WASHINGTON —Police say a 22-year-old gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five people and leaving 25 injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons.

"While no motive in this attack is yet clear, we&nbsp;know that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years," President Biden said in a statement.&nbsp;

" Gun&nbsp;violence continues&nbsp;to have a devastating and particular impact on&nbsp;LGBTQI+ communities across our nation and threats of violence are increasing.&nbsp;We saw it six&nbsp;years ago in Orlando, when our nation suffered the deadliest attack affecting the LGBTQI+ community in American history. We continue to see it in the epidemic of violence and murder against transgender women – especially transgender women of color. And tragically, we saw it last night in this devastating attack by a gunman wielding&nbsp;a long&nbsp;rifle at an LGBTQI+ nightclub in Colorado Springs."

"Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence. Yet it happens far too often. We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate."

"Another community in America has been torn apart by gun violence. More families left with an empty chair at the table and hole in their lives that cannot be filled. When will we decide we’ve had enough? We must address the public health epidemic of gun violence in all of its forms. Earlier this year, I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades, in addition to taking other historic actions. But we must do more. We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off America’s streets."

&nbsp;"Jill and I are praying for the families of the five people killed in Colorado Springs last night, and for those injured in this senseless attack."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669029439942.png" alt="The crime occurred late Saturday at Club Q, a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website.-photo courtesy KKTV" />
 <figcaption>The crime occurred late Saturday at Club Q, a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website.-photo courtesy KKTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Police say a 22-year-old gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five people and leaving 25 injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons."While no motive in this attack is yet clear, we&nbsp;know that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years," President Biden said in a statement.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FClubQOnline%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02BBsv96GbV49gDfk8oT6wFj7u9GgC6HcL52w7ZXJ2yoHAGCBnrDPozRxH5eYpAkuTl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="220" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>" Gun&nbsp;violence continues&nbsp;to have a devastating and particular impact on&nbsp;LGBTQI+ communities across our nation and threats of violence are increasing.&nbsp;We saw it six&nbsp;years ago in Orlando, when our nation suffered the deadliest attack affecting the LGBTQI+ community in American history. We continue to see it in the epidemic of violence and murder against transgender women – especially transgender women of color. And tragically, we saw it last night in this devastating attack by a gunman wielding&nbsp;a long&nbsp;rifle at an LGBTQI+ nightclub in Colorado Springs."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Americans awoke this morning to horrific news: a brutal attack on an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs. Our hearts break at the senseless slaughter of least five beautiful souls and the many more injured or forever traumatized, at what was a sanctuary of safety and solidarity.&mdash; Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1594393793528303616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence. Yet it happens far too often. We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Feeling heartbroken for the families and loved ones of those lost to senseless violence in Colorado last night. Again, we are seeing that angry rhetoric has real consequence. Everyone deserves to feel and be safe in their own skin.&mdash; Sharice Davids (@sharicedavids) <a href="https://twitter.com/sharicedavids/status/1594406496947040257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Another community in America has been torn apart by gun violence. More families left with an empty chair at the table and hole in their lives that cannot be filled. When will we decide we’ve had enough? We must address the public health epidemic of gun violence in all of its forms. Earlier this year, I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades, in addition to taking other historic actions. But we must do more. We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off America’s streets."&nbsp;"Jill and I are praying for the families of the five people killed in Colorado Springs last night, and for those injured in this senseless attack."

Biden comments on deadly mass shooting at Colorado LGBTQ club

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Police say a 3-year-old boy was in critical condition after shooting himself in the eye.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-looking-at-endangerment-charge-after-toddler-shot-self-in-eye/article_73221d70-3e45-562c-ad1d-72684b4b55bf.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest">reports</a>&nbsp;that investigators are looking into possible charges of endangering the welfare of a child after the Saturday afternoon shooting in the Benton Park West neighborhood of St. Louis.

Police said it appears that the boy accidentally shot himself shortly before 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Child abuse investigators are looking into the situation.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Police say a 3-year-old boy was in critical condition after shooting himself in the eye.The St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/police-looking-at-endangerment-charge-after-toddler-shot-self-in-eye/article_73221d70-3e45-562c-ad1d-72684b4b55bf.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest">reports</a>&nbsp;that investigators are looking into possible charges of endangering the welfare of a child after the Saturday afternoon shooting in the Benton Park West neighborhood of St. Louis.Police said it appears that the boy accidentally shot himself shortly before 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Child abuse investigators are looking into the situation.

Police: 3-year-old shot himself in the eye

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police reported just after 8:30p.m. Kennedy was located in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

She is safe, and a suspect is in custody. She will be reunited with family soon, and the suspect will be transported back to Wichita as police continue the investigation.

Police reported no additional details Sunday evening.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported abduction and asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;6-year-old Kennedy Reyes, according to a social media report from Wichita Police.

Kennedy is 4-foot-6, with brown curly hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a light blue hoodie.

She was inside a gold/tan Lexus Rx330 with KS Veteran Tag 37CWF when it was stolen from the 2300 block of N. Amidon in Wichita.

Police ask that if you see Kennedy or the Lexus please call 911 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668996708364.png" alt="Kennedy Reyes -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kennedy Reyes -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police reported just after 8:30p.m. Kennedy was located in Oklahoma by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, according to Officer Trevor Macy.She is safe, and a suspect is in custody. She will be reunited with family soon, and the suspect will be transported back to Wichita as police continue the investigation.Police reported no additional details Sunday evening.-------SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported abduction and asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;6-year-old Kennedy Reyes, according to a social media report from Wichita Police.Kennedy is 4-foot-6, with brown curly hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a light blue hoodie.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669028649764.png" alt="photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>She was inside a gold/tan Lexus Rx330 with KS Veteran Tag 37CWF when it was stolen from the 2300 block of N. Amidon in Wichita.Police ask that if you see Kennedy or the Lexus please call 911 immediately.

Police: Kan. girl abducted is found safe; suspect in custody

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a federal inmate with an assaulting two correctional officers.

According to court documents, Warren Richardson, 46, of Leavenworth Penitentiary is charged with two counts of attempted murder of a correctional officer, two counts of assaulting a correctional officer with a deadly weapon and inflicting bodily injury, two counts of assault of a correctional officer, and one count of possession of contraband in prison. 

On February 6, 2021, Richardson was accused of using a handmade weapon with a 1.5-inch sharpened metal point to stab two prison guards.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668793868549.png" alt="Richardson has convictions for robbery and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Richardson has convictions for robbery and drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging a federal inmate with an assaulting two correctional officers.According to court documents, Warren Richardson, 46, of Leavenworth Penitentiary is charged with two counts of attempted murder of a correctional officer, two counts of assaulting a correctional officer with a deadly weapon and inflicting bodily injury, two counts of assault of a correctional officer, and one count of possession of contraband in prison. On February 6, 2021, Richardson was accused of using a handmade weapon with a 1.5-inch sharpened metal point to stab two prison guards.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

Indictment: Federal inmate in Kan. attacked correctional officers

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/kansans-share-personal-insights-into-soul-breaking-experiences-of-foster-children/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas foster parents Meaghan and Blake Briscoe were asked 
to welcome into their home a newborn who ended up staying with them for 
three years.

They eagerly collaborated with the biological mother in an attempt to
 stabilize her life, but her parental rights were severed after 20 
months. The father, who had a history of violent crime, abandoned the 
child. Cornerstones of Care, a foster care agency under contract with 
the Kansas Department for Children and Families, recommended the 
father’s rights be terminated.

Blake Briscoe told an legislative committee working on child welfare 
issues Wednesday that DCF inexplicably ordered during a closed-door 
meeting that Cornerstones of Care reverse its assessment so the child 
could be united with the biological father. He said micromanagement 
verging on conflict of interest between DCF and Cornerstones of Care 
should be remedied.

“They forced Cornerstones of Care to change their recommendation. In a
 35-day period, to see the soul of a three-year-old broken is something I
 don’t wish on anyone. They just want to force a square peg into a round
 hole,” Blake Briscoe said.

The child was transferred to care of the biological father 19 months 
ago, but the Briscoes have been able to meet with the child a few times.

Blake Briscoe urged the Legislature to amend state law to allow 
foster parents to participate in conversations with DCF or contractors 
about placement of the 7,000 Kansas children in foster care. Parents 
proven to have abandoned a child should forfeit the right to raise that 
kid, he said.

In addition, he recommended the Legislature impose greater 
accountability on lawyers appointed by courts to serve as guardian ad 
litem for children in need of care. The attorney assigned to the infant 
who shared the Briscoe’s home never met the child, he said.

Louisburg Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Republican on the child welfare 
committee, pivoted from Briscoe’s testimony to questioning Laura Howard,
 secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, as to how
 DCF, a foster care contractor or the state’s court system could 
rationally declare, “Yes, this is the best interest for that 3-year-old 
child.”

Howard said she would look into details of issues raised by the Briscoe family.

“Relative connections are important, but they’re not the only thing,”
 the DCF secretary said. “It’s really important to look at every 
situation individually in terms of what that child’s best interests 
are.”

Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican who chairs the legislative 
committee, said she appreciated willingness of individuals to share 
firsthand insight into complex situations involving children in foster 
care.

“I know some of it is very difficult to share and it’s also difficult to hear from out end of it,” Concannon said.

Two of her constituents, Tom and Susie Tuggle, outlined their effort 
to assist two children in temporary placement after their mother died of
 cancer. The Tuggles said DCF and foster care contractor Saint Francis 
Ministries were intent on placing the girls with a biological relative.

Susan Tuggle said the girls had different fathers and both men were 
interviewed about assuming parenting responsibilities. She said one of 
the men will be in prison until 2025 on convictions for engaging in 
pornography with the girls’ stepsisters. The other father had been 
jailed for making violent threats at a hospital and at residents of 
Concordia, she said.

Several weeks ago, Susan Tuggle said, the children were placed with a grandmother.

The better choice would have been the male friend of the deceased 
mother who had provided a safe home for the girls until DCF stepped in, 
said Tom Tuggle, a retired district court judge.

“We know that keeping family together is important, but we don’t 
think that should be the sole criteria and we’re concerned DCF relies 
unduly on keeping the family together or putting them with a relative 
who may not be the best choice,” he said.

Deacon Godsey, pastor of Vintage Church in Lawrence, said his family 
accepted a 7-year-old nonverbal autistic child into their home in March 
2020. His wife, Jill, had some experience with autistic children, but 
Godsey had no training on how to work with someone with exceptional 
behavioral challenges that included self-harm and physical harm to 
others.

He said the child he referred to as Jay should have received 
intensive services years before landing at their Lawrence home. The 
child, he said, had yet to be formally diagnosed with autism and hadn’t 
been qualified for a broad palette of professional intervention 
services. Some social workers involved with the child had little 
experience with this level of disability, he said.

“At one point,” Godsey said, “it became clear that some of them, 
despite good hearts and right motives, weren’t familiar with the 
Americans With Disabilities Act or how it related to Jay’s rights or 
care.”

Providers of intellectual and developmental disability services 
withdrew or declined to accept Jay as a client due to her physical 
aggression, Godsey said. During time she spent in their home, Godsey 
said, the child used the back of her head to punch about 75 holes in 
wallboard, smash a hole in the wall of a tiled shower and shattered the 
window of a vehicle.

“Despite a variety of medical interventions, ongoing applied 
behavioral analysis therapy, an incredibly supportive school environment
 and all the love we had, we simply weren’t equipped or trained to 
provide the kind of constant care required for Jay’s level of 
unpredictable aggression,” Godsey said.

After more than two years of fostering, he said Jay was assessed at 
Wichita and Paola facilities to determine if she qualified for placement
 at Parsons State Hospital.

“The question is, was this result for Jay’s long term care inevitable?” Godsey said.

Kristine Fowler of Smith County said in testimony to the committee 
that Kansas would be well-served by investing real authority in an 
independent agency responsible for reviewing DCF cases to determine 
whether policies and procedures were followed by Saint Francis 
Ministries and other foster care contractors.

Fowler said trouble for her began in 2016 when her 16-year-old son 
experienced behavior issues, but miscommunication led law enforcement to
 false allegations of parental negligence.

“Over the next two years, we were ignored as parents, challenged on 
all our suggestions to assist our child and waited months to finally 
receive unsubstantiated findings from DCF,” Fowler said.

Eleven different case workers were involved in her family’s case, 
Fowler said. She spoke only twice with a case worker seeking information
 about her son. He eventually aged out of foster care, she said, but was
 sent to jail due to a methamphetamine addiction acquired while in 
foster care.

“It was daunting to try and find a way to save my children and file a
 complaint against DCF,” Fowler said. “The worldwide pandemic sounds 
like a vacation in comparison to dealing with DCF and Saint Francis.”

Gov. Laura Kelly established a Division of the Child Advocate to 
conduct inquiries into foster care cases. The ombudsman in that office 
is Kerrie Lonard, who is required to publicly release findings in an 
annual report. The first report is expected to be released in January.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668711190616.png" alt="Meaghan and Blake Briscoe shared with child welfare committee of the Kansas Legislature their experience of caring for a foster child from birth until forced to surrender the child at age 3 to the biological father by the state. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Meaghan and Blake Briscoe shared with child welfare committee of the Kansas Legislature their experience of caring for a foster child from birth until forced to surrender the child at age 3 to the biological father by the state. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/kansans-share-personal-insights-into-soul-breaking-experiences-of-foster-children/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas foster parents Meaghan and Blake Briscoe were asked 
to welcome into their home a newborn who ended up staying with them for 
three years.They eagerly collaborated with the biological mother in an attempt to
 stabilize her life, but her parental rights were severed after 20 
months. The father, who had a history of violent crime, abandoned the 
child. Cornerstones of Care, a foster care agency under contract with 
the Kansas Department for Children and Families, recommended the 
father’s rights be terminated.Blake Briscoe told an legislative committee working on child welfare 
issues Wednesday that DCF inexplicably ordered during a closed-door 
meeting that Cornerstones of Care reverse its assessment so the child 
could be united with the biological father. He said micromanagement 
verging on conflict of interest between DCF and Cornerstones of Care 
should be remedied.“They forced Cornerstones of Care to change their recommendation. In a
 35-day period, to see the soul of a three-year-old broken is something I
 don’t wish on anyone. They just want to force a square peg into a round
 hole,” Blake Briscoe said.The child was transferred to care of the biological father 19 months 
ago, but the Briscoes have been able to meet with the child a few times.Blake Briscoe urged the Legislature to amend state law to allow 
foster parents to participate in conversations with DCF or contractors 
about placement of the 7,000 Kansas children in foster care. Parents 
proven to have abandoned a child should forfeit the right to raise that 
kid, he said.In addition, he recommended the Legislature impose greater 
accountability on lawyers appointed by courts to serve as guardian ad 
litem for children in need of care. The attorney assigned to the infant 
who shared the Briscoe’s home never met the child, he said.Louisburg Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Republican on the child welfare 
committee, pivoted from Briscoe’s testimony to questioning Laura Howard,
 secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, as to how
 DCF, a foster care contractor or the state’s court system could 
rationally declare, “Yes, this is the best interest for that 3-year-old 
child.”Howard said she would look into details of issues raised by the Briscoe family.“Relative connections are important, but they’re not the only thing,”
 the DCF secretary said. “It’s really important to look at every 
situation individually in terms of what that child’s best interests 
are.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668711247369.png" alt=" Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, was grilled by Kansas legislators in wake of testimony from foster parents questioning DCF’s preference for placing children with a family member. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Laura Howard, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, was grilled by Kansas legislators in wake of testimony from foster parents questioning DCF’s preference for placing children with a family member. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Difficult to hear’</h2>Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican who chairs the legislative 
committee, said she appreciated willingness of individuals to share 
firsthand insight into complex situations involving children in foster 
care.“I know some of it is very difficult to share and it’s also difficult to hear from out end of it,” Concannon said.Two of her constituents, Tom and Susie Tuggle, outlined their effort 
to assist two children in temporary placement after their mother died of
 cancer. The Tuggles said DCF and foster care contractor Saint Francis 
Ministries were intent on placing the girls with a biological relative.Susan Tuggle said the girls had different fathers and both men were 
interviewed about assuming parenting responsibilities. She said one of 
the men will be in prison until 2025 on convictions for engaging in 
pornography with the girls’ stepsisters. The other father had been 
jailed for making violent threats at a hospital and at residents of 
Concordia, she said.Several weeks ago, Susan Tuggle said, the children were placed with a grandmother.The better choice would have been the male friend of the deceased 
mother who had provided a safe home for the girls until DCF stepped in, 
said Tom Tuggle, a retired district court judge.“We know that keeping family together is important, but we don’t 
think that should be the sole criteria and we’re concerned DCF relies 
unduly on keeping the family together or putting them with a relative 
who may not be the best choice,” he said.<h2>75 holes in the wall</h2>Deacon Godsey, pastor of Vintage Church in Lawrence, said his family 
accepted a 7-year-old nonverbal autistic child into their home in March 
2020. His wife, Jill, had some experience with autistic children, but 
Godsey had no training on how to work with someone with exceptional 
behavioral challenges that included self-harm and physical harm to 
others.He said the child he referred to as Jay should have received 
intensive services years before landing at their Lawrence home. The 
child, he said, had yet to be formally diagnosed with autism and hadn’t 
been qualified for a broad palette of professional intervention 
services. Some social workers involved with the child had little 
experience with this level of disability, he said.“At one point,” Godsey said, “it became clear that some of them, 
despite good hearts and right motives, weren’t familiar with the 
Americans With Disabilities Act or how it related to Jay’s rights or 
care.”Providers of intellectual and developmental disability services 
withdrew or declined to accept Jay as a client due to her physical 
aggression, Godsey said. During time she spent in their home, Godsey 
said, the child used the back of her head to punch about 75 holes in 
wallboard, smash a hole in the wall of a tiled shower and shattered the 
window of a vehicle.“Despite a variety of medical interventions, ongoing applied 
behavioral analysis therapy, an incredibly supportive school environment
 and all the love we had, we simply weren’t equipped or trained to 
provide the kind of constant care required for Jay’s level of 
unpredictable aggression,” Godsey said.After more than two years of fostering, he said Jay was assessed at 
Wichita and Paola facilities to determine if she qualified for placement
 at Parsons State Hospital.“The question is, was this result for Jay’s long term care inevitable?” Godsey said.<h2>Independent oversight</h2>Kristine Fowler of Smith County said in testimony to the committee 
that Kansas would be well-served by investing real authority in an 
independent agency responsible for reviewing DCF cases to determine 
whether policies and procedures were followed by Saint Francis 
Ministries and other foster care contractors.Fowler said trouble for her began in 2016 when her 16-year-old son 
experienced behavior issues, but miscommunication led law enforcement to
 false allegations of parental negligence.“Over the next two years, we were ignored as parents, challenged on 
all our suggestions to assist our child and waited months to finally 
receive unsubstantiated findings from DCF,” Fowler said.Eleven different case workers were involved in her family’s case, 
Fowler said. She spoke only twice with a case worker seeking information
 about her son. He eventually aged out of foster care, she said, but was
 sent to jail due to a methamphetamine addiction acquired while in 
foster care.“It was daunting to try and find a way to save my children and file a
 complaint against DCF,” Fowler said. “The worldwide pandemic sounds 
like a vacation in comparison to dealing with DCF and Saint Francis.”Gov. Laura Kelly established a Division of the Child Advocate to 
conduct inquiries into foster care cases. The ombudsman in that office 
is Kerrie Lonard, who is required to publicly release findings in an 
annual report. The first report is expected to be released in January.

