HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said the task for his successor could be difficult if the abortion regulation amendment on the ballot August 2 does not pass.

"If think if Value Them Both were to not pass, it is likely that we will see additional legal challenges brought against existing Kansas law that governs the provision of abortion in the state," Schmidt said. "There already are at least two pending lawsuits, one challenging what is often colloquially called dismemberment abortion, a particular procedure often performed in the second trimester. There's another lawsuit pending that challenges certain health and safety standards for clinics that are currently in Kansas law. I suspect that we'll see more of those challenges in the event Value Them Both were not to pass. That's why supporters, they are able to say, I believe accurately, what is at risk here is the preservation of existing laws related to abortion."

Schmidt, of course, in his official capacity, was the attorney of record for the state of Kansas in the Hodes case whose decision currently holds regarding abortion regulation in the state.

"I think the voters of Kansas are going to show us the path forward on this subject by how they decide the Value Them Both question on August 2nd," Schmidt said. "I think, the right thing to do for anybody in a public policy role is to watch what happens with the voters and then listen very carefully to the message that they send. There are obviously people with very strongly held views on all sides of this issue. One thing that I think is certain, is that, in this post-Roe world, it's going to be necessary for people to work in good faith with each other to try to find whatever the right balance is, state by state, in terms of regulation of the abortion industry."

The squeezing out of moderate Republicans from the legislature since the beginning of Gov. Sam Brownback's tenure to now and the dominance of the Republican party overall legislatively in Kansas would seem to indicate that the good faith balance may not be easy to reach.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583409290272.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said the task for his successor could be difficult if the abortion regulation amendment on the ballot August 2 does not pass."If think if Value Them Both were to not pass, it is likely that we will see additional legal challenges brought against existing Kansas law that governs the provision of abortion in the state," Schmidt said. "There already are at least two pending lawsuits, one challenging what is often colloquially called dismemberment abortion, a particular procedure often performed in the second trimester. There's another lawsuit pending that challenges certain health and safety standards for clinics that are currently in Kansas law. I suspect that we'll see more of those challenges in the event Value Them Both were not to pass. That's why supporters, they are able to say, I believe accurately, what is at risk here is the preservation of existing laws related to abortion."Schmidt, of course, in his official capacity, was the attorney of record for the state of Kansas in the Hodes case whose decision currently holds regarding abortion regulation in the state."I think the voters of Kansas are going to show us the path forward on this subject by how they decide the Value Them Both question on August 2nd," Schmidt said. "I think, the right thing to do for anybody in a public policy role is to watch what happens with the voters and then listen very carefully to the message that they send. There are obviously people with very strongly held views on all sides of this issue. One thing that I think is certain, is that, in this post-Roe world, it's going to be necessary for people to work in good faith with each other to try to find whatever the right balance is, state by state, in terms of regulation of the abortion industry."The squeezing out of moderate Republicans from the legislature since the beginning of Gov. Sam Brownback's tenure to now and the dominance of the Republican party overall legislatively in Kansas would seem to indicate that the good faith balance may not be easy to reach.

Schmidt: Next AG may have defense to play if Value Them Both fails

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged criminal threat after an arrest&nbsp;

Sheriff patrol deputies were conducting surveillance in an attempt to locate 45-year-old Dahlkestiere D. Eichelberger of Topeka regarding a criminal threat investigation, according Deputy Abigail Christian.

Shortly before 6p.m. Friday, Sheriff Brian Hill and deputies located Eichelberger walking in the Walmart parking lot at 2600 NW Rochester Road. 

Deputies took Eichelberger taken into custody without incident just before he entered the store.

Eichelberger was in possession of a short barrel semi-automatic rifle and ammunition. The rifle was on a sling, concealed under his clothing.

A subsequent search warrant was conducted on Eichelberger’s residence in the 3400 block of NW Country Lane.

Eichelberger was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony criminal threat. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658578802399.png" alt="Eichelberger-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Eichelberger-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged criminal threat after an arrest&nbsp;Sheriff patrol deputies were conducting surveillance in an attempt to locate 45-year-old Dahlkestiere D. Eichelberger of Topeka regarding a criminal threat investigation, according Deputy Abigail Christian.Shortly before 6p.m. Friday, Sheriff Brian Hill and deputies located Eichelberger walking in the Walmart parking lot at 2600 NW Rochester Road. Deputies took Eichelberger taken into custody without incident just before he entered the store.Eichelberger was in possession of a short barrel semi-automatic rifle and ammunition. The rifle was on a sling, concealed under his clothing.A subsequent search warrant was conducted on Eichelberger’s residence in the 3400 block of NW Country Lane.Eichelberger was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of felony criminal threat.

Criminal threat: Man caught with rifle in Kan. store parking lot 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of attempted ATM thefts in the Wichita area.

At 4:00 a.m. June 16, surveillance video from an ATM in the 4100 block of E. Harry in Wichita shows a suspect approaching and using a prybar to attempt to gain access to the ATM, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

The suspect failed to get any money, but caused significant damage to the machine.

The same suspect is involved in at least three other cases – one on June 15th, at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the 2000 block of N Webb and one on the 16, around 2:00 a.m. in the 11000 block of E. Harry and another&nbsp; around 3:00 a.m. that day in the 4800 block of E. Douglas.

The suspect has a similar means of accessing machines in each case. He has been seen wearing a black Nike hoodie with matching Nike sweats, black shoes, and a black mask. He uses a long blue prybar to gain access to machines. He also wears a red drawstring backpack and has a tattoo on his left forearm. He has been spotted driving a newer model Silver Toyota Tacoma quad-cab pickup truck.

Anyone with information on the suspect should contact police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658508555167.png" alt="Image Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Image Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of attempted ATM thefts in the Wichita area.At 4:00 a.m. June 16, surveillance video from an ATM in the 4100 block of E. Harry in Wichita shows a suspect approaching and using a prybar to attempt to gain access to the ATM, according to Officer Trevor Macy.The suspect failed to get any money, but caused significant damage to the machine.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/colz4qWb2IA?start=144" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The same suspect is involved in at least three other cases – one on June 15th, at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the 2000 block of N Webb and one on the 16, around 2:00 a.m. in the 11000 block of E. Harry and another&nbsp; around 3:00 a.m. that day in the 4800 block of E. Douglas.The suspect has a similar means of accessing machines in each case. He has been seen wearing a black Nike hoodie with matching Nike sweats, black shoes, and a black mask. He uses a long blue prybar to gain access to machines. He also wears a red drawstring backpack and has a tattoo on his left forearm. He has been spotted driving a newer model Silver Toyota Tacoma quad-cab pickup truck.Anyone with information on the suspect should contact police.

🎥Police: Man observed in 4 attempted Kan. ATM thefts

BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — An employee of Silver Dollar City near Branson has died from head injuries while working at the park, federal officials said.

The employee was hospitalized Wednesday with “head injuries allegedly sustained during maintenance and testing of a rollercoaster,” said Rhonda Burke, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Labor.

The person was declared dead with blunt force trauma on Thursday, the Springfield News-Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/07/22/silver-dollar-city-employee-death-blunt-force-head-trauma-branson-missouri-amusement-park/10130426002/">reported</a>.

The park did not release the person's name. The person worked at the park since 2017 in maintenance and construction.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an investigation into the death on Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658452685543.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — An employee of Silver Dollar City near Branson has died from head injuries while working at the park, federal officials said.The employee was hospitalized Wednesday with “head injuries allegedly sustained during maintenance and testing of a rollercoaster,” said Rhonda Burke, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Labor.The person was declared dead with blunt force trauma on Thursday, the Springfield News-Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/2022/07/22/silver-dollar-city-employee-death-blunt-force-head-trauma-branson-missouri-amusement-park/10130426002/">reported</a>.No one else at the park was injured.The park did not release the person's name. The person worked at the park since 2017 in maintenance and construction.The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an investigation into the death on Friday.-----------

Feds update details on employee death at Silver Dollar City

By HUASCAR MEDINA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/23/kansas-exhibit-unites-worlds-of-artistry-and-family-into-a-big-hearted-whole/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>

“Making It Work” is currently on display at the <a target="_blank" href="https://lawrenceartscenter.org/">Lawrence Arts Center</a>.
 The exhibit takes a deeper look into the generative processes of 
artists as parents and how familial bonds inform their work.&nbsp; The featured artists include <a target="_blank" href="https://pilaraguero.com/">Pilar Agüero-Esparza</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://albertoaguilar.org/">Alberto Aguilar</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.christadonner.com/">Christa Donner</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lisehallerbaggesen.org/">Lise Haller Baggesen</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cararomerophotography.com/home">Cara Romero</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://blacklunchtable.com/about/founders/">Jina Valentine</a>.

