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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) will host town halls next Wednesday, April 24, as part of his annual 60-county Mann Listening Tour. The town halls will take place in Rice, Ellsworth, Barton, Pawnee, and Ford counties. All town hall meetings are open to the public and media.

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Town Hall Schedule

WHERE: Rice County Courthouse Commission Chambers 101 W. Commercial Street | Lyons, KS 67554 WHEN: 8:00 A.M. CT

WHERE: JH Robbins Memorial Library, Conference Room 219 N. Lincoln Ave | Ellsworth, KS 67439 WHEN:&nbsp;9:15 A.M. CT

WHERE: Claflin City Office, Council Chambers 111 E. Hamilton Street | Claflin, KS 67525 WHEN 10:30 A.M. CT

WHERE: Jordaan Memorial Library 724 Broadway Street | Larned, KS 67550 WHEN: 12:45PM CT

WHERE: Ford County Courthouse* 101 W. Spruce Street | Dodge City, KS67801 WHEN: 3:00 P.M. CT

*Rep. Mann's Congressional Art Competition awards presentation will take place at the beginning of the Ford County town hall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1690912187206.png" alt="Tracey Mann Above Newsletter" />
 <figcaption>Tracey Mann Above Newsletter</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedU.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) will host town halls next Wednesday, April 24, as part of his annual 60-county Mann Listening Tour. The town halls will take place in Rice, Ellsworth, Barton, Pawnee, and Ford counties. All town hall meetings are open to the public and media.Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Town Hall Schedule<h2>Rice County</h2>WHERE: Rice County Courthouse Commission Chambers 101 W. Commercial Street | Lyons, KS 67554 WHEN: 8:00 A.M. CT<h2>Ellsworth County</h2>WHERE: JH Robbins Memorial Library, Conference Room 219 N. Lincoln Ave | Ellsworth, KS 67439 WHEN:&nbsp;9:15 A.M. CT<h2>Barton County</h2>WHERE: Claflin City Office, Council Chambers 111 E. Hamilton Street | Claflin, KS 67525 WHEN 10:30 A.M. CT<h2>Pawnee County</h2>WHERE: Jordaan Memorial Library 724 Broadway Street | Larned, KS 67550 WHEN: 12:45PM CT<h2>Ford County</h2>WHERE: Ford County Courthouse* 101 W. Spruce Street | Dodge City, KS67801 WHEN: 3:00 P.M. CT*Rep. Mann's Congressional Art Competition awards presentation will take place at the beginning of the Ford County town hall.

Rep. Mann hosting five town halls in Central, ﻿Southwest Kansas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kenneth Meral Monroe II March 8, 1945 ~ April 15, 2024

Kenneth Meral Monroe II, son of Kenneth M and Betty J. (Farmer) Monroe, was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on March 8, 1945. He and his sister Jo Anell were children born to this union. Kenneth is preceded in death by his father Kenneth Monroe and Mother Betty (Farmer) Monroe, Grandparents Raymond and Anna Farmer, Sam and Nellie Monroe, Aunts, and Uncles. Kenneth was united in marriage to Loretta Brobst on January 13, 1963, in Wichita Kansas. The young couple established their first home together in Wichita, Kansas and later lived in Union Town, Marion, and Hutchinson, Kansas. Upon retiring from the Kansas Highway Patrol they lived in Kingsland, Texas for several years. This union was blessed with three daughters, Jo Whitley, Tomi Gasper, and Robin Blazek. Kenneth leaves behind his wife Loretta Monroe and three daughters, one grandson, five granddaughters, seven great grandsons, and one great granddaughter. He was blessed with a sister Jo Myers, nieces Brandy McCarty and Danielle Lewis and lifelong friend Richard Turner. Kenneth served in the United States Navy, was a Vietnam Veteran and a Master Mason. Kenneth was a letter carrier for the post office in Wichita, Kansas before joining the Kansas Highway Patrol. Kenneth served as a State Trooper for the Kansas Highway Patrol for 23 years stationed in Marion, Kansas until his retirement in 1994. Kenneth spoke highly of his Highway Patrol Partners, K366 Trooper Dave, Ollenburger (classmate at KHP Academy), K296 Trooper Rob Craft who later served as Marion County Sheriff, K162 Trooper Frank Boyle (training officer) and K308 Trooper John Stultz. Kenneth was a loving husband and father, he could be heard saying often “It had been a great ride, all because of Loretta. She was the love of his life.” He was a part of the 2022 Kansas Honor Flight to Washington DC.&nbsp; Kenneth enjoyed listening to music, tinkering with his hobbies, he enjoyed working with leather making jewelry and fishing. Kenneth wanted this day to not be a sad occasion, but a celebration of life. &nbsp;Memorial Service will be held on Monday April 22, 2024, at 3 p.m. at Yazel Megli Funeral Home, Marion. &nbsp;Memorials are to be directed to Tunnels to Towers Foundation. &nbsp; Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Kenneth at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.yazelmeglifh.com/">www.yazelmeglifh.com</a>.&nbsp;

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/468bc8ee-a938-49e5-aa9d-286e2f02e11d">AJ Honey Farms — leading local beekeepers toward success</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713447902014.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kenneth Meral Monroe II March 8, 1945 ~ April 15, 2024Kenneth Meral Monroe II, son of Kenneth M and Betty J. (Farmer) Monroe, was born in Fort Scott, Kansas on March 8, 1945. He and his sister Jo Anell were children born to this union. Kenneth is preceded in death by his father Kenneth Monroe and Mother Betty (Farmer) Monroe, Grandparents Raymond and Anna Farmer, Sam and Nellie Monroe, Aunts, and Uncles. Kenneth was united in marriage to Loretta Brobst on January 13, 1963, in Wichita Kansas. The young couple established their first home together in Wichita, Kansas and later lived in Union Town, Marion, and Hutchinson, Kansas. Upon retiring from the Kansas Highway Patrol they lived in Kingsland, Texas for several years. This union was blessed with three daughters, Jo Whitley, Tomi Gasper, and Robin Blazek. Kenneth leaves behind his wife Loretta Monroe and three daughters, one grandson, five granddaughters, seven great grandsons, and one great granddaughter. He was blessed with a sister Jo Myers, nieces Brandy McCarty and Danielle Lewis and lifelong friend Richard Turner. Kenneth served in the United States Navy, was a Vietnam Veteran and a Master Mason. Kenneth was a letter carrier for the post office in Wichita, Kansas before joining the Kansas Highway Patrol. Kenneth served as a State Trooper for the Kansas Highway Patrol for 23 years stationed in Marion, Kansas until his retirement in 1994. Kenneth spoke highly of his Highway Patrol Partners, K366 Trooper Dave, Ollenburger (classmate at KHP Academy), K296 Trooper Rob Craft who later served as Marion County Sheriff, K162 Trooper Frank Boyle (training officer) and K308 Trooper John Stultz. Kenneth was a loving husband and father, he could be heard saying often “It had been a great ride, all because of Loretta. She was the love of his life.” He was a part of the 2022 Kansas Honor Flight to Washington DC.&nbsp; Kenneth enjoyed listening to music, tinkering with his hobbies, he enjoyed working with leather making jewelry and fishing. Kenneth wanted this day to not be a sad occasion, but a celebration of life. &nbsp;Memorial Service will be held on Monday April 22, 2024, at 3 p.m. at Yazel Megli Funeral Home, Marion. &nbsp;Memorials are to be directed to Tunnels to Towers Foundation. &nbsp; Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Kenneth at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.yazelmeglifh.com/">www.yazelmeglifh.com</a>.&nbsp;READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/468bc8ee-a938-49e5-aa9d-286e2f02e11d">AJ Honey Farms — leading local beekeepers toward success</a>

Kenneth Meral Monroe II

By MARK R. JOSLYN Professor of Political Science University of Kansas

The presidential primaries are unfolding quietly.&nbsp; Having&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2024-election/results/president/" target="_blank">clinched</a>&nbsp;their party nominations early, Biden and Trump have shifted focus toward the general election.&nbsp; &nbsp;

From the start, a stubborn and sizeable percentage of Democrat and Republican primary voters have refused to endorse the front runners.&nbsp; Instead, they have voted for the alternatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The significance of these votes becomes clear in battleground states where lingering inter-party divisions could determine the general election outcome.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the two crucial swing states of Georgia and Wisconsin, nearly 15 percent of Republican primary voters supported Nikki Haley.&nbsp;

This&nbsp;after&nbsp;she had quit the race.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Prior to that, Haley won 43 percent in New Hampshire, 27 percent in Michigan, and defeated Trump in Vermont.

Haley’s success was credited to open primaries where Independents and Democrats can participate.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

However, in Arizona’s closed primary Haley still captured nearly 18 percent.&nbsp; And in the Florida and&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;closed primaries, she locked up 14 and 16 percent, respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In four of the five most populous&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;counties, Haley’s percentages increased.&nbsp; She won 22 percent in Johnson, 18 percent in Sedgwick, 22 percent in Shawnee, and 26 percent in Douglas.

