TOPEKA&nbsp;–This year’s list of Kansas Notable Books continues the tradition of celebrating the rich stories and culture of Kansas.

“The 2024 Kansas Notable Books list recognizes 15 books written by Kansans or about Kansas,” said Ray Walling, State Librarian. 

“ From historical figures like abolitionist James Montgomery, to the remarkably resilient residents of Udall, to people reflecting on grief and personal struggles through poetry, the authors introduce readers to a variety of Kansans. 

The selections also take readers on a geology field trip across the state, to Kansas City's Montgall Avenue, into a classroom as seen through the eyes of a child on the autism spectrum, inside a murder mystery, and beyond to other worlds. With something for everyone, I hope all Kansans will visit their local public library to check out these wonderful titles.”

Each year, the Kansas Notable Books list features 15 books, published during the previous calendar year, which are about or set in Kansas, or written by a Kansas author. This year’s selection committee includes representatives of public, university, and regional libraries, academics, and writers.

The following are the 2024 Kansas Notable Books&nbsp;

Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind: James Montgomery and His War on Slavery, by Todd Mildfelt and David Schafer, University of Oklahoma Press

Daughter of Chaos, by Sarah Edgerton (Tonganoxie), Elizabeth Hawk Publishing

Doomed by Blooms, by Anna St. John (Haysville), Level Best Books

Grief Said "Have a Seat", by Amanda G. Elsbury (Wichita), Elite Publications

Henry, Like Always, by Jenn Bailey (Leawood), Chronicle Books

I've Been Fighting This War Within Myself, by Antonio Sanchez-Day (Topeka) and edited by Brian Daldorph (Lawrence), Meadowlark Poetry Press

Into the Sunset: Emmett Dalton and the End of the Dalton Gang, by Ian Shaw, University Press of Kansas

The Jayhawk: The Story of the University of Kansas’s Beloved Mascot, by Rebecca Ozier Schulte (Lawrence), University Press of Kansas

Kansas City's Montgall Avenue: Black Leaders and the Street They Called Home, by Margie Carr (Lawrence), University Press of Kansas

Orion O'Brien and the Spirit of Quindaro, by Fran Borin (Mission Hills), Mission Point Press

Proclaiming the Good News: Mennonite Women’s Voices, 1972-2006, by Lois Y. Barrett and Dorothy Nickel Friesen, Institute of Mennonite Studies

Red Rabbit, by Alex Grecian (Topeka), Tor Nightfire

Roadside Geology of Kansas, by James S Aber (Emporia), Susan E. W. Aber (Emporia), and Michael J. Everhart (Derby), Mountain Press

We're Safe When We're Alone, by Nghiem Tran (Wichita), Coffee House Press

Without Warning: The Tornado of Udall, Kansas, by Jim Minick, Bison Books

Kansas Notable Books authors will be awarded their medals at the Kansas Book Festival on September 27 at Washburn University.

Kansas Notable Books is a project of the Kansas Center for the Book, a program at the State Library of Kansas which is the state affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. The mission of the Kansas Center for the Book is to highlight the state’s literary heritage and foster an interest in books, reading, and libraries.

For more information or questions about Kansas Notable Books program, visit kslib.info/notablebooks or contact the State Library of Kansas at 785-296-3296 or email infodesk@ks.gov.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718481948664.png" alt="State Library of Kansas" />
 <figcaption>State Library of Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–This year’s list of Kansas Notable Books continues the tradition of celebrating the rich stories and culture of Kansas.“The 2024 Kansas Notable Books list recognizes 15 books written by Kansans or about Kansas,” said Ray Walling, State Librarian. “ From historical figures like abolitionist James Montgomery, to the remarkably resilient residents of Udall, to people reflecting on grief and personal struggles through poetry, the authors introduce readers to a variety of Kansans. The selections also take readers on a geology field trip across the state, to Kansas City's Montgall Avenue, into a classroom as seen through the eyes of a child on the autism spectrum, inside a murder mystery, and beyond to other worlds. With something for everyone, I hope all Kansans will visit their local public library to check out these wonderful titles.”Each year, the Kansas Notable Books list features 15 books, published during the previous calendar year, which are about or set in Kansas, or written by a Kansas author. This year’s selection committee includes representatives of public, university, and regional libraries, academics, and writers.The following are the 2024 Kansas Notable Books&nbsp;Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind: James Montgomery and His War on Slavery, by Todd Mildfelt and David Schafer, University of Oklahoma PressDaughter of Chaos, by Sarah Edgerton (Tonganoxie), Elizabeth Hawk PublishingDoomed by Blooms, by Anna St. John (Haysville), Level Best BooksGrief Said "Have a Seat", by Amanda G. Elsbury (Wichita), Elite PublicationsHenry, Like Always, by Jenn Bailey (Leawood), Chronicle BooksI've Been Fighting This War Within Myself, by Antonio Sanchez-Day (Topeka) and edited by Brian Daldorph (Lawrence), Meadowlark Poetry PressInto the Sunset: Emmett Dalton and the End of the Dalton Gang, by Ian Shaw, University Press of KansasThe Jayhawk: The Story of the University of Kansas’s Beloved Mascot, by Rebecca Ozier Schulte (Lawrence), University Press of KansasKansas City's Montgall Avenue: Black Leaders and the Street They Called Home, by Margie Carr (Lawrence), University Press of KansasOrion O'Brien and the Spirit of Quindaro, by Fran Borin (Mission Hills), Mission Point PressProclaiming the Good News: Mennonite Women’s Voices, 1972-2006, by Lois Y. Barrett and Dorothy Nickel Friesen, Institute of Mennonite StudiesRed Rabbit, by Alex Grecian (Topeka), Tor NightfireRoadside Geology of Kansas, by James S Aber (Emporia), Susan E. W. Aber (Emporia), and Michael J. Everhart (Derby), Mountain PressWe're Safe When We're Alone, by Nghiem Tran (Wichita), Coffee House PressWithout Warning: The Tornado of Udall, Kansas, by Jim Minick, Bison BooksKansas Notable Books authors will be awarded their medals at the Kansas Book Festival on September 27 at Washburn University.Kansas Notable Books is a project of the Kansas Center for the Book, a program at the State Library of Kansas which is the state affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book. The mission of the Kansas Center for the Book is to highlight the state’s literary heritage and foster an interest in books, reading, and libraries.For more information or questions about Kansas Notable Books program, visit kslib.info/notablebooks or contact the State Library of Kansas at 785-296-3296 or email infodesk@ks.gov.

State Library of Kansas: 2024 Kansas Notable Books

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the U.S. dairy industry confronts a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">bird flu outbreak</a>, with cases reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">dozens of farms</a>&nbsp;and the disease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-cows-michigan-e409aa93e7fa8c637785048bc04dad47">spreading to people</a>, the egg industry could serve as an example of how to slow the disease but also shows how difficult it can be to eradicate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bird-flu">the virus</a>.

There have been earlier bird flu outbreaks in the U.S., but the current one started in February 2022 and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-iowa-how-many-chickens-6a8cd70e4293d0dee4fef6d0dcfbdce7">forced the slaughter</a>&nbsp;of nearly 100 million chickens and turkeys. Hot spots still occur, but their frequency has dropped in part because of biosecurity efforts at farms and a coordinated approach between companies and agricultural officials, experts say.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/avian-influenza-bird-flu-milk-h5n1-hpai-99ea2238ea2dfb5f97f559f770c5d06b">Dairy farmers</a>&nbsp;could try to implement similar safeguards, but the vast differences between the animals and the industries limit what lessons can be learned and applied.

How can a 1,500-pound cow and a 5-pound chicken have the same illness?

It's commonly called bird flu because the disease is largely spread by wild birds that can survive infections. Many mammals have caught the illness too, including sea lions and skunks.

Animals can be infected by eating an infected bird or by being exposed to environments where the virus is present. That said, there are big differences in how cows and chickens have fared after getting infected.

Bird flu is typically fatal to chickens and turkeys within days of an infection, leading to immediate mass killings of birds. That's not true for cows.

Dairies in several states have reported having to kill infected animals because symptoms continued to linger and their milk production didn't recover, but that’s not the norm, said Russ Daly, an extension veterinarian at South Dakota State University.

