By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The halls of Hays High School were bustling with curious students the last two days as students were allowed a sneak peek of their new school.

Today is the first day of school for all Hays USD 489 students, and the first full day of classes for the new $100 million high school.

Mario Hernandez, a junior, was there with other members of the student council serving as ambassadors for the new school.

Hernandez, a football player, said he is excited for the new athletic facilities.

Hays High has never played a home football game at its own facility. For years, the district has leased Fort Hays State University's Lewis Field. The Indians will play their first home game on Friday, Sept. 5.

"We have a beautiful new field, a new weight room. It's great," he said.

Kamden McBride, junior, said he is excited about the new performing arts center on campus. He said driving to another location was cumbersome. He's looking forward to the first performances of the chorus, band and orchestra in the new building.

"The whole school is amazing. I'm not into football, but having the view of the football field is beautiful."

The former Hays High School did not have an auditorium. Students either had to use the 12th Street auditorium, which was built more than 70 years ago and is in disrepair, or lease space at FHSU.

The new performing arts center seats 800 people, has an attached dressing room, costume shop and set workshop.

Alex Underwood, chorus teacher, noted the auditorium was designed with special attention to acoustics and rigging for scenery.

McBride said he wasn't too concerned about navigating the new school. He said finding classes was easy once you oriented yourself with the commons. He said he thought it was easier to navigate than the former Hays High.&nbsp;

The building is color-coded. Math and science are green, ground floor west. Music, performing arts and social studies are beige, ground floor east. Math, science, ag, business and the media center are light blue, second floor west. Art, English and world language are dark blue, second floor east.

The athletics wing is in the southwest portion of the building and painted with Hays High Indians logos in maroon and gold.

Avery Arias, junior, said, "The classrooms are bigger, and it allows for more space. There is new equipment and arts supplies and new culinary stuff. It opens up a lot of new opportunities for students in all areas, sports, art, business, everything."

&nbsp;Teachers are looking forward to their new spaces as well.

Maleigha&nbsp;Albers,&nbsp;English teacher, said&nbsp;the new extra space will help with her interactions with students.

"I love it. I love the room. Last year, I couldn't walk to the back of my room because it was so congested. I can move. I can help my kids better. I can maneuver the classroom a little bit better," she said.

Kathy Wagoner, English teacher, said, "It's an exciting time. I'm just thankful that the community has given us this opportunity to help kids grow. I love the extra space. It's an incredible building."

Wagoner said she taught for 34 years in a classroom with no windows. The new classrooms have many windows, which allow in natural light.

Many of the classrooms have class sliding doors that open into halls with flexible seating so students can work in small groups.

Wagoner said the design will allow for better supervision. In the old classrooms with the wooden doors, it was challenging to monitor both students working in the hall and the classroom.&nbsp;

"You were stuck in the doorway, and you had to look back and forth," she said.

Kayla Brown, chemistry teacher, said of her new classroom, "It's fabulous. More room to move around. Being able to use the desk as a class desk and dual lab benches is great. They are on casters, so it's easy to move them around."&nbsp;

She said the room has additional storage and it's more accessible.&nbsp;

A public ribbon cutting for the new high school will be at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, followed by the Maroon and Gold scrimmage. The public will be allowed to tour the building at that time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755634947316.jpeg" alt="Juniors and seniors gathered for a sneak peek of the new Hays High School in the commons on Monday. Today is the first day of classes in the $100 million building that was paid for through a bond passed in 2022. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Juniors and seniors gathered for a sneak peek of the new Hays High School in the commons on Monday. Today is the first day of classes in the $100 million building that was paid for through a bond passed in 2022. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Ron Wilson" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=5tjvy-193b79e-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe halls of Hays High School were bustling with curious students the last two days as students were allowed a sneak peek of their new school.Today is the first day of school for all Hays USD 489 students, and the first full day of classes for the new $100 million high school.Mario Hernandez, a junior, was there with other members of the student council serving as ambassadors for the new school.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755570751577.jpeg" alt="View of the new Hays High football field from the lower floor commons. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>View of the new Hays High football field from the lower floor commons. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755635542345.jpeg" alt="Learning stairs in the new Hays High commons. Students can gather here during lunch or in groups for class or club meetings. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Learning stairs in the new Hays High commons. Students can gather here during lunch or in groups for class or club meetings. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Hernandez, a football player, said he is excited for the new athletic facilities.Hays High has never played a home football game at its own facility. For years, the district has leased Fort Hays State University's Lewis Field. The Indians will play their first home game on Friday, Sept. 5."We have a beautiful new field, a new weight room. It's great," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755635671383.jpeg" alt="The new Hays High performing arts center will accommodate 800 people. The former high school did not have an auditorium. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The new Hays High performing arts center will accommodate 800 people. The former high school did not have an auditorium. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755635764668.jpeg" alt="The performing arts center, looking from the audience, has an orchestra pit and riggings for scenery and lighting. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The performing arts center, looking from the audience, has an orchestra pit and riggings for scenery and lighting. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755636343137.jpeg" alt="The band room has a door that leads to the football field for use by the marching band. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The band room has a door that leads to the football field for use by the marching band. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755636680078.jpeg" alt="Choir director Alex Underwood with students in the new chorus room. The new band and chorus rooms are adjacent to practice rooms. A private donor has given music stands, keyboards and audio equipment to outfit those rooms. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Choir director Alex Underwood with students in the new chorus room. The new band and chorus rooms are adjacent to practice rooms. A private donor has given music stands, keyboards and audio equipment to outfit those rooms. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755637502204.jpeg" alt="The dressing room adjacent to the performing arts center in the new Hays High School. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The dressing room adjacent to the performing arts center in the new Hays High School. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Kamden McBride, junior, said he is excited about the new performing arts center on campus. He said driving to another location was cumbersome. He's looking forward to the first performances of the chorus, band and orchestra in the new building."The whole school is amazing. I'm not into football, but having the view of the football field is beautiful."The former Hays High School did not have an auditorium. Students either had to use the 12th Street auditorium, which was built more than 70 years ago and is in disrepair, or lease space at FHSU.The new performing arts center seats 800 people, has an attached dressing room, costume shop and set workshop.Alex Underwood, chorus teacher, noted the auditorium was designed with special attention to acoustics and rigging for scenery.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755636009809.jpeg" alt="An art room in the new Hays High. The school has built-in display cases for art in this wing of the building. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>An art room in the new Hays High. The school has built-in display cases for art in this wing of the building. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755636213396.jpeg" alt="Students and teachers gather in the hall of the English wing of the new Hays High. The halls have flexible seating so students can work in small groups. Glass doors allow light in and teachers to monitor students working in the hallways. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Students and teachers gather in the hall of the English wing of the new Hays High. The halls have flexible seating so students can work in small groups. Glass doors allow light in and teachers to monitor students working in the hallways. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755637673090.jpeg" alt="Additional collaboration workspace for students. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Additional collaboration workspace for students. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>McBride said he wasn't too concerned about navigating the new school. He said finding classes was easy once you oriented yourself with the commons. He said he thought it was easier to navigate than the former Hays High.&nbsp;The building is color-coded. Math and science are green, ground floor west. Music, performing arts and social studies are beige, ground floor east. Math, science, ag, business and the media center are light blue, second floor west. Art, English and world language are dark blue, second floor east.The athletics wing is in the southwest portion of the building and painted with Hays High Indians logos in maroon and gold.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755636781146.jpeg" alt="A new culinary arts kitchen that will be used for student instruction. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A new culinary arts kitchen that will be used for student instruction. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755636918264.jpeg" alt="New Hays High media center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>New Hays High media center. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755636984582.jpeg" alt="The new student broadcast studio at Hays High. Adjacent to this room are video editing bays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The new student broadcast studio at Hays High. Adjacent to this room are video editing bays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Avery Arias, junior, said, "The classrooms are bigger, and it allows for more space. There is new equipment and arts supplies and new culinary stuff. It opens up a lot of new opportunities for students in all areas, sports, art, business, everything."&nbsp;Teachers are looking forward to their new spaces as well.Maleigha&nbsp;Albers,&nbsp;English teacher, said&nbsp;the new extra space will help with her interactions with students."I love it. I love the room. Last year, I couldn't walk to the back of my room because it was so congested. I can move. I can help my kids better. I can maneuver the classroom a little bit better," she said.Kathy Wagoner, English teacher, said, "It's an exciting time. I'm just thankful that the community has given us this opportunity to help kids grow. I love the extra space. It's an incredible building."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755637113384.jpeg" alt="New chemistry lab with lab desks that are on casters for more flexibility. The labs also have more in-room storage. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>New chemistry lab with lab desks that are on casters for more flexibility. The labs also have more in-room storage. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755637236885.jpeg" alt="Teacher work space. Because teachers have this workspace, classrooms can be used all hours of the day if needed, and teachers can work in one of these workrooms during their planning periods. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Teacher work space. Because teachers have this workspace, classrooms can be used all hours of the day if needed, and teachers can work in one of these workrooms during their planning periods. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755637934225.jpeg" alt="A social studies classroom. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A social studies classroom. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Wagoner said she taught for 34 years in a classroom with no windows. The new classrooms have many windows, which allow in natural light.Many of the classrooms have class sliding doors that open into halls with flexible seating so students can work in small groups.Wagoner said the design will allow for better supervision. In the old classrooms with the wooden doors, it was challenging to monitor both students working in the hall and the classroom.&nbsp;"You were stuck in the doorway, and you had to look back and forth," she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638032843.jpeg" alt="Auxiliary gym. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Auxiliary gym. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638046450.jpeg" alt="Main competition gym. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Main competition gym. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638057619.jpeg" alt="First floor of the two-floor weight room. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>First floor of the two-floor weight room. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638071736.jpeg" alt="New Hays High football field and scoreboard looking southeast from the home stands. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>New Hays High football field and scoreboard looking southeast from the home stands. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638084905.jpeg" alt="Press box and home stands. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Press box and home stands. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Kayla Brown, chemistry teacher, said of her new classroom, "It's fabulous. More room to move around. Being able to use the desk as a class desk and dual lab benches is great. They are on casters, so it's easy to move them around."&nbsp;She said the room has additional storage and it's more accessible.&nbsp;A public ribbon cutting for the new high school will be at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, followed by the Maroon and Gold scrimmage. The public will be allowed to tour the building at that time.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638288507.jpeg" alt="The Hays High Indian logo in the stairwell of the athletics wing. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The Hays High Indian logo in the stairwell of the athletics wing. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638535942.jpeg" alt="Some of the new private bathrooms at Hays High School. The stalls are installed with smoke detectors and cameras outside in the common areas. The stalls are labled male and female. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Some of the new private bathrooms at Hays High School. The stalls are installed with smoke detectors and cameras outside in the common areas. The stalls are labled male and female. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755638494809.jpeg" alt="The private bathrooms have common sink areas. The entrances to the sinks are open to the halls. School administrators say this style of bathroom will provide more privacy for students and be easier for teachers and staff to monitor. However, a small group of residents has opposed this design throughout the project. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The private bathrooms have common sink areas. The entrances to the sinks are open to the halls. School administrators say this style of bathroom will provide more privacy for students and be easier for teachers and staff to monitor. However, a small group of residents has opposed this design throughout the project. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎙 New $100 million high school opens for classes in Hays