Adding in “none of the names shown” category, the statewide anti-Trump&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;vote reached 21 percent or just over 20,000 GOP voters.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, a parallel trend is taking place among Democrats.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Biden’s decision to skip New Hampshire and award South Carolina the first primary spot disappointed many Granite State voters.&nbsp; As a result, Dean Phillips secured nearly 20 percent of the vote.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

A few weeks later, over 100,000 Michigan Democrats casted uncommitted ballots protesting Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

In North Carolina the “no preference” option garnered nearly 90,000 votes.&nbsp; And in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;the “none of the names shown” option came in second place at 10 percent.&nbsp; The tally included almost 15 percent in solidly blue Douglas County, and 8 percent in Johnson and Sedgwick counties.&nbsp; &nbsp;

More recently, in pivotal swing state Wisconsin, 48,000 Democrats voted “<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wisconsin-uninstructed-vote-shows-democratic-frustration-with-joe-biden/ar-BB1l1P41" target="_blank">uninstructed</a>”, twice the goal of the grassroots group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wisconsin-uninstructed-vote-shows-democratic-frustration-with-joe-biden/ar-BB1l1P41" target="_blank">Listen to Wisconsin</a>&nbsp;that demanded policy changes over the war in Gaza.&nbsp; Another 17,000 voted for Phillips, who ended his campaign weeks before.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Clearly, thousands of Democrats and Republicans are using presidential primaries to express their dissatisfaction.&nbsp;

Yet neither nominee appears eager to reach out to the disaffected.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Trump remains steadfast in his unapologetic style that does not sit well with moderate Republicans but resonates with some Democrat leaning groups including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/11/04/new-republican-party-working-class-coalition-00122822" target="_blank">working-class whites</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/stories/analysis/will-blacks-vote-republican-a-political-science-perspective" target="_blank">Blacks</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/09/biden-approval-drops-democrat-popularity-rises-latino-voters" target="_blank">Latinos</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Biden campaign seems focused on capturing the Haley block, investing in ads that showcase Trump’s offensive comments directed at Haley.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The reality is few disaffected primary voters will cross party lines.&nbsp; In matters of ideology and policy they are still closer to their party nominee than the opposition.&nbsp;

However, it’s possible they stay home on election day or continue to protest by other means.&nbsp;

If protests occur&nbsp; during the summer – possibility at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democratic-tensions-over-israel-threaten-to-boil-over-at-chicago-convention/ar-BB1ld4K9" target="_blank">party conventions</a>, it could spell real trouble.&nbsp;&nbsp;

So as the primaries near their conclusion, let’s see whether Biden and Trump take the necessary steps to unify their parties.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695215697316.png" alt="Dr. Mark Joslyn" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Mark Joslyn</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK R. JOSLYN Professor of Political Science University of KansasThe presidential primaries are unfolding quietly.&nbsp; Having&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2024-election/results/president/" target="_blank">clinched</a>&nbsp;their party nominations early, Biden and Trump have shifted focus toward the general election.&nbsp; &nbsp;Yet all is not well.&nbsp;From the start, a stubborn and sizeable percentage of Democrat and Republican primary voters have refused to endorse the front runners.&nbsp; Instead, they have voted for the alternatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The significance of these votes becomes clear in battleground states where lingering inter-party divisions could determine the general election outcome.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the two crucial swing states of Georgia and Wisconsin, nearly 15 percent of Republican primary voters supported Nikki Haley.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This&nbsp;after&nbsp;she had quit the race.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Prior to that, Haley won 43 percent in New Hampshire, 27 percent in Michigan, and defeated Trump in Vermont.Haley’s success was credited to open primaries where Independents and Democrats can participate.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;However, in Arizona’s closed primary Haley still captured nearly 18 percent.&nbsp; And in the Florida and&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;closed primaries, she locked up 14 and 16 percent, respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In four of the five most populous&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;counties, Haley’s percentages increased.&nbsp; She won 22 percent in Johnson, 18 percent in Sedgwick, 22 percent in Shawnee, and 26 percent in Douglas.Adding in “none of the names shown” category, the statewide anti-Trump&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;vote reached 21 percent or just over 20,000 GOP voters.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, a parallel trend is taking place among Democrats.&nbsp; &nbsp;Biden’s decision to skip New Hampshire and award South Carolina the first primary spot disappointed many Granite State voters.&nbsp; As a result, Dean Phillips secured nearly 20 percent of the vote.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;A few weeks later, over 100,000 Michigan Democrats casted uncommitted ballots protesting Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;In North Carolina the “no preference” option garnered nearly 90,000 votes.&nbsp; And in&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;the “none of the names shown” option came in second place at 10 percent.&nbsp; The tally included almost 15 percent in solidly blue Douglas County, and 8 percent in Johnson and Sedgwick counties.&nbsp; &nbsp;More recently, in pivotal swing state Wisconsin, 48,000 Democrats voted “<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wisconsin-uninstructed-vote-shows-democratic-frustration-with-joe-biden/ar-BB1l1P41" target="_blank">uninstructed</a>”, twice the goal of the grassroots group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wisconsin-uninstructed-vote-shows-democratic-frustration-with-joe-biden/ar-BB1l1P41" target="_blank">Listen to Wisconsin</a>&nbsp;that demanded policy changes over the war in Gaza.&nbsp; Another 17,000 voted for Phillips, who ended his campaign weeks before.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Clearly, thousands of Democrats and Republicans are using presidential primaries to express their dissatisfaction.&nbsp;Yet neither nominee appears eager to reach out to the disaffected.&nbsp; &nbsp;Trump remains steadfast in his unapologetic style that does not sit well with moderate Republicans but resonates with some Democrat leaning groups including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/11/04/new-republican-party-working-class-coalition-00122822" target="_blank">working-class whites</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/stories/analysis/will-blacks-vote-republican-a-political-science-perspective" target="_blank">Blacks</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/09/biden-approval-drops-democrat-popularity-rises-latino-voters" target="_blank">Latinos</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Biden campaign seems focused on capturing the Haley block, investing in ads that showcase Trump’s offensive comments directed at Haley.&nbsp; &nbsp;The reality is few disaffected primary voters will cross party lines.&nbsp; In matters of ideology and policy they are still closer to their party nominee than the opposition.&nbsp;However, it’s possible they stay home on election day or continue to protest by other means.&nbsp;If protests occur&nbsp; during the summer – possibility at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democratic-tensions-over-israel-threaten-to-boil-over-at-chicago-convention/ar-BB1ld4K9" target="_blank">party conventions</a>, it could spell real trouble.&nbsp;&nbsp;So as the primaries near their conclusion, let’s see whether Biden and Trump take the necessary steps to unify their parties.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2024 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

Insight Kansas — Protest votes signal troubles for Biden and Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/search?q=trump#nt=navsearch">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;faces the same charge for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-5572">Click here to listen</a> to the oral arguments

The justices heard arguments over the charge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-jan-6-obstruction-charges-challenge-2c6205622672c65a4ce81b2ba4c8303c">obstruction of an official proceeding</a>&nbsp;in the case of Joseph Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer who has been indicted for his role in disrupting Congress’ certification of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory</a>&nbsp;over Trump. Fischer is one of 330 people facing that charge, which stems from a law passed in the aftermath of the Enron financial scandal more than two decades ago.

It was not clear after more than 90 minutes of arguments precisely where the court would land, although conservative justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch appeared most likely to side with Fischer, while liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor seemed more favorable to the Justice Department's position.

The former president and presumptive nominee for the 2024 Republican nomination is facing two charges in a separate case brought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;in Washington that could be knocked out with a favorable ruling from the nation’s highest court. Next week, the justices will hear arguments over whether Trump has “absolute immunity” from prosecution in that case, a proposition that has so far been rejected by two lower courts.

Smith has argued separately in the immunity case that the obstruction charges against Trump are valid no matter how the court decides Fischer's case. The first former U.S. president under indictment, Trump is on trial on hush money charges in New York and also has been charged with election interference in Georgia and with mishandling classified documents in Florida.

On Tuesday, some of the conservative justices said the law was so broad that it could be used against even peaceful protests and also questioned why the Justice Department has not brought charges under the provision in other violent protests.

Gorsuch appeared to be drawing on actual events when he asked Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar whether people could be charged with obstructing an official proceeding if they rose in protest inside the courtroom, heckled the president at the State of the Union or pulled a fire alarm in the Capitol complex to delay a vote in Congress.

Alito, suggesting the government's reading of the law is too broad, asked whether the charge could be applied to people who disrupted the day's court session by shouting “Keep the January 6 insurrectionists in jail or ”Free the January 6 patriots."

He hastened to add, “What happened on Jan. 6 was very, very serious and I'm not equating this with that.”

The high court case focuses on whether the anti-obstruction provision of a law that was enacted in 2002 in response to the financial scandal that brought down Enron Corp. can be used against Jan. 6 defendants.

Lawyers for Fischer, the former North Cornwall Township police officer, argue that the provision was meant to close a loophole in criminal law and discourage the destruction of records in response to an investigation. Until the Capitol riot, lawyer Jeffrey Green told the court on Fischer's behalf, the provision “had never been used to prosecute anything other than evidence tampering.”

But Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, said the other side is reading the law too narrowly, arguing it serves as a “classic catchall” designed to deal with the obstruction of an official proceeding. She said Fischer joined a “violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol to prevent the peaceful transition of power.”

The obstruction charge is among the most widely used felony charges brought in the massive federal prosecution following the violent insurrection. It carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, but Prelogar said the average term imposed so far is about two years.

