ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an August 2023 shooting that injured a teen&nbsp; have arrested&nbsp;Dreyona K. Seymore, 21 of Atchison.

Just after 4p.m. August 26, police responded to a shooting that had just occurred in the 400 block U Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; First responders found a 15-year-old girl had been shot while she was sitting in a parked vehicle. 

A private vehicle transported the teen to Amberwell Hospital and she was later taken to a Kansas City hospital, and released the next day.

An investigation determined that the victim was sitting in a parked vehicle when a second vehicle pulled up next to the parked vehicle and a person in the moving vehicle fired a shot into the parked vehicle, striking the 15 year old victim.

On Wednesday, police arrested Seymore in the 1100 block North 7th Street on a District Court warrant for aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm. She is being held on a $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713476029734.png" alt="Seymore photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Seymore photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an August 2023 shooting that injured a teen&nbsp; have arrested&nbsp;Dreyona K. Seymore, 21 of Atchison.Just after 4p.m. August 26, police responded to a shooting that had just occurred in the 400 block U Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; First responders found a 15-year-old girl had been shot while she was sitting in a parked vehicle. A private vehicle transported the teen to Amberwell Hospital and she was later taken to a Kansas City hospital, and released the next day.An investigation determined that the victim was sitting in a parked vehicle when a second vehicle pulled up next to the parked vehicle and a person in the moving vehicle fired a shot into the parked vehicle, striking the 15 year old victim.On Wednesday, police arrested Seymore in the 1100 block North 7th Street on a District Court warrant for aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm. She is being held on a $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman jailed for drive-by shooting of 15-year-old

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States vetoed a widely backed U.N. resolution on Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?535031-1/un-security-council-meeting-situation-middle-east">Click here to watch</a> the debate

The vote in the 15-member Security Council was 12 in favor, the United States opposed and two abstentions.

The resolution would have recommended that the 193-member General Assembly, where there are no vetoes, approve Palestine becoming the 194th member of the United Nations. Some 140 countries have already recognized the state of Palestine, so its admission would have been approved.

This is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestine-un-membership-security-council-us-reject-f55c4f58c35cf8486cf512b85b530a50">second Palestinian attempt</a>&nbsp;to become a full member of the United Nations, and it comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-statistics-95a6407fac94e9d589be234708cd5005">the war in Gaza</a>, now in its seventh month, has put the more than 75-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-04-16-2024-2d556f46e9dd08b68930f86777524b21">Israeli-Palestinian conflict</a>&nbsp;at center stage.

Before the vote, U.S. deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the United States has “been very clear consistently that premature actions in New York — even with the best intentions — will not achieve statehood for the Palestinian people.”

Palestinian membership “needs to be the outcome of the negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians,” U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said. It “is something that would flow from the result of those negotiations.”

Anything that gets in the way “makes it more difficult to have those negotiations” and doesn’t help move toward a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace, which “we all want,” Wood told reporters.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas first delivered the Palestinian Authority’s application for U.N. membership to then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2011. That initial bid failed because the Palestinians didn’t get the required minimum support of nine of the Security Council’s 15 members.

The Palestinians then went to the General Assembly and by more than a two-thirds majority succeeded in having their status raised from a U.N. observer to a non-member observer state in November 2012. That opened the door for the Palestinian territories to join U.N. and other international organizations, including the International Criminal Court.

The Palestinians revived their bid for U.N. membership in early April, backed by the 140 countries that have recognized Palestine as an independent state.

Ziad Abu Amr, special representative of the Palestinian president, said adopting the resolution would grant the Palestinian people hope “for a decent life within an independent state."

He said such "hope has dissipated over the past years because of the intransigence of the Israeli government that has rejected this solution publicly and blatantly, especially following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news-04-15-2024-5d6b5dc1483771045113eea2c1904449">the destructive war against the Gaza Strip</a>.”

He stressed to the Security Council that it won’t be an alternative “for serious negotiations that are time-bound to implement the two-state solution” and U.N. resolutions, and to resolve pending issues between Palestinians and Israelis.

Amr asked the U.S. and other countries opposed to its U.N. membership how that could damage prospects for peace or harm international peace and security when they already recognize Israel and approved its U.N. membership.

“To grant the state of Palestine full membership will be an important pillar to achieve peace in our region, because the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and its different dimensions now goes beyond the borders of Palestine and Israel and impacts other regions in the Middle East and around the world,” the Palestinian envoy said.

Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have been stalled for years, and Israel’s right-wing government is dominated by hard-liners who oppose Palestinian statehood.

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the resolution “disconnected to the reality on the ground” and warned that it “will cause only destruction for years to come and harm any chance for future dialogue.”

Six months after the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas, which controlled Gaza, and the killing of 1,200 people in “the most brutal massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” he accused the Security Council of seeking “to reward the perpetrators of these atrocities with statehood.”

Israel's military offensive in response has killed over 32,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, and destroyed much of the territory, which speaker after speaker denounced Thursday.

Erdan listed the requirements for U.N. membership — accepting the obligations in the U.N. Charter and especially being a “peace-loving” state.

“What a joke,” he said. “Does anyone doubt that the Palestinians failed to meet these criteria? Did anyone hear any Palestinian leader even condemn the massacre of our children?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713477575817.png" alt="Robert Wood, United States' Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, Thursday.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Robert Wood, United States' Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, Thursday.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States vetoed a widely backed U.N. resolution on Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?535031-1/un-security-council-meeting-situation-middle-east">Click here to watch</a> the debateThe vote in the 15-member Security Council was 12 in favor, the United States opposed and two abstentions.The resolution would have recommended that the 193-member General Assembly, where there are no vetoes, approve Palestine becoming the 194th member of the United Nations. Some 140 countries have already recognized the state of Palestine, so its admission would have been approved.This is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestine-un-membership-security-council-us-reject-f55c4f58c35cf8486cf512b85b530a50">second Palestinian attempt</a>&nbsp;to become a full member of the United Nations, and it comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-statistics-95a6407fac94e9d589be234708cd5005">the war in Gaza</a>, now in its seventh month, has put the more than 75-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-04-16-2024-2d556f46e9dd08b68930f86777524b21">Israeli-Palestinian conflict</a>&nbsp;at center stage.Before the vote, U.S. deputy State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the United States has “been very clear consistently that premature actions in New York — even with the best intentions — will not achieve statehood for the Palestinian people.”Palestinian membership “needs to be the outcome of the negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians,” U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said. It “is something that would flow from the result of those negotiations.”Anything that gets in the way “makes it more difficult to have those negotiations” and doesn’t help move toward a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace, which “we all want,” Wood told reporters.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas first delivered the Palestinian Authority’s application for U.N. membership to then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2011. That initial bid failed because the Palestinians didn’t get the required minimum support of nine of the Security Council’s 15 members.The Palestinians then went to the General Assembly and by more than a two-thirds majority succeeded in having their status raised from a U.N. observer to a non-member observer state in November 2012. That opened the door for the Palestinian territories to join U.N. and other international organizations, including the International Criminal Court.The Palestinians revived their bid for U.N. membership in early April, backed by the 140 countries that have recognized Palestine as an independent state.Ziad Abu Amr, special representative of the Palestinian president, said adopting the resolution would grant the Palestinian people hope “for a decent life within an independent state."He said such "hope has dissipated over the past years because of the intransigence of the Israeli government that has rejected this solution publicly and blatantly, especially following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-news-04-15-2024-5d6b5dc1483771045113eea2c1904449">the destructive war against the Gaza Strip</a>.”He stressed to the Security Council that it won’t be an alternative “for serious negotiations that are time-bound to implement the two-state solution” and U.N. resolutions, and to resolve pending issues between Palestinians and Israelis.Amr asked the U.S. and other countries opposed to its U.N. membership how that could damage prospects for peace or harm international peace and security when they already recognize Israel and approved its U.N. membership.“To grant the state of Palestine full membership will be an important pillar to achieve peace in our region, because the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and its different dimensions now goes beyond the borders of Palestine and Israel and impacts other regions in the Middle East and around the world,” the Palestinian envoy said.Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have been stalled for years, and Israel’s right-wing government is dominated by hard-liners who oppose Palestinian statehood.Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan called the resolution “disconnected to the reality on the ground” and warned that it “will cause only destruction for years to come and harm any chance for future dialogue.”Six months after the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas, which controlled Gaza, and the killing of 1,200 people in “the most brutal massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” he accused the Security Council of seeking “to reward the perpetrators of these atrocities with statehood.”Israel's military offensive in response has killed over 32,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, and destroyed much of the territory, which speaker after speaker denounced Thursday.Erdan listed the requirements for U.N. membership — accepting the obligations in the U.N. Charter and especially being a “peace-loving” state.“What a joke,” he said. “Does anyone doubt that the Palestinians failed to meet these criteria? Did anyone hear any Palestinian leader even condemn the massacre of our children?”