He said it appears that bird flu isn't usually fatal to cows but that an infected animal can be more vulnerable to other ailments typically founds in dairies, such as bacterial pneumonia and udder infections.

What has the egg industry done to protect chickens?

To prevent disease from spreading, egg producers require workers to shower and change into clean clothes before they enter a barn and shower again when they leave. They also frequently wash trucks and spray tires with solutions to kill off virus remnants.

Many egg operations even use lasers and install special fencing to discourage wild birds from stopping by for a visit.

“Gone is the day of the scarecrow,” said Emily Metz, president of the American Egg Board.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-iowa-animals-d76524dace2b34e2cb0dc25925cead65">Without these efforts</a>, the current outbreak would be much worse, said Jada Thompson, a University of Arkansas agriculture business professor. Still, maintaining such vigilance is difficult, even if the cost of allowing disease into an operation is so high, she said.

Chickens raised for meat, known as broilers, also have been infected with bird flu but such cases are less common. In part, that’s because broiler chickens are killed when they’re only 6 to 8 weeks old, so they have less time to get infected.

Can the same be done to protect cows and dairy workers?

Dairies can certainly reduce the spread of disease by limiting access to barns, so people and equipment don't bring in the virus from elsewhere. Workers could also wear eye protection, aprons and gloves to try to protect themselves, but there's no way around it: Big animals are messy.

“The parlor is a warm, humid place with lots of liquid flying around, whether it's urine, feces, water because they're spraying off areas. Cows might kick off a milk machine so you get milk splatter,” said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Laboratory.

Dairies also don't have time or staff to disinfect milking equipment between animals, so equipment could become contaminated.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-h5n1-6398d2eda26eb41797ee2700cf9d036b">Pasteurization</a>&nbsp;kills bacteria and viruses in milk, making it safe for people to drink.

Poulsen said the dairy industry could follow a path laid by the poultry and pork industries and establish more formal, better funded research organizations so it could respond more quickly to problems like bird flu — or avoid them altogether.

The dairy industry also could tamp down disease spread by limiting the movement of lactating cows between states, Poulsen said.

Are there new efforts to fight the virus?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon begin testing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-mrna-vaccine-ab3cf2df5ef7dca8f56d279205a97ff7">a vaccine</a>&nbsp;that could be given to calves, offering the animals protection and also reducing the chance of worker illnesses.

The egg industry also is hopeful researchers can develop vaccines for poultry that could be quick, inexpensive and effective. Workers can't give shots to the millions of hens that might need a vaccine, but industry officials hope a vaccine could be distributed in the water the birds drink, in the pellets they eat or even before birds hatch from their eggs.

Efforts to develop vaccines have become even more important now that the disease has spread to dairy cows and even a few people, Thompson said.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As the U.S. dairy industry confronts a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-avian-flu-chickens-eggs-03793b5b1cb7429ce293e8577aef0358">bird flu outbreak</a>, with cases reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">dozens of farms</a>&nbsp;and the disease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-cows-michigan-e409aa93e7fa8c637785048bc04dad47">spreading to people</a>, the egg industry could serve as an example of how to slow the disease but also shows how difficult it can be to eradicate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bird-flu">the virus</a>.There have been earlier bird flu outbreaks in the U.S., but the current one started in February 2022 and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-iowa-how-many-chickens-6a8cd70e4293d0dee4fef6d0dcfbdce7">forced the slaughter</a>&nbsp;of nearly 100 million chickens and turkeys. Hot spots still occur, but their frequency has dropped in part because of biosecurity efforts at farms and a coordinated approach between companies and agricultural officials, experts say.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/avian-influenza-bird-flu-milk-h5n1-hpai-99ea2238ea2dfb5f97f559f770c5d06b">Dairy farmers</a>&nbsp;could try to implement similar safeguards, but the vast differences between the animals and the industries limit what lessons can be learned and applied.<h2>How can a 1,500-pound cow and a 5-pound chicken have the same illness?</h2>It's commonly called bird flu because the disease is largely spread by wild birds that can survive infections. Many mammals have caught the illness too, including sea lions and skunks.Animals can be infected by eating an infected bird or by being exposed to environments where the virus is present. That said, there are big differences in how cows and chickens have fared after getting infected.Bird flu is typically fatal to chickens and turkeys within days of an infection, leading to immediate mass killings of birds. That's not true for cows.Dairies in several states have reported having to kill infected animals because symptoms continued to linger and their milk production didn't recover, but that’s not the norm, said Russ Daly, an extension veterinarian at South Dakota State University.He said it appears that bird flu isn't usually fatal to cows but that an infected animal can be more vulnerable to other ailments typically founds in dairies, such as bacterial pneumonia and udder infections.<h2>What has the egg industry done to protect chickens?</h2>Egg operators have become clean freaks.To prevent disease from spreading, egg producers require workers to shower and change into clean clothes before they enter a barn and shower again when they leave. They also frequently wash trucks and spray tires with solutions to kill off virus remnants.Many egg operations even use lasers and install special fencing to discourage wild birds from stopping by for a visit.“Gone is the day of the scarecrow,” said Emily Metz, president of the American Egg Board.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-iowa-animals-d76524dace2b34e2cb0dc25925cead65">Without these efforts</a>, the current outbreak would be much worse, said Jada Thompson, a University of Arkansas agriculture business professor. Still, maintaining such vigilance is difficult, even if the cost of allowing disease into an operation is so high, she said.Chickens raised for meat, known as broilers, also have been infected with bird flu but such cases are less common. In part, that’s because broiler chickens are killed when they’re only 6 to 8 weeks old, so they have less time to get infected.<h2>Can the same be done to protect cows and dairy workers?</h2>Yes and no.Dairies can certainly reduce the spread of disease by limiting access to barns, so people and equipment don't bring in the virus from elsewhere. Workers could also wear eye protection, aprons and gloves to try to protect themselves, but there's no way around it: Big animals are messy.“The parlor is a warm, humid place with lots of liquid flying around, whether it's urine, feces, water because they're spraying off areas. Cows might kick off a milk machine so you get milk splatter,” said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Laboratory.Dairies also don't have time or staff to disinfect milking equipment between animals, so equipment could become contaminated.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-h5n1-6398d2eda26eb41797ee2700cf9d036b">Pasteurization</a>&nbsp;kills bacteria and viruses in milk, making it safe for people to drink.Poulsen said the dairy industry could follow a path laid by the poultry and pork industries and establish more formal, better funded research organizations so it could respond more quickly to problems like bird flu — or avoid them altogether.The dairy industry also could tamp down disease spread by limiting the movement of lactating cows between states, Poulsen said.<h2>Are there new efforts to fight the virus?</h2>The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon begin testing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-mrna-vaccine-ab3cf2df5ef7dca8f56d279205a97ff7">a vaccine</a>&nbsp;that could be given to calves, offering the animals protection and also reducing the chance of worker illnesses.The egg industry also is hopeful researchers can develop vaccines for poultry that could be quick, inexpensive and effective. Workers can't give shots to the millions of hens that might need a vaccine, but industry officials hope a vaccine could be distributed in the water the birds drink, in the pellets they eat or even before birds hatch from their eggs.Efforts to develop vaccines have become even more important now that the disease has spread to dairy cows and even a few people, Thompson said.

Deadly bird flu: How can a cow and a chicken have the same illness?

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident in Wyandotte County have identified the victim as 34-year-old Cory Allen Poland of Kansas City, Kansas.

The accident occurred just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Audi A6 driven by Camille Breonne&nbsp;Carter, 20, Kansas City, Kansas, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of 18th Street.

The car struck Poland who was walking south across the highway.&nbsp; Poland was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Forensics Center.&nbsp; Carter and three passengers in the car were not injured.&nbsp;

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident in Wyandotte County have identified the victim as 34-year-old Cory Allen Poland of Kansas City, Kansas.The accident occurred just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Audi A6 driven by Camille Breonne&nbsp;Carter, 20, Kansas City, Kansas, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of 18th Street.The car struck Poland who was walking south across the highway.&nbsp; Poland was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Forensics Center.&nbsp; Carter and three passengers in the car were not injured.&nbsp;

KHP IDs Kansas man who died after struck by car

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 170-year-old rivalry is flaring up as Kansas lawmakers try to snatch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d">the Super Bowl champion</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs away from Missouri even though economists long ago concluded subsidizing pro sports isn't worth the cost.

