard Leo

JOHNSON COUNTY — An Emporia State University placed&nbsp; on administrative leave following an arrest for alleged child sex crimes is due back in court Wednesday.

Last week, 72-year-old Howard Pitler was booked into the Johnson County jail on requested charges of&nbsp; electronic solicitation of a child under 14 years old, according to online jail records. He met the requirements of a $25,000 bond and is no longer in&nbsp; custody.

According to Emporia State, "Upon being made aware of the arrest of Howard Pitler, the university responded immediately and placed Pitler on administrative leave. With our rich tradition as a premier Teachers College, the care and safety of students of all ages is of the utmost importance. Pitler taught fully online master’s level courses as an associate professor of School Leadership, Middle &amp; Secondary Teacher Education in The Teachers College. He has been at ESU since 2018. Emporia State will cooperate fully with authorities. We cannot comment further on an ongoing investigation."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729898976418.png" alt="Pitler-photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Pitler-photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY — An Emporia State University placed&nbsp; on administrative leave following an arrest for alleged child sex crimes is due back in court Wednesday.Last week, 72-year-old Howard Pitler was booked into the Johnson County jail on requested charges of&nbsp; electronic solicitation of a child under 14 years old, according to online jail records. He met the requirements of a $25,000 bond and is no longer in&nbsp; custody.According to Emporia State, "Upon being made aware of the arrest of Howard Pitler, the university responded immediately and placed Pitler on administrative leave. With our rich tradition as a premier Teachers College, the care and safety of students of all ages is of the utmost importance. Pitler taught fully online master’s level courses as an associate professor of School Leadership, Middle &amp; Secondary Teacher Education in The Teachers College. He has been at ESU since 2018. Emporia State will cooperate fully with authorities. We cannot comment further on an ongoing investigation."

Emporia State professor due in court for alleged child sex crime

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Topeka.

Just after 9a.m. Wednesday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department&nbsp; responded to a medical call in the 500 block of NE Gordon Street in Topeka, according to Police spokesperson Rosie Nichols. 

Medical personnel found a man who was later pronounced deceased. Due to the nature of the incident, firefighters requested police investigators to respond.

The incident is currently being investigated as a homicide. Additional updates will be provided as the investigation allows. This is the 16th homicide investigation of 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730324449445.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Topeka.Just after 9a.m. Wednesday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department&nbsp; responded to a medical call in the 500 block of NE Gordon Street in Topeka, according to Police spokesperson Rosie Nichols. Medical personnel found a man who was later pronounced deceased. Due to the nature of the incident, firefighters requested police investigators to respond.The incident is currently being investigated as a homicide. Additional updates will be provided as the investigation allows. This is the 16th homicide investigation of 2024.

Homicide: Fire department medical call at Kansas home

DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted a series of air strikes against several known ISIS camps in Syria in the early evening of Oct. 28, resulting in up to 35 ISIS operatives killed, the U.S. Central Command reported Wednesday.

The strikes targeted multiple ISIS locations in the Syrian desert, targeting multiple ISIS senior leaders. There are no indications of civilian casualties, according to the Central Command.

The strikes will disrupt the ability of ISUS to plan, organize and conduct attacks against civilians as well as U.S. allies and partners throughout the region and beyond.

"Central Command forces alongside allies and partners in the region will continue to aggressively degrade ISUS operation capabilities to ensure its enduring defeat."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730298603773.png" alt="A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II operates over the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility." />
 <figcaption>A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II operates over the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted a series of air strikes against several known ISIS camps in Syria in the early evening of Oct. 28, resulting in up to 35 ISIS operatives killed, the U.S. Central Command reported Wednesday.The strikes targeted multiple ISIS locations in the Syrian desert, targeting multiple ISIS senior leaders. There are no indications of civilian casualties, according to the Central Command.The strikes will disrupt the ability of ISUS to plan, organize and conduct attacks against civilians as well as U.S. allies and partners throughout the region and beyond."Central Command forces alongside allies and partners in the region will continue to aggressively degrade ISUS operation capabilities to ensure its enduring defeat."

U.S. forces conduct airstrikes against terrorist camps in Syria

JOHNSON COUNTY—A man is going to prison for the sex abuse of a nursing home patient in Olathe.

Last week, Samuel Maniu Wambugu was sentenced to a total of 208 months in prison for rape and mistreatment of dependent adult, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;Wambugu is also required to register as a sex offender.

