MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican presidential candidates vying to be the leading alternative to front-runner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;fought — sometimes bitterly — over abortion rights, U.S. support for Ukraine and the type of experience needed to manage an expansive federal government during the first debate of the 2024 campaign.

<a href="https://rumble.com/v3ak5c2-fox-news-republican-presidential-primary-debate.html">Click here to </a>watch the replay of the debate

But when it came to arguably the most consequential choice facing the party, virtually everyone on the debate stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night lined up behind Trump, who declined to participate, citing his commanding lead. Most said they would support Trump as their nominee even if he is convicted in a series of cases that range from his handling of classified documents to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in making hush money payments to a porn actress and other women.

“Let’s just speak the truth," said tech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>. “President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century. It’s a fact.”

In the face of such an unprecedented moment in American politics, that sentiment was a reminder of the power Trump continues to wield in the party and the reluctance of most GOP White House hopefuls to directly confront him or his norm-breaking activity. And it spoke to the struggle of any single candidate in the crowded field to emerge as a credible counter to Trump with less than five months until the Iowa caucuses formally jumpstart the GOP presidential nomination process.

That challenge was particularly acute for Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>, who announced his campaign in May to great fanfare but has since struggled to gain traction. He was sometimes eclipsed on Wednesday by lower-polling candidates, including former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>, a generally understated politician who demonstrated an aggressive side as he positioned himself as the most experienced candidate on stage.

Pence along with former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;sparred frequently with Ramaswamy. The goal for almost every candidate was to use the event, hosted by Fox News, to displace DeSantis from his distant second-place standing and introduce themselves to viewers who are just tuning into the race.

While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose Trump as the nominee, even if he becomes a convicted felon. The question came nearly an hour into the debate and a day before Trump is set to surrender in Georgia on charges of trying to overturn the state's 2020 election.

The moderators appeared apologetic about even raising the issue of a potentially incarcerated nominee, saying they would spend just a “brief moment" discussing the man they called “the elephant not in the room,” which drew boos from the audience.

“Someone’s got to stop normalizing misconduct. Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president of the United States,” said Christie, a onetime Trump ally who has since become a fierce critic.

Former Arkansas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/asa-hutchinson">Asa Hutchinson</a>&nbsp;was the only person who clearly refused to raise his hand, indicating he would not support Trump as the nominee if he was convicted.

DeSantis was among those who did raise his hand. He said Pence “did his duty” on Jan. 6, 2021, when he refused to go along with Trump’s unconstitutional scheme to overturn the vote, but nonetheless pressed the hosts to move on.

“This election is not about Jan. 6, 2021. It’s about Jan. 20 of 2025 when the next president is going to take office,” he said.

For his part, Pence defended his decision not to overturn the election in Trump's favor, a move that ended their strong partnership, saying he upheld his oath to defend the constitution.

Trump, who had long said he felt it would be foolish to participate in the debate given his dominant lead in the race, followed through with his threat to skip the Fox event in a blow to the network. Instead, Trump pre-recorded an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-out-fox-news-58a8421c55978f223b9c4b1d1cbe50be">ex-Fox host Tucker Carlson</a>&nbsp;that was posted to the platform formerly known as Twitter right before the debate kicked off.

“Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president? Should I be doing that at a network that isn’t particularly friendly to me?” Trump said.

But even without Trump, the debate demonstrated sharp divisions within the party that he has stoked on issues including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>&nbsp;between Russia and Ukraine after Russia’s invasion nearly 18-months ago. Both DeSantis and Ramaswamy said they opposed more funding to Ukraine, arguing the money should be spent securing the U.S. border against drug and human trafficking.

“As president of the United States, your first obligation is to defend our country and its people,” DeSantis said.

Ramaswamy compared support for Ukraine to the ill-fated U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Vietnam.

Christie, Pence and former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;cast support for Ukraine as a moral obligation and a national security imperative, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue his aggression if he succeeds in Ukraine, potentially threatening U.S. allies.

“Anybody who thinks we can't solve problems here in the United States and be the leader of the free world has a small view of the greatest nation on earth,” Pence said.

The candidates also tangled on abortion, underscoring the party’s challenges on the issue after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last year. All of the candidates identified as “pro-life,” but they differed on when restrictions should kick in after the court ended the constitutional right to an abortion, leading to a wave of restrictions in Republican-led states.

DeSantis refused again to say whether he supports a federal ban.

“I’m going to stand on the side of life. Look, I understand Wisconsin is going to do it different than Texas. I understand Iowa and New Hampshire are going to be different, but I will support the cause of life as governor and as president,” he said.

Haley, who has said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban, argued for consensus, saying that barring the procedure nationwide would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress.

“Consensus is the opposite of leadership,” rebutted Pence, who has made his opposition to abortion rights a central tenet of his campaign. Pence supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant, and has called on the field to back a 15-week national ban as a minimum.

South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;also countered those who argued the issue should be left to the states. “We cannot let states like California, New York, Illinois have abortions on demand up until the day of birth. That is immoral, it is unethical, it is wrong," he said.

While DeSantis had expected to be the top target as the front-runner on the stage, the candidates focused many of their attacks on Ramaswamy, who has been rising in the polls and espouses many of Trump's positions.

“Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie. We don’t need to bring in people without experience,” quipped Pence.

“I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT standing up here,” he said, referencing the artificial intelligence chat program, and calling him an “amateur.”

“Give me a hug just like you did to Obama,” Ramaswamy shot back — a reference to Christie’s embrace of the former president after a storm ravaged his state.

Haley, the only woman on stage in a sea of men wearing red ties, tried to rise above the fray.

“I think this is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said, ’If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman,” she said.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-presidential-debate-2024-election-qualified-candidates-863ffb85147072c4e9cf021e85d4ba1b" target="_blank">Republican candidates</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-primary-debate-gop-fox-news-b13fe11e3810512ff35e6c534f1e5ca2" target="_blank">meet on the debate stage</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/89812d5aa1ed6a4ebe7373ff36858250" target="_blank">first time Wednesday night</a>&nbsp;in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s young 2024 presidential primary so far. The overwhelming front-runner in the contest, former President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">won’t participate</a>. He says he’s so far ahead that he’d be helping his opponents by showing up. But his absence also offers them opportunity.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a distant second to Trump in many polls, is betting that a strong showing will cement his status as the strongest alternative to the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-republican-president-iowa-trump-2024-reset-662ac8017fcda6a9e9ede6a6034328ee" target="_blank">despite his many stumbles</a>. DeSantis’ team sees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a" target="_blank">rising newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy</a>, a 38-year-old entrepreneur, as a threat, while South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence have positioned themselves to compete.

