By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/06/kansas-towns-library-lease-renewed-after-months-of-debate-about-lgbtq-content/">Kansas Reflector</a>

ST. MARYS — The Pottawatomie 
Wabaunsee Regional Library’s lease is safe for another year, following 
community uproar and legal pressure from the American Civil Liberties 
Union of Kansas.

The Saint Marys City Commission voted to extend the lease, without restrictions, during a meeting Tuesday night. The
 lease renewal was up for debate because the library had refused to 
accept a renewal clause asking for the removal of all LGBTQ and socially
 divisive books from the shelves.

Judith Cremer, the
 library director, said she was relieved by the renewal, though she 
didn’t understand some of the claims made by commissioners at earlier 
meetings, referencing their claims that many parents were angry at the 
library. Cremer said community response to the library has always been 
positive.

“They don’t know us, so they need to 
come and visit and we need to get to know each other, because we’re both
 in the same job, we’re doing the same job. So hopefully we can get them
 to understand this a little better,” Cremer said.

The commissioners have been discussing whether to renew the lease — which ends Dec. 31 — for the past few months.

A lease proposed by Commissioner 
Matthew Childs stipulated the library not “supply, distribute, loan, 
encourage, or coerce acceptance of or approval of explicit sexual or 
racially or socially divisive material, or events (such as ‘drag queen 
story hours’) that support the LGBTQ+ or critical theory ideology or 
practice.”

Commissioners said the outpouring of 
public support for the library informed their decision to extend the 
lease by one year. The four members who were present for Tuesday’s 
meeting all voted in favor of the one-year renewal.

Childs, who was elected mayor by the 
other commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting, said the issue now was 
discussing how to keep the library in line with community standards, 
though he didn’t clarify what these standards would look like, and 
refused to give clarification or comments on the situation to the Kansas
 Reflector.

“It was very clear from that meeting 
that citizens want the library to remain open,” Childs said. “Everyone 
agreed on that. So there’s really no question about that. The question 
is, how do we assure the safety of the community and that the community 
is getting what they want in the library? And that’s kind of up to the 
community.”

All members of the commission are 
members of Society of St. Pius X, or SSPX, an extreme Catholic religious
 sect. At a previous commission meeting, Commissioner Richard Binsfeld said their religion had an impact on their views of the library.

“We do go to the church, yes, all five of us,” Binsfeld said. “I
 think it has an influence on our decisions because we make decisions on
 our faith and morals, so certainly we’re going to be influenced by 
that. It’s definitely going to have a bearing on that certainly, without
 question.”&nbsp;

Gerard Kleinsmith was elected to the position of vice mayor at the meeting, replacing Francis Awerkamp, a Republican who serves in the Kansas House.

Kleinsmith said he didn’t want his 
tax dollars paying for books he didn’t approve of, saying the library 
didn’t reflect the interests of people in the county.

“If you do a search of the Potawatomi
 library and look for actual books on their shelves, there are six books
 authored by Secretary Clinton on the shelves in Pottawattamie County 
Library,” Kleinsmith said. “There are none authored by President Trump. 
Not even ‘The Art of the Deal,’ that he wrote long before he was 
President. That’s just one example.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670423277908.png" alt="Judith Cremer, library director, said she’s optimistic about the future of the library with the lease renewal. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Judith Cremer, library director, said she’s optimistic about the future of the library with the lease renewal. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/06/kansas-towns-library-lease-renewed-after-months-of-debate-about-lgbtq-content/">Kansas Reflector</a>ST. MARYS — The Pottawatomie 
Wabaunsee Regional Library’s lease is safe for another year, following 
community uproar and legal pressure from the American Civil Liberties 
Union of Kansas.The Saint Marys City Commission voted to extend the lease, without restrictions, during a meeting Tuesday night. The
 lease renewal was up for debate because the library had refused to 
accept a renewal clause asking for the removal of all LGBTQ and socially
 divisive books from the shelves.Judith Cremer, the
 library director, said she was relieved by the renewal, though she 
didn’t understand some of the claims made by commissioners at earlier 
meetings, referencing their claims that many parents were angry at the 
library. Cremer said community response to the library has always been 
positive.“They don’t know us, so they need to 
come and visit and we need to get to know each other, because we’re both
 in the same job, we’re doing the same job. So hopefully we can get them
 to understand this a little better,” Cremer said.The commissioners have been discussing whether to renew the lease — which ends Dec. 31 — for the past few months.A lease proposed by Commissioner 
Matthew Childs stipulated the library not “supply, distribute, loan, 
encourage, or coerce acceptance of or approval of explicit sexual or 
racially or socially divisive material, or events (such as ‘drag queen 
story hours’) that support the LGBTQ+ or critical theory ideology or 
practice.”Commissioners said the outpouring of 
public support for the library informed their decision to extend the 
lease by one year. The four members who were present for Tuesday’s 
meeting all voted in favor of the one-year renewal.Childs, who was elected mayor by the 
other commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting, said the issue now was 
discussing how to keep the library in line with community standards, 
though he didn’t clarify what these standards would look like, and 
refused to give clarification or comments on the situation to the Kansas
 Reflector.“It was very clear from that meeting 
that citizens want the library to remain open,” Childs said. “Everyone 
agreed on that. So there’s really no question about that. The question 
is, how do we assure the safety of the community and that the community 
is getting what they want in the library? And that’s kind of up to the 
community.”All members of the commission are 
members of Society of St. Pius X, or SSPX, an extreme Catholic religious
 sect. At a previous commission meeting, Commissioner Richard Binsfeld said their religion had an impact on their views of the library.“We do go to the church, yes, all five of us,” Binsfeld said. “I
 think it has an influence on our decisions because we make decisions on
 our faith and morals, so certainly we’re going to be influenced by 
that. It’s definitely going to have a bearing on that certainly, without
 question.”&nbsp;Gerard Kleinsmith was elected to the position of vice mayor at the meeting, replacing Francis Awerkamp, a Republican who serves in the Kansas House.Kleinsmith said he didn’t want his 
tax dollars paying for books he didn’t approve of, saying the library 
didn’t reflect the interests of people in the county.“If you do a search of the Potawatomi
 library and look for actual books on their shelves, there are six books
 authored by Secretary Clinton on the shelves in Pottawattamie County 
Library,” Kleinsmith said. “There are none authored by President Trump. 
Not even ‘The Art of the Deal,’ that he wrote long before he was 
President. That’s just one example.”

Kansas town's library lease renewed after months of debate

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

The rush is on as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season ramps up! It seems like there’s never enough hours in the days, or days in the weeks leading up to Christmas. &nbsp; As a parent, small business owner, community member and farmer, there’s just a lot to accomplish immediately after washing the dishes from our Thanksgiving meal. &nbsp; As a parent, keeping track of the Christmas parties and holiday-themed school days for my two young children requires organization and focus.&nbsp; &nbsp; Throughout the year, I keep track of the "normal" school things needed to be done like the minutes we read nightly, the weekly spelling words needing attention at home, and making sure the kids have their library books read and ready to return on their assigned library days.&nbsp; &nbsp; But this month I’m hyper alert to knowing when “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day”&nbsp;is compared to when “Santa’s Ho-Ho-Hoedown Day”&nbsp;is to ensure my kids participate in at least some of their school’s countdown to Christmas Break spirit days – 15 themed spirit days in all.&nbsp; &nbsp; One of my greatest fears this month has become the thought of sending the kids to school wearing their pajamas for “Dream a Little Dream Day”&nbsp;when they should be wearing a scarf for “Deck Your Neck Day” or forgetting to dig out Hawaiian shirts for “Christmas Vacation Day”.&nbsp; &nbsp; I’ve concluded that if there are prizes for most spirited this month at school, the Baldwin kids probably won’t make the cut. I’ll consider it a win if I remember to send lunch money on the day the school serves their Christmas ham meal later this month! &nbsp; On the farm, there’s a list of things we try to get done every December. Currently, that list has us trying to get fields fertilized before any potential snow falls. This responsibility mainly falls on my husband as I dedicate my days fulfilling holiday orders and making multiple trips to the post office for our small business.&nbsp; &nbsp; There are parties and practices and community events and performances and games and top-secret shopping trips also on my December calendar. &nbsp; My December started out with an incredibly busy day, which transitioned into an equally busy evening consisting of shuttling kids from school to basketball practice and then home for showers and food, only to drive them back to town to practice their church Christmas program. I was able to briefly catch my breath after handing the kids off to my husband before making my way to choir practice.&nbsp; &nbsp; Getting home shortly before 9 that night, I collapsed on the couch ready to unwind from a busy, busy day. However, I got a phone call from my father-in-law instead.&nbsp; &nbsp; It turned out my day was not done just yet. Instead, I put on my coveralls and headed out to the barn to watch over a ewe who had just lambed.&nbsp; &nbsp; Peeking into the lambing pen that was now occupied by the ewe with her tiny, wet lamb with wobbly legs brought me a calm I had not experienced that day.&nbsp; &nbsp; Under a clear, dark December sky with stars shining bright above us, a new mother with her newborn lying in a bed of straw reminded me of the true spirit of this season. And all was calm. &nbsp; May you have at least one moment this month which causes you to pause amongst the holiday hustle and bustle in order to experience the true spirit of the season.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2022 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancherThe rush is on as the hustle and bustle of the holiday season ramps up! It seems like there’s never enough hours in the days, or days in the weeks leading up to Christmas. &nbsp; As a parent, small business owner, community member and farmer, there’s just a lot to accomplish immediately after washing the dishes from our Thanksgiving meal. &nbsp; As a parent, keeping track of the Christmas parties and holiday-themed school days for my two young children requires organization and focus.&nbsp; &nbsp; Throughout the year, I keep track of the "normal" school things needed to be done like the minutes we read nightly, the weekly spelling words needing attention at home, and making sure the kids have their library books read and ready to return on their assigned library days.&nbsp; &nbsp; But this month I’m hyper alert to knowing when “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day”&nbsp;is compared to when “Santa’s Ho-Ho-Hoedown Day”&nbsp;is to ensure my kids participate in at least some of their school’s countdown to Christmas Break spirit days – 15 themed spirit days in all.&nbsp; &nbsp; One of my greatest fears this month has become the thought of sending the kids to school wearing their pajamas for “Dream a Little Dream Day”&nbsp;when they should be wearing a scarf for “Deck Your Neck Day” or forgetting to dig out Hawaiian shirts for “Christmas Vacation Day”.&nbsp; &nbsp; I’ve concluded that if there are prizes for most spirited this month at school, the Baldwin kids probably won’t make the cut. I’ll consider it a win if I remember to send lunch money on the day the school serves their Christmas ham meal later this month! &nbsp; On the farm, there’s a list of things we try to get done every December. Currently, that list has us trying to get fields fertilized before any potential snow falls. This responsibility mainly falls on my husband as I dedicate my days fulfilling holiday orders and making multiple trips to the post office for our small business.&nbsp; &nbsp; There are parties and practices and community events and performances and games and top-secret shopping trips also on my December calendar. &nbsp; My December started out with an incredibly busy day, which transitioned into an equally busy evening consisting of shuttling kids from school to basketball practice and then home for showers and food, only to drive them back to town to practice their church Christmas program. I was able to briefly catch my breath after handing the kids off to my husband before making my way to choir practice.&nbsp; &nbsp; Getting home shortly before 9 that night, I collapsed on the couch ready to unwind from a busy, busy day. However, I got a phone call from my father-in-law instead.&nbsp; &nbsp; It turned out my day was not done just yet. Instead, I put on my coveralls and headed out to the barn to watch over a ewe who had just lambed.&nbsp; &nbsp; Peeking into the lambing pen that was now occupied by the ewe with her tiny, wet lamb with wobbly legs brought me a calm I had not experienced that day.&nbsp; &nbsp; Under a clear, dark December sky with stars shining bright above us, a new mother with her newborn lying in a bed of straw reminded me of the true spirit of this season. And all was calm. &nbsp; May you have at least one moment this month which causes you to pause amongst the holiday hustle and bustle in order to experience the true spirit of the season."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2022 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

