WASHINGTON (AP) — In some corners of the Democratic Party, last week felt like déjà vu.

The party's vice-presidential nominee’s military record was under assault from Republicans — attacks reminiscent of those&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?183127-1/swift-boat-veterans-political-ad">leveled two decades earlier on Sen. John Kerry</a>&nbsp;during his run for the White House.

Democratic strategists who lived through the Kerry onslaught, however, say the political landscape has changed so much since 2004 that they do not believe the attacks will land with the same resonance.

“It is a very different world,” said Tad Devine, a senior adviser to Kerry’s 2004 campaign.

Former President Donald Trump's campaign responded to the selection earlier this month of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the Democratic vice presidential nominee by attempting to pick apart his military record. Walz served for 24 years in the Minnesota National Guard, but Trump's campaign has criticized him for using imprecise language to describe how he carried a weapon in war and when he retired from service.

Kamala Harris' campaign has pushed back against the attacks, but some Democrats worry Republicans might succeed in turning Walz's military service into a liability. Others accused Republicans of attempting to “swift boat” Walz, a reference to the 2004 campaign and a sign of the campaign's continued relevance.

Kerry’s campaign was caught flatfooted in the summer of 2004 by attacks that questioned whether the presidential candidate had earned his many commendations as a commander of a swift boat during the Vietnam War. Kerry received three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star.

By 2004, America was involved in two wars — in Iraq and Afghanistan — following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, had made his military service a centerpiece of the hard-fought presidential primary campaign, to the point of starting his nomination speech by saying he was “reporting for duty."

Republicans sought to undermine that selling point by raising questions about his Vietnam War service. An outside political group, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, led the anti-Kerry campaign, spending millions of dollars on hard-hitting television ads. One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?183127-1/swift-boat-veterans-political-ad">spot</a>&nbsp;featured men who served in Vietnam questioning Kerry's leadership and heroism, as well as his fitness to lead the country;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?183495-1/swift-boat-veterans-political-ad">another</a>&nbsp;blasted Kerry’s participation in later anti-war protests.

“I remember being in Ohio and listening to that ad. And I called my campaign headquarters and said, guys, I just heard an ad. And if I heard that ad, I wouldn’t vote for me,” Kerry&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/644830886">told NPR in 2018</a>.

Some in Kerry’s campaign wanted to respond more forcefully, while others wanted to take a more cautious approach, concerned that focusing on the attacks would elevate them.

The campaign pushed back in the press but spent little money on costly television ads to address the controversy.

That trepidation, one-time Kerry advisers said, ensured that the public began to question the candidate's ability to handle national security matters.

Chris LaCivita — a top Trump campaign adviser — was one of the top Republican operatives behind the “swift boat” campaign. When Democrats compared the attacks on Walz to those on Kerry, LaCivita posted on X that the 2004 allegations “were never disproven.”

“Two things you don’t do is lie about the medals you received and whether or not you saw combat. Those are the two big sins. And he’s guilty of at least one of them,” LaCivita told The Associated Press last week.

Multiple veterans who served with Kerry refuted the accusations in 2004. Matthew Dowd, the chief strategist for the Bush campaign in 2004, said last week that the “swift boat” allegations were “&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/matthewjdowd/status/1821607421804212429">nearly all lies</a>.”

The Trump campaign has sought to take a similar approach in criticizing Walz's service. Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, has led the charge, accusing Walz of lying about his record. Vance, a Marine veteran, also accused Walz of abandoning his unit before it deployed to Iraq.

The Harris-Walz campaign has pushed back against the criticism. A campaign spokesperson told the AP that Walz “misspoke” in 2018 when he attempted to make a point on gun control by saying he carried weapons in a war. Walz did not see combat during his tenure in the Minnesota National Guard.

Walz’s first congressional campaign in March 2005&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walz-national-guard-military-ae43d684bf1319e535f9f620552155d7">issued a statement saying</a>&nbsp;he planned to run despite a possible mobilization that might send his soldiers to Iraq. According to the Guard, Walz retired from service in May 2005. Three months later, the Army issued a mobilization order for Walz’s unit. It was sent to Iraq in March 2006. The Harris-Walz campaign has pushed back against the Republican characterizations that Walz retired to avoid deploying to a war zone.

Walz achieved the rank of command sergeant major. But because he did not finish certain coursework before his retirement after 24 years in the National Guard, he retired as a master sergeant, a lower rank, for benefits purposes.

It is unclear how effective these GOP attacks will be. Democrats who worked on the Kerry campaign said they are likely not going to be as potent because so much has changed since 2004.

The main reason: Campaigns are now flush with cash, making it easier to fight back.

In 2004, Kerry and President George W. Bush, the Republican nominee, took public funding,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fec.gov/updates/2004-presidential-campaign-finance-activity-summarized/">receiving $74.6 million each</a>&nbsp;from the government, barring them from private donations. The decision, said Devine and others, handcuffed a campaign that wanted to focus on its preferred message.

“We were living in a world of limited resources where we had to make decisions about should we go on the air now, should we go on later,” said Steve Elmendorf, Kerry’s deputy campaign manager. The Harris-Walz campaign "doesn’t have those constraints.”

Public funding is a thing of the past, and Harris' operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-fundraising-democrats-trump-fbc14aa926444b4f961f579c63811766">raised</a>&nbsp;a staggering $310 million in July. The Democratic campaign, aided by what President Joe Biden collected before he stepped aside, is expected to raise well over $1 billion.

“If we were going to respond to those attacks in the paid media, we were going to need to spend money that we were going to need in October,” said Devine.

The strategists pointed to other differences in today's environment.

Whereas the “swift boat” attacks were generated by an outside group relying on advertising, Republicans have largely hit Walz on social media and in interviews. Such broadsides may reach the GOP base but not the independent voters who will decide the election.

Walz is also not the presidential nominee — as Kerry was. Voters tend to focus on the candidates at the top of a ticket,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-vp-pick-no-impact-jd-vance-political-experts-disagree-2024-8">something Trump himself has noted.</a>

And then there is the issue of Trump. Could attacks on Walz’s 24 years of military service boomerang on the Republican standard-bearer? The former president has been criticized for avoiding military service over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/26/politics/trump-bone-spurs-vietnam-war/index.html">claims he suffered from bone spurs</a>.

