KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man who claims he was framed for a 2002 murder alleges in a federal lawsuit that the Kansas Department of Corrections is not providing proper medical treatment for his terminal cancer.

Lawyers for John Keith Calvin, 56, said in an emergency filing last week that the corrections department refuses to give Calvin intravenous nourishment he needs while he fights stage 4 colon cancer, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article270772607.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>&nbsp;Thursday.

The lawsuit asks a judge to require the corrections department to send Calvin to a hospital that can provide necessary care. His attorneys say he has lost 70 pounds in the past three months and will “quickly die” without court intervention. Calvin is eligible for parole in May.

The Department of Corrections did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.

According to the complaint, Calvin was moved in November to a medical center in Wichita after he had blood in his stool and serious abdominal pain. Doctors planned to perform surgery but did not do so after realizing Calvin was “too full of cancer,” and he was discharged without further treatment.

Calvin was hospitalized again in December after a tube that collects urine detached, causing it to drain into his body.

During both hospitalizations, corrections officials refused to tell his lawyers and family where he was being treated, according to the lawsuit.

“The KDOC’s active hiding of Mr. Calvin, and the KDOC’s refusal to allow his attorneys to speak with him, is interfering with their efforts to adequately and effectively advocate on his behalf,” his lawyers wrote.

Calvin was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder and attempted robbery in the Dec. 12, 2002, killing of John Coates in Kansas City, Kansas.

Calvin’s co-defendant, Melvin Lee White Jr., who took a plea deal and served a five-year sentence, testified that he killed Coates himself. He said Calvin was with him at the time but didn't know White planned to kill Coates, according to court records.

Calvin's attorneys also allege that he was framed by former detective Roger Golubski, who has been accused by federal prosecutors and civil rights groups of framing Black citizens and sexually harassing Black women and girls for years in Kansas City, Kansas.

Golubski currently is on house arrest after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-civil-rights-violations-c465a1483c9295eb465847fb8c3463eb">indicted in September</a>&nbsp;on federal civil rights charges accusing him of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a woman and a teenager between 1998 and 2002. He was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-337f9df63faf6c5ff8d3d50623b902c2">indicted in November</a>&nbsp;on charges alleging he was part of a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls at a Kansas City, Kansas, apartment complex between 1996 and 1998.

Golubski has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Calvin is represented by lawyers who have sought investigations of Golubski or advocated for his other alleged victims.

After more then 19 years in prison, his daughters Kiardra Calvin and Jalisa Bluford told the Star they hope he can be moved to a facility in time to see his family, including grandchildren he has not met.

“We’re all walking on eggshells on a day to day basis,” Bluford said. “We don’t know how long he has to live. We just put it in God’s hands.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672953153801.png" alt="Calvin- has convictions for murder, robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Calvin- has convictions for murder, robbery and theft, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man who claims he was framed for a 2002 murder alleges in a federal lawsuit that the Kansas Department of Corrections is not providing proper medical treatment for his terminal cancer.Lawyers for John Keith Calvin, 56, said in an emergency filing last week that the corrections department refuses to give Calvin intravenous nourishment he needs while he fights stage 4 colon cancer, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article270772607.html#storylink=cpy">reported</a>&nbsp;Thursday.The lawsuit asks a judge to require the corrections department to send Calvin to a hospital that can provide necessary care. His attorneys say he has lost 70 pounds in the past three months and will “quickly die” without court intervention. Calvin is eligible for parole in May.The Department of Corrections did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.According to the complaint, Calvin was moved in November to a medical center in Wichita after he had blood in his stool and serious abdominal pain. Doctors planned to perform surgery but did not do so after realizing Calvin was “too full of cancer,” and he was discharged without further treatment.Calvin was hospitalized again in December after a tube that collects urine detached, causing it to drain into his body.During both hospitalizations, corrections officials refused to tell his lawyers and family where he was being treated, according to the lawsuit.“The KDOC’s active hiding of Mr. Calvin, and the KDOC’s refusal to allow his attorneys to speak with him, is interfering with their efforts to adequately and effectively advocate on his behalf,” his lawyers wrote.Calvin was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder and attempted robbery in the Dec. 12, 2002, killing of John Coates in Kansas City, Kansas.Calvin’s co-defendant, Melvin Lee White Jr., who took a plea deal and served a five-year sentence, testified that he killed Coates himself. He said Calvin was with him at the time but didn't know White planned to kill Coates, according to court records.Calvin's attorneys also allege that he was framed by former detective Roger Golubski, who has been accused by federal prosecutors and civil rights groups of framing Black citizens and sexually harassing Black women and girls for years in Kansas City, Kansas.Golubski currently is on house arrest after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-civil-rights-violations-c465a1483c9295eb465847fb8c3463eb">indicted in September</a>&nbsp;on federal civil rights charges accusing him of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a woman and a teenager between 1998 and 2002. He was also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-kansas-city-indictments-337f9df63faf6c5ff8d3d50623b902c2">indicted in November</a>&nbsp;on charges alleging he was part of a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls at a Kansas City, Kansas, apartment complex between 1996 and 1998.Golubski has pleaded not guilty to all charges.Calvin is represented by lawyers who have sought investigations of Golubski or advocated for his other alleged victims.After more then 19 years in prison, his daughters Kiardra Calvin and Jalisa Bluford told the Star they hope he can be moved to a facility in time to see his family, including grandchildren he has not met.“We’re all walking on eggshells on a day to day basis,” Bluford said. “We don’t know how long he has to live. We just put it in God’s hands.”

Kansas inmate alleges he is being denied cancer treatment

WICHITA—Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released an updated Kansas Employment Forecast.

Uncertainty about an economic recession and inflation expectations has plagued the U.S. economy in 2022. The Bureau of Economic Analysis's preliminary estimates of Gross Domestic Product indicated significant declines, which sparked concerns about a recession. Those estimates have been revised upward but still, show losses. The third quarter estimates, however, have a significant rebound in the economy of 3.2%. An alternative measure of the economy that the Center has recently followed more closely is Gross Domestic Income (GDI). It too has a small decline in the first half of the year with a strong rebound in the third quarter. Based on these two estimates, the U.S. economy was on shaky ground in the first half of 2022 as it dealt with the fallout of the Russian invasion, increased energy prices, and residual COVID effects.

Unlike the nation, Kansas's economy grew in the first quarter of 2022 by 2.6% at an annualized rate due to agriculture, manufacturing, and management of companies. The state declined in the second quarter and rebounded in the third quarter with an annualized growth rate of 1.9%. Agriculture and manufacturing remain the stabilizing forces in Kansas.

In 2021, Kansas' employment grew by 1.1%, adding over 14,717 jobs, which is considered strong growth. In the first half of 2022, however, Kansas added 17,400 jobs as firms fiercely competed for labor. As a result of the tightening labor market and the deliberate slowdown of the U.S., the Center's forecast is for employment growth to slow down to 0.6% in 2023.

The majority of expected growth for Kansas in 2023 is within the production sectors, increasing 1.3% and adding 3,220 jobs. The natural resources, mining, and construction sector is projected to have the second-highest growth in employment, expanding by 1.2%. The durables manufacturing industry is forecast to grow the fastest with 2.2%, which is driven by the aerospace industry and multiple plant locations and expansions. Non-durable manufacturing is expected to moderate in 2023 and 2024 after several years of robust growth.

Trade, transportation, and utility employment are forecast to expand 0.3%, increasing by 545 jobs. The slowing growth within this industry is driven primarily by the persistent inflation eroding household purchasing power and its effects on the retail subsector. The transportation, warehousing, and logistics portion of the industry had mixed market conditions. Within Kansas, the sub-sector expanded but had several setbacks to global supply chain issues.

The service sectors are projected to account for 42% of all job growth in Kansas in 2023, adding more than 3,700 jobs and increasing by 0.6%. Professional and business services are expected to rise the most within the services industry, with 1.5% in 2023 and 1.6% in 2024. On the other hand, financial activities are anticipated to decline by 3.1% in 2022 as the sector struggles to retain employees within the tight labor market.

The household labor market conditions remain robust as employers continue adding jobs throughout 2022. Labor force is anticipated to expand by 0.3% in 2023 as firms continue to post more job openings. The growth will put further pressure on the market and will likely decrease unemployment over the next two years.