The case involves a rape of an 85-year-old nursing home patient in January of 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729886349958.png" alt="Wambugu photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Wambugu photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—A man is going to prison for the sex abuse of a nursing home patient in Olathe.Last week, Samuel Maniu Wambugu was sentenced to a total of 208 months in prison for rape and mistreatment of dependent adult, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;Wambugu is also required to register as a sex offender.The case involves a rape of an 85-year-old nursing home patient in January of 2021.

Man going to prison for sex assault of Kan. nursing home patient

TOPEKA —On Wednesday, Kansas Governor Laura cast her advance ballot in the 2024 general election. 

This November, we can elect commonsense leaders at the local, state, and federal levels. 

"Kansans: make your voice heard and get out to vote now!"

8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. Kansas covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in western counties are casting ballots until 7 p.m. MT (9 p.m. ET).

President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (independent).

U.S. House, state Senate, state House and state Board of Education.

2020: Trump (R) 56%, Biden (D) 42%, AP race call: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, 9:59 p.m. ET.

Registered voters: 1,994,621 (as of Sep. 2024). About 26% Democrats, about 45% Republicans, about 28% unaffiliated.

Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 71% of registered voters.

Votes cast before Election Day 2020: about 61% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 40% of the total vote.

Votes cast before Election Day 2024: See AP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/2024-early-voting-tracker/">Advance Vote tracker</a>.

First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:07 p.m. ET.

By midnight ET: about 87% of total votes cast were reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730317369534.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —On Wednesday, Kansas Governor Laura cast her advance ballot in the 2024 general election. This November, we can elect commonsense leaders at the local, state, and federal levels. "Kansans: make your voice heard and get out to vote now!"<h2>Election Day</h2>Nov. 5.<h2>Poll closing time</h2>8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. Kansas covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in western counties are casting ballots until 7 p.m. MT (9 p.m. ET).<h2>Presidential electoral votes</h2>6 awarded to statewide winner.<h2>Key races and candidates</h2>President: Harris (D) vs. Trump (R) vs. Chase Oliver (Libertarian) vs. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (independent).<h2>Other races of interest</h2>U.S. House, state Senate, state House and state Board of Education.<h2>Past presidential results</h2>2020: Trump (R) 56%, Biden (D) 42%, AP race call: Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, 9:59 p.m. ET.<h2>Voter registration and turnout</h2>Registered voters: 1,994,621 (as of Sep. 2024). About 26% Democrats, about 45% Republicans, about 28% unaffiliated.Voter turnout in 2020 presidential election: 71% of registered voters.<h2>Pre-Election Day voting</h2>Votes cast before Election Day 2020: about 61% of the total vote.Votes cast before Election Day 2022: about 40% of the total vote.Votes cast before Election Day 2024: See AP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/2024-early-voting-tracker/">Advance Vote tracker</a>.<h2>How long does vote-counting take?</h2>First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:07 p.m. ET.By midnight ET: about 87% of total votes cast were reported.

Kansas Governor casts her advance ballot in 2024 election

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court's conservative majority on Wednesday left in place Virginia's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-voter-rolls-lawsuit-purge-immigrant-488e9b52ae81f03b7cd1ea28bc384b69">purge voter registrations</a>&nbsp;that the state says is aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-voter-registration-noncitizens-purge-appeal-b1d174ea90a7ac6e6fb1b9c623b7402e">stopping people who are not U.S. citizens from voting</a>.

One Virginian, whose registration was canceled despite living in the state her entire life, called the purge “a very bad October surprise.”

The high court, over the dissents of the three liberal justices, granted an emergency appeal from Virginia's Republican administration led by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The court provided no rationale for its action, which is typical in emergency appeals.

The justices acted on Virginia's appeal after a federal judge found that the state illegally purged more than 1,600 voter registrations in the past two months. A federal appeals court had previously allowed the judge's order to remain in effect.

The specter of immigrants voting illegally has been a main part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-immigrants-noncitizen-trump-republicans-2024-1c65429c152c2a10514b5156eacf9ca7">political messaging</a>&nbsp;this year from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans, even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noncitizens-voting-republicans-election-2024-immigration-09b86e6768f755fd875f3c51b0e8ea70">such voting is rare in American elections</a>.

Trump had criticized the earlier ruling, calling it “a totally unacceptable travesty” on social media. “Only U.S. Citizens should be allowed to vote,” Trump wrote.

Youngkin said voters who believe they were improperly removed from the rolls can still vote in the election because Virginia has same-day registration.

“And so there is the ultimate, ultimate safeguard in Virginia, no one is being precluded from voting, and therefore, I encourage every single citizen go vote,” Youngkin told reporters.

That option was noted also by the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the White House.