INSIGHT: The spirt of the season

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 7, the 341st day of 2022. There are 24 days left in the year.

On Dec. 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan launched an air raid on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as well as targets in Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippines and Wake Island; the United States declared war against Japan the next day.

In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1796, electors chose John Adams to be the second president of the United States.

In 1917, during World War I, the United States declared war on Austria-Hungary.

In 1963, during the Army-Navy game, videotaped instant replay was used for the first time in a live sports telecast.

In 1972, America's last moon mission to date was launched as Apollo 17 blasted off from Cape Canaveral.

In 1982, convicted murderer Charlie Brooks Jr. became the first U.S. prisoner to be executed by injection, at a prison in Huntsville, Texas.

In 1988, a major earthquake in the Soviet Union devastated northern Armenia; official estimates put the death toll at 25-thousand.

In 2001, Taliban forces abandoned their last bastion in Afghanistan, fleeing the southern city of Kandahar.

In 2004, Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president.

In 2017, Democratic Sen. Al Franken said he would resign after a series of sexual harassment allegations; he took a parting shot at President Donald Trump, describing him as "a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault." Republican Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona said he would resign, after revealing that he discussed surrogacy with two female staffers.

In 2018, the man who drove his car into counterprotesters at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Virginia was convicted of first-degree murder; a state jury rejected defense arguments that James Alex Fields Jr. acted in self-defense.

In 2020, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles "Chuck" Yeager, the World War II fighter pilot ace and quintessential test pilot who in 1947 became the first person to fly faster than sound, died at 97.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama asked Congress for $60.4 billion in federal aid for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Superstorm Sandy (lawmakers ended up passing a $50.5 billion emergency relief measure in addition to a $9.7 billion bill to replenish the National Flood Insurance Program).

Five years ago: A white former South Carolina police officer, Michael Slager, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black motorist, Walter Scott, in North Charleston in 2015. Demonstrators in the Gaza Strip burned U.S. flags and pictures of President Trump, and Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, after Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

One year ago: During a video call lasting more than two hours, President Joe Biden warned Russia's Vladimir Putin that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. A major outage in Amazon's cloud computing network severely disrupted services at a wide range of U.S. companies for more than five hours, impacting everything from airline reservations and auto dealerships to payment apps and video streaming services.

Today's Birthdays: Linguist and political philosopher Noam Chomsky is 94. Bluegrass singer Bobby Osborne is 91. Actor Ellen Burstyn is 90. Broadcast journalist Carole Simpson is 82. Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is 75. Actor-director-producer James Keach is 75. Country singer Gary Morris is 74. Singer-songwriter Tom Waits is 73. Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, is 70. Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird is 66. Actor Priscilla Barnes is 65. Former "Tonight Show" announcer Edd Hall is 64. Rock musician Tim Butler (The Psychedelic Furs) is 64. Actor Patrick Fabian is 58. Actor Jeffrey Wright is 57. Actor C. Thomas Howell is 56. Actor Kimberly Hébert Gregory (TV: "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World") is 50. Producer-director Jason Winer is 50. Former NFL player Terrell Owens is 49. Rapper-producer Kon Artis is 48. Pop singer Nicole Appleton (All Saints) is 47. Latin singer Frankie J is 46. Country singer Sunny Sweeney is 46. Actor Chris Chalk is 45. Actor Shiri Appleby is 44. Pop-rock singer/celebrity judge Sara Bareilles is 43. Actor Jennifer Carpenter is 43. Actor Jack Huston is 40. MLB first baseman Pete Alonso is 28.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Wednesday, Dec. 7, the 341st day of 2022. There are 24 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan launched an air raid on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii as well as targets in Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippines and Wake Island; the United States declared war against Japan the next day.On this date:In 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.In 1796, electors chose John Adams to be the second president of the United States.In 1917, during World War I, the United States declared war on Austria-Hungary.In 1963, during the Army-Navy game, videotaped instant replay was used for the first time in a live sports telecast.In 1972, America's last moon mission to date was launched as Apollo 17 blasted off from Cape Canaveral.In 1982, convicted murderer Charlie Brooks Jr. became the first U.S. prisoner to be executed by injection, at a prison in Huntsville, Texas.In 1988, a major earthquake in the Soviet Union devastated northern Armenia; official estimates put the death toll at 25-thousand.In 2001, Taliban forces abandoned their last bastion in Afghanistan, fleeing the southern city of Kandahar.In 2004, Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan's first popularly elected president.In 2017, Democratic Sen. Al Franken said he would resign after a series of sexual harassment allegations; he took a parting shot at President Donald Trump, describing him as "a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault." Republican Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona said he would resign, after revealing that he discussed surrogacy with two female staffers.In 2018, the man who drove his car into counterprotesters at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Virginia was convicted of first-degree murder; a state jury rejected defense arguments that James Alex Fields Jr. acted in self-defense.In 2020, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles "Chuck" Yeager, the World War II fighter pilot ace and quintessential test pilot who in 1947 became the first person to fly faster than sound, died at 97.Ten years ago: President Barack Obama asked Congress for $60.4 billion in federal aid for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Superstorm Sandy (lawmakers ended up passing a $50.5 billion emergency relief measure in addition to a $9.7 billion bill to replenish the National Flood Insurance Program).Five years ago: A white former South Carolina police officer, Michael Slager, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting of an unarmed black motorist, Walter Scott, in North Charleston in 2015. Demonstrators in the Gaza Strip burned U.S. flags and pictures of President Trump, and Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, after Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.One year ago: During a video call lasting more than two hours, President Joe Biden warned Russia's Vladimir Putin that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring sanctions and enormous harm to the Russian economy. A major outage in Amazon's cloud computing network severely disrupted services at a wide range of U.S. companies for more than five hours, impacting everything from airline reservations and auto dealerships to payment apps and video streaming services.Today's Birthdays: Linguist and political philosopher Noam Chomsky is 94. Bluegrass singer Bobby Osborne is 91. Actor Ellen Burstyn is 90. Broadcast journalist Carole Simpson is 82. Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is 75. Actor-director-producer James Keach is 75. Country singer Gary Morris is 74. Singer-songwriter Tom Waits is 73. Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, is 70. Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird is 66. Actor Priscilla Barnes is 65. Former "Tonight Show" announcer Edd Hall is 64. Rock musician Tim Butler (The Psychedelic Furs) is 64. Actor Patrick Fabian is 58. Actor Jeffrey Wright is 57. Actor C. Thomas Howell is 56. Actor Kimberly Hébert Gregory (TV: "Kevin (Probably) Saves the World") is 50. Producer-director Jason Winer is 50. Former NFL player Terrell Owens is 49. Rapper-producer Kon Artis is 48. Pop singer Nicole Appleton (All Saints) is 47. Latin singer Frankie J is 46. Country singer Sunny Sweeney is 46. Actor Chris Chalk is 45. Actor Shiri Appleby is 44. Pop-rock singer/celebrity judge Sara Bareilles is 43. Actor Jennifer Carpenter is 43. Actor Jack Huston is 40. MLB first baseman Pete Alonso is 28.

Today in History - December 7

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s company was convicted of tax fraud on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan District Attorney, a significant repudiation of financial practices at the former president’s business.

A jury found two corporate entities at the Trump Organization guilty on all 17 counts, including conspiracy charges and falsifying business records.

The verdict came on the second day of deliberations following a trial in which the Trump Organization was accused of being complicit in a scheme by top executives to avoid paying personal income taxes on job perks such as rent-free apartments and luxury cars.

The conviction is a validation for New York prosecutors, who have spent three years investigating the former president and his businesses, though the penalties aren’t expected to be severe enough to jeopardize the future of Trump’s company.

As punishment, the Trump Organization could be fined up to $1.6 million — a relatively small amount for a company of its size, though the conviction might make some of its future deals more complicated.

Trump, who recently announced he was running for president again, has said the case against his company was part of a politically motivated “witch hunt” waged against him by vindictive Democrats.

Trump himself was not on trial but prosecutors alleged he “knew exactly what was going on” with the scheme, though he and the company’s lawyers have denied that.

The case against the company was built largely around testimony from the Trump Organization’s former finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, who previously pleaded guilty to charges that he manipulated the company’s books and his own compensation package to illegally reduce his taxes.

Weisselberg testified in exchange for a promised five-month jail sentence.

To convict the Trump Organization, prosecutors had to convince jurors that Weisselberg or his subordinate, Senior Vice President and Controller Jeffrey McConney, were “high managerial” agents acting on the company’s behalf and that the company also benefited from his scheme.

