Laura Janene Woodbury, 89, passed away 
peacefully on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Vista Springs Trillium 
Village in Clarkston, Michigan. She was born on August 10, 1933, in 
Leoti, Kansas, to Albert Clark and Laura (Wikoff) Clark.&nbsp;

She was a wonderful homemaker, loving mother, dedicated wife, and 
diligent bookkeeper of the family business. She loved gardening, 
interior design, decorating, entertaining, tole painting and crafting, 
and mystery shows and movies. She was an active member of the Leoti 
Methodist Church for over 50 years, teaching Sunday School, being 
involved with the United Methodist Women, and the Care Committee. After 
high school, Janene attended Denver Art School for a semester. In 1982, 
she graduated from Kansas School of Floral Design.&nbsp;The 
project she was most passionate about was being on the Wichita County 
History Book Committee in 1999, assisting in the writing and production 
of Volume II of the Wichita County History Book.&nbsp;

Janene met Marshall Young Woodbury in high school, and the two were 
married on February 17, 1952. They would go on to be married for 69 
years. They were blessed with two daughters: Lora JaLue (Smith), and 
Lisa Sue (Cooley). After living in Wichita County for 65 years and 
retiring from farming, Janene and Marshall decided to move to Salina, 
Kansas, to be near JaLue and her family. They also enjoyed spending 
winters in Arizona for over 30 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;After Marshall was called Home in
 2021, Janene moved to Clarkston, Michigan to be near Lisa and her 
family.&nbsp;

Janene is survived by her two daughters: JaLue of Salina, Kansas, and
 Lisa of Clarkston, Michigan; six grandchildren, and seven 
great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Marshall, 
and her sister, Marianne Stuart.&nbsp;

Memorial services will be held at the United Methodist Church in 
Leoti, Kansas at 10:30am Wednesday, April 5, 2023, with pastor Steve 
Payne presiding. &nbsp;There will be a luncheon at the church following 
graveside services at the Leoti Cemetery.&nbsp;

Memorials can be made directly to the Snow Approach Foundation, Inc.&nbsp;<a href="http://snowapproach.org/">snowapproach.org</a>&nbsp;(Advanced Dementia and Dementia care methods) or to the Leoti United Methodist Church.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680008864107.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Laura Janene Woodbury, 89, passed away 
peacefully on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at Vista Springs Trillium 
Village in Clarkston, Michigan. She was born on August 10, 1933, in 
Leoti, Kansas, to Albert Clark and Laura (Wikoff) Clark.&nbsp;She was a wonderful homemaker, loving mother, dedicated wife, and 
diligent bookkeeper of the family business. She loved gardening, 
interior design, decorating, entertaining, tole painting and crafting, 
and mystery shows and movies. She was an active member of the Leoti 
Methodist Church for over 50 years, teaching Sunday School, being 
involved with the United Methodist Women, and the Care Committee. After 
high school, Janene attended Denver Art School for a semester. In 1982, 
she graduated from Kansas School of Floral Design.&nbsp;The 
project she was most passionate about was being on the Wichita County 
History Book Committee in 1999, assisting in the writing and production 
of Volume II of the Wichita County History Book.&nbsp;Janene met Marshall Young Woodbury in high school, and the two were 
married on February 17, 1952. They would go on to be married for 69 
years. They were blessed with two daughters: Lora JaLue (Smith), and 
Lisa Sue (Cooley). After living in Wichita County for 65 years and 
retiring from farming, Janene and Marshall decided to move to Salina, 
Kansas, to be near JaLue and her family. They also enjoyed spending 
winters in Arizona for over 30 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;After Marshall was called Home in
 2021, Janene moved to Clarkston, Michigan to be near Lisa and her 
family.&nbsp;Janene is survived by her two daughters: JaLue of Salina, Kansas, and
 Lisa of Clarkston, Michigan; six grandchildren, and seven 
great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Marshall, 
and her sister, Marianne Stuart.&nbsp;Memorial services will be held at the United Methodist Church in 
Leoti, Kansas at 10:30am Wednesday, April 5, 2023, with pastor Steve 
Payne presiding. &nbsp;There will be a luncheon at the church following 
graveside services at the Leoti Cemetery.&nbsp;Memorials can be made directly to the Snow Approach Foundation, Inc.&nbsp;<a href="http://snowapproach.org/">snowapproach.org</a>&nbsp;(Advanced Dementia and Dementia care methods) or to the Leoti United Methodist Church.

Laura Janene Woodbury

Today is Tuesday, March 28, the 87th day of 2023. There are 278 days left in the year.

On March 28, 1979, America's worst commercial nuclear accident occurred with a partial meltdown inside the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania.

In 1797, Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire received a patent for a washing machine.

In 1854, during the Crimean War, Britain and France declared war on Russia.

In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, ruled 6-2 that Wong, who was born in the United States to Chinese immigrants, was an American citizen.

In 1935, the notorious Nazi propaganda film "Triumph des Willens" (Triumph of the Will), directed by Leni Riefenstahl, premiered in Berlin with Adolf Hitler present.

In 1939, the Spanish Civil War neared its end as Madrid fell to the forces of Francisco Franco.

In 1941, novelist and critic Virginia Woolf, 59, drowned herself near her home in Lewes, East Sussex, England.

In 1942, during World War II, British naval forces staged a successful raid on the Nazi-occupied French port of St. Nazaire in Operation Chariot, destroying the only dry dock on the Atlantic coast capable of repairing the German battleship Tirpitz.

In 1969, the 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, died in Washington, D.C., at age 78.

In 1977, "Rocky" won best picture at the 49th Academy Awards; Peter Finch was honored posthumously as best actor for "Network" while his co-star, Faye Dunaway, was recognized as best actress.

In 1987, Maria von Trapp, whose life story inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music," died in Morrisville, Vermont, at age 82.

In 1999, NATO broadened its attacks on Yugoslavia to target Serb military forces in Kosovo in the fifth straight night of airstrikes; thousands of refugees flooded into Albania and Macedonia from Kosovo.

In 2000, in a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court, in Florida v. J.L., sharply curtailed police power in relying on anonymous tips to stop and search people.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama, flanked by grim-faced mothers who lost their children to guns, urged lawmakers not to "get squishy" in the face of powerful forces against gun control legislation. Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of a dozen inmates, including two young women, at a juvenile detention center in a surprising departure from church rules that restricted the Holy Thursday ritual to men. British actor Richard Griffiths, 65, remembered by movie fans for being grumpy Uncle Vernon in the "Harry Potter" movies, died in Coventry, England.

Five years ago: President Donald Trump fired Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and nominated White House doctor Ronny Jackson to replace him; the move came in the wake of an ethics scandal and a rebellion within the agency. (Jackson withdrew his nomination amid allegations of workplace misconduct.) A judge in New York ordered rapper DMX to prison for a year for tax evasion (DMX died in 2021). The government reported that the U.S. economy had grown at a solid 2.9 percent annual rate in the final three months of 2017, a sharp upward revision.

One year ago: President Joe Biden said he was making "no apologies" and wouldn't be "walking anything back" after saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power." The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences condemned the actions of Will Smith during the previous night's Oscars and launched an inquiry into his slapping of Chris Rock. (Smith was later expelled from the movie academy received a 10-year ban from the Oscars.)

Today's Birthdays: Author Mario Vargas Llosa is 87. Country musician Charlie McCoy is 82. Movie director Mike Newell is 81. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is 78. Actor Dianne Wiest is 77. Country singer Reba McEntire is 68. Olympic gold medal gymnast Bart Conner is 65. Actor Alexandra Billings (TV: "Transparent") is 61. Rapper Salt (Salt-N-Pepa) is 57. Actor Tracey Needham is 56. Actor Max Perlich is 55. Movie director Brett Ratner is 54. Country singer Rodney Atkins is 54. Actor Vince Vaughn is 53. Rapper Mr. Cheeks (Lost Boyz) is 52. Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson is 50. Rock musician Dave Keuning (The Killers) is 47. Actor Annie Wersching is 46. Actor Julia Stiles is 42. Singer Lady Gaga is 37. Electronic musician Clayton Knight (Odesza) is 35.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Tuesday, March 28, the 87th day of 2023. There are 278 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On March 28, 1979, America's worst commercial nuclear accident occurred with a partial meltdown inside the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania.On this date:In 1797, Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire received a patent for a washing machine.In 1854, during the Crimean War, Britain and France declared war on Russia.In 1898, the U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, ruled 6-2 that Wong, who was born in the United States to Chinese immigrants, was an American citizen.In 1935, the notorious Nazi propaganda film "Triumph des Willens" (Triumph of the Will), directed by Leni Riefenstahl, premiered in Berlin with Adolf Hitler present.In 1939, the Spanish Civil War neared its end as Madrid fell to the forces of Francisco Franco.In 1941, novelist and critic Virginia Woolf, 59, drowned herself near her home in Lewes, East Sussex, England.In 1942, during World War II, British naval forces staged a successful raid on the Nazi-occupied French port of St. Nazaire in Operation Chariot, destroying the only dry dock on the Atlantic coast capable of repairing the German battleship Tirpitz.In 1969, the 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, died in Washington, D.C., at age 78.In 1977, "Rocky" won best picture at the 49th Academy Awards; Peter Finch was honored posthumously as best actor for "Network" while his co-star, Faye Dunaway, was recognized as best actress.In 1987, Maria von Trapp, whose life story inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The Sound of Music," died in Morrisville, Vermont, at age 82.In 1999, NATO broadened its attacks on Yugoslavia to target Serb military forces in Kosovo in the fifth straight night of airstrikes; thousands of refugees flooded into Albania and Macedonia from Kosovo.In 2000, in a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court, in Florida v. J.L., sharply curtailed police power in relying on anonymous tips to stop and search people.Ten years ago: President Barack Obama, flanked by grim-faced mothers who lost their children to guns, urged lawmakers not to "get squishy" in the face of powerful forces against gun control legislation. Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of a dozen inmates, including two young women, at a juvenile detention center in a surprising departure from church rules that restricted the Holy Thursday ritual to men. British actor Richard Griffiths, 65, remembered by movie fans for being grumpy Uncle Vernon in the "Harry Potter" movies, died in Coventry, England.Five years ago: President Donald Trump fired Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin and nominated White House doctor Ronny Jackson to replace him; the move came in the wake of an ethics scandal and a rebellion within the agency. (Jackson withdrew his nomination amid allegations of workplace misconduct.) A judge in New York ordered rapper DMX to prison for a year for tax evasion (DMX died in 2021). The government reported that the U.S. economy had grown at a solid 2.9 percent annual rate in the final three months of 2017, a sharp upward revision.One year ago: President Joe Biden said he was making "no apologies" and wouldn't be "walking anything back" after saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power." The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences condemned the actions of Will Smith during the previous night's Oscars and launched an inquiry into his slapping of Chris Rock. (Smith was later expelled from the movie academy received a 10-year ban from the Oscars.)Today's Birthdays: Author Mario Vargas Llosa is 87. Country musician Charlie McCoy is 82. Movie director Mike Newell is 81. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is 78. Actor Dianne Wiest is 77. Country singer Reba McEntire is 68. Olympic gold medal gymnast Bart Conner is 65. Actor Alexandra Billings (TV: "Transparent") is 61. Rapper Salt (Salt-N-Pepa) is 57. Actor Tracey Needham is 56. Actor Max Perlich is 55. Movie director Brett Ratner is 54. Country singer Rodney Atkins is 54. Actor Vince Vaughn is 53. Rapper Mr. Cheeks (Lost Boyz) is 52. Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson is 50. Rock musician Dave Keuning (The Killers) is 47. Actor Annie Wersching is 46. Actor Julia Stiles is 42. Singer Lady Gaga is 37. Electronic musician Clayton Knight (Odesza) is 35.

