Legislation draws objections from abortion rights proponents and opponents

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

TOPEKA — Eight Kansas House Republicans introduced a bill crafted to implement a near-total ban on clinical abortions and forbid distribution of pharmaceutical drugs to end pregnancies, while also authorizing individuals to file lawsuits against doctors and others who helped someone obtain an abortion.

Concepts folded into the 59 pages of House bill 2492 were endorsed by Reps. Trevor Jacobs of Fort Scott, Brett Fairchild of St. Johns, Randy Garber of Sabetha and others — all hardline opponents of abortion. The bill introduced Wednesday on the first day of the annual session did include an exemption allowing legal abortion for the purpose of saving the life of a pregnant woman involved in a medical emergency.

A bill criminalizing abortion was introduced during the 2023 legislative session in Kansas, but it failed to gain broad traction. These types of bills have been viewed as “messaging” tools given likelihood of a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the 2019 abortion decision by the Kansas Supreme Court.

The state’s highest court determined the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights included a fundamental right of women to make decisions about bodily autonomy that included termination of a pregnancy. The state Supreme Court’s decision was tied to the Legislature’s ban on a common second-term abortion procedure.

“Ultimately, I believe that we should provide equal protection under the law for all unborn children,” Fairchild said. “I believe that science proves that life begins at conception, and the government has a responsibility to protect that life from conception until natural death.”

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court set aside nearly 50-years of precedent and overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that gave rise to a national right to abortion. The reversal meant states were free to set individual standards on reproductive health care. In Kansas, however, abortion would remain legal due to the Hodes v. Nauser decision by the state Supreme Court.

Voters in Kansas overwhelmingly decided in August 2022 to reject a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would have nullified the Hodes language and would have made it easier for the GOP-led Legislature to pass abortion bans or otherwise undercut abortion rights.

Amber Sellers, advocacy director of Trust Women, said only 16 months had elapsed since Kansas voters were the first in the nation to reject a ballot measure developed to restrict abortion rights. The Value Them Both amendment was “handily” defeated by more than 20 percentage points, she said.

“Kansans spoke — loudly — on the issue,” Sellers said. “No more abortion bans. No more government barriers between pregnant people and their health care providers. No more time and resources wasted on go-nowhere bills when there are real and serious problems that our government must address for the health and safety of all of our Kansas communities.”

“It’s time for anti-abortion lawmakers to wake up, remember and finally listen to the message that voters continue to send,” she said.

Mackenzie Haddix, deputy communications director of Kansans for Life, said the new House bill had no chance of surviving in the 2024 legislative session.

“Kansans for Life is focused on what the abortion industry does not do: Showing authentic care and compassion for women facing unexpected pregnancies,” Haddix said. “Now, more than ever, is the time to focus on policies that actually save lives instead of proposals that have zero chance of becoming law and will never save a single life due to the Kansas Supreme Court’s extreme 2019 Hodes ruling.”

The bill was introduced on the same day Kansans for Life released its legislative agenda that excluded support for a potentially unconstitutional limit on abortion. The state’s largest organization said it would campaign for state statutes requiring child support to start at conception, protecting women from “coerced” abortions, safeguarding health of women with the “ultrasound safety act” and enacting “life-affirming” tax changes.

“It is clear far too many women are being pushed to believe abortion is their only choice. Our legislative agenda seeks to provide compassionate help for any woman in need,” Haddix said.

Under the House bill, Kansas would make it unlawful for a person to knowingly attempt or perform an abortion “except when necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency.” The state constitutional amendment rejected by Kansas voters by a 60-40 margin didn’t include such an exemption.

The new bill would make it illegal for a person in Kansas to prescribe, distribute, sell or donate mifepristone, mifegyne, mifeperex or any other similar generic abortion drug.

Civil enforcement lawsuits could be filed against people who assisted women with an abortion prohibited by Kansas law, but the woman receiving the abortion wouldn’t face liability. Physicians and others found to have broken the law would face a minimum $10,000 penalty for each abortion performed in Kansas. The House legislation would establish a six-year statute of limitations.

The bill said a medical professional would carry the burden to proof that a reasonable investigation was conducted to determine the abortion necessary to preserve the life of a woman in “imminent harm arising from the pregnancy by a physical disorder, illness or injury.”

In addition, a person named in an abortion lawsuit wouldn’t be able to rely on arguments the woman consented to the procedure or that state law limiting abortion was unconstitutional, the bill said.

The number of abortions performed in Kansas has risen as surrounding states adopted bans or substantive limitations on reproductive health care. In 2022, Kansas set a record with 8,475 abortions for women or girls residing outside the state. It was more than twice the 3,912 abortions provided out-of-state clients in 2021.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported a total of 12,318 abortions during 2022. That represented a surge from 7,849 abortions in 2021, KDHE said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705011350195.png" alt="Legislation draws objections from abortion rights proponents and opponents" />
 <figcaption>Legislation draws objections from abortion rights proponents and opponents</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Legislation draws objections from abortion rights proponents and opponents</h2>BY:&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Eight Kansas House Republicans introduced a bill crafted to implement a near-total ban on clinical abortions and forbid distribution of pharmaceutical drugs to end pregnancies, while also authorizing individuals to file lawsuits against doctors and others who helped someone obtain an abortion.Concepts folded into the 59 pages of House bill 2492 were endorsed by Reps. Trevor Jacobs of Fort Scott, Brett Fairchild of St. Johns, Randy Garber of Sabetha and others — all hardline opponents of abortion. The bill introduced Wednesday on the first day of the annual session did include an exemption allowing legal abortion for the purpose of saving the life of a pregnant woman involved in a medical emergency.A bill criminalizing abortion was introduced during the 2023 legislative session in Kansas, but it failed to gain broad traction. These types of bills have been viewed as “messaging” tools given likelihood of a veto by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the 2019 abortion decision by the Kansas Supreme Court.The state’s highest court determined the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights included a fundamental right of women to make decisions about bodily autonomy that included termination of a pregnancy. The state Supreme Court’s decision was tied to the Legislature’s ban on a common second-term abortion procedure.“Ultimately, I believe that we should provide equal protection under the law for all unborn children,” Fairchild said. “I believe that science proves that life begins at conception, and the government has a responsibility to protect that life from conception until natural death.”In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court set aside nearly 50-years of precedent and overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that gave rise to a national right to abortion. The reversal meant states were free to set individual standards on reproductive health care. In Kansas, however, abortion would remain legal due to the Hodes v. Nauser decision by the state Supreme Court.Voters in Kansas overwhelmingly decided in August 2022 to reject a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would have nullified the Hodes language and would have made it easier for the GOP-led Legislature to pass abortion bans or otherwise undercut abortion rights.Amber Sellers, advocacy director of Trust Women, said only 16 months had elapsed since Kansas voters were the first in the nation to reject a ballot measure developed to restrict abortion rights. The Value Them Both amendment was “handily” defeated by more than 20 percentage points, she said.“Kansans spoke — loudly — on the issue,” Sellers said. “No more abortion bans. No more government barriers between pregnant people and their health care providers. No more time and resources wasted on go-nowhere bills when there are real and serious problems that our government must address for the health and safety of all of our Kansas communities.”“It’s time for anti-abortion lawmakers to wake up, remember and finally listen to the message that voters continue to send,” she said.Mackenzie Haddix, deputy communications director of Kansans for Life, said the new House bill had no chance of surviving in the 2024 legislative session.“Kansans for Life is focused on what the abortion industry does not do: Showing authentic care and compassion for women facing unexpected pregnancies,” Haddix said. “Now, more than ever, is the time to focus on policies that actually save lives instead of proposals that have zero chance of becoming law and will never save a single life due to the Kansas Supreme Court’s extreme 2019 Hodes ruling.”The bill was introduced on the same day Kansans for Life released its legislative agenda that excluded support for a potentially unconstitutional limit on abortion. The state’s largest organization said it would campaign for state statutes requiring child support to start at conception, protecting women from “coerced” abortions, safeguarding health of women with the “ultrasound safety act” and enacting “life-affirming” tax changes.“It is clear far too many women are being pushed to believe abortion is their only choice. Our legislative agenda seeks to provide compassionate help for any woman in need,” Haddix said.Under the House bill, Kansas would make it unlawful for a person to knowingly attempt or perform an abortion “except when necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency.” The state constitutional amendment rejected by Kansas voters by a 60-40 margin didn’t include such an exemption.The new bill would make it illegal for a person in Kansas to prescribe, distribute, sell or donate mifepristone, mifegyne, mifeperex or any other similar generic abortion drug.Civil enforcement lawsuits could be filed against people who assisted women with an abortion prohibited by Kansas law, but the woman receiving the abortion wouldn’t face liability. Physicians and others found to have broken the law would face a minimum $10,000 penalty for each abortion performed in Kansas. The House legislation would establish a six-year statute of limitations.The bill said a medical professional would carry the burden to proof that a reasonable investigation was conducted to determine the abortion necessary to preserve the life of a woman in “imminent harm arising from the pregnancy by a physical disorder, illness or injury.”In addition, a person named in an abortion lawsuit wouldn’t be able to rely on arguments the woman consented to the procedure or that state law limiting abortion was unconstitutional, the bill said.The number of abortions performed in Kansas has risen as surrounding states adopted bans or substantive limitations on reproductive health care. In 2022, Kansas set a record with 8,475 abortions for women or girls residing outside the state. It was more than twice the 3,912 abortions provided out-of-state clients in 2021.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported a total of 12,318 abortions during 2022. That represented a surge from 7,849 abortions in 2021, KDHE said.

House GOP lawmakers introduce bill imposing near-total ban on abortion in Kansas

Carrying too much body condition early in life can have negative impacts on heifers retained as replacements, according to the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.

On a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/01/05/prepare-for-your-future-creep-feeding-disease-issues/">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, the experts discussed how adding additional feed to the diet of calves still suckling their dams can be beneficial from a growth standpoint but warned that those diets must be carefully monitored to keep the heifers from getting overconditioned. This supplement feed is termed creep feed, which can be any feed supplement that is given to the calves that the dams cannot access.

Beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said it is important to know the feed conversion.

“I recommend limiting the intake of the creep feed to 3-4 pounds of feed per head per day; if it gets higher than that, the feed conversion is poor and the profitability is worse because expensive feed is being substituted for a cheaper, forage-based feed source,” Lancaster said.

K-State agricultural economist Dustin Pendell advised producers to calculate the cost of supplemental feed as it relates to the rate of gain for the animal.

