SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 2a.m. Thursday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a spray painted 1996 Dodge Dakota pickup truck in the 2400 block of SW Fillmore Street for driving with an expired license plate, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

The driver, Christopher L. Allen (39) of Topeka, had a suspended driver’s license and two warrants for his arrest out of Shawnee County. During the investigation, the deputy located illegal narcotics.

Allen was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his warrants and on requested charge of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended driver’s license, vehicle registration violations and no vehicle liability insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647609449425.png" alt="Allen-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Allen-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just before 2a.m. Thursday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a spray painted 1996 Dodge Dakota pickup truck in the 2400 block of SW Fillmore Street for driving with an expired license plate, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.The driver, Christopher L. Allen (39) of Topeka, had a suspended driver’s license and two warrants for his arrest out of Shawnee County. During the investigation, the deputy located illegal narcotics.Allen was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his warrants and on requested charge of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended driver’s license, vehicle registration violations and no vehicle liability insurance.

Wanted Kan. suspect was driving spray-painted truck with expired plates

By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-03-18/more-and-more-kansas-libraries-are-fine-with-you-not-paying-overdue-fees">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — Kate Webb and her 2-year-old son, Teddy, sat
 in the children’s section of Wichita’s Advanced Learning Library 
watching an educational video about animal sounds on a brightly colored 
monitor.

“What’s that?” Teddy asked, pointing.

“That’s an owl,” his mother said. “Hoooo, hoooo!”

The
 pair sang along to a chorus of “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” and then headed for 
the shelves of picture books, where Teddy collected a pile to check out.

“He’s my COVID baby, so this is our first time here,” Webb said. “His big sister loves this place.”

Kansas
 libraries are finally open for business as usual, and many are 
encouraging readers to revisit by eliminating overdue fines and clearing
 patrons of their debt. That could particularly increase use of 
libraries by people with the lowest incomes.

The State Library of 
Kansas tracks statistics for 320 library systems. Of those, about 
two-thirds don’t charge fines for late materials — and the number is 
growing.

“It’s definitely a trend that’s been building over time, 
and the pandemic has something to do with it,” said Cindy Roupe, the 
state’s acting librarian.

Most libraries that closed branches or 
reduced their operating hours during the pandemic decided to suspend 
overdue fines, Roupe said. “Then some libraries said, ‘Let’s just make 
this permanent.’”

The Wichita Public Library’s board of directors recently approved a plan to <a href="https://www.wichitalibrary.org/About/LibraryBoard/2022-02-15%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf" target="_blank">do away with late fees</a>. The Wichita City Council will have the final say on the plan during budget talks this summer.

“It’s
 really something that is based in the fundamentals of how libraries 
have always lived, which is about making sure that everybody has 
access,” said Jaime Prothro, the <a href="https://www.wichita.gov/News/Pages/2021-09-21a.aspx#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Wichita%20today,Library%20and%20six%20branch%20libraries." target="_blank">city’s library director</a>.
 “We’re looking at how we can re-engage members of the community who 
aren’t using us regularly — or haven’t over the course of many years.”

About
 half of Wichita’s residents have a library card, Prothro said. But 
right now about 44,000 of them are blocked from checking out materials 
because they owe more than $10 in fees.

When library officials 
mapped those fines by address, they learned that households in 
low-income areas of the city owed the most. That means late fees are 
driving away groups who stand to benefit the most from free resources, 
Prothro said.

“A lot of communities are looking at the financial and racial equity that this kind of change can have,” she said.

More
 than three-fourths of children in the Wichita school district qualify 
for free or reduced-price lunch, which is an indicator of poverty. 
Prothro said eliminating library fines could help early literacy 
efforts.

“When we did outreach to schools and talked with 
students, their parents were often preventing them from getting that 
card because of the worry about the financial overhead of borrowing,” 
she said.

The Urban Libraries Council says nearly every state in the country has at least one <a href="https://www.urbanlibraries.org/resources/fine-free-map" target="_blank">public library that has gone fine-free</a>.

The Kansas City, Missouri, Public Library dropped overdue charges in 2019 with a policy it calls <a href="https://kclibrary.org/finefree" target="_blank">“Freedom from Fines.”</a> That same year, the <a href="https://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/council/council_documents/2019_ms_council_docs/ALA%20CD%2038%20RESOLUTION%20ON%20MONETARY%20LIBRARY%20FINES%20AS%20A%20FORM%20OF%20SOCIAL%20JUSTICE%20Revised%201_27_0.pdf" target="_blank">American Library Association issued a resolution</a> calling fines a form of “social inequity” and urged libraries to find ways to eliminate them.

The Lawrence Public Library <a href="https://lplks.org/the-library-is-now-fine-free/" target="_blank">went fine-free in January 2020</a>,
 saying that eliminating punitive overdue fines “removes an access 
barrier and ensures that everyone can learn, connect, create, and grow –
 equally.”

Lawrence borrowers are still charged for lost or 
damaged items, but charges are dropped for lost items returned in good 
condition.

Under Wichita’s current fee structure, the library 
charges 25 cents a day for books and most other items past their due 
date. Blu-rays and DVDs cost $1 a day.

That may not sound like 
much. But if you visit the library with several children and they each 
check out several books, late fees can pile up quickly.

“One of 
the … philosophies behind this is to really recognize that people have 
lives. People have busy lives, and the library's role is to eliminate as
 many barriers as possible so that people can freely and, without worry,
 be able to borrow,” Prothro said.

In October, the Wichita library system <a href="https://www.wichitalibrary.org/About/LibraryBoard/2021-10-19%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf" target="_blank">eliminated its 25-cent hold fee</a> to reserve a book or transfer it to a different branch. Prothro said more people are <a href="https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/Polaris/" target="_blank">searching the online catalog</a> and placing more holds.

If
 late fees are eliminated, patrons would still have due dates for 
materials they check out. But they’d have a two-week grace period to 
return the item without penalty. After that, they’d be required to 
return the item or pay a replacement fee to check out more materials.

“It
 really does shift the worry away from our borrowers, as far as, ‘I'm 
gonna make a mistake in my life, and then owe money.’ I think that 
everybody hates that,” Prothro said.

A 2019 study showed that libraries that go fine-free see <a href="https://lplks.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2019/12/Fines-1.pdf" target="_blank">no significant difference in return rates</a>. After a Colorado library system eliminated overdue fines in 2015, officials reported that 95% of materials were <a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/removingbarrierstoaccess" target="_blank">returned within a week</a> of their due date.

Along
 the same lines, libraries with amnesty programs see large numbers of 
long-overdue or lost items returned after the fear of fines disappears.

Eliminating
 overdue charges would cut the Wichita library’s revenue by about 
$13,000 a year, she said — about 5% of its overall budget. But library 
officials say the benefits for both patrons and staff would outweigh the
 financial hit.

“I suspect that it costs more in staff time to try
 to get those fines than what they bring in,” said Roupe, the state 
librarian. “That is staff time that could be better spent doing other 
things.”

Amnesty from late fees might get Wichita residents to 
bring back nearly 30,000 unreturned items, which are valued at more than
 $570,000. But more importantly, said Prothro, the Wichita librarian, it
 might get them back in the doors.