The Kansas Legislature's top leaders endorsed helping the Chiefs and professional baseball's Kansas City Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-new-stadium-proposal-49fbfcc162dfbcf3790aa14c2763fd97">finance new stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas ahead of a special session set to convene Tuesday. The plan would authorize state bonds for stadium construction and pay them off with revenues from sports betting, the Kansas Lottery and new tax dollars generated in and around the new venues.

The states' border runs through the metropolitan area of about 2.3 million people, and the teams would move only about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west.

Decades of research have concluded a pro sports franchise doesn't boost a local economy much, if any, because it mostly captures existing spending from other places in the same community. But for Kansas officials, spending would at least leave Missouri and come to Kansas, and one-upping Missouri has its own allure.

“I’ve wanted to see the Chiefs in Kansas my whole life, but I hope we can do it in a way that is enriching for these communities, rather than creating additional burdens for them," said Kansas state Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from central Kansas.

The rivalry between Kansas and Missouri can be traced as far back as the lead-up to the Civil War, before Kansas was even a state. People from Missouri came from the east,&nbsp;<a href="https://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/border-ruffians">hoping in vain to create another slave state</a>&nbsp;like their own. Both sides looted, burned and killed across the border.

There also was a century-long sports rivalry between the University of Kansas and University of Missouri. And for years the two states burned through hundreds of millions of dollars to lure businesses to one side of the border or the other in the Kansas City area in the pursuit of jobs. They called an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-missouri-truce-over-jobs-conflict-appears-shaky-3edf5ce7015a44519ccd8b96c87511d0">uneasy truce</a>&nbsp;in 2019.

Missouri officials are pledging to be equally aggressive to keep the Royals and Chiefs, and not only because they view them as economic assets.

“They’re sources of great pride,” said Missouri state Rep. John Patterson, a suburban Kansas City Republican expected to be the next state House speaker.

Kansas legislators see the Chiefs and Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-stadium-dcb96d3d20aab5aaf589c9164a5e7d38">in play</a>&nbsp;because voters on the Missouri side&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212">refused in April</a>&nbsp;to extend a local sales tax for the upkeep of their side-by-side stadiums. They also argue that failing to take action risks having one or both teams leave the Kansas City area, though economists are skeptical that the threat is real.

While the lease for the two teams' stadium complex runs through January 2031, Kansas officials argue the teams must make decisions soon for new or renovated stadiums to be ready by then. They also are promising the Chiefs a stadium with a dome or retractable roof that can host Super Bowls, college basketball Final Fours and huge, indoor concerts.

“You’ve got this asset and all the businesses that move there as a result, or are created there,” said Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from the edge of his state’s Kansas City suburbs and a leader of the relocation effort. “You’ll get commerce out of that area every day.”

Roughly 60% of the area’s population lives in Missouri, but the Kansas side is growing more quickly.

Despite the legislative push in Kansas, Missouri lawmakers aren't rushing to propose alternatives. Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told reporters Thursday that his state is “not just going to roll over" but also said, “We're just in the first quarter” of the contest.

Both states hold primary elections on Aug. 3, with most legislative seats on the ballot this year. The April vote in Missouri on the local stadium tax suggested subsidizing pro sports teams could be a political loser in that state, particularly with the conservative-leaning electorate in GOP primaries.

“In Missouri, the Republican Party used to be led by a business wing that might be in favor of this sort of thing, but in the Trump era, that’s not the case,” said David Kimball, a University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professor. “The more conservative, the more Trump-oriented wing, they’re not big supporters of spending taxpayer money on much of anything.”

Kansas Republicans face pressure on the right to avoid having the state pick economic winners and losers. For Probst, the Democrat, the concern is using government "to make rich people richer,” meaning team owners.

Economists have studied pro sports teams and subsidies for stadiums since at least the 1980s. J.C. Bradbury, an economics and finance professor from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, said studies show subsidizing stadiums is "a terrible channel for economic growth.”

While supporters of the Kansas effort have cited a report indicating large, positive economic implications, Bradbury said “phony” reports are a staple of stadium campaigns.

“Stadiums are poor public investment, and I would say it’s a near unanimous consensus,” said Bradbury, who has reviewed studies and done them himself.

Yet more than 30 lobbyists have registered to push for a stadium-financing plan from Kansas lawmakers, and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce's CEO has called this a “once in a lifetime opportunity" to attract the Chiefs.

The Chiefs not only have won three Super Bowl titles in five years, but they have an especially strong fanbase that has expanded because of tight end Travis Kelce’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-parade-super-bowl-taylor-swift-df383f3a00cc813dd0d852058a41e5b2">romance</a>&nbsp;with pop star Taylor Swift.

The National Football League is attractive to host cities because franchises are valued in the billions and wealthy owners and celebrity players command a media spotlight, said Judith Grant Long, an associate professor of sports management and urban planning at the University of Michigan and a director of its center on sports venues.

“All of these come together in a potent brew for politicians, civic officials and local business interests hoping to capitalize on its influence,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707336003255.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A 170-year-old rivalry is flaring up as Kansas lawmakers try to snatch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d">the Super Bowl champion</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs away from Missouri even though economists long ago concluded subsidizing pro sports isn't worth the cost.The Kansas Legislature's top leaders endorsed helping the Chiefs and professional baseball's Kansas City Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-new-stadium-proposal-49fbfcc162dfbcf3790aa14c2763fd97">finance new stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas ahead of a special session set to convene Tuesday. The plan would authorize state bonds for stadium construction and pay them off with revenues from sports betting, the Kansas Lottery and new tax dollars generated in and around the new venues.The states' border runs through the metropolitan area of about 2.3 million people, and the teams would move only about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west.Decades of research have concluded a pro sports franchise doesn't boost a local economy much, if any, because it mostly captures existing spending from other places in the same community. But for Kansas officials, spending would at least leave Missouri and come to Kansas, and one-upping Missouri has its own allure.“I’ve wanted to see the Chiefs in Kansas my whole life, but I hope we can do it in a way that is enriching for these communities, rather than creating additional burdens for them," said Kansas state Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from central Kansas.The rivalry between Kansas and Missouri can be traced as far back as the lead-up to the Civil War, before Kansas was even a state. People from Missouri came from the east,&nbsp;<a href="https://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/border-ruffians">hoping in vain to create another slave state</a>&nbsp;like their own. Both sides looted, burned and killed across the border.There also was a century-long sports rivalry between the University of Kansas and University of Missouri. And for years the two states burned through hundreds of millions of dollars to lure businesses to one side of the border or the other in the Kansas City area in the pursuit of jobs. They called an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-missouri-truce-over-jobs-conflict-appears-shaky-3edf5ce7015a44519ccd8b96c87511d0">uneasy truce</a>&nbsp;in 2019.Missouri officials are pledging to be equally aggressive to keep the Royals and Chiefs, and not only because they view them as economic assets.“They’re sources of great pride,” said Missouri state Rep. John Patterson, a suburban Kansas City Republican expected to be the next state House speaker.Kansas legislators see the Chiefs and Royals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-stadium-dcb96d3d20aab5aaf589c9164a5e7d38">in play</a>&nbsp;because voters on the Missouri side&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212">refused in April</a>&nbsp;to extend a local sales tax for the upkeep of their side-by-side stadiums. They also argue that failing to take action risks having one or both teams leave the Kansas City area, though economists are skeptical that the threat is real.While the lease for the two teams' stadium complex runs through January 2031, Kansas officials argue the teams must make decisions soon for new or renovated stadiums to be ready by then. They also are promising the Chiefs a stadium with a dome or retractable roof that can host Super Bowls, college basketball Final Fours and huge, indoor concerts.“You’ve got this asset and all the businesses that move there as a result, or are created there,” said Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from the edge of his state’s Kansas City suburbs and a leader of the relocation effort. “You’ll get commerce out of that area every day.”Roughly 60% of the area’s population lives in Missouri, but the Kansas side is growing more quickly.Despite the legislative push in Kansas, Missouri lawmakers aren't rushing to propose alternatives. Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told reporters Thursday that his state is “not just going to roll over" but also said, “We're just in the first quarter” of the contest.Both states hold primary elections on Aug. 3, with most legislative seats on the ballot this year. The April vote in Missouri on the local stadium tax suggested subsidizing pro sports teams could be a political loser in that state, particularly with the conservative-leaning electorate in GOP primaries.“In Missouri, the Republican Party used to be led by a business wing that might be in favor of this sort of thing, but in the Trump era, that’s not the case,” said David Kimball, a University of Missouri-St. Louis political science professor. “The more conservative, the more Trump-oriented wing, they’re not big supporters of spending taxpayer money on much of anything.”Kansas Republicans face pressure on the right to avoid having the state pick economic winners and losers. For Probst, the Democrat, the concern is using government "to make rich people richer,” meaning team owners.Economists have studied pro sports teams and subsidies for stadiums since at least the 1980s. J.C. Bradbury, an economics and finance professor from Kennesaw State University in Georgia, said studies show subsidizing stadiums is "a terrible channel for economic growth.”While supporters of the Kansas effort have cited a report indicating large, positive economic implications, Bradbury said “phony” reports are a staple of stadium campaigns.“Stadiums are poor public investment, and I would say it’s a near unanimous consensus,” said Bradbury, who has reviewed studies and done them himself.Yet more than 30 lobbyists have registered to push for a stadium-financing plan from Kansas lawmakers, and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce's CEO has called this a “once in a lifetime opportunity" to attract the Chiefs.The Chiefs not only have won three Super Bowl titles in five years, but they have an especially strong fanbase that has expanded because of tight end Travis Kelce’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-parade-super-bowl-taylor-swift-df383f3a00cc813dd0d852058a41e5b2">romance</a>&nbsp;with pop star Taylor Swift.The National Football League is attractive to host cities because franchises are valued in the billions and wealthy owners and celebrity players command a media spotlight, said Judith Grant Long, an associate professor of sports management and urban planning at the University of Michigan and a director of its center on sports venues.“All of these come together in a potent brew for politicians, civic officials and local business interests hoping to capitalize on its influence,” she said.

