BARTON COUNTY —A U.S. Postal Service worker was hospitalized following a dog attack in Great Bend last week, prompting a multi-day investigation that led to an arrest.

On May 9, police responded to a report of an animal attack in the 1400 block of Lakin Avenue in GreatBend. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a postal worker had been attacked by two dogs. The victim was transported to the hospital in Great Bend for treatment of her injuries.

In the days that followed, detectives and animal control officers launched an investigation to locate the animals involved. On Monday, May 12, around 1:03 p.m., authorities received several tips through Crimestoppers that led them to a residence at 1416 12th Street in Great Bend.

At that location, officers made contact with Dakota Procopio, a 23-year-old man who confirmed he was the owner of the two dogs. Investigators learned that the dogs had been moved to a separate location in Raymond, Kansas. Animal Control officers from the Golden Belt Humane Society located the animals and took them into custody for a state-mandated observation period.

Procopio was arrested and booked into the Barton County Jail. He faces multiple charges including Obstruction of Justice, Dog at Large, No Current Rabies Vaccinations, and Vicious Dog.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or submit a tip anonymously to Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://p3tips.com/">p3tips.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747061000208.jpeg" alt="Images from the police investigation" />
 <figcaption>Images from the police investigation</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —A U.S. Postal Service worker was hospitalized following a dog attack in Great Bend last week, prompting a multi-day investigation that led to an arrest.On May 9, police responded to a report of an animal attack in the 1400 block of Lakin Avenue in GreatBend. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a postal worker had been attacked by two dogs. The victim was transported to the hospital in Great Bend for treatment of her injuries.In the days that followed, detectives and animal control officers launched an investigation to locate the animals involved. On Monday, May 12, around 1:03 p.m., authorities received several tips through Crimestoppers that led them to a residence at 1416 12th Street in Great Bend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747061014830.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>At that location, officers made contact with Dakota Procopio, a 23-year-old man who confirmed he was the owner of the two dogs. Investigators learned that the dogs had been moved to a separate location in Raymond, Kansas. Animal Control officers from the Golden Belt Humane Society located the animals and took them into custody for a state-mandated observation period.Procopio was arrested and booked into the Barton County Jail. He faces multiple charges including Obstruction of Justice, Dog at Large, No Current Rabies Vaccinations, and Vicious Dog.The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or submit a tip anonymously to Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://p3tips.com/">p3tips.com</a>.

Dog owner jailed after attack that hospitalized Kan. postal worker

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

On May 8,&nbsp;Skyler Breann Sledd, 25, of Belton, Missouri was reported to have allegedly fled from the Jackson County District Court and had a warrant for her arrest, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies located her near U.S. Highway 75 and 110th&nbsp; Road in a 2007 Buick Lacrosse.&nbsp; Deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop, near 102nd Road where Sledd was taken into custody. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and resulted in the discovery of illegal drugs and narcotics.

Sledd was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of fentanyl possession, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while revoked and driving with expired registration .

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747008472005.png" alt="Sledd photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Sledd photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.On May 8,&nbsp;Skyler Breann Sledd, 25, of Belton, Missouri was reported to have allegedly fled from the Jackson County District Court and had a warrant for her arrest, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies located her near U.S. Highway 75 and 110th&nbsp; Road in a 2007 Buick Lacrosse.&nbsp; Deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop, near 102nd Road where Sledd was taken into custody. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and resulted in the discovery of illegal drugs and narcotics.Sledd was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of fentanyl possession, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while revoked and driving with expired registration .

Woman who fled from Kan. court is caught with fentanyl

By Ted Schultz Grinnell College Sports Information Director

GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College women’s tennis player Lily Perrin ’25 has left her mark on the school record book.

Perrin completed her collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in doubles victories with 81. She ranks 11th in career singles wins with 58 and her combined 139 victories are just four shy of the school record.

“Tennis has given me so many wonderful experiences. I have met incredible people and played some tough competitors. I am proud to have had so much success at Grinnell,” Perrin said.

Her collegiate career ended on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships in St. Louis, MO. Grinnell was eliminated with a 4-0 loss to eventual regional winner Washington University.

On Friday, Perrin got her final doubles win which helped Grinnell College to a 4-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round. Perrin was competing in the NCAA tournament with the Grinnell women’s team for the fourth straight year.

Perrin, a Sacred Heart graduate, was the 2020 Class 3-2-1A Singles State Champion and helped the Knights win the team championship that year.

By Ted Schultz Grinnell College Sports Information DirectorGRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College women’s tennis player Lily Perrin ’25 has left her mark on the school record book.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747141454533.jpeg" alt="Lily Perrin media day - photo courtesy of Ted Schultz" />
 <figcaption>Lily Perrin media day - photo courtesy of Ted Schultz</figcaption>
 </figure>Perrin completed her collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in doubles victories with 81. She ranks 11th in career singles wins with 58 and her combined 139 victories are just four shy of the school record.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
 </figure>“Tennis has given me so many wonderful experiences. I have met incredible people and played some tough competitors. I am proud to have had so much success at Grinnell,” Perrin said.Her collegiate career ended on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships in St. Louis, MO. Grinnell was eliminated with a 4-0 loss to eventual regional winner Washington University.On Friday, Perrin got her final doubles win which helped Grinnell College to a 4-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round. Perrin was competing in the NCAA tournament with the Grinnell women’s team for the fourth straight year.Perrin, a Sacred Heart graduate, was the 2020 Class 3-2-1A Singles State Champion and helped the Knights win the team championship that year.

Former Sacred Heart grad wraps up phenomenal college tennis career

On Friday night, a man was arrested for illegally possessing a firearm outside the front of the Salina Public Library building.

According to Salina Police Captain James Feldman on May, 9th at around 9:00 am, a Salina resident noticed 37-year old, Deron McGowan was holding a gun in front of the Salina Public Library building.

Feldman stated the resident went to the Saline County building nearby and reported about McGowan to court security. Saline Co. officials then contacted the Salina Police Department. After the report, officers traveled to the library and upon arrival they discovered McGowan in the area.

As police approached McGowan, they located the handgun that was on him. Police determined from his criminal history, that he was prohibited from owning a firearm. Police then apprehended the gun and arrested McGowan.

McGowan was booked into the Saline County Jail for Criminal Possession of a Weapon.&nbsp;

By: NICOLAS FIERROSalina PostOn Friday night, a man was arrested for illegally possessing a firearm outside the front of the Salina Public Library building.According to Salina Police Captain James Feldman on May, 9th at around 9:00 am, a Salina resident noticed 37-year old, Deron McGowan was holding a gun in front of the Salina Public Library building.Feldman stated the resident went to the Saline County building nearby and reported about McGowan to court security. Saline Co. officials then contacted the Salina Police Department. After the report, officers traveled to the library and upon arrival they discovered McGowan in the area.As police approached McGowan, they located the handgun that was on him. Police determined from his criminal history, that he was prohibited from owning a firearm. Police then apprehended the gun and arrested McGowan.McGowan was booked into the Saline County Jail for Criminal Possession of a Weapon.&nbsp;

Police arrest man for illegally possessing firearm around library

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man who hid from police for weeks following a fatal February gunfight made a first court appearance on Friday.

Jerry Johnson III, 20 of Wichita, was charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder.&nbsp;

Just before 6p.m. Feb. 11, police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of S. Bleckley in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesperson Brad Wright.

Officers arrived at the scene and found 23-year-old Manuel Roach with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a disturbance occurred involving Roach and three unidentified men dressed in all black. Following the incident, the suspects departed the scene in a white SUV before law enforcement arrival. The exact circumstances that led up to the shooting are still under investigation, according to Wright. Police do believe this was a targeted incident between individuals known to each other.

Later on Feb. 11, an 18-year-old identified as Sergio Clement arrived at a local hospital with a single gunshot wound to his lower extremity. Through the investigation, it was discovered that Clement and 21-year-old Alan Griffin, Jr. were involved in the fatal shooting of Roach. As a result, both were arrested and booked into Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;

On May 7, deputies booked Johnson into jail after the Wichita Police Department asked the public for information on his whereabouts.&nbsp; On February 14, Johnson was charged by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in reference to his involvement in the homicide.

Johnson is now being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $1 million bond. He is due back in court May 30, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746700121329.png" alt="Johnson-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Johnson-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man who hid from police for weeks following a fatal February gunfight made a first court appearance on Friday.Jerry Johnson III, 20 of Wichita, was charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder.&nbsp;Just before 6p.m. Feb. 11, police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of S. Bleckley in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesperson Brad Wright.Officers arrived at the scene and found 23-year-old Manuel Roach with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates that a disturbance occurred involving Roach and three unidentified men dressed in all black. Following the incident, the suspects departed the scene in a white SUV before law enforcement arrival. The exact circumstances that led up to the shooting are still under investigation, according to Wright. Police do believe this was a targeted incident between individuals known to each other.Later on Feb. 11, an 18-year-old identified as Sergio Clement arrived at a local hospital with a single gunshot wound to his lower extremity. Through the investigation, it was discovered that Clement and 21-year-old Alan Griffin, Jr. were involved in the fatal shooting of Roach. As a result, both were arrested and booked into Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;On May 7, deputies booked Johnson into jail after the Wichita Police Department asked the public for information on his whereabouts.&nbsp; On February 14, Johnson was charged by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in reference to his involvement in the homicide.Johnson is now being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $1 million bond. He is due back in court May 30, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. murder suspect, captured after hiding for weeks, appears before judge

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man has been charged in connection with a shooting that injured three teens.

