Salina Police have arrested a man of being under the influence of drugs, after a call was made about him 'screaming with a gun' in a Salina neighborhood.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Monday, August 18 at around 1:40 pm, a 20-year old man contacted police and said someone was 'chasing after him.' 

However, SPD received another call shortly about a man 'screaming with a gun' in the area of Eastgate and Beloit Ave.

Afterwards, SPD and Kansas state authorities arrived to the area and located the man who was reportedly 'screaming with a gun.' Authorities took the man into custody, but did not locate a gun on him. 

SPD stated the man who was arrested, was the same 20-year old male who called about someone 'chasing after him.'

Authorities stated the man was 'under the influence of drugs' and transported him to Salina Regional Health Center to be medically evaluated.&nbsp;

Furthermore, officers located a duffel bag in the area where the arrest was made. SPD stated inside the bag they found cocaine and handgun magazines and ammunition. A handgun was later located in front of a residence around the area.

SPD believed the man was connected to the duffel bag and handgun.

According to SPD, the suspect is currently at the hospital. Once he is released, SPD will book him into the Saline County Jail for requested charges that include, Possession of drugs and possibly Intoxicated Possession of a Firearm.

SPD stated the name of the suspect cannot be released at this time, but will be once they officially press charges on him.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574453792382.jpeg" alt="Salina Police Department badge" />
 <figcaption>Salina Police Department badge</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostSalina Police have arrested a man of being under the influence of drugs, after a call was made about him 'screaming with a gun' in a Salina neighborhood.According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Monday, August 18 at around 1:40 pm, a 20-year old man contacted police and said someone was 'chasing after him.' However, SPD received another call shortly about a man 'screaming with a gun' in the area of Eastgate and Beloit Ave.Afterwards, SPD and Kansas state authorities arrived to the area and located the man who was reportedly 'screaming with a gun.' Authorities took the man into custody, but did not locate a gun on him. SPD stated the man who was arrested, was the same 20-year old male who called about someone 'chasing after him.'Authorities stated the man was 'under the influence of drugs' and transported him to Salina Regional Health Center to be medically evaluated.&nbsp;Furthermore, officers located a duffel bag in the area where the arrest was made. SPD stated inside the bag they found cocaine and handgun magazines and ammunition. A handgun was later located in front of a residence around the area.SPD believed the man was connected to the duffel bag and handgun.According to SPD, the suspect is currently at the hospital. Once he is released, SPD will book him into the Saline County Jail for requested charges that include, Possession of drugs and possibly Intoxicated Possession of a Firearm.SPD stated the name of the suspect cannot be released at this time, but will be once they officially press charges on him.&nbsp;

Salina PD arrest man of being under the influence of drugs and armed with a gun, pending requested charges 

A man was arrested after allegedly throwing rocks at operating vehicles in Salina.

According to the Saline Police Department (SPD) on Monday at midnight, a man was reportedly throwing rocks at cars traveling in the 300 &amp; 400 blocks of S. Ohio.&nbsp;

Officers arrived to the area and located the suspect, matching the description of the multiple reports that were made. When officers approached the suspect, he ran away but was arrested shortly after.

SPD stated that several vehicles were reportedly damaged.

Taken into custody was 35-year old Zachary Fairchild. He was booked into the Saline County Jail on the following requested charges of Obstruction several charges of Damage to Property and two Salina Municipal warrants for Failure to appear.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755521715365.jpeg" alt="Fairchild, Zachary Ryan. Courtesy of Saline County Sheriff's Office (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 18)" />
 <figcaption>Fairchild, Zachary Ryan. Courtesy of Saline County Sheriff's Office (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 18)</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostA man was arrested after allegedly throwing rocks at operating vehicles in Salina.According to the Saline Police Department (SPD) on Monday at midnight, a man was reportedly throwing rocks at cars traveling in the 300 &amp; 400 blocks of S. Ohio.&nbsp;Officers arrived to the area and located the suspect, matching the description of the multiple reports that were made. When officers approached the suspect, he ran away but was arrested shortly after.SPD stated that several vehicles were reportedly damaged.Taken into custody was 35-year old Zachary Fairchild. He was booked into the Saline County Jail on the following requested charges of Obstruction several charges of Damage to Property and two Salina Municipal warrants for Failure to appear.No injuries were reported.

Man arrested after throwing rocks at operating vehicles in Salina

A woman was arrested after threatening a teenage girl with a knife inside a home.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Sunday, August 17th at around noon, a teenage girl called police about her female relative threatening her with a knife inside a home in South Salina.

SPD immediately arrived to the home and arrested 30-year old, Maria Perez-Aguilar without incident. According to SPD, Perez-Aguilar was going through a 'mental-health crisis' when she threatened the girl.

Perez-Aguilar was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for a medical evaluation. She is facing requested charges of Aggravated Assault and Child Endangerment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755533727855.jpeg" alt="Perez Aguilar, Maria Guadalupe. Courtesy of Saline County Sheriff's Office (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 18)" />
 <figcaption>Perez Aguilar, Maria Guadalupe. Courtesy of Saline County Sheriff's Office (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 18)</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostA woman was arrested after threatening a teenage girl with a knife inside a home.According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Sunday, August 17th at around noon, a teenage girl called police about her female relative threatening her with a knife inside a home in South Salina.SPD immediately arrived to the home and arrested 30-year old, Maria Perez-Aguilar without incident. According to SPD, Perez-Aguilar was going through a 'mental-health crisis' when she threatened the girl.Perez-Aguilar was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for a medical evaluation. She is facing requested charges of Aggravated Assault and Child Endangerment.

Woman arrested after threatening a teenage girl with a knife inside a home

Two suspects were arrested after a home invasion and allegedly assaulting the homeowner.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Friday, August 15th just before 5:00 pm, a male victim of a home invasion called police about two suspects allegedly stealing cash and assaulting him.

Reportedly, two male armed suspects broke into his home on the 400 block of S. Ohio. Both suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim and hit him in the mouth with a pistol, causing a minor injury.&nbsp;

The suspects then left in a vehicle, and it was reported that one of the suspects is known to the victim.

About an hour later, SPD located a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect's on Westport Blvd. An officer conducted a traffic stop and arrested both suspects without incident. No firearms were recovered at the time of the arrest.

Arrested was 45-year old, James Floyd and 52-year old, Anthony Miller.

Both were charged with Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault and Criminal Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.

The victim did not need any medical treatment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755533225812.jpeg" alt="From left to right: Floyd, James Alexander. Miller, Anthony Tramane. Both arrested after alleged home invasion on Friday, August 15th. Courtesy of Saline County Sheriff's Office. (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 16)" />
 <figcaption>From left to right: Floyd, James Alexander. Miller, Anthony Tramane. Both arrested after alleged home invasion on Friday, August 15th. Courtesy of Saline County Sheriff's Office. (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 16)</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostTwo suspects were arrested after a home invasion and allegedly assaulting the homeowner.According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Friday, August 15th just before 5:00 pm, a male victim of a home invasion called police about two suspects allegedly stealing cash and assaulting him.Reportedly, two male armed suspects broke into his home on the 400 block of S. Ohio. Both suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim and hit him in the mouth with a pistol, causing a minor injury.&nbsp;The suspects then left in a vehicle, and it was reported that one of the suspects is known to the victim.About an hour later, SPD located a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect's on Westport Blvd. An officer conducted a traffic stop and arrested both suspects without incident. No firearms were recovered at the time of the arrest.Arrested was 45-year old, James Floyd and 52-year old, Anthony Miller.Both were charged with Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault and Criminal Possession of a Weapon by a Felon.The victim did not need any medical treatment.

Two suspects arrested in connection to home invasion and alleged assault of the homeowner

Salina Police arrest a man who admitted to exposing himself to two females in Central Salina.&nbsp;

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Friday, August 15th at around 10:00 am, the police department received a call about a man who exposed himself to a woman and her daughter in Central Salina.&nbsp;

After the report, officers arrived to the area and came in contact with the suspect. Reportedly, the suspect was found to have his shorts unzipped and admitted he exposed himself to the victims.

