KANSAS CITY (AP) — It was lunch hour at the abortion clinic, so the nurse in the recovery room got her Bible out of her bag in the closet and began to read.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding,” her favorite proverb says, and she returns to it again and again. “He will make your paths straight.”

She believes God led her here, to a job at the West Alabama Women’s Center, tending to patients who’ve just had abortions. “I trust in God,” said Ramona, who asked that her last name not be used because of the volatility of America’s abortion debate

Out in the parking lot, protesters bellowed at patients arriving for appointments, doing battle against what they regard as a grave sin.

The loudest voices in the abortion debate are often characterized along a starkly religious divide, the faithful versus not. But the reality is much more nuanced, both at this abortion clinic and in the nation that surrounds it. The clinic’s staff of 11 — most of them Black, deeply faithful Christian women — have no trouble at all reconciling their work with their religion.

And as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to dismantle the constitutional right to an abortion, they draw on their faith that they will somehow continue.

God is on our side, they tell each other. God will keep this clinic open.

Robin Marty, who moved from Minneapolis to Tuscaloosa a couple years ago to help run this clinic, was surprised to hear nurses pray for guidance as the future of abortion grows uncertain.

“That is one of the things that has caused a whiplash for me — I had this stereotype in my head of a Southern religious person,” said Marty. “I just assumed that there was no compatibility between people who are religious and people who support the ability to get an abortion.”

Marty realized she was wrong . It’s a common error.

“We need to have a real conversation about what we describe as Christianity,” said Kendra Cotton, a member of the Black Southern Women’s Collective, a network of Black women organizers, many of them from faith-based groups.

The white evangelical worldview that abortion is murder has consumed the conversation, flattening the understanding of how religion and views on abortion truly intersect, she said.

Before Roe v. Wade, faith leaders in many places led efforts to help pregnant women access underground abortions, because they considered it a calling to show compassion and mercy to the most vulnerable.

Now, Black Protestants have some of the most liberal views on access to abortion: Nearly 70% believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. White evangelicals are the other extreme, with only 24% believing abortion should be allowed in most or all cases.

For faithful women of color, there’s often a very different balancing act of values when confronting the question of whether women should be able to end unwanted pregnancies, Cotton said.

“We know that Christianity supports freedom, and inherent in freedom is bodily autonomy. Inherent in Christianity is free will. When people talk about the body being a temple of God, you have purview over your body, there is nothing more sacred,” Cotton said.

The idea of the state restricting what a person can do with their own body is in direct conflict with that, she said, and it is reminiscent of being under someone else’s control -- of slavery.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” Cotton said.

In Tuscaloosa, the West Alabama Women’s Center sits on the edge of a nondescript medical plaza, a half-mile from the University of Alabama campus. Though many of the center’s clientele are college students, others come from all over the state and some surrounding ones -- it is the only abortion clinic for two hours in every direction. Many of their clients are Black, many already have children and more than 75% survive below the poverty line.

Every patient comes into Ramona’s recovery room after their abortion. She keeps the lights low. Working here, to her, feels like a righteous calling. She believes the Christian way is to love people where they are, and that means walking kindly with them as they make the best decision for themselves.

Sometimes they cry, and tell her they didn’t want to be there. She’s heard stories of rape and domestic violence, but most talk about fear of having more mouths they can’t afford to feed. She always says, “I understand.”

“I mean that, I do understand, I’ve gone through that myself,” she said.

Ramona, 39, is a single mother of four children, and had her first child at 16. She sometimes imagines what her life might have been had she started her family later. She had to drop out of college. There were times, when her children were young, when she couldn’t pay the gas bill, and she boiled water so they could have warm baths.

“Women go through so much, it’s hard,” she said. “So you should have that choice, whether or not you’re ready to be a mother. No one else should choose for you.”

Her daughter used to say “Mom, I want to be just like you,” and she would stop her. “No ma’am,” she’d say to her. “I want you to be better.” Her daughter is now 22 and studying to be a doctor.

She clawed herself out of poverty and built a life she loves. Her co-worker at the front desk calls her Miss Wonderful -- she’s at peace with God, she said, so every day is a great one.

For a time, she tried to be friendly with one of the regulars who protested outside, trying to convince patients that abortion is murder and they shouldn’t go in. She’d visit on her breaks or as she was leaving for the day. They discussed Scripture, forgiveness, sin.

She’d say, “I can see where you’re coming from. Can you see where I’m coming from? I’m not going to love you any less because of what you believe in or what you think.”

Then one day she was walking by and he shouted at her: When you die, you know where you’ll be going, and it isn’t heaven. She doesn’t talk to him anymore.

Alesia Horton, the clinic’s director, eyed the protesters from the window.

“I don’t know what Bible they’re reading, ’cause it’s not the one that I read,” she said. She and Ramona have been friends since childhood and share a Christian faith.

If people heard the stories she had inside this clinic, she can’t imagine trying to mandate that people be forced into motherhood. She had a patient once who had cancer, wanted the child but couldn’t continue chemotherapy while she was pregnant. She had to choose between her own life and the child she wanted.

Just two weeks before, Horton wept when she met a 13-year-old who’d been raped, and she can’t shake the look on the child’s face, staring blankly in the exam room.

“It’s going to be OK. Don’t think you did anything wrong because you didn’t,” Horton told her.

She often hears patients cry that they’re going to go to hell.

“I’ve had patients against abortion until it happened to their child, or it happened to them,” she said. “The first thing they say, ‘I don’t believe in this.’ And I say, ‘Let’s get past that. Now that you’re pregnant, what are you doing to do? Are you still not going to believe in this? Now you’re on the other side. Where you were judging, now it’s you.’”

They pray that the Supreme Court won’t overturn Roe v. Wade, because they know their poorest patients will bear the burden of abortion bans. Wealthy women will always find a way. They can travel to states where abortion is legal and all the headaches that entails: time off work, babysitters, a tank full of gas, hotel rooms.

If Roe falls, abortion would be barred in Alabama in almost every instance. A 2019 state law, put on hold by the courts for now, outlaws the procedure in all but emergency cases. This clinic is going to try to stay open for those left behind. It is expanding into a full-service gynecological office that people can turn to if they self-administer an abortion and require medical attention, without fear that someone will report them to the police.

In the meantime, the ideological gulf between the believers inside and outside remains wide.

Some of the protesters outside stand quietly, holding signs and hoping their silent presence rattles patients enough to head back to their cars and go home. Some shout at patients as they walk through the parking lot into the clinic, trying to hand them leaflets or direct them to the anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center next door. Some say they want abortion barred completely, with no exceptions even for rape or life-threatening complications, because they believe abortion is murder no matter the circumstances. Most would not give their names; the pregnancy center declined an interview.

The protesters are sometimes aggressive: They have screamed into the clinic’s back doors, recorded biohazard bins being carted away, called police if a patient lashes out when they tell them they’re going to hell.

The clinic locks the doors for security reasons during the lunch hour between morning and afternoon appointments. On a recent day, as Ramona read her Bible in the back room, a 23-year-old woman arrived and couldn’t get inside.

A group of protesters beckoned the woman, who did not want to be named. She was confused — perhaps these people worked for the clinic. “We can help you,” they told her.

“I just walked over there and had a million things thrown in my face,” the woman said. “I’m a baby killer, I’m a murderer.”

She ran away weeping. The clinic staff heard and sought her out.

She glared at the protesters from the window.

“God isn’t theirs,” she said, “God is all of ours.”