Pharaoh Brown, 19 of Wichita, is charged with four counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 2a.m. May 3, police investigating an unrelated incident in the 400 block of W. Central Avenue in Wichita. around 2 a.m. when they heard gunshots nearby, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

First responders found an 18-year-old woman with a gunshot wound lying in a parking lot at an apartment complex in the 500 block of W. Central Avenue.&nbsp; Police also found a 17-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl at the scene with minor injuries from the gunfire, according to police.

EMS transported the 18-year-old to a local hospital in critical condition. The other two girls were treated at the scene.

Officers later located Brown in a nearby apartment with a gunshot wound to his lower body. He was treated at a hospital and then&nbsp;booked into jail&nbsp; May 5, according to online records.&nbsp; Brown is due back in court May 19. He is being held on a $1 million bond, according to the district attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746800293613.png" alt="Brown photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man has been charged in connection with a shooting that injured three teens.Pharaoh Brown, 19 of Wichita, is charged with four counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 2a.m. May 3, police investigating an unrelated incident in the 400 block of W. Central Avenue in Wichita. around 2 a.m. when they heard gunshots nearby, according to a statement from Wichita Police.First responders found an 18-year-old woman with a gunshot wound lying in a parking lot at an apartment complex in the 500 block of W. Central Avenue.&nbsp; Police also found a 17-year-old girl and a 16-year-old girl at the scene with minor injuries from the gunfire, according to police.EMS transported the 18-year-old to a local hospital in critical condition. The other two girls were treated at the scene.Officers later located Brown in a nearby apartment with a gunshot wound to his lower body. He was treated at a hospital and then&nbsp;booked into jail&nbsp; May 5, according to online records.&nbsp; Brown is due back in court May 19. He is being held on a $1 million bond, according to the district attorney.

Kan. man, wounded in shooting that injured 3 girls, faces a judge 

VATICAN CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prevost-american-pope-profile-leo-xiv-f9d14d75ae3bbe50bda121f27ee0e42b">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;laid out the vision of his papacy Saturday, identifying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-ai-artificial-intelligence-9805fec11681adbf88d3a7c73bdf47de">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;as one of the most critical matters facing humanity and vowing to continue with some of the core priorities of Pope Francis.

But in a sign he was making the papacy very much his own, Leo made his first outing since his election, traveling to a sanctuary south of Rome that is dedicated to the Madonna and is of particular significance to his Augustinian order and his namesake, Pope Leo XIII.

Townspeople of Genazzano gathered in the square outside the main church housing the Madre del Buon Consiglio (Mother of Good Counsel) sanctuary as Leo arrived and greeted them. The sanctuary, which is managed by Augustinian friars, has been a place of pilgrimage since the 15th century and the previous Pope Leo elevated it to a minor basilica and expanded the adjacent convent in the early 1900s.

After praying in the church, Leo greeted the townspeople and told them they had both a gift and a responsibility in having the Madonna in their midst. He offered a blessing and then got back into the passenger seat of the car, a black Volkswagen. En route back to the Vatican, he stopped to pray at Francis' tomb at St. Mary Major Basilica.

The after-lunch outing came after Leo presided over his first formal audience, with the cardinals who elected him pope. In it Leo repeatedly cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">Francis</a>&nbsp;and the Argentine pope's own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-90d47e095c3c4d1e8cab4c50e61bbd45">2013 mission statement</a>, making clear a commitment to making the Catholic Church more inclusive and attentive to the faithful and a church that looks out for the "least and rejected.”

Leo, the first American pope, told the cardinals that he was fully committed to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church. He identified AI as one of the main issues facing humanity, saying it poses challenges to defending human dignity, justice and labor.

The Vatican, meanwhile, provided hints of its own about the Leo pontificate: It revealed Saturday that Leo would retain the motto and coat of arms that he had as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru that emphasize unity in the church.

The motto, “In Illo uno unum,” was pronounced by St. Augustine in a sermon to explain that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” The emblem is that of the Augustinian order: a pierced flaming heart and a book, representing the Scriptures.

The Vatican also provided details about the pectoral cross that Leo is wearing: It was a gift from the Augustinian order when he was made a cardinal in 2023. It contains relics of St. Augustine and his mother, St. Monica, who was crucial in his conversion to Christianity.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-new-pope-leo-xiv-robert-prevost-order-st-augustine-d803636fad69fe4d4c919181fc5ad5c1">St. Augustine of Hippo</a>&nbsp;is one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity. The Augustinian order, formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars, is dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.

Leo referred to AI in explaining the choice of his name: His namesake,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-vatican-name-77c4f1d0f7a6e1bf68f06679b6a55a43">Pope Leo XIII</a>, was pope from 1878 to 1903 and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. He did so most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers’ rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. The late pope criticized both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching.

In his remarks Saturday, Leo said he identified with his predecessor.

“In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” he said.

Toward the end of his pontificate, Francis became increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI and called for an international treaty to regulate it.

Francis in many ways saw the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost as something of an heir apparent: He moved him to take over a small Peruvian diocese in 2014, where Prevost later became bishop and head of the Peruvian bishops conference, and then called him to Rome to take over one of the most important Vatican offices vetting bishop nominations in 2023.

In the speech, delivered in Italian in the Vatican’s synod hall — not the Apostolic Palace — Leo made repeated references to Francis and the mourning over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-d6a8a471978c21c71c3f1dc07f663e78">his death.</a>&nbsp;He held up Francis’ 2013 mission statement, “The Joy of the Gospel,” as something of his own marching orders.

He cited Francis' insistence on the missionary nature of the church and the need to make its leadership more collegial. He cited the need to pay attention to what the faithful say “especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, especially popular piety.”

Again, referring to Francis' 2013 mission statement, Leo cited the need for the church to express “loving care for the least and rejected” and engage in courageous dialogue with the contemporary world.

Greeted by a standing ovation, Leo read from his prepared text, only looking up occasionally. Even when he first appeared to the world on Thursday night, Leo read from a prepared, handwritten text in Italian that he must have drafted sometime before his historic election or the hour or so after. He seemed most comfortable speaking off-the-cuff in the few words he pronounced in Spanish.

Prevost was elected the 267th pontiff on Thursday on the fourth ballot of the conclave, an exceptionally fast outcome given this was the largest and most geographically diverse conclave in history and not all cardinals knew one another before arriving in Rome.

Madagascar Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana told reporters on Saturday that on the final ballot, Prevost had received “more” than 100 of the 133 votes. That suggests an extraordinary margin, well beyond the two-thirds, or 89 votes, necessary to be elected.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state who had been considered one of the top contenders to be pope, offered his congratulations on Saturday in a letter published in his hometown paper, Il Giornale di Vicenza.

Parolin praised Leo's grasp of today's problems, recalling his first words from the loggia when he spoke of the need for a peace that is "disarmed and disarming." Parolin said he had appreciated Prevost's leadership in Chiclayo, saying he helped handle a particularly thorny problem — with no details — and grew to appreciate his governance more closely at the Vatican handling the bishops' office.