The value of production of all goods and services within Kansas increased by 2.9% in 2021. Although there was a second-quarter decline, the state is expected to continue its recovery with a total growth of 2.4% in 2022. The growth momentum is expected to continue in the following two years, with an increase of 2.2% and 2.6%. Growth sectors include manufacturing, mining, transportation, and management of companies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673006151808.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA—Wichita State University's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has released an updated Kansas Employment Forecast.Uncertainty about an economic recession and inflation expectations has plagued the U.S. economy in 2022. The Bureau of Economic Analysis's preliminary estimates of Gross Domestic Product indicated significant declines, which sparked concerns about a recession. Those estimates have been revised upward but still, show losses. The third quarter estimates, however, have a significant rebound in the economy of 3.2%. An alternative measure of the economy that the Center has recently followed more closely is Gross Domestic Income (GDI). It too has a small decline in the first half of the year with a strong rebound in the third quarter. Based on these two estimates, the U.S. economy was on shaky ground in the first half of 2022 as it dealt with the fallout of the Russian invasion, increased energy prices, and residual COVID effects.Unlike the nation, Kansas's economy grew in the first quarter of 2022 by 2.6% at an annualized rate due to agriculture, manufacturing, and management of companies. The state declined in the second quarter and rebounded in the third quarter with an annualized growth rate of 1.9%. Agriculture and manufacturing remain the stabilizing forces in Kansas.In 2021, Kansas' employment grew by 1.1%, adding over 14,717 jobs, which is considered strong growth. In the first half of 2022, however, Kansas added 17,400 jobs as firms fiercely competed for labor. As a result of the tightening labor market and the deliberate slowdown of the U.S., the Center's forecast is for employment growth to slow down to 0.6% in 2023.The majority of expected growth for Kansas in 2023 is within the production sectors, increasing 1.3% and adding 3,220 jobs. The natural resources, mining, and construction sector is projected to have the second-highest growth in employment, expanding by 1.2%. The durables manufacturing industry is forecast to grow the fastest with 2.2%, which is driven by the aerospace industry and multiple plant locations and expansions. Non-durable manufacturing is expected to moderate in 2023 and 2024 after several years of robust growth.Trade, transportation, and utility employment are forecast to expand 0.3%, increasing by 545 jobs. The slowing growth within this industry is driven primarily by the persistent inflation eroding household purchasing power and its effects on the retail subsector. The transportation, warehousing, and logistics portion of the industry had mixed market conditions. Within Kansas, the sub-sector expanded but had several setbacks to global supply chain issues.The service sectors are projected to account for 42% of all job growth in Kansas in 2023, adding more than 3,700 jobs and increasing by 0.6%. Professional and business services are expected to rise the most within the services industry, with 1.5% in 2023 and 1.6% in 2024. On the other hand, financial activities are anticipated to decline by 3.1% in 2022 as the sector struggles to retain employees within the tight labor market.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673006229645.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The household labor market conditions remain robust as employers continue adding jobs throughout 2022. Labor force is anticipated to expand by 0.3% in 2023 as firms continue to post more job openings. The growth will put further pressure on the market and will likely decrease unemployment over the next two years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673006269405.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The value of production of all goods and services within Kansas increased by 2.9% in 2021. Although there was a second-quarter decline, the state is expected to continue its recovery with a total growth of 2.4% in 2022. The growth momentum is expected to continue in the following two years, with an increase of 2.2% and 2.6%. Growth sectors include manufacturing, mining, transportation, and management of companies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673006306621.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

WSU Report: Employment growth will slow in 2023

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-top-election-officer-releases-plan-for-new-legislation-emphasizes-voter-security/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Kansas election laws may be overhauled again this year with new 
legislation geared toward clearing up confusion with state voting 
processes.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the 
state’s top elections officer, said he planned to introduce legislation 
to update state election codes and simplify state election laws this 
year, following confusion over rules and regulation in past elections.

“Over the past year, our agency has 
reviewed lessons learned from past elections and best practices from 
other states,” Schwab said in a news release. “This legislation will 
improve election administration processes, reduce the burden on county 
election staff and protect election integrity and transparency.”

Schwab said voting privacy and 
security would also be priorities for him in the upcoming legislative 
session. He plans to propose legislation that would determine standards 
for criminal election activities, firm up ballot privacy measures and 
better define voter intimidation.

Davis Hammet, founder of the voter 
advocacy group Loud Light, said Schwab’s legislative agenda could mean 
anything at this point, because the wording of Schwab’s agenda isn’t 
specific.

“It is sort of so generic that it can
 mean a lot of things,” Hammet said. “It can mean things that aren’t 
problematic at all, or it could mean things that are extremely 
problematic. And we’ll just have to wait to actually see that bill 
language.”

Kansas election security has been an 
increasingly controversial subject in the past few years, with 
Republicans on a national and local level denying the results of the 
2020 elections and casting doubts on Kansas’ own election security.

Schwab has bucked this trend by 
repeatedly upholding the security of Kansas elections, including in the 
2022 midterm elections. Other Kansas Republicans have called for more 
stringent voting security measures, despite a lack of evidence 
confirming widespread voter fraud.

Kansans have expressed discontent 
with recent more restrictive legislation and redistricting that many 
felt blocked voting access. Voters said 2021 legislation, specifically 
House Bills <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2183/">2183</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2332/">2332</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/20/kansas-voters-with-disabilities-blocked-by-restrictive-legislation-voting-rights-advocates-say/">blocked voting access</a>.

HB2183 made it illegal for one person to deliver more than 10 advance voting ballots on behalf of other voters.

The bill also made handling a voter’s
 ballot a misdemeanor crime for people who aren’t election officials, 
unless it’s on behalf of a family member, and prohibits people from 
delivering advance voting ballots on behalf of other people without a 
signed written statement and signature verification.

HB2332 requires voters to have a residential address meeting certain requirements in order to register to vote.

Hammet said Kansas election laws had 
been damaged by recent election fraud fears, and he expects to see a 
continued distrust in the electoral process reflected in statewide 
legislation.

“We started making some modest 
improvements in election laws, really pro-voter improvements, until 
about two years ago, and then after the 2020 Big Lie, everything got 
bizarre,” Hammet said. “And I expect that to continue, unfortunately. I 
think there’s a lot of legitimate issues in Kansas election law that 
need to be addressed, but it’s going to be hard to address them when all
 the oxygen is taken out by sort of conspiracy theories like we’ve seen 
the last two years.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673020008792.png" alt="Kansas election security has been questioned by residents who believe the 2020 presidential election was rigged. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas election security has been questioned by residents who believe the 2020 presidential election was rigged. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-top-election-officer-releases-plan-for-new-legislation-emphasizes-voter-security/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Kansas election laws may be overhauled again this year with new 
legislation geared toward clearing up confusion with state voting 
processes.Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the 
state’s top elections officer, said he planned to introduce legislation 
to update state election codes and simplify state election laws this 
year, following confusion over rules and regulation in past elections.“Over the past year, our agency has 
reviewed lessons learned from past elections and best practices from 
other states,” Schwab said in a news release. “This legislation will 
improve election administration processes, reduce the burden on county 
election staff and protect election integrity and transparency.”Schwab said voting privacy and 
security would also be priorities for him in the upcoming legislative 
session. He plans to propose legislation that would determine standards 
for criminal election activities, firm up ballot privacy measures and 
better define voter intimidation.Davis Hammet, founder of the voter 
advocacy group Loud Light, said Schwab’s legislative agenda could mean 
anything at this point, because the wording of Schwab’s agenda isn’t 
specific.“It is sort of so generic that it can
 mean a lot of things,” Hammet said. “It can mean things that aren’t 
problematic at all, or it could mean things that are extremely 
problematic. And we’ll just have to wait to actually see that bill 
language.”Kansas election security has been an 
increasingly controversial subject in the past few years, with 
Republicans on a national and local level denying the results of the 
2020 elections and casting doubts on Kansas’ own election security.Schwab has bucked this trend by 
repeatedly upholding the security of Kansas elections, including in the 
2022 midterm elections. Other Kansas Republicans have called for more 
stringent voting security measures, despite a lack of evidence 
confirming widespread voter fraud.Kansans have expressed discontent 
with recent more restrictive legislation and redistricting that many 
felt blocked voting access. Voters said 2021 legislation, specifically 
House Bills <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2183/">2183</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.com/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2332/">2332</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/20/kansas-voters-with-disabilities-blocked-by-restrictive-legislation-voting-rights-advocates-say/">blocked voting access</a>.HB2183 made it illegal for one person to deliver more than 10 advance voting ballots on behalf of other voters.The bill also made handling a voter’s
 ballot a misdemeanor crime for people who aren’t election officials, 
unless it’s on behalf of a family member, and prohibits people from 
delivering advance voting ballots on behalf of other people without a 
signed written statement and signature verification.HB2332 requires voters to have a residential address meeting certain requirements in order to register to vote.Hammet said Kansas election laws had 
been damaged by recent election fraud fears, and he expects to see a 
continued distrust in the electoral process reflected in statewide 
legislation.“We started making some modest 
improvements in election laws, really pro-voter improvements, until 
about two years ago, and then after the 2020 Big Lie, everything got 
bizarre,” Hammet said. “And I expect that to continue, unfortunately. I 
think there’s a lot of legitimate issues in Kansas election law that 
need to be addressed, but it’s going to be hard to address them when all
 the oxygen is taken out by sort of conspiracy theories like we’ve seen 
the last two years.”

Sec. of State releases plan to modernize Kansas election laws

KANSAS CITY —The Kansas City Zoo announced Thursday a new baby&nbsp; arrived.&nbsp; Zuri, a critically endangered eastern black rhinoceros, gave birth to an adorable calf in the early morning hours on December 31.

The rhinos’ animal care specialists report the calf is walking, nursing, and even playing spar, and that Zuri is a patient and attentive first-time mother. 