Despite the differences in the two campaigns, veterans of Kerry's run said Democrats should take to heart a lesson they learned the hard way: They waited too long to counterattack. Mark Mellman, Kerry's pollster, said Democrats should be particularly concerned about attacks on Walz's integrity, a key selling point of his candidacy. “To the extent that image is damaged,” Mellman said, “it can be quite problematic.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723596135448.png" alt="Gov. Tim Walz spoke at the Government Employee Union Convention in Los Angeles Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Tim Walz spoke at the Government Employee Union Convention in Los Angeles Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In some corners of the Democratic Party, last week felt like déjà vu.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Let me be clear: I am damn proud of my service to this country. <a href="https://t.co/9a9rJSQurQ">pic.twitter.com/9a9rJSQurQ</a>&mdash; Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tim_Walz/status/1823469160891855266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The party's vice-presidential nominee’s military record was under assault from Republicans — attacks reminiscent of those&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?183127-1/swift-boat-veterans-political-ad">leveled two decades earlier on Sen. John Kerry</a>&nbsp;during his run for the White House.Democratic strategists who lived through the Kerry onslaught, however, say the political landscape has changed so much since 2004 that they do not believe the attacks will land with the same resonance.“It is a very different world,” said Tad Devine, a senior adviser to Kerry’s 2004 campaign.Former President Donald Trump's campaign responded to the selection earlier this month of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the Democratic vice presidential nominee by attempting to pick apart his military record. Walz served for 24 years in the Minnesota National Guard, but Trump's campaign has criticized him for using imprecise language to describe how he carried a weapon in war and when he retired from service.Kamala Harris' campaign has pushed back against the attacks, but some Democrats worry Republicans might succeed in turning Walz's military service into a liability. Others accused Republicans of attempting to “swift boat” Walz, a reference to the 2004 campaign and a sign of the campaign's continued relevance.<h2>The origin of "swift boating"</h2>Kerry’s campaign was caught flatfooted in the summer of 2004 by attacks that questioned whether the presidential candidate had earned his many commendations as a commander of a swift boat during the Vietnam War. Kerry received three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star.By 2004, America was involved in two wars — in Iraq and Afghanistan — following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, had made his military service a centerpiece of the hard-fought presidential primary campaign, to the point of starting his nomination speech by saying he was “reporting for duty."Republicans sought to undermine that selling point by raising questions about his Vietnam War service. An outside political group, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, led the anti-Kerry campaign, spending millions of dollars on hard-hitting television ads. One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?183127-1/swift-boat-veterans-political-ad">spot</a>&nbsp;featured men who served in Vietnam questioning Kerry's leadership and heroism, as well as his fitness to lead the country;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?183495-1/swift-boat-veterans-political-ad">another</a>&nbsp;blasted Kerry’s participation in later anti-war protests.The ads were effective.“I remember being in Ohio and listening to that ad. And I called my campaign headquarters and said, guys, I just heard an ad. And if I heard that ad, I wouldn’t vote for me,” Kerry&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/transcripts/644830886">told NPR in 2018</a>.Some in Kerry’s campaign wanted to respond more forcefully, while others wanted to take a more cautious approach, concerned that focusing on the attacks would elevate them.The campaign pushed back in the press but spent little money on costly television ads to address the controversy.That trepidation, one-time Kerry advisers said, ensured that the public began to question the candidate's ability to handle national security matters.Chris LaCivita — a top Trump campaign adviser — was one of the top Republican operatives behind the “swift boat” campaign. When Democrats compared the attacks on Walz to those on Kerry, LaCivita posted on X that the 2004 allegations “were never disproven.”“Two things you don’t do is lie about the medals you received and whether or not you saw combat. Those are the two big sins. And he’s guilty of at least one of them,” LaCivita told The Associated Press last week.Multiple veterans who served with Kerry refuted the accusations in 2004. Matthew Dowd, the chief strategist for the Bush campaign in 2004, said last week that the “swift boat” allegations were “&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/matthewjdowd/status/1821607421804212429">nearly all lies</a>.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723596192711.png" alt="Gov. Tim Walz image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Tim Walz image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Walz pushes back</h2>The Trump campaign has sought to take a similar approach in criticizing Walz's service. Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, has led the charge, accusing Walz of lying about his record. Vance, a Marine veteran, also accused Walz of abandoning his unit before it deployed to Iraq.The Harris-Walz campaign has pushed back against the criticism. A campaign spokesperson told the AP that Walz “misspoke” in 2018 when he attempted to make a point on gun control by saying he carried weapons in a war. Walz did not see combat during his tenure in the Minnesota National Guard.Walz’s first congressional campaign in March 2005&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walz-national-guard-military-ae43d684bf1319e535f9f620552155d7">issued a statement saying</a>&nbsp;he planned to run despite a possible mobilization that might send his soldiers to Iraq. According to the Guard, Walz retired from service in May 2005. Three months later, the Army issued a mobilization order for Walz’s unit. It was sent to Iraq in March 2006. The Harris-Walz campaign has pushed back against the Republican characterizations that Walz retired to avoid deploying to a war zone.Walz achieved the rank of command sergeant major. But because he did not finish certain coursework before his retirement after 24 years in the National Guard, he retired as a master sergeant, a lower rank, for benefits purposes.It is unclear how effective these GOP attacks will be. Democrats who worked on the Kerry campaign said they are likely not going to be as potent because so much has changed since 2004.<h2>Flush with cash</h2>The main reason: Campaigns are now flush with cash, making it easier to fight back.In 2004, Kerry and President George W. Bush, the Republican nominee, took public funding,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fec.gov/updates/2004-presidential-campaign-finance-activity-summarized/">receiving $74.6 million each</a>&nbsp;from the government, barring them from private donations. The decision, said Devine and others, handcuffed a campaign that wanted to focus on its preferred message.“We were living in a world of limited resources where we had to make decisions about should we go on the air now, should we go on later,” said Steve Elmendorf, Kerry’s deputy campaign manager. The Harris-Walz campaign "doesn’t have those constraints.”Public funding is a thing of the past, and Harris' operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-fundraising-democrats-trump-fbc14aa926444b4f961f579c63811766">raised</a>&nbsp;a staggering $310 million in July. The Democratic campaign, aided by what President Joe Biden collected before he stepped aside, is expected to raise well over $1 billion.“If we were going to respond to those attacks in the paid media, we were going to need to spend money that we were going to need in October,” said Devine.<h2>Walz is not the presidential nominee</h2>The strategists pointed to other differences in today's environment.Whereas the “swift boat” attacks were generated by an outside group relying on advertising, Republicans have largely hit Walz on social media and in interviews. Such broadsides may reach the GOP base but not the independent voters who will decide the election.Walz is also not the presidential nominee — as Kerry was. Voters tend to focus on the candidates at the top of a ticket,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-vp-pick-no-impact-jd-vance-political-experts-disagree-2024-8">something Trump himself has noted.</a>And then there is the issue of Trump. Could attacks on Walz’s 24 years of military service boomerang on the Republican standard-bearer? The former president has been criticized for avoiding military service over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/26/politics/trump-bone-spurs-vietnam-war/index.html">claims he suffered from bone spurs</a>.Despite the differences in the two campaigns, veterans of Kerry's run said Democrats should take to heart a lesson they learned the hard way: They waited too long to counterattack. Mark Mellman, Kerry's pollster, said Democrats should be particularly concerned about attacks on Walz's integrity, a key selling point of his candidacy. “To the extent that image is damaged,” Mellman said, “it can be quite problematic.”___

🎥 Harris-Walz push back against criticism of his military service 

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump recounted his assassination attempt in vivid detail, promised the largest deportation in U.S. history and shared a plan to shut down the U.S. Education Department during a high-profile return to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter — a conversation that was plagued by technical glitches.

“If I had not turned my head, I would not be talking to you right now — as much as I like you," Trump told X’s owner Elon Musk.

Musk, a former Trump critic, said the Republican nominee's toughness, as demonstrated by his reaction to last month's shooting, was critical for national security.

“There’s some real tough characters out there," Musk said. "And if they don’t think the American president is tough, they will do what they want to do.”

The rare public conversation between Trump and Musk, which spanned more than two hours and was overwhelmingly friendly, revealed little new about Trump’s plans for a second term. The former president spent much of the discussion focused on his recent assassination attempt, illegal immigration and his plans to cut government regulations.

Still, the online meeting underscored just how much the U.S. political landscape has changed less than four years after Trump was permanently banned by the social media platform’s former leadership for spreading disinformation that sparked the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress and undermined the very foundation of the American democracy.

Such disinformation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-trump-misinformation-election-lies-5137a88a58eaaca0e45ba043db911d15">has thrived at X</a>&nbsp;under Musk’s leadership, although it was largely ignored during his conversation with Trump save for a passing Trump reference to a “rigged election.”

The session was intended to serve as a way for the former president to reach potentially millions of voters directly. It was also an opportunity for X, a platform that relies heavily on politics, to redeem itself after some struggles.

With more than 878,000 users connected to the meeting more than 40 minutes after the scheduled start time, the interview had not yet begun. Many users received a message reading, “Details not available."

Trump's team posted that the “interview on X is being overwhelmed with listeners logging in.” And once the meeting began, Musk apologized for the late start and blamed a “massive attack” that overwhelmed the company's system. Trump’s voice sounded muffled at times.

“Not available????? I planned my whole day around this,” wrote conservative commentator Glenn Beck.

“Please let Elon know we can’t join,” billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman posted.

Ahead of the event, Musk posted on the platform that X was conducting “some system scaling tests” to handle what was anticipated to be a high volume of participants.

The rocky start was reminiscent of a May 2023 social media conversation between Musk and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Republican governor was using the social media platform as a way to officially announce his presidential bid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-spaces-musk-desantis-presidential-f1d67097d0ec19616bd0b0d320cb27d1">a disastrous rollout</a>&nbsp;marred by technical glitches, overloaded by the more than 400,000 people who tried to dial in.

Trump's Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, noted that Trump mocked DeSantis at the time.

“Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!” Trump wrote in a message reposted by Harris' campaign Monday.

Once the interview ended, Harris’ campaign responded with a statement saying, “Trump’s entire campaign is in service of people like Elon Musk and himself — self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class and who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.”

Monday’s meeting highlighted the evolving personal relationship between Trump and Musk, two of the world’s most powerful men, who have shifted from being bitter rivals to unlikely allies over the span of one election season.

Musk, who described himself as a “moderate Democrat” until recently, suggested in 2022 that Trump was too old to be president again. Still, Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1812256998588662068">formally endorsed</a>&nbsp;Trump two days after his assassination attempt last month.

During their talk, Trump welcomed the idea of Musk joining his next administration to help cut government waste. Musk volunteered to join a prospective “government efficiency commission.”

“You’re the greatest cutter,” Trump told Musk. “I need an Elon Musk — I need somebody that has a lot of strength and courage and smarts. I want to close up the Department of Education, move education back to the states.”

Even before his endorsement, the tech CEO had already been working privately to support a pro-Trump super PAC. The group, known as America PAC, is now under investigation by election officials for alleged misleading attempts to collect data from voters.

Meanwhile, Trump has softened his criticism of electric vehicles, citing Musk’s leadership of Tesla. And on Monday, at least, Trump returned to Musk’s social media platform in force. The former president made at least eight individual posts in the hours leading up to the Musk interview.

Long before he endorsed Trump, Musk turned increasingly toward the right in his posts and actions on the platform, also using X to try to sway political discourse around the world. He's gotten in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-musk-x-twitter-moraes-bef06c0dbbb8ed87495b1afbb0edf211">dustup with a Brazilian judge</a>&nbsp;over censorship, railed against what he calls the “woke mind virus” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-immigrants-parole-biden-trump-musk-dbd634820b3f8d07b859b8a05b2b20a7">amplified false claims</a>&nbsp;that Democrats are secretly flying in migrants to vote in U.S. elections.

Musk has also reinstated previously banned accounts such as the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Trump, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-media-michael-flynn-social-media-f41b11060d7703e3a3136ddb5eefa055">kicked off the platform</a>&nbsp;— then known as Twitter — two days after the Jan. 6 violence, with the company citing “the risk of further incitement of violence.” By November 2022, Musk had bought the company, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-biden-twitter-inc-technology-congress-d88e3de4b3cc095926dc133f53dc3320">Trump’s account was reinstated</a>, although the former president refrained from tweeting until Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-media-social-donald-trump-2bc528a6c43fc943c08819f2376bb24a">insisting that he was happier</a>&nbsp;on his own Truth Social site, which he launched during the ban.