“Producers need to know the feed cost per pound of gain and the expected price of the weaned calf,” he said. “As long as the expected price is greater than or equal to the cost of the additional pound of feed, then it makes sense to creep feed.”

However, for heifer calves that will retained as replacements K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said that while there are growth and nutrition benefits when producers choose to offer supplemental feed to heifer calves, the diet needs to be managed closely so that those heifer calves are not overconditioned.

“Research has shown that heifer calves that haven’t reached puberty are fed a diet that causes them to deposit fat in the mammary gland, they may have decreased lifetime milk production,” said Larson.

K-State veterinarian Brad White said there is a nutritional plane that is optimum for growth.

“While it is important for heifer calves to grow bone and muscle, producers need to be cautious to make sure the females aren’t depositing fat in the mammary gland,” White said.

For heifers that are going to be retained in the herd, Larson does not recommend offering free-choice creep feed.

“It is best to allow them to grow on forage while they are suckling, wean them at the appropriate time and then hand deliver the nutrients they need to keep them in their optimum growth curve,” Larson said.

To hear the full discussion, listen to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/01/05/prepare-for-your-future-creep-feeding-disease-issues/">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast online or through your preferred streaming platform.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704990052762.jpeg" alt="To help meet their nutritional needs calves sometimes are offered creep feed while still nursing their dams. Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension" />
 <figcaption>To help meet their nutritional needs calves sometimes are offered creep feed while still nursing their dams. Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By LISA MOSER KSRECarrying too much body condition early in life can have negative impacts on heifers retained as replacements, according to the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute.On a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/01/05/prepare-for-your-future-creep-feeding-disease-issues/">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast, the experts discussed how adding additional feed to the diet of calves still suckling their dams can be beneficial from a growth standpoint but warned that those diets must be carefully monitored to keep the heifers from getting overconditioned. This supplement feed is termed creep feed, which can be any feed supplement that is given to the calves that the dams cannot access.Beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster said it is important to know the feed conversion.“I recommend limiting the intake of the creep feed to 3-4 pounds of feed per head per day; if it gets higher than that, the feed conversion is poor and the profitability is worse because expensive feed is being substituted for a cheaper, forage-based feed source,” Lancaster said.K-State agricultural economist Dustin Pendell advised producers to calculate the cost of supplemental feed as it relates to the rate of gain for the animal.“Producers need to know the feed cost per pound of gain and the expected price of the weaned calf,” he said. “As long as the expected price is greater than or equal to the cost of the additional pound of feed, then it makes sense to creep feed.”However, for heifer calves that will retained as replacements K-State veterinarian Bob Larson said that while there are growth and nutrition benefits when producers choose to offer supplemental feed to heifer calves, the diet needs to be managed closely so that those heifer calves are not overconditioned.“Research has shown that heifer calves that haven’t reached puberty are fed a diet that causes them to deposit fat in the mammary gland, they may have decreased lifetime milk production,” said Larson.K-State veterinarian Brad White said there is a nutritional plane that is optimum for growth.“While it is important for heifer calves to grow bone and muscle, producers need to be cautious to make sure the females aren’t depositing fat in the mammary gland,” White said.For heifers that are going to be retained in the herd, Larson does not recommend offering free-choice creep feed.“It is best to allow them to grow on forage while they are suckling, wean them at the appropriate time and then hand deliver the nutrients they need to keep them in their optimum growth curve,” Larson said.To hear the full discussion, listen to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2024/01/05/prepare-for-your-future-creep-feeding-disease-issues/">Cattle Chat</a>&nbsp;podcast online or through your preferred streaming platform.

Cattle Chat: Ways to meet the nutritional needs of heifer calves

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q: Will you get any reps over at the stadium before the game?

TOUB:&nbsp;“Yes, we’re going to go up there today. We’ll practice here, and then we’ll take the kickers up and get a feel for what the field feels like and the wind and stuff like that. I mean, for right now for today. Today is like nothing compared to what we’re going to get. We’re going to go outside today. It’s going to be 30 (degrees) or something but eight is different.”

Q: Besides the cold, how much can you really predict the other weather elements that will affect the game like wind and snow?

TOUB:&nbsp;“You can’t really – you can guess and think about if you’re going to get left to right or in the endzone. You think about different scenarios, that’s what I was talking about. Then you have different gameplans and different things you want to do and then punt return and kickoff, so it’s kind of an exciting game for the special teams too at the same time.”

Q: What did you need to see on the field to know that you were going to run the fake punt?

TOUB:&nbsp;“We come into every game with two or three fakes in every game and the situation – we weren’t getting things going on offense, fourth and five mid-field and then the play before, (Assistant Special Teams) Coach (Andy) Hill said, ‘Hey we’re getting the look that we want,’ you know my assistant Coach Hill. I said okay, and then it came up again and in that type of game we were aggressive. I said we were going to be aggressive in that game and we did it. We called it, and they executed it well. (La’Mical) Perine did a good job, got the first down, kept the drive going. We didn’t get a touchdown, but we got a field goal out of it so it was worthwhile.”

Q: With the cold weather, do you think there will be more fumbles on the returns?

TOUB:&nbsp;“I hope that’s not the case. There’s more (of a) chance of getting the ball in your hands, and we call it ‘return season’ and I say it’s on now. This is full blown return season and cover season.”

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLO

Q: Is there an advantage to playing a team for the second time in playoffs? Do you feel like it helps the team that lost?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“There may be some truth to that because we all say in this league it’s hard to beat a team twice, right? I think it helps the players in that they know the person that they line up directly against, but to both sides, there’s no advantage there either way. I’m sure they’ll change some things. We’ll have a couple of new wrinkles. It’ll be a whole different game, and it’ll be in a different country (laughter). It’ll be a different game.”

Q: What was it like when Chris Jones got his sack and his teammates were all celebrating with him?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Listen, I was happy for him (Chris Jones), we all were. We all would be right, I mean it was something to shoot for, he was out there – you know it’s a little easier to try to get somebody a 15-yard pass completion than it is to say you’re going to get a sack. That’s not easy and there’s nobody on the other side of the field that wants to ‘allow’ you a sack. He earned it, and I was happy to see he got it.”

Q: Do the weather conditions factor into the game?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“They may or may not. I said to the guys, look a lot will be said about this, could be an advantage. You have to create your own advantage in my opinion and the way create them is in preparation and then doing things in the game to create an advantage. I don’t think just the fact that it might be cold – we’re not going to rely on that I’ll put it that way.”

Q: Since this franchise has had a lot of success in recent years, do you feel like the fans here expect more out of the team than other places?

SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“You know more about that outside perception; I mean we always think about that in terms of first of all let’s get in, that’s the number one goal and then all it is now - and the first thing I put up in the meeting was just a ‘W’. I didn’t put up, ‘We need this many sacks,’ or ‘stop this many rush’ – none of that matters. All that matters is that W. I’m sure the offense is doing the same thing and (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Coach (Dave) Toub with the special teams. Our focus is on that one game, and you hope, step by step by step, we can accomplish some of the things we did before.”

Q:&nbsp;Patrick Mahomes has talked about how confident he is in the defense. How does that confidence change the philosophy of the offense?

NAGY:&nbsp;“I think the biggest thing when he (Patrick Mahomes) says that, or when we talk about complimentary football where we are at – the goal is to still score and be as aggressive as we possibly can. You also want to make sure that however you’re being played on defense or wherever you’re at on offense you want to understand that our defense right now is at an elite level. Not giving them short fields with turnovers is one – that’s stating the obvious, but I think that’s what he’s getting at. A bad turnover is not going to help our really good defense, punting the ball is field position. If something is not there, we don’t force it and throw an interception, we don’t force a play call whatever that is. We’re smart, we play the field position and understand that our defense has done a great job all year long and is time tested – it’s not something that is a three-game stretch.”

Q:&nbsp;Going into the playoffs and the cold weather do you try to lean more on the run game?

NAGY:&nbsp;“Everyone says that, but in the end, you have to be able to throw to win. Running the ball is very important, we’ve improved there. I think when you look at all of the teams who have made it, whether they’re ahead and stay ahead or behind and they have to throw – you do need to be able to throw the football. Being able to be balanced, run the football, which we’ve been better at which is great – it takes pressure off the quarterback, it take pressure off the O-line because you’re not asking them to drop back throwing all the time. With that though, you’ve got to have effective runs, it can’t be two yards, one yard, three yards, you’d like to get some explosive – that’s what I think we’ve been getting lately.”

Q:&nbsp;Are the Dolphins much different than when you played them in Germany earlier this season?

NAGY:&nbsp;“Maybe people wise a little bit with the injuries, but schematically a lot of the same stuff. (Dolphins Defensive Coordinator) Vic (Fangio) does a really good job of breaking down your tendencies of what you do well. He’s been doing it for a long long time. So not much, there’s always going to be some unscouted stuff that you have but for the most part he is a successful defensive coordinator because he stays true to what he believes.”

Q:&nbsp;With what you saw from Mecole Hardman this week do you see him as a guy who could have a bigger role in the playoffs?

NAGY:&nbsp;“Possibly a little bit. I think last week was good for him to be able to get in there and play a lot, he played a lot of snaps, made some plays. He’s got veteran experience; he’s played in these types of games. He always brings that speed element and I love his attitude; he’s been really good since he’s been here. When you get through that little stretch that we hit in particular offensively and you see guys that are really grinding and staying positive and sticking together, he’s one of those guys that makes it fun in the end.”

Q:&nbsp;Can you describe the atmosphere of the playoffs?

REID:&nbsp;“It’s just faster. I mean all the chips are on the table, there’s no holding back, there’s no worrying about next week if you don’t take care of this week. The speed of the game is faster, the physicality is turned up a notch, the atmosphere, the stakes are magnified, big plays are magnified. Just that confidence, relying on your teammate is at a premium. Go out and play team defense, team offense, team ball in general to go out and win a football game.”

Q:&nbsp;Is communication more important against a team like the Dolphins who do a lot of motions?

REID:&nbsp;“Absolutely. Communication, nonverbal communication, our fans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, we’re going to be counting on you to help us out a bit, be loud the whole time and hopefully make it difficult for them to communicate amongst themselves. All of that will come into play.”

Q:&nbsp;Do you get a sense that the team is leaning on the defense more than in past years?