Specifically, Parolin praised Leo's understanding of people and situations, his “calmness in argumentation, balance in proposing solutions, respect, care and love for everyone.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746737123268.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prevost-american-pope-profile-leo-xiv-f9d14d75ae3bbe50bda121f27ee0e42b">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;laid out the vision of his papacy Saturday, identifying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-ai-artificial-intelligence-9805fec11681adbf88d3a7c73bdf47de">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;as one of the most critical matters facing humanity and vowing to continue with some of the core priorities of Pope Francis.But in a sign he was making the papacy very much his own, Leo made his first outing since his election, traveling to a sanctuary south of Rome that is dedicated to the Madonna and is of particular significance to his Augustinian order and his namesake, Pope Leo XIII.Townspeople of Genazzano gathered in the square outside the main church housing the Madre del Buon Consiglio (Mother of Good Counsel) sanctuary as Leo arrived and greeted them. The sanctuary, which is managed by Augustinian friars, has been a place of pilgrimage since the 15th century and the previous Pope Leo elevated it to a minor basilica and expanded the adjacent convent in the early 1900s.After praying in the church, Leo greeted the townspeople and told them they had both a gift and a responsibility in having the Madonna in their midst. He offered a blessing and then got back into the passenger seat of the car, a black Volkswagen. En route back to the Vatican, he stopped to pray at Francis' tomb at St. Mary Major Basilica.The after-lunch outing came after Leo presided over his first formal audience, with the cardinals who elected him pope. In it Leo repeatedly cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">Francis</a>&nbsp;and the Argentine pope's own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-90d47e095c3c4d1e8cab4c50e61bbd45">2013 mission statement</a>, making clear a commitment to making the Catholic Church more inclusive and attentive to the faithful and a church that looks out for the "least and rejected.”Leo, the first American pope, told the cardinals that he was fully committed to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church. He identified AI as one of the main issues facing humanity, saying it poses challenges to defending human dignity, justice and labor.<h2>Some signs about the future emerge</h2>The Vatican, meanwhile, provided hints of its own about the Leo pontificate: It revealed Saturday that Leo would retain the motto and coat of arms that he had as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru that emphasize unity in the church.The motto, “In Illo uno unum,” was pronounced by St. Augustine in a sermon to explain that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” The emblem is that of the Augustinian order: a pierced flaming heart and a book, representing the Scriptures.The Vatican also provided details about the pectoral cross that Leo is wearing: It was a gift from the Augustinian order when he was made a cardinal in 2023. It contains relics of St. Augustine and his mother, St. Monica, who was crucial in his conversion to Christianity.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-new-pope-leo-xiv-robert-prevost-order-st-augustine-d803636fad69fe4d4c919181fc5ad5c1">St. Augustine of Hippo</a>&nbsp;is one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity. The Augustinian order, formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars, is dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.<h2>Identifying with Pope Francis</h2>Leo referred to AI in explaining the choice of his name: His namesake,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-vatican-name-77c4f1d0f7a6e1bf68f06679b6a55a43">Pope Leo XIII</a>, was pope from 1878 to 1903 and laid the foundation for modern Catholic social thought. He did so most famously with his 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers’ rights and capitalism at the dawn of the industrial age. The late pope criticized both laissez-faire capitalism and state-centric socialism, giving shape to a distinctly Catholic vein of economic teaching.In his remarks Saturday, Leo said he identified with his predecessor.“In our own day, the church offers everyone the treasury of its social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor,” he said.Toward the end of his pontificate, Francis became increasingly vocal about the threats to humanity posed by AI and called for an international treaty to regulate it.Francis in many ways saw the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost as something of an heir apparent: He moved him to take over a small Peruvian diocese in 2014, where Prevost later became bishop and head of the Peruvian bishops conference, and then called him to Rome to take over one of the most important Vatican offices vetting bishop nominations in 2023.In the speech, delivered in Italian in the Vatican’s synod hall — not the Apostolic Palace — Leo made repeated references to Francis and the mourning over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-d6a8a471978c21c71c3f1dc07f663e78">his death.</a>&nbsp;He held up Francis’ 2013 mission statement, “The Joy of the Gospel,” as something of his own marching orders.He cited Francis' insistence on the missionary nature of the church and the need to make its leadership more collegial. He cited the need to pay attention to what the faithful say “especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, especially popular piety.”Again, referring to Francis' 2013 mission statement, Leo cited the need for the church to express “loving care for the least and rejected” and engage in courageous dialogue with the contemporary world.<h2>A quick conclave</h2>Greeted by a standing ovation, Leo read from his prepared text, only looking up occasionally. Even when he first appeared to the world on Thursday night, Leo read from a prepared, handwritten text in Italian that he must have drafted sometime before his historic election or the hour or so after. He seemed most comfortable speaking off-the-cuff in the few words he pronounced in Spanish.Prevost was elected the 267th pontiff on Thursday on the fourth ballot of the conclave, an exceptionally fast outcome given this was the largest and most geographically diverse conclave in history and not all cardinals knew one another before arriving in Rome.Madagascar Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana told reporters on Saturday that on the final ballot, Prevost had received “more” than 100 of the 133 votes. That suggests an extraordinary margin, well beyond the two-thirds, or 89 votes, necessary to be elected.<h2>A comment from a contender</h2>Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state who had been considered one of the top contenders to be pope, offered his congratulations on Saturday in a letter published in his hometown paper, Il Giornale di Vicenza.Parolin praised Leo's grasp of today's problems, recalling his first words from the loggia when he spoke of the need for a peace that is "disarmed and disarming." Parolin said he had appreciated Prevost's leadership in Chiclayo, saying he helped handle a particularly thorny problem — with no details — and grew to appreciate his governance more closely at the Vatican handling the bishops' office.Specifically, Parolin praised Leo's understanding of people and situations, his “calmness in argumentation, balance in proposing solutions, respect, care and love for everyone.”___

Pope Leo XIV warns over AI as he lays out vision of papacy 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple sex crime allegations.

On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division served two search warrants in response to a report that had been filed regarding sex crimes against a minor, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Search warrants were served in the 6700 Block of SW Windwood Lane and the 8100 Block of Meadow Lane in Mayetta, Kansas. Deputies arrested 53-year-old Anthony S. Whayne Jr. of Mayetta and booked him into the Shawnee County Dept. of Corrections on requested charges of rape, abuse of a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746709972604.png" alt="Whayne photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Whayne photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple sex crime allegations.On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division served two search warrants in response to a report that had been filed regarding sex crimes against a minor, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Search warrants were served in the 6700 Block of SW Windwood Lane and the 8100 Block of Meadow Lane in Mayetta, Kansas. Deputies arrested 53-year-old Anthony S. Whayne Jr. of Mayetta and booked him into the Shawnee County Dept. of Corrections on requested charges of rape, abuse of a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.

Kansas man jailed for alleged violent child sex crimes

As the school year winds down,&nbsp;summer at Salina Public Library is just getting started. The library is launching a season full of reading, learning, and celebration with programs designed to engage the community and promote literacy for all ages. At the heart of this year’s initiative is an exciting goal: to read&nbsp;20,000 books as a community&nbsp;by the end of the summer.

Participating in the challenge is simple—just read or listen to books and report how many you complete each week for the chance to win prizes. Summer reading cards can be submitted in person at the library or online through the library’s website. Whether it's picture books, chapter books, novels, or audiobooks, every book counts toward our shared goal.

The summer kicks off on&nbsp;Friday, May 23, with a&nbsp;Summer Kickoff Party&nbsp;from&nbsp;5-7 p.m.&nbsp;south of the library at&nbsp;Caldwell Plaza. Families can enjoy carnival games, face painting, and free pizza while supplies last. That same day, the library will begin distributing&nbsp;Summer Learning Packets, available in the Technology Center. These free packets are designed to help prevent the summer slide and include age-appropriate reading and activity challenges. Completed packets can be turned in for prize tickets.

To further support local families, the library is partnering with&nbsp;St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church&nbsp;to offer&nbsp;free grab-and-go lunches&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;May 27 through August 1, available&nbsp;weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.&nbsp;at the&nbsp;McKenzie Center&nbsp;across from the library. This drive-up service prioritizes children and teens ages 0–18, with adult lunches available afterward if supplies allow. Lunches are first come, first served and will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

Later in the summer, readers are invited to celebrate their hard work. On&nbsp;Sunday, July 27, the library will host a&nbsp;Youth Summer Celebration&nbsp;at&nbsp;Kenwood Cove&nbsp;from&nbsp;6:30-8:30 p.m., complete with swimming, frozen treats, and fun. 

Tickets are required and cover entry for one youth and one adult. Then, on&nbsp;Friday, August 1, the library will wrap up the season with an&nbsp;Adult Summer Party&nbsp;at&nbsp;Candiles Tacos and Tequila. Details about the event will be released in the coming weeks.

“Our goal is simple: to get people reading,” said Assistant Director Amy Adams. “Everything we do, from learning packets to community lunches to celebrations, is about supporting literacy and helping people of all ages stay connected, curious, and inspired.”

For more information about summer reading, events, or to submit your reading totals, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://salinapubliclibrary.org/">salinapubliclibrary.org</a>&nbsp;or follow Salina Public Library on Facebook and Instagram.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746815043721.jpeg" alt="Salina Public Library Photo Courtesy" />
 <figcaption>Salina Public Library Photo Courtesy</figcaption>
 </figure>By: KATIE ZEYSalina Public LibraryAs the school year winds down,&nbsp;summer at Salina Public Library is just getting started. The library is launching a season full of reading, learning, and celebration with programs designed to engage the community and promote literacy for all ages. At the heart of this year’s initiative is an exciting goal: to read&nbsp;20,000 books as a community&nbsp;by the end of the summer.Participating in the challenge is simple—just read or listen to books and report how many you complete each week for the chance to win prizes. Summer reading cards can be submitted in person at the library or online through the library’s website. Whether it's picture books, chapter books, novels, or audiobooks, every book counts toward our shared goal.The summer kicks off on&nbsp;Friday, May 23, with a&nbsp;Summer Kickoff Party&nbsp;from&nbsp;5-7 p.m.&nbsp;south of the library at&nbsp;Caldwell Plaza. Families can enjoy carnival games, face painting, and free pizza while supplies last. That same day, the library will begin distributing&nbsp;Summer Learning Packets, available in the Technology Center. These free packets are designed to help prevent the summer slide and include age-appropriate reading and activity challenges. Completed packets can be turned in for prize tickets.To further support local families, the library is partnering with&nbsp;St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church&nbsp;to offer&nbsp;free grab-and-go lunches&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;May 27 through August 1, available&nbsp;weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.&nbsp;at the&nbsp;McKenzie Center&nbsp;across from the library. This drive-up service prioritizes children and teens ages 0–18, with adult lunches available afterward if supplies allow. Lunches are first come, first served and will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.Later in the summer, readers are invited to celebrate their hard work. On&nbsp;Sunday, July 27, the library will host a&nbsp;Youth Summer Celebration&nbsp;at&nbsp;Kenwood Cove&nbsp;from&nbsp;6:30-8:30 p.m., complete with swimming, frozen treats, and fun. Tickets are required and cover entry for one youth and one adult. Then, on&nbsp;Friday, August 1, the library will wrap up the season with an&nbsp;Adult Summer Party&nbsp;at&nbsp;Candiles Tacos and Tequila. Details about the event will be released in the coming weeks.“Our goal is simple: to get people reading,” said Assistant Director Amy Adams. “Everything we do, from learning packets to community lunches to celebrations, is about supporting literacy and helping people of all ages stay connected, curious, and inspired.”For more information about summer reading, events, or to submit your reading totals, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://salinapubliclibrary.org/">salinapubliclibrary.org</a>&nbsp;or follow Salina Public Library on Facebook and Instagram.