Trump's audience on X is legions larger than on Truth Social, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/truth-social-donald-trump-djt-ipo-digital-world-7437d5dcc491a1459a078195ae547987">became a publicly traded company</a>&nbsp;earlier this year. Trump has just over 7.5 million followers on Truth Social, while his mostly dormant X account is followed by 88 million. Musk's account, which hosted the interview, has more than 193 million followers.

In a reminder that the world was watching, the chat prompted a preemptive note of caution from Europe.

Thierry Breton, a French business executive and commissioner for internal market of the European Union, warned Musk of possible “amplification of harmful content” by broadcasting his interview with Trump. In a letter posted on X, Breton urged Musk to “ensure X’s compliance” with EU law, including the Digital Services Act, adopted in 2022 to address a number of issues including disinformation.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung urged the EU to “mind their own business instead of trying to meddle in the U.S. Presidential election.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723512136730.png" alt="Photo by Deputy Director of Communications, Donald J. Trump for President&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Deputy Director of Communications, Donald J. Trump for President&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump recounted his assassination attempt in vivid detail, promised the largest deportation in U.S. history and shared a plan to shut down the U.S. Education Department during a high-profile return to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter — a conversation that was plagued by technical glitches.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/cPUMFx9Qu5">pic.twitter.com/cPUMFx9Qu5</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1823254086126608862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“If I had not turned my head, I would not be talking to you right now — as much as I like you," Trump told X’s owner Elon Musk.Musk, a former Trump critic, said the Republican nominee's toughness, as demonstrated by his reaction to last month's shooting, was critical for national security.“There’s some real tough characters out there," Musk said. "And if they don’t think the American president is tough, they will do what they want to do.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Combined views of the conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and subsequent discussion by other accounts now ~1 billion <a href="https://t.co/s8x8QmdmnY">https://t.co/s8x8QmdmnY</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1823249070296797515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The rare public conversation between Trump and Musk, which spanned more than two hours and was overwhelmingly friendly, revealed little new about Trump’s plans for a second term. The former president spent much of the discussion focused on his recent assassination attempt, illegal immigration and his plans to cut government regulations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723514711398.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Still, the online meeting underscored just how much the U.S. political landscape has changed less than four years after Trump was permanently banned by the social media platform’s former leadership for spreading disinformation that sparked the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Congress and undermined the very foundation of the American democracy.Such disinformation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-trump-misinformation-election-lies-5137a88a58eaaca0e45ba043db911d15">has thrived at X</a>&nbsp;under Musk’s leadership, although it was largely ignored during his conversation with Trump save for a passing Trump reference to a “rigged election.”The session was intended to serve as a way for the former president to reach potentially millions of voters directly. It was also an opportunity for X, a platform that relies heavily on politics, to redeem itself after some struggles.It did not begin as planned.With more than 878,000 users connected to the meeting more than 40 minutes after the scheduled start time, the interview had not yet begun. Many users received a message reading, “Details not available."Trump's team posted that the “interview on X is being overwhelmed with listeners logging in.” And once the meeting began, Musk apologized for the late start and blamed a “massive attack” that overwhelmed the company's system. Trump’s voice sounded muffled at times.Trump supporters were openly frustrated.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723546138094.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Not available????? I planned my whole day around this,” wrote conservative commentator Glenn Beck.“Please let Elon know we can’t join,” billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman posted.Ahead of the event, Musk posted on the platform that X was conducting “some system scaling tests” to handle what was anticipated to be a high volume of participants.The rocky start was reminiscent of a May 2023 social media conversation between Musk and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Republican governor was using the social media platform as a way to officially announce his presidential bid,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-spaces-musk-desantis-presidential-f1d67097d0ec19616bd0b0d320cb27d1">a disastrous rollout</a>&nbsp;marred by technical glitches, overloaded by the more than 400,000 people who tried to dial in.Trump's Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, noted that Trump mocked DeSantis at the time.“Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!” Trump wrote in a message reposted by Harris' campaign Monday.Once the interview ended, Harris’ campaign responded with a statement saying, “Trump’s entire campaign is in service of people like Elon Musk and himself — self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class and who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.”Monday’s meeting highlighted the evolving personal relationship between Trump and Musk, two of the world’s most powerful men, who have shifted from being bitter rivals to unlikely allies over the span of one election season.Musk, who described himself as a “moderate Democrat” until recently, suggested in 2022 that Trump was too old to be president again. Still, Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1812256998588662068">formally endorsed</a>&nbsp;Trump two days after his assassination attempt last month.During their talk, Trump welcomed the idea of Musk joining his next administration to help cut government waste. Musk volunteered to join a prospective “government efficiency commission.”“You’re the greatest cutter,” Trump told Musk. “I need an Elon Musk — I need somebody that has a lot of strength and courage and smarts. I want to close up the Department of Education, move education back to the states.”Even before his endorsement, the tech CEO had already been working privately to support a pro-Trump super PAC. The group, known as America PAC, is now under investigation by election officials for alleged misleading attempts to collect data from voters.Meanwhile, Trump has softened his criticism of electric vehicles, citing Musk’s leadership of Tesla. And on Monday, at least, Trump returned to Musk’s social media platform in force. The former president made at least eight individual posts in the hours leading up to the Musk interview.Long before he endorsed Trump, Musk turned increasingly toward the right in his posts and actions on the platform, also using X to try to sway political discourse around the world. He's gotten in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-musk-x-twitter-moraes-bef06c0dbbb8ed87495b1afbb0edf211">dustup with a Brazilian judge</a>&nbsp;over censorship, railed against what he calls the “woke mind virus” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-misinformation-immigrants-parole-biden-trump-musk-dbd634820b3f8d07b859b8a05b2b20a7">amplified false claims</a>&nbsp;that Democrats are secretly flying in migrants to vote in U.S. elections.Musk has also reinstated previously banned accounts such as the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Trump, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-media-michael-flynn-social-media-f41b11060d7703e3a3136ddb5eefa055">kicked off the platform</a>&nbsp;— then known as Twitter — two days after the Jan. 6 violence, with the company citing “the risk of further incitement of violence.” By November 2022, Musk had bought the company, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-biden-twitter-inc-technology-congress-d88e3de4b3cc095926dc133f53dc3320">Trump’s account was reinstated</a>, although the former president refrained from tweeting until Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-media-social-donald-trump-2bc528a6c43fc943c08819f2376bb24a">insisting that he was happier</a>&nbsp;on his own Truth Social site, which he launched during the ban.Trump's audience on X is legions larger than on Truth Social, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/truth-social-donald-trump-djt-ipo-digital-world-7437d5dcc491a1459a078195ae547987">became a publicly traded company</a>&nbsp;earlier this year. Trump has just over 7.5 million followers on Truth Social, while his mostly dormant X account is followed by 88 million. Musk's account, which hosted the interview, has more than 193 million followers.In a reminder that the world was watching, the chat prompted a preemptive note of caution from Europe.Thierry Breton, a French business executive and commissioner for internal market of the European Union, warned Musk of possible “amplification of harmful content” by broadcasting his interview with Trump. In a letter posted on X, Breton urged Musk to “ensure X’s compliance” with EU law, including the Digital Services Act, adopted in 2022 to address a number of issues including disinformation.Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung urged the EU to “mind their own business instead of trying to meddle in the U.S. Presidential election.”

🎥 A billion combined views: The Trump-Musk full conversation

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid Quotes

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright fellas – or people here – ladies and gentlemen. So, this is the injury part of this. Hollywood (Brown), they were able to get the joint back into place – without surgery, which is a positive and then we’ll just see on the recovery. He’s back in Kansas City now, he stayed over in Jacksonville until they got that thing (the joint) situated. Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) was sick today, (Jaaron) Hayek is still – you know about his shoulder, nothing’s changed there. Chris Jones, shoulder – both of those guys are making progress. McKade (Mettauer) had a tear in the MCL – it wasn’t the ACL, so that’s a positive. (There’s) no surgery required. We’ll just see how he does here in the next few days (and) how that thing (the knee) works out. It might be longer than that, but we’ll see. Wanya (Morris) had a bone bruise on his knee. Those (bone bruises) are pretty painful things, but he’s working through that. Other than that, everybody worked today in some form or another and we’ll just see how they did. Whether it was the (Nick) Boltons (or) the (Justin) Reids – we’ll just see how they made (it) out through this (practice). As far as the game goes, there were some good things. There’s plenty that we can work on. The ones we’re fairly productive there for the short time that they had. We’re on top of the kickoff and the (new kickoff) rule – it’s a little different than last year, so the ball normally goes in the endzone (and) it’s a dead ball and that’s not how it is this year. (The ball) goes in and comes back out (and) you can’t scoop it back in, obviously. Again, they’re (the league) still looking at all of this, so we’ll see where it goes from here. I think it was good for the officials to see it (and) I think it was good for us to see it. We understood the part of it where if it (the ball) goes in, it’s still alive. Again, that’s similar to the sideline where you can be outside (of the lines) and reach back in – that part got clarified, it’s not like that, so that’s a live ball. That’s where we’re at. Other than that, it’s open to you guys here.”

Q: What should the returner have done?

REID:&nbsp;“34 (Deneric Prince) should have taken it and gone. Then, Mecole (Hardman) was trying to make it right, but what Mecole should have done was picked it up and gone but listen, that’s not his – that’s our responsibility for making sure that it’s clarified.”

Q: What’s Bryan Cook’s status?

REID:&nbsp;“Yes, he (Bryan Cook) was not there. (He had) personal matters. (He has a) baby on the way.”