The debate also features a handful of aggressive Trump critics led by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50" target="_blank">anti-Trump message is the centerpiece of his campaign</a>&nbsp;despite the former president’s continued popularity in the party. Other lesser-known candidates including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are largely trying to introduce themselves to voters across the country to help qualify for the second debate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692842815070.png" alt="While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose former President Donald Trump&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose former President Donald Trump&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican presidential candidates vying to be the leading alternative to front-runner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;fought — sometimes bitterly — over abortion rights, U.S. support for Ukraine and the type of experience needed to manage an expansive federal government during the first debate of the 2024 campaign.<a href="https://rumble.com/v3ak5c2-fox-news-republican-presidential-primary-debate.html">Click here to </a>watch the replay of the debateBut when it came to arguably the most consequential choice facing the party, virtually everyone on the debate stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night lined up behind Trump, who declined to participate, citing his commanding lead. Most said they would support Trump as their nominee even if he is convicted in a series of cases that range from his handling of classified documents to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in making hush money payments to a porn actress and other women.“Let’s just speak the truth," said tech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>. “President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century. It’s a fact.”In the face of such an unprecedented moment in American politics, that sentiment was a reminder of the power Trump continues to wield in the party and the reluctance of most GOP White House hopefuls to directly confront him or his norm-breaking activity. And it spoke to the struggle of any single candidate in the crowded field to emerge as a credible counter to Trump with less than five months until the Iowa caucuses formally jumpstart the GOP presidential nomination process.That challenge was particularly acute for Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>, who announced his campaign in May to great fanfare but has since struggled to gain traction. He was sometimes eclipsed on Wednesday by lower-polling candidates, including former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>, a generally understated politician who demonstrated an aggressive side as he positioned himself as the most experienced candidate on stage.Pence along with former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;sparred frequently with Ramaswamy. The goal for almost every candidate was to use the event, hosted by Fox News, to displace DeSantis from his distant second-place standing and introduce themselves to viewers who are just tuning into the race.While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose Trump as the nominee, even if he becomes a convicted felon. The question came nearly an hour into the debate and a day before Trump is set to surrender in Georgia on charges of trying to overturn the state's 2020 election.The moderators appeared apologetic about even raising the issue of a potentially incarcerated nominee, saying they would spend just a “brief moment" discussing the man they called “the elephant not in the room,” which drew boos from the audience.“Someone’s got to stop normalizing misconduct. Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president of the United States,” said Christie, a onetime Trump ally who has since become a fierce critic.Former Arkansas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/asa-hutchinson">Asa Hutchinson</a>&nbsp;was the only person who clearly refused to raise his hand, indicating he would not support Trump as the nominee if he was convicted.DeSantis was among those who did raise his hand. He said Pence “did his duty” on Jan. 6, 2021, when he refused to go along with Trump’s unconstitutional scheme to overturn the vote, but nonetheless pressed the hosts to move on.“This election is not about Jan. 6, 2021. It’s about Jan. 20 of 2025 when the next president is going to take office,” he said.For his part, Pence defended his decision not to overturn the election in Trump's favor, a move that ended their strong partnership, saying he upheld his oath to defend the constitution.Trump, who had long said he felt it would be foolish to participate in the debate given his dominant lead in the race, followed through with his threat to skip the Fox event in a blow to the network. Instead, Trump pre-recorded an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-out-fox-news-58a8421c55978f223b9c4b1d1cbe50be">ex-Fox host Tucker Carlson</a>&nbsp;that was posted to the platform formerly known as Twitter right before the debate kicked off.“Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president? Should I be doing that at a network that isn’t particularly friendly to me?” Trump said.But even without Trump, the debate demonstrated sharp divisions within the party that he has stoked on issues including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>&nbsp;between Russia and Ukraine after Russia’s invasion nearly 18-months ago. Both DeSantis and Ramaswamy said they opposed more funding to Ukraine, arguing the money should be spent securing the U.S. border against drug and human trafficking.“As president of the United States, your first obligation is to defend our country and its people,” DeSantis said.Ramaswamy compared support for Ukraine to the ill-fated U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Vietnam.Christie, Pence and former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;cast support for Ukraine as a moral obligation and a national security imperative, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue his aggression if he succeeds in Ukraine, potentially threatening U.S. allies.“Anybody who thinks we can't solve problems here in the United States and be the leader of the free world has a small view of the greatest nation on earth,” Pence said.The candidates also tangled on abortion, underscoring the party’s challenges on the issue after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last year. All of the candidates identified as “pro-life,” but they differed on when restrictions should kick in after the court ended the constitutional right to an abortion, leading to a wave of restrictions in Republican-led states.DeSantis refused again to say whether he supports a federal ban.“I’m going to stand on the side of life. Look, I understand Wisconsin is going to do it different than Texas. I understand Iowa and New Hampshire are going to be different, but I will support the cause of life as governor and as president,” he said.Haley, who has said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban, argued for consensus, saying that barring the procedure nationwide would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress.“Consensus is the opposite of leadership,” rebutted Pence, who has made his opposition to abortion rights a central tenet of his campaign. Pence supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant, and has called on the field to back a 15-week national ban as a minimum.South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;also countered those who argued the issue should be left to the states. “We cannot let states like California, New York, Illinois have abortions on demand up until the day of birth. That is immoral, it is unethical, it is wrong," he said.While DeSantis had expected to be the top target as the front-runner on the stage, the candidates focused many of their attacks on Ramaswamy, who has been rising in the polls and espouses many of Trump's positions.“Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie. We don’t need to bring in people without experience,” quipped Pence.Christie also laced into Ramaswamy.“I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT standing up here,” he said, referencing the artificial intelligence chat program, and calling him an “amateur.”“Give me a hug just like you did to Obama,” Ramaswamy shot back — a reference to Christie’s embrace of the former president after a storm ravaged his state.Haley, the only woman on stage in a sea of men wearing red ties, tried to rise above the fray.“I think this is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said, ’If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman,” she said.MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-presidential-debate-2024-election-qualified-candidates-863ffb85147072c4e9cf021e85d4ba1b" target="_blank">Republican candidates</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-primary-debate-gop-fox-news-b13fe11e3810512ff35e6c534f1e5ca2" target="_blank">meet on the debate stage</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/89812d5aa1ed6a4ebe7373ff36858250" target="_blank">first time Wednesday night</a>&nbsp;in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s young 2024 presidential primary so far. The overwhelming front-runner in the contest, former President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">won’t participate</a>. He says he’s so far ahead that he’d be helping his opponents by showing up. But his absence also offers them opportunity.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a distant second to Trump in many polls, is betting that a strong showing will cement his status as the strongest alternative to the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-republican-president-iowa-trump-2024-reset-662ac8017fcda6a9e9ede6a6034328ee" target="_blank">despite his many stumbles</a>. DeSantis’ team sees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a" target="_blank">rising newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy</a>, a 38-year-old entrepreneur, as a threat, while South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence have positioned themselves to compete.The debate also features a handful of aggressive Trump critics led by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50" target="_blank">anti-Trump message is the centerpiece of his campaign</a>&nbsp;despite the former president’s continued popularity in the party. Other lesser-known candidates including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are largely trying to introduce themselves to voters across the country to help qualify for the second debate.

🎥 GOP candidates fight each other at first presidential debate

OVERLAND PARK&nbsp;– To celebrate Kansas students going back to school, Governor Laura Kelly joined Blue Valley School District leaders, teachers, and students in Overland Park Wednesday, where she ceremonially signed House Substitute for Senate Bill 113, according to a media release from her office.

This legislation fully funds K-12 education for the fifth consecutive year after nearly a decade of schools being chronically underfunded under the previous administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“This year, we fully funded public schools for the fifth year in a row and made historic investments in our K-12 system,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Now, for five years running, schools have been much better positioned to offer after-school activities, to provide critical intervention services to students who need additional support, and to pay teachers much closer to what they deserve. But our work isn’t done. When the legislators return in 2024, we must work together to put Kansas on the path to fully fund special education.”&nbsp;

Governor Kelly’s visit to Indian Valley Elementary began with a brief tour of the school led by 5th&nbsp;grade students.&nbsp;

“We know that our most important asset in Blue Valley is our amazing staff,”&nbsp;said Dr. Tonya Merrigan, Superintendent of Blue Valley Schools.&nbsp;“Fully funding schools allowed us to provide a significant raise for this group who works so hard for our students.”&nbsp;

In May, Governor Kelly also line-item vetoed aspects of SB 113 to protect funding for rural schools facing declining enrollment. While the bill includes a $7.5 million increase in funding for special education, it does not include the $72 million Governor Kelly called for throughout the legislative session. More information about the bill’s historic investments can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi9nb3Zlcm5vci1rZWxseS1mdWxseS1mdW5kcy1zY2hvb2xzLWZvci10aGUtZmlmdGgteWVhci1pbi1hLXJvdy1wcm90ZWN0cy1ydXJhbC1zY2hvb2xzLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA4MjMuODE1NDk0OTEifQ.Jh02RyfcwbP9LTF25182SYRW9DWuAkFLzBFPq_HCGU0/s/1303160919/br/224697750505-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>.&nbsp;

“We appreciate Governor Kelly’s strong commitment to public education and her efforts to fully fund public education as the Kansas Constitution requires,”&nbsp;said Patty Logan, chair of parent group Stand Up Blue Valley: Families for Our Schools.&nbsp;“We want to remind Blue Valley voters that the Kansas legislature’s failure to fully fund excess special education costs causes Blue Valley Schools to redirect millions of dollars from critical general education needs to special education – negatively impacting ALL students in our district. We call on the legislature to do the right thing and vote to fully fund excess special education costs, especially legislators from Blue Valley who claim to support our schools.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692812650567.png" alt="Governor Kelly’s visit to Indian Valley Elementary began with a brief tour of the school led by 5th grade students.-courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Governor Kelly’s visit to Indian Valley Elementary began with a brief tour of the school led by 5th grade students.-courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK&nbsp;– To celebrate Kansas students going back to school, Governor Laura Kelly joined Blue Valley School District leaders, teachers, and students in Overland Park Wednesday, where she ceremonially signed House Substitute for Senate Bill 113, according to a media release from her office.This legislation fully funds K-12 education for the fifth consecutive year after nearly a decade of schools being chronically underfunded under the previous administration.&nbsp;&nbsp;“This year, we fully funded public schools for the fifth year in a row and made historic investments in our K-12 system,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Now, for five years running, schools have been much better positioned to offer after-school activities, to provide critical intervention services to students who need additional support, and to pay teachers much closer to what they deserve. But our work isn’t done. When the legislators return in 2024, we must work together to put Kansas on the path to fully fund special education.”&nbsp;Governor Kelly’s visit to Indian Valley Elementary began with a brief tour of the school led by 5th&nbsp;grade students.&nbsp;“We know that our most important asset in Blue Valley is our amazing staff,”&nbsp;said Dr. Tonya Merrigan, Superintendent of Blue Valley Schools.&nbsp;“Fully funding schools allowed us to provide a significant raise for this group who works so hard for our students.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692812630652.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In May, Governor Kelly also line-item vetoed aspects of SB 113 to protect funding for rural schools facing declining enrollment. While the bill includes a $7.5 million increase in funding for special education, it does not include the $72 million Governor Kelly called for throughout the legislative session. More information about the bill’s historic investments can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZ292ZXJub3Iua2Fuc2FzLmdvdi9nb3Zlcm5vci1rZWxseS1mdWxseS1mdW5kcy1zY2hvb2xzLWZvci10aGUtZmlmdGgteWVhci1pbi1hLXJvdy1wcm90ZWN0cy1ydXJhbC1zY2hvb2xzLyIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMzA4MjMuODE1NDk0OTEifQ.Jh02RyfcwbP9LTF25182SYRW9DWuAkFLzBFPq_HCGU0/s/1303160919/br/224697750505-l" target="_blank">HERE</a>.&nbsp;“We appreciate Governor Kelly’s strong commitment to public education and her efforts to fully fund public education as the Kansas Constitution requires,”&nbsp;said Patty Logan, chair of parent group Stand Up Blue Valley: Families for Our Schools.&nbsp;“We want to remind Blue Valley voters that the Kansas legislature’s failure to fully fund excess special education costs causes Blue Valley Schools to redirect millions of dollars from critical general education needs to special education – negatively impacting ALL students in our district. We call on the legislature to do the right thing and vote to fully fund excess special education costs, especially legislators from Blue Valley who claim to support our schools.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gov. celebrates fully funding Kan. schools 5th year in a row

KANSAS CITY — An Indictment from earlier this year in Federal Court charging individuals with escaping confinement and other individuals with assisting them, resulted in an incarceration sentence of 40 months for one of those charged, according to the United State's Attorney.