Trump Organization lawyers repeated the mantra “Weisselberg did it for Weisselberg” throughout the monthlong trial. They contended the executive had gone rogue and betrayed the company’s trust. No one in the Trump family or the company was to blame, they argued.

Though he testified as a prosecution witness, Weisselberg also attempted to take responsibility on the witness stand, saying nobody in the Trump family knew what he was doing.

“It was my own personal greed that led to this,” an emotional Weisselberg testified.

Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to dodging taxes on $1.7 million in fringe benefits, testified that he and McConney conspired to hide that extra compensation from his income by deducting their cost from his pre-tax salary and issuing falsified W-2 forms.

During his closing argument, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass attempted to refute the claim that Trump knew nothing about the scheme. He showed jurors a lease Trump signed for Weisselberg’s company-paid apartment and a memo Trump initialed authorizing a pay cut for another executive who got perks.

“Mr. Trump is explicitly sanctioning tax fraud,” Steinglass argued.

The verdict doesn’t end Trump’s battle with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who took office in January.

Bragg has said that a related investigation of Trump that began under his predecessor, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., is “active and ongoing.”

In that wide-ranging probe, investigators have examined whether Trump misled banks and others about the value of his real estate holdings, golf courses and other assets — allegations at the heart of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ pending lawsuit against the former president and his company.

The district attorney’s office has also investigated whether any state laws were broken when Trump’s allies made payments to two women who claimed to have had sexual affairs with the Republican years ago.

Near the end of his tenure last year, Vance directed deputies to present evidence to a grand jury for a possible indictment of Trump. After taking office, though, Bragg let that grand jury disband so he could give the case a fresh look.

On Monday, he confirmed that a new lead prosecutor had been brought on to handle that investigation, signaling again that it was still active.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670363815905.png" alt="The verdict came on the second day of deliberations-Google image" />
 <figcaption>The verdict came on the second day of deliberations-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s company was convicted of tax fraud on Tuesday in a case brought by the Manhattan District Attorney, a significant repudiation of financial practices at the former president’s business.A jury found two corporate entities at the Trump Organization guilty on all 17 counts, including conspiracy charges and falsifying business records.The verdict came on the second day of deliberations following a trial in which the Trump Organization was accused of being complicit in a scheme by top executives to avoid paying personal income taxes on job perks such as rent-free apartments and luxury cars.The conviction is a validation for New York prosecutors, who have spent three years investigating the former president and his businesses, though the penalties aren’t expected to be severe enough to jeopardize the future of Trump’s company.As punishment, the Trump Organization could be fined up to $1.6 million — a relatively small amount for a company of its size, though the conviction might make some of its future deals more complicated.Trump, who recently announced he was running for president again, has said the case against his company was part of a politically motivated “witch hunt” waged against him by vindictive Democrats.Trump himself was not on trial but prosecutors alleged he “knew exactly what was going on” with the scheme, though he and the company’s lawyers have denied that.The case against the company was built largely around testimony from the Trump Organization’s former finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, who previously pleaded guilty to charges that he manipulated the company’s books and his own compensation package to illegally reduce his taxes.Weisselberg testified in exchange for a promised five-month jail sentence.To convict the Trump Organization, prosecutors had to convince jurors that Weisselberg or his subordinate, Senior Vice President and Controller Jeffrey McConney, were “high managerial” agents acting on the company’s behalf and that the company also benefited from his scheme.Trump Organization lawyers repeated the mantra “Weisselberg did it for Weisselberg” throughout the monthlong trial. They contended the executive had gone rogue and betrayed the company’s trust. No one in the Trump family or the company was to blame, they argued.Though he testified as a prosecution witness, Weisselberg also attempted to take responsibility on the witness stand, saying nobody in the Trump family knew what he was doing.“It was my own personal greed that led to this,” an emotional Weisselberg testified.Weisselberg, who pleaded guilty to dodging taxes on $1.7 million in fringe benefits, testified that he and McConney conspired to hide that extra compensation from his income by deducting their cost from his pre-tax salary and issuing falsified W-2 forms.During his closing argument, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass attempted to refute the claim that Trump knew nothing about the scheme. He showed jurors a lease Trump signed for Weisselberg’s company-paid apartment and a memo Trump initialed authorizing a pay cut for another executive who got perks.“Mr. Trump is explicitly sanctioning tax fraud,” Steinglass argued.The verdict doesn’t end Trump’s battle with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who took office in January.Bragg has said that a related investigation of Trump that began under his predecessor, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., is “active and ongoing.”In that wide-ranging probe, investigators have examined whether Trump misled banks and others about the value of his real estate holdings, golf courses and other assets — allegations at the heart of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ pending lawsuit against the former president and his company.The district attorney’s office has also investigated whether any state laws were broken when Trump’s allies made payments to two women who claimed to have had sexual affairs with the Republican years ago.Near the end of his tenure last year, Vance directed deputies to present evidence to a grand jury for a possible indictment of Trump. After taking office, though, Bragg let that grand jury disband so he could give the case a fresh look.On Monday, he confirmed that a new lead prosecutor had been brought on to handle that investigation, signaling again that it was still active.

Jury: Trump Organization guilty of tax fraud on all counts

<a href="https://www.nsrfh.com/obituary/rita-jo-braden">Obituary | Rita Jo Braden | Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home (nsrfh.com)</a>

On Thursday December 1, 2022, Rita Jo Braden, age 65, won her fight with cancer and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.&nbsp; She was born in Clay Center, Kansas on February 25, 1957 to Dale and Anna Mae (Avery) Newell. &nbsp;

She attended Wakefield Schools and graduated valedictorian in 1975.&nbsp; She then attended Manhattan Area Technical College and subsequently began working in the Animal Science Department at Kansas State University.&nbsp; 

After moving back to Wakefield, she was employed at the ASCS office in Clay Center.&nbsp; Rita Jo then worked for and eventually owned Living Stories Inc., shipping child evangelization materials worldwide. She later served as the Wakefield Public Library Director for nearly 20 years. As an avid reader this was a vocation she was well suited for and thoroughly enjoyed.&nbsp;

On September 24, 1977, Rita Jo was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Ladd Braden.&nbsp; The arrival of Steven Dale completed their family in January 1984.&nbsp;

Rita Jo’s deep faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the guiding influence in her life.&nbsp; She was a member of Milford Church, serving many years as a member of the board and as pianist. Over the last ten years, Rita Jo’s life was greatly blessed and she reaped rich spiritual growth, inspiration, and joy from fellowship with the members of her women’s Bible study group.

Rita Jo developed a growing passion for quilting in recent years. She greatly enjoyed creating and gifting her beautiful creations to family, friends, and even those she never met. Her quilts celebrated new lives and provided warmth and comfort to those in need.

Also central in Rita Jo and Ladd’s life, has been the nurturing and Godly upbringing of their son Steven Dale, who has been a source of great joy, inspiration, and entertainment to family, friends, and a wide circle of acquaintances.

Rita Jo was preceded in death by her parents.&nbsp; 

She is survived by her husband Ladd and son Steven Dale, brother Marc Newell of Wakefield, sister Shan (Marcia) and husband Denny Gfeller of rural Junction City, and sister Teresa K. Newell of Fargo, ND.&nbsp;&nbsp; She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Rita Jo’s life will be held on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wakefield Methodist Church.

Visitation will also be held at the Wakefield Methodist Church from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, Rita Jo’s wishes were that memorials be made to The Wakefield Museum and Milford Church and may be sent c/o the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home.

In the midst of Rita Jo’s battle, it became her heart’s desire to share her testimony and be a witness of the healing grace of God to those battling cancer and other afflictions. In honor and support of her wishes, the family would also like to develop a fund to provide the book “Healed of Cancer” by Dodie Osteen, which was a source of great comfort and encouragement to Rita Jo. Memorial funds may also be directed to support this mission.

<h2>Rita Jo Braden</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670338049202.jpeg" alt="Rita Jo Braden" />
 <figcaption>Rita Jo Braden</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.nsrfh.com/obituary/rita-jo-braden">Obituary | Rita Jo Braden | Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home (nsrfh.com)</a>On Thursday December 1, 2022, Rita Jo Braden, age 65, won her fight with cancer and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.&nbsp; She was born in Clay Center, Kansas on February 25, 1957 to Dale and Anna Mae (Avery) Newell. &nbsp;She attended Wakefield Schools and graduated valedictorian in 1975.&nbsp; She then attended Manhattan Area Technical College and subsequently began working in the Animal Science Department at Kansas State University.&nbsp; After moving back to Wakefield, she was employed at the ASCS office in Clay Center.&nbsp; Rita Jo then worked for and eventually owned Living Stories Inc., shipping child evangelization materials worldwide. She later served as the Wakefield Public Library Director for nearly 20 years. As an avid reader this was a vocation she was well suited for and thoroughly enjoyed.&nbsp;On September 24, 1977, Rita Jo was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart Ladd Braden.&nbsp; The arrival of Steven Dale completed their family in January 1984.&nbsp;Rita Jo’s deep faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the guiding influence in her life.&nbsp; She was a member of Milford Church, serving many years as a member of the board and as pianist. Over the last ten years, Rita Jo’s life was greatly blessed and she reaped rich spiritual growth, inspiration, and joy from fellowship with the members of her women’s Bible study group.Rita Jo developed a growing passion for quilting in recent years. She greatly enjoyed creating and gifting her beautiful creations to family, friends, and even those she never met. Her quilts celebrated new lives and provided warmth and comfort to those in need.Also central in Rita Jo and Ladd’s life, has been the nurturing and Godly upbringing of their son Steven Dale, who has been a source of great joy, inspiration, and entertainment to family, friends, and a wide circle of acquaintances.Rita Jo was preceded in death by her parents.&nbsp; She is survived by her husband Ladd and son Steven Dale, brother Marc Newell of Wakefield, sister Shan (Marcia) and husband Denny Gfeller of rural Junction City, and sister Teresa K. Newell of Fargo, ND.&nbsp;&nbsp; She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.A celebration of Rita Jo’s life will be held on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wakefield Methodist Church.Visitation will also be held at the Wakefield Methodist Church from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2022.In lieu of flowers, Rita Jo’s wishes were that memorials be made to The Wakefield Museum and Milford Church and may be sent c/o the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home.In the midst of Rita Jo’s battle, it became her heart’s desire to share her testimony and be a witness of the healing grace of God to those battling cancer and other afflictions. In honor and support of her wishes, the family would also like to develop a fund to provide the book “Healed of Cancer” by Dodie Osteen, which was a source of great comfort and encouragement to Rita Jo. Memorial funds may also be directed to support this mission.