“We want to be the busiest 
place in town,” she said. “It’s the only place in our city where you 
aren't expected to spend money. You can come in here, pluck a book off 
the shelf and just sit here and enjoy. You’re welcome here.”

Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647622048592.png" alt="Wichita is one of the city's ditching library fines. Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Wichita is one of the city's ditching library fines. Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By SUZANNE PEREZ <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-03-18/more-and-more-kansas-libraries-are-fine-with-you-not-paying-overdue-fees">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — Kate Webb and her 2-year-old son, Teddy, sat
 in the children’s section of Wichita’s Advanced Learning Library 
watching an educational video about animal sounds on a brightly colored 
monitor.“What’s that?” Teddy asked, pointing.“That’s an owl,” his mother said. “Hoooo, hoooo!”The
 pair sang along to a chorus of “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” and then headed for 
the shelves of picture books, where Teddy collected a pile to check out.“He’s my COVID baby, so this is our first time here,” Webb said. “His big sister loves this place.”Kansas
 libraries are finally open for business as usual, and many are 
encouraging readers to revisit by eliminating overdue fines and clearing
 patrons of their debt. That could particularly increase use of 
libraries by people with the lowest incomes.The State Library of 
Kansas tracks statistics for 320 library systems. Of those, about 
two-thirds don’t charge fines for late materials — and the number is 
growing.“It’s definitely a trend that’s been building over time, 
and the pandemic has something to do with it,” said Cindy Roupe, the 
state’s acting librarian.Most libraries that closed branches or 
reduced their operating hours during the pandemic decided to suspend 
overdue fines, Roupe said. “Then some libraries said, ‘Let’s just make 
this permanent.’”The Wichita Public Library’s board of directors recently approved a plan to <a href="https://www.wichitalibrary.org/About/LibraryBoard/2022-02-15%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf" target="_blank">do away with late fees</a>. The Wichita City Council will have the final say on the plan during budget talks this summer.“It’s
 really something that is based in the fundamentals of how libraries 
have always lived, which is about making sure that everybody has 
access,” said Jaime Prothro, the <a href="https://www.wichita.gov/News/Pages/2021-09-21a.aspx#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Wichita%20today,Library%20and%20six%20branch%20libraries." target="_blank">city’s library director</a>.
 “We’re looking at how we can re-engage members of the community who 
aren’t using us regularly — or haven’t over the course of many years.”About
 half of Wichita’s residents have a library card, Prothro said. But 
right now about 44,000 of them are blocked from checking out materials 
because they owe more than $10 in fees.When library officials 
mapped those fines by address, they learned that households in 
low-income areas of the city owed the most. That means late fees are 
driving away groups who stand to benefit the most from free resources, 
Prothro said.“A lot of communities are looking at the financial and racial equity that this kind of change can have,” she said.More
 than three-fourths of children in the Wichita school district qualify 
for free or reduced-price lunch, which is an indicator of poverty. 
Prothro said eliminating library fines could help early literacy 
efforts.“When we did outreach to schools and talked with 
students, their parents were often preventing them from getting that 
card because of the worry about the financial overhead of borrowing,” 
she said.The Urban Libraries Council says nearly every state in the country has at least one <a href="https://www.urbanlibraries.org/resources/fine-free-map" target="_blank">public library that has gone fine-free</a>.The Kansas City, Missouri, Public Library dropped overdue charges in 2019 with a policy it calls <a href="https://kclibrary.org/finefree" target="_blank">“Freedom from Fines.”</a> That same year, the <a href="https://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/council/council_documents/2019_ms_council_docs/ALA%20CD%2038%20RESOLUTION%20ON%20MONETARY%20LIBRARY%20FINES%20AS%20A%20FORM%20OF%20SOCIAL%20JUSTICE%20Revised%201_27_0.pdf" target="_blank">American Library Association issued a resolution</a> calling fines a form of “social inequity” and urged libraries to find ways to eliminate them.The Lawrence Public Library <a href="https://lplks.org/the-library-is-now-fine-free/" target="_blank">went fine-free in January 2020</a>,
 saying that eliminating punitive overdue fines “removes an access 
barrier and ensures that everyone can learn, connect, create, and grow –
 equally.”Lawrence borrowers are still charged for lost or 
damaged items, but charges are dropped for lost items returned in good 
condition.Under Wichita’s current fee structure, the library 
charges 25 cents a day for books and most other items past their due 
date. Blu-rays and DVDs cost $1 a day.That may not sound like 
much. But if you visit the library with several children and they each 
check out several books, late fees can pile up quickly.“One of 
the … philosophies behind this is to really recognize that people have 
lives. People have busy lives, and the library's role is to eliminate as
 many barriers as possible so that people can freely and, without worry,
 be able to borrow,” Prothro said.In October, the Wichita library system <a href="https://www.wichitalibrary.org/About/LibraryBoard/2021-10-19%20Meeting%20Packet.pdf" target="_blank">eliminated its 25-cent hold fee</a> to reserve a book or transfer it to a different branch. Prothro said more people are <a href="https://catalog.wichitalibrary.org/Polaris/" target="_blank">searching the online catalog</a> and placing more holds.If
 late fees are eliminated, patrons would still have due dates for 
materials they check out. But they’d have a two-week grace period to 
return the item without penalty. After that, they’d be required to 
return the item or pay a replacement fee to check out more materials.“It
 really does shift the worry away from our borrowers, as far as, ‘I'm 
gonna make a mistake in my life, and then owe money.’ I think that 
everybody hates that,” Prothro said.A 2019 study showed that libraries that go fine-free see <a href="https://lplks.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2019/12/Fines-1.pdf" target="_blank">no significant difference in return rates</a>. After a Colorado library system eliminated overdue fines in 2015, officials reported that 95% of materials were <a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/removingbarrierstoaccess" target="_blank">returned within a week</a> of their due date.Along
 the same lines, libraries with amnesty programs see large numbers of 
long-overdue or lost items returned after the fear of fines disappears.Eliminating
 overdue charges would cut the Wichita library’s revenue by about 
$13,000 a year, she said — about 5% of its overall budget. But library 
officials say the benefits for both patrons and staff would outweigh the
 financial hit.“I suspect that it costs more in staff time to try
 to get those fines than what they bring in,” said Roupe, the state 
librarian. “That is staff time that could be better spent doing other 
things.”Amnesty from late fees might get Wichita residents to 
bring back nearly 30,000 unreturned items, which are valued at more than
 $570,000. But more importantly, said Prothro, the Wichita librarian, it
 might get them back in the doors.“We want to be the busiest 
place in town,” she said. “It’s the only place in our city where you 
aren't expected to spend money. You can come in here, pluck a book off 
the shelf and just sit here and enjoy. You’re welcome here.”Suzanne Perez reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @SuzPerezICT.

More and more Kansas libraries are fine with no overdue fees 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly has declared a state of emergency in response to a high fire danger in much of the state.