Trevor Scott Sparks, 33, Kansas City, MO, and Sergio Perez Martinez, 43, Panorama City, CA, were charged in a two-count Indictment with escape from confinement and aiding or assisting each other in escape from confinement.&nbsp; Another individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, was also charged in the Indictment with a single count of aiding or assisting in the escape.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Perez Martinez remain at large, although Sparks was re-arrested December 30th, 2022. Williams, Sr., who has been in custody pending resolution of his charges since shortly after the escape, was sentenced for his role in that escape.&nbsp; The Court sentenced him to 40 months in custody, consecutive to any sentence he may receive in two pending state cases that resulted from Missouri moving to revoke his parole from prior state felony convictions.

After arrests on federal felony warrants, and because of jury trial convictions and guilty pleas to various felony charges contained within several Western District of Missouri (WDMO) Federal Grand Jury indictments and various orders of WDMO Federal District Court Judge D. Greg Kays, Trevor Scott Sparks and Sergio Perez Martinez were confined in the Cass County, Missouri, Jail on multiple federal felonies.

Federal, state, and local law enforcement began investigating the escape of Sparks and Martinez from the Cass County Jail on or about December 5, 2022. On December 6, 2022, the United States Marshals Service was notified by Cass County, Missouri, that Sparks escaped from confinement and was seen leaving the facility at 10:22 p.m. on December 5, 2022. It was later determined that Sparks and Martinez, another inmate in the Cass County facility, escaped through subterfuge and damage to the facility from the Cass County Jail and fled east outside the jail into the surrounding rural community. From there, Defendant&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;picked them up in his vehicle and transported them to his apartment in Kansas City, Missouri, where they obtained clothes and food.&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;then transported them into the Northeast area of the Kansas City metropolitan area, where&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;dropped them off.&nbsp; Sparks and his mother, Dawn Branstietter, were subsequently arrested in this same general area on December 30th.&nbsp; Branstietter’s husband, John Baxter, was also later arrested on the same charges.&nbsp; These three defendants are scheduled for sentencing later this month and in early September.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670539680558.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — An Indictment from earlier this year in Federal Court charging individuals with escaping confinement and other individuals with assisting them, resulted in an incarceration sentence of 40 months for one of those charged, according to the United State's Attorney.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670539649262.png" alt="Martinez remains at large" />
 <figcaption>Martinez remains at large</figcaption>
 </figure>Trevor Scott Sparks, 33, Kansas City, MO, and Sergio Perez Martinez, 43, Panorama City, CA, were charged in a two-count Indictment with escape from confinement and aiding or assisting each other in escape from confinement.&nbsp; Another individual, Steven Lydell Williams, Sr., 64, Kansas City, was also charged in the Indictment with a single count of aiding or assisting in the escape.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perez Martinez remain at large, although Sparks was re-arrested December 30th, 2022. Williams, Sr., who has been in custody pending resolution of his charges since shortly after the escape, was sentenced for his role in that escape.&nbsp; The Court sentenced him to 40 months in custody, consecutive to any sentence he may receive in two pending state cases that resulted from Missouri moving to revoke his parole from prior state felony convictions.After arrests on federal felony warrants, and because of jury trial convictions and guilty pleas to various felony charges contained within several Western District of Missouri (WDMO) Federal Grand Jury indictments and various orders of WDMO Federal District Court Judge D. Greg Kays, Trevor Scott Sparks and Sergio Perez Martinez were confined in the Cass County, Missouri, Jail on multiple federal felonies.Federal, state, and local law enforcement began investigating the escape of Sparks and Martinez from the Cass County Jail on or about December 5, 2022. On December 6, 2022, the United States Marshals Service was notified by Cass County, Missouri, that Sparks escaped from confinement and was seen leaving the facility at 10:22 p.m. on December 5, 2022. It was later determined that Sparks and Martinez, another inmate in the Cass County facility, escaped through subterfuge and damage to the facility from the Cass County Jail and fled east outside the jail into the surrounding rural community. From there, Defendant&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;picked them up in his vehicle and transported them to his apartment in Kansas City, Missouri, where they obtained clothes and food.&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;then transported them into the Northeast area of the Kansas City metropolitan area, where&nbsp;Williams&nbsp;dropped them off.&nbsp; Sparks and his mother, Dawn Branstietter, were subsequently arrested in this same general area on December 30th.&nbsp; Branstietter’s husband, John Baxter, was also later arrested on the same charges.&nbsp; These three defendants are scheduled for sentencing later this month and in early September.

Man sentenced for KC-area jail escape, another still missing

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

On Tuesday,&nbsp;the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 2100 Block of SE Ohio Avenue in Topeka related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrants, officers located cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

As a result, John Mims, 44 years of age, and Misty Ortega, 46 years of age, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Mims is jailed on requested charges of Possession of cocaine, Possession of Marijuana&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia

Ortega was jailed on a Shawnee County Arrest Warrant

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692798211089.png" alt="Mims-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Mims-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.On Tuesday,&nbsp;the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 2100 Block of SE Ohio Avenue in Topeka related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrants, officers located cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692798189772.png" alt="Ortega-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ortega-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result, John Mims, 44 years of age, and Misty Ortega, 46 years of age, were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Mims is jailed on requested charges of Possession of cocaine, Possession of Marijuana&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernaliaOrtega was jailed on a Shawnee County Arrest Warrant

Police found cocaine, marijuana at Kansas home

ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump's lawyer and confidant, turned himself in at a jail in Atlanta on Wednesday on charges related to efforts to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">then-President Trump's loss</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

The former New York mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">indicted last week</a>&nbsp;along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-indictment-meadows-guiliani-084efc6796becef3714196cee3854cf6">17 others</a>. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said they participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to subvert the will of the voters after the Republican president lost to Democrat Joe Biden in November 2020.

Bond for Giuliani, who was released after booking like the other defendants, was set at $150,000, second only to Trump’s $200,000.

Giuliani, 79, is accused of spearheading Trump’s efforts to compel state lawmakers in Georgia and other closely contested states to ignore the will of voters and illegally appoint electoral college electors favorable to Trump.

Other high-profile defendants also surrendered Wednesday, including Jenna Ellis, an attorney who prosecutors say was involved in efforts to convince state lawmakers to unlawfully appoint presidential electors, and lawyer Sidney Powell, accused of making false statements about the election in Georgia and helping to organize a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-lawsuits-donald-trump-voting-6a1324cc6cf45c95ca086a5c81617b15">breach of voting equipment</a>&nbsp;in rural Coffee County.

Georgia was one of several key states Trump lost by slim margins, prompting the Republican and his allies to proclaim, without evidence, that the election was rigged in favor of his Democratic rival Biden.

Giuliani is charged with making false statements and soliciting false testimony, conspiring to create phony paperwork and asking state lawmakers to violate their oath of office to appoint an alternate slate of pro-Trump electors.

Outside the Fulton County Jail Wednesday afternoon, Giuliani laughed when asked if he regretted allying himself with Trump.

“I am very, very honored to be involved in this case because this case is a fight for our way of life," Giuliani told reporters. "This indictment is a travesty. It’s an attack on -- not just me, not just President Trump, not just the people in this indictment, some of whom I don’t even know – this is an attack on the American people."

After Giuliani's surrender, Trump repeated his unfounded claims that the election was rigged and stolen and wrote on his social media site, “The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City was just ARRESTED in Atlanta, Georgia, because he fought for Election Integrity.”

Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">the early front-runner</a>&nbsp;in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, has said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bond-georgia-election-indictment-79dbb26a14b5a4ccfc1472d6d3eacd2b">plans to turn himself in</a>&nbsp;at the Fulton County Jail on Thursday. He and his allies have characterized the investigation as politically motivated and have heavily criticized District Attorney Willis, a Democrat.

Also Wednesday, Willis’ team urged a judge to reject requests from two of the people indicted — former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark — to avoid having to be booked in jail while they fight to move the case to federal court.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones quickly rejected Clark's request. He wrote that until a federal court takes jurisdiction over a case that originates in state court, the state court proceedings continue. No ruling on Meadows' request was immediately available in online court records.

Willis has set a deadline of noon on Friday for the people indicted last week in the election subversion case to turn themselves in. Her team has been negotiating bond amounts and conditions with the lawyers for the defendants before they surrender at the jail.

Misty Hampton, who was the Coffee County elections director when a breach of election equipment happened there, had her bond set at $10,000. David Shafer, who's a former Georgia Republican Party chair and served as one of 16 fake electors for Trump, and Cathy Latham, who's accused in the Coffee County breach and was also a fake elector, turned themselves in Wednesday morning. Also surrendering Wednesday were lawyers Ray Smith and Kenneth Chesebro, who prosecutors said helped organize the fake electors meeting at the state Capitol in December 2020.

Attorney John Eastman, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-biden-elections-government-and-politics-presidential-42911f613bee85913dcbcbaeed096b2c">pushed a plan to keep</a>&nbsp;Trump in power, and Scott Hall, a bail bondsman who was accused of participating in the breach of election equipment in Coffee County,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-indictment-fulton-county-clark-7641b5c61dbcc39ee3f0edbe51558925">turned themselves in</a>&nbsp;Tuesday.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has said it will release booking photos at 4 p.m. each day, but Shafer&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DavidShafer/status/1694303972427763731">appeared to post his</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, just after 7 a.m. Wednesday with the message, “Good morning! #NewProfilePicture.”

While Republicans in Georgia and elsewhere are calling for Willis to be punished for indicting Trump, a group of Black pastors and community activists gathered outside the state Capitol in Atlanta Wednesday to pray for and proclaim their support for the Democratic prosecutor.