“Every eligible voter has a right to cast their ballot and have their vote counted, and this ruling does not change that," campaign spokesman Charles Lutvak said in a statement. “Our campaign is going to make sure every eligible voter is able to vote. Voting by noncitizens remains illegal under federal law.”

Rina Shaw, 22, of Chesterfield, Virginia, said she was born in Virginia, has lived in the state her whole life and has never left the U.S.

Shaw thinks she may have forgotten to check a citizenship box on a form when she was updating her voter registration at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles while getting her learner’s permit.

“My first reaction was that that was just ridiculous and it shouldn’t have been allowed in October, of all months. It should have been something that happened six months before the election rather than right on the eve of it,” Shaw said.

She planned to cast her ballot during early voting on Wednesday and said she still found the error troubling. Shaw said her voter registration has now been restored.

The Justice Department and a coalition of private groups sued the state earlier in October, arguing that Virginia election officials, acting on an executive order issued in August by Youngkin, were striking names from voter rolls in violation of federal election law.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/national-voter-registration-act-1993-nvra">The National Voter Registration Act</a>&nbsp;requires a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/about-national-voter-registration-act">90-day “quiet period” ahead of elections</a>&nbsp;for the maintenance of voter rolls so that legitimate voters are not removed from the rolls by bureaucratic errors or last-minute mistakes that cannot be quickly corrected.

Youngkin issued his order on Aug. 7, the 90th day before the Nov. 5 election. It required daily checks of data from the state Department of Motor Vehicles against voter rolls to identify people who are not U.S. citizens.

Protect Democracy, one of the groups that brought the lawsuit, cited media interviews with other voters as showing that the Youngkin administration’s purge has removed U.S. citizens from the voter rolls.

One example is Nadra Wilson, who lives in Lynchburg, Virginia, and told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-5169204/virginia-noncitizen-voter-purge">NPR</a>&nbsp;she got swept up in the purge. “I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I’m a citizen,” Wilson said, before showing her American passport as proof of her citizenship.

Project Democracy said in a statement that “this program removes eligible voters. Virginia has not presented any evidence of noncitizens participating in elections. Because there is none. And it’s actually eligible VA voters that have been caught in the middle of this election-subversion scheme.”

U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles said elections officials still could remove names on an individualized basis, but not through a systematic purge.

Giles had ordered the state to notify affected voters and local registrars by Wednesday that the registrations have been restored.

Virginia’s deadline to register to vote was Oct. 15, but since 2022, the state has allowed same-day registration, which allows people to register to vote in-person and immediately submit a provisional ballot after the deadline to register has passed. The state Department of Elections does not remove names from the voting rolls after the Oct. 15 deadline unless they they are names of deceased people.

Nearly 6 million Virginians are registered to vote.