Kansans share insights into soul-breaking experiences of foster children

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 6a.m. Sunday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Accord driven by Alexis Brianna Ward, 22,&nbsp; Topeka, westbound on U.S. 24. 

Vehicle 1 left the roadway to the right. The driver over corrected. The car crossed the middle lane lines and left the roadway to the left. The driver over corrected again. The car rolled and the driver was ejected.

Ward was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Piper Funeral Home. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 6a.m. Sunday in Pottawatomie County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Accord driven by Alexis Brianna Ward, 22,&nbsp; Topeka, westbound on U.S. 24. Vehicle 1 left the roadway to the right. The driver over corrected. The car crossed the middle lane lines and left the roadway to the left. The driver over corrected again. The car rolled and the driver was ejected.Ward was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Piper Funeral Home. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after ejected in rollover crash

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/15/kansas-women-struggle-to-enter-the-workforce-because-of-lack-of-child-care-and-pay-gap/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Kansas women need pay equity and more help with child care, a women’s
 advocacy group said after compiling feedback from hundreds of women 
around the state.

United WE, an nonprofit organization 
dedicated to improving women’s economic and social status, partnered 
with the League of Kansas Municipalities to set up seven town hall 
discussions from June to August.

Using the feedback they got from 
these town hall discussions, in which 536 people participated, United WE
 found that more than 50% of the interviewed women were responsible for 
child care. The organization discussed its findings in a Zoom meeting 
Tuesday.

The organization conducted a 2021 
report on the status of women in Kansas in partnership with the 
University of Kansas. The report found that many women have been 
struggling to hold jobs with a lack of adequate child care.

Kansas infant care costs take up 29% 
of women’s median earnings, the report found, and Kansas has twice the 
number of children younger than 5 than available licensed child care 
spots available for them. Paid leave was reported as a significant issue
 for a majority of Kansas women, as many have to use unpaid time off or 
sick leave to care for their families.

United WE president Wendy Doyle said 
the state is currently facing extreme child care shortages: More than 
300 child care facilities closed during the pandemic, with no plans of 
reopening. Doyle said in some parts of the state, families are having to
 cobble together three different child care providers to have their 
children cared for during the work week.

“We are in a child care crisis for the state of Kansas,” Doyle said.

Kansas Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, 
D-Wichita, addressed the shortage of child care during the Zoom 
discussion. Faust-Goudeau said she was working with three Black women 
who operate daycare services in her district. All three women had their 
facilities shut down by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment 
for minor issues, she said.

She said one woman was written up for
 not having a roll of toilet paper in the toilet paper dispenser, though
 she immediately replaced the empty roll and had a stock of toilet paper
 stored in the bathroom. Faust-Goudeau said the rules should be examined
 during the upcoming legislative session.

“All of those three daycare providers
 here in the 29th District were African American women, and all of those
 children that they were providing for, the parents had to do something 
quick to get that child care to go to work. Our Legislature wants people
 to go to work, but it’s so hard to do without them having proper child 
care,” Faust-Goudeau said.

Doyle said the organization planned 
on examining licensing requirements for child care providers. Doyle said
 they had heard from several child care providers struggling with the 
requirements for licensing and inspection of the facilities.

“One of the reasons why we want to 
look at the licensing requirements is that it makes it cumbersome to 
even open a business,” Doyle said.

Women also had low civic engagement, 
with few women running for office in the state, the report found. Women 
made up only 28% of Kansas state legislators. United We said they had 
110 women interested in learning more about civic leadership roles after
 the town hall series.

Another area of concern was pay 
inequity. The average U.S. full-time female employee earns 82 cents to 
her male equivalent’s dollar. The pay gap is wider in Kansas, where 
women earn 78 cents to a man’s dollar. Women in Kansas have more 
education than Kansas men, and have a higher education level than the 
average for U.S. men, but hold less leadership roles than the average 
U.S. man.

Work environments also tend to be 
stressful for Kansas women, with 64% reporting that they had negative 
experiences, such as harassment or discrimination, in the workplace.

June Huie, an independent business 
owner, said she often acted as a mentor to women looking to become 
entrepreneurs. She said she was asked often about why men were oblivious
 to the struggles of their female counterparts in the workforce, 
especially men who were high-ranking employees and could make changes in
 the workplace structure.

“There’s just so many things that 
seem to impact women so much more than men. And we want to know where to
 start. Who do we start with?” Huie said.&nbsp;

Huie said she’s been bringing up her 
concerns to Sedgwick County city council members and county 
commissioners, but wasn’t satisfied with their responses. Huie said a 
partisan divide was also making it difficult to address women’s issues.

“They shake their heads: ‘Yeah, we 
understand it’s a problem, blah, blah, blah.’ And then they promptly go 
and vote absolutely against anything that they say, and there’s not a 
whole lot we can do about it other than un-elect them,” Huie said. “But 
we have that whole conservative versus progressive mindset that’s giving
 us some considerable difficulty here in Sedgwick County.”

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/15/kansas-women-struggle-to-enter-the-workforce-because-of-lack-of-child-care-and-pay-gap/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Kansas women need pay equity and more help with child care, a women’s
 advocacy group said after compiling feedback from hundreds of women 
around the state.United WE, an nonprofit organization 
dedicated to improving women’s economic and social status, partnered 
with the League of Kansas Municipalities to set up seven town hall 
discussions from June to August.Using the feedback they got from 
these town hall discussions, in which 536 people participated, United WE
 found that more than 50% of the interviewed women were responsible for 
child care. The organization discussed its findings in a Zoom meeting 
Tuesday.The organization conducted a 2021 
report on the status of women in Kansas in partnership with the 
University of Kansas. The report found that many women have been 
struggling to hold jobs with a lack of adequate child care.Kansas infant care costs take up 29% 
of women’s median earnings, the report found, and Kansas has twice the 
number of children younger than 5 than available licensed child care 
spots available for them. Paid leave was reported as a significant issue
 for a majority of Kansas women, as many have to use unpaid time off or 
sick leave to care for their families.United WE president Wendy Doyle said 
the state is currently facing extreme child care shortages: More than 
300 child care facilities closed during the pandemic, with no plans of 
reopening. Doyle said in some parts of the state, families are having to
 cobble together three different child care providers to have their 
children cared for during the work week.“We are in a child care crisis for the state of Kansas,” Doyle said.Kansas Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, 
D-Wichita, addressed the shortage of child care during the Zoom 
discussion. Faust-Goudeau said she was working with three Black women 
who operate daycare services in her district. All three women had their 
facilities shut down by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment 
for minor issues, she said.She said one woman was written up for
 not having a roll of toilet paper in the toilet paper dispenser, though
 she immediately replaced the empty roll and had a stock of toilet paper
 stored in the bathroom. Faust-Goudeau said the rules should be examined
 during the upcoming legislative session.“All of those three daycare providers
 here in the 29th District were African American women, and all of those
 children that they were providing for, the parents had to do something 
quick to get that child care to go to work. Our Legislature wants people
 to go to work, but it’s so hard to do without them having proper child 
care,” Faust-Goudeau said.Doyle said the organization planned 
on examining licensing requirements for child care providers. Doyle said
 they had heard from several child care providers struggling with the 
requirements for licensing and inspection of the facilities.“One of the reasons why we want to 
look at the licensing requirements is that it makes it cumbersome to 
even open a business,” Doyle said.Women also had low civic engagement, 
with few women running for office in the state, the report found. Women 
made up only 28% of Kansas state legislators. United We said they had 
110 women interested in learning more about civic leadership roles after
 the town hall series.Another area of concern was pay 
inequity. The average U.S. full-time female employee earns 82 cents to 
her male equivalent’s dollar. The pay gap is wider in Kansas, where 
women earn 78 cents to a man’s dollar. Women in Kansas have more 
education than Kansas men, and have a higher education level than the 
average for U.S. men, but hold less leadership roles than the average 
U.S. man.Work environments also tend to be 
stressful for Kansas women, with 64% reporting that they had negative 
experiences, such as harassment or discrimination, in the workplace.June Huie, an independent business 
owner, said she often acted as a mentor to women looking to become 
entrepreneurs. She said she was asked often about why men were oblivious
 to the struggles of their female counterparts in the workforce, 
especially men who were high-ranking employees and could make changes in
 the workplace structure.“There’s just so many things that 
seem to impact women so much more than men. And we want to know where to
 start. Who do we start with?” Huie said.&nbsp;Huie said she’s been bringing up her 
concerns to Sedgwick County city council members and county 
commissioners, but wasn’t satisfied with their responses. Huie said a 
partisan divide was also making it difficult to address women’s issues.“They shake their heads: ‘Yeah, we 
understand it’s a problem, blah, blah, blah.’ And then they promptly go 
and vote absolutely against anything that they say, and there’s not a 
whole lot we can do about it other than un-elect them,” Huie said. “But 
we have that whole conservative versus progressive mindset that’s giving
 us some considerable difficulty here in Sedgwick County.”