The show “brings together six 
contemporary U.S. artists who are artists and parents who make that 
relationship visible in their work,” said Maria Velasco, a professor at the University of Kansas’ <a target="_blank" href="https://art.ku.edu/">Department of Visual Art</a>, along with being a mother and artist herself.
 “It is part of their dynamic, their conception and their making. So 
from that point of view, it is really unique. Because we’re used to 
having to choose between one or the other. The culture tells us that you
 must be one or the other. That if you are a good parent you can’t be a 
good artist and if you are a good artist you can’t be a parent. So you 
really have to challenge that belief. And still deal with the 
difficulties in existing in that kind of juncture.”&nbsp;

The show was co-curated by Velasco and Rachel Epp Buller, professor of visual arts and design at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bethelks.edu/">Bethel College</a>.&nbsp;

When asked about the artists chosen, 
Velasco said that, “For us, from the beginning, the choice was based on 
what we call generative practices, which are ways in which we look at 
processes, collaboration, conversations, activities that may take place 
normally internally, in terms of the making of the work, but also with 
the existing community.&nbsp;

“We were looking at how those 
processes materialize into some kind of work. It’s not so much the 
old-fashioned way of making work, where you are thinking about an object
 on the wall that is self contained. This is looking at how we make work
 from a different platform to begin with.”

Featured artist Agüero-Esparza presents a
 wall installation with three-dimensional elements in acrylic and wood 
titled: “Multicultural Crayon: White, Apricot, Peach, Tan, Mahogany, 
Burnt Sienna, Sepia, Black — What Color Are You?” This piece converses 
with another piece, “Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” Both include 
casts of her daughter’s feet at different ages. At age 10, the 
conversation is about skin tone. The artist uses a crayon skin tone 
color palette to have discussions about race.&nbsp;

This conversation began with her 
daughter coming home after school, asking why people don’t identify with
 the peach color that most white people consider skin color. Agüero-Esparza also connects this work with her upbringing in Mexico. Her family had a shoe shop that made huaraches. The tint of the leather strands are represented in the base of the casted feet, dancing at age 17.&nbsp;

“Since an early age, she (Agüero-Esparza) has
 been involved in seeing and being a part of that process,” Velasco 
said. “That process is stripes of leather that are tinted in different 
forms and has carried that stylistic choice in her work. The story 
behind this work is intergenerational. A story she is having with her 
parents and her daughter. When you become a parent that lineage becomes 
so apparent.”&nbsp;

Donner’s interactive piece, “A Portal
 Is Opening,” is also an intergenerational work in which the viewer is 
projected into the future. It has a QR code and map that will send you 
to a spot in South Park by a bench, where you can listen to a letter 
that a child from 2226 telling us about extinction and species that have
 disappeared.

&nbsp;“This is a conversation on 
sustainability and how unaware we are of the damage that we are 
creating. The fact that our children will inherit that world and life 
doesn’t stop when we stop. Having kids makes that more obvious than 
ever.” Velasco said. “We are connecting with a child from the future. It
 makes obvious these political issues in a poetic way. The piece is 
narrated by the daughter of the artist. It is a way of collaborating 
with your kids.”&nbsp;

Velasco continued: “It is not just a 
sentimental or cute thing. You are having a conversation with a 
legitimate human being that is a small person, because of course, it’s 
cute because kids are cute, but that is not what the point is. But when 
you are engaged as a parent who is also an artist, and you are having 
conversations with your kids that are very serious like this one about 
race, sustainability or others.”

Another conversation presented in the show addresses racial violence against Black men. It’s titled “Testimony.”

Valentine was inspired by her 
inability to process the news about the shooting deaths of young Black 
men. The piece is difficult to absorb. It includes excerpts of news 
reports about the deaths of Black sons. You can only read a little bit 
at a time. In this work, Valentine used an ink that eats the paper away.
 Possibly she’s commenting about erasure, whitewashing, or an attempt to
 remove a reality that should not have taken place. Perhaps she is 
facilitating time being pressed forward, to a point where these stories 
may not exist.&nbsp;

Baggesens describes her work 
“Mothernism” as “a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book 
dedicated to staking out and making speakable the “mother-shaped hole in
 contemporary art discourse.”&nbsp;

In this created space, you can listen
 to music and read books that Baggesens has selected. The place projects
 a sense of sanctuary, contemplation and isolation all at once.&nbsp;

The familial bonds displayed 
throughout this show magnify the works of all these artists. Each one 
creates simultaneously as an artist and parent. There is no delineation 
in the work that has to be done and the conversations that need to be 
had. Creating art that addresses issues affecting both parents and 
children is not only good parenting, but important artistry. “Making it 
work” exemplifies the power of artists as parents with real profundity.&nbsp;

“Making It Work” will run until July 
30. A curator’s INSIGHT Art Talk will occur July 28, at 7 p.m.. This 
will include a presentation of Epp Buller’s book “<a target="_blank" href="https://demeterpress.org/books/inappropriate-bodies-art-design-and-maternity/">Inappropriate Bodies: Art, Design, Maternity”</a> and the first local screening of Velasco’s award-winning documentary “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mariavelascostudio.com/all-of-me-artistsmothers">All of Me: Artists+Mothers</a>.”

A closing reception will be held July 29 at the Lawrence Arts Center from 5 to 9 p.m.

Huascar Media — the Kansas poet laureate — is a poet, writer, and performer who lives in Topeka. He works as a freelance copywriter and as the literary editor for seveneightfive magazine, publishing stories that spotlight literary and artistic events in northeast Kansas. His poems can be found in his collection "How to Hang the Moon" and "Un Mango Grows in Kansas." He is the winner of ARTSConnect’s 2018 Arty Award for Literary Art.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658602054729.png" alt="“Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” by Pilar Agüero-Esparza (front) and “Testimony” by Jina Valentine are both part of the “Making It Work” exhibit currently on display at the Lawrence Arts Center. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>“Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” by Pilar Agüero-Esparza (front) and “Testimony” by Jina Valentine are both part of the “Making It Work” exhibit currently on display at the Lawrence Arts Center. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By HUASCAR MEDINA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/23/kansas-exhibit-unites-worlds-of-artistry-and-family-into-a-big-hearted-whole/">Courtesy Kansas Reflector</a>“Making It Work” is currently on display at the <a target="_blank" href="https://lawrenceartscenter.org/">Lawrence Arts Center</a>.
 The exhibit takes a deeper look into the generative processes of 
artists as parents and how familial bonds inform their work.&nbsp; The featured artists include <a target="_blank" href="https://pilaraguero.com/">Pilar Agüero-Esparza</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://albertoaguilar.org/">Alberto Aguilar</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.christadonner.com/">Christa Donner</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lisehallerbaggesen.org/">Lise Haller Baggesen</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cararomerophotography.com/home">Cara Romero</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://blacklunchtable.com/about/founders/">Jina Valentine</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The show “brings together six 
contemporary U.S. artists who are artists and parents who make that 
relationship visible in their work,” said Maria Velasco, a professor at the University of Kansas’ <a target="_blank" href="https://art.ku.edu/">Department of Visual Art</a>, along with being a mother and artist herself.
 “It is part of their dynamic, their conception and their making. So 
from that point of view, it is really unique. Because we’re used to 
having to choose between one or the other. The culture tells us that you
 must be one or the other. That if you are a good parent you can’t be a 
good artist and if you are a good artist you can’t be a parent. So you 
really have to challenge that belief. And still deal with the 
difficulties in existing in that kind of juncture.”&nbsp;The show was co-curated by Velasco and Rachel Epp Buller, professor of visual arts and design at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bethelks.edu/">Bethel College</a>.&nbsp;When asked about the artists chosen, 
Velasco said that, “For us, from the beginning, the choice was based on 
what we call generative practices, which are ways in which we look at 
processes, collaboration, conversations, activities that may take place 
normally internally, in terms of the making of the work, but also with 
the existing community.&nbsp;“We were looking at how those 
processes materialize into some kind of work. It’s not so much the 
old-fashioned way of making work, where you are thinking about an object
 on the wall that is self contained. This is looking at how we make work
 from a different platform to begin with.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658602124523.jpeg" alt="In this closeup from “Testimony,” by Jina Valentine, you can see how excerpts from newspapers are written in an iron gall ink that eats away at the paper. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>In this closeup from “Testimony,” by Jina Valentine, you can see how excerpts from newspapers are written in an iron gall ink that eats away at the paper. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Featured artist Agüero-Esparza presents a
 wall installation with three-dimensional elements in acrylic and wood 
titled: “Multicultural Crayon: White, Apricot, Peach, Tan, Mahogany, 
Burnt Sienna, Sepia, Black — What Color Are You?” This piece converses 
with another piece, “Dance &amp; Conversations: Castings” Both include 
casts of her daughter’s feet at different ages. At age 10, the 
conversation is about skin tone. The artist uses a crayon skin tone 
color palette to have discussions about race.&nbsp;This conversation began with her 
daughter coming home after school, asking why people don’t identify with
 the peach color that most white people consider skin color. Agüero-Esparza also connects this work with her upbringing in Mexico. Her family had a shoe shop that made huaraches. The tint of the leather strands are represented in the base of the casted feet, dancing at age 17.&nbsp;“Since an early age, she (Agüero-Esparza) has
 been involved in seeing and being a part of that process,” Velasco 
said. “That process is stripes of leather that are tinted in different 
forms and has carried that stylistic choice in her work. The story 
behind this work is intergenerational. A story she is having with her 
parents and her daughter. When you become a parent that lineage becomes 
so apparent.”&nbsp;Donner’s interactive piece, “A Portal
 Is Opening,” is also an intergenerational work in which the viewer is 
projected into the future. It has a QR code and map that will send you 
to a spot in South Park by a bench, where you can listen to a letter 
that a child from 2226 telling us about extinction and species that have
 disappeared.&nbsp;“This is a conversation on 
sustainability and how unaware we are of the damage that we are 
creating. The fact that our children will inherit that world and life 
doesn’t stop when we stop. Having kids makes that more obvious than 
ever.” Velasco said. “We are connecting with a child from the future. It
 makes obvious these political issues in a poetic way. The piece is 
narrated by the daughter of the artist. It is a way of collaborating 
with your kids.”&nbsp;Velasco continued: “It is not just a 
sentimental or cute thing. You are having a conversation with a 
legitimate human being that is a small person, because of course, it’s 
cute because kids are cute, but that is not what the point is. But when 
you are engaged as a parent who is also an artist, and you are having 
conversations with your kids that are very serious like this one about 
race, sustainability or others.”Another conversation presented in the show addresses racial violence against Black men. It’s titled “Testimony.”Valentine was inspired by her 
inability to process the news about the shooting deaths of young Black 
men. The piece is difficult to absorb. It includes excerpts of news 
reports about the deaths of Black sons. You can only read a little bit 
at a time. In this work, Valentine used an ink that eats the paper away.
 Possibly she’s commenting about erasure, whitewashing, or an attempt to
 remove a reality that should not have taken place. Perhaps she is 
facilitating time being pressed forward, to a point where these stories 
may not exist.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658602157042.png" alt=" “Mothernism,” by Lise Haller Baggesen, includes a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> “Mothernism,” by Lise Haller Baggesen, includes a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book. (Huascar Medina/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Baggesens describes her work 
“Mothernism” as “a nomadic tent camp, audio installation and a book 
dedicated to staking out and making speakable the “mother-shaped hole in
 contemporary art discourse.”&nbsp;In this created space, you can listen
 to music and read books that Baggesens has selected. The place projects
 a sense of sanctuary, contemplation and isolation all at once.&nbsp;The familial bonds displayed 
throughout this show magnify the works of all these artists. Each one 
creates simultaneously as an artist and parent. There is no delineation 
in the work that has to be done and the conversations that need to be 
had. Creating art that addresses issues affecting both parents and 
children is not only good parenting, but important artistry. “Making it 
work” exemplifies the power of artists as parents with real profundity.&nbsp;“Making It Work” will run until July 
30. A curator’s INSIGHT Art Talk will occur July 28, at 7 p.m.. This 
will include a presentation of Epp Buller’s book “<a target="_blank" href="https://demeterpress.org/books/inappropriate-bodies-art-design-and-maternity/">Inappropriate Bodies: Art, Design, Maternity”</a> and the first local screening of Velasco’s award-winning documentary “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mariavelascostudio.com/all-of-me-artistsmothers">All of Me: Artists+Mothers</a>.”A closing reception will be held July 29 at the Lawrence Arts Center from 5 to 9 p.m.Huascar Media — the Kansas poet laureate — is a poet, writer, and performer who lives in Topeka. He works as a freelance copywriter and as the literary editor for seveneightfive magazine, publishing stories that spotlight literary and artistic events in northeast Kansas. His poems can be found in his collection "How to Hang the Moon" and "Un Mango Grows in Kansas." He is the winner of ARTSConnect’s 2018 Arty Award for Literary Art.