The governor's office said in a news release Sunday that fire dangers are high, with the western third of Kansas under extreme fire danger warnings. All outdoor burning should be avoided on Sunday. Kelly's verbal declaration will allow state resources to be used to help respond and recover from fire damage.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly has declared a state of emergency in response to a high fire danger in much of the state.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Extreme grassland fire danger is expected to develop across the area this afternoon. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for all of Kansas. Avoid outdoor burning today. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/g0deqmP0qi">pic.twitter.com/g0deqmP0qi</a>&mdash; NWS Wichita (@NWSWichita) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSWichita/status/1505475636667723778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The governor's office said in a news release Sunday that fire dangers are high, with the western third of Kansas under extreme fire danger warnings. All outdoor burning should be avoided on Sunday. Kelly's verbal declaration will allow state resources to be used to help respond and recover from fire damage.

Kan. governor issues disaster declaration as fire danger high

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government has provided more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-emergency-management-federal-emergency-management-agency-0b63f9fcbf4ea0c5948adddc53e6b1c7">$2 billion to help cover funeral costs</a>&nbsp;for more than 300,000 families of people who died from COVID-19, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday as it launches a new campaign to raise awareness about the aid to eligible families. More than 965,000 people have died in the U.S. from the virus.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance" target="_blank">COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program</a>&nbsp;provides up to $9,000 per funeral and covers COVID-19 related deaths since Jan. 20, 2020. The average amount awarded per death is $6,500, according to FEMA.

“FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program has helped provide over 300,000 people with critical financial relief during a time of such unexpected, unimaginable and widespread loss,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in a statement.

The agency is launching a new paid ad campaign in California, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas targeted at areas with large rates of COVID-19 deaths but lower rates of reimbursement requests to help connect people to available assistance. The agency is also reaching out to community groups and local media outlets to help publicize the program.

“Our new outreach campaign is designed to reach families, especially across underserved communities, where the cost of a funeral can be a financial burden to a loved one,” said Criswell. “Our goal is to help families apply for assistance, as well as submit all required documents for existing applications.”

To be eligible for reimbursement, death certificates for those who died after May 16, 2020, must indicate that the death was attributed to COVID-19.

For deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic — from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020 — death certificates must be accompanied with a signed statement from a medical examiner, coroner or the certifying official listed on the certificate indicating that COVID-19 was the cause or a contributing cause of death.

Expenses covered under the FEMA program include funeral services, cremation and interment, as well as the costs for caskets or urns, burial plots or cremation niches, markers or headstones, transportation or transfer of remains, clergy or officiant services, and the use of funeral home equipment or staff.

The program was first signed into law in the waning days of President Donald Trump’s administration but began accepting applications weeks into President Joe Biden’s term. The initial bill provided $2 billion for the funeral assistance, which was exhausted in recent days. Funding going forward will come from Biden’s 2021 relief bill known as the “American Rescue Plan.”

FEMA is not accepting online applications for the reimbursement program. People eligible are directed to call the agency’s helpline 844-684-6333 where they will be prompted to submit the required documentation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government has provided more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-emergency-management-federal-emergency-management-agency-0b63f9fcbf4ea0c5948adddc53e6b1c7">$2 billion to help cover funeral costs</a>&nbsp;for more than 300,000 families of people who died from COVID-19, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Tuesday as it launches a new campaign to raise awareness about the aid to eligible families. More than 965,000 people have died in the U.S. from the virus.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance" target="_blank">COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program</a>&nbsp;provides up to $9,000 per funeral and covers COVID-19 related deaths since Jan. 20, 2020. The average amount awarded per death is $6,500, according to FEMA.“FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program has helped provide over 300,000 people with critical financial relief during a time of such unexpected, unimaginable and widespread loss,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell in a statement.The agency is launching a new paid ad campaign in California, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas targeted at areas with large rates of COVID-19 deaths but lower rates of reimbursement requests to help connect people to available assistance. The agency is also reaching out to community groups and local media outlets to help publicize the program.“Our new outreach campaign is designed to reach families, especially across underserved communities, where the cost of a funeral can be a financial burden to a loved one,” said Criswell. “Our goal is to help families apply for assistance, as well as submit all required documents for existing applications.”To be eligible for reimbursement, death certificates for those who died after May 16, 2020, must indicate that the death was attributed to COVID-19.For deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic — from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020 — death certificates must be accompanied with a signed statement from a medical examiner, coroner or the certifying official listed on the certificate indicating that COVID-19 was the cause or a contributing cause of death.Expenses covered under the FEMA program include funeral services, cremation and interment, as well as the costs for caskets or urns, burial plots or cremation niches, markers or headstones, transportation or transfer of remains, clergy or officiant services, and the use of funeral home equipment or staff.The program was first signed into law in the waning days of President Donald Trump’s administration but began accepting applications weeks into President Joe Biden’s term. The initial bill provided $2 billion for the funeral assistance, which was exhausted in recent days. Funding going forward will come from Biden’s 2021 relief bill known as the “American Rescue Plan.”FEMA is not accepting online applications for the reimbursement program. People eligible are directed to call the agency’s helpline 844-684-6333 where they will be prompted to submit the required documentation.___

US funeral assistance for COVID tops $2B, more eligible

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis released his long-awaited reform program of the Holy See bureaucracy on Saturday that envisages greater decision-making roles for the laity and gives new institutional weight to efforts to fight clerical sex abuse.

The 54-page text, titled “Praedicate Evanglium,” or “Proclaiming the Gospel,” replaces the founding constitution “Pastor Bonus” that was penned by St. John Paul II in 1988.

Francis was elected pope in 2013 in large part on his promise to reform the bulky and inefficient Vatican bureaucracy, which acts as the organ of central governance for the 1.3-billion strong Catholic Church. He named a Cabinet of cardinal advisers who have met periodically since his election to help him draft the changes.

Much of the reform work has been rolled out piecemeal over the years, with offices consolidated and financial reforms issued. But the publication of the new document, for now only in Italian, finalizes the process and puts it into effect in June.

The document was released Saturday, the ninth anniversary of Francis’ installation as pope and the feast of St. Joseph, an important figure to Francis’ ministry.

The new reform emphasizes the missionary and charitable focus of the church as well as the need for the Vatican to be at service both to the pope and local dioceses. It envisages greater roles for laity, making explicitly clear that lay people — not just priests, bishops or cardinals — can head a major Vatican office, and that all staff should reflect the geographic universality of the church.

In one of the major changes, it brings the pope’s advisory commission on preventing sexual abuse into the Vatican’s powerful doctrine office which oversees the canonical investigations of abuse cases.

Previously, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors existed as an ad hoc commission that reported to the pope but had no real institutional weight or power. It often found itself at odds with the more powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which reviews all cases of abuse.

Now the advisory commission is part of the newly named Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, where presumably its members who include abuse survivors can exert influence on the decisions taken by the prelates who weigh whether predator priests are sanctioned and how.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who heads the pontifical commission, welcomed the change and said it was evidence of Francis’ effort to promote a stronger culture of safeguarding within the Vatican and wider church.

“For the first time, Pope Francis has made safeguarding and the protection of minors a fundamental part of the structure of the church’s central government: the Roman Curia,” O’Malley said in a statement. “Maintaining its status as a separate body within the dicastery that enjoys direct access to the Holy Father and with its own leadership and staffing, the renewed and re-affirmed Pontifical Commission will play an increasingly incisive role in ensuring the church is a safe place for children and vulnerable persons.”

Other changes involve making the pope’s personal envoy for charity and alms into the head of a dicastery in its own right, making clear the importance that this service-oriented job has for Francis. The position is currently headed by Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who recently headed a humanitarian mission to Ukraine on behalf of the pope.