Rita Jo Braden

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 6, the 340th day of 2022. There are 25 days left in the year.

On Dec. 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery, was ratified as Georgia became the 27th state to endorse it.

In 1790, Congress moved to Philadelphia from New York.

In 1907, the worst mining disaster in U.S. history occurred as 362 men and boys died in a coal mine explosion in Monongah, West Virginia.

In 1917, some 2,000 people were killed when an explosives-laden French cargo ship, the Mont Blanc, collided with the Norwegian vessel Imo at the harbor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, setting off a blast that devastated the Canadian city. Finland declared its independence from Russia.

In 1922, the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State, came into force one year to the day after it was signed in London.

In 1923, a presidential address was broadcast on radio for the first time as President Calvin Coolidge spoke to a joint session of Congress.

In 1947, Everglades National Park in Florida was dedicated by President Harry S. Truman.

In 1957, America's first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 rose about four feet off a Cape Canaveral launch pad before crashing down and exploding.

In 1962, 37 coal miners were killed in an explosion at the Robena No. 3 Mine operated by U.S. Steel in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.

In 1969, a free concert by The Rolling Stones at the Altamont Speedway in Alameda County, California, was marred by the deaths of four people, including one who was stabbed by a Hell's Angel.

In 1973, House minority leader Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew.

In 1989, 14 women were shot to death at the University of Montreal's school of engineering by a man who then took his own life.

In 1998, in Venezuela, former Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez, who had staged a bloody coup attempt against the government six years earlier, was elected president.

Ten years ago: Shocking some of his closest Republican colleagues, Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina announced he would resign his seat to head Washington's conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. Marijuana possession became legal in Washington state, the day a measure approved by voters to regulate marijuana like alcohol took effect.

Five years ago: President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem to be Israel's capital, defying warnings from the Palestinians and others around the world that he would be destroying hopes for Mideast peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he would seek reelection, putting him on track to become Russia's longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

One year ago: The Justice Department said it was ending its investigation into the 1955 lynching of the Black teenager Emmett Till, who was killed after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in Mississippi. The White House said the U.S. would stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing to protest Chinese human rights abuses; U.S. athletes would compete, but no U.S. dignitaries would be sent to attend the games. The Biden administration reinstated a Trump-era policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. Medina Spirit, a 3-year-old colt whose Kentucky Derby victory in May came under scrutiny because of a positive drug test, collapsed and died after a workout at Santa Anita in Southern California.

Today's Birthdays: Comedy performer David Ossman is 86. Actor Patrick Bauchau is 84. Country singer Helen Cornelius is 81. Actor James Naughton is 77. Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is 77. R&amp;B singer Frankie Beverly (Maze) is 76. Former Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., is 74. Actor JoBeth Williams is 74. Actor Tom Hulce is 69. Actor Wil Shriner is 69. Actor Kin Shriner is 69. Actor Miles Chapin is 68. Rock musician Rick Buckler (The Jam) is 67. Comedian Steven Wright is 67. Singer Tish Hinojosa is 67. Rock musician Peter Buck (R.E.M.) is 66. Rock musician David Lovering (Pixies) is 61. Actor Janine Turner is 60. Rock musician Ben Watt (Everything But The Girl) is 60. Writer-director Judd Apatow is 55. Rock musician Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg (Ace of Base) is 52. Writer-director Craig Brewer is 51. Actor Colleen Haskell is 46. Actor Lindsay Price is 46. Actor Ashley Madekwe is 41. Actor Nora Kirkpatrick is 38. Christian rock musician Jacob Chesnut (Rush of Fools) is 33. Tennis player CoCo Vandeweghe is 31. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo is 28.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Tuesday, Dec. 6, the 340th day of 2022. There are 25 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, abolishing slavery, was ratified as Georgia became the 27th state to endorse it.On this date:In 1790, Congress moved to Philadelphia from New York.In 1907, the worst mining disaster in U.S. history occurred as 362 men and boys died in a coal mine explosion in Monongah, West Virginia.In 1917, some 2,000 people were killed when an explosives-laden French cargo ship, the Mont Blanc, collided with the Norwegian vessel Imo at the harbor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, setting off a blast that devastated the Canadian city. Finland declared its independence from Russia.In 1922, the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State, came into force one year to the day after it was signed in London.In 1923, a presidential address was broadcast on radio for the first time as President Calvin Coolidge spoke to a joint session of Congress.In 1947, Everglades National Park in Florida was dedicated by President Harry S. Truman.In 1957, America's first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 rose about four feet off a Cape Canaveral launch pad before crashing down and exploding.In 1962, 37 coal miners were killed in an explosion at the Robena No. 3 Mine operated by U.S. Steel in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.In 1969, a free concert by The Rolling Stones at the Altamont Speedway in Alameda County, California, was marred by the deaths of four people, including one who was stabbed by a Hell's Angel.In 1973, House minority leader Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as vice president, succeeding Spiro T. Agnew.In 1989, 14 women were shot to death at the University of Montreal's school of engineering by a man who then took his own life.In 1998, in Venezuela, former Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez, who had staged a bloody coup attempt against the government six years earlier, was elected president.Ten years ago: Shocking some of his closest Republican colleagues, Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina announced he would resign his seat to head Washington's conservative Heritage Foundation think tank. Marijuana possession became legal in Washington state, the day a measure approved by voters to regulate marijuana like alcohol took effect.Five years ago: President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem to be Israel's capital, defying warnings from the Palestinians and others around the world that he would be destroying hopes for Mideast peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he would seek reelection, putting him on track to become Russia's longest-serving ruler since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.One year ago: The Justice Department said it was ending its investigation into the 1955 lynching of the Black teenager Emmett Till, who was killed after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in Mississippi. The White House said the U.S. would stage a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing to protest Chinese human rights abuses; U.S. athletes would compete, but no U.S. dignitaries would be sent to attend the games. The Biden administration reinstated a Trump-era policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. Medina Spirit, a 3-year-old colt whose Kentucky Derby victory in May came under scrutiny because of a positive drug test, collapsed and died after a workout at Santa Anita in Southern California.Today's Birthdays: Comedy performer David Ossman is 86. Actor Patrick Bauchau is 84. Country singer Helen Cornelius is 81. Actor James Naughton is 77. Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is 77. R&amp;B singer Frankie Beverly (Maze) is 76. Former Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., is 74. Actor JoBeth Williams is 74. Actor Tom Hulce is 69. Actor Wil Shriner is 69. Actor Kin Shriner is 69. Actor Miles Chapin is 68. Rock musician Rick Buckler (The Jam) is 67. Comedian Steven Wright is 67. Singer Tish Hinojosa is 67. Rock musician Peter Buck (R.E.M.) is 66. Rock musician David Lovering (Pixies) is 61. Actor Janine Turner is 60. Rock musician Ben Watt (Everything But The Girl) is 60. Writer-director Judd Apatow is 55. Rock musician Ulf "Buddha" Ekberg (Ace of Base) is 52. Writer-director Craig Brewer is 51. Actor Colleen Haskell is 46. Actor Lindsay Price is 46. Actor Ashley Madekwe is 41. Actor Nora Kirkpatrick is 38. Christian rock musician Jacob Chesnut (Rush of Fools) is 33. Tennis player CoCo Vandeweghe is 31. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo is 28.

Today in History - December 6

K-State News &amp; Communication Services

MANHATTAN — More than 1,100 students are candidates for graduation from Kansas State University this fall, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/graduation" target="_blank">commencement ceremonies</a>&nbsp;set for Friday in&nbsp;Manhattan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Salina and Saturday in Manhattan.

Ceremony information, including parking and accommodations, as well as a live webcast of the Manhattan campus ceremonies, will be available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://k-state.edu/graduation" target="_blank">K-State graduation website</a>. To be awarded this fall will be more than 935 bachelor's degrees, 250 master's degrees and more than 50 doctorates. More than 80 students will be earning multiple degrees. The graduates-to-be also include 245 students who are earning their degrees through a K-State Online program. These graduates are being recognized at the&nbsp;<a href="http://online.k-state.edu/student-support/virtual-commencement" target="_blank">K-State Online virtual commencement site</a> The following is the schedule and speakers for ceremonies on Friday: • Graduate School, 1 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Regent Jon Rolph will represent the Kansas Board of Regents at the ceremony. K-State President Richard H. Linton will be the speaker. • K-State Salina, 7 p.m., Student Life Center, Salina. Thomas Lane, vice president for student life and dean of students at K-State, will be the speaker. Also on Friday will be the Army ROTC Wildcat Battalion commissioning ceremony at 10 a.m. in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. Commissioning officer and guest speaker will be U.S. Army Col. Michael Foote, Fort Riley garrison commander. The following is the schedule and speakers for ceremonies on Saturday: • College of Arts and Sciences, 8:30 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Philip Nel, university distinguished professor of English, will be the speaker. Nel is co-founder and directs the graduate program in children's literature at K-State, and he is the author or co-editor of 13 books and more than 50 articles. • College of Education, 10 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Sally Lopez Gurrola, a fifth-grade teacher at Oliver Brown Elementary School in Manhattan, will be the speaker. Lopez earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from K-State in 2021 and will graduate in May 2023 with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. • College of Business Administration, 11:30 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum. The speaker will be Randy Buseman, retired partner and director of strategic growth markets practice at Ernst &amp; Young. Buseman is a K-State alumnus and longtime supporter of the university. • College of Agriculture, 1 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Troy Anderson, vice president of operations for Ardent Mills LLC in Denver, will be the speaker. Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in milling science and management from K-State. • College of Health and Human Sciences, 2:30 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. The speaker will be Don Munce, an entrepreneurial leader in marketing and enrollment planning services in higher education. Munce earned his master's degree in adolescent development from K-State. • Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, 4 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Michael Wiegers, vice president of consumer engineering at Garmin International in Olathe, will be the speaker. Wiegers is a 1982 graduate of K-State in electrical engineering and was named the College of Engineering 2018 Alumni Fellow at K-State.