KS poet laureate: Exhibit unites worlds of artistry, family

Democrats offer help; GOP irritated by Pyle’s direction

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/22/pyle-pushes-ahead-with-hunt-for-5k-signatures-to-join-november-ballot-in-kansas-governors-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Independent governor 
candidate Dennis Pyle attended a Topeka gun show in a quest to gather 
some of the 5,000 petition signatures necessary to secure a spot on the 
November general election ballot.

The idea was to mine the assemblage of Second Amendment advocates for
 people open to Pyle’s decision to step away from the Republican Party 
to offer Kansas voters an alternative to presumptive GOP gubernatorial 
nominee Derek Schmidt. Pyle, a state senator from Hiawatha since 2005, 
would join Schmidt, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Libertarian Party 
nominee Seth Cordell on statewide ballots.

Pyle has until noon Aug. 1 — one day before the primary election — to
 accumulate sufficient signatures to qualify. His movements on the GOP’s
 right flank have drawn interest from Republicans and Democrats 
intrigued by the idea of Pyle being a wildcard in the three-month race 
to a finish Nov. 8.

His presence mirrors a belief among some Republicans that Schmidt 
didn’t possess sufficiently staunch conservative views they wanted in a 
governor candidate.

“We’re working hard and diligently on the petition drive and everyone will find out the results on August 1,” Pyle said.

Pyle wasn’t the only person looking for petition signatures at the 
July gun show. State Rep. Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, also worked the
 crowd for signatures that could be added to Pyle’s pile. Miller 
wouldn’t say how many he netted, but promised to turn over his signature
 sheets to the Pyle campaign.

“It was more than a one-person job given the traffic. It went well,” 
Miller said. “There were a lot of people who didn’t care for Derek 
Schmidt, because he’s pretty much a waffler. As opposed to Pyle, who is a
 man of principle. I like Dennis.”

The political sideshow at the firearm gathering brought together an 
unusual pairing, given Pyle’s persistently conservative approach in the 
Legislature and Miller’s dedication to Democratic politics in the 
Capitol. After Kelly was sworn into office as governor in 2019, Miller 
surrendered his House seat after selected by peers to complete the 
unexpired portion of Kelly’s Senate term. He later chose to return to 
House in 2021.

Larry Mzhickteno, who was a neighbor of Miller for more than a dozen 
years, said he was surprised to see Miller at the gun show. He said 
Miller was wearing a National Rifle Association hat and held a signature
 sheet with about 15 names on it. The goal of Miller and other Democrats
 was obvious, he said.

“I think they’re trying to divide the number of votes Schmidt can get,” Mzhickteno said. “He was being awfully sneaky about it.”

In a June announcement, Pyle said he was interested in entering the 
governor’s race to give voters of Kansas a diverse choice.&nbsp; He said he 
was a “God-loving American, devoted to the Constitution and protecting 
our children.”

Pyle’s appeal to voters could be important, especially if the Kelly 
and Schmidt race came down to the wire. In 2010, Pyle landed more than 
31,000 votes in a Republican primary loss to U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, who
 served Kansas’ 2nd District in Congress for a decade.

C.J. Grover, Schmidt’s campaign manager, said Kelly’s inability to 
defend her record as governor led her allies “under false pretenses to 
trick voters into adding a candidate to the ballot in hopes of splitting
 the vote enough to deliver her a win despite a majority of Kansans 
wanting a different governor.”

Shannon Pahls, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, 
said acceptance by Pyle of petition signatures gathered by Miller or 
other Democrats would raise questions about Pyle’s adherence to 
conservative principles. She previously said a vote for Pyle in the 2022
 election should be considered a vote for Kelly.

“If Dennis Pyle has any integrity, he will reject all petition 
signatures gathered on his behalf by liberal Democrats helping Laura 
Kelly. The Kansas GOP calls on him to both reject them and make a public
 commitment that he will do so,” Pahls said.