US stops UN from recognizing a Palestinian state through membership

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man who was found injured in a park.

Just after 7:00a.m. Thursday, the Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a call reporting a shooting at Fairmount Park,&nbsp;1647 N Yale Boulevard in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

A citizen dialed 911 to report finding an injured black male whom they believed had sustained a gunshot wound.

First responderws arrived at the scene and discovered 54-year-old Timothy Dukes of Wichita lying on the northeast corner of 15th and Vassar in Fairmount Park. He had an injury and was pronounced deceased on-site by Sedgwick County EMS, according to Moses.

Officers and detectives promptly initiated an investigation, interviewing potential witnesses and searching for evidence. Coordinating closely with the Sedgwick County Coroner’s office, subsequent inquiry revealed that Dukes’ death was not from of a gunshot wound.

His death is believed to have resulted from a medical emergency. 

Though the initial call suggested a possible shooting, comprehensive investigation has established that the injury was not gunshot-related

The Wichita Police Department extends gratitude to community members who have cooperated and continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

&nbsp;Wichita State University Police, Wichita Fire and Sedgwick County EMS assisted Wichita Police with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713473137330.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a man who was found injured in a park.Just after 7:00a.m. Thursday, the Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a call reporting a shooting at Fairmount Park,&nbsp;1647 N Yale Boulevard in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.A citizen dialed 911 to report finding an injured black male whom they believed had sustained a gunshot wound.First responderws arrived at the scene and discovered 54-year-old Timothy Dukes of Wichita lying on the northeast corner of 15th and Vassar in Fairmount Park. He had an injury and was pronounced deceased on-site by Sedgwick County EMS, according to Moses.Officers and detectives promptly initiated an investigation, interviewing potential witnesses and searching for evidence. Coordinating closely with the Sedgwick County Coroner’s office, subsequent inquiry revealed that Dukes’ death was not from of a gunshot wound.His death is believed to have resulted from a medical emergency. Though the initial call suggested a possible shooting, comprehensive investigation has established that the injury was not gunshot-relatedThe Wichita Police Department extends gratitude to community members who have cooperated and continue to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.&nbsp;Wichita State University Police, Wichita Fire and Sedgwick County EMS assisted Wichita Police with the investigation.

Death of Kan. man found in park remains under investigation

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner is not running for reelection this year in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district so that he can spend more time with his four young children, he announced Thursday.

LaTurner is among nearly two dozen Republicans in the U.S. House who are not running again or seeking another office.

“The unrepeatable season of life we are in, where our kids are still young and at home, is something I want to be more present for,” LaTurner said.

LaTurner's announcement leaves Republicans with no declared candidates in a district he likely would have had little trouble winning again. While the district includes Democratic strongholds in the state capital of Topeka and northern Kansas City, they're offset by rural areas that heavily favored former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

LaTurner, 36, has put on hold what seemed a promising long-term political career, saying also that he wouldn't seek any office in 2026. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited and Republicans had mentioned LaTurner as a possible candidate for the job that year.

He worked for U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins when he won a state Senate seat in 2012 at age 24, and he became Kansas' youngest-ever state treasurer at 29 when then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback appointed him to fill a vacancy.

LaTurner's statement mentioned “the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill,” with the narrow Republican majority in the House and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-democrats-vacate-ukraine-e506951def3f78cf637274d230b89152">a threat from the hard-right</a>&nbsp;to topple Speaker Mike Johnson, but he also said he's optimistic about the nation's future. Instead, he said, serving in Congress has taken a toll on him, his wife, Suzanne, and their children.

“I am hopeful that in another season of life, with new experiences and perspectives, I can contribute in some small way and advocate for the issues I care most about,” his statement Thursday said.

While Republicans have represented the 2nd District in 27 of the past 30 years, Democrats have waged aggressive campaigns since Jenkins decided not to seek reelection in 2018. One Democrat, former teacher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/07/01/topeka-democrat-hopes-to-oust-gop-rep-jake-laturner-from-congress/70362683007/">Eli Woody IV,</a>&nbsp;has filed to run in November.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-43776f9e6a0d4cd6ea07ab802a548f8d">In the 2020 primary</a>, LaTurner handily defeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/political-news-general-news-house-elections-united-states-house-of-representatives-34882545094f4e83b9117dba13b6b7e3">Republican Steve Watkins</a>&nbsp;and won the November election by almost 15 percentage points. In 2022, LaTurner won his general election race by a slightly wider margin.

In June 2022, the congressman beefed up security at his home and Topeka office out of concern for his family's safety after a man left a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-kansas-topeka-lawrence-537e4ab84e3c459053d19f12352981bd">threatening voicemail</a>&nbsp;after hours that said, “I will kill you.”

The man, Chase Neill, is now serving a sentence of nearly four years in prison after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-albuquerque-kansas-topeka-prisons-bf01d9142e08750036a8eb1148de7b08">convicted in federal court</a>&nbsp;of one count of threating a U.S. official. LaTurner testified at the trial, and Neill, representing himself,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-lawrence-df22820adfa2c5515085eb20279317a0">cross-examined him personally.</a>

WASHINGTON —Kansas 2nd District Congressman Jake LaTurner announced on social media Thursday he will not run for reelection.

LaTurner who serves on the House Appropriations and Oversight committees was first elected to Congress in 2020.

In the statement announcing his decision LaTurner wrote

“I will proudly serve the remainder of the 118th Congress, but after much prayer and consideration, I will not seek reelection this Fall. The people of Kansas who elected me to serve in the United States House of Representatives have given me the professional honor of my life, but it is time to pursue other opportunities and have the benefit of spending more time with my family."

"Suzanne and I are the proud parents of four young children, and for us the busy schedule of serving in and running for Congress has taken a toll. The unrepeatable season of life we are in, where our kids are still young and at home, is something I want to be more present for."

"Serving in Congress is not something you achieve in isolation. It would not have happened without the support of my loving family, loyal friends, and a dedicated staff in Kansas and Washington who are second to no other congressional staff in the country. I know I will never be able to thank all these people enough, but I look forward to trying my best in the coming months and years."

"It has become fashionable for some to fear for the future of this country and act as though the problems we face and the divisions that exist are insurmountable, but that is just not true. Undoubtedly, the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill is distressing, but it almost always has been; we just didn’t see most of it. I remain optimistic about the future of this country, not only because we have overcome more significant obstacles in the past, but that the vast majority of people I have served with are good and trying to do the right thing, and because our founders, divinely inspired, understood human nature and created this republic to endure."

"Unlike many in elected office, I’ve had the pleasure of serving Kansans at the beginning of my professional life. I was 24 years old when I was first sworn into the Kansas State Senate and the youngest statewide elected official in America when I was appointed State Treasurer. While I will not be a candidate in 2024 or the state elections in 2026, I am hopeful that in another season of life, with new experiences and perspectives, I can contribute in some small way and advocate for the issues I care most about."