Lack of child care, pay gap keeping Kan. women out of workforce

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A 22-year-old gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five people and leaving 18 injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons and arrested by police who were on the scene within minutes, authorities said Sunday.

Click below to listen to the 9a.m. Sunday police press conference

Two firearms, including a “long rifle,” were found at Club Q after the Saturday night shooting, said Police Chief Adrian Vasquez.

Investigators were still determining a motive, and the attack was being investigated to see if it should be prosecuted as a hate crime, said El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen.

Police identified the gunman as Anderson Lee Aldrich, who was in custody and being treated for injuries. A man with the same name and age was arrested in 2021 after his mother reported he threatened her with “a homemade bomb, multiple weapons and ammunition,” according to authorities.

Police did not confirm whether it was the same person, saying they were investigating whether the suspect had been arrested before.

Authorities were called to the Club Q at 11:57 p.m. Saturday with a report of a shooting, and the first officer arrived at midnight.

“At least two heroic people” confronted the gunman and stopped the shooting, Vasquez said, adding: “We owe them a great debt of thanks.”

Of the 18 people injured, some were in critical condition and at least two had been treated and released, officials said, adding that some were hurt trying to flee.

The shooting brought back memories of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-fl-state-wire-massacres-shootings-9c2d0d234e96c821beb29f1cf4c0eb82">the 2016 massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida,</a>&nbsp;that killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012 and at a Boulder supermarket last year.

It was the sixth mass killing this month and came in a year when the nation was shaken by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">deaths of 21 in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas</a>.

Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the shooting, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said. The FBI said it was assisting but said the police department was leading the investigation.

President Joe Biden said that while the motive for the shootings was not yet clear, “we know that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years.”

“Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence. Yet it happens far too often,” he said. “We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate.”

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who became the first openly gay man in the United States to be elected governor in 2018, called the shooting “sickening.”

“My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting. I have spoken with Mayor (John) Suthers and clarified that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs,” Polis said. “Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn.”

Ryan Johnson, who lives near Club Q and was there last month, said it was one of only two night spots for the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs. “It’s kind of the go-to for pride,” the 26-year-old said, describing it as a medium-sized club.

When he got home early Sunday, he saw police cars crowding the streets.

“It just feels crazy, you hear about it and you don’t think it’ll happen and then it happens,” said Johnson. “You come to Colorado and feel safer than other parts of the country and then this happens.”

Robert Nichols, 35, said he searched frantically Sunday for a friend who had told him she would be at the club and hadn't returned his calls. He said that led to some “anxiety inducing” hours before seeing the friend's car outside her home and deciding she was OK.

Although a motive wasn’t yet clear, nor were the gender identities of the victims, the incident came as anti-gay rhetoric has intensified by extremists. In a statement, Club Q termed the shooting a hate attack.

“Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” the club posted on its Facebook page. It said its prayers were with victims and families, adding: “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”

The CEO of a national LGBTQ-rights organization, Kevin Jennings of Lambda Legal, reacted with a plea for tighter restrictions on guns.

“America’s toxic mix of bigotry and absurdly easy access to firearms means that such events are all too common and LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC communities, the Jewish community and other vulnerable populations pay the price again and again for our political leadership’s failure to act,” he said in a statement. “We must stand together to demand meaningful action before yet another tragedy strikes our nation.”

The shooting came during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-legislature-gay-rights-raleigh-government-and-politics-84892bee21af98cfd80d56481ca05458">Transgender Awareness Week</a>&nbsp;and hours before Sunday’s International&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-deaths-america-2022-data-76c8ba3936e9a724377d1733a4619d7c">Transgender Day of Remembrance</a>, when events around the world are held to mourn and remember transgender people lost to violence. The Colorado Springs shooting was sure to bring special resonance to those events.

Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website. In addition to the drag show, Club Q's Facebook page said planned entertainment included a “punk and alternative show” preceding a birthday dance party, with a Sunday “all ages brunch.”

Colorado Springs is a city of about 480,000 located about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Denver that is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as Focus on the Family, a prominent evangelical Christian ministry.

In November 2015, three people were killed and eight wounded at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the city when authorities say a man opened fire because he wanted to wage “war” on the clinic because it performed abortions.

In June, 31 members of the neo-Nazi group Patriot Front were arrested in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and charged with conspiracy to riot at a Pride event. Experts warned that extremist groups could see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-riots-race-and-ethnicity-religion-a22a3e11521dfd398778d4820f484c50">anti-gay rhetoric as a call to action</a>.

The previous month, a fundamentalist Idaho pastor told his small Boise congregation that gay, lesbian and transgender people should be executed by the government, which lined up with similar sermons from a Texas fundamentalist pastor.

There have been 523 mass killings since 2006 resulting in 2,727 deaths as of Nov. 19, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">The Associated Press/USA Today database on mass killings in the U.S.</a>

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A 22-year-old gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five people and injuring 18 before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons and arrested by police who arrived on the scene within about five minutes, police said Sunday.

Two firearms, including a “long rifle,” were found at the scene at Club Q, said Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez.

“At least two heroic people” confronted the gunman and stopped the shooting, the chief said, adding: “We owe them a great debt of thanks.”

Authorities received the report of a shooting at Club Q at 11:57 p.m. Saturday, said Lt. Pamela Castro of the Colorado Springs Police Department.

The violence is the sixth mass killing this month and comes in a year when the nation was shaken by the deaths of 21 in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

Castro said the suspect was injured but didn’t know how and that the FBI was on the scene.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the shooting, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said. The FBI said it was providing assistance to Colorado Springs police, but said the police department was leading the investigation.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who became the first openly gay man in the United States to be elected governor in 2018, said the news was “sickening.”.

Although a motive in the shooting wasn’t yet clear, nor were the gender identities of the victims, the incident came as anti-gay rhetoric has intensified by extremists. In a statement, Club Q termed the shooting a hate attack.

The shooting came during Transgender Awareness Week and hours before Sunday’s International Transgender Day of Remembrance, when events around the world are held to mourn and memorialize transgender people lost to violence. The Colorado Springs shooting was sure to bring special resonance to Sunday’s events.

Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website.

In addition to the drag show, Club Q's Facebook page said planned entertainment included a “punk and alternative show” preceding a birthday dance party, with a Sunday “all ages brunch.”

The shooting brought back memories of the 2016 massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012 and at a Boulder supermarket last year.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California said on Twitter he was “sickened and horrified” by the shooting, adding: “The LGBTQ+ community is once again the target of the most terrible violence. And devastating attacks like these will only become more common if we don’t fight back. It must stop.”

Rep.-elect Eric Sorensen, who is Illinois' first openly gay congressman, tweeted that “we must use loud voices to stand up against hate. Our country must turn down the hateful rhetoric aimed at our LGBTQ community.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — An attacker opened fire in a gay nightclub late Saturday, killing five people and wounding 18, officials said. The club said the suspect was subdued by patrons.

Authorities received a report of a shooting at Club Q at 11:57 p.m. and responded within minutes, said Lt. Pamela Castro of the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Castro had few details beyond the number of dead and wounded. She said the suspect was injured but didn’t know how and that the FBI was on the scene and assisting.

The police department planned a news conference for 8 a.m. (10 a.m. EST) on the investigation.