Roughly 170 Jan. 6 defendants have been convicted of obstructing or conspiring to obstruct the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, including the leaders of two far-right extremist groups, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. A number of defendants have had their sentencings delayed until after the justices rule on the matter.

Some rioters have even won early release from prison while the appeal is pending over concerns that they might end up serving longer than they should have if the Supreme Court rules against the Justice Department. They include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-delaware-prisons-6057e74630701e1f77cf84aacbb3caaf">Kevin Seefried, a Delaware man who threatened a Black police officer</a>&nbsp;with a pole attached to a Confederate battle flag as he stormed the Capitol. Seefried was sentenced last year to three years behind bars, but a judge recently ordered that he be released one year into his prison term while awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Most lower court judges who have weighed in have allowed the charge to stand. Among them, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, wrote that “statutes often reach beyond the principal evil that animated them.”

But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, another Trump appointee, dismissed the charge against Fischer and two other defendants, writing that prosecutors went too far. A divided panel of the federal appeals court in Washington reinstated the charge before the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case.

While it’s not important to the Supreme Court case, the two sides present starkly differing accounts of Fischer’s actions on Jan. 6. Fischer's lawyers say he “was not part of the mob” that forced lawmakers to flee the House and Senate chambers, noting that he entered the Capitol after Congress had recessed. The weight of the crowd pushed Fischer into a line of police inside, they said in a court filing.

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia are among 23 Republican members of Congress who say the administration's use of the obstruction charge “presents an intolerable risk of politicized prosecutions. Only a clear rebuke from this Court will stop the madness.”

The Justice Department says Fischer can be heard on a video yelling “Charge!” before he pushed through a crowd and “crashed into the police line.” Prosecutors also cite text messages Fischer sent before Jan. 6 saying things might turn violent and social media posts after the riot in which he wrote, “we pushed police back about 25 feet.”

More than 1,350 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Approximately 1,000 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury or judge after a trial.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday is taking up the first of two cases that could affect the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020. Hundreds of charges stemming from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Capitol riot</a>&nbsp;also are at stake.

The justices are hearing arguments over the charge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-jan-6-obstruction-charges-challenge-2c6205622672c65a4ce81b2ba4c8303c">obstruction of an official proceeding</a>. That charge, stemming from a law passed in the aftermath of the Enron financial scandal more than two decades ago, has been brought against 330 people, according to the Justice Department. The court will consider whether it can be used against those who disrupted Congress’ certification of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory</a>&nbsp;over Trump.

The former president and presumptive nominee for the 2024 Republican nomination is facing two charges in the case brought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;in Washington that could be knocked out with a favorable ruling from the nation's highest court. Next week, the justices will hear arguments over whether Trump has “absolute immunity” from prosecution in the case, a proposition that has so far been rejected by two lower courts.

The first former U.S. president under indictment, Trump is on trial on hush money charges in New York and also has been charged with election interference in Georgia and with mishandling classified documents in Florida.

In Tuesday's case, the court is hearing an appeal from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-pennsylvania-lebanon-elections-6d2ee8d62956fbefb167e0c079192d9b">Joseph Fischer</a>, a former Pennsylvania police officer who has been indicted on seven counts, including obstruction, for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">a mob of Trump supporters</a>&nbsp;stormed the Capitol in a bid to keep Biden, a Democrat, from taking the White House. Lawyers for Fischer argue that the charge doesn't cover his conduct.

The obstruction charge, which carries up to 20 years behind bars, is among the most widely used felony charges brought in the massive federal prosecution following the deadly insurrection.

Some rioters have even won early release from prison while the appeal is pending over concerns that they might end up serving longer than they should have if the Supreme Court rules against the Justice Department. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-delaware-prisons-6057e74630701e1f77cf84aacbb3caaf">Kevin Seefried, a Delaware man who threatened a Black police officer</a>&nbsp;with a pole attached to a Confederate battle flag as he stormed the Capitol. Seefried was sentenced last year to three years behind bars, but a judge recently ordered that he be released one year into his prison term while awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Fischer's lawyers argue that the provision was meant to close a loophole in criminal law and discourage the destruction of records in response to an investigation. Until the Capitol riot, they told the court, every criminal case using the provision had involved allegations of destroying or otherwise manipulating records.

But the administration says the other side is reading the law too narrowly, arguing it serves “as a catchall offense designed to ensure complete coverage of all forms of corrupt obstruction of an official proceeding,” including Fischer's “alleged conduct in joining a violent riot to disrupt the joint session of Congress certifying the presidential election results.”

Smith has argued separately in the immunity case that the obstruction charges against Trump are valid, no matter the outcome of Fischer's case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1614042711157.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/search?q=trump#nt=navsearch">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;faces the same charge for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-5572">Click here to listen</a> to the oral argumentsThe justices heard arguments over the charge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-jan-6-obstruction-charges-challenge-2c6205622672c65a4ce81b2ba4c8303c">obstruction of an official proceeding</a>&nbsp;in the case of Joseph Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer who has been indicted for his role in disrupting Congress’ certification of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory</a>&nbsp;over Trump. Fischer is one of 330 people facing that charge, which stems from a law passed in the aftermath of the Enron financial scandal more than two decades ago.It was not clear after more than 90 minutes of arguments precisely where the court would land, although conservative justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch appeared most likely to side with Fischer, while liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor seemed more favorable to the Justice Department's position.The former president and presumptive nominee for the 2024 Republican nomination is facing two charges in a separate case brought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;in Washington that could be knocked out with a favorable ruling from the nation’s highest court. Next week, the justices will hear arguments over whether Trump has “absolute immunity” from prosecution in that case, a proposition that has so far been rejected by two lower courts.Smith has argued separately in the immunity case that the obstruction charges against Trump are valid no matter how the court decides Fischer's case. The first former U.S. president under indictment, Trump is on trial on hush money charges in New York and also has been charged with election interference in Georgia and with mishandling classified documents in Florida.On Tuesday, some of the conservative justices said the law was so broad that it could be used against even peaceful protests and also questioned why the Justice Department has not brought charges under the provision in other violent protests.Gorsuch appeared to be drawing on actual events when he asked Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar whether people could be charged with obstructing an official proceeding if they rose in protest inside the courtroom, heckled the president at the State of the Union or pulled a fire alarm in the Capitol complex to delay a vote in Congress.Alito, suggesting the government's reading of the law is too broad, asked whether the charge could be applied to people who disrupted the day's court session by shouting “Keep the January 6 insurrectionists in jail or ”Free the January 6 patriots."He hastened to add, “What happened on Jan. 6 was very, very serious and I'm not equating this with that.”The high court case focuses on whether the anti-obstruction provision of a law that was enacted in 2002 in response to the financial scandal that brought down Enron Corp. can be used against Jan. 6 defendants.Lawyers for Fischer, the former North Cornwall Township police officer, argue that the provision was meant to close a loophole in criminal law and discourage the destruction of records in response to an investigation. Until the Capitol riot, lawyer Jeffrey Green told the court on Fischer's behalf, the provision “had never been used to prosecute anything other than evidence tampering.”But Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, said the other side is reading the law too narrowly, arguing it serves as a “classic catchall” designed to deal with the obstruction of an official proceeding. She said Fischer joined a “violent mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol to prevent the peaceful transition of power.”The obstruction charge is among the most widely used felony charges brought in the massive federal prosecution following the violent insurrection. It carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, but Prelogar said the average term imposed so far is about two years.Roughly 170 Jan. 6 defendants have been convicted of obstructing or conspiring to obstruct the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, including the leaders of two far-right extremist groups, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. A number of defendants have had their sentencings delayed until after the justices rule on the matter.Some rioters have even won early release from prison while the appeal is pending over concerns that they might end up serving longer than they should have if the Supreme Court rules against the Justice Department. They include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-delaware-prisons-6057e74630701e1f77cf84aacbb3caaf">Kevin Seefried, a Delaware man who threatened a Black police officer</a>&nbsp;with a pole attached to a Confederate battle flag as he stormed the Capitol. Seefried was sentenced last year to three years behind bars, but a judge recently ordered that he be released one year into his prison term while awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling.Most lower court judges who have weighed in have allowed the charge to stand. Among them, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, wrote that “statutes often reach beyond the principal evil that animated them.”But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, another Trump appointee, dismissed the charge against Fischer and two other defendants, writing that prosecutors went too far. A divided panel of the federal appeals court in Washington reinstated the charge before the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case.While it’s not important to the Supreme Court case, the two sides present starkly differing accounts of Fischer’s actions on Jan. 6. Fischer's lawyers say he “was not part of the mob” that forced lawmakers to flee the House and Senate chambers, noting that he entered the Capitol after Congress had recessed. The weight of the crowd pushed Fischer into a line of police inside, they said in a court filing.Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia are among 23 Republican members of Congress who say the administration's use of the obstruction charge “presents an intolerable risk of politicized prosecutions. Only a clear rebuke from this Court will stop the madness.”The Justice Department says Fischer can be heard on a video yelling “Charge!” before he pushed through a crowd and “crashed into the police line.” Prosecutors also cite text messages Fischer sent before Jan. 6 saying things might turn violent and social media posts after the riot in which he wrote, “we pushed police back about 25 feet.”More than 1,350 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Approximately 1,000 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury or judge after a trial.-----------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday is taking up the first of two cases that could affect the criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020. Hundreds of charges stemming from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">Capitol riot</a>&nbsp;also are at stake.The justices are hearing arguments over the charge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-jan-6-obstruction-charges-challenge-2c6205622672c65a4ce81b2ba4c8303c">obstruction of an official proceeding</a>. That charge, stemming from a law passed in the aftermath of the Enron financial scandal more than two decades ago, has been brought against 330 people, according to the Justice Department. The court will consider whether it can be used against those who disrupted Congress’ certification of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory</a>&nbsp;over Trump.The former president and presumptive nominee for the 2024 Republican nomination is facing two charges in the case brought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;in Washington that could be knocked out with a favorable ruling from the nation's highest court. Next week, the justices will hear arguments over whether Trump has “absolute immunity” from prosecution in the case, a proposition that has so far been rejected by two lower courts.The first former U.S. president under indictment, Trump is on trial on hush money charges in New York and also has been charged with election interference in Georgia and with mishandling classified documents in Florida.In Tuesday's case, the court is hearing an appeal from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-pennsylvania-lebanon-elections-6d2ee8d62956fbefb167e0c079192d9b">Joseph Fischer</a>, a former Pennsylvania police officer who has been indicted on seven counts, including obstruction, for his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">a mob of Trump supporters</a>&nbsp;stormed the Capitol in a bid to keep Biden, a Democrat, from taking the White House. Lawyers for Fischer argue that the charge doesn't cover his conduct.The obstruction charge, which carries up to 20 years behind bars, is among the most widely used felony charges brought in the massive federal prosecution following the deadly insurrection.Roughly 170 Jan. 6 defendants have been convicted of obstructing or conspiring to obstruct the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, including the leaders of two far-right extremist groups, the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. A number of defendants have had their sentencings delayed until after the justices rule on the matter.Some rioters have even won early release from prison while the appeal is pending over concerns that they might end up serving longer than they should have if the Supreme Court rules against the Justice Department. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-delaware-prisons-6057e74630701e1f77cf84aacbb3caaf">Kevin Seefried, a Delaware man who threatened a Black police officer</a>&nbsp;with a pole attached to a Confederate battle flag as he stormed the Capitol. Seefried was sentenced last year to three years behind bars, but a judge recently ordered that he be released one year into his prison term while awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling.The high court case focuses on whether the anti-obstruction provision of a law that was enacted in 2002 in response to the financial scandal that brought down Enron Corp. can be used against Jan. 6 defendants.Fischer's lawyers argue that the provision was meant to close a loophole in criminal law and discourage the destruction of records in response to an investigation. Until the Capitol riot, they told the court, every criminal case using the provision had involved allegations of destroying or otherwise manipulating records.But the administration says the other side is reading the law too narrowly, arguing it serves “as a catchall offense designed to ensure complete coverage of all forms of corrupt obstruction of an official proceeding,” including Fischer's “alleged conduct in joining a violent riot to disrupt the joint session of Congress certifying the presidential election results.”Smith has argued separately in the immunity case that the obstruction charges against Trump are valid, no matter the outcome of Fischer's case.Most lower court judges who have weighed in have allowed the charge to stand. Among them, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, a Trump appointee, wrote that “statutes often reach beyond the principal evil that animated them.”But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, another Trump appointee, dismissed the charge against Fischer and two other defendants, writing that prosecutors went too far. A divided panel of the federal appeals court in Washington reinstated the charge before the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case.While it’s not important to the Supreme Court case, the two sides present starkly differing accounts of Fischer’s actions on Jan. 6. Fischer's lawyers say he “was not part of the mob” that forced lawmakers to flee the House and Senate chambers, noting that he entered the Capitol after Congress had recessed. The weight of the crowd pushed Fischer into a line of police inside, they said in a court filing.Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia are among 23 Republican members of Congress who say the administration's use of the obstruction charge “presents an intolerable risk of politicized prosecutions. Only a clear rebuke from this Court will stop the madness.”The Justice Department says Fischer can be heard on a video yelling “Charge!” before he pushed through a crowd and “crashed into the police line.” Prosecutors also cite text messages Fischer sent before Jan. 6 saying things might turn violent and social media posts after the riot in which he wrote, “we pushed police back about 25 feet.”More than 1,350 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Approximately 1,000 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury or judge after a trial.