REID:&nbsp;“The beautiful thing about defense is, it doesn’t matter what the score of the game is, it doesn't matter if you’re up, you’re down, the mission is always the same; go out and stop them. Don’t let them get first downs, don’t let them drive the ball, get a turnover whenever you can. We don’t have to worry about four-minute offense, worry about the clock or whatever, the mission is always the same and that’s to get the ball back to the offense as many times as possible. I think we have a very special group; I’ve said that since training camp and I’m happy that the rest of the world has gotten to see that too, but it’s not about what we’ve done already, it's about what we’re going to do. So we’re going to prepare for it.”

Q:&nbsp;Back in training camp what made you think this defense could be as good as it has been?

REID:&nbsp;“The chemistry, the cohesiveness, the selflessness of the team. Nobody cares about who gets the credit, nobody cares about if plays are made for them or not. It’s about playing winning defense, it’s about creating the opening for the next guy to get the sack, getting on your man long enough that the next guy can make the play. It doesn't matter where the credit goes, we just care about the result. We have enough guys on the defense – shoot we’ve got 20 guys on the roster on the defensive side of the ball that all have that same mentality. When you’re able to play like that and you have a leader like (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags that’s able to dial up pressures from all over the place to really confuse offense, good things happen.”

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUBQ: Will you get any reps over at the stadium before the game?TOUB:&nbsp;“Yes, we’re going to go up there today. We’ll practice here, and then we’ll take the kickers up and get a feel for what the field feels like and the wind and stuff like that. I mean, for right now for today. Today is like nothing compared to what we’re going to get. We’re going to go outside today. It’s going to be 30 (degrees) or something but eight is different.”Q: Besides the cold, how much can you really predict the other weather elements that will affect the game like wind and snow?TOUB:&nbsp;“You can’t really – you can guess and think about if you’re going to get left to right or in the endzone. You think about different scenarios, that’s what I was talking about. Then you have different gameplans and different things you want to do and then punt return and kickoff, so it’s kind of an exciting game for the special teams too at the same time.”Q: What did you need to see on the field to know that you were going to run the fake punt?TOUB:&nbsp;“We come into every game with two or three fakes in every game and the situation – we weren’t getting things going on offense, fourth and five mid-field and then the play before, (Assistant Special Teams) Coach (Andy) Hill said, ‘Hey we’re getting the look that we want,’ you know my assistant Coach Hill. I said okay, and then it came up again and in that type of game we were aggressive. I said we were going to be aggressive in that game and we did it. We called it, and they executed it well. (La’Mical) Perine did a good job, got the first down, kept the drive going. We didn’t get a touchdown, but we got a field goal out of it so it was worthwhile.”Q: With the cold weather, do you think there will be more fumbles on the returns?TOUB:&nbsp;“I hope that’s not the case. There’s more (of a) chance of getting the ball in your hands, and we call it ‘return season’ and I say it’s on now. This is full blown return season and cover season.”DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR STEVE SPAGNUOLOQ: Is there an advantage to playing a team for the second time in playoffs? Do you feel like it helps the team that lost?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“There may be some truth to that because we all say in this league it’s hard to beat a team twice, right? I think it helps the players in that they know the person that they line up directly against, but to both sides, there’s no advantage there either way. I’m sure they’ll change some things. We’ll have a couple of new wrinkles. It’ll be a whole different game, and it’ll be in a different country (laughter). It’ll be a different game.”Q: What was it like when Chris Jones got his sack and his teammates were all celebrating with him?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“Listen, I was happy for him (Chris Jones), we all were. We all would be right, I mean it was something to shoot for, he was out there – you know it’s a little easier to try to get somebody a 15-yard pass completion than it is to say you’re going to get a sack. That’s not easy and there’s nobody on the other side of the field that wants to ‘allow’ you a sack. He earned it, and I was happy to see he got it.”Q: Do the weather conditions factor into the game?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“They may or may not. I said to the guys, look a lot will be said about this, could be an advantage. You have to create your own advantage in my opinion and the way create them is in preparation and then doing things in the game to create an advantage. I don’t think just the fact that it might be cold – we’re not going to rely on that I’ll put it that way.”Q: Since this franchise has had a lot of success in recent years, do you feel like the fans here expect more out of the team than other places?SPAGNUOLO:&nbsp;“You know more about that outside perception; I mean we always think about that in terms of first of all let’s get in, that’s the number one goal and then all it is now - and the first thing I put up in the meeting was just a ‘W’. I didn’t put up, ‘We need this many sacks,’ or ‘stop this many rush’ – none of that matters. All that matters is that W. I’m sure the offense is doing the same thing and (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Coach (Dave) Toub with the special teams. Our focus is on that one game, and you hope, step by step by step, we can accomplish some of the things we did before.”OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT NAGYQ:&nbsp;Patrick Mahomes has talked about how confident he is in the defense. How does that confidence change the philosophy of the offense?NAGY:&nbsp;“I think the biggest thing when he (Patrick Mahomes) says that, or when we talk about complimentary football where we are at – the goal is to still score and be as aggressive as we possibly can. You also want to make sure that however you’re being played on defense or wherever you’re at on offense you want to understand that our defense right now is at an elite level. Not giving them short fields with turnovers is one – that’s stating the obvious, but I think that’s what he’s getting at. A bad turnover is not going to help our really good defense, punting the ball is field position. If something is not there, we don’t force it and throw an interception, we don’t force a play call whatever that is. We’re smart, we play the field position and understand that our defense has done a great job all year long and is time tested – it’s not something that is a three-game stretch.”Q:&nbsp;Going into the playoffs and the cold weather do you try to lean more on the run game?NAGY:&nbsp;“Everyone says that, but in the end, you have to be able to throw to win. Running the ball is very important, we’ve improved there. I think when you look at all of the teams who have made it, whether they’re ahead and stay ahead or behind and they have to throw – you do need to be able to throw the football. Being able to be balanced, run the football, which we’ve been better at which is great – it takes pressure off the quarterback, it take pressure off the O-line because you’re not asking them to drop back throwing all the time. With that though, you’ve got to have effective runs, it can’t be two yards, one yard, three yards, you’d like to get some explosive – that’s what I think we’ve been getting lately.”Q:&nbsp;Are the Dolphins much different than when you played them in Germany earlier this season?NAGY:&nbsp;“Maybe people wise a little bit with the injuries, but schematically a lot of the same stuff. (Dolphins Defensive Coordinator) Vic (Fangio) does a really good job of breaking down your tendencies of what you do well. He’s been doing it for a long long time. So not much, there’s always going to be some unscouted stuff that you have but for the most part he is a successful defensive coordinator because he stays true to what he believes.”Q:&nbsp;With what you saw from Mecole Hardman this week do you see him as a guy who could have a bigger role in the playoffs?NAGY:&nbsp;“Possibly a little bit. I think last week was good for him to be able to get in there and play a lot, he played a lot of snaps, made some plays. He’s got veteran experience; he’s played in these types of games. He always brings that speed element and I love his attitude; he’s been really good since he’s been here. When you get through that little stretch that we hit in particular offensively and you see guys that are really grinding and staying positive and sticking together, he’s one of those guys that makes it fun in the end.”Chiefs Player QuotesJanuary 10, 2024S JUSTIN REIDQ:&nbsp;Can you describe the atmosphere of the playoffs?REID:&nbsp;“It’s just faster. I mean all the chips are on the table, there’s no holding back, there’s no worrying about next week if you don’t take care of this week. The speed of the game is faster, the physicality is turned up a notch, the atmosphere, the stakes are magnified, big plays are magnified. Just that confidence, relying on your teammate is at a premium. Go out and play team defense, team offense, team ball in general to go out and win a football game.”Q:&nbsp;Is communication more important against a team like the Dolphins who do a lot of motions?REID:&nbsp;“Absolutely. Communication, nonverbal communication, our fans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, we’re going to be counting on you to help us out a bit, be loud the whole time and hopefully make it difficult for them to communicate amongst themselves. All of that will come into play.”Q:&nbsp;Do you get a sense that the team is leaning on the defense more than in past years?REID:&nbsp;“The beautiful thing about defense is, it doesn’t matter what the score of the game is, it doesn't matter if you’re up, you’re down, the mission is always the same; go out and stop them. Don’t let them get first downs, don’t let them drive the ball, get a turnover whenever you can. We don’t have to worry about four-minute offense, worry about the clock or whatever, the mission is always the same and that’s to get the ball back to the offense as many times as possible. I think we have a very special group; I’ve said that since training camp and I’m happy that the rest of the world has gotten to see that too, but it’s not about what we’ve done already, it's about what we’re going to do. So we’re going to prepare for it.”Q:&nbsp;Back in training camp what made you think this defense could be as good as it has been?REID:&nbsp;“The chemistry, the cohesiveness, the selflessness of the team. Nobody cares about who gets the credit, nobody cares about if plays are made for them or not. It’s about playing winning defense, it’s about creating the opening for the next guy to get the sack, getting on your man long enough that the next guy can make the play. It doesn't matter where the credit goes, we just care about the result. We have enough guys on the defense – shoot we’ve got 20 guys on the roster on the defensive side of the ball that all have that same mentality. When you’re able to play like that and you have a leader like (Defensive Coordinator Steve) Spags that’s able to dial up pressures from all over the place to really confuse offense, good things happen.”

Chiefs Quotes: 1-10-24

WASHINGTON (AP) — With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;listening intently in the courtroom, federal appeals court judges in Washington expressed deep skepticism Tuesday that the former president was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-special-counsel-f82dbd294cd7b963dd69f1ecdf90aded" target="_blank">immune from prosecution</a>&nbsp;on charges that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc" target="_blank">plotted to overturn the results</a>&nbsp;of the 2020 election.

The panel of three judges, two of whom were appointed by President Joe Biden, also questioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-arguments-takeaways-26e6e525c040d0e546b37f2786bfd132" target="_blank">whether they had jurisdiction</a>&nbsp;to consider the appeal at this point in the case, raising the prospect that Trump’s appeal could be dispensed with on more procedural grounds.

During lengthy arguments, the judges repeatedly pressed Trump’s lawyer to defend claims that&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html" target="_blank">Trump was shielded from criminal charges</a>&nbsp;for acts that he says fell within his official duties as president. That argument was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388" target="_blank">rejected last month</a>&nbsp;by the lower-court judge overseeing the case against Trump, and the appeals judges suggested through their questions that they, too, were dubious that the Founding Fathers envisioned absolute immunity for presidents after they leave office.

“I think it’s paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed allows him to violate criminal law,” said Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, an appointee of former President George H.W. Bush.