By CLAIRE GALOFAROKANSAS CITY (AP) — It was lunch hour at the abortion clinic, so the nurse in the recovery room got her Bible out of her bag in the closet and began to read.“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding,” her favorite proverb says, and she returns to it again and again. “He will make your paths straight.”She believes God led her here, to a job at the West Alabama Women’s Center, tending to patients who’ve just had abortions. “I trust in God,” said Ramona, who asked that her last name not be used because of the volatility of America’s abortion debateOut in the parking lot, protesters bellowed at patients arriving for appointments, doing battle against what they regard as a grave sin.The loudest voices in the abortion debate are often characterized along a starkly religious divide, the faithful versus not. But the reality is much more nuanced, both at this abortion clinic and in the nation that surrounds it. The clinic’s staff of 11 — most of them Black, deeply faithful Christian women — have no trouble at all reconciling their work with their religion.And as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to dismantle the constitutional right to an abortion, they draw on their faith that they will somehow continue.God is on our side, they tell each other. God will keep this clinic open.Robin Marty, who moved from Minneapolis to Tuscaloosa a couple years ago to help run this clinic, was surprised to hear nurses pray for guidance as the future of abortion grows uncertain.“That is one of the things that has caused a whiplash for me — I had this stereotype in my head of a Southern religious person,” said Marty. “I just assumed that there was no compatibility between people who are religious and people who support the ability to get an abortion.”Marty realized she was wrong . It’s a common error.“We need to have a real conversation about what we describe as Christianity,” said Kendra Cotton, a member of the Black Southern Women’s Collective, a network of Black women organizers, many of them from faith-based groups.The white evangelical worldview that abortion is murder has consumed the conversation, flattening the understanding of how religion and views on abortion truly intersect, she said.Before Roe v. Wade, faith leaders in many places led efforts to help pregnant women access underground abortions, because they considered it a calling to show compassion and mercy to the most vulnerable.Now, Black Protestants have some of the most liberal views on access to abortion: Nearly 70% believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to the Public Religion Research Institute. White evangelicals are the other extreme, with only 24% believing abortion should be allowed in most or all cases.For faithful women of color, there’s often a very different balancing act of values when confronting the question of whether women should be able to end unwanted pregnancies, Cotton said.“We know that Christianity supports freedom, and inherent in freedom is bodily autonomy. Inherent in Christianity is free will. When people talk about the body being a temple of God, you have purview over your body, there is nothing more sacred,” Cotton said.The idea of the state restricting what a person can do with their own body is in direct conflict with that, she said, and it is reminiscent of being under someone else’s control -- of slavery.“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” Cotton said.In Tuscaloosa, the West Alabama Women’s Center sits on the edge of a nondescript medical plaza, a half-mile from the University of Alabama campus. Though many of the center’s clientele are college students, others come from all over the state and some surrounding ones -- it is the only abortion clinic for two hours in every direction. Many of their clients are Black, many already have children and more than 75% survive below the poverty line.Every patient comes into Ramona’s recovery room after their abortion. She keeps the lights low. Working here, to her, feels like a righteous calling. She believes the Christian way is to love people where they are, and that means walking kindly with them as they make the best decision for themselves.Sometimes they cry, and tell her they didn’t want to be there. She’s heard stories of rape and domestic violence, but most talk about fear of having more mouths they can’t afford to feed. She always says, “I understand.”“I mean that, I do understand, I’ve gone through that myself,” she said.Ramona, 39, is a single mother of four children, and had her first child at 16. She sometimes imagines what her life might have been had she started her family later. She had to drop out of college. There were times, when her children were young, when she couldn’t pay the gas bill, and she boiled water so they could have warm baths.“Women go through so much, it’s hard,” she said. “So you should have that choice, whether or not you’re ready to be a mother. No one else should choose for you.”Her daughter used to say “Mom, I want to be just like you,” and she would stop her. “No ma’am,” she’d say to her. “I want you to be better.” Her daughter is now 22 and studying to be a doctor.She clawed herself out of poverty and built a life she loves. Her co-worker at the front desk calls her Miss Wonderful -- she’s at peace with God, she said, so every day is a great one.For a time, she tried to be friendly with one of the regulars who protested outside, trying to convince patients that abortion is murder and they shouldn’t go in. She’d visit on her breaks or as she was leaving for the day. They discussed Scripture, forgiveness, sin.She’d say, “I can see where you’re coming from. Can you see where I’m coming from? I’m not going to love you any less because of what you believe in or what you think.”Then one day she was walking by and he shouted at her: When you die, you know where you’ll be going, and it isn’t heaven. She doesn’t talk to him anymore.Alesia Horton, the clinic’s director, eyed the protesters from the window.“I don’t know what Bible they’re reading, ’cause it’s not the one that I read,” she said. She and Ramona have been friends since childhood and share a Christian faith.If people heard the stories she had inside this clinic, she can’t imagine trying to mandate that people be forced into motherhood. She had a patient once who had cancer, wanted the child but couldn’t continue chemotherapy while she was pregnant. She had to choose between her own life and the child she wanted.Just two weeks before, Horton wept when she met a 13-year-old who’d been raped, and she can’t shake the look on the child’s face, staring blankly in the exam room.“It’s going to be OK. Don’t think you did anything wrong because you didn’t,” Horton told her.She often hears patients cry that they’re going to go to hell.“I’ve had patients against abortion until it happened to their child, or it happened to them,” she said. “The first thing they say, ‘I don’t believe in this.’ And I say, ‘Let’s get past that. Now that you’re pregnant, what are you doing to do? Are you still not going to believe in this? Now you’re on the other side. Where you were judging, now it’s you.’”They pray that the Supreme Court won’t overturn Roe v. Wade, because they know their poorest patients will bear the burden of abortion bans. Wealthy women will always find a way. They can travel to states where abortion is legal and all the headaches that entails: time off work, babysitters, a tank full of gas, hotel rooms.If Roe falls, abortion would be barred in Alabama in almost every instance. A 2019 state law, put on hold by the courts for now, outlaws the procedure in all but emergency cases. This clinic is going to try to stay open for those left behind. It is expanding into a full-service gynecological office that people can turn to if they self-administer an abortion and require medical attention, without fear that someone will report them to the police.In the meantime, the ideological gulf between the believers inside and outside remains wide.Some of the protesters outside stand quietly, holding signs and hoping their silent presence rattles patients enough to head back to their cars and go home. Some shout at patients as they walk through the parking lot into the clinic, trying to hand them leaflets or direct them to the anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center next door. Some say they want abortion barred completely, with no exceptions even for rape or life-threatening complications, because they believe abortion is murder no matter the circumstances. Most would not give their names; the pregnancy center declined an interview.The protesters are sometimes aggressive: They have screamed into the clinic’s back doors, recorded biohazard bins being carted away, called police if a patient lashes out when they tell them they’re going to hell.The clinic locks the doors for security reasons during the lunch hour between morning and afternoon appointments. On a recent day, as Ramona read her Bible in the back room, a 23-year-old woman arrived and couldn’t get inside.A group of protesters beckoned the woman, who did not want to be named. She was confused — perhaps these people worked for the clinic. “We can help you,” they told her.“I just walked over there and had a million things thrown in my face,” the woman said. “I’m a baby killer, I’m a murderer.”She ran away weeping. The clinic staff heard and sought her out.“I’m so sorry,” Horton said.She glared at the protesters from the window.“God isn’t theirs,” she said, “God is all of ours.”

Religious backers of abortion rights say God's on their side

JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Andreone T. Hall at a gas station at 33rd and Linwood in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Jerpree Williams, 20,&nbsp; faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, police in the area of Linwood and Indiana responded to the sound of gun shots. They found the victim deceased in the parking lot of a gas station at 33rd and Indiana. He had been shot multiple times. Surveillance video showed the defendant pull a gun and fire at the victim, who began to run away. 

The Medical Examiner determined the victim died as a result of the multiple gunshots. The defendant initially told police he didn't shoot at the victim, then he said he did it in self defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652969165898.png" alt="Williams-photo Jackson" />
 <figcaption>Williams-photo Jackson</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Andreone T. Hall at a gas station at 33rd and Linwood in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Jerpree Williams, 20,&nbsp; faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, police in the area of Linwood and Indiana responded to the sound of gun shots. They found the victim deceased in the parking lot of a gas station at 33rd and Indiana. He had been shot multiple times. Surveillance video showed the defendant pull a gun and fire at the victim, who began to run away. The Medical Examiner determined the victim died as a result of the multiple gunshots. The defendant initially told police he didn't shoot at the victim, then he said he did it in self defense.

20-year-old claims self defense in KC gas station killing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first flights of infant formula from Europe, authorized by President Joe Biden to relieve a deepening U.S. shortage, will arrive in Indiana aboard military aircraft on Sunday the White House announced.

The White House says 132 pallets of Nestlé Health Science Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior formula will leave Ramstein Air Base in Germany and arrive in the U.S. this weekend. Another 114 pallets of Gerber Good Start Extensive HA formula are expected to arrive in the coming days. Altogether about 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of the three formulas, which are hypoallergenic for children with cow’s milk protein allergy, will arrive this week.

While Biden initially requested that the Pentagon use commercially chartered aircraft to move the formula from Europe to the U.S., the White House said no commercial flights were available this weekend. Instead, U.S. Air Force planes will transport the initial batch of formula.

The Biden administration has dubbed the effort “Operation Fly Formula,” as it struggles to address nationwide shortages of formula, particularly hypoallergenic varieties, after the closure of the country’s largest domestic manufacturing plant in February due to safety issues.

U.S. regulators and the manufacturer, Abbott, hope to have that Michigan plant reopened next week, but it will take about two months before product is ready for delivery. The Food and Drug Administration this week eased importation requirements for baby formula to try to ease the supply crunch, which has left store shelves bare of some brands and some retailers rationing supply for parents nervous about feeding their children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653176350929.png" alt="The first pallets from Operation Fly Formula were loaded onto a military plane in Germany Saturday. The first plane lands in the U.S. Sunday morning-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The first pallets from Operation Fly Formula were loaded onto a military plane in Germany Saturday. The first plane lands in the U.S. Sunday morning-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The first flights of infant formula from Europe, authorized by President Joe Biden to relieve a deepening U.S. shortage, will arrive in Indiana aboard military aircraft on Sunday the White House announced.The White House says 132 pallets of Nestlé Health Science Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior formula will leave Ramstein Air Base in Germany and arrive in the U.S. this weekend. Another 114 pallets of Gerber Good Start Extensive HA formula are expected to arrive in the coming days. Altogether about 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of the three formulas, which are hypoallergenic for children with cow’s milk protein allergy, will arrive this week.While Biden initially requested that the Pentagon use commercially chartered aircraft to move the formula from Europe to the U.S., the White House said no commercial flights were available this weekend. Instead, U.S. Air Force planes will transport the initial batch of formula.The Biden administration has dubbed the effort “Operation Fly Formula,” as it struggles to address nationwide shortages of formula, particularly hypoallergenic varieties, after the closure of the country’s largest domestic manufacturing plant in February due to safety issues.U.S. regulators and the manufacturer, Abbott, hope to have that Michigan plant reopened next week, but it will take about two months before product is ready for delivery. The Food and Drug Administration this week eased importation requirements for baby formula to try to ease the supply crunch, which has left store shelves bare of some brands and some retailers rationing supply for parents nervous about feeding their children.