🎧 Supreme Court divided over Jan. 6 charges; implications for Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Monday, Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SroEGRZ70A" target="_blank">called</a>&nbsp;on Congress to pass a comprehensive, five-year farm bill. For the twenty fifth&nbsp;time on the House Floor, Rep. Mann stressed the importance of passing a farm bill that is long enough to provide certainty to agricultural producers and short enough to respond to market changes.

“In the almost five and a half years since the last farm bill was signed into law, the world has drastically changed,”&nbsp;said Rep. Mann.&nbsp;“Since 2018, we have experienced a global pandemic, watched in horror as a war unfolded between Russia and Ukraine, and now Israel and Hamas, and witnessed President Biden’s failed trade agenda cause market fluctuation that no one could have imagined. The livelihoods of American producers and consumers are on the line right now, and that means our food security and national security are on the line too. American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers need certainty like never before – and Congress must deliver for them with a five-year farm bill.”

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Mann has&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://mann.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mann-pushes-five-year-farm-bill">continued</a>&nbsp;to advocate for Kansas farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers during the farm bill reauthorization process. Some of Rep. Mann’s priorities include:

In May 2023, Rep. Mann hosted&nbsp;<a href="https://mann.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mann-hosts-kansas-food-agriculture-listening-session-house-agriculture" target="_blank">a Farm Bill listening session</a>&nbsp;in Gypsum, KS with U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15) to hear from Kansas&nbsp;farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and agricultural leaders about their desires for the next farm bill.&nbsp;

The Big First is home to 60,000 farms and ranches and is the third-largest agriculture production district in the country. Representative Mann proudly serves on the House Agriculture Committee, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, and on the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development, and the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713283946373.jpeg" alt="Tracey Mann Farm Bill April 15, 2024" />
 <figcaption>Tracey Mann Farm Bill April 15, 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Congressman Tracey MannWASHINGTON, D.C. — Monday, Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SroEGRZ70A" target="_blank">called</a>&nbsp;on Congress to pass a comprehensive, five-year farm bill. For the twenty fifth&nbsp;time on the House Floor, Rep. Mann stressed the importance of passing a farm bill that is long enough to provide certainty to agricultural producers and short enough to respond to market changes.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1SroEGRZ70A?si=VAYKXhWDCZAdJnA3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“In the almost five and a half years since the last farm bill was signed into law, the world has drastically changed,”&nbsp;said Rep. Mann.&nbsp;“Since 2018, we have experienced a global pandemic, watched in horror as a war unfolded between Russia and Ukraine, and now Israel and Hamas, and witnessed President Biden’s failed trade agenda cause market fluctuation that no one could have imagined. The livelihoods of American producers and consumers are on the line right now, and that means our food security and national security are on the line too. American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers need certainty like never before – and Congress must deliver for them with a five-year farm bill.”As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Mann has&nbsp;<a href="mailto:https://mann.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mann-pushes-five-year-farm-bill">continued</a>&nbsp;to advocate for Kansas farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers during the farm bill reauthorization process. Some of Rep. Mann’s priorities include:<ul>
 <li>Protecting and strengthening crop insurance</li><li>Incentivizing agricultural trade programs that help America remain competitive and secure</li><li>Conducting rigorous oversight and rolling back overly restrictive regulations</li>
 </ul>In May 2023, Rep. Mann hosted&nbsp;<a href="https://mann.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mann-hosts-kansas-food-agriculture-listening-session-house-agriculture" target="_blank">a Farm Bill listening session</a>&nbsp;in Gypsum, KS with U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15) to hear from Kansas&nbsp;farmers, ranchers, agricultural producers, and agricultural leaders about their desires for the next farm bill.&nbsp;The Big First is home to 60,000 farms and ranches and is the third-largest agriculture production district in the country. Representative Mann proudly serves on the House Agriculture Committee, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, and on the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development, and the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

🎥 WATCH: Mann advocates for five-year farm bill

OPENING STATEMENT:&nbsp;“Welcome back, we’re glad to be getting Phase One underway, we’re going to do it very similar to how we’ve done it the last few years…which several of them are down with Patrick (Mahomes) in Texas. It gives the guys a little more time away from here, but at the same time getting some of their offseason evaluation work done and the opportunity to move forward into this next season. As far as Rashee Rice goes, his situation, I’m leaving that like we’ve done for most of these, just for the law enforcement part of it to take place, then we will go from there with that. I have had an opportunity to talk to Rashee (Rice) and I’m obviously not going to get into that. That part has been gone through. Anyways, really with that, time’s yours here.”

Q: Besides (Former Outside Linebackers coach) Ken Flajole retiring, are there any other changes to your coaching staff?

REID:&nbsp;“That’s a good point. (Former Outside Linebackers coach) Ken Flajole did retire. We were able to move (Outside Linebackers Coach) Rod Wilson into that position, (Defensive Quality Control Coach) Alex Whittingham likewise will have a little bit of a bigger role from his position and we hired Louie Addazio at (the) Quality Control position on defense. Louie has a bunch of experience coaching. He also has been an offensive coach, a line coach and at the major college level and he’ll give us some good productive information for the defense going forward so that we’re able to add good quality to the mix there.”

