FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged child sex crimes in southwest Kansas.

On August, 21, police arrested 30-year-old Hector Ontiveros in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred involving a 15-year-old female victim known to him, according to Garden City&nbsp; Police.

Ontiveros is in jail on requested charges that include 9 counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child, 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy,&nbsp; 3 counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child and 2 counts of Battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692756161349.png" alt="Ontiveros-photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Ontiveros-photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged child sex crimes in southwest Kansas.On August, 21, police arrested 30-year-old Hector Ontiveros in connection to sex crimes reported to have occurred involving a 15-year-old female victim known to him, according to Garden City&nbsp; Police.Ontiveros is in jail on requested charges that include 9 counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child, 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy,&nbsp; 3 counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child and 2 counts of Battery.

SW Kansas man accused of sex crimes with 15-year-old

NEW YORK (AP) — Eight presidential candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary so far. Former President Donald Trump won’t participate Wednesday night

&nbsp;More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the federal right to abortion</a>, the issue has at times dominated the discussion among the Republicans seeking their party's 2024 presidential nomination and is sure to be on display during the debate Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Some of the division among the candidates has come over whether there should be a national ban on the practice — and after how many weeks — now that the justices have returned specific debate over abortion legality to the states.

A look at how the issue of abortion is playing out among Republican and Democratic candidates:

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">DONALD TRUMP</a>

The former president, the current GOP front-runner, has often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-2024-president-desantis-pence-scott-e9f3a4287aa556a36f967cf45525493d">sidestepped the issue of abortion</a>, even as Republicans across the country have celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.

In April, a major anti-abortion group assailed Trump on the issue, saying his contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, is a “morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.”

The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-south-carolina-state-government-us-republican-party-2022-midterm-elections-e12dcf419bc5272063a847436f9a237c">would not support any White House candidate</a>&nbsp;who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban.

Trump, who has referred to himself as “the most pro-life president in American history, has pointed to his successful nomination of three conservatives justices, a move that tilted the court to the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Earlier this year, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-donald-trump-abortion-florida-d536c67609030a445cab60329b919e75">characterized as “too harsh”</a>&nbsp;a measure signed into law by fellow contender Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban abortions in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">RON DESANTIS</a>

While DeSantis has been governor, Florida passed an abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. But DeSantis, who says he is “pro-life,” has suggested that individual states should decide the issue, adding in a recent interview that he is “running on doing things that I know I can accomplish.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized DeSantis for not supporting a national ban on the procedure,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-abortion-desantis-2024-154bed7a8b78872e341413339b452db0">calling DeSantis' position “unacceptable”</a>&nbsp;as he runs for president.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-iowa-launch-2024-republican-presidential-campaign-faa2082d8d3269dc73a28c893188c2ff">MIKE PENCE</a>

The former vice president supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant.

And he has advocated pulling from the market one of two widely used abortion pills — a medication with a better safety record than Viagra and penicillin. Sensing that such a position may be viewed as too extreme in a general election, no other major presidential candidate has joined his calls.

In a recent Associated Press interview, Pence went even further, saying abortion should be banned, even when a pregnancy is deemed nonviable. Such a standard would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-law-lawsuit-6346a3b98dd3ece069177f88172ce7b8">force women to carry pregnancies to term</a>&nbsp;even when doctors have determined there is no chance a baby will survive outside the womb.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-desantis-abortion-supreme-court-3b1937a4faf327b96ded2afed064a988">Earlier this month</a>&nbsp;while touring the Iowa State Fair, Pence said he was expecting to use the debate as an opportunity to call out Trump and DeSantis for not insisting on a national abortion ban.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-scott-2024-presidential-race-4a73e00db2295afbc4b07d1c6bb64811">TIM SCOTT</a>

The South Carolina senator has long voiced his opposition to abortion, pledging that as president “I would sign the most conservative pro-life legislation you can bring to my desk.”

He has signaled support for a federal ban on the practice for as early as 12 weeks and also support for a bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would ban abortions nationally after 15 weeks.

In 2021, Scott also co-sponsored legislation that would have established a constitutional right to life from “the moment of fertilization.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-2024-presidential-campaign-formal-launch-bb059ae113e39152f5007864b4d139ae">NIKKI HALEY</a>

Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.

But Haley has not specified a time frame for after how many weeks she feels abortion should be outlawed, noting that passing such a measure would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress, and advocating for “consensus” around the issue. She’s said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban.

The former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said “no one has been honest” about how difficult a ban could be to achieve, in a closely divided federal government.

Haley campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said in June that she would "sign pro-life legislation that includes exceptions for rape, incest, and for the life of the mother,” suggesting she may be opposed to an exception for non-viable pregnancies — but declining to clarify.

As governor, Haley signed an abortion ban after about 20 weeks. That law is still in effect while a six-week ban, passed by state lawmakers, is held up in the courts.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-and-politics-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-ohio-e1c1cbe47763bd979b6b47557aee043d">VIVEK RAMASWAMY</a>

The wealthy biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.” has said he would not support a federal ban on abortion because ”the federal government should stay out of it.” He has voiced support for states that have passed six-week bans.

Like some other hopefuls, he has pushed for more policies that encourage adoption and better child care.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50">CHRIS CHRISTIE</a>

The former two-term New Jersey governor has argued that the issue of abortion should be carried out in the states, not at the federal level.

In a CNN town hall, Christie said that “the federal government should not be involved unless and until there’s a consensus around the country from the 50 states making their own decisions about what it should be.”

Seeking local office in the 1990s, Christie identified himself as “pro-choice,” saying he changed his position after hearing his daughter’s heartbeat at 13 weeks.

As governor, he vetoed millions in state funding for Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics. Before the Supreme Court's decision that overturned Roe, Christie joined Dannenfelser in meetings other GOP governors to discuss the issue and how it might play out at the state level.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-presidential-campaign-2024-3a04fdae989505d850545836bd0c16b0">ASA HUTCHINSON</a>

The former two-term Arkansas governor has said the issue of abortion should stay in the states without a Republican supermajority in Congress.

As governor in 2021, Hutchinson signed a near-total ban on abortions that did not include rape and incest exceptions.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doug-burgum-north-dakota-president-1b187576423968c422d2adbd70c9b3dc">DOUG BURGUM</a>

In April, the two-term North Dakota governor signed one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country. The measure would allow abortions up to six weeks' gestation in cases of rape or incest, or medical emergencies. After that marker, no exceptions aside from some medical emergencies, such as ectopic pregnancies, are allowed at any stage of pregnancy.

Burgum has mostly said the issue of abortion should be left to the states and has indicated he would not support a federal ban.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-elder-2024-election-a50db206b9c7b981639c05f4f59ae289">LARRY ELDER</a>

The conservative talk radio host opposes abortion but has said he would not support a federal ban.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">PERRY JOHNSON</a>

The businessman describes himself as “pro-life.” When he ran for Michigan governor in 2022, Johnson told reporters “two wrongs don't make a right” when asked if he would rule out banning abortion in cases of sexual assault.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/francis-suarez-miami-2024-presidential-race-ea46292142dfac98567f6745de69358a">FRANCIS SUAREZ</a>

The Miami mayor has said that he would support a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions, including rape, incest and the mother's health.

The former Texas congressman has said he would sign a 15-week federal abortion ban, although he has said that he doesn't see it as realistic that Congress would pass such a measure.