Salina Public Library Launches Summer Program This Month

Ever wonder what zero gravity feels? Well Zero-G (Zero-Gravity) is the right way to experience just that. 

Zero-G, a one-of-a-kind first and only provider of commercial weightless flights in the country has made a stop right here in heart of Kansas for research purposes.

Since Monday, April 28th Zero-G has been in Salina conducting a 3-week research campaign at the Salina Regional Airport (SLN). According to Director of Research Operations Shay Bhardwaj, researchers from all over the world have come together in Salina to test the overall platform of Zero-G's modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft. This is aircraft is built to perform parabolic maneuvers that simulate microgravity. (Parabolic flights is when an aircraft follows a curved path, resembling a parabola, to create temporary periods of weightlessness or reduced gravity).

According to Bhardwaj, Zero-G commercial flights reach up to an altitude of 30,000 feet and passengers can experience what gravity would be like in space. The aircraft is set up where the front of the plane is called the "floating zone," which is&nbsp; a fully padded standing area and the back is a seating area for passengers. Once the aircraft has reached to 30,000 feet passengers can then get up out of their seats and enjoy the zero gravity experience.&nbsp;

Each flight includes 15 parabolas, providing passengers with approximately 30 seconds of weightlessness per parabola. The entire experience lasts about 90 to 100 minutes.

Zero-G has dedicated military airspace, which allows them to perform their parabolic maneuvers safely.&nbsp;

According to the company, Zero-Gravity was founded in Texas back in 1993 by&nbsp;Dr. Peter Diamandis, astronaut Dr. Byron K. Lichtenberg and NASA engineer Ray Cronise (who is also a K-State Salina Representative).&nbsp;

In August 2004,&nbsp;Zero-G flew its first commercial flight while operating under the same safety standards as all major airlines. Since then, Zero-G established itself as the first and only commercial zero-gravity flight provider for the general public.&nbsp;

Then in&nbsp;April 2006, Zero-G became the first commercial company to gain permission from the Kennedy Space Center to use the historic shuttle runway and landing facilities to operate its weightlessness flights.&nbsp;

A few short years later, NASA closed its own Parabolic Flight office in favor of naming Zero-G their exclusive parabolic flight provider. Zero-G has been a partner with NASA to support the agency’s scientific research. Zero-G has flown more than 2,300 research missions since its establishment.

Zero-G performs research, consumer (public) and private charter flights at costs that vary. Various Employees from Zero-G mentioned they have flown celebrities, media companies, weddings, birthday parties, mega corporations and more for their "private charter flights."&nbsp;

Zero-G mentioned they are seeking for a permanent home and Salina may just be the one for them.

Book a Flight Encounter the Zero-Gravity Experience

SLN is hosting Zero-G's research campaign till next week, which means they are not accepting anyone from the public to board their planes at the moment. However, if anyone from the public wishes to book a consumer flight they can do so by going to their website&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gozerog.com/flight-schedule">https://www.gozerog.com/flight-schedule</a>. Choose the option&nbsp;"public flights"&nbsp;to book today.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746811985852.jpeg" alt="Photo by Nicolas Fierro, Salina Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Nicolas Fierro, Salina Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By: NICOLAS FIERROSalina PostEver wonder what zero gravity feels? Well Zero-G (Zero-Gravity) is the right way to experience just that. Zero-G, a one-of-a-kind first and only provider of commercial weightless flights in the country has made a stop right here in heart of Kansas for research purposes.Since Monday, April 28th Zero-G has been in Salina conducting a 3-week research campaign at the Salina Regional Airport (SLN). According to Director of Research Operations Shay Bhardwaj, researchers from all over the world have come together in Salina to test the overall platform of Zero-G's modified Boeing 727-200 aircraft. This is aircraft is built to perform parabolic maneuvers that simulate microgravity. (Parabolic flights is when an aircraft follows a curved path, resembling a parabola, to create temporary periods of weightlessness or reduced gravity).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746811402602.jpeg" alt="Zero-G Commercial aircraft in the air performing a parabolic flight; Zero-G Courtesy Photo" />
 <figcaption>Zero-G Commercial aircraft in the air performing a parabolic flight; Zero-G Courtesy Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>According to Bhardwaj, Zero-G commercial flights reach up to an altitude of 30,000 feet and passengers can experience what gravity would be like in space. The aircraft is set up where the front of the plane is called the "floating zone," which is&nbsp; a fully padded standing area and the back is a seating area for passengers. Once the aircraft has reached to 30,000 feet passengers can then get up out of their seats and enjoy the zero gravity experience.&nbsp;Each flight includes 15 parabolas, providing passengers with approximately 30 seconds of weightlessness per parabola. The entire experience lasts about 90 to 100 minutes.Zero-G has dedicated military airspace, which allows them to perform their parabolic maneuvers safely.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812017489.jpeg" alt="Photo by Nicolas Fierro, Salina Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Nicolas Fierro, Salina Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>History of Zero-G</h2>According to the company, Zero-Gravity was founded in Texas back in 1993 by&nbsp;Dr. Peter Diamandis, astronaut Dr. Byron K. Lichtenberg and NASA engineer Ray Cronise (who is also a K-State Salina Representative).&nbsp;In August 2004,&nbsp;Zero-G flew its first commercial flight while operating under the same safety standards as all major airlines. Since then, Zero-G established itself as the first and only commercial zero-gravity flight provider for the general public.&nbsp;Then in&nbsp;April 2006, Zero-G became the first commercial company to gain permission from the Kennedy Space Center to use the historic shuttle runway and landing facilities to operate its weightlessness flights.&nbsp;A few short years later, NASA closed its own Parabolic Flight office in favor of naming Zero-G their exclusive parabolic flight provider. Zero-G has been a partner with NASA to support the agency’s scientific research. Zero-G has flown more than 2,300 research missions since its establishment.Zero-G performs research, consumer (public) and private charter flights at costs that vary. Various Employees from Zero-G mentioned they have flown celebrities, media companies, weddings, birthday parties, mega corporations and more for their "private charter flights."&nbsp;Zero-G mentioned they are seeking for a permanent home and Salina may just be the one for them.<h2>Book a Flight Encounter the Zero-Gravity Experience</h2>SLN is hosting Zero-G's research campaign till next week, which means they are not accepting anyone from the public to board their planes at the moment. However, if anyone from the public wishes to book a consumer flight they can do so by going to their website&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gozerog.com/flight-schedule">https://www.gozerog.com/flight-schedule</a>. Choose the option&nbsp;"public flights"&nbsp;to book today.

Salina Regional Airport Hosts Unique Zero-Gravity Aircraft

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a man&nbsp;following a bizarre and violent encounter with officers at the Casey’s General Store in the 1700 block of W. 6th Street in Lawrence, according to a social media report from police.

Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police called to the store for a report of a transient man in the store bathroom, with a dog, refusing to leave. Officers entered the bathroom and discovered the man naked and performing a sexual act on himself. 

Officers attempted to arrest the man after he refused to stop, but he began fighting the officers, who radioed for emergency assistance. The man was tased twice but continued to fight. 

Eventually, officers were able to get the man in handcuffs, but he continued to resist being restrained, and while still in the cramped bathroom, the man bit onto his dog’s ear and neck, refusing to let go. 

As more officers arrived on scene, they were able to subdue the man and assisted LDCFM in transporting him to the hospital for evaluation. Once released, the man will be transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked on a litany of charges after he is identified. 

Multiple officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle, including an officer who was treated at the hospital for a puncturing bite wound from the suspect. 

Officers transported the dog to the Lawrence Humane Society for treatment and evaluation of minor injuries.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a man&nbsp;following a bizarre and violent encounter with officers at the Casey’s General Store in the 1700 block of W. 6th Street in Lawrence, according to a social media report from police.Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police called to the store for a report of a transient man in the store bathroom, with a dog, refusing to leave. Officers entered the bathroom and discovered the man naked and performing a sexual act on himself. Officers attempted to arrest the man after he refused to stop, but he began fighting the officers, who radioed for emergency assistance. The man was tased twice but continued to fight. Eventually, officers were able to get the man in handcuffs, but he continued to resist being restrained, and while still in the cramped bathroom, the man bit onto his dog’s ear and neck, refusing to let go. As more officers arrived on scene, they were able to subdue the man and assisted LDCFM in transporting him to the hospital for evaluation. Once released, the man will be transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked on a litany of charges after he is identified. Multiple officers suffered minor injuries during the scuffle, including an officer who was treated at the hospital for a puncturing bite wound from the suspect. Officers transported the dog to the Lawrence Humane Society for treatment and evaluation of minor injuries.