Q: What is Rashee Rice’s status during the offseason program?

REID:&nbsp;“There’s no real participation other than probably Zoom so he’ll (Rashee Rice) participate in that but other than that we don’t have anything going on here that he would be involved with. To answer your question, he’s participating in Zoom. Just a reminder on this, it’s voluntary as we go forward, that’s another part of this.”

Q: Do you anticipate him being there on-site when the next phase takes place?

REID:&nbsp;“We’re just going to take it day by day here as we go.”

Q: What did you like about Irv Smith and Hollywood Brown and what role do you think they’ll have on the team?

REID:&nbsp;“Hollywood Brown is a good speed receiver, he can play inside or outside and I stay away from saying a deep threat although he can do that, he can play within the offense and do all of the different routes that we asked. He’s a nice addition and he has some experience and production. Irv (Smith) is a tight end and kind of does everything pretty good. He’s a good solid football player, he’s a good receiver, good after the catch, good blocker, not necessarily the biggest guy but really plays a good physical game and I kind of like what he’s shown in the past. I think it’s important for both of these guys that they’re able to keep themselves healthy and rolling and that’ll be a part of it as we go forward here.”

Q: You’ve stated that this stage is more beneficial for the offense. What does the defense get out of Phase One of the offseason program?

REID:&nbsp;“On the being more productive on the offense – because they can actually go out and throw the ball around and do that part of it. Defensively, it’s hard to set up an offense and have an offense do whatever they do against you. I think this Phase One favors the offense in a way but at the same time, we go through this whole scheme evaluation in the offseason offensively, defensively and special teams and that’s where you benefit with being able to just do that on Zoom or likewise in person. On Zoom, you can get everything done that you need to do there with the video and/or new things that you may want to slip in there.”

Q: What was your message to Kadarius Toney in your exit interview and what will you be looking for from him during the season?

REID:&nbsp;“Kadarius (Toney) is arguably one of the most talented guys we have on the team. It’s just a matter of staying healthy and being able to stay on the field. You always hear about the reliability, accountability, all of those things that go into it so I’m expecting him to come back ripping and ready to go. It’s great that’s he’s down there working with Pat (Mahomes) and putting the work in so that’s a positive. Listen, we like Kadarius it’s just a matter of having him on the field.”

Q: What benefits have you seen from the offseason training that Patrick holds down in Texas?

REID:&nbsp;“A couple things, coming off of a 21 game season, it’s a short offseason as you guys know. It gives the guys an opportunity to stay away from here (and) maybe a little bit more relaxed atmosphere but at the same time get a ton of work done. Also, there’s a little comradery that goes with it which is important on the offensive side that the guys work and play together and kind of are on the same side. It gives Pat (Mahomes) an opportunity along with the quarterbacks to be able to kind of talk to the guys about what they see and at a little bit slowed down pace. It’s been effective for us, the guys have come back in great shape and come back knowing what their responsibilities are. At the same time, they’re getting that influx of new and our scheme evaluation from last year thrown at them by the coaches.”

Q: Can you explain the process on whether or not Rashee Rice will be able to participate in the next phase of offseason training?

REID:&nbsp;“We’ll just see how it goes, I want to keep gathering any information from the law enforcement people and we’ll just see where everything goes from there. Let the process take place.”

Q: On Louis Rees-Zammit transitioning to football.

REID:&nbsp;“He (Louis Rees-Zammit) was introduced to this when he was young because his dad played six years in the European League (English Football League) and so he’s somewhat familiar with the sport. He sure has had a lot of success with rugby and there are some similarities there, it’s a contact sport, he’s had to catch the ball and do those things and run with the ball. We’ll start him off at the running back position, get him to feel comfortable with that going forward here. He’s had an opportunity to also go down there to Dallas and work with Pat (Mahomes) and so again, he’ll get used to some of these calls and through our Zooms, the plays and then we’ll just see where it goes from there. (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Dave (Toub) will have an opportunity to have him on special teams and see where that goes. That’s not an easy transition but he seems to be wired…. he’s been playing competitive rugby professionally since he was 17 years old. He’s sitting there at 23 years old, he’s had a pretty good career with that and kind of understands the professional game and the mindset of playing at a professional level.”

Q: Do you see Louis Rees-Zammit being a return specialist?

REID:&nbsp;“Potentially. We just have to see how it goes here. You know how (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator) Dave (Toub) puts them all out there, they’re all out there working on returns before and during practice. We’ll just see what his feel is and where that goes.”

Q: Do you think there’s too much emphasis on first-round draft picks?

REID:&nbsp;“I’m not sure that I’ve seen as many mock drafts going on as there are right now. It’s an amazing amount of mock drafts out there. I got to give the guys credit, they’re all a little different, some guys are on to their third first-round mock draft doing that. (General Manager) Brett’s (Veach) had this whole thing up and does a nice job of making sure he’s got all the rounds covered. There is a tremendous amount of input that goes into this first-round pick. However, there’s like a 50% success rate over a period for these first-round picks, it’s a bit crazy for all the time that’s spent doing them. You’ve got to make sure you cover the other parts of the draft and you’re right, all the way to the point where your college free agents almost become your second highest percentage that make it on these teams over a five-year span so you’ve really got to stay intact with the whole board. How you layer the board is so important and stack it ends up being so important and that order can be – I mean you’re one guy off, that can be your Pro Bowl player just by one guy. Brett spends so much time with the scouts and going in there and bashing it out. I call it the ‘Lock Down,’ he locks them in there for two-week periods and they just beat it up in there and make sure that board is layered there, it’s a tribute to his dedication on that thing.”

Q: Due to the situation with Rashee Rice does your need at the wide receiver position increase? Are you looking for a veteran left tackle too?

REID:&nbsp;“Those are two positions that we are looking at, but I mean (General Manager) Brett (Veach) is looking at all of them. You’re sitting at pick 32 so it’s tough to tell you what’s going to take place there. It’s a great thing on one hand to be 32nd&nbsp;because you’ve done ok on the season before but that’s a long wait and you better really stay true to the board, what’s there and take the best player you possibly can at that spot. I’d tell you those two positions he’s looking at but he’s also going through everything so we’ve got spots and depth that we can use really everywhere and we’ll just see with the whole Rashee (Rice) thing how that goes. When it’s all said and done, we should have players in there ready to go.”

Q:&nbsp;Are you finding more value as we are approaching the 2024 Draft with what you have done in free agency? Are you finding more value in this upcoming draft than some of the free agents still available?

REID:&nbsp;“We feel comfortable with what we’ve done there with the free agency piece. (General Manager) Brett’s (Veach) always keeping his eyes open on that. (He) does a great job in that area. I would tell you this part, the ability that we’ve had to bring guys back here (and) the quality of the guys that we brought back here I think is a real tribute to Chris Shea in his new position now and his guys and then (General Manager) Brett (Veach) for going out and getting them. We always thank (Chairman &amp; CEO) Clark Hunt for this because it comes out of his wallet and he’s been – like I always mention, he gives us an opportunity to win in that area. So, Chris Jones, let’s not slight that one. That’s a pretty big one and (Mike) Danna is big in the same position there, (Derrick) Nnadi coming back. That strength up front, I think it all starts there and becomes very important for us as we go forward there.”

REID:&nbsp;“Well, yeah, listen, as long as he’s learned from it, that’s the important part of it. We’ll take it from there and see what takes place. Right now, we’re just kind of gathering everything and trying to make sure we have all the bases covered.”

Q:&nbsp;Can you give a breakdown of how you run your offseason training down in Texas?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It’s kind of collaborative with the coaches and then with me and the players. In the morning, we get a workout in, just kind of get guys moving. There’s therapy there so guys can get whatever warmup they need to do if they don’t want to get an actual full workout and they (just) want to get some work in to get themselves ready to run routes. Then we get the routes in and right after that – it’s like two to three times a week depending on week and the plan with the coaches. Then we meet with the coaches at 12 o’ clock, so it’s pretty good, you kind of get everybody in and out before 2 o’ clock whenever the meetings end but it gets good work in.”

Q: Have you been throwing with Rashee this offseason?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“Yeah, I’ve worked with Rashee (Rice) throughout the offseason just in general, so I’m sure we’ll continue that work as the legal process plays out.”

Q: What benefit have you seen from this offseason camp that you have been doing the past couple years?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I wouldn’t say that it’s too much different than being up at the facility, but at the same time just with the guys hearing it from me because you get the workouts in before the meetings, hearing how I explain things, how I explain the routes, what I’m thinking and then getting to go into the meeting room and hear the coaches and how they explain the stuff and how do we blend that together. I think it’s just that good one on one interaction with me. Sometimes, especially this time of the year, those lines get long with a lot of receivers, lot of tight ends, lot of running backs whatever it is. To be able to explain my thought process one on one, I think it gives guys a good intro into what the coaches are thinking and the coaches can really detail the details.”