Kansas Democratic Party spokesperson Emma O’Brien responded to Pyle’s
 announcement of interest in the governor’s race by suggesting his 
candidacy reflected Schmidt’s internal partisan problems and Kelly’s 
bipartisan work as a unifying leader.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658601918817.png" alt="Hiawatha Sen. Dennis Pyle is working to secure 5,000 petition signatures to qualify as an independent candidate for governor on the November ballot. He’s received petition help from a Democratic state representative, much to the irritation of the Kansas Republican Party. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Hiawatha Sen. Dennis Pyle is working to secure 5,000 petition signatures to qualify as an independent candidate for governor on the November ballot. He’s received petition help from a Democratic state representative, much to the irritation of the Kansas Republican Party. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Democrats offer help; GOP irritated by Pyle’s direction</h2>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/22/pyle-pushes-ahead-with-hunt-for-5k-signatures-to-join-november-ballot-in-kansas-governors-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Independent governor 
candidate Dennis Pyle attended a Topeka gun show in a quest to gather 
some of the 5,000 petition signatures necessary to secure a spot on the 
November general election ballot.The idea was to mine the assemblage of Second Amendment advocates for
 people open to Pyle’s decision to step away from the Republican Party 
to offer Kansas voters an alternative to presumptive GOP gubernatorial 
nominee Derek Schmidt. Pyle, a state senator from Hiawatha since 2005, 
would join Schmidt, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Libertarian Party 
nominee Seth Cordell on statewide ballots.Pyle has until noon Aug. 1 — one day before the primary election — to
 accumulate sufficient signatures to qualify. His movements on the GOP’s
 right flank have drawn interest from Republicans and Democrats 
intrigued by the idea of Pyle being a wildcard in the three-month race 
to a finish Nov. 8.His presence mirrors a belief among some Republicans that Schmidt 
didn’t possess sufficiently staunch conservative views they wanted in a 
governor candidate.“We’re working hard and diligently on the petition drive and everyone will find out the results on August 1,” Pyle said.Pyle wasn’t the only person looking for petition signatures at the 
July gun show. State Rep. Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, also worked the
 crowd for signatures that could be added to Pyle’s pile. Miller 
wouldn’t say how many he netted, but promised to turn over his signature
 sheets to the Pyle campaign.“It was more than a one-person job given the traffic. It went well,” 
Miller said. “There were a lot of people who didn’t care for Derek 
Schmidt, because he’s pretty much a waffler. As opposed to Pyle, who is a
 man of principle. I like Dennis.”The political sideshow at the firearm gathering brought together an 
unusual pairing, given Pyle’s persistently conservative approach in the 
Legislature and Miller’s dedication to Democratic politics in the 
Capitol. After Kelly was sworn into office as governor in 2019, Miller 
surrendered his House seat after selected by peers to complete the 
unexpired portion of Kelly’s Senate term. He later chose to return to 
House in 2021.Larry Mzhickteno, who was a neighbor of Miller for more than a dozen 
years, said he was surprised to see Miller at the gun show. He said 
Miller was wearing a National Rifle Association hat and held a signature
 sheet with about 15 names on it. The goal of Miller and other Democrats
 was obvious, he said.“I think they’re trying to divide the number of votes Schmidt can get,” Mzhickteno said. “He was being awfully sneaky about it.”In a June announcement, Pyle said he was interested in entering the 
governor’s race to give voters of Kansas a diverse choice.&nbsp; He said he 
was a “God-loving American, devoted to the Constitution and protecting 
our children.”Pyle’s appeal to voters could be important, especially if the Kelly 
and Schmidt race came down to the wire. In 2010, Pyle landed more than 
31,000 votes in a Republican primary loss to U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, who
 served Kansas’ 2nd District in Congress for a decade.C.J. Grover, Schmidt’s campaign manager, said Kelly’s inability to 
defend her record as governor led her allies “under false pretenses to 
trick voters into adding a candidate to the ballot in hopes of splitting
 the vote enough to deliver her a win despite a majority of Kansans 
wanting a different governor.”Shannon Pahls, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, 
said acceptance by Pyle of petition signatures gathered by Miller or 
other Democrats would raise questions about Pyle’s adherence to 
conservative principles. She previously said a vote for Pyle in the 2022
 election should be considered a vote for Kelly.“If Dennis Pyle has any integrity, he will reject all petition 
signatures gathered on his behalf by liberal Democrats helping Laura 
Kelly. The Kansas GOP calls on him to both reject them and make a public
 commitment that he will do so,” Pahls said.Kansas Democratic Party spokesperson Emma O’Brien responded to Pyle’s
 announcement of interest in the governor’s race by suggesting his 
candidacy reflected Schmidt’s internal partisan problems and Kelly’s 
bipartisan work as a unifying leader.

Independent pushes forward on attempt to join Kan. governor race

WASHINGTON – President signed into law H.R. 8351, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8351/BILLS-117hr8351eh.pdf">“Formula Act</a>."&nbsp; The bipartisan bill that will help increase access to baby formula&nbsp; across the country, according to a statement from the White House.

The United States Senate unanimously passed <a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8351/BILLS-117hr8351eh.pdf">the bill</a>&nbsp; which removes import tariffs on baby formula and baby formula input products until the end of this year.&nbsp; The House of Representatives had previously modified and passed the bill July 15, resulting in Senate reconsideration.&nbsp;

Upon passage, the bills author Utah&nbsp;Senator. Lee said, “The FORMULA Act will be an incredible win for families and hungry babies nationwide."

"It will make meaningful headway that is desperately needed today. By suspending the tariff on formula imports, we are providing cheaper access to formulas to individual consumers and retailers alike.” Lee continued."&nbsp;

"This relief has been long overdue, particularly for Utahns, who have the largest families, the most children per capita, and the highest birth rate in the nation.”

The President thanked Senators Lee, Wyden, and Crapo, and Representatives Blumenauer, DelBene, Larsen, Kildee, Neal, and Brady. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658501001435.png" alt="Despite a positive COVID test, President Biden signed the bill immediately-photo White House" />
 <figcaption>Despite a positive COVID test, President Biden signed the bill immediately-photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – President signed into law H.R. 8351, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8351/BILLS-117hr8351eh.pdf">“Formula Act</a>."&nbsp; The bipartisan bill that will help increase access to baby formula&nbsp; across the country, according to a statement from the White House.The United States Senate unanimously passed <a href="https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8351/BILLS-117hr8351eh.pdf">the bill</a>&nbsp; which removes import tariffs on baby formula and baby formula input products until the end of this year.&nbsp; The House of Representatives had previously modified and passed the bill July 15, resulting in Senate reconsideration.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658593825391.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Upon passage, the bills author Utah&nbsp;Senator. Lee said, “The FORMULA Act will be an incredible win for families and hungry babies nationwide.""It will make meaningful headway that is desperately needed today. By suspending the tariff on formula imports, we are providing cheaper access to formulas to individual consumers and retailers alike.” Lee continued."&nbsp;"This relief has been long overdue, particularly for Utahns, who have the largest families, the most children per capita, and the highest birth rate in the nation.”The President thanked Senators Lee, Wyden, and Crapo, and Representatives Blumenauer, DelBene, Larsen, Kildee, Neal, and Brady. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Biden signs baby formula act after unanimous Senate vote 

ELLSWORTH COUNTY - Human remains found in rural Ellsworth County on Tuesday have been identified as those of a Salina man missing for more than a month.

On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, the Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a rural area in Ellsworth County for a report of a body being found in a field., according to a statement from the. Kansas Bureau of Investigation. 

The Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office responded and located human remains in an extreme state of decomposition. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was notified and responded to investigate the scene.

On Thursday, an autopsy was performed, and the medical examiner determined the manner of death as a homicide.

On Friday, July 22, 2022, a forensic odontologist was able to compare the dental records of Nathan Philip Thompson and the deceased remains and confirm the body's identity as that of Thompson. Next of kin have been notified of these developments.

The case will be reclassified as a homicide, and the investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information on the van and/or its driver is encouraged to contact the Salina Police Department, Crime Stoppers, or the Tip line below.

If you have had contact with Nathan Thompson since June 1, 2022, have information concerning his disappearance, or have information relative to the fire at 1635 Elgin please contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210. You may also call Crimestoppers at 785-825-TIPS or make an online tip at: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210 and ask to speak to Detective Lemon, case 2022-17281.

In a statement released Saturday morning, the Salina Police Department reported that on Friday, "a forensic odontologist was able to compare the dental records of Nathan Philip Thompson and the deceased remains and confirm the body's identity as that of Thompson."

Additionally, based on the autopsy performed, the medical examiner has determined that Thompson's death was a homicide.

On June 18, Salina police announced that they were investigating the disappearance of Thompson, 44, who hadn't been seen in more than a week. In information released on June 18, police reported that on June 13, the Salina Fire Department responded to a trailer home fire at 1635 Elgin in west Salina. No one was in the trailer at the time the blaze was extinguished, however the fire was classified as an arson.

At the time of the fire, neighbors told police that Thompson had been living in the trailer, but had not been seen for approximately a week.

On June 22, Salina police released photos of a Chevrolet Express van that police believe was used in Thompson's disappearance. Salina police continue to seek information about the van.

"The Salina Police Department has the van in its possession. We are asking the public for any information they can provide with regards to the van since June 9th, 2022, especially any sightings in rural areas," the Salina Police Department noted in the June 22 statement.

If you have had contact with Nathan Thompson since June 1, 2022, have information concerning his disappearance or have information relative to the fire at 1635 Elgin please contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210. You may also call Crimestoppers at 785-825-TIPS or make an online tip at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210 and ask to speak to Detective Lemon, case 2022-17281.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating are investigating after human remains were found in rural Ellsworth County.

Just before 11:30a.m. on July 19, the Ellsworth County Sheriff's office asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to to assist them, according to KBI spokesperson Melissa Underwood.