Police: Naked man bit dog, injured officers at Kan. gas station

Salina Unified School District (USD) 305 are providing free meals for all children ages 1 - 18 this summer with no signup, eligibility or paperwork required.&nbsp;

According to USD 305, starting June 2nd children and adults are invited to participate in the Summer Food Program. This program includes:

Breakfast and lunch with activities, provided by the Salina Educators. The Salina Area United Way will also provide book giveaways during the program.

Adults are also welcome to eat breakfast for $3.25 and lunch for $5.25.&nbsp;

The Summer Food Program will run from June 2nd - June 19th.&nbsp;

Central High School on 650 E. Crawford St. from&nbsp;7:45 am - 8:15 am

Heusner Elementary on 1300 Norton St. from&nbsp;7:45 am - 8:15 am

Schilling Elementary on 3121 Canterbury Dr. from&nbsp;7:45 am - 8:15 am

Central High School from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Heusner Elementary&nbsp;from&nbsp;12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Schilling Elementary from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Salina Fieldhouse on 140 N. 5th St. from&nbsp;12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Heartland Early Education on 700 Jupiter Ave. from&nbsp;12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.usd305.com/">www.usd305.com</a>&nbsp;and click on the Summer Food Program banner to view menus, activities and other information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584738604512.jpeg" alt="USD 305 Photo Courtesy" />
 <figcaption>USD 305 Photo Courtesy</figcaption>
 </figure>By: NICOLAS FIERROSalina Unified School District (USD) 305 are providing free meals for all children ages 1 - 18 this summer with no signup, eligibility or paperwork required.&nbsp;According to USD 305, starting June 2nd children and adults are invited to participate in the Summer Food Program. This program includes:Breakfast and lunch with activities, provided by the Salina Educators. The Salina Area United Way will also provide book giveaways during the program.Adults are also welcome to eat breakfast for $3.25 and lunch for $5.25.&nbsp;The Summer Food Program will run from June 2nd - June 19th.&nbsp;<h2>The list of locations for breakfast:</h2>Central High School on 650 E. Crawford St. from&nbsp;7:45 am - 8:15 amHeusner Elementary on 1300 Norton St. from&nbsp;7:45 am - 8:15 amSchilling Elementary on 3121 Canterbury Dr. from&nbsp;7:45 am - 8:15 am<h2>For lunch:</h2>Central High School from 11:00 am - 1:00 pmHeusner Elementary&nbsp;from&nbsp;12:00 pm - 1:00 pmSchilling Elementary from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pmSalina Fieldhouse on 140 N. 5th St. from&nbsp;12:00 pm - 1:00 pmHeartland Early Education on 700 Jupiter Ave. from&nbsp;12:00 pm - 1:00 pmVisit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.usd305.com/">www.usd305.com</a>&nbsp;and click on the Summer Food Program banner to view menus, activities and other information.

USD 305 Starts Summer Food Program This Summer

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement investigating a fatal gun fight in February have a third suspect in custody.

Sedgwick County arrest records show deputies booked 20-year-old Jerry Johnson into jail Wednesday afternoon on requested charges of first-degree murder.

The Wichita Police Department asked the public for information on the whereabouts of&nbsp; Johnson. On February 14, Johnson was charged by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in reference to his involvement the homicide.

Johnson is now being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $1 million bond, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police have not reported details of the arrest.&nbsp; He is due to make a&nbsp; &nbsp;court appearance on Thursday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739989718610.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement investigating a fatal gun fight in February have a third suspect in custody.Sedgwick County arrest records show deputies booked 20-year-old Jerry Johnson into jail Wednesday afternoon on requested charges of first-degree murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746700121329.png" alt="Johnson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Johnson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 6p.m. Feb. 11, police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of S. Bleckley in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesperson Brad Wright.Officers arrived at the scene and found 23-year-old Manuel Roach with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates that a disturbance occurred involving Roach and three unidentified men dressed in all black. Following the incident, the suspects departed the scene in a white SUV before law enforcement arrival. The exact circumstances that led up to the shooting are still under investigation, according to Wright. Police do believe this was a targeted incident between individuals known to each other.Later on Feb. 11, an 18-year-old identified as Sergio Clement arrived at a local hospital with a single gunshot wound to his lower extremity. Through the investigation, it was discovered that Clement and 21-year-old Alan Griffin, Jr. were involved in the fatal shooting of Roach. As a result, both were arrested and booked into Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department asked the public for information on the whereabouts of&nbsp; Johnson. On February 14, Johnson was charged by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in reference to his involvement the homicide.Johnson is now being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a $1 million bond, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police have not reported details of the arrest.&nbsp; He is due to make a&nbsp; &nbsp;court appearance on Thursday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

After nearly 3 months wanted Kan. murder suspect captured

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is tapping Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer with close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-autism-medicare-medicaid-0507cd8117f299a50bc20b9ea8569048">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.</a>, as his nominee for surgeon general after withdrawing his initial pick for the influential health post.

Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that Means has “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials” – referring to the “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccines-food-additives-pharmaceuticals-trump-797750f5f141161778792e84602b57c8">Make America Healthy Again</a>&nbsp;” slogan – and that she will work to eradicate chronic disease and improve the health and well-being of Americans.

“Her academic achievements, together with her life’s work, are absolutely outstanding,” Trump said. “Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History.”

In doing so, Trump withdrew former Fox News medical contributor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-trump-marty-makary-34424f5fefcbbc334c1983b025523aad">Janette Nesheiwat</a>&nbsp;for U.S. surgeon general, marking at least the second health-related pick from Trump to be pulled from Senate consideration. Nesheiwat had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday for her confirmation hearing.

Means and her brother, former lobbyist Calley Means, served as key advisers to Kennedy’s longshot 2024 presidential bid and helped broker his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-trump-speech-arizona-a2638f89ddcb5de03edbe4574ca17d45">endorsement of Trump</a>&nbsp;last summer. The pair made appearances with some of Trump’s biggest supporters, winning praise from conservative pundit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-tucker-carlson-ailes-bill-oreilly-7aff2465fe2779930ebf6882e085f9c6">Tucker Carlson</a>&nbsp;and podcaster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-criticism-musk-rogan-portnoy-ackman-7ee3cda2fe172d707af93e042e2009dd">Joe Rogan</a>. Calley Means is currently a White House adviser who appears frequently on television to promote restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-banks-campaign-against-hunger-snap-pantry-665c19251b5d83bbed45a29958f79609">SNAP benefits</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fluoride-water-cdc-kennedy-02d931af8f025877a9e3d332bf215c69">removing fluoride</a>&nbsp;from drinking water and other MAHA agenda items.

Casey Means has no government experience and dropped out of her surgical residency program, saying she became disillusioned with traditional medicine. She founded a health tech company, Levels, that helps users track blood sugar and other metrics. She also makes money from dietary supplements, creams, teas and other products sponsored on her social media accounts.

In interviews and articles, Means and her brother describe a dizzying web of influences to blame for the nation’s health problems, including corrupt food conglomerates that have hooked Americans on unhealthy diets, leaving them reliant on daily medications from the pharmaceutical industry to manage obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions.

Few health experts would dispute that the American diet — full of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ultraprocessed-foods-healthy-diet-0501eb985016149541e6cc727e55dfea">processed foods</a>&nbsp;— is a contributor to obesity and related problems. But Means goes further, linking changes in diet and lifestyle to a raft of conditions including infertility, Alzheimer’s, depression and erectile dysfunction.

“Almost every chronic health symptom that Western medicine addresses is the result of our cells being beleaguered by how we’ve come to live,” Means said in a 2024 book co-written with her brother.

Food experts say it’s overly simplistic to declare that all&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c06a1200807c4b82a03452d08d480692">processed foods</a>&nbsp;are harmful, since the designation covers an estimated 60% of U.S. foods, including products as diverse as granola, peanut butter and potato chips.

“They are not all created equal,” said Gabby Headrick, a nutrition researcher at George Washington University’s school of public health. “It is much more complicated than just pointing the finger at ultra-processed foods as the driver of chronic disease in the United States.”

Means has mostly steered clear of Kennedy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-election-vaccines-2ccde2df146f57b5e8c26e8494f0a16a">controversial and debunked views on vaccines</a>. But on her website, she has called for more investigation into their safety and recommends making it easier for patients to sue drugmakers in the event of vaccine injuries. Since the late 1980s, federal law has shielded those companies from legal liability to encourage development of vaccines without the threat of costly personal injury lawsuits.

She trained as a surgeon at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stanford-u-of-california-justice-department-probe-77f7c2c66cf27daf60442121c6ba71bf">Stanford University</a>&nbsp;but has built an online following by criticizing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-cohen-trump-weldon-kennedy-ec9b1b69fa9e3f61b4033fd095c20ab9">medical establishment</a>&nbsp;and promoting natural foods and lifestyle changes to reverse&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-common-is-obesity-us-5663c0388b19009eae3834d695710bc4">obesity</a>, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

If confirmed as surgeon general, Means would be tasked with helping promote&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-things-to-know-explained-who-is-hhs-5288a4a7277d1a0b4a7ede8f57a971ce">Kennedy’s sprawling MAHA agenda</a>, which calls for removing thousands of additives and chemicals from U.S. foods, rooting out conflicts of interest at federal agencies and incentivizing healthier foods in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lunchables-removed-national-school-lunch-program-a4a97b8c85932ba28fb9de22f1f82abe">school lunches</a>&nbsp;and other nutrition programs.