The outcome could carry enormous ramifications both for the landmark criminal case against Trump and for the broader, and legally untested, question of whether an ex-president can be prosecuted for actions taken in the White House. It will also likely set the stage for further appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, which last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-january-6-justice-department-90b93eeb663ebaf67a2e0bc266390fa0" target="_blank">declined a request to weigh in</a>&nbsp;but could still get involved later.

A swift decision is crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-special-counsel-prosecutor-donald-trump-garland-e1fdb71cfc258bc2be48a8b890a9269b" target="_blank">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;and his team, who are eager to get the case —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-january-6-appeal-20726ba42ac87cd2f3a3ffc6a2145490" target="_blank">now paused pending the appeal</a>&nbsp;— to trial before the November election. But Trump’s lawyers, in addition to seeking to get the case dismissed, are hoping to benefit from a protracted appeals process that could delay the trial well past its scheduled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-indictment-1a5ae1a0ea35492e1e347e28867a7d3f" target="_blank">March 4 start date</a>, including until potentially after the election.

Underscoring the importance to both sides, Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, attended Tuesday’s arguments even though the Iowa caucuses are just one week away and despite the fact that there’s no requirement that defendants appear in person for such proceedings. Making his first court appearance in Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-a79f2d3683c7591058635c9b3d870070" target="_blank">since his arraignment in August</a>, Trump sat at the defense table, watching closely and occasionally taking notes and speaking with his lawyers.

His appearance and his comments afterward underscored his broader effort to portray himself as the victim of a justice system he claims is politicized. Though there’s no evidence Biden has had any influence on the case, Trump’s argument could resonate with Republican voters in Iowa as they prepare to launch the presidential nomination process.

After the hearing, Trump spoke to reporters at The Waldorf-Astoria hotel, which used to be the Trump International Hotel, calling Tuesday “a very momentous day.” He insisted he did nothing wrong and claimed he was being prosecuted for political reasons.

“A president has to have immunity,” he said.

Former presidents enjoy broad immunity from lawsuits for actions taken as part of their official White House duties. But because no former president before Trump has ever been indicted, courts have never before addressed whether that protection extends to criminal prosecution.

Trump’s lawyers insist that it does, arguing that courts have no authority to scrutinize a president’s official acts and that the prosecution of their client represents a dramatic departure from more than two centuries of American history that would open the door to future politically motivated cases.

“To authorize the prosecution of a president for official acts would open a Pandora’s box from which this nation may never recover,” said D. John Sauer, a lawyer for Trump, asserting that, under the government’s theory, presidents could be prosecuted for giving Congress “false information” to enter war or for authorizing drone strikes targeting U.S. citizens abroad.

He later added, “If a president has to look over his shoulder or her shoulder every time he or she has to make a controversial decision and wonder if ‘after I leave office, am I going to jail for this when my political opponents take power?’ that inevitably dampens the ability of the president.”

But the judges were skeptical about those arguments. Judges Henderson and Florence Pan noted the lawyer who represented Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial suggested that he could later face criminal prosecution, telling senators at the time: “We have a judicial process in this country. We have an investigative process in this country to which no former office holder is immune.”

“It seems that many senators relied on that in voting to acquit” Trump, Pan told Sauer.

Judge J. Michelle Childs also questioned why former President Richard Nixon would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafael-nadal-today-in-history-covid-health-texas-6453a85999b1728c1fac461186b10774" target="_blank">need to be granted a pardon</a>&nbsp;in 1974 after the Watergate scandal if former presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Sauer replied that in Nixon’s case, the conduct did not involve the same kind of “official acts” Trump’s lawyers argue form the basis of his indictment.

Aside from the merits of the immunity claim, the judges jumped right into questioning Trump’s lawyer over whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal at this time. Sauer said presidential immunity is clearly a claim that is meant to be reviewed before trial. Smith’s team also said that it wants the court to decide the appeal now.

Smith’s team maintains that presidents are not entitled to absolute immunity and that, in any event, the acts Trump is alleged in the indictment to have taken — including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-presidential-elections-election-2020-electoral-college-311f88768b65f7196f52a4757dc162e4" target="_blank">scheming to enlist fake electors</a>&nbsp;in battleground states won by Biden and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-jan-6-trump-indictment-ab36fd360a0850562a07d1b404f15d69" target="_blank">pressing his vice president</a>, Mike Pence, to reject the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021 — fall outside a president’s official job duties.

“The president has a unique constitutional role but he is not above the law. Separation of powers principles, constitutional text, history, precedent and immunity doctrines all point to the conclusion that a former president enjoys no immunity from prosecution,” prosecutor James Pearce said, adding that a case in which a former president is alleged to have sought to overturn an election “is not the place to recognize some novel form of immunity.”

When Judge Henderson asked how the court could write its opinion in a way that wouldn’t open the “floodgates” of investigations against ex-presidents, Pearce said he did not anticipate “a sea change of vindictive tit-for-tat prosecutions in the future.” He called the allegations against Trump fundamentally unprecedented.

“Never before has there been allegations that a sitting president has, with private individuals and using the levers of power, sought to fundamentally subvert the democratic republic and the electoral system,” he said. “And frankly, if that kind of fact pattern arises again, I think it would be awfully scary if there weren’t some sort of mechanism by which to reach that criminally.”

It’s not clear how quickly the panel from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals from the D.C. Circuit will rule, though it has signaled that it intends to work quickly.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected the immunity arguments,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388" target="_blank">ruling last month that the office of the presidency does not confer a “‘get-out-of-jail-free’” pass.</a>&nbsp;Trump’s lawyers appealed that decision, but Smith’s team, determined to keep the case on schedule, sought to leapfrog the appeals court by asking the Supreme Court to fast-track the immunity question. The justices declined to get involved.

The appeal is vital to a Trump strategy of trying to postpone the case until after the November election, when a victory could empower him to order the Justice Department to abandon the prosecution or even to seek a pardon for himself. He faces three other criminal cases, in state and federal court, though the Washington case is scheduled for trial first.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;listening intently in the courtroom, federal appeals court judges in Washington expressed deep skepticism Tuesday that the former president was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-special-counsel-f82dbd294cd7b963dd69f1ecdf90aded" target="_blank">immune from prosecution</a>&nbsp;on charges that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc" target="_blank">plotted to overturn the results</a>&nbsp;of the 2020 election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;I think they feel this is the way they&#39;re going to try and win and that&#39;s not the way it goes. It&#39;ll be bedlam in the country. It&#39;s a very bad thing. It&#39;s a very bad precedent. It&#39;s the opening of a Pandora&#39;s Box...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/fyYqul1CPC">pic.twitter.com/fyYqul1CPC</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1744765731181343209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The panel of three judges, two of whom were appointed by President Joe Biden, also questioned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-arguments-takeaways-26e6e525c040d0e546b37f2786bfd132" target="_blank">whether they had jurisdiction</a>&nbsp;to consider the appeal at this point in the case, raising the prospect that Trump’s appeal could be dispensed with on more procedural grounds.During lengthy arguments, the judges repeatedly pressed Trump’s lawyer to defend claims that&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html" target="_blank">Trump was shielded from criminal charges</a>&nbsp;for acts that he says fell within his official duties as president. That argument was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388" target="_blank">rejected last month</a>&nbsp;by the lower-court judge overseeing the case against Trump, and the appeals judges suggested through their questions that they, too, were dubious that the Founding Fathers envisioned absolute immunity for presidents after they leave office.“I think it’s paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed allows him to violate criminal law,” said Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, an appointee of former President George H.W. Bush.The outcome could carry enormous ramifications both for the landmark criminal case against Trump and for the broader, and legally untested, question of whether an ex-president can be prosecuted for actions taken in the White House. It will also likely set the stage for further appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, which last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-january-6-justice-department-90b93eeb663ebaf67a2e0bc266390fa0" target="_blank">declined a request to weigh in</a>&nbsp;but could still get involved later.A swift decision is crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-special-counsel-prosecutor-donald-trump-garland-e1fdb71cfc258bc2be48a8b890a9269b" target="_blank">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;and his team, who are eager to get the case —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-january-6-appeal-20726ba42ac87cd2f3a3ffc6a2145490" target="_blank">now paused pending the appeal</a>&nbsp;— to trial before the November election. But Trump’s lawyers, in addition to seeking to get the case dismissed, are hoping to benefit from a protracted appeals process that could delay the trial well past its scheduled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-indictment-1a5ae1a0ea35492e1e347e28867a7d3f" target="_blank">March 4 start date</a>, including until potentially after the election.Underscoring the importance to both sides, Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, attended Tuesday’s arguments even though the Iowa caucuses are just one week away and despite the fact that there’s no requirement that defendants appear in person for such proceedings. Making his first court appearance in Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-a79f2d3683c7591058635c9b3d870070" target="_blank">since his arraignment in August</a>, Trump sat at the defense table, watching closely and occasionally taking notes and speaking with his lawyers.His appearance and his comments afterward underscored his broader effort to portray himself as the victim of a justice system he claims is politicized. Though there’s no evidence Biden has had any influence on the case, Trump’s argument could resonate with Republican voters in Iowa as they prepare to launch the presidential nomination process.After the hearing, Trump spoke to reporters at The Waldorf-Astoria hotel, which used to be the Trump International Hotel, calling Tuesday “a very momentous day.” He insisted he did nothing wrong and claimed he was being prosecuted for political reasons.“A president has to have immunity,” he said.Former presidents enjoy broad immunity from lawsuits for actions taken as part of their official White House duties. But because no former president before Trump has ever been indicted, courts have never before addressed whether that protection extends to criminal prosecution.Trump’s lawyers insist that it does, arguing that courts have no authority to scrutinize a president’s official acts and that the prosecution of their client represents a dramatic departure from more than two centuries of American history that would open the door to future politically motivated cases.“To authorize the prosecution of a president for official acts would open a Pandora’s box from which this nation may never recover,” said D. John Sauer, a lawyer for Trump, asserting that, under the government’s theory, presidents could be prosecuted for giving Congress “false information” to enter war or for authorizing drone strikes targeting U.S. citizens abroad.He later added, “If a president has to look over his shoulder or her shoulder every time he or she has to make a controversial decision and wonder if ‘after I leave office, am I going to jail for this when my political opponents take power?’ that inevitably dampens the ability of the president.”But the judges were skeptical about those arguments. Judges Henderson and Florence Pan noted the lawyer who represented Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial suggested that he could later face criminal prosecution, telling senators at the time: “We have a judicial process in this country. We have an investigative process in this country to which no former office holder is immune.”“It seems that many senators relied on that in voting to acquit” Trump, Pan told Sauer.Judge J. Michelle Childs also questioned why former President Richard Nixon would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafael-nadal-today-in-history-covid-health-texas-6453a85999b1728c1fac461186b10774" target="_blank">need to be granted a pardon</a>&nbsp;in 1974 after the Watergate scandal if former presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Sauer replied that in Nixon’s case, the conduct did not involve the same kind of “official acts” Trump’s lawyers argue form the basis of his indictment.Aside from the merits of the immunity claim, the judges jumped right into questioning Trump’s lawyer over whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal at this time. Sauer said presidential immunity is clearly a claim that is meant to be reviewed before trial. Smith’s team also said that it wants the court to decide the appeal now.Smith’s team maintains that presidents are not entitled to absolute immunity and that, in any event, the acts Trump is alleged in the indictment to have taken — including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-presidential-elections-election-2020-electoral-college-311f88768b65f7196f52a4757dc162e4" target="_blank">scheming to enlist fake electors</a>&nbsp;in battleground states won by Biden and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-jan-6-trump-indictment-ab36fd360a0850562a07d1b404f15d69" target="_blank">pressing his vice president</a>, Mike Pence, to reject the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021 — fall outside a president’s official job duties.“The president has a unique constitutional role but he is not above the law. Separation of powers principles, constitutional text, history, precedent and immunity doctrines all point to the conclusion that a former president enjoys no immunity from prosecution,” prosecutor James Pearce said, adding that a case in which a former president is alleged to have sought to overturn an election “is not the place to recognize some novel form of immunity.”When Judge Henderson asked how the court could write its opinion in a way that wouldn’t open the “floodgates” of investigations against ex-presidents, Pearce said he did not anticipate “a sea change of vindictive tit-for-tat prosecutions in the future.” He called the allegations against Trump fundamentally unprecedented.“Never before has there been allegations that a sitting president has, with private individuals and using the levers of power, sought to fundamentally subvert the democratic republic and the electoral system,” he said. “And frankly, if that kind of fact pattern arises again, I think it would be awfully scary if there weren’t some sort of mechanism by which to reach that criminally.”It’s not clear how quickly the panel from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals from the D.C. Circuit will rule, though it has signaled that it intends to work quickly.U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected the immunity arguments,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388" target="_blank">ruling last month that the office of the presidency does not confer a “‘get-out-of-jail-free’” pass.</a>&nbsp;Trump’s lawyers appealed that decision, but Smith’s team, determined to keep the case on schedule, sought to leapfrog the appeals court by asking the Supreme Court to fast-track the immunity question. The justices declined to get involved.The appeal is vital to a Trump strategy of trying to postpone the case until after the November election, when a victory could empower him to order the Justice Department to abandon the prosecution or even to seek a pardon for himself. He faces three other criminal cases, in state and federal court, though the Washington case is scheduled for trial first.<h2>___</h2>