Officers then arrested 61-year old, Gerald Shaw. Shaw was booked into the Saline County Jail on the following requested charges of Lewd &amp; Lasciviousness and Possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755294225051.jpeg" alt="Shaw, Gerald Michael; photo courtesy of the Saline County Sheriff's Office (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 15)" />
 <figcaption>Shaw, Gerald Michael; photo courtesy of the Saline County Sheriff's Office (Saline County Jail Bookings, August 15)</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina PostSalina Police arrest a man who admitted to exposing himself to two females in Central Salina.&nbsp;According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Friday, August 15th at around 10:00 am, the police department received a call about a man who exposed himself to a woman and her daughter in Central Salina.&nbsp;After the report, officers arrived to the area and came in contact with the suspect. Reportedly, the suspect was found to have his shorts unzipped and admitted he exposed himself to the victims.Officers then arrested 61-year old, Gerald Shaw. Shaw was booked into the Saline County Jail on the following requested charges of Lewd &amp; Lasciviousness and Possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Salina PD arrest man who admitted to exposing himself to two females

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused of child sex crimes is due back in court Monday.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin in Judge Quentin Pittman's courtroom for 39-year-old Jamie Torres-Cordero Wichita,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.

He is charged with rape, 5 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and 2 counts of aggravated criminal sodomy.

On Sept. 7, 2024 police&nbsp; booked Torres-Cordero into the Sedgwick County Jail after&nbsp;detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children's Unit investigated possible sexual abuse occurring at a home in the 600 block of North Battin in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Police believe Torres-Cordero had engaged in unlawful sexual activity with a minor in the home multiple times over the past six years, according to Macy&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;He remains jailed on a bond of $250,000, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631312554368.png" alt="Torres-Cordero" />
 <figcaption>Torres-Cordero</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused of child sex crimes is due back in court Monday.A jury trial is scheduled to begin in Judge Quentin Pittman's courtroom for 39-year-old Jamie Torres-Cordero Wichita,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.He is charged with rape, 5 counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and 2 counts of aggravated criminal sodomy.On Sept. 7, 2024 police&nbsp; booked Torres-Cordero into the Sedgwick County Jail after&nbsp;detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children's Unit investigated possible sexual abuse occurring at a home in the 600 block of North Battin in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Police believe Torres-Cordero had engaged in unlawful sexual activity with a minor in the home multiple times over the past six years, according to Macy&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He remains jailed on a bond of $250,000, according to online jail records.

Jury trial: Kan. man accused of years long sex abuse of child

ABILENE - Roxie Yonkey, a best-selling author from Goodland, will discuss her newest book "Historic Kansas Roadsides," at the&nbsp;Abilene Public Library&nbsp; (209 NW 4th St.) at 6:30 pm on Thursday, August 21.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Historic Kansas Roadsides" outlines a dozen Kansas road trips. Yonkey will have all her Kansas books available for purchase.&nbsp;

Usually, Yonkey begins presentations by leading "Home on the Range," the Kansas state song. She will then highlight several topics from Historic Kansas Roadsides relating to Abilene, Dickinson County and surrounding counties.

Historic Kansas Roadsides&nbsp;is Yonkey's fifth published book. She wrote the bestseller "100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die," "Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure" and the Kansas sections of&nbsp;Midwest Road Trip Adventures&nbsp;and&nbsp;Midwest State Park Adventures. 

Yonkey has written about Kansas for more than 35 years and has amassed numerous awards.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755102140189.jpeg" alt="Roxie Yonkey, best-selling author from Goodland; courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Roxie Yonkey, best-selling author from Goodland; courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedABILENE - Roxie Yonkey, a best-selling author from Goodland, will discuss her newest book "Historic Kansas Roadsides," at the&nbsp;Abilene Public Library&nbsp; (209 NW 4th St.) at 6:30 pm on Thursday, August 21.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Historic Kansas Roadsides" outlines a dozen Kansas road trips. Yonkey will have all her Kansas books available for purchase.&nbsp;Usually, Yonkey begins presentations by leading "Home on the Range," the Kansas state song. She will then highlight several topics from Historic Kansas Roadsides relating to Abilene, Dickinson County and surrounding counties.Historic Kansas Roadsides&nbsp;is Yonkey's fifth published book. She wrote the bestseller "100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die," "Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure" and the Kansas sections of&nbsp;Midwest Road Trip Adventures&nbsp;and&nbsp;Midwest State Park Adventures. Yonkey has written about Kansas for more than 35 years and has amassed numerous awards.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755102207816.jpeg" alt=""Historic Kansas Roadsides" cover; courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>"Historic Kansas Roadsides" cover; courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

Best-selling author from Goodland to discuss Kansas road trips at Abilene library 

Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee

HAYS/ELLIS COUNTY — The <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee</a> is calling on the community of Ellis County to help preserve Ellis County’s rich Volga German heritage by submitting historical photographs, documents and personal stories for a forthcoming 2026 commemorative publication.

The committee is gathering high-quality images and narratives that showcase all aspects of Volga German immigrant life, from the settlers’ arrival in the 1870s to the present day.

Organizers say contributions will celebrate 150 years of Volga German influence in the region, marking the official sesquicentennial of their arrival in western Kansas in 1876.

The public submissions can cover a broad range of subjects: 

People and family life, historic buildings and churches, cultural traditions, the German dialect spoken by descendants, recipes and foods or any other facet of Volga German life.

Personal stories and recollections are welcome in either first-person accounts or third-person narratives.

“We want to ensure this anniversary is celebrated not just with dates and facts, but with the voices and images of the families who built our communities,” said Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society. “Preserving these family photos and stories is vital to understanding who we are as a community. It’s about capturing the everyday lives and traditions of the Volga German families that made this area their home.”

Submissions are being accepted through the project website, <a href="http://OurPeopleOurHome.org">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a> which was created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Volga Germans arrival in Ellis County.

The site’s Submission Center allows users to upload images, videos or written stories and contributors are asked to include captions or descriptions for any photographs.

Submissions will be considered for use online, on social media and in the upcoming published book.

James Bell, publications chair for the Sesquicentennial Action Committee, said that materials from beyond Ellis County are welcome as well.

“We know the region’s Volga German story extends beyond Ellis County’s borders,” Bell said. “If families in surrounding counties have a shared heritage, we encourage them to contribute their stories and photos too. The more perspectives we include, the richer this collection will be.”

For those who have old prints, slides or artifacts that aren’t yet digitized, the committee is offering scanning assistance.&nbsp;Individuals with physical photographs, letters or other documents can contact organizers via the website to arrange use of scanning equipment or other help in converting items to a digital format.

“If you have a box of old photographs or letters in the attic, we want to help you share those,” Bell said. “We have resources to safely scan and digitize these treasures so they can be part of this preservation effort. Every family keepsake has the potential to tell a story.”

Organizers emphasized that all submitted materials should be original (or submitted with permission of the owner) so that the content can be published without legal issues.

Contributors will retain ownership of their originals; the committee requests only the right to include the material in the sesquicentennial project.

The 150th anniversary celebrations are expected to span throughout 2026, honoring the legacy of the Volga German settlers who first arrived in Ellis County in 1876.

Ellis County became a hub for these immigrants in the late 1870s, when German families who had previously settled in Russia’s Volga River region came to the United States seeking new opportunities.

They established a number of local villages, such as Liebenthal, Catherine, Herzog (now Victoria) and others, that still cherish their Volga German roots.

The upcoming sesquicentennial festivities will highlight this heritage through exhibits, cultural demonstrations and gatherings of descendants.

A calendar of events for 2026 is being developed and will be published on <a href="http://OurPeopleOurHome.org">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a> website as plans are finalized.

The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia has again chosen Hays, KS to host its national conference in 2026, reflecting the area’s importance as a center of Volga German history.

The publication and events are an initiative of the Sesquicentennial Action Committee to engage the public in celebrating 150 years of Volga German contributions to the area.

Rupp said the success of the project depends on broad community participation.

“This project is truly about community collaboration,” she said. “Every photo album or family tale that gets shared brings us one step closer to preserving our history for the next generation.”

Community members can upload their materials via the Submit Materials page at <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a>.

Those needing assistance or more information may reach out through the site’s "Contact Us" form or call the Ellis County Historical Society.

The committee encourages early submissions as the commemorative publication will be compiled over the coming months in preparation for the 2026 festivities.

By contributing to <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a> local families can help paint a vibrant picture of Volga German life in Ellis County and ensure that our home and our people are remembered for generations to come.