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement on Tuesday shared a unique video of an arrest after a chase following a crash on a Kansas highway.

On Monday night, sheriff's deputies used a drone to locate a suspect in a field near the unincorporated Douglas County community of Vinland, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.

He had fled from a crash into a ditch in a vehicle that identified as involved in an earlier pursuit with another agency.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement on Tuesday shared a unique video of an arrest after a chase following a crash on a Kansas highway.On Monday night, sheriff's deputies used a drone to locate a suspect in a field near the unincorporated Douglas County community of Vinland, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Deputies on Monday night used a drone to locate a suspect in a field near Vinland. He had fled from a crash into a ditch. Deputies identified the vehicle as one involved in an earlier pursuit with another agency. <a href="https://t.co/BdpKqBt8Rq">pic.twitter.com/BdpKqBt8Rq</a>&mdash; Douglas Co. Sheriff (@DGSOSheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGSOSheriff/status/1957904224886403179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He had fled from a crash into a ditch in a vehicle that identified as involved in an earlier pursuit with another agency.

🎥 Kan. deputies use a drone to capture suspect hiding in a field

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a large house fire in Johnson County.

Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a home near 119th and Cherokee lane in Leawood after a 911 caller reported smoke in the area, according to the Leawood Fire Department.

First arriving crews found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of a large home. Fire moved into the attic and burned through the roof. Overland Park fire crews also responded to assist.

Two firefighters were injured. One was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other was treated on the scene. There was nobody home at the time of the fire.

119th Street was closed at Cherokee for several hours while crews battled the blaze and investigated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755684945461.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a large house fire in Johnson County.Just before 6p.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a home near 119th and Cherokee lane in Leawood after a 911 caller reported smoke in the area, according to the Leawood Fire Department.First arriving crews found heavy smoke coming from the eaves of a large home. Fire moved into the attic and burned through the roof. Overland Park fire crews also responded to assist.Two firefighters were injured. One was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The other was treated on the scene. There was nobody home at the time of the fire.119th Street was closed at Cherokee for several hours while crews battled the blaze and investigated.

Two firefighters injured battling  large Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels, according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning.

The USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson are expected to arrive soon, said the official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.

A Defense Department official confirmed that the military assets have been assigned to the region in support of counter narcotics efforts. The official, who was not authorized to comment about military planning, said the vessels would be deployed “over the course of several months.”

The deployment of U.S. destroyers and personnel comes as Trump has pushed for using the U.S. military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into American communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities.

Trump has also pressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cartels-trump-administration-bondi-justice-department-712bdb8f99522ee72ec357492cfa393b">Mexico’s cartels</a>. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-drug-cartels-terrorist-organizations-8f010b9762964417039b65a10131ff64">Mexico’s sovereignty</a>, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military.

Trump in February&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-foreign-terrorist-organizations-eb35567b69fc66f13f7f79fb90906a50">designated</a>&nbsp;Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-gang-venezuela-trump-40ec0390047c2b17e961dd029da02e65">Tren de Aragua</a>, MS-13 in El Salvador and six groups based in Mexico as foreign terrorist organizations. His Republican administration has also stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members.

The designation is normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/drug-cartels">the Latin American cartels</a>.

But the Trump administration argues the international connections and operations of the groups — including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and violent pushes to extend their territory — warrant the designation.

Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.

The press office of Venezuela’s government did not respond to a request for comment from the AP on the deployment of the destroyers. But without mentioning the ships, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in a statement Tuesday characterized the U.S. government’s drug-trafficking accusations against Venezuela.

“Washington’s accusing Venezuela of drug trafficking reveals its lack of credibility and the failure of its policies in the region,” Gil said. “While Washington threatens, Venezuela steadily advances in peace and sovereignty, demonstrating that true effectiveness against crime is achieved by respecting the independence of its peoples. Every aggressive statement confirms the inability of imperialism to subdue a free and sovereign people.”

The statement was followed by the government’s decision to temporarily ban the purchase, sale and operation of drones in Venezuela’s airspace. In 2018, drones armed with explosives detonated near Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ba6e6ef53ea34030b1e1b4c5fca79a6d">in an apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;while he was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers being broadcast live on television.

On Monday, Maduro said the U.S. had increased its threats against Venezuela and announced the planned deployment of more than 4.5 million militia members around the country. The militias were created by then-President Hugo Chávez to incorporate volunteers who could assist the armed forces in the defense of external and domestic attacks.

“The empire has gone mad and has renewed its threats to Venezuela’s peace and tranquility,” Maduro said at an event in Caracas, without mentioning any specific action.

Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several close allies on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. Back then, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.