Today in History - March 28

Today is Monday, March 27, the 86th day of 2023. There are 279 days left in the year.

On March 27, 1977, in aviation's worst disaster, 583 people were killed when a KLM Boeing 747, attempting to take off in heavy fog, crashed into a Pan Am 747 on an airport runway on the Canary Island of Tenerife.

In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sighted present-day Florida.

In 1625, Charles I acceded to the English throne upon the death of James I.

In 1794, Congress approved "An Act to provide a Naval Armament" of six armed ships.

In 1912, first lady Helen Herron Taft and the wife of Japan's ambassador to the United States, Viscountess Chinda, planted the first two of 3,000 cherry trees given to the U.S. as a gift by the mayor of Tokyo.

In 1945, during World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower told reporters in Paris that German defenses on the Western Front had been broken.

In 1964, Alaska was hit by a magnitude 9.2 earthquake (the strongest on record in North America) and tsunamis that together claimed about 130 lives.

In 1968, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the Earth in 1961, died when his MiG-15 jet crashed during a routine training flight near Moscow; he was 34.

In 1973, "The Godfather" won the Academy Award for best picture of 1972, but its star, Marlon Brando, refused to accept his Oscar for best actor. Liza Minnelli won best actress for "Cabaret."

In 1975, construction began on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which was completed two years later.

In 1980, 123 workers died when a North Sea floating oil field platform, the Alexander Kielland, capsized during a storm.

In 2019, Facebook said it was extending its ban on hate speech to prohibit the promotion and support of white nationalism and white separatism.

Ten years ago: Lawyers for Colorado theater mass shooting suspect James Holmes said he would plead guilty to the attack that killed 12 people and serve the rest of his life in prison to avoid the death penalty. (Prosecutors rejected the offer, but Holmes ended up being sentenced to life in prison anyway.) Former South African President Nelson Mandela was admitted to a hospital for pneumonia (he was discharged 10 days later).

Five years ago: Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, in an essay on The New York Times website, called for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation. The co-owner of a Kansas water park and a ride designer were charged with reckless second-degree murder in the decapitation of a 10-year-old boy on the ride in 2016. (A judge later dismissed the charges, finding that state prosecutors had shown inadmissible evidence to grand jurors.)

One year ago: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the West of cowardice as his country fought to stave off Russia's invading troops, making an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks to sustain a defense as the war ground into a battle of attrition. "CODA" won best picture at an Oscars ceremony marred by Will Smith's on-stage slap of Chris Rock. Smith would go on to win best actor minutes later. (Smith was later expelled from the movie academy received a 10-year ban from the Oscars.)

Today's Birthdays: Actor Julian Glover is 88. Actor Jerry Lacy is 87. Hall of Fame racer Cale Yarborough is 84. Actor-director Austin Pendleton is 83. Actor Michael York is 81. Rock musician Tony Banks (Genesis) is 73. Rock musician Andrew Farriss (INXS) is 64. Jazz musician Dave Koz is 60. Movie director Quentin Tarantino is 60. Rock musician Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai) is 59. Rock musician Johnny April (Staind) is 58. Actor Talisa Soto is 56. Actor Ben Koldyke is 55. Actor Pauley Perrette is 54. Singer Mariah Carey is 53. Rock musician Brendan Hill (Blues Traveler) is 53. Actor Elizabeth Mitchell is 53. Actor Nathan Fillion is 52. Hip-hop singer Fergie is 48. Jazz musician Tia Fuller is 47. Actor Emily Ann Lloyd is 39. MLB catcher Buster Posey is 36. Actor Brenda Song is 35. Pop singer-songwriter Kimbra is 33. Actor Taylor Atelian is 28. Actor/R&amp;B singer Halle Bailey is 23. Classical crossover singer Amira Willighagen (TV: "Holland's Got Talent") is 19.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Monday, March 27, the 86th day of 2023. There are 279 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On March 27, 1977, in aviation's worst disaster, 583 people were killed when a KLM Boeing 747, attempting to take off in heavy fog, crashed into a Pan Am 747 on an airport runway on the Canary Island of Tenerife.On this date:In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sighted present-day Florida.In 1625, Charles I acceded to the English throne upon the death of James I.In 1794, Congress approved "An Act to provide a Naval Armament" of six armed ships.In 1912, first lady Helen Herron Taft and the wife of Japan's ambassador to the United States, Viscountess Chinda, planted the first two of 3,000 cherry trees given to the U.S. as a gift by the mayor of Tokyo.In 1945, during World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower told reporters in Paris that German defenses on the Western Front had been broken.In 1964, Alaska was hit by a magnitude 9.2 earthquake (the strongest on record in North America) and tsunamis that together claimed about 130 lives.In 1968, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the Earth in 1961, died when his MiG-15 jet crashed during a routine training flight near Moscow; he was 34.In 1973, "The Godfather" won the Academy Award for best picture of 1972, but its star, Marlon Brando, refused to accept his Oscar for best actor. Liza Minnelli won best actress for "Cabaret."In 1975, construction began on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which was completed two years later.In 1980, 123 workers died when a North Sea floating oil field platform, the Alexander Kielland, capsized during a storm.In 2019, Facebook said it was extending its ban on hate speech to prohibit the promotion and support of white nationalism and white separatism.Ten years ago: Lawyers for Colorado theater mass shooting suspect James Holmes said he would plead guilty to the attack that killed 12 people and serve the rest of his life in prison to avoid the death penalty. (Prosecutors rejected the offer, but Holmes ended up being sentenced to life in prison anyway.) Former South African President Nelson Mandela was admitted to a hospital for pneumonia (he was discharged 10 days later).Five years ago: Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, in an essay on The New York Times website, called for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation. The co-owner of a Kansas water park and a ride designer were charged with reckless second-degree murder in the decapitation of a 10-year-old boy on the ride in 2016. (A judge later dismissed the charges, finding that state prosecutors had shown inadmissible evidence to grand jurors.)One year ago: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the West of cowardice as his country fought to stave off Russia's invading troops, making an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks to sustain a defense as the war ground into a battle of attrition. "CODA" won best picture at an Oscars ceremony marred by Will Smith's on-stage slap of Chris Rock. Smith would go on to win best actor minutes later. (Smith was later expelled from the movie academy received a 10-year ban from the Oscars.)Today's Birthdays: Actor Julian Glover is 88. Actor Jerry Lacy is 87. Hall of Fame racer Cale Yarborough is 84. Actor-director Austin Pendleton is 83. Actor Michael York is 81. Rock musician Tony Banks (Genesis) is 73. Rock musician Andrew Farriss (INXS) is 64. Jazz musician Dave Koz is 60. Movie director Quentin Tarantino is 60. Rock musician Derrick McKenzie (Jamiroquai) is 59. Rock musician Johnny April (Staind) is 58. Actor Talisa Soto is 56. Actor Ben Koldyke is 55. Actor Pauley Perrette is 54. Singer Mariah Carey is 53. Rock musician Brendan Hill (Blues Traveler) is 53. Actor Elizabeth Mitchell is 53. Actor Nathan Fillion is 52. Hip-hop singer Fergie is 48. Jazz musician Tia Fuller is 47. Actor Emily Ann Lloyd is 39. MLB catcher Buster Posey is 36. Actor Brenda Song is 35. Pop singer-songwriter Kimbra is 33. Actor Taylor Atelian is 28. Actor/R&amp;B singer Halle Bailey is 23. Classical crossover singer Amira Willighagen (TV: "Holland's Got Talent") is 19.

Today in History - March 27

LAWRENCE – With the 2019 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on “BlacKkKlansman” on his mantel, Kevin Willmott can focus on the screenwriting projects he likes. And while the&nbsp;University of Kansas professor of film &amp; media studies has carved out a niche telling little-known&nbsp;<a href="http://news.ku.edu/2020/08/12/history-police-brutality-informs-willmotts-24th" target="_blank">stories</a>&nbsp;of African American history that resonate with current events, Willmott’s latest project takes a fresh look at perhaps the most famous African American and most popular athlete of all time – boxing champion Muhammad Ali.

The producers (Willmott shares executive-producing credit) have&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Flifestyle%2Fmuhammad-ali-scripted-series-being-210048136.html&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kLhFL2P5YUvXDlmxOMXJkaemsXr%2FbTp3wHIVpZu2guM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;a deal to develop the eight-part series “Excellence: 8 Fights” about Ali's life for NBC’s Peacock streaming video service.