For questions or more information email: ourpeople150yearsourhome@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754936111095.png" alt="Volga&nbsp;German Sesquicentennial Action Committee calling the community of Ellis County to help preserve the county's rich history of Volga German heritage by submitting historical photographs, documents and personal stories for a 2026 commemorative publication.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee is celebrating 150 years since Volga German settlers from Russia came to migrate in Ellis County back in 1876. National conference hosted in Hays, KS in 2026.; logo courtesy of the&nbsp;Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee" />
 <figcaption>Volga&nbsp;German Sesquicentennial Action Committee calling the community of Ellis County to help preserve the county's rich history of Volga German heritage by submitting historical photographs, documents and personal stories for a 2026 commemorative publication.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee is celebrating 150 years since Volga German settlers from Russia came to migrate in Ellis County back in 1876. National conference hosted in Hays, KS in 2026.; logo courtesy of the&nbsp;Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>Volga German Sesquicentennial Action CommitteeHAYS/ELLIS COUNTY — The <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">Volga German Sesquicentennial Action Committee</a> is calling on the community of Ellis County to help preserve Ellis County’s rich Volga German heritage by submitting historical photographs, documents and personal stories for a forthcoming 2026 commemorative publication.The committee is gathering high-quality images and narratives that showcase all aspects of Volga German immigrant life, from the settlers’ arrival in the 1870s to the present day.Organizers say contributions will celebrate 150 years of Volga German influence in the region, marking the official sesquicentennial of their arrival in western Kansas in 1876.The public submissions can cover a broad range of subjects: People and family life, historic buildings and churches, cultural traditions, the German dialect spoken by descendants, recipes and foods or any other facet of Volga German life.Personal stories and recollections are welcome in either first-person accounts or third-person narratives.“We want to ensure this anniversary is celebrated not just with dates and facts, but with the voices and images of the families who built our communities,” said Amanda Rupp, executive director of the Ellis County Historical Society. “Preserving these family photos and stories is vital to understanding who we are as a community. It’s about capturing the everyday lives and traditions of the Volga German families that made this area their home.”Submissions are being accepted through the project website, <a href="http://OurPeopleOurHome.org">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a> which was created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Volga Germans arrival in Ellis County.The site’s Submission Center allows users to upload images, videos or written stories and contributors are asked to include captions or descriptions for any photographs.Submissions will be considered for use online, on social media and in the upcoming published book.James Bell, publications chair for the Sesquicentennial Action Committee, said that materials from beyond Ellis County are welcome as well.“We know the region’s Volga German story extends beyond Ellis County’s borders,” Bell said. “If families in surrounding counties have a shared heritage, we encourage them to contribute their stories and photos too. The more perspectives we include, the richer this collection will be.”For those who have old prints, slides or artifacts that aren’t yet digitized, the committee is offering scanning assistance.&nbsp;Individuals with physical photographs, letters or other documents can contact organizers via the website to arrange use of scanning equipment or other help in converting items to a digital format.“If you have a box of old photographs or letters in the attic, we want to help you share those,” Bell said. “We have resources to safely scan and digitize these treasures so they can be part of this preservation effort. Every family keepsake has the potential to tell a story.”Organizers emphasized that all submitted materials should be original (or submitted with permission of the owner) so that the content can be published without legal issues.Contributors will retain ownership of their originals; the committee requests only the right to include the material in the sesquicentennial project.<h2>History of the Volga German settlers</h2>The 150th anniversary celebrations are expected to span throughout 2026, honoring the legacy of the Volga German settlers who first arrived in Ellis County in 1876.Ellis County became a hub for these immigrants in the late 1870s, when German families who had previously settled in Russia’s Volga River region came to the United States seeking new opportunities.They established a number of local villages, such as Liebenthal, Catherine, Herzog (now Victoria) and others, that still cherish their Volga German roots.The upcoming sesquicentennial festivities will highlight this heritage through exhibits, cultural demonstrations and gatherings of descendants.A calendar of events for 2026 is being developed and will be published on <a href="http://OurPeopleOurHome.org">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a> website as plans are finalized.The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia has again chosen Hays, KS to host its national conference in 2026, reflecting the area’s importance as a center of Volga German history.The publication and events are an initiative of the Sesquicentennial Action Committee to engage the public in celebrating 150 years of Volga German contributions to the area.Rupp said the success of the project depends on broad community participation.“This project is truly about community collaboration,” she said. “Every photo album or family tale that gets shared brings us one step closer to preserving our history for the next generation.”<h2>How to Submit</h2>Community members can upload their materials via the Submit Materials page at <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a>.Those needing assistance or more information may reach out through the site’s "Contact Us" form or call the Ellis County Historical Society.The committee encourages early submissions as the commemorative publication will be compiled over the coming months in preparation for the 2026 festivities.By contributing to <a href="https://ourpeopleourhome.org/">OurPeopleOurHome.org</a> local families can help paint a vibrant picture of Volga German life in Ellis County and ensure that our home and our people are remembered for generations to come. For questions or more information email: ourpeople150yearsourhome@gmail.com.

Action Committee calling Ellis County members to support its rich history of Volga German heritage

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before midnight August 9, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop for an alleged traffic infraction on a Hyundai Elantra traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 75, near 142nd&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, Clifton Wabaunsee, 44, of Topeka was arrested at the scene and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated battery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754918054048.png" alt="Wabaunsee-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Wabaunsee-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just before midnight August 9, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop for an alleged traffic infraction on a Hyundai Elantra traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 75, near 142nd&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, Clifton Wabaunsee, 44, of Topeka was arrested at the scene and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated battery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas felon is back in jail on new drug allegations

SEDGWICK COUNTY– Wichita police took Gauge Brasher, 19, into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of E. Range Road, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

 Earlier Friday, police investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, and Brasher was charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 13, crash that killed Jackson Nzabonimpa, 14.&nbsp;

Brasher will be booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police are investigating a fatal crash at Harry and Rock Road in Wichita that killed 14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and still searching for the driver.

Around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the accident and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.

The preliminary investigation indicates the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.&nbsp;

Witnesses at the intersection identified the 19-year-old suspect Gauge Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. The passenger is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.&nbsp;

Wichita police are following up on leads to locate and arrest Brasher.

Wichita Police does not typically identify suspects who have not been formally charged. In this case, police believe the alleged recklessness of Brasher’s actions make him a danger to the&nbsp; community. Wichita Police Accident Follow-Up Unit (AFU) is continuing to investigate what led to this incident. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for charging.

“This was not an accident. It was a series of reckless choices,” Chief Joe Sullivan said. “When you mix extreme speed with suspected impairment, you turn a vehicle into a weapon. We will pursue full accountability for the death of this young man and his family, and the danger brought to our community.”&nbsp;

Anyone who has information on the location of Gauge Brasher is asked to call 911 immediately. To provide information related to this incident please call AFU investigators at 316-350-3685. To remain anonymous, you can submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at (316)-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755212957933.png" alt="View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– Wichita police took Gauge Brasher, 19, into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of E. Range Road, according to a statement from Wichita Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755346851465.png" alt="Brasher photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Brasher photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Earlier Friday, police investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, and Brasher was charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 13, crash that killed Jackson Nzabonimpa, 14.&nbsp;Brasher will be booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.----------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police are investigating a fatal crash at Harry and Rock Road in Wichita that killed 14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and still searching for the driver.Around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the accident and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.The preliminary investigation indicates the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.&nbsp;Witnesses at the intersection identified the 19-year-old suspect Gauge Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. The passenger is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.&nbsp;Wichita police are following up on leads to locate and arrest Brasher.Wichita Police does not typically identify suspects who have not been formally charged. In this case, police believe the alleged recklessness of Brasher’s actions make him a danger to the&nbsp; community. Wichita Police Accident Follow-Up Unit (AFU) is continuing to investigate what led to this incident. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for charging.“This was not an accident. It was a series of reckless choices,” Chief Joe Sullivan said. “When you mix extreme speed with suspected impairment, you turn a vehicle into a weapon. We will pursue full accountability for the death of this young man and his family, and the danger brought to our community.”&nbsp;Anyone who has information on the location of Gauge Brasher is asked to call 911 immediately. To provide information related to this incident please call AFU investigators at 316-350-3685. To remain anonymous, you can submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at (316)-267-2111.

Police capture suspect wanted for fatal Kansas hit-and-run 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal pedestrian incident and have a suspect in custody.&nbsp;

On Wednesday afternoon, police responded to the Love's Travel Stop in the 1500 block of East 21st Street North for an injury crash, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. They found 57-year-old Abdelmuttalib Mohammed of Georgia, under a truck. Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services pronounced him dead at 5:32 p.m.

