MIAMI COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a juvenile in rural Miami County, Kansas.

Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, emergency personnel responded to a death investigation in the 22800 block of Lewis Drive, located in rural Miami County, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

While on scene, additional resources were requested to assist with the investigation. One juvenile was pronounced deceased at the scene, while another juvenile was taken into custody.

The sheriff's office released no additional details.&nbsp; Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733398221816.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation on Wednesday-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation on Wednesday-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a juvenile in rural Miami County, Kansas.Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, emergency personnel responded to a death investigation in the 22800 block of Lewis Drive, located in rural Miami County, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.While on scene, additional resources were requested to assist with the investigation. One juvenile was pronounced deceased at the scene, while another juvenile was taken into custody.The sheriff's office released no additional details.&nbsp; Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Juvenile in custody after juvenile found dead in rural Kan.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Topeka have identified the victim as 49-year-old&nbsp;Lavaughn E. Lewis of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

Just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 2000 Block of SW 12th Street. Upon arrival, first responders found Lewis with life-threatening injuries.

Medical staff&nbsp;pronounced him deceased on scene. This is the city’s 20th homicide investigation of 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733348510836.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Topeka have identified the victim as 49-year-old&nbsp;Lavaughn E. Lewis of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.Just before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 2000 Block of SW 12th Street. Upon arrival, first responders found Lewis with life-threatening injuries.Medical staff&nbsp;pronounced him deceased on scene. This is the city’s 20th homicide investigation of 2024.

Police ID Kansas man who died in shooting 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Firefighters stopped a deck fire from spreading into a home near 154th Terrace and Ridgeview in Olathe, according to a social media report from the Olathe Fire Department.

The fire occurred just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday. No injuries. Investigators say discarded smoking&nbsp;materials caused the fire.&nbsp;

If you smoke:
 Smoke on a surface that won't burn like concrete; put cigarettes out, all the way, in an ashtray or non-combustible bucket with sand and douse the ashes and butts with water to make sure they are completely out

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733359545363.jpeg" alt="Photos Olathe Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Olathe Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Firefighters stopped a deck fire from spreading into a home near 154th Terrace and Ridgeview in Olathe, according to a social media report from the Olathe Fire Department.The fire occurred just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday. No injuries. Investigators say discarded smoking&nbsp;materials caused the fire.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733359525944.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>If you smoke:
 Smoke on a surface that won't burn like concrete; put cigarettes out, all the way, in an ashtray or non-combustible bucket with sand and douse the ashes and butts with water to make sure they are completely out

Discarded smoking materials caused deck fire at Kan. home

NEW YORK (AP) — Investigators are searching for clues that could help them identify the masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk, then disappeared into Central Park.

UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton in Midtown, blocks from tourist draws like Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.

The killing, and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and afterward, were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city.

One video showed him approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a brief gun jam while the dying health executive tumbled to the pavement.

Other security cameras captured the initial stages of the gunman's escape. He was seen fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza, then escaping on a bicycle into Central Park, where he vanished.

Police used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intense search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown late into the night.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence.

“Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday.

“From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

Police issued several surveillance images of the man, who wore a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face and wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid winter day. Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop shortly before the shooting.

The police department offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”

Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.

Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive.

Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said.

Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet.

Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death.

Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">posted on the social platform X</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733331413907.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Investigators are searching for clues that could help them identify the masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk, then disappeared into Central Park.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNYPD%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02gMCRPER4h5ybagucFTvoLqVTVwCL12xbPMZ5PACT719o9pFnAuMhWKFXkiJenkWKl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="703" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton in Midtown, blocks from tourist draws like Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.The killing, and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and afterward, were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city.One video showed him approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a brief gun jam while the dying health executive tumbled to the pavement.Other security cameras captured the initial stages of the gunman's escape. He was seen fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza, then escaping on a bicycle into Central Park, where he vanished.Police used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intense search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown late into the night.New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence.“Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday.“From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.Police issued several surveillance images of the man, who wore a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face and wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid winter day. Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop shortly before the shooting.The police department offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive.Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said.Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet.Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death.Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">posted on the social platform X</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.___

Search continues for suspect who gunned down health insurance CEO

KANSAS CITY —A woman has been charged with stealing packages from porches throughout the Kansas City area this past weekend, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.

Kayley Worthington, 24, of Excelsior Springs is charged with one count of felony theft and one count of felony possession of a controlled substance. She is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a $20,000 bond. If she posts bond, one of the conditions of her bond is that she may not be within 100 feet of anyone’s porch other than her own. Additional charges against additional suspects are possible.

After seeing multiple reports on social media of packages being stolen in Liberty, Smithville, and Kansas City, North, over the weekend, Sheriff’s Office investigators began collaborating with police departments in those cities and working to identify the thieves. Their investigation led them to a home in Excelsior Springs early Monday evening, where they located Worthington and took her into custody. Deputies served a search warrant at the house and recovered 51 stolen items, as well as methamphetamine.

Detectives have so far identified nine victims. Clay County residents who had a package stolen Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 and have not yet filed a police report are encouraged to do so.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733275672983.png" alt="Worthington photo Clay County" />
 <figcaption>Worthington photo Clay County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A woman has been charged with stealing packages from porches throughout the Kansas City area this past weekend, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.Kayley Worthington, 24, of Excelsior Springs is charged with one count of felony theft and one count of felony possession of a controlled substance. She is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a $20,000 bond. If she posts bond, one of the conditions of her bond is that she may not be within 100 feet of anyone’s porch other than her own. Additional charges against additional suspects are possible.After seeing multiple reports on social media of packages being stolen in Liberty, Smithville, and Kansas City, North, over the weekend, Sheriff’s Office investigators began collaborating with police departments in those cities and working to identify the thieves. Their investigation led them to a home in Excelsior Springs early Monday evening, where they located Worthington and took her into custody. Deputies served a search warrant at the house and recovered 51 stolen items, as well as methamphetamine.Detectives have so far identified nine victims. Clay County residents who had a package stolen Nov. 29 – Dec. 1 and have not yet filed a police report are encouraged to do so.

Deputies catch Kansas City area porch pirate, recover items

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Abortion-rights advocates on Wednesday asked a judge to overturn Missouri’s near-total ban on the procedure, less than a month after voters backed an abortion-rights&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-amendment-ballot-election-f114445b087e77d0cc786d3eeb2eb615">constitutional amendment</a>.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang did not immediately rule after the hearing. Planned Parenthood and other plaintiffs had asked her to issue a temporary order blocking enforcement of Missouri’s numerous abortion laws.

Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said abortions could begin Friday in clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis if the judge issues the order.

“Every single day that they cannot access abortion rights they are being denied critical care," Wales said of Missouri residents.