Willmott said he had been working with actor/producer Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment, which owns the rights to Jonathan Eig’s acclaimed 2017 biography,&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.harpercollins.com%2Fproducts%2Fali-jonathan-eig%3Fvariant%3D39935221858338&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=FLZiLc2DUInWvsNQdWab%2FJd258MaPIfKop8M5hE2DcU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">“Ali: A Life,"</a>&nbsp;for some time on a script. No star or release date has been announced.

“I chose eight different fights Ali had, using the book as my source material,” Willmott said. “They’re not all bouts in the ring. One of them will be his struggle with Parkinson’s disease.”

Apart from the Will Smith film&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FAli_(film)&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=FcEI0SR9etDBebmFJUlplq4nZcvuNjuOhPLl3EX0Zoo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">“Ali”</a>&nbsp;in 2001, Willmott said there have not been many treatments of the heavyweight champion and global cultural icon’s life on film. 2020’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt10612922%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2FBnYVFvtQGMsjTmS1hZLaU1c9pveE4QlCL1fHwhLyAs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">“One Night in Miami”</a>&nbsp;focuses on just that – a single meeting among Ali, football and movie star Jim Brown, singer/producer Sam Cooke and Black Muslim leader Malcolm X.

Willmott said “8 Fights” will be a modern biopic.

“The old style is cradle-to-grave,” he said. “Now you try to be a lot more selective and pick certain parts of their life.”

The fact that Ali remains so well-known, nearly seven years after his death, will enable the filmmakers to use a certain shorthand in explication, Willmott said. “He’s got a big life, and the segments narrow it down to specific things.”

“8 Fights” will delve into Ali’s complicated relationship with his greatest ring nemesis, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier, if only for its racial implications, Willmott said.

Despite the fact that Frazier had loaned Ali money when Ali was facing fallout from his decision to avoid the Vietnam-era draft, in the buildup to their fights, “Ali called him Uncle Tom and monkey,” Willmott said.

“There was a love-hate relationship – hatred from Joe Frazier’s standpoint. Ali didn’t hate anybody. He got angry at people like Floyd Patterson and Ernie Terrell that wouldn’t call him by the name Muhammad Ali, and he punished them in the ring. Ali was a bit ahead of the game in terms of the Black pride movement. It was about starting to connect to our African heritage.

“The series will allow Ali to look back on his life and reflect on the pros and cons,” Willmott said.

Willmott said he has several other writing irons in the fire, all based on historical events, including a completed script for a biopic of the first Black tennis star, Arthur Ashe, and one about the relationship between jazz musicians Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington and Lena Horne.

Willmott graduated from Marymount College in Salina and grew up in Junction City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597885870680.jpeg" alt="Kevin Willmott. Photo courtesy&nbsp;KU News Service" />
 <figcaption>Kevin Willmott. Photo courtesy&nbsp;KU News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>KU News ServiceLAWRENCE – With the 2019 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on “BlacKkKlansman” on his mantel, Kevin Willmott can focus on the screenwriting projects he likes. And while the&nbsp;University of Kansas professor of film &amp; media studies has carved out a niche telling little-known&nbsp;<a href="http://news.ku.edu/2020/08/12/history-police-brutality-informs-willmotts-24th" target="_blank">stories</a>&nbsp;of African American history that resonate with current events, Willmott’s latest project takes a fresh look at perhaps the most famous African American and most popular athlete of all time – boxing champion Muhammad Ali.The producers (Willmott shares executive-producing credit) have&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yahoo.com%2Flifestyle%2Fmuhammad-ali-scripted-series-being-210048136.html&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kLhFL2P5YUvXDlmxOMXJkaemsXr%2FbTp3wHIVpZu2guM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;a deal to develop the eight-part series “Excellence: 8 Fights” about Ali's life for NBC’s Peacock streaming video service.Willmott said he had been working with actor/producer Morgan Freeman’s Revelations Entertainment, which owns the rights to Jonathan Eig’s acclaimed 2017 biography,&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.harpercollins.com%2Fproducts%2Fali-jonathan-eig%3Fvariant%3D39935221858338&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=FLZiLc2DUInWvsNQdWab%2FJd258MaPIfKop8M5hE2DcU%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">“Ali: A Life,"</a>&nbsp;for some time on a script. No star or release date has been announced.“I chose eight different fights Ali had, using the book as my source material,” Willmott said. “They’re not all bouts in the ring. One of them will be his struggle with Parkinson’s disease.”Apart from the Will Smith film&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FAli_(film)&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=FcEI0SR9etDBebmFJUlplq4nZcvuNjuOhPLl3EX0Zoo%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">“Ali”</a>&nbsp;in 2001, Willmott said there have not been many treatments of the heavyweight champion and global cultural icon’s life on film. 2020’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.imdb.com%2Ftitle%2Ftt10612922%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cmedia1-l%40lists.ku.edu%7C94d198df35dc43c43d2108db2ba07309%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C638151740351640576%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2FBnYVFvtQGMsjTmS1hZLaU1c9pveE4QlCL1fHwhLyAs%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">“One Night in Miami”</a>&nbsp;focuses on just that – a single meeting among Ali, football and movie star Jim Brown, singer/producer Sam Cooke and Black Muslim leader Malcolm X.Willmott said “8 Fights” will be a modern biopic.“The old style is cradle-to-grave,” he said. “Now you try to be a lot more selective and pick certain parts of their life.”The fact that Ali remains so well-known, nearly seven years after his death, will enable the filmmakers to use a certain shorthand in explication, Willmott said. “He’s got a big life, and the segments narrow it down to specific things.”“8 Fights” will delve into Ali’s complicated relationship with his greatest ring nemesis, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier, if only for its racial implications, Willmott said.Despite the fact that Frazier had loaned Ali money when Ali was facing fallout from his decision to avoid the Vietnam-era draft, in the buildup to their fights, “Ali called him Uncle Tom and monkey,” Willmott said.“There was a love-hate relationship – hatred from Joe Frazier’s standpoint. Ali didn’t hate anybody. He got angry at people like Floyd Patterson and Ernie Terrell that wouldn’t call him by the name Muhammad Ali, and he punished them in the ring. Ali was a bit ahead of the game in terms of the Black pride movement. It was about starting to connect to our African heritage.“The series will allow Ali to look back on his life and reflect on the pros and cons,” Willmott said.Willmott said he has several other writing irons in the fire, all based on historical events, including a completed script for a biopic of the first Black tennis star, Arthur Ashe, and one about the relationship between jazz musicians Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington and Lena Horne.Willmott graduated from Marymount College in Salina and grew up in Junction City.

Filmmaker Willmott draws lessons from African American history

Today is Sunday, March 26, the 85th day of 2023. There are 280 days left in the year.

On March 26, 2010, the U.S. and Russia sealed the first major nuclear weapons treaty in nearly two decades, agreeing to slash the former Cold War rivals' warhead arsenals by nearly one-third.

In 1812, an earthquake devastated Caracas, Venezuela, causing an estimated 26,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna at age 56.

In 1945, during World War II, Iwo Jima was fully secured by U.S. forces following a final, desperate attack by Japanese soldiers.

In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Baker v. Carr, gave federal courts the power to order reapportionment of states' legislative districts.

In 1973, the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.

In 1982, groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

In 1988, Jesse Jackson stunned fellow Democrats by soundly defeating Michael S. Dukakis in Michigan's Democratic presidential caucuses.

In 1992, a judge in Indianapolis sentenced former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to six years in prison for raping a Miss Black America contestant. (Tyson ended up serving three years.)

In 1997, the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate techno-religious cult who committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

In 2014, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, was convicted in New York for his role as al-Qaida's fiery chief spokesman after 9/11. (He was later sentenced to life in prison.)

In 2020, the U.S. surpassed official Chinese government numbers to become the country with the most reported coronavirus infections.

Ten years ago: Italy's top criminal court overturned the acquittal of American Amanda Knox in the grisly murder of British roommate Meredith Kercher and ordered Knox to stand trial again. (Although convicted in absentia, Knox was exonerated by the Italian Supreme Court in 2015.) A study from the Society of Actuaries said that insurance companies would have to pay out an average of 32 percent more for medical claims under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. President Obama named veteran Secret Service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's first female director.

Five years ago: The Commerce Department said the 2020 U.S. Census would include a question about citizenship status; opponents said the question would discourage immigrants from responding to the census. A toxicology report obtained by The Associated Press revealed that the late pop superstar Prince had levels of fentanyl in his body that multiple experts described as "exceedingly high." Two women and their six adopted children were killed when one of the women drove their SUV off a cliff into the ocean about 150 miles north of San Francisco.

One year ago: President Joe Biden said in Poland that Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power," dramatically escalating the rhetoric against the Russian leader after his brutal invasion of Ukraine. The White House attempted to clarify soon after that he was not calling for a new government in Russia. Chinese authorities officially confirmed that there were no survivors in the crash of a China Eastern 737-800 with 132 people on board. U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska resigned from office after a jury convicted him of lying to federal authorities about an illegal campaign donation from a foreign national.