Investigators with the Wichita Police Department determined Mr. Mohammed had been in a verbal altercation with a 46-year-old suspect identified according to the county booking report as Travis Briscoe of Oklahoma.&nbsp; The two men did not know each other, according to Gupilan. During the altercation, Briscoe began backing into a parking stall with his semitractor-trailer striking Mr. Mohammed.

Brisco is being held on a $250,000 bond on a requested charge of 2nd degree murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755126893221.png" alt="Police at the scene of the fatal incident-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the fatal incident-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal pedestrian incident and have a suspect in custody.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755180791856.png" alt="Briscoe photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Briscoe photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>On Wednesday afternoon, police responded to the Love's Travel Stop in the 1500 block of East 21st Street North for an injury crash, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. They found 57-year-old Abdelmuttalib Mohammed of Georgia, under a truck. Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services pronounced him dead at 5:32 p.m.Investigators with the Wichita Police Department determined Mr. Mohammed had been in a verbal altercation with a 46-year-old suspect identified according to the county booking report as Travis Briscoe of Oklahoma.&nbsp; The two men did not know each other, according to Gupilan. During the altercation, Briscoe began backing into a parking stall with his semitractor-trailer striking Mr. Mohammed.Brisco is being held on a $250,000 bond on a requested charge of 2nd degree murder.

Driver jailed after backing over man at Kan. truck stop

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-j-cooper">JONATHAN J. COOPER</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-honorees-6c553c800ba334ad1ea47858b3dc271c">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;demanded that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;retract comments linking her to sex trafficker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;and threatened to sue if he does not.

Trump takes issue with two comments Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, made in an interview this month with British journalist Andrew Callaghan. He alleged that Epstein introduced the first lady to now-President Donald Trump.

The statements are false, defamatory and “extremely salacious,” Melania Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote in a letter to Biden. Biden’s remarks were widely disseminated on social media and reported by media outlets around the world, causing the first lady “to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm,” he wrote.

Biden made the Epstein comments during a sprawling interview in which he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-joe-biden-clooney-election-interview-fde14797b7808053d2e5fa9c3ad5d71b">lashed out</a>&nbsp;at “elites” and others in the Democratic Party he says undermined his father before he dropped out of last year’s presidential campaign.

“Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep,” Biden said in one of the comments Trump disputes. Biden attributed the claim to author Michael Wolff, whom Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114616348045430286" target="_blank">disparaged</a>&nbsp;in June as a “Third Rate Reporter.” He has accused Wolff of making up stories to sell books.

The first lady’s threats echo a favored strategy of her husband, who has aggressively used litigation to go after critics. Public figures like the Trumps face a high bar to succeed in a defamation lawsuit.

The president and first lady have long said they were introduced by Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agent, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998.

The letter is dated Aug. 6 and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/first-lady-melania-trump-puts-hunter-biden-1b-notice-over-false-defamatory-epstein-comments" target="_blank">first reported</a>&nbsp;Wednesday by Fox News Digital.

Abbe Lowell, a lawyer who has represented Biden in his criminal cases and to whom Brito’s letter is addressed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741036833111.png" alt="File photo First lady Melania Trump- courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo First lady Melania Trump- courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-j-cooper">JONATHAN J. COOPER</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-honorees-6c553c800ba334ad1ea47858b3dc271c">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;demanded that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;retract comments linking her to sex trafficker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;and threatened to sue if he does not.Trump takes issue with two comments Biden, son of former President Joe Biden, made in an interview this month with British journalist Andrew Callaghan. He alleged that Epstein introduced the first lady to now-President Donald Trump.The statements are false, defamatory and “extremely salacious,” Melania Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote in a letter to Biden. Biden’s remarks were widely disseminated on social media and reported by media outlets around the world, causing the first lady “to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm,” he wrote.Biden made the Epstein comments during a sprawling interview in which he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-joe-biden-clooney-election-interview-fde14797b7808053d2e5fa9c3ad5d71b">lashed out</a>&nbsp;at “elites” and others in the Democratic Party he says undermined his father before he dropped out of last year’s presidential campaign.“Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep,” Biden said in one of the comments Trump disputes. Biden attributed the claim to author Michael Wolff, whom Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114616348045430286" target="_blank">disparaged</a>&nbsp;in June as a “Third Rate Reporter.” He has accused Wolff of making up stories to sell books.The first lady’s threats echo a favored strategy of her husband, who has aggressively used litigation to go after critics. Public figures like the Trumps face a high bar to succeed in a defamation lawsuit.The president and first lady have long said they were introduced by Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agent, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998.The letter is dated Aug. 6 and was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/first-lady-melania-trump-puts-hunter-biden-1b-notice-over-false-defamatory-epstein-comments" target="_blank">first reported</a>&nbsp;Wednesday by Fox News Digital.Abbe Lowell, a lawyer who has represented Biden in his criminal cases and to whom Brito’s letter is addressed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Wednesday.

First lady demands Hunter Biden retract 'salacious' Epstein comments

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas Sex Offender on drug allegations after a traffic stop

Just before 3:30p.m., August 8, a K-9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck in the 3400 block of NW Frontage Road for an improper turn, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

Michael R. Anderson, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia

Anderson has been a registered sex offender since 2016 after ten convictions for sexual exploitation of a child in Ellis County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755033467479.png" alt="Anderson has been a registered sex offender since 2016." />
 <figcaption>Anderson has been a registered sex offender since 2016.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas Sex Offender on drug allegations after a traffic stopJust before 3:30p.m., August 8, a K-9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck in the 3400 block of NW Frontage Road for an improper turn, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, the deputy found illegal narcotics.Michael R. Anderson, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernaliaAnderson has been a registered sex offender since 2016 after ten convictions for sexual exploitation of a child in Ellis County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. sex offender jailed on drug allegations after traffic stop

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUB

Q: What did you see the other night as far as special teams?

TOUB:&nbsp;“I thought we played – had a good game. It was solid, (we) secured the football, that’s always hard to do. So, it hurt them a little bit. But also, on the other hand, I liked the fact that we did knock the ball out. So, you look at it that way, too. The guys flew around pretty good. Kicking was exceptional, (Harrison) Butker was really trying to work the edges with the kickoffs – a little too close really, that thing could have easily bounced out. You want to try to push the limits right now during the preseason. You want to see how far you can go with it. He’s worked so hard at it, and it’s good to see him have some success there. Then Matt (Araiza) punted well, he had some really good punts. He had the one touchback where I thought we could’ve done a better job with the hang time on that instead of the distance, but he’s moving the ball well (and) he’s gotten better from last year. I’m excited about where we are right now.”

Q: With the new kickoff rule, is there something you can learn from in-game experience that you can’t learn in practice?

TOUB:&nbsp;“Not really. Our guys are doing different stuff now because you’re allowed to take the middle guy and have him off the line. You can have three guys off the line now, which is, I think it’s an advantage for the kickoff return team. It helped us a little bit, I thought in the game, I think teams are going to use it to their advantage like we did. Other than that, obviously, teams are going to be kicking it into the target zone, that’s going to happen. There’s going to be a lot more returns, a lot more coverages and it’s all good for special teams.”

Q: On Josh Simmons progression through the first preseason game, practices, meeting rooms and OTAs?

HECK:&nbsp;“It’s a big job for anybody coming in to learn the details of the offense, assignments (and) techniques. Every play has a thousand little details and so picking those things up, that was job one in the spring where he (Josh Simmons) was doing less physical work with us. Since he has gotten to training camp, he’s been able to every day add one or two of these details that are important to each play. So, I’ve seen him steadily improve, and his understanding - and we’re able to have better conversations about what’s going on and I think that’s what we’ll see his trajectory do is just go like this (points up).”

Q: How strong is the competition for the eighth, ninth and tenth spot on the roster?

HECK:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think this is one of the best years we’ve had in terms of bringing in talent and creating competition across the board. That’s just going to make the group better so, when you talk about the eighth, ninth, and tenth spot, there’s a lot of competition going on and there’s still a lot more to be done there in terms of evaluation. Those preseason games are going to be huge. So, who is operating and grading up, basically getting their guy blocked the most consistently? Who do we trust to put in there on a Sunday or Monday night?

Q: Where does Josh Simmons fit among the players you’ve coached based on your experience?

HECK:&nbsp;“I’d hesitate to compare guys; every guy is different. I’m still in a learning process myself, of what makes him (Josh Simmons) tick, how does he learn best (and) how can I help him get better? There’s constant communication there. But I would say he’s certainly as talented a player as I’ve ever been around. He loves the game. So, those are two good things, when you’re talented and you love the game, and you want to be the best, you got a great chance to be a good one.”