Bishop Reginald Jackson, who leads Georgia’s African Methodist Episcopal churches, said that Willis is under attack “as a result of her courage and determination.”

Former White House chief of staff Meadows and former Justice Department official Clark are seeking to move their cases from Fulton County Superior Court to federal court. Both argue the actions that gave rise to the charges in the indictment were related to their work as federal officials and that the state charges against them should be dismissed.

While those motions are pending, they argue, they should not have to turn themselves in for booking at the Fulton County Jail.

In a filing Wednesday, Willis' team argued that Meadows has failed to demonstrate any hardship that would authorize the judge to prevent his arrest. The filing notes that other defendants, including Trump, had agreed to voluntarily surrender by the deadline.

In a second filing, Willis' team argued that Clark's effort to halt any Fulton County proceedings while his motion is pending amounts to an attempt “to avoid the inconvenience and unpleasantness of being arrested or subject to the mandatory state criminal process."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692827609455.png" alt="Giuliani-photo Fulton Co." />
 <figcaption>Giuliani-photo Fulton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump's lawyer and confidant, turned himself in at a jail in Atlanta on Wednesday on charges related to efforts to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">then-President Trump's loss</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.The former New York mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">indicted last week</a>&nbsp;along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-indictment-meadows-guiliani-084efc6796becef3714196cee3854cf6">17 others</a>. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said they participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to subvert the will of the voters after the Republican president lost to Democrat Joe Biden in November 2020.Bond for Giuliani, who was released after booking like the other defendants, was set at $150,000, second only to Trump’s $200,000.Giuliani, 79, is accused of spearheading Trump’s efforts to compel state lawmakers in Georgia and other closely contested states to ignore the will of voters and illegally appoint electoral college electors favorable to Trump.Other high-profile defendants also surrendered Wednesday, including Jenna Ellis, an attorney who prosecutors say was involved in efforts to convince state lawmakers to unlawfully appoint presidential electors, and lawyer Sidney Powell, accused of making false statements about the election in Georgia and helping to organize a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-lawsuits-donald-trump-voting-6a1324cc6cf45c95ca086a5c81617b15">breach of voting equipment</a>&nbsp;in rural Coffee County.Georgia was one of several key states Trump lost by slim margins, prompting the Republican and his allies to proclaim, without evidence, that the election was rigged in favor of his Democratic rival Biden.Giuliani is charged with making false statements and soliciting false testimony, conspiring to create phony paperwork and asking state lawmakers to violate their oath of office to appoint an alternate slate of pro-Trump electors.Outside the Fulton County Jail Wednesday afternoon, Giuliani laughed when asked if he regretted allying himself with Trump.“I am very, very honored to be involved in this case because this case is a fight for our way of life," Giuliani told reporters. "This indictment is a travesty. It’s an attack on -- not just me, not just President Trump, not just the people in this indictment, some of whom I don’t even know – this is an attack on the American people."After Giuliani's surrender, Trump repeated his unfounded claims that the election was rigged and stolen and wrote on his social media site, “The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City was just ARRESTED in Atlanta, Georgia, because he fought for Election Integrity.”Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">the early front-runner</a>&nbsp;in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, has said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bond-georgia-election-indictment-79dbb26a14b5a4ccfc1472d6d3eacd2b">plans to turn himself in</a>&nbsp;at the Fulton County Jail on Thursday. He and his allies have characterized the investigation as politically motivated and have heavily criticized District Attorney Willis, a Democrat.Also Wednesday, Willis’ team urged a judge to reject requests from two of the people indicted — former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark — to avoid having to be booked in jail while they fight to move the case to federal court.U.S. District Judge Steve Jones quickly rejected Clark's request. He wrote that until a federal court takes jurisdiction over a case that originates in state court, the state court proceedings continue. No ruling on Meadows' request was immediately available in online court records.Willis has set a deadline of noon on Friday for the people indicted last week in the election subversion case to turn themselves in. Her team has been negotiating bond amounts and conditions with the lawyers for the defendants before they surrender at the jail.Misty Hampton, who was the Coffee County elections director when a breach of election equipment happened there, had her bond set at $10,000. David Shafer, who's a former Georgia Republican Party chair and served as one of 16 fake electors for Trump, and Cathy Latham, who's accused in the Coffee County breach and was also a fake elector, turned themselves in Wednesday morning. Also surrendering Wednesday were lawyers Ray Smith and Kenneth Chesebro, who prosecutors said helped organize the fake electors meeting at the state Capitol in December 2020.Attorney John Eastman, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-biden-elections-government-and-politics-presidential-42911f613bee85913dcbcbaeed096b2c">pushed a plan to keep</a>&nbsp;Trump in power, and Scott Hall, a bail bondsman who was accused of participating in the breach of election equipment in Coffee County,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-indictment-fulton-county-clark-7641b5c61dbcc39ee3f0edbe51558925">turned themselves in</a>&nbsp;Tuesday.The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has said it will release booking photos at 4 p.m. each day, but Shafer&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DavidShafer/status/1694303972427763731">appeared to post his</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, just after 7 a.m. Wednesday with the message, “Good morning! #NewProfilePicture.”While Republicans in Georgia and elsewhere are calling for Willis to be punished for indicting Trump, a group of Black pastors and community activists gathered outside the state Capitol in Atlanta Wednesday to pray for and proclaim their support for the Democratic prosecutor.Bishop Reginald Jackson, who leads Georgia’s African Methodist Episcopal churches, said that Willis is under attack “as a result of her courage and determination.”Former White House chief of staff Meadows and former Justice Department official Clark are seeking to move their cases from Fulton County Superior Court to federal court. Both argue the actions that gave rise to the charges in the indictment were related to their work as federal officials and that the state charges against them should be dismissed.While those motions are pending, they argue, they should not have to turn themselves in for booking at the Fulton County Jail.In a filing Wednesday, Willis' team argued that Meadows has failed to demonstrate any hardship that would authorize the judge to prevent his arrest. The filing notes that other defendants, including Trump, had agreed to voluntarily surrender by the deadline.In a second filing, Willis' team argued that Clark's effort to halt any Fulton County proceedings while his motion is pending amounts to an attempt “to avoid the inconvenience and unpleasantness of being arrested or subject to the mandatory state criminal process."

'America's Mayor' surrenders in Georgia election meddling case

SEDGWICK COUNTY (AP) The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5128807ebf924161b11fa833d1bdcf74">BTK serial killer</a>&nbsp;has been named the “prime suspect” in at least two unsolved cases, including one in Oklahoma that led authorities to dig this week near his former Kansas property in Park City, authorities announced Wednesday.

Osage County, Oklahoma, Undersheriff Gary Upton told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the investigation into whether Dennis Rader was responsible for additional crimes started with the re-examination last year of the 1976 disappearance of Cynthia Kinney in Pawhuska. The case, which was investigated on and off over the years, was reopened in December.

Upton said the investigation “spiraled out from there” into other unsolved murders and missing persons cases."

“We sit just on the other side of the state line from Kansas and Wichita, which is his stomping grounds. And so yeah, we were following leads based off of our investigations and just unpacked other missing persons and murders, unsolved homicides that possibly point towards BTK,” he said.

Upton said another case that is being re-examined is the death of 22-year-old Shawna Beth Garber, whose body was discovered in December 1990 in McDonald County, Missouri. An autopsy revealed she had been raped, strangled and restrained with different bindings about two months before her body was found. Her remains weren’t identified&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47002f904b246b385b7342d42cf8b1e4">until 2021</a>.

Rader, a city code inspector in Kansas, was arrested in February 2005 — a year after resuming communications with police and the media after going silent years earlier. In earlier communications, he gave himself the nickname BTK — for "bind, torture and kill.″

Rader, now 78, ultimately confessed to 10 killings in the Wichita area, which is about 90 miles (144.84 kilometers) north of Pawhuska. The crimes occurred between 1974 and 1991.

He was sentenced in August 2005 to 10 consecutive life prison terms. Kansas had no death penalty at the time of the murders. His earliest possible release date is listed for the year 2180.

An Associated Press phone message seeking comment from the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Upton declined to say how many other missing person and homicide cases are being re-examined.

“At this stage,” he said later in a news release, “Dennis Rader is considered a prime suspect in these unsolved cases, including the Cynthia Dawn Kinney case from Pawhuska.” The news release did not specifically say whether Rader is a prime suspect in Garber’s death, but he later told the AP that he is a prime suspect in two cases and “maybe more.”

No information has been released yet about what the search Tuesday in Park City uncovered. Upton described them in the news release only as “items of interest.” The release said the items would undergo a thorough examination to determine their potential relevance.

Upton also said his department is working with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The KBI didn’t immediately respond to an email message from the AP seeking comment.

Phil Bostian, the police chief in the Wichita suburb of Park City, said that Osage County called them as a courtesy and said they asked public works to move some cement and do a little digging.

Police there didn't immediately return a phone message from the AP seeking comment.

The Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense didn’t immediately return a phone message inquiring about Rader still has an attorney representing him.

Rader’s daughter, Kerri Rawson, told the Wichita Eagle that she worked with investigators this summer by meeting with her father in person and communicating with him for the first time in years. Rawson told Fox News that she believes investigators were looking for items related to the unsolved cases that Rader may have kept and buried on his property under a metal shed he built. The shed and Rader’s former home have been leveled.

Rawson said she also told investigators to check where Rader buried the family dog. She said she hopes investigators can determine if her father is linked to any of these other cases. “I’m still not 100% sure my dad did commit any more at this point,” she said to the newspaper, adding: “If my dad has harmed somebody else, we need answers.”