"With gratitude in my heart for the people of Kansas, my staff, friends, and family, and most importantly, a loving God, who has blessed me beyond measure, I look forward to serving the remainder of my term and look to the future with confidence."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702582014813.png" alt="File photo -Kansas&nbsp; Congressman Jake LaTurner presided over the House Floor in December during the vote on the National Defense Authorization Act." />
 <figcaption>File photo -Kansas&nbsp; Congressman Jake LaTurner presided over the House Floor in December during the vote on the National Defense Authorization Act.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner is not running for reelection this year in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district so that he can spend more time with his four young children, he announced Thursday.LaTurner is among nearly two dozen Republicans in the U.S. House who are not running again or seeking another office.“The unrepeatable season of life we are in, where our kids are still young and at home, is something I want to be more present for,” LaTurner said.LaTurner's announcement leaves Republicans with no declared candidates in a district he likely would have had little trouble winning again. While the district includes Democratic strongholds in the state capital of Topeka and northern Kansas City, they're offset by rural areas that heavily favored former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.LaTurner, 36, has put on hold what seemed a promising long-term political career, saying also that he wouldn't seek any office in 2026. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited and Republicans had mentioned LaTurner as a possible candidate for the job that year.He worked for U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins when he won a state Senate seat in 2012 at age 24, and he became Kansas' youngest-ever state treasurer at 29 when then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback appointed him to fill a vacancy.LaTurner's statement mentioned “the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill,” with the narrow Republican majority in the House and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-democrats-vacate-ukraine-e506951def3f78cf637274d230b89152">a threat from the hard-right</a>&nbsp;to topple Speaker Mike Johnson, but he also said he's optimistic about the nation's future. Instead, he said, serving in Congress has taken a toll on him, his wife, Suzanne, and their children.“I am hopeful that in another season of life, with new experiences and perspectives, I can contribute in some small way and advocate for the issues I care most about,” his statement Thursday said.While Republicans have represented the 2nd District in 27 of the past 30 years, Democrats have waged aggressive campaigns since Jenkins decided not to seek reelection in 2018. One Democrat, former teacher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/07/01/topeka-democrat-hopes-to-oust-gop-rep-jake-laturner-from-congress/70362683007/">Eli Woody IV,</a>&nbsp;has filed to run in November.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-43776f9e6a0d4cd6ea07ab802a548f8d">In the 2020 primary</a>, LaTurner handily defeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/political-news-general-news-house-elections-united-states-house-of-representatives-34882545094f4e83b9117dba13b6b7e3">Republican Steve Watkins</a>&nbsp;and won the November election by almost 15 percentage points. In 2022, LaTurner won his general election race by a slightly wider margin.In June 2022, the congressman beefed up security at his home and Topeka office out of concern for his family's safety after a man left a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-kansas-topeka-lawrence-537e4ab84e3c459053d19f12352981bd">threatening voicemail</a>&nbsp;after hours that said, “I will kill you.”The man, Chase Neill, is now serving a sentence of nearly four years in prison after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-albuquerque-kansas-topeka-prisons-bf01d9142e08750036a8eb1148de7b08">convicted in federal court</a>&nbsp;of one count of threating a U.S. official. LaTurner testified at the trial, and Neill, representing himself,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-lawrence-df22820adfa2c5515085eb20279317a0">cross-examined him personally.</a>--------------WASHINGTON —Kansas 2nd District Congressman Jake LaTurner announced on social media Thursday he will not run for reelection.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After much prayer and consideration, I have decided not to run for reelection to the House this fall. With gratitude in my heart for the people of Kansas, my staff, friends, and family, and most importantly, a loving God, who has blessed me beyond measure, I look forward to… <a href="https://t.co/CxhwWo48Rf">pic.twitter.com/CxhwWo48Rf</a>&mdash; Rep. Jake LaTurner (@RepLaTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLaTurner/status/1781011787875299378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>LaTurner who serves on the House Appropriations and Oversight committees was first elected to Congress in 2020.In the statement announcing his decision LaTurner wrote“I will proudly serve the remainder of the 118th Congress, but after much prayer and consideration, I will not seek reelection this Fall. The people of Kansas who elected me to serve in the United States House of Representatives have given me the professional honor of my life, but it is time to pursue other opportunities and have the benefit of spending more time with my family.""Suzanne and I are the proud parents of four young children, and for us the busy schedule of serving in and running for Congress has taken a toll. The unrepeatable season of life we are in, where our kids are still young and at home, is something I want to be more present for.""Serving in Congress is not something you achieve in isolation. It would not have happened without the support of my loving family, loyal friends, and a dedicated staff in Kansas and Washington who are second to no other congressional staff in the country. I know I will never be able to thank all these people enough, but I look forward to trying my best in the coming months and years.""It has become fashionable for some to fear for the future of this country and act as though the problems we face and the divisions that exist are insurmountable, but that is just not true. Undoubtedly, the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill is distressing, but it almost always has been; we just didn’t see most of it. I remain optimistic about the future of this country, not only because we have overcome more significant obstacles in the past, but that the vast majority of people I have served with are good and trying to do the right thing, and because our founders, divinely inspired, understood human nature and created this republic to endure.""Unlike many in elected office, I’ve had the pleasure of serving Kansans at the beginning of my professional life. I was 24 years old when I was first sworn into the Kansas State Senate and the youngest statewide elected official in America when I was appointed State Treasurer. While I will not be a candidate in 2024 or the state elections in 2026, I am hopeful that in another season of life, with new experiences and perspectives, I can contribute in some small way and advocate for the issues I care most about.""With gratitude in my heart for the people of Kansas, my staff, friends, and family, and most importantly, a loving God, who has blessed me beyond measure, I look forward to serving the remainder of my term and look to the future with confidence."

36-year-old Kansas Congressman will not seek reelection

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College’s Board of Trustees chair Terry Bisbee announced today the Board has selected Dr. Tricia Paramore as the college’s next president, pending approval of a contract at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 1.

Paramore, the vice president of academic affairs at HutchCC since February 2023 and a 28-year veteran of the institution, would become president of the college July 1.

Bisbee said the board of trustees discussed the presidential choice for over an hour in executive session at a meeting held Monday night.

From a beginning pool of 46 applicants, five semifinalists emerged and were interviewed by the search committee. The field narrowed to three finalists, each participating in a daylong interview on campus.

Hundreds of people heard the three finalists and were asked to fill out evaluation forms. The forms were then distributed to all board members for their review and to assist them in the decision-making process.

“I appreciate the work of the search committee and the Board of Trustees,” said Bisbee. “Based on the feedback we received, we’re very confident in our selection and look forward to getting an agreement finalized with Dr. Paramore.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713466226667.jpeg" alt="Dr. Tricia Paramore-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tricia Paramore-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson Community CollegeHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College’s Board of Trustees chair Terry Bisbee announced today the Board has selected Dr. Tricia Paramore as the college’s next president, pending approval of a contract at a special meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 1.Paramore, the vice president of academic affairs at HutchCC since February 2023 and a 28-year veteran of the institution, would become president of the college July 1.Bisbee said the board of trustees discussed the presidential choice for over an hour in executive session at a meeting held Monday night.From a beginning pool of 46 applicants, five semifinalists emerged and were interviewed by the search committee. The field narrowed to three finalists, each participating in a daylong interview on campus.Hundreds of people heard the three finalists and were asked to fill out evaluation forms. The forms were then distributed to all board members for their review and to assist them in the decision-making process.“I appreciate the work of the search committee and the Board of Trustees,” said Bisbee. “Based on the feedback we received, we’re very confident in our selection and look forward to getting an agreement finalized with Dr. Paramore.”

Hutchinson Community College names new president

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

SOUL doesn’t force participants to end association with siblings, parents

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation making Kansas the first state to implement a program enabling children 16 years or older in the foster care system to select an adult to form a legal permanent relationship with rather than follow the standard pathways of family reunification, adoption or appointment of a guardian.

Kansas youth at least 16 years of age and preparing to age out of the foster care system could choose to be part of the Support, Opportunity, Unity and Legal (SOUL) program giving them authority to select one or more adults they trust to help guide them into adulthood. This legal association would have most, but not all, features of a parent-child bond. SOUL would extend state funding and services to help someone exiting foster care to better appreciate how to live independently while tethered to assistance to help secure employment, complete college and find safe housing.

“With this fourth pathway, we can ensure more children have a say in the environment they grow up in and the adults who are raising them. This legislation is transformational for Kansas kids,” the Democratic governor said.

Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard said young people in care of the state agency could anchor themselves to a circle of nurturing, caring adults at a critical point in their lives. SOUL benefitted from input from people who experienced foster care, she said.

“It is a culmination of more than two years of collaborative efforts that placed those with lived experiences at the center of the discussion in their efforts to ensure that youth coming after them had options beyond permanent custodian or another planned permanent living arrangement,” Howard said.

Under the model supported by the &nbsp;Annie E. Casey Foundation and written into&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2536_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2536</a>&nbsp;with bipartisan support of the Kansas Legislature, SOUL enrollees wouldn’t be required to terminate legal relationships with birth parents or siblings. Nor would it relieve biological parents of certain obligations, such as payment of child support.

The bill signed Monday by Kelly would require a district court to make certain a SOUL child had access to the maximum allowable benefits available under other legal permanency options. When considering a SOUL partnership, the court would give consideration to appointing a relative or an individual with whom the child had close emotional ties. The statute would terminate DCF’s custody of the child once the SOUL relationship was affirmed by the court.