The latest incident occurred as anti-gay rhetoric has intensified by extremists. In a statement, Club Q termed the shooting a hate attack.

The motive behind Saturday's shooting was not immediately known but it brought back memories of the 2016 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012 and at a Boulder supermarket last year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668949980895.png" alt="Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website.-photo courtesy KKTV" />
 <figcaption>Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website.-photo courtesy KKTV</figcaption>
 </figure>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A 22-year-old gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five people and leaving 18 injured before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons and arrested by police who were on the scene within minutes, authorities said Sunday.Click below to listen to the 9a.m. Sunday police press conference<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcspdpio%2Fvideos%2F685654389569596%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=26" width="267" height="476" 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>Two firearms, including a “long rifle,” were found at Club Q after the Saturday night shooting, said Police Chief Adrian Vasquez.Investigators were still determining a motive, and the attack was being investigated to see if it should be prosecuted as a hate crime, said El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen.Police identified the gunman as Anderson Lee Aldrich, who was in custody and being treated for injuries. A man with the same name and age was arrested in 2021 after his mother reported he threatened her with “a homemade bomb, multiple weapons and ammunition,” according to authorities.Police did not confirm whether it was the same person, saying they were investigating whether the suspect had been arrested before.Authorities were called to the Club Q at 11:57 p.m. Saturday with a report of a shooting, and the first officer arrived at midnight.“At least two heroic people” confronted the gunman and stopped the shooting, Vasquez said, adding: “We owe them a great debt of thanks.”Of the 18 people injured, some were in critical condition and at least two had been treated and released, officials said, adding that some were hurt trying to flee.The shooting brought back memories of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-fl-state-wire-massacres-shootings-9c2d0d234e96c821beb29f1cf4c0eb82">the 2016 massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida,</a>&nbsp;that killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012 and at a Boulder supermarket last year.It was the sixth mass killing this month and came in a year when the nation was shaken by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">deaths of 21 in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas</a>.Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the shooting, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said. The FBI said it was assisting but said the police department was leading the investigation.President Joe Biden said that while the motive for the shootings was not yet clear, “we know that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years.”“Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence. Yet it happens far too often,” he said. “We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate.”Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who became the first openly gay man in the United States to be elected governor in 2018, called the shooting “sickening.”“My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting. I have spoken with Mayor (John) Suthers and clarified that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs,” Polis said. “Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn.”Ryan Johnson, who lives near Club Q and was there last month, said it was one of only two night spots for the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs. “It’s kind of the go-to for pride,” the 26-year-old said, describing it as a medium-sized club.When he got home early Sunday, he saw police cars crowding the streets.“It just feels crazy, you hear about it and you don’t think it’ll happen and then it happens,” said Johnson. “You come to Colorado and feel safer than other parts of the country and then this happens.”Robert Nichols, 35, said he searched frantically Sunday for a friend who had told him she would be at the club and hadn't returned his calls. He said that led to some “anxiety inducing” hours before seeing the friend's car outside her home and deciding she was OK.Although a motive wasn’t yet clear, nor were the gender identities of the victims, the incident came as anti-gay rhetoric has intensified by extremists. In a statement, Club Q termed the shooting a hate attack.“Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” the club posted on its Facebook page. It said its prayers were with victims and families, adding: “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”The CEO of a national LGBTQ-rights organization, Kevin Jennings of Lambda Legal, reacted with a plea for tighter restrictions on guns.“America’s toxic mix of bigotry and absurdly easy access to firearms means that such events are all too common and LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC communities, the Jewish community and other vulnerable populations pay the price again and again for our political leadership’s failure to act,” he said in a statement. “We must stand together to demand meaningful action before yet another tragedy strikes our nation.”The shooting came during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-legislature-gay-rights-raleigh-government-and-politics-84892bee21af98cfd80d56481ca05458">Transgender Awareness Week</a>&nbsp;and hours before Sunday’s International&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-deaths-america-2022-data-76c8ba3936e9a724377d1733a4619d7c">Transgender Day of Remembrance</a>, when events around the world are held to mourn and remember transgender people lost to violence. The Colorado Springs shooting was sure to bring special resonance to those events.Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website. In addition to the drag show, Club Q's Facebook page said planned entertainment included a “punk and alternative show” preceding a birthday dance party, with a Sunday “all ages brunch.”Colorado Springs is a city of about 480,000 located about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Denver that is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as Focus on the Family, a prominent evangelical Christian ministry.In November 2015, three people were killed and eight wounded at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the city when authorities say a man opened fire because he wanted to wage “war” on the clinic because it performed abortions.In June, 31 members of the neo-Nazi group Patriot Front were arrested in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and charged with conspiracy to riot at a Pride event. Experts warned that extremist groups could see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-riots-race-and-ethnicity-religion-a22a3e11521dfd398778d4820f484c50">anti-gay rhetoric as a call to action</a>.The previous month, a fundamentalist Idaho pastor told his small Boise congregation that gay, lesbian and transgender people should be executed by the government, which lined up with similar sermons from a Texas fundamentalist pastor.There have been 523 mass killings since 2006 resulting in 2,727 deaths as of Nov. 19, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">The Associated Press/USA Today database on mass killings in the U.S.</a>------COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A 22-year-old gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs, killing five people and injuring 18 before he was subdued by “heroic” patrons and arrested by police who arrived on the scene within about five minutes, police said Sunday.Click below to listen to the 9a.m. Sunday police press conference<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcspdpio%2Fvideos%2F685654389569596%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=26" width="267" height="476" 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>Two firearms, including a “long rifle,” were found at the scene at Club Q, said Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez.“At least two heroic people” confronted the gunman and stopped the shooting, the chief said, adding: “We owe them a great debt of thanks.”Authorities received the report of a shooting at Club Q at 11:57 p.m. Saturday, said Lt. Pamela Castro of the Colorado Springs Police Department.The violence is the sixth mass killing this month and comes in a year when the nation was shaken by the deaths of 21 in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.Castro said the suspect was injured but didn’t know how and that the FBI was on the scene.Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the shooting, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said. The FBI said it was providing assistance to Colorado Springs police, but said the police department was leading the investigation.Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who became the first openly gay man in the United States to be elected governor in 2018, said the news was “sickening.”.“My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting. I have spoken with Mayor (John) Suthers and clarified that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs,” Polis said. “Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn.”Although a motive in the shooting wasn’t yet clear, nor were the gender identities of the victims, the incident came as anti-gay rhetoric has intensified by extremists. In a statement, Club Q termed the shooting a hate attack.“Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” the club posted on its Facebook page. It said its prayers were with victims and families, adding: “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”The shooting came during Transgender Awareness Week and hours before Sunday’s International Transgender Day of Remembrance, when events around the world are held to mourn and memorialize transgender people lost to violence. The Colorado Springs shooting was sure to bring special resonance to Sunday’s events.Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website.In addition to the drag show, Club Q's Facebook page said planned entertainment included a “punk and alternative show” preceding a birthday dance party, with a Sunday “all ages brunch.”Colorado Springs is a city of about 480,000 located about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Denver that is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as Focus on the Family, a prominent evangelical Christian ministry.In November 2015, three people were killed and eight wounded at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the city when authorities say a man opened fire because he wanted to wage “war” on the clinic because it performed abortions.The shooting brought back memories of the 2016 massacre at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012 and at a Boulder supermarket last year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sickened and horrified by the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs. The LGBTQ+ community is once again the target of the most terrible violence. And devastating attacks like these will only become more common if we don’t fight back. It must stop.&mdash; Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/1594327197019422722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California said on Twitter he was “sickened and horrified” by the shooting, adding: “The LGBTQ+ community is once again the target of the most terrible violence. And devastating attacks like these will only become more common if we don’t fight back. It must stop.”Rep.-elect Eric Sorensen, who is Illinois' first openly gay congressman, tweeted that “we must use loud voices to stand up against hate. Our country must turn down the hateful rhetoric aimed at our LGBTQ community.”In June, 31 members of the neo-Nazi group Patriot Front were arrested in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and charged with conspiracy to riot at a Pride event. Experts warned that extremist groups could see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-riots-race-and-ethnicity-religion-a22a3e11521dfd398778d4820f484c50">anti-gay rhetoric as a call to action</a>.The previous month, a fundamentalist Idaho pastor told his small Boise congregation that gay, lesbian and transgender people should be executed by the government, which lined up with similar sermons from a Texas fundamentalist pastor.There have been 523 mass killings since 2006 resulting in 2,727 deaths as of Nov. 19, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">The Associated Press/USA Today database on mass killings in the U.S.</a>-----COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — An attacker opened fire in a gay nightclub late Saturday, killing five people and wounding 18, officials said. The club said the suspect was subdued by patrons.Authorities received a report of a shooting at Club Q at 11:57 p.m. and responded within minutes, said Lt. Pamela Castro of the Colorado Springs Police Department.The violence is the sixth mass killing this month and comes in a year when the nation was shaken by the deaths of 21 in a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.Castro had few details beyond the number of dead and wounded. She said the suspect was injured but didn’t know how and that the FBI was on the scene and assisting.The police department planned a news conference for 8 a.m. (10 a.m. EST) on the investigation.The latest incident occurred as anti-gay rhetoric has intensified by extremists. In a statement, Club Q termed the shooting a hate attack.“Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community,” the club posted on its Facebook page. It said its prayers were with victims and families, adding: “We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.”Club Q is a gay and lesbian nightclub that features a “Drag Diva Drag Show” on Saturdays, according to its website.In addition to the drag show, Club Q's Facebook page said planned entertainment included a “punk and alternative show” preceding a birthday dance party, with a Sunday “all ages brunch.”Colorado Springs is a city of about 480,000 located about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Denver that is home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, as well as Focus on the Family, a prominent evangelical Christian ministry.In November 2015, three people were killed and eight wounded at a Planned Parenthood clinic in the city when authorities say a man opened fire because he wanted to wage “war” on the clinic because it performed abortions.The motive behind Saturday's shooting was not immediately known but it brought back memories of the 2016 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people. And it occurred in a state that has experienced several notorious mass killings, including at Columbine High School in 1999, a movie theater in suburban Denver in 2012 and at a Boulder supermarket last year.In June, 31 members of the neo-Nazi group Patriot Front were arrested in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and charged with conspiracy to riot at a Pride event. Experts warned that extremist groups could see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-riots-race-and-ethnicity-religion-a22a3e11521dfd398778d4820f484c50">anti-gay rhetoric as a call to action</a>.The previous month, a fundamentalist Idaho pastor told his small Boise congregation that gay, lesbian and transgender people should be executed by the government, which lined up with similar sermons from a Texas fundamentalist pastor.There have been 523 mass killings since 2006 resulting in 2,727 deaths as of Nov. 19, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/graphics/2022/08/18/mass-killings-database-us-events-since-2006/9705311002/">The Associated Press/USA Today database on mass killings in the U.S.</a>-------------