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities in Oklahoma continue to follow leads of missing persons that could be related to convicted serial killer Dennis Rader, according to Osage County, Oklahoma Undersheriff Gary Upton.&nbsp;

The investigation started with the re-examination last year of the 1976 disappearance of 16-year-old Cynthia Kinney in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The case, which was investigated on and off over the years, was reopened in December.

Upston said the investigation “spiraled out from there” into other unsolved murders and missing persons cases.

Osage County investigators notified the Park City, Kansas police department they wanted to excavate portions of the property at 6220 north Independence Street in Park City, according to Police Chief Phil Bostian.&nbsp;

The property, formerly owned by Rader is now owned by the city.&nbsp; The house is no longer there.&nbsp; Osage County authorities also asked for help with the digging from the Park City public works department.&nbsp; 

Investigators completed their work Tuesday. On Wednesday, Undersheriff Upton said they may have an update soon on the result of their work. He did not say what they were looking for or what case they were investigating.

Rader, who is now 78, referred to himself as BTK, and was known for binding and torturing his victims.&nbsp; He is being held in the El Dorado Correctional facility after being convicted of ten murders, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692794360261.png" alt="Convicted serial killer Dennis Rader-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Convicted serial killer Dennis Rader-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY (AP) The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5128807ebf924161b11fa833d1bdcf74">BTK serial killer</a>&nbsp;has been named the “prime suspect” in at least two unsolved cases, including one in Oklahoma that led authorities to dig this week near his former Kansas property in Park City, authorities announced Wednesday.Osage County, Oklahoma, Undersheriff Gary Upton told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the investigation into whether Dennis Rader was responsible for additional crimes started with the re-examination last year of the 1976 disappearance of Cynthia Kinney in Pawhuska. The case, which was investigated on and off over the years, was reopened in December.Upton said the investigation “spiraled out from there” into other unsolved murders and missing persons cases."“We sit just on the other side of the state line from Kansas and Wichita, which is his stomping grounds. And so yeah, we were following leads based off of our investigations and just unpacked other missing persons and murders, unsolved homicides that possibly point towards BTK,” he said.Upton said another case that is being re-examined is the death of 22-year-old Shawna Beth Garber, whose body was discovered in December 1990 in McDonald County, Missouri. An autopsy revealed she had been raped, strangled and restrained with different bindings about two months before her body was found. Her remains weren’t identified&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/47002f904b246b385b7342d42cf8b1e4">until 2021</a>.Rader, a city code inspector in Kansas, was arrested in February 2005 — a year after resuming communications with police and the media after going silent years earlier. In earlier communications, he gave himself the nickname BTK — for "bind, torture and kill.″Rader, now 78, ultimately confessed to 10 killings in the Wichita area, which is about 90 miles (144.84 kilometers) north of Pawhuska. The crimes occurred between 1974 and 1991.He was sentenced in August 2005 to 10 consecutive life prison terms. Kansas had no death penalty at the time of the murders. His earliest possible release date is listed for the year 2180.An Associated Press phone message seeking comment from the McDonald County Sheriff’s Office was not immediately returned Wednesday.Upton declined to say how many other missing person and homicide cases are being re-examined.“At this stage,” he said later in a news release, “Dennis Rader is considered a prime suspect in these unsolved cases, including the Cynthia Dawn Kinney case from Pawhuska.” The news release did not specifically say whether Rader is a prime suspect in Garber’s death, but he later told the AP that he is a prime suspect in two cases and “maybe more.”No information has been released yet about what the search Tuesday in Park City uncovered. Upton described them in the news release only as “items of interest.” The release said the items would undergo a thorough examination to determine their potential relevance.Upton also said his department is working with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The KBI didn’t immediately respond to an email message from the AP seeking comment.Phil Bostian, the police chief in the Wichita suburb of Park City, said that Osage County called them as a courtesy and said they asked public works to move some cement and do a little digging.Police there didn't immediately return a phone message from the AP seeking comment.The Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense didn’t immediately return a phone message inquiring about Rader still has an attorney representing him.Rader’s daughter, Kerri Rawson, told the Wichita Eagle that she worked with investigators this summer by meeting with her father in person and communicating with him for the first time in years. Rawson told Fox News that she believes investigators were looking for items related to the unsolved cases that Rader may have kept and buried on his property under a metal shed he built. The shed and Rader’s former home have been leveled.Rawson said she also told investigators to check where Rader buried the family dog. She said she hopes investigators can determine if her father is linked to any of these other cases. “I’m still not 100% sure my dad did commit any more at this point,” she said to the newspaper, adding: “If my dad has harmed somebody else, we need answers.”---------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities in Oklahoma continue to follow leads of missing persons that could be related to convicted serial killer Dennis Rader, according to Osage County, Oklahoma Undersheriff Gary Upton.&nbsp;The investigation started with the re-examination last year of the 1976 disappearance of 16-year-old Cynthia Kinney in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The case, which was investigated on and off over the years, was reopened in December.Upston said the investigation “spiraled out from there” into other unsolved murders and missing persons cases.Osage County investigators notified the Park City, Kansas police department they wanted to excavate portions of the property at 6220 north Independence Street in Park City, according to Police Chief Phil Bostian.&nbsp;The property, formerly owned by Rader is now owned by the city.&nbsp; The house is no longer there.&nbsp; Osage County authorities also asked for help with the digging from the Park City public works department.&nbsp; Investigators completed their work Tuesday. On Wednesday, Undersheriff Upton said they may have an update soon on the result of their work. He did not say what they were looking for or what case they were investigating.Rader, who is now 78, referred to himself as BTK, and was known for binding and torturing his victims.&nbsp; He is being held in the El Dorado Correctional facility after being convicted of ten murders, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sheriff: Kan. serial killer a ‘prime suspect’ in 2 unsolved cases

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

TOPEKA — Kansas Supreme Court Justice Melissa Standridge on Tuesday announced plans for a two-day summit next year to brainstorm innovative solutions for problems surrounding child welfare in Kansas.

Standridge said the summit would be a collaboration among the three branches of government, the legal community, child welfare partners and experts, and families and children with lived experience within the foster care system.

She announced the summit during a daylong training program on child welfare law in Topeka, where she was joined by&nbsp;Chief Justice Marla Luckert, Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard, Senate President Ty Masterson, and House Majority Leader Chris Croft.

Standridge said her enthusiasm for the summit was driven by her personal experience as a foster and adoptive parent, extensive pro bono work as an attorney for parents, and the application of child welfare law in more than 100 cases as a Court of Appeals judge and Supreme Court justice.

“There’s not much that gets me more energized than helping families and children who are struggling,” Standridge said.

The two-day summit is scheduled for April 15 and 16 in Topeka.

Standridge said it would involve a team from each of the 31 judicial districts in the state, and teams would include a child in need of care judge, child in need of care prosecutor, parent attorney, guardian ad litem, DCF representative, caseworker from a foster care contractor, local law enforcement officer, court-appointed special advocate, Citizen Review Board member and court services officer.

The teams will collaborate with individuals from county health departments, schools, juvenile justice system, mental health providers, managed care providers and the Legislature, as well as former foster kids, biological and foster families, and faith-based organizations.

Luckert said plans for the summit evolved from a phone call she received earlier this year from Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, who wanted to discuss the judicial branch’s perspective on some of the issues she saw in the child welfare system.

“The design of the summit is to bring together people from a broad spectrum of views that are involved with the child welfare system to talk about how we can create better paths forward,” Luckert said. “Having all perspectives at the table is critical.”

Masterson said he hoped to set aside the dynamics of the 2024 election year and find bipartisan solutions.

The Andover Republican made Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s failure to fix the foster care system&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/23/governors-race-schmidt-denounces-kellys-approach-to-flaws-in-kansas-foster-care-system/">a talking point during last year’s gubernatorial campaign</a>. But on Tuesday, he blamed “the media” for using foster care “as a political football.”

“The tragedy we have is these things become politically engaged,” Masterson said. “It really is a tragedy, because these kids, they don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat, or if your title is senator, governor, chief, it doesn’t matter. They need help. That’s where the focus needs to be.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692804441077.png" alt="Kansas Supreme Court Justice Melissa Standridge announces at an Aug. 22, 2023, conference in Topeka that a child welfare summit will take place next year. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Supreme Court Justice Melissa Standridge announces at an Aug. 22, 2023, conference in Topeka that a child welfare summit will take place next year. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Supreme Court Justice Melissa Standridge on Tuesday announced plans for a two-day summit next year to brainstorm innovative solutions for problems surrounding child welfare in Kansas.Standridge said the summit would be a collaboration among the three branches of government, the legal community, child welfare partners and experts, and families and children with lived experience within the foster care system.She announced the summit during a daylong training program on child welfare law in Topeka, where she was joined by&nbsp;Chief Justice Marla Luckert, Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard, Senate President Ty Masterson, and House Majority Leader Chris Croft.Standridge said her enthusiasm for the summit was driven by her personal experience as a foster and adoptive parent, extensive pro bono work as an attorney for parents, and the application of child welfare law in more than 100 cases as a Court of Appeals judge and Supreme Court justice.“There’s not much that gets me more energized than helping families and children who are struggling,” Standridge said.The two-day summit is scheduled for April 15 and 16 in Topeka.Standridge said it would involve a team from each of the 31 judicial districts in the state, and teams would include a child in need of care judge, child in need of care prosecutor, parent attorney, guardian ad litem, DCF representative, caseworker from a foster care contractor, local law enforcement officer, court-appointed special advocate, Citizen Review Board member and court services officer.The teams will collaborate with individuals from county health departments, schools, juvenile justice system, mental health providers, managed care providers and the Legislature, as well as former foster kids, biological and foster families, and faith-based organizations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692804497865.png" alt=" Senate President Ty Masterson says he hopes to overcome election year dynamics and find bipartisan solutions to foster care problems. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Senate President Ty Masterson says he hopes to overcome election year dynamics and find bipartisan solutions to foster care problems. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Luckert said plans for the summit evolved from a phone call she received earlier this year from Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, who wanted to discuss the judicial branch’s perspective on some of the issues she saw in the child welfare system.“The design of the summit is to bring together people from a broad spectrum of views that are involved with the child welfare system to talk about how we can create better paths forward,” Luckert said. “Having all perspectives at the table is critical.”Masterson said he hoped to set aside the dynamics of the 2024 election year and find bipartisan solutions.The Andover Republican made Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s failure to fix the foster care system&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/23/governors-race-schmidt-denounces-kellys-approach-to-flaws-in-kansas-foster-care-system/">a talking point during last year’s gubernatorial campaign</a>. But on Tuesday, he blamed “the media” for using foster care “as a political football.”“The tragedy we have is these things become politically engaged,” Masterson said. “It really is a tragedy, because these kids, they don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat, or if your title is senator, governor, chief, it doesn’t matter. They need help. That’s where the focus needs to be.”