Q: What has stood out about WR Hollywood Brown?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“With Hollywood (Brown), I think you obviously see the speed, you see the speed instantly. What I’ve liked so far is how hard he works, he’s been at the workouts, been at the route running and he wants more. He wants to continue to push himself more and more, and I think he has a hell of a great role in this offense the way he’s able to run routes, the way he’s able to stretch the field. I think he’ll be even different than you’ve seen him before because I think we can utilize him in different ways (than) I think he’s been utilized in yet.”

Q: What did you think about seeing Messi play on Saturday?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“As far as (Inter Miami CF Forward Lionel) Messi, I mean it’s awesome to see the guy at the top of the top in any league in the entire world, and I mean you saw the certain spots that he had where he wasn’t marked, or he wasn’t free where he got free. I mean he made stuff happen with the pass that he made, the division that had. Then the goal that he scored, it shows you what it is like when you have the top of the top playing in any profession.”

Q: What role do you see Hollywood Brown playing this season?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think everybody has seen his speed and the way he’s able to track a football down the field which we’ll obviously use, that’s something that’s huge and we need to continue to get better and better at this offense. I think the route running is what I’ve been pleasantly surprised by. Just the way he’s able to get in and out of his cuts, he has a good feel for space and like I said he wants to learn more and more, so I think as he gets within our offense and learns how with the freedom you have and the route running and your ability to find space I think we can utilize that over the middle of the field. I know he’s done that in the past but I think we utilize it at an even higher load so I think it’ll be something that we can really emphasize in our offense.”

Q: How do your training sessions in Texas help you?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think what helps me the most is that I get to hear what they are thinking, and when they’re really going. I think sometimes when the coaches are around they want to do exactly what the coach says which is the right thinking but whenever I can hear what they’re thinking whenever they’re running their route it helps me know where they’re going to be at and what their timing is going to be and that’s something that I try to do during the year but there’s kind of a lot of things that you’re worried about during the season or trying to do just how the coaches say. When I can hear them and we talk it through and we hear from the coaches, we can all be on the same page.”

Q: What do you enjoy most about starting anew each season and what do you find most difficult having a shorter offseason?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think what I find most enjoyable is building those relationships with the guys. Every single team is different and just getting the guys down here and seeing them outside the building, trying to do different things, trying to get dinner or whatever it is, you get to meet the guy. I think that’s what brings a team closer together, so that’s something that I enjoy most about this part of the year. At the same time, you win the Super Bowl, and it’s awesome but it makes the offseason shorter so trying to make sure I get time to myself and my family, that’s something that is important to me and so I still intertwine that with keeping my body in the right shape so that I can go out there and try to get the three-peat.”

Q: Now that you guys have won your second-straight Super Bowl, how much do you discuss a three-peat?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It was something that was discussed more after we won the second one. Now that we’re kind of back and starting back from the beginning, that’s how you have to start, you have to start from the beginning, you have to go back to your fundamentals. I’ll be going over fronts and stuff today, stuff that might get a little tedious and stuff that I need to know. The coaches will get a laugh out of it because they know that it kind of irritates me sometimes. That’s how it is, you have to go back to the beginning, go back to your elementary school and learn from the beginning and I think that’s something that has kind of gotten us to where we’re at is that you can’t be satisfied at where we’re at, you have to learn and pick up one little different thing that you didn’t know the year before. That’s something that I will continue to work on throughout this offseason and prepare myself and then once we get to the season, we’ll try to make that run at it but it’s going to take a day-in, day-out type of mentality.”

Q: Have you shared your thoughts on this year’s draft picks with General Manager Brett Veach yet?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I’ve looked at some of the stuff. It’s cool that (General Manager Brett) Veach and (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid kind of let me in on all of the conversations that they have about players and I like that stuff. I like watching film and watching other guys from college and stuff like that. At the end of the day, we have the greatest of the greatest as far as GMs and head coach and the staffs that they build so I know they’re going to get great players in here and I’ll give my input but I trust that they’re going to do the work to get the great players in. You’ve seen our team, it seems like we get younger and younger every single year and that comes from drafting.”

Q: On running a play in the Super Bowl that the team hasn’t run since training camp.

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“It was really cool. That was something that we had worked on in training camp, we talked about it in years in the past about some of the blitz looks that the teams have shown us of getting to that check. We worked on it in training camp and of course all year long we just never got the look that we wanted. Then you get to the Super Bowl, a third down, a huge moment in the game and of course you get the exact look you’re thinking about. We probably ran it in practice maybe once every week or once every other week to kind of prepare ourselves. It speaks to the guys, I mean not only me of getting to the check but the guys, the offensive line knowing how to block and leave the right guy free, Jerick McKinnon being able to bluff the guy where we had the cross protection most of the game, he bluffs a guy and gets loose, then the receivers making the block out in space. You never know, it’s one of those plays that anybody can be in, it’s kind of a check at the line of scrimmage and so everybody was ready for the moment. That comes with, like I said, the tedious fundamentals from day one. We do this stuff to prepare ourselves for the Super Bowl but you have to do it on a day-in process.”

Q: What stood out about the other new guys who have been working out in Texas with you?

MAHOMES:&nbsp;“I think what stood out is how hard the guys want to work. I think that’s always great; I say it and people take it for granted but you have to have guys that want it. I mean this is offseason, this time you can be anywhere in the world, spending it on vacation. These guys came in – I’m in my hometown, I’m in my house so it’s easy for me to go workout and throw but these guys are in hotels or AirBnBs and they’re down here getting work in and they want to be great and that’s awesome. Guys like Nikko (Remigio), Anthony Miller and Louis (Rees-Zammit), they’ve all done a great job of getting in here and learning from the guys in front of them, guys that have been here. I always enjoy guys like Skyy (Moore) and Kadarius (Toney), guys that are teaching too at the same time. I think it’s a healthy competition, that’s what you want on any team, and I think we have a great team for it. I’m excited to see these guys continue to evolve in this offense and get them on the field.”

Q: What do you think the linebacker room will look like with the changes that have been made?

BOLTON:&nbsp;“I think it’s going to be a lot different. We’re definitely going to miss (Saints LB) Willie (Gay), his energy that he brought to the locker room, especially to the LB room on a day-to-day basis. Drue (Tranquill) played phenomenal for us. I think he adds a little bit (of a) different flavor to our defense. He’s a smart guy, intelligent, finds the ball (and) on all intents where you need to be great in this league, he has it, so I’m going for him and I’m excited for the projections we have in the linebacker room. We have Leo (Chenal) as well, got a lot of young guys in there and we’re just staying in our roles, trying to get one percent better every single day and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Q: You’re eligible for an extension soon, have there been any discussions about that and would you be interested in staying?

BOLTON:&nbsp;“I’ve been in the state of Missouri going on seven years now, so it definitely feels like home. Fans, the community, open arms since I got here as an 18-year-old. Staying here would be a blessing, would be a dream come true if we could get that done in the foreseeable future, but I’m just trying to put my best foot forward and have our defense pick up where we left off last year and not regress. Just trying to get better than we were last year and it starts in two weeks from now.”

Q:&nbsp;How will you handle Phase One of the offseason program since it’s online and what has your offseason looked like?

BOLTON: “First off, I’m out in Arizona, I’m enjoying this heat a little bit. In terms of – I’m just managing my energy, just trying to make sure to stay ahead of stuff. I finished out the end of the season healthy, everything looked good going into the offseason. Now it’s just trying to get comfortable, get things as strong as they were (before), get compression on my hand, my wrist, getting everything even on both sides because I haven’t been lifting on my left hand for a little bit. Just working on those things, (Assistant Athletic Trainer) Julie (Frymyer) has done a hell of a job with a plan for me while I’ve been away from Kansas City and when I get back there, I’m going to be back working with her again. Our training staff does a great job of getting us prepared, giving us a plan, giving us options of things that we can do to make this a little better so I’m just trying to take advantage of that.”

Chiefs Quotes: 4-15-24

Submitted Lori Blake, Assaria, filed to run for the 69th seat in the Kansas House of Representatives on Friday, April 12. Blake is a lifetime resident of Saline County, serving most recently as the Executive Director at CAPS - Child Advocacy and Parenting Services.

According to Blake she is seeking this role to give voters a candidate who seeks solutions working with lawmakers across the aisle for lasting change felt by our neighbors.

Blake has built a career collaborating with community leaders as an advocate for&nbsp;all children and families.&nbsp;

“Over three decades as a small business owner and administrator in public education, disability supports and child abuse prevention, I have learned families are the foundation for society. When they thrive, we all do, but that’s not currently what’s happening. Many families are in survival mode.” Blake said.&nbsp;

During her three terms on the USD 306 School Board, she rose to be elected as the President of the Kansas Association of School Boards and is known as a public education advocate across the state. “We’ve made great gains in stabilizing the funding for public education and growing a rainy day fund, but our legislators have forgotten their duty. The legislature’s job is to fund the work, not continue passing policy that should be decided by our locally elected school board members and city and county commissioners who know our community values and needs,” Blake said.

Blake said she is also concerned about the loss of respect for public servants like our teachers, medical providers, and law enforcement officers; lack of universal access to quality health care; and government intrusion into an individual’s private life.

“I chose to stay and make a life in Central Kansas. My husband and I have raised three children here. I love this place and want to do all I can to leave it better than I found it. I hope the existing relationships I’ve had&nbsp;in&nbsp;my career and volunteer service will give me a head start to lift local issues,” Blake said.