🎥Trump predicts bedlam and violence if he loses in court

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Lawmakers argue over the necessity of passing geopolitical resolution on Monday

TOPEKA — Putting aside taxes, looming drought and other policy issues, Kansas lawmakers voted to affirm state support of Israel in their first legislative action of the session.

Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, who carried the motion on the Senate floor Monday, referenced the anti-semitic shootings of 2014, in which three people were killed outside a Jewish community center in Overland Park, along with spikes in anti-semitic hate crimes in recent months to justify the move.&nbsp;

Warren argued the state Legislature needs to defend Israel and all of the actions taken by Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.&nbsp;

“That incident rocked the Jewish community in our area. … We must remember that Israel is America’s predominant ally in the Middle East. It is the only true democracy in the Middle East,” Warren said. “Israel has always stood with us and our allies, and we must stand with them. Israel has an unequivocal right to defend itself. We must state that boldly and clearly and never waver. Everything that has occurred in Gaza is the result of Hamas leadership.”

During the October attack, militants located in the Palestinian territory of Gaza launched a multi-pronged attack on Israeli cities, killing an estimated 1,200 people.&nbsp;

The attack started the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has led to thousands of casualties in the Gaza Strip. Some support for Israel has begun to wane as the its siege of the area led to a humanitarian crisis. A quarter of the Gaza population is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-21-2023-7d9718b32bf0d308c44c7c9e3c4e0deb">reported to be starving</a>, without adequate resources.&nbsp;

Some Kansas lawmakers expressed frustration with the speedy debate and passage of the resolution, which did not appear on either chamber’s agenda. The first day of session typically is reserved for ceremonial procedures, such as taking group photos.&nbsp;

However, on Monday, lawmakers chose to introduce and then advance the resolution for a final vote in less than an hour, declaring a state of emergency to get around procedural rules.

“Our legislative process is broken,” said Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City. “Senate Republican leadership is once again putting the needs of special interests ahead of everyday Kansas citizens by pushing through a roll call vote on the very first day of the 2024 legislative session.”&nbsp;

Senate lawmakers passed the resolution 34-6.&nbsp;

In the House, several lawmakers tried to amend the resolution’s language.&nbsp;Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, said the resolution did not give a “complete picture” of the situation. Xu condemned the actions of Oct. 7, but said in the months since the attack, the situation has become nuanced.&nbsp;

“I don’t think what this body needs to or should do is give, in perpetuity, complete absolution to the government of Israel for everything that has happened since then,” Xu said.&nbsp;

Another amendment by Rep. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, called for an end to the Gaza blockade, the occupation of the West Bank, and for the U.S. government to work toward a “just and lasting peace.”&nbsp;

The amendments did not gain traction, and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/SR1729/">unchanged resolution</a>&nbsp;passed 106-14 in the House.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Warren, along with Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson issued a joint statement following the passage.&nbsp;

“People were listening to us today and the Senate stood united with one, clear, unequivocal voice,” the statement read. “We stood firm in support of our ally Israel and in condemnation of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, and made it clear that antisemitism has no place in society in any form. From this stand, we must never waver.”

Republican leadership in the House also sent out a statement on the vote, emphasizing “Kansas’ support and cooperation with the State of Israel.”&nbsp;

“House Republicans stand steadfast in solidarity with the State of Israel and the Jewish people&nbsp;and offer our continued prayers for safety, peace, and healing for our strongest Middle Eastern ally as they defend their freedom and democratic way of life,” the statement read.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704895095851.png" alt=" Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, called for changes to a resolution about the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, called for changes to a resolution about the Israel-Hamas conflict. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Lawmakers argue over the necessity of passing geopolitical resolution on Monday</h2>TOPEKA — Putting aside taxes, looming drought and other policy issues, Kansas lawmakers voted to affirm state support of Israel in their first legislative action of the session.Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, who carried the motion on the Senate floor Monday, referenced the anti-semitic shootings of 2014, in which three people were killed outside a Jewish community center in Overland Park, along with spikes in anti-semitic hate crimes in recent months to justify the move.&nbsp;Warren argued the state Legislature needs to defend Israel and all of the actions taken by Israel since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.&nbsp;“That incident rocked the Jewish community in our area. … We must remember that Israel is America’s predominant ally in the Middle East. It is the only true democracy in the Middle East,” Warren said. “Israel has always stood with us and our allies, and we must stand with them. Israel has an unequivocal right to defend itself. We must state that boldly and clearly and never waver. Everything that has occurred in Gaza is the result of Hamas leadership.”During the October attack, militants located in the Palestinian territory of Gaza launched a multi-pronged attack on Israeli cities, killing an estimated 1,200 people.&nbsp;The attack started the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which has led to thousands of casualties in the Gaza Strip. Some support for Israel has begun to wane as the its siege of the area led to a humanitarian crisis. A quarter of the Gaza population is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-21-2023-7d9718b32bf0d308c44c7c9e3c4e0deb">reported to be starving</a>, without adequate resources.&nbsp;Some Kansas lawmakers expressed frustration with the speedy debate and passage of the resolution, which did not appear on either chamber’s agenda. The first day of session typically is reserved for ceremonial procedures, such as taking group photos.&nbsp;However, on Monday, lawmakers chose to introduce and then advance the resolution for a final vote in less than an hour, declaring a state of emergency to get around procedural rules.“Our legislative process is broken,” said Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City. “Senate Republican leadership is once again putting the needs of special interests ahead of everyday Kansas citizens by pushing through a roll call vote on the very first day of the 2024 legislative session.”&nbsp;Senate lawmakers passed the resolution 34-6.&nbsp;In the House, several lawmakers tried to amend the resolution’s language.&nbsp;Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, said the resolution did not give a “complete picture” of the situation. Xu condemned the actions of Oct. 7, but said in the months since the attack, the situation has become nuanced.&nbsp;“I don’t think what this body needs to or should do is give, in perpetuity, complete absolution to the government of Israel for everything that has happened since then,” Xu said.&nbsp;Another amendment by Rep. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, called for an end to the Gaza blockade, the occupation of the West Bank, and for the U.S. government to work toward a “just and lasting peace.”&nbsp;The amendments did not gain traction, and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/SR1729/">unchanged resolution</a>&nbsp;passed 106-14 in the House.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Warren, along with Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson issued a joint statement following the passage.&nbsp;“People were listening to us today and the Senate stood united with one, clear, unequivocal voice,” the statement read. “We stood firm in support of our ally Israel and in condemnation of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, and made it clear that antisemitism has no place in society in any form. From this stand, we must never waver.”Republican leadership in the House also sent out a statement on the vote, emphasizing “Kansas’ support and cooperation with the State of Israel.”&nbsp;“House Republicans stand steadfast in solidarity with the State of Israel and the Jewish people&nbsp;and offer our continued prayers for safety, peace, and healing for our strongest Middle Eastern ally as they defend their freedom and democratic way of life,” the statement read.

Kan. lawmakers kick off session with geopolitical debate, call for ‘unwavering’ support of Israel

WASHINGTON (AP) — With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;listening intently in the courtroom, federal appeals court judges in Washington expressed deep skepticism Tuesday that the former president was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-special-counsel-f82dbd294cd7b963dd69f1ecdf90aded">immune from prosecution</a>&nbsp;on charges that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotted to overturn the results</a>&nbsp;of the 2020 election.

The panel of three judges, two of whom were appointed by President Joe Biden, also questioned whether they had jurisdiction to consider the appeal at this point in the case, raising the prospect that Trump's appeal could be dispensed with on more procedural grounds.

During lengthy arguments, the judges repeatedly pressed Trump's lawyer to defend claims that&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">Trump was shielded from criminal charges</a>&nbsp;for acts that he says fell within his official duties as president. That argument was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">rejected last month</a>&nbsp;by the lower-court judge overseeing the case against Trump, and the appeals judges suggested through their questions that they, too, were dubious that the Founding Fathers envisioned absolute immunity for presidents after they leave office.