Several anti-abortion protesters knelt on the ground as they prayed outside the courthouse during the hearing. They covered their mouths with a red piece of tape that read “life.”

Missouri is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">five states where voters approved ballot measures</a>&nbsp;this year to add the right to an abortion to their state constitutions. Nevada voters also approved an amendment, but they’ll need to pass it again in 2026 for it to take effect. Another that bans discrimination on the basis of “pregnancy outcomes” prevailed in New York.

Reproductive rights advocates in Arizona on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-election-canvass-abortion-0a899d1a78fc8e8b76bf8f75e868e249">sued to undo</a>&nbsp;a 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with that state's new constitutional amendment expanding access up to fetal viability.

The Missouri amendment does not specifically override any state laws. Instead the measure leaves it to advocates to ask courts to knock down bans that they believe would now be unconstitutional.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, an abortion opponent, last week issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">an opinion</a>&nbsp;agreeing that most abortions will be legal when the amendment takes effect Thursday.

But Bailey’s office is still fighting for a ban on most abortions after viability, along with a number of regulations that Planned Parenthood argues made it nearly impossible to offer abortions in the state even before abortion was almost completely banned in 2022.

Missouri’s constitutional amendment allows lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability, with exceptions to “protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”

The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there’s no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.

Other abortion laws that Bailey is defending include a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed; bans on abortions based on race, sex or a possible Down syndrome diagnosis; and a requirement that medical facilities that provide abortions be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

Missouri Solicitor General Josh Divine argued in court that the right to reproductive freedom includes the right to childbirth, which he said supports laws such as the state's 72-hour waiting period.

“Those laws are enabling childbirth,” he said. "They are giving time to choose childbirth.”

But Planned Parenthood Federation of America attorney Ella Spottswood during the hearing told the judge that by 2019, the slew of Missouri laws regulating abortion had effectively limited access to a single St. Louis clinic.

“The voters have changed all that,” she said. “The questions should begin and end with the amendment.”

It is unclear when Zhang will rule on the request for a preliminary injunction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725887984419.png" alt="Photo Anna Spoerre" />
 <figcaption>Photo Anna Spoerre</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Abortion-rights advocates on Wednesday asked a judge to overturn Missouri’s near-total ban on the procedure, less than a month after voters backed an abortion-rights&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-amendment-ballot-election-f114445b087e77d0cc786d3eeb2eb615">constitutional amendment</a>.Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang did not immediately rule after the hearing. Planned Parenthood and other plaintiffs had asked her to issue a temporary order blocking enforcement of Missouri’s numerous abortion laws.Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said abortions could begin Friday in clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis if the judge issues the order.“Every single day that they cannot access abortion rights they are being denied critical care," Wales said of Missouri residents.Several anti-abortion protesters knelt on the ground as they prayed outside the courthouse during the hearing. They covered their mouths with a red piece of tape that read “life.”Missouri is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">five states where voters approved ballot measures</a>&nbsp;this year to add the right to an abortion to their state constitutions. Nevada voters also approved an amendment, but they’ll need to pass it again in 2026 for it to take effect. Another that bans discrimination on the basis of “pregnancy outcomes” prevailed in New York.Reproductive rights advocates in Arizona on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-election-canvass-abortion-0a899d1a78fc8e8b76bf8f75e868e249">sued to undo</a>&nbsp;a 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with that state's new constitutional amendment expanding access up to fetal viability.The Missouri amendment does not specifically override any state laws. Instead the measure leaves it to advocates to ask courts to knock down bans that they believe would now be unconstitutional.Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, an abortion opponent, last week issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">an opinion</a>&nbsp;agreeing that most abortions will be legal when the amendment takes effect Thursday.But Bailey’s office is still fighting for a ban on most abortions after viability, along with a number of regulations that Planned Parenthood argues made it nearly impossible to offer abortions in the state even before abortion was almost completely banned in 2022.Missouri’s constitutional amendment allows lawmakers to restrict abortion after viability, with exceptions to “protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there’s no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.Other abortion laws that Bailey is defending include a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed; bans on abortions based on race, sex or a possible Down syndrome diagnosis; and a requirement that medical facilities that provide abortions be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.Missouri Solicitor General Josh Divine argued in court that the right to reproductive freedom includes the right to childbirth, which he said supports laws such as the state's 72-hour waiting period.“Those laws are enabling childbirth,” he said. "They are giving time to choose childbirth.”But Planned Parenthood Federation of America attorney Ella Spottswood during the hearing told the judge that by 2019, the slew of Missouri laws regulating abortion had effectively limited access to a single St. Louis clinic.“The voters have changed all that,” she said. “The questions should begin and end with the amendment.”It is unclear when Zhang will rule on the request for a preliminary injunction.___

Judge considers first lawsuit to overturn Mo. near-total abortion ban

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a series of reports of criminal damage in southwest Kansas and have made arrests.

On Tuesday, police responded to multiple reports of property damage at various locations around Dodge City, according to a media release. Thanks to information provided by the public, officers identified a black Jeep Wrangler suspected of being involved in the criminal activity. 

Officers were able to locate the vehicle and, through investigation, arrested four juveniles from Dodge City. The boys have been linked to 25 different cases of criminal damage to Christmas decorations and&nbsp; vehicle windows.

 Charges will be filed with the Ford County Attorney's Office for the crime of Criminal Damage.&nbsp;

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a series of reports of criminal damage in southwest Kansas and have made arrests.On Tuesday, police responded to multiple reports of property damage at various locations around Dodge City, according to a media release. Thanks to information provided by the public, officers identified a black Jeep Wrangler suspected of being involved in the criminal activity. Officers were able to locate the vehicle and, through investigation, arrested four juveniles from Dodge City. The boys have been linked to 25 different cases of criminal damage to Christmas decorations and&nbsp; vehicle windows. Charges will be filed with the Ford County Attorney's Office for the crime of Criminal Damage.&nbsp;

Police in SW Kan. make arrests for damage to Christmas decorations 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-supreme-court-tennessee-c302c0e307dc1ab70f01b84bab72eaf0">gender-affirming care for minors</a>.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/23-477">Click here to listen to</a> a replay of the oral argument

The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-volleyball-d00b36355c69f48de712339821682b52">to regulate the lives of transgender people</a>, including which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/gender-in-sports-track-and-field-roller-derby-new-york-gender-2fe769675c174632925e446f15c6294b">sports competitions</a>&nbsp;they can join and which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sarah-mcbride-speaker-johnson-transgender-bathroom-f3943e1b3b2dc9c8d62d2ba6660aaf91">bathrooms they can use</a>.

The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-transgender-politics-61cff97a64fac581ffc5f762be4c57d3">protections</a>&nbsp;for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights.

The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors.