In a similar lawsuit in Alabama, a federal judge this month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-voter-purge-allen-secretary-state-judge-6cec74a5bc2afef14beae6827d4cf971">ordered the state</a>&nbsp;to restore eligibility for more than 3,200 voters who had been deemed ineligible noncitizens. Testimony from state officials in that case showed that roughly 2,000 of the 3,251 voters who were made inactive were actually legally registered citizens.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court's conservative majority on Wednesday left in place Virginia's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-voter-rolls-lawsuit-purge-immigrant-488e9b52ae81f03b7cd1ea28bc384b69">purge voter registrations</a>&nbsp;that the state says is aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-voter-registration-noncitizens-purge-appeal-b1d174ea90a7ac6e6fb1b9c623b7402e">stopping people who are not U.S. citizens from voting</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Great news out of Virginia today for election integrity! Only U.S. citizens should be voting in U.S. elections. <a href="https://t.co/vZ6ufCFxpI">https://t.co/vZ6ufCFxpI</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1851700155822547202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>One Virginian, whose registration was canceled despite living in the state her entire life, called the purge “a very bad October surprise.”The high court, over the dissents of the three liberal justices, granted an emergency appeal from Virginia's Republican administration led by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The court provided no rationale for its action, which is typical in emergency appeals.The justices acted on Virginia's appeal after a federal judge found that the state illegally purged more than 1,600 voter registrations in the past two months. A federal appeals court had previously allowed the judge's order to remain in effect.The specter of immigrants voting illegally has been a main part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-immigrants-noncitizen-trump-republicans-2024-1c65429c152c2a10514b5156eacf9ca7">political messaging</a>&nbsp;this year from former President Donald Trump and other Republicans, even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noncitizens-voting-republicans-election-2024-immigration-09b86e6768f755fd875f3c51b0e8ea70">such voting is rare in American elections</a>.Trump had criticized the earlier ruling, calling it “a totally unacceptable travesty” on social media. “Only U.S. Citizens should be allowed to vote,” Trump wrote.Youngkin said voters who believe they were improperly removed from the rolls can still vote in the election because Virginia has same-day registration.“And so there is the ultimate, ultimate safeguard in Virginia, no one is being precluded from voting, and therefore, I encourage every single citizen go vote,” Youngkin told reporters.That option was noted also by the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the White House.“Every eligible voter has a right to cast their ballot and have their vote counted, and this ruling does not change that," campaign spokesman Charles Lutvak said in a statement. “Our campaign is going to make sure every eligible voter is able to vote. Voting by noncitizens remains illegal under federal law.”Rina Shaw, 22, of Chesterfield, Virginia, said she was born in Virginia, has lived in the state her whole life and has never left the U.S.Shaw thinks she may have forgotten to check a citizenship box on a form when she was updating her voter registration at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles while getting her learner’s permit.“My first reaction was that that was just ridiculous and it shouldn’t have been allowed in October, of all months. It should have been something that happened six months before the election rather than right on the eve of it,” Shaw said.She planned to cast her ballot during early voting on Wednesday and said she still found the error troubling. Shaw said her voter registration has now been restored.The Justice Department and a coalition of private groups sued the state earlier in October, arguing that Virginia election officials, acting on an executive order issued in August by Youngkin, were striking names from voter rolls in violation of federal election law.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/national-voter-registration-act-1993-nvra">The National Voter Registration Act</a>&nbsp;requires a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/crt/about-national-voter-registration-act">90-day “quiet period” ahead of elections</a>&nbsp;for the maintenance of voter rolls so that legitimate voters are not removed from the rolls by bureaucratic errors or last-minute mistakes that cannot be quickly corrected.Youngkin issued his order on Aug. 7, the 90th day before the Nov. 5 election. It required daily checks of data from the state Department of Motor Vehicles against voter rolls to identify people who are not U.S. citizens.Protect Democracy, one of the groups that brought the lawsuit, cited media interviews with other voters as showing that the Youngkin administration’s purge has removed U.S. citizens from the voter rolls.One example is Nadra Wilson, who lives in Lynchburg, Virginia, and told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/29/nx-s1-5169204/virginia-noncitizen-voter-purge">NPR</a>&nbsp;she got swept up in the purge. “I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I’m a citizen,” Wilson said, before showing her American passport as proof of her citizenship.Project Democracy said in a statement that “this program removes eligible voters. Virginia has not presented any evidence of noncitizens participating in elections. Because there is none. And it’s actually eligible VA voters that have been caught in the middle of this election-subversion scheme.”U.S. District Judge Patricia Giles said elections officials still could remove names on an individualized basis, but not through a systematic purge.Giles had ordered the state to notify affected voters and local registrars by Wednesday that the registrations have been restored.Virginia’s deadline to register to vote was Oct. 15, but since 2022, the state has allowed same-day registration, which allows people to register to vote in-person and immediately submit a provisional ballot after the deadline to register has passed. The state Department of Elections does not remove names from the voting rolls after the Oct. 15 deadline unless they they are names of deceased people.Nearly 6 million Virginians are registered to vote.In a similar lawsuit in Alabama, a federal judge this month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-voter-purge-allen-secretary-state-judge-6cec74a5bc2afef14beae6827d4cf971">ordered the state</a>&nbsp;to restore eligibility for more than 3,200 voters who had been deemed ineligible noncitizens. Testimony from state officials in that case showed that roughly 2,000 of the 3,251 voters who were made inactive were actually legally registered citizens.

Kan. U.S. Senator praised Supreme Court ruling on election integrity

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating an alleged attempted murder in Manhattan.

Just before 11p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to a report of a stabbing in the 400 block of Walters Drive in Manhattan, according to a media release.

&nbsp;It was reported a 53-year-old man identified as Marcus Washington of Manhattan stabbed a 39-year-old victim with a knife. The victim is being treated for his injuries and is reported to be in stable condition.

Police arrested Washington on requested charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. He is being held on a bond of $250,000.

Police also arrested 41-year-old Alvin Love of and 26-year-old Nichole Cochrun both Manhattan on requested charges of interference with law enforcement and obstructing apprehension of prosecution in connection with the stabbing, according to the RCPD. Both are being held on separate $10,000 bonds.