Today's Birthdays: Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is 93. Actor Alan Arkin is 89. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is 88. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 83. Author Erica Jong is 81. Journalist Bob Woodward is 80. Singer Diana Ross is 79. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 75. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 74. Actor Ernest Thomas is 74. Comedian Martin Short is 73. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 73. Movie composer Alan Silvestri is 73. Rock musician Monte Yoho is 71. Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is 70. Radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa is 69. Country singer Dean Dillon is 68. Country singer Charly McClain is 67. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 66. Actor Ellia English is 64. Actor Jennifer Grey is 63. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen is 63. Actor Billy Warlock is 62. Actor Eric Allan Kramer is 61. Basketball and College Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton is 61. Actor Michael Imperioli is 57. Rock musician James Iha is 55. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 55. Movie director Martin McDonagh is 52. Actor Leslie Mann is 51. Actor T.R. Knight is 50. Rapper Juvenile is 48. Actor Amy Smart is 47. Actor Bianca Kajlich is 46. Moderator Margaret Brennan (TV: "Face the Nation") is 43. Actor Sterling Sulieman is 39. Actor Keira Knightley is 38. Rapper J-Kwon is 37. Actor Carly Chaikin is 33.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Sunday, March 26, the 85th day of 2023. There are 280 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On March 26, 2010, the U.S. and Russia sealed the first major nuclear weapons treaty in nearly two decades, agreeing to slash the former Cold War rivals' warhead arsenals by nearly one-third.On this date:In 1812, an earthquake devastated Caracas, Venezuela, causing an estimated 26,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.In 1827, composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna at age 56.In 1945, during World War II, Iwo Jima was fully secured by U.S. forces following a final, desperate attack by Japanese soldiers.In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Baker v. Carr, gave federal courts the power to order reapportionment of states' legislative districts.In 1973, the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" premiered on CBS-TV.In 1979, a peace treaty was signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and witnessed by President Jimmy Carter at the White House.In 1982, groundbreaking ceremonies took place in Washington, D.C., for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.In 1988, Jesse Jackson stunned fellow Democrats by soundly defeating Michael S. Dukakis in Michigan's Democratic presidential caucuses.In 1992, a judge in Indianapolis sentenced former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to six years in prison for raping a Miss Black America contestant. (Tyson ended up serving three years.)In 1997, the bodies of 39 members of the Heaven's Gate techno-religious cult who committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California.In 2014, Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, was convicted in New York for his role as al-Qaida's fiery chief spokesman after 9/11. (He was later sentenced to life in prison.)In 2020, the U.S. surpassed official Chinese government numbers to become the country with the most reported coronavirus infections.Ten years ago: Italy's top criminal court overturned the acquittal of American Amanda Knox in the grisly murder of British roommate Meredith Kercher and ordered Knox to stand trial again. (Although convicted in absentia, Knox was exonerated by the Italian Supreme Court in 2015.) A study from the Society of Actuaries said that insurance companies would have to pay out an average of 32 percent more for medical claims under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. President Obama named veteran Secret Service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's first female director.Five years ago: The Commerce Department said the 2020 U.S. Census would include a question about citizenship status; opponents said the question would discourage immigrants from responding to the census. A toxicology report obtained by The Associated Press revealed that the late pop superstar Prince had levels of fentanyl in his body that multiple experts described as "exceedingly high." Two women and their six adopted children were killed when one of the women drove their SUV off a cliff into the ocean about 150 miles north of San Francisco.One year ago: President Joe Biden said in Poland that Vladimir Putin "cannot remain in power," dramatically escalating the rhetoric against the Russian leader after his brutal invasion of Ukraine. The White House attempted to clarify soon after that he was not calling for a new government in Russia. Chinese authorities officially confirmed that there were no survivors in the crash of a China Eastern 737-800 with 132 people on board. U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska resigned from office after a jury convicted him of lying to federal authorities about an illegal campaign donation from a foreign national.Today's Birthdays: Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is 93. Actor Alan Arkin is 89. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is 88. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 83. Author Erica Jong is 81. Journalist Bob Woodward is 80. Singer Diana Ross is 79. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 75. Singer and TV personality Vicki Lawrence is 74. Actor Ernest Thomas is 74. Comedian Martin Short is 73. Country singer Ronnie McDowell is 73. Movie composer Alan Silvestri is 73. Rock musician Monte Yoho is 71. Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is 70. Radio talk show host Curtis Sliwa is 69. Country singer Dean Dillon is 68. Country singer Charly McClain is 67. TV personality Leeza Gibbons is 66. Actor Ellia English is 64. Actor Jennifer Grey is 63. College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen is 63. Actor Billy Warlock is 62. Actor Eric Allan Kramer is 61. Basketball and College Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton is 61. Actor Michael Imperioli is 57. Rock musician James Iha is 55. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 55. Movie director Martin McDonagh is 52. Actor Leslie Mann is 51. Actor T.R. Knight is 50. Rapper Juvenile is 48. Actor Amy Smart is 47. Actor Bianca Kajlich is 46. Moderator Margaret Brennan (TV: "Face the Nation") is 43. Actor Sterling Sulieman is 39. Actor Keira Knightley is 38. Rapper J-Kwon is 37. Actor Carly Chaikin is 33.

Today in History - March 26

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for the rest of his life.

On Thursday, a judge sentenced 38-year-old Landon Lemons to six life sentences for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy of a child under the age of 14, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

Lemons was originally booked on the charges in 2017, according to online jail records and charged in October of 2018.

The crimes occurred between August 1, 2009 and December 1, 2013.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679598340443.png" alt="Lemons-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lemons-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for the rest of his life.On Thursday, a judge sentenced 38-year-old Landon Lemons to six life sentences for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated criminal sodomy of a child under the age of 14, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.Lemons was originally booked on the charges in 2017, according to online jail records and charged in October of 2018.The crimes occurred between August 1, 2009 and December 1, 2013.

Kansas man given 6 life sentences for child sex crimes

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:

See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:

*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-497&amp;fbclid=IwAR3fI5QK9PKeKWDHEkfs8WMZ7fQRDk02mG6LNyYozMGpGTow9Ykb-QpPEtA" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-497</a> ***

There are two new bestsellers, 37 new movies, one new audiobook, 28 new music CDs, and 58 other new books. The new bestsellers this week are "The Five-Star Weekend" and "Cross Down: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller." The new movies this week include "Jesus Revolution," "Magic Mike's Last Dance," and "Marlowe."&nbsp;&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-497&amp;fbclid=IwAR3fI5QK9PKeKWDHEkfs8WMZ7fQRDk02mG6LNyYozMGpGTow9Ykb-QpPEtA" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-497</a> ***There are two new bestsellers, 37 new movies, one new audiobook, 28 new music CDs, and 58 other new books. The new bestsellers this week are "The Five-Star Weekend" and "Cross Down: An Alex Cross and John Sampson Thriller." The new movies this week include "Jesus Revolution," "Magic Mike's Last Dance," and "Marlowe."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679767663330.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Check out what's new at Salina Public Library

Today is Saturday, March 25, the 84th day of 2023. There are 281 days left in the year.

On March 25, 1931, in the so-called "Scottsboro Boys" case, nine young Black men were taken off a train in Alabama, accused of raping two white women; after years of convictions, death sentences and imprisonment, the nine were eventually vindicated.

In 1634, English colonists sent by Lord Baltimore arrived in present-day Maryland.

In 1894, Jacob S. Coxey began leading an "army" of unemployed from Massillon, Ohio, to Washington D.C., to demand help from the federal government.

In 1911, 146 people, mostly young female immigrants, were killed when fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York.

In 1915, the U.S. Navy lost its first commissioned submarine as the USS F-4 sank off Hawaii, claiming the lives of all 21 crew members.

In 1947, a coal-dust explosion inside the Centralia Coal Co. Mine No. 5 in Washington County, Illinois, claimed 111 lives; 31 men survived.

In 1954, RCA announced it had begun producing color television sets at its plant in Bloomington, Indiana.

In 1960, Ray Charles recorded "Georgia on My Mind" as part of his "The Genius Hits the Road" album in New York.

In 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 people to the Alabama state capitol in Montgomery after a five-day march from Selma to protest the denial of voting rights to Blacks. Later that day, civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo, a white Detroit homemaker, was shot and killed by Ku Klux Klansmen.

In 1987, the Supreme Court, in Johnson v. Transportation Agency, ruled 6-3 that an employer could promote a woman over an arguably more-qualified man to help get women into higher-ranking jobs.

In 1990, 87 people, most of them Honduran and Dominican immigrants, were killed when fire raced through an illegal social club in New York City. (An arsonist set the fire after being thrown out of the club following an argument with his girlfriend; Julio Gonzalez died in prison in 2016.)

In 1996, an 81-day standoff by the anti-government Freemen began at a ranch near Jordan, Montana.

Ten years ago: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a show of unusual unity between their two nations in Kabul as the U.S. military ceded control of its last detention facility in Afghanistan, ending a long-standing irritant in relations.

Five years ago: In an interview with "60 Minutes," adult film star Stormy Daniels said she had been threatened and warned to keep silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006. A fire at a shopping mall in a Siberian city in Russia killed more than 60 people, including 41 children. Gun manufacturer Remington filed for bankruptcy reorganization amid years of slumping sales and legal and financial pressure from the Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut. Linda Brown, who as a young girl in Kansas became embroiled in a landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that challenged segregation in public schools, died at the age of 75.

One year ago: Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin announced his intention to support the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court, pushing her one step closer to confirmation. Sheriff's officials in Florida said a 14-year-old boy fell to his death from a ride at an Orlando amusement park. New Orleans' school board unanimously reversed a little known but century-old ban on jazz.