K-State News &amp; Communication ServicesMANHATTAN — More than 1,100 students are candidates for graduation from Kansas State University this fall, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/graduation" target="_blank">commencement ceremonies</a>&nbsp;set for Friday in&nbsp;Manhattan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Salina and Saturday in Manhattan. Ceremony information, including parking and accommodations, as well as a live webcast of the Manhattan campus ceremonies, will be available on the&nbsp;<a href="https://k-state.edu/graduation" target="_blank">K-State graduation website</a>. To be awarded this fall will be more than 935 bachelor's degrees, 250 master's degrees and more than 50 doctorates. More than 80 students will be earning multiple degrees. The graduates-to-be also include 245 students who are earning their degrees through a K-State Online program. These graduates are being recognized at the&nbsp;<a href="http://online.k-state.edu/student-support/virtual-commencement" target="_blank">K-State Online virtual commencement site</a> The following is the schedule and speakers for ceremonies on Friday: • Graduate School, 1 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Regent Jon Rolph will represent the Kansas Board of Regents at the ceremony. K-State President Richard H. Linton will be the speaker. • K-State Salina, 7 p.m., Student Life Center, Salina. Thomas Lane, vice president for student life and dean of students at K-State, will be the speaker. Also on Friday will be the Army ROTC Wildcat Battalion commissioning ceremony at 10 a.m. in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. Commissioning officer and guest speaker will be U.S. Army Col. Michael Foote, Fort Riley garrison commander. The following is the schedule and speakers for ceremonies on Saturday: • College of Arts and Sciences, 8:30 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Philip Nel, university distinguished professor of English, will be the speaker. Nel is co-founder and directs the graduate program in children's literature at K-State, and he is the author or co-editor of 13 books and more than 50 articles. • College of Education, 10 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Sally Lopez Gurrola, a fifth-grade teacher at Oliver Brown Elementary School in Manhattan, will be the speaker. Lopez earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from K-State in 2021 and will graduate in May 2023 with a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. • College of Business Administration, 11:30 a.m., Bramlage Coliseum. The speaker will be Randy Buseman, retired partner and director of strategic growth markets practice at Ernst &amp; Young. Buseman is a K-State alumnus and longtime supporter of the university. • College of Agriculture, 1 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Troy Anderson, vice president of operations for Ardent Mills LLC in Denver, will be the speaker. Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in milling science and management from K-State. • College of Health and Human Sciences, 2:30 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. The speaker will be Don Munce, an entrepreneurial leader in marketing and enrollment planning services in higher education. Munce earned his master's degree in adolescent development from K-State. • Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, 4 p.m., Bramlage Coliseum. Michael Wiegers, vice president of consumer engineering at Garmin International in Olathe, will be the speaker. Wiegers is a 1982 graduate of K-State in electrical engineering and was named the College of Engineering 2018 Alumni Fellow at K-State.

K-State commencement ceremonies Friday, Saturday

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/02/troubling-and-authoritarian-kansas-aclu-warns-st-marys-officials-that-closing-town-library-is-unconstitutional/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas has advised St. Marys city commissioners to renew <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/14/future-of-kansas-towns-library-in-jeopardy-over-refusal-to-remove-divisive-books/">the imperiled lease of their local public library</a>, saying the officials are violating the Constitution in a “dangerous exercise of power.”

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s lease
 is under threat after the library refused to accept a renewal lease 
clause asking them to remove all LGBTQ and socially divisive books from 
the shelves.

The lease stipulated that the library
 not “supply, distribute, loan, encourage, or coerce acceptance of or 
approval of explicit sexual or racially or socially divisive material, 
or events (such as ‘drag queen story hours’) that support the LGBTQ+ or 
critical theory ideology or practice.”

The lease clause was discussed after a parent was outraged by “Melissa,” <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/18/alex-gino-author-of-book-that-sparked-effort-to-close-kansas-towns-library-speaks-out/">a book by Alex Gino</a>
 about a transgender middle-schooler. But the parent himself spoke in 
support of the library during a city debate of the library’s lease.

Officials have been debating whether or not to renew the lease — which ends Dec. 31 — for the past few months. At <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/16/future-of-kansas-towns-library-uncertain-after-outpouring-of-support-at-commission-meeting/">the latest commission meeting</a>,
 commissioners discussed allowing the library to have a short-term lease
 while they decided if the library met their “moral standards.” The 
deciding vote is expected to be held Dec. 6.&nbsp;

Many St. Marys residents are in favor
 of keeping the local library, and a petition in support of the library 
has more than 1,000 signatures.

The library has been housed in its 
current location since the 1980s, operating on an annual lease with the 
city. The St. Mary’s branch is the headquarters for eight locations, 
including Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. 
Marys and Westmoreland, with county residents funding the library 
through taxes.

The ACLU urged the commissioners to 
drop their attempts at censoring the library in a letter sent to the 
commissioners Thursday, saying banning the proposed materials violated 
freedom of expression rights.&nbsp;

“Banning books on the grounds that 
they include racial, sexual, or LGBTQ+ content is not only antithetical 
to a library’s mission, it is patently unconstitutional,” the letter 
read. “And threatening to not renew Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional 
Library’s lease solely because the library declined to violate the 
constitution and engage in viewpoint-based censorship is a troubling and
 authoritarian step for the Commission to take.”&nbsp;

ACLU officials say they will decide what action to take pending the results of the Dec. 6 vote. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670080648771.png" alt="A Christmas village display is set up inside the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A Christmas village display is set up inside the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/02/troubling-and-authoritarian-kansas-aclu-warns-st-marys-officials-that-closing-town-library-is-unconstitutional/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas has advised St. Marys city commissioners to renew <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/14/future-of-kansas-towns-library-in-jeopardy-over-refusal-to-remove-divisive-books/">the imperiled lease of their local public library</a>, saying the officials are violating the Constitution in a “dangerous exercise of power.”The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s lease
 is under threat after the library refused to accept a renewal lease 
clause asking them to remove all LGBTQ and socially divisive books from 
the shelves.The lease stipulated that the library
 not “supply, distribute, loan, encourage, or coerce acceptance of or 
approval of explicit sexual or racially or socially divisive material, 
or events (such as ‘drag queen story hours’) that support the LGBTQ+ or 
critical theory ideology or practice.”The lease clause was discussed after a parent was outraged by “Melissa,” <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/18/alex-gino-author-of-book-that-sparked-effort-to-close-kansas-towns-library-speaks-out/">a book by Alex Gino</a>
 about a transgender middle-schooler. But the parent himself spoke in 
support of the library during a city debate of the library’s lease.Officials have been debating whether or not to renew the lease — which ends Dec. 31 — for the past few months. At <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/16/future-of-kansas-towns-library-uncertain-after-outpouring-of-support-at-commission-meeting/">the latest commission meeting</a>,
 commissioners discussed allowing the library to have a short-term lease
 while they decided if the library met their “moral standards.” The 
deciding vote is expected to be held Dec. 6.&nbsp;Many St. Marys residents are in favor
 of keeping the local library, and a petition in support of the library 
has more than 1,000 signatures.The library has been housed in its 
current location since the 1980s, operating on an annual lease with the 
city. The St. Mary’s branch is the headquarters for eight locations, 
including Alma, Alta Vista, Eskridge, Harveyville, Olsburg, Onaga, St. 
Marys and Westmoreland, with county residents funding the library 
through taxes.The ACLU urged the commissioners to 
drop their attempts at censoring the library in a letter sent to the 
commissioners Thursday, saying banning the proposed materials violated 
freedom of expression rights.&nbsp;“Banning books on the grounds that 
they include racial, sexual, or LGBTQ+ content is not only antithetical 
to a library’s mission, it is patently unconstitutional,” the letter 
read. “And threatening to not renew Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional 
Library’s lease solely because the library declined to violate the 
constitution and engage in viewpoint-based censorship is a troubling and
 authoritarian step for the Commission to take.”&nbsp;ACLU officials say they will decide what action to take pending the results of the Dec. 6 vote.

'Troubling': ACLU issues warning ahead of Kansas library vote

Today is Monday, Dec. 5, the 339th day of 2022. There are 26 days left in the year.

On Dec. 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first Black president, died at age 95.

In 1791, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna, Austria, at age 35.

In 1792, George Washington was reelected president; John Adams was reelected vice president.

In 1848, President James K. Polk triggered the Gold Rush of '49 by confirming that gold had been discovered in California.

In 1932, German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.

In 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.

In 1952, the Great Smog of London descended on the British capital; the unusually thick fog, which contained toxic pollutants, lasted five days and was blamed for causing thousands of deaths.

In 1955, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO under its first president, George Meany.

In 1994, Republicans chose Newt Gingrich to be the first GOP speaker of the House in four decades.

In 2009, a jury in Perugia, Italy convicted American student Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, of murdering Knox's British roommate, Meredith Kercher, and sentenced them to long prison terms. (After a series of back-and-forth rulings, Knox and Sollecito were definitively acquitted in 2015 by Italy's highest court.)

In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush was mourned at a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral attended by President Donald Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter along with their spouses; former president George W. Bush was among the speakers, eulogizing his dad as "the brightest of a thousand points of light."

In 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she had asked the relevant House committee chairs to begin drawing up articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, saying his actions left them "no choice" but to act swiftly; in response, Trump tweeted that Democrats had "gone crazy." (Trump would be impeached by the House on charges of obstruction and abuse of power, but the Senate voted to acquit in the first of two Trump impeachment trials.)

In 2020, at a Georgia rally where he urged supporters to turn out for a pair of Republican Senate candidates in a January runoff election, President Donald Trump spread baseless allegations of misconduct in the November voting in Georgia and beyond. Hours before the rally, according to officials with knowledge of the call, Trump asked Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to order a special legislative session to give him the state's electoral votes, even though Joe Biden had won the majority of the vote; Kemp refused to do so.

Ten years ago: Port clerks ended an eight-day strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach after winning guarantees against the outsourcing of jobs. Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck died in Norwalk, Connecticut, a day before he would have turned 92.