Nesheiwat, Trump's first pick, is a medical director for an urgent care company in New York and has appeared regularly on Fox News to offer medical expertise and insights. She is a vocal supporter of Trump and shares photos of them together on social media. Nesheiwat is also the sister-in-law of former national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-waltz-national-security-signal-db2443f6fed98e4067edd57f26f23603">Mike Waltz</a>, who has been nominated to be Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

But she had recently come under criticism from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-laura-loomer-trump-national-security-council-f7bc493ae99014362875e5d390769477">Laura Loomer</a>, a far-right ally of Trump who was instrumental in ousting several members of the president’s National Security Council. Loomer posted on X earlier this week that “we can’t have a pro-COVID vaccine nepo appointee who is currently embroiled in a medical malpractice case and who didn’t go to medical school in the US” as the surgeon general.

Independent freelance journalist Anthony Clark reported last month that Nesheiwat earned her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten, despite saying that she has a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.

“I am looking forward to continuing to support President Trump and working closely with Secretary Kennedy in a senior policy role to Make America Healthy Again! My focus continues to be on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, and that mission hasn’t changed,” Nesheiwat wrote on social media Wednesday.

The surgeon general, considered the nation’s doctor, oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members and can issue advisories that warn of public health threats.

In March, the White House pulled from consideration the nomination of former Florida GOP Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dave-weldon-cdc-director-9a3d061832e2f0f644f2c58fbae36965">Dave Weldon</a>&nbsp;to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His skepticism on vaccines had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-david-weldon-senate-hearing-f4c6b6deb5bed31e74d11cf25f8e92d3">raised concerns from key Republican senators</a>, and he withdrew after being told by the White House that he did not have enough support to be confirmed.

The withdrawal was first reported by Bloomberg News.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746656010439.png" alt="Casey Means from her popular Instagram page" />
 <figcaption>Casey Means from her popular Instagram page</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is tapping Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer with close ties to Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-autism-medicare-medicaid-0507cd8117f299a50bc20b9ea8569048">Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.</a>, as his nominee for surgeon general after withdrawing his initial pick for the influential health post.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/CaseyMeansMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CaseyMeansMD</a> on her nomination as Surgeon General! This is an excellent choice by President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>. Dr. Means’ commitment to Making America Healthy Again will inspire a healthier nation, and I look forward to working with her on this movement. She is a… <a href="https://t.co/kRKralN71K">pic.twitter.com/kRKralN71K</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1920222714305958055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that Means has “impeccable ‘MAHA’ credentials” – referring to the “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccines-food-additives-pharmaceuticals-trump-797750f5f141161778792e84602b57c8">Make America Healthy Again</a>&nbsp;” slogan – and that she will work to eradicate chronic disease and improve the health and well-being of Americans.<div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Casey Means, MD (@drcaseyskitchen)</a></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div>“Her academic achievements, together with her life’s work, are absolutely outstanding,” Trump said. “Dr. Casey Means has the potential to be one of the finest Surgeon Generals in United States History.”In doing so, Trump withdrew former Fox News medical contributor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-trump-marty-makary-34424f5fefcbbc334c1983b025523aad">Janette Nesheiwat</a>&nbsp;for U.S. surgeon general, marking at least the second health-related pick from Trump to be pulled from Senate consideration. Nesheiwat had been scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday for her confirmation hearing.Means and her brother, former lobbyist Calley Means, served as key advisers to Kennedy’s longshot 2024 presidential bid and helped broker his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-trump-speech-arizona-a2638f89ddcb5de03edbe4574ca17d45">endorsement of Trump</a>&nbsp;last summer. The pair made appearances with some of Trump’s biggest supporters, winning praise from conservative pundit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-tucker-carlson-ailes-bill-oreilly-7aff2465fe2779930ebf6882e085f9c6">Tucker Carlson</a>&nbsp;and podcaster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-criticism-musk-rogan-portnoy-ackman-7ee3cda2fe172d707af93e042e2009dd">Joe Rogan</a>. Calley Means is currently a White House adviser who appears frequently on television to promote restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-banks-campaign-against-hunger-snap-pantry-665c19251b5d83bbed45a29958f79609">SNAP benefits</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fluoride-water-cdc-kennedy-02d931af8f025877a9e3d332bf215c69">removing fluoride</a>&nbsp;from drinking water and other MAHA agenda items.Casey Means has no government experience and dropped out of her surgical residency program, saying she became disillusioned with traditional medicine. She founded a health tech company, Levels, that helps users track blood sugar and other metrics. She also makes money from dietary supplements, creams, teas and other products sponsored on her social media accounts.In interviews and articles, Means and her brother describe a dizzying web of influences to blame for the nation’s health problems, including corrupt food conglomerates that have hooked Americans on unhealthy diets, leaving them reliant on daily medications from the pharmaceutical industry to manage obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions.Few health experts would dispute that the American diet — full of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ultraprocessed-foods-healthy-diet-0501eb985016149541e6cc727e55dfea">processed foods</a>&nbsp;— is a contributor to obesity and related problems. But Means goes further, linking changes in diet and lifestyle to a raft of conditions including infertility, Alzheimer’s, depression and erectile dysfunction.“Almost every chronic health symptom that Western medicine addresses is the result of our cells being beleaguered by how we’ve come to live,” Means said in a 2024 book co-written with her brother.Food experts say it’s overly simplistic to declare that all&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c06a1200807c4b82a03452d08d480692">processed foods</a>&nbsp;are harmful, since the designation covers an estimated 60% of U.S. foods, including products as diverse as granola, peanut butter and potato chips.“They are not all created equal,” said Gabby Headrick, a nutrition researcher at George Washington University’s school of public health. “It is much more complicated than just pointing the finger at ultra-processed foods as the driver of chronic disease in the United States.”Means has mostly steered clear of Kennedy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-election-vaccines-2ccde2df146f57b5e8c26e8494f0a16a">controversial and debunked views on vaccines</a>. But on her website, she has called for more investigation into their safety and recommends making it easier for patients to sue drugmakers in the event of vaccine injuries. Since the late 1980s, federal law has shielded those companies from legal liability to encourage development of vaccines without the threat of costly personal injury lawsuits.She trained as a surgeon at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stanford-u-of-california-justice-department-probe-77f7c2c66cf27daf60442121c6ba71bf">Stanford University</a>&nbsp;but has built an online following by criticizing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-cohen-trump-weldon-kennedy-ec9b1b69fa9e3f61b4033fd095c20ab9">medical establishment</a>&nbsp;and promoting natural foods and lifestyle changes to reverse&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-common-is-obesity-us-5663c0388b19009eae3834d695710bc4">obesity</a>, diabetes and other chronic diseases.If confirmed as surgeon general, Means would be tasked with helping promote&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-jr-rfk-things-to-know-explained-who-is-hhs-5288a4a7277d1a0b4a7ede8f57a971ce">Kennedy’s sprawling MAHA agenda</a>, which calls for removing thousands of additives and chemicals from U.S. foods, rooting out conflicts of interest at federal agencies and incentivizing healthier foods in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lunchables-removed-national-school-lunch-program-a4a97b8c85932ba28fb9de22f1f82abe">school lunches</a>&nbsp;and other nutrition programs.Nesheiwat, Trump's first pick, is a medical director for an urgent care company in New York and has appeared regularly on Fox News to offer medical expertise and insights. She is a vocal supporter of Trump and shares photos of them together on social media. Nesheiwat is also the sister-in-law of former national security adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-waltz-national-security-signal-db2443f6fed98e4067edd57f26f23603">Mike Waltz</a>, who has been nominated to be Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.But she had recently come under criticism from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-laura-loomer-trump-national-security-council-f7bc493ae99014362875e5d390769477">Laura Loomer</a>, a far-right ally of Trump who was instrumental in ousting several members of the president’s National Security Council. Loomer posted on X earlier this week that “we can’t have a pro-COVID vaccine nepo appointee who is currently embroiled in a medical malpractice case and who didn’t go to medical school in the US” as the surgeon general.Independent freelance journalist Anthony Clark reported last month that Nesheiwat earned her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Maarten, despite saying that she has a degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine.“I am looking forward to continuing to support President Trump and working closely with Secretary Kennedy in a senior policy role to Make America Healthy Again! My focus continues to be on improving the health and well-being of all Americans, and that mission hasn’t changed,” Nesheiwat wrote on social media Wednesday.The surgeon general, considered the nation’s doctor, oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members and can issue advisories that warn of public health threats.In March, the White House pulled from consideration the nomination of former Florida GOP Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dave-weldon-cdc-director-9a3d061832e2f0f644f2c58fbae36965">Dave Weldon</a>&nbsp;to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His skepticism on vaccines had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-director-david-weldon-senate-hearing-f4c6b6deb5bed31e74d11cf25f8e92d3">raised concerns from key Republican senators</a>, and he withdrew after being told by the White House that he did not have enough support to be confirmed.The withdrawal was first reported by Bloomberg News.