Today's Birthdays: Film critic Gene Shalit is 97. Former astronaut James Lovell is 95. Feminist activist and author Gloria Steinem is 89. Singer Anita Bryant is 83. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 80. Singer Sir Elton John is 76. Actor Bonnie Bedelia is 75. Actor-comedian Mary Gross is 70. Actor James McDaniel is 65. Movie producer Amy Pascal is 65. Rock musician Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) is 63. Actor Brenda Strong is 63. Actor Fred Goss is 62. Actor-writer-director John Stockwell is 62. Actor Marcia Cross is 61. Author Kate DiCamillo is 59. Actor Lisa Gay Hamilton is 59. Actor Sarah Jessica Parker is 58. Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine is 57. TV personality Ben Mankiewicz is 56. Olympic bronze medal figure skater Debi Thomas is 56. Actor Laz Alonso is 52. Singer Melanie Blatt (All Saints) is 48. Actor Domenick Lombardozzi is 47. Actor Lee Pace is 44. Actor Sean Faris is 41. Comedian-actor Alex Moffat (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 41. Former auto racer Danica Patrick is 41. Actor-singer Katharine McPhee is 39. Comedian-actor Chris Redd (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 38. Singer Jason Castro is 36. Rapper Big Sean is 35. Rap DJ-producer Ryan Lewis is 35. Actor Matthew Beard is 34. Actor-singer Aly (AKA Alyson) Michalka is 34. Actor Kiowa Gordon is 33. Actor Seychelle Gabriel is 32.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Saturday, March 25, the 84th day of 2023. There are 281 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On March 25, 1931, in the so-called "Scottsboro Boys" case, nine young Black men were taken off a train in Alabama, accused of raping two white women; after years of convictions, death sentences and imprisonment, the nine were eventually vindicated.On this date:In 1634, English colonists sent by Lord Baltimore arrived in present-day Maryland.In 1894, Jacob S. Coxey began leading an "army" of unemployed from Massillon, Ohio, to Washington D.C., to demand help from the federal government.In 1911, 146 people, mostly young female immigrants, were killed when fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York.In 1915, the U.S. Navy lost its first commissioned submarine as the USS F-4 sank off Hawaii, claiming the lives of all 21 crew members.In 1947, a coal-dust explosion inside the Centralia Coal Co. Mine No. 5 in Washington County, Illinois, claimed 111 lives; 31 men survived.In 1954, RCA announced it had begun producing color television sets at its plant in Bloomington, Indiana.In 1960, Ray Charles recorded "Georgia on My Mind" as part of his "The Genius Hits the Road" album in New York.In 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 people to the Alabama state capitol in Montgomery after a five-day march from Selma to protest the denial of voting rights to Blacks. Later that day, civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo, a white Detroit homemaker, was shot and killed by Ku Klux Klansmen.In 1987, the Supreme Court, in Johnson v. Transportation Agency, ruled 6-3 that an employer could promote a woman over an arguably more-qualified man to help get women into higher-ranking jobs.In 1990, 87 people, most of them Honduran and Dominican immigrants, were killed when fire raced through an illegal social club in New York City. (An arsonist set the fire after being thrown out of the club following an argument with his girlfriend; Julio Gonzalez died in prison in 2016.)In 1996, an 81-day standoff by the anti-government Freemen began at a ranch near Jordan, Montana.Ten years ago: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a show of unusual unity between their two nations in Kabul as the U.S. military ceded control of its last detention facility in Afghanistan, ending a long-standing irritant in relations.Five years ago: In an interview with "60 Minutes," adult film star Stormy Daniels said she had been threatened and warned to keep silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006. A fire at a shopping mall in a Siberian city in Russia killed more than 60 people, including 41 children. Gun manufacturer Remington filed for bankruptcy reorganization amid years of slumping sales and legal and financial pressure from the Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut. Linda Brown, who as a young girl in Kansas became embroiled in a landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that challenged segregation in public schools, died at the age of 75.One year ago: Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin announced his intention to support the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Supreme Court, pushing her one step closer to confirmation. Sheriff's officials in Florida said a 14-year-old boy fell to his death from a ride at an Orlando amusement park. New Orleans' school board unanimously reversed a little known but century-old ban on jazz.Today's Birthdays: Film critic Gene Shalit is 97. Former astronaut James Lovell is 95. Feminist activist and author Gloria Steinem is 89. Singer Anita Bryant is 83. Actor Paul Michael Glaser is 80. Singer Sir Elton John is 76. Actor Bonnie Bedelia is 75. Actor-comedian Mary Gross is 70. Actor James McDaniel is 65. Movie producer Amy Pascal is 65. Rock musician Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) is 63. Actor Brenda Strong is 63. Actor Fred Goss is 62. Actor-writer-director John Stockwell is 62. Actor Marcia Cross is 61. Author Kate DiCamillo is 59. Actor Lisa Gay Hamilton is 59. Actor Sarah Jessica Parker is 58. Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine is 57. TV personality Ben Mankiewicz is 56. Olympic bronze medal figure skater Debi Thomas is 56. Actor Laz Alonso is 52. Singer Melanie Blatt (All Saints) is 48. Actor Domenick Lombardozzi is 47. Actor Lee Pace is 44. Actor Sean Faris is 41. Comedian-actor Alex Moffat (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 41. Former auto racer Danica Patrick is 41. Actor-singer Katharine McPhee is 39. Comedian-actor Chris Redd (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 38. Singer Jason Castro is 36. Rapper Big Sean is 35. Rap DJ-producer Ryan Lewis is 35. Actor Matthew Beard is 34. Actor-singer Aly (AKA Alyson) Michalka is 34. Actor Kiowa Gordon is 33. Actor Seychelle Gabriel is 32.

Today in History - March 25

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Friday narrowly passed legislation that would fulfill a campaign promise to give parents a role in what's taught in public schools. It has little chance in the Democrat-run Senate and critics said it would propel a far-right movement that has led to book bans, restrictions aimed at transgender students and raucous school board meetings across the country.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. who made the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parents-rights-schools-woke-mccarthy-congress-f4643fa74dc4d82067c339fe950c3080">Parents’ Bill of Rights Act</a>&nbsp;a priority during the early weeks of his tenure, said Republicans were "keeping our promise, our commitment to America, that parents will have a say in their kids’ education.” The bill passed 213-208, with five Republicans — mostly members of the House Freedom Caucus — voting against it.

It would require schools to publish course studies and a list of books kept in libraries, as well as affirm parents' ability to meet with educators, speak at school board meetings and examine school budgets.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., promised that the legislation would face a “dead end.” He said it was further evidence that the House GOP had been overtaken by “hard right MAGA ideologues” — referencing former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.

The bill was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">early test of unity</a>&nbsp;for the 222 House Republicans and their thin majority. The measure showed how the adoption of an open amendment process in the House —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-kevin-mccarthy-house-of-representatives-4922d22689eb79d5d05c1b49ca733123">a concession McCarthy</a>&nbsp;made to win hard-line conservatives’ support for his speakership — holds the potential to send legislation down unpredictable twists and turns.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., successfully added amendments that would require schools to report when transgender girls join girls' athletics teams and if trans girls are allowed to use girls’ school restrooms or locker rooms. The bill would also require elementary and middle schools get parents' consent to change a child’s gender designation, pronouns or name.

Advocates for LGBTQ people said the proposal poses a threat to LGBTQ students by potentially forcing them to come out to their families, which can sometimes lead to abuse or abandonment.

“It’s part of a pattern of attempts we’re seeing where the right wing of the Republican Party is really trying to marginalize LGBTQ people,” said David Stacy, the government affairs director for Human Rights Campaign.

House Freedom Caucus members unsuccessfully tried to add provisions that called for abolishing Department of Education programs in schools and endorsed vouchers that would send public funds to private schools.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R—Kentucky, pointed to the 100-plus Republicans who supported his amendment to terminate the department's authority and said “it adds a lot of momentum.”

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and racial justice protests, conservatives’ intense focus on parental control over public school classrooms has migrated from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-school-boards-e41350b7d9e3662d279c2dad287f7009">local school board fights</a>&nbsp;to Republican-held statehouses and now to the floor of the U.S. House.

“Parents want schools focused on reading, writing and math, not woke politics,” Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., said during earlier debate.

Public school education in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-gender-identity-0e2ca2cf0ef7d7bc6ef5b125f1ee0969">has long invited concern</a>&nbsp;among some parents — usually conservative — over what children are taught. Historically, the term “parents' rights” has been used in schoolhouse debates over homeschooling, sex education and even the teaching of languages other than English.

Recently, Republicans have tapped into frustrations over remote learning and mask mandates in schools, as well as social conservatives' opposition to certain teachings on race that are broadly labeled as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-critical-race-theory-08f5d0a0489c7d6eab7d9a238365d2c1">critical race theory</a>, a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-school-boards-1e1f556e51de3f25c6f6eedb6f7a0ebe">Republican Glenn Youngkin</a>&nbsp;was elected as Virginia's governor in 2021 on the slogan “Parents matter" and political action committees have poured millions of dollars into school board races nationwide.

McCarthy made the bill a big part of his 2022 election pitch to voters to give Republicans a House majority. But the GOP's expectation of a sweeping victory never materialized, and even in school board races, conservative groups' goal of electing hundreds of “parents’ rights” activists&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-education-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-school-boards-bed36a1460957cb6be4df9d18583a765">largely fell short</a>.

But McCarthy pressed ahead with the bill, making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parents-rights-schools-woke-mccarthy-congress-f4643fa74dc4d82067c339fe950c3080">a public appeal</a>&nbsp;earlier this month at an event that featured a chalkboard, schoolchildren and parents who have been on the frontlines of the cause.

When asked about the five Republican votes against the bill, McCarthy contended that “Democrats are too extreme to believe that parents should have a say” in their children's education.

Democrats said they want to foster parental involvement, but said the bill caters to a vocal minority set on controlling and politicizing classrooms. They derided it as the “Politics over Parents Act."

Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries surged to their highest number in 2022 since the American Library Association began keeping data 20 years ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/book-bans-american-library-association-f84ac6fe3f8e3238fc54931bc1a5e054">according to a new report</a>&nbsp;the organization released this week.

“We’ll fight against this legislation. We’ll fight against the banning of books, fight against the bullying of children from any community, and certainly from the LGBTQ+ community,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore. offered alternative legislation that she argued would foster parental involvement, encourage collaboration with educators and make schools welcoming places to families, including those with LGBTQ students.