Kristen Nicole Powell, who shared with legislators personal insights into the life of someone placed in foster care, offered recommendations for shaping the Kansas SOUL initiative. She said it was important young people had relationships with adults willing to offer care and love even when the recipient didn’t fully appreciate the meaning of those gifts. At 18, she said, she had no family but did have a bond with mentors.

“This kept me from experiencing things like prison, homelessness, drugs, drug addiction, and even death,” she said. “SOUL Family gives people autonomy to decide who they want to have in their life and keep those relationships that help them heal and get out of the system.”

The governor also signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2549_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2549</a>&nbsp;that altered the list of people required to be given notice of a hearing on a petition for adoption of a child. A separate piece of legislation,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2675_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2675</a>, created a legal framework so nonparents acting as a child’s caregiver could petition the court for visitation rights to be with the child.

Meanwhile, Kelly signed into law&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2665_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2665</a>&nbsp;to increase criminal sanctions for a motorist who left the scene of an accident when the incident resulted in a fatality or the driver of the vehicle reasonably could have known the accident produced an injury or a death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713461539387.jpeg" alt="Former foster care child Kristen Nicole Powell welcomed signing of Kansas law creating a program enabling foster care participants 16 years or older to pick an adult mentor or mentors to form long-term legal relationships as an alternative to reunification, adoption and appointment of a guardian. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Former foster care child Kristen Nicole Powell welcomed signing of Kansas law creating a program enabling foster care participants 16 years or older to pick an adult mentor or mentors to form long-term legal relationships as an alternative to reunification, adoption and appointment of a guardian. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>SOUL doesn’t force participants to end association with siblings, parents</h2>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation making Kansas the first state to implement a program enabling children 16 years or older in the foster care system to select an adult to form a legal permanent relationship with rather than follow the standard pathways of family reunification, adoption or appointment of a guardian.Kansas youth at least 16 years of age and preparing to age out of the foster care system could choose to be part of the Support, Opportunity, Unity and Legal (SOUL) program giving them authority to select one or more adults they trust to help guide them into adulthood. This legal association would have most, but not all, features of a parent-child bond. SOUL would extend state funding and services to help someone exiting foster care to better appreciate how to live independently while tethered to assistance to help secure employment, complete college and find safe housing.“With this fourth pathway, we can ensure more children have a say in the environment they grow up in and the adults who are raising them. This legislation is transformational for Kansas kids,” the Democratic governor said.Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard said young people in care of the state agency could anchor themselves to a circle of nurturing, caring adults at a critical point in their lives. SOUL benefitted from input from people who experienced foster care, she said.“It is a culmination of more than two years of collaborative efforts that placed those with lived experiences at the center of the discussion in their efforts to ensure that youth coming after them had options beyond permanent custodian or another planned permanent living arrangement,” Howard said.Under the model supported by the &nbsp;Annie E. Casey Foundation and written into&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2536_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2536</a>&nbsp;with bipartisan support of the Kansas Legislature, SOUL enrollees wouldn’t be required to terminate legal relationships with birth parents or siblings. Nor would it relieve biological parents of certain obligations, such as payment of child support.The bill signed Monday by Kelly would require a district court to make certain a SOUL child had access to the maximum allowable benefits available under other legal permanency options. When considering a SOUL partnership, the court would give consideration to appointing a relative or an individual with whom the child had close emotional ties. The statute would terminate DCF’s custody of the child once the SOUL relationship was affirmed by the court.Kristen Nicole Powell, who shared with legislators personal insights into the life of someone placed in foster care, offered recommendations for shaping the Kansas SOUL initiative. She said it was important young people had relationships with adults willing to offer care and love even when the recipient didn’t fully appreciate the meaning of those gifts. At 18, she said, she had no family but did have a bond with mentors.“This kept me from experiencing things like prison, homelessness, drugs, drug addiction, and even death,” she said. “SOUL Family gives people autonomy to decide who they want to have in their life and keep those relationships that help them heal and get out of the system.”The governor also signed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2549_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2549</a>&nbsp;that altered the list of people required to be given notice of a hearing on a petition for adoption of a child. A separate piece of legislation,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2675_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2675</a>, created a legal framework so nonparents acting as a child’s caregiver could petition the court for visitation rights to be with the child.Meanwhile, Kelly signed into law&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2665_01_0000.pdf">House Bill 2665</a>&nbsp;to increase criminal sanctions for a motorist who left the scene of an accident when the incident resulted in a fatality or the driver of the vehicle reasonably could have known the accident produced an injury or a death.

Kansas to allow foster care teens to choose, form legal mentor relationships with trusted adults

NASHVILLE (AP) —Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man,” has died. He was 80.

The Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Famer died at his home in Osprey, Florida, David Spero, Betts’ manager of 20 years, confirmed. Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Spero said.

“He was surrounded by his whole family and he passed peacefully. They didn’t think he was in any pain,” Spero said by phone.

Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre — Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined the blues, country, R&amp;B and jazz with ‘60s rock.

Founded in 1969, the Allmans were a pioneering jam band, trampling the traditional notion of three-minute pop songs by performing lengthy compositions in concert and on record. The band was also notable as a biracial group from the Deep South.

Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, and founding member Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle crash a year later. That left Betts and Allman’s younger brother Gregg as the band’s leaders, but they frequently clashed, and substance abuse caused further dysfunction. The band broke up at least twice before reforming, and has had more than a dozen lineups.

The Allman Brothers Band was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2012. Betts left the group for good in 2000, and also played solo and with his own band Great Southern, which included his son, guitarist Duane Betts.

Forrest Richard Betts was born Dec. 12, 1943, and was raised in the Bradenton, Florida, area, near the highway 41 he sang about in “Ramblin’ Man.” His family had lived in area since the mid-19th century.

Betts grew up listening to country, bluegrass and Western swing, and played the ukulele and banjo before focusing on the electric guitar because it impressed girls. At 16 he left home for his first road trip, joining the circus to play in a band.

He returned home, and with bassist Oakley joined a group that became the Jacksonville, Florida-based band Second Coming. One night in 1969 Betts and Oakley jammed with Duane Allman, already a successful session musician, and his younger brother, and together they formed the Allman Brothers Band.

The group moved to Macon, Georgia, and released a self-titled debut album in 1969. A year later came the album “Idlewild South,” highlighted by Betts’ instrumental composition “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” which soon became a concert staple.

The 1971 double album “At Fillmore East,” now considered among the greatest live albums of the classic rock era, was the Allmans’ commercial breakthrough and cemented their performing reputation by showcasing the unique guitar interplay between Allman and Betts. Their styles contrasted, with Allman playing bluesy slide guitar, while Betts’ solos and singing tugged the band toward country. When layered in harmony, their playing was especially distinctive.

The group also had two drummers — “Jaimoe” Johanson, who is Black, and Butch Trucks.

Duane Allman died four days after “Fillmore” was certified as a gold record, but the band carried on and crowds continued to grow. The 1973 album “Brothers and Sisters” rose to No. 1 on the charts and featured “Ramblin' Man,” with Betts singing the lead and bringing twang to the Top 40. The song reached No. 2 on the singles charts and was kept out of the No. 1 spot by "Half Breed" by Cher, who later married Gregg Allman.

The soaring sound of Betts’ guitar on “Ramblin’ Man” reverberated in neighborhood bars around the country for decades, and the song underscored his knack for melodic hooks. “Ramblin’ Man” was the Allmans’ only Top Ten hit, but Betts’ catchy 7½-minute instrumental composition “Jessica,” recorded in 1972, became an FM radio staple.

Betts also wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s other best-loved songs, including “Blue Sky” and “Southbound.” In later years the group remained a successful touring act with Betts and Warren Haynes on guitar. Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks died in 2017.

After leaving the Allmans for good, Betts continued to play with his own group and lived in the Bradenton area with his wife, Donna.