In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted in the majority in a 2020 case in favor of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-transgender-rights-lgbtq-donald-trump-3bb3ace81ff32b6dec382b486ec6a772">transgender rights</a>, questioned whether judges, rather than lawmakers, should be weighing in on a question of regulating medical procedures, an area usually left to the states.

”The Constitution leaves that question to the people’s representatives, rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor,” Roberts said in an exchange with Strangio.

The court’s three liberal justices seemed firmly on the side of the challengers. But it’s not clear that any of the conservatives will go along.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushed back against the assertion that the democratic process would be the best way to address objections to the law. She cited a history of laws discriminating against others, noting that transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, according to studies. There are an estimated 1.3 million adults and 300,000 adolescents aged 13 to 17 who identify as transgender, according the UCLA law school's Williams Institute.

“Blacks were a much larger part of the population and it didn’t protect them. It didn’t protect women for whole centuries,” Sotomayor said in an exchange with Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she saw some troubling parallels between arguments made by Tennessee and those advanced by Virginia and rejected by a unanimous court, in the 1967&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c6df18d20eb141e1b55bd5c3b02bf91d">Loving decision</a>&nbsp;that legalized interracial marriage nationwide.

Quoting from the 57-year-old decision, Jackson noted that Virginia argued then that “the scientific evidence is substantially in doubt and, consequently, the court should defer to the wisdom of the state legislature.”

Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in 2020, said nothing during the arguments.

The arguments produced some riveting moments. Justice Samuel Alito repeatedly pressed Strangio, the first openly transgender lawyer to argue at the nation's highest court, about whether transgender people should be legally designated as a group that’s susceptible to discrimination.

Strangio answered that being transgender does fit that legal definition, though he acknowledged under Alito’s questioning there are a small number of people who de-transition. “So it's not an immutable characteristic, is it?” Alito said.

Strangio did not retreat from his view, though he said the court did not have to decide the issue to resolve the case in his clients' favor.

There were dueling rallies outside the court in the hours before the arguments. Speeches and music filled the air on the sidewalk below the court’s marble steps. Advocates of the ban bore signs like “Champion God’s Design” and “Kids Health Matters,” while the other side proclaimed “Fight like a Mother for Trans Rights” and “Freedom to be Ourselves."

Four years ago, the court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-supreme-courts-mi-state-wire-neil-gorsuch-ap-top-news-5a7b0e41a47a3c571dda69194758e7b1">ruled</a>&nbsp;in favor of Aimee Stephens, who was fired by a Michigan funeral home after she informed its owner that she was a transgender woman. The court held that transgender people, as well as gay and lesbian people, are protected by a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace.

The Biden administration and the families and health care providers who challenged the Tennessee law urged the justices to apply the same sort of analysis that the majority, made up of liberal and conservative justices, embraced in the case four years ago when it found that “sex plays an unmistakable role” in employers' decisions to punish transgender people for traits and behavior they otherwise tolerate.

The issue in the Tennessee case is whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same.

Tennessee's law bans puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors, but allows the same drugs to be used for other purposes.

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, called the law sex-based line drawing to ban the use of drugs that have been safely prescribed for decades and said the state “decided to completely override the views of the patients, the parents, the doctors.”

She contrasted the Tennessee law with one enacted by West Virginia, which set conditions for the health care for transgender minors, but stopped short of an outright ban.

Rice countered that lawmakers acted to regulate “risky, unproven medical interventions” and, at one point, likened the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments to lobotomies and eugenics, now thoroughly discredited but once endorsed by large segments of the medical community.

Rice argued that the Tennessee law doesn’t discriminate based on sex, but rather based on the purpose of the treatment. Children can get puberty blockers to treat early onset puberty, but not as a treatment for gender dysphoria.

“Our fundamental point is there is no sex-based line here,” Rice said.

While the challengers invoked the 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County for support, Tennessee relied on the court's precedent-shattering Dobbs decision in 2022 that ended nationwide protections for abortion and returned the issue to the states.

The two sides battled in their legal filings over the appropriate level of scrutiny the court should apply. It's more than an academic exercise.

The lowest level is known as rational basis review and almost every law looked at that way is ultimately upheld. Indeed, the federal appeals court in Cincinnati that allowed the Tennessee law to be enforced held that lawmakers acted rationally to regulate medical procedures, well within their authority.

The appeals court reversed a trial court that employed a higher level of review, heightened scrutiny, that applies in cases of sex discrimination. Under this more searching examination, the state must identify an important objective and show that the law helps accomplish it.

If the justices opt for heightened scrutiny, they could return the case to the appeals court to apply it. That's the course Prelogar and Strangio pushed for on Wednesday, though there did not seem to be much support for it.

Gender-affirming care for youth is supported by every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association.

But Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh all highlighted a point made by Tennessee in its legal briefs claiming that health authorities in Sweden, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom found that the medical treatments "pose significant risks with unproven benefits.”

If those countries “are pumping the brakes on this kind of treatment," Kavanaugh said, why should the Supreme Court question Tennessee's actions?

None of those countries has adopted a ban similar to the one in Tennessee and individuals can still obtain treatment, Prelogar said.

Kavanaugh, who has coached his daughters’ youth basketball teams, also wondered whether a ruling against Tennessee would give transgender athletes "a constitutional right to participate in girls' sports.”

Prelogar said a narrow decision would not affect the sports issue.

Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst, Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733335063328.png" alt="Photo ACLU" />
 <figcaption>Photo ACLU</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-gender-affirming-supreme-court-tennessee-c302c0e307dc1ab70f01b84bab72eaf0">gender-affirming care for minors</a>.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/23-477">Click here to listen to</a> a replay of the oral argumentThe justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-volleyball-d00b36355c69f48de712339821682b52">to regulate the lives of transgender people</a>, including which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/gender-in-sports-track-and-field-roller-derby-new-york-gender-2fe769675c174632925e446f15c6294b">sports competitions</a>&nbsp;they can join and which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sarah-mcbride-speaker-johnson-transgender-bathroom-f3943e1b3b2dc9c8d62d2ba6660aaf91">bathrooms they can use</a>.The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-transgender-politics-61cff97a64fac581ffc5f762be4c57d3">protections</a>&nbsp;for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights.The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors.In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban.Chief Justice John Roberts, who voted in the majority in a 2020 case in favor of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-transgender-rights-lgbtq-donald-trump-3bb3ace81ff32b6dec382b486ec6a772">transgender rights</a>, questioned whether judges, rather than lawmakers, should be weighing in on a question of regulating medical procedures, an area usually left to the states.”The Constitution leaves that question to the people’s representatives, rather than to nine people, none of whom is a doctor,” Roberts said in an exchange with Strangio.The court’s three liberal justices seemed firmly on the side of the challengers. But it’s not clear that any of the conservatives will go along.Justice Sonia Sotomayor pushed back against the assertion that the democratic process would be the best way to address objections to the law. She cited a history of laws discriminating against others, noting that transgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, according to studies. There are an estimated 1.3 million adults and 300,000 adolescents aged 13 to 17 who identify as transgender, according the UCLA law school's Williams Institute.“Blacks were a much larger part of the population and it didn’t protect them. It didn’t protect women for whole centuries,” Sotomayor said in an exchange with Tennessee Solicitor General Matt Rice.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she saw some troubling parallels between arguments made by Tennessee and those advanced by Virginia and rejected by a unanimous court, in the 1967&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c6df18d20eb141e1b55bd5c3b02bf91d">Loving decision</a>&nbsp;that legalized interracial marriage nationwide.Quoting from the 57-year-old decision, Jackson noted that Virginia argued then that “the scientific evidence is substantially in doubt and, consequently, the court should defer to the wisdom of the state legislature.”Justice Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority opinion in 2020, said nothing during the arguments.The arguments produced some riveting moments. Justice Samuel Alito repeatedly pressed Strangio, the first openly transgender lawyer to argue at the nation's highest court, about whether transgender people should be legally designated as a group that’s susceptible to discrimination.Strangio answered that being transgender does fit that legal definition, though he acknowledged under Alito’s questioning there are a small number of people who de-transition. “So it's not an immutable characteristic, is it?” Alito said.Strangio did not retreat from his view, though he said the court did not have to decide the issue to resolve the case in his clients' favor.There were dueling rallies outside the court in the hours before the arguments. Speeches and music filled the air on the sidewalk below the court’s marble steps. Advocates of the ban bore signs like “Champion God’s Design” and “Kids Health Matters,” while the other side proclaimed “Fight like a Mother for Trans Rights” and “Freedom to be Ourselves."Four years ago, the court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-supreme-courts-mi-state-wire-neil-gorsuch-ap-top-news-5a7b0e41a47a3c571dda69194758e7b1">ruled</a>&nbsp;in favor of Aimee Stephens, who was fired by a Michigan funeral home after she informed its owner that she was a transgender woman. The court held that transgender people, as well as gay and lesbian people, are protected by a landmark federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace.The Biden administration and the families and health care providers who challenged the Tennessee law urged the justices to apply the same sort of analysis that the majority, made up of liberal and conservative justices, embraced in the case four years ago when it found that “sex plays an unmistakable role” in employers' decisions to punish transgender people for traits and behavior they otherwise tolerate.The issue in the Tennessee case is whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which requires the government to treat similarly situated people the same.Tennessee's law bans puberty blockers and hormone treatments for transgender minors, but allows the same drugs to be used for other purposes.Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, called the law sex-based line drawing to ban the use of drugs that have been safely prescribed for decades and said the state “decided to completely override the views of the patients, the parents, the doctors.”She contrasted the Tennessee law with one enacted by West Virginia, which set conditions for the health care for transgender minors, but stopped short of an outright ban.Rice countered that lawmakers acted to regulate “risky, unproven medical interventions” and, at one point, likened the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments to lobotomies and eugenics, now thoroughly discredited but once endorsed by large segments of the medical community.Rice argued that the Tennessee law doesn’t discriminate based on sex, but rather based on the purpose of the treatment. Children can get puberty blockers to treat early onset puberty, but not as a treatment for gender dysphoria.“Our fundamental point is there is no sex-based line here,” Rice said.While the challengers invoked the 2020 ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County for support, Tennessee relied on the court's precedent-shattering Dobbs decision in 2022 that ended nationwide protections for abortion and returned the issue to the states.The two sides battled in their legal filings over the appropriate level of scrutiny the court should apply. It's more than an academic exercise.The lowest level is known as rational basis review and almost every law looked at that way is ultimately upheld. Indeed, the federal appeals court in Cincinnati that allowed the Tennessee law to be enforced held that lawmakers acted rationally to regulate medical procedures, well within their authority.The appeals court reversed a trial court that employed a higher level of review, heightened scrutiny, that applies in cases of sex discrimination. Under this more searching examination, the state must identify an important objective and show that the law helps accomplish it.If the justices opt for heightened scrutiny, they could return the case to the appeals court to apply it. That's the course Prelogar and Strangio pushed for on Wednesday, though there did not seem to be much support for it.Gender-affirming care for youth is supported by every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association.But Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh all highlighted a point made by Tennessee in its legal briefs claiming that health authorities in Sweden, Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom found that the medical treatments "pose significant risks with unproven benefits.”If those countries “are pumping the brakes on this kind of treatment," Kavanaugh said, why should the Supreme Court question Tennessee's actions?None of those countries has adopted a ban similar to the one in Tennessee and individuals can still obtain treatment, Prelogar said.Kavanaugh, who has coached his daughters’ youth basketball teams, also wondered whether a ruling against Tennessee would give transgender athletes "a constitutional right to participate in girls' sports.”Prelogar said a narrow decision would not affect the sports issue.___Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst, Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee contributed to this report.

🎧Supreme Court likely to uphold ban on gender-affirming care for minors

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a drive-by shooting that sent three people to the hospital.

Just after 2a.m. Wednesday, police officers were dispatched to the report of a shooting in the 1600 block of north Grove in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders located three individuals inside a home with injuries.

A 43-year-old woman was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries to her lower body. A 19-year-old man was transported to an area hospital with severe injuries to the lower body. A 17-year-old girl was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Officers and crime scene investigators located a large number of cartridge casings and the residence was struck numerous times. The shooters were believed to be outside the residence at the time of the shooting.

Investigators are diligently reviewing all of the evidence in this case to identify and apprehend the offenders. Late Wednesday,&nbsp; police had not released possible suspect details or reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733349384364.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a drive-by shooting that sent three people to the hospital.Just after 2a.m. Wednesday, police officers were dispatched to the report of a shooting in the 1600 block of north Grove in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders located three individuals inside a home with injuries.A 43-year-old woman was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries to her lower body. A 19-year-old man was transported to an area hospital with severe injuries to the lower body. A 17-year-old girl was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.Officers and crime scene investigators located a large number of cartridge casings and the residence was struck numerous times. The shooters were believed to be outside the residence at the time of the shooting.Investigators are diligently reviewing all of the evidence in this case to identify and apprehend the offenders. Late Wednesday,&nbsp; police had not released possible suspect details or reported an arrest.

2 adults, teen injured in drive-by shooting at Kansas home

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Education Department called on every state, school and district on Tuesday to adopt policies on cellphone use in schools.

The department asks schools to have well-thought-out policies on the matter, but does not dictate exactly what those policies should be. An accompanying resource for schools notes the risk social media can pose to students’ mental health.