After 10 years of being an unaffiliated registered voter, Blake filed as a Democrat.&nbsp;She wants to represent Saline County and create opportunities for unity instead of extreme division. She says her values, like most Kansans, live in the middle of the typical political spectrum.&nbsp; Blake says that she loves making connections with new people and working together. To demonstrate the importance of bipartisanship, she sought out John Quinley, a Republican from Salina, to serve as her Treasurer.&nbsp;

“The different experiences across humanity present challenges, but when we can listen and focus on the issue at hand, the group mind prevails with solutions that are often mutually beneficial. Just like sending my kids to Salina Area Technical College, KU and K-State, we have different options to meet different needs. What’s good for Kansans is good for&nbsp;Kansas,” Blake said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713181391094.jpeg" alt="Lori Blake candidate for 69th Kansas House District. Photo Courtesy Lori Blake&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lori Blake candidate for 69th Kansas House District. Photo Courtesy Lori Blake&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Submitted Lori Blake, Assaria, filed to run for the 69th seat in the Kansas House of Representatives on Friday, April 12. Blake is a lifetime resident of Saline County, serving most recently as the Executive Director at CAPS - Child Advocacy and Parenting Services. According to Blake she is seeking this role to give voters a candidate who seeks solutions working with lawmakers across the aisle for lasting change felt by our neighbors.Blake has built a career collaborating with community leaders as an advocate for&nbsp;all children and families.&nbsp;“Over three decades as a small business owner and administrator in public education, disability supports and child abuse prevention, I have learned families are the foundation for society. When they thrive, we all do, but that’s not currently what’s happening. Many families are in survival mode.” Blake said.&nbsp;During her three terms on the USD 306 School Board, she rose to be elected as the President of the Kansas Association of School Boards and is known as a public education advocate across the state. “We’ve made great gains in stabilizing the funding for public education and growing a rainy day fund, but our legislators have forgotten their duty. The legislature’s job is to fund the work, not continue passing policy that should be decided by our locally elected school board members and city and county commissioners who know our community values and needs,” Blake said.Blake said she is also concerned about the loss of respect for public servants like our teachers, medical providers, and law enforcement officers; lack of universal access to quality health care; and government intrusion into an individual’s private life.“I chose to stay and make a life in Central Kansas. My husband and I have raised three children here. I love this place and want to do all I can to leave it better than I found it. I hope the existing relationships I’ve had&nbsp;in&nbsp;my career and volunteer service will give me a head start to lift local issues,” Blake said.After 10 years of being an unaffiliated registered voter, Blake filed as a Democrat.&nbsp;She wants to represent Saline County and create opportunities for unity instead of extreme division. She says her values, like most Kansans, live in the middle of the typical political spectrum.&nbsp; Blake says that she loves making connections with new people and working together. To demonstrate the importance of bipartisanship, she sought out John Quinley, a Republican from Salina, to serve as her Treasurer.&nbsp;“The different experiences across humanity present challenges, but when we can listen and focus on the issue at hand, the group mind prevails with solutions that are often mutually beneficial. Just like sending my kids to Salina Area Technical College, KU and K-State, we have different options to meet different needs. What’s good for Kansans is good for&nbsp;Kansas,” Blake said.

Lori Blake announces her candidacy for the 69th seat in the Kansas House

With just 63 days left before the 48th <a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/first-time/">Smoky Hill River Festival</a> kicks off, Salina Arts &amp; Humanities announced Thursday, April 11, details for the epic arts festival, scheduled for June 13-16 in Oakdale Park.&nbsp;

The festival includes many <a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/food/">new food offerings</a>, activities for kids, new roving and mainstage entertainers, <a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/art-installations/">new art installations</a>, and new artists selling their work in the art show.

"For the last 14 months, our staff and committees have been working tirelessly to prepare for the 48th annual epic arts party," said Salina Arts and Humanities Operations and Developement Manager Anna Pauscher-Morawitz . "As of 8 a.m. this morning, our website <a href="http://riverfestival.com">riverfestival.com</a> is updated with entertainers, visual artists, food, and other details of the event. Keep your eyes out for a few additions as we get a little bit closer to June."