Q: What did you see from Kingsley Suamataia?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I thought he did a nice job in there. His (Kingsley Suamataia) feet (and) his sets we’re good, he was aggressive. I thought for the short time that he was in, he did a nice job. It was a good start for him. He’s got to, obviously, build on it (with) the more time he gets and so on, but I thought it was a very productive start.”

Q: You have a deep wide receiver room. Are you sensing some urgency from Kadarius Toney to get back on the field considering the competition?

REID:&nbsp;“He (Kadarius Toney) was out here today, working. It’s just consistency. It’s just the matter that – and with the competition, I tell all of them (the wide receivers) that. There’s a ton of competition and you’ve got to be on your game with that.”

REID:&nbsp;“The positive there, Adam (Teicher), is that he’s (Hollywood Brown) going to be back. Without him in there, his experience and that in the league, but we’ve also got other guys that can step in and play. We’ll be okay there. It’s just we’re pulling for him to get back, obviously.”

Q: Is it reasonable to think that Hollywood Brown could play against Baltimore?

REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see how that goes.”

Q: Did you miss not having a fullback last year? Does Carson Steele look like a guy who could be a fullback and a running back?

REID:&nbsp;“Well, you saw what he was as a running back and then he’s learning the fullback spot, as needed. We used Noah (Gray) there last year, who can still do that (play fullback). He’s (Carson Steele) got to be a good special teams player if he’s going to make the team. He’s got to be a good special teams player, and he’s got to be able to carry the football, stay aggressive like he’s doing right now but he had a productive day.”

Q: Did not having a full back hamper you in the redzone?

REID:&nbsp;“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. We adapted and I thought Noah (Gray) gave us some good snaps in there.”

Q: What jumped out to you about Louis Rees-Zammit on tape? Where can he improve from game one to game two?

REID:&nbsp;“Listen, it was exciting for him (Louis Rees-Zammit) to have a chance to get in there and play. It’s faster than what he’s seen in practice, so I think from an experience standpoint, it was great for him. I think that was a positive and then (he just has to) build on it.”

Q: How eager are you to get looks in the backfield, reverses and go sections?

WORTHY:&nbsp;“It's huge. Obviously, in college, I kind of had the freedom to get the ball anywhere on the field. Reverses, bubbles, deep passes, intermediate (passes). So just being able to have that here – just get the ball in my hands. I feel like I’d be a threat with the ball in my hands.”

Q: Did anything about the speed of the first preseason game surprise you?

WORTHY:&nbsp;“Coming into the league, it's different speeds at all levels. High school has their own speed, college has their own speed. Obviously, in the NFL everybody is smarter, they move, they adjust better. So just me knowing that I kind of just – if I feel like I had more plays, I’d be able to get a rhythm going into the game, but I feel like I adapted to the game speed pretty well.”

Q: With training camp ending soon, what have you learned about yourself and what has been the toughest challenge to get through this camp?

WORTHY:&nbsp;“The toughest challenge for the camp I feel like, just the playbook. I feel like I got really adapted to it. I’ve been in the playbook really all day (and) all night. Understanding the little bits, the formations, the motions. Understanding what everybody else has just so I could – what if I am in that position? So, just understanding all of that I feel like that really helped me in this training camp.”

Q:&nbsp;Were you happy with your performance in your first time being out there?

HICKS:&nbsp;“I would say I’m content with it. There are some plays that I could have made – still plays to be out there. Overall, I think I did alright.”

Q:&nbsp;What’s been your comfort level as you are learning multiple positions on defense but also trying to make an impact on special teams?

HICKS:&nbsp;“Yeah, I mean just running down there using my abilities. With the new kickoff rule, that’s a bit of an adjustment with close spacing and stuff like that. Learning all the roles and plays on the defense, that’s going pretty smooth so far. I’m just looking to keep learning from that and keep going from here.”

Q:&nbsp;What was your takeaway from your first performance and are there things you want to work on?

HICKS:&nbsp;“Things I need to work on, I would just say – overall, I would just say keep playing hard through the whistle. Some plays I was getting a little tired, but I mean playing on special teams and stuff like that at the end of the day. Yeah, just keep going straight through the whistle.”

Q:&nbsp;What do you think would make you a good fit for the fullback role?

STEELE:&nbsp;“Honestly, that was kind of like my main goal coming into camp. There was a little bit of talks here and there. My main goal was trying to be like a Swiss Army Knife – try to do it all type of deal. Wherever they need to put me in is where I can get in. Like they were saying, implementing the fullback in there as well, being able to block, especially catch out of the backfield too, not only just being able to run.”

Q:&nbsp;Did you get any feedback from the coaches on how you played?

STEELE:&nbsp;“Personally, I did a little bit. We’re really onto the next game. That’s kind of how we go. I was excited – celebrated that night a little bit (after) scoring our first touchdown, but after that it was kind of go time for the next week.”

Q:&nbsp;As an undrafted guy, you can pick your team. What was attractive about Kansas City?

Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid QuotesAugust 12, 2024OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Alright fellas – or people here – ladies and gentlemen. So, this is the injury part of this. Hollywood (Brown), they were able to get the joint back into place – without surgery, which is a positive and then we’ll just see on the recovery. He’s back in Kansas City now, he stayed over in Jacksonville until they got that thing (the joint) situated. Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) was sick today, (Jaaron) Hayek is still – you know about his shoulder, nothing’s changed there. Chris Jones, shoulder – both of those guys are making progress. McKade (Mettauer) had a tear in the MCL – it wasn’t the ACL, so that’s a positive. (There’s) no surgery required. We’ll just see how he does here in the next few days (and) how that thing (the knee) works out. It might be longer than that, but we’ll see. Wanya (Morris) had a bone bruise on his knee. Those (bone bruises) are pretty painful things, but he’s working through that. Other than that, everybody worked today in some form or another and we’ll just see how they did. Whether it was the (Nick) Boltons (or) the (Justin) Reids – we’ll just see how they made (it) out through this (practice). As far as the game goes, there were some good things. There’s plenty that we can work on. The ones we’re fairly productive there for the short time that they had. We’re on top of the kickoff and the (new kickoff) rule – it’s a little different than last year, so the ball normally goes in the endzone (and) it’s a dead ball and that’s not how it is this year. (The ball) goes in and comes back out (and) you can’t scoop it back in, obviously. Again, they’re (the league) still looking at all of this, so we’ll see where it goes from here. I think it was good for the officials to see it (and) I think it was good for us to see it. We understood the part of it where if it (the ball) goes in, it’s still alive. Again, that’s similar to the sideline where you can be outside (of the lines) and reach back in – that part got clarified, it’s not like that, so that’s a live ball. That’s where we’re at. Other than that, it’s open to you guys here.”Q: What should the returner have done?REID:&nbsp;“34 (Deneric Prince) should have taken it and gone. Then, Mecole (Hardman) was trying to make it right, but what Mecole should have done was picked it up and gone but listen, that’s not his – that’s our responsibility for making sure that it’s clarified.”Q: What’s Bryan Cook’s status?REID:&nbsp;“Yes, he (Bryan Cook) was not there. (He had) personal matters. (He has a) baby on the way.”Q: What did you see from Kingsley Suamataia?REID:&nbsp;“Listen, I thought he did a nice job in there. His (Kingsley Suamataia) feet (and) his sets we’re good, he was aggressive. I thought for the short time that he was in, he did a nice job. It was a good start for him. He’s got to, obviously, build on it (with) the more time he gets and so on, but I thought it was a very productive start.”Q: You have a deep wide receiver room. Are you sensing some urgency from Kadarius Toney to get back on the field considering the competition?REID:&nbsp;“He (Kadarius Toney) was out here today, working. It’s just consistency. It’s just the matter that – and with the competition, I tell all of them (the wide receivers) that. There’s a ton of competition and you’ve got to be on your game with that.”Q: On Hollywood Brown.REID:&nbsp;“The positive there, Adam (Teicher), is that he’s (Hollywood Brown) going to be back. Without him in there, his experience and that in the league, but we’ve also got other guys that can step in and play. We’ll be okay there. It’s just we’re pulling for him to get back, obviously.”Q: Is it reasonable to think that Hollywood Brown could play against Baltimore?REID:&nbsp;“Yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see how that goes.”Q: Did you miss not having a fullback last year? Does Carson Steele look like a guy who could be a fullback and a running back?REID:&nbsp;“Well, you saw what he was as a running back and then he’s learning the fullback spot, as needed. We used Noah (Gray) there last year, who can still do that (play fullback). He’s (Carson Steele) got to be a good special teams player if he’s going to make the team. He’s got to be a good special teams player, and he’s got to be able to carry the football, stay aggressive like he’s doing right now but he had a productive day.”Q: Did not having a full back hamper you in the redzone?REID:&nbsp;“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think so. We adapted and I thought Noah (Gray) gave us some good snaps in there.”Q: What jumped out to you about Louis Rees-Zammit on tape? Where can he improve from game one to game two?REID:&nbsp;“Listen, it was exciting for him (Louis Rees-Zammit) to have a chance to get in there and play. It’s faster than what he’s seen in practice, so I think from an experience standpoint, it was great for him. I think that was a positive and then (he just has to) build on it.”Chiefs Player QuotesAugust 12, 2024WR XAVIER WORTHYQ: How eager are you to get looks in the backfield, reverses and go sections?WORTHY:&nbsp;“It's huge. Obviously, in college, I kind of had the freedom to get the ball anywhere on the field. Reverses, bubbles, deep passes, intermediate (passes). So just being able to have that here – just get the ball in my hands. I feel like I’d be a threat with the ball in my hands.”Q: Did anything about the speed of the first preseason game surprise you?WORTHY:&nbsp;“Coming into the league, it's different speeds at all levels. High school has their own speed, college has their own speed. Obviously, in the NFL everybody is smarter, they move, they adjust better. So just me knowing that I kind of just – if I feel like I had more plays, I’d be able to get a rhythm going into the game, but I feel like I adapted to the game speed pretty well.”Q: With training camp ending soon, what have you learned about yourself and what has been the toughest challenge to get through this camp?WORTHY:&nbsp;“The toughest challenge for the camp I feel like, just the playbook. I feel like I got really adapted to it. I’ve been in the playbook really all day (and) all night. Understanding the little bits, the formations, the motions. Understanding what everybody else has just so I could – what if I am in that position? So, just understanding all of that I feel like that really helped me in this training camp.”DB JADEN HICKSQ:&nbsp;Were you happy with your performance in your first time being out there?HICKS:&nbsp;“I would say I’m content with it. There are some plays that I could have made – still plays to be out there. Overall, I think I did alright.”Q:&nbsp;What’s been your comfort level as you are learning multiple positions on defense but also trying to make an impact on special teams?HICKS:&nbsp;“Yeah, I mean just running down there using my abilities. With the new kickoff rule, that’s a bit of an adjustment with close spacing and stuff like that. Learning all the roles and plays on the defense, that’s going pretty smooth so far. I’m just looking to keep learning from that and keep going from here.”Q:&nbsp;What was your takeaway from your first performance and are there things you want to work on?HICKS:&nbsp;“Things I need to work on, I would just say – overall, I would just say keep playing hard through the whistle. Some plays I was getting a little tired, but I mean playing on special teams and stuff like that at the end of the day. Yeah, just keep going straight through the whistle.”RB CARSON STEELEQ:&nbsp;What do you think would make you a good fit for the fullback role?STEELE:&nbsp;“Honestly, that was kind of like my main goal coming into camp. There was a little bit of talks here and there. My main goal was trying to be like a Swiss Army Knife – try to do it all type of deal. Wherever they need to put me in is where I can get in. Like they were saying, implementing the fullback in there as well, being able to block, especially catch out of the backfield too, not only just being able to run.”Q:&nbsp;Did you get any feedback from the coaches on how you played?STEELE:&nbsp;“Personally, I did a little bit. We’re really onto the next game. That’s kind of how we go. I was excited – celebrated that night a little bit (after) scoring our first touchdown, but after that it was kind of go time for the next week.”Q:&nbsp;As an undrafted guy, you can pick your team. What was attractive about Kansas City?