In addition, two Vatican offices for evangelization are merging into one Dicastery for Evangelization. Previously the Vatican had an entire parallel bureaucracy dedicated to supporting the church in the developing world where Catholics are a minority, with another office dedicated to reviving the faith in countries where Catholicism is already heavily present. The new office combines them and is headed by the pope, assisted by two deputy prefects.

Overall, the reform document calls for a “healthy decentralization” to give more decision-making authority to local bishops rather than have Rome continue to be the central clearing-house for governance decisions. But the text also makes clear that such authority cannot touch on matters of “doctrine, discipline and communion,” a warning that individual bishops conferences cannot stray from core tenets of church teaching.

It seeks to break down the siloed nature of the bureaucracy, in which each congregation operated on its own fiefdom, by seeking to encourage greater communication and collaboration among offices. In a break with the past, it calls for the heads of Vatican offices to meet regularly as a group with the pope rather than just individually. In essence, it calls for the Vatican bureaucracy to function more like a Cabinet that meets regularly with the head of state.

It makes clear that each “dicastery” as the departments are known, are considered equal to one another. Previously the Vatican secretariat of state had an outsized role of influence and importance, followed closely by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Now, all dicasteries are equal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635514031020.png" alt="President Biden with the Pope during a visit at the Vatican in Nov. 2020-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden with the Pope during a visit at the Vatican in Nov. 2020-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — Pope Francis released his long-awaited reform program of the Holy See bureaucracy on Saturday that envisages greater decision-making roles for the laity and gives new institutional weight to efforts to fight clerical sex abuse.The 54-page text, titled “Praedicate Evanglium,” or “Proclaiming the Gospel,” replaces the founding constitution “Pastor Bonus” that was penned by St. John Paul II in 1988.Francis was elected pope in 2013 in large part on his promise to reform the bulky and inefficient Vatican bureaucracy, which acts as the organ of central governance for the 1.3-billion strong Catholic Church. He named a Cabinet of cardinal advisers who have met periodically since his election to help him draft the changes.Much of the reform work has been rolled out piecemeal over the years, with offices consolidated and financial reforms issued. But the publication of the new document, for now only in Italian, finalizes the process and puts it into effect in June.The document was released Saturday, the ninth anniversary of Francis’ installation as pope and the feast of St. Joseph, an important figure to Francis’ ministry.The new reform emphasizes the missionary and charitable focus of the church as well as the need for the Vatican to be at service both to the pope and local dioceses. It envisages greater roles for laity, making explicitly clear that lay people — not just priests, bishops or cardinals — can head a major Vatican office, and that all staff should reflect the geographic universality of the church.In one of the major changes, it brings the pope’s advisory commission on preventing sexual abuse into the Vatican’s powerful doctrine office which oversees the canonical investigations of abuse cases.Previously, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors existed as an ad hoc commission that reported to the pope but had no real institutional weight or power. It often found itself at odds with the more powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which reviews all cases of abuse.Now the advisory commission is part of the newly named Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, where presumably its members who include abuse survivors can exert influence on the decisions taken by the prelates who weigh whether predator priests are sanctioned and how.Cardinal Sean O’Malley, who heads the pontifical commission, welcomed the change and said it was evidence of Francis’ effort to promote a stronger culture of safeguarding within the Vatican and wider church.“For the first time, Pope Francis has made safeguarding and the protection of minors a fundamental part of the structure of the church’s central government: the Roman Curia,” O’Malley said in a statement. “Maintaining its status as a separate body within the dicastery that enjoys direct access to the Holy Father and with its own leadership and staffing, the renewed and re-affirmed Pontifical Commission will play an increasingly incisive role in ensuring the church is a safe place for children and vulnerable persons.”Other changes involve making the pope’s personal envoy for charity and alms into the head of a dicastery in its own right, making clear the importance that this service-oriented job has for Francis. The position is currently headed by Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who recently headed a humanitarian mission to Ukraine on behalf of the pope.In addition, two Vatican offices for evangelization are merging into one Dicastery for Evangelization. Previously the Vatican had an entire parallel bureaucracy dedicated to supporting the church in the developing world where Catholics are a minority, with another office dedicated to reviving the faith in countries where Catholicism is already heavily present. The new office combines them and is headed by the pope, assisted by two deputy prefects.Overall, the reform document calls for a “healthy decentralization” to give more decision-making authority to local bishops rather than have Rome continue to be the central clearing-house for governance decisions. But the text also makes clear that such authority cannot touch on matters of “doctrine, discipline and communion,” a warning that individual bishops conferences cannot stray from core tenets of church teaching.It seeks to break down the siloed nature of the bureaucracy, in which each congregation operated on its own fiefdom, by seeking to encourage greater communication and collaboration among offices. In a break with the past, it calls for the heads of Vatican offices to meet regularly as a group with the pope rather than just individually. In essence, it calls for the Vatican bureaucracy to function more like a Cabinet that meets regularly with the head of state.It makes clear that each “dicastery” as the departments are known, are considered equal to one another. Previously the Vatican secretariat of state had an outsized role of influence and importance, followed closely by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Now, all dicasteries are equal.

Pope releases Vatican reform, gives weight to fighting abuse

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and made an arrest.

Just after 9p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a reported theft near 16th and Maple in the city of Independence, according to a media release.

The victim reported his electric bike was stolen by a naked man and identified the suspect as 33-year-old Shane May of Independence. to police.  Dispatch immediately began receiving other reports of a naked man running around the 10th and Myrtle area. 

 Officers located the nude man and May refused to surrender.  He ran into oncoming traffic and jumped on the side of a slowing vehicle.  At this time officers were able to grab May and physically subdue him. May was&nbsp; taken into custody without serious injury to himself or the officers.

May is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, interference with law enforcement officers, and disorderly conduct.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647619433512.png" alt="May-photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>May-photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and made an arrest.Just after 9p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a reported theft near 16th and Maple in the city of Independence, according to a media release.The victim reported his electric bike was stolen by a naked man and identified the suspect as 33-year-old Shane May of Independence. to police. Dispatch immediately began receiving other reports of a naked man running around the 10th and Myrtle area. Officers located the nude man and May refused to surrender. He ran into oncoming traffic and jumped on the side of a slowing vehicle. At this time officers were able to grab May and physically subdue him. May was&nbsp; taken into custody without serious injury to himself or the officers.May is being held on requested charges of aggravated robbery, interference with law enforcement officers, and disorderly conduct.&nbsp;

Police arrest naked man for Kan. strong-arm robbery

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;man who served 23 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit is seeking $93 million in damages from the county where he was convicted and a former detective he says framed him.

Lamonte McIntyre, 45, and his mother allege in a lawsuit filed in 2018 that the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is responsible for the actions of former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski and other officers involved in his prosecution.

A federal judge on Thursday set a Nov. 7 trial for the civil case. The Unified Government wants to have the trial moved to Wichita because of extensive publicity in the Kansas City area, KCUR reported.

McIntyre's mom is also seeking $30 million. She and her son allege that Golubski coerced her into sex and then framed McIntyre for a double homicide in 1994 because she rejected the detective's later sexual advances.