The barn is being kept quiet with limited human interaction to allow them plenty of time to bond, which is a very important process. Once mother and calf have had that bonding time, a neonatal exam will be performed in the coming weeks to confirm gender and overall health. 

The zoo will report the gender then, and there will be an opportunity for the public to participate in naming the calf.

There are only about 740 of this type of rhino left in the wild so this birth is also important for the subspecies as a whole. We are thrilled to introduce this new arrival to Kansas City!Photo by Julia, Senior Animal Care Specialist

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673023011586.png" alt="Photo by Julia, Senior Animal Care Specialist, courtesy Kansas City Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Julia, Senior Animal Care Specialist, courtesy Kansas City Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The Kansas City Zoo announced Thursday a new baby&nbsp; arrived.&nbsp; Zuri, a critically endangered eastern black rhinoceros, gave birth to an adorable calf in the early morning hours on December 31.The rhinos’ animal care specialists report the calf is walking, nursing, and even playing spar, and that Zuri is a patient and attentive first-time mother. The barn is being kept quiet with limited human interaction to allow them plenty of time to bond, which is a very important process. Once mother and calf have had that bonding time, a neonatal exam will be performed in the coming weeks to confirm gender and overall health. The zoo will report the gender then, and there will be an opportunity for the public to participate in naming the calf.There are only about 740 of this type of rhino left in the wild so this birth is also important for the subspecies as a whole. We are thrilled to introduce this new arrival to Kansas City!Photo by Julia, Senior Animal Care Specialist

Critically endangered rhino calf born at Kansas City Zoo

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/douglas-county-halts-prosecution-of-murder-case-that-defense-attorney-says-used-junk-science">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA — The Douglas County district attorney will not
 retry a Eudora woman for murder after questionable conclusions from a 
medical examiner led to concern that she was improperly convicted.

Carrody
 Buchhorn, a day care worker, was convicted in 2018 for killing 
9-month-old Ollie Ortiz while in Buchhorn’s care. The case hinged on 
testimony from medical examiner Dr. Erik Mitchell. He said Buchhorn had 
stomped on the baby's head. But lawyers for Buchhorn say Mitchell’s 
theory is based on junk science because the baby had no signs of brain 
trauma.

They contend, and independent reports say, the baby died of natural causes and Buchhorn tried to give CPR.

This
 case went to trial and a jury convicted Buchhorn of reckless 
second-degree murder before Douglas County DA Suzanne Valdez won 
election to office. Buchhorn appealed and her conviction was later 
overturned.

The Douglas County DA requested time to bring in an 
independent expert to review the case to see if it was worth pursuing 
again. That report found conflicting information, which convinced the 
DA’s office to back off of prosecution.

“While there are 
conflicting findings between the state’s two retained experts, as well 
as other evidence to support prosecution, we do not believe the evidence
 is likely to meet our burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable 
doubt,” Valdez said in a news release.

Mitchell has spent a decade
 testifying in just under a dozen Kansas counties, and his testimony has
 helped lead to murder convictions. But news articles, defendants and 
others have argued he doesn't always get it right. In the Ortiz case, 
the state argued that Buchhorn had her day in court and the jury found 
Mitchell’s theory more believable. But other cases Mitchell worked on 
have been overturned.

In 2021, the <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/melinda-henneberger/article253637688.html" target="_blank">Kansas City Star</a>
 reported that one of Mitchell’s autopsies misidentified an injury, 
which was an important piece of evidence used to wrongly convict someone
 of murder. That person has since been freed.

In 1993, Mitchell 
agreed to resign as the Onondaga County, New York, medical examiner 
because he removed organs without consent and improperly stored 
skeletons, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/20/nyregion/syracuse-medical-examiner-agrees-to-quit-after-inquiry.html" target="_blank">the New York Times reported then</a>.

Valdez
 said the DA’s office sought out an independent medical expert because 
of Mitchell’s checkered past. While Mitchell is able to testify in 
cases, Valdez said her office has never asked him to do so.

“I 
chose not to use Dr. Mitchell as a witness of any sort due to his 
questionable professional reputation,” Valdez said. “If there is any 
consolation to be had by those who mourn the loss of Ollie, it can be 
found in the fact that many trained professionals worked tirelessly to 
pursue justice, and Ollie will never be forgotten.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672955037881.png" alt="Arguments before the Kansas Supreme Court in Buchhorn v. State of Kansas. Screenshot" />
 <figcaption>Arguments before the Kansas Supreme Court in Buchhorn v. State of Kansas. Screenshot</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/douglas-county-halts-prosecution-of-murder-case-that-defense-attorney-says-used-junk-science">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA — The Douglas County district attorney will not
 retry a Eudora woman for murder after questionable conclusions from a 
medical examiner led to concern that she was improperly convicted.Carrody
 Buchhorn, a day care worker, was convicted in 2018 for killing 
9-month-old Ollie Ortiz while in Buchhorn’s care. The case hinged on 
testimony from medical examiner Dr. Erik Mitchell. He said Buchhorn had 
stomped on the baby's head. But lawyers for Buchhorn say Mitchell’s 
theory is based on junk science because the baby had no signs of brain 
trauma.They contend, and independent reports say, the baby died of natural causes and Buchhorn tried to give CPR.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628968195734.png" alt="Buchhorn-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Buchhorn-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>This
 case went to trial and a jury convicted Buchhorn of reckless 
second-degree murder before Douglas County DA Suzanne Valdez won 
election to office. Buchhorn appealed and her conviction was later 
overturned.The Douglas County DA requested time to bring in an 
independent expert to review the case to see if it was worth pursuing 
again. That report found conflicting information, which convinced the 
DA’s office to back off of prosecution.“While there are 
conflicting findings between the state’s two retained experts, as well 
as other evidence to support prosecution, we do not believe the evidence
 is likely to meet our burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable 
doubt,” Valdez said in a news release.Mitchell has spent a decade
 testifying in just under a dozen Kansas counties, and his testimony has
 helped lead to murder convictions. But news articles, defendants and 
others have argued he doesn't always get it right. In the Ortiz case, 
the state argued that Buchhorn had her day in court and the jury found 
Mitchell’s theory more believable. But other cases Mitchell worked on 
have been overturned.In 2021, the <a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/melinda-henneberger/article253637688.html" target="_blank">Kansas City Star</a>
 reported that one of Mitchell’s autopsies misidentified an injury, 
which was an important piece of evidence used to wrongly convict someone
 of murder. That person has since been freed.In 1993, Mitchell 
agreed to resign as the Onondaga County, New York, medical examiner 
because he removed organs without consent and improperly stored 
skeletons, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/20/nyregion/syracuse-medical-examiner-agrees-to-quit-after-inquiry.html" target="_blank">the New York Times reported then</a>.Valdez
 said the DA’s office sought out an independent medical expert because 
of Mitchell’s checkered past. While Mitchell is able to testify in 
cases, Valdez said her office has never asked him to do so.“I 
chose not to use Dr. Mitchell as a witness of any sort due to his 
questionable professional reputation,” Valdez said. “If there is any 
consolation to be had by those who mourn the loss of Ollie, it can be 
found in the fact that many trained professionals worked tirelessly to 
pursue justice, and Ollie will never be forgotten.”

'Junk science' claim derails Kansas trial over baby's death

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two years to the day since U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-hawley-electoral-college-capitol-6c7aa5820b31404f528025f12105a600">Josh Hawley's now-famous raised-fist salute</a>&nbsp;to rioters at the U.S. Capitol, a Marine veteran who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2022 announced Friday that he'll try to unseat Hawley in 2024.

Lucas Kunce, 40, served 13 years in the Marines. A video released by his campaign shows the photo of Hawley with his fist raised on Jan. 6, 2021 — a photo that drew strong criticism from some, but also appears on coffee mugs that the senator sells. Kunce's video shows security camera footage of Hawley running through the Capitol hallway in the chaotic aftermath of the attack.

“I swear, this coward’s always running from something,” Kunce says in the video. “When things get tough, Missourians deserve a U.S. senator who will stand up for them, not run away.”

Phone and email messages left with Hawley’s campaign were not immediately returned. A spokeswoman in Hawley’s Senate office declined comment.

Kunce was among several candidates running for Senate in 2022 after two-term incumbent Roy Blunt announced his plans to retire, and seemed headed for the Democratic nomination before the late entry of Anheuser-Busch brewing heir Trudy Busch Valentine. She narrowly defeated Kunce in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-missouri-senate-b1a514d69210c507c0f4812550aeb80f">August primary</a>, then was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-91f950681a72abe1ea6bc20f45bf42ec">soundly defeated by Republican Eric Schmitt</a>&nbsp;in November.

Kunce faces long odds in 2024. Missouri, a swing state a generation ago, has moved decidedly to the right over the past decade. Every statewide elected official in Missouri is now a Republican.

Kunce did show significant fundraising skills last year, outraising every candidate, even Republicans. He fashioned himself as a populist and his campaign announcement for 2024 cited his military history and his family's financial hardships when he grew up in Jefferson City.