“In this digital age, every elementary, middle, and high school should have a clear, consistent, and research-informed policy to guide the use of phones and personal devices in school,” U.S Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a written statement.

“The evidence makes clear: there is no one-size-fits-all policy,” Cardona added, noting that “different school communities have different needs, and the nuances of this issue demand that local voices — parents, educators, and students — inform local decisions around the use of personal devices in school.”

The department acknowledged the role cellphones can play in keeping parents connected to their kids, especially in emergency situations, while also highlighting the increasing evidence on the harms social media can have on youth mental health, such as sleep deprivation and depression.

An increasing number of states and school districts have enacted policies either prohibiting or restricting students from using their cellphones in the classrooms.

Across the country, schools and districts continue to grapple with how to deal with kids’ cellphone use, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/29/cell-phone-schools-bans-states" target="_blank">more than half of all states</a>&nbsp;have sought to ban or restrict cellphone use in classrooms.

As of early November, at least eight states have passed statewide policies that either limit or prohibit cellphone use in the classrooms, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/a-look-at-state-efforts-to-ban-cellphones-in-schools-and-implications-for-youth-mental-health/" target="_blank">KFF</a>.

That includes California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia. A Minnesota law forces schools to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2024/08/29/minnesota-now-new-school-cellphone-policy-landscape-across-minnesota-locked-pouches" target="_blank">adopt a policy on cellphone use</a>&nbsp;by March 2025.

A handful of other states’&nbsp;<a href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/11/01/oregon-department-of-education-offers-schools-guidance-on-limiting-student-cell-phone-use/" target="_blank">education departments</a>&nbsp;have issued&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/24/alaska-joins-growing-number-of-states-considering-crackdown-on-cellphones-in-schools/" target="_blank">policy recommendations</a>&nbsp;or pilot programs, while lawmakers in several more have introduced statewide legislation regarding cellphone use.

The guidance from the U.S. Education Department coincides with the release of a&nbsp;<a href="https://tech.ed.gov/device-policy-playbook/" target="_blank">resource</a>&nbsp;for education officials and local communities on adopting cellphone use policies.

In the playbook, Cardona points to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf" target="_blank">public warning</a>&nbsp;in 2023 on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/prodded-fed-parents-some-congress-try-curb-kids-use-social-media" target="_blank">social media’s effects</a>&nbsp;on youth mental health.

Murthy warns: “More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; however, the current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”&nbsp;

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Education Department called on every state, school and district on Tuesday to adopt policies on cellphone use in schools.The department asks schools to have well-thought-out policies on the matter, but does not dictate exactly what those policies should be. An accompanying resource for schools notes the risk social media can pose to students’ mental health.“In this digital age, every elementary, middle, and high school should have a clear, consistent, and research-informed policy to guide the use of phones and personal devices in school,” U.S Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a written statement.“The evidence makes clear: there is no one-size-fits-all policy,” Cardona added, noting that “different school communities have different needs, and the nuances of this issue demand that local voices — parents, educators, and students — inform local decisions around the use of personal devices in school.”The department acknowledged the role cellphones can play in keeping parents connected to their kids, especially in emergency situations, while also highlighting the increasing evidence on the harms social media can have on youth mental health, such as sleep deprivation and depression.<h2>Increasing state policies</h2>An increasing number of states and school districts have enacted policies either prohibiting or restricting students from using their cellphones in the classrooms.Across the country, schools and districts continue to grapple with how to deal with kids’ cellphone use, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/29/cell-phone-schools-bans-states" target="_blank">more than half of all states</a>&nbsp;have sought to ban or restrict cellphone use in classrooms.As of early November, at least eight states have passed statewide policies that either limit or prohibit cellphone use in the classrooms, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/a-look-at-state-efforts-to-ban-cellphones-in-schools-and-implications-for-youth-mental-health/" target="_blank">KFF</a>.That includes California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia. A Minnesota law forces schools to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2024/08/29/minnesota-now-new-school-cellphone-policy-landscape-across-minnesota-locked-pouches" target="_blank">adopt a policy on cellphone use</a>&nbsp;by March 2025.A handful of other states’&nbsp;<a href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2024/11/01/oregon-department-of-education-offers-schools-guidance-on-limiting-student-cell-phone-use/" target="_blank">education departments</a>&nbsp;have issued&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/10/24/alaska-joins-growing-number-of-states-considering-crackdown-on-cellphones-in-schools/" target="_blank">policy recommendations</a>&nbsp;or pilot programs, while lawmakers in several more have introduced statewide legislation regarding cellphone use.The guidance from the U.S. Education Department coincides with the release of a&nbsp;<a href="https://tech.ed.gov/device-policy-playbook/" target="_blank">resource</a>&nbsp;for education officials and local communities on adopting cellphone use policies.In the playbook, Cardona points to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf" target="_blank">public warning</a>&nbsp;in 2023 on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/prodded-fed-parents-some-congress-try-curb-kids-use-social-media" target="_blank">social media’s effects</a>&nbsp;on youth mental health.Murthy warns: “More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; however, the current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”&nbsp;

U.S. Education Department pings states, schools to set policies on cellphone use

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a>&nbsp;- <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson’s ask for unity and civility turned into a warning Monday as he retained his title in an unopposed leadership election at the Kansas Statehouse.&nbsp;

As both parties elected the slate of leadership for the 2025 Legislature, Democrats prepared for a difficult session while Republicans emphasized a united front.&nbsp;

“What I ask is that we would treat each other with civility because that’s what brings the unity,” Masterson said. “So on the flipside of that ask is the warning, right? The warning — the kryptonite to that superpower of unity is the gossip circle, which is kind of the standard operating procedure in bodies of politic, right?”

Masterson’s&nbsp;nomination came from Sen. Rick Kloos, a Topeka Republican who was reelected as majority whip without opposition. Kloos said Masterson’s vision, strategy and hands-on approach made him the right person for the job. This will be Masterson’s second four-year term as Senate president.

Masterson, of Andover, requested his fellow legislators do their best to honor one another “in word and in deed.” Disagreement sells better in the news, he said.

Senate Republicans were fresh from an election that resulted in expanded supermajorities in both chambers. Democrats lost two seats in the November election, reducing their ranks from 11 to nine in the 40-member Senate. Calling themselves “the divine nine,” they retained Dinah Sykes, of Lenexa, as their minority leader.

Sykes said Democrats were prepared to resist Republican attempts to pass damaging policies. She predicted an effort to overhaul the way Kansas Supreme Court members are nominated, with a goal of overturning a 2019 ruling that secured the right to terminate a pregnancy in Kansas. Sykes also said Republicans would try to pass private school vouchers, and that she was concerned the majority party would reduce budgets for state agencies and services in order to support tax cuts that won’t be sustainable.