The group also had two drummers — “Jaimoe” Johanson, who is black, and Butch Trucks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713458097441.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE (AP) —Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, “Ramblin’ Man,” has died. He was 80.The Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Famer died at his home in Osprey, Florida, David Spero, Betts’ manager of 20 years, confirmed. Betts had been battling cancer for more than a year and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Spero said.“He was surrounded by his whole family and he passed peacefully. They didn’t think he was in any pain,” Spero said by phone.Betts shared lead guitar duties with Duane Allman in the original Allman Brothers Band to help give the group its distinctive sound and create a new genre — Southern rock. Acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Kid Rock were influenced by the Allmans’ music, which combined the blues, country, R&amp;B and jazz with ‘60s rock.Founded in 1969, the Allmans were a pioneering jam band, trampling the traditional notion of three-minute pop songs by performing lengthy compositions in concert and on record. The band was also notable as a biracial group from the Deep South.Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, and founding member Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle crash a year later. That left Betts and Allman’s younger brother Gregg as the band’s leaders, but they frequently clashed, and substance abuse caused further dysfunction. The band broke up at least twice before reforming, and has had more than a dozen lineups.The Allman Brothers Band was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2012. Betts left the group for good in 2000, and also played solo and with his own band Great Southern, which included his son, guitarist Duane Betts.Forrest Richard Betts was born Dec. 12, 1943, and was raised in the Bradenton, Florida, area, near the highway 41 he sang about in “Ramblin’ Man.” His family had lived in area since the mid-19th century.Betts grew up listening to country, bluegrass and Western swing, and played the ukulele and banjo before focusing on the electric guitar because it impressed girls. At 16 he left home for his first road trip, joining the circus to play in a band.He returned home, and with bassist Oakley joined a group that became the Jacksonville, Florida-based band Second Coming. One night in 1969 Betts and Oakley jammed with Duane Allman, already a successful session musician, and his younger brother, and together they formed the Allman Brothers Band.The group moved to Macon, Georgia, and released a self-titled debut album in 1969. A year later came the album “Idlewild South,” highlighted by Betts’ instrumental composition “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” which soon became a concert staple.The 1971 double album “At Fillmore East,” now considered among the greatest live albums of the classic rock era, was the Allmans’ commercial breakthrough and cemented their performing reputation by showcasing the unique guitar interplay between Allman and Betts. Their styles contrasted, with Allman playing bluesy slide guitar, while Betts’ solos and singing tugged the band toward country. When layered in harmony, their playing was especially distinctive.The group also had two drummers — “Jaimoe” Johanson, who is Black, and Butch Trucks.Duane Allman died four days after “Fillmore” was certified as a gold record, but the band carried on and crowds continued to grow. The 1973 album “Brothers and Sisters” rose to No. 1 on the charts and featured “Ramblin' Man,” with Betts singing the lead and bringing twang to the Top 40. The song reached No. 2 on the singles charts and was kept out of the No. 1 spot by "Half Breed" by Cher, who later married Gregg Allman.The soaring sound of Betts’ guitar on “Ramblin’ Man” reverberated in neighborhood bars around the country for decades, and the song underscored his knack for melodic hooks. “Ramblin’ Man” was the Allmans’ only Top Ten hit, but Betts’ catchy 7½-minute instrumental composition “Jessica,” recorded in 1972, became an FM radio staple.Betts also wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s other best-loved songs, including “Blue Sky” and “Southbound.” In later years the group remained a successful touring act with Betts and Warren Haynes on guitar. Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks died in 2017.After leaving the Allmans for good, Betts continued to play with his own group and lived in the Bradenton area with his wife, Donna.The 1971 double album “At Fillmore East,” now considered among the greatest live albums of the classic rock era, was the Allmans’ commercial breakthrough and cemented their performing reputation by showcasing the unique guitar interplay between Allman and Betts. Their styles contrasted, with Allman playing bluesy slide guitar, while Betts’ solos and singing tugged the band toward country. When layered in harmony, their playing was especially distinctive.The group also had two drummers — “Jaimoe” Johanson, who is black, and Butch Trucks.Duane Allman died four days after “Fillmore” was certified as a gold record, but the band carried on and crowds continued to grow. The 1973 album “Brothers and Sisters” rose to No. 1 on the charts and featured “Ramblin' Man,” with Betts singing the lead and bringing twang to the Top 40. The song reached No. 2 on the singles charts and was kept out of the No. 1 spot by "Half Breed" by Cher, who later married Gregg Allman.The soaring sound of Betts’ guitar on “Ramblin’ Man” reverberated in neighborhood bars around the country for decades, and the song underscored his knack for melodic hooks. “Ramblin’ Man” was the Allmans’ only Top Ten hit, but Betts’ catchy 7½-minute instrumental composition “Jessica,” recorded in 1972, became an FM radio staple.Betts also wrote or co-wrote some of the band’s other best-loved songs, including “Blue Sky” and “Southbound.” In later years the group remained a successful touring act with Betts and Warren Haynes on guitar. Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks died in 2017.After leaving the Allmans for good, Betts continued to play with his own group and lived in the Bradenton area with his wife, Donna.

Allman Brothers Band co-founder, legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80

<a href="https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/Letter-re-jury-selection-4-8-24.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Trump jury selection questionnaire

NEW YORK (AP) — Two jurors in former President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial</a>&nbsp;were dismissed Thursday, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate.

The dismissals reduced to five the number of jurors who have been seated for the first-ever criminal trial of a former president.

The setbacks in the selection process emerged during a frenetic morning in which prosecutors also asked for Trump to be held in contempt over a series of social media posts this week, while the judge in the case barred reporters from identifying jurors' employers after expressing privacy concerns.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-jurors-e47b0494de7688bde0e877ccb90aeca2">The seating of the full jury</a>&nbsp;— whenever it comes — will be a seminal moment in the case, setting the stage for a trial that will place the former president’s legal jeopardy at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-campaign-833ca03359cb76331f16580ac04e398e">heart of the campaign against Democrat Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and for weeks of testimony about Trump’s private life before he became president.

The jury selection process picked up momentum Tuesday with the selection of seven jurors. But on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Judge Juan Merchan</a>&nbsp;revealed in court that one of the seven, a cancer nurse, had “conveyed that after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial in this case.” And though jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman said her family members and friends questioned her about being a juror.

A second seated juror was dismissed after prosecutors raised concerns that may not have been honest in answering a jury selection question by saying that he had never been accused or convicted of a crime.

The IT professional was summoned to court to answer questions after prosecutors said they found an article about a person with the same name who had been arrested in the 1990s for tearing down political posters pertaining to the political right in suburban Westchester County.

A prosecutor had also disclosed that a relative of the man may have been involved in a deferred prosecution agreement in the 1990s with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Trump’s case.

Because the juror was questioned Thursday at the judge’s bench, off-microphone and out of earshot of reports, it was not known whether the man confirmed or denied either instance was connected to him.

Twelve jurors and six alternates must be seated to hear the trial. Merchan said Tuesday that opening statements could begin as soon as Monday.

The process of picking a jury is a critical phase of any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee. Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for biases that would prevent them from being impartial.

Inside the court, there’s broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump. A prosecutor this week said that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”

But Thursday's events laid bare the inherent challenges of selecting a jury for such a landmark, high-publicity case. More than half the members of a group of 96 prospective jurors brought into the courtroom were dismissed Thursday, most after saying they doubted their ability to be fair and impartial.

After dismissing from the jury the nurse who had already been selected, Merchan ordered journalists in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.

He said that “as evidenced by what’s happened already, it’s become a problem.” The answers also will be redacted from court transcripts.

Prosecutors had asked that the employer inquiries be axed from the jury questionnaire. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche responded that “depriving us of the information because of what the press is doing isn’t the answer.”

The district attorney's office on Monday sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order. Since then, though, prosecutors say he's made seven additional posts that they believe violate the order.

Several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury, said prosecutor Christopher Conroy.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove said Cohen “has been attacking President Trump in public statements,” and Trump was just replying.

The judge had already scheduled a hearing for next week on the prosecution’s request for contempt sanctions over Trump’s posts.

The trial centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump's lawyer and personal fixer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, made shortly before the 2016 election to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the race's final days.

Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.

Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could get up to four years in prison if convicted, though it's not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.

The hush money case is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">one of four criminal prosecutions</a>&nbsp;involving Trump as he vies to reclaim the White House, but it's possible that it will be the sole case to reach trial before November's presidential election.

NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial of Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.

Meanwhile, the jury selection process took a step back when one of the seven jurors who had been picked, an oncology nurse, was dismissed after telling the court that she had become concerned about her ability to be impartial in the first-ever criminal case against a former president.

Although the jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman said her family members and friends questioned her about being a juror.

The dismissal leaves six on the panel so far, including a software engineer, an information technology professional, a sales professional, an English teacher and two lawyers.

Twelve more people must still be sworn in, with the judge saying he anticipated opening statements in the landmark case to be given as early as next week.