“We want parents to be involved — peacefully,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679679549976.png" alt="House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, made the "parents' bill of rights” a plank in his midterm election pitch to voters to give Republicans a House majority-photo courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, made the "parents' bill of rights” a plank in his midterm election pitch to voters to give Republicans a House majority-photo courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Friday narrowly passed legislation that would fulfill a campaign promise to give parents a role in what's taught in public schools. It has little chance in the Democrat-run Senate and critics said it would propel a far-right movement that has led to book bans, restrictions aimed at transgender students and raucous school board meetings across the country.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">American schools 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 be accountable to American parents. RT if you agree. <a href="https://t.co/r1eyWbNF2G">pic.twitter.com/r1eyWbNF2G</a>&mdash; House Rules Committee (@RulesReps) <a href="https://twitter.com/RulesReps/status/1639258996967186439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. who made the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parents-rights-schools-woke-mccarthy-congress-f4643fa74dc4d82067c339fe950c3080">Parents’ Bill of Rights Act</a>&nbsp;a priority during the early weeks of his tenure, said Republicans were "keeping our promise, our commitment to America, that parents will have a say in their kids’ education.” The bill passed 213-208, with five Republicans — mostly members of the House Freedom Caucus — voting against it.It would require schools to publish course studies and a list of books kept in libraries, as well as affirm parents' ability to meet with educators, speak at school board meetings and examine school budgets.In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., promised that the legislation would face a “dead end.” He said it was further evidence that the House GOP had been overtaken by “hard right MAGA ideologues” — referencing former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan.The bill was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-b9fcfd11427a695fe2eb49e36988f1a0">early test of unity</a>&nbsp;for the 222 House Republicans and their thin majority. The measure showed how the adoption of an open amendment process in the House —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-kevin-mccarthy-house-of-representatives-4922d22689eb79d5d05c1b49ca733123">a concession McCarthy</a>&nbsp;made to win hard-line conservatives’ support for his speakership — holds the potential to send legislation down unpredictable twists and turns.Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., successfully added amendments that would require schools to report when transgender girls join girls' athletics teams and if trans girls are allowed to use girls’ school restrooms or locker rooms. The bill would also require elementary and middle schools get parents' consent to change a child’s gender designation, pronouns or name.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The House has passed H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.<a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseGOP</a> is working to ensure better educational outcomes for our kids by embracing American parents, not casting them aside. <a href="https://t.co/Zfdu9kGj13">pic.twitter.com/Zfdu9kGj13</a>&mdash; House Rules Committee (@RulesReps) <a href="https://twitter.com/RulesReps/status/1639284734172831744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Advocates for LGBTQ people said the proposal poses a threat to LGBTQ students by potentially forcing them to come out to their families, which can sometimes lead to abuse or abandonment.“It’s part of a pattern of attempts we’re seeing where the right wing of the Republican Party is really trying to marginalize LGBTQ people,” said David Stacy, the government affairs director for Human Rights Campaign.House Freedom Caucus members unsuccessfully tried to add provisions that called for abolishing Department of Education programs in schools and endorsed vouchers that would send public funds to private schools.Rep. Thomas Massie, R—Kentucky, pointed to the 100-plus Republicans who supported his amendment to terminate the department's authority and said “it adds a lot of momentum.”In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and racial justice protests, conservatives’ intense focus on parental control over public school classrooms has migrated from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-school-boards-e41350b7d9e3662d279c2dad287f7009">local school board fights</a>&nbsp;to Republican-held statehouses and now to the floor of the U.S. House.“Parents want schools focused on reading, writing and math, not woke politics,” Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., said during earlier debate.Public school education in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-education-gender-identity-0e2ca2cf0ef7d7bc6ef5b125f1ee0969">has long invited concern</a>&nbsp;among some parents — usually conservative — over what children are taught. Historically, the term “parents' rights” has been used in schoolhouse debates over homeschooling, sex education and even the teaching of languages other than English.Recently, Republicans have tapped into frustrations over remote learning and mask mandates in schools, as well as social conservatives' opposition to certain teachings on race that are broadly labeled as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-critical-race-theory-08f5d0a0489c7d6eab7d9a238365d2c1">critical race theory</a>, a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-school-boards-1e1f556e51de3f25c6f6eedb6f7a0ebe">Republican Glenn Youngkin</a>&nbsp;was elected as Virginia's governor in 2021 on the slogan “Parents matter" and political action committees have poured millions of dollars into school board races nationwide.McCarthy made the bill a big part of his 2022 election pitch to voters to give Republicans a House majority. But the GOP's expectation of a sweeping victory never materialized, and even in school board races, conservative groups' goal of electing hundreds of “parents’ rights” activists&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-education-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-school-boards-bed36a1460957cb6be4df9d18583a765">largely fell short</a>.But McCarthy pressed ahead with the bill, making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parents-rights-schools-woke-mccarthy-congress-f4643fa74dc4d82067c339fe950c3080">a public appeal</a>&nbsp;earlier this month at an event that featured a chalkboard, schoolchildren and parents who have been on the frontlines of the cause.When asked about the five Republican votes against the bill, McCarthy contended that “Democrats are too extreme to believe that parents should have a say” in their children's education.Democrats said they want to foster parental involvement, but said the bill caters to a vocal minority set on controlling and politicizing classrooms. They derided it as the “Politics over Parents Act."Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries surged to their highest number in 2022 since the American Library Association began keeping data 20 years ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/book-bans-american-library-association-f84ac6fe3f8e3238fc54931bc1a5e054">according to a new report</a>&nbsp;the organization released this week.“We’ll fight against this legislation. We’ll fight against the banning of books, fight against the bullying of children from any community, and certainly from the LGBTQ+ community,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said.Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore. offered alternative legislation that she argued would foster parental involvement, encourage collaboration with educators and make schools welcoming places to families, including those with LGBTQ students.“We want parents to be involved — peacefully,” she said.

House passes parents' rights bill in clash over schools

Today is Friday, March 24, the 83rd day of 2023. There are 282 days left in the year.

On March 24, 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound and began leaking an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil.

In 1765, Britain enacted the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide temporary housing to British soldiers.

In 1832, a mob in Hiram, Ohio, attacked, tarred and feathered Mormon leaders Joseph Smith Jr. and Sidney Rigdon.

In 1882, German scientist Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he had discovered the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis.

In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill granting future independence to the Philippines.

In 1976, the president of Argentina, Isabel Peron, was deposed by her country's military.

In 1980, one of El Salvador's most respected Roman Catholic Church leaders, Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, was shot to death by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in San Salvador.

In 1995, after 20 years, British soldiers stopped routine patrols in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In 1999, NATO launched airstrikes against Yugoslavia, marking the first time in its 50-year existence that it had ever attacked a sovereign country. Thirty-nine people were killed when fire erupted in the Mont Blanc tunnel in France and burned for two days.

In 2010, keeping a promise he'd made to anti-abortion Democratic lawmakers to assure passage of his historic health care legislation, President Barack Obama signed an executive order against using federal funds to pay for elective abortions covered by private insurance.

In 2015, Germanwings Flight 9525, an Airbus A320, crashed into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board; investigators said the jetliner was deliberately downed by the 27-year-old co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz.

In 2016, a U.N. war crimes court convicted former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic of genocide and nine other charges for orchestrating a campaign of terror that left 100,000 people dead during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia; Karadzic was sentenced to 40 years in prison. (The sentence was later increased to life in prison.)

In 2020, the International Olympic Committee announced that the Summer Olympics in Tokyo would be postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus.

Ten years ago: Just days after the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on a previously unannounced trip to Baghdad, confronted Iraqi officials for continuing to grant Iran access to its airspace and said Iraq's behavior was raising questions about its reliability as a partner. Hundreds of thousands marched in Paris protesting the imminent legalization of same-sex marriage. (It would be signed into law just over two months later).

Five years ago: In the streets of the nation's capital and in cities across the country, hundreds of thousands of teenagers and their supporters rallied against gun violence, spurred by a call to action from student survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. An extreme right-wing group in Greece claimed responsibility for an arson attack on an Afghan community center in Athens.

One year ago: Ukraine accused Moscow of forcibly taking hundreds of thousands of civilians from shattered Ukrainian cities to Russia, where some could be used as "hostages" to pressure Kyiv to give up. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell announced that he would vote against confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson, saying he "cannot and will not" support the groundbreaking nominee for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. Stephen Wilhite, the inventor of the internet-popular short-video format, the GIF, died.