First baby formula flights from Europe to U.S. on the way

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The state of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;must pay former pizza executive Gene Bicknell more than $63 million to settle a long-running dispute over his tax bill.

The court ruled on Friday that Bicknell was a&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;resident in 2005 and 2006 when he sold NPC International, which owned more than 800 Pizza Hut locations around the world.

The Kansas Department of Revenue argued the Bicknell, a longtime resident of Pittsburg, set up a residence in Florida to avoid paying taxes on the sale to Kansas. In 2010, it ordered him to pay $42 million to the state.

The case wound through several courts over the years before being taken up by the state Supreme Court, which sided with Bicknell, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

“These findings support its legal conclusion that Gene was domiciled in Florida in 2005 and 2006,” Justice K.J. Wall Jr., wrote in the opinion.

In 2020, Bicknell said Kansas owed him $63 million — his original tax bill plus interest.

“The Department of Revenue’s approach has always felt like extortion, forcing me and my family to endure hundreds of interrogatories, depositions, three trials, three appeals, 15 years of attorney time, and appearances before an agency board that was a kangaroo court,” Bicknell said in a statement Friday.

The revenue department is reviewing the court's 75-page decision, spokesman Zach Fletcher said.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The state of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/kansas">Kansas</a>&nbsp;must pay former pizza executive Gene Bicknell more than $63 million to settle a long-running dispute over his tax bill.The court ruled on Friday that Bicknell was a&nbsp;Florida&nbsp;resident in 2005 and 2006 when he sold NPC International, which owned more than 800 Pizza Hut locations around the world.The Kansas Department of Revenue argued the Bicknell, a longtime resident of Pittsburg, set up a residence in Florida to avoid paying taxes on the sale to Kansas. In 2010, it ordered him to pay $42 million to the state.The case wound through several courts over the years before being taken up by the state Supreme Court, which sided with Bicknell, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.“These findings support its legal conclusion that Gene was domiciled in Florida in 2005 and 2006,” Justice K.J. Wall Jr., wrote in the opinion.In 2020, Bicknell said Kansas owed him $63 million — his original tax bill plus interest.“The Department of Revenue’s approach has always felt like extortion, forcing me and my family to endure hundreds of interrogatories, depositions, three trials, three appeals, 15 years of attorney time, and appearances before an agency board that was a kangaroo court,” Bicknell said in a statement Friday.The revenue department is reviewing the court's 75-page decision, spokesman Zach Fletcher said.

Kansas ordered to pay $63 million to former pizza magnate

WAYNE, Neb. (AP) — Officials say a pilot died when a single-engine plane crashed at the Wayne Municipal Airport. The crash occurred Friday evening during the MayDay STOL Drag Races. 

The event organizers said the pilot crashed on final landing in what appeared to be a stall/spin crash. The pilot's name has not been released. 

No one else was aboard the Cessna 140. STOL is short take-off and landing drag racing, which involves pilots flying 2,000 feet down and back in a side-by-side format. The rest of the events scheduled for the weekend were canceled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653165626700.png" alt="Investigators on the scene of the crash photo courtesy KPTH Fox 44" />
 <figcaption>Investigators on the scene of the crash photo courtesy KPTH Fox 44</figcaption>
 </figure>WAYNE, Neb. (AP) — Officials say a pilot died when a single-engine plane crashed at the Wayne Municipal Airport. The crash occurred Friday evening during the MayDay STOL Drag Races. The event organizers said the pilot crashed on final landing in what appeared to be a stall/spin crash. The pilot's name has not been released. No one else was aboard the Cessna 140. STOL is short take-off and landing drag racing, which involves pilots flying 2,000 feet down and back in a side-by-side format. The rest of the events scheduled for the weekend were canceled.

Pilot dies in airplane crash near Nebraska drag race event

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City officials have approved a new ordinance that clarifies when people may witness or record police officers' actions without being arrested.

The Kansas City Council on Thursday approved the ordinance to settle a federal lawsuit filed by three women who were arrested during racial injustice protests in the city in 2020.

The women were charged with violating city laws involving resisting or interfering with an officer. The lawsuit said those laws were unconstitutionally vague and overly broad, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-05-19/kansas-city-changes-its-failure-to-obey-laws-after-settling-lawsuit-with-arrested-protesters">reported</a>.

The ordinance approved Thursday says witnessing or recording police officers does not violate city law unless the offender is substantially impeding the officer’s duties.

The women were among more than 200 nonviolent protesters arrested at or near the Country Club Plaza during protests after the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd.

The settlement did not require the city to pay any monetary damages.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590925459037.png" alt="The women were among more than 200 nonviolent protesters arrested at or near the Country Club Plaza during protests after the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd.-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The women were among more than 200 nonviolent protesters arrested at or near the Country Club Plaza during protests after the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd.-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City officials have approved a new ordinance that clarifies when people may witness or record police officers' actions without being arrested.The Kansas City Council on Thursday approved the ordinance to settle a federal lawsuit filed by three women who were arrested during racial injustice protests in the city in 2020.The women were charged with violating city laws involving resisting or interfering with an officer. The lawsuit said those laws were unconstitutionally vague and overly broad, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-05-19/kansas-city-changes-its-failure-to-obey-laws-after-settling-lawsuit-with-arrested-protesters">reported</a>.The ordinance approved Thursday says witnessing or recording police officers does not violate city law unless the offender is substantially impeding the officer’s duties.The women were among more than 200 nonviolent protesters arrested at or near the Country Club Plaza during protests after the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd.The settlement did not require the city to pay any monetary damages.

KC oks settlement for arrests during George Floyd protests

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/20/kansas-supreme-court-disbars-former-shawnee-county-prosecutor-for-unethical-conduct/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court
 issued a 101-page disciplinary opinion Friday disbarring former Shawnee
 County prosecutor Jacqie Spradling for a pattern of unethical conduct 
resulting in “significant prejudice” against the accused.

It was the most stringent punishment available to the Supreme Court, 
and followed the unanimous recommendation of a three-attorney panel that
 heard evidence of Spradling’s penchant for making false statements in 
court. The justices found Spradling violated more than a half dozen 
Kansas rules of professional conduct.

“The evidence in this case demonstrates a serious pattern of grossly 
unethical misconduct,” the Supreme Court majority said in the decision. 
“After carefully considering the findings, conclusions, recommendations 
and the American Bar Association standards for imposing lawyer 
sanctions, we find that respondent’s intolerable acts of deception 
warrant the severe sanction of disbarment.”

In addition, the court mandated the Office of Judicial Administration
 “strike the name of Jacqueline J. Spradling from the roll of attorneys 
licensed to practice law in Kansas.” Her disbarment was to coincide with
 publication of Friday’s decision.

Spradling came under scrutiny after winning convictions against Dana 
Chandler in a double-homicide case in Shawnee County and later for her 
work on a Jackson County sexual assault case involving defendant Jacob 
Ewing. In both instances, the convictions were overturned on appeal.

The Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys’ panel of lawyers 
recommended disbarment of Spradling after concluding she “knowingly and 
intentionally” engaged in a deliberate misconduct to win convictions. In
 a highly unusual maneuver, the state’s disciplinary administrator 
independently urged the Supreme Court to reject the hearing panel’s 
conclusion and impose a lesser punishment of indefinite suspension.

Spradling asserted she shouldn’t receive any form of discipline for 
what the Supreme Court concluded was a pattern of “serious misconduct 
and dishonesty” warranting disbarment. Spradling’s attorney, LJ 
Leatherman, said during the disciplinary proceedings that Spradling made
 mistakes during the Chandler trial, but she didn’t intentionally try to
 mislead jurors.

The Supreme Court majority concentrated on prosecutorial misconduct 
in the Chandler trial and decided to set aside issues raised from the 
Ewing case. The justices concluded Spradling had ignored orders of a 
district court, repeatedly made arguments to the jury that lacked 
evidentiary support, intentionally lied to the Supreme Court in written 
briefs and during oral arguments, and made false statements during the 
disciplinary investigation.

In a dissent, Justice Evelyn Wilson, a former chief judge of the 
Shawnee County District Court, said the majority accepted the hearing 
panel’s recommendation to strip Spradling of her profession despite 
Wilson’s belief Spradling was “one of the most skilled, successful and 
expert trial attorneys in this state.”