The Crime Scene Response Team processed the scene where the body was found, and an autopsy was conducted. Authorities are are working to positively identify the deceased subject.&nbsp;

The KBI released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655577117894.jpeg" alt="-Nathan Thompson-Photo Salina Police Department" />
 <figcaption>-Nathan Thompson-Photo Salina Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY - Human remains found in rural Ellsworth County on Tuesday have been identified as those of a Salina man missing for more than a month.On Tuesday, July 19, 2022, the Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a rural area in Ellsworth County for a report of a body being found in a field., according to a statement from the. Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office responded and located human remains in an extreme state of decomposition. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was notified and responded to investigate the scene.On Thursday, an autopsy was performed, and the medical examiner determined the manner of death as a homicide.On Friday, July 22, 2022, a forensic odontologist was able to compare the dental records of Nathan Philip Thompson and the deceased remains and confirm the body's identity as that of Thompson. Next of kin have been notified of these developments.The case will be reclassified as a homicide, and the investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information on the van and/or its driver is encouraged to contact the Salina Police Department, Crime Stoppers, or the Tip line below.If you have had contact with Nathan Thompson since June 1, 2022, have information concerning his disappearance, or have information relative to the fire at 1635 Elgin please contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210. You may also call Crimestoppers at 785-825-TIPS or make an online tip at: https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210 and ask to speak to Detective Lemon, case 2022-17281.-----ELLSWORTH COUNTY - Human remains found in rural Ellsworth County on Tuesday have been identified as those of a Salina man missing for more than a month.In a statement released Saturday morning, the Salina Police Department reported that on Friday, "a forensic odontologist was able to compare the dental records of Nathan Philip Thompson and the deceased remains and confirm the body's identity as that of Thompson."Additionally, based on the autopsy performed, the medical examiner has determined that Thompson's death was a homicide.On June 18, Salina police announced that they were investigating the disappearance of Thompson, 44, who hadn't been seen in more than a week. In information released on June 18, police reported that on June 13, the Salina Fire Department responded to a trailer home fire at 1635 Elgin in west Salina. No one was in the trailer at the time the blaze was extinguished, however the fire was classified as an arson.At the time of the fire, neighbors told police that Thompson had been living in the trailer, but had not been seen for approximately a week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655917461520.png" alt="-The van believed to be connected to Thompson's disappearance and murder. Photos courtesy Salina Police Department" />
 <figcaption>-The van believed to be connected to Thompson's disappearance and murder. Photos courtesy Salina Police Department</figcaption>
 </figure>On June 22, Salina police released photos of a Chevrolet Express van that police believe was used in Thompson's disappearance. Salina police continue to seek information about the van."The Salina Police Department has the van in its possession. We are asking the public for any information they can provide with regards to the van since June 9th, 2022, especially any sightings in rural areas," the Salina Police Department noted in the June 22 statement.If you have had contact with Nathan Thompson since June 1, 2022, have information concerning his disappearance or have information relative to the fire at 1635 Elgin please contact the Salina Police Department at 785-826-7210. You may also call Crimestoppers at 785-825-TIPS or make an online tip at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210 and ask to speak to Detective Lemon, case 2022-17281.------ELLSWORTH COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating are investigating after human remains were found in rural Ellsworth County.Just before 11:30a.m. on July 19, the Ellsworth County Sheriff's office asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to to assist them, according to KBI spokesperson Melissa Underwood.The Crime Scene Response Team processed the scene where the body was found, and an autopsy was conducted. Authorities are are working to positively identify the deceased subject.&nbsp;The KBI released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Homicide: Police ID remains found in rural Ellsworth County

LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-096f3625c4c14a18e2d5f813241d83bf">expanding monkeypox outbreak</a>&nbsp;in more than 70 countries is an “extraordinary” situation that now qualifies as a global emergency, a declaration Saturday that could spur further investment in treating the once-rare disease and worsen the scramble for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-animals-primates-european-union-853ed8fa9967823f7b24570d1e5b9a0e">scarce vaccines</a>.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/us-map.html">Click here for additional details</a> on monkeypox cases in the U.S.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the decision to issue the declaration despite a lack of consensus among members of WHO's emergency committee. It was the first time the chief of the U.N. health agency has taken such an action.

“In short, we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little and which meets the criteria in the international health regulations,” Tedros said.

“I know this has not been an easy or straightforward process and that there are divergent views among the members" of the committee, he added.

Although monkeypox has been established in parts of central and west Africa for decades, it was not known to spark large outbreaks beyond the continent or to spread widely among people until May, when authorities detected dozens of epidemics in Europe, North America and elsewhere.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-united-nations-epidemics-north-america-c5284aabf79d9ecb816975dc249abffd">Declaring a global emergency</a>&nbsp;means the monkeypox outbreak is an “extraordinary event” that could spill over into more countries and requires a coordinated global response. WHO previously declared emergencies for public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, the Zika virus in Latin America in 2016 and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.

The emergency declaration mostly serves as a plea to draw more global resources and attention to an outbreak. Past announcements had mixed impact, given that the U.N. health agency is largely powerless in getting countries to act.

Last month, WHO’s expert committee said the worldwide monkeypox outbreak did not yet amount to an international emergency, but the panel convened this week to reevaluate the situation.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 74 countries since about May. To date, monkeypox deaths have only been reported in Africa, where a more dangerous version of the virus is spreading, mainly in Nigeria and Congo.

In Africa, monkeypox mainly spreads to people from infected wild animals like rodents, in limited outbreaks that typically have not crossed borders. In Europe, North America and elsewhere, however, monkeypox is spreading among people with no links to animals or recent travel to Africa.

WHO’s top monkeypox expert, Dr. Rosamund Lewis, said this week that 99% of all the monkeypox cases beyond Africa were in men and that of those, 98% involved men who have sex with men. Experts suspect the monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America were spread via sex at two raves in Belgium and Spain.

Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University, said it was surprising WHO hadn’t already declared monkeypox a global emergency, explaining that the conditions were arguably met weeks ago.

Some experts have questioned whether such a declaration would help, arguing the disease isn’t severe enough to warrant the attention and that rich countries battling monkeypox already have the funds to do so; most people recover without needing medical attention, although the lesions may be painful.

“I think it would be better to be proactive and overreact to the problem instead of waiting to react when it’s too late," Head said. He added that WHO’s emergency declaration could help donors like the World Bank make funds available to stop the outbreaks both in the West and in Africa, where animals are the likely natural reservoir of monkeypox.

In the U.S., some experts have speculated whether monkeypox might be on the verge of becoming an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monkeypox-the-next-std-3266fd0ae451578c989605f430cd3897">entrenched sexually transmitted disease</a>&nbsp;in the country, like gonorrhea, herpes and HIV.

“The bottom line is we’ve seen a shift in the epidemiology of monkeypox where there’s now widespread, unexpected transmission,” said Dr. Albert Ko, a professor of public health and epidemiology at Yale University. “There are some genetic mutations in the virus that suggest why that may be happening, but we do need a globally-coordinated response to get it under control,” he said.

Ko called for testing to be immediately scaled up rapidly, saying that similar to the early days of COVID-19, that there were significant gaps in surveillance.

“The cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “The window has probably closed for us to quickly stop the outbreaks in Europe and the U.S., but it’s not too late to stop monkeypox from causing huge damage to poorer countries without the resources to handle it.”

In the U.S., some experts have speculated that monkeypox might become entrenched there as the newest sexually transmitted disease, with officials estimating that 1.5 million men are at high risk of being infected.

Dr. Placide Mbala, a virologist who directs the global health department at Congo’s Institute of National Biomedical Research, said he hoped any global efforts to stop monkeypox would be equitable. Although countries including Britain, Canada, Germany and the U.S. have ordered millions of vaccine doses, none have gone to Africa.

“The solution needs to be global,” Mbala said, adding that any vaccines sent to Africa would be used to target those at highest risk, like hunters in rural areas.