Kan. lawmakers poised to lure Chiefs from Missouri, despite economists' concerns

FINNEY COUNTY —One person was injured after a home explosion in Garden City.

Just after 7p.m. on Saturday, the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to the report of an explosion at 802 West Fair Street, Garden City, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, fire personnel found one home that had significant damage due to an explosion with a large debris field surrounding the site. One victim was treated and transported by Finney County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to St. Catherine Hospital.

 Black Hills Energy was dispatched to the scene to shut off the gas supply in the affected area, and the City of Garden City Electric department was dispatched due to a downed power line. 

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office was notified of the explosion and has been requested to assist with the investigation. No damage estimates are known at this time.

While the investigation is being completed, Fair Street is closed between 9th Street and 11th Street, and 10th Street will be closed between Fair and Hamline Streets.

Check the Post for more information as it is released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718557050781.png" alt="The cause of the explosion is under investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The cause of the explosion is under investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —One person was injured after a home explosion in Garden City.Just after 7p.m. on Saturday, the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to the report of an explosion at 802 West Fair Street, Garden City, according to a media release.Upon arrival, fire personnel found one home that had significant damage due to an explosion with a large debris field surrounding the site. One victim was treated and transported by Finney County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to St. Catherine Hospital. Black Hills Energy was dispatched to the scene to shut off the gas supply in the affected area, and the City of Garden City Electric department was dispatched due to a downed power line. The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office was notified of the explosion and has been requested to assist with the investigation. No damage estimates are known at this time.While the investigation is being completed, Fair Street is closed between 9th Street and 11th Street, and 10th Street will be closed between Fair and Hamline Streets.Check the Post for more information as it is released.

One person hospitalized after home explosion in SW Kansas 

JOHNSON COUNTY —A pilot and co-pilot avoided injury after an airplane mishap just before 1p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a PA-18 Replica piloted by Mark E&nbsp; Skoric, 71, Uniontown, Pennsylania, was at New Century Airport, located 175th Street and Interstate 35 in Olathe.

&nbsp;The wind caught the tail end of the plane wrong and turned it causing the aircraft to turn over onto its right side.

Skoric and the co-pilot Adam Alfrey Luce, 39, Rockwood, Pennsylvania, were not injured. The accident is under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718504373189.png" alt="google map" />
 <figcaption>google map</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A pilot and co-pilot avoided injury after an airplane mishap just before 1p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a PA-18 Replica piloted by Mark E&nbsp; Skoric, 71, Uniontown, Pennsylania, was at New Century Airport, located 175th Street and Interstate 35 in Olathe.&nbsp;The wind caught the tail end of the plane wrong and turned it causing the aircraft to turn over onto its right side.Skoric and the co-pilot Adam Alfrey Luce, 39, Rockwood, Pennsylvania, were not injured. The accident is under investigation.

Gusty winds pushed plane over at Kansas airport

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military unleashed a wave of attacks targeting radar sites operated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;after one merchant sailor went missing and the vessel he was on caught fire in the latest Houthi strike on shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, authorities said Saturday.

The attacks come as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-yemen-houthis-israel-war-7a9997f9d84ac669fae69ecf819913fb">U.S. Navy faces the most intense combat it has seen since World War II</a>&nbsp;in trying to counter the Houthi campaign — attacks the rebels say are meant to halt the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip. However, the Iranian-backed rebel assaults often see the Houthis target ships and sailors who have nothing to do with the war while traffic remains halved through a corridor vital for cargo and energy shipments between Asia, Europe and the Mideast.

U.S. strikes destroyed seven radars within Houthi-controlled territory, the military's Central Command said. It did not elaborate on how the sites were destroyed and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.

“These radars allow the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping,” Central Command said in a statement.

The U.S. separately destroyed two bomb-laden drone boats in the Red Sea, as well as a drone launched by the Houthis over the waterway, it said.

The Houthis, who have held Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014, did not acknowledge the strikes, nor any military losses. That's been typical since the U.S. began launching airstrikes targeting the rebels.

The Central Command said one commercial sailor from the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier Tutor remained missing after an attack Wednesday by the Houthis that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-attacks-red-sea-israel-hamas-12e8bf184bfa08669bbe17b8e1f99b0f">used a bomb-carrying drone boat to strike the vessel</a>.

“The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by USS Philippine Sea and partner forces,” Central Command said. The “Tutor remains in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water.”

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said Saturday afternoon that the Tutor was “still on fire and sinking.”

The missing sailor is Filipino, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency, which cited Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac. He said most of the Tutor's 22 mariners were from the Philippines.

"We’re trying to account for the particular seafarer in the ship and are praying that we could find him,” he said Friday night.

Also on Saturday, Central Command said the vessel M/V Anna Meta rescued crew members from the cargo carrier M/V Verbena, which was struck Thursday in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen in two separate missile attacks by the Houthis.

The crew abandoned ship after being unable to bring fires on the vessel under control. One mariner was severely wounded.

CENTCOM said the Verbena is a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier that had docked in Malaysia and was on its way to Italy carrying wood.

The Houthis have launched more than 50&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-attacks-shipping-inflation-124d5445bec8ce6864112e3095646308">attacks on shipping</a>, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-war-us-british-airstrikes-israel-hamas-12f99b7afc389a703f8dd333f2376b20">a series of strikes May 30</a>&nbsp;killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.

The war in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians there, according to Gaza health officials, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.