Wilson said in her dissent the justices discarded for lack of 
sufficient evidence a portion of the three-lawyer hearing panel’s most 
serious findings.

“Oh, Spradling did make mistakes, and those mistakes were serious and
 costly,” Wilson said in her dissent. “They caused reversals of 
convictions for murder and rape. But we also know some of Spradling’s 
mistakes were based in part on mistakes made by other professionals who 
were honest and highly skilled.”

In 2021, Spradling resigned from legal positions in Bourbon and Allen counties and placed her law license on inactive status.

Spradling, who earned her law license in 1992 and secured about 80 
murder convictions during her career, landed before the disciplinary 
board as the Supreme Court overturned the 2012 double-homicide 
conviction of Chandler in Shawnee County and the Kansas Court of Appeals
 overturned a 2017 guilty verdict against Ewing in a sex crime case in 
Jackson County. Spradling was lead prosecutor in both cases.

Ewing accepted a plea deal to avoid another trial, while Chandler is 
awaiting retrial on two counts of first-degree murder. She was accused 
of shooting to death in 2002 of her former husband Michael Sisco and 
Sisco’s girlfriend Karen Harkness in Topeka.

Attorney Keen Umbehr, who has supported Chandler during the lengthy 
legal drama, filed a formal ethics complaint against Spradling in 2016 
based on Spradling’s trial work in the Chandler case.

“I’m glad that the Supreme Court disbarred Jacqie Spradling for the 
misconduct she committed in the 2012 Chandler case,” Umbehr said. “I’m 
disappointing that the court didn’t go farther and fashion a remedy that
 would address the serious injury Spradling‘s misconduct did to the 
administration of justice.”

Umbehr also said he was disappointed Wilson considered disbarment too
 harsh given evidence of Spradling’s abuse of prosecutorial authority.

In 2018, the state Supreme Court unanimously found justification to 
reverse Chandler’s convictions in a decision that said the prosecution 
of Chandler by Spradling&nbsp;“unfortunately illustrates how a desire to win 
can eclipse the state’s responsibility to safeguard the fundamental 
constitutional right to a fair trial owed to any defendant facing 
criminal prosecution in a Kansas courtroom.”

In that opinion, Justice Dan Biles concluded: “The state’s obligation
 is to ensure its case is vigorously, but properly, championed to bring 
about a just conviction — not merely a win. Prosecutors are the state’s 
instrument in fulfilling this duty. When they fail, our system fails, 
and the safeguards protecting the constitutional right to a fair trial 
strain to the breaking point. That is what happened in this case.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653064739101.png" alt="The Kansas Supreme Court issued a decision Friday disbarring former Shawnee County prosecutor Jacqie Spradling for prosecutorial misconduct in high-level murder and sexual assault trials. In both cases, the convictions were overturned on appeal. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Supreme Court issued a decision Friday disbarring former Shawnee County prosecutor Jacqie Spradling for prosecutorial misconduct in high-level murder and sexual assault trials. In both cases, the convictions were overturned on appeal. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/20/kansas-supreme-court-disbars-former-shawnee-county-prosecutor-for-unethical-conduct/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Supreme Court
 issued a 101-page disciplinary opinion Friday disbarring former Shawnee
 County prosecutor Jacqie Spradling for a pattern of unethical conduct 
resulting in “significant prejudice” against the accused.It was the most stringent punishment available to the Supreme Court, 
and followed the unanimous recommendation of a three-attorney panel that
 heard evidence of Spradling’s penchant for making false statements in 
court. The justices found Spradling violated more than a half dozen 
Kansas rules of professional conduct.“The evidence in this case demonstrates a serious pattern of grossly 
unethical misconduct,” the Supreme Court majority said in the decision. 
“After carefully considering the findings, conclusions, recommendations 
and the American Bar Association standards for imposing lawyer 
sanctions, we find that respondent’s intolerable acts of deception 
warrant the severe sanction of disbarment.”In addition, the court mandated the Office of Judicial Administration
 “strike the name of Jacqueline J. Spradling from the roll of attorneys 
licensed to practice law in Kansas.” Her disbarment was to coincide with
 publication of Friday’s decision.Spradling came under scrutiny after winning convictions against Dana 
Chandler in a double-homicide case in Shawnee County and later for her 
work on a Jackson County sexual assault case involving defendant Jacob 
Ewing. In both instances, the convictions were overturned on appeal.The Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys’ panel of lawyers 
recommended disbarment of Spradling after concluding she “knowingly and 
intentionally” engaged in a deliberate misconduct to win convictions. In
 a highly unusual maneuver, the state’s disciplinary administrator 
independently urged the Supreme Court to reject the hearing panel’s 
conclusion and impose a lesser punishment of indefinite suspension.Spradling asserted she shouldn’t receive any form of discipline for 
what the Supreme Court concluded was a pattern of “serious misconduct 
and dishonesty” warranting disbarment. Spradling’s attorney, LJ 
Leatherman, said during the disciplinary proceedings that Spradling made
 mistakes during the Chandler trial, but she didn’t intentionally try to
 mislead jurors.The Supreme Court majority concentrated on prosecutorial misconduct 
in the Chandler trial and decided to set aside issues raised from the 
Ewing case. The justices concluded Spradling had ignored orders of a 
district court, repeatedly made arguments to the jury that lacked 
evidentiary support, intentionally lied to the Supreme Court in written 
briefs and during oral arguments, and made false statements during the 
disciplinary investigation.In a dissent, Justice Evelyn Wilson, a former chief judge of the 
Shawnee County District Court, said the majority accepted the hearing 
panel’s recommendation to strip Spradling of her profession despite 
Wilson’s belief Spradling was “one of the most skilled, successful and 
expert trial attorneys in this state.”Wilson said in her dissent the justices discarded for lack of 
sufficient evidence a portion of the three-lawyer hearing panel’s most 
serious findings.“Oh, Spradling did make mistakes, and those mistakes were serious and
 costly,” Wilson said in her dissent. “They caused reversals of 
convictions for murder and rape. But we also know some of Spradling’s 
mistakes were based in part on mistakes made by other professionals who 
were honest and highly skilled.”In 2021, Spradling resigned from legal positions in Bourbon and Allen counties and placed her law license on inactive status.Spradling, who earned her law license in 1992 and secured about 80 
murder convictions during her career, landed before the disciplinary 
board as the Supreme Court overturned the 2012 double-homicide 
conviction of Chandler in Shawnee County and the Kansas Court of Appeals
 overturned a 2017 guilty verdict against Ewing in a sex crime case in 
Jackson County. Spradling was lead prosecutor in both cases.Ewing accepted a plea deal to avoid another trial, while Chandler is 
awaiting retrial on two counts of first-degree murder. She was accused 
of shooting to death in 2002 of her former husband Michael Sisco and 
Sisco’s girlfriend Karen Harkness in Topeka.Attorney Keen Umbehr, who has supported Chandler during the lengthy 
legal drama, filed a formal ethics complaint against Spradling in 2016 
based on Spradling’s trial work in the Chandler case.“I’m glad that the Supreme Court disbarred Jacqie Spradling for the 
misconduct she committed in the 2012 Chandler case,” Umbehr said. “I’m 
disappointing that the court didn’t go farther and fashion a remedy that
 would address the serious injury Spradling‘s misconduct did to the 
administration of justice.”Umbehr also said he was disappointed Wilson considered disbarment too
 harsh given evidence of Spradling’s abuse of prosecutorial authority.In 2018, the state Supreme Court unanimously found justification to 
reverse Chandler’s convictions in a decision that said the prosecution 
of Chandler by Spradling&nbsp;“unfortunately illustrates how a desire to win 
can eclipse the state’s responsibility to safeguard the fundamental 
constitutional right to a fair trial owed to any defendant facing 
criminal prosecution in a Kansas courtroom.”In that opinion, Justice Dan Biles concluded: “The state’s obligation
 is to ensure its case is vigorously, but properly, championed to bring 
about a just conviction — not merely a win. Prosecutors are the state’s 
instrument in fulfilling this duty. When they fail, our system fails, 
and the safeguards protecting the constitutional right to a fair trial 
strain to the breaking point. That is what happened in this case.”

Former Shawnee Co. prosecutor disbarred for unethical conduct

WASHINGTON (AP) — The leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion striking down the constitutional right to abortion has unleashed a wave of threats against officials and others and increased the likelihood of extremist violence, an internal government report says.

Violence could come from either side of the abortion issue or from other types of extremists seeking to exploit tensions, according to a memo directed to local government agencies from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

It’s an added element to what is already a volatile environment in the U.S., where authorities have warned repeatedly over the past two years that the threat posed by domestic extremists, such as the gunman who committed the racist attack over the weekend in Buffalo, has surpassed the danger from abroad.

The memo, dated May 13 and obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, seeks to differentiate between illegal activity and the intense but legal outpouring of protests that are all but guaranteed when the Supreme Court issues its ruling at the end of its term this summer, regardless of the outcome.