Hawley, 43, is in his first term as senator. He was elected Missouri attorney general in 2016 before successfully running for Senate in 2018.

The week before the attack on the U.S. Capitol two years ago, Hawley became the first Republican senator to announce he would object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election. After the release of the photo showing him with his fist raised, a one-time mentor, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth of Missouri, called supporting Hawley “the worst decision I've ever made in my life.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658491328627.png" alt="Senator Josh Hawley-photo courtesy Jan. 6 committee" />
 <figcaption>Senator Josh Hawley-photo courtesy Jan. 6 committee</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Two years to the day since U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-hawley-electoral-college-capitol-6c7aa5820b31404f528025f12105a600">Josh Hawley's now-famous raised-fist salute</a>&nbsp;to rioters at the U.S. Capitol, a Marine veteran who ran unsuccessfully for Senate in 2022 announced Friday that he'll try to unseat Hawley in 2024.Lucas Kunce, 40, served 13 years in the Marines. A video released by his campaign shows the photo of Hawley with his fist raised on Jan. 6, 2021 — a photo that drew strong criticism from some, but also appears on coffee mugs that the senator sells. Kunce's video shows security camera footage of Hawley running through the Capitol hallway in the chaotic aftermath of the attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658453847683.png" alt="Hawley-photo Jan. 6 Committee" />
 <figcaption>Hawley-photo Jan. 6 Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>“I swear, this coward’s always running from something,” Kunce says in the video. “When things get tough, Missourians deserve a U.S. senator who will stand up for them, not run away.”Phone and email messages left with Hawley’s campaign were not immediately returned. A spokeswoman in Hawley’s Senate office declined comment.Kunce was among several candidates running for Senate in 2022 after two-term incumbent Roy Blunt announced his plans to retire, and seemed headed for the Democratic nomination before the late entry of Anheuser-Busch brewing heir Trudy Busch Valentine. She narrowly defeated Kunce in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-missouri-senate-b1a514d69210c507c0f4812550aeb80f">August primary</a>, then was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-91f950681a72abe1ea6bc20f45bf42ec">soundly defeated by Republican Eric Schmitt</a>&nbsp;in November.Kunce faces long odds in 2024. Missouri, a swing state a generation ago, has moved decidedly to the right over the past decade. Every statewide elected official in Missouri is now a Republican.Kunce did show significant fundraising skills last year, outraising every candidate, even Republicans. He fashioned himself as a populist and his campaign announcement for 2024 cited his military history and his family's financial hardships when he grew up in Jefferson City.Hawley, 43, is in his first term as senator. He was elected Missouri attorney general in 2016 before successfully running for Senate in 2018.The week before the attack on the U.S. Capitol two years ago, Hawley became the first Republican senator to announce he would object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election. After the release of the photo showing him with his fist raised, a one-time mentor, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth of Missouri, called supporting Hawley “the worst decision I've ever made in my life.”

On Capitol attack anniversary, challenge of Senate seat announced

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged kidnappings involving three juveniles near a Kansas elementary school have identified the suspect as 21-year-old Manasseh Ward of Wichita.

Just before 4pm Wednesday, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a bi-racial man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

 The man attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. The man let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.

Just before 9a.m. Thursday, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.

A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..

While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; He is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20063339">on requested charges</a> of&nbsp;aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated indecent liberties, aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to online jail records.

In September, police arrested Ward on requested charges of of aggravated domestic battery, according to Sedgwick County booking report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673010286685.png" alt="Ward-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ward-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged kidnappings involving three juveniles near a Kansas elementary school have identified the suspect as 21-year-old Manasseh Ward of Wichita.Just before 4pm Wednesday, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a bi-racial man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. The man attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. The man let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.Just before 9a.m. Thursday, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; He is being held <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20063339">on requested charges</a> of&nbsp;aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated indecent liberties, aggravated assault and criminal threat, according to online jail records.In September, police arrested Ward on requested charges of of aggravated domestic battery, according to Sedgwick County booking report.

Kan. man accused of kidnapping, assault of children near school

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rest easy, America ... we got this. What others see as dysfunction and chaos, many of Rep. Kevin McCarthy's opponents see as democracy at work. It's the longest fight for control of the House gavel since&nbsp; 1855 when it dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots, during the run-up to the Civil War.

Now some of the roughly 20 Republicans declining to vote for McCarthy as the next House speaker are reveling in the moment, depicting their intransigence as a historic chance to correct the balance of power in Washington and give rank-and-file members more say in shaping legislation.

And while most House members are frustrated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mccarthy-vote-updates-7657a07f1545bf53079c9c9f6cef3a45?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">with the repeating ballots</a>&nbsp;for speaker, fearing what it may portend for the next two years of Republican control, the lawmakers opposing McCarthy show no signs of giving up. In fact, they appear to be enjoying themselves.

“This is actually, a really beautiful thing," said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., one of those opposing McCarthy, as the House prepared Thursday to take its ninth vote on who should be the chamber's next speaker.

Boebert said the action on the House floor was the most debate she's seen in her two years in Congress, “and I love it."

Moments earlier, Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., shared her enthusiasm.

“We have had more discussion and debate over the last three days than I have participated in on this floor for the past two years," Rosendale said. “And it's healthy. It absolutely promotes the collegiality that everyone is striving to obtain."

But the vast majority of members-elect — they still can't take the oath of office — are ready to move on. For them, this week's logjam in the House is preventing the chamber from focusing on the kind of kitchen table issues that voters sent them to Washington to solve. Many fear it could be the start of a new normal filled with gridlock and failure to get bills passed.

Republicans who served in the military gathered Wednesday to voice their frustrations. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, said there are a variety of missions some of the veterans serving in Congress want to accomplish, from cutting the flow of fentanyl to cutting spending.

“I don't think that the American people care about any of the so-called missions happening this week — rules changes, who gets more power, who serves on what committee. I can't think of one American who gives a damn about any of that," Crenshaw said.

Republicans expected to lead House committees focused on defense and homeland security issued a joint statement saying the impasse was harming national security.

“The Biden administration is going unchecked and there is no oversight of the White House, State Department, Department of Defense, or the intelligence community. We cannot let personal politics place the safety and security of the United States at risk," said the statement from Republican Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Mike Rogers of Alabama and Mike Turner of Ohio.

And that was just from the Republican side. Democratic lawmakers were just as unsparing.

“First time in 100 years that there is no Congress because of ambition, or power grabs, or dysfunction,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-hakeem-jeffries-congress-government-and-politics-e6dee438b2cfd776b70ff29495072ab5">who will be the chamber’s top-ranking Democrat.</a>&nbsp;“This is not a partisan criticism. Understand this. It’s embarrassing. It’s dysfunction. It’s dangerous. It’s stupid. Those are words that Republican have used to describe what’s going on in the House Republican conference right now.”

McCarthy's opponents are taking the criticism in stride. They keep finding different people to float for speaker as they enthusiastically force one vote after another.

Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., said his message to constituents is this: “If you think the challenges to America are maybe even existential, are really bad, this is exactly what you should want to see happen."

McCarthy's struggle so far marks the first time in 100 years that no nominee for House speaker could win the gavel on the first vote. Back in 1923, members of the Republican Party's progressive wing agreed to vote for Rep. Frederick Gillett of Massachusetts on the 9th ballot only after GOP leaders agreed to accept various procedural reforms those members favored.

Few seem to have enjoyed this week’s battles over legislative process more than Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. He said the House is working just as it should, pointing to the success that some Republicans had a century ago in generating rule changes through fights over the speakership.

“The idea that we're having multiple rounds of votes on the speaker, it was commonplace in the 19th century," Roy said.

Roy has long complained that lawmakers don't have the chance to amend bills on the House floor, which often leaves them with the choice of voting yes or no on a product put together by a select few legislative leaders. He said changes being sought by the McCarthy holdouts are “all about tools of empowerment” for the rank-and-file in Congress.

“I am open to whatever will give me the power to defend my constituents against this God-forsaken city,” Roy said.

The House Freedom Caucus, which generally is made up of the GOP's most conservative members, has proposed that all legislation on the floor be open to amendment votes. That would dramatically slow the legislative process, possibly requiring the House to spend days or weeks focused on a bill.

The group has demanded that, if amendments are limited to some degree, that any Republican amendment supported by at least 10% of the Republican conference be allowed to be debated and voted upon.

McCarthy opponents are also wanting to restore a House rule that would allow any member to offer a “motion to vacate the chair," a procedure that forces a vote on whether to remove the speaker. They say it promotes accountability. McCarthy, seeking support from some conservatives, countered with a proposal that would allow such a vote with the support of five members.

The low threshold is troubling for some. Giving one lawmaker the power to force a vote on removing the speaker could become a common occurrence, predicted Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.