While in the House, Hurd twice voted in favor of a 20-week ban.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">JOE BIDEN</a>

The president supports abortion access and has said he would veto a national ban on the practice. As a senator, Biden supported abortion restrictions like the 1976 Hyde Amendment — which states that Medicaid won’t pay for abortions unless the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest — but said during the 2020 campaign he had shifted course.

The aftermath of last year's Supreme Court ruling has framed much of Biden's presidency on abortion. He signed an executive order designed to strengthen and promote access to contraception.

Mounting a rallying cry to 2022 midterms voters to seat more Democratic lawmakers who could possibly codify abortion access nationally, Biden has also directed his administration to take steps to protect access to abortion care. This includes making mifepristone — one of two pills used in medication abortions — easier to obtain, and ensuring members of the military can access reproductive health care.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-biden-president-2024-democrat-dd9d6ecf17b54f4b32e7b17778540431">ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.</a>

The author and environmental lawyer has spoken in favor of “bodily autonomy” and describes himself as “pro-choice.”

A nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, he has also said “it’s a woman’s choice, and it’s solely up to the woman” in terms of how a pregnancy should be handled in its first trimester.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marianne-williamson-president-2024-biden-democratic-primary-14e59754bed9e0c54dad4fdfbbc1fa6b">MARIANNE WILLIAMSON</a>

The self-help author's campaign website describes her as “one hundred percent pro-choice.” Williamson has also noted that she believes the decision to have an abortion or not “lies solely with a pregnant woman, according to the dictates of her conscience and in communion with the God of her understanding.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692739004740.png" alt="Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Eight presidential candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary so far. Former President Donald Trump won’t participate Wednesday night&nbsp;More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the federal right to abortion</a>, the issue has at times dominated the discussion among the Republicans seeking their party's 2024 presidential nomination and is sure to be on display during the debate Wednesday in Milwaukee.Some of the division among the candidates has come over whether there should be a national ban on the practice — and after how many weeks — now that the justices have returned specific debate over abortion legality to the states.A look at how the issue of abortion is playing out among Republican and Democratic candidates:REPUBLICANS <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">DONALD TRUMP</a>The former president, the current GOP front-runner, has often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-2024-president-desantis-pence-scott-e9f3a4287aa556a36f967cf45525493d">sidestepped the issue of abortion</a>, even as Republicans across the country have celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.In April, a major anti-abortion group assailed Trump on the issue, saying his contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, is a “morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.”The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-south-carolina-state-government-us-republican-party-2022-midterm-elections-e12dcf419bc5272063a847436f9a237c">would not support any White House candidate</a>&nbsp;who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban.Trump, who has referred to himself as “the most pro-life president in American history, has pointed to his successful nomination of three conservatives justices, a move that tilted the court to the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Earlier this year, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-donald-trump-abortion-florida-d536c67609030a445cab60329b919e75">characterized as “too harsh”</a>&nbsp;a measure signed into law by fellow contender Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban abortions in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">RON DESANTIS</a>While DeSantis has been governor, Florida passed an abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. But DeSantis, who says he is “pro-life,” has suggested that individual states should decide the issue, adding in a recent interview that he is “running on doing things that I know I can accomplish.”Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized DeSantis for not supporting a national ban on the procedure,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-abortion-desantis-2024-154bed7a8b78872e341413339b452db0">calling DeSantis' position “unacceptable”</a>&nbsp;as he runs for president.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-iowa-launch-2024-republican-presidential-campaign-faa2082d8d3269dc73a28c893188c2ff">MIKE PENCE</a>The former vice president supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant.And he has advocated pulling from the market one of two widely used abortion pills — a medication with a better safety record than Viagra and penicillin. Sensing that such a position may be viewed as too extreme in a general election, no other major presidential candidate has joined his calls.In a recent Associated Press interview, Pence went even further, saying abortion should be banned, even when a pregnancy is deemed nonviable. Such a standard would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-law-lawsuit-6346a3b98dd3ece069177f88172ce7b8">force women to carry pregnancies to term</a>&nbsp;even when doctors have determined there is no chance a baby will survive outside the womb.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-desantis-abortion-supreme-court-3b1937a4faf327b96ded2afed064a988">Earlier this month</a>&nbsp;while touring the Iowa State Fair, Pence said he was expecting to use the debate as an opportunity to call out Trump and DeSantis for not insisting on a national abortion ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-scott-2024-presidential-race-4a73e00db2295afbc4b07d1c6bb64811">TIM SCOTT</a>The South Carolina senator has long voiced his opposition to abortion, pledging that as president “I would sign the most conservative pro-life legislation you can bring to my desk.”He has signaled support for a federal ban on the practice for as early as 12 weeks and also support for a bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would ban abortions nationally after 15 weeks.In 2021, Scott also co-sponsored legislation that would have established a constitutional right to life from “the moment of fertilization.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-2024-presidential-campaign-formal-launch-bb059ae113e39152f5007864b4d139ae">NIKKI HALEY</a>Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.But Haley has not specified a time frame for after how many weeks she feels abortion should be outlawed, noting that passing such a measure would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress, and advocating for “consensus” around the issue. She’s said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban.The former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said “no one has been honest” about how difficult a ban could be to achieve, in a closely divided federal government.Haley campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said in June that she would "sign pro-life legislation that includes exceptions for rape, incest, and for the life of the mother,” suggesting she may be opposed to an exception for non-viable pregnancies — but declining to clarify.As governor, Haley signed an abortion ban after about 20 weeks. That law is still in effect while a six-week ban, passed by state lawmakers, is held up in the courts.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-and-politics-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-ohio-e1c1cbe47763bd979b6b47557aee043d">VIVEK RAMASWAMY</a>The wealthy biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.” has said he would not support a federal ban on abortion because ”the federal government should stay out of it.” He has voiced support for states that have passed six-week bans.Like some other hopefuls, he has pushed for more policies that encourage adoption and better child care.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50">CHRIS CHRISTIE</a>The former two-term New Jersey governor has argued that the issue of abortion should be carried out in the states, not at the federal level.In a CNN town hall, Christie said that “the federal government should not be involved unless and until there’s a consensus around the country from the 50 states making their own decisions about what it should be.”Seeking local office in the 1990s, Christie identified himself as “pro-choice,” saying he changed his position after hearing his daughter’s heartbeat at 13 weeks.As governor, he vetoed millions in state funding for Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics. Before the Supreme Court's decision that overturned Roe, Christie joined Dannenfelser in meetings other GOP governors to discuss the issue and how it might play out at the state level.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-presidential-campaign-2024-3a04fdae989505d850545836bd0c16b0">ASA HUTCHINSON</a>The former two-term Arkansas governor has said the issue of abortion should stay in the states without a Republican supermajority in Congress.As governor in 2021, Hutchinson signed a near-total ban on abortions that did not include rape and incest exceptions.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doug-burgum-north-dakota-president-1b187576423968c422d2adbd70c9b3dc">DOUG BURGUM</a>In April, the two-term North Dakota governor signed one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country. The measure would allow abortions up to six weeks' gestation in cases of rape or incest, or medical emergencies. After that marker, no exceptions aside from some medical emergencies, such as ectopic pregnancies, are allowed at any stage of pregnancy.Burgum has mostly said the issue of abortion should be left to the states and has indicated he would not support a federal ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-elder-2024-election-a50db206b9c7b981639c05f4f59ae289">LARRY ELDER</a>The conservative talk radio host opposes abortion but has said he would not support a federal ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">PERRY JOHNSON</a>The businessman describes himself as “pro-life.” When he ran for Michigan governor in 2022, Johnson told reporters “two wrongs don't make a right” when asked if he would rule out banning abortion in cases of sexual assault.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/francis-suarez-miami-2024-presidential-race-ea46292142dfac98567f6745de69358a">FRANCIS SUAREZ</a>The Miami mayor has said that he would support a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions, including rape, incest and the mother's health.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/will-hurd-2024-republican-presidential-primary-710f6f0d4bb6cc1f5046e20ed17ef602">WILL HURD</a>The former Texas congressman has said he would sign a 15-week federal abortion ban, although he has said that he doesn't see it as realistic that Congress would pass such a measure.While in the House, Hurd twice voted in favor of a 20-week ban.DEMOCRATS <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">JOE BIDEN</a>The president supports abortion access and has said he would veto a national ban on the practice. As a senator, Biden supported abortion restrictions like the 1976 Hyde Amendment — which states that Medicaid won’t pay for abortions unless the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest — but said during the 2020 campaign he had shifted course.The aftermath of last year's Supreme Court ruling has framed much of Biden's presidency on abortion. He signed an executive order designed to strengthen and promote access to contraception.Mounting a rallying cry to 2022 midterms voters to seat more Democratic lawmakers who could possibly codify abortion access nationally, Biden has also directed his administration to take steps to protect access to abortion care. This includes making mifepristone — one of two pills used in medication abortions — easier to obtain, and ensuring members of the military can access reproductive health care.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-biden-president-2024-democrat-dd9d6ecf17b54f4b32e7b17778540431">ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.</a>The author and environmental lawyer has spoken in favor of “bodily autonomy” and describes himself as “pro-choice.”A nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, he has also said “it’s a woman’s choice, and it’s solely up to the woman” in terms of how a pregnancy should be handled in its first trimester.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marianne-williamson-president-2024-biden-democratic-primary-14e59754bed9e0c54dad4fdfbbc1fa6b">MARIANNE WILLIAMSON</a>The self-help author's campaign website describes her as “one hundred percent pro-choice.” Williamson has also noted that she believes the decision to have an abortion or not “lies solely with a pregnant woman, according to the dictates of her conscience and in communion with the God of her understanding.”___