“I think we all have a more difficult session ahead of us,” Sykes told her caucus, “but we’ve been mighty, and we will continue that.”

Republicans elected to the majority leader seat Sen. Chase Blasi, a former Masterson chief of staff who was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2023. He defeated current Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;Larry Alley, of Winfield. Sen. J.R. Claeys of Salina nominated Blasi, describing him as a “trusted adviser.”&nbsp;

Sen. Tim Shallenburger, a longtime politician and 2002 GOP gubernatorial candidate, defeated&nbsp;Wichita Republican Sen. Renee Erickson for the Senate vice president seat. Erickson is the current assistant majority leader. Shallenburger was speaker of the House in the ’90s, the 36th state treasurer, and chair of the Kansas Republican Party from 2005 to 2007. Sen.&nbsp;Elaine Bowers nominated him on the premise that his institutional knowledge and experience set him apart, she said.

“What stands out to me about Senator Tim is his experience and deep understanding of Kansas history and its issues,” Bowers said.

Sen. Caryn Tyson, of Parker, clinched the assistant majority leader position with 23 votes to eight for Sen. Beverly Gossage, of Eudora. Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican who nominated her, cited her as a champion for collaboration and tax legislation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733338763560.png" alt=" Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, addresses fellow legislators Dec. 2, 2024, during Senate Republican leadership elections after an unopposed win allowing him to retain his seat. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, addresses fellow legislators Dec. 2, 2024, during Senate Republican leadership elections after an unopposed win allowing him to retain his seat. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a>&nbsp;- <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> TOPEKA — Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson’s ask for unity and civility turned into a warning Monday as he retained his title in an unopposed leadership election at the Kansas Statehouse.&nbsp;As both parties elected the slate of leadership for the 2025 Legislature, Democrats prepared for a difficult session while Republicans emphasized a united front.&nbsp;“What I ask is that we would treat each other with civility because that’s what brings the unity,” Masterson said. “So on the flipside of that ask is the warning, right? The warning — the kryptonite to that superpower of unity is the gossip circle, which is kind of the standard operating procedure in bodies of politic, right?”Masterson’s&nbsp;nomination came from Sen. Rick Kloos, a Topeka Republican who was reelected as majority whip without opposition. Kloos said Masterson’s vision, strategy and hands-on approach made him the right person for the job. This will be Masterson’s second four-year term as Senate president.Masterson, of Andover, requested his fellow legislators do their best to honor one another “in word and in deed.” Disagreement sells better in the news, he said.Senate Republicans were fresh from an election that resulted in expanded supermajorities in both chambers. Democrats lost two seats in the November election, reducing their ranks from 11 to nine in the 40-member Senate. Calling themselves “the divine nine,” they retained Dinah Sykes, of Lenexa, as their minority leader.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733338713113.jpeg" alt=" Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, of Lenexa, talks to reporters Dec. 2, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka following a meeting with her caucus. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, of Lenexa, talks to reporters Dec. 2, 2024, at the Statehouse in Topeka following a meeting with her caucus. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sykes said Democrats were prepared to resist Republican attempts to pass damaging policies. She predicted an effort to overhaul the way Kansas Supreme Court members are nominated, with a goal of overturning a 2019 ruling that secured the right to terminate a pregnancy in Kansas. Sykes also said Republicans would try to pass private school vouchers, and that she was concerned the majority party would reduce budgets for state agencies and services in order to support tax cuts that won’t be sustainable.“I think we all have a more difficult session ahead of us,” Sykes told her caucus, “but we’ve been mighty, and we will continue that.”Republicans elected to the majority leader seat Sen. Chase Blasi, a former Masterson chief of staff who was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2023. He defeated current Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;Larry Alley, of Winfield. Sen. J.R. Claeys of Salina nominated Blasi, describing him as a “trusted adviser.”&nbsp;Sen. Tim Shallenburger, a longtime politician and 2002 GOP gubernatorial candidate, defeated&nbsp;Wichita Republican Sen. Renee Erickson for the Senate vice president seat. Erickson is the current assistant majority leader. Shallenburger was speaker of the House in the ’90s, the 36th state treasurer, and chair of the Kansas Republican Party from 2005 to 2007. Sen.&nbsp;Elaine Bowers nominated him on the premise that his institutional knowledge and experience set him apart, she said.“What stands out to me about Senator Tim is his experience and deep understanding of Kansas history and its issues,” Bowers said.Sen. Caryn Tyson, of Parker, clinched the assistant majority leader position with 23 votes to eight for Sen. Beverly Gossage, of Eudora. Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican who nominated her, cited her as a champion for collaboration and tax legislation.

Kansas Senate president called for civility, while issuing warning, as chamber picked leaders

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Two Kansas officers avoided serious injuries while on the scene of weekend crash during a storm that brought heavy snow to the Kansas City metro.

Just before 8a.m. November 30, KHP Master Trooper Garver and an officer with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department were struck while on southbound Interstate 635 at State Avenue while working a non-injury crash due to slick roads due to the snow storm.



As Master Trooper Garver talked with the officer, he observed a car quickly approaching after losing control on the slick roads.

  Master Trooper Garver warned the KCK Officer to "watch out" as he was running away.  The officer put his emergency vehicle in drive and attempted to pull forward to avoid a collision. 

 Unfortunately, both law enforcement vehicles and a citizen's vehicle were struck. 

 Thankfully, no one was injured in the crash.

The outcome of this crash was mitigated because Master Trooper Garver and the KCK officer remained vigilant of their surroundings.

  As we continue to enter the winter weather months, remember to slow down for the road conditions and move over for all first responders.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Two Kansas officers avoided serious injuries while on the scene of weekend crash during a storm that brought heavy snow to the Kansas City metro.Just before 8a.m. November 30, KHP Master Trooper Garver and an officer with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department were struck while on southbound Interstate 635 at State Avenue while working a non-injury crash due to slick roads due to the snow storm.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Saturday, November 30, just before 8:00 am, Master Trooper Garver and an officer with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department - KCKPD were struck while on southbound I-635 at State Avenue working a non-injury crash due to a snow storm in Kansas Highway Patrol - Troop A.… <a href="https://t.co/rQiBmYvZp6">pic.twitter.com/rQiBmYvZp6</a>&mdash; KS Highway Patrol (@kshighwaypatrol) <a href="https://twitter.com/kshighwaypatrol/status/1864306808401142258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

As Master Trooper Garver talked with the officer, he observed a car quickly approaching after losing control on the slick roads. Master Trooper Garver warned the KCK Officer to "watch out" as he was running away. The officer put his emergency vehicle in drive and attempted to pull forward to avoid a collision. Unfortunately, both law enforcement vehicles and a citizen's vehicle were struck. Thankfully, no one was injured in the crash.