Kan. U.S. Senator pleased with Trump's choice for surgeon general

WICHITA, Kan. – Following a series of events that commenced on the evening of Sunday, May 4, involving a stolen vehicle and an aggravated battery on a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputy, authorities have successfully located and arrested the suspect, Thomas Torrez.

On Tuesday, May 6, after extensive efforts by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrant Section, deputies identified Torrez at a multi-family housing unit in the 2500 block of N. Park Place, a location previously associated with him. Entry was made into the residence, where Torrez was found barricaded inside a refrigerator.

Despite multiple commands to surrender, Torrez refused to comply. A Sheriff's Office K-9 unit was deployed, which facilitated his apprehension. Following medical treatment, Torrez was booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.

Torrez was taken into custody on original felony warrants for failing to register as an offender and a probation violation related to criminal possession of a weapon. He also faces new charges related to the incidents on May 4 and May 6, including aggravated burglary, kidnapping, attempting to elude law enforcement, criminal damage to property, interference with law enforcement officers, and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.

Additionally, he was booked on three outstanding municipal warrants from the City of Wichita. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. 

Once all relevant information is compiled, the case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging decisions.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, Wichita Police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of E. 21st Street North. During the recovery, Torrez—an occupant of the vehicle—fled the scene in the stolen car. He was not located during the initial incident.

Just before 8p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway. Torrez was behind the wheel with a female passenger.

The deputy positioned his patrol vehicle to block the stolen car, but Torrez accelerated, ramming the patrol unit. He then reversed into the building, drove over a curb and landscaping, and fled onto 47th Street. The deputy’s vehicle was disabled from the impact, and he was unable to pursue. The deputy sustained minor injuries as a result.

The deputy was “put out in trouble,” and charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer were broadcast to responding units.

While responding with lights and sirens, a second deputy collided with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 47th Street and Hydraulic. The civilian vehicle was carrying five people—a 37-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and three children ages 6, 8, and 10. All suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. No officers were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. This deputy sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention.

Shortly after fleeing McDonald’s, the female passenger escaped the vehicle near Laura Street, north of 47th. She was located by officers and cooperated with the investigation. According to her statement, she tried to surrender during the initial stop and attempted multiple times to exit the vehicle, even using mace on Torrez.

Torrez later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot. He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur and led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.

During his escape, Torrez caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly, where Torrez ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746467676255.png" alt="&nbsp;Torrez is accused of ramming a patrol vehicle as he attempted to flee a fast-food drive through Sunday -Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Torrez is accused of ramming a patrol vehicle as he attempted to flee a fast-food drive through Sunday -Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. – Following a series of events that commenced on the evening of Sunday, May 4, involving a stolen vehicle and an aggravated battery on a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputy, authorities have successfully located and arrested the suspect, Thomas Torrez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746612189134.png" alt="Torrez photo Sedgwick Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Torrez photo Sedgwick Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>On Tuesday, May 6, after extensive efforts by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrant Section, deputies identified Torrez at a multi-family housing unit in the 2500 block of N. Park Place, a location previously associated with him. Entry was made into the residence, where Torrez was found barricaded inside a refrigerator.Despite multiple commands to surrender, Torrez refused to comply. A Sheriff's Office K-9 unit was deployed, which facilitated his apprehension. Following medical treatment, Torrez was booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.Torrez was taken into custody on original felony warrants for failing to register as an offender and a probation violation related to criminal possession of a weapon. He also faces new charges related to the incidents on May 4 and May 6, including aggravated burglary, kidnapping, attempting to elude law enforcement, criminal damage to property, interference with law enforcement officers, and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.Additionally, he was booked on three outstanding municipal warrants from the City of Wichita. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. Once all relevant information is compiled, the case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging decisions.-----------Just after 1a.m. Sunday, Wichita Police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of E. 21st Street North. During the recovery, Torrez—an occupant of the vehicle—fled the scene in the stolen car. He was not located during the initial incident.Just before 8p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway. Torrez was behind the wheel with a female passenger.The deputy positioned his patrol vehicle to block the stolen car, but Torrez accelerated, ramming the patrol unit. He then reversed into the building, drove over a curb and landscaping, and fled onto 47th Street. The deputy’s vehicle was disabled from the impact, and he was unable to pursue. The deputy sustained minor injuries as a result.The deputy was “put out in trouble,” and charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer were broadcast to responding units.While responding with lights and sirens, a second deputy collided with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 47th Street and Hydraulic. The civilian vehicle was carrying five people—a 37-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and three children ages 6, 8, and 10. All suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. No officers were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. This deputy sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention.Shortly after fleeing McDonald’s, the female passenger escaped the vehicle near Laura Street, north of 47th. She was located by officers and cooperated with the investigation. According to her statement, she tried to surrender during the initial stop and attempted multiple times to exit the vehicle, even using mace on Torrez.Torrez later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot. He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur and led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.During his escape, Torrez caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly, where Torrez ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.

Kan. offender who rammed patrol car was hiding in refrigerator 

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday, signalling that no pope had been elected as 133 cardinals opened the secretive, centuries-old ritual to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.

The cardinals participating in the most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conclave-cardinal-d01b3bfd056836e89560e3b40337b89e">geographically diverse conclave</a>&nbsp;in the faith’s 2,000-year history took just one round of voting Wednesday evening. After failing to find a winner on the first ballot, they retired for the night and will return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning to try to find a successor to Pope Francis.

They had opened the conclave Wednesday afternoon, participating in a rite more theatrical than even Hollywood could create, a wash of red-robed cardinals, Latin chants, incense and solemnity that underscored the seriousness of the moment.

Outside in St. Peter’s Square, the scene was festive, as thousands of people flocked to the piazza to watch the proceedings on giant video screens, applauding when the Sistine Chapel’s doors slammed shut and the voting began. They waited for hours, watching screens that showed just a skinny chimney and occasional seagull. After the vote dragged on to dinnertime, some left in frustration, but those who stayed cheered when the smoke finally billowed out.

“My hope is that cardinals will choose a man who can be a peacemaker and could reunify the church,” said Gabriel Capry, a 27-year-old from London.

Hailing from 70 countries, the cardinals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/francis-election-conclave-pope-vatican-catholics-87fcd94f759575b8744a4d2899371275#:~:text=VATICAN%20CITY%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The,the%20world's%201.3%20billion%20Catholics.">were sequestered</a>&nbsp;Wednesday from the outside world, their cellphones surrendered and airwaves around the Vatican jammed to prevent all communications until they find a new pope.

Francis named 108 of the 133 “princes of the church,” choosing many pastors in his image from far-flung countries like Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga that had never had a cardinal before.

His decision to surpass the usual limit of 120 cardinal electors and include younger ones from the “global south” — often marginalized countries with lower economic clout — has injected an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conclave-pope-b4883723cbbba159b0264dd76526b55d">unusual degree of uncertainty</a>&nbsp;in a process that is always full of mystery and suspense.

Many cardinals hadn’t met until last week and lamented they needed more time to get to know one another, raising questions about how long it might take for one man to secure the two-thirds majority, or 89 ballots, necessary to become the 267th pope.

“Wait and see, a little patience, wait and see,” said Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria.

The cardinals had entered the Sistine Chapel in pairs, chanting the meditative “Litany of the Saints” as Swiss Guards stood at attention. The hymn implores the saints to help the cardinals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conclave-pope-francis-cardinals-43cf0a0099c8866f358a7e0d78eb1877">find a</a>&nbsp;leader of the 1.4 billion-strong church.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the 70-year-old secretary of state under Francis and himself a leading contender to succeed him as pope, assumed the leadership of the proceedings as the senior cardinal under age 80 eligible to participate.

He stood before Michelangelo’s vision of heaven and hell, “The Last Judgment,” and led the other cardinals in a lengthy oath. Each one followed, placing his hand on the Gospel and promising in Latin to maintain utmost secrecy.

Earlier in the day, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presided over a morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica urging the voters to set aside all personal interests and find a pope who prizes unity. He prayed for a pope who could awaken the conscience of the world.

He reminded the cardinals that the awesomeness of the Sistine Chapel’s frescoes is meant to remind the cardinals of the weighty responsibility they bear. In his regulations for the conclave, Re recalled, St. John Paul II wrote that in the Sistine Chapel, “everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God.”

After the cardinals took their oaths, the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, called out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-glossary-3f34cfc8bda3570b9ecf0602d20990fb">“extra omnes,”</a>&nbsp;Latin for “all out” and anyone not eligible to vote left before the chapel doors closed. An elderly cardinal remained to deliver a meditation, but after he finished, he too, had to leave since he was too old to vote.

While cardinals this week said they expected a short conclave, it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting. For much of the past century, it has taken between three and 14 ballots to find a pope. John Paul I — the pope who reigned for 33 days in 1978 — was elected on the fourth ballot. His successor, John Paul II, needed eight. Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.

The cardinals are supposed to resist any “secular” influences in their choice of pope, but such lobbying abounded in Rome in the days before the conclave as various groups reminded cardinals of what ordinary Catholics want in a leader.