“DHS is committed to protecting Americans’ freedom of speech and other civil rights and civil liberties, including the right to peacefully protest,” the agency said in a written response to questions about the memo.

Those protests could turn violent. The memo warns that people “across a broad range of various ... ideologies are attempting to justify and inspire attacks against abortion-related targets and ideological opponents at lawful protests.”

Violence associated with the abortion debate would not be unprecedented nor would it necessarily be confined to one side or the other, the memo says.

Opponents of abortion have carried out at least 10 killings as well as dozens of arson and bomb attacks against medical facilities in their long campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade.

DHS said there is also a potential for violence from the other side, citing recent damage to buildings used by abortion opponents in Wisconsin and Oregon.

“Historically, violent acts related to this issue were primarily committed by abortion-related violent extremists that opposed abortion rights,” it said. “Going forward, grievances related to restricting abortion access could fuel violence by pro-choice abortion-related violent extremists and other” (domestic violent extremists).

In the Wisconsin incident, it noted, the building was set on fire and the perpetrators left graffiti that said “If abortions aren’t safe (then) you aren’t either.”

The leak of the opinion this month, authorities prompted a “significant increase” in threats through social media of Supreme Court justices, members of Congress and other public officials as well as clergy and health care providers, the memo said.

At least 25 of those threats were forwarded to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.

The Justice Department announced Wednesday that the U.S. Marshals Service has the justices under 24-hour security.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651754402764.jpeg" alt="Security fence around the U.S. Supreme Court-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Security fence around the U.S. Supreme Court-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion striking down the constitutional right to abortion has unleashed a wave of threats against officials and others and increased the likelihood of extremist violence, an internal government report says.Violence could come from either side of the abortion issue or from other types of extremists seeking to exploit tensions, according to a memo directed to local government agencies from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.It’s an added element to what is already a volatile environment in the U.S., where authorities have warned repeatedly over the past two years that the threat posed by domestic extremists, such as the gunman who committed the racist attack over the weekend in Buffalo, has surpassed the danger from abroad.The memo, dated May 13 and obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, seeks to differentiate between illegal activity and the intense but legal outpouring of protests that are all but guaranteed when the Supreme Court issues its ruling at the end of its term this summer, regardless of the outcome.“DHS is committed to protecting Americans’ freedom of speech and other civil rights and civil liberties, including the right to peacefully protest,” the agency said in a written response to questions about the memo.Those protests could turn violent. The memo warns that people “across a broad range of various ... ideologies are attempting to justify and inspire attacks against abortion-related targets and ideological opponents at lawful protests.”Violence associated with the abortion debate would not be unprecedented nor would it necessarily be confined to one side or the other, the memo says.Opponents of abortion have carried out at least 10 killings as well as dozens of arson and bomb attacks against medical facilities in their long campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade.DHS said there is also a potential for violence from the other side, citing recent damage to buildings used by abortion opponents in Wisconsin and Oregon.“Historically, violent acts related to this issue were primarily committed by abortion-related violent extremists that opposed abortion rights,” it said. “Going forward, grievances related to restricting abortion access could fuel violence by pro-choice abortion-related violent extremists and other” (domestic violent extremists).In the Wisconsin incident, it noted, the building was set on fire and the perpetrators left graffiti that said “If abortions aren’t safe (then) you aren’t either.”The leak of the opinion this month, authorities prompted a “significant increase” in threats through social media of Supreme Court justices, members of Congress and other public officials as well as clergy and health care providers, the memo said.At least 25 of those threats were forwarded to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.The Justice Department announced Wednesday that the U.S. Marshals Service has the justices under 24-hour security.

US warns abortion ruling could increase extremist violence

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Pandemic-related restrictions on migrants seeking asylum on the southern border must continue, a judge ruled Friday in an order blocking the Biden administration’s plan to lift them early next week. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall commented on the ruling from the border.

The ruling is just the latest instance of a court derailing the president’s proposed immigration policies along the U.S. border with Mexico.

While the administration can appeal, the ruling sharply increases the odds that restrictions will not end as planned on Monday. A delay would be a blow to advocates who say rights to seek asylum are being trampled, and a relief to some Democrats who fear that a widely anticipated increase in illegal crossings would put them on the defensive in an already difficult midterm election year.

Migrants have been expelled more than 1.9 million times since March 2020 under Title 42, a public health provision that denies them a chance to request asylum under U.S. law and international treaty on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays in Lafayette, Louisiana, ordered that the restrictions stay in place while a lawsuit led by Arizona and Louisiana — and now joined by 22 other states — plays out in court.

The states argued that the administration failed to adequately consider the effects that lifting the restrictions would have on public health and law enforcement. Drew Ensign, an attorney for the state of Arizona, argued at a hearing that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to follow administrative procedures requiring public notice and time to gather public comment.

Jean Lin, a Justice Department attorney, told the judge that the CDC was empowered to lift an emergency health restriction it felt was no longer needed. She said the order was a matter of health policy, not immigration.

Summerhays, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had already ruled in favor of the states by halting efforts to wind down use of the pandemic-era rule. He said last month that a phaseout would saddle states with “unrecoverable costs on healthcare, law enforcement, detention, education, and other services.”

Title 42 is the second major Trump-era policy to deter asylum at the Mexican border that was jettisoned by President Joe Biden, only to be revived by a Trump-appointed judge.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether to allow the administration to force asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. That case, challenging a policy known as “Remain in Mexico,” originated in Amarillo, Texas. It was reinstated in December on the judge’s order and remains in effect while the litigation plays out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652819279525.png" alt="Senator Roger Marshall and Kansas Sheriff's were on the U.S. border this week ahead of the ruling." />
 <figcaption>Senator Roger Marshall and Kansas Sheriff's were on the U.S. border this week ahead of the ruling.</figcaption>
 </figure>LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Pandemic-related restrictions on migrants seeking asylum on the southern border must continue, a judge ruled Friday in an order blocking the Biden administration’s plan to lift them early next week. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall commented on the ruling from the border.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Currently on the border &amp; can tell you this is a great relief to border officials who were preparing for the worst Monday. That said, prepare for Biden Admin to ignore &amp; keep sending signal for migrants to make dangerous trek. <a href="https://twitter.com/CBP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBP</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TxDPS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TxDPS</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TexasGuard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TexasGuard</a> need all help they can get. <a href="https://t.co/PvOmghHGiP">https://t.co/PvOmghHGiP</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1527798812554797056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The ruling is just the latest instance of a court derailing the president’s proposed immigration policies along the U.S. border with Mexico.While the administration can appeal, the ruling sharply increases the odds that restrictions will not end as planned on Monday. A delay would be a blow to advocates who say rights to seek asylum are being trampled, and a relief to some Democrats who fear that a widely anticipated increase in illegal crossings would put them on the defensive in an already difficult midterm election year.Migrants have been expelled more than 1.9 million times since March 2020 under Title 42, a public health provision that denies them a chance to request asylum under U.S. law and international treaty on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays in Lafayette, Louisiana, ordered that the restrictions stay in place while a lawsuit led by Arizona and Louisiana — and now joined by 22 other states — plays out in court.The states argued that the administration failed to adequately consider the effects that lifting the restrictions would have on public health and law enforcement. Drew Ensign, an attorney for the state of Arizona, argued at a hearing that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to follow administrative procedures requiring public notice and time to gather public comment.Jean Lin, a Justice Department attorney, told the judge that the CDC was empowered to lift an emergency health restriction it felt was no longer needed. She said the order was a matter of health policy, not immigration.Summerhays, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had already ruled in favor of the states by halting efforts to wind down use of the pandemic-era rule. He said last month that a phaseout would saddle states with “unrecoverable costs on healthcare, law enforcement, detention, education, and other services.”Title 42 is the second major Trump-era policy to deter asylum at the Mexican border that was jettisoned by President Joe Biden, only to be revived by a Trump-appointed judge.Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether to allow the administration to force asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. That case, challenging a policy known as “Remain in Mexico,” originated in Amarillo, Texas. It was reinstated in December on the judge’s order and remains in effect while the litigation plays out.

Marshall pleased with ruling on COVID asylum restrictions at border

NEVADA, Mo. - A 38-year-old Lindsborg woman with multiple active warrants in Kansas is in custody in connection to a theft case in Deerfield, Missouri located in southwestern Missouri on U.S. Highway 54 between Nevada, Mo., and Fort Scott, Kan.

On May 4, Vernon County Sheriff’s Deputies took a report of a theft that had occurred from a vehicle at a residence on Walnut Street in Deerfield, Mo., according to a social media report from the sheriff's office.

It was determined that the suspects proceeded to use a stolen debit card at multiple businesses in Vernon County after the theft. 

Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said that Detectives were able to identify a suspect by reviewing surveillance footage and were able to locate a potential residence where the suspect had been staying. 

On May 5, Detectives conducted a follow-up at a residence on W. Vernon Street in Nevada, Mo., and took 38-year-old Alesha Reavis of Lindsborg, Kansas&nbsp; into custody on multiple active Felony warrants for her arrest from the State of Kansas. Suspected methamphetamine was located as well as some of the stolen property.