“Vaccination in the West might help stop the outbreak there, but there will still be cases in Africa,” he said. “Unless the problem is solved here, the risk to the rest of the world will remain.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658586348383.png" alt="CDC image July 22, 2022- Total confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases: 2,891" />
 <figcaption>CDC image July 22, 2022- Total confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases: 2,891</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — The World Health Organization said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-096f3625c4c14a18e2d5f813241d83bf">expanding monkeypox outbreak</a>&nbsp;in more than 70 countries is an “extraordinary” situation that now qualifies as a global emergency, a declaration Saturday that could spur further investment in treating the once-rare disease and worsen the scramble for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-animals-primates-european-union-853ed8fa9967823f7b24570d1e5b9a0e">scarce vaccines</a>.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/us-map.html">Click here for additional details</a> on monkeypox cases in the U.S.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the decision to issue the declaration despite a lack of consensus among members of WHO's emergency committee. It was the first time the chief of the U.N. health agency has taken such an action.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 BREAKING: &quot;For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monkeypox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#monkeypox</a> outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern.&quot;-<a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrTedros</a> <a href="https://t.co/qvmYX1ZBAL">pic.twitter.com/qvmYX1ZBAL</a>&mdash; World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1550847224963371010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“In short, we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little and which meets the criteria in the international health regulations,” Tedros said.“I know this has not been an easy or straightforward process and that there are divergent views among the members" of the committee, he added.Although monkeypox has been established in parts of central and west Africa for decades, it was not known to spark large outbreaks beyond the continent or to spread widely among people until May, when authorities detected dozens of epidemics in Europe, North America and elsewhere.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-united-nations-epidemics-north-america-c5284aabf79d9ecb816975dc249abffd">Declaring a global emergency</a>&nbsp;means the monkeypox outbreak is an “extraordinary event” that could spill over into more countries and requires a coordinated global response. WHO previously declared emergencies for public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, the Zika virus in Latin America in 2016 and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio.The emergency declaration mostly serves as a plea to draw more global resources and attention to an outbreak. Past announcements had mixed impact, given that the U.N. health agency is largely powerless in getting countries to act.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655678482994.png" alt="Monkeypox Photo Credit: NHS England High Consequence Infectious Diseases Network-CDC" />
 <figcaption>Monkeypox Photo Credit: NHS England High Consequence Infectious Diseases Network-CDC</figcaption>
 </figure>Last month, WHO’s expert committee said the worldwide monkeypox outbreak did not yet amount to an international emergency, but the panel convened this week to reevaluate the situation.According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 74 countries since about May. To date, monkeypox deaths have only been reported in Africa, where a more dangerous version of the virus is spreading, mainly in Nigeria and Congo.In Africa, monkeypox mainly spreads to people from infected wild animals like rodents, in limited outbreaks that typically have not crossed borders. In Europe, North America and elsewhere, however, monkeypox is spreading among people with no links to animals or recent travel to Africa.WHO’s top monkeypox expert, Dr. Rosamund Lewis, said this week that 99% of all the monkeypox cases beyond Africa were in men and that of those, 98% involved men who have sex with men. Experts suspect the monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America were spread via sex at two raves in Belgium and Spain.Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University, said it was surprising WHO hadn’t already declared monkeypox a global emergency, explaining that the conditions were arguably met weeks ago.Some experts have questioned whether such a declaration would help, arguing the disease isn’t severe enough to warrant the attention and that rich countries battling monkeypox already have the funds to do so; most people recover without needing medical attention, although the lesions may be painful.“I think it would be better to be proactive and overreact to the problem instead of waiting to react when it’s too late," Head said. He added that WHO’s emergency declaration could help donors like the World Bank make funds available to stop the outbreaks both in the West and in Africa, where animals are the likely natural reservoir of monkeypox.In the U.S., some experts have speculated whether monkeypox might be on the verge of becoming an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monkeypox-the-next-std-3266fd0ae451578c989605f430cd3897">entrenched sexually transmitted disease</a>&nbsp;in the country, like gonorrhea, herpes and HIV.“The bottom line is we’ve seen a shift in the epidemiology of monkeypox where there’s now widespread, unexpected transmission,” said Dr. Albert Ko, a professor of public health and epidemiology at Yale University. “There are some genetic mutations in the virus that suggest why that may be happening, but we do need a globally-coordinated response to get it under control,” he said.Ko called for testing to be immediately scaled up rapidly, saying that similar to the early days of COVID-19, that there were significant gaps in surveillance.“The cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “The window has probably closed for us to quickly stop the outbreaks in Europe and the U.S., but it’s not too late to stop monkeypox from causing huge damage to poorer countries without the resources to handle it.”In the U.S., some experts have speculated that monkeypox might become entrenched there as the newest sexually transmitted disease, with officials estimating that 1.5 million men are at high risk of being infected.Dr. Placide Mbala, a virologist who directs the global health department at Congo’s Institute of National Biomedical Research, said he hoped any global efforts to stop monkeypox would be equitable. Although countries including Britain, Canada, Germany and the U.S. have ordered millions of vaccine doses, none have gone to Africa.“The solution needs to be global,” Mbala said, adding that any vaccines sent to Africa would be used to target those at highest risk, like hunters in rural areas.“Vaccination in the West might help stop the outbreak there, but there will still be cases in Africa,” he said. “Unless the problem is solved here, the risk to the rest of the world will remain.”

WHO: Monkeypox a global emergency

WASHINGTON —Family Dollar is initiating a voluntary retail level product recall of certain products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that were stored and inadvertently shipped to certain stores on or around May 1, 2022 through June 10, 2022 due to product being stored outside of labeled temperature requirements, according to a media release from the agency.

To date, Family Dollar has not received any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this recall.

Family Dollar has notified its affected stores asking them to check their stock immediately and to quarantine and discontinue the sale of any affected product. Customers that may have bought affected product may return such product to the Family Dollar store where they were purchased without receipt.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/160146/download">Click here to</a> see the 11-page list of recalled products.

Customers with questions regarding this recall may contact Family Dollar Customer Service at 844-636-7687 between 9am and 5pm EST. Customers should contact their physician or health care provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using these products.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658512118386.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Family Dollar is initiating a voluntary retail level product recall of certain products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that were stored and inadvertently shipped to certain stores on or around May 1, 2022 through June 10, 2022 due to product being stored outside of labeled temperature requirements, according to a media release from the agency.To date, Family Dollar has not received any consumer complaints or reports of illness related to this recall.Family Dollar has notified its affected stores asking them to check their stock immediately and to quarantine and discontinue the sale of any affected product. Customers that may have bought affected product may return such product to the Family Dollar store where they were purchased without receipt.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/160146/download">Click here to</a> see the 11-page list of recalled products.Customers with questions regarding this recall may contact Family Dollar Customer Service at 844-636-7687 between 9am and 5pm EST. Customers should contact their physician or health care provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using these products.Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.<ul>
 <li>Complete and submit the report&nbsp;Online:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program/reporting-serious-problems-fda">www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm</a></li><li>Regular Mail or Fax:&nbsp;Download form&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/medwatch-forms-fda-safety-reporting">www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm</a>&nbsp;or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178</li><li><a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/report-problem-fda">https://www.fda.gov/safety/report-problem-fda</a></li>
 </ul>

FDA: Family Dollar recalling hundreds of over-the-counter products

SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and have made an arrest.

just before midnight Monday, police responded to report of a shooting the 1100 Block of South Grant in Liberal, according to a media release.

First responders found a 30-year-old man who had been shot in the chest. EMS transported the victim to Southwest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators learned the suspect who allegedly shot the victim was 28-year-old Ricardo<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=411860"> Viveros-Magana</a> fled the scene in a stolen 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500.

On Friday night police reported U.S. Marshals assisted police in taking Viveros-Magana into custody. He is being held on a $260,000 bond on a felony warrant and requested charges of interference with law enforcement and obstruction, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658576237739.png" alt="Viveros-Magana-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Viveros-Magana-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide and have made an arrest.just before midnight Monday, police responded to report of a shooting the 1100 Block of South Grant in Liberal, according to a media release.First responders found a 30-year-old man who had been shot in the chest. EMS transported the victim to Southwest Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658576541420.png" alt="Police on the scene of the arrest on Friday -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the arrest on Friday -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators learned the suspect who allegedly shot the victim was 28-year-old Ricardo<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=411860"> Viveros-Magana</a> fled the scene in a stolen 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500.On Friday night police reported U.S. Marshals assisted police in taking Viveros-Magana into custody. He is being held on a $260,000 bond on a felony warrant and requested charges of interference with law enforcement and obstruction, according to online jail records.

U.S. Marshals help capture SW Kansas murder suspect 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House announced Friday that the U.S. is sending an additional $270 million in security assistance to Ukraine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-army-lloyd-austin-government-and-politics-8083b97c8f6cf237538c22e67c3f7aaa">a package</a>&nbsp;that will include additional medium range rocket systems and tactical drones.

The latest tranche brings the total U.S. security assistance committed to Ukraine by the Biden administration to $8.2 billion, and is being paid for through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-seoul-asia-31f17af1605313f6f563d405052e3de7">$40 billion in economic and security aid f</a>&nbsp;or Ukraine approved. by Congress in May.

The new package includes four&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-nato-sergey-lavrov-dd7bc9324e465a15209940c146a859b3">High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS</a>&nbsp;and will allow Kyiv to acquire up to 580&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biden-announces-new-military-aid-e78a7db76215a84f86586bb56122cd04">Phoenix Ghost drones</a>, both crucial weapon systems that have allowed the Ukrainians to stay in the fight despite Russian artillery supremacy, according to John Kirby, the White House National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications. The latest assistance also includes some 36,000 rounds of artillery ammunition and additional ammunition for the HIMARS.

“The president has been clear that we’re going to continue to support the government of Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes,” Kirby said.

Ukrainian forces have used U.S.-made rocket launchers and tactical drones to destroy dozens of Russian targets and hold at bay Russia’s larger and more heavily equipped forces.

Russia can fire far more ammunition but has sustained huge losses of troops and equipment as Ukrainian forces have been equipped with precision weaponry from the U.S. and other Western allies. CIA Director William Burns on Wednesday said the U.S. estimates roughly 15,000 Russian forces have been killed. That death toll would be equivalent to the Soviet Union's military losses in its 1980s war in Afghanistan, which lasted nearly a decade.

To try to equalize the conflict, Ukraine has made ample use of Western-supplied technologies as it defends its eastern lines.

Ukraine has long sought more HIMARS launchers, which fire medium-range rockets and also can be quickly moved before Russia can target them. On Wednesday, Ukrainian forces reportedly used a HIMARS to hit a strategic bridge in the Russia-occupied southern region of Kherson. One military expert told The Associated Press that the systems have “hardly had any rest during the day or at night.”