🎥Police ID gunman in mass shooting at  LGBTQ club in Colorado 

LYON COUNTY— Sheriff's deputies had an animal control adventure this week, according to a social media report from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LyonCountySheriff/posts/pfbid0aDqyicHNJQHXib3PvpEesXQGXr5jMjqt5CXnGAoLcRQRC3WjEATdT1ecWfWX8xAbl">the Lyon County Sheriff. </a>

They we were able to help a county resident free a deer that had become stuck in his pond.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the sheriff, the deer was pretty exhausted when it was pulled out. The sheriff's office did not release additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668875280548.png" alt="Photos courtesy Lyon County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy Lyon County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY— Sheriff's deputies had an animal control adventure this week, according to a social media report from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LyonCountySheriff/posts/pfbid0aDqyicHNJQHXib3PvpEesXQGXr5jMjqt5CXnGAoLcRQRC3WjEATdT1ecWfWX8xAbl">the Lyon County Sheriff. </a>They we were able to help a county resident free a deer that had become stuck in his pond.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668875355162.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to the sheriff, the deer was pretty exhausted when it was pulled out. The sheriff's office did not release additional details.

Kansas deputies help rescue deer stuck in pond

By MAX KAUTSCH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/20/dear-kris-kobach-please-read-this-open-letter-about-open-government-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

Congratulations on your election as our state’s next attorney general.

I write this open letter in my capacity as the president of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/">Kansas Coalition for Open Government</a>.
 My purpose is to express my hope for establishing a working 
relationship between the coalition and your administration to achieve 
what I believe to be a shared goal: educating the public about the 
importance of transparency at all levels of Kansas government.

Transparency is vital. For example, it is how<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/08/23/overland-park-police-shooting-investigation/"> family members of crime victims learn</a> about what happened to their loved ones. A lack of transparency is why there was such an uproar over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/shocking-kansas-secures-no-jobs-100000436.html">unknowns about how taxpayer dollars were leveraged during the Panasonic plant negotiations</a>. Transparency is, at its heart, the ability of members of a democracy to challenge or verify what the government tells us.

As you know, the Attorney General’s Office plays a critical role in 
promoting transparency in the state. Under Kansas law, the office is 
afforded more authority than any other entity to investigate and act on 
complaints made by members of the public that a public agency has 
violated the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0051_section/045_002_0051_k/">Kansas Open Records Act</a> or the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020b_section/075_043_0020b_k/">Kansas Open Meetings Act</a>,
 such as when an agency denies access to a record that should have been 
available or a has a meeting behind closed doors that should have been 
open.

Although county and district attorneys, as well as members of the public, have <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0022_section/045_002_0022_k/">authority to bring civil lawsuits</a> to enforce <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020a_section/075_043_0020a_k/">open government laws</a>,
 only the Attorney General’s Office has authority to enter into a 
“consent decree” with the offending agency or issue a “finding of 
violation” against such agency to resolve the complaint.

Your predecessor, who <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/committees/ctte_s_jud_1/documents/testimony/20150218_08.pdf">worked with legislators</a> to <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/hb2256/">pass the bill</a> conferring these additional powers on the office in 2015, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2016/02/01/ag-s-office-reorganizes-to-boost-open-government-enforcement">established an Open Government Enforcement Unit</a> within his office that was effectively the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/16/kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt-falls-short-on-enforcing-open-records-law/">sole arbiter of open government law in this state</a> for the latter half of his tenure.

Now, Kansans have given you the responsibility to serve as the 
state’s primary enforcer of open government laws. With that 
responsibility comes broad investigatory and enforcement authority, 
including the ability to issue subpoenas to public agencies to enforce 
open meetings laws.

But I think we can agree that the most important component of effective open government law enforcement is education.

Your predecessor routinely offered open government <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/open-government/training">training sessions</a>
 for public employees and officials, the news media, and members of the 
public. Not only do such sessions help prevent public agencies from 
violating open government laws, but they also serve as a constructive 
way to resolve complaints because the office can order officials to 
remedy certain violations by attending.

To whatever extent the Attorney General’s Office under your 
leadership welcomes assistance in offering and developing such 
education, the coalition is happy to help. Our organization, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.guidestar.org/profile/48-1224557">501(c)(3) nonprofit</a>&nbsp;formed in 1999, has provided open government training sessions, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2018/08/01/ag-derek-schmidt-sunshine-coalition-to-offer-free-training-on-open-government-laws">sometimes in partnership with the office</a>, for more than two decades.

We offer a wide variety of open government education <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/resources/">resources on our website</a>, including <a target="_blank" href="https://kautschlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/open-govt-crash-course-2022.pdf">KORA and KOMA training slides</a> based largely on outlines of open government laws written by your predecessor.

Finally, for many years, the Attorney General’s Office and the Kansas
 Coalition for Open Government worked together to offer KORA and KOMA 
training. But that practice was suspended for a variety of reasons, not 
the least of which was your predecessor’s <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/15/kansas-ags-office-enforces-open-records-law-while-overlooking-key-piece/">selective application of the plain language</a>
 of KORA. It is my hope, despite past differences, that your 
administration recognizes the benefit of our shared history and would be
 willing to discuss how we might resume working together to serve the 
public interest during your term.