Kansas Supreme Court plans child welfare summit 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas is glad to see prices at the pump start to give some relief to drivers.

"For drivers, we're in a good trend," Steward said. "In terms of gas prices, we've seen them fall over the past couple of weeks after a couple of months of headed upward, which certainly got people's attention, because we had some pretty big jumps there. Right now, we're at $3.60 a gallon on average in Kansas and that's down six cents from a week ago."

Kansas currently has the 13th&nbsp;lowest average gas price in the nation.&nbsp;

"Crude oil prices, we are at about $79 per barrel," Steward said. "A couple weeks ago, we were in the $83 per barrel range. That reduction in crude oil prices has, it looks like, started to show up at the gas pumps in terms of a little bit lower prices."

Though the remnants of Harold are still breaking up in Texas, there hasn't been a reason for the weather to stop oil refining yet this season.

"Thus far, we haven't seen any tropical impact to the refineries on the Gulf Coast, fortunately," Steward said.

Between the potential for a demand bump with Labor Day and the Atlantic hurricane season still active, it's not clear whether this week's drop can be sustained in the near term.

NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas is glad to see prices at the pump start to give some relief to drivers."For drivers, we're in a good trend," Steward said. "In terms of gas prices, we've seen them fall over the past couple of weeks after a couple of months of headed upward, which certainly got people's attention, because we had some pretty big jumps there. Right now, we're at $3.60 a gallon on average in Kansas and that's down six cents from a week ago."Kansas currently has the 13th&nbsp;lowest average gas price in the nation.&nbsp;"Crude oil prices, we are at about $79 per barrel," Steward said. "A couple weeks ago, we were in the $83 per barrel range. That reduction in crude oil prices has, it looks like, started to show up at the gas pumps in terms of a little bit lower prices."Though the remnants of Harold are still breaking up in Texas, there hasn't been a reason for the weather to stop oil refining yet this season."Thus far, we haven't seen any tropical impact to the refineries on the Gulf Coast, fortunately," Steward said.Between the potential for a demand bump with Labor Day and the Atlantic hurricane season still active, it's not clear whether this week's drop can be sustained in the near term.

AAA: Gas prices in Kansas headed down

MOSCOW (AP) —Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-russia-nuclear-647a545db4e4628676ff7db5b1bded34">brief armed rebellion</a>&nbsp;against the Russian military earlier this year, was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow on Wednesday, killing all 10 people on board, according to Russia’s civil aviation agency.

The crash immediately raised suspicions since the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted the mutiny.

At the time, President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion as “treason” and a “stab in the back” and vowed to avenge it. But the charges against Prigozhin were soon dropped, and the Wagner chief was allowed to retreat to Belarus, while reportedly popping back in Russia from time to time.

The crash also comes after Russian media reported that a top general linked to Prigozhin was dismissed from his position as commander of the air force.

A plane carrying three pilots and seven passengers that was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg went down more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital, according to officials cited by Russia’s state news agency Tass.

Russia’s civilian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, quickly reported that he was on the manifest and later said that, according to airline, he was indeed on board.

Earlier, Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine, said he talked to Wagner commanders who also confirmed that Prigozhin was aboard. Prigozhin's top associate, Dmitry Utkin, whose call sign Wagner became the company’s name, was as well, according to Rogov.

“We have seen the reports. If confirmed, no one should be surprised,” said U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Keir Giles, a Russia expert with the international affairs think-tank Chatham House, had urged caution about reports of Prigozhin’s death. He said “multiple individuals have changed their name to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as part of his efforts to obfuscate his travels.”

“Let’s not be surprised if he pops up shortly in a new video from Africa,” Giles said.

Flight tracking data reviewed by The Associated Press showed a private jet that Prigozhin had used previously took off from Moscow on Wednesday evening and its transponder signal disappeared minutes later.

The signal stopped suddenly while the plane was at altitude and traveling at speed. In an image posted by a pro-Wagner social media account showing burning wreckage, a partial tail number matching a jet previously used by Prigozhin could be seen.

Videos shared by the pro-Wagner Telegram channel Grey Zone showed a plane dropping like a stone from a large cloud of smoke, twisting widely as it falls. Such freefalls can occur when an aircraft sustains severe damage, and a frame-by-frame analysis by The AP of two videos were consistent with some sort of explosion mid-flight. The images appeared to show the plane is missing a wing.

Russia’s Investigative Committee opened an investigation into the crash on charges of violating air safety rules, as is typical when they open such probes.

Even if confirmed, Prigozhin’s death is unlikely to have an effect on Russia's war in Ukraine, where his forces fought some of the fiercest battles over the last 18 months.

His troops pulled back from front-line action after capturing Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, in late May. Bakhmut had been the subject of arguably the bloodiest battles in the entire war, with the Russian forces struggling to seize it for months.

After the rebellion, Russian officials said his fighters would only be able to return to Ukraine as part of the regular army.

This week, Prigozhin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russian-mercenaries-prigozhin-africa-c6292738226d03a141d01122adb6fd4b">posted his first recruitment video since the mutiny</a>, saying that Wagner is conducting reconnaissance and search activities, and “making Russia even greater on all continents, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russia-coup-niger-military-force-e0e1108b58a9e955af465a3efe6605c0">Africa</a>&nbsp;even more free.”

Also this week, Russian media reported, citing anonymous sources, that Gen. Sergei Surovikin was dismissed from his position of the commander of Russia's air force. Surovikin, who at one point led Russia's operation in Ukraine, hasn't been seen in public since the mutiny, when he recorded a video address urging Prigozhin's forces to pull back.

As news of the crash was breaking, Putin spoke at an event commemorating the Battle of Kursk, hailing the heroes of Russia's war in Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sept. of 2022&nbsp; via AP" />
 <figcaption>Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sept. of 2022&nbsp; via AP</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) —Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-russia-nuclear-647a545db4e4628676ff7db5b1bded34">brief armed rebellion</a>&nbsp;against the Russian military earlier this year, was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow on Wednesday, killing all 10 people on board, according to Russia’s civil aviation agency.The crash immediately raised suspicions since the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted the mutiny.At the time, President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion as “treason” and a “stab in the back” and vowed to avenge it. But the charges against Prigozhin were soon dropped, and the Wagner chief was allowed to retreat to Belarus, while reportedly popping back in Russia from time to time.The crash also comes after Russian media reported that a top general linked to Prigozhin was dismissed from his position as commander of the air force.A plane carrying three pilots and seven passengers that was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg went down more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital, according to officials cited by Russia’s state news agency Tass.Russia’s civilian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, quickly reported that he was on the manifest and later said that, according to airline, he was indeed on board.Earlier, Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine, said he talked to Wagner commanders who also confirmed that Prigozhin was aboard. Prigozhin's top associate, Dmitry Utkin, whose call sign Wagner became the company’s name, was as well, according to Rogov.“We have seen the reports. If confirmed, no one should be surprised,” said U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.Keir Giles, a Russia expert with the international affairs think-tank Chatham House, had urged caution about reports of Prigozhin’s death. He said “multiple individuals have changed their name to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as part of his efforts to obfuscate his travels.”“Let’s not be surprised if he pops up shortly in a new video from Africa,” Giles said.Flight tracking data reviewed by The Associated Press showed a private jet that Prigozhin had used previously took off from Moscow on Wednesday evening and its transponder signal disappeared minutes later.The signal stopped suddenly while the plane was at altitude and traveling at speed. In an image posted by a pro-Wagner social media account showing burning wreckage, a partial tail number matching a jet previously used by Prigozhin could be seen.Videos shared by the pro-Wagner Telegram channel Grey Zone showed a plane dropping like a stone from a large cloud of smoke, twisting widely as it falls. Such freefalls can occur when an aircraft sustains severe damage, and a frame-by-frame analysis by The AP of two videos were consistent with some sort of explosion mid-flight. The images appeared to show the plane is missing a wing.Russia’s Investigative Committee opened an investigation into the crash on charges of violating air safety rules, as is typical when they open such probes.Even if confirmed, Prigozhin’s death is unlikely to have an effect on Russia's war in Ukraine, where his forces fought some of the fiercest battles over the last 18 months.His troops pulled back from front-line action after capturing Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, in late May. Bakhmut had been the subject of arguably the bloodiest battles in the entire war, with the Russian forces struggling to seize it for months.After the rebellion, Russian officials said his fighters would only be able to return to Ukraine as part of the regular army.This week, Prigozhin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russian-mercenaries-prigozhin-africa-c6292738226d03a141d01122adb6fd4b">posted his first recruitment video since the mutiny</a>, saying that Wagner is conducting reconnaissance and search activities, and “making Russia even greater on all continents, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russia-coup-niger-military-force-e0e1108b58a9e955af465a3efe6605c0">Africa</a>&nbsp;even more free.”Also this week, Russian media reported, citing anonymous sources, that Gen. Sergei Surovikin was dismissed from his position of the commander of Russia's air force. Surovikin, who at one point led Russia's operation in Ukraine, hasn't been seen in public since the mutiny, when he recorded a video address urging Prigozhin's forces to pull back.As news of the crash was breaking, Putin spoke at an event commemorating the Battle of Kursk, hailing the heroes of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Report: Putin foe who staged mutiny dies in plane crash

By&nbsp;CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/woman-who-shouted-shame-following-critical-gun-bill-passage-is-banned-from-nebraska-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — A $5.2 million gift to Creighton University, from a family whose name is known also for growing ConAgra Foods, will create a new scholarship fund to help meet a critical need for Nebraska nursing leaders.