U.S. authorities also are providing Ukraine with more guided rockets known as GMLRS. The Pentagon continues to rule out sending longer-range rockets that Ukraine could potentially use to strike deep into Russian territory. That's a nod to the U.S. trying to manage the risk of Russia instigating a broader war.

The U.S. has already sent 12 truck-mounted HIMARS to Ukraine. The United Kingdom has also provided three launchers of a different kind with GMLRS rockets as well.

Both sides in the war have made ample use of drones. The U.S. had previously committed to sending 121 Phoenix Ghosts to Ukraine. Pentagon officials have not fully disclosed the capabilities of those drones, which were developed by the U.S. Air Force and produced by Aevex Aerospace, which describes itself as a leader in “full-spectrum airborne intelligence solutions.” The drones have onboard cameras and can be used to attack targets.

The U.S. disclosed earlier this month that it believes Russia is planning to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-says-russian-officials-visited-iran-for-drones-ef42c30747220d3e499f9c8b116fefa6">obtain several hundred drones from Iran</a>. Iranian drones have previously penetrated Saudi and Emirati air defense systems in the Middle East that were supplied by the U.S. Biden administration officials have tried to publicly discourage Iran from moving forward with the transfer.

The White House released satellite imagery that indicates Russian officials twice visited Iran in June or July for a showcase of weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House announced Friday that the U.S. is sending an additional $270 million in security assistance to Ukraine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-army-lloyd-austin-government-and-politics-8083b97c8f6cf237538c22e67c3f7aaa">a package</a>&nbsp;that will include additional medium range rocket systems and tactical drones.The latest tranche brings the total U.S. security assistance committed to Ukraine by the Biden administration to $8.2 billion, and is being paid for through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-seoul-asia-31f17af1605313f6f563d405052e3de7">$40 billion in economic and security aid f</a>&nbsp;or Ukraine approved. by Congress in May.The new package includes four&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-nato-sergey-lavrov-dd7bc9324e465a15209940c146a859b3">High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS</a>&nbsp;and will allow Kyiv to acquire up to 580&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biden-announces-new-military-aid-e78a7db76215a84f86586bb56122cd04">Phoenix Ghost drones</a>, both crucial weapon systems that have allowed the Ukrainians to stay in the fight despite Russian artillery supremacy, according to John Kirby, the White House National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications. The latest assistance also includes some 36,000 rounds of artillery ammunition and additional ammunition for the HIMARS.“The president has been clear that we’re going to continue to support the government of Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes,” Kirby said.Ukrainian forces have used U.S.-made rocket launchers and tactical drones to destroy dozens of Russian targets and hold at bay Russia’s larger and more heavily equipped forces.Russia can fire far more ammunition but has sustained huge losses of troops and equipment as Ukrainian forces have been equipped with precision weaponry from the U.S. and other Western allies. CIA Director William Burns on Wednesday said the U.S. estimates roughly 15,000 Russian forces have been killed. That death toll would be equivalent to the Soviet Union's military losses in its 1980s war in Afghanistan, which lasted nearly a decade.To try to equalize the conflict, Ukraine has made ample use of Western-supplied technologies as it defends its eastern lines.Ukraine has long sought more HIMARS launchers, which fire medium-range rockets and also can be quickly moved before Russia can target them. On Wednesday, Ukrainian forces reportedly used a HIMARS to hit a strategic bridge in the Russia-occupied southern region of Kherson. One military expert told The Associated Press that the systems have “hardly had any rest during the day or at night.”U.S. authorities also are providing Ukraine with more guided rockets known as GMLRS. The Pentagon continues to rule out sending longer-range rockets that Ukraine could potentially use to strike deep into Russian territory. That's a nod to the U.S. trying to manage the risk of Russia instigating a broader war.The U.S. has already sent 12 truck-mounted HIMARS to Ukraine. The United Kingdom has also provided three launchers of a different kind with GMLRS rockets as well.Both sides in the war have made ample use of drones. The U.S. had previously committed to sending 121 Phoenix Ghosts to Ukraine. Pentagon officials have not fully disclosed the capabilities of those drones, which were developed by the U.S. Air Force and produced by Aevex Aerospace, which describes itself as a leader in “full-spectrum airborne intelligence solutions.” The drones have onboard cameras and can be used to attack targets.The U.S. disclosed earlier this month that it believes Russia is planning to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-says-russian-officials-visited-iran-for-drones-ef42c30747220d3e499f9c8b116fefa6">obtain several hundred drones from Iran</a>. Iranian drones have previously penetrated Saudi and Emirati air defense systems in the Middle East that were supplied by the U.S. Biden administration officials have tried to publicly discourage Iran from moving forward with the transfer.The White House released satellite imagery that indicates Russian officials twice visited Iran in June or July for a showcase of weapons-capable drones it is looking to acquire.

White House spending another $270M for Ukraine military

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Former Ellis County District Court Administrator Amanda Truan has been charged with nine counts of felony identity fraud.

Truan is no longer an employee of the judicial district.

Truan — between Jan. 1, 2019, and Nov. 20, 2021 — allegedly altered, amended, counterfeited, manufactured or replicated documents containing information with personal identifying information with the intent to deceive, according to court records.

The documents were Kansas Judicial Branch office staff performance evaluation forms.

Only the initials of those whose performance evaluations were affected were used in the court documents, but according to the potential witness list, they include an Ellis County district court clerk, trial court clerks, court reporter, chief court services officer, a Rooks County court clerk, an Ellis County deputy court clerk, a Gove County district court clerk and a Trego County district court clerk.

Others listed as potential witnesses in the case are 23rd Judicial District Judge Glenn Bruan and former Judge Blake Bittle, Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson and members of the Office of Judicial Administration staff.

Each count is punishable by up to 23 months in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine. The case is being prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General's Office.

Traun has bonded out of jail and is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference at 11:30 a.m. Monday in Ellis County District Court.

Hays Post contacted the office of the 23rd Judicial District Administrative Judge Glenn Bruan, the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration and the Kansas Attorney General's office. All three offices said they could not comment on the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658521929733.png" alt="Amanda Truan" />
 <figcaption>Amanda Truan</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFormer Ellis County District Court Administrator Amanda Truan has been charged with nine counts of felony identity fraud.Truan is no longer an employee of the judicial district.Truan — between Jan. 1, 2019, and Nov. 20, 2021 — allegedly altered, amended, counterfeited, manufactured or replicated documents containing information with personal identifying information with the intent to deceive, according to court records.The documents were Kansas Judicial Branch office staff performance evaluation forms.Only the initials of those whose performance evaluations were affected were used in the court documents, but according to the potential witness list, they include an Ellis County district court clerk, trial court clerks, court reporter, chief court services officer, a Rooks County court clerk, an Ellis County deputy court clerk, a Gove County district court clerk and a Trego County district court clerk.Others listed as potential witnesses in the case are 23rd Judicial District Judge Glenn Bruan and former Judge Blake Bittle, Ellis County Attorney Robert Anderson and members of the Office of Judicial Administration staff. Each count is punishable by up to 23 months in prison and/or up to a $100,000 fine. The case is being prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General's Office.Traun has bonded out of jail and is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference at 11:30 a.m. Monday in Ellis County District Court. Hays Post contacted the office of the 23rd Judicial District Administrative Judge Glenn Bruan, the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration and the Kansas Attorney General's office. All three offices said they could not comment on the case.

Former Kan. district court administrator charged with ID fraud

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on drug charges after the search of her residence.

On July 17 while on official duty, a sheriff's deputy identified the odor of&nbsp; burnt marijuana coming from inside a residence in Horton, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

The resident granted a consent search which resulted in the arrest of Anna Kaler, 35 Horton on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658349196221.png" alt="Kaler-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Kaler-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a woman on drug charges after the search of her residence.On July 17 while on official duty, a sheriff's deputy identified the odor of&nbsp; burnt marijuana coming from inside a residence in Horton, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.The resident granted a consent search which resulted in the arrest of Anna Kaler, 35 Horton on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. .

Kan. woman jailed after deputy smells marijuana coming from home

MOSCOW (AP) — The spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry lashed out Thursday at the United States characterizing basketball star Brittney Griner’s jailing on drug charges as “wrongful detention,” saying it shows disrespect for Russian law.

Griner has been jailed since she was arrested in mid-February at a Moscow airport after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. The Phoenix Mercury standout and two-time Olympic gold medalist acknowledged in court this month that she had the canisters, but said she had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-russia-trial-live-updates-bc4c1d9efd490eed0eb522c8c59e9197">no intent to break the law</a>.

She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-russian-trial-1db9fad8b028b0158e46625b1a4af1bd">Her trial</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to resume Tuesday.

The State Department in May designated Griner as wrongfully detained, moving her case under the supervision of its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs - effectively, the government’s chief hostage negotiator.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-trial-updates-142a994fb4067c2b48029e4566169f04">legalization of cannabis</a>&nbsp;for medical and recreational use in parts of the U.S. has no bearing on what happens in Russia.

“If a U.S. citizen was taken in connection with the fact that she was smuggling drugs, and she does not deny this, then this should be commensurate with our Russian, local laws, and not with those adopted in San Francisco, New York and Washington,” Zakharova said.