First GOP presidential debate: Where candidates stand on abortion

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue investigating criminal damage on a college campus in Lawrence.

On August 18,&nbsp; police were&nbsp;dispatched to Haskell Indian Nations University,&nbsp; 155 E Indian Ave, Lawrence, for a report of a statue being damaged with paint, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.

Signs were also placed near the statue with messages expressing displeasure with the Bureau of Indian Education and the office of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. 

The case officer is awaiting more information regarding security footage. University staff were able to power wash the paint off the statue as it was still wet. 

The damage is believed to have occurred sometime between 5:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. that day. Police have not identified a suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692734324091.png" alt="Police are awaiting more information regarding security footage in the case.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Police are awaiting more information regarding security footage in the case.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities continue investigating criminal damage on a college campus in Lawrence.On August 18,&nbsp; police were&nbsp;dispatched to Haskell Indian Nations University,&nbsp; 155 E Indian Ave, Lawrence, for a report of a statue being damaged with paint, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.Signs were also placed near the statue with messages expressing displeasure with the Bureau of Indian Education and the office of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The case officer is awaiting more information regarding security footage. University staff were able to power wash the paint off the statue as it was still wet. The damage is believed to have occurred sometime between 5:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. that day. Police have not identified a suspect.

Vandals on campus in Kan. paint statue, protest government

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Wichita have identified the victim as&nbsp;&nbsp;51-year-old Jose Lumbreras of Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Just after 12 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the 1200 Block of N. Broadway in Wichita, according to Gupilan

First responders located Lumbreras lying on the ground unresponsive. Life-saving measures were performed on him until EMS arrived on the scene, but ultimately he would be pronounced deceased.

Investigators finally determined&nbsp; Lubbreras died from a gunshot wound. Police have not released suspect details.

Investigators are following up on promising leads and have been working on this case since the early hours of Monday morning.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Wichita have identified the victim as&nbsp;&nbsp;51-year-old Jose Lumbreras of Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.Just after 12 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the 1200 Block of N. Broadway in Wichita, according to GupilanFirst responders located Lumbreras lying on the ground unresponsive. Life-saving measures were performed on him until EMS arrived on the scene, but ultimately he would be pronounced deceased.Investigators finally determined&nbsp; Lubbreras died from a gunshot wound. Police have not released suspect details.Investigators are following up on promising leads and have been working on this case since the early hours of Monday morning.

Homicide: Police ID Kan. man found dead early Monday

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri’s Republican Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-care-missouri-emergency-rule-withdrawn-c3ce483448f4013a6f46f666051db6b2">Andrew Bailey</a>&nbsp;and the families of transgender children are in court this week fighting over whether&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">a new law</a>&nbsp;banning minors from receiving gender-affirming health care will take effect as scheduled Monday.

Lawyers last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-gender-affirming-health-care-ban-lawsuit-9696f0c28b63baf8c52a95448811795e">sued to overturn the law</a>&nbsp;on behalf of three families of transgender minors, doctors and two LGBTQ+ organizations. They asked a county judge to temporarily block the law as the court challenge against it plays out.

Hearings over pausing the law are taking place this week in Springfield. A judge is expected to rule before Monday.

The law,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-missouri-republican-govenrnor-sports-d0d3ef01544dc7c22592d8ca2464138b">signed by Republican Gov. Mike Parson in June</a>, would prohibit Missouri health care providers from providing puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries to minors. Minors prescribed puberty blockers or hormones before Aug. 28 would be able to continue to receive those treatments.

Missouri’s Planned Parenthood clinics had been ramping up available appointments and holding pop-up clinics to start patients on treatments before the law takes effect.

Most adults would still have access to transgender health care under the law, but Medicaid wouldn't cover it and prisoners’ access to surgeries would be limited.

Physicians who violate the law face having their licenses revoked and being sued by patients. The law makes it easier for former patients to sue, giving them 15 years to go to court and promising at least $500,000 in damages if they succeed.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs' wrote in a court filing that the law unlawfully discriminates against transgender patients “by denying them medically necessary care and insurance coverage because of their sex and because of their transgender status.”

In court briefs, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-attorney-general-transgender-1283c25a92e9eb4c75b96b2558bdc65c">Attorney General's Office</a>&nbsp;argued that the law is not discriminatory because it “applies evenly to boys and girls."

“The only distinction made is based on the condition to be treated,” lawyers for the office wrote. "Puberty blockers, testosterone, and estrogen can all still be used to treat various conditions (such as precocious puberty). They just cannot be used as an experimental response to gender dysphoria.”

The Food and Drug Administration approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills.

The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth, but they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat trans patients say those decades of use are proof that the treatments are not experimental.

Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans on gender-affirming care for minors and supported the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692751118304.png" alt="FILE - Glenda Starke wears a transgender flag as a counter protest during a rally in favor of a ban on gender-affirming health care legislation, March 20, 2023, at the Missouri Statehouse in Jefferson City, Mo. Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the families of transgender children are in court fighting over whether a new law banning minors from receiving gender-affirming health care will take effect as scheduled on Monday, Aug. 28. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Glenda Starke wears a transgender flag as a counter protest during a rally in favor of a ban on gender-affirming health care legislation, March 20, 2023, at the Missouri Statehouse in Jefferson City, Mo. Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the families of transgender children are in court fighting over whether a new law banning minors from receiving gender-affirming health care will take effect as scheduled on Monday, Aug. 28. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri’s Republican Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-care-missouri-emergency-rule-withdrawn-c3ce483448f4013a6f46f666051db6b2">Andrew Bailey</a>&nbsp;and the families of transgender children are in court this week fighting over whether&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-nonbinary-hormone-puberty-missouri-lawmakers-5a8922430ffab9e43cf9b7ce254bff9f">a new law</a>&nbsp;banning minors from receiving gender-affirming health care will take effect as scheduled Monday.Lawyers last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-gender-affirming-health-care-ban-lawsuit-9696f0c28b63baf8c52a95448811795e">sued to overturn the law</a>&nbsp;on behalf of three families of transgender minors, doctors and two LGBTQ+ organizations. They asked a county judge to temporarily block the law as the court challenge against it plays out.Hearings over pausing the law are taking place this week in Springfield. A judge is expected to rule before Monday.THE LAWThe law,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-missouri-republican-govenrnor-sports-d0d3ef01544dc7c22592d8ca2464138b">signed by Republican Gov. Mike Parson in June</a>, would prohibit Missouri health care providers from providing puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries to minors. Minors prescribed puberty blockers or hormones before Aug. 28 would be able to continue to receive those treatments.Missouri’s Planned Parenthood clinics had been ramping up available appointments and holding pop-up clinics to start patients on treatments before the law takes effect.Most adults would still have access to transgender health care under the law, but Medicaid wouldn't cover it and prisoners’ access to surgeries would be limited.Physicians who violate the law face having their licenses revoked and being sued by patients. The law makes it easier for former patients to sue, giving them 15 years to go to court and promising at least $500,000 in damages if they succeed.The law expires in August 2027.LEGAL ARGUMENTSLawyers for the plaintiffs' wrote in a court filing that the law unlawfully discriminates against transgender patients “by denying them medically necessary care and insurance coverage because of their sex and because of their transgender status.”In court briefs, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-attorney-general-transgender-1283c25a92e9eb4c75b96b2558bdc65c">Attorney General's Office</a>&nbsp;argued that the law is not discriminatory because it “applies evenly to boys and girls."“The only distinction made is based on the condition to be treated,” lawyers for the office wrote. "Puberty blockers, testosterone, and estrogen can all still be used to treat various conditions (such as precocious puberty). They just cannot be used as an experimental response to gender dysphoria.”WHAT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS SAYThe Food and Drug Administration approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills.The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth, but they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat trans patients say those decades of use are proof that the treatments are not experimental.Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans on gender-affirming care for minors and supported the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

Mo. court battle begins on gender-affirming health care for minors

MCPHERSON, Kan. — According to a message sent to parents Tuesday evening, McPherson High students will be back in school on Wednesday.

"The motor in the chiller of the HVAC system at MHS has been replaced and is running as necessary to cool the building," said principal Dr. Audrey A. Herbst.

School will be in session Wednesday, August 23rd.

McPherson High will operate on a normal Wednesday schedule with a 2:15 student dismissal time for professional learning and collaboration for staff.

"Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for our students," Herbst said.&nbsp;

This news comes after McPherson High students were sent home at 10:45 a.m. Monday and did not have school Tuesday due to the HVAC problems.

An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for McPherson County.&nbsp;

MCPHERSON, Kan. — According to a message sent to parents Tuesday evening, McPherson High students will be back in school on Wednesday."The motor in the chiller of the HVAC system at MHS has been replaced and is running as necessary to cool the building," said principal Dr. Audrey A. Herbst.School will be in session Wednesday, August 23rd.McPherson High will operate on a normal Wednesday schedule with a 2:15 student dismissal time for professional learning and collaboration for staff."Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for our students," Herbst said.&nbsp;This news comes after McPherson High students were sent home at 10:45 a.m. Monday and did not have school Tuesday due to the HVAC problems.An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for McPherson County.&nbsp;

HVAC system repaired, students return to school in McPherson

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting incident at a motel and have arrested a registered Kansas sex offender.

Just after 11:00 a.m. August 18, police responded to the Travelers Inn, 3846 SW Topeka Blvd. in Topeka, after a report of gunshots in the area.

Upon arrival Officers found that no one had been injured, but that several gunshots had been fired into a room that was occupied. 

Upon further investigation, detectives were able to identify Kevin A. Chamberlain, 43, of Topeka as being a person involved in the shooting.

Just after 8:00 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to report of a burglary in the 3300 Block of SE Massachusetts Ave. in Topeka.&nbsp;

While investigating this incident, police located Chamberlain was located and brought to the Law Enforcement Center to speak with Detectives.

Chamberlain is now being held on requested&nbsp;charges of Criminal Possession of a weapon by a Felon,&nbsp;Possession of stolen property, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and&nbsp;Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer.&nbsp;Chamberlain has been listed as a registered sex offender since a 2009 conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Kansas Offender Registry. 

He also has a conviction for aggravated assault and has been out of prison since December of 2020, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692707968944.png" alt="Police on the scene of the Friday shooting investigation" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the Friday shooting investigation</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting incident at a motel and have arrested a registered Kansas sex offender.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692708112100.png" alt="Chamberlain has been listed as a registered sex offender since a 2009 conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Kansas Offender Registry-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Chamberlain has been listed as a registered sex offender since a 2009 conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Kansas Offender Registry-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 11:00 a.m. August 18, police responded to the Travelers Inn, 3846 SW Topeka Blvd. in Topeka, after a report of gunshots in the area.Upon arrival Officers found that no one had been injured, but that several gunshots had been fired into a room that was occupied. Upon further investigation, detectives were able to identify Kevin A. Chamberlain, 43, of Topeka as being a person involved in the shooting.Just after 8:00 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to report of a burglary in the 3300 Block of SE Massachusetts Ave. in Topeka.&nbsp;While investigating this incident, police located Chamberlain was located and brought to the Law Enforcement Center to speak with Detectives.Chamberlain is now being held on requested&nbsp;charges of Criminal Possession of a weapon by a Felon,&nbsp;Possession of stolen property, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and&nbsp;Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer.&nbsp;Chamberlain has been listed as a registered sex offender since a 2009 conviction for aggravated indecent liberties with a child, according to the Kansas Offender Registry. He also has a conviction for aggravated assault and has been out of prison since December of 2020, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kan. sex offender fired gun at door of occupied hotel room

TOPEKA — Democrat State Rep. Jason Probst of Hutchinson joined House Minority Leader Vic Miller of Topeka in a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Statehouse to open up the discussion on warrant policy after the raid on a newspaper publisher and his mother in Marion County, Kansas earlier this month.

"The legislation that will be drafted is designed to say, search warrants have to be signed by a District Court judge and not by a magistrate judge," Probst said. "Part of our motivation for that is to, mostly just to keep a conversation going about what we ought to be thinking about and what needs to happen and hopefully generate some more ideas. Neither Vic nor I feel like this is the answer to the problem, but we think it's a first step in keeping a conversation going about what sort of things we ought to be looking at to make sure we're protecting the free press."

"Anybody that saw the video could see how distressed she was," Probst said. "They were not only in her house, but they were going through things that had no relevance to anything that could be connected to an investigation. It was completely beyond the pale."

Probst, a former editor at the Hutchinson News, does understand that sometimes journalists have to defend their work, but there's a procedure that should be followed to do that.

"There would be some court challenge to getting information, or finding out about our sources or stopping a story, there was never a search warrant involved, it was always a subpoena," Probst said. "Then, we had an opportunity to bring an attorney in, our attorney, to challenge the subpoena and explain why there was an interest in protecting the source, or protecting the information, or going ahead with the story. We always had an opportunity to make those arguments in an open court in front of a judge, not through a search warrant that allowed the authorities to come in and start taking equipment and going through it on their own."