Today's Birthdays: Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie is 84. Former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is 76. Rock musician Lee Oskar is 75. Singer Nick Lowe is 74. Rock musician Dougie Thomson (Supertramp) is 72. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger is 72. Actor Donna Pescow is 69. Actor Robert Carradine is 69. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, is 69. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is 67. Actor Kelly LeBrock is 63. TV personality Star Jones is 61. Country-rock musician Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) is 59. Actor Peter Jacobson is 58. Rock singer-musician Sharon Corr (The Corrs) is 53. Actor Lauren Bowles is 53. Actor Lara Flynn Boyle is 53. Rapper Maceo (AKA P.A. Pasemaster Mase) is 53. Actor Megyn Price is 52. Actor Jim Parsons is 50. Christian rock musician Chad Butler (Switchfoot) is 49. Actor Alyson Hannigan is 49. Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is 47. Actor Amanda Brugel (TV: "The Handmaid's Tale") is 46. Actor Olivia Burnette is 46. Actor Jessica Chastain is 46. Actor Amir Arison is 45. Actor Lake Bell is 44. Rock musician Benj Gershman (O.A.R.) is 43. Neo-soul musician Jesse Phillips (St. Paul &amp; the Broken Bones) is 43. Actor Philip Winchester (TV: "Strike Back") is 42. Dancer Val Chmerkovskiy is 37. Actor Keisha Castle-Hughes is 33.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Friday, March 24, the 83rd day of 2023. There are 282 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On March 24, 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound and began leaking an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil.On this date:In 1765, Britain enacted the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide temporary housing to British soldiers.In 1832, a mob in Hiram, Ohio, attacked, tarred and feathered Mormon leaders Joseph Smith Jr. and Sidney Rigdon.In 1882, German scientist Robert Koch announced in Berlin that he had discovered the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis.In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill granting future independence to the Philippines.In 1976, the president of Argentina, Isabel Peron, was deposed by her country's military.In 1980, one of El Salvador's most respected Roman Catholic Church leaders, Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, was shot to death by a sniper as he celebrated Mass in San Salvador.In 1995, after 20 years, British soldiers stopped routine patrols in Belfast, Northern Ireland.In 1999, NATO launched airstrikes against Yugoslavia, marking the first time in its 50-year existence that it had ever attacked a sovereign country. Thirty-nine people were killed when fire erupted in the Mont Blanc tunnel in France and burned for two days.In 2010, keeping a promise he'd made to anti-abortion Democratic lawmakers to assure passage of his historic health care legislation, President Barack Obama signed an executive order against using federal funds to pay for elective abortions covered by private insurance.In 2015, Germanwings Flight 9525, an Airbus A320, crashed into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board; investigators said the jetliner was deliberately downed by the 27-year-old co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz.In 2016, a U.N. war crimes court convicted former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic of genocide and nine other charges for orchestrating a campaign of terror that left 100,000 people dead during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia; Karadzic was sentenced to 40 years in prison. (The sentence was later increased to life in prison.)In 2020, the International Olympic Committee announced that the Summer Olympics in Tokyo would be postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus.Ten years ago: Just days after the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, on a previously unannounced trip to Baghdad, confronted Iraqi officials for continuing to grant Iran access to its airspace and said Iraq's behavior was raising questions about its reliability as a partner. Hundreds of thousands marched in Paris protesting the imminent legalization of same-sex marriage. (It would be signed into law just over two months later).Five years ago: In the streets of the nation's capital and in cities across the country, hundreds of thousands of teenagers and their supporters rallied against gun violence, spurred by a call to action from student survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. An extreme right-wing group in Greece claimed responsibility for an arson attack on an Afghan community center in Athens.One year ago: Ukraine accused Moscow of forcibly taking hundreds of thousands of civilians from shattered Ukrainian cities to Russia, where some could be used as "hostages" to pressure Kyiv to give up. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell announced that he would vote against confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson, saying he "cannot and will not" support the groundbreaking nominee for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. Stephen Wilhite, the inventor of the internet-popular short-video format, the GIF, died.Today's Birthdays: Fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie is 84. Former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire is 76. Rock musician Lee Oskar is 75. Singer Nick Lowe is 74. Rock musician Dougie Thomson (Supertramp) is 72. Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger is 72. Actor Donna Pescow is 69. Actor Robert Carradine is 69. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, is 69. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is 67. Actor Kelly LeBrock is 63. TV personality Star Jones is 61. Country-rock musician Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) is 59. Actor Peter Jacobson is 58. Rock singer-musician Sharon Corr (The Corrs) is 53. Actor Lauren Bowles is 53. Actor Lara Flynn Boyle is 53. Rapper Maceo (AKA P.A. Pasemaster Mase) is 53. Actor Megyn Price is 52. Actor Jim Parsons is 50. Christian rock musician Chad Butler (Switchfoot) is 49. Actor Alyson Hannigan is 49. Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is 47. Actor Amanda Brugel (TV: "The Handmaid's Tale") is 46. Actor Olivia Burnette is 46. Actor Jessica Chastain is 46. Actor Amir Arison is 45. Actor Lake Bell is 44. Rock musician Benj Gershman (O.A.R.) is 43. Neo-soul musician Jesse Phillips (St. Paul &amp; the Broken Bones) is 43. Actor Philip Winchester (TV: "Strike Back") is 42. Dancer Val Chmerkovskiy is 37. Actor Keisha Castle-Hughes is 33.

Today in History - March 24

By JAMES POLLARD Associated Press/Report for America

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's embattled top accountant will 
step down next month after a $3.5 billion error in the year-end 
financial report he oversaw, according to a resignation letter written 
Thursday that was obtained by The Associated Press.

Republican 
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom's decision to leave the post he has
 held for 20 years came after intense scrutiny of his performance 
following the blunder and amid rising calls for him <a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-accounting-error-comptroller-d86a4db4b85b1d64e4c482bf2e7e2283">to either quit or be removed.</a>

The
 Senate panel investigating the financial misstatement issued a damning 
report last week accusing Eckstrom of "willful neglect of duty.” As 
recently as last week, however, Eckstrom had said he would not resign.

“I
 have never taken service to the state I love or the jobs to which I 
have been elected lightly, endeavoring to work with my colleagues ... to
 be a strong defender of the taxpayer and a good steward of their 
hard-earned tax dollars,” Eckstrom wrote in the letter to South Carolina
 Gov. Henry McMaster. “They deserve nothing less.”

The governor accepted the resignation, effective April 30.

The
 Senate report concluded that Eckstrom was solely responsibile for the 
mapping error, which happened during the state's transition to a new 
internal information system from 2011 to 2017. State officials testified
 that Eckstrom ignored auditors' yearslong warnings of a “material 
weakness” in his office and flawed cash reporting.

Eckstrom has 
said the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report exaggerated the state's 
cash balances for a decade by double counting the money sent to colleges
 and universities. The mistake went unsolved until a junior staffer 
fixed the error this fall.

Officials have said the overstatement did not affect the state budget. But lawmakers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-carolina-state-government-e26ddb69b68e54067a9e30fd87ebd430">alarmed by Eckstrom's inconsistent testimony</a> slammed his failure to fulfill one of his primary constitutional duties: to publish an accurate account of state finances.

The fallout for the state agency that typically flies under the radar is expected to continue. A Senate subcommittee recently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/35-billion-comptroller-south-carolina-4e3cb862eeb304df10d507ffcccd1b52">approved a joint resolution</a>
 that would let voters decide whether the comptroller general should 
continue as an elected position or be appointed by the governor. 
Eckstrom reiterated his support for that change Thursday in his 
resignation letter.

The next comptroller general may also lead a 
much weaker office. The investigating panel suggested its 
responsibilities be transferred to one or more agencies. State Treasurer
 Curtis Loftis, an elected Republican, has testified that his office 
could absorb the main tasks.

Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who led
 the investigation, said the comptroller general’s office could also be 
“done away with altogether.”

Grooms thanked Eckstrom for doing the
 “honorable thing” and sparing the General Assembly from using an 
obscure state constitutional provision to remove him from office.

Between
 a 104-7 House vote to cut the comptroller general’s annual salary to $1
 and the Senate’s scheduled April 11 vote to oust Eckstrom, Grooms 
suggested the rising heat had grown too intense for him to remain on the
 job.

The Senate must now select a replacement to serve out the 
rest of Eckstrom’s term, which ends in 2027. Grooms said the next 
comptroller general should be someone who recognizes that their job is 
to spend the next three years overseeing the office’s incorporation into
 other state agencies. He does not anticipate any other heads will roll.

“The buck stopped with him,” Grooms said. “The accountability was with him.”

A
 certified public accountant, Eckstrom, 74, spent four years as state 
treasurer before assuming his current office. He has run unopposed in 
the past two elections and last faced a Republican primary challenger in
 2010.

McMaster — who had resisted calls for impeachment and 
endorsed elections as the proper vehicle for accountability — thanked 
Eckstrom for his 24 years of “dedicated service.” The governor 
previously served as the state's attorney general alongside Eckstrom 
early in the comptroller general's tenure.

“The Eckstrom and 
McMaster families have been dear friends for decades,” McMaster said 
Thursday in a letter accepting the resignation. “I know that your every 
wish has been, and always will be, prosperity and happiness for the 
people of South Carolina.”

James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. <a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a> is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679678288234.jpeg" alt="South Carolina Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom holds up a book he wanted to present to his new Chief of Staff James Holly during his introduction at a Budget and Control Board meeting in 2009, (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)" />
 <figcaption>South Carolina Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom holds up a book he wanted to present to his new Chief of Staff James Holly during his introduction at a Budget and Control Board meeting in 2009, (AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES POLLARD Associated Press/Report for AmericaCOLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's embattled top accountant will 
step down next month after a $3.5 billion error in the year-end 
financial report he oversaw, according to a resignation letter written 
Thursday that was obtained by The Associated Press.Republican 
Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom's decision to leave the post he has
 held for 20 years came after intense scrutiny of his performance 
following the blunder and amid rising calls for him <a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-accounting-error-comptroller-d86a4db4b85b1d64e4c482bf2e7e2283">to either quit or be removed.</a>The
 Senate panel investigating the financial misstatement issued a damning 
report last week accusing Eckstrom of "willful neglect of duty.” As 
recently as last week, however, Eckstrom had said he would not resign.“I
 have never taken service to the state I love or the jobs to which I 
have been elected lightly, endeavoring to work with my colleagues ... to
 be a strong defender of the taxpayer and a good steward of their 
hard-earned tax dollars,” Eckstrom wrote in the letter to South Carolina
 Gov. Henry McMaster. “They deserve nothing less.”The governor accepted the resignation, effective April 30.The
 Senate report concluded that Eckstrom was solely responsibile for the 
mapping error, which happened during the state's transition to a new 
internal information system from 2011 to 2017. State officials testified
 that Eckstrom ignored auditors' yearslong warnings of a “material 
weakness” in his office and flawed cash reporting.Eckstrom has 
said the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report exaggerated the state's 
cash balances for a decade by double counting the money sent to colleges
 and universities. The mistake went unsolved until a junior staffer 
fixed the error this fall.Officials have said the overstatement did not affect the state budget. But lawmakers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-south-carolina-state-government-e26ddb69b68e54067a9e30fd87ebd430">alarmed by Eckstrom's inconsistent testimony</a> slammed his failure to fulfill one of his primary constitutional duties: to publish an accurate account of state finances.The fallout for the state agency that typically flies under the radar is expected to continue. A Senate subcommittee recently <a href="https://apnews.com/article/35-billion-comptroller-south-carolina-4e3cb862eeb304df10d507ffcccd1b52">approved a joint resolution</a>
 that would let voters decide whether the comptroller general should 
continue as an elected position or be appointed by the governor. 
Eckstrom reiterated his support for that change Thursday in his 
resignation letter.The next comptroller general may also lead a 
much weaker office. The investigating panel suggested its 
responsibilities be transferred to one or more agencies. State Treasurer
 Curtis Loftis, an elected Republican, has testified that his office 
could absorb the main tasks.Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who led
 the investigation, said the comptroller general’s office could also be 
“done away with altogether.”Grooms thanked Eckstrom for doing the
 “honorable thing” and sparing the General Assembly from using an 
obscure state constitutional provision to remove him from office.Between
 a 104-7 House vote to cut the comptroller general’s annual salary to $1
 and the Senate’s scheduled April 11 vote to oust Eckstrom, Grooms 
suggested the rising heat had grown too intense for him to remain on the
 job.The Senate must now select a replacement to serve out the 
rest of Eckstrom’s term, which ends in 2027. Grooms said the next 
comptroller general should be someone who recognizes that their job is 
to spend the next three years overseeing the office’s incorporation into
 other state agencies. He does not anticipate any other heads will roll.“The buck stopped with him,” Grooms said. “The accountability was with him.”A
 certified public accountant, Eckstrom, 74, spent four years as state 
treasurer before assuming his current office. He has run unopposed in 
the past two elections and last faced a Republican primary challenger in
 2010.McMaster — who had resisted calls for impeachment and 
endorsed elections as the proper vehicle for accountability — thanked 
Eckstrom for his 24 years of “dedicated service.” The governor 
previously served as the state's attorney general alongside Eckstrom 
early in the comptroller general's tenure.“The Eckstrom and 
McMaster families have been dear friends for decades,” McMaster said 
Thursday in a letter accepting the resignation. “I know that your every 
wish has been, and always will be, prosperity and happiness for the 
people of South Carolina.”James Pollard is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. <a href="https://www.reportforamerica.org/">Report for America</a> is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

South Carolina's top accountant to resign after $3.5B error

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Every week since the beginning of the legislative session in
 January, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have staffed a table near 
the main public entrance to the Statehouse.