Just before 11p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report for attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery in the 400 block of Walters Dr in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details early Wednesday.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating an alleged attempted murder in Manhattan.Just before 11p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; police responded to a report of a stabbing in the 400 block of Walters Drive in Manhattan, according to a media release.&nbsp;It was reported a 53-year-old man identified as Marcus Washington of Manhattan stabbed a 39-year-old victim with a knife. The victim is being treated for his injuries and is reported to be in stable condition.Police arrested Washington on requested charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. He is being held on a bond of $250,000.Police also arrested 41-year-old Alvin Love of and 26-year-old Nichole Cochrun both Manhattan on requested charges of interference with law enforcement and obstructing apprehension of prosecution in connection with the stabbing, according to the RCPD. Both are being held on separate $10,000 bonds.---------------RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating an alleged attempted murder in Manhattan.Just before 11p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report for attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery in the 400 block of Walters Dr in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details early Wednesday.

Police: 3 in custody after violent knife attack in Manhattan

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — An adviser for Republican congressional candidate Derek Schmidt says the “fake newspaper” Democratic rival Nancy Boyda mailed to 160,000 households is “illegal” and “dishonest.”

Schmidt, a three-term Kansas attorney general and former state Senate majority leader, is challenging Boyda for the 2nd District seat that Boyda held from 2007 to 2009.

Boyda has repeatedly produced campaign materials this year without including the mandatory disclosure that they were paid for by her campaign. That includes two eight-page publications, which she labeled “The Kansas Voter Guide.” The latest arrived in mailboxes last week.

The publications provide Boyda-friendly mock news stories, a side-by-side comparison of the candidates on various issues, letters of endorsement for Boyda, and cartoons making fun of Schmidt.

In a statement for this story, Boyda says she mistakenly swapped a page that included the “paid for” designation with the printer at the last minute. She apologized to the voters of the 2nd District and thanked the Kansas Republican Party for calling attention to the situation in its weekly email newsletter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727015582485.png" alt=" Democrat Nancy Boyda&nbsp; -photo by Grace Hills / Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption> Democrat Nancy Boyda&nbsp; -photo by Grace Hills / Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — An adviser for Republican congressional candidate Derek Schmidt says the “fake newspaper” Democratic rival Nancy Boyda mailed to 160,000 households is “illegal” and “dishonest.”Schmidt, a three-term Kansas attorney general and former state Senate majority leader, is challenging Boyda for the 2nd District seat that Boyda held from 2007 to 2009.Boyda has repeatedly produced campaign materials this year without including the mandatory disclosure that they were paid for by her campaign. That includes two eight-page publications, which she labeled “The Kansas Voter Guide.” The latest arrived in mailboxes last week.The publications provide Boyda-friendly mock news stories, a side-by-side comparison of the candidates on various issues, letters of endorsement for Boyda, and cartoons making fun of Schmidt.In a statement for this story, Boyda says she mistakenly swapped a page that included the “paid for” designation with the printer at the last minute. She apologized to the voters of the 2nd District and thanked the Kansas Republican Party for calling attention to the situation in its weekly email newsletter.“Believe me, the last thing we needed was negative press about what we believe is an excellent way to communicate directly with the voters,” Boyda said. “Again, I apologize we did not follow the letter of the law. It was never our intent.”On Friday, the GOP newsletter complained that Boyda was “breaking federal campaign finance law” by not clearly labeling her publication as paid for by her campaign.“Politicians who can’t adhere to even the most basic laws do not deserve your approval — or your vote,” the GOP newsletter said.Kansas GOP chairman Mike Brown in September&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/09/20/kansas-gop-chairman-complains-about-democratic-congressional-candidates-lack-of-disclosures/">filed a complaint</a>&nbsp;with the Federal Election Commission alleging Boyda failed to include “paid for by” disclosures on billboards, videos, yard signs, campaign communications and her campaign website.Eric Pahls, a Schmidt adviser, said Boyda was being “intentionally dishonest” by not disclosing her publication was “a paid hit piece.”“Nancy Boyda’s fake newspaper is just the latest in her series of illegal and deceitful campaign activities that are currently under investigation,” Pahls said in a statement for this story. “She’s either incompetent or dishonest — Kansans will reject her either way.”Boyda said she originally planned to produce three newspapers, but the printer informed the campaign that it only had the capacity to print two. She said the page that included the “paid for by” designation was “inadvertently left off” when she reworked the second and third mailers into a single publication.She also noted that the return address on the mailing label reads “Boyda for Congress.”“I want to be clear, that was our mistake, not the printer’s,” Boyda said. “This is an incredibly busy time for everyone and they were good partners to work with. It was our duty to get it right, not theirs.”