They also allege Golubski abused Black women for years and many officers were aware of his conduct. The pretrial orders includes initials of 73 women.

Golubski denies the allegations and has asked that they not be allowed as evidence in the case. If the allegations are admitted, he will argue he was a good officer during his career from 1975 through 2010, when he retired, according to his lawyers' statement.

McIntyre was freed from prison in 2017 after a local prosecutor asked the court to vacate his convictions and to drop all charges. In 2020, he was awarded a certificate of innocence and $1.5 million from the state.

McIntyre, who now lives in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arizona">Arizona</a>, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered other negative emotional impacts from his imprisonment, according to the lawsuit.

His mother also has been diagnosed with PTSD and has sought psychological treatment for 17 years, the lawsuit says.

The local government contends even if the allegations of misconduct are proven it is not liable because the officers' actions were outside the scope of their employment. It also denies the police chief knew about the alleged misconduct.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583330843112.png" alt=" The state of Kansas awarded Lamont McIntyre $1.55 million and a certificate of innocence after passing a new law to compensate wrongfully imprisoned defendants.&nbsp; photo by Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> The state of Kansas awarded Lamont McIntyre $1.55 million and a certificate of innocence after passing a new law to compensate wrongfully imprisoned defendants.&nbsp; photo by Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;man who served 23 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit is seeking $93 million in damages from the county where he was convicted and a former detective he says framed him.Lamonte McIntyre, 45, and his mother allege in a lawsuit filed in 2018 that the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is responsible for the actions of former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski and other officers involved in his prosecution.A federal judge on Thursday set a Nov. 7 trial for the civil case. The Unified Government wants to have the trial moved to Wichita because of extensive publicity in the Kansas City area, KCUR reported.McIntyre's mom is also seeking $30 million. She and her son allege that Golubski coerced her into sex and then framed McIntyre for a double homicide in 1994 because she rejected the detective's later sexual advances.They also allege Golubski abused Black women for years and many officers were aware of his conduct. The pretrial orders includes initials of 73 women.Golubski denies the allegations and has asked that they not be allowed as evidence in the case. If the allegations are admitted, he will argue he was a good officer during his career from 1975 through 2010, when he retired, according to his lawyers' statement.McIntyre was freed from prison in 2017 after a local prosecutor asked the court to vacate his convictions and to drop all charges. In 2020, he was awarded a certificate of innocence and $1.5 million from the state.McIntyre, who now lives in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arizona">Arizona</a>, has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and suffered other negative emotional impacts from his imprisonment, according to the lawsuit.His mother also has been diagnosed with PTSD and has sought psychological treatment for 17 years, the lawsuit says.The local government contends even if the allegations of misconduct are proven it is not liable because the officers' actions were outside the scope of their employment. It also denies the police chief knew about the alleged misconduct.

Wrongfully convicted man sues Kansas county for $93 million

Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall from Kansas are in Poland about two and one half miles from the border of Ukraine. They are there&nbsp; to gain more insight on needed security support for Ukraine and NATO readiness.

On social media Saturday, Senator Marshall wrote,&nbsp;"One million+ Ukrainians have come through this refugee center in Poland. We brought Emporia, KS made Hostess Twinkies with us — a little dessert to go alongside the wholesome meals <a href="https://twitter.com/WCKitchen">World Central Kitchen</a> is providing to add a smile to the faces of the brave Ukrainians we met."

Marshall said they met a woman named Katarina at a refugee center in Poland. "She’s a proud Ukrainian who wants her country back, wants to go home, but most of all she wants peace."

"Just miles away we are seeing the worst of mankind but right here in this refugee center we saw the best of mankind."

Before he left, Marshall said "I am committed that there will be no American bloodshed in Ukraine – this has to be a war that is led be Europe. We will be standing beside and behind but we don’t want American pilots in the air space or American boots on the ground. We must do all we can to help the brave people of Ukraine.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647717467291.png" alt="Photos courtesy Senator Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy Senator Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall from Kansas are in Poland about two and one half miles from the border of Ukraine. They are there&nbsp; to gain more insight on needed security support for Ukraine and NATO readiness.On social media Saturday, Senator Marshall wrote,&nbsp;"One million+ Ukrainians have come through this refugee center in Poland. We brought Emporia, KS made Hostess Twinkies with us — a little dessert to go alongside the wholesome meals <a href="https://twitter.com/WCKitchen">World Central Kitchen</a> is providing to add a smile to the faces of the brave Ukrainians we met."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In Poland about 2.5 miles from the border of Ukraine. Just miles away we are seeing the worst of mankind but right here in this refugee center we saw the best of mankind. <a href="https://t.co/aFGk8unYNN">pic.twitter.com/aFGk8unYNN</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1505248782031630336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Marshall said they met a woman named Katarina at a refugee center in Poland. "She’s a proud Ukrainian who wants her country back, wants to go home, but most of all she wants peace."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647717816422.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Just miles away we are seeing the worst of mankind but right here in this refugee center we saw the best of mankind."Before he left, Marshall said "I am committed that there will be no American bloodshed in Ukraine – this has to be a war that is led be Europe. We will be standing beside and behind but we don’t want American pilots in the air space or American boots on the ground. We must do all we can to help the brave people of Ukraine.”

🎥 Senator Marshall in Poland to learn about support for Ukraine

RUSH COUNTY— The Silver Alert for a Kansas man ended Saturday when authorities located a single vehicle accident.

A 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback driven by&nbsp;71-year-old Thomas Talburt of Wichita was westbound in the 3900 Block of Avenue X, according to the Rush County Sheriff.

 The vehicle left the road, and he was ejected. The Rush County Deputy Coroner pronounced&nbsp;Talburt dead at the scene .

SEDGWICK COUNTY – A Silver Alert for a missing 71-year-old Kansas man was cancelled Saturday afternoon after Thomas Talburt  was located in Rush County after a single vehicle accident, according to Wichita Police.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY –Authorities need&nbsp; help locating 71-year-old Thomas “Tom” Talburt. He was last seen in the 4500 block of S. Water in Wichita at approximately&nbsp;10:45 a.m. Saturday, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Talburt is&nbsp; described as 6-foot tall, 135 pounds, white hair with blue eyes. He is cleanly shaven and was last seen wearing&nbsp;brown puffy winter vest, a grey long sleeve Henley with blue sleeves, blue sweat pants, brown “desert boots” with white soles, a blue stocking cap, and sunglasses.