The important piece is to be able to have that discussion in the open air, because there is a reason that the First Amendment is First in the Constitution.

"The press has a specific protection in the Constitution," Probst said. "Clearly it was a very important concept to the framers of our country, that this was critical to the functioning of our democracy. The other thing is that I've always viewed the press largely as an extension of the public. If the press's rights are threatened by powerful institutions, then the public's rights are likewise threatened by those same institutions."

The Kansas Legislature does not gavel in again until January.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692785944601.png" alt="Rep. Jason Probs and Rep. Vic Miller during Tuesday's news conference -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jason Probs and Rep. Vic Miller during Tuesday's news conference -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostTOPEKA — Democrat State Rep. Jason Probst of Hutchinson joined House Minority Leader Vic Miller of Topeka in a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Statehouse to open up the discussion on warrant policy after the raid on a newspaper publisher and his mother in Marion County, Kansas earlier this month."The legislation that will be drafted is designed to say, search warrants have to be signed by a District Court judge and not by a magistrate judge," Probst said. "Part of our motivation for that is to, mostly just to keep a conversation going about what we ought to be thinking about and what needs to happen and hopefully generate some more ideas. Neither Vic nor I feel like this is the answer to the problem, but we think it's a first step in keeping a conversation going about what sort of things we ought to be looking at to make sure we're protecting the free press."<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e50NOlm6dkI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>"Anybody that saw the video could see how distressed she was," Probst said. "They were not only in her house, but they were going through things that had no relevance to anything that could be connected to an investigation. It was completely beyond the pale."Probst, a former editor at the Hutchinson News, does understand that sometimes journalists have to defend their work, but there's a procedure that should be followed to do that."There would be some court challenge to getting information, or finding out about our sources or stopping a story, there was never a search warrant involved, it was always a subpoena," Probst said. "Then, we had an opportunity to bring an attorney in, our attorney, to challenge the subpoena and explain why there was an interest in protecting the source, or protecting the information, or going ahead with the story. We always had an opportunity to make those arguments in an open court in front of a judge, not through a search warrant that allowed the authorities to come in and start taking equipment and going through it on their own."The important piece is to be able to have that discussion in the open air, because there is a reason that the First Amendment is First in the Constitution."The press has a specific protection in the Constitution," Probst said. "Clearly it was a very important concept to the framers of our country, that this was critical to the functioning of our democracy. The other thing is that I've always viewed the press largely as an extension of the public. If the press's rights are threatened by powerful institutions, then the public's rights are likewise threatened by those same institutions."The Kansas Legislature does not gavel in again until January.

2 Kan. lawmakers call for legislation on search warrant reform 

BARTON COUNTY — Just after 10:30 p.m.&nbsp;Aug. 14,&nbsp; police conducted a traffic stop near 2500 block of
Railroad Avenue in Great Bend for a traffic infraction, according to a media release.

During the traffic stop, K9 Menta was
deployed to conduct a free air sniff, where she alerted to the presence of
illegal narcotics.&nbsp; 
While searching the vehicle, officers located approximately 37 grams of a
methamphetamine/fentanyl mix, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

The driver
of the vehicle, John Wilkinson, 60, was placed under arrest on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine/fentanyl, possession of marijuana and
possession of drug paraphernalia. Wilkinson was transported to the Barton
County Jail where he was booked in lieu of a $100,000 bond. &nbsp;

The following morning, police served a search warrant in the
700 block of Jefferson Street based on the traffic stop. Investigators found methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692738627358.jpeg" alt="photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY — Just after 10:30 p.m.&nbsp;Aug. 14,&nbsp; police conducted a traffic stop near 2500 block of
Railroad Avenue in Great Bend for a traffic infraction, according to a media release.During the traffic stop, K9 Menta was
deployed to conduct a free air sniff, where she alerted to the presence of
illegal narcotics.&nbsp; 
While searching the vehicle, officers located approximately 37 grams of a
methamphetamine/fentanyl mix, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;The driver
of the vehicle, John Wilkinson, 60, was placed under arrest on requested charges of distribution of methamphetamine/fentanyl, possession of marijuana and
possession of drug paraphernalia. Wilkinson was transported to the Barton
County Jail where he was booked in lieu of a $100,000 bond. &nbsp; The following morning, police served a search warrant in the
700 block of Jefferson Street based on the traffic stop. Investigators found methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Police: Kan. man caught with meth, fentanyl mixture

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —A victim in&nbsp; a Sunday shooting has died from his injuries.

Just after 3:30a.m., police were dispatched on a shooting in the 3700 block of Farrow Avenue in Kansas City, according to a media release from police.

First responders discovered a man with obvious gunshot wounds outside a home. He was transported in critical condition to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Police have not released the name of the victim or possible suspects. This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —A victim in&nbsp; a Sunday shooting has died from his injuries.Just after 3:30a.m., police were dispatched on a shooting in the 3700 block of Farrow Avenue in Kansas City, according to a media release from police.First responders discovered a man with obvious gunshot wounds outside a home. He was transported in critical condition to an area hospital where he later died from his injuries.Police have not released the name of the victim or possible suspects. This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

Police: Victim in Kansas shooting has died

NEW YORK (AP) —The union representing 340,000 UPS workers said Tuesday that its members voted to approve the tentative contract agreement reached last month, putting a final seal on contentious labor negotiations that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-strike-delivery-supply-chain-union-labor-16270bd5699419398de376e07ada06ba">threatened to disrupt package deliveries for millions</a>&nbsp;of businesses and households nationwide.

The Teamsters said in a statement that 86% of the votes casts were in favor of ratifying the contract. They also said it was passed by the highest vote for a contract in the history of the Teamsters at UPS.

The union also said more than 40 supplemental agreements were also ratified, expect for one that covers roughly 170 members in Florida. The national master agreement will go into effect as soon as that supplement is renegotiated and ratified, it said.

“Our members just ratified the most lucrative agreement the Teamsters have ever negotiated at UPS," Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. "This contract will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of workers.”

He said the contract set a new standard for pay and benefits.

“This is the template for how workers should be paid and protected nationwide, and nonunion companies like Amazon better pay attention,” he said, giving a nod to the union's growing ambitions to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-teamsters-delivery-union-ups-0b9a9e2fc06dbb18cb23c476e0c19230">take on the e-commerce behemoth</a>.

Voting on the new five-year contract began Aug. 3 and concluded Tuesday.

After negotiations broke down in early July, Atlanta-based UPS reached a tentative contract agreement with the Teamsters just days before an Aug. 1 deadline.

The company had said it expected bargaining to restart if members rejected the deal, but that could have also opened the door to a strike.

Under the tentative agreement, full- and part-time union workers will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023, and $7.50 more in total by the end of the five-year contract. Starting hourly pay for part-time employees also got bumped up to $21, but some workers said that fell short of their expectations.

UPS says that by the end of the new contract, the average UPS full-time driver will make about $170,000 annually in pay and benefits. It’s not clear how much of that figure benefits account for.

As part of the agreement, the delivery company also agreed to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a full holiday, end forced overtime on drivers’ days off and stop using driver-facing cameras in cabs, among a host of other issues. It eliminated a two-tier wage system for drivers and tentative deals on safety issues were also reached, including equipping more trucks with air conditioning.

Union members, angered by a contract they say union leadership forced on them five years ago, argued that they have shouldered the more than 140% profit growth at UPS as the pandemic increased delivery demand. Unionized workers said they wanted to fix what they saw as a bad contract.