Every week, they have met with senators and representatives, working 
toward a compromise on legislation that would remove barriers for other 
survivors who seek justice through criminal charges and civil 
litigation.

Every week goes by without a hearing on the bill.

This week, on Thursday, a Senate panel finally plans to hold a hearing on legislation that remains a work in progress. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb317/">Senate Bill 317</a>
 would establish a legal climate in Kansas where there is no statute of 
limitations on criminal charges, and where survivors could seek damages 
through civil cases until they turn 31 years old. Under current law, 
children who are victimized by coaches, priests, family members and 
others must file a lawsuit before the age of 21.

Four survivors — Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray — have been prominent fixtures in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">the fight for legal reforms</a>,
 although they are joined behind the scenes by dozens of others who long
 for change. The four spoke with Kansas Reflector on Tuesday about their
 concerns with delays in getting a hearing on the bill, and about the 
impact of their work.

They appear at their table armed with educational materials, images 
of themselves as children, and courage. Frequently, others approach them
 to share stories of their own traumatic experience.

After spending a day at the Statehouse, Ramirez said, she basically 
sits on her couch and does nothing the next day “because it’s so 
emotionally tolling that I’m exhausted.”

“It is triggering. It’s hard — still in therapy, probably will be 
there forever to process these things,” Ramirez said. “But in those 
moments, you just want to be there to support that person that’s telling
 the story, because you may be the first person that they’ve told. So in
 that moment, you’re just a sounding board, and you just try to provide 
them a little bit of comfort.”

Bergman said it is “sad and frustrating that people are having to come to us in this situation.”

“We can’t even get a hearing to be able to help people like this,” 
Bergman said. “So, you know, I just — I don’t know. I’ve kind of gotten 
to the frustrated point that I just want a hearing. I want an 
opportunity to be able to share our stories.”

Bergman said she was trying to tame her frustration because she has 
been encouraged by Senate President Ty Masterson’s willingness to 
negotiate.

Past efforts to change Kansas law received hearings in the House but 
met resistance in the Senate. This year, House leaders made it clear 
that any legislation would need to clear Senate hurdles before House 
consideration.

Those hurdles include educating lawmakers on the reality that 
survivors may not be ready to disclose their abuse until they are, on 
average, in their 50s. Some lawmakers simply aren’t comfortable talking 
about the subject. There are misconceptions about false allegations. 
Police were concerned about being blamed for not gathering evidence in 
old crimes.

Then there are discreet lobbying efforts by the Catholic Church, 
which could be vulnerable to lawsuits from years of clergy abuse 
confirmed by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report</a> released in January.

Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, declined to talk about proposed legislation for this story.

“Not to you, I’m not going to talk,” Weber said. “You are an unfair reporter. You are biased.”

Survivors had hoped to remove the statute of limitations entirely, 
but they agreed to extend the age by 10 years as part of the 
negotiations in recent weeks.

Still,&nbsp;Cheray said, it felt like lawmakers were trying to “run out the clock” on the session.

“This has been our whole life, having to fight to be heard,” Cheray 
said. “We are making strides. We are a lot further now than we were, 
say, four years ago.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496524262.png" alt="Child sex abuse survivors (from left) Tess Ramirez, Joe Cheray, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Kim Bergman appear at their advocacy table March 21, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka. They have appeared at the Statehouse and met with lawmakers every week since the start of the session in hopes of passing a law to remove barriers to criminal and civil litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Child sex abuse survivors (from left) Tess Ramirez, Joe Cheray, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Kim Bergman appear at their advocacy table March 21, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka. They have appeared at the Statehouse and met with lawmakers every week since the start of the session in hopes of passing a law to remove barriers to criminal and civil litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Every week since the beginning of the legislative session in
 January, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have staffed a table near 
the main public entrance to the Statehouse.Every week, they have met with senators and representatives, working 
toward a compromise on legislation that would remove barriers for other 
survivors who seek justice through criminal charges and civil 
litigation.Every week goes by without a hearing on the bill.They are frustrated.This week, on Thursday, a Senate panel finally plans to hold a hearing on legislation that remains a work in progress. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb317/">Senate Bill 317</a>
 would establish a legal climate in Kansas where there is no statute of 
limitations on criminal charges, and where survivors could seek damages 
through civil cases until they turn 31 years old. Under current law, 
children who are victimized by coaches, priests, family members and 
others must file a lawsuit before the age of 21.Four survivors — Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray — have been prominent fixtures in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">the fight for legal reforms</a>,
 although they are joined behind the scenes by dozens of others who long
 for change. The four spoke with Kansas Reflector on Tuesday about their
 concerns with delays in getting a hearing on the bill, and about the 
impact of their work.They appear at their table armed with educational materials, images 
of themselves as children, and courage. Frequently, others approach them
 to share stories of their own traumatic experience.After spending a day at the Statehouse, Ramirez said, she basically 
sits on her couch and does nothing the next day “because it’s so 
emotionally tolling that I’m exhausted.”“It is triggering. It’s hard — still in therapy, probably will be 
there forever to process these things,” Ramirez said. “But in those 
moments, you just want to be there to support that person that’s telling
 the story, because you may be the first person that they’ve told. So in
 that moment, you’re just a sounding board, and you just try to provide 
them a little bit of comfort.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496591564.png" alt="Kim Bergman stands next to a chart that shows how most of her abuser’s victims were unable to seek justice because of the statute of limitations on child sex crimes and civil litigation in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kim Bergman stands next to a chart that shows how most of her abuser’s victims were unable to seek justice because of the statute of limitations on child sex crimes and civil litigation in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Bergman said it is “sad and frustrating that people are having to come to us in this situation.”“We can’t even get a hearing to be able to help people like this,” 
Bergman said. “So, you know, I just — I don’t know. I’ve kind of gotten 
to the frustrated point that I just want a hearing. I want an 
opportunity to be able to share our stories.”Bergman said she was trying to tame her frustration because she has 
been encouraged by Senate President Ty Masterson’s willingness to 
negotiate.Past efforts to change Kansas law received hearings in the House but 
met resistance in the Senate. This year, House leaders made it clear 
that any legislation would need to clear Senate hurdles before House 
consideration.Those hurdles include educating lawmakers on the reality that 
survivors may not be ready to disclose their abuse until they are, on 
average, in their 50s. Some lawmakers simply aren’t comfortable talking 
about the subject. There are misconceptions about false allegations. 
Police were concerned about being blamed for not gathering evidence in 
old crimes.Then there are discreet lobbying efforts by the Catholic Church, 
which could be vulnerable to lawsuits from years of clergy abuse 
confirmed by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report</a> released in January.Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, declined to talk about proposed legislation for this story.“Not to you, I’m not going to talk,” Weber said. “You are an unfair reporter. You are biased.”Survivors had hoped to remove the statute of limitations entirely, 
but they agreed to extend the age by 10 years as part of the 
negotiations in recent weeks.Still,&nbsp;Cheray said, it felt like lawmakers were trying to “run out the clock” on the session.“This has been our whole life, having to fight to be heard,” Cheray 
said. “We are making strides. We are a lot further now than we were, 
say, four years ago.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496629215.png" alt="Sen. Usha Reddi says abusers are “people that we work with and trust,” not just “creepy old men in the woods.” (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Usha Reddi says abusers are “people that we work with and trust,” not just “creepy old men in the woods.” (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sen. Usha Reddi, a first-term Democrat from Manhattan, has worked to advance legislation on behalf of survivors. She <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2020/02/15/secrets-in-our-culture-victims-of-child-sex-abuse-urge-lawmakers-to-take-action/1699685007/">testified in support of similar legislation</a>
 in 2020, when she revealed her father had abused her as a child. At the
 age of 53, she had been able to pursue criminal charges in Virginia.In an interview for this story, Reddi said she and her brother went 
to her mother’s house when her father was getting arrested, thinking 
they would take her home to live together.“First thing she said is, ‘Get your dad out of jail.’ So that’s when 
you know, wow, if I did this when I was 8, 9 years old, it would not 
have been very different,” Reddi said. “So I think if that’s happening 
within my own family, how does the Legislature address any of this?“They still make the person coming out feel like, well, why are you 
doing it now? What are you going to gain from it? Are you going to write
 a book? How are you going to get rich? They see all these ulterior 
motives, even if there isn’t any. And I think that’s what pushes the 
actual conversation aside.”Reddi said the KBI’s clergy abuse report, which identified 188 
suspects of “criminal acts,” helped create momentum behind legislation 
this session because it showed widespread abuse. She has tried to make 
it clear that this isn’t just about clergy — children can be preyed upon
 by coaches, teachers and others.“They’re not creepy old men in the woods,” Reddi said. “These are 
people that we work with and trust. And I think that’s the piece that 
people can’t get past.”Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said it has been difficult to build support from lawmakers for the bill.“This isn’t necessarily a topic that people are comfortable talking 
about,” Holscher said. “We’ve had to bring it forward, the survivors 
coming every week talking to legislators.”