The Harper Family Foundation gift was described as historic based on its size, being one of the largest gifts made to the College of Nursing.

The scholarship program will pay for the bulk of tuition costs for 30 nursing students, from their arrival on Creighton’s campus to graduation day.

“Creighton nurses are leaders who advance quickly at the hospitals and clinics where they practice,” said Catherine Todero, dean of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://degrees.creighton.edu/nursing?program=ABSN&amp;&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;utm_content=Nursing&amp;utm_term=creighton+school+of+nursing&amp;cq_cmp=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwloynBhBbEiwAGY25dEKuKw-DI0S1LT38dWVFwUFUY2F5La_T4zLTjZk8BNYfW89UB34IXhoC8YAQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">College of Nursing</a>. “And now, the Harper Scholars program will help us attract top talent and form even more innovative leaders.”

The scholarship namesakes are the late Charles “Mike” Harper and his wife, Joan “Josie” Bruggema Harper, who moved their family to Omaha in the 1970s when he became the CEO of Conagra. Josie was a nurse.

Creighton is recruiting now for the first cohort of Harper Scholars to begin in the 2024 fall semester.

The scholarship program comes as the nursing college moves to Creighton’s new $75 million CL and Rachel&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alumni.creighton.edu/news-events/news/werner-center-groundbreaking-ceremony-2021">Werner Center</a>&nbsp;for Health Sciences Education, which is set to open next month. There, nursing students are to join medical, physical therapy, pharmacy and other health disciplines in a collaborative learning environment.

University officials said nurses can’t arrive fast enough.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/new-report-sets-off-alarm-about-nurse-shortage-and-patient-care-in-nebraska/">By 2025,</a>&nbsp;they noted, Nebraska faces an estimated shortage of nearly 5,500 nurses.&nbsp;

The Harper gift will help fund a leadership program led by faculty, a senior trip at the Institute for Latin American Concern in the Dominican Republic, and a research and travel fund. The funds also create a program director position to oversee programming and clinical and research placement.

The Harpers have long supported the city of Omaha and Creighton, a news release said. The family established a freshman leadership scholarship and a scholarship that paid tribute to a former Creighton president, the Rev. Timothy Lannon.&nbsp;

The Harpers endowed professorships, and are the namesakes of the Mike and Josie Harper Center at the Creighton&nbsp; campus.

Betsy and Chris Murphy, Harper Family Foundation trustees who also are the Harpers’ daughter and son-in-law, said they wanted the foundation’s next project to be significant and impactful. “Because one of the guiding principles of Mike Harper was a focus on ‘the cannonball.’ Not a lot of little things but one&nbsp;big&nbsp;thing that can make a difference to the mission of the organization,” said Chris Murphy.

“Our hope is that for nursing students around the country, this scholarship will be&nbsp;the&nbsp;scholarship to go for,” Murphy said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692804853640.png" alt="Nursing students at Creighton University (Courtesy of Creighton University)" />
 <figcaption>Nursing students at Creighton University (Courtesy of Creighton University)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/woman-who-shouted-shame-following-critical-gun-bill-passage-is-banned-from-nebraska-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — A $5.2 million gift to Creighton University, from a family whose name is known also for growing ConAgra Foods, will create a new scholarship fund to help meet a critical need for Nebraska nursing leaders.The Harper Family Foundation gift was described as historic based on its size, being one of the largest gifts made to the College of Nursing.The scholarship program will pay for the bulk of tuition costs for 30 nursing students, from their arrival on Creighton’s campus to graduation day.“Creighton nurses are leaders who advance quickly at the hospitals and clinics where they practice,” said Catherine Todero, dean of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://degrees.creighton.edu/nursing?program=ABSN&amp;&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;utm_content=Nursing&amp;utm_term=creighton+school+of+nursing&amp;cq_cmp=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwloynBhBbEiwAGY25dEKuKw-DI0S1LT38dWVFwUFUY2F5La_T4zLTjZk8BNYfW89UB34IXhoC8YAQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">College of Nursing</a>. “And now, the Harper Scholars program will help us attract top talent and form even more innovative leaders.”The scholarship namesakes are the late Charles “Mike” Harper and his wife, Joan “Josie” Bruggema Harper, who moved their family to Omaha in the 1970s when he became the CEO of Conagra. Josie was a nurse.Creighton is recruiting now for the first cohort of Harper Scholars to begin in the 2024 fall semester.The scholarship program comes as the nursing college moves to Creighton’s new $75 million CL and Rachel&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alumni.creighton.edu/news-events/news/werner-center-groundbreaking-ceremony-2021">Werner Center</a>&nbsp;for Health Sciences Education, which is set to open next month. There, nursing students are to join medical, physical therapy, pharmacy and other health disciplines in a collaborative learning environment.University officials said nurses can’t arrive fast enough.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/new-report-sets-off-alarm-about-nurse-shortage-and-patient-care-in-nebraska/">By 2025,</a>&nbsp;they noted, Nebraska faces an estimated shortage of nearly 5,500 nurses.&nbsp;The Harper gift will help fund a leadership program led by faculty, a senior trip at the Institute for Latin American Concern in the Dominican Republic, and a research and travel fund. The funds also create a program director position to oversee programming and clinical and research placement.The Harpers have long supported the city of Omaha and Creighton, a news release said. The family established a freshman leadership scholarship and a scholarship that paid tribute to a former Creighton president, the Rev. Timothy Lannon.&nbsp;The Harpers endowed professorships, and are the namesakes of the Mike and Josie Harper Center at the Creighton&nbsp; campus.Betsy and Chris Murphy, Harper Family Foundation trustees who also are the Harpers’ daughter and son-in-law, said they wanted the foundation’s next project to be significant and impactful. “Because one of the guiding principles of Mike Harper was a focus on ‘the cannonball.’ Not a lot of little things but one&nbsp;big&nbsp;thing that can make a difference to the mission of the organization,” said Chris Murphy.“Our hope is that for nursing students around the country, this scholarship will be&nbsp;the&nbsp;scholarship to go for,” Murphy said.

‘Historic’ gift to Creighton University aims to help nursing shortage

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged child sex crimes in southwest Kansas.

On August, 21, police arrested 30-year-old Hector Ontiveros in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred involving a 15-year-old female victim known to him, according to Garden City&nbsp; Police.

Ontiveros is in jail on requested charges that include 9 counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child, 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy,&nbsp; 3 counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child and 2 counts of Battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692756161349.png" alt="Ontiveros-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Ontiveros-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged child sex crimes in southwest Kansas.On August, 21, police arrested 30-year-old Hector Ontiveros in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred involving a 15-year-old female victim known to him, according to Garden City&nbsp; Police.Ontiveros is in jail on requested charges that include 9 counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child, 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy,&nbsp; 3 counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child and 2 counts of Battery.

SW Kansas man accused of sex crimes with 15-year-old

NEW YORK (AP) — Eight presidential candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary so far. Former President Donald Trump won’t participate Wednesday night

&nbsp;More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the federal right to abortion</a>, the issue has at times dominated the discussion among the Republicans seeking their party's 2024 presidential nomination and is sure to be on display during the debate Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Some of the division among the candidates has come over whether there should be a national ban on the practice — and after how many weeks — now that the justices have returned specific debate over abortion legality to the states.

A look at how the issue of abortion is playing out among Republican and Democratic candidates:

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">DONALD TRUMP</a>

The former president, the current GOP front-runner, has often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-2024-president-desantis-pence-scott-e9f3a4287aa556a36f967cf45525493d">sidestepped the issue of abortion</a>, even as Republicans across the country have celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.

In April, a major anti-abortion group assailed Trump on the issue, saying his contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, is a “morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.”

The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-south-carolina-state-government-us-republican-party-2022-midterm-elections-e12dcf419bc5272063a847436f9a237c">would not support any White House candidate</a>&nbsp;who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban.

Trump, who has referred to himself as “the most pro-life president in American history, has pointed to his successful nomination of three conservatives justices, a move that tilted the court to the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Earlier this year, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-donald-trump-abortion-florida-d536c67609030a445cab60329b919e75">characterized as “too harsh”</a>&nbsp;a measure signed into law by fellow contender Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban abortions in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">RON DESANTIS</a>

While DeSantis has been governor, Florida passed an abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. But DeSantis, who says he is “pro-life,” has suggested that individual states should decide the issue, adding in a recent interview that he is “running on doing things that I know I can accomplish.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized DeSantis for not supporting a national ban on the procedure,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-abortion-desantis-2024-154bed7a8b78872e341413339b452db0">calling DeSantis' position “unacceptable”</a>&nbsp;as he runs for president.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-iowa-launch-2024-republican-presidential-campaign-faa2082d8d3269dc73a28c893188c2ff">MIKE PENCE</a>

The former vice president supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant.