Chiefs Quotes: 8-12-24

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/culyerdunn/">CUYLER DUNN</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

When faculty and staff at Sterling College received an updated employee handbook in August 2023, they were quickly alarmed by changes made without their input.

Those concerns sparked a year of frustration with president Scott Rich’s leadership, frustration that continues as a new school year approaches.

In April, a majority of faculty voted to express a lack of confidence in Rich following months of meetings, letters and complaints. Of the 49 faculty members eligible to vote, 29 said they had either minimal or no confidence in Rich. Nine said they had substantial confidence, and only one voiced full confidence. Ten abstained.

One of the biggest concerns for faculty was new language in the handbook they said created confusion and a chilling effect on what they could say and do, both at work and in their private lives. Many worried about creating barriers for LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus.

“There’s all these things that are in the back of one’s mind,” assistant professor Todd Vogts said. “How long can I continue to be OK with some of these decisions that seem to be directly impacting not only my fellow faculty members but the students in negative ways?”

Sterling faculty have left the college, located in the town of Sterling in central Kansas, and some suggested the exodus would continue if concerns remain unaddressed.

Multiple staff members said they were frustrated by a systemic lack of collaboration on major decisions in recent years, including administration eliminating a diversity initiative and pushing back on a Catholic student group. Those frustrations were compounded as budgets decrease and enrollment drops.

“It seemed that the will of everyone involved was being thwarted by the president without any type of transparency or discussion,” said former Sterling staff member Andy Giorgetti.

Rich is less active around campus, faculty members said. He lives in Hutchinson, a 30-minute drive from Sterling.

“It’s that lack of communication, that unwillingness to listen to concerns,” Vogts said. “Even when there appears that someone is listening, nothing changes. And so that’s just seeded a lot of frustration.”

Tony Thompson, a Sterling graduate and former two-decade member of the board of trustees, said he believed a change in leadership was necessary for the college.

“I definitely love Sterling College and supported her for over 50 years,” he said. “Unfortunately, I do not currently support the current leadership, and there needs to be a change.”

He said his decision was based solely on performance, citing deteriorating faculty relationships, declining enrollment and poor communication. Thompson has long been a supporter and donor for the college and in 2006 won Sterling’s Distinguished Service Award.

Rich said in a statement he was unaware of the faculty’s vote, but the college’s board of trustees held its own unanimous vote reaffirming support for the president.

Randy Henry, chairman of the Sterling College board of trustees, said the board fully supports Rich.

“We want everyone to feel they are valued and the board has tried to do everything we can to try and bring these faculty members and the president to a place where they can work together, as has been the case for almost all of Dr. Rich’s tenure,” he said.

A Kansas Reflector investigation — based on interviews with a half-dozen current and former Sterling College staff members and a review of documents outlining complaints — found widespread concerns about unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, the administration’s willingness to listen to concerns, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students.

Employees were given a new handbook in August 2023 and asked to sign a statement acknowledging they would comply with its contents.

Many of them still haven’t signed the agreement.

Multiple faculty members expressed concern the phrasing would allow the school to terminate them for being too liberal in their beliefs or coming from a denomination that theologically varied from the school.

The handbook included new wording requiring staff to “exhibit habits and actions consistent with biblical standards and in accordance with Sterling College’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, and Faith Perspectives.” Staff would face disciplinary action including termination if they violated the requirement.

According to Sterling’s website, the college is “thoroughly Christian, but not in any sense sectarian.” Multiple faculty members said the new employee handbook jeopardizes that idea by forcing faculty to personally agree with certain beliefs or face punishment.

“When we have these issues and we can’t talk about them, faculty and staff don’t feel safe in this community, in our jobs, if we can’t actually know where we stand on these issues,” Giorgetti said.

The handbook also added a section on social media usage that said staff should consider their social media presence to be an extension of their classroom or office. Multiple faculty said they worried about how the policy could be interpreted. The ambiguity left them wondering if they could be fired for personal social media activity like adding a pride flag to their profile picture.

The Faculty Welfare Committee — faculty members who act as liaisons with administration — began hearing concerns as soon as the handbook was released. They compiled the issues and sent them to human resources, Rich and the board of trustees.

At each stage, they said they were met with an initial willingness to discuss changes or clarifications before being shut down.

The final blow came when the board of trustees responded to detailed faculty concerns by saying it had voted to reaffirm confidence in Rich and scolded the faculty for bringing the complaint to the board.

“The board will not be making a habit of dealing with these types of issues,” Henry, the board chairman, wrote in a May letter to faculty.

In a statement, Rich said handbook revisions occur at the will of the human resources department. The edits were made, he said, “to further protect the institution.”

The new language, which faculty said was ambiguous and confusing, left them with many questions about what they could say or do, creating a chilling effect on both their professional and personal lives.

“I think it’s incredibly important to be open to all of the ideas and to weigh them and evaluate them,” said professor Ken Troyer. “I’m not saying, you know, everything needs to be supported, but everything needs to at least be able to be heard and be discussed.”

Some staff worried the handbook change could create an unwelcoming space for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Staff were asked to affirm a Statement on Life, Marriage, Gender Identity and Human Sexuality, which includes anti-LGBTQ+ language.

Sterling is a religious college, but students don’t necessarily hold the same beliefs as the college, especially because many of them are recruited for athletics.

“I think it’s our job to just welcome everybody,” Troyer said. “I mean, if Christianity is important and we want people to hear that message, then it’s great if you’re a believer. And if you’re not, cool, come along for the ride and enrich our lives by giving us different perspectives. And maybe we can do the same.”

Adam Moore lived through this tension firsthand as a student. In 2019-20, he was elected student body president. He was the first openly gay student to hold the role.

Growing up in nearby Hutchinson, he knew that being gay and attending Sterling wouldn’t be easy. But he was drawn to the college’s debate team and liked that it was a Christian school where he could continue his faith. He arrived committed to having difficult conversations.

His challenges began when he became a resident assistant for the dorms. He had weekly meetings with administration he said felt like “conversion therapy.” When he was elected student body president, students asked to start a gay-straight alliance. Clubs normally received approval from the student government, he said. Moore passed along his approval of the club to administrators, who swiftly overturned it.

“Gay people feel ostracized from the religious community,” Moore said. “It definitely has affected me. But I’ve also seen a church community that can be welcoming and loving and caring for LGBTQ+ people. … If I had only talked to administrators about this, there’s no chance I’d ever be a part of a church community again.”

The battle over LGBTQ+ inclusion spread throughout campus.

When faculty at Sterling conduct research, they are supposed to follow American Psychological Association standards, which say to include an “other” option when asking about gender. But Rich only wanted to include “male” and “female” on surveys, Vogts said.

After a year, faculty members were allowed to add the “other” option to surveys after Rich took the clash to the cabinet, a group of representatives from across campus selected by the president that advise him.