“The Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza,” Central Command said. “The ongoing threat to international commerce caused by the Houthis in fact makes it harder to deliver badly needed assistance to the people of Yemen as well as Gaza.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708804229711.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military unleashed a wave of attacks targeting radar sites operated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;after one merchant sailor went missing and the vessel he was on caught fire in the latest Houthi strike on shipping in the crucial Red Sea corridor, authorities said Saturday.The attacks come as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-yemen-houthis-israel-war-7a9997f9d84ac669fae69ecf819913fb">U.S. Navy faces the most intense combat it has seen since World War II</a>&nbsp;in trying to counter the Houthi campaign — attacks the rebels say are meant to halt the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip. However, the Iranian-backed rebel assaults often see the Houthis target ships and sailors who have nothing to do with the war while traffic remains halved through a corridor vital for cargo and energy shipments between Asia, Europe and the Mideast.U.S. strikes destroyed seven radars within Houthi-controlled territory, the military's Central Command said. It did not elaborate on how the sites were destroyed and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.“These radars allow the Houthis to target maritime vessels and endanger commercial shipping,” Central Command said in a statement.The U.S. separately destroyed two bomb-laden drone boats in the Red Sea, as well as a drone launched by the Houthis over the waterway, it said.The Houthis, who have held Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014, did not acknowledge the strikes, nor any military losses. That's been typical since the U.S. began launching airstrikes targeting the rebels.The Central Command said one commercial sailor from the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk cargo carrier Tutor remained missing after an attack Wednesday by the Houthis that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-attacks-red-sea-israel-hamas-12e8bf184bfa08669bbe17b8e1f99b0f">used a bomb-carrying drone boat to strike the vessel</a>.“The crew abandoned ship and were rescued by USS Philippine Sea and partner forces,” Central Command said. The “Tutor remains in the Red Sea and is slowly taking on water.”The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said Saturday afternoon that the Tutor was “still on fire and sinking.”The missing sailor is Filipino, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency, which cited Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac. He said most of the Tutor's 22 mariners were from the Philippines."We’re trying to account for the particular seafarer in the ship and are praying that we could find him,” he said Friday night.Also on Saturday, Central Command said the vessel M/V Anna Meta rescued crew members from the cargo carrier M/V Verbena, which was struck Thursday in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen in two separate missile attacks by the Houthis.The crew abandoned ship after being unable to bring fires on the vessel under control. One mariner was severely wounded.CENTCOM said the Verbena is a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier that had docked in Malaysia and was on its way to Italy carrying wood.The Houthis have launched more than 50&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-attacks-shipping-inflation-124d5445bec8ce6864112e3095646308">attacks on shipping</a>, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-war-us-british-airstrikes-israel-hamas-12f99b7afc389a703f8dd333f2376b20">a series of strikes May 30</a>&nbsp;killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.The war in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 37,000 Palestinians there, according to Gaza health officials, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.“The Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza,” Central Command said. “The ongoing threat to international commerce caused by the Houthis in fact makes it harder to deliver badly needed assistance to the people of Yemen as well as Gaza.”

US military targets rebel radar sites after merchant crew abandons ship

DOUGLAS COUNTY — A Kansas jury last week convicted George Joseph Burgess Jr., 45, of two counts of rape and six counts of indecent liberties with a child, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

Charges stemmed from incidents that occurred between January 1, 2017 and February 7, 2019 when the child was between 6 and 8 years old.&nbsp;

“The young survivor showed exceptional grace and courage while testifying against her perpetrator particularly during intense questioning by the defense,” District Attorney Valdez said. “We are committed to seeking justice for victims of sexual violence and ensuring the safety of all children in our community.”

District Attorney Valdez and Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the Eudora Police Department, the Children's Advocacy Center of Douglas County, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families. The defendant was represented by local attorneys Dakota Loomis and Branden Smith.

&nbsp;Burgess is scheduled for sentencing on August 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718462614249.png" alt="Burgess-photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Burgess-photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY — A Kansas jury last week convicted George Joseph Burgess Jr., 45, of two counts of rape and six counts of indecent liberties with a child, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.Charges stemmed from incidents that occurred between January 1, 2017 and February 7, 2019 when the child was between 6 and 8 years old.&nbsp;“The young survivor showed exceptional grace and courage while testifying against her perpetrator particularly during intense questioning by the defense,” District Attorney Valdez said. “We are committed to seeking justice for victims of sexual violence and ensuring the safety of all children in our community.”District Attorney Valdez and Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the Eudora Police Department, the Children's Advocacy Center of Douglas County, and the Kansas Department for Children and Families. The defendant was represented by local attorneys Dakota Loomis and Branden Smith.&nbsp;Burgess is scheduled for sentencing on August 1.

Kan. jury: Man guilty of multiple sex crimes involving young child

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A judge has overturned the conviction of a Missouri woman who was a psychiatric patient when she incriminated herself in a 1980 killing that her attorneys argue was actually committed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-1980-killing-sandra-hemme-hearing-fa2b2d24072d179563f5e5dca774b57a">a now-discredited police officer</a>.

Judge Ryan Horsman ruled late Friday that Sandra Hemme, who has spent 43 years behind bars, had established evidence of actual innocence and must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors retry her. He said her trial counsel was ineffective and prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that would have helped her.

Her attorneys say this is the longest time a women has been been incarcerated for a wrongful conviction. They filed a motion seeking her immediate release.

A spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't immediately respond to a text or email message seeking comment.

Hemme was shackled in leather wrist restraints and so heavily sedated that she “could not hold her head up straight” or “articulate anything beyond monosyllabic responses" when she was first questioned about the death of 31-year-old library worker Patricia Jeschke, according to her lawyers with the New York-based Innocence Project.

They alleged in a petition seeking her exoneration that authorities ignored Hemme's “wildly contradictory” statements and suppressed evidence implicating Michael Holman, a then-police officer who tried to use the slain woman's credit card.

The judge wrote that “no evidence whatsoever outside of Ms. Hemme’s unreliable statements connects her to the crime.”

“In contrast,” he added, “this Court finds that the evidence directly ties Holman to this crime and murder scene.”

It started on Nov. 13, 1980, when Jeschke missed work. Her worried mother climbed through a window at her apartment and discovered her daughter's nude body on the floor, surrounded by blood. Her hands were tied behind her back with a telephone cord and a pair of pantyhose was wrapped around her throat. A knife was under her head.

The brutal killing grabbed headlines, with detectives working 12-hour days to solve it. But Hemme wasn't on their radar until she showed up nearly two weeks later at the home of a nurse who once treated her, carrying a knife and refusing to leave.

Police found her in a closet, and took her back to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the latest in a string of hospitalizations that began when she started hearing voices at the age of 12.

She had been discharged from that very hospital the day before Jeschke's body was found, showing up at her parents house later that night after hitchhiking more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) across the state.

The timing seemed suspicious to law enforcement. As the interrogations began, Hemme was being treated with antipsychotic drugs that had triggered involuntary muscle spasms. She complained that her eyes were rolling back in her head, the petition said.

Detectives noted that Hemme seemed “mentally confused” and not fully able to comprehend their questions.

“Each time the police extracted a statement from Ms. Hemme it changed dramatically from the last, often incorporating explanations of facts the police had just recently uncovered,” her attorneys wrote.

Eventually, she claimed to have watched a man named Joseph Wabski kill Jeschke.

Wabski, whom she met when they stayed in the state hospital’s detoxification unit at the same time, was charged with capital murder. But prosecutors quickly dropped the case upon learning he was at an alcohol treatment center in Topeka, Kansas, at the time.

Upon learning he couldn't be the killer, Hemme cried and she said was the lone killer.

But police also were starting to look at another suspect — one of their own. About a month after the killing, Holman was arrested for falsely reporting that his pickup truck had been stolen and collecting an insurance payout. It was the same truck spotted near the crime scene, and the officer's alibi that he spent the night with a woman at a nearby motel couldn't be confirmed.

Furthermore, he had tried to use Jeschke’s credit card at a camera store in Kansas City, Missouri, on the same day her body was found. Holman, who ultimately was fired and died in 2015, said he found the card in a purse that had been discarded in a ditch.

During a search of Holman's home, police found a pair of gold horseshoe-shaped earrings in a closet, along with jewelry stolen from another woman during a burglary earlier that year.

Jeschke's father said he recognized the earrings as a pair he bought for his daughter. But then the four-day investigation into Holman ended abruptly, many of the details uncovered never given to Hemme's attorneys.

Hemme, meanwhile, was growing desperate. She wrote to her parents on Christmas Day 1980, saying, “Even though I'm innocent, they want to put someone away, so they can say the case is solved.” She said she might as well change her plea to guilty.

“Just let it end,” she said. “I'm tired.”

And that is what she did the following spring, when she agreed to plead guilty to capital murder in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table.