On May 10, Deputies were able to locate another suspect involved, identified as 21-year-old Daniel Hankins of Nevada, Mo. and took him into custody.

On May 22, the Courts issued a warrant charging Hankins with Stealing-Firearm, Stealing, and Fraudulent Use of Credit/Debit Device. Hankins is currently being held at the Vernon County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bond. 

Additional charges for Reavis’ involvement are being presented to the Vernon County Prosecutor’s Office for her role in the theft. Reavis is currently being held in the Vernon County Jail on the unrelated active warrants. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653074152963.jpeg" alt="Alesha Reavis. Photo Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff's&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Alesha Reavis. Photo Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff's&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>NEVADA, Mo. - A 38-year-old Lindsborg woman with multiple active warrants in Kansas is in custody in connection to a theft case in Deerfield, Missouri located in southwestern Missouri on U.S. Highway 54 between Nevada, Mo., and Fort Scott, Kan.On May 4, Vernon County Sheriff’s Deputies took a report of a theft that had occurred from a vehicle at a residence on Walnut Street in Deerfield, Mo., according to a social media report from the sheriff's office.It was determined that the suspects proceeded to use a stolen debit card at multiple businesses in Vernon County after the theft. Vernon County Sheriff Jason Mosher said that Detectives were able to identify a suspect by reviewing surveillance footage and were able to locate a potential residence where the suspect had been staying. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653074217077.jpeg" alt="Daniel Hankins-photo Vernon Co." />
 <figcaption>Daniel Hankins-photo Vernon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On May 5, Detectives conducted a follow-up at a residence on W. Vernon Street in Nevada, Mo., and took 38-year-old Alesha Reavis of Lindsborg, Kansas&nbsp; into custody on multiple active Felony warrants for her arrest from the State of Kansas. Suspected methamphetamine was located as well as some of the stolen property.On May 10, Deputies were able to locate another suspect involved, identified as 21-year-old Daniel Hankins of Nevada, Mo. and took him into custody.On May 22, the Courts issued a warrant charging Hankins with Stealing-Firearm, Stealing, and Fraudulent Use of Credit/Debit Device. Hankins is currently being held at the Vernon County Jail on a $10,000 cash only bond. Additional charges for Reavis’ involvement are being presented to the Vernon County Prosecutor’s Office for her role in the theft. Reavis is currently being held in the Vernon County Jail on the unrelated active warrants.

Sheriff: Wanted Kan. woman jailed for alleged theft in Missouri 

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor says he wants to try four 14-year-olds as adults in the shooting death of a Missouri man.

They are among six teenagers charged in juvenile court with first-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Marco Cardino, of Smithville, Missouri.

The two other suspects are 13 and cannot be tried as adults under Kansas law.

Marco was found dead in his car with multiple gunshot wounds on March 14 in Black Bob Park in Olathe, Kansas.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said the shooting occurred during a marijuana sale, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article261596277.html">reported</a>.

“It follows a pattern we’ve seen with young adults and teenagers, where violence has occurred on sales of small amounts of marijuana,” Howe said. He did not specify who was buying and who was selling.

Howe filed motions this week to charge the four 14-year-olds — three males and one female — as adults. All the suspects are from Olathe.

Prosecutors have not released more details about the shooting but court records list aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm as felonies that contributed to the murder charge.

Olathe Attorney Carl Cornwell, who represents one of the 14-year-olds, said he was surprised the prosecutors want to try his client as an adult.

"I’ve never had one this young where they are trying (to transfer the case to adult court),” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653068899390.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor says he wants to try four 14-year-olds as adults in the shooting death of a Missouri man.They are among six teenagers charged in juvenile court with first-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Marco Cardino, of Smithville, Missouri.The two other suspects are 13 and cannot be tried as adults under Kansas law.Marco was found dead in his car with multiple gunshot wounds on March 14 in Black Bob Park in Olathe, Kansas.Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said the shooting occurred during a marijuana sale, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article261596277.html">reported</a>.“It follows a pattern we’ve seen with young adults and teenagers, where violence has occurred on sales of small amounts of marijuana,” Howe said. He did not specify who was buying and who was selling.Howe filed motions this week to charge the four 14-year-olds — three males and one female — as adults. All the suspects are from Olathe.Prosecutors have not released more details about the shooting but court records list aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm as felonies that contributed to the murder charge.Olathe Attorney Carl Cornwell, who represents one of the 14-year-olds, said he was surprised the prosecutors want to try his client as an adult."I’ve never had one this young where they are trying (to transfer the case to adult court),” he said.

14-year-olds among 6 charged in Kan. park shooting death 

BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection to a Kansas Amber Alert for a missing&nbsp; 5-year-old boy on Thursday in Butler County.&nbsp;

At 2:40p.m. Thursday, a woman later identified as 31-year-old Danielle Banzet entered a school day care in Rose Hill, Kansas posing as a Social Worker, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The woman gained access to 5-year-old Brixton Sisk, exited the school, entered a black Suburban with a paper-30 day tag and departed the location.

Banzet was ultimately identified as the boy's mother who had her parental rights severed by the court. Actions taken by Banzet prior to the abduction, including threats of violence, indicated that Brixton was in imminent danger and the KBI issued an Amber Alert.

Just after 6:45p.m. Thursday, the KBI reported Banzet, a male counterpart later identified as the boy's father 33-year-old Zachery Sisk and the boy&nbsp; switched vehicles to a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta, with a Kansas license and may be fleeing the immediate area.  The KBI reported just before 9:30p.m. authorities found the Jetta abandoned in rural Cowley County.

A short time later, the Oklahoma Highway found the suspects and the boy in Noble County, Oklahoma. Troopers took the adults into custody and the KBI reported the boy was safe.

Banzed and Sisk remain jailed in Oklahoma on requested charges kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm, transporting a loaded firearm, using a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a controlled substance and related drug accusations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653080262660.png" alt="Banzet-photo Noble Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Banzet-photo Noble Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection to a Kansas Amber Alert for a missing&nbsp; 5-year-old boy on Thursday in Butler County.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653071579508.png" alt="Sisk-photo Noble County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Sisk-photo Noble County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>At 2:40p.m. Thursday, a woman later identified as 31-year-old Danielle Banzet entered a school day care in Rose Hill, Kansas posing as a Social Worker, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The woman gained access to 5-year-old Brixton Sisk, exited the school, entered a black Suburban with a paper-30 day tag and departed the location.Banzet was ultimately identified as the boy's mother who had her parental rights severed by the court. Actions taken by Banzet prior to the abduction, including threats of violence, indicated that Brixton was in imminent danger and the KBI issued an Amber Alert.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653005713044.png" alt="Photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 6:45p.m. Thursday, the KBI reported Banzet, a male counterpart later identified as the boy's father 33-year-old Zachery Sisk and the boy&nbsp; switched vehicles to a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta, with a Kansas license and may be fleeing the immediate area. The KBI reported just before 9:30p.m. authorities found the Jetta abandoned in rural Cowley County.A short time later, the Oklahoma Highway found the suspects and the boy in Noble County, Oklahoma. Troopers took the adults into custody and the KBI reported the boy was safe.Banzed and Sisk remain jailed in Oklahoma on requested charges kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm, transporting a loaded firearm, using a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a controlled substance and related drug accusations.

Kan. Amber Alert suspects jailed on drug, kidnapping charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a bill Thursday aimed at easing the baby formula shortage for families participating in a government assistance program that accounts for about half of all formula purchased in the United States.

The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-government-and-politics-df586c2e52b5e5865ea9f8091d4d1f80">passed the bill</a>&nbsp;the day before, so it now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.

Participants in a program known as WIC get vouchers that are redeemed for specific foods to supplement their diets. The vouchers usually can only be used to purchase one brand of infant formula, which encourages the manufacturer to offer big discounts to secure a state’s business.

The bill makes it possible in extenuating circumstances for the Department of Agriculture to waive certain requirements so that WIC participants can purchase whatever brand is available.

“Now, millions of parents will have an easier time finding the baby formula that they need,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after the bill was passed.

Also Thursday, the Biden administration said the Defense Department is working to book commercial aircraft to fly about 246 pallets of Nestlé formula from Zurich, Switzerland, to Plainfield, Indiana.

The shipments will include the equivalent of up to 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three formulas — Alfamino Infant, Alfamino Junio, and Gerber Good Start Extensive HA, all hypoallergenic formulas for children with cow’s milk protein allergy. The White House said these are a priority because they serve a critical medical purpose and are in short supply.

Lawmakers are also considering boosting staffing at the Food and Drug Administration with a $28 million emergency spending bill. That legislation also passed the House this week, but faces uncertain prospects in the Senate.