Q: On the similarities between Ashton Gillotte and George Karlaftis.&nbsp;&nbsp;

CULLEN:&nbsp;“(They are) very similar. They were coached by the same coach. (Louisville Defensive Line) Coach (Mark) Hagen did a great job with George (Karlaftis) at Purdue, and now he’s at Louisville. But very similar. Both (Ashton Gillotte and George Karlaftis) have great motors, both love football, so (they are) really, really similar.”

Q: On getting more sacks this season.

CULLEN:&nbsp;“Absolutely. When you look at the two years we won the Super Bowl – and Spags (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) is as creative as it comes, in terms of getting to the quarterback. We have guys that can get to the quarterback, and we had like 57 or 60 (sacks), two years in a row. And then we dipped a little bit last year, but we picked it up at the end of the year and into the playoffs. So, the thing we (have) got to do a better job of is making sure in certain situations he (the quarterback) doesn’t get out of the pocket. We had opportunities to get him&nbsp;<a>(</a>the quarterback) down and didn’t finish, and that’s been our emphasis this year.”

Q: How have you seen Chris Jones embrace his leadership role on the defensive line?

CULLEN:&nbsp;“Chris (Jones) is having a phenomenal camp. He hasn’t missed a rep, and this is our fourth year together. He had a similar camp in ‘22. Obviously, he wasn’t here in ’23, (and) he was injured a little bit last year. He hasn’t missed a rep. Long-drive drill, nine-on-seven, one-on-one pass rush, (he’s been) phenomenal. He’s in great physical shape, and he’s on a mission.”

DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH DAVE MERRITT

Q: What do you like about Nohl Williams?

MERRITT:&nbsp;“He (Nohl Williams) competes. He showed some physicality in the game in Arizona. So, those are things that we were looking for, and I just love the fact that the kid, he takes coaching. A lot of guys, sometimes they come in and you don’t know what you’re getting. It’s like a box of chocolates, you have no clue on what you’re going to get. But he takes coaching, so we love that about him.”

MERRITT&nbsp;“Chris (Roland-Wallace) has done a wonderful job for us. I mean, we have him at multiple positions. He did that his rookie year where we played him at safety, (we) played him at nickel, (we) moved him from outside and just really played him closer towards the box. And so (the) young man is very cerebral, and so he’s able to pick up the defenses and then he can do a lot of things for us. Whether it’s strong, free safety, as well as play a little dime or nickel. So having that, kind of, Swiss Army Knife is going to help us out.”

Q: What are the challenges of bringing in Kristian Fulton at this time?

MERRITT:&nbsp;“I think the challenge for Kristian (Fulton) is just to get his cardio. Because you can go and you can work with your offseason coach, you can go and work with your trainers, but when you come out here and you’re working with a professional coach, as well as going against a professional offense – your cardio is the first thing that you’re going to see. And so I think the good thing about him (Kristian Fulton) is today, I think he wanted to tap out, and then all of a sudden (I) just told him, ‘just keep going.’ Because he needs that, just play after play after play. So, if he can continue to expand and open his lungs, that’s going to help us all out.”

WIDE RECEIVERS COACH CONNOR EMBREE

Q: On Xavier Worthy’s improvement in route running.

EMBREE:&nbsp;“After this season, me and him had a good talk (on) what he needs to get better at and I think he did a good job in the offseason, especially the summer of working on the stuff we were talking about. I think it shows on the field. He’s not just a straight-line go route guy. He can run multiple routes, so I really like what he did. (He) came back in great shape and then like you said he’s gotten better at route running.”

Q: On dealing with so many injuries in the wide receiver room last season.

EMBREE:&nbsp;“It was difficult, but I think that’s what makes us such a great team. It’s that next man up. All the second, third string guys, they know they’re one play away from being a starter. So that’s credit to them too, being in their book, knowing what to do, and when they got their opportunity, they made the most of it.”

Q: On the speed of the wide receivers.

EMBREE:&nbsp;“Yeah, it’s fast. It’s like a track team out there. 4x1 team. It’s next man up. They all can run. That’s kind of what our offense is based off of is just speed, speed, speed, speed. And then just like you said, we got a lot of guys that can run. So, I like the depth of our room and the speed of it.”

PASS GAME COORDINATOR JOE BLEYMAIER

Q: How are you able to use Xavier Worthy now that he’s in year two, in ways you couldn’t in year one?

BLEYMAIER:&nbsp;“Yeah, he (Xavier Worthy) has a familiarity with the offense and scheme to where he can do more things. He can put more, in terms of where he aligns, and the routes and the concepts on his plate. He too, utilizing him more, he too, is in that identity phase in that formation of himself as a player. And so, one of the things that he does, I think, that’s a credit to him, is that he’s really emphasizing and focusing on the things that he does well. Continuing to do those (things) well, rather than just take it for granted (and) focus on the next thing he would like to build-on. He singles out Trent (McDuffie) in one-on-ones, and often times he’s going to run the same routes over and over against Trent. So really sharpening his fast ball, his main pitch, and then from there, being able to say all right, here’s how I can complement that. And here’s the other moves and the routes that can work off that. So, he’s like a microcosm of the offense, in general. In year two, he’s trying to establish that identity of here’s what I can do against anybody in the league. And then if they start taking it away, here’s how I can complement that.”

Q: What have you seen from Travis Kelce this year? How has he evolved over the years?

BLEYMAIER:&nbsp;“I think, I mean today was a great example. One of the hotter, last days of training camp, in full pads. We started off slow on offense. Travis gets a route one-on-one, and we haven’t seen many completions out there today, and Trav beats his man one-on-one, breaks out for a 20-yard gain, and kind of sets the tone for everybody that ‘Hey, you get man to man coverage, we’re winning these routes. Let’s go.’ So, that, just the veteran that he is, the amount of years out here, and then when everybody was pushing through the dog days of camp, it was him who made the play one-on-one against the defense. That kind of just goes to that bigger picture where maybe you don’t recognize the years as much, because it’s just the same old Trav. That’s what he’s always been doing. But for him to be able to dig deep, and do that, I mean, that was just like a fountain of youth moment today in full pads out here.”

Q: What has stuck out to you the most about Patrick Mahomes this year?

BLEYMAIER:&nbsp;“His ability to communicate with the veteran guys who have been here, and then also the younger guys, Jalen (Royals), who’s learning our offense, some of the newer tight ends, exactly what he wants, through their eyes. So, he can speak to Rashee (Rice) and Xavier (Worthy), Hollywood (Brown), Trav(is) (Kelce), a certain way. They have a communication that sometimes is unspoken, but then with Jalen and some of our newer tight ends and newer pass catchers, he’s been able to communicate exactly what he wants through their eyes. Which is, you can see him almost taking a breath and saying ‘Hey, I know exactly what you were thinking,’ or ‘here’s what I think you thought, and here’s how I saw it,’ and it’s just clicking. I think that’s a maturity and an experience thing from Patrick to be able to recognize the game through their eyes, and see it through their experience, and then meet them where they are. It’s been incredible to watch.”

Chiefs Assistant General Managers Quotes

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE BRADWAY

Q: What is the process for choosing guys in the wide receiver room? What does that conversation look like?

BRADWAY:&nbsp;“I think typically, I mean, I think, you know, the way I see it, I think in the past you kind of wanted to build it like almost like a basketball team a little bit, you know? Different, you know, different skill sets, different types of players. I think we have a lot of talented players in the room. There’s a lot of really good competition. But yeah, I think you can balance speed, physicality, run after catch, you know, special teams, aspect. So, you want to have a lot of diversity in the room in terms of skill sets. But the special team’s aspect is huge. Especially for those depth guys.”

Q: The offensive and defensive lines are always emphasized in the off-season as being a priority. This off-season did it seem like the offensive line had to be the top of list in conversation?

BRADWAY:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think so. And listen, it wasn’t because of, you know, the Super Bowl. I think it was, I think that’s just kind of how we want to build the roster. And we want to infuse it with youth and talent. And fortunately, through free agency and the draft, we were able to do that. And feel good (that) it’s a good blend of youth experience, (and) I think guys with versatility. So really, really, encouraged by what we’ve seen so far.”

Q: On being 31 on the waiver wire and how some rivals are high on the waiver wire.