After dismissing the juror, Judge Juan Merchan ordered journalists in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.

The judge said he agreed “that that information is necessary.”

The social media posts at issue were made by Trump since Monday, when prosecutors first sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order.

Prosecutor Christopher Conroy said several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday that repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-jurors-e47b0494de7688bde0e877ccb90aeca2">The seating of the Manhattan jury</a>&nbsp;— whenever it comes — will be a seminal moment in the case, setting the stage for a trial that will place the former president's legal jeopardy at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-campaign-833ca03359cb76331f16580ac04e398e">heart of the campaign against Democrat Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and feature potentially unflattering testimony about Trump's private life in the years before he became president.

The process of picking a jury is a critical phase of any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee.

Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for biases that would prevent them from being impartial.

Inside the court, there's broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump, with a prosecutor this week saying that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”

To that end, at least some of the jurors selected acknowledged having their own opinions about Trump.

“I find him fascinating and mysterious," one juror selected for the case, an IT professional, said under questioning. “He walks into a room and he sets people off, one way or the other. I find that really interesting. ‘Really? This one guy could do all of this? Wow.’ That’s what I think.”

The process has moved swifter than expected, prompting Trump when leaving the courthouse on Tuesday to complain to reporters that the judge,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Juan Merchan</a>, was “rushing” the trial.

The case centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump's lawyer and personal fixer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, made shortly before the 2016 election to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the race's final days.

Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could face up to four years in prison if convicted, though it's not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.

The hush money case is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">one of four criminal prosecutions</a>&nbsp;Trump is confronting as he vies to reclaim the White House, but it's possible that it will be the sole case to reach trial before November's presidential election. Appeals and other legal wrangling have caused delays in cases charging Trump with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713452408310.png" alt="Former President Trump after court on Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former President Trump after court on Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/Letter-re-jury-selection-4-8-24.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Trump jury selection questionnaireNEW YORK (AP) — Two jurors in former President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial</a>&nbsp;were dismissed Thursday, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate.The dismissals reduced to five the number of jurors who have been seated for the first-ever criminal trial of a former president.The setbacks in the selection process emerged during a frenetic morning in which prosecutors also asked for Trump to be held in contempt over a series of social media posts this week, while the judge in the case barred reporters from identifying jurors' employers after expressing privacy concerns.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-jurors-e47b0494de7688bde0e877ccb90aeca2">The seating of the full jury</a>&nbsp;— whenever it comes — will be a seminal moment in the case, setting the stage for a trial that will place the former president’s legal jeopardy at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-campaign-833ca03359cb76331f16580ac04e398e">heart of the campaign against Democrat Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and for weeks of testimony about Trump’s private life before he became president.The jury selection process picked up momentum Tuesday with the selection of seven jurors. But on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Judge Juan Merchan</a>&nbsp;revealed in court that one of the seven, a cancer nurse, had “conveyed that after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial in this case.” And though jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman said her family members and friends questioned her about being a juror.A second seated juror was dismissed after prosecutors raised concerns that may not have been honest in answering a jury selection question by saying that he had never been accused or convicted of a crime.The IT professional was summoned to court to answer questions after prosecutors said they found an article about a person with the same name who had been arrested in the 1990s for tearing down political posters pertaining to the political right in suburban Westchester County.A prosecutor had also disclosed that a relative of the man may have been involved in a deferred prosecution agreement in the 1990s with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Trump’s case.Because the juror was questioned Thursday at the judge’s bench, off-microphone and out of earshot of reports, it was not known whether the man confirmed or denied either instance was connected to him.Twelve jurors and six alternates must be seated to hear the trial. Merchan said Tuesday that opening statements could begin as soon as Monday.The process of picking a jury is a critical phase of any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee. Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for biases that would prevent them from being impartial.Inside the court, there’s broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump. A prosecutor this week said that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”But Thursday's events laid bare the inherent challenges of selecting a jury for such a landmark, high-publicity case. More than half the members of a group of 96 prospective jurors brought into the courtroom were dismissed Thursday, most after saying they doubted their ability to be fair and impartial.After dismissing from the jury the nurse who had already been selected, Merchan ordered journalists in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.He said that “as evidenced by what’s happened already, it’s become a problem.” The answers also will be redacted from court transcripts.Prosecutors had asked that the employer inquiries be axed from the jury questionnaire. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche responded that “depriving us of the information because of what the press is doing isn’t the answer.”The district attorney's office on Monday sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order. Since then, though, prosecutors say he's made seven additional posts that they believe violate the order.Several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury, said prosecutor Christopher Conroy.Trump lawyer Emil Bove said Cohen “has been attacking President Trump in public statements,” and Trump was just replying.The judge had already scheduled a hearing for next week on the prosecution’s request for contempt sanctions over Trump’s posts.The trial centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump's lawyer and personal fixer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, made shortly before the 2016 election to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the race's final days.Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could get up to four years in prison if convicted, though it's not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.The hush money case is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">one of four criminal prosecutions</a>&nbsp;involving Trump as he vies to reclaim the White House, but it's possible that it will be the sole case to reach trial before November's presidential election.--------NEW YORK (AP) — Prosecutors in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial of Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;asked Thursday for the former president to be held in contempt and fined because of seven social media posts that they said violated a judge's gag order barring him from attacking witnesses.Meanwhile, the jury selection process took a step back when one of the seven jurors who had been picked, an oncology nurse, was dismissed after telling the court that she had become concerned about her ability to be impartial in the first-ever criminal case against a former president.Although the jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman said her family members and friends questioned her about being a juror.The dismissal leaves six on the panel so far, including a software engineer, an information technology professional, a sales professional, an English teacher and two lawyers.Twelve more people must still be sworn in, with the judge saying he anticipated opening statements in the landmark case to be given as early as next week.After dismissing the juror, Judge Juan Merchan ordered journalists in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.He said that “as evidenced by what’s happened already, it’s become a problem.” The answers also will be redacted from court transcripts.Prosecutors had asked that the employer inquiries be axed from the jury questionnaire. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche responded that “depriving us of the information because of what the press is doing isn’t the answer.”The judge said he agreed “that that information is necessary.”The social media posts at issue were made by Trump since Monday, when prosecutors first sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order.Prosecutor Christopher Conroy said several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday that repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury.Trump lawyer Emil Bove said Cohen “has been attacking President Trump in public statements,” and Trump was just replying.The judge had already scheduled a hearing for next week on the prosecution’s request for contempt sanctions over Trump’s posts.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-jurors-e47b0494de7688bde0e877ccb90aeca2">The seating of the Manhattan jury</a>&nbsp;— whenever it comes — will be a seminal moment in the case, setting the stage for a trial that will place the former president's legal jeopardy at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-criminal-trial-campaign-833ca03359cb76331f16580ac04e398e">heart of the campaign against Democrat Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and feature potentially unflattering testimony about Trump's private life in the years before he became president.The process of picking a jury is a critical phase of any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee.Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for biases that would prevent them from being impartial.Inside the court, there's broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump, with a prosecutor this week saying that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”To that end, at least some of the jurors selected acknowledged having their own opinions about Trump.“I find him fascinating and mysterious," one juror selected for the case, an IT professional, said under questioning. “He walks into a room and he sets people off, one way or the other. I find that really interesting. ‘Really? This one guy could do all of this? Wow.’ That’s what I think.”The process has moved swifter than expected, prompting Trump when leaving the courthouse on Tuesday to complain to reporters that the judge,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Juan Merchan</a>, was “rushing” the trial.The case centers on a $130,000 payment that Trump's lawyer and personal fixer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, made shortly before the 2016 election to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the race's final days.Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could face up to four years in prison if convicted, though it's not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.The hush money case is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">one of four criminal prosecutions</a>&nbsp;Trump is confronting as he vies to reclaim the White House, but it's possible that it will be the sole case to reach trial before November's presidential election. Appeals and other legal wrangling have caused delays in cases charging Trump with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>.

Trump judge warns media; 2 jurors dismissed

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly knife attack and have identified the victim as&nbsp;Ross L. Fapp, 79, of Topeka.

Just after 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, police responded to the 400 Block of SW Woodlawn Avenue in Topeka on the report of a stabbing, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.

Officers located two individuals suffering from a stab wound. Both individuals were transported to a local area hospital where Ross Frapp died. The other individual’s injuries were considered non-life threatening.&nbsp;

A third person later identified as 38-year-old Robert W. Fapp of Topeka, who was believed to be involved in the incident, was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Law Enforcement center to speak with detectives.