“I think it’s paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed allows him to violate criminal law," said Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, an appointee of former President George H.W. Bush.

The outcome could carry enormous ramifications both for the landmark criminal case against Trump and for the broader, and legally untested, question of whether an ex-president can be prosecuted for actions taken in the White House. It will also likely set the stage for further appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, which last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-january-6-justice-department-90b93eeb663ebaf67a2e0bc266390fa0">declined a request to weigh in</a>&nbsp;but could still get involved later.

A swift decision is crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-special-counsel-prosecutor-donald-trump-garland-e1fdb71cfc258bc2be48a8b890a9269b">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;and his team, who are eager to get the case —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-january-6-appeal-20726ba42ac87cd2f3a3ffc6a2145490">now paused pending the appeal</a>&nbsp;— to trial before the November election. But Trump’s lawyers, in addition to seeking to get the case dismissed, are hoping to benefit from a protracted appeals process that could delay the trial well past its scheduled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-indictment-1a5ae1a0ea35492e1e347e28867a7d3f">March 4 start date</a>, including until potentially after the election.

Underscoring the importance to both sides, Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, attended Tuesday’s arguments even though the Iowa caucuses are just one week away and despite the fact that there’s no requirement that defendants appear in person for such proceedings. Making his first court appearance in Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-a79f2d3683c7591058635c9b3d870070">since his arraignment in August</a>, Trump sat at the defense table, watching closely and occasionally taking notes and speaking with his lawyers.

“To authorize the prosecution of a president for official acts would open a Pandora’s box from which this nation may never recover,” said D. John Sauer, a lawyer for Trump, asserting that, under the government's theory, presidents could be prosecuted for giving Congress “false information” to enter war or for authorizing drone strikes targeting U.S. citizens abroad.

Judge J. Michelle Childs also questioned why former President Richard Nixon would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafael-nadal-today-in-history-covid-health-texas-6453a85999b1728c1fac461186b10774">need to be granted a pardon</a>&nbsp;in 1974 after the Watergate scandal if former presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Sauer replied that in Nixon's case, the conduct did not involve the same kind of “official acts” Trump's lawyers argue form the basis of his indictment.

Aside from the merits of the immunity claim, the judges jumped right into questioning Trump’s lawyer over whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal at this time. Sauer said presidential immunity is clearly a claim that is meant to be reviewed before trial. Smith's team also said that it wants the court to decide the appeal now.

Smith's team maintains that presidents are not entitled to absolute immunity and that, in any event, the acts Trump is alleged in the indictment to have taken — including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-presidential-elections-election-2020-electoral-college-311f88768b65f7196f52a4757dc162e4">scheming to enlist fake electors</a>&nbsp;in battleground states won by Biden and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-jan-6-trump-indictment-ab36fd360a0850562a07d1b404f15d69">pressing his vice president</a>, Mike Pence, to reject the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021 — fall outside a president's official job duties.

When Judge Henderson asked how the court could write its opinion in a way that wouldn't open the “floodgates” of investigations against ex-presidents, Pearce said he did not anticipate “a sea change of vindictive tit-for-tat prosecutions in the future.” He called the allegations against Trump fundamentally unprecedented.

“Never before has there been allegations that a sitting president has, with private individuals and using the levers of power, sought to fundamentally subvert the democratic republic and the electoral system," he said. "And frankly, if that kind of fact pattern arises again, I think it would be awfully scary if there weren’t some sort of mechanism by which to reach that criminally.”

It's not clear how quickly the panel from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals from the D.C. Circuit will rule, though it has signaled that it intends to work quickly.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected the immunity arguments,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">ruling last month that the office of the presidency does not confer a “‘get-out-of-jail-free'" pass.</a>&nbsp;Trump's lawyers appealed that decision, but Smith's team, determined to keep the case on schedule, sought to leapfrog the appeals court by asking the Supreme Court to fast-track the immunity question. The justices declined to get involved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696279389839.png" alt="Trump file photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump file photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;listening intently in the courtroom, federal appeals court judges in Washington expressed deep skepticism Tuesday that the former president was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-special-counsel-f82dbd294cd7b963dd69f1ecdf90aded">immune from prosecution</a>&nbsp;on charges that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotted to overturn the results</a>&nbsp;of the 2020 election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE --&gt; DC Circuit Court of Appeals Oral Argument on Former President Trump&#39;s Immunity Claims <a href="https://t.co/WN1Lrb7C9h">https://t.co/WN1Lrb7C9h</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1744728784652402768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The panel of three judges, two of whom were appointed by President Joe Biden, also questioned whether they had jurisdiction to consider the appeal at this point in the case, raising the prospect that Trump's appeal could be dispensed with on more procedural grounds.During lengthy arguments, the judges repeatedly pressed Trump's lawyer to defend claims that&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">Trump was shielded from criminal charges</a>&nbsp;for acts that he says fell within his official duties as president. That argument was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">rejected last month</a>&nbsp;by the lower-court judge overseeing the case against Trump, and the appeals judges suggested through their questions that they, too, were dubious that the Founding Fathers envisioned absolute immunity for presidents after they leave office.“I think it’s paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed allows him to violate criminal law," said Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, an appointee of former President George H.W. Bush.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Judge Pan: Could a president who ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival, who was not impeached, would he be subject to a criminal prosecution? John Sauer: If he were impeached and convicted first. Pan: So, your answer is no? Sauer: My answer is qualified yes. <a href="https://t.co/cAiunKxOwl">pic.twitter.com/cAiunKxOwl</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1744753750298779993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The outcome could carry enormous ramifications both for the landmark criminal case against Trump and for the broader, and legally untested, question of whether an ex-president can be prosecuted for actions taken in the White House. It will also likely set the stage for further appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, which last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-january-6-justice-department-90b93eeb663ebaf67a2e0bc266390fa0">declined a request to weigh in</a>&nbsp;but could still get involved later.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Judge Pan: &quot;If President Trump had been convicted when he was previously impeached on same or related conduct...the government could properly prosecute him for that same or related conduct, yes or no? John Sauer, attorney for former President Donald Trump: &quot;Potentially...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/F4H8rhbdJ6">pic.twitter.com/F4H8rhbdJ6</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1744753202807898461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A swift decision is crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-special-counsel-prosecutor-donald-trump-garland-e1fdb71cfc258bc2be48a8b890a9269b">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;and his team, who are eager to get the case —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-january-6-appeal-20726ba42ac87cd2f3a3ffc6a2145490">now paused pending the appeal</a>&nbsp;— to trial before the November election. But Trump’s lawyers, in addition to seeking to get the case dismissed, are hoping to benefit from a protracted appeals process that could delay the trial well past its scheduled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jan-6-justice-department-indictment-1a5ae1a0ea35492e1e347e28867a7d3f">March 4 start date</a>, including until potentially after the election.Underscoring the importance to both sides, Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, attended Tuesday’s arguments even though the Iowa caucuses are just one week away and despite the fact that there’s no requirement that defendants appear in person for such proceedings. Making his first court appearance in Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-a79f2d3683c7591058635c9b3d870070">since his arraignment in August</a>, Trump sat at the defense table, watching closely and occasionally taking notes and speaking with his lawyers.His appearance and his comments afterward underscored his broader effort to portray himself as the victim of a justice system he claims is politicized. Though there’s no evidence Biden has had any influence on the case, Trump’s argument could resonate with Republican voters in Iowa as they prepare to launch the presidential nomination process.After the hearing, Trump spoke to reporters at The Waldorf-Astoria hotel, which used to be the Trump International Hotel, calling Tuesday “a very momentous day.” He insisted he did nothing wrong and claimed he was being prosecuted for political reasons.“A president has to have immunity,” he said.Former presidents enjoy broad immunity from lawsuits for actions taken as part of their official White House duties. But because no former president before Trump has ever been indicted, courts have never before addressed whether that protection extends to criminal prosecution.Trump’s lawyers insist that it does, arguing that courts have no authority to scrutinize a president’s official acts and that the prosecution of their client represents a dramatic departure from more than two centuries of American history that would open the door to future politically motivated cases.“To authorize the prosecution of a president for official acts would open a Pandora’s box from which this nation may never recover,” said D. John Sauer, a lawyer for Trump, asserting that, under the government's theory, presidents could be prosecuted for giving Congress “false information” to enter war or for authorizing drone strikes targeting U.S. citizens abroad.He later added, “If a president has to look over his shoulder or her shoulder every time he or she has to make a controversial decision and wonder if ‘after I leave office, am I going to jail for this when my political opponents take power?’ that inevitably dampens the ability of the president.”But the judges were skeptical about those arguments. Judges Henderson and Florence Pan noted the lawyer who represented Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial suggested that he could later face criminal prosecution, telling senators at the time: “We have a judicial process in this country. We have an investigative process in this country to which no former office holder is immune.”“It seems that many senators relied on that in voting to acquit” Trump, Pan told Sauer.Judge J. Michelle Childs also questioned why former President Richard Nixon would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafael-nadal-today-in-history-covid-health-texas-6453a85999b1728c1fac461186b10774">need to be granted a pardon</a>&nbsp;in 1974 after the Watergate scandal if former presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Sauer replied that in Nixon's case, the conduct did not involve the same kind of “official acts” Trump's lawyers argue form the basis of his indictment.Aside from the merits of the immunity claim, the judges jumped right into questioning Trump’s lawyer over whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal at this time. Sauer said presidential immunity is clearly a claim that is meant to be reviewed before trial. Smith's team also said that it wants the court to decide the appeal now.Smith's team maintains that presidents are not entitled to absolute immunity and that, in any event, the acts Trump is alleged in the indictment to have taken — including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-presidential-elections-election-2020-electoral-college-311f88768b65f7196f52a4757dc162e4">scheming to enlist fake electors</a>&nbsp;in battleground states won by Biden and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-jan-6-trump-indictment-ab36fd360a0850562a07d1b404f15d69">pressing his vice president</a>, Mike Pence, to reject the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6, 2021 — fall outside a president's official job duties.“The president has a unique constitutional role but he is not above the law. Separation of powers principles, constitutional text, history, precedent and immunity doctrines all point to the conclusion that a former president enjoys no immunity from prosecution,” prosecutor James Pearce said, adding that a case in which a former president is alleged to have sought to overturn an election “is not the place to recognize some novel form of immunity.”When Judge Henderson asked how the court could write its opinion in a way that wouldn't open the “floodgates” of investigations against ex-presidents, Pearce said he did not anticipate “a sea change of vindictive tit-for-tat prosecutions in the future.” He called the allegations against Trump fundamentally unprecedented.“Never before has there been allegations that a sitting president has, with private individuals and using the levers of power, sought to fundamentally subvert the democratic republic and the electoral system," he said. "And frankly, if that kind of fact pattern arises again, I think it would be awfully scary if there weren’t some sort of mechanism by which to reach that criminally.”It's not clear how quickly the panel from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals from the D.C. Circuit will rule, though it has signaled that it intends to work quickly.U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected the immunity arguments,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">ruling last month that the office of the presidency does not confer a “‘get-out-of-jail-free'" pass.</a>&nbsp;Trump's lawyers appealed that decision, but Smith's team, determined to keep the case on schedule, sought to leapfrog the appeals court by asking the Supreme Court to fast-track the immunity question. The justices declined to get involved.The appeal is vital to a Trump strategy of trying to postpone the case until after the November election, when a victory could empower him to order the Justice Department to abandon the prosecution or even to seek a pardon for himself. He faces three other criminal cases, in state and federal court, though the Washington case is scheduled for trial first.