“How would you like to do this every week?" Bacon said, referring to the voting drama on the House floor. “I think that's the future with a few of these individuals."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672959722290.png" alt="The scene following Thursday's tenth vote to decide House speaker -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The scene following Thursday's tenth vote to decide House speaker -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Rest easy, America ... we got this. What others see as dysfunction and chaos, many of Rep. Kevin McCarthy's opponents see as democracy at work. It's the longest fight for control of the House gavel since&nbsp; 1855 when it dragged on for two months, with 133 ballots, during the run-up to the Civil War.Now some of the roughly 20 Republicans declining to vote for McCarthy as the next House speaker are reveling in the moment, depicting their intransigence as a historic chance to correct the balance of power in Washington and give rank-and-file members more say in shaping legislation.And while most House members are frustrated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mccarthy-vote-updates-7657a07f1545bf53079c9c9f6cef3a45?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_01">with the repeating ballots</a>&nbsp;for speaker, fearing what it may portend for the next two years of Republican control, the lawmakers opposing McCarthy show no signs of giving up. In fact, they appear to be enjoying themselves.“This is actually, a really beautiful thing," said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., one of those opposing McCarthy, as the House prepared Thursday to take its ninth vote on who should be the chamber's next speaker.Boebert said the action on the House floor was the most debate she's seen in her two years in Congress, “and I love it."Moments earlier, Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., shared her enthusiasm.“We have had more discussion and debate over the last three days than I have participated in on this floor for the past two years," Rosendale said. “And it's healthy. It absolutely promotes the collegiality that everyone is striving to obtain."But the vast majority of members-elect — they still can't take the oath of office — are ready to move on. For them, this week's logjam in the House is preventing the chamber from focusing on the kind of kitchen table issues that voters sent them to Washington to solve. Many fear it could be the start of a new normal filled with gridlock and failure to get bills passed.Republicans who served in the military gathered Wednesday to voice their frustrations. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, said there are a variety of missions some of the veterans serving in Congress want to accomplish, from cutting the flow of fentanyl to cutting spending.“I don't think that the American people care about any of the so-called missions happening this week — rules changes, who gets more power, who serves on what committee. I can't think of one American who gives a damn about any of that," Crenshaw said.Republicans expected to lead House committees focused on defense and homeland security issued a joint statement saying the impasse was harming national security.“The Biden administration is going unchecked and there is no oversight of the White House, State Department, Department of Defense, or the intelligence community. We cannot let personal politics place the safety and security of the United States at risk," said the statement from Republican Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Mike Rogers of Alabama and Mike Turner of Ohio.And that was just from the Republican side. Democratic lawmakers were just as unsparing.“First time in 100 years that there is no Congress because of ambition, or power grabs, or dysfunction,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-hakeem-jeffries-congress-government-and-politics-e6dee438b2cfd776b70ff29495072ab5">who will be the chamber’s top-ranking Democrat.</a>&nbsp;“This is not a partisan criticism. Understand this. It’s embarrassing. It’s dysfunction. It’s dangerous. It’s stupid. Those are words that Republican have used to describe what’s going on in the House Republican conference right now.”McCarthy's opponents are taking the criticism in stride. They keep finding different people to float for speaker as they enthusiastically force one vote after another.Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., said his message to constituents is this: “If you think the challenges to America are maybe even existential, are really bad, this is exactly what you should want to see happen."McCarthy's struggle so far marks the first time in 100 years that no nominee for House speaker could win the gavel on the first vote. Back in 1923, members of the Republican Party's progressive wing agreed to vote for Rep. Frederick Gillett of Massachusetts on the 9th ballot only after GOP leaders agreed to accept various procedural reforms those members favored.Few seem to have enjoyed this week’s battles over legislative process more than Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. He said the House is working just as it should, pointing to the success that some Republicans had a century ago in generating rule changes through fights over the speakership.“The idea that we're having multiple rounds of votes on the speaker, it was commonplace in the 19th century," Roy said.Roy has long complained that lawmakers don't have the chance to amend bills on the House floor, which often leaves them with the choice of voting yes or no on a product put together by a select few legislative leaders. He said changes being sought by the McCarthy holdouts are “all about tools of empowerment” for the rank-and-file in Congress.“I am open to whatever will give me the power to defend my constituents against this God-forsaken city,” Roy said.The House Freedom Caucus, which generally is made up of the GOP's most conservative members, has proposed that all legislation on the floor be open to amendment votes. That would dramatically slow the legislative process, possibly requiring the House to spend days or weeks focused on a bill.The group has demanded that, if amendments are limited to some degree, that any Republican amendment supported by at least 10% of the Republican conference be allowed to be debated and voted upon.McCarthy opponents are also wanting to restore a House rule that would allow any member to offer a “motion to vacate the chair," a procedure that forces a vote on whether to remove the speaker. They say it promotes accountability. McCarthy, seeking support from some conservatives, countered with a proposal that would allow such a vote with the support of five members.The low threshold is troubling for some. Giving one lawmaker the power to force a vote on removing the speaker could become a common occurrence, predicted Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.“How would you like to do this every week?" Bacon said, referring to the voting drama on the House floor. “I think that's the future with a few of these individuals."

House speaker's election now longest since before Civil War

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Fire crews worked two house fires on Thursday afternoon in Topeka that were intentionally started by trespassers.

Just before noon, crews responded to a house fire located at 722 SW Buchanan Street, according to city of Topeka spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.

The fire was extinguished, but not before the house sustained heavy fire damage.&nbsp;A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as incendiary; likely associated with trespassers.&nbsp;The total damage is estimated to be $20,000.

Just before 1p.m. crews responded to a house fire at 516 SW Lincoln Street. The house sustained heavy fire damage. Nearby homes were not damaged.&nbsp; The cause of the fire was Undetermined; likely associated with trespassers. The total damage is estimated to be $16,000, all of which is associated with the structure.

Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in either home. There were no injuries in the fires. The Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal assisted with this investigation of the fire SW Lincoln.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673006030882.png" alt="House fire on SW Lincoln-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>House fire on SW Lincoln-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY— Fire crews worked two house fires on Thursday afternoon in Topeka that were intentionally started by trespassers.Just before noon, crews responded to a house fire located at 722 SW Buchanan Street, according to city of Topeka spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.The fire was extinguished, but not before the house sustained heavy fire damage.&nbsp;A preliminary investigation indicates the cause of the fire as incendiary; likely associated with trespassers.&nbsp;The total damage is estimated to be $20,000.Just before 1p.m. crews responded to a house fire at 516 SW Lincoln Street. The house sustained heavy fire damage. Nearby homes were not damaged.&nbsp; The cause of the fire was Undetermined; likely associated with trespassers. The total damage is estimated to be $16,000, all of which is associated with the structure.Investigators did not find working smoke detectors in either home. There were no injuries in the fires. The Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal assisted with this investigation of the fire SW Lincoln.

Two Kansas house fires on Thursday started by trespassers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the Roller City incident that occurred on New Year’s Eve, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, officers working an off-duty job at Roller City in the 3200 block of S. Meridian in Wichita were requested by the business to remove a disruptive guest from the facility, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Management reported a 15-year-old girl had become upset and threatened staff at the business. Officers asked the girl to collect her belongings and leave. Still, she continued yelling threats toward employees and officers and refused to leave as a crowd gathered inside the business.

Officers repeatedly asked the girl to leave the business, and she attempted to strike an officer but missed. The officer then tried to take her into custody, and a physical altercation ensued.

During the altercation, as another officer assisted with attempting to take her into custody, a 16-year-old boy intervened by striking the second officer in the back of the head.

That officer then attempted to take the 16-year-old into custody, which resulted in an additional physical altercation. Officers requested additional patrol units to respond.

The 15-year-old and 16-year-old were both taken into custody and transported to Juvenile intake and assessment center.

The 15-year-old was booked on a requested charge of assault and one count of battery of a law enforcement officer, and one ordinance violation for aggressive and harassing contact. The 16- year-old was booked on a requested charge of battery of a law enforcement officer and two counts of obstruction, according to Macy.

The Wichita Police Department approached the Sheriff’s Office and requested assistance to avoid any perceived conflict.

After a preliminary review of the evidence, including the phone recording, the sheriff's investigators determined several witnesses to the incident didn’t provide a statement to law enforcement, according to Blick.&nbsp;

Investigators are asking that any individual who witnessed the incident, or citizen who knows of someone who witnessed the incident please contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office at 316 660-5300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672660262307.png" alt="Image of the altercation from a video posted online" />
 <figcaption>Image of the altercation from a video posted online</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation into the Roller City incident that occurred on New Year’s Eve, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, officers working an off-duty job at Roller City in the 3200 block of S. Meridian in Wichita were requested by the business to remove a disruptive guest from the facility, according to Officer Trevor Macy.Management reported a 15-year-old girl had become upset and threatened staff at the business. Officers asked the girl to collect her belongings and leave. Still, she continued yelling threats toward employees and officers and refused to leave as a crowd gathered inside the business.Officers repeatedly asked the girl to leave the business, and she attempted to strike an officer but missed. The officer then tried to take her into custody, and a physical altercation ensued.During the altercation, as another officer assisted with attempting to take her into custody, a 16-year-old boy intervened by striking the second officer in the back of the head.That officer then attempted to take the 16-year-old into custody, which resulted in an additional physical altercation. Officers requested additional patrol units to respond.The 15-year-old and 16-year-old were both taken into custody and transported to Juvenile intake and assessment center.The 15-year-old was booked on a requested charge of assault and one count of battery of a law enforcement officer, and one ordinance violation for aggressive and harassing contact. The 16- year-old was booked on a requested charge of battery of a law enforcement officer and two counts of obstruction, according to Macy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Wichita! If you have any information on the incident that occurred at Roller City on New Year&#39;s Eve please contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff&#39;s Officer at 316-660-5300.&mdash; Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaPolice/status/1611070155702038529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Wichita Police Department approached the Sheriff’s Office and requested assistance to avoid any perceived conflict.After a preliminary review of the evidence, including the phone recording, the sheriff's investigators determined several witnesses to the incident didn’t provide a statement to law enforcement, according to Blick.&nbsp;Investigators are asking that any individual who witnessed the incident, or citizen who knows of someone who witnessed the incident please contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office at 316 660-5300.-------------

Sheriff's office investigates Kan. teen altercation with officers

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday the U.S. would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the border from Mexico illegally, his boldest move yet to confront the arrivals of migrants that have spiraled since he took office two years ago.