As a result of the investigation, Fapp was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections where he was booked in on requested charges of&nbsp;Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony and Aggravated Battery, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713348409313.png" alt="Fapp photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Fapp photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly knife attack and have identified the victim as&nbsp;Ross L. Fapp, 79, of Topeka.Just after 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, police responded to the 400 Block of SW Woodlawn Avenue in Topeka on the report of a stabbing, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.Officers located two individuals suffering from a stab wound. Both individuals were transported to a local area hospital where Ross Frapp died. The other individual’s injuries were considered non-life threatening.&nbsp;A third person later identified as 38-year-old Robert W. Fapp of Topeka, who was believed to be involved in the incident, was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Law Enforcement center to speak with detectives.As a result of the investigation, Fapp was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections where he was booked in on requested charges of&nbsp;Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony and Aggravated Battery, according to online jail records.

Police ID 79-year-old victim in deadly Kansas knife attack

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State universities in Kansas are banned from requiring prospective students, potential hires and staffers seeking promotion to disclose their views on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-universities-ban-kansas-69ba2c0492944b76772353289e565b19">diversity initiatives</a>&nbsp;under a policy change approved Wednesday by the state's higher education board in response to pressure from the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The Kansas Board of Regents revised policy language that currently emphasizes “multiculturism and diversity” on campus by adding language barring universities from requiring statements “pledging allegiance to, support for or opposition to” diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in applications for admission, hiring or promotion — without setting any penalties for violations. Board members voiced no opposition during a meeting livestreamed from Fort Hays State University in western Kansas.

Regents Chairman Jon Rolph called the change “our good faith effort in trying to listen to the Legislature” and said discussions about it began last summer.

“It’s not something central to our practices around wanting student success and trying to fulfill our promises to people when we invite them onto our campuses,” said Rolph, CEO of a Wichita-based company operating more than 150 restaurants.

The board's action came with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly facing similar pressure to sign the same policy into law. Lawmakers approved a bill with the same restrictions that also would allow a fine of up to $10,000 for a violation.

Separately, the next state budget approved by lawmakers includes provisions that withhold nearly $36 million from the state universities unless they publicly confirm that they don't have such requirements. Kelly has until Friday to act on the bill and until April 25 to act on the budget provisions.

“I don’t think we ever would have had a state law if this was their policy at the outset,” Republican state Sen. J.R. Claeys, the author of the budget provisions, said ahead of Wednesday's board discussion.

Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-state-legislation-diversity-4d80ec7e9d372e74b129efc402ac0b76">in at least 20 states</a>&nbsp;have sought to limit DEI initiatives, arguing that they are discriminatory and enforce a liberal political orthodoxy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-legislature-dei-2a4d677d7488d45b0188e0d2f6aa6029">Alabama</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-government-college-university-dei-cox-efdf4862d8a2b96d28606dcb8ce30ca8?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">Utah</a>&nbsp;enacted new anti-DEI laws this year, and a ban enacted in Texas last year has led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-texas-university-job-cuts-939b334d85108e498c0f85d2ad44ebc2">more than 100 job cuts</a>&nbsp;on University of Texas campuses.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unc-dei-north-carolina-board-of-governors-873a0d34b86c31ca4b2ba0e9068b3536">North Carolina's</a>&nbsp;governing board for 17 universities, including the University of North Carolina's flagship Chapel Hill campus, could put the jobs of DEI staff on a path toward elimination through a similar policy change next month.

Claeys, who is also an adviser to GOP Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, another DEI critic, said a new regents policy is a positive step because it ensures that all of the universities are following the same guidelines.

But, he added, “I wouldn’t expect them to enact any enforcement on themselves.”

Others say that such policies reflect “a gross misrepresentation” of the purpose behind DEI statements from applicants. The American Psychological Association defines&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/equity-diversity-inclusion">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;as a framework to guide “fair treatment and full participation of all people,” especially those in minority groups.

“The intended purpose is to provide an opportunity for prospective employees to reflect on their experiences and how those experiences complement the mission and values of an institution to support a diverse campus community,” said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Educations, in an email statement.

It's unclear how widespread required DEI-related statements on applications are. GOP lawmakers have said they are responding to complaints and applications they’d seen online, but Rolph said Wednesday that the practice was mostly abandoned over the past year.

Granberry Russell said she was unaware of any university expecting students, job applicants or employees to actually “pledge allegiance to diversity.”

<a href="https://www.kslpa.org/audit-report-library/reviewing-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-spending-and-foreign-income-at-state-universities/">A legislative audit</a>&nbsp;released in February said that just 1.6% of spending by Kansas’ six state universities — $45 million — went to DEI initiatives but noted that each university defined DEI differently. Besides initiatives traditionally seen as DEI, such as training and recruiting, resources included food pantries for poor students and services for military veterans and disabled students.

Kelly told reporters after a Tuesday event that she has not had time to review&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2105_enrolled.pdf">the anti-DEI bill</a>. While the bill specifically mentions diversity, equity and inclusion, it also says universities cannot require a statement about “any political ideology or movement.”

Last year, Kelly used her power under the state constitution to veto individual budget provisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/culture-war-kansas-abortion-diversity-eb8c355ac54b19c5efc80090accb9ce9">to scuttle anti-DEI provisions</a>&nbsp;in the current budget, and GOP lawmakers did not have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override her actions.

But Kelly also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/esg-woke-investing-kansas-culture-war-vetoes-20842bdda84432add49f267adb897df3">signed legislation</a>&nbsp;last year that bars Kansas officials from using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-esg-investing-3a98b6f584357b8e10c31b1ff93ce4b6">environmental, social and governance</a>&nbsp;factors in investing public funds or deciding who receives government contracts.

“Sometimes those bills, you know, they really don’t do much, and the universities can continue to function the way they need to function,” Kelly said Tuesday. “So, I need to figure out or look at how impactful that will be.”