The outcome of this crash was mitigated because Master Trooper Garver and the KCK officer remained vigilant of their surroundings. As we continue to enter the winter weather months, remember to slow down for the road conditions and move over for all first responders.

🎥2 Kan. officers struck while working crash during snow storm

NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.

The killing was was a “brazen, targeted attack,” Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner said.

Thompson, 50, was set to speak at an investor meeting when he was gunned down around 6:45 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown by a shooter who fled on foot and then took an e-bike into Central Park, according to the New York Police Department.

Thompson was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. Police were still searching for the shooter as of late morning and no arrests had been made. Though officials said the attack appeared to be targeted, they did not yet have a motive for the shooting.

Mayor Eric Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video.

"It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual,” Adams said.

UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors in New York City to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year, according to a company media advisory. An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was ending early.

The Hilton is in a bustling part of Manhattan, a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center, and often dense with tourists and office workers on weekday mornings. The popular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is set to take place Wednesday evening.

Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.

Thompson had served as CEO for more than three years and had been with the company since 2004.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">tweeted</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.

NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the company was holding an investor conference.

A person briefed on the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that the victim was Thompson, the health insurance company's 50-year-old CEO. Speaking about the shooting, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said it did not appear to be a random attack.

Police said the shooter fled after the shooting, which happened around 6:45 a.m. outside a Hilton. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.

Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video.

"This was not what appears to be a just random act of violence. It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733324311684.png" alt="Brian Thompson courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brian Thompson courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733331413907.png" alt="photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>The killing was was a “brazen, targeted attack,” Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner said.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNYPD%2Fvideos%2F1503464993647472%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Thompson, 50, was set to speak at an investor meeting when he was gunned down around 6:45 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown by a shooter who fled on foot and then took an e-bike into Central Park, according to the New York Police Department.Thompson was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. Police were still searching for the shooter as of late morning and no arrests had been made. Though officials said the attack appeared to be targeted, they did not yet have a motive for the shooting.Mayor Eric Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video."It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual,” Adams said.UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors in New York City to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year, according to a company media advisory. An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was ending early.The Hilton is in a bustling part of Manhattan, a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center, and often dense with tourists and office workers on weekday mornings. The popular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is set to take place Wednesday evening.Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.Thompson had served as CEO for more than three years and had been with the company since 2004.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">tweeted</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.___NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the company was holding an investor conference.A person briefed on the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that the victim was Thompson, the health insurance company's 50-year-old CEO. Speaking about the shooting, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said it did not appear to be a random attack.Police said the shooter fled after the shooting, which happened around 6:45 a.m. outside a Hilton. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video."This was not what appears to be a just random act of violence. It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual,” he said.UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors in New York City to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year, according to a company media advisory. An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was ending early.The Hilton is in a bustling part of Manhattan, a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center, and often dense with tourists and office workers on weekday mornings. The popular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is set to take place Wednesday evening.Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.Thompson had served as CEO for more than three years and had been with the company since 2004.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota. Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team. <a href="https://t.co/6lAL2lJXzn">https://t.co/6lAL2lJXzn</a>&mdash; Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">tweeted</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.-----------

Targeted attack: Gunman kills CEO of nation's largest healthcare insurer 

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%20and%20HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press</a>

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former police detective in Kansas who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-abuse-trial-roger-golubski-de11e2b098348066b4f37ebd304cbe6d">died in an apparent suicide</a>&nbsp;as he was about to stand trial for allegedly sexually assaulting and terrorizing vulnerable women for decades wasn't supposed to have a gun while he was under house arrest.

Police found Roger Golubski dead on his back porch Monday morning after a neighbor reported hearing a gunshot, and there were no indications of foul play, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. The judge’s order allowing Golubski to be under house arrest said he could not “possess a firearm, destructive device, or other weapon.”

Golubski's death — just as jury selection was to begin at the federal courthouse in Topeka — raised questions about why the 71-year-old wasn't behind bars, and how a gun came to be at his home in Edwardsville, outside Kansas City, Kansas.

"We will look into how he obtained the firearm as a part of the death investigation,” said Melissa Underwood, a bureau spokeswoman.

Golubski, once a highly regarded detective in Kansas City, was charged in 2022 with six felony counts of violating the civil rights of women and girls. Prosecutors say he sexually abused them and sometimes threatened to throw them or their relatives in jail if they didn't comply.

The trial was to focus on two women. One said Golubski began sexually abusing her when she was in middle school. The other said he began abusing her after her twin sons were arrested. Prosecutors said seven other women were planning to testify that Golubski abused or harassed them as well. Advocates for the women believe there are other victims who have either died or are afraid to come forward.

Prosecutors say that Golubski, who was white, victimized Black women and girls in some of Kansas City’s poorest neighborhoods.

Golubski’s prosecution followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-fd1d4d05e561462a85abe50e7eaed4ec">hundreds of abuse cases</a>&nbsp;across the country where officers lost their badges after allegations of sexual assault.

After Golubski's death, the judge dismissed the case at the request of prosecutors.

Why was he under house arrest, not in custody?

Prosecutors wanted Golubski jailed almost immediately. They asked to have him taken into custody two days after a federal grand jury indicted him in September 2022.

But U.S. Magistrate Judge Rachel Schwartz&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-kansas-city-civil-rights-violations-ae8bc840668af84d343f444bf8aef79a">rejected their request,</a>&nbsp;concluding that while the allegations were “shocking,” Golubski was not the risk he was when the alleged abuse occurred years ago.

An attorney for Golubski described him as “sick and infirm,” saying he needed medical care for diabetes and to recover from quintuple bypass heart surgery. Golubski was undergoing kidney dialysis three times a week, and his trial was scheduled around those treatments.

Golubski's accusers believe he had too much freedom under house arrest. Some of them were especially angry after they saw video of him at a Culver’s restaurant following a medical appointment in January. Schwartz tightened conditions on Golubski’s house arrest after that, but didn't order him detained.

“The perception of people, rightly or wrongly, and regardless of the law, is that had they been in front of the court under similar circumstances, they probably would have been detained,” Cheryl Pilate, an attorney for some of Golubski’s accusers, said Tuesday.

Barry Grissom, who served as the top federal prosecutor in Kansas from 2010 to 2016, said Golubski’s longtime ties to the Kansas City area — something cited by the magistrate — argued against detention. Schwartz ordered Golubski to stay at home except for religious services and medical care. He was not allowed to get a passport.

“He hadn’t been found guilty — you know, it hadn’t been proved — so he still, like anybody, was presumed innocent,” Grissom said.

Sean O'Brien, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor, said officers would have searched Golubski's home when his house arrest started, but added that “it's not like they were surveilling his house 24/7.”

“But, you know, once he’s there — you know, people coming and going — anybody could have brought a gun to him or maybe the search wasn’t that thorough,” O'Brien said.