(Click below to watch the President's comments)

The new rules expand on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-venezuela-caribbean-united-states-d251abc69009e89447cdddf058c162e7">an existing effort to stop Venezuelans</a>&nbsp;attempting to enter the U.S., which began in October and led to a dramatic drop in Venezuelans coming to the southern border. Together, they represent a major change to immigration rules that will stand even if the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-42-immigration-limits-supreme-court-updates-0494c30834fad66ce9c6057ea1605d89">Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health</a>&nbsp;law that allows U.S. authorities to turn away asylum-seekers.

“Do not, do not just show up at the border,” Biden said as he announced the changes, even as he acknowledged the hardships that lead many families to make the dangerous journey north.

“Stay where you are and apply legally from there,” he advised.

Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first trip to the southern border as president. From there, he will travel on to Mexico City to meet with North American leaders on Monday and Tuesday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-donald-trump-ap-top-news-guatemala-politics-23f6b9a087e841188c5484cd5cf04f3d">Homeland Security officials said they would begin</a>&nbsp;denying asylum to those who circumvent legal pathways and do not first ask for asylum in the country they traveled through en route to the U.S.

Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offer the ability to work legally, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks. Border crossings by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-john-roberts-9620ffd2acea851c5a6957eab0af763e">migrants from those four nations</a>&nbsp;have risen most sharply, with no easy way to quickly return them to their home countries.

“This new process is orderly,” Biden said. “It’s safe and humane, and it works.”

The move, while not unexpected, drew swift criticism from asylum and immigration advocates, who have had a rocky relationship with the president.

“President Biden correctly recognized today that seeking asylum is a legal right and spoke sympathetically about people fleeing persecution," said Jonathan Blazer, the American Civil Liberties Union’s director of border strategies. “But the plan he announced further ties his administration to the poisonous anti-immigrant policies of the Trump era instead of restoring fair access to asylum protections.”

Even with the health law restrictions in place, the president has seen the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-us-customs-and-border-protection-cuba-immigration-8fbba5bde9afca3f404eaa96bcfd136a">numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border</a>&nbsp;rise dramatically during his two years in office; there were more than 2.38 million stops during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take hard-line measures that would resemble those of the Trump administration.

That’s resulted in relentless criticism from Republicans who say the Democratic president is ineffective on border security, and the newly minted Republican House majority has promised congressional investigations on the matter.

The new policy could result in 360,000 people from these four nations lawfully entering the U.S. in a year, a huge number. But far more people from those countries have been attempting to cross into the U.S. on foot, by boat or swimming; migrants from those four countries were stopped 82,286 times in November alone.

Enyer Valbuena, a Venezuelan who was living in Tijuana, Mexico, after crossing the border illegally, said Thursday’s announcement came as no surprise but a blow nonetheless.

“This was coming. It’s getting more difficult all the time,” he said by text message.

Some Venezuelans waiting on Mexico’s border with the U.S. have been talking among themselves if Canada is an option, Valbuena said. He had been waiting for the outcome of the pandemic-related asylum ban before trying to enter the U.S. again and is seeking asylum in Mexico, which offers a much better future than Venezuela.

“If it becomes more difficult (to reach the U.S.), the best path is to get papers in Mexico,” said Valbuena, who currently works at a Tijuana factory.

Mexico has agreed to accept up to 30,000 migrants each month from the four countries who attempt to walk or swim across the U.S.-Mexico border and are turned back. Normally, these migrants would be returned to their country of origin, but the U.S. can not easily send back people from those four countries for a variety of reasons that include relations with the governments there.

Anyone coming to the U.S. is allowed to claim asylum, regardless of how they crossed the border, and migrants seeking a better life in the U.S. often pay smugglers the equivalent of thousands of dollars to deliver them across the dangerous Darien Gap.

But the requirements for granting asylum are narrow, and only about 30% of applications are granted. That has created a system in which migrants try to cross between ports of entry and are allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases. But there is a 2 million-case immigration court backlog, so cases often are not heard for years.

The only lasting way to change the system is through Congress, but a bipartisan congressional effort on new immigration laws failed shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede">Republicans took the House majority.</a>

“The actions we’re announcing will make things better, but will not fix the border problem completely," Biden said, in pressing lawmakers to act.

Under then-President Donald Trump, the U.S. required asylum seekers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-government-and-politics-5c7bb29c829d7f0711b23f9beb18755d">wait across the border in Mexico</a>. But clogs in the immigration system created long delays, leading to fetid, dangerous camps over the border where migrants were forced to wait. That system was ended under Biden, and the migrants who are returned to Mexico under the new rules will not be eligible for asylum.

Biden will also triple the number of refugees accepted to the U.S. from the Western Hemisphere, to 20,000 from Latin America and Caribbean, over the next two years. Refugees and asylum-seekers have to meet the same criteria to be allowed into the country, but they arrive through different means.

Border officials are also creating an online appointment portal to help reduce wait times at U.S. ports of entry for those coming legally. It will allow people to set up an appointment to come and ask to be allowed into the country.

At the U.S.-Mexico border, migrants have been denied a chance to seek asylum 2.5 million times since March 2020 under the Title 42 restrictions, introduced as an emergency health measure by Trump to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But there always has been criticism that the restrictions were used as a pretext by the Republican to seal off the border.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-covid-health-mexico-united-states-e9c70f098e0ec0ed7d2403f7cce4a30f">Biden moved to end the Title 42 restrictions</a>, and Republicans sued to keep them. The U.S. Supreme Court has kept the rules in place for now. White House officials say they still believe the restrictions should end, but they maintain they can continue to turn away migrants under immigration law.

The four nationalities that Biden addressed Thursday now make up the majority of those crossing the border illegally. Cubans, who are leaving the island nation in their largest numbers in six decades, were stopped 34,675 times at the U.S. border with Mexico in November, up 21% from October. Nicaraguans, a large reason why El Paso has become the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, were stopped 34,209 times in November, up 65% from October.

But Venezuelans were seen far less at the border after Mexico agreed on Oct. 12 to begin accepting those expelled from the United States. They were stopped 7,931 times, down 64% from October.

Venezuelans have said the changes have been difficult, particularly with finding a sponsor who has the financial resources to demonstrate the ability to support them. And even if they find a sponsor, sometimes they delay their arrival because they don’t have the economic resources to pay for the flight to the U.S. For some, the Venezuelan passport that they need has expired, and they cannot afford to pay for the renewal.

Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana in Washington and Gisela Salomon in Miami contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672938289244.png" alt="President Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday the U.S. would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the border from Mexico illegally, his boldest move yet to confront the arrivals of migrants that have spiraled since he took office two years ago.(Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F669572838202564%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The new rules expand on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-venezuela-caribbean-united-states-d251abc69009e89447cdddf058c162e7">an existing effort to stop Venezuelans</a>&nbsp;attempting to enter the U.S., which began in October and led to a dramatic drop in Venezuelans coming to the southern border. Together, they represent a major change to immigration rules that will stand even if the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-42-immigration-limits-supreme-court-updates-0494c30834fad66ce9c6057ea1605d89">Supreme Court ends a Trump-era public health</a>&nbsp;law that allows U.S. authorities to turn away asylum-seekers.“Do not, do not just show up at the border,” Biden said as he announced the changes, even as he acknowledged the hardships that lead many families to make the dangerous journey north.“Stay where you are and apply legally from there,” he advised.Biden made the announcement just days before a planned visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first trip to the southern border as president. From there, he will travel on to Mexico City to meet with North American leaders on Monday and Tuesday.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-donald-trump-ap-top-news-guatemala-politics-23f6b9a087e841188c5484cd5cf04f3d">Homeland Security officials said they would begin</a>&nbsp;denying asylum to those who circumvent legal pathways and do not first ask for asylum in the country they traveled through en route to the U.S.Instead, the U.S. will accept 30,000 people per month from the four nations for two years and offer the ability to work legally, as long as they come legally, have eligible sponsors and pass vetting and background checks. Border crossings by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-john-roberts-9620ffd2acea851c5a6957eab0af763e">migrants from those four nations</a>&nbsp;have risen most sharply, with no easy way to quickly return them to their home countries.“This new process is orderly,” Biden said. “It’s safe and humane, and it works.”The move, while not unexpected, drew swift criticism from asylum and immigration advocates, who have had a rocky relationship with the president.“President Biden correctly recognized today that seeking asylum is a legal right and spoke sympathetically about people fleeing persecution," said Jonathan Blazer, the American Civil Liberties Union’s director of border strategies. “But the plan he announced further ties his administration to the poisonous anti-immigrant policies of the Trump era instead of restoring fair access to asylum protections.”Even with the health law restrictions in place, the president has seen the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mexico-us-customs-and-border-protection-cuba-immigration-8fbba5bde9afca3f404eaa96bcfd136a">numbers of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border</a>&nbsp;rise dramatically during his two years in office; there were more than 2.38 million stops during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the first time the number topped 2 million. The administration has struggled to clamp down on crossings, reluctant to take hard-line measures that would resemble those of the Trump administration.That’s resulted in relentless criticism from Republicans who say the Democratic president is ineffective on border security, and the newly minted Republican House majority has promised congressional investigations on the matter.The new policy could result in 360,000 people from these four nations lawfully entering the U.S. in a year, a huge number. But far more people from those countries have been attempting to cross into the U.S. on foot, by boat or swimming; migrants from those four countries were stopped 82,286 times in November alone.Enyer Valbuena, a Venezuelan who was living in Tijuana, Mexico, after crossing the border illegally, said Thursday’s announcement came as no surprise but a blow nonetheless.“This was coming. It’s getting more difficult all the time,” he said by text message.Some Venezuelans waiting on Mexico’s border with the U.S. have been talking among themselves if Canada is an option, Valbuena said. He had been waiting for the outcome of the pandemic-related asylum ban before trying to enter the U.S. again and is seeking asylum in Mexico, which offers a much better future than Venezuela.“If it becomes more difficult (to reach the U.S.), the best path is to get papers in Mexico,” said Valbuena, who currently works at a Tijuana factory.Mexico has agreed to accept up to 30,000 migrants each month from the four countries who attempt to walk or swim across the U.S.-Mexico border and are turned back. Normally, these migrants would be returned to their country of origin, but the U.S. can not easily send back people from those four countries for a variety of reasons that include relations with the governments there.Anyone coming to the U.S. is allowed to claim asylum, regardless of how they crossed the border, and migrants seeking a better life in the U.S. often pay smugglers the equivalent of thousands of dollars to deliver them across the dangerous Darien Gap.But the requirements for granting asylum are narrow, and only about 30% of applications are granted. That has created a system in which migrants try to cross between ports of entry and are allowed into the U.S. to wait out their cases. But there is a 2 million-case immigration court backlog, so cases often are not heard for years.The only lasting way to change the system is through Congress, but a bipartisan congressional effort on new immigration laws failed shortly before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-house-control-79475a4fc11e4375cd0dded651b9eede">Republicans took the House majority.</a>“The actions we’re announcing will make things better, but will not fix the border problem completely," Biden said, in pressing lawmakers to act.Under then-President Donald Trump, the U.S. required asylum seekers to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-immigration-government-and-politics-5c7bb29c829d7f0711b23f9beb18755d">wait across the border in Mexico</a>. But clogs in the immigration system created long delays, leading to fetid, dangerous camps over the border where migrants were forced to wait. That system was ended under Biden, and the migrants who are returned to Mexico under the new rules will not be eligible for asylum.Biden will also triple the number of refugees accepted to the U.S. from the Western Hemisphere, to 20,000 from Latin America and Caribbean, over the next two years. Refugees and asylum-seekers have to meet the same criteria to be allowed into the country, but they arrive through different means.Border officials are also creating an online appointment portal to help reduce wait times at U.S. ports of entry for those coming legally. It will allow people to set up an appointment to come and ask to be allowed into the country.At the U.S.-Mexico border, migrants have been denied a chance to seek asylum 2.5 million times since March 2020 under the Title 42 restrictions, introduced as an emergency health measure by Trump to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But there always has been criticism that the restrictions were used as a pretext by the Republican to seal off the border.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-covid-health-mexico-united-states-e9c70f098e0ec0ed7d2403f7cce4a30f">Biden moved to end the Title 42 restrictions</a>, and Republicans sued to keep them. The U.S. Supreme Court has kept the rules in place for now. White House officials say they still believe the restrictions should end, but they maintain they can continue to turn away migrants under immigration law.The four nationalities that Biden addressed Thursday now make up the majority of those crossing the border illegally. Cubans, who are leaving the island nation in their largest numbers in six decades, were stopped 34,675 times at the U.S. border with Mexico in November, up 21% from October. Nicaraguans, a large reason why El Paso has become the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, were stopped 34,209 times in November, up 65% from October.But Venezuelans were seen far less at the border after Mexico agreed on Oct. 12 to begin accepting those expelled from the United States. They were stopped 7,931 times, down 64% from October.Venezuelans have said the changes have been difficult, particularly with finding a sponsor who has the financial resources to demonstrate the ability to support them. And even if they find a sponsor, sometimes they delay their arrival because they don’t have the economic resources to pay for the flight to the U.S. For some, the Venezuelan passport that they need has expired, and they cannot afford to pay for the renewal.___Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana in Washington and Gisela Salomon in Miami contributed to this report.

🎥Biden to migrants: Do not just show up at the border

PITTSBURG, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after they found a runaway girl in the trunk of a stolen vehicle.

On December 27, police took a report from a Yvonne Timko, regarding her son, 18-year-old Rylie M. Timko, of Pittsburg, Kansas taking her vehicle from her residence without permission, according to a media release.

On December 28, 2022, police in Pittsburg received information from the Fort Scott, Kansas, Police Department, regarding a 14-year-old&nbsp; runaway girl, who was likely in the company of Rylie Timko in the Pittsburg area.

The two were reportedly involved in a dating relationship. 

On Dec. 31, police were checking a vehicle, which matched the description of the missing vehicle, in the 400 block of E. 27th Street in Pittsburg.&nbsp; Officers determined it to be the missing vehicle and officers located the 14-year-old runaway hiding in the trunk of the vehicle. 

Police took her into custody without incident and was transported to the police station for processing with juvenile intake.&nbsp; Officers later located Rylie Timko at his mother’s residence and arrested him on requested charges of&nbsp; felony Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct. He is currently being held on $10,000 bond, according to online jail records. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672918265145.png" alt="Timko-photo Crawford County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Timko-photo Crawford County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>PITTSBURG, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after they found a runaway girl in the trunk of a stolen vehicle.On December 27, police took a report from a Yvonne Timko, regarding her son, 18-year-old Rylie M. Timko, of Pittsburg, Kansas taking her vehicle from her residence without permission, according to a media release.On December 28, 2022, police in Pittsburg received information from the Fort Scott, Kansas, Police Department, regarding a 14-year-old&nbsp; runaway girl, who was likely in the company of Rylie Timko in the Pittsburg area.The two were reportedly involved in a dating relationship. On Dec. 31, police were checking a vehicle, which matched the description of the missing vehicle, in the 400 block of E. 27th Street in Pittsburg.&nbsp; Officers determined it to be the missing vehicle and officers located the 14-year-old runaway hiding in the trunk of the vehicle. Police took her into custody without incident and was transported to the police station for processing with juvenile intake.&nbsp; Officers later located Rylie Timko at his mother’s residence and arrested him on requested charges of&nbsp; felony Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct. He is currently being held on $10,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Police find Kansas runaway in trunk of car, arrest boyfriend

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video to charge a criminology graduate student with the November slaying of four University of Idaho undergraduates, according to an <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> unsealed Thursday.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest,&nbsp;

The <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> says DNA matching that of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger was found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene, just a short drive across the state border where he is a criminal justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">doctoral student at Washington State University.</a>

The affidavit also says that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings, and that while it was apparently turned off around the time of the early-morning attack, cell tower data place his phone in that region of Idaho shortly afterwards.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-indiana-crime-b3f0d08e8d750a602429cc728e9a639e">Kohberger made his first appearance</a>&nbsp;Thursday in an Idaho court, where he faces four charges of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea, and was ordered held without bail.

The affidavit details a chilling encounter between one of the victims' surviving roommates and a masked intruder the night of the stabbings in Moscow, Idaho. But many questions remain unanswered, including whether Kohberger and any of the victims knew each other, and why police weren’t alerted until nearly eight hours after the killings likely occurred.

Traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed, according to the affidavit written by Brett Payne, a police corporal in Moscow. Investigators later closely matched the DNA on the sheath to DNA found in trash taken from Kohberger’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week.

The sheath had a U.S. Marine Corps insignia on it, though there's no record of Kohberger having served in the military.

The attack that occurred in the early morning hours of an off-campus home had spread fear throughout the university and surrounding area for weeks, as authorities seemed stumped by the brutal stabbings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-boise-1c4c6ada3ef434d9b81d5b3717c00f2a">Investigators made a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen near the crime scene around the time of the killings.