🎧 Judges express skepticism of claims that Trump immune from prosecution

Dana Jean Lantz October 11, 1937 ~ December 24, 2023

Dana Lantz was born in Manhattan Ks October 11th 1937. Her parents were Russell and Erma West. When Dana was five her father died- her last memory of her father was when he gave her a puppy for Christmas. Dana later had a step father named Roy Huff a sister Mary Ann and Brother Roy.

Dana is survived by her three children Derrick Bye, Lissa Ambrosen and Valerie Wolfe, Her husband Bill Lantz and Grand Children Aleaha and Kristie Travis and Great Grandson Shane.

Dana met and married Ron Bye December 23rd 1961. They were married 37 years. They moved to Colorado in 1971 where she lived out the remainder of her life.

Dana later met and married Bill Lantz whom she was married to for 14 beautiful years. We love Bill like he’s our own father.

Dana was a paraprofessional for the school system for many years. She loved children and especially liked teen-agers. She went back to school at the age of 50 and received her bachelors degree in psychology. Dana had many interests: She enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, traveling, and camping. But what she really enjoyed more than anything was people. Mom loved to help people. She was a good listener and always happy to help people in anyway she could.

She especially loved the Lord. She taught Sunday School for many years and worked hard at getting us kids out of bed for church every Sunday on top of cooking us a full breakfast. I still don’t know how she did it all.

Dana went to be with the Lord December 24th - I’m pretty sure she wants us to remember her every Christmas Eve.

One other way you can remember Dana is when you go out for coffee. If you knew mom at all you knew that one of her favorite things to do was going out for coffee. It was a party for her. She loved to sit and talk over a cup of good coffee. Pretty sure she’s sitting up in Heaven having a cup of coffee with someone.

Interment will take place in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704726957456.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dana Jean Lantz October 11, 1937 ~ December 24, 2023Dana Lantz was born in Manhattan Ks October 11th 1937. Her parents were Russell and Erma West. When Dana was five her father died- her last memory of her father was when he gave her a puppy for Christmas. Dana later had a step father named Roy Huff a sister Mary Ann and Brother Roy.Dana is survived by her three children Derrick Bye, Lissa Ambrosen and Valerie Wolfe, Her husband Bill Lantz and Grand Children Aleaha and Kristie Travis and Great Grandson Shane.Dana met and married Ron Bye December 23rd 1961. They were married 37 years. They moved to Colorado in 1971 where she lived out the remainder of her life.Dana later met and married Bill Lantz whom she was married to for 14 beautiful years. We love Bill like he’s our own father.Dana was a paraprofessional for the school system for many years. She loved children and especially liked teen-agers. She went back to school at the age of 50 and received her bachelors degree in psychology. Dana had many interests: She enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, traveling, and camping. But what she really enjoyed more than anything was people. Mom loved to help people. She was a good listener and always happy to help people in anyway she could.She especially loved the Lord. She taught Sunday School for many years and worked hard at getting us kids out of bed for church every Sunday on top of cooking us a full breakfast. I still don’t know how she did it all.Dana went to be with the Lord December 24th - I’m pretty sure she wants us to remember her every Christmas Eve.One other way you can remember Dana is when you go out for coffee. If you knew mom at all you knew that one of her favorite things to do was going out for coffee. It was a party for her. She loved to sit and talk over a cup of good coffee. Pretty sure she’s sitting up in Heaven having a cup of coffee with someone.Interment will take place in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina.

Dana J. Lantz

Kansas Wesleyan Coaches&nbsp;Show - 6 pm (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Chiefs Kingdom Show - 7 pm (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)

Southeast of Saline vs. Clay Center Basketball - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:30pm - Girls Tip 6 pm - Boys Tip 7:30 pm&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sacred Heart vs. Republic County Basketball - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:40 pm - Girls Tip 6 pm - Boys Tip 7:30 pm&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas Wesleyan University at York University Basketball&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Pregame Show 5:30pm&nbsp;&nbsp; - WBB Tip 6 pm - MBB Tip 8 pm

Sacred Heart Lady Knights at Ellsworth Lady Bearcats&nbsp;Basketball&nbsp; - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:40 pm - Girls Tip 6 pm - Boys Tip 7:30 pm&nbsp;&nbsp;

KINA Scoreboard Show - 10 pm (Audio on 910Am/107.5fm and 910KINA.com)

The Pit Reporters - 9 AM (Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a>)

Kansas Wesleyan University vs. Avila University Basketball - Pregame Show 4:30pm&nbsp;&nbsp; - WBB Tip 5 pm - MBB Tip 7 pm

(3) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (6) Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead - Listen on KINA and KSKG

MondayKansas Wesleyan Coaches&nbsp;Show - 6 pm (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)Chiefs Kingdom Show - 7 pm (Listen on KINA and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/" target="_blank">910kina.com</a>)TuesdaySoutheast of Saline vs. Clay Center Basketball - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:30pm - Girls Tip 6 pm - Boys Tip 7:30 pm&nbsp;&nbsp;Sacred Heart vs. Republic County Basketball - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:40 pm - Girls Tip 6 pm - Boys Tip 7:30 pm&nbsp;&nbsp; WednesdayKansas Wesleyan University at York University Basketball&nbsp;&nbsp; - Audio on 910AM/107.5fm and 910KINA.com - Pregame Show 5:30pm&nbsp;&nbsp; - WBB Tip 6 pm - MBB Tip 8 pmFridaySacred Heart Lady Knights at Ellsworth Lady Bearcats&nbsp;Basketball&nbsp; - Audio and Video on Salina Post - Pregame Show 5:40 pm - Girls Tip 6 pm - Boys Tip 7:30 pm&nbsp;&nbsp; KINA Scoreboard Show - 10 pm (Audio on 910Am/107.5fm and 910KINA.com)Saturday&nbsp;&nbsp;The Pit Reporters - 9 AM (Listen on KINA 910AM/107.5FM and&nbsp;<a href="http://910kiina.com/" target="_blank">910KINA.COM</a>)Kansas Wesleyan University vs. Avila University Basketball - Pregame Show 4:30pm&nbsp;&nbsp; - WBB Tip 5 pm - MBB Tip 7 pm (3) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (6) Miami Dolphins at Arrowhead - Listen on KINA and KSKG

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PERRY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa principal critically injured in a school shooting put himself in harm's way so students could try to escape from a teenage shooter who opened fire in a cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before school, authorities said Friday.

Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger and six others, including two staff members and four teenage students, were injured in the Thursday morning shooting that left one sixth-grader dead. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

The state Department of Public Safety said Marburger, who is being treated in a Des Moines hospital, “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”

A day after the shooting, the small community of Perry was somber. Yellow crime tape still lined the campus that Perry High School shares with the town’s middle school, flowers and stuffed toys had cropped up in mini memorials, and classes across the district were canceled Friday in favor of counseling.

Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said the soonest classes will resume in the town will be next Friday.

“This is an extremely painful and difficult time for our entire school community, and in our grief, we will take time to remember,” Wicks said.

The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. Thursday, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school.

The student killed was identified as 11-year-old Ahmir Jollif. An autopsy showed he had been shot three times.

The news that seven students and staff suffered “wounds or injuries of varying degree” during the shooting was two more than authorities said Thursday afternoon. Mortvedt said the number of injured increased after investigators later learned about two more wounded faculty members. All seven are believed to have been either wounded or grazed by bullets, and suffered injuries ranging from significant to minor.

On Friday, Marburger and two students remained hospitalized.

In a Facebook post Thursday night, the principal’s daughter said he was in “surgery all day, and is currently stable.”

Claire Marburger called her father a “gentle giant” and it wasn't surprising that her father tried to protect his students.

“As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,” his daughter wrote. “That’s just Dad.”

Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt told The Associated Press that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device in Butler's belongings, and that experts advised “it was something that they needed to disarm.” It was rendered safe.

Mortvedt said Marburger, who has been principal since 1995, did some “pretty significant things” to protect others during the shooting, but didn't release details. Wicks, the superintendent, said Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with Butler so students could escape. Wicks said other staff also acted heroically, including Middle School Assistant Principal Adam Jessen who “carried a wounded student into a safe area.”

A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butler’s friends and analyzing Butler’s social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit. However, authorities have provided no information about a possible motive.

Shortly before Thursday’s shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the bathroom of Perry High School, the official said. The photo was captioned “now we wait” and the song “Stray Bullet” by the German band KMFDM accompanied it. Investigators also have found photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Two friends and their mother who spoke with the AP said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school. Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said alongside their mother, Alita, that it escalated recently when Butler's younger sister started getting picked on, too.

“He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment," Yesenia Roeder Hall said. "Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.”

Police said Thursday they believe that Butler acted alone. But investigators have not said how Butler obtained the firearms.

Investigators are still working to get a “good grasp of who Dylan was,” and the parents have been cooperating, Mortvedt said. The investigation will include Butler’s background along with the “environment of the school,” he said.

Wicks wouldn’t discuss whether Butler had been bullied but he defended the way his district responds to those situations.

“We take every bullying situation seriously and our goal is to always have that safe and inviting atmosphere, but I’m not going to comment on this individual case as well as any other individual case,” Wicks said.

Butler’s parents have been fixtures of the Perry community. His father is director of the city’s airport after serving as its public works director for years, where he won praise helping clean up Perry after a devastating wind storm in 2020. His mother has also owned a small business and served on a city development board. The parents have not responded to messages seeking comment.