The Festival Medallion Quest will kick off at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, on the front steps of the Smoky Hill Museum. Arts and Humanities Commissioners will reveal the first clue for the $3,000 prize package. Twice daily, clues will be released at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. until the Medallion is found.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712866248327.jpeg" alt="Smoky Hill River Festival. All images unless otherwise stated courtesy of Salina Arts and Humanities.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Smoky Hill River Festival. All images unless otherwise stated courtesy of Salina Arts and Humanities.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EvQ16hoYu5E?si=8L4qV40vhc7MIsvz" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>By SALINA POSTWith just 63 days left before the 48th <a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/first-time/">Smoky Hill River Festival</a> kicks off, Salina Arts &amp; Humanities announced Thursday, April 11, details for the epic arts festival, scheduled for June 13-16 in Oakdale Park.&nbsp;The festival includes many <a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/food/">new food offerings</a>, activities for kids, new roving and mainstage entertainers, <a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/art-installations/">new art installations</a>, and new artists selling their work in the art show."For the last 14 months, our staff and committees have been working tirelessly to prepare for the 48th annual epic arts party," said Salina Arts and Humanities Operations and Developement Manager Anna Pauscher-Morawitz . "As of 8 a.m. this morning, our website <a href="http://riverfestival.com">riverfestival.com</a> is updated with entertainers, visual artists, food, and other details of the event. Keep your eyes out for a few additions as we get a little bit closer to June."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712867395037.jpeg" alt="Salina Arts and Humanities Operations and Developement Manager, Anna Pauscher-Morawitz addresses attendees at the press conference announcing details of the 48th Smoky Hill River Festival. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Salina Arts and Humanities Operations and Developement Manager, Anna Pauscher-Morawitz addresses attendees at the press conference announcing details of the 48th Smoky Hill River Festival. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Medallion Quest</h2>The Festival Medallion Quest will kick off at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, on the front steps of the Smoky Hill Museum. Arts and Humanities Commissioners will reveal the first clue for the $3,000 prize package. Twice daily, clues will be released at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. until the Medallion is found.The Festival Medallion Quest began as a way to bring families together and out into the landscape to celebrate the arts differently and encourage patronage of the exhibiting artists.​ Over the years, families have searched side by side, solved riddles, and endeavored to find the ever-elusive Medallion. The Quest has grown larger each year, and now you can feel the collective buzz in the air as the first day of the Quest draws close. It marks the official countdown to the River Festival<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686327760565.jpeg" alt="Ghost Town Revival band member Chris Cadle plays the harmonica alongside lead guitarist Brent Magathen and Mike Badders on drums during S.M. Hanson Festival Jam 2023. Photo by Nate King" />
 <figcaption>Ghost Town Revival band member Chris Cadle plays the harmonica alongside lead guitarist Brent Magathen and Mike Badders on drums during S.M. Hanson Festival Jam 2023. Photo by Nate King</figcaption>
 </figure>Friday through Sunday, the Smoky Hill River Festival is fully engaged with three stages of live entertainment, the Fine Arts and Craft Show, Artyopolis for kids, and food vendors.Gates will open at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, with 35 food booths, an art patron party, and the Festival Jam produced by S.M. Hanson Music. Festival Jam music starts at 5:45 p.m. and includes 21 bands playing for four hours.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712865502747.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Wristband Information</h2>Wristbands for the festival will go on sale starting Wednesday, May 1 through Tuesday, June 11. The cost to purchase a weekend wristband before the event is $15 and $20 at the gate. Children 11 and younger enter the festival free of charge. Daily wristbands will also be sold for $10.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/participating-retailers/">Wristbands will be available at around 40 local and 20 regional retailers</a> and the Salina&nbsp;	 Arts &amp; Humanities office, 211 W. Iron Ave.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712874400863.jpeg" alt="1/2 Slab Ribs with Cowboy Beans from Bucket List BBQ, one of the new food vendors at the 2024 Smoky River Festival" />
 <figcaption>1/2 Slab Ribs with Cowboy Beans from Bucket List BBQ, one of the new food vendors at the 2024 Smoky River Festival</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Festival food – enjoy new and nostalgic food choices</h2>With six new food vendors, there are plenty of new tastes to experience, including fruit pizza, churros, Brazillian cheese bread and coxinha, wiener schnitzel, hand pies, and more. See the complete list of food vendors on <a href="http://www.riverfestival.com">www.riverfestival.com</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712863775778.png" alt="As the featured print artist, Lori Stanziola created Festival Flow; her image shows the intersection of the river, the music, and the arts that make the Festival a special destination. " />
 <figcaption>As the featured print artist, Lori Stanziola created Festival Flow; her image shows the intersection of the river, the music, and the arts that make the Festival a special destination. </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>2024 Featured Print</h2>As the featured print artist, Lori Stanziola created Festival Flow; her image shows the intersection of the river, the music, and the arts that make the Festival a special destination.Anyone who donates $100 or more is eligible to pick up a copy at the Arts &amp; Humanities office any time before June 10 during office hours, 8 am - 5 pm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712863945971.png" alt="Lori is a Kansas City-based artist specializing in fine art printmaking. " />
 <figcaption>Lori is a Kansas City-based artist specializing in fine art printmaking. </figcaption>
 </figure>Drawing on her experience as a designer, Lori revels in using graphic shapes and patterns to create richly layered works from hand-carved blocks.Lori’s work is hand-printed in single or small-numbered editions, primarily using the techniques of relief printing and monotype.You can learn more about Lori’s work process and see examples of her work at lskccreative.com. Visit Lori at her booth this year, #53, in the East Arts area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712864318634.png" alt="This year’s t-shirt features the design work of Nick Perry of Redlegger Studio in Topeka, KS" />
 <figcaption>This year’s t-shirt features the design work of Nick Perry of Redlegger Studio in Topeka, KS</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Festival T-Shirt 2024</h2>This year’s t-shirt features the design work of Nick Perry of <a href="https://redlegger.com/">Redlegger Studio</a>&nbsp;in Topeka, KS. Nick is a printmaker who is also joining for the second year as an exhibiting artist. His design incorporates all the elements of the event: music, food, art, and, of course, festival tents. Stop by and check out Nick’s work in the East Arts area at booth #23.T-shirts are available in various sizes, t-shirts and tanks can be purchased at the SAH office, online, or on-site at the Festival Information Booths north of Eric Stein Stage and near Kenwood Bridge during the festival.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712872343510.jpeg" alt="Salina Arts and Humanities Staff gather for a photo celebrating the release of information for the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival. From left to right, Anna Pauscher Morawitz, Crystal Hammerschmidt, Sarah Keck, Amanda Morris, Maira Mota, Susan Eberwein, and Brad Anderson. Photo by Nate King" />
 <figcaption>Salina Arts and Humanities Staff gather for a photo celebrating the release of information for the 2024 Smoky Hill River Festival. From left to right, Anna Pauscher Morawitz, Crystal Hammerschmidt, Sarah Keck, Amanda Morris, Maira Mota, Susan Eberwein, and Brad Anderson. Photo by Nate King</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Volunteer Opportunities</h2>Salina Arts and Humanities is looking for groups and individuals to be part of this summer’s Epic Arts Party at the Smoky Hill River Festival inOakdale Park. The search for volunteers is a high priority. It takes about 2,000 dedicated, engaged, community-minded, and fun volunteers to make the Festival happen. Volunteers work all over the Festival on crews to support Festival staff, fans, sponsors, and artists to ensure everyone at the Festival has an unforgettable, exciting, fun, and safe time! Volunteers do anything from helping set up, assisting little ones, or even simply putting on a smile and greeting everyone as they come and go.To volunteer, go to <a href="http://riverfestival.com/volunteer.">riverfestival.com/volunteer.</a><h2>First Treasures</h2>&nbsp;Tomorrow’s art patrons are today’s children; with this in mind, The Smoky Hill River Festival created the First Treasures tent. Young art enthusiasts, ages 4 to 13, can choose original artwork from River Festival artists at affordable prices of $5 or less.&nbsp;"On Saturday morning of the festival at about 8:30 or 9 a.m. people will begin to line up at the Mulberry Bridge because it is the shortest distance from that entryway to the First Treasurers tent where kids get to, in some cases, purchase their first work of art," said Brad Anderson, director of Salina Arts and Humanities.&nbsp;<h2>How does a child participate in First Treasures?</h2>Entry-window tickets become available at the First Treasures tent at 10:00 am on Saturday of the festival. Supply depends on the number of artworks provided and, therefore, is limited in quantity.&nbsp;Children can then meet their Festival artists on the grounds. If a child needs additional assistance in the tent or with check-out, please inform staff when you pick up their entrance time card.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712867348433.jpeg" alt="An art installation from a past Smoky Hill River Festival" />
 <figcaption>An art installation from a past Smoky Hill River Festival</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Festival Families First</h2><a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/attend/#fest-fam-first">Festival Families First </a>is a program fully underwritten by local businesses and organizations to provide Festival admission to families or individuals who might otherwise be unable to attend. Individuals who qualify and are affiliated with any of the following participating organizations can take part in Festival Families First simply by asking that organization to participate:<a target="_blank" href="https://www.salinahealth.org/">Salina Family Healthcare Center</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thriveoftheheartland.org/">Thrive of the Heartland</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ashbyhouse.org/">Ashby House</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://ccnks.org/">Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.305heartland.com/">Heartland Early Education</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbbssalina.org/">Big Brother Big Sisters</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://dvack.org/">DVACK</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://capsofsalina.org/">CAPS</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pinnacleparkrehab.com/">Pinnacle Park</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/salina/">Salvation Army</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://indconnectinc.com/">Independent Connection</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://kansas.kvc.org/">KVC Kansas</a><h2>The Festival Families First program is made possible in part by:</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://bluebeacon.com/">Blue Beacon International Inc.</a><a target="_blank" href="http://healthmart.com/">Key Rexall Pharmacy</a>Verla Nesbitt Joscelyn Foundation<a target="_blank" href="https://smokyhillconst.com/">Smoky Hill Construction LLC</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.srhc.com/">Salina Regional Health Foundation</a><h2>Ways to save at the Smoky Hill River Festival:</h2>⦁ Enjoy the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.riverfestival.com/kids/">Artyopolis</a>&nbsp;kids’ area for children, families, and the young at heart!	⦁ FREE airbrush tattoos and/or face painting at Paintchoo Plaza	⦁ FREE make-and-take projects at Creation Crossing	⦁ Hours of FREE family entertainment at Arty’s Stage	⦁ Hours of FREE fun at Lego Lane	⦁ Game Street has FREE family-friendly games	⦁ Find shade and a place to feed/change your child at Baby Station	<a target="_blank" href="https://www.riverfestival.com/events/#first-treasures">⦁ First Treasures</a>&nbsp;purchases are $5 or less for children ages 4-13	⦁ Coolers are welcome – Bring your own food and drink - NO GLASS CONTAINERS	⦁ Lots of art to see – Window shopping in the art show is encouraged	⦁ Many food vendors have a $4 food item on their menu, and menus	with prices are available at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.riverfestival.com/food/">riverfestival.com/food</a>	⦁ Visit other stages for FREE performances to listen to rock, jazz, reggae, funk, and more!	⦁ Roving artists and art installations are EVERYWHERE! See if you can find them all.<h2>Smoky Hill River Run</h2>On the morning of Saturday, June 15, the Salina Regional Health Center will host the 43rd Smoky Hill River Run. The event includes a two-mile walk, children’s races, and a two-mile and five-mile electronically timed race. Register online at <a href="https://srhc.com/riverrun/">https://srhc.com/riverrun/</a>.<h2>History of the Smoky Hill River Festival</h2>Salina Arts &amp; Humanities has served a unique role in arts advocacy and support since 1966. The Smoky Hill River Festival, the Horizons Grants Program, the Smoky Hill Museum, and the Arts Infusion program are among the programs of this City of Salina division.Smoky Hill River Festival:&nbsp;Connecting people through an arts experience celebrating the creative spirit.The mission of&nbsp;Salina Arts &amp; Humanities&nbsp;is the cultivation of this place through the power of the arts and humanities to change lives and build community.&nbsp;In 1976, a downtown Street Fair was held during Salina’s Bicentennial celebration. The event was such a hit that plans were soon underway to move the specially built gazebo to be part of the first-ever Smoky Hill River Festival, held in Oakdale in Park June 1977.The River Festival added elements during its first 10 years, including a Fun Run, a children’s Art Participation area, a park-and-ride shuttle service, and the popular Festival Jam concert. The Mamas and the Papas headlined on Saturday night in June 1987, and the Big Band Dance began that year.The festival’s second decade included expansion of the Fine Arts Show and Four Rivers Craft Market, Curt Krob’s popular, large-scale sand sculptures, and site-specific Artists In Action installations across the park. Festival Buttons were $4.The Oakdale Stage was built. In 1985, the Kenwood Bridge and the Bi-Center entrance bridges were opened.During the ‘90s and into the new millennium,&nbsp;the Storytelling Stage was born, as was First Treasures, to develop young art collectors. The tented Stage II was first created in the mid-90s.&nbsp;An Arts Patron program began, featuring a Saturday morning breakfast in the Park’s formal garden. In 2000, Salina’s Community Art &amp; Design Program (CAD) was launched for the Festival’s 25th year. Its first public art piece was “Under a Canopy Of Hope” for the Salina Animal Shelter.&nbsp;The Eric Stein (Main) Stage was dedicated in 2006.Since 2010, the River Festival has evolved by combining its two art shows and re-envisioning the&nbsp;PREMIERE&nbsp;art-patron party and program. “Dream Dragon Bridge” and other icon Art Installations were unveiled, and in 2014, the SHRF Legacy Fund endowment was born. Among popular stage acts of the decade were Steep Canyon Rangers, That1Guy, Jakubi, and Larkin Poe. Since its inception, the Smoky Hill River Festival has welcomed thousands of loyal locals and far-way guests, as well as appreciative food vendors, artists, and performers who had never experienced the arts Festival-style until they came to Salina.The four-day arts celebration is unmatched in its on-grounds hospitality and community support and continues to evolve, reflecting Salina Arts &amp; Humanities’ passionate commitment to the arts.Check Salina Post for additional information regarding Smoky Hill River Festival art exhibits, food, and entertainment as the Smoky Hill River Festival draws closer.&nbsp;