Rueda reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano contributed to this report from Mexico City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755651756653.png" alt="Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine." />
 <figcaption>Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels, according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Whoa… The US currently has warships and 4,000 marines on rout to Venezuela Karoline Leavitt says the Venezuelan President is not the legitimate president and is a Narco Terrorist.. wanted for trafficking drugs into the United States<a href="https://t.co/Y8rb66Y4hI">https://t.co/Y8rb66Y4hI</a> <a href="https://t.co/5KeYk4qxnf">pic.twitter.com/5KeYk4qxnf</a>&mdash; MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) <a href="https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1957913503672471746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The USS Gravely, the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson are expected to arrive soon, said the official, who was not authorized to comment and spoke Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.A Defense Department official confirmed that the military assets have been assigned to the region in support of counter narcotics efforts. The official, who was not authorized to comment about military planning, said the vessels would be deployed “over the course of several months.”The deployment of U.S. destroyers and personnel comes as Trump has pushed for using the U.S. military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into American communities and for perpetuating violence in some U.S. cities.Trump has also pressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cartels-trump-administration-bondi-justice-department-712bdb8f99522ee72ec357492cfa393b">Mexico’s cartels</a>. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-drug-cartels-terrorist-organizations-8f010b9762964417039b65a10131ff64">Mexico’s sovereignty</a>, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military.Trump in February&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-foreign-terrorist-organizations-eb35567b69fc66f13f7f79fb90906a50">designated</a>&nbsp;Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-gang-venezuela-trump-40ec0390047c2b17e961dd029da02e65">Tren de Aragua</a>, MS-13 in El Salvador and six groups based in Mexico as foreign terrorist organizations. His Republican administration has also stepped up immigration enforcement against alleged gang members.The designation is normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/drug-cartels">the Latin American cartels</a>.But the Trump administration argues the international connections and operations of the groups — including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and violent pushes to extend their territory — warrant the designation.Earlier this month, the Trump government announced it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">doubling to $50 million</a>&nbsp;a reward for the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, accusing him of being one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine.The press office of Venezuela’s government did not respond to a request for comment from the AP on the deployment of the destroyers. But without mentioning the ships, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil in a statement Tuesday characterized the U.S. government’s drug-trafficking accusations against Venezuela.“Washington’s accusing Venezuela of drug trafficking reveals its lack of credibility and the failure of its policies in the region,” Gil said. “While Washington threatens, Venezuela steadily advances in peace and sovereignty, demonstrating that true effectiveness against crime is achieved by respecting the independence of its peoples. Every aggressive statement confirms the inability of imperialism to subdue a free and sovereign people.”The statement was followed by the government’s decision to temporarily ban the purchase, sale and operation of drones in Venezuela’s airspace. In 2018, drones armed with explosives detonated near Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ba6e6ef53ea34030b1e1b4c5fca79a6d">in an apparent assassination attempt</a>&nbsp;while he was delivering a speech to hundreds of soldiers being broadcast live on television.On Monday, Maduro said the U.S. had increased its threats against Venezuela and announced the planned deployment of more than 4.5 million militia members around the country. The militias were created by then-President Hugo Chávez to incorporate volunteers who could assist the armed forces in the defense of external and domestic attacks.“The empire has gone mad and has renewed its threats to Venezuela’s peace and tranquility,” Maduro said at an event in Caracas, without mentioning any specific action.Maduro was indicted in a New York federal court in 2020, during the first Trump presidency, along with several close allies on federal charges of narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine. Back then, the U.S. offered a $15 million reward for his arrest.___Rueda reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano contributed to this report from Mexico City.

US deploys warships near Venezuela to pressure drug cartels

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is seeking information to help identify suspects in an aggravated assault that occurred in the area of 27th Street and Indiana Ave on August 16.

 A large group riding ATV’s and dirt bikes followed the victim from E 18th and Grand Ave to E 27th St and Indiana Avenue where one of the riders shot into the vehicle, in which two children were riding in, striking two adults, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

If you have any information, please contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or the Assault Unit at 816-234-5227.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755644194648.png" alt="KCTV" />
 <figcaption>KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas City Missouri Police Department is seeking information to help identify suspects in an aggravated assault that occurred in the area of 27th Street and Indiana Ave on August 16. A large group riding ATV’s and dirt bikes followed the victim from E 18th and Grand Ave to E 27th St and Indiana Avenue where one of the riders shot into the vehicle, in which two children were riding in, striking two adults, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.If you have any information, please contact the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or the Assault Unit at 816-234-5227.

KCPD: Group of ATVs, bikes shot into car with children inside

JOHNSON COUNTY — A man admitted his role in a drug overdose death.

On August 14, Joseph Thomas Miller pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death in connection with he death of 33-year-old Mason Findley of Wellsville in August of 2024, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

In February,&nbsp; police found and arrested Miller in Kansas City in connection with the alleged crime, according to Jackson County court records.&nbsp;

In August of 2024, Miller sold a controlled substance to Findley which ultimately caused his death, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney's office.

Miller of Blue Springs was extradited to Kansas to face justice. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 8.&nbsp; <a href="https://memorials.brucefuneralhome.com/mason-findley/5476330/">Click here to read Mason Findley's obituary.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755639317775.png" alt="Mason Findley is survived by a wife and three children. Photo courtesy Bruce Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Mason Findley is survived by a wife and three children. Photo courtesy Bruce Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY — A man admitted his role in a drug overdose death.On August 14, Joseph Thomas Miller pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death in connection with he death of 33-year-old Mason Findley of Wellsville in August of 2024, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755391331093.png" alt="Miller photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>In February,&nbsp; police found and arrested Miller in Kansas City in connection with the alleged crime, according to Jackson County court records.&nbsp;In August of 2024, Miller sold a controlled substance to Findley which ultimately caused his death, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney's office.Miller of Blue Springs was extradited to Kansas to face justice. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 8.&nbsp; <a href="https://memorials.brucefuneralhome.com/mason-findley/5476330/">Click here to read Mason Findley's obituary.</a>

Suspect admits selling drugs that killed Kansas man

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. gymnastics world was only just recovering from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-0c2c815aa329494ea687d11db4c4653d">devastating sexual abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;when a promising young coach moved from Mississippi to Iowa to take a job in 2018 at an elite academy known for training Olympic champions.

Liang “Chow” Qiao, the owner of Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, thought highly enough of his new hire, Sean Gardner, to put him in charge of the club's premier junior event and to coach some of its most promising girls.

But four years later, Gardner was gone from Chow’s with little notice.

USA Gymnastics, the organization rocked by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-lansing-in-state-wire-3b446f2430674bafb5b6909549ea8142">Larry Nassar sex-abuse crisis</a>&nbsp;that led to the creation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, had been informed by the watchdog group that Gardner was suspended from all contact with gymnasts.

The reason for Gardner’s removal wasn’t disclosed. But court records obtained exclusively by The Associated Press show the coach was accused of sexually abusing at least three young gymnasts at Chow’s and secretly recording others undressing in a gym bathroom at his prior job in Mississippi.

Last week, more than three years after being suspended from coaching, the FBI arrested Gardner, 38, on a federal child pornography charge. But his disciplinary case has still not been resolved by SafeSport, which handles sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports.

In cases like Gardner’s, the public can be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-sex-abuse-safesport-nassar-dff194c817ea985fe7f94055edbeb0b7">in the dark for years while SafeSport investigates</a>&nbsp;and sanctions coaches. SafeSport requires that allegations be reported to police to ensure abusers don’t run unchecked outside of sports, but critics say the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/butt-slap-safesport-swimming-olympics-sexual-abuse-3699dae4adc281696ae1fbb5f7b76c6a">system is a slow, murky process.</a>

“From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic,” said attorney Steve Silvey, a longtime SafeSport critic who has represented people in cases involving the center.

While acknowledging there can be delays as its investigations unfold, SafeSport defended its temporary suspensions in a statement as “a unique and valuable intervention” when there are concerns of a risk to others.

Nevertheless, in 2024, Gardner was able to land a job helping care for surgical patients at an Iowa hospital — two years after the abuse allegations against him were reported to SafeSport and the police.

And it was not until late May that West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at his home, eventually leading to the recovery of a trove of photos and videos on his computer and cellphone of nude young girls, court records show.

Authorities in Iowa sealed the court documents after the AP asked about the investigation earlier this month, before details of the federal charge were made public Friday. Gardner, Qiao and Gardner’s former employer in Mississippi did not respond to AP requests for comment.

Chow’s Gymnastics is best known as the academy where U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas trained before becoming gold medalists at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Qiao opened the gym in 1998 after starring on the Chinese national team and moving to the United States to coach at the University of Iowa. The gym became a draw for top youth gymnasts, with some families moving to Iowa to train there.

Gardner moved to Iowa in September 2018, jumping at the opportunity to coach under Qiao.

“This is the job that I’ve always wanted. Chow is really someone I have looked up to since I’ve been coaching,” Gardner told the ABC affiliate WOI-TV in 2019. “And you can tell when you step foot in the gym, just even from coaching the girls, the culture that he’s built. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful.”

A year later, Gardner was promoted to director of Chow’s Winter Classic, an annual meet that draws more than 1,000 gymnasts to Iowa. He also coached a junior Olympics team during his four-year tenure at Chow’s.

Several of his students earned college gymnastics scholarships, but Gardner said he had bigger goals.

“You want to leave a thumbprint on their life, so when they go off hopefully to school, to bigger and better things, that they remember Chow’s as family,” he said in a 2020 interview with WOI-TV.

Coach accused of sexual misconduct in Iowa and Mississippi

Gardner is accused of abusing his position at Chow’s and his former job at Jump’In Gymnastics in Mississippi to prey on girls under his tutelage, according to a nine-page FBI affidavit released Friday that summarizes the allegations against him.

A girl reported to SafeSport in March 2022 that Gardner used “inappropriate spotting techniques” in which he would put his hands between her legs and touch her vagina, the affidavit said.