The Teamsters’ leadership was upended two years ago with the election of O’Brien, a vocal critic of union President James Hoffa — son of the famed Teamsters firebrand — who signed off on the previous contract.

The 24 million packages UPS ships daily amount to about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. UPS says that’s equivalent to about 6% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

This isn’t the first showdown the union has had with the delivery company. During the last breakdown in labor talks a quarter of a century ago, 185,000 UPS workers walked out for 15 days, crippling the company’s ability to function.

A walkout this time would have had much further-reaching implications, with millions of Americans now accustomed to online shopping and speedy delivery. The consulting firm Anderson Economic Group estimated a 10-day UPS strike could have cost the U.S. economy more than $7 billion and triggered “significant and lasting harm” to the business and workers.

When the union and UPS were at a stalemate in July, large and small businesses worked to create contingency plans in the event of a strike.

Labor experts say they see the showdown as a demonstration of labor power at a time of low U.S. union membership. This summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-writers-strike-100-days-3bea7be9077dba59b5f3b4a705646a84">Hollywood actors and screenwriters</a>&nbsp;have been picketing over pay issues. United Auto Workers are considering a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uaw-strike-auto-electric-vehicles-contract-wages-f97630a69a3b62079bd65d3821f9a5d8">potential strike</a>.

“Together we reached a win-win-win agreement on the issues that are important to Teamsters leadership, our employees and to UPS and our customers,” Carol Tomé, UPS CEO, said when the tentative deal was announced.

Industry groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, labor leaders and President Joe Biden also applauded the deal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686070070872.png" alt="The union said all supplemental agreements were also ratified-file photo" />
 <figcaption>The union said all supplemental agreements were also ratified-file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —The union representing 340,000 UPS workers said Tuesday that its members voted to approve the tentative contract agreement reached last month, putting a final seal on contentious labor negotiations that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-strike-delivery-supply-chain-union-labor-16270bd5699419398de376e07ada06ba">threatened to disrupt package deliveries for millions</a>&nbsp;of businesses and households nationwide.The Teamsters said in a statement that 86% of the votes casts were in favor of ratifying the contract. They also said it was passed by the highest vote for a contract in the history of the Teamsters at UPS.The union also said more than 40 supplemental agreements were also ratified, expect for one that covers roughly 170 members in Florida. The national master agreement will go into effect as soon as that supplement is renegotiated and ratified, it said.“Our members just ratified the most lucrative agreement the Teamsters have ever negotiated at UPS," Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. "This contract will improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of workers.”He said the contract set a new standard for pay and benefits.“This is the template for how workers should be paid and protected nationwide, and nonunion companies like Amazon better pay attention,” he said, giving a nod to the union's growing ambitions to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-teamsters-delivery-union-ups-0b9a9e2fc06dbb18cb23c476e0c19230">take on the e-commerce behemoth</a>.Voting on the new five-year contract began Aug. 3 and concluded Tuesday.After negotiations broke down in early July, Atlanta-based UPS reached a tentative contract agreement with the Teamsters just days before an Aug. 1 deadline.The company had said it expected bargaining to restart if members rejected the deal, but that could have also opened the door to a strike.Under the tentative agreement, full- and part-time union workers will get $2.75 more per hour in 2023, and $7.50 more in total by the end of the five-year contract. Starting hourly pay for part-time employees also got bumped up to $21, but some workers said that fell short of their expectations.UPS says that by the end of the new contract, the average UPS full-time driver will make about $170,000 annually in pay and benefits. It’s not clear how much of that figure benefits account for.As part of the agreement, the delivery company also agreed to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a full holiday, end forced overtime on drivers’ days off and stop using driver-facing cameras in cabs, among a host of other issues. It eliminated a two-tier wage system for drivers and tentative deals on safety issues were also reached, including equipping more trucks with air conditioning.Union members, angered by a contract they say union leadership forced on them five years ago, argued that they have shouldered the more than 140% profit growth at UPS as the pandemic increased delivery demand. Unionized workers said they wanted to fix what they saw as a bad contract.The Teamsters’ leadership was upended two years ago with the election of O’Brien, a vocal critic of union President James Hoffa — son of the famed Teamsters firebrand — who signed off on the previous contract.The 24 million packages UPS ships daily amount to about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. UPS says that’s equivalent to about 6% of the nation’s gross domestic product.This isn’t the first showdown the union has had with the delivery company. During the last breakdown in labor talks a quarter of a century ago, 185,000 UPS workers walked out for 15 days, crippling the company’s ability to function.A walkout this time would have had much further-reaching implications, with millions of Americans now accustomed to online shopping and speedy delivery. The consulting firm Anderson Economic Group estimated a 10-day UPS strike could have cost the U.S. economy more than $7 billion and triggered “significant and lasting harm” to the business and workers.When the union and UPS were at a stalemate in July, large and small businesses worked to create contingency plans in the event of a strike.Labor experts say they see the showdown as a demonstration of labor power at a time of low U.S. union membership. This summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hollywood-writers-strike-100-days-3bea7be9077dba59b5f3b4a705646a84">Hollywood actors and screenwriters</a>&nbsp;have been picketing over pay issues. United Auto Workers are considering a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uaw-strike-auto-electric-vehicles-contract-wages-f97630a69a3b62079bd65d3821f9a5d8">potential strike</a>.“Together we reached a win-win-win agreement on the issues that are important to Teamsters leadership, our employees and to UPS and our customers,” Carol Tomé, UPS CEO, said when the tentative deal was announced.Industry groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, labor leaders and President Joe Biden also applauded the deal.

UPS workers approve historic contract ending strike threat

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education offers little guidance ahead of controversial law affecting student athletes

By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>

Students are returning to the classroom around Missouri this week, and new laws go into effect Monday.

But state officials are still not clear on how they will enforce&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/tat/SB39.pdf">restrictions on transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;– one of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/16/missouri-governors-office-hid-bill-signing-on-gender-affirming-care-transgender-athletes/">most controversial new laws</a>&nbsp;approved by Missouri legislators this year.

Neither the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education nor the Missouri State High School Activities Association could say how the restrictions would be administered. Each agency initially directed questions to the other, a situation local school officials say is stoking confusion.

Hanging in the balance is the fate of 10 student athletes who were eligible last year to compete according to their gender identity but who would be prohibited this year.

A separate law that also takes effect Monday,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/10/missouri-house-sends-bill-banning-transgender-health-care-for-minors-to-governor/">banning gender-affirming treatments</a>&nbsp;for minors, is being challenged in a court case being&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-missouri-ban-on-transgender-care-for-minors/">heard this week in Springfield.</a>&nbsp;St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer is expected to decide whether to issue an injunction soon after he finishes hearing testimony.

Prior to this school year, a MSHSAA policy allowed transgender athletes to compete as their gender identity if they had undergone hormone treatments for at least one year.

“Once the law goes into effect, the MSHSAA bylaw on transgender participation becomes invalid,” Jason West, the association’s communications director told The Independent. “As for enforcement of the state statute, the local school and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will oversee and administer any penalties. DESE will be determining what type of identification will be required in that regard.”

The new law requires DESE and the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to set the rules for the implementation of the ban. But when asked about administering this new law, DESE initially looked to MSHSAA.

Mallory McGowin, a spokeswoman for the department, said MSHSAA was the “most appropriate” source to ask about enforcement of the new law because the organization“oversees all athletics and activities participation statewide.”

She later told The Independent that the two organizations were in communication.