Rich said staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. He said there were no personal interpretations involved and the board had laid out how the administration was to run the college.

“If (faculty) violate campus policies then they could be reprimanded for violating such policies,” Rich said. “The board and cabinet extend grace until grace has been exhausted.”

But faculty said their concerns were not with the religious foundations of the college.

Because Christianity has diverse denominations, many worried that cracking down on what staff could say or believe would exclude some groups. Before the changes, the handbook allowed for more diversity, they said.

“I’m a Christian. I have no problem saying that,” Troyer said. “Our statements have enough wiggle room and are kind of vague in some ways, that it allows for a Baptist and a Catholic and a Mennonite and all of these different denominations to still be able to work for the same common cause.”

Staff say they see a clear way forward: a seat at the table.

“I would just like to see more deliberation and more collaboration about these types of decisions,” Vogts said.

Many of them believe that Sterling is a place with a solid mission, but they say recent decisions have jeopardized the faculty’s ability to carry it out, rendering the college almost unrecognizable.

While many have left the school, those who stayed did so out of love for the college and its students.

“There needs to be a greater sense of everyone, all employees, are all kind of in this together, moving forward in lockstep,” said Troyer, who has taught at Sterling for nearly two decades. “But we need to reach the point where we at least are like, ‘Oh, I understand why that decision is made.’ ”

Rich said he intended to address frustrations by reminding staff that “they are always welcome to visit with the president about anything — including concerns.”

Moore said there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from the small college of less than 1,000 north of Hutchinson.

He saw many sides of the community during his time there, including with Rich. He said while Rich held opinions he viewed as severely harmful, he also saw a side of the leader that was thoughtful and authentic.

“There’s a lot of trauma that is created,” Moore said. “Ever since I’ve left Sterling, I continue to grapple with these two very different Sterlings that I know.”

Now living in Emporia, Moore keeps an eye on the college, hoping that one of the two sides will win out in the end.

“Even though Sterling is a teeny tiny community,” Moore said, “I think that there are so many others just like it that the story can only help.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723477223880.png" alt=" Faculty at Sterling College, a private religious school in central Kansas, have raised concerns with president Scott Rich’s leadership, unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students. (Andy Giorgetti)" />
 <figcaption> Faculty at Sterling College, a private religious school in central Kansas, have raised concerns with president Scott Rich’s leadership, unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students. (Andy Giorgetti)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/culyerdunn/">CUYLER DUNN</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> When faculty and staff at Sterling College received an updated employee handbook in August 2023, they were quickly alarmed by changes made without their input.Those concerns sparked a year of frustration with president Scott Rich’s leadership, frustration that continues as a new school year approaches.In April, a majority of faculty voted to express a lack of confidence in Rich following months of meetings, letters and complaints. Of the 49 faculty members eligible to vote, 29 said they had either minimal or no confidence in Rich. Nine said they had substantial confidence, and only one voiced full confidence. Ten abstained.One of the biggest concerns for faculty was new language in the handbook they said created confusion and a chilling effect on what they could say and do, both at work and in their private lives. Many worried about creating barriers for LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus.“There’s all these things that are in the back of one’s mind,” assistant professor Todd Vogts said. “How long can I continue to be OK with some of these decisions that seem to be directly impacting not only my fellow faculty members but the students in negative ways?”Sterling faculty have left the college, located in the town of Sterling in central Kansas, and some suggested the exodus would continue if concerns remain unaddressed.Multiple staff members said they were frustrated by a systemic lack of collaboration on major decisions in recent years, including administration eliminating a diversity initiative and pushing back on a Catholic student group. Those frustrations were compounded as budgets decrease and enrollment drops.“It seemed that the will of everyone involved was being thwarted by the president without any type of transparency or discussion,” said former Sterling staff member Andy Giorgetti.Rich is less active around campus, faculty members said. He lives in Hutchinson, a 30-minute drive from Sterling.“It’s that lack of communication, that unwillingness to listen to concerns,” Vogts said. “Even when there appears that someone is listening, nothing changes. And so that’s just seeded a lot of frustration.”Tony Thompson, a Sterling graduate and former two-decade member of the board of trustees, said he believed a change in leadership was necessary for the college.“I definitely love Sterling College and supported her for over 50 years,” he said. “Unfortunately, I do not currently support the current leadership, and there needs to be a change.”He said his decision was based solely on performance, citing deteriorating faculty relationships, declining enrollment and poor communication. Thompson has long been a supporter and donor for the college and in 2006 won Sterling’s Distinguished Service Award.Rich said in a statement he was unaware of the faculty’s vote, but the college’s board of trustees held its own unanimous vote reaffirming support for the president.Randy Henry, chairman of the Sterling College board of trustees, said the board fully supports Rich.“We want everyone to feel they are valued and the board has tried to do everything we can to try and bring these faculty members and the president to a place where they can work together, as has been the case for almost all of Dr. Rich’s tenure,” he said.A Kansas Reflector investigation — based on interviews with a half-dozen current and former Sterling College staff members and a review of documents outlining complaints — found widespread concerns about unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, the administration’s willingness to listen to concerns, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students.<h2>A chilling effect</h2>Employees were given a new handbook in August 2023 and asked to sign a statement acknowledging they would comply with its contents.Many of them still haven’t signed the agreement.Multiple faculty members expressed concern the phrasing would allow the school to terminate them for being too liberal in their beliefs or coming from a denomination that theologically varied from the school.The handbook included new wording requiring staff to “exhibit habits and actions consistent with biblical standards and in accordance with Sterling College’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, and Faith Perspectives.” Staff would face disciplinary action including termination if they violated the requirement.According to Sterling’s website, the college is “thoroughly Christian, but not in any sense sectarian.” Multiple faculty members said the new employee handbook jeopardizes that idea by forcing faculty to personally agree with certain beliefs or face punishment.“When we have these issues and we can’t talk about them, faculty and staff don’t feel safe in this community, in our jobs, if we can’t actually know where we stand on these issues,” Giorgetti said.The handbook also added a section on social media usage that said staff should consider their social media presence to be an extension of their classroom or office. Multiple faculty said they worried about how the policy could be interpreted. The ambiguity left them wondering if they could be fired for personal social media activity like adding a pride flag to their profile picture.The Faculty Welfare Committee — faculty members who act as liaisons with administration — began hearing concerns as soon as the handbook was released. They compiled the issues and sent them to human resources, Rich and the board of trustees.At each stage, they said they were met with an initial willingness to discuss changes or clarifications before being shut down.The final blow came when the board of trustees responded to detailed faculty concerns by saying it had voted to reaffirm confidence in Rich and scolded the faculty for bringing the complaint to the board.“The board will not be making a habit of dealing with these types of issues,” Henry, the board chairman, wrote in a May letter to faculty.In a statement, Rich said handbook revisions occur at the will of the human resources department. The edits were made, he said, “to further protect the institution.”The new language, which faculty said was ambiguous and confusing, left them with many questions about what they could say or do, creating a chilling effect on both their professional and personal lives.“I think it’s incredibly important to be open to all of the ideas and to weigh them and evaluate them,” said professor Ken Troyer. “I’m not saying, you know, everything needs to be supported, but everything needs to at least be able to be heard and be discussed.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723477179968.png" alt=" Staff at Sterling College were asked to sign a policy that includes anti-LGBTQ+ language. President Scott Rich says staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. (Andy Giorgetti)" />
 <figcaption> Staff at Sterling College were asked to sign a policy that includes anti-LGBTQ+ language. President Scott Rich says staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. (Andy Giorgetti)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Grappling with LGBTQ+ inclusion</h2>Some staff worried the handbook change could create an unwelcoming space for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Staff were asked to affirm a Statement on Life, Marriage, Gender Identity and Human Sexuality, which includes anti-LGBTQ+ language.Sterling is a religious college, but students don’t necessarily hold the same beliefs as the college, especially because many of them are recruited for athletics.“I think it’s our job to just welcome everybody,” Troyer said. “I mean, if Christianity is important and we want people to hear that message, then it’s great if you’re a believer. And if you’re not, cool, come along for the ride and enrich our lives by giving us different perspectives. And maybe we can do the same.”Adam Moore lived through this tension firsthand as a student. In 2019-20, he was elected student body president. He was the first openly gay student to hold the role.Growing up in nearby Hutchinson, he knew that being gay and attending Sterling wouldn’t be easy. But he was drawn to the college’s debate team and liked that it was a Christian school where he could continue his faith. He arrived committed to having difficult conversations.His challenges began when he became a resident assistant for the dorms. He had weekly meetings with administration he said felt like “conversion therapy.” When he was elected student body president, students asked to start a gay-straight alliance. Clubs normally received approval from the student government, he said. Moore passed along his approval of the club to administrators, who swiftly overturned it.“Gay people feel ostracized from the religious community,” Moore said. “It definitely has affected me. But I’ve also seen a church community that can be welcoming and loving and caring for LGBTQ+ people. … If I had only talked to administrators about this, there’s no chance I’d ever be a part of a church community again.”The battle over LGBTQ+ inclusion spread throughout campus.When faculty at Sterling conduct research, they are supposed to follow American Psychological Association standards, which say to include an “other” option when asking about gender. But Rich only wanted to include “male” and “female” on surveys, Vogts said.After a year, faculty members were allowed to add the “other” option to surveys after Rich took the clash to the cabinet, a group of representatives from across campus selected by the president that advise him.Rich said staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. He said there were no personal interpretations involved and the board had laid out how the administration was to run the college.“If (faculty) violate campus policies then they could be reprimanded for violating such policies,” Rich said. “The board and cabinet extend grace until grace has been exhausted.”But faculty said their concerns were not with the religious foundations of the college.Because Christianity has diverse denominations, many worried that cracking down on what staff could say or believe would exclude some groups. Before the changes, the handbook allowed for more diversity, they said.“I’m a Christian. I have no problem saying that,” Troyer said. “Our statements have enough wiggle room and are kind of vague in some ways, that it allows for a Baptist and a Catholic and a Mennonite and all of these different denominations to still be able to work for the same common cause.”Staff say they see a clear way forward: a seat at the table.“I would just like to see more deliberation and more collaboration about these types of decisions,” Vogts said.<h2>All in this together</h2>Many of them believe that Sterling is a place with a solid mission, but they say recent decisions have jeopardized the faculty’s ability to carry it out, rendering the college almost unrecognizable.While many have left the school, those who stayed did so out of love for the college and its students.“There needs to be a greater sense of everyone, all employees, are all kind of in this together, moving forward in lockstep,” said Troyer, who has taught at Sterling for nearly two decades. “But we need to reach the point where we at least are like, ‘Oh, I understand why that decision is made.’ ”Rich said he intended to address frustrations by reminding staff that “they are always welcome to visit with the president about anything — including concerns.”Moore said there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from the small college of less than 1,000 north of Hutchinson.He saw many sides of the community during his time there, including with Rich. He said while Rich held opinions he viewed as severely harmful, he also saw a side of the leader that was thoughtful and authentic.“There’s a lot of trauma that is created,” Moore said. “Ever since I’ve left Sterling, I continue to grapple with these two very different Sterlings that I know.”Now living in Emporia, Moore keeps an eye on the college, hoping that one of the two sides will win out in the end.“Even though Sterling is a teeny tiny community,” Moore said, “I think that there are so many others just like it that the story can only help.”