I can be reached at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:president@kcog.us">president@kcog.us</a>. I wish you the best of luck as you prepare to take office, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Max Kautsch, licensed to practice law in both Kansas and Nebraska, focuses his practice on First Amendment rights and open government law. He helps news media and members of the public assert rights of access to court proceedings, court records, and government agency documents. He serves as the legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, is president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, and is an adjunct professor at the University Kansas School of Law. Kautsch is also hotline counsel to both the Nebraska Press Association and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663086493444.jpeg" alt="Kautsch" />
 <figcaption>Kautsch</figcaption>
 </figure>By MAX KAUTSCH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/20/dear-kris-kobach-please-read-this-open-letter-about-open-government-in-kansas/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>Dear attorney general-elect Kris Kobach:Congratulations on your election as our state’s next attorney general.I write this open letter in my capacity as the president of the <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/">Kansas Coalition for Open Government</a>.
 My purpose is to express my hope for establishing a working 
relationship between the coalition and your administration to achieve 
what I believe to be a shared goal: educating the public about the 
importance of transparency at all levels of Kansas government.Transparency is vital. For example, it is how<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/08/23/overland-park-police-shooting-investigation/"> family members of crime victims learn</a> about what happened to their loved ones. A lack of transparency is why there was such an uproar over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/shocking-kansas-secures-no-jobs-100000436.html">unknowns about how taxpayer dollars were leveraged during the Panasonic plant negotiations</a>. Transparency is, at its heart, the ability of members of a democracy to challenge or verify what the government tells us.As you know, the Attorney General’s Office plays a critical role in 
promoting transparency in the state. Under Kansas law, the office is 
afforded more authority than any other entity to investigate and act on 
complaints made by members of the public that a public agency has 
violated the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0051_section/045_002_0051_k/">Kansas Open Records Act</a> or the <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020b_section/075_043_0020b_k/">Kansas Open Meetings Act</a>,
 such as when an agency denies access to a record that should have been 
available or a has a meeting behind closed doors that should have been 
open.Although county and district attorneys, as well as members of the public, have <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/045_000_0000_chapter/045_002_0000_article/045_002_0022_section/045_002_0022_k/">authority to bring civil lawsuits</a> to enforce <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/statute/075_000_0000_chapter/075_043_0000_article/075_043_0020a_section/075_043_0020a_k/">open government laws</a>,
 only the Attorney General’s Office has authority to enter into a 
“consent decree” with the offending agency or issue a “finding of 
violation” against such agency to resolve the complaint.Your predecessor, who <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/committees/ctte_s_jud_1/documents/testimony/20150218_08.pdf">worked with legislators</a> to <a target="_blank" href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/measures/hb2256/">pass the bill</a> conferring these additional powers on the office in 2015, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2016/02/01/ag-s-office-reorganizes-to-boost-open-government-enforcement">established an Open Government Enforcement Unit</a> within his office that was effectively the <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/03/16/kansas-attorney-general-derek-schmidt-falls-short-on-enforcing-open-records-law/">sole arbiter of open government law in this state</a> for the latter half of his tenure.Now, Kansans have given you the responsibility to serve as the 
state’s primary enforcer of open government laws. With that 
responsibility comes broad investigatory and enforcement authority, 
including the ability to issue subpoenas to public agencies to enforce 
open meetings laws.But I think we can agree that the most important component of effective open government law enforcement is education.Your predecessor routinely offered open government <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/open-government/training">training sessions</a>
 for public employees and officials, the news media, and members of the 
public. Not only do such sessions help prevent public agencies from 
violating open government laws, but they also serve as a constructive 
way to resolve complaints because the office can order officials to 
remedy certain violations by attending.To whatever extent the Attorney General’s Office under your 
leadership welcomes assistance in offering and developing such 
education, the coalition is happy to help. Our organization, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.guidestar.org/profile/48-1224557">501(c)(3) nonprofit</a>&nbsp;formed in 1999, has provided open government training sessions, <a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/media-center/news-releases/2018/08/01/ag-derek-schmidt-sunshine-coalition-to-offer-free-training-on-open-government-laws">sometimes in partnership with the office</a>, for more than two decades.We offer a wide variety of open government education <a target="_blank" href="https://kcog.us/resources/">resources on our website</a>, including <a target="_blank" href="https://kautschlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/open-govt-crash-course-2022.pdf">KORA and KOMA training slides</a> based largely on outlines of open government laws written by your predecessor.Finally, for many years, the Attorney General’s Office and the Kansas
 Coalition for Open Government worked together to offer KORA and KOMA 
training. But that practice was suspended for a variety of reasons, not 
the least of which was your predecessor’s <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/15/kansas-ags-office-enforces-open-records-law-while-overlooking-key-piece/">selective application of the plain language</a>
 of KORA. It is my hope, despite past differences, that your 
administration recognizes the benefit of our shared history and would be
 willing to discuss how we might resume working together to serve the 
public interest during your term.I can be reached at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:president@kcog.us">president@kcog.us</a>. I wish you the best of luck as you prepare to take office, and I hope to hear from you soon.Max Kautsch, licensed to practice law in both Kansas and Nebraska, focuses his practice on First Amendment rights and open government law. He helps news media and members of the public assert rights of access to court proceedings, court records, and government agency documents. He serves as the legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, is president of the Kansas Coalition for Open Government, and is an adjunct professor at the University Kansas School of Law. Kautsch is also hotline counsel to both the Nebraska Press Association and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association.

Dear Kris Kobach: Please read this open letter about open government in Kansas

TOPEKA —The Powerball jackpot was hit in Kansas on Saturday night for the first time since 2012! The winning numbers in the November 19 Powerball drawing were 7 – 28 – 62 – 63 – 64 Powerball 10. The grand prize jackpot in the drawing was $92,900,000 for the annuity option or $47,309,601 for the cash option, according to a media release from the Kansas Lottery.

The winning ticket was sold in Northeast Kansas. This region includes the following counties: Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Atchison, Geary, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Osage, Douglas, Franklin, Miami, Morris, and the northern half of Lyon counties.&nbsp;

In Kansas, winners have the option to remain anonymous when claiming a prize. This prevents the store that the winning ticket was sold in being announced until after the prize is claimed for security purposes. The retailer is eligible for a selling bonus for selling the winning ticket.&nbsp;

“The Kansas Lottery had the pleasure of making someone out there a little more thankful this week,” said Kansas Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell. “We are thrilled for our winner, as nothing makes us happier than giving away a big jackpot to our players.”&nbsp;

The Kansas Lottery will be available for media inquiries during operational hours this week. As a reminder, it is a holiday week, and the Lottery will be closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.&nbsp;

Players are invited to submit all their winning and non-winning tickets in the Kansas Lottery&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslottery.com/PlayOn/index.html">PlayOn®&nbsp;Players Loyalty</a>&nbsp;program to earn points for drawing entries and a chance to win cash and other prizes!&nbsp; PlayOn® is a registered trademark of Pollard Banknote Limited used under license.

TOPEKA —The Powerball jackpot was hit in Kansas on Saturday night for the first time since 2012! The winning numbers in the November 19 Powerball drawing were 7 – 28 – 62 – 63 – 64 Powerball 10. The grand prize jackpot in the drawing was $92,900,000 for the annuity option or $47,309,601 for the cash option, according to a media release from the Kansas Lottery.The winning ticket was sold in Northeast Kansas. This region includes the following counties: Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Doniphan, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Atchison, Geary, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Osage, Douglas, Franklin, Miami, Morris, and the northern half of Lyon counties.&nbsp;In Kansas, winners have the option to remain anonymous when claiming a prize. This prevents the store that the winning ticket was sold in being announced until after the prize is claimed for security purposes. The retailer is eligible for a selling bonus for selling the winning ticket.&nbsp;“The Kansas Lottery had the pleasure of making someone out there a little more thankful this week,” said Kansas Lottery Executive Director Stephen Durrell. “We are thrilled for our winner, as nothing makes us happier than giving away a big jackpot to our players.”&nbsp;The Kansas Lottery will be available for media inquiries during operational hours this week. As a reminder, it is a holiday week, and the Lottery will be closed on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.&nbsp;Players are invited to submit all their winning and non-winning tickets in the Kansas Lottery&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslottery.com/PlayOn/index.html">PlayOn®&nbsp;Players Loyalty</a>&nbsp;program to earn points for drawing entries and a chance to win cash and other prizes!&nbsp; PlayOn® is a registered trademark of Pollard Banknote Limited used under license.

Powerball $92.9 million winning ticket sold in Kansas

BALTIMORE (AP) — Even as they signaled a continued hardline stance on opposing abortion and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-relationships-gay-rights-marriage-a6d9a92c4a5cda6e4b977f516a9a71a7">same-sex marriage</a>, the nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-81eacc2fc6d53f81eacdcadc459b500a">Catholic bishops</a>&nbsp;acknowledged Wednesday that they’re struggling to reach a key audience: their own flock.

The members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-539937dc8c2369d10a247428119d34f4">U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops</a>&nbsp;rounded out their leadership bench during the last day of public sessions of their fall annual meeting in Baltimore, which concludes with private meetings Thursday.

They also set in motion a plan to recirculate their long-standing election document in 2024 — a 15-year-old statement that prioritizes opposition to abortion — while acknowledging it’s outdated and adding a cover statement addressing such things as the teachings of Pope Francis and the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling in June that overturned the nationwide right to abortion.

The bishops elected Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley as secretary in a 130-104 vote over Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, who had been named a cardinal by Pope Francis. It’s the second time in five years that the bishops have passed over a Francis-appointed cardinal for a key leadership post.

Earlier this year, Coakley had applauded the decision by San Francisco’s archbishop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-congress-nancy-pelosi-san-francisco-religion-cd68155b976a60fc4f6b948acb217858">to deny Communion to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,</a>&nbsp;a Catholic Democrat from that city who supports abortion rights. So had the bishops’ new point man on opposition to abortion -- Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, elected Wednesday as chairman of its Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The votes came a day after the bishops elected as their new president Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Broglio is also seen as more of a culture warrior than Pope Francis, though Broglio has dismissed the idea of any “dissonance” between the two.

At the same time, Coakley cited the importance of Francis’ priorities in a news conference Wednesday.

Coakley is leading the bishops’ review of, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a document they have used in election years with only minor revisions since 2007.

While a full revision will take years, bishops approved Coakley’s recommendation to begin drafting a new introduction to issue with the document in time for 2024′s election. It would incorporate recent events such as the Ukraine war and the Dobbs decision.

The plan also includes using parish bulletins and social media to share main ideas from the lengthy document.

Coakley said the new introduction needs to reflect Pope Francis’ priorities, such as promoting civil discourse and protecting the environment.

“It’s a rich pontificate that offers us plenty to lay out for people … to embrace the vision that Pope Francis has articulated,” Coakley said.

Bishops from both the progressive and conservative flanks of the church echoed concern that Catholics aren’t reading the document.

Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, a Francis appointee, said that bishops need a statement that’s relevant amid the shaken confidence in democracy following the U.S. Capitol riot and in the wake of Dobbs and defeats for abortion opponents in votes on five state ballot measures. “It’s irresponsible to issue an old teaching and suggest the church has nothing new to say when so much of this context has changed,” he said.

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of the most outspoken conservative bishops, lamented the recent state ballot measures. Polls show Catholics to be mixed on legal abortion.

“I think it’s a solid document,” Strickland said, but “I think we have to acknowledge people aren’t listening.”

The gap between Francis and the U.S. bishops reflects in part the conference’s continued emphasis on culture-war battles over abortion and same-sex marriage.

Francis, while also opposing both in keeping with church teaching, has used his papacy to emphasize a wider agenda of bringing mercy to those at the margins, such as migrants and other poor. The Vatican said in 2021 the church cannot bless gay unions because God “cannot bless sin,” but Francis has made outreach to the church’s LGBTQ members a hallmark of his papacy. As recently as last Friday, Francis met with the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit priest whom the pontiff has supported in his calls for dialogue with LGBTQ Catholics.

Both Pelosi and President Joe Biden, another Catholic who favors legalized abortion, have received Communion since 2021 in churches in Rome, the pope’s own diocese.

The bishops also heard an impassioned talk Wednesday by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-europe-religion-moscow-0c674a1029a3f989aed16f7d93704514">Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia</a>&nbsp;on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.

Gudziak thanked U.S. Catholics for providing millions in relief for displaced Ukrainians and urged continued American support for Ukraine’s self-defense, saying Russian assaults have left many vulnerable in the coming winter.

At the same time, he said that on a conference call with staff at a Catholic university in Lviv, he heard only joy and resolve even amid losses of electrical power in Russia’s missile barrage Tuesday. One staff member told him, “Better without electricity and with Kherson,” he said, alluding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-europe-business-war-crimes-037bd016533420a707250d15e8075536">recently liberated city</a>.

Gudziak accused Russia of a “genocide” through such attacks and through its denial of Ukrainians’ identity as a separate people.

Also Wednesday, a small group of survivors of sexual abuse and their supporters held a sidewalk news conference outside Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, where the bishops are meeting. While this year marks the 20th anniversary of the bishops’ landmark policy barring all abusers from ministry, advocates are seeking more transparency.

They called for bishops in every diocese to post detailed lists of credibly accused abusers and to stop lobbying against state legislation that would extend statutes of limitations for abuse lawsuits.

David Lorenz, Maryland director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, cited Archbishop Broglio’s archdiocese as one of the few that still does not publish even a minimal list of abusers. Broglio declined to comment.

“I don’t need another apology because it doesn’t do anything to protect kids,” Lorenz added. “I want action to help kids. I want them (bishops) to be totally, absolutely transparent.”

Also Wednesday, the bishops voted to advance efforts to have three American women declared saints.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635514031020.png" alt="In Oct. of 2021&nbsp;First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, President Joe Biden and Pope Francis meet at the Vatican - President Joe Biden, a Catholic who favors legalized abortion, has received Communion since 2021 in churches in Rome, the pope’s own diocese. -photo courtesy CSPAN. " />
 <figcaption>In Oct. of 2021&nbsp;First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, President Joe Biden and Pope Francis meet at the Vatican - President Joe Biden, a Catholic who favors legalized abortion, has received Communion since 2021 in churches in Rome, the pope’s own diocese. -photo courtesy CSPAN. </figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — Even as they signaled a continued hardline stance on opposing abortion and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-relationships-gay-rights-marriage-a6d9a92c4a5cda6e4b977f516a9a71a7">same-sex marriage</a>, the nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-81eacc2fc6d53f81eacdcadc459b500a">Catholic bishops</a>&nbsp;acknowledged Wednesday that they’re struggling to reach a key audience: their own flock.The members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-539937dc8c2369d10a247428119d34f4">U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops</a>&nbsp;rounded out their leadership bench during the last day of public sessions of their fall annual meeting in Baltimore, which concludes with private meetings Thursday.They also set in motion a plan to recirculate their long-standing election document in 2024 — a 15-year-old statement that prioritizes opposition to abortion — while acknowledging it’s outdated and adding a cover statement addressing such things as the teachings of Pope Francis and the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling in June that overturned the nationwide right to abortion.The bishops elected Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley as secretary in a 130-104 vote over Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, who had been named a cardinal by Pope Francis. It’s the second time in five years that the bishops have passed over a Francis-appointed cardinal for a key leadership post.Earlier this year, Coakley had applauded the decision by San Francisco’s archbishop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-congress-nancy-pelosi-san-francisco-religion-cd68155b976a60fc4f6b948acb217858">to deny Communion to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,</a>&nbsp;a Catholic Democrat from that city who supports abortion rights. So had the bishops’ new point man on opposition to abortion -- Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, elected Wednesday as chairman of its Committee on Pro-Life Activities.The votes came a day after the bishops elected as their new president Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Broglio is also seen as more of a culture warrior than Pope Francis, though Broglio has dismissed the idea of any “dissonance” between the two.At the same time, Coakley cited the importance of Francis’ priorities in a news conference Wednesday.Coakley is leading the bishops’ review of, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a document they have used in election years with only minor revisions since 2007.While a full revision will take years, bishops approved Coakley’s recommendation to begin drafting a new introduction to issue with the document in time for 2024′s election. It would incorporate recent events such as the Ukraine war and the Dobbs decision.The plan also includes using parish bulletins and social media to share main ideas from the lengthy document.Coakley said the new introduction needs to reflect Pope Francis’ priorities, such as promoting civil discourse and protecting the environment.“It’s a rich pontificate that offers us plenty to lay out for people … to embrace the vision that Pope Francis has articulated,” Coakley said.Bishops from both the progressive and conservative flanks of the church echoed concern that Catholics aren’t reading the document.Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, a Francis appointee, said that bishops need a statement that’s relevant amid the shaken confidence in democracy following the U.S. Capitol riot and in the wake of Dobbs and defeats for abortion opponents in votes on five state ballot measures. “It’s irresponsible to issue an old teaching and suggest the church has nothing new to say when so much of this context has changed,” he said.Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of the most outspoken conservative bishops, lamented the recent state ballot measures. Polls show Catholics to be mixed on legal abortion.“I think it’s a solid document,” Strickland said, but “I think we have to acknowledge people aren’t listening.”The gap between Francis and the U.S. bishops reflects in part the conference’s continued emphasis on culture-war battles over abortion and same-sex marriage.Francis, while also opposing both in keeping with church teaching, has used his papacy to emphasize a wider agenda of bringing mercy to those at the margins, such as migrants and other poor. The Vatican said in 2021 the church cannot bless gay unions because God “cannot bless sin,” but Francis has made outreach to the church’s LGBTQ members a hallmark of his papacy. As recently as last Friday, Francis met with the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit priest whom the pontiff has supported in his calls for dialogue with LGBTQ Catholics.Both Pelosi and President Joe Biden, another Catholic who favors legalized abortion, have received Communion since 2021 in churches in Rome, the pope’s own diocese.The bishops also heard an impassioned talk Wednesday by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-europe-religion-moscow-0c674a1029a3f989aed16f7d93704514">Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia</a>&nbsp;on behalf of war-torn Ukraine.Gudziak thanked U.S. Catholics for providing millions in relief for displaced Ukrainians and urged continued American support for Ukraine’s self-defense, saying Russian assaults have left many vulnerable in the coming winter.At the same time, he said that on a conference call with staff at a Catholic university in Lviv, he heard only joy and resolve even amid losses of electrical power in Russia’s missile barrage Tuesday. One staff member told him, “Better without electricity and with Kherson,” he said, alluding to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-europe-business-war-crimes-037bd016533420a707250d15e8075536">recently liberated city</a>.Gudziak accused Russia of a “genocide” through such attacks and through its denial of Ukrainians’ identity as a separate people.Also Wednesday, a small group of survivors of sexual abuse and their supporters held a sidewalk news conference outside Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, where the bishops are meeting. While this year marks the 20th anniversary of the bishops’ landmark policy barring all abusers from ministry, advocates are seeking more transparency.They called for bishops in every diocese to post detailed lists of credibly accused abusers and to stop lobbying against state legislation that would extend statutes of limitations for abuse lawsuits.David Lorenz, Maryland director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, cited Archbishop Broglio’s archdiocese as one of the few that still does not publish even a minimal list of abusers. Broglio declined to comment.“I don’t need another apology because it doesn’t do anything to protect kids,” Lorenz added. “I want action to help kids. I want them (bishops) to be totally, absolutely transparent.”Also Wednesday, the bishops voted to advance efforts to have three American women declared saints.They include Michelle Duppong of North Dakota, a campus missionary who died of cancer in 2014 and is credited with showing faithfulness in suffering.They also include two 20th century women: Cora Evans, a Catholic convert from Utah who reported mystical experiences from an early age; and Mother Margaret Mary Healy Murphy of Texas, founder of a religious order, who provided education and other ministry to African Americans.___