BRADWAY:&nbsp;“And that’s just the reality of it. It’s a good problem to have. You’ve hit on it pretty well; you’re far down on the claim. But yeah, right now, we’re talking to every team in the league. I mean, you know, myself, all our contacts, we’re just gathering information now. So, whether that would mean potentially trading for a guy, doing a play for a player swap, maybe trying to, maybe there could be a guy that you think would be available to claim. We’re going to be active. I mean, we’re going to watch as many tapes as possible. We’re going to, you know, and maybe it just doesn’t work out, but we’re going to identify certain players that we think could help us now (and) down the road and see where it goes.”

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER CHRIS SHEA

Q: How important was it to get Trey Smith and George Karlaftis signed long-term?

SHEA:&nbsp;“We were very excited to be able to get both of those contracts done and you know, zooming out to the big picture, one of the core operating principles we have that (General Manager Brett) Veech has adopted as the general manager here and goes all the way up to ownership is that we want to draft well and retain our own players to the maximum extent possible that’s feasible within our constraints and we were very happy to get both of those guys done as important starters on both offense and defense.”

Q: On how the changing of salary cap affects their decisions for two to three years in the future.

SHEA:&nbsp;“It is an educated guesstimate, based on a lot of factors but you know generally I think teams tend to be a little bit conservative with protecting the cap, so they make sure they don’t get themselves into any dangerous waters. If the cap comes in a little bit higher than we think, then that’s a pleasant problem to have. It’s sort of found money, for lack of a better term but we work through historical trends and how we see things moving in the future to try and give us a conservative and fair number to work with.”

Q: On the second-round picks across the league not signing initially and if the Chiefs knew that was coming or if it was a curveball.

Chiefs Coaches QuotesAugust 12, 2025ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR DAVE TOUBQ: What did you see the other night as far as special teams?TOUB:&nbsp;“I thought we played – had a good game. It was solid, (we) secured the football, that’s always hard to do. So, it hurt them a little bit. But also, on the other hand, I liked the fact that we did knock the ball out. So, you look at it that way, too. The guys flew around pretty good. Kicking was exceptional, (Harrison) Butker was really trying to work the edges with the kickoffs – a little too close really, that thing could have easily bounced out. You want to try to push the limits right now during the preseason. You want to see how far you can go with it. He’s worked so hard at it, and it’s good to see him have some success there. Then Matt (Araiza) punted well, he had some really good punts. He had the one touchback where I thought we could’ve done a better job with the hang time on that instead of the distance, but he’s moving the ball well (and) he’s gotten better from last year. I’m excited about where we are right now.”Q: With the new kickoff rule, is there something you can learn from in-game experience that you can’t learn in practice?TOUB:&nbsp;“Not really. Our guys are doing different stuff now because you’re allowed to take the middle guy and have him off the line. You can have three guys off the line now, which is, I think it’s an advantage for the kickoff return team. It helped us a little bit, I thought in the game, I think teams are going to use it to their advantage like we did. Other than that, obviously, teams are going to be kicking it into the target zone, that’s going to happen. There’s going to be a lot more returns, a lot more coverages and it’s all good for special teams.”OFFENSIVE LINE COACH ANDY HECKQ: On Josh Simmons progression through the first preseason game, practices, meeting rooms and OTAs?HECK:&nbsp;“It’s a big job for anybody coming in to learn the details of the offense, assignments (and) techniques. Every play has a thousand little details and so picking those things up, that was job one in the spring where he (Josh Simmons) was doing less physical work with us. Since he has gotten to training camp, he’s been able to every day add one or two of these details that are important to each play. So, I’ve seen him steadily improve, and his understanding - and we’re able to have better conversations about what’s going on and I think that’s what we’ll see his trajectory do is just go like this (points up).”Q: How strong is the competition for the eighth, ninth and tenth spot on the roster?HECK:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think this is one of the best years we’ve had in terms of bringing in talent and creating competition across the board. That’s just going to make the group better so, when you talk about the eighth, ninth, and tenth spot, there’s a lot of competition going on and there’s still a lot more to be done there in terms of evaluation. Those preseason games are going to be huge. So, who is operating and grading up, basically getting their guy blocked the most consistently? Who do we trust to put in there on a Sunday or Monday night?Q: Where does Josh Simmons fit among the players you’ve coached based on your experience?HECK:&nbsp;“I’d hesitate to compare guys; every guy is different. I’m still in a learning process myself, of what makes him (Josh Simmons) tick, how does he learn best (and) how can I help him get better? There’s constant communication there. But I would say he’s certainly as talented a player as I’ve ever been around. He loves the game. So, those are two good things, when you’re talented and you love the game, and you want to be the best, you got a great chance to be a good one.”DEFENSIVE LINE COACH JOE CULLENQ: On the similarities between Ashton Gillotte and George Karlaftis.&nbsp;&nbsp;CULLEN:&nbsp;“(They are) very similar. They were coached by the same coach. (Louisville Defensive Line) Coach (Mark) Hagen did a great job with George (Karlaftis) at Purdue, and now he’s at Louisville. But very similar. Both (Ashton Gillotte and George Karlaftis) have great motors, both love football, so (they are) really, really similar.”Q: On getting more sacks this season.CULLEN:&nbsp;“Absolutely. When you look at the two years we won the Super Bowl – and Spags (Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) is as creative as it comes, in terms of getting to the quarterback. We have guys that can get to the quarterback, and we had like 57 or 60 (sacks), two years in a row. And then we dipped a little bit last year, but we picked it up at the end of the year and into the playoffs. So, the thing we (have) got to do a better job of is making sure in certain situations he (the quarterback) doesn’t get out of the pocket. We had opportunities to get him&nbsp;<a>(</a>the quarterback) down and didn’t finish, and that’s been our emphasis this year.”Q: How have you seen Chris Jones embrace his leadership role on the defensive line?CULLEN:&nbsp;“Chris (Jones) is having a phenomenal camp. He hasn’t missed a rep, and this is our fourth year together. He had a similar camp in ‘22. Obviously, he wasn’t here in ’23, (and) he was injured a little bit last year. He hasn’t missed a rep. Long-drive drill, nine-on-seven, one-on-one pass rush, (he’s been) phenomenal. He’s in great physical shape, and he’s on a mission.”DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH DAVE MERRITTQ: What do you like about Nohl Williams?MERRITT:&nbsp;“He (Nohl Williams) competes. He showed some physicality in the game in Arizona. So, those are things that we were looking for, and I just love the fact that the kid, he takes coaching. A lot of guys, sometimes they come in and you don’t know what you’re getting. It’s like a box of chocolates, you have no clue on what you’re going to get. But he takes coaching, so we love that about him.”Q: On Chris Roland-Wallace.MERRITT&nbsp;“Chris (Roland-Wallace) has done a wonderful job for us. I mean, we have him at multiple positions. He did that his rookie year where we played him at safety, (we) played him at nickel, (we) moved him from outside and just really played him closer towards the box. And so (the) young man is very cerebral, and so he’s able to pick up the defenses and then he can do a lot of things for us. Whether it’s strong, free safety, as well as play a little dime or nickel. So having that, kind of, Swiss Army Knife is going to help us out.”Q: What are the challenges of bringing in Kristian Fulton at this time?MERRITT:&nbsp;“I think the challenge for Kristian (Fulton) is just to get his cardio. Because you can go and you can work with your offseason coach, you can go and work with your trainers, but when you come out here and you’re working with a professional coach, as well as going against a professional offense – your cardio is the first thing that you’re going to see. And so I think the good thing about him (Kristian Fulton) is today, I think he wanted to tap out, and then all of a sudden (I) just told him, ‘just keep going.’ Because he needs that, just play after play after play. So, if he can continue to expand and open his lungs, that’s going to help us all out.”WIDE RECEIVERS COACH CONNOR EMBREEQ: On Xavier Worthy’s improvement in route running.EMBREE:&nbsp;“After this season, me and him had a good talk (on) what he needs to get better at and I think he did a good job in the offseason, especially the summer of working on the stuff we were talking about. I think it shows on the field. He’s not just a straight-line go route guy. He can run multiple routes, so I really like what he did. (He) came back in great shape and then like you said he’s gotten better at route running.”Q: On dealing with so many injuries in the wide receiver room last season.EMBREE:&nbsp;“It was difficult, but I think that’s what makes us such a great team. It’s that next man up. All the second, third string guys, they know they’re one play away from being a starter. So that’s credit to them too, being in their book, knowing what to do, and when they got their opportunity, they made the most of it.”Q: On the speed of the wide receivers.EMBREE:&nbsp;“Yeah, it’s fast. It’s like a track team out there. 4x1 team. It’s next man up. They all can run. That’s kind of what our offense is based off of is just speed, speed, speed, speed. And then just like you said, we got a lot of guys that can run. So, I like the depth of our room and the speed of it.”PASS GAME COORDINATOR JOE BLEYMAIERQ: How are you able to use Xavier Worthy now that he’s in year two, in ways you couldn’t in year one?BLEYMAIER:&nbsp;“Yeah, he (Xavier Worthy) has a familiarity with the offense and scheme to where he can do more things. He can put more, in terms of where he aligns, and the routes and the concepts on his plate. He too, utilizing him more, he too, is in that identity phase in that formation of himself as a player. And so, one of the things that he does, I think, that’s a credit to him, is that he’s really emphasizing and focusing on the things that he does well. Continuing to do those (things) well, rather than just take it for granted (and) focus on the next thing he would like to build-on. He singles out Trent (McDuffie) in one-on-ones, and often times he’s going to run the same routes over and over against Trent. So really sharpening his fast ball, his main pitch, and then from there, being able to say all right, here’s how I can complement that. And here’s the other moves and the routes that can work off that. So, he’s like a microcosm of the offense, in general. In year two, he’s trying to establish that identity of here’s what I can do against anybody in the league. And then if they start taking it away, here’s how I can complement that.”Q: What have you seen from Travis Kelce this year? How has he evolved over the years?BLEYMAIER:&nbsp;“I think, I mean today was a great example. One of the hotter, last days of training camp, in full pads. We started off slow on offense. Travis gets a route one-on-one, and we haven’t seen many completions out there today, and Trav beats his man one-on-one, breaks out for a 20-yard gain, and kind of sets the tone for everybody that ‘Hey, you get man to man coverage, we’re winning these routes. Let’s go.’ So, that, just the veteran that he is, the amount of years out here, and then when everybody was pushing through the dog days of camp, it was him who made the play one-on-one against the defense. That kind of just goes to that bigger picture where maybe you don’t recognize the years as much, because it’s just the same old Trav. That’s what he’s always been doing. But for him to be able to dig deep, and do that, I mean, that was just like a fountain of youth moment today in full pads out here.”Q: What has stuck out to you the most about Patrick Mahomes this year?BLEYMAIER:&nbsp;“His ability to communicate with the veteran guys who have been here, and then also the younger guys, Jalen (Royals), who’s learning our offense, some of the newer tight ends, exactly what he wants, through their eyes. So, he can speak to Rashee (Rice) and Xavier (Worthy), Hollywood (Brown), Trav(is) (Kelce), a certain way. They have a communication that sometimes is unspoken, but then with Jalen and some of our newer tight ends and newer pass catchers, he’s been able to communicate exactly what he wants through their eyes. Which is, you can see him almost taking a breath and saying ‘Hey, I know exactly what you were thinking,’ or ‘here’s what I think you thought, and here’s how I saw it,’ and it’s just clicking. I think that’s a maturity and an experience thing from Patrick to be able to recognize the game through their eyes, and see it through their experience, and then meet them where they are. It’s been incredible to watch.”Chiefs Assistant General Managers QuotesAugust 12, 2025ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE BRADWAYQ: What is the process for choosing guys in the wide receiver room? What does that conversation look like?BRADWAY:&nbsp;“I think typically, I mean, I think, you know, the way I see it, I think in the past you kind of wanted to build it like almost like a basketball team a little bit, you know? Different, you know, different skill sets, different types of players. I think we have a lot of talented players in the room. There’s a lot of really good competition. But yeah, I think you can balance speed, physicality, run after catch, you know, special teams, aspect. So, you want to have a lot of diversity in the room in terms of skill sets. But the special team’s aspect is huge. Especially for those depth guys.”Q: The offensive and defensive lines are always emphasized in the off-season as being a priority. This off-season did it seem like the offensive line had to be the top of list in conversation?BRADWAY:&nbsp;“Yeah, I think so. And listen, it wasn’t because of, you know, the Super Bowl. I think it was, I think that’s just kind of how we want to build the roster. And we want to infuse it with youth and talent. And fortunately, through free agency and the draft, we were able to do that. And feel good (that) it’s a good blend of youth experience, (and) I think guys with versatility. So really, really, encouraged by what we’ve seen so far.”Q: On being 31 on the waiver wire and how some rivals are high on the waiver wire.BRADWAY:&nbsp;“And that’s just the reality of it. It’s a good problem to have. You’ve hit on it pretty well; you’re far down on the claim. But yeah, right now, we’re talking to every team in the league. I mean, you know, myself, all our contacts, we’re just gathering information now. So, whether that would mean potentially trading for a guy, doing a play for a player swap, maybe trying to, maybe there could be a guy that you think would be available to claim. We’re going to be active. I mean, we’re going to watch as many tapes as possible. We’re going to, you know, and maybe it just doesn’t work out, but we’re going to identify certain players that we think could help us now (and) down the road and see where it goes.”ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER CHRIS SHEAQ: How important was it to get Trey Smith and George Karlaftis signed long-term?SHEA:&nbsp;“We were very excited to be able to get both of those contracts done and you know, zooming out to the big picture, one of the core operating principles we have that (General Manager Brett) Veech has adopted as the general manager here and goes all the way up to ownership is that we want to draft well and retain our own players to the maximum extent possible that’s feasible within our constraints and we were very happy to get both of those guys done as important starters on both offense and defense.”Q: On how the changing of salary cap affects their decisions for two to three years in the future.SHEA:&nbsp;“It is an educated guesstimate, based on a lot of factors but you know generally I think teams tend to be a little bit conservative with protecting the cap, so they make sure they don’t get themselves into any dangerous waters. If the cap comes in a little bit higher than we think, then that’s a pleasant problem to have. It’s sort of found money, for lack of a better term but we work through historical trends and how we see things moving in the future to try and give us a conservative and fair number to work with.”Q: On the second-round picks across the league not signing initially and if the Chiefs knew that was coming or if it was a curveball.