Sterling College faculty members vote ‘no confidence’ in president after repeated clashes

Join 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. <a href="http://910kina.com">on 910AM</a> 107.5 FM.

Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/">here.</a>&nbsp;

9:05-9:30 a.m. Michelle Weis, Saline County Emergency Management Director talks about the destructive thunderstorm that hit Salina on July 31 and National Night Out

9:30-10:00 a.m. American Red Cross Blood Drives and the urgent need for donations

10:05-10:30 a.m.&nbsp; Jerry Lonergan introduces a new annual event that is scheduled to make its debut this year — Irish Road Bowling&nbsp;

10:45 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Muriel Boyce, Director of Communication and Marketing Girl Scouts of the Kansas Heartland

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591971280271.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTJoin 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. <a href="http://910kina.com">on 910AM</a> 107.5 FM.Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/">here.</a>&nbsp;9:05-9:30 a.m. Michelle Weis, Saline County Emergency Management Director talks about the destructive thunderstorm that hit Salina on July 31 and National Night Out9:30-10:00 a.m. American Red Cross Blood Drives and the urgent need for donations10:05-10:30 a.m.&nbsp; Jerry Lonergan introduces a new annual event that is scheduled to make its debut this year — Irish Road Bowling&nbsp;10:45 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Muriel Boyce, Director of Communication and Marketing Girl Scouts of the Kansas Heartland

910 KINA Saturday Morning Show lineup

Larry Wade Peppers, 80, entered into eternal peace on August 5, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at the Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS.

Larry was born on August 19, 1943 in Granite City, IL to parents Thomas Wade and Elta Oletta (Sykes) Peppers. Larry graduated from Granite City High School and earned an associates degree from Hutchinson Community College.

He married Judy Nelson on June 9,1963. They had 4 children together before she passed away on August 6,1993.

Larry served in the Air Force as an A1C Missile Facilities Technician in the mid -1960s.

He later began working at Sears, and stayed for 43 years as a sales associate and manager, then moved to Menards before his retirement.

Larry enjoyed coaching his sons Babe Ruth baseball teams, watching KU basketball, fishing, casinos, and loved listening to classic country music.

He married Laura Baumberger in September of 1994. Larry and Laura raised several puppies, including his beloved Mandy. They liked to play bingo and dine at local area restaurants.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife (Judy); two sisters (Linda and Mary).

Larry is survived by Wife: Laura Jane Peppers (Ewing); Children: Richard Peppers and spouse Mitzi, Rob Peppers, Barbara Schulze and spouse Randy, Lyndon Peppers and spouse Layla; Others: Vonnie Peppers (Sister), Ashley Melugin (Granddaughter) and spouse Alex, Amber Lanning (Granddaughter) and spouse Matt, Bryce Peppers (Grandson), Josh Macey (Grandson), Payton Nguyen (Granddaughter) and spouse Devin Huehl, Alli Schulze (Granddaughter), Lexy Appel (Granddaughter) and spouse Tyler, Logan Peppers (Grandson) and spouse Alex, Alyssa Peppers (Granddaughter), Rod Baumberger (Step-Son), Mike Baumberger (Step-Son), 5 Great-Grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held&nbsp;Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 10:30 AM&nbsp;at Roselawn Memorial Heights Chapel in Salina, KS, with Pastor Doug Hamilton officiating. Inurnment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina, KS. Memorials may be made to Salina Animal Shelter; 329 N. 2nd Str., Salina, KS 67401 or the NE KS Parkinson's Association; P.O. Box 67342; Topeka, KS 66667-0342.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services, Online condolences can be sent to&nbsp;www.roselawnsalina.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723220633803.jpeg" alt="Larry Peppers" />
 <figcaption>Larry Peppers</figcaption>
 </figure>Larry Wade Peppers, 80, entered into eternal peace on August 5, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at the Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS.Larry was born on August 19, 1943 in Granite City, IL to parents Thomas Wade and Elta Oletta (Sykes) Peppers. Larry graduated from Granite City High School and earned an associates degree from Hutchinson Community College.He married Judy Nelson on June 9,1963. They had 4 children together before she passed away on August 6,1993.Larry served in the Air Force as an A1C Missile Facilities Technician in the mid -1960s.He later began working at Sears, and stayed for 43 years as a sales associate and manager, then moved to Menards before his retirement.Larry enjoyed coaching his sons Babe Ruth baseball teams, watching KU basketball, fishing, casinos, and loved listening to classic country music.He married Laura Baumberger in September of 1994. Larry and Laura raised several puppies, including his beloved Mandy. They liked to play bingo and dine at local area restaurants.He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife (Judy); two sisters (Linda and Mary).Larry is survived by Wife: Laura Jane Peppers (Ewing); Children: Richard Peppers and spouse Mitzi, Rob Peppers, Barbara Schulze and spouse Randy, Lyndon Peppers and spouse Layla; Others: Vonnie Peppers (Sister), Ashley Melugin (Granddaughter) and spouse Alex, Amber Lanning (Granddaughter) and spouse Matt, Bryce Peppers (Grandson), Josh Macey (Grandson), Payton Nguyen (Granddaughter) and spouse Devin Huehl, Alli Schulze (Granddaughter), Lexy Appel (Granddaughter) and spouse Tyler, Logan Peppers (Grandson) and spouse Alex, Alyssa Peppers (Granddaughter), Rod Baumberger (Step-Son), Mike Baumberger (Step-Son), 5 Great-Grandchildren.Memorial services will be held&nbsp;Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 10:30 AM&nbsp;at Roselawn Memorial Heights Chapel in Salina, KS, with Pastor Doug Hamilton officiating. Inurnment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina, KS. Memorials may be made to Salina Animal Shelter; 329 N. 2nd Str., Salina, KS 67401 or the NE KS Parkinson's Association; P.O. Box 67342; Topeka, KS 66667-0342.Arrangements have been entrusted to Roselawn Burial and Cremation Services, Online condolences can be sent to&nbsp;www.roselawnsalina.com.

Larry Wade Peppers

Saline County and the City of Salina are seeking public input at a public open house for initial concepts aimed at reimagining the government campus site in downtown Salina.

Together the city and county are in the midst of evaluating the government buildings with the assistance of the consultant group TreanorHL. One of the primary goals for this project is to create a cohesive and efficient campus master plan. To do this, community engagement and input play a large role in reviewing initial design concepts to ensure the final recommendation reflects the future vision of the campus.

The city and county encourage community members to attend a Public Open House&nbsp;on Thursday, August 22, the public can view initial concepts for the campus planning area and provide direct input. 

LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/4a25e925-2564-4ea2-aa7b-548c25ac3d30">🎙King in the Community — Saline County Administrator, Phil Smith-Hanes</a>

There will be no formal presentation at this event – it will be a come-and-go open house. However, members of the leadership team and consultant team will be on hand to answer questions. Gathering the public’s feedback is a critical piece of this process.

Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;

What: An open house for the public to review and comment on initial concepts for redevelopment of the Government Campus in Downtown Salina.