Even that was a challenge; the judge initially rejected her guilty plea because she couldn't share enough details about what happened, saying: “I really didn’t know I had done it until like three days later, you know, when it came out in the paper and on the news.”

Her attorney told her that her chance to not be sentenced to death was to get the judge to accept her guilty plea. After a recess and some coaching, she provided more information.

That plea later was thrown out on appeal. But she was convicted again in 1985 after a one-day trial in which jurors weren't told of what her current attorneys describe as “grotesquely coercive” interrogations.

Larry Harman, who helped Hemme get her initial guilty plea thrown out and later became a judge, said in the petition that he believed she was innocent.

“The system,” he said, “failed her at every opportunity.”

Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687623288901.png" alt="Sandra Hemme-photo courtesy The Innocence Project" />
 <figcaption>Sandra Hemme-photo courtesy The Innocence Project</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —A judge has overturned the conviction of a Missouri woman who was a psychiatric patient when she incriminated herself in a 1980 killing that her attorneys argue was actually committed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-1980-killing-sandra-hemme-hearing-fa2b2d24072d179563f5e5dca774b57a">a now-discredited police officer</a>.Judge Ryan Horsman ruled late Friday that Sandra Hemme, who has spent 43 years behind bars, had established evidence of actual innocence and must be freed within 30 days unless prosecutors retry her. He said her trial counsel was ineffective and prosecutors failed to disclose evidence that would have helped her.Her attorneys say this is the longest time a women has been been incarcerated for a wrongful conviction. They filed a motion seeking her immediate release.A spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey didn't immediately respond to a text or email message seeking comment.Hemme was shackled in leather wrist restraints and so heavily sedated that she “could not hold her head up straight” or “articulate anything beyond monosyllabic responses" when she was first questioned about the death of 31-year-old library worker Patricia Jeschke, according to her lawyers with the New York-based Innocence Project.They alleged in a petition seeking her exoneration that authorities ignored Hemme's “wildly contradictory” statements and suppressed evidence implicating Michael Holman, a then-police officer who tried to use the slain woman's credit card.The judge wrote that “no evidence whatsoever outside of Ms. Hemme’s unreliable statements connects her to the crime.”“In contrast,” he added, “this Court finds that the evidence directly ties Holman to this crime and murder scene.”It started on Nov. 13, 1980, when Jeschke missed work. Her worried mother climbed through a window at her apartment and discovered her daughter's nude body on the floor, surrounded by blood. Her hands were tied behind her back with a telephone cord and a pair of pantyhose was wrapped around her throat. A knife was under her head.The brutal killing grabbed headlines, with detectives working 12-hour days to solve it. But Hemme wasn't on their radar until she showed up nearly two weeks later at the home of a nurse who once treated her, carrying a knife and refusing to leave.Police found her in a closet, and took her back to St. Joseph’s Hospital, the latest in a string of hospitalizations that began when she started hearing voices at the age of 12.She had been discharged from that very hospital the day before Jeschke's body was found, showing up at her parents house later that night after hitchhiking more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) across the state.The timing seemed suspicious to law enforcement. As the interrogations began, Hemme was being treated with antipsychotic drugs that had triggered involuntary muscle spasms. She complained that her eyes were rolling back in her head, the petition said.Detectives noted that Hemme seemed “mentally confused” and not fully able to comprehend their questions.“Each time the police extracted a statement from Ms. Hemme it changed dramatically from the last, often incorporating explanations of facts the police had just recently uncovered,” her attorneys wrote.Eventually, she claimed to have watched a man named Joseph Wabski kill Jeschke.Wabski, whom she met when they stayed in the state hospital’s detoxification unit at the same time, was charged with capital murder. But prosecutors quickly dropped the case upon learning he was at an alcohol treatment center in Topeka, Kansas, at the time.Upon learning he couldn't be the killer, Hemme cried and she said was the lone killer.But police also were starting to look at another suspect — one of their own. About a month after the killing, Holman was arrested for falsely reporting that his pickup truck had been stolen and collecting an insurance payout. It was the same truck spotted near the crime scene, and the officer's alibi that he spent the night with a woman at a nearby motel couldn't be confirmed.Furthermore, he had tried to use Jeschke’s credit card at a camera store in Kansas City, Missouri, on the same day her body was found. Holman, who ultimately was fired and died in 2015, said he found the card in a purse that had been discarded in a ditch.During a search of Holman's home, police found a pair of gold horseshoe-shaped earrings in a closet, along with jewelry stolen from another woman during a burglary earlier that year.Jeschke's father said he recognized the earrings as a pair he bought for his daughter. But then the four-day investigation into Holman ended abruptly, many of the details uncovered never given to Hemme's attorneys.Hemme, meanwhile, was growing desperate. She wrote to her parents on Christmas Day 1980, saying, “Even though I'm innocent, they want to put someone away, so they can say the case is solved.” She said she might as well change her plea to guilty.“Just let it end,” she said. “I'm tired.”And that is what she did the following spring, when she agreed to plead guilty to capital murder in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table.Even that was a challenge; the judge initially rejected her guilty plea because she couldn't share enough details about what happened, saying: “I really didn’t know I had done it until like three days later, you know, when it came out in the paper and on the news.”Her attorney told her that her chance to not be sentenced to death was to get the judge to accept her guilty plea. After a recess and some coaching, she provided more information.That plea later was thrown out on appeal. But she was convicted again in 1985 after a one-day trial in which jurors weren't told of what her current attorneys describe as “grotesquely coercive” interrogations.Larry Harman, who helped Hemme get her initial guilty plea thrown out and later became a judge, said in the petition that he believed she was innocent.“The system,” he said, “failed her at every opportunity.”___Associated Press researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed.

Woman's murder conviction tossed after 43 years; her lawyers say police did it

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Galena, Kansas, man who shot at police officers during a high-speed pursuit from Joplin, Mo., into Kansas was sentenced in federal court this wek for illegally possessing a firearm.

Adam Everett Kastler, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On Feb. 6, 2024, Kastler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kastler admitted he was in possession of a Smith &amp; Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun on Feb. 23, 2023.

Joplin, Mo., police officers spotted Kastler, who had outstanding arrest warrants, inside a Chevrolet Tahoe that was pulled over in a traffic stop on 7th&nbsp;Street. Kastler, who was in the passenger’s seat, pointed a firearm at the driver and said he would shoot him if he did not flee from the police. Instead, the driver got out of the vehicle and laid on the ground.

After the driver got out of the vehicle, Kastler moved from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat and fled from the scene with the officers in pursuit. Kastler drove through town at high rates of speed, ignoring multiple stop signs. The pursuit continued into Kansas, where deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the pursuit.

Officers saw Kastler shooting at them from the vehicle before he lost control and crashed. Kastler was arrested. Officers found the loaded firearm on the center console and two spent shell casings laying on the driver’s side floorboard. Officers also found a methamphetamine glass smoking pipe with residue, three cell phones, and four open containers of alcohol.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Kastler has prior felony convictions for distributing methamphetamine and aggravated domestic battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718383894436.png" alt="Kastler has previous convictions for aggravated domestic battery, violation of the offender registration act and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Cherokee Co.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kastler has previous convictions for aggravated domestic battery, violation of the offender registration act and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections-photo Cherokee Co.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Galena, Kansas, man who shot at police officers during a high-speed pursuit from Joplin, Mo., into Kansas was sentenced in federal court this wek for illegally possessing a firearm.Adam Everett Kastler, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 13 years and six months in federal prison without parole.On Feb. 6, 2024, Kastler pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Kastler admitted he was in possession of a Smith &amp; Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun on Feb. 23, 2023.Joplin, Mo., police officers spotted Kastler, who had outstanding arrest warrants, inside a Chevrolet Tahoe that was pulled over in a traffic stop on 7th&nbsp;Street. Kastler, who was in the passenger’s seat, pointed a firearm at the driver and said he would shoot him if he did not flee from the police. Instead, the driver got out of the vehicle and laid on the ground.After the driver got out of the vehicle, Kastler moved from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat and fled from the scene with the officers in pursuit. Kastler drove through town at high rates of speed, ignoring multiple stop signs. The pursuit continued into Kansas, where deputies with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the pursuit.Officers saw Kastler shooting at them from the vehicle before he lost control and crashed. Kastler was arrested. Officers found the loaded firearm on the center console and two spent shell casings laying on the driver’s side floorboard. Officers also found a methamphetamine glass smoking pipe with residue, three cell phones, and four open containers of alcohol.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Kastler has prior felony convictions for distributing methamphetamine and aggravated domestic battery.