Young Catholics penned an open letter reminding cardinals that there is no church without young people, women and the laity. Conservative Catholic media slipped cardinals copies of a glossy book containing their assessments of contenders. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse warned cardinals that they would be held accountable if they failed to find a leader who will crack down on decades of abuse and cover-up.

Advocates for women’s ordination sent pink smoke signals Wednesday over the Vatican to demand that women be allowed to be priests and participate in a conclave.

Even the White House got involved, posting a photo of President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-conclave-ai-image-bishops-9d88286886c350c4465f7c2afb7a5e41">Trump dressed as a pope</a>. Trump said it was a joke, but the gesture was denounced by former Italian Premier Romano Prodi as “indecent” political interference in matters of faith that hark back to times when secular rulers intervened in conclaves.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said there was also plenty of lobbying going on among cardinals themselves.

“You invite each other out,” Dolan said on SiriusXM’s The Catholic Channel before the conclave began. “And you’re pretty blunt. Now, we’re not, you know, we’re not horse trading here. We’re saying, ‘Tell me about this guy. You’re from Latin America. Go through the list of bishops. Tell me some of these fellas. Am I right to be enchanted by this guy?’”

Lisette Herrera, a 54-year-old tourist from the Dominican Republic, was deeply moved to find herself by chance in Rome as the conclave began. She decided Wednesday morning to skip the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and pray instead in St. Peter’s Square.

“I’m praying to the Holy Spirit for a young pope who would stay with us for a long time,” she said. “I don’t believe in conclave politics, I just feel that the Holy Spirit is here and that’s all we need to know.”

Many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-challenges-lgbtq-women-sex-abuse-e73199910f1723282b91984f207ad5a0">challenges</a>&nbsp;await the new pope and weigh on the cardinals — above all whether to continue and consolidate Francis’ progressive legacy on promoting women, LGBTQ+ acceptance, the environment and migrants, or roll it back to try to unify a church that became more polarized during his pontificate. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conclave-abuse-pope-b882375878b2f33c5a53c1dc9e345356">clergy sex abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;hung over the pre-conclave talks.

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday, signalling that no pope had been elected as 133 cardinals opened the secretive, centuries-old ritual to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Black smoke. No pope. Conclave continues Thursday. <a href="https://t.co/yn6p1ct9ve">pic.twitter.com/yn6p1ct9ve</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1920193635967963540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The cardinals participating in the most&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conclave-cardinal-d01b3bfd056836e89560e3b40337b89e">geographically diverse conclave</a>&nbsp;in the faith’s 2,000-year history took just one round of voting Wednesday evening. After failing to find a winner on the first ballot, they retired for the night and will return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning to try to find a successor to Pope Francis.They had opened the conclave Wednesday afternoon, participating in a rite more theatrical than even Hollywood could create, a wash of red-robed cardinals, Latin chants, incense and solemnity that underscored the seriousness of the moment.Outside in St. Peter’s Square, the scene was festive, as thousands of people flocked to the piazza to watch the proceedings on giant video screens, applauding when the Sistine Chapel’s doors slammed shut and the voting began. They waited for hours, watching screens that showed just a skinny chimney and occasional seagull. After the vote dragged on to dinnertime, some left in frustration, but those who stayed cheered when the smoke finally billowed out.“My hope is that cardinals will choose a man who can be a peacemaker and could reunify the church,” said Gabriel Capry, a 27-year-old from London.<h2>A diverse group of cardinals</h2>Hailing from 70 countries, the cardinals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/francis-election-conclave-pope-vatican-catholics-87fcd94f759575b8744a4d2899371275#:~:text=VATICAN%20CITY%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The,the%20world's%201.3%20billion%20Catholics.">were sequestered</a>&nbsp;Wednesday from the outside world, their cellphones surrendered and airwaves around the Vatican jammed to prevent all communications until they find a new pope.Francis named 108 of the 133 “princes of the church,” choosing many pastors in his image from far-flung countries like Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga that had never had a cardinal before.His decision to surpass the usual limit of 120 cardinal electors and include younger ones from the “global south” — often marginalized countries with lower economic clout — has injected an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conclave-pope-b4883723cbbba159b0264dd76526b55d">unusual degree of uncertainty</a>&nbsp;in a process that is always full of mystery and suspense.Many cardinals hadn’t met until last week and lamented they needed more time to get to know one another, raising questions about how long it might take for one man to secure the two-thirds majority, or 89 ballots, necessary to become the 267th pope.“Wait and see, a little patience, wait and see,” said Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Vatican’s ambassador to Syria.<h2>The oath and “Extra omnes”</h2>The cardinals had entered the Sistine Chapel in pairs, chanting the meditative “Litany of the Saints” as Swiss Guards stood at attention. The hymn implores the saints to help the cardinals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conclave-pope-francis-cardinals-43cf0a0099c8866f358a7e0d78eb1877">find a</a>&nbsp;leader of the 1.4 billion-strong church.Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the 70-year-old secretary of state under Francis and himself a leading contender to succeed him as pope, assumed the leadership of the proceedings as the senior cardinal under age 80 eligible to participate.He stood before Michelangelo’s vision of heaven and hell, “The Last Judgment,” and led the other cardinals in a lengthy oath. Each one followed, placing his hand on the Gospel and promising in Latin to maintain utmost secrecy.Earlier in the day, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, presided over a morning Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica urging the voters to set aside all personal interests and find a pope who prizes unity. He prayed for a pope who could awaken the conscience of the world.He reminded the cardinals that the awesomeness of the Sistine Chapel’s frescoes is meant to remind the cardinals of the weighty responsibility they bear. In his regulations for the conclave, Re recalled, St. John Paul II wrote that in the Sistine Chapel, “everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God.”After the cardinals took their oaths, the master of papal liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, called out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-glossary-3f34cfc8bda3570b9ecf0602d20990fb">“extra omnes,”</a>&nbsp;Latin for “all out” and anyone not eligible to vote left before the chapel doors closed. An elderly cardinal remained to deliver a meditation, but after he finished, he too, had to leave since he was too old to vote.While cardinals this week said they expected a short conclave, it will likely take at least a few rounds of voting. For much of the past century, it has taken between three and 14 ballots to find a pope. John Paul I — the pope who reigned for 33 days in 1978 — was elected on the fourth ballot. His successor, John Paul II, needed eight. Francis was elected on the fifth in 2013.<h2>Lobbying before the conclave</h2>The cardinals are supposed to resist any “secular” influences in their choice of pope, but such lobbying abounded in Rome in the days before the conclave as various groups reminded cardinals of what ordinary Catholics want in a leader.Young Catholics penned an open letter reminding cardinals that there is no church without young people, women and the laity. Conservative Catholic media slipped cardinals copies of a glossy book containing their assessments of contenders. Survivors of clergy sexual abuse warned cardinals that they would be held accountable if they failed to find a leader who will crack down on decades of abuse and cover-up.Advocates for women’s ordination sent pink smoke signals Wednesday over the Vatican to demand that women be allowed to be priests and participate in a conclave.Even the White House got involved, posting a photo of President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-conclave-ai-image-bishops-9d88286886c350c4465f7c2afb7a5e41">Trump dressed as a pope</a>. Trump said it was a joke, but the gesture was denounced by former Italian Premier Romano Prodi as “indecent” political interference in matters of faith that hark back to times when secular rulers intervened in conclaves.Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said there was also plenty of lobbying going on among cardinals themselves.“You invite each other out,” Dolan said on SiriusXM’s The Catholic Channel before the conclave began. “And you’re pretty blunt. Now, we’re not, you know, we’re not horse trading here. We’re saying, ‘Tell me about this guy. You’re from Latin America. Go through the list of bishops. Tell me some of these fellas. Am I right to be enchanted by this guy?’”Lisette Herrera, a 54-year-old tourist from the Dominican Republic, was deeply moved to find herself by chance in Rome as the conclave began. She decided Wednesday morning to skip the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain and pray instead in St. Peter’s Square.“I’m praying to the Holy Spirit for a young pope who would stay with us for a long time,” she said. “I don’t believe in conclave politics, I just feel that the Holy Spirit is here and that’s all we need to know.”<h2>Challenges facing a new pope</h2>Many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-challenges-lgbtq-women-sex-abuse-e73199910f1723282b91984f207ad5a0">challenges</a>&nbsp;await the new pope and weigh on the cardinals — above all whether to continue and consolidate Francis’ progressive legacy on promoting women, LGBTQ+ acceptance, the environment and migrants, or roll it back to try to unify a church that became more polarized during his pontificate. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-conclave-abuse-pope-b882375878b2f33c5a53c1dc9e345356">clergy sex abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;hung over the pre-conclave talks.Since Francis chose 80% of the voters, continuity is likely, but the form it might take is uncertain and identifying front-runners has been a challenge.But some names keep appearing on lists of “papabile,” or cardinals having the qualities to be pope. In addition to Parolin, they include:— Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle, 67, a top candidate to be history’s first Asian pope. He headed the Vatican’s evangelization office responsible for the Catholic Church in much of the developing world.— Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest, is a leading candidate representing the more conservative wing of the church.___For AP’s full coverage of the conclave, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/papal-conclave">https://apnews.com/hub/papal-conclave</a>&nbsp;___AP reporters Giada Zampano and Vanessa Gera contributed.___