Who:&nbsp;Open to the public, project stakeholders, and city and county staff

When:&nbsp;Thursday, August 22 at 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Where:&nbsp;Salina Art Center,&nbsp;242 South Santa Fe Avenue, Salina, Kansas 67401

Please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publiccommunications@salinecountyks.gov" target="_blank">publiccommunications@salinecountyks.gov</a>&nbsp;with any questions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723121247986.jpeg" alt="master plan" />
 <figcaption>master plan</figcaption>
 </figure>Saline County/City of Salina Saline County and the City of Salina are seeking public input at a public open house for initial concepts aimed at reimagining the government campus site in downtown Salina.Together the city and county are in the midst of evaluating the government buildings with the assistance of the consultant group TreanorHL. One of the primary goals for this project is to create a cohesive and efficient campus master plan. To do this, community engagement and input play a large role in reviewing initial design concepts to ensure the final recommendation reflects the future vision of the campus.The city and county encourage community members to attend a Public Open House&nbsp;on Thursday, August 22, the public can view initial concepts for the campus planning area and provide direct input. LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/4a25e925-2564-4ea2-aa7b-548c25ac3d30">🎙King in the Community — Saline County Administrator, Phil Smith-Hanes</a>There will be no formal presentation at this event – it will be a come-and-go open house. However, members of the leadership team and consultant team will be on hand to answer questions. Gathering the public’s feedback is a critical piece of this process.Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;What: An open house for the public to review and comment on initial concepts for redevelopment of the Government Campus in Downtown Salina.Who:&nbsp;Open to the public, project stakeholders, and city and county staffWhen:&nbsp;Thursday, August 22 at 6:00 – 7:30 PMWhere:&nbsp;Salina Art Center,&nbsp;242 South Santa Fe Avenue, Salina, Kansas 67401Please email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:publiccommunications@salinecountyks.gov" target="_blank">publiccommunications@salinecountyks.gov</a>&nbsp;with any questions.

Saline County and City of Salina launch government campus plan

Information Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities

Festival goers turned out in force to support the Smoky Hill River Festival's epic arts party. Despite challenging weather with high temperatures and isolated thunderstorms, Salina Arts &amp; Humanities staff report that it was a successful year.

Wristband sales, the Festival's largest income stream, are crucial for funding the event. Initial sales were strong, and the final weekend gate count is estimated at 45,000. A total of 15,382 wristbands for ages 12 and older were sold, generating an income of $209,310.

“It’s important that the Festival stays within the annual budget,” said Brad Anderson, Executive Director of Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, “Thankfully, in-kind contributions and lower than budgeted expenses will cover the losses from closing early on Thursday night.” 

The remaining Festival budget comes from other earned revenue, and one-third comes from cash contributions by individuals, businesses, and charitable foundations. Additionally, more than $125,000 in in-kind support from local businesses helps lower festival expenses.

<div><div>
 <div style="position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;">

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_AzIbYCR1Y?si=XHHzIFmttwSE8o02" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe>
 </div>
</div></div>Video by Salina PostInformation Courtesy Salina Arts and HumanitiesFestival goers turned out in force to support the Smoky Hill River Festival's epic arts party. Despite challenging weather with high temperatures and isolated thunderstorms, Salina Arts &amp; Humanities staff report that it was a successful year.Wristband sales, the Festival's largest income stream, are crucial for funding the event. Initial sales were strong, and the final weekend gate count is estimated at 45,000. A total of 15,382 wristbands for ages 12 and older were sold, generating an income of $209,310.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723126438118.jpeg" alt="2024 Smoky Hill River Festival goers. Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities" />
 <figcaption>2024 Smoky Hill River Festival goers. Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s important that the Festival stays within the annual budget,” said Brad Anderson, Executive Director of Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, “Thankfully, in-kind contributions and lower than budgeted expenses will cover the losses from closing early on Thursday night.” The remaining Festival budget comes from other earned revenue, and one-third comes from cash contributions by individuals, businesses, and charitable foundations. Additionally, more than $125,000 in in-kind support from local businesses helps lower festival expenses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723126515850.jpeg" alt="2024 SHRF artist Jocelyn Woodson. Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities" />
 <figcaption>2024 SHRF artist Jocelyn Woodson. Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Successful Year for Visual Artists</h2>One hundred twenty-one visual art exhibitors displayed and sold work in the Fine Art and Craft Show and the Art Demonstration area. Overall sales for the 2024 art show and demonstration area exceeded $444,000. Art sales are the single greatest factor leading to artists returning to the event and promoting the show to their peers.Thousands of attendees engaged with site-specific art installations by 26 artists. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719162983143.jpeg" alt="Blue Rapids-based jewelry artist Eleanor Carlson works at the Arts and Craft Demonostrating Artist pavilion on Sunday, June 16, during the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Blue Rapids-based jewelry artist Eleanor Carlson works at the Arts and Craft Demonostrating Artist pavilion on Sunday, June 16, during the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>"The festival offers everyone access to the visual arts through hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and the opportunity to purchase unique original artwork each year," said Crystal Hammerschmidt, Visual Arts Coordinator at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.<h2>Energetic Performances</h2>This year, festival-goers were captivated by diverse music on three live stages. From headliners Monophonics, William Beckmann, Papa Green Shoes, and beyond, musical genres for 2024 included country, rock, soul, indie pop, and innovative fusion groups.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718331158036.jpeg" alt="Visual Lies performs on Eric Stein Stage during the 2024 SM Hanson Festival Jam at the Smoky Hill River Festival on Thursday, June 13, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Visual Lies performs on Eric Stein Stage during the 2024 SM Hanson Festival Jam at the Smoky Hill River Festival on Thursday, June 13, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>This year featured many first-time musical acts with a strong Nashville, TN influence. Performing artists new to the Festival included Zach Meadows, Cordovas, Wildermiss, Scott Mulvahill, Superfónicos, and Pretend Friend.Roving acts created an element of surprise throughout the Festival, featuring Drum Safari, Richard Renner, Flint Hills Fairies, Happy Faces Entertainment, Jason D’Vaude, Margaret Craig, Acme Fife &amp; Drum, and Mattson &amp; Weaver.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718478120275.jpeg" alt="Friends of the River members lead YMCA kids through Oakdale Park during the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival on Friday, June 14. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Friends of the River members lead YMCA kids through Oakdale Park during the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival on Friday, June 14. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure> A special collaboration this year featured the Friends of the River Puppets and the Salina Family YMCA, who paraded puppets through the Festival on Friday morning. “An eclectic mix of sounds on the stages, unique collaborations, and unexpected performances from roving artists filled the weekend with dancing, spontaneity, and discovery to create memorable moments for all ages,” said Sarah Keck, Arts Education Coordinator at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723126640551.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Family Fun</h2>Artyopolis welcomed thousands of children who participated in various make-and-take craft activities under the big tent of Creation Crossing. Family fun was had by all as adults and children lined up to receive face painting and airbrush tattoos in Paintchoo Plaza. Game Street was busy with family and friends competing for a high score. “It was incredible to see families and children coming together, letting their imaginations soar and creating lasting memories. The Festival reminds us of the joy and unity that creativity brings to our community,” said Susan Eberwein, Program Assistant at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.First Treasures, a program for young collectors, saw 500 children select their own artwork from participating artists. This year, 100 kids went through the tent every 25 minutes. Many young art buyers visit artists at their booths to learn more about the art they create and sell.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723126969684.jpeg" alt="Superfonicos perform on the Eric Stein Stage at the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival.&nbsp;Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities" />
 <figcaption>Superfonicos perform on the Eric Stein Stage at the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival.&nbsp;Photo Courtesy Salina Arts and Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Food Galore</h2><a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/Ae9zeRszCXBTJHqH/">Festival fans enjoyed Food Row</a> favorites plus trying new offerings from six new food vendors in 2024, including fruit pizza, Brazilian cheese bread, and wiener schnitzel. Food sales by 38 vendors totaled $329,814. “We are always thrilled to offer a fresh lineup of food vendors at the Festival,” said Amanda Morris, Office Administrator at Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.<h2>Lively Sunday</h2>The event's final day was enlivened by a scavenger hunt for one of 275 round-tuits created by Festival demonstration artist Vaughn Evans. Sunday programming also focused on local/regional entertainment on the stages. The community enjoyed going to a less crowded park to eat, listen to music, buy art, and participate in the scavenger hunt.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719161991168.jpeg" alt="The Weave a Community booth encourages young 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival attendees to try new types of art mediums and create something new with the help of a creative volunteer on Sunday, June 16, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Kat Woods" />
 <figcaption>The Weave a Community booth encourages young 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival attendees to try new types of art mediums and create something new with the help of a creative volunteer on Sunday, June 16, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Kat Woods</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Making it Happen</h2>Over 1,800 volunteers supported the event through committee work and individual shifts, managing the gates, caring for artists, allowing children to create and use their imaginations, and supporting Festival operations and auxiliary events. Volunteers continue to be an essential resource in keeping the Festival affordable and providing high levels of customer service for thousands of participants.The Festival also benefits from the support of part-time seasonal and full-time City staff in every department. “Through each contributor, it is evident that there is boundless care and dedication to the Festival. Each year, I am inspired by everyone who comes together to create a magical Festival experience for all,” said Anna Pauscher Morawitz, Operations &amp; Development Manager for Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719162379421.jpeg" alt="Tracey Musselwhite shapes a small pot out of clay during a demonstration on Sunday, June 16, during the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Tracey Musselwhite shapes a small pot out of clay during a demonstration on Sunday, June 16, during the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>2025 Plans Already Underway</h2>Festival staff and committees are already preparing for next year's event. Extensive evaluations occur, and detailed plans are made based on participant and patron feedback. The 49th Smoky Hill River Festival will be held in Oakdale Park on June 12-15, 2025.For information on how to get involved in the Smoky Hill River Festival or other Salina Arts &amp; Humanities programs, call 785-309-5770, visit riverfestival.com, or e-mail sah@salina.org.