Kansas man shot at officers during high speed pursuit

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Saturday afternoon thunderstorm rolled through Hutchinson and had torrential rain and golf ball size hail.

The Hutchinson Airport reported a 77 mile per hour wind gust with the storm.&nbsp;

At one point, over 5,000 customers in Hutchinson were without power, according to the Evergy outage map.

There was also a report of some significant tree damage near South Hutchinson, along with a report of golf-ball size hail four miles south of South Hutchinson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718486522120.jpeg" alt="Screenshot of the Evergy outage map shortly after the storm rolled through Hutchinson on Saturday afternoon, June 15, 2024." />
 <figcaption>Screenshot of the Evergy outage map shortly after the storm rolled through Hutchinson on Saturday afternoon, June 15, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Saturday afternoon thunderstorm rolled through Hutchinson and had torrential rain and golf ball size hail.The Hutchinson Airport reported a 77 mile per hour wind gust with the storm.&nbsp;At one point, over 5,000 customers in Hutchinson were without power, according to the Evergy outage map.There was also a report of some significant tree damage near South Hutchinson, along with a report of golf-ball size hail four miles south of South Hutchinson.

77 mph wind gusts, power outages from storm in Hutchinson

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — As the dust settles on the state’s bumpy large-scale review of Medicaid eligibility, numbers show approximately 47% of Kansans kicked off of state health insurance coverage are 18 or younger.

Heather Braum, senior policy adviser with Kansas Action for Children, said health insurance gaps could lead to long-term damaging effects.

“Even short gaps in coverage cause children to miss vital prescriptions or not be able to see a doctor when they are sick,” Braum said. “These data indicate that thousands of Kansas children are likely going without the protection that health coverage provides, which will lead to poorer health in the short and long term while their families are exposed to high medical costs and medical debt. Health insurance coverage and access during childhood can change the trajectory of a child’s life, for better or worse.”

Of the 75,532 Kansans who lost health care coverage, 24,673 were between the ages of 0-12. Another 10,632 were between the ages of 13-18, according to the latest data.

“Why are these numbers so high?” Braum said. “Because children depend on their parents to turn in their renewal paperwork, and many factors can prevent that paperwork from being returned at all or in a timely fashion, some completely out of a family’s control. The mail system could hiccup on either end, incomplete paperwork could be returned and families never learn more information is needed.”

Braum pointed to early disorganization in the process.&nbsp;The state started the Medicaid review prograss, called unwinding, in&nbsp;April 2023 to determine who was eligible for state health coverage after pandemic-era federal protections ended.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal “continuous coverage” provisions meant Medicaid administrators couldn’t end health care eligibility unless the person in question moved away, died or asked to end coverage. With this stipulation, participation in KanCare increased from 410,000 to 540,000 people during the pandemic.

The early&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/29/state-official-on-kansas-medicaid-unwinding-we-probably-couldve-done-a-better-job/">months of Kansas’ unwinding process</a>, overseen by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,&nbsp;were marked by confusion over signatures, slow mail delivery, and a lack of clear communication from the state about what was needed for the renewal process.

The KDHE help line had more than 37,000 calls in May and June of 2023 as Kansans sought information. Some Medicaid renewal notices sent through the U.S. Postal Service took up to 10 days to reach eligible Kansas, and about an estimated 10 days for the return&nbsp;— causing some to miss the renewal deadline.

As unwinding continued, KDHE added more staff and resources to smooth over the process, but at the end of unwinding, completed May 31, thousands of Kansans still need to reapply for coverage, currently living without health insurance until reinstatement.

Extensive data on county-by-county loss of coverage can be found through the Kansas Health Institute, which provides state data through an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khi.org/articles/kancare-unwinding-by-age-group-and-county-as-of-april-30-2024/">interactive map</a>.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kancare.ks.gov/about-kancare/unwinding/unwinding-data">most recent data</a>&nbsp;shows 318,791 people in the state will keep their coverage. Another 75,420 Kansans will need to reapply because they missed the reinstatement window.

Braum urged more KDHE outreach and education, especially to families stuck in the reinstatement window.

Across the country, more than 20 million people have been removed from services since the start of Medicaid unwinding, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/report-section/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker-overview/">KFF state tracking</a>. The health research institute reported the majority of people removed from services&nbsp;—&nbsp;69% across all states with available data&nbsp;—had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons, such as failure to complete the renewal process, or failure to turn in a renewal packet within the mandated time frame.&nbsp;

“High procedural disenrollment rates are concerning because many people who are disenrolled for these paperwork reasons may still be eligible for Medicaid coverage,” the report states.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy analysis of the most recent unwinding data estimates 5.13 million children have<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/subtopic/unwinding-phe/">&nbsp;lost Medicaid coverage</a>&nbsp;so far.

Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said the organization was “deeply concerned” over the local loss of coverage.&nbsp;

“Nearly half of those who lost their Medicaid coverage were children, through no fault of their own,” Holman said. “Tens of thousands of Kansans who relied on Medicaid coverage as a lifeline now face everyday health struggles uninsured. All it takes is one accident or illness to put these families in financial jeopardy, where many might feel like they need to choose between seeing a doctor or paying for food, rent, or other necessities. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

Holman advocated for Medicaid expansion, which would expand state health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those at 138% of the federal poverty rate and below. Medicaid expansion would also unlock $700 million in annual federal funding.

Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Legislature held hearings on Medicaid expansion for the first time in four years during the 2024 legislative session, following intense lobbying by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and advocacy groups. Due to top Republican legislative leadership opposition, the bill died in committee.&nbsp;

Holman said Medicaid expansion would have helped more Kansans retain health insurance access during unwinding.&nbsp;