On Thursday night, hundreds gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil at a park where hours earlier, students had been brought to reunite with their families after the shooting. Bundled up against freezing temperatures, they listened to clergy from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.

Perry has about 8,000 residents and is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines, on the edge of the state capital’s metropolitan area. It is home to a large pork-processing plant and low-slung, single-story homes spread among trees now shorn of their leaves by winter.

The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District. Perry is more diverse than Iowa as a whole. Census figures show 31% of its residents are Hispanic, compared with less than 7% statewide. Those figures also show nearly 19% of the town’s residents were born outside the U.S.

Despite the shock of the shooting, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed confidence the community would get through the painful experience.

“We are a small town, but we will pull together in a big way to get through this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704505064411.png" alt="Dan Marburger-photo courtesy KCCI TV" />
 <figcaption>Dan Marburger-photo courtesy KCCI TV</figcaption>
 </figure>PERRY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa principal critically injured in a school shooting put himself in harm's way so students could try to escape from a teenage shooter who opened fire in a cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before school, authorities said Friday.Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger and six others, including two staff members and four teenage students, were injured in the Thursday morning shooting that left one sixth-grader dead. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.The state Department of Public Safety said Marburger, who is being treated in a Des Moines hospital, “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704382094941.png" alt="photo courtesy KCCI TV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KCCI TV</figcaption>
 </figure>A day after the shooting, the small community of Perry was somber. Yellow crime tape still lined the campus that Perry High School shares with the town’s middle school, flowers and stuffed toys had cropped up in mini memorials, and classes across the district were canceled Friday in favor of counseling.Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said the soonest classes will resume in the town will be next Friday.“This is an extremely painful and difficult time for our entire school community, and in our grief, we will take time to remember,” Wicks said.The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. Thursday, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school.The student killed was identified as 11-year-old Ahmir Jollif. An autopsy showed he had been shot three times.The news that seven students and staff suffered “wounds or injuries of varying degree” during the shooting was two more than authorities said Thursday afternoon. Mortvedt said the number of injured increased after investigators later learned about two more wounded faculty members. All seven are believed to have been either wounded or grazed by bullets, and suffered injuries ranging from significant to minor.On Friday, Marburger and two students remained hospitalized.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fclaire.marburger%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0BgPwav4UoxVYxrbDp1cb3Pot934KkT1cuZBb8UaqoTiCZCotGkatJrJJgFyFCm4dl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="278" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>In a Facebook post Thursday night, the principal’s daughter said he was in “surgery all day, and is currently stable.”Claire Marburger called her father a “gentle giant” and it wasn't surprising that her father tried to protect his students.“As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,” his daughter wrote. “That’s just Dad.”Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt told The Associated Press that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device in Butler's belongings, and that experts advised “it was something that they needed to disarm.” It was rendered safe.Mortvedt said Marburger, who has been principal since 1995, did some “pretty significant things” to protect others during the shooting, but didn't release details. Wicks, the superintendent, said Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with Butler so students could escape. Wicks said other staff also acted heroically, including Middle School Assistant Principal Adam Jessen who “carried a wounded student into a safe area.”A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butler’s friends and analyzing Butler’s social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit. However, authorities have provided no information about a possible motive.Shortly before Thursday’s shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the bathroom of Perry High School, the official said. The photo was captioned “now we wait” and the song “Stray Bullet” by the German band KMFDM accompanied it. Investigators also have found photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.Two friends and their mother who spoke with the AP said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied relentlessly since elementary school. Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said alongside their mother, Alita, that it escalated recently when Butler's younger sister started getting picked on, too.“He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment," Yesenia Roeder Hall said. "Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.”Police said Thursday they believe that Butler acted alone. But investigators have not said how Butler obtained the firearms.Investigators are still working to get a “good grasp of who Dylan was,” and the parents have been cooperating, Mortvedt said. The investigation will include Butler’s background along with the “environment of the school,” he said.Wicks wouldn’t discuss whether Butler had been bullied but he defended the way his district responds to those situations.“We take every bullying situation seriously and our goal is to always have that safe and inviting atmosphere, but I’m not going to comment on this individual case as well as any other individual case,” Wicks said.Butler’s parents have been fixtures of the Perry community. His father is director of the city’s airport after serving as its public works director for years, where he won praise helping clean up Perry after a devastating wind storm in 2020. His mother has also owned a small business and served on a city development board. The parents have not responded to messages seeking comment.On Thursday night, hundreds gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil at a park where hours earlier, students had been brought to reunite with their families after the shooting. Bundled up against freezing temperatures, they listened to clergy from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.Perry has about 8,000 residents and is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines, on the edge of the state capital’s metropolitan area. It is home to a large pork-processing plant and low-slung, single-story homes spread among trees now shorn of their leaves by winter.The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District. Perry is more diverse than Iowa as a whole. Census figures show 31% of its residents are Hispanic, compared with less than 7% statewide. Those figures also show nearly 19% of the town’s residents were born outside the U.S.Despite the shock of the shooting, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed confidence the community would get through the painful experience.“We are a small town, but we will pull together in a big way to get through this.”

Police: Principal injured in school shooting risked himself to protect students

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — A teen armed with a shotgun and a handgun unleashed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-high-school-shooting-iowa-1defc6260e074362240a31a7f30cf1b9">terror at an Iowa high school</a>&nbsp;on the first day of classes in the new year, authorities said, killing a sixth grader and wounding five others as people hunkered down in classrooms, barricaded offices and fled the barrage of bullets.

The suspect, a 17-year-old student at the school in Perry, died of what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation official said. An administrator, later identified by his alma mater as Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, was among those wounded Thursday as students returned from winter break.

Authorities identified the shooter as Dylan Butler but provided no information about a possible motive. Two friends and their mother who spoke with The Associated Press said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied for years.

Authorities said Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation division's assistant director, said during a news conference that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device and rendered it safe.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704470490447.png" alt="&nbsp;hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil at a park where hours earlier, students had been brought to reunite with their families-photo courtesy KCCI TF" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil at a park where hours earlier, students had been brought to reunite with their families-photo courtesy KCCI TF</figcaption>
 </figure>PERRY, Iowa (AP) — A teen armed with a shotgun and a handgun unleashed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-high-school-shooting-iowa-1defc6260e074362240a31a7f30cf1b9">terror at an Iowa high school</a>&nbsp;on the first day of classes in the new year, authorities said, killing a sixth grader and wounding five others as people hunkered down in classrooms, barricaded offices and fled the barrage of bullets.The suspect, a 17-year-old student at the school in Perry, died of what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation official said. An administrator, later identified by his alma mater as Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, was among those wounded Thursday as students returned from winter break.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704402515704.png" alt="First responders at the high school Thursday -photo courtesy KCCI TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the high school Thursday -photo courtesy KCCI TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities identified the shooter as Dylan Butler but provided no information about a possible motive. Two friends and their mother who spoke with The Associated Press said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied for years.Authorities said Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation division's assistant director, said during a news conference that authorities also found a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device and rendered it safe.A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation said federal and state investigators were interviewing Butler’s friends and analyzing Butler’s social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit.Shortly before Thursday’s shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the bathroom of Perry High School, the official said. The photo was captioned “now we wait” and the song “Stray Bullet” by the German band KMFDM accompanied it. Investigators have also found other photos Butler posted posing with firearms, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, both 17, said alongside their mother, Alita, that Butler was bullied relentlessly since elementary school, but it escalated recently when his younger sister started getting picked on, too.“He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment," Yesenia Roeder Hall said. "Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.”Calls to Perry Community Schools' Superintendent Clark Wicks, as well as school board members, were unanswered Thursday, and an emailed request for comment was not immediately returned.Police arrived within minutes after an active shooter was reported at 7:37 a.m. Thursday, authorities said.Perry High School senior Ava Augustus was awaiting a counselor in a school office when she heard three shots. Unable to flee through a small window, she and others barricaded the door and were ready to throw things if necessary.“And then we hear ‘He’s down. You can go out,’” Augustus said through tears. ”And I run and you can just see glass everywhere, blood on the floor. I get to my car and they’re taking a girl out of the auditorium who had been shot in her leg.”Three gunshot victims were treated at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, a spokesperson said. Others were taken to a second hospital, a spokesperson for MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center confirmed.Mortvedt said one person was in critical condition but the injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening, and the others were stable.In a Facebook post, Marburger's daughter said he was in “surgery all day, and is currently stable.”Claire Marburger called her father a “gentle giant” who would want more attention on the other victims and their families, and less on himself.On Thursday night, hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight prayer vigil at a park where hours earlier, students had been brought to reunite with their families after the shooting. Bundled up against freezing temperatures, they listened to clergy from many faiths and heard a message of hope in both English and Spanish.A post on the high school's Facebook page said it would be closed Friday and counseling services would be available for students, faculty and others in the community.“This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said.In Washington, President Joe Biden and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland were briefed on the shooting.Mass shootings across the U.S. have long brought calls for stricter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gun-politics">gun laws</a>&nbsp;from gun safety advocates, and Thursday's did within hours. But the idea has been a non-starter for many Republicans, particularly in rural, GOP-leaning states like Iowa, which will hold its first-in-the-nation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-iowa-caucus-works-2024-democrats-republicans-592ab40b9b9b948c0540f2cf132bab5c">presidential caucuses</a>&nbsp;Jan. 15.As of July 2021, Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ia-state-wire-iowa-gun-politics-business-laws-656a5ba4382a64f2d93790f56050ce3c">does not require a permit</a>&nbsp;to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public, but it does mandate a background check for anyone buying a handgun without a permit.Perry has about 8,000 residents and is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines, on the edge of the state capital’s metropolitan area. It is home to a large pork-processing plant and low-slung, single-story homes spread among trees now shorn of their leaves by winter. The high school and middle school are connected, sitting on the east edge of town.The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District. Perry is more diverse than Iowa as a whole. Census figures show 31% of its residents are Hispanic, compared with less than 7% statewide. Those figures also show nearly 19% of the town’s residents were born outside the U.S.Zander Shelley, 15, was in a hallway when he heard shots and dashed into a classroom, according to his father, Kevin Shelley. Zander was grazed twice and hid in the classroom before texting his father.Kevin Shelley, who drives a garbage truck, told his boss he had to run. “It was the most scared I’ve been in my entire life,” he said.He later posted a photo on Facebook of his son being treated at the Methodist Medical Center and said the boy was feeling fine.“I am still shaking,” he added, “and tho I dont show it I’m not OK.”