He is driving a two tone, black on top, tan on bottom 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback License plate 621 AIS.&nbsp; Left rear quarter panel has holes from rust.&nbsp;

Talburt was last contacted on the phone&nbsp;at 12:30 p.m.&nbsp;today&nbsp;stating he was lost. &nbsp;Talburt has reportedly shown signs of early onset dementia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647719932659.png" alt="Tom Talburt photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Tom Talburt photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>RUSH COUNTY— The Silver Alert for a Kansas man ended Saturday when authorities located a single vehicle accident.A 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback driven by&nbsp;71-year-old Thomas Talburt of Wichita was westbound in the 3900 Block of Avenue X, according to the Rush County Sheriff. The vehicle left the road, and he was ejected. The Rush County Deputy Coroner pronounced&nbsp;Talburt dead at the scene .--------SEDGWICK COUNTY – A Silver Alert for a missing 71-year-old Kansas man was cancelled Saturday afternoon after Thomas Talburt was located in Rush County after a single vehicle accident, according to Wichita Police.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details.--------SEDGWICK COUNTY –Authorities need&nbsp; help locating 71-year-old Thomas “Tom” Talburt. He was last seen in the 4500 block of S. Water in Wichita at approximately&nbsp;10:45 a.m. Saturday, according to Officer Chad Ditch.Talburt is&nbsp; described as 6-foot tall, 135 pounds, white hair with blue eyes. He is cleanly shaven and was last seen wearing&nbsp;brown puffy winter vest, a grey long sleeve Henley with blue sleeves, blue sweat pants, brown “desert boots” with white soles, a blue stocking cap, and sunglasses.He is driving a two tone, black on top, tan on bottom 1999 Subaru Legacy Outback License plate 621 AIS.&nbsp; Left rear quarter panel has holes from rust.&nbsp;Talburt was last contacted on the phone&nbsp;at 12:30 p.m.&nbsp;today&nbsp;stating he was lost. &nbsp;Talburt has reportedly shown signs of early onset dementia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff: Silver Alert canceled; missing Kan. man dies in crash

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/18/survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-call-for-elimination-of-kansas-statute-of-limitations/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kim Bergman was 12 years old when her gymnastics coach, David Byrd, began abusing her.

Bergman was not his first victim, and she was not his last. Coaches 
she confided in did not report the crime, and when a therapist finally 
did, nothing came of it. Bergman said she felt she had done something 
wrong and that nobody believed her.

By the time she was able to come forward, it was past the statute of 
limitations in Kansas to collect damages for childhood sexual abuse. 
Under current law, these lawsuits must be filed within three years of 
the survivor turning 18 or within three years of discovering an injury 
or illness caused by the abuse.

When Byrd was eventually arrested for indecent liberties with a 
minor, Bergman said, she felt tremendous guilt for not having come 
forward sooner, reigniting her desire to ensure others in her position 
have a way to seek justice. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb420/">Senate Bill 420</a> would do that by eliminating the deadline for filing lawsuits.

“One of David Byrd’s last known victims recently stated, ‘If the 
statute of limitations had been lifted before my assault, there’s a good
 chance that I never would have been a victim,’ ” Bergman said Thursday 
at a news conference at the Statehouse. “Over and over, I have been told
 that my abusers’ rights mattered more than mine. Removing the statute 
of limitations would give me the opportunity to make my abuser 
accountable for what he did to me.”

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, introduced legislation four 
years ago, but after a wave of initial support, it was put on the 
backburner as COVID-19 matters took priority. Supporters were optimistic
 the bill would clear the Legislature this year, but Sen. Kellie Warren,
 a Leawood Republican and chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 
has yet to schedule the bill for a hearing despite repeated requests 
from Bregman and other supporters.

A coalition of victims, legislators and an attorney are now calling 
on Warren to schedule a hearing and give the bill a chance. Warren, who 
is seeking the GOP nomination for attorney general, did not respond to a
 request for comment for this story.

“A person who has been subjected to this type of sexual assault, 
sexual violence as a child, may take decades before they’re able to talk
 about it again,” Holscher said. “It’s what we call the age of 
disclosure, which on average for this is the age of 52.”

It would also eliminate the requirement that the claimant must have 
suffered injury or illness from childhood sexual abuse. Any claims for 
damages suffered because of childhood sexual abuse that occurred on or 
after July 1984 would also be revived.

Chris Mann, a Democrat campaigning for Kansas Attorney General, said 
his time as a police officer and prosecutor taught him how daunting it 
can be for victims to come forward, especially if they are a child. With
 the statute of limitations in place, he said, the opportunity for many 
to seek justice is limited.

“We must not put an expiration date on justice. We must not put an 
expiration date on protecting our children from violent sexual 
predators,” Mann said. “This type of crime can rock a family to its core
 and rob survivors of their future. We cannot turn a blind eye just 
because it happened too far in the past.”

Another bill the group pushed for, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb75/">Senate Bill 75</a>,
 would add duly ordained ministers to the list of positions required to 
report abuse and neglect of children. A minister who suspects abuse or 
neglect based on penitential communication would not be required to 
violate penitential privilege.

Susan Lenore, a victim of clergy childhood sexual abuse, said the 
bill was one step in a long road to justice and accountability for the 
many survivors of clergy abuse.

“How do I find the right words for describing what happened to me in 
church and school when I was 10 and 12 years old?” she said. “Words like
 ‘terrorized,’ ‘rape,’ ‘sexually abused’ or ‘violent sexual predator,’ 
and I believe the most important word is ‘silence’ — to be silenced and 
shamed by what happened, to be silenced and never to speak about what 
happened.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647613717527.png" alt="Kim Bergman urges Kansas lawmakers during a news conference Thursday at the Statehouse in Topeka to adopt a bill that would eliminate the deadline for filing civil lawsuits seeking damages for childhood sexual abuse. Bergman has sent repeated emails and messages over social media calling on Sen. Kellie Warren to schedule a hearing on Senate Bill 420, but hasn’t gotten a response. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kim Bergman urges Kansas lawmakers during a news conference Thursday at the Statehouse in Topeka to adopt a bill that would eliminate the deadline for filing civil lawsuits seeking damages for childhood sexual abuse. Bergman has sent repeated emails and messages over social media calling on Sen. Kellie Warren to schedule a hearing on Senate Bill 420, but hasn’t gotten a response. (Noah Taborda/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/18/survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-call-for-elimination-of-kansas-statute-of-limitations/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kim Bergman was 12 years old when her gymnastics coach, David Byrd, began abusing her.Bergman was not his first victim, and she was not his last. Coaches 
she confided in did not report the crime, and when a therapist finally 
did, nothing came of it. Bergman said she felt she had done something 
wrong and that nobody believed her.By the time she was able to come forward, it was past the statute of 
limitations in Kansas to collect damages for childhood sexual abuse. 
Under current law, these lawsuits must be filed within three years of 
the survivor turning 18 or within three years of discovering an injury 
or illness caused by the abuse.When Byrd was eventually arrested for indecent liberties with a 
minor, Bergman said, she felt tremendous guilt for not having come 
forward sooner, reigniting her desire to ensure others in her position 
have a way to seek justice. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb420/">Senate Bill 420</a> would do that by eliminating the deadline for filing lawsuits.“One of David Byrd’s last known victims recently stated, ‘If the 
statute of limitations had been lifted before my assault, there’s a good
 chance that I never would have been a victim,’ ” Bergman said Thursday 
at a news conference at the Statehouse. “Over and over, I have been told
 that my abusers’ rights mattered more than mine. Removing the statute 
of limitations would give me the opportunity to make my abuser 
accountable for what he did to me.”Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, introduced legislation four 
years ago, but after a wave of initial support, it was put on the 
backburner as COVID-19 matters took priority. Supporters were optimistic
 the bill would clear the Legislature this year, but Sen. Kellie Warren,
 a Leawood Republican and chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 
has yet to schedule the bill for a hearing despite repeated requests 
from Bregman and other supporters.A coalition of victims, legislators and an attorney are now calling 
on Warren to schedule a hearing and give the bill a chance. Warren, who 
is seeking the GOP nomination for attorney general, did not respond to a
 request for comment for this story.“A person who has been subjected to this type of sexual assault, 
sexual violence as a child, may take decades before they’re able to talk
 about it again,” Holscher said. “It’s what we call the age of 
disclosure, which on average for this is the age of 52.”It would also eliminate the requirement that the claimant must have 
suffered injury or illness from childhood sexual abuse. Any claims for 
damages suffered because of childhood sexual abuse that occurred on or 
after July 1984 would also be revived.Chris Mann, a Democrat campaigning for Kansas Attorney General, said 
his time as a police officer and prosecutor taught him how daunting it 
can be for victims to come forward, especially if they are a child. With
 the statute of limitations in place, he said, the opportunity for many 
to seek justice is limited.“We must not put an expiration date on justice. We must not put an 
expiration date on protecting our children from violent sexual 
predators,” Mann said. “This type of crime can rock a family to its core
 and rob survivors of their future. We cannot turn a blind eye just 
because it happened too far in the past.”Another bill the group pushed for, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb75/">Senate Bill 75</a>,
 would add duly ordained ministers to the list of positions required to 
report abuse and neglect of children. A minister who suspects abuse or 
neglect based on penitential communication would not be required to 
violate penitential privilege.Susan Lenore, a victim of clergy childhood sexual abuse, said the 
bill was one step in a long road to justice and accountability for the 
many survivors of clergy abuse.“How do I find the right words for describing what happened to me in 
church and school when I was 10 and 12 years old?” she said. “Words like
 ‘terrorized,’ ‘rape,’ ‘sexually abused’ or ‘violent sexual predator,’ 
and I believe the most important word is ‘silence’ — to be silenced and 
shamed by what happened, to be silenced and never to speak about what 
happened.”