The baby formula shortage was caused by the safety-related closure of the country’s largest formula manufacturing plant. The head of the FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-politics-science-e4aef87dfb74039f1612ca5279e85227">told lawmakers</a>&nbsp;Thursday that the factory could be up and running as soon as next week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164055231.png" alt="In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image" />
 <figcaption>In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved a bill Thursday aimed at easing the baby formula shortage for families participating in a government assistance program that accounts for about half of all formula purchased in the United States.The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-government-and-politics-df586c2e52b5e5865ea9f8091d4d1f80">passed the bill</a>&nbsp;the day before, so it now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law.Participants in a program known as WIC get vouchers that are redeemed for specific foods to supplement their diets. The vouchers usually can only be used to purchase one brand of infant formula, which encourages the manufacturer to offer big discounts to secure a state’s business.The bill makes it possible in extenuating circumstances for the Department of Agriculture to waive certain requirements so that WIC participants can purchase whatever brand is available.“Now, millions of parents will have an easier time finding the baby formula that they need,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after the bill was passed.Also Thursday, the Biden administration said the Defense Department is working to book commercial aircraft to fly about 246 pallets of Nestlé formula from Zurich, Switzerland, to Plainfield, Indiana.The shipments will include the equivalent of up to 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three formulas — Alfamino Infant, Alfamino Junio, and Gerber Good Start Extensive HA, all hypoallergenic formulas for children with cow’s milk protein allergy. The White House said these are a priority because they serve a critical medical purpose and are in short supply.Lawmakers are also considering boosting staffing at the Food and Drug Administration with a $28 million emergency spending bill. That legislation also passed the House this week, but faces uncertain prospects in the Senate.The baby formula shortage was caused by the safety-related closure of the country’s largest formula manufacturing plant. The head of the FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-politics-science-e4aef87dfb74039f1612ca5279e85227">told lawmakers</a>&nbsp;Thursday that the factory could be up and running as soon as next week.

New WIC rules make it easier for families to get  baby formula 

By ROKESHIA RENNE ASHLEY <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-initial-silence-the-biden-administration-is-making-moves-to-free-wnba-star-brittney-griner-from-russian-detention-181821">The Conversation</a>

A week before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/26/1094763019/investigating-the-timing-and-implications-of-brittney-griners-arrest-in-russia">Russian authorities arrested</a> American basketball star <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60701050">Brittney Griner</a> at the Moscow airport. She was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-entertainment-sports-moscow-brittney-griner-7b2cfe5f9726c8620251e85ad5aa6bc9">charged with drug smuggling</a> after Russian officials allegedly found vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis in her luggage.

Since <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dmJ6BjFCg">her arrest</a> on Feb. 17, Griner has been <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/brittney-griner-to-face-trial-on-drug-charges-in-russia-in-mid-june-140067397962">locked up in a Russian prison</a>.
 It’s a stark contrast to her life as a millionaire athlete playing in 
professional basketball leagues in both the United States and, for the 
last seven years, Russia, where she <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/14/1092677483/brittney-griner-russia-detention-wnba-nba-pay-gap">earns nearly four times</a> as much as her nearly US$282,000 annual WNBA salary.

Speculation on the reason for Griner’s arrest centers on Russian 
President Vladimir Putin’s alleged desire to use the American star as <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/brittney-griner-russia-wnba-inequality/627048/">a geopolitical pawn</a>
 at a time when U.S.-Russian relations were at their lowest point since 
the Cold War. And then the Russian invasion of Ukraine occurred, and 
U.S.-Russian relations have become worse.

Another American, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/27/politics/paul-whelan-left-behind-statement/index.html">Paul Whelan</a>, who is white, remains in Russian detention after more than two years since his 2020 conviction on espionage charges.

Though U.S.-Russia relations have gotten worse since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-united-states-prisoner-exchange-8fd1e58e690350019c7aab55af41bbbf">unexpected release</a> of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/27/politics/trevor-reed-russia/index.html">Trevor Reed</a> on April 28, 2022, was a positive sign for Griner’s supporters.

A former U.S. Marine, Reed was held for the last three years in 
Russia on charges stemming from an alleged fight with a Russian police 
officer. He was exchanged for <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/konstantin-yaroshenko">Konstantin Yaroshenko</a>, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year federal sentence for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States.

<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/russias-asking-price-for-brittney-griner-may-be-notorious-arms-trafficker-004449470.html">Such an exchange</a> may be in the works with Griner.

After nearly three months of silence on Griner, the Biden administration on May 3 <a href="https://www.insider.com/brittney-griner-russia-what-status-change-wrongfully-detained-means-2022-5">declared that Griner</a>
 had been “wrongfully detained” and, as such, the U.S. government would 
work more aggressively to secure her release even while the Russian 
legal case against Griner proceeds.

As a <a href="https://scholars.fiu.edu/display/person-ashley-rokeshia">scholar of Black women’s bodies</a>, one of my primary concerns for Griner is whether her <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/597890-anxiety-about-out-brittney-griners-freedom-mounts-amid-russia-ukraine?rl=1">identity as a gay Black woman</a> makes her a good or bad pawn.

Historically and even now, Black women have been represented as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10894160902876705">less than normal</a>
by white feminine standards, making the value <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10894160902876705">of Black gay women</a> even less. And given the lack of media attention focused on the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040048967/missing-black-women-girls-left-out-media-ignored">disappearance of Black girls and women</a> – estimated in the U.S. to total <a href="https://time.com/6159565/missing-black-girls-relisha-rudd/">90,000 in 2021</a> – it appeared that Griner’s case would never achieve the publicity that is emerging now.

Started in May 2022 on change.org, a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/free-brittney-griner-petition-nears-150k-signatures-1707742">petition drive calling</a> for Griner’s release has nearly reached its <a href="https://www.change.org/p/secure-brittney-griner-s-swift-and-safe-return-to-the-u-s">goal of 150,000 signatures</a>.

In addition, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he is working “side by
 side” with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on bringing Griner home.

“We’ve been in touch with the White House, the State Department, 
hostage negotiators, every level of government and also through the 
private sector as well,” Silver said during <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/33935229/commissioner-adam-silver-says-nba-working-wnba-brittney-griner-release-russia">an interview on ESPN</a>. “Our No. 1 priority is her health and safety and making sure that she gets out of Russia.”

The Griner case <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10825811/U-S-diplomat-spoke-wife-detained-basketball-player-Brittney-Griner.html">gained more attention</a> when <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/richardson-helping-free-wnba-star-brittney-griner-detention/story?id=84518602">Bill Richardson</a>, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, joined the team of negotiators.

Richardson has worked privately for years as an international hostage negotiator and helped secure <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/morninginamerica/trevor-reed-back-in-u-s-after-prisoner-swap-with-russia/">the release of Reed</a>.

At 6 feet, 8 inches tall, Griner, 31, stands out in a crowd. In her book, “<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/in-my-skin-brittney-grinersue-hovey?variant=32208120512546">In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court</a>,”
 Griner details her life as a extremely tall Black woman wearing size 17
 men’s shoes and whose outstretched arms measure 88 inches from 
fingertip to fingertip.

She also wrote about the stigma she endured as a gay woman. 

During her time at Baylor University, the private Christian university <a href="https://people.com/sports/wnbas-brittney-griner-on-being-a-gay-athlete-i-felt-like-half-of-me-wasnt-accepted/">banned homosexual behavior</a>.

“It was hard,” Griner <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-apr-18-la-sp-sn-brittney-griner-acknowledges-shes-gay-20130418-story.html">said in an interview</a>. “Just being picked on for being different, just being bigger, my sexuality, everything.”

“I overcame it and got over it,” she continued. “Definitely something
 that I am very passionate about. I want to work with kids and bring 
recognition to the problem, especially with the LGBT community.”

Since those early days in college, Griner has become a leading <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/in-my-skin-brittney-grinersue-hovey?variant=32208120512546">advocate for the LGBT community</a>, publicly speaking about gender, body image, self-esteem and sexuality.

It didn’t hurt that Griner is considered one of the world’s best women’s basketball players.

Her resume includes an NCAA championship in 2012 with Baylor, a 2014 
WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury, two Olympic gold medals for 
the U.S., three Russia Women’s Basketball Premier League championships 
and four EuroLeague championships.

In her seventh season in Russia, Griner’s last game with the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg was on <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittany-griner-arrest-geopolitical-nightmare-perfect-storm">Jan. 29</a>, nearly three weeks before her arrest.