Surveillance footage captured near the off-campus house showed that a white sedan — later identified as a Hyundai Elantra — drove by the home three times in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, returning a fourth time at about 4:04 a.m. The car was next spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the victims home 16 minutes later “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit. The same car was later spotted on a different camera headed toward Pullman, Washington — the town where Washington State University and Kohberger’s apartment are located.

The affidavit connects some of the dots between the surveillance footage and cellphone data. Kohberger’s phone pinged communications towers in the region at the same time and in the same areas that the white Elantra was seen driving in the hours after the killings, the affidavit says.

The cellphone data included another chilling detail, the affidavit said: It pinged a cell tower near the victims’ neighborhood hours after the attack, around 9 a.m.

Latah County prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the home with the intention of killing the victims: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. But investigators have made no public statements about a possible motive, or whether any weapons have been found.

Two other housemates were at home during the Nov. 13 killings, but were not physically harmed.

One of the uninjured housemates told investigators that she was awoken by noises at about 4 a.m., and thought she heard another housemate say something like, “there’s someone here.” She looked outside her bedroom and didn’t see anything. Later she thought she heard crying coming from Kernodle’s room and looked outside again. That’s when she said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, “it’s OK, I’m going to help you,” according to the affidavit.

She later opened her door a third time and saw a masked man in black clothing whom she did not recognize walking toward her and stood in “frozen shock” as he walked past her toward a sliding glass door, the affidavit said. She went back in her room and locked the door.

Investigators believe the suspect then left the home. The document does not say what happened next at the home, or why police were not alerted for several more hours.

Mental health experts say common physiological responses to frightening or traumatic experiences include an urge to fight, an urge to flee, or an urge to freeze.

Location data from Kohberger’s cellphone showed he had traveled to the area of the victims’ residence at least a dozen times between late June and the night of the killings, authorities said.

Those apparent visits to the victims’ neighborhood all occurred late in the evening or in the early morning, the affidavit said. Investigators also obtained location data from the night of the killings, showing that Kohberger’s phone was near his home in Pullman until about 2:42 a.m.

Five minutes later, the phone started using cellular resources located southeast of the home -- consistent with Kohberger traveling south, the affidavit said. There was no other location data available from the phone until 4:48 a.m. — from a cellphone tower south of Moscow — suggesting Kohberger may have turned his phone off during the attack, the affidavit said.

At that point, the phone began taking a roundabout route back to Pullman, traveling south to Genesee, Idaho, then west to Uniontown, Washington and north to Pullman just before 5:30 a.m. -- around the same time the white sedan showed up on surveillance cameras in town.

An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra; Kohberger was driving a 2015 white Elantra during traffic stops in August and in October, the affidavit said.

At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-605ac2becd6f449a848add3d6ce63828">Kohberger's vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate</a>&nbsp;and was registered in that state. That registration was set to expire on Nov. 30, however. On Nov. 18 — five days after the killings — Kohberger registered the car in the state of Washington, getting a new license plate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672924870681.png" alt="Kohberger-photo Latah Co." />
 <figcaption>Kohberger-photo Latah Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho police pieced together DNA evidence, cellphone data and surveillance video to charge a criminology graduate student with the November slaying of four University of Idaho undergraduates, according to an <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> unsealed Thursday.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest,&nbsp;The <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">affidavit</a> says DNA matching that of 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger was found on a knife sheath recovered at the crime scene, just a short drive across the state border where he is a criminal justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">doctoral student at Washington State University.</a>The affidavit also says that a cellphone belonging to Kohberger was near the victims’ home on a dozen occasions prior to the killings, and that while it was apparently turned off around the time of the early-morning attack, cell tower data place his phone in that region of Idaho shortly afterwards.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-indiana-crime-b3f0d08e8d750a602429cc728e9a639e">Kohberger made his first appearance</a>&nbsp;Thursday in an Idaho court, where he faces four charges of first-degree murder. He did not enter a plea, and was ordered held without bail.The affidavit details a chilling encounter between one of the victims' surviving roommates and a masked intruder the night of the stabbings in Moscow, Idaho. But many questions remain unanswered, including whether Kohberger and any of the victims knew each other, and why police weren’t alerted until nearly eight hours after the killings likely occurred.Traces of DNA from a lone male later determined to be Kohberger were found on the button of a leather knife sheath found in the rental home where the victims were killed, according to the affidavit written by Brett Payne, a police corporal in Moscow. Investigators later closely matched the DNA on the sheath to DNA found in trash taken from Kohberger’s parents’ home in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week.The sheath had a U.S. Marine Corps insignia on it, though there's no record of Kohberger having served in the military.The attack that occurred in the early morning hours of an off-campus home had spread fear throughout the university and surrounding area for weeks, as authorities seemed stumped by the brutal stabbings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-boise-1c4c6ada3ef434d9b81d5b3717c00f2a">Investigators made a breakthrough, however, after searching for a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen near the crime scene around the time of the killings.Surveillance footage captured near the off-campus house showed that a white sedan — later identified as a Hyundai Elantra — drove by the home three times in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, returning a fourth time at about 4:04 a.m. The car was next spotted on surveillance cameras leaving the victims home 16 minutes later “at a high rate of speed,” according to the affidavit. The same car was later spotted on a different camera headed toward Pullman, Washington — the town where Washington State University and Kohberger’s apartment are located.The affidavit connects some of the dots between the surveillance footage and cellphone data. Kohberger’s phone pinged communications towers in the region at the same time and in the same areas that the white Elantra was seen driving in the hours after the killings, the affidavit says.The cellphone data included another chilling detail, the affidavit said: It pinged a cell tower near the victims’ neighborhood hours after the attack, around 9 a.m.Latah County prosecutors have said they believe Kohberger broke into the home with the intention of killing the victims: Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Madison Mogen, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. But investigators have made no public statements about a possible motive, or whether any weapons have been found.Two other housemates were at home during the Nov. 13 killings, but were not physically harmed.One of the uninjured housemates told investigators that she was awoken by noises at about 4 a.m., and thought she heard another housemate say something like, “there’s someone here.” She looked outside her bedroom and didn’t see anything. Later she thought she heard crying coming from Kernodle’s room and looked outside again. That’s when she said she heard a male voice say something to the effect of, “it’s OK, I’m going to help you,” according to the affidavit.She later opened her door a third time and saw a masked man in black clothing whom she did not recognize walking toward her and stood in “frozen shock” as he walked past her toward a sliding glass door, the affidavit said. She went back in her room and locked the door.Investigators believe the suspect then left the home. The document does not say what happened next at the home, or why police were not alerted for several more hours.Mental health experts say common physiological responses to frightening or traumatic experiences include an urge to fight, an urge to flee, or an urge to freeze.Location data from Kohberger’s cellphone showed he had traveled to the area of the victims’ residence at least a dozen times between late June and the night of the killings, authorities said.Those apparent visits to the victims’ neighborhood all occurred late in the evening or in the early morning, the affidavit said. Investigators also obtained location data from the night of the killings, showing that Kohberger’s phone was near his home in Pullman until about 2:42 a.m.Five minutes later, the phone started using cellular resources located southeast of the home -- consistent with Kohberger traveling south, the affidavit said. There was no other location data available from the phone until 4:48 a.m. — from a cellphone tower south of Moscow — suggesting Kohberger may have turned his phone off during the attack, the affidavit said.At that point, the phone began taking a roundabout route back to Pullman, traveling south to Genesee, Idaho, then west to Uniontown, Washington and north to Pullman just before 5:30 a.m. -- around the same time the white sedan showed up on surveillance cameras in town.An FBI expert identified the vehicle as a 2011-2016 Hyundai Elantra; Kohberger was driving a 2015 white Elantra during traffic stops in August and in October, the affidavit said.At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/videos-605ac2becd6f449a848add3d6ce63828">Kohberger's vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate</a>&nbsp;and was registered in that state. That registration was set to expire on Nov. 30, however. On Nov. 18 — five days after the killings — Kohberger registered the car in the state of Washington, getting a new license plate.Kohberger had applied to become an intern with the Pullman Police Department sometime in the fall of 2022, writing in his application essay that he wanted to help rural law enforcement agencies collect and analyze technical data in public safety operations, according to the affidavit. The document does not say if Kohberger was granted the internship.The Pullman Police Department did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press asking if Kohberger ever became an intern with the department.During Thursday's court hearing, Kohberger appeared with his attorney in an orange jumpsuit and remained silent while the magistrate ordered him not to have contact with the victims’ families. His next hearing was set for Jan. 12.Some of Goncalves' family members attended the hearing.“It's obviously an emotional time for the family, seeing the defendant for the first time,” the Goncalves family attorney, Shanon Gray, said outside the courthouse. “This is the beginning of the criminal justice system and the family will be here for the long haul.”Kohberger's defense attorney, Anne Taylor, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. A magistrate judge has placed the attorneys and others involved in the case under a sweeping gag order barring them from talking publicly about the case.___