Survivors of child sex abuse call for end to Kan. statute of limitations

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at Towne East Mall on Friday have identified the 14-year-old victim as&nbsp;Trenjvious Hutton of Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Just after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to a shooting at Towne East Mall, 7700 E Kellogg Drive in Wichita.

 Upon arrival, officers entered the mall and located Hutton inside who had been shot. He was pronounced deceased on scene.

The investigation revealed, Hutton was involved in a physical altercation with several individuals known to him stemming from an ongoing dispute. During the altercation a 16-year-old suspect pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Hutton. The suspect then fled on foot.

Witnesses provided officers with a description of the suspect which allowed arriving officers to quickly locate him in the area and make an arrest, according to Ditch.

 A 17-year-old boy with the suspect was detained, questioned, and released. Additionally, officers have recovered two handguns during the investigation.

The 16-year-old shooting suspect is being held on a requested charge of 2nd-degree murder, according to Ditch.

"Any death stemming from a shooting is traumatic for our community,” said Wichita Police Chief Lem Moore said. “Especially when it involves one of our youths at a very busy shopping area. Wichita Police will be proactively providing extra resources at this shopping area to ensure safety of patrons and employees.”

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have two suspects in custody.

Just before 5:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched what was originally believed to be an active shooter at Towne East Mall, 7700 East Kellog in Wichita according to Officer Chad Ditch.

As officers arrived on scene, there was a mass exodus of people from the mall. As officers entered the lower level of the mall, they located a 14-year-old boy with several gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced deceased, according to Ditch.

Police later learned there was an altercation between several juveniles. One of the juveniles brandished a firearm and shot the victim several times.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A short time later, police located two suspect in the area. Officers took a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old into custody, according to Ditch.

Police released no additional details including the victim's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647654687490.png" alt="Police were dispatched to what was originally believed to be an active shooter -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police were dispatched to what was originally believed to be an active shooter -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at Towne East Mall on Friday have identified the 14-year-old victim as&nbsp;Trenjvious Hutton of Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.Just after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, officers responded to a shooting at Towne East Mall, 7700 E Kellogg Drive in Wichita. Upon arrival, officers entered the mall and located Hutton inside who had been shot. He was pronounced deceased on scene.The investigation revealed, Hutton was involved in a physical altercation with several individuals known to him stemming from an ongoing dispute. During the altercation a 16-year-old suspect pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Hutton. The suspect then fled on foot.Witnesses provided officers with a description of the suspect which allowed arriving officers to quickly locate him in the area and make an arrest, according to Ditch. A 17-year-old boy with the suspect was detained, questioned, and released. Additionally, officers have recovered two handguns during the investigation.The 16-year-old shooting suspect is being held on a requested charge of 2nd-degree murder, according to Ditch."Any death stemming from a shooting is traumatic for our community,” said Wichita Police Chief Lem Moore said. “Especially when it involves one of our youths at a very busy shopping area. Wichita Police will be proactively providing extra resources at this shopping area to ensure safety of patrons and employees.”-----------SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have two suspects in custody.Just before 5:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched what was originally believed to be an active shooter at Towne East Mall, 7700 East Kellog in Wichita according to Officer Chad Ditch.As officers arrived on scene, there was a mass exodus of people from the mall. As officers entered the lower level of the mall, they located a 14-year-old boy with several gunshot wounds. He was later pronounced deceased, according to Ditch.Police later learned there was an altercation between several juveniles. One of the juveniles brandished a firearm and shot the victim several times.&nbsp;&nbsp;A short time later, police located two suspect in the area. Officers took a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old into custody, according to Ditch.Police released no additional details including the victim's name.

Police ID 14-year-old shot and killed at Wichita Towne East Mall

LVIV, Ukraine (AP)— A Ukrainian military official has confirmed to a local news outlet that Russian forces carried out a missile strike Friday on a missile and ammunition warehouse in the Delyatyn settlement of the Ivano-Frankivsk region in western Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Air Forces spokesman Yurii Ihnat told the Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper Saturday, however, that it is yet to be confirmed whether the missile the Russians used was indeed Kinzhal, the county’s latest hypersonic missile, or some other kind.

Earlier on Saturday, a spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, said the Russian military hit the underground warehouse in Delyatyn on Friday with the hypersonic Kinzhal missile in its first reported combat use. According to Russian officials, the Kinzhal, carried by MiG-31 fighter jets, has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and flies at 10 times the speed of sound.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647435977643.png" alt="Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday-image photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday-image photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LVIV, Ukraine (AP)— A Ukrainian military official has confirmed to a local news outlet that Russian forces carried out a missile strike Friday on a missile and ammunition warehouse in the Delyatyn settlement of the Ivano-Frankivsk region in western Ukraine.Ukraine’s Air Forces spokesman Yurii Ihnat told the Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper Saturday, however, that it is yet to be confirmed whether the missile the Russians used was indeed Kinzhal, the county’s latest hypersonic missile, or some other kind.Earlier on Saturday, a spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, said the Russian military hit the underground warehouse in Delyatyn on Friday with the hypersonic Kinzhal missile in its first reported combat use. According to Russian officials, the Kinzhal, carried by MiG-31 fighter jets, has a range of up to 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) and flies at 10 times the speed of sound.

Russia strikes Ukraine with  new hypersonic missile for first time

WICHITA —Frontier Airlines notified the city of Wichita Friday that they will&nbsp; discontinue service at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, according to a media release from the city.