Five years ago: Democratic congressman John Conyers of Michigan resigned from Congress after a nearly 53-year career, becoming the first Capitol Hill politician to lose his job amid the sexual misconduct allegations sweeping through the nation's workplaces. In a bitterly contested runoff election, Atlanta voters narrowly chose Keisha Lance Bottoms as the city's next mayor; a result that would be upheld after a recount requested by rival Mary Norwood. The International Olympic Committee barred Russia and its sports leaders from the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea after concluding that members of the Russian government concocted a doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Games; some Russians would be able to compete as "Olympic Athletes from Russia."

One year ago: Bob Dole, who overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol and celebrant of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans, died at 98. U.S. health officials said that while the omicron variant of the coronavirus was rapidly spreading throughout the country, early indications suggested it could be less dangerous than the delta variant, which continued to drive a surge of hospitalizations. Buck O'Neil, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field, joined Minnie Miñoso, Gil Hodges and three others in being elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by veterans committees.

Today's Birthdays: Author Calvin Trillin is 87. Actor Jeroen Krabbe is 78. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 76. Musician and singer Jim Messina is 75. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett is 75. World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins is 73. Actor Morgan Brittany is 71. Actor Brian Backer is 66. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Art Monk is 65. Country singer Ty England is 59. Rock singer-musician John Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls) is 57. Country singer Gary Allan is 55. Comedian-actor Margaret Cho is 54. Writer-director Morgan J. Freeman is 53. Actor Alex Kapp Horner is 53. Actor Kali Rocha is 51. Rock musician Regina Zernay (Cowboy Mouth) is 50. Actor Paula Patton is 47. Actor Amy Acker is 46. Actor Nick Stahl is 43. Actor Adan Canto is 41. R&amp;B singer Keri Hilson is 40. Actor Gabriel Luna is 40. Actor Frankie Muniz is 37. Actor Ross Bagley is 34. MLB outfielder Christian Yelich is 31.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Monday, Dec. 5, the 339th day of 2022. There are 26 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first Black president, died at age 95.On this date:In 1791, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna, Austria, at age 35.In 1792, George Washington was reelected president; John Adams was reelected vice president.In 1848, President James K. Polk triggered the Gold Rush of '49 by confirming that gold had been discovered in California.In 1932, German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.In 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.In 1952, the Great Smog of London descended on the British capital; the unusually thick fog, which contained toxic pollutants, lasted five days and was blamed for causing thousands of deaths.In 1955, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO under its first president, George Meany.In 1994, Republicans chose Newt Gingrich to be the first GOP speaker of the House in four decades.In 2009, a jury in Perugia, Italy convicted American student Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, of murdering Knox's British roommate, Meredith Kercher, and sentenced them to long prison terms. (After a series of back-and-forth rulings, Knox and Sollecito were definitively acquitted in 2015 by Italy's highest court.)In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush was mourned at a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral attended by President Donald Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter along with their spouses; former president George W. Bush was among the speakers, eulogizing his dad as "the brightest of a thousand points of light."In 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she had asked the relevant House committee chairs to begin drawing up articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, saying his actions left them "no choice" but to act swiftly; in response, Trump tweeted that Democrats had "gone crazy." (Trump would be impeached by the House on charges of obstruction and abuse of power, but the Senate voted to acquit in the first of two Trump impeachment trials.)In 2020, at a Georgia rally where he urged supporters to turn out for a pair of Republican Senate candidates in a January runoff election, President Donald Trump spread baseless allegations of misconduct in the November voting in Georgia and beyond. Hours before the rally, according to officials with knowledge of the call, Trump asked Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to order a special legislative session to give him the state's electoral votes, even though Joe Biden had won the majority of the vote; Kemp refused to do so.Ten years ago: Port clerks ended an eight-day strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach after winning guarantees against the outsourcing of jobs. Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck died in Norwalk, Connecticut, a day before he would have turned 92.Five years ago: Democratic congressman John Conyers of Michigan resigned from Congress after a nearly 53-year career, becoming the first Capitol Hill politician to lose his job amid the sexual misconduct allegations sweeping through the nation's workplaces. In a bitterly contested runoff election, Atlanta voters narrowly chose Keisha Lance Bottoms as the city's next mayor; a result that would be upheld after a recount requested by rival Mary Norwood. The International Olympic Committee barred Russia and its sports leaders from the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea after concluding that members of the Russian government concocted a doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Games; some Russians would be able to compete as "Olympic Athletes from Russia."One year ago: Bob Dole, who overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol and celebrant of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans, died at 98. U.S. health officials said that while the omicron variant of the coronavirus was rapidly spreading throughout the country, early indications suggested it could be less dangerous than the delta variant, which continued to drive a surge of hospitalizations. Buck O'Neil, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field, joined Minnie Miñoso, Gil Hodges and three others in being elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by veterans committees.Today's Birthdays: Author Calvin Trillin is 87. Actor Jeroen Krabbe is 78. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 76. Musician and singer Jim Messina is 75. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett is 75. World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins is 73. Actor Morgan Brittany is 71. Actor Brian Backer is 66. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Art Monk is 65. Country singer Ty England is 59. Rock singer-musician John Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls) is 57. Country singer Gary Allan is 55. Comedian-actor Margaret Cho is 54. Writer-director Morgan J. Freeman is 53. Actor Alex Kapp Horner is 53. Actor Kali Rocha is 51. Rock musician Regina Zernay (Cowboy Mouth) is 50. Actor Paula Patton is 47. Actor Amy Acker is 46. Actor Nick Stahl is 43. Actor Adan Canto is 41. R&amp;B singer Keri Hilson is 40. Actor Gabriel Luna is 40. Actor Frankie Muniz is 37. Actor Ross Bagley is 34. MLB outfielder Christian Yelich is 31.

Today in History - December 5

ALLEN COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead Saturday evening in Chanute, according to a media release from the KBI.

Just after 5p.m. Saturday, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office contacted the KBI for investigative assistance.

At around 4:50 p.m., Casey M. Dye, 43, of Petrolia, Kansas, arrived at the Allen County Sheriff’s Office and provided a statement to sheriff’s deputies.

Shortly after, law enforcement officers located a deceased man in a vehicle inside an automotive glass shop at&nbsp;7545 Kansas Highway 39, in&nbsp;Chanute. The man, who was identified as Ryan M. Holcomb, 45, from Chanute, had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers arrested Dye on a requested charge of first-degree murder. He was booked into the Allen County Jail. Additional charges are expected.

Investigators allege Dye killed Holcomb Saturday morning at a rural property in Allen County, and then moved his body to the business in Chanute where he was discovered.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670178241829.png" alt="Dye-photo Allen County" />
 <figcaption>Dye-photo Allen County</figcaption>
 </figure>ALLEN COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead Saturday evening in Chanute, according to a media release from the KBI.Just after 5p.m. Saturday, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office contacted the KBI for investigative assistance.At around 4:50 p.m., Casey M. Dye, 43, of Petrolia, Kansas, arrived at the Allen County Sheriff’s Office and provided a statement to sheriff’s deputies.Shortly after, law enforcement officers located a deceased man in a vehicle inside an automotive glass shop at&nbsp;7545 Kansas Highway 39, in&nbsp;Chanute. The man, who was identified as Ryan M. Holcomb, 45, from Chanute, had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.Officers arrested Dye on a requested charge of first-degree murder. He was booked into the Allen County Jail. Additional charges are expected.Investigators allege Dye killed Holcomb Saturday morning at a rural property in Allen County, and then moved his body to the business in Chanute where he was discovered.

KBI: Suspect moved victim's body after rural Kansas murder

Harold Marion Jordan, age 89, of Hays, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 2, 2022, at Via Christi Village, Hays. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment will follow at Ft. Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial visitation will be Saturday 1:00 PM until service time. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a> A complete obituary is pending.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670175984081.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Harold Marion Jordan, age 89, of Hays, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 2, 2022, at Via Christi Village, Hays. Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment will follow at Ft. Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorial visitation will be Saturday 1:00 PM until service time. Condolences may be left by guest book at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/">www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com</a> A complete obituary is pending.

Harold Marion Jordan

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

The pilot has come in for a landing. In this case, the pilot is the famous aviator Amelia Earhart (or her replica in the form of a bronze statue), and her landing place isn’t an airport – it’s the nation’s capitol.&nbsp;

Amelia Earhart was recently honored by the State of Kansas by having her statue placed in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol building.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Statuary Hall is that area of the capitol that displays statues depicting people representing all 50 states. Each state is authorized to send two statues to this collection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas recently replaced one of its statues with one of Amelia Earhart, who captured the world’s attention as a pioneer in aviation.&nbsp;

With support from the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation, her statue was unveiled in the National Statuary Collection in July, 2022.&nbsp;

Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison on July 24, 1897. She must have been quite the adventurous child.&nbsp;&nbsp;One time she and friends built a homemade roller coaster by greasing boards with lard and suspending them from the top of a toolshed. Amelia made the trial run on this roller coaster in a wooden crate and crashed part way down.&nbsp;

She came up with a torn dress and split lip but a big smile, proclaiming, "Oh! It's just like flying!"&nbsp;

During World War I, she worked as a nurse’s aid at a military hospital and heard the military pilots talk about their flights. Amelia’s interest grew when she attended an airshow in Canada.&nbsp;

In 1921, Amelia Earhart took her first flying lessons. Six months later, she bought her first plane.&nbsp;

Amelia went on to make history: She was the first president of the Ninety-Nines, a women's aviation organization; the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic; first woman to fly solo coast-to-coast; and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland.&nbsp;

Through her husband, a publisher, she published several books and articles. She designed fashion clothing and had her own luggage line. She received many honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, before disappearing on an ill-fated attempt to fly around the globe.&nbsp;

So what is Statuary Hall and how did Amelia Earhart come to land there? Statuary Hall goes back to the 1860s when a south wing was added to the U.S. Capitol building. The House of Representatives moved into its new chamber where it still meets today.&nbsp;

The House was debating what should be done with the former chamber that it had vacated. A suggestion came from Rep. Justin Morrill of Vermont. (This was the same congressman who authored the Morrill Act that authorized land grants for public higher education and under which Kansas State University became the nation’s first operational land grant university.)&nbsp;

Morrill suggested that the former House chamber become a place to display statues from each state. His suggestion was adopted. Every state was allowed to have two statues.&nbsp;