And he has advocated pulling from the market one of two widely used abortion pills — a medication with a better safety record than Viagra and penicillin. Sensing that such a position may be viewed as too extreme in a general election, no other major presidential candidate has joined his calls.

In a recent Associated Press interview, Pence went even further, saying abortion should be banned, even when a pregnancy is deemed nonviable. Such a standard would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-law-lawsuit-6346a3b98dd3ece069177f88172ce7b8">force women to carry pregnancies to term</a>&nbsp;even when doctors have determined there is no chance a baby will survive outside the womb.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-desantis-abortion-supreme-court-3b1937a4faf327b96ded2afed064a988">Earlier this month</a>&nbsp;while touring the Iowa State Fair, Pence said he was expecting to use the debate as an opportunity to call out Trump and DeSantis for not insisting on a national abortion ban.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-scott-2024-presidential-race-4a73e00db2295afbc4b07d1c6bb64811">TIM SCOTT</a>

The South Carolina senator has long voiced his opposition to abortion, pledging that as president “I would sign the most conservative pro-life legislation you can bring to my desk.”

He has signaled support for a federal ban on the practice for as early as 12 weeks and also support for a bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would ban abortions nationally after 15 weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692739004740.png" alt="Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Eight presidential candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary so far. Former President Donald Trump won’t participate Wednesday night&nbsp;More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the federal right to abortion</a>, the issue has at times dominated the discussion among the Republicans seeking their party's 2024 presidential nomination and is sure to be on display during the debate Wednesday in Milwaukee.Some of the division among the candidates has come over whether there should be a national ban on the practice — and after how many weeks — now that the justices have returned specific debate over abortion legality to the states.A look at how the issue of abortion is playing out among Republican and Democratic candidates:REPUBLICANS <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">DONALD TRUMP</a>The former president, the current GOP front-runner, has often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-2024-president-desantis-pence-scott-e9f3a4287aa556a36f967cf45525493d">sidestepped the issue of abortion</a>, even as Republicans across the country have celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.In April, a major anti-abortion group assailed Trump on the issue, saying his contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, is a “morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.”The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-south-carolina-state-government-us-republican-party-2022-midterm-elections-e12dcf419bc5272063a847436f9a237c">would not support any White House candidate</a>&nbsp;who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban.Trump, who has referred to himself as “the most pro-life president in American history, has pointed to his successful nomination of three conservatives justices, a move that tilted the court to the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Earlier this year, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-donald-trump-abortion-florida-d536c67609030a445cab60329b919e75">characterized as “too harsh”</a>&nbsp;a measure signed into law by fellow contender Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban abortions in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">RON DESANTIS</a>While DeSantis has been governor, Florida passed an abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. But DeSantis, who says he is “pro-life,” has suggested that individual states should decide the issue, adding in a recent interview that he is “running on doing things that I know I can accomplish.”Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized DeSantis for not supporting a national ban on the procedure,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-abortion-desantis-2024-154bed7a8b78872e341413339b452db0">calling DeSantis' position “unacceptable”</a>&nbsp;as he runs for president.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-iowa-launch-2024-republican-presidential-campaign-faa2082d8d3269dc73a28c893188c2ff">MIKE PENCE</a>The former vice president supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant.And he has advocated pulling from the market one of two widely used abortion pills — a medication with a better safety record than Viagra and penicillin. Sensing that such a position may be viewed as too extreme in a general election, no other major presidential candidate has joined his calls.In a recent Associated Press interview, Pence went even further, saying abortion should be banned, even when a pregnancy is deemed nonviable. Such a standard would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-law-lawsuit-6346a3b98dd3ece069177f88172ce7b8">force women to carry pregnancies to term</a>&nbsp;even when doctors have determined there is no chance a baby will survive outside the womb.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-desantis-abortion-supreme-court-3b1937a4faf327b96ded2afed064a988">Earlier this month</a>&nbsp;while touring the Iowa State Fair, Pence said he was expecting to use the debate as an opportunity to call out Trump and DeSantis for not insisting on a national abortion ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-scott-2024-presidential-race-4a73e00db2295afbc4b07d1c6bb64811">TIM SCOTT</a>The South Carolina senator has long voiced his opposition to abortion, pledging that as president “I would sign the most conservative pro-life legislation you can bring to my desk.”He has signaled support for a federal ban on the practice for as early as 12 weeks and also support for a bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would ban abortions nationally after 15 weeks.In 2021, Scott also co-sponsored legislation that would have established a constitutional right to life from “the moment of fertilization.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-2024-presidential-campaign-formal-launch-bb059ae113e39152f5007864b4d139ae">NIKKI HALEY</a>Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.But Haley has not specified a time frame for after how many weeks she feels abortion should be outlawed, noting that passing such a measure would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress, and advocating for “consensus” around the issue. She’s said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban.The former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said “no one has been honest” about how difficult a ban could be to achieve, in a closely divided federal government.Haley campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said in June that she would "sign pro-life legislation that includes exceptions for rape, incest, and for the life of the mother,” suggesting she may be opposed to an exception for non-viable pregnancies — but declining to clarify.As governor, Haley signed an abortion ban after about 20 weeks. That law is still in effect while a six-week ban, passed by state lawmakers, is held up in the courts.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-and-politics-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-ohio-e1c1cbe47763bd979b6b47557aee043d">VIVEK RAMASWAMY</a>The wealthy biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.” has said he would not support a federal ban on abortion because ”the federal government should stay out of it.” He has voiced support for states that have passed six-week bans.Like some other hopefuls, he has pushed for more policies that encourage adoption and better child care.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50">CHRIS CHRISTIE</a>The former two-term New Jersey governor has argued that the issue of abortion should be carried out in the states, not at the federal level.In a CNN town hall, Christie said that “the federal government should not be involved unless and until there’s a consensus around the country from the 50 states making their own decisions about what it should be.”Seeking local office in the 1990s, Christie identified himself as “pro-choice,” saying he changed his position after hearing his daughter’s heartbeat at 13 weeks.As governor, he vetoed millions in state funding for Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics. Before the Supreme Court's decision that overturned Roe, Christie joined Dannenfelser in meetings other GOP governors to discuss the issue and how it might play out at the state level.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-presidential-campaign-2024-3a04fdae989505d850545836bd0c16b0">ASA HUTCHINSON</a>The former two-term Arkansas governor has said the issue of abortion should stay in the states without a Republican supermajority in Congress.As governor in 2021, Hutchinson signed a near-total ban on abortions that did not include rape and incest exceptions.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doug-burgum-north-dakota-president-1b187576423968c422d2adbd70c9b3dc">DOUG BURGUM</a>In April, the two-term North Dakota governor signed one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country. The measure would allow abortions up to six weeks' gestation in cases of rape or incest, or medical emergencies. After that marker, no exceptions aside from some medical emergencies, such as ectopic pregnancies, are allowed at any stage of pregnancy.Burgum has mostly said the issue of abortion should be left to the states and has indicated he would not support a federal ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-elder-2024-election-a50db206b9c7b981639c05f4f59ae289">LARRY ELDER</a>The conservative talk radio host opposes abortion but has said he would not support a federal ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">PERRY JOHNSON</a>The businessman describes himself as “pro-life.” When he ran for Michigan governor in 2022, Johnson told reporters “two wrongs don't make a right” when asked if he would rule out banning abortion in cases of sexual assault.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/francis-suarez-miami-2024-presidential-race-ea46292142dfac98567f6745de69358a">FRANCIS SUAREZ</a>The Miami mayor has said that he would support a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions, including rape, incest and the mother's health.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/will-hurd-2024-republican-presidential-primary-710f6f0d4bb6cc1f5046e20ed17ef602">WILL HURD</a>The former Texas congressman has said he would sign a 15-week federal abortion ban, although he has said that he doesn't see it as realistic that Congress would pass such a measure.While in the House, Hurd twice voted in favor of a 20-week ban.DEMOCRATS <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">JOE BIDEN</a>The president supports abortion access and has said he would veto a national ban on the practice. As a senator, Biden supported abortion restrictions like the 1976 Hyde Amendment — which states that Medicaid won’t pay for abortions unless the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest — but said during the 2020 campaign he had shifted course.The aftermath of last year's Supreme Court ruling has framed much of Biden's presidency on abortion. He signed an executive order designed to strengthen and promote access to contraception.Mounting a rallying cry to 2022 midterms voters to seat more Democratic lawmakers who could possibly codify abortion access nationally, Biden has also directed his administration to take steps to protect access to abortion care. This includes making mifepristone — one of two pills used in medication abortions — easier to obtain, and ensuring members of the military can access reproductive health care.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-biden-president-2024-democrat-dd9d6ecf17b54f4b32e7b17778540431">ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.</a>The author and environmental lawyer has spoken in favor of “bodily autonomy” and describes himself as “pro-choice.”A nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, he has also said “it’s a woman’s choice, and it’s solely up to the woman” in terms of how a pregnancy should be handled in its first trimester.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marianne-williamson-president-2024-biden-democratic-primary-14e59754bed9e0c54dad4fdfbbc1fa6b">MARIANNE WILLIAMSON</a>The self-help author's campaign website describes her as “one hundred percent pro-choice.” Williamson has also noted that she believes the decision to have an abortion or not “lies solely with a pregnant woman, according to the dictates of her conscience and in communion with the God of her understanding.”___