It said she alleged Gardner would ask girls if they were sexually active and call them “idiots, sluts, and whores.” She said this behavior began after his hiring in 2018 and continued until she left the gym in 2020 and provided the names of six other potential victims.

SafeSport suspended Gardner in July 2022 – four months after the girl's report – a provisional step it can take in severe cases with “sufficient evidentiary support” as investigations proceed.

A month after that, the center received a report from another girl alleging additional “sexual contact and physical abuse,” including that Gardner similarly fondled her during workouts, the FBI affidavit said. The girl said that he once dragged her across the carpet so hard that it burned her buttocks, the affidavit said.

SafeSport shared the reports with West Des Moines police, in line with its policy requiring adults who interact with youth athletes to disclose potential criminal cases to law enforcement.

While SafeSport's suspension took Gardner out of gymnastics, the criminal investigation quickly hit a roadblock.

Police records show a detective told SafeSport to urge the alleged victims to file criminal complaints, but only one of their mothers contacted police in 2022. That woman said her daughter did not want to pursue criminal charges, and police suspended the investigation.

Victims of abuse are often reluctant to cooperate with police, said Ken Lang, a retired detective and associate professor of criminal justice at Milligan University.

“In this case you have the prestige of this facility,” he said. “Do they want to associate their name with that, in that way, when their aspirations were to succeed in gymnastics?”

Police suspended the investigation, even as Gardner was on probation for his second-offense of driving while intoxicated.

A dormant case reopened, and a year later, an arrest

The case stayed dormant until April 2024 when another former Chow’s student came forward to the West Des Moines Police Department to report abuse allegations, according to a now-sealed affidavit signed by police detective Jeff Lyon. The AP is not identifying the student in line with its policy of not naming victims of alleged sexual abuse.

The now 18-year-old told police she began taking lessons from Gardner when she was 11 or 12 in 2019, initially seeing him as a “father figure” who tried to help her get through her parents’ divorce. He told her she could tell him “anything,” the affidavit said.

When she moved in 2021, she told police, he gave her a hug and said she could text and follow him on Instagram and other social media sites, where he went by the nickname “Coach Seanie,” because gym policy barring such contact no longer applied.

According to a summary of her statement provided in Lyon’s affidavit, she said Gardner fondled her during exercises, repeatedly touching her vagina; rubbed her back and butt and discussed his sex life; and made her do inappropriate stretches that exposed her privates.

She told police she suspected he used his cellphone to film her in that position.

Reached by the AP, the teen’s mother declined comment. The mother told police she was interested in a monetary settlement with Chow’s because the gym “had been made aware of the complaints and they did nothing to stop them,” according to Lyon’s affidavit. The gym didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.

It took 16 months after the teen’s 2024 report for the FBI to arrest Gardner, who made an initial court appearance in Des Moines on Friday on a charge of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which can carry up to 30 years in prison. A public defender assigned to represent him didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.

It’s unclear why the case took so long to investigate and also when the FBI, which had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-nassar-justice-department-settlement-3b760f3d317cbe18209aa02a611a298f">pay $138 million to Nassar’s victims</a>&nbsp;for botching that investigation, got involved in the case.

Among evidence seized by investigators in late May were a cellphone, laptop and a desktop computer along with handwritten notes between Gardner and his former pupils, according to the sealed court documents.

They found images of girls, approximately 6 to 14 years in age, who were nude, using the toilet or changing into leotards, those documents show. Those images appear to have come from a hidden camera in a restroom.

They also uncovered 50 video files and 400 photos, including some that appeared to be child pornography, according to the FBI affidavit. One video allegedly shows Gardner entering the bathroom and turning off the camera.

Investigators also found images of an adult woman secretly filmed entering and exiting a bathtub, and identified her as Gardner’s ex-girlfriend. That woman as well as the gym’s owner, Candi Workman, told investigators the images appeared to come from Jump’In Gymnastics’ facility in Purvis, Mississippi, which has since been closed.

SafeSport has long touted that it can deliver sanctions in cases where criminal charges are not pursued as key to its mission. However, Gardner’s ability to land a job in health care illustrates the limits of that power: It can ban people from sports but that sanction is not guaranteed to reach the general public.

While not commenting about Gardner’s case directly, it said in a statement provided to AP that a number of issues factor into why cases can take so long to close, including the 8,000 reports it receives a year with only around 30 full-time investigators. It has revamped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-abuse-safesport-1685e2e20397de86a28b6479793b47c3">some procedures, it said,</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to become more efficient.

“While the Center is able and often does cooperate in law enforcement investigations,” it said, “law enforcement is not required to share information, updates, or even confirm an investigation is ongoing.”

USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung called the center’s task “really tough, difficult to navigate.”

“I would like to see more consistency with their outcomes and sanctions,” Leung said. “I would like to see more standardization on things. I would like to see more communication, more transparency from their side.”

A case that lingers, even after the SafeSport ban

As the investigation proceeded, Gardner said on his Facebook page he had landed a new job in May 2024 as a surgical technologist at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. It's a role that calls for positioning patients on the operating room table, and assisting with procedures and post-surgery care.

Asked about Gardner’s employment, hospital spokesman Todd Mizener told the AP: “The only information I can provide is that he is no longer" at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the case lingers, leaving lives in limbo more than three years after the SafeSport Center and police first learned of it.