<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>By ROKESHIA RENNE ASHLEY <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-initial-silence-the-biden-administration-is-making-moves-to-free-wnba-star-brittney-griner-from-russian-detention-181821">The Conversation</a>A week before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/26/1094763019/investigating-the-timing-and-implications-of-brittney-griners-arrest-in-russia">Russian authorities arrested</a> American basketball star <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60701050">Brittney Griner</a> at the Moscow airport. She was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-entertainment-sports-moscow-brittney-griner-7b2cfe5f9726c8620251e85ad5aa6bc9">charged with drug smuggling</a> after Russian officials allegedly found vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis in her luggage.Since <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4dmJ6BjFCg">her arrest</a> on Feb. 17, Griner has been <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/brittney-griner-to-face-trial-on-drug-charges-in-russia-in-mid-june-140067397962">locked up in a Russian prison</a>.
 It’s a stark contrast to her life as a millionaire athlete playing in 
professional basketball leagues in both the United States and, for the 
last seven years, Russia, where she <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/14/1092677483/brittney-griner-russia-detention-wnba-nba-pay-gap">earns nearly four times</a> as much as her nearly US$282,000 annual WNBA salary. Speculation on the reason for Griner’s arrest centers on Russian 
President Vladimir Putin’s alleged desire to use the American star as <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/brittney-griner-russia-wnba-inequality/627048/">a geopolitical pawn</a>
 at a time when U.S.-Russian relations were at their lowest point since 
the Cold War. And then the Russian invasion of Ukraine occurred, and 
U.S.-Russian relations have become worse. Another American, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/27/politics/paul-whelan-left-behind-statement/index.html">Paul Whelan</a>, who is white, remains in Russian detention after more than two years since his 2020 conviction on espionage charges. Though U.S.-Russia relations have gotten worse since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-united-states-prisoner-exchange-8fd1e58e690350019c7aab55af41bbbf">unexpected release</a> of <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/27/politics/trevor-reed-russia/index.html">Trevor Reed</a> on April 28, 2022, was a positive sign for Griner’s supporters. A former U.S. Marine, Reed was held for the last three years in 
Russia on charges stemming from an alleged fight with a Russian police 
officer. He was exchanged for <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/konstantin-yaroshenko">Konstantin Yaroshenko</a>, a Russian pilot serving a 20-year federal sentence for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the United States.<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/russias-asking-price-for-brittney-griner-may-be-notorious-arms-trafficker-004449470.html">Such an exchange</a> may be in the works with Griner. After nearly three months of silence on Griner, the Biden administration on May 3 <a href="https://www.insider.com/brittney-griner-russia-what-status-change-wrongfully-detained-means-2022-5">declared that Griner</a>
 had been “wrongfully detained” and, as such, the U.S. government would 
work more aggressively to secure her release even while the Russian 
legal case against Griner proceeds. <h2>Missing Black women</h2>As a <a href="https://scholars.fiu.edu/display/person-ashley-rokeshia">scholar of Black women’s bodies</a>, one of my primary concerns for Griner is whether her <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/597890-anxiety-about-out-brittney-griners-freedom-mounts-amid-russia-ukraine?rl=1">identity as a gay Black woman</a> makes her a good or bad pawn. Historically and even now, Black women have been represented as <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10894160902876705">less than normal</a>
by white feminine standards, making the value <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10894160902876705">of Black gay women</a> even less. And given the lack of media attention focused on the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040048967/missing-black-women-girls-left-out-media-ignored">disappearance of Black girls and women</a> – estimated in the U.S. to total <a href="https://time.com/6159565/missing-black-girls-relisha-rudd/">90,000 in 2021</a> – it appeared that Griner’s case would never achieve the publicity that is emerging now. Started in May 2022 on change.org, a <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/free-brittney-griner-petition-nears-150k-signatures-1707742">petition drive calling</a> for Griner’s release has nearly reached its <a href="https://www.change.org/p/secure-brittney-griner-s-swift-and-safe-return-to-the-u-s">goal of 150,000 signatures</a>. In addition, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he is working “side by
 side” with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert on bringing Griner home.“We’ve been in touch with the White House, the State Department, 
hostage negotiators, every level of government and also through the 
private sector as well,” Silver said during <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/33935229/commissioner-adam-silver-says-nba-working-wnba-brittney-griner-release-russia">an interview on ESPN</a>. “Our No. 1 priority is her health and safety and making sure that she gets out of Russia.”The Griner case <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10825811/U-S-diplomat-spoke-wife-detained-basketball-player-Brittney-Griner.html">gained more attention</a> when <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/richardson-helping-free-wnba-star-brittney-griner-detention/story?id=84518602">Bill Richardson</a>, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, joined the team of negotiators. Richardson has worked privately for years as an international hostage negotiator and helped secure <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/morninginamerica/trevor-reed-back-in-u-s-after-prisoner-swap-with-russia/">the release of Reed</a>.<h2>An international star</h2>At 6 feet, 8 inches tall, Griner, 31, stands out in a crowd. In her book, “<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/in-my-skin-brittney-grinersue-hovey?variant=32208120512546">In My Skin: My Life On and Off the Basketball Court</a>,”
 Griner details her life as a extremely tall Black woman wearing size 17
 men’s shoes and whose outstretched arms measure 88 inches from 
fingertip to fingertip. She also wrote about the stigma she endured as a gay woman. During her time at Baylor University, the private Christian university <a href="https://people.com/sports/wnbas-brittney-griner-on-being-a-gay-athlete-i-felt-like-half-of-me-wasnt-accepted/">banned homosexual behavior</a>. “It was hard,” Griner <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-apr-18-la-sp-sn-brittney-griner-acknowledges-shes-gay-20130418-story.html">said in an interview</a>. “Just being picked on for being different, just being bigger, my sexuality, everything.”“I overcame it and got over it,” she continued. “Definitely something
 that I am very passionate about. I want to work with kids and bring 
recognition to the problem, especially with the LGBT community.”Since those early days in college, Griner has become a leading <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/in-my-skin-brittney-grinersue-hovey?variant=32208120512546">advocate for the LGBT community</a>, publicly speaking about gender, body image, self-esteem and sexuality. It didn’t hurt that Griner is considered one of the world’s best women’s basketball players.Her resume includes an NCAA championship in 2012 with Baylor, a 2014 
WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury, two Olympic gold medals for 
the U.S., three Russia Women’s Basketball Premier League championships 
and four EuroLeague championships.In her seventh season in Russia, Griner’s last game with the Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg was on <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittany-griner-arrest-geopolitical-nightmare-perfect-storm">Jan. 29</a>, nearly three weeks before her arrest. <h2>Breaking the silence</h2>Part of <a href="https://time.com/6158334/brittney-griner-russia-arrest-help/">the initial silence</a> in the Griner case was the reluctance among U.S. State Department officials to publicly discuss it. The so-called strategic silence by the Biden Administration has also 
played out among Griner’s supporters, including Engelbert, the WNBA 
commissioner, who said <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/absolutely-unimaginable-situation-wnba-commissioner-110030427.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall">they heeded advice</a> to remain low key. <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/597890-anxiety-about-out-brittney-griners-freedom-mounts-amid-russia-ukraine?rl=1">U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee</a>, a Democrat representing Griner’s home state of Texas, was one of the few who wasn’t silent and <a href="https://people.com/sports/brittney-griner-texas-congresswoman-demands-russia-release-wnba-star-arrest/">demanded her release</a>. “Under the circumstances,” <a href="https://people.com/sports/brittney-griner-texas-congresswoman-demands-russia-release-wnba-star-arrest/">Lee said on March 3,</a>,
 “I’m obviously concerned and believe the actions of the Russian Federal
 Customs officers was unnecessary. And it was, in my perspective, 
targeted and purposeful.”Meanwhile, at a brief hearing on May 13, 2022, a handcuffed Griner <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/brittney-griner-held-russia-another-194807858.html">appeared in Russian court</a>
 wearing an orange hoodie with her face down. Her detention was extended
 another month before a trial. She faces up to 10 years if found guilty.Her attorney, Alexander Boykov, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-moscow-hearing-live-updates-0ff42a2ceab60724f86f6c7e7f81313a">told the Associated Press</a> that Griner did not express “any complaints about the detention conditions” during the hearing.In an earlier statement, Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, said that Griner <a href="https://www.si.com/wnba/2022/03/23/brittney-griner-russia-arrest-met-us-state-department-official-update-good-condition">received a consular visit</a> on March 23 and was in “good condition” and “doing as well as can be expected under these very difficult circumstances.”Nonetheless, there remains uncertainty on how hard the U.S. will 
fight for a high-profile gay Black woman at a time of deteriorating 
relations with Russia. In my view, the U.S. government has ignored Black women, LGBTQ people
 and those who exist at the intersections for a long time, but the U.S. 
will acknowledge and address situations where citizens are white, male 
and not public figures. The U.S. must now decide how to protect a citizen who is none of the above. Prominent sports writer <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/03/brittney-griner-russia-wnba-inequality/627048/">Jemele Hill</a>
 suggested at this point in U.S.-Russian relations that it would be 
ironic if Griner’s work in Russia gave her the benefit of the doubt in 
Russian court. “If Griner has even a modest amount of leverage in Russia,” Hill 
writes, “it’s because she has had an extraordinary career with 
Ekaterinburg.”Ironic or not, one thing is clear: U.S. public support for her 
release is finally gaining momentum and is symbolized by the WNBA’s 
decision in May 2022 <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/report-wnba-teams-to-honor-brittney-griner-with-floor-decal-this-season-phoenix-mercury-russia-arrest-232132143.html">to place a floor decal</a> of Griner’s initials and No. 42, her uniform number, on the home court sideline of all 12 of its teams.While this is a good show of support, will the U.S. help Brittney Griner the way its helped Trevor Reed?Rokeshia Renné Ashley is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Florida International University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/181821/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1"></iframe></div>