Chiefs Quotes: 8-12-24

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in the murder of a woman whose body was found in a Wichita park has admitted to killing 30-year-old Mariana Christian.

On Monday, 31-year-old Kyle Bearden entered a plea of guilty during an evidentiary hearing before Judge Jeffrey Goering, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The plea agreement calls for the parties to jointly recommend a prison sentence of life with parole eligibility after 25 years, to be followed by an additional 15 years of imprisonment if parole is granted.

Around 10:30 a.m. on July 21, a friend of Mariana Christian filed a missing person report. The friend said Ms. Christian had a history of mental health challenges and often relied on them for transportation to work. That morning, Christian was not at her home in the 1200 block of S. Paige when the friend arrived to pick her up.

At the residence, the friend encountered an unidentified man later identified as Kyle Bearden who said he didn’t know Ms. Christian’s whereabouts.

He claimed Mariana Christian had left the apartment on Friday, July 18, in a truck with an unknown man and woman and hadn’t returned. He also expressed concern for her safety. Although not listed on the lease, the man appeared to be living in the apartment.

Although Ms. Christian was last seen on Friday, July 18, she wasn’t reported missing until Monday, July 21. After multiple failed attempts to reach her and finding her absence unusual, the friend contacted police. Officers issued an attempt-to-locate alert, and investigators took over the case.

WPD investigators identified Bearden as a person of interest. They followed leads to locate Ms. Christian, discovering evidence of her death and where her remains were left in Cottonwood Park near Armor and Bayley in Wichita.

Wichita Police officers responded to the area and located human remains. Investigators believe Bearden shot Ms. Christian.

Crime scene investigators processed Ms. Christian’s apartment and found evidence of foul play.

On the morning of July 31, the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center positively identified the remains as those of Mariana Christian.