“SafeSport is now part of a larger problem rather than a solution, if it was ever a solution,” said attorney Silvey. “The most fundamental professional task such as coordination with local or federal law enforcement gets botched on a daily basis, hundreds of times a year now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755612703063.png" alt="Gardner photo Iowa Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Gardner photo Iowa Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN J. FOLEY and EDDIE PELLS&nbsp;IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. gymnastics world was only just recovering from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-0c2c815aa329494ea687d11db4c4653d">devastating sexual abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;when a promising young coach moved from Mississippi to Iowa to take a job in 2018 at an elite academy known for training Olympic champions.Liang “Chow” Qiao, the owner of Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute in West Des Moines, thought highly enough of his new hire, Sean Gardner, to put him in charge of the club's premier junior event and to coach some of its most promising girls.But four years later, Gardner was gone from Chow’s with little notice.USA Gymnastics, the organization rocked by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-lansing-in-state-wire-3b446f2430674bafb5b6909549ea8142">Larry Nassar sex-abuse crisis</a>&nbsp;that led to the creation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, had been informed by the watchdog group that Gardner was suspended from all contact with gymnasts.The reason for Gardner’s removal wasn’t disclosed. But court records obtained exclusively by The Associated Press show the coach was accused of sexually abusing at least three young gymnasts at Chow’s and secretly recording others undressing in a gym bathroom at his prior job in Mississippi.Last week, more than three years after being suspended from coaching, the FBI arrested Gardner, 38, on a federal child pornography charge. But his disciplinary case has still not been resolved by SafeSport, which handles sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports.In cases like Gardner’s, the public can be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-sex-abuse-safesport-nassar-dff194c817ea985fe7f94055edbeb0b7">in the dark for years while SafeSport investigates</a>&nbsp;and sanctions coaches. SafeSport requires that allegations be reported to police to ensure abusers don’t run unchecked outside of sports, but critics say the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/butt-slap-safesport-swimming-olympics-sexual-abuse-3699dae4adc281696ae1fbb5f7b76c6a">system is a slow, murky process.</a>“From an outward operational view, it seems that if SafeSport is involved in any way, the situation turns glow-in-the-dark toxic,” said attorney Steve Silvey, a longtime SafeSport critic who has represented people in cases involving the center.While acknowledging there can be delays as its investigations unfold, SafeSport defended its temporary suspensions in a statement as “a unique and valuable intervention” when there are concerns of a risk to others.Nevertheless, in 2024, Gardner was able to land a job helping care for surgical patients at an Iowa hospital — two years after the abuse allegations against him were reported to SafeSport and the police.And it was not until late May that West Des Moines police executed a search warrant at his home, eventually leading to the recovery of a trove of photos and videos on his computer and cellphone of nude young girls, court records show.Authorities in Iowa sealed the court documents after the AP asked about the investigation earlier this month, before details of the federal charge were made public Friday. Gardner, Qiao and Gardner’s former employer in Mississippi did not respond to AP requests for comment.<h2>‘The job that I’ve always wanted’</h2>Chow’s Gymnastics is best known as the academy where U.S. gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Gabby Douglas trained before becoming gold medalists at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.Qiao opened the gym in 1998 after starring on the Chinese national team and moving to the United States to coach at the University of Iowa. The gym became a draw for top youth gymnasts, with some families moving to Iowa to train there.Gardner moved to Iowa in September 2018, jumping at the opportunity to coach under Qiao.“This is the job that I’ve always wanted. Chow is really someone I have looked up to since I’ve been coaching,” Gardner told the ABC affiliate WOI-TV in 2019. “And you can tell when you step foot in the gym, just even from coaching the girls, the culture that he’s built. It’s amazing. It’s beautiful.”A year later, Gardner was promoted to director of Chow’s Winter Classic, an annual meet that draws more than 1,000 gymnasts to Iowa. He also coached a junior Olympics team during his four-year tenure at Chow’s.Several of his students earned college gymnastics scholarships, but Gardner said he had bigger goals.“You want to leave a thumbprint on their life, so when they go off hopefully to school, to bigger and better things, that they remember Chow’s as family,” he said in a 2020 interview with WOI-TV.<h2>Coach accused of sexual misconduct in Iowa and Mississippi</h2>Gardner is accused of abusing his position at Chow’s and his former job at Jump’In Gymnastics in Mississippi to prey on girls under his tutelage, according to a nine-page FBI affidavit released Friday that summarizes the allegations against him.A girl reported to SafeSport in March 2022 that Gardner used “inappropriate spotting techniques” in which he would put his hands between her legs and touch her vagina, the affidavit said.It said she alleged Gardner would ask girls if they were sexually active and call them “idiots, sluts, and whores.” She said this behavior began after his hiring in 2018 and continued until she left the gym in 2020 and provided the names of six other potential victims.SafeSport suspended Gardner in July 2022 – four months after the girl's report – a provisional step it can take in severe cases with “sufficient evidentiary support” as investigations proceed.A month after that, the center received a report from another girl alleging additional “sexual contact and physical abuse,” including that Gardner similarly fondled her during workouts, the FBI affidavit said. The girl said that he once dragged her across the carpet so hard that it burned her buttocks, the affidavit said.SafeSport shared the reports with West Des Moines police, in line with its policy requiring adults who interact with youth athletes to disclose potential criminal cases to law enforcement.While SafeSport's suspension took Gardner out of gymnastics, the criminal investigation quickly hit a roadblock.Police records show a detective told SafeSport to urge the alleged victims to file criminal complaints, but only one of their mothers contacted police in 2022. That woman said her daughter did not want to pursue criminal charges, and police suspended the investigation.Victims of abuse are often reluctant to cooperate with police, said Ken Lang, a retired detective and associate professor of criminal justice at Milligan University.“In this case you have the prestige of this facility,” he said. “Do they want to associate their name with that, in that way, when their aspirations were to succeed in gymnastics?”Police suspended the investigation, even as Gardner was on probation for his second-offense of driving while intoxicated.<h2>A dormant case reopened, and a year later, an arrest</h2>The case stayed dormant until April 2024 when another former Chow’s student came forward to the West Des Moines Police Department to report abuse allegations, according to a now-sealed affidavit signed by police detective Jeff Lyon. The AP is not identifying the student in line with its policy of not naming victims of alleged sexual abuse.The now 18-year-old told police she began taking lessons from Gardner when she was 11 or 12 in 2019, initially seeing him as a “father figure” who tried to help her get through her parents’ divorce. He told her she could tell him “anything,” the affidavit said.When she moved in 2021, she told police, he gave her a hug and said she could text and follow him on Instagram and other social media sites, where he went by the nickname “Coach Seanie,” because gym policy barring such contact no longer applied.According to a summary of her statement provided in Lyon’s affidavit, she said Gardner fondled her during exercises, repeatedly touching her vagina; rubbed her back and butt and discussed his sex life; and made her do inappropriate stretches that exposed her privates.She told police she suspected he used his cellphone to film her in that position.Reached by the AP, the teen’s mother declined comment. The mother told police she was interested in a monetary settlement with Chow’s because the gym “had been made aware of the complaints and they did nothing to stop them,” according to Lyon’s affidavit. The gym didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.It took 16 months after the teen’s 2024 report for the FBI to arrest Gardner, who made an initial court appearance in Des Moines on Friday on a charge of producing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, which can carry up to 30 years in prison. A public defender assigned to represent him didn’t return AP messages seeking comment.It’s unclear why the case took so long to investigate and also when the FBI, which had to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-nassar-justice-department-settlement-3b760f3d317cbe18209aa02a611a298f">pay $138 million to Nassar’s victims</a>&nbsp;for botching that investigation, got involved in the case.Among evidence seized by investigators in late May were a cellphone, laptop and a desktop computer along with handwritten notes between Gardner and his former pupils, according to the sealed court documents.They found images of girls, approximately 6 to 14 years in age, who were nude, using the toilet or changing into leotards, those documents show. Those images appear to have come from a hidden camera in a restroom.They also uncovered 50 video files and 400 photos, including some that appeared to be child pornography, according to the FBI affidavit. One video allegedly shows Gardner entering the bathroom and turning off the camera.Investigators also found images of an adult woman secretly filmed entering and exiting a bathtub, and identified her as Gardner’s ex-girlfriend. That woman as well as the gym’s owner, Candi Workman, told investigators the images appeared to come from Jump’In Gymnastics’ facility in Purvis, Mississippi, which has since been closed.<h2>SafeSport’s power has limits</h2>SafeSport has long touted that it can deliver sanctions in cases where criminal charges are not pursued as key to its mission. However, Gardner’s ability to land a job in health care illustrates the limits of that power: It can ban people from sports but that sanction is not guaranteed to reach the general public.While not commenting about Gardner’s case directly, it said in a statement provided to AP that a number of issues factor into why cases can take so long to close, including the 8,000 reports it receives a year with only around 30 full-time investigators. It has revamped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-abuse-safesport-1685e2e20397de86a28b6479793b47c3">some procedures, it said,</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to become more efficient.“While the Center is able and often does cooperate in law enforcement investigations,” it said, “law enforcement is not required to share information, updates, or even confirm an investigation is ongoing.”USA Gymnastics President Li Li Leung called the center’s task “really tough, difficult to navigate.”“I would like to see more consistency with their outcomes and sanctions,” Leung said. “I would like to see more standardization on things. I would like to see more communication, more transparency from their side.”<h2>A case that lingers, even after the SafeSport ban</h2>As the investigation proceeded, Gardner said on his Facebook page he had landed a new job in May 2024 as a surgical technologist at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center. It's a role that calls for positioning patients on the operating room table, and assisting with procedures and post-surgery care.Asked about Gardner’s employment, hospital spokesman Todd Mizener told the AP: “The only information I can provide is that he is no longer" at the hospital.Meanwhile, the case lingers, leaving lives in limbo more than three years after the SafeSport Center and police first learned of it.“SafeSport is now part of a larger problem rather than a solution, if it was ever a solution,” said attorney Silvey. “The most fundamental professional task such as coordination with local or federal law enforcement gets botched on a daily basis, hundreds of times a year now.”___

FBI arrests ex-coach at renowned US gymnastics academy 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations.

The group’s new COVID-19 recommendations — released Tuesday — come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing.

This isn’t going to help, acknowledged Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious diseases committee.

“It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them,” he added.

The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said.

That differs from guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.

Children ages 6 months to 2 years are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and it was important that recommendations continue to emphasize the need for them to get vaccinated, said Campbell, a University of Maryland infectious diseases expert.

Vaccinations also are recommended for older children who have chronic lung diseases or other conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease, the AAP said.

In a statement, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said “the AAP is undermining national immunization policymaking with baseless political attacks.”

He accused the group of putting commercial interests ahead of public health, noting that vaccine manufacturers have been donors to the AAP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aap.org/en/philanthropy/friends-of-children-fund/" target="_blank">Friends of Children Fund</a>. The fund is currently paying for projects on a range of topics, including health equity and prevention of injuries and deaths from firearms.

The 95-year-old Itasca, Illinois-based organization has issued vaccination recommendations for children since the 1930s. In 1995, it synced its advice with recommendations made by the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been a few small differences between AAP and CDC recommendations since then. For example, the AAP has advised that children get HPV vaccinations starting at age 9; the CDC says that’s OK but has emphasized vaccinations at ages 11 and 12.

But in 30 years, this is the first time the recommendations have differed “in a significant or substantial way,” Campbell said.

Until recently, the CDC — following recommendations by infectious disease experts — has been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.

But in May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-children-70c358cad726e57d680234c3ecdec926">announced</a>&nbsp;that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. A few days later, the CDC issued language that healthy children&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">may</a>&nbsp;get the shots, but that there was no longer a “should” recommendation.

The idea that healthy older kids may be able to skip COVID-19 boosters has been brewing for some time among public health experts. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-acip-kennedy-d9777cba947f5f52705af04d95e5f7fa">CDC expert panel</a>&nbsp;in June was set to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among the options the panel was considering was whether suggest shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated.