One might ask, who were the two statues from Kansas? Would you guess, George Glick and John J. Ingalls? When I led capitol tours years ago, our visitors would ask,&nbsp;&nbsp;“Who are those guys?&nbsp;&nbsp;Never heard of them.” &nbsp;

I learned that George Glick was a one-term governor of Kansas and John J. Ingalls was a long-time Senator during the late 1800s.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2003, Kansas became the first state to change its two representative statues. The Kansas Legislature voted to replace Glick and Ingalls with statues depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart, provided the statues were funded with private money.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ike was placed there in 2003 and Amelia followed in 2022.&nbsp;

The Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation paid for the statue of Amelia. The foundation is also working toward opening an aviation museum in her honor. That would be a wonderful addition to the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Atchison, population 10,885 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation" target="_blank">www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation</a>.&nbsp;

This pilot has come in for a landing – that is, landing a spot in the Statuary Hall collection in Washington DC.&nbsp;

We commend the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation for making a difference by honoring her legacy. I hope Amelia’s ideals keep flying high.&nbsp;

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityThe pilot has come in for a landing. In this case, the pilot is the famous aviator Amelia Earhart (or her replica in the form of a bronze statue), and her landing place isn’t an airport – it’s the nation’s capitol.&nbsp;Amelia Earhart was recently honored by the State of Kansas by having her statue placed in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol building.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670166278924.jpeg" alt="The Amelia Earhart statue in the U.S. Capitol." />
 <figcaption>The Amelia Earhart statue in the U.S. Capitol.</figcaption>
 </figure>Statuary Hall is that area of the capitol that displays statues depicting people representing all 50 states. Each state is authorized to send two statues to this collection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas recently replaced one of its statues with one of Amelia Earhart, who captured the world’s attention as a pioneer in aviation.&nbsp;With support from the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation, her statue was unveiled in the National Statuary Collection in July, 2022.&nbsp;Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison on July 24, 1897. She must have been quite the adventurous child.&nbsp;&nbsp;One time she and friends built a homemade roller coaster by greasing boards with lard and suspending them from the top of a toolshed. Amelia made the trial run on this roller coaster in a wooden crate and crashed part way down.&nbsp;She came up with a torn dress and split lip but a big smile, proclaiming, "Oh! It's just like flying!"&nbsp;During World War I, she worked as a nurse’s aid at a military hospital and heard the military pilots talk about their flights. Amelia’s interest grew when she attended an airshow in Canada.&nbsp;In 1921, Amelia Earhart took her first flying lessons. Six months later, she bought her first plane.&nbsp;Amelia went on to make history: She was the first president of the Ninety-Nines, a women's aviation organization; the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic; first woman to fly solo coast-to-coast; and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland.&nbsp;Through her husband, a publisher, she published several books and articles. She designed fashion clothing and had her own luggage line. She received many honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, before disappearing on an ill-fated attempt to fly around the globe.&nbsp;So what is Statuary Hall and how did Amelia Earhart come to land there? Statuary Hall goes back to the 1860s when a south wing was added to the U.S. Capitol building. The House of Representatives moved into its new chamber where it still meets today.&nbsp;The House was debating what should be done with the former chamber that it had vacated. A suggestion came from Rep. Justin Morrill of Vermont. (This was the same congressman who authored the Morrill Act that authorized land grants for public higher education and under which Kansas State University became the nation’s first operational land grant university.)&nbsp;Morrill suggested that the former House chamber become a place to display statues from each state. His suggestion was adopted. Every state was allowed to have two statues.&nbsp;One might ask, who were the two statues from Kansas? Would you guess, George Glick and John J. Ingalls? When I led capitol tours years ago, our visitors would ask,&nbsp;&nbsp;“Who are those guys?&nbsp;&nbsp;Never heard of them.” &nbsp;I learned that George Glick was a one-term governor of Kansas and John J. Ingalls was a long-time Senator during the late 1800s.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2003, Kansas became the first state to change its two representative statues. The Kansas Legislature voted to replace Glick and Ingalls with statues depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart, provided the statues were funded with private money.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ike was placed there in 2003 and Amelia followed in 2022.&nbsp;The Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation paid for the statue of Amelia. The foundation is also working toward opening an aviation museum in her honor. That would be a wonderful addition to the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Atchison, population 10,885 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation" target="_blank">www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation</a>.&nbsp;This pilot has come in for a landing – that is, landing a spot in the Statuary Hall collection in Washington DC.&nbsp;We commend the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation for making a difference by honoring her legacy. I hope Amelia’s ideals keep flying high.&nbsp;Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

NOW THAT'S RURAL: Amelia Earhart

Today is Sunday, Dec. 4, the 338th day of 2022. There are 27 days left in the year.

On Dec. 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins gathered for the first and only time for a jam session at Sun Records in Memphis.

In 1783, Gen. George Washington bade farewell to his Continental Army officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson left Washington on a trip to France to attend the Versailles Peace Conference.

In 1942, during World War II, U.S. bombers struck the Italian mainland for the first time with a raid on Naples. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the dismantling of the Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Depression.

In 1965, the United States launched Gemini 7 with Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Borman and Navy Cmdr. James A. Lovell aboard on a two-week mission. (While Gemini 7 was in orbit, its sister ship, Gemini 6A, was launched on Dec. 15 on a one-day mission; the two spacecraft were able to rendezvous within a foot of each other.)

In 1978, San Francisco got its first female mayor as City Supervisor Dianne Feinstein was named to replace the assassinated George Moscone.

In 1980, the bodies of four American churchwomen slain in El Salvador two days earlier were unearthed. (Five Salvadoran national guardsmen were later convicted of murdering nuns Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Dorothy Kazel, and lay worker Jean Donovan.)

In 1986, both houses of Congress moved to establish special committees to conduct their own investigations of the Iran-Contra affair.

In 1992, President George H.W. Bush ordered American troops to lead a mercy mission to Somalia, threatening military action against warlords and gangs who were blocking food for starving millions.

In 1995, the first NATO troops landed in the Balkans to begin setting up a peace mission that brought American soldiers into the middle of the Bosnian conflict.

In 2000, in a pair of legal setbacks for Al Gore, a Florida state judge refused to overturn George W. Bush's certified victory in Florida and the U.S. Supreme Court set aside a ruling that had allowed manual recounts.

In 2016, a North Carolina man armed with a rifle fired several shots inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington, D.C., pizzeria, as he attempted to investigate an online conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were harboring child sex slaves at the restaurant; no one was hurt, and the man surrendered to police. (He was later sentenced to four years in prison.)

In 2018, long lines of people wound through the Capitol Rotunda to view the casket of former President George H.W. Bush; former Sen. Bob Dole steadied himself out of his wheelchair to salute his old friend and one-time rival.

Ten years ago: Two Australian radio disc jockeys impersonating Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles made a prank call to a London hospital and succeeded in getting a nurse to tell them the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was being treated for acute morning sickness; another nurse who had put the call through would be found dead three days later in an apparent suicide.

Five years ago: Declaring that "public lands will once again be for public use," President Donald Trump scaled back two sprawling national monuments in Utah; it was the first time in a half century that a president had undone that type of land protection. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce a ban on travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries. Trump formally endorsed Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race, looking past sexual misconduct allegations against the GOP candidate.

One year ago: James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a Michigan teen charged with killing four students at a high school earlier in the week, were arrested in a Detroit commercial building where police said they'd been hiding; a judge later imposed a combined $1 million bond for the couple, who pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting rampage. CNN fired anchor Chris Cuomo less than a week after new information emerged about how he assisted his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the politician faced sexual harassment allegations earlier in the year. Country musician Stonewall Jackson, who sang on the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and had No. 1 hits with "Waterloo" and others, died after a long battle with vascular dementia; he was 89.