By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State universities in Kansas are banned from requiring prospective students, potential hires and staffers seeking promotion to disclose their views on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-universities-ban-kansas-69ba2c0492944b76772353289e565b19">diversity initiatives</a>&nbsp;under a policy change approved Wednesday by the state's higher education board in response to pressure from the Republican-controlled Legislature.The Kansas Board of Regents revised policy language that currently emphasizes “multiculturism and diversity” on campus by adding language barring universities from requiring statements “pledging allegiance to, support for or opposition to” diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in applications for admission, hiring or promotion — without setting any penalties for violations. Board members voiced no opposition during a meeting livestreamed from Fort Hays State University in western Kansas.Regents Chairman Jon Rolph called the change “our good faith effort in trying to listen to the Legislature” and said discussions about it began last summer.“It’s not something central to our practices around wanting student success and trying to fulfill our promises to people when we invite them onto our campuses,” said Rolph, CEO of a Wichita-based company operating more than 150 restaurants.The board's action came with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly facing similar pressure to sign the same policy into law. Lawmakers approved a bill with the same restrictions that also would allow a fine of up to $10,000 for a violation.Separately, the next state budget approved by lawmakers includes provisions that withhold nearly $36 million from the state universities unless they publicly confirm that they don't have such requirements. Kelly has until Friday to act on the bill and until April 25 to act on the budget provisions.“I don’t think we ever would have had a state law if this was their policy at the outset,” Republican state Sen. J.R. Claeys, the author of the budget provisions, said ahead of Wednesday's board discussion.Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-state-legislation-diversity-4d80ec7e9d372e74b129efc402ac0b76">in at least 20 states</a>&nbsp;have sought to limit DEI initiatives, arguing that they are discriminatory and enforce a liberal political orthodoxy.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-legislature-dei-2a4d677d7488d45b0188e0d2f6aa6029">Alabama</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-government-college-university-dei-cox-efdf4862d8a2b96d28606dcb8ce30ca8?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">Utah</a>&nbsp;enacted new anti-DEI laws this year, and a ban enacted in Texas last year has led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-texas-university-job-cuts-939b334d85108e498c0f85d2ad44ebc2">more than 100 job cuts</a>&nbsp;on University of Texas campuses.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unc-dei-north-carolina-board-of-governors-873a0d34b86c31ca4b2ba0e9068b3536">North Carolina's</a>&nbsp;governing board for 17 universities, including the University of North Carolina's flagship Chapel Hill campus, could put the jobs of DEI staff on a path toward elimination through a similar policy change next month.Claeys, who is also an adviser to GOP Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, another DEI critic, said a new regents policy is a positive step because it ensures that all of the universities are following the same guidelines.But, he added, “I wouldn’t expect them to enact any enforcement on themselves.”Others say that such policies reflect “a gross misrepresentation” of the purpose behind DEI statements from applicants. The American Psychological Association defines&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/topics/equity-diversity-inclusion">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;as a framework to guide “fair treatment and full participation of all people,” especially those in minority groups.“The intended purpose is to provide an opportunity for prospective employees to reflect on their experiences and how those experiences complement the mission and values of an institution to support a diverse campus community,” said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Educations, in an email statement.It's unclear how widespread required DEI-related statements on applications are. GOP lawmakers have said they are responding to complaints and applications they’d seen online, but Rolph said Wednesday that the practice was mostly abandoned over the past year.Granberry Russell said she was unaware of any university expecting students, job applicants or employees to actually “pledge allegiance to diversity.”<a href="https://www.kslpa.org/audit-report-library/reviewing-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-spending-and-foreign-income-at-state-universities/">A legislative audit</a>&nbsp;released in February said that just 1.6% of spending by Kansas’ six state universities — $45 million — went to DEI initiatives but noted that each university defined DEI differently. Besides initiatives traditionally seen as DEI, such as training and recruiting, resources included food pantries for poor students and services for military veterans and disabled students.Kelly told reporters after a Tuesday event that she has not had time to review&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2105_enrolled.pdf">the anti-DEI bill</a>. While the bill specifically mentions diversity, equity and inclusion, it also says universities cannot require a statement about “any political ideology or movement.”Last year, Kelly used her power under the state constitution to veto individual budget provisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/culture-war-kansas-abortion-diversity-eb8c355ac54b19c5efc80090accb9ce9">to scuttle anti-DEI provisions</a>&nbsp;in the current budget, and GOP lawmakers did not have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override her actions.But Kelly also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/esg-woke-investing-kansas-culture-war-vetoes-20842bdda84432add49f267adb897df3">signed legislation</a>&nbsp;last year that bars Kansas officials from using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-esg-investing-3a98b6f584357b8e10c31b1ff93ce4b6">environmental, social and governance</a>&nbsp;factors in investing public funds or deciding who receives government contracts.“Sometimes those bills, you know, they really don’t do much, and the universities can continue to function the way they need to function,” Kelly said Tuesday. “So, I need to figure out or look at how impactful that will be.”

Kansas' higher ed board adopts an anti-DEI policy after pressure from GOP legislators

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma judge ordered public defenders to represent four members of an anti-government group who appeared in court Wednesday on charges of kidnapping and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bodies-found-missing-kansas-women-search-oklahoma-91796a0b0b4d02db3d593da9c1bf0f5a">killing two Kansas women</a>.

The judge also entered not-guilty pleas and denied bail for Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, both of Keyes, Oklahoma, as well as Cole and Cora Twombly of Texhoma, Oklahoma.

Texas County Associate District Judge Clark Jett assigned the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System to represent all four defendants, OIDS Executive Director Tim Laughlin told The Associated Press. Laughlin declined to comment about any details of the case or the defendants, citing his agency's policy.

“The reason we don’t comment is to protect our client’s privileges and our client’s interest throughout the trial process,” Laughlin said.

All four are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy in the killing of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley of Hugoton, Kansas, who disappeared on May 30 while driving to Oklahoma to pick up Butler's children and attend a birthday party.

During an interview with investigators, Adams, the children's grandmother, admitted she was responsible for the deaths of Butler and Kelley, according to a prosecutor's motion for the defendants to be held without bond.

“Adams, Cullum, Cora and Cole have resources sufficient to organize and execute a complex murder,” OSBI Lt. Amie Gates wrote in an affidavit. “Therefore, they also have the resources to flee if given the opportunity.”

Adam and Cullum also own numerous firearms, and Cullum had a rifle, ammunition, body armor and a “go-bag” prepared at his home, the affidavit says.

Authorities say Adams and Butler were in the middle of a bitter custody battle. Kelley, a pastor's wife, went along with Butler as a court-approved observer to supervise the visit. They never showed up for the party, setting off a two week search that ended with the two couples' arrests on Saturday and the discovery of the bodies on Sunday.

Arrest affidavits painted a gruesome picture of the scene where the women's car was found, not far from the rural highway intersection where Butler had arranged to pick up her son and daughter from Adams. Investigators found blood on the road and Butler’s glasses near a broken hammer.

According to a witness who spoke to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents, all four suspects were part of “an anti-government group that had a religious affiliation." The affidavits said they called themselves “God’s Misfits” and held regular meetings at the home of the Twomblys and another couple who Adams said watched the children the day the women disappeared.

Relatives of Tad Cullum and the Twomblys have not returned phone messages seeking comment. Tifany Adams’ stepmother, Elise Adams, said she had no information to share.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713437260081.png" alt="54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams-photo Texas Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams-photo Texas Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma judge ordered public defenders to represent four members of an anti-government group who appeared in court Wednesday on charges of kidnapping and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bodies-found-missing-kansas-women-search-oklahoma-91796a0b0b4d02db3d593da9c1bf0f5a">killing two Kansas women</a>.The judge also entered not-guilty pleas and denied bail for Tifany Adams, 54, and her boyfriend, Tad Cullum, 43, both of Keyes, Oklahoma, as well as Cole and Cora Twombly of Texhoma, Oklahoma.Texas County Associate District Judge Clark Jett assigned the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System to represent all four defendants, OIDS Executive Director Tim Laughlin told The Associated Press. Laughlin declined to comment about any details of the case or the defendants, citing his agency's policy.“The reason we don’t comment is to protect our client’s privileges and our client’s interest throughout the trial process,” Laughlin said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713359723848.jpeg" alt="Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley-photo Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley-photo Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>All four are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and conspiracy in the killing of 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley of Hugoton, Kansas, who disappeared on May 30 while driving to Oklahoma to pick up Butler's children and attend a birthday party.During an interview with investigators, Adams, the children's grandmother, admitted she was responsible for the deaths of Butler and Kelley, according to a prosecutor's motion for the defendants to be held without bond.“Adams, Cullum, Cora and Cole have resources sufficient to organize and execute a complex murder,” OSBI Lt. Amie Gates wrote in an affidavit. “Therefore, they also have the resources to flee if given the opportunity.”Adam and Cullum also own numerous firearms, and Cullum had a rifle, ammunition, body armor and a “go-bag” prepared at his home, the affidavit says.Authorities say Adams and Butler were in the middle of a bitter custody battle. Kelley, a pastor's wife, went along with Butler as a court-approved observer to supervise the visit. They never showed up for the party, setting off a two week search that ended with the two couples' arrests on Saturday and the discovery of the bodies on Sunday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713056452999.png" alt="Counterclockwise from top-43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum; 54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams, 50-year-old Cole Earl Twombly, and 44-year-old Cora Twombly -photos Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation" />
 <figcaption>Counterclockwise from top-43-year-old Tad Bert Cullum; 54-year-old Tifany Machel Adams, 50-year-old Cole Earl Twombly, and 44-year-old Cora Twombly -photos Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation</figcaption>
 </figure>Arrest affidavits painted a gruesome picture of the scene where the women's car was found, not far from the rural highway intersection where Butler had arranged to pick up her son and daughter from Adams. Investigators found blood on the road and Butler’s glasses near a broken hammer.According to a witness who spoke to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents, all four suspects were part of “an anti-government group that had a religious affiliation." The affidavits said they called themselves “God’s Misfits” and held regular meetings at the home of the Twomblys and another couple who Adams said watched the children the day the women disappeared.Relatives of Tad Cullum and the Twomblys have not returned phone messages seeking comment. Tifany Adams’ stepmother, Elise Adams, said she had no information to share.

Grandmother admits responsibility for death of 2 missing Kan. women

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

Tuesday evening, police responded to calls of a shooting at a home in 7400 block of East 51st Street, according to KCPD

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly accidental shooting.Tuesday evening, police responded to calls of a shooting at a home in 7400 block of East 51st Street, according to KCPDFirst responders found a five-year-old boy with a gunshot wound.EMS transported the boy to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; An investigation determined the shooting was accidental and self-inflicted.&nbsp; Police have not released the child's name, how he was able to get to the gun and if possible charges will be filed.