But Kennedy bypassed the group, and also decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">dismiss</a>&nbsp;the 17-member panel and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">appoint</a>&nbsp;his own, smaller panel, that included vaccine skeptics. Kennedy also later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-committee-cdc-cfbdcab84b2a919a6131d471959c3431">excluded</a>&nbsp;the AAP, the American Medical Association and other top medical organizations from working with the advisers to establish vaccination recommendations.

Kennedy’s new vaccine panel has yet to vote on COVID-19 shot recommendations.

The panel did endorse continuing to recommend fall flu vaccinations, but also made a decision that led to another notable difference with the AAP.

The new advisory panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-flu-vaccine-thimerosal-c5696bbc19f345323153d5336cb5e798">voted</a>&nbsp;that people should only get flu vaccines that are packaged as single doses and do not contain the preservative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thimerosal-mercury-vaccine-preservative-7626ec1455ad98228cf8b041f6388bab">thimerosal</a>.

The AAP said there is no evidence of harm from the preservative, and recommended doctors use any licensed flu vaccine product that’s appropriate for the patient.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>NEW YORK (AP) — For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations.The group’s new COVID-19 recommendations — released Tuesday — come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing.This isn’t going to help, acknowledged Dr. James Campbell, vice chair of the AAP infectious diseases committee.“It is going to be somewhat confusing. But our opinion is we need to make the right choices for children to protect them,” he added.The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Shots also are advised for older children if parents want their kids vaccinated, the AAP said.That differs from guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.Children ages 6 months to 2 years are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19, and it was important that recommendations continue to emphasize the need for them to get vaccinated, said Campbell, a University of Maryland infectious diseases expert.Vaccinations also are recommended for older children who have chronic lung diseases or other conditions that put them at higher risk for severe disease, the AAP said.In a statement, Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said “the AAP is undermining national immunization policymaking with baseless political attacks.”He accused the group of putting commercial interests ahead of public health, noting that vaccine manufacturers have been donors to the AAP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aap.org/en/philanthropy/friends-of-children-fund/" target="_blank">Friends of Children Fund</a>. The fund is currently paying for projects on a range of topics, including health equity and prevention of injuries and deaths from firearms.The 95-year-old Itasca, Illinois-based organization has issued vaccination recommendations for children since the 1930s. In 1995, it synced its advice with recommendations made by the federal government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There have been a few small differences between AAP and CDC recommendations since then. For example, the AAP has advised that children get HPV vaccinations starting at age 9; the CDC says that’s OK but has emphasized vaccinations at ages 11 and 12.But in 30 years, this is the first time the recommendations have differed “in a significant or substantial way,” Campbell said.Until recently, the CDC — following recommendations by infectious disease experts — has been urging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.But in May, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-pregnant-women-children-70c358cad726e57d680234c3ecdec926">announced</a>&nbsp;that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. A few days later, the CDC issued language that healthy children&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">may</a>&nbsp;get the shots, but that there was no longer a “should” recommendation.The idea that healthy older kids may be able to skip COVID-19 boosters has been brewing for some time among public health experts. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, experts have increasingly discussed the possibility of focusing vaccination efforts on people 65 and older — who are among those most as risk for death and hospitalization.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-acip-kennedy-d9777cba947f5f52705af04d95e5f7fa">CDC expert panel</a>&nbsp;in June was set to make recommendations about the fall shots. Among the options the panel was considering was whether suggest shots for high-risk groups but still giving lower-risk people the choice to get vaccinated.But Kennedy bypassed the group, and also decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">dismiss</a>&nbsp;the 17-member panel and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">appoint</a>&nbsp;his own, smaller panel, that included vaccine skeptics. Kennedy also later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-committee-cdc-cfbdcab84b2a919a6131d471959c3431">excluded</a>&nbsp;the AAP, the American Medical Association and other top medical organizations from working with the advisers to establish vaccination recommendations.Kennedy’s new vaccine panel has yet to vote on COVID-19 shot recommendations.The panel did endorse continuing to recommend fall flu vaccinations, but also made a decision that led to another notable difference with the AAP.The new advisory panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-flu-vaccine-thimerosal-c5696bbc19f345323153d5336cb5e798">voted</a>&nbsp;that people should only get flu vaccines that are packaged as single doses and do not contain the preservative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thimerosal-mercury-vaccine-preservative-7626ec1455ad98228cf8b041f6388bab">thimerosal</a>.The AAP said there is no evidence of harm from the preservative, and recommended doctors use any licensed flu vaccine product that’s appropriate for the patient.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

US pediatricians’ new COVID shot recommendations differ from CDC advice

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a fatal hit-and-run went before a judge on Monday afternoon.

Gauge Brasher, 19, made his first appearance in court for the alleged crime, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Last week, the DA's office charged him with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa. He is also charged with failure to stop at an accident and criminal damage to property.

&nbsp;Wichita police took Brasher&nbsp; into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of E. Range Road, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

Around 6:30 p.m. August 13, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the crash that killed&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.

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

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

Police investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office late last week.&nbsp; Brasher remains jailed on bond totaling over $500,000.00, according to online jail records. He is due back in court next week, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755212957933.png" alt="View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a fatal hit-and-run went before a judge on Monday afternoon.Gauge Brasher, 19, made his first appearance in court for the alleged crime, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Last week, the DA's office charged him with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa. He is also charged with failure to stop at an accident and criminal damage to property.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755346851465.png" alt="Brasher photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Brasher photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Wichita police took Brasher&nbsp; into custody shortly after 4 p.m. Friday in the 3100 block of E. Range Road, according to a statement from Wichita Police.Around 6:30 p.m. August 13, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the crash that killed&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.The preliminary investigation indicated the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.&nbsp;Witnesses at the intersection identified the 19-year-old suspect Gauge Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. Police issued an alert in attempt to locate him. The passenger in the BMW is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.&nbsp;Police investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office late last week.&nbsp; Brasher remains jailed on bond totaling over $500,000.00, according to online jail records. He is due back in court next week, according to the district attorney's office.

Driver in hit-and-run that killed Kan. teen finally faced a judge

KANSAS CITY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.

Just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported&nbsp;house&nbsp;fire in the 8600 block of Thompson Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

&nbsp;Crews reported fire showing from the 1-story structure on arrival and initiated an offensive fire attack advancing hoselines inside the structure. A working fire response was ordered. While advancing to extinguishing the fire, crews encountered holes in the floor, as well as a large amount of fire coming from the crawl space below. 

Orders were given to evacuate the structure and changed the mode to a defensive fire attack. Three hoselines were used from the exterior while flypipe operations were being set up and eventually initiated.&nbsp;&nbsp;The fire was brought under control at 4:44 a.m., and flypipe operations were shut down. 

Crews continued with exposing and extinguishing fire with handlines.&nbsp;Dangerous Buildings was called to the scene to evaluate the structure. There were no injuries were reported. A damage estimate has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755631351209.png" alt="Photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.Just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported&nbsp;house&nbsp;fire in the 8600 block of Thompson Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.&nbsp;Crews reported fire showing from the 1-story structure on arrival and initiated an offensive fire attack advancing hoselines inside the structure. A working fire response was ordered. While advancing to extinguishing the fire, crews encountered holes in the floor, as well as a large amount of fire coming from the crawl space below. Orders were given to evacuate the structure and changed the mode to a defensive fire attack. Three hoselines were used from the exterior while flypipe operations were being set up and eventually initiated.&nbsp;&nbsp;The fire was brought under control at 4:44 a.m., and flypipe operations were shut down. Crews continued with exposing and extinguishing fire with handlines.&nbsp;Dangerous Buildings was called to the scene to evaluate the structure. There were no injuries were reported. A damage estimate has not been released.

Crews forced to evacuate while fighting fire at Kansas City home

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — State leaders continued to stand firm against federal demands for personal data of Kansans who have received food assistance, even after a letter last week threatened funding losses.&nbsp;

Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard laid out objections to turning over the data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants and users in a Monday news release. The data includes Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses and more.

“The USDA’s data request is for the purpose of creating a federal database of SNAP participant information that may be disclosed to other entities, and it is unclear whether those entities are legally allowed to access that information,” the release said.&nbsp;

Collecting the extensive dataset, which is more than has been required in the past from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, may cost as much as $100,000, the release said. In addition, the current secure way DCF transfers data to the federal government is not set up to handle that amount of information.&nbsp;

Howard said state finances would be affected by the data collection process.&nbsp;

“We also believe this request places a significant burden on DCF and state resources, and it’s not something that can be accommodated on a short deadline,” Howard said. “Providing this magnitude of data could take months and come with a hefty price tag.”

Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/06/03/usda-pauses-request-for-personal-data-of-snap-recipients-while-lawsuit-proceeds/">joined a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>with other states challenging whether the data should be turned over, and the press release said it would be appropriate to wait until the lawsuit was decided before sending any information.&nbsp;

Previously, USDA secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency would hold off on requesting the data until the lawsuit was decided.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/22/kansas-denies-usda-request-for-personal-data-of-residents-receiving-food-assistance/">Beginning in May,</a>&nbsp;DCF refused the USDA’s requests for personal data of SNAP users.&nbsp;

The USDA escalated its push for the information&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2025/08/18/file_attachments/3359289/Letter%20to%20USDA%20Regarding%20August%2012th%20letter-A.pdf" target="_blank">in the letter last week</a>, demanding Kansas officials make “adequate progress towards meeting the data collection requirements,” setting an Aug. 15 deadline to submit a plan to do so.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The letter also said refusing to comply would put SNAP administrative funding at issue.&nbsp;

Kansas leaders stood firm, even as Republicans have lambasted Kelly and Howard for failing to share the information.&nbsp;

Rep. Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, challenged Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach last week at the Legislative Coordinating Council meeting to find whether Kelly has the right to withhold the data. He also repeated misinformation that the error rate in the SNAP program is 12%. The most recent error rate is 9.98%,&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-fy24QC-PER.pdf" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>. \

The error rate refers to the percentage of errors found in SNAP applications and is calculated annually.&nbsp;

Kobach told Hawkins he has a team of attorneys investigating that question, and he added that providing information is a requirement for receiving the federal money.&nbsp;

“We certainly know that the federal government has the ability at this stage, if the governor continues to refuse to provide the information, to deny the funds, and I understand that that’s a very substantial amount of money we’re talking about,” Kobach said. “She is putting at risk the receipt of Kansas of those monies, which I guess is sort of ironic, and probably why you asked the question, because that is a very substantial amount of money.”

In 2024, Kansas SNAP recipients received&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/snap_factsheet_kansas.pdf" target="_blank">$408 million in benefits</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755622360982.png" alt="Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said meeting federal demands for the personal data of food program recipients could cost the state $100,000. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said meeting federal demands for the personal data of food program recipients could cost the state $100,000. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — State leaders continued to stand firm against federal demands for personal data of Kansans who have received food assistance, even after a letter last week threatened funding losses.&nbsp;Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard laid out objections to turning over the data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants and users in a Monday news release. The data includes Social Security numbers, birthdates, addresses and more.“The USDA’s data request is for the purpose of creating a federal database of SNAP participant information that may be disclosed to other entities, and it is unclear whether those entities are legally allowed to access that information,” the release said.&nbsp;Collecting the extensive dataset, which is more than has been required in the past from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, may cost as much as $100,000, the release said. In addition, the current secure way DCF transfers data to the federal government is not set up to handle that amount of information.&nbsp;Howard said state finances would be affected by the data collection process.&nbsp;“We also believe this request places a significant burden on DCF and state resources, and it’s not something that can be accommodated on a short deadline,” Howard said. “Providing this magnitude of data could take months and come with a hefty price tag.”Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/06/03/usda-pauses-request-for-personal-data-of-snap-recipients-while-lawsuit-proceeds/">joined a lawsuit&nbsp;</a>with other states challenging whether the data should be turned over, and the press release said it would be appropriate to wait until the lawsuit was decided before sending any information.&nbsp;Previously, USDA secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency would hold off on requesting the data until the lawsuit was decided.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/22/kansas-denies-usda-request-for-personal-data-of-residents-receiving-food-assistance/">Beginning in May,</a>&nbsp;DCF refused the USDA’s requests for personal data of SNAP users.&nbsp;The USDA escalated its push for the information&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2025/08/18/file_attachments/3359289/Letter%20to%20USDA%20Regarding%20August%2012th%20letter-A.pdf" target="_blank">in the letter last week</a>, demanding Kansas officials make “adequate progress towards meeting the data collection requirements,” setting an Aug. 15 deadline to submit a plan to do so.&nbsp;&nbsp;The letter also said refusing to comply would put SNAP administrative funding at issue.&nbsp;Kansas leaders stood firm, even as Republicans have lambasted Kelly and Howard for failing to share the information.&nbsp;Rep. Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, challenged Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach last week at the Legislative Coordinating Council meeting to find whether Kelly has the right to withhold the data. He also repeated misinformation that the error rate in the SNAP program is 12%. The most recent error rate is 9.98%,&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-fy24QC-PER.pdf" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>. \The error rate refers to the percentage of errors found in SNAP applications and is calculated annually.&nbsp;Kobach told Hawkins he has a team of attorneys investigating that question, and he added that providing information is a requirement for receiving the federal money.&nbsp;“We certainly know that the federal government has the ability at this stage, if the governor continues to refuse to provide the information, to deny the funds, and I understand that that’s a very substantial amount of money we’re talking about,” Kobach said. “She is putting at risk the receipt of Kansas of those monies, which I guess is sort of ironic, and probably why you asked the question, because that is a very substantial amount of money.”In 2024, Kansas SNAP recipients received&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/sites/default/files/atoms/files/snap_factsheet_kansas.pdf" target="_blank">$408 million in benefits</a>.

Kansas leaders reject demands for food program data; feds threaten to withhold some funding

WASHINGTON (AP)–President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday offered his assurances that U.S. troops would not be sent to Ukraine to defend against Russia, after seeming to leave open the possibility the day before. Trump also said in a morning TV interview that Ukraine’s hopes of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-ukraine-explainer-washington-summit-7ad69ed9a58b23fc3d4a0df4f7bc5bf7">joining NATO</a>&nbsp;and regaining the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crimea-ukraine-russia-war-putin-d6c9d21427844a0aae9253e94ea055c4">Crimean Peninsula</a>&nbsp;are “impossible.”

Details of the security guarantees and Trump’s efforts to arrange peace talks continue to evolve after the U.S. president, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;and other European leaders held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-zelensky-what-to-know-f70e7c231251f263a66772d954eefff5">hours of talks</a>&nbsp;at the White House aimed at ending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.

European leaders said they want U.S. support for “robust security guarantees,” including the “deployment of a reassurance force” as Trump pursues his campaign promise to end the grinding war.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755622969173.png" alt="President Trump welcomes Ukraine President Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday -Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Trump welcomes Ukraine President Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday -Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)–President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday offered his assurances that U.S. troops would not be sent to Ukraine to defend against Russia, after seeming to leave open the possibility the day before. Trump also said in a morning TV interview that Ukraine’s hopes of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-ukraine-explainer-washington-summit-7ad69ed9a58b23fc3d4a0df4f7bc5bf7">joining NATO</a>&nbsp;and regaining the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crimea-ukraine-russia-war-putin-d6c9d21427844a0aae9253e94ea055c4">Crimean Peninsula</a>&nbsp;are “impossible.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;The President has definitively stated U.S. boots will NOT be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help in the coordination and perhaps provide other means of security guarantees to our European allies.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/LiISxLp0Wi">pic.twitter.com/LiISxLp0Wi</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1957856984494907858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;Is there a date for you to meet with President Putin of Russian?&quot; Ukrainian President Zelensky: &quot;No. No. We don&#39;t have any date. We just confirmed after this productive meeting...that we are ready for a trilateral meeting.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/B1gOLSC4n4">pic.twitter.com/B1gOLSC4n4</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1957593380877164872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Details of the security guarantees and Trump’s efforts to arrange peace talks continue to evolve after the U.S. president, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;and other European leaders held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-zelensky-what-to-know-f70e7c231251f263a66772d954eefff5">hours of talks</a>&nbsp;at the White House aimed at ending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.European leaders said they want U.S. support for “robust security guarantees,” including the “deployment of a reassurance force” as Trump pursues his campaign promise to end the grinding war.

President Trump says no to US troops in Ukraine

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died after a&nbsp; pedestrian accident that occurred just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Topeka.

According to Topeka Police Lt. Michael Hren, a vehicle struck a man at SE 15th and SE Adams in reference to a report that a subject was struck by a vehicle. 

American Medical Response transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police released no additional details early Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755613954899.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died after a&nbsp; pedestrian accident that occurred just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Topeka.According to Topeka Police Lt. Michael Hren, a vehicle struck a man at SE 15th and SE Adams in reference to a report that a subject was struck by a vehicle. American Medical Response transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police released no additional details early Tuesday.

Police: Kansas man killed after struck by a vehicle

WASHINGTON (AP)—President Donald Trump on Monday vowed more changes to the way elections are conducted in the U.S., but based on the Constitution there is little to nothing he can do on his own.