Today's Birthdays: Game show host Wink Martindale is 89. Pop singer Freddy Cannon is 86. Actor-producer Max Baer Jr. is 85. Actor Gemma Jones is 80. Rock musician Bob Mosley (Moby Grape) is 80. Singer-musician Chris Hillman is 78. Musician Terry Woods (The Pogues) is 75. Rock singer Southside Johnny Lyon is 74. Actor Jeff Bridges is 73. Rock musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd; the Rossington Collins Band) is 71. Actor Patricia Wettig is 71. Actor Tony Todd is 68. Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson is 67. Country musician Brian Prout (Diamond Rio) is 67. Rock musician Bob Griffin (formerly with The BoDeans) is 63. Rock singer Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge) is 60. Actor Marisa Tomei is 58. Actor Chelsea Noble is 58. Actor-comedian Fred Armisen is 56. Rapper Jay-Z is 53. Actor Kevin Sussman is 52. Actor-model Tyra Banks is 49. Country singer Lila McCann is 41. Actor Lindsay Felton is 38. Actor Orlando Brown is 35. MLB pitcher Joe Musgrove is 30. Actor Scarlett Estevez (TV: "Lucifer") is 15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Sunday, Dec. 4, the 338th day of 2022. There are 27 days left in the year.Today's Highlights in History:On Dec. 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins gathered for the first and only time for a jam session at Sun Records in Memphis.On this date:In 1783, Gen. George Washington bade farewell to his Continental Army officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York.In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson left Washington on a trip to France to attend the Versailles Peace Conference.In 1942, during World War II, U.S. bombers struck the Italian mainland for the first time with a raid on Naples. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the dismantling of the Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Depression.In 1965, the United States launched Gemini 7 with Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Borman and Navy Cmdr. James A. Lovell aboard on a two-week mission. (While Gemini 7 was in orbit, its sister ship, Gemini 6A, was launched on Dec. 15 on a one-day mission; the two spacecraft were able to rendezvous within a foot of each other.)In 1978, San Francisco got its first female mayor as City Supervisor Dianne Feinstein was named to replace the assassinated George Moscone.In 1980, the bodies of four American churchwomen slain in El Salvador two days earlier were unearthed. (Five Salvadoran national guardsmen were later convicted of murdering nuns Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Dorothy Kazel, and lay worker Jean Donovan.)In 1986, both houses of Congress moved to establish special committees to conduct their own investigations of the Iran-Contra affair.In 1992, President George H.W. Bush ordered American troops to lead a mercy mission to Somalia, threatening military action against warlords and gangs who were blocking food for starving millions.In 1995, the first NATO troops landed in the Balkans to begin setting up a peace mission that brought American soldiers into the middle of the Bosnian conflict.In 2000, in a pair of legal setbacks for Al Gore, a Florida state judge refused to overturn George W. Bush's certified victory in Florida and the U.S. Supreme Court set aside a ruling that had allowed manual recounts.In 2016, a North Carolina man armed with a rifle fired several shots inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington, D.C., pizzeria, as he attempted to investigate an online conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were harboring child sex slaves at the restaurant; no one was hurt, and the man surrendered to police. (He was later sentenced to four years in prison.)In 2018, long lines of people wound through the Capitol Rotunda to view the casket of former President George H.W. Bush; former Sen. Bob Dole steadied himself out of his wheelchair to salute his old friend and one-time rival.Ten years ago: Two Australian radio disc jockeys impersonating Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles made a prank call to a London hospital and succeeded in getting a nurse to tell them the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was being treated for acute morning sickness; another nurse who had put the call through would be found dead three days later in an apparent suicide.Five years ago: Declaring that "public lands will once again be for public use," President Donald Trump scaled back two sprawling national monuments in Utah; it was the first time in a half century that a president had undone that type of land protection. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce a ban on travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries. Trump formally endorsed Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race, looking past sexual misconduct allegations against the GOP candidate.One year ago: James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a Michigan teen charged with killing four students at a high school earlier in the week, were arrested in a Detroit commercial building where police said they'd been hiding; a judge later imposed a combined $1 million bond for the couple, who pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting rampage. CNN fired anchor Chris Cuomo less than a week after new information emerged about how he assisted his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the politician faced sexual harassment allegations earlier in the year. Country musician Stonewall Jackson, who sang on the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and had No. 1 hits with "Waterloo" and others, died after a long battle with vascular dementia; he was 89.Today's Birthdays: Game show host Wink Martindale is 89. Pop singer Freddy Cannon is 86. Actor-producer Max Baer Jr. is 85. Actor Gemma Jones is 80. Rock musician Bob Mosley (Moby Grape) is 80. Singer-musician Chris Hillman is 78. Musician Terry Woods (The Pogues) is 75. Rock singer Southside Johnny Lyon is 74. Actor Jeff Bridges is 73. Rock musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd; the Rossington Collins Band) is 71. Actor Patricia Wettig is 71. Actor Tony Todd is 68. Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson is 67. Country musician Brian Prout (Diamond Rio) is 67. Rock musician Bob Griffin (formerly with The BoDeans) is 63. Rock singer Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge) is 60. Actor Marisa Tomei is 58. Actor Chelsea Noble is 58. Actor-comedian Fred Armisen is 56. Rapper Jay-Z is 53. Actor Kevin Sussman is 52. Actor-model Tyra Banks is 49. Country singer Lila McCann is 41. Actor Lindsay Felton is 38. Actor Orlando Brown is 35. MLB pitcher Joe Musgrove is 30. Actor Scarlett Estevez (TV: "Lucifer") is 15.

Today in History - December 4

WICHITA —&nbsp;With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, the end-of-year holidays are right around the corner. As holiday decorating gets into full swing, many will be opting for a live Christmas tree as part of their celebrations. While artificial trees have continued to grow in popularity, there are still about 25 to 30 million live Christmas trees sold every year in the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

AAA urges everyone to prioritize safety when transporting a Christmas tree and preventing it from becoming a fire hazard. While home fires can happen at any time, they generally increase during the fall and winter, with December and January being the peak months.

“If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage such as scratched paint, torn door seals, distorted window frames, or even worse, it could fly off the vehicle and become a danger to other drivers,” said&nbsp;AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward.&nbsp;“In addition to safely transporting a Christmas tree, we urge those displaying live trees in their homes for the holidays to do so properly and remember to watch the tree daily to avoid having it dry out and become a fire hazard.”

Tie one on, properly One holiday staple―the Christmas tree―has been popping up on top of cars and in windows earlier than in pre-pandemic years, extending the amount of time a tree is in the house for the holiday. However, this extended display time increases the potential for live Christmas trees to become fire hazards.

●44 percent of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will transport the tree using unsafe methods.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670120859678.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy AAA" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy AAA</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>How to tie one on and get lit safely</h2>AAA KansasWICHITA —&nbsp;With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, the end-of-year holidays are right around the corner. As holiday decorating gets into full swing, many will be opting for a live Christmas tree as part of their celebrations. While artificial trees have continued to grow in popularity, there are still about 25 to 30 million live Christmas trees sold every year in the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association.AAA urges everyone to prioritize safety when transporting a Christmas tree and preventing it from becoming a fire hazard. While home fires can happen at any time, they generally increase during the fall and winter, with December and January being the peak months.“If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage such as scratched paint, torn door seals, distorted window frames, or even worse, it could fly off the vehicle and become a danger to other drivers,” said&nbsp;AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward.&nbsp;“In addition to safely transporting a Christmas tree, we urge those displaying live trees in their homes for the holidays to do so properly and remember to watch the tree daily to avoid having it dry out and become a fire hazard.”Tie one on, properly One holiday staple―the Christmas tree―has been popping up on top of cars and in windows earlier than in pre-pandemic years, extending the amount of time a tree is in the house for the holiday. However, this extended display time increases the potential for live Christmas trees to become fire hazards.According to AAA research:●44 percent of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will transport the tree using unsafe methods.●20 percent will tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle&nbsp;without&nbsp;using a roof rack.●24 percent plan to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck&nbsp;unsecured.●20 percent will tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle&nbsp;without&nbsp;using a roof rack.●24 percent plan to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck&nbsp;unsecured.●Among those planning to purchase a live Christmas tree this year, 16 percent have previously experienced a Christmas tree falling off or out of their vehicle during transport.●An improperly secured Christmas tree can cost drivers as much as $1,500 or more in repairs.●Previous research from AAA found that road debris caused more than 200,000 crashes during a four-year period, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.“Twine that is wrapped around trees and looped through door jambs or open windows can cause serious vehicle damage, such as scratched paint, torn door seals and distorted window frames―damage that could cost up to $1,500 or more to repair,” said Steward.&nbsp;"Worse yet, improperly securing a Christmas tree to your vehicle could present a serious road danger if it comes loose and flies off into traffic.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670120905412.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy AAA" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy AAA</figcaption>
 </figure>AAA notes that transporting a real Christmas tree is easy as long as you have the tools and follow these simple tips:●Use the right vehicle.&nbsp;It’s best to transport a Christmas tree on top of a vehicle equipped with a roof rack. However, if you do not have a roof rack, use the bed of a pickup truck or an SUV, van or minivan that can fit the tree inside with all doors closed.●Bring proper tools.&nbsp;Bring strong rope or nylon ratchet straps to secure the tree to your vehicle’s roof rack. Avoid the lightweight twine offered by many tree lots. Bring an old blanket and gloves.●Protect the tree―and your vehicle.&nbsp;Have the tree wrapped in netting before loading it. If netting is unavailable, secure loose branches with rope or twine.&nbsp;Use an old blanket to prevent paint scratches and protect the vehicle finish.●Point the tree trunk towards the front.&nbsp;Always place the tree on a roof rack or in a pickup bed with the bottom of the trunk facing the front of the vehicle.●Tie it down.&nbsp;Secure the tree at its bottom, center and top. At the bottom, use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop around the trunk above a lower branch, to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement. The center and top tie-downs should be installed in a similar manner. ●Give it the tug test.&nbsp;Before you leave the lot, give the tree several strong tugs from various directions to make sure it is secured in place and will not blow away.●Drive slowly and easily.&nbsp;Take the back roads, if possible. Higher speeds create significant airflow that can damage your Christmas tree and challenge even the best tie-down methods.Getting lit ― safely Once the Christmas tree reaches its holiday home safely, proper placement and decorations are key to preventing a devastating house fire. The&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUX9JY8-2FVNQT2afwKQfF-2FPoz1FWIlfdJFwenb-2F7tpYFX0RUV-2Ber-2B319IHpFzJVwnZPWkM5NG2-2Fc9cDDguHZ7w1rc5crRPPsksl7IspL96uqc8D0oT1cCjyug0ceWuGEzosZ6-2FdKxrEeSqEuQl6oYcbMg-3D0Z-z_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqnr36Bz-2FX7x-2BRJfm1jhyKW-2FTCp5aY-2FVJ4JCxnjvk-2FRRDwnt24kMBsxeKi7alWPlpMNWd26xqDiyhvULBRt1ZzVZBYb-2BCM-2FNpGrFx-2F1bwTwQStJ0ha-2BlPmWXtXzxvtA5zNwXX-2FpF2F7fjD9VSWSXXrIhmn8-2FJbwbofMgb9o-2BJuWBSMu65ffjMGRjVMAj06E8M8H5d2DurIQ25jIaJT1usHIzCw8OJL-2BcBuluvu9Gh0qs4OG5NQ706ufVDADT5s2s2CQk0MxN2CZqz1-2FVAwW3Pg-2FU-3D" target="_blank">National Fire Protection Association</a>&nbsp;reports that:●Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than two in five home Christmas tree fires.●Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs.&nbsp;Six percent were started by candles.●Roughly two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.●Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.●Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.●Year round, more than one-third (35 percent) of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to almost half in December when candles started 45 percent of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth (19%) of decoration fires.●U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home&nbsp;structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 26 civilian fire injuries and $13 million in direct property damage.Make sure the fireplace is all that gets “lit” AAA and&nbsp;the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offer the following tips to reduce the risk of a house fire this Christmas:●Make sure the Christmas tree is at least three feet away from any heat source (fireplace, radiator, candles, heat vents, or lights).●Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.●Add water to your tree daily.●Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Never use lit candles to light the tree.●Always turn off the lights on the tree before going to bed or leaving home.“No one wants to have their holiday ruined―or face a tragedy―because of a house fire that could have been&nbsp;prevented,” said Steward.&nbsp; “While you may look at your tree as the centerpiece of your holiday decorations, you must treat it as a potential fire danger and take steps to protect your family and your home.”About AAA AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to more than 63&nbsp;million&nbsp;members nationwide and more than 350,000 members in Kansas.&nbsp;AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. 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