“If we had already expanded Medicaid, many of these Kansans would still have access to affordable health insurance,” Holman said. “More parents would be eligible for coverage, and their children would be more likely to also be enrolled in coverage. Kansas lawmakers should make expanding Medicaid their top priority.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718390947374.png" alt="Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said Medicaid expansion would have resulted in less Kansans losing access to state health insurance during the unwinding process. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said Medicaid expansion would have resulted in less Kansans losing access to state health insurance during the unwinding process. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — As the dust settles on the state’s bumpy large-scale review of Medicaid eligibility, numbers show approximately 47% of Kansans kicked off of state health insurance coverage are 18 or younger.Heather Braum, senior policy adviser with Kansas Action for Children, said health insurance gaps could lead to long-term damaging effects.“Even short gaps in coverage cause children to miss vital prescriptions or not be able to see a doctor when they are sick,” Braum said. “These data indicate that thousands of Kansas children are likely going without the protection that health coverage provides, which will lead to poorer health in the short and long term while their families are exposed to high medical costs and medical debt. Health insurance coverage and access during childhood can change the trajectory of a child’s life, for better or worse.”Of the 75,532 Kansans who lost health care coverage, 24,673 were between the ages of 0-12. Another 10,632 were between the ages of 13-18, according to the latest data.“Why are these numbers so high?” Braum said. “Because children depend on their parents to turn in their renewal paperwork, and many factors can prevent that paperwork from being returned at all or in a timely fashion, some completely out of a family’s control. The mail system could hiccup on either end, incomplete paperwork could be returned and families never learn more information is needed.”Braum pointed to early disorganization in the process.&nbsp;The state started the Medicaid review prograss, called unwinding, in&nbsp;April 2023 to determine who was eligible for state health coverage after pandemic-era federal protections ended.During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal “continuous coverage” provisions meant Medicaid administrators couldn’t end health care eligibility unless the person in question moved away, died or asked to end coverage. With this stipulation, participation in KanCare increased from 410,000 to 540,000 people during the pandemic.The early&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/29/state-official-on-kansas-medicaid-unwinding-we-probably-couldve-done-a-better-job/">months of Kansas’ unwinding process</a>, overseen by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment,&nbsp;were marked by confusion over signatures, slow mail delivery, and a lack of clear communication from the state about what was needed for the renewal process.The KDHE help line had more than 37,000 calls in May and June of 2023 as Kansans sought information. Some Medicaid renewal notices sent through the U.S. Postal Service took up to 10 days to reach eligible Kansas, and about an estimated 10 days for the return&nbsp;— causing some to miss the renewal deadline.As unwinding continued, KDHE added more staff and resources to smooth over the process, but at the end of unwinding, completed May 31, thousands of Kansans still need to reapply for coverage, currently living without health insurance until reinstatement.Extensive data on county-by-county loss of coverage can be found through the Kansas Health Institute, which provides state data through an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khi.org/articles/kancare-unwinding-by-age-group-and-county-as-of-april-30-2024/">interactive map</a>.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kancare.ks.gov/about-kancare/unwinding/unwinding-data">most recent data</a>&nbsp;shows 318,791 people in the state will keep their coverage. Another 75,420 Kansans will need to reapply because they missed the reinstatement window.Braum urged more KDHE outreach and education, especially to families stuck in the reinstatement window.Across the country, more than 20 million people have been removed from services since the start of Medicaid unwinding, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/report-section/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker-overview/">KFF state tracking</a>. The health research institute reported the majority of people removed from services&nbsp;—&nbsp;69% across all states with available data&nbsp;—had their coverage terminated for procedural reasons, such as failure to complete the renewal process, or failure to turn in a renewal packet within the mandated time frame.&nbsp;“High procedural disenrollment rates are concerning because many people who are disenrolled for these paperwork reasons may still be eligible for Medicaid coverage,” the report states.&nbsp;&nbsp;A Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy analysis of the most recent unwinding data estimates 5.13 million children have<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/subtopic/unwinding-phe/">&nbsp;lost Medicaid coverage</a>&nbsp;so far.Alliance for a Healthy Kansas Executive Director April Holman said the organization was “deeply concerned” over the local loss of coverage.&nbsp;“Nearly half of those who lost their Medicaid coverage were children, through no fault of their own,” Holman said. “Tens of thousands of Kansans who relied on Medicaid coverage as a lifeline now face everyday health struggles uninsured. All it takes is one accident or illness to put these families in financial jeopardy, where many might feel like they need to choose between seeing a doctor or paying for food, rent, or other necessities. It doesn’t have to be this way.”Holman advocated for Medicaid expansion, which would expand state health insurance coverage for lower-income families. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government covers 90% of the extra cost of Medicaid services in exchange for expanding eligibility to those at 138% of the federal poverty rate and below. Medicaid expansion would also unlock $700 million in annual federal funding.Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated Legislature held hearings on Medicaid expansion for the first time in four years during the 2024 legislative session, following intense lobbying by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and advocacy groups. Due to top Republican legislative leadership opposition, the bill died in committee.&nbsp;Holman said Medicaid expansion would have helped more Kansans retain health insurance access during unwinding.&nbsp;“If we had already expanded Medicaid, many of these Kansans would still have access to affordable health insurance,” Holman said. “More parents would be eligible for coverage, and their children would be more likely to also be enrolled in coverage. Kansas lawmakers should make expanding Medicaid their top priority.”

24K Kansas children lose health insurance in Medicaid ‘unwinding’ review

LONDON (AP) — Britain put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii/">King Charles III</a>, a military parade that marked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/princess-of-wales/">Princess of Wales</a>&nbsp;’ first appearance at a public event since her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kate-middleton-health-cancer-16a5eb5facb79fb1226def11931d41d8">cancer diagnosis</a>&nbsp;early this year.

The annual event was also a show of stability by the monarchy after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-charles-kate-cancer-timeline-e59954ef4d8a4ea84cee23b497426dbe">a testing few months</a>&nbsp;in which both the king and Kate, wife of heir to the throne&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/prince-william">Prince William</a>, have been sidelined by cancer treatment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718467999902.png" alt="Prince William, and Kate Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their children Prince George, left, Prince Louis, front centre, and Princess Charlotte wave to the crowds after the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)" />
 <figcaption>Prince William, and Kate Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their children Prince George, left, Prince Louis, front centre, and Princess Charlotte wave to the crowds after the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Britain put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii/">King Charles III</a>, a military parade that marked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/princess-of-wales/">Princess of Wales</a>&nbsp;’ first appearance at a public event since her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kate-middleton-health-cancer-16a5eb5facb79fb1226def11931d41d8">cancer diagnosis</a>&nbsp;early this year.The annual event was also a show of stability by the monarchy after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-charles-kate-cancer-timeline-e59954ef4d8a4ea84cee23b497426dbe">a testing few months</a>&nbsp;in which both the king and Kate, wife of heir to the throne&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/prince-william">Prince William</a>, have been sidelined by cancer treatment.In a symbolic display of unity, Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Kate and their children were joined by other members of the royal family on a Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the King’s Birthday Parade. The family waved to the gathered crowd as they watched a flyby of military aircraft to cap ceremonies marking the monarch’s official birthday.It was Kate's first appearance at a public event since December. She disclosed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer.“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” Kate said in a statement released Friday, adding that she faces “a few more months” of treatment.Kate said she is “not out of the woods yet” and officials stress that Saturday’s engagement doesn't herald a full return to public life.Huge crowds turn out each June to watch the birthday parade, also known as Trooping the Color, which begins with a procession involving horses, musicians and hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial uniform from Buckingham Palace.The 42-year-old princess traveled in a horse-drawn carriage from the palace down the grand avenue known as the Mall with her children George, 10, Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Louis. Bystanders cheered as they caught a glimpse of Kate, dressed in a white dress by designer Jenny Packham and wide-brimmed Philip Treacy hat.She watched the ceremony with the children from the window of a building overlooking Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial parade ground in central London. Louis yawned broadly at one point in proceedings, but mostly watched intently, even dancing along to the military music.William, in military dress uniform, rode on horseback for the ceremony, in which troops parade past the king with their regimental flag, or “color.” The display of precision marching and martial music stems from the days when a regiment’s flag was an essential rallying point in the fog of battle.Charles, who also is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, traveled in a carriage with Queen Camilla, rather than on horseback as he did last year. The king inspected the troops from a dais on the parade ground, saluting as elite regiments of Foot Guards marched past.Five regiments take it in turns to parade their color, and this year it was the turn of a company of the Irish Guards, which has Kate as its honorary colonel. The troops in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats were led onto the parade ground by their mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Seamus.Charles, 75, disclosed his cancer in February, and has recently eased back into public duties. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-iii-d-day-80th-anniversary-0689b939d9cec69a025dbb3606f5bcaf">attended commemorations last week</a>&nbsp;for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dday-wwii-france-normandy-media-fd4cb6c41e48b2624c3bb85b024bb332">Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe</a>&nbsp;on June 6, 1944.In one of the many quirks of British royal convention, Saturday is not the king’s real birthday — that’s in November. Like his mother Queen Elizabeth II before him, Charles has an official birthday on the second Saturday in June. The date was chosen because the weather is generally good, though early sunshine on Saturday gave way to a blustery, rainy day in London.The rain held off for most of the ceremony but began pelting down as the massed troops escorted the royal carriages back to Buckingham Palace past soggy but enthusiastic crowds.Blue sky briefly returned as the family emerged onto the balcony to watch a flyby that included the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, trailing red, white and blue plumes of vapor.Thousands of royal fans in raincoats and umbrellas cheered, as a smattering of anti-monarchist protesters chanted “Not my king.”Spectator Joseph Afrane, 60, said that he was happy to see Kate return — and to get a “big wave” as she passed by.“It was fantastic when I heard it on the news yesterday," he said. “I thought, ‘God, I thank you for bringing Kate back,’ because she’s very hardworking.”Spectators who braved the volatile weather were treated to a display of pomp and precision involving 1,400 soldiers, 250 military musicians and more than 200 horses. The equine participants included Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish, three of the five military horses who sparked mayhem in April when they bolted and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/injured-horses-running-loose-through-london-recovering-76ba93d53e8365e129da01c8297acb0d">ran loose through central London</a>, crashing into vehicles and causing chaos during the morning rush hour.The army says the other two horses are recovering well and are also expected to return to duty.