“As MSHSAA policies dictate, it is the responsibility of MSHSAA member schools to verify student eligibility, whether that’s verifying student residency, academic performance, or gender,” McGowin wrote. “Local school district policy and procedure will dictate how that verification takes place.”

DESE can publish administrative rules for the new law in the Missouri Register in the future. The public could comment on the regulations prior to their enforcement.

Administrators are aware of the new law, but with birth certificates not required as part of students’ enrollment process, schools may not have records of students’ sex as assigned at birth.

Schools may also have students on hormone treatments now competing on teams aligned with their sex as assigned at birth. For transgender men, this means they would compete in women’s sports while increasing their testosterone levels.

According to McGowin, these student athletes with hormone treatments are still allowed to compete.

Enforcement at the college level also relies on schools’ interpretation of the law.

Ryan Koslen, spokesman for the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Department, said in late July that the department was working with its “office of general counsel to determine the best path forward operationally.”

He did not answer a request for an update in August.

While state law bans transgender athletes from competing according to their gender identity, the NCAA takes a sport by sport approach and looks at the hormone levels of athletes.

The organization has publicly threatened to pull championship competitions from locations where law restricts transgender athletes.

“When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected,” the NCAA published in an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2021/4/12/ncaa-board-of-governors-statement-on-transgender-participation.aspx">April 2021 statement</a>.

Missouri State University, when asked about their plan of enforcement, didn’t provide specifics.

“We are aware of the law and have articulated the information to our coaching staffs,” Athletics Director Kyle Moats wrote in an email. “We will also continue to follow the guidance of the NCAA as its policies evolve.”

Twenty-three states have established restrictions on transgender athletes since 2020 — some of which are currently unenforceable pending litigation.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/youth/sports_participation_bans">The Movement Advancement Project</a>, a nonprofit think tank that maps LGBTQ policies, estimates that 34% of transgender youth ages 13-17 live in states with laws restricting their participation in sports.

In Arkansas, enforcement of its state law on transgender athletes extends to the attorney general’s office. After passing the initial ban on transgender athletes, Arkansas lawmakers created&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SB450&amp;ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R">the Gender Integrity Reinforcement Legislation for Sports Act</a>&nbsp;to allow the attorney general to sue schools that knowingly violate the law.

Oklahoma, which has had its ban for a year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-football-united-states-gay-rights-5814b6365cf8f96b6be49e2d4b72616a">requires athletes’ parents to sign an affidavit</a>&nbsp;stating their child’s sex as assigned at birth.

At the federal level, a change to Title IX could reverse Missouri’s restrictions.

In April, the U.S. Department of Education announced proposed changes to Title IX that would prevent “one-size-fits-all” policies regarding transgender athletes. It would allow schools to set their own rules but require them to develop eligibility criteria.

“For older students … the department expects that sex-related criteria that limit participation of some transgender students may be permitted, in some cases, when they enable the school to achieve an important educational objective, such as fairness in competition, and meet the proposed regulation’s other requirements,” the department’s announcement says.

Gov. Mike Parson joined 24 other Republican governors in a letter to the Secretary of Education opposing the proposed regulation.

“The proposed rule could prevent states from enforcing our duly-enacted statutes protecting fairness in women’s and girls’ sports. If not withdrawn, we are gravely concerned about the impact that the Department’s wholesale reinvention of Title IX’s terms would have on states’ ability to enforce their laws and policies as written,” the governors wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686157451251.png" alt="Gov. Mike Parson signs bills on June 7, 2023, banning gender-affirming treatments for minors and limiting participation in school sports based on gender (Photo courtesy of Missouri Governor's office)." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Mike Parson signs bills on June 7, 2023, banning gender-affirming treatments for minors and limiting participation in school sports based on gender (Photo courtesy of Missouri Governor's office).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Department of Elementary and Secondary Education offers little guidance ahead of controversial law affecting student athletes</h2>By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>Students are returning to the classroom around Missouri this week, and new laws go into effect Monday.But state officials are still not clear on how they will enforce&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/tat/SB39.pdf">restrictions on transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;– one of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/16/missouri-governors-office-hid-bill-signing-on-gender-affirming-care-transgender-athletes/">most controversial new laws</a>&nbsp;approved by Missouri legislators this year.Neither the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education nor the Missouri State High School Activities Association could say how the restrictions would be administered. Each agency initially directed questions to the other, a situation local school officials say is stoking confusion.Hanging in the balance is the fate of 10 student athletes who were eligible last year to compete according to their gender identity but who would be prohibited this year.A separate law that also takes effect Monday,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/10/missouri-house-sends-bill-banning-transgender-health-care-for-minors-to-governor/">banning gender-affirming treatments</a>&nbsp;for minors, is being challenged in a court case being&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/lawsuit-seeks-to-block-missouri-ban-on-transgender-care-for-minors/">heard this week in Springfield.</a>&nbsp;St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer is expected to decide whether to issue an injunction soon after he finishes hearing testimony.Prior to this school year, a MSHSAA policy allowed transgender athletes to compete as their gender identity if they had undergone hormone treatments for at least one year.“Once the law goes into effect, the MSHSAA bylaw on transgender participation becomes invalid,” Jason West, the association’s communications director told The Independent. “As for enforcement of the state statute, the local school and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will oversee and administer any penalties. DESE will be determining what type of identification will be required in that regard.”The new law requires DESE and the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to set the rules for the implementation of the ban. But when asked about administering this new law, DESE initially looked to MSHSAA.Mallory McGowin, a spokeswoman for the department, said MSHSAA was the “most appropriate” source to ask about enforcement of the new law because the organization“oversees all athletics and activities participation statewide.”She later told The Independent that the two organizations were in communication.“As MSHSAA policies dictate, it is the responsibility of MSHSAA member schools to verify student eligibility, whether that’s verifying student residency, academic performance, or gender,” McGowin wrote. “Local school district policy and procedure will dictate how that verification takes place.”DESE can publish administrative rules for the new law in the Missouri Register in the future. The public could comment on the regulations prior to their enforcement.Administrators are aware of the new law, but with birth certificates not required as part of students’ enrollment process, schools may not have records of students’ sex as assigned at birth.Schools may also have students on hormone treatments now competing on teams aligned with their sex as assigned at birth. For transgender men, this means they would compete in women’s sports while increasing their testosterone levels.According to McGowin, these student athletes with hormone treatments are still allowed to compete.Enforcement at the college level also relies on schools’ interpretation of the law.Ryan Koslen, spokesman for the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Department, said in late July that the department was working with its “office of general counsel to determine the best path forward operationally.”He did not answer a request for an update in August.While state law bans transgender athletes from competing according to their gender identity, the NCAA takes a sport by sport approach and looks at the hormone levels of athletes.The organization has publicly threatened to pull championship competitions from locations where law restricts transgender athletes.“When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected,” the NCAA published in an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2021/4/12/ncaa-board-of-governors-statement-on-transgender-participation.aspx">April 2021 statement</a>.Missouri State University, when asked about their plan of enforcement, didn’t provide specifics.“We are aware of the law and have articulated the information to our coaching staffs,” Athletics Director Kyle Moats wrote in an email. “We will also continue to follow the guidance of the NCAA as its policies evolve.”Twenty-three states have established restrictions on transgender athletes since 2020 — some of which are currently unenforceable pending litigation.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/youth/sports_participation_bans">The Movement Advancement Project</a>, a nonprofit think tank that maps LGBTQ policies, estimates that 34% of transgender youth ages 13-17 live in states with laws restricting their participation in sports.In Arkansas, enforcement of its state law on transgender athletes extends to the attorney general’s office. After passing the initial ban on transgender athletes, Arkansas lawmakers created&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SB450&amp;ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R">the Gender Integrity Reinforcement Legislation for Sports Act</a>&nbsp;to allow the attorney general to sue schools that knowingly violate the law.Oklahoma, which has had its ban for a year,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-college-football-united-states-gay-rights-5814b6365cf8f96b6be49e2d4b72616a">requires athletes’ parents to sign an affidavit</a>&nbsp;stating their child’s sex as assigned at birth.At the federal level, a change to Title IX could reverse Missouri’s restrictions.In April, the U.S. Department of Education announced proposed changes to Title IX that would prevent “one-size-fits-all” policies regarding transgender athletes. It would allow schools to set their own rules but require them to develop eligibility criteria.“For older students … the department expects that sex-related criteria that limit participation of some transgender students may be permitted, in some cases, when they enable the school to achieve an important educational objective, such as fairness in competition, and meet the proposed regulation’s other requirements,” the department’s announcement says.Gov. Mike Parson joined 24 other Republican governors in a letter to the Secretary of Education opposing the proposed regulation.“The proposed rule could prevent states from enforcing our duly-enacted statutes protecting fairness in women’s and girls’ sports. If not withdrawn, we are gravely concerned about the impact that the Department’s wholesale reinvention of Title IX’s terms would have on states’ ability to enforce their laws and policies as written,” the governors wrote.