Relying on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-trump-election-lies-explainer-816a43ed964e6d35f03b0930e6e56c82?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_03">false information and conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;that he's regularly used to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-trump-capitol-riot-debate-harris-trump-election-walz-vance-144e136901013ddc9c8fab6a1d2bdf07">explain away his 2020 election loss</a>, Trump pledged on his social media site that he would do away with both mail voting — which&nbsp;<a href="https://roughly%2030%25%20of%20voters%20last%20fall%20used%20a%20mail%20ballot,/">remains popular and is used by about one-third</a>&nbsp;of all voters — and voting machines — some form of which are used in almost all of the country's thousands of election jurisdictions. These are the same systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-voting-fraud-claims-election-security-694c5084f970432b05045f951618e1c9">that enabled Trump to win</a>&nbsp;the 2024 election and Republicans to gain control of Congress.

WASHINGTON (AP)—President Donald Trump on Monday vowed more changes to the way elections are conducted in the U.S., but based on the Constitution there is little to nothing he can do on his own.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/jAyf0e4rM9">pic.twitter.com/jAyf0e4rM9</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1957401970324435338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Relying on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-trump-election-lies-explainer-816a43ed964e6d35f03b0930e6e56c82?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_03">false information and conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;that he's regularly used to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-trump-capitol-riot-debate-harris-trump-election-walz-vance-144e136901013ddc9c8fab6a1d2bdf07">explain away his 2020 election loss</a>, Trump pledged on his social media site that he would do away with both mail voting — which&nbsp;<a href="https://roughly%2030%25%20of%20voters%20last%20fall%20used%20a%20mail%20ballot,/">remains popular and is used by about one-third</a>&nbsp;of all voters — and voting machines — some form of which are used in almost all of the country's thousands of election jurisdictions. These are the same systems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-voting-fraud-claims-election-security-694c5084f970432b05045f951618e1c9">that enabled Trump to win</a>&nbsp;the 2024 election and Republicans to gain control of Congress.Trump's post marks an escalation even in his normally overheated election rhetoric. He issued a wide-ranging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-elections-trump-executive-order-4e9edb53f47e61e241a43ceef8164022">executive order</a>&nbsp;earlier this year that,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-voting-executive-order-citizenship-proof-4bbcf7e13183d8c5004ceb0ca53c7845">among other changes,</a>&nbsp;would have required documented&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-republicans-citizenship-voting-elections-texas-b6b9298092c84266bc7515209e5aea42">proof-of-citizenship</a>&nbsp;before registering to vote. His Monday post promised another election executive order to “help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm elections.”The same post also pushed falsehoods about voting. He claimed the U.S. is the only country to use mail voting, when it's actually used by dozens, including Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.Similar complaints to Trump's, when aired on conservative and conservative-leaning networks such as Newsmax and Fox News, have led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">multimillion dollar</a>&nbsp;defamation settlements,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dominion-voting-newsmax-defamation-trump-2020-3b2366dfdae3a8432afe822bf14fe1ef">including one announced Monday,</a>&nbsp;because they are full of false information and the outlets have not been able to present&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-government-news-media-donald-trump-fraud-b52914ec21a97dec8b5d878a908d566f">any evidence</a>&nbsp;to support them.Trump's post came after the president told Fox News that Russian President Vladimir Putin, in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-summit-ukraine-war-takeaways-b9ff04c4143c6ac228e196ddaf6dd6d3">their Friday meeting in Alaska</a>, echoed his grievances about mail voting and the 2020 election. Trump continued his attack on mail voting and voting machines in the Oval Office on Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-russia-ukraine-war-d0ad768453210db23fe4b108f7b87135">during a meeting</a>&nbsp;with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The announcement signals yet another way that Trump intends to stack the cards in his favor in the 2026 midterm elections, after he already has directed his attorney general to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-actblue-winred-fundraising-justice-department-3e73d4022bb47e0533f9dcfd35d37371">investigate a Democratic fundraising platform</a>&nbsp;and urged states to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-democrats-redistricting-texas-california-newsom-9422a8300f5bcc2aa587bcb3811a1479?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">redraw their congressional districts</a>&nbsp;to help the GOP maintain its majority in the House of Representatives.Here's a breakdown of Trump's latest election post and why&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-elections-voting-constitution-8908477167fd65dc9cd485e1fde5b804">Congress is the one entity</a>&nbsp;that can implement national election rules.<h2>Trump's post</h2>Trump for years has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d?utm_source=RecoReel&amp;utm_medium=articlePage&amp;utm_id=Taboola">promoted false information</a>&nbsp;about voting, and Monday was no exception.He claimed there is “MASSIVE FRAUD” due to mail voting, when in fact voting fraud in the U.S. is rare. As an example, an Associated Press review after the 2020 election found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voter-fraud-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-7fcb6f134e528fee8237c7601db3328f">fewer than 475 cases of potential fraud</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-arizona-donald-trump-voter-registration-tucson-c64bba90b8c074bf8bdfd2c751b6b0f2">six battleground states</a>&nbsp;where he disputed his loss, far too few to tip that election to Trump.Washington and Oregon, which conduct elections entirely by mail, have sued to challenge Trump’s earlier executive order — which sought to require that all ballots must be received by Election Day and not just postmarked by then. The states argue that the president has no such authority, and they are seeking a declaration from a federal judge in Seattle that their postmark deadlines do not conflict with federal law setting the date of U.S. elections.Trump also alleged that voting machines are more expensive than “Watermark Paper." That's a little-used system that has gained favor and investments among some voting conspiracy theorists who believe it would help prevent fraudulent ballots from being introduced into the vote count. Watermarks would not provide a way to count ballots, so they would not on their own replace vote tabulating machines.While some jurisdictions still have voters use electronic ballot-marking devices to cast their votes, the vast majority of voters in the U.S. already vote on paper ballots, creating an auditable record of votes that provides an extra safeguard for election security.In his post, Trump also claimed that states “are merely an ‘agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes” and must do what the federal government “as represented by the President of the United States” tells them to do.Election lawyers said that's a misrepresentation of the U.S. Constitution. It also flies in the face of what had been a core Republican Party value of prioritizing states' rights.<h2>Thousands of elections, none under presidential control</h2>Unlike in most countries, elections in the U.S. are run by the states. But it gets more complicated — each state then allows smaller jurisdictions, such as counties, cities or townships, to run their own elections. Election officials estimate there are as many as 10,000 different election jurisdictions across the country.A frequent complaint of Trump and other election conspiracy theorists is that the U.S. doesn't run its election like France, which hand counts presidential ballots and usually has a national result on election night. But that's because France is only running that single election, and every jurisdiction has the same ballot with no other races.A ballot in the U.S. might contain dozens of races, from president on down to city council and including state and local ballot measures.The Constitution makes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/advance-early-voting-absentee-mail-ballots-0dcd5e94b91410d39c66586a6020464d">the states</a>&nbsp;the entities that determine the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-california-wait-times-vote-count-florida-170cb591062f8fad8f619b2cc02ff3e7https://apnews.com/article/election-california-wait-times-vote-count-florida-170cb591062f8fad8f619b2cc02ff3e7">“time, place and manner” of elections</a>, but does allow Congress to “make” or “alter” rules for federal elections.Congress can change the way states run congressional and presidential elections but has no say in the way a state runs its own elections. The president is not mentioned at all in the Constitution's list of entities with powers over elections.“The president has very limited to zero authority over things related to the conduct of elections,” said Rick Hasen, an election law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.<h2>Courts have agreed — no presidential involvement</h2>Parts of Trump's earlier executive order on elections were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-executive-order-citizenship-lawsuit-4b683fe2e1106316fdb05621be9b7d0e">swiftly blocked by the courts</a>, on the grounds that Congress, and not the president, sets federal election rules.It's unclear what Trump plans to do now, but the only path to change federal election rules is through Congress.Although Republicans control Congress, it's unclear that even his party would want to eliminate voting machines nationwide, possibly delaying vote tallies in their own races by weeks or months. Even if they did, legislation would likely be unable to pass because Democrats could filibuster it in the U.S. Senate.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-republicans-rnc-mailed-ballots-voting-759f2277e00532dedaaa93e17f7329a1">Mail voting</a>&nbsp;had bipartisan support before Trump turned against it during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election, but it's still widely used in Republican-leaning states, including several he won last November — Arizona, Florida and Utah. It's also how members of the military stationed overseas cast their ballots, and fully eliminating it would disenfranchise those GOP-leaning voters.The main significance of Trump's Monday statement is that it signals his continuing obsession with trying to change how elections are run.“These kinds of claims could provide a kind of excuse for him to try to meddle,” Hasen said. “Very concerned about that.”___Associated Press writer Eugene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report.