Golubski worked for decades for the Kansas City police department before retiring from there in 2010. He then worked for the Edwardsville police, leaving that department in 2016.

Edwardsville Chief Rance Quinn said in an email Tuesday that the department issues firearms to its officers and those in good standing are allowed to store them outside the department. The firearm can become a gift to an employee who retires, but Golubski did not get such a gift upon leaving in 2016, Quinn said.

Quinn said none of the department's firearms were missing Monday morning and that "the firearm found on scene was not the make/model of firearm used by the Edwardsville PD.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663616484786.png" alt="Golubski photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Golubski photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%20and%20HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Associated Press</a>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former police detective in Kansas who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-abuse-trial-roger-golubski-de11e2b098348066b4f37ebd304cbe6d">died in an apparent suicide</a>&nbsp;as he was about to stand trial for allegedly sexually assaulting and terrorizing vulnerable women for decades wasn't supposed to have a gun while he was under house arrest.Police found Roger Golubski dead on his back porch Monday morning after a neighbor reported hearing a gunshot, and there were no indications of foul play, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. The judge’s order allowing Golubski to be under house arrest said he could not “possess a firearm, destructive device, or other weapon.”Golubski's death — just as jury selection was to begin at the federal courthouse in Topeka — raised questions about why the 71-year-old wasn't behind bars, and how a gun came to be at his home in Edwardsville, outside Kansas City, Kansas."We will look into how he obtained the firearm as a part of the death investigation,” said Melissa Underwood, a bureau spokeswoman.<h2>Why was Golubski on trial?</h2>Golubski, once a highly regarded detective in Kansas City, was charged in 2022 with six felony counts of violating the civil rights of women and girls. Prosecutors say he sexually abused them and sometimes threatened to throw them or their relatives in jail if they didn't comply.The trial was to focus on two women. One said Golubski began sexually abusing her when she was in middle school. The other said he began abusing her after her twin sons were arrested. Prosecutors said seven other women were planning to testify that Golubski abused or harassed them as well. Advocates for the women believe there are other victims who have either died or are afraid to come forward.Prosecutors say that Golubski, who was white, victimized Black women and girls in some of Kansas City’s poorest neighborhoods.Golubski’s prosecution followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-fd1d4d05e561462a85abe50e7eaed4ec">hundreds of abuse cases</a>&nbsp;across the country where officers lost their badges after allegations of sexual assault.After Golubski's death, the judge dismissed the case at the request of prosecutors.<h2>Why was he under house arrest, not in custody?</h2>Prosecutors wanted Golubski jailed almost immediately. They asked to have him taken into custody two days after a federal grand jury indicted him in September 2022.But U.S. Magistrate Judge Rachel Schwartz&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-kansas-city-civil-rights-violations-ae8bc840668af84d343f444bf8aef79a">rejected their request,</a>&nbsp;concluding that while the allegations were “shocking,” Golubski was not the risk he was when the alleged abuse occurred years ago.An attorney for Golubski described him as “sick and infirm,” saying he needed medical care for diabetes and to recover from quintuple bypass heart surgery. Golubski was undergoing kidney dialysis three times a week, and his trial was scheduled around those treatments.<h2>Did Golubski get special treatment?</h2>Golubski's accusers believe he had too much freedom under house arrest. Some of them were especially angry after they saw video of him at a Culver’s restaurant following a medical appointment in January. Schwartz tightened conditions on Golubski’s house arrest after that, but didn't order him detained.“The perception of people, rightly or wrongly, and regardless of the law, is that had they been in front of the court under similar circumstances, they probably would have been detained,” Cheryl Pilate, an attorney for some of Golubski’s accusers, said Tuesday.Barry Grissom, who served as the top federal prosecutor in Kansas from 2010 to 2016, said Golubski’s longtime ties to the Kansas City area — something cited by the magistrate — argued against detention. Schwartz ordered Golubski to stay at home except for religious services and medical care. He was not allowed to get a passport.“He hadn’t been found guilty — you know, it hadn’t been proved — so he still, like anybody, was presumed innocent,” Grissom said.<h2>And how did he get a gun?</h2>That's unclear.Sean O'Brien, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor, said officers would have searched Golubski's home when his house arrest started, but added that “it's not like they were surveilling his house 24/7.”“But, you know, once he’s there — you know, people coming and going — anybody could have brought a gun to him or maybe the search wasn’t that thorough,” O'Brien said.Golubski worked for decades for the Kansas City police department before retiring from there in 2010. He then worked for the Edwardsville police, leaving that department in 2016.Edwardsville Chief Rance Quinn said in an email Tuesday that the department issues firearms to its officers and those in good standing are allowed to store them outside the department. The firearm can become a gift to an employee who retires, but Golubski did not get such a gift upon leaving in 2016, Quinn said.Quinn said none of the department's firearms were missing Monday morning and that "the firearm found on scene was not the make/model of firearm used by the Edwardsville PD.”In Kansas City, police officers buy the firearms they'll use on duty from a list of approved weapons and, if they cover the cost themselves, keep them after leaving the department, said spokesperson Nancy Chartrand. It was not immediately clear whether Golubski did that.<h2>What was Golubski's state of mind?</h2>Christopher Joseph, Golubski's lead attorney, said in an email Tuesday that he'd expected to meet Golubski in Topeka on Monday morning and go to the courthouse, some 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Golubski's home in Edwardsville. Golubski hadn't skipped a court appearance before Monday.“I was in regular contact with Roger, including over the weekend,” Joseph said. “I saw no warning signs. His defense team was confident about the prospect of acquittal.”Joseph said Golubski himself did not believe he could get a fair trial because of media coverage of his case and that he only learned Monday morning that Golubski was despondent over that coverage.“Roger’s death should not be considered an admission of guilt,” Joseph said. “Instead, it should be a warning about the power of the media to pick a narrative and present it as truth.”<h2>Some are still waiting for justice</h2>Golubski was at the center of a string of lawsuits and criminal allegations that led the Wyandotte County prosecutor’s office to begin a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-bd0898c8649b1ede27e2c3749547bbed">$1.7 million</a>&nbsp;effort to reexamine cases he worked on during his 35 years on the force.One double murder case Golubski investigated resulted in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-03a51b0fe56481f586ef8e031d2ffc2c">exoneration</a>&nbsp;of a man wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 23 years, and government payments totaling $14 million to the man. A criminal justice organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-crime-police-54f4c7a47df11cd937aacdb180b4b25e">run by rapper Jay-Z</a>&nbsp;is suing to obtain police records.Pilate said only a small subset of Golubski's victims were willing to come forward and that his trial would have represented “just a first step toward accountability” for local police and government officials."And then when the time finally arrived for accountability, it was yanked away from them,” she said.