Kyle Bearden was arrested on July 30 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;His sentencing is scheduled for October 20.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753958410010.png" alt="Bearden photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Bearden photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in the murder of a woman whose body was found in a Wichita park has admitted to killing 30-year-old Mariana Christian.On Monday, 31-year-old Kyle Bearden entered a plea of guilty during an evidentiary hearing before Judge Jeffrey Goering, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.The plea agreement calls for the parties to jointly recommend a prison sentence of life with parole eligibility after 25 years, to be followed by an additional 15 years of imprisonment if parole is granted.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754062859608.png" alt="Police issued a missing person alert for Mariana Christian on July 27" />
 <figcaption>Police issued a missing person alert for Mariana Christian on July 27</figcaption>
 </figure>Around 10:30 a.m. on July 21, a friend of Mariana Christian filed a missing person report. The friend said Ms. Christian had a history of mental health challenges and often relied on them for transportation to work. That morning, Christian was not at her home in the 1200 block of S. Paige when the friend arrived to pick her up.At the residence, the friend encountered an unidentified man later identified as Kyle Bearden who said he didn’t know Ms. Christian’s whereabouts.He claimed Mariana Christian had left the apartment on Friday, July 18, in a truck with an unknown man and woman and hadn’t returned. He also expressed concern for her safety. Although not listed on the lease, the man appeared to be living in the apartment.Although Ms. Christian was last seen on Friday, July 18, she wasn’t reported missing until Monday, July 21. After multiple failed attempts to reach her and finding her absence unusual, the friend contacted police. Officers issued an attempt-to-locate alert, and investigators took over the case.WPD investigators identified Bearden as a person of interest. They followed leads to locate Ms. Christian, discovering evidence of her death and where her remains were left in Cottonwood Park near Armor and Bayley in Wichita.Wichita Police officers responded to the area and located human remains. Investigators believe Bearden shot Ms. Christian.Crime scene investigators processed Ms. Christian’s apartment and found evidence of foul play.On the morning of July 31, the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center positively identified the remains as those of Mariana Christian.Kyle Bearden was arrested on July 30 and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;His sentencing is scheduled for October 20.

Man found at missing Kan. woman's home admits killing her

Another regent says of University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, ‘Of all the people I know who deserve second chances, she tops the list’

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755021731102.png" alt=" University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha. June 22, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha. June 22, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Another regent says of University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, ‘Of all the people I know who deserve second chances, she tops the list’</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA —&nbsp;A University of Nebraska regent faces a felony charge for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol and crashing into another vehicle in mid-May, breaking the back and pelvis of a passenger in the other car.NU Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha, 34, a former Douglas County deputy county attorney serving in her seventh year as a regent, is accused of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,198#:~:text=60%2D6%2C198.,bodily%20injury%3B%20violation%3B%20penalty." target="_blank">DUI causing serious bodily injury</a>&nbsp;from the night of May 21 in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood, which is in&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/media/images/maps/2021/regents/omaha.pdf" target="_blank">O’Connor’s district</a>. The Class IIIA felony charge carries a maximum of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=28-105" target="_blank">three years in prison and 18 months post-release supervision</a>.The severity of the allegation could impact whether O’Connor can serve. The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=XV-2" target="_blank">Nebraska Constitution</a>&nbsp;bars felons from&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=29-112" target="_blank">holding public office</a>&nbsp;unless the person’s civil rights are restored by the Nebraska Board of Pardons, which consists of the governor, secretary of state and attorney general.Neither O’Connor nor her attorney has yet addressed her future as a regent, a position to which she was reelected to a 6-year term in November.<h2>Alleged May 21 incident</h2>According to police reports, O’Connor was driving her Subaru Outback east on Blondo Street about 8:33 p.m., when she crossed into the westbound lane and collided with a Ford Focus at the intersection of N 63rd and Blondo Streets.&nbsp;Police said they found a half-empty bottle of Fireball Whisky in O’Connor’s vehicle and wrote that she was showing symptoms of intoxication, including bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred speech and alcohol on her breath.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755021843318.png" alt="A police-drawn diagram of a crash on May 21 allegedly involving University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, whose vehicle is meant to be illustrated in green. (Courtesy of Omaha Police Department)" />
 <figcaption>A police-drawn diagram of a crash on May 21 allegedly involving University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, whose vehicle is meant to be illustrated in green. (Courtesy of Omaha Police Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>Field sobriety tests confirmed her condition, the investigator wrote, and a blood test collected immediately after the crash indicated O’Connor had a blood alcohol concentration of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,196" target="_blank">four times the legal limit</a>: 0.321%.Both vehicles were totaled, according to the accident report. The crash occurred minutes from O’Connor’s home.&nbsp;The vehicle police say her car hit had five passengers in it, including three children. The driver and children sustained minor injuries, according to the police report. The woman seriously injured in the crash and O’Connor, who had minor injuries, were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center.O’Connor declined to comment for this story, and her attorney could not be reached. The family involved in the crash also declined to comment when reached by the Nebraska Examiner. Two listed witnesses did not return calls seeking comment. A spokesperson for the University of Nebraska system said NU “does not comment on ongoing legal matters.”<h2>Douglas County Attorney’s Office</h2>It took two months to file charges, partly because of O’Connor’s employment as a civil attorney in the Douglas County Attorney’s Office until last Tuesday, when she resigned, the timing of which the County Attorney’s Office confirmed.Omaha’s top prosecutors opted out of the case involving O’Connor, citing a potential conflict of interest. That left Omaha City Prosecutor Kevin Slimp to file the felony charge in Douglas County Court on July 30.&nbsp;Slimp told the Examiner a key reason for the delay was waiting for the blood test to come back from the lab.&nbsp;The police report was amended July 22 to include the BAC results. Slimp said he also needed time to review the evidence.Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_568415b8-8810-4e00-8a05-7310b78932f1.html" target="_blank">defended O’Connor a day before she resigned</a>, telling the Omaha World-Herald she had “been an exemplary employee for our office.” He also described what happened as “something that is terrible and needs to be addressed.”O’Connor, a 2015 graduate from Notre Dame Law School, told the local paper through her attorney last week that she&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_9a8194de-a14b-4909-b722-acb3dc45d007.html" target="_blank">decided to resign</a>&nbsp;“after much reflection and support from trusted colleagues.”“While I am proud of my work serving Douglas County, I do not want my pending legal matter to serve as a distraction from the fine work and service the Douglas County Attorney’s Office continues to provide our community,” she said in the statement.O’Connor was booked into the Douglas County Department of Corrections at 9:31 p.m. on July 31. She appeared before a judge the following morning. A county official confirmed she was released after posting 10% of a $25,000 bond around 7 p.m. on Aug. 1.&nbsp;As a condition of her release, O’Connor must participate in Douglas County’s&nbsp;<a href="https://corrections.dccorr.com/community-programs/24-7-sobriety-program" target="_blank">24/7 Sobriety Program</a>&nbsp;with daily monitoring and drug testing.The Douglas County Court, with agreement from the prosecution and defense, waived a stipulation that O’Connor stay within 10 miles of the county. O’Connor’s next court date is Sept. 9 in Douglas County Court.<h2>‘Everything she can to make it right’</h2>NU Regent Paul Kenney, a Republican of Amherst and chair of the NU Board of Regents, said he would be as supportive as he could to O’Connor while not commenting on the criminal case.“Just trying to be a friend and a colleague and do what I can to help,” Kenney said Monday.Kenney and NU Regent Barbara Weitz of Omaha, who joined O’Connor on the board in 2019, told the Examiner that O’Connor has been through a tough time recently in her personal life, which Weitz described as a “year in hell.”O’Connor was the youngest regent elected to the NU board in 2018, at 28 years old, and is one of just a handful of women to serve.Weitz said the situation breaks her heart and that O’Connor “takes responsibility for making a bad choice, but she’s also doing everything she can to make it right.” Weitz said she remains supportive of O’Connor and that it is “imperative” that NU keep her as a regent.&nbsp;<h2>Second chances</h2>Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican who served as a regent for 10 years before becoming governor in 2023, including four years with O’Connor, would get to appoint a successor in the event of a vacancy.The board is officially nonpartisan, and regents are often unanimous in their votes, but the party breakdown on the board is 6 Republicans and 2 Democrats. O’Connor and Weitz are the two Democrats.&nbsp;In seven years — across hundreds of votes — only once has the board split 6-2 along party lines. That was in April, when the regents amended NU bylaws to try to comply with an order from President Donald Trump’s administration against higher education diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Weitz and O’connor&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/11/university-of-nebraska-regents-amend-bylaws-to-comply-with-federal-anti-dei-mandate/">opposed the changes</a>.O’Connor stands out among elected regents as having first served as a student body president and student regent for the University of Nebraska at Omaha, one of four students who serve in advisory roles to the board. She graduated from UNO in 2012.Weitz described O’Connor as an “outstanding” regent, an “excellent” attorney and someone who has NU’s best interests in mind.“Of all the people I know who deserve second chances, she tops the list,” Weitz said Monday. “We’d lose a great deal if we lose her.”