Enforcement unclear as Mo. approaches transgender athlete restrictions

MARION, Kan. (AP) — Newly released video shows the 98-year-old mother of a Kansas newspaper publisher confronting police officers as they searched her home in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-kansas-newspaper-raid-aca057365ea3925328a69acd615c9893">raid that has drawn national scrutiny</a>, at one point demanding: “Get out of my house!”

Video released by the newspaper Monday shows Joan Meyer shouting at the six officers inside the Marion, Kansas, home she shared with her son, Marion County Record Editor and Publisher Eric Meyer. Standing with the aid of a walker and dressed in a long robe or gown and slippers, she seems visibly upset.

“Get out of my house ... I don't want you in my house!” she said at one point. “Don't touch any of that stuff! This is my house!” she said at another.

The raids of the newspaper and the homes of the Meyers and a City Council member happened on Aug. 11, after a local restaurant owner accused the newspaper of illegally accessing information about her. Joan Meyer died a day later. Her son said he believes that the stress contributed to her death.

A prosecutor said later that there was insufficient evidence to justify the raids, and some of the seized computers and cellphones have been returned. Meanwhile, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-marion-county-record-ce9a8b98f05e2c4faef14e7ad6948316">initial online search</a>&nbsp;of a state website that the police chief cited to justify the raid was legal, a spokesperson for the agency that maintains the site said Monday.

The raid on the Record put it and its hometown of about 1,900 residents in the center of a debate about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-county-record-kansas-newspaper-raid-f1e49c4e542ddb3cf19c9ca02a0a21fb">press freedoms</a>&nbsp;protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Kansas’ Bill of Rights. It also exposed divisions in the town over local politics and the newspaper’s coverage of the community, and put an intense spotlight on Police Chief Gideon Cody, who led the raids after the newspaper had asked questions about his background.

“As far as Chief Cody goes, he can take his high horse he brought into this community and giddy-up on out of town,” Darvin Markley, a Marion resident, said during a Monday afternoon City Council meeting. “The man needs to go. He needs to be fired.”

By JOHN HANNA and JIM SALTER&nbsp;MARION, Kan. (AP) — Newly released video shows the 98-year-old mother of a Kansas newspaper publisher confronting police officers as they searched her home in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-kansas-newspaper-raid-aca057365ea3925328a69acd615c9893">raid that has drawn national scrutiny</a>, at one point demanding: “Get out of my house!”<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e50NOlm6dkI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Video released by the newspaper Monday shows Joan Meyer shouting at the six officers inside the Marion, Kansas, home she shared with her son, Marion County Record Editor and Publisher Eric Meyer. Standing with the aid of a walker and dressed in a long robe or gown and slippers, she seems visibly upset.“Get out of my house ... I don't want you in my house!” she said at one point. “Don't touch any of that stuff! This is my house!” she said at another.The raids of the newspaper and the homes of the Meyers and a City Council member happened on Aug. 11, after a local restaurant owner accused the newspaper of illegally accessing information about her. Joan Meyer died a day later. Her son said he believes that the stress contributed to her death.A prosecutor said later that there was insufficient evidence to justify the raids, and some of the seized computers and cellphones have been returned. Meanwhile, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-marion-county-record-ce9a8b98f05e2c4faef14e7ad6948316">initial online search</a>&nbsp;of a state website that the police chief cited to justify the raid was legal, a spokesperson for the agency that maintains the site said Monday.The raid on the Record put it and its hometown of about 1,900 residents in the center of a debate about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-county-record-kansas-newspaper-raid-f1e49c4e542ddb3cf19c9ca02a0a21fb">press freedoms</a>&nbsp;protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Kansas’ Bill of Rights. It also exposed divisions in the town over local politics and the newspaper’s coverage of the community, and put an intense spotlight on Police Chief Gideon Cody, who led the raids after the newspaper had asked questions about his background.“As far as Chief Cody goes, he can take his high horse he brought into this community and giddy-up on out of town,” Darvin Markley, a Marion resident, said during a Monday afternoon City Council meeting. “The man needs to go. He needs to be fired.”Cody did not attend Monday's meeting or respond to email and cellphone messages seeking comment. He said in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/newspaper-raid-kansas-affidavit-07d9c856894892bff13cb014248ec866">affidavits</a>&nbsp;used to obtain the warrants that he had probable cause to believe that the newspaper and City Council member Ruth Herbel, whose home was also raided, had violated state laws against identity theft or computer crimes.Both Herbel and the newspaper have said they received a copy of a document about the status of the restaurant owner’s license without soliciting it. The document disclosed the woman's license number and date of birth, which are required to check the status of a person’s license online and gain access to a more complete driving record. The police chief maintains they broke state laws to do that, while the newspaper and Herbel’s attorneys say they didn’t.Herbel, the city's vice mayor, presided over the City Council's meeting Monday, its first since the raids. It lasted less than an hour, and Herbel announced that council members would not discuss the raids — something its agenda already had said in an all-caps statement in red followed by 47 exclamation points. She said the council will address the raids in a future meeting.While Herbel said after the meeting that she agrees that Cody should resign, other City Council members declined to comment. Mike Powers, a retired district court judge who is the only candidate for mayor this fall, said it’s premature to make any judgments.The meeting came after Kansas Department of Revenue spokesperson Zack Denney said it's legal to access the driver's license database online to check the status of a person's license using information obtained independently. The department's Division of Vehicles issues licenses.“The website is public-facing, and anyone can use it,” he said.Meyer said the newspaper plans to file a lawsuit over the raid of its offices and his home.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation continues to examine the newspaper's actions. The KBI reports to state Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, while the Department of Revenue is under Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's authority.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-marion-county-record-bead3f49d323c784d40154067141dc7c">Legal experts believe</a>&nbsp;the police raid on the newspaper violated a federal privacy law or a state law shielding journalists from having to identify sources or turn over unpublished material to law enforcement.Meyer has noted that among the items seized were a computer tower and personal cellphone of a reporter who was uninvolved in the dispute with the local restaurant owner — but who had been investigating why Cody left a Kansas City, Missouri, police captain's job in April before becoming Marion police chief.