“You understand, if drugs are legalized in the United States, in a number of states, and this is done for a long time, and now the whole country will become drug-addicted, this does not mean that all other countries are following the same path,” she added.

Russian media have persistently speculated that Griner could be exchanged for prominent Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, who is imprisoned in the United States, and that Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia for espionage, may also figure in an exchange.

U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. Russian officials have said no exchange could be discussed until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against Griner. It is unclear how long the trial will last, but a court has authorized Griner’s detention until Dec. 20.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646510097872.png" alt="The 31-year-old Griner, one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury" />
 <figcaption>The 31-year-old Griner, one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) — The spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry lashed out Thursday at the United States characterizing basketball star Brittney Griner’s jailing on drug charges as “wrongful detention,” saying it shows disrespect for Russian law.Griner has been jailed since she was arrested in mid-February at a Moscow airport after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. The Phoenix Mercury standout and two-time Olympic gold medalist acknowledged in court this month that she had the canisters, but said she had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-russia-trial-live-updates-bc4c1d9efd490eed0eb522c8c59e9197">no intent to break the law</a>.She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-russian-trial-1db9fad8b028b0158e46625b1a4af1bd">Her trial</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to resume Tuesday.The State Department in May designated Griner as wrongfully detained, moving her case under the supervision of its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs - effectively, the government’s chief hostage negotiator.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-trial-updates-142a994fb4067c2b48029e4566169f04">legalization of cannabis</a>&nbsp;for medical and recreational use in parts of the U.S. has no bearing on what happens in Russia.“If a U.S. citizen was taken in connection with the fact that she was smuggling drugs, and she does not deny this, then this should be commensurate with our Russian, local laws, and not with those adopted in San Francisco, New York and Washington,” Zakharova said.“You understand, if drugs are legalized in the United States, in a number of states, and this is done for a long time, and now the whole country will become drug-addicted, this does not mean that all other countries are following the same path,” she added.Russian media have persistently speculated that Griner could be exchanged for prominent Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, who is imprisoned in the United States, and that Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia for espionage, may also figure in an exchange.U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. Russian officials have said no exchange could be discussed until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against Griner. It is unclear how long the trial will last, but a court has authorized Griner’s detention until Dec. 20.

Moscow: US must respect Russian law in Griner case

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal July 16 shooting are asking the public to help locate Kansas felon.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of SW 8th Street in Topeka, according to Police LT Ronnie Connell.

First responders found 34-year-old&nbsp; Kirk Sexton suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Topeka Police Department is looking to speak with Emmanuel Rashad Walker, 35, of Topeka in reference to this homicide investigation.

 Walker has previous convictions for aggravated assault in 2009 and for, obstruction and drug possession in 2019, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Emmanuel Rashad Walker should call police or 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658512386623.png" alt="&nbsp;Emmanuel Rashad Walker has previous convictions for aggravated assault, obstruction and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections -photo Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Emmanuel Rashad Walker has previous convictions for aggravated assault, obstruction and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections -photo Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal July 16 shooting are asking the public to help locate Kansas felon.Just after 9:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 900 Block of SW 8th Street in Topeka, according to Police LT Ronnie Connell.First responders found 34-year-old&nbsp; Kirk Sexton suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.The Topeka Police Department is looking to speak with Emmanuel Rashad Walker, 35, of Topeka in reference to this homicide investigation. Walker has previous convictions for aggravated assault in 2009 and for, obstruction and drug possession in 2019, according to the Kansas Department of CorrectionsAnyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Emmanuel Rashad Walker should call police or 911.

Police: Kansas felon wanted for man's murder

&nbsp;By ASHRAF KHALIL Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President 
Donald Trump was convicted on Friday of contempt charges for defying a 
congressional subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6
 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Bannon, 68, was convicted after
 a four-day trial in federal court in Washington on two counts: one for 
refusing to appear for a deposition and the other for refusing to 
provide documents in response to the committee’s subpoena. The jury of 8
 men and 4 women deliberated just under three hours.

He faces up 
to two years in federal prison when he’s sentenced on Oct. 21. Each 
count carries a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail.

The committee
 sought Bannon’s testimony over his involvement in Trump’s efforts to 
overturn the 2020 presidential election. Bannon had initially argued 
that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive 
privilege. But the House panel and the Justice Department contend such a
 claim is dubious because Trump had fired Bannon from the White House in
 2017 and Bannon was thus a private citizen when he was consulting with 
the then-president in the run-up to the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

Bannon’s
 lawyers tried to argue during the trial that he didn’t refuse to 
cooperate and that the dates “were in flux.” They pointed to the fact 
that Bannon had reversed course shortly before the trial kicked off — 
after Trump waived his objection — and had offered to testify before the
 committee.

In closing arguments Friday morning, both sides 
re-emphasized their primary positions from the trial. The prosecution 
maintained that Bannon willfully ignored clear and explicit deadlines, 
and the defense claimed Bannon believed those deadlines were flexible 
and subject to negotiation.

Bannon was served with a subpoena on 
Sept. 23 last year ordering him to provide requested documents to the 
committee by Oct. 7 and appear in person by Oct. 14. Bannon was indicted
 in November on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, a month 
after the Justice Department received the House panel’s referral.

Bannon’s
 attorney Evan Corcoran told jurors Friday in his closing arguments that
 those deadlines were mere “placeholders” while lawyers on each side 
negotiated terms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658518117885.jpeg" alt="Former White House strategist Steve Bannon arrives at the federal court in Washington on Friday (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)" />
 <figcaption>Former White House strategist Steve Bannon arrives at the federal court in Washington on Friday (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By ASHRAF KHALIL Associated Press WASHINGTON — Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President 
Donald Trump was convicted on Friday of contempt charges for defying a 
congressional subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6
 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.Bannon, 68, was convicted after
 a four-day trial in federal court in Washington on two counts: one for 
refusing to appear for a deposition and the other for refusing to 
provide documents in response to the committee’s subpoena. The jury of 8
 men and 4 women deliberated just under three hours.He faces up 
to two years in federal prison when he’s sentenced on Oct. 21. Each 
count carries a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail.The committee
 sought Bannon’s testimony over his involvement in Trump’s efforts to 
overturn the 2020 presidential election. Bannon had initially argued 
that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim of executive 
privilege. But the House panel and the Justice Department contend such a
 claim is dubious because Trump had fired Bannon from the White House in
 2017 and Bannon was thus a private citizen when he was consulting with 
the then-president in the run-up to the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.Bannon’s
 lawyers tried to argue during the trial that he didn’t refuse to 
cooperate and that the dates “were in flux.” They pointed to the fact 
that Bannon had reversed course shortly before the trial kicked off — 
after Trump waived his objection — and had offered to testify before the
 committee.In closing arguments Friday morning, both sides 
re-emphasized their primary positions from the trial. The prosecution 
maintained that Bannon willfully ignored clear and explicit deadlines, 
and the defense claimed Bannon believed those deadlines were flexible 
and subject to negotiation.Bannon was served with a subpoena on 
Sept. 23 last year ordering him to provide requested documents to the 
committee by Oct. 7 and appear in person by Oct. 14. Bannon was indicted
 in November on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, a month 
after the Justice Department received the House panel’s referral.Bannon’s
 attorney Evan Corcoran told jurors Friday in his closing arguments that
 those deadlines were mere “placeholders” while lawyers on each side 
negotiated terms.Corcoran said the committee “rushed to judgment” because it “wanted to make an example of Steve Bannon.”Corcoran
 also hinted that the government’s main witness, Jan. 6 committee chief 
counsel Kristin Amerling, was personally biased. Amerling admitted on 
the stand that she is a lifelong Democrat and has been friends with one 
of the prosecutors for years. Corcoran also vaguely hinted that the 
signature of Jan. 6 committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss) 
looked different on the subpoena than on other letters but dropped that 
topic when the prosecution objected.Prosecutors focused on the 
series of letters exchanged between the Jan. 6 committee and Bannon’s 
lawyers. The correspondence shows Thompson immediately dismissing 
Bannon’s claim that he was exempted by Trump’s claim of executive 
privilege and explicitly threatening Bannon with criminal prosecution.“The
 defense wants to make this hard, difficult and confusing,” said 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Vaughn in her closing statement. “This is
 not difficult. This is not hard. There were only two witnesses because 
it’s as simple as it seems.”The defense Thursday motioned for an 
acquittal, saying the prosecution had not proved it’s case. In making 
his motion for acquittal before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, Bannon
 attorney Evan Corcoran said that “no reasonable juror could conclude 
that Mr. Bannon refused to comply.”Once the motion was made the 
defense rested its case without putting on any witnesses, telling 
Nichols that Bannon saw no point in testifying since the judge’s 
previous rulings had gutted his planned avenues of defense. Among other 
things, Bannon’s team was barred from calling as witnesses House Speaker
 Nancy Pelosi or members of the House panel. David Schoen said Bannon 
“understands that he would be barred from telling the true facts.”