 Frontier intended to resume flights to Las Vegas from Wichita on April 1 but has canceled those plans. The decision follows a shortage of aircraft, according to the airline.&nbsp;Last week, SkyWest announced it would be ending air service to Dodge City, Hays, Liberal and Salina.

“We certainly are disappointed that Frontier is leaving, especially now that passenger demand is increasing and more seats are needed. There are opportunities for Frontier in this market and we hope to bring them back,” said Valerie Wise, Air Service and Marketing Manager for Eisenhower National Airport.

 Frontier began service to Denver in August 2018, causing fares to drop 29%. During the pandemic, Southwest began flying to Denver in September 2020. United also flies nonstop to Denver, causing an abundance of capacity. Frontier began Las Vegas service in March 2021 and eventually ended the Denver service in September 2021.

Nonstop service to Las Vegas continues to be served by Southwest Airlines on Saturdays and Allegiant Air on Sundays and Thursdays, according to the airport.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647698062748.png" alt="Frontier intended to resume flights to Las Vegas from Wichita on April 1 but has canceled those plans-photo courtesy Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Frontier intended to resume flights to Las Vegas from Wichita on April 1 but has canceled those plans-photo courtesy Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Frontier Airlines notified the city of Wichita Friday that they will&nbsp; discontinue service at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, according to a media release from the city. Frontier intended to resume flights to Las Vegas from Wichita on April 1 but has canceled those plans. The decision follows a shortage of aircraft, according to the airline.&nbsp;Last week, SkyWest announced it would be ending air service to Dodge City, Hays, Liberal and Salina.“We certainly are disappointed that Frontier is leaving, especially now that passenger demand is increasing and more seats are needed. There are opportunities for Frontier in this market and we hope to bring them back,” said Valerie Wise, Air Service and Marketing Manager for Eisenhower National Airport. Frontier began service to Denver in August 2018, causing fares to drop 29%. During the pandemic, Southwest began flying to Denver in September 2020. United also flies nonstop to Denver, causing an abundance of capacity. Frontier began Las Vegas service in March 2021 and eventually ended the Denver service in September 2021.Nonstop service to Las Vegas continues to be served by Southwest Airlines on Saturdays and Allegiant Air on Sundays and Thursdays, according to the airport.

Another airline announces they will end service in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — First-of-its-kind Missouri legislation shows that pro-life lawmakers in Republican-led states aren’t likely to stop at banning most abortions within their borders but also could try to make it harder to go out of state to end pregnancies.

A proposal that could be debated in the Legislature as soon as next week seeks to make it illegal to “aid or abet” abortions outlawed in Missouri, even if they are performed in other states.

Like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">a Texas law passed&nbsp;</a>last&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">year</a>, the bill puts enforcement in the hands of residents, who could file lawsuits against those they believe have violated it.

State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s bill is aimed at a key frustration for abortion foes: people crossing state lines to avoid restrictions. The bill also targets a network of 90-plus groups across the U.S. that have sprung up specifically to preserve access to abortion.

The proposal comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide by June&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-united-states-mississippi-65751e1b9ca7d34f1458ffe9729f82b2">whether to overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion&nbsp;</a>and GOP-led states rush to pass more restrictions in anticipation that the landmark ruling could be tossed out.

“If the court does that, the ability to get an abortion will be on the line for everyone in America, and so we’re at a crisis point,” said Andrew Beck, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. “The Missouri bill crystallizes that as extreme and dangerous as that crisis is, it’s just the first step in politicians’ effort to outlaw abortions for everyone.”

Missouri lawmakers in 2019&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/df05286364fb4ba6bfb501aea5c335d8">passed a law banning almost all abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned.</a>

Under Coleman’s measure, anything from driving women across state lines for abortions to internet providers allowing access to certain abortion-related websites would be outlawed. She said St. Louis-area billboards advertising easier-to-get abortions in neighboring Illinois would be banned, too.

“It’s trying to evade the laws of the state of Missouri,” said Coleman, a St. Louis-area Republican. “Abortion is a really brutal practice and Illinois has chosen not to, in any way, provide protections for the unborn and women, and so we’re trying to do everything we can to make sure Missourians are protected.”

For a clinic across the state line from St. Louis, 75% of the patients from September 2021 through February were from Missouri, according to the Planned Parenthood affiliate that operates it.

In the Kansas City area, the two clinics performing abortions are on the Kansas side. Missouri residents have traditionally accounted for a large percentage of the abortions performed in Kansas — 42% in 2020, the latest data available.

“We’re taking it (Coleman’s proposal) seriously because I think if we’ve learned anything from Missouri and also from what’s happened in Texas, it’s that laws that clearly violate an individual’s constitutional rights, rights that have been recognized and protected for decades, are now going into effect and impacting whether people can get care,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood affiliate that operates one of those Kansas City clinics.

Coleman’s proposal also would outlaw paying for a woman’s abortion or helping them get insurance coverage to pay for the procedure.

The Missouri Abortion Fund provided financial assistance to 1,866 Missouri residents seeking abortions last year — only two of them in Missouri. Its aid averaged $113, but Michele Landeau, its president, said it helped some people who were only $10 short of being able to pay for their procedures.

“It’s already so difficult to obtain abortion in Missouri and in a lot of parts of the country, and we don’t need additional threats to people’s lives and people’s livelihoods,” Landeau said.

While some legal experts doubt that Coleman’s proposal is constitutional, they also worry that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-56fe96917e21b53b581005cb30db66e0">Supreme Court might refuse to intervene to stop it — just as it did with the Texas law.</a>

“It’s unclear to these states what they’re going to be able to do, and so I think they’re sort of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks,” said Mary Ziegler, a Florida State University law professor.

The Missouri proposal comes as other Republican-led states consider laws like Texas,′ with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-business-lawsuits-51f006f5be4ac59b85c28a2d50f1710d">Idaho lawmakers passing</a>&nbsp;a similar measure this week.

“While this is the first, it could kick off similar measures elsewhere as states look to adopt more and more outrageous legislation,” said Elizabeth Nash, a policy expert for the abortion-rights supporting Guttmacher Institute.

John Seago, legislative director of Texas Right to Life, said women traveling to other states is “going to be a reality” if Roe v. Wade is overturned.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-coronavirus-pandemic-health-austin-texas-d85d715dc7f73a3cc4f1638df7ce4a14">Since Texas’ six-week ban took effect last year,&nbsp;</a>clinics in neighboring states have reported a sharp increase in the number of patients from that state.

“This is something that the pro-life movement has to come to terms with and figure out what really is the proper response,” he said.

Abortion-rights advocates said regardless of what happens with such laws in the courts, they can create fear or confusion.

“We still get calls from Texas ... where they ask, ‘Is it even legal for me to call you?’” said Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, spokesperson for the abortion-rights group Trust Women, which operates clinics proving abortions in Wichita, Kansas, and Norman, Oklahoma.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569156934026.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — First-of-its-kind Missouri legislation shows that pro-life lawmakers in Republican-led states aren’t likely to stop at banning most abortions within their borders but also could try to make it harder to go out of state to end pregnancies.A proposal that could be debated in the Legislature as soon as next week seeks to make it illegal to “aid or abet” abortions outlawed in Missouri, even if they are performed in other states.Like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">a Texas law passed&nbsp;</a>last&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-health-abortion-government-and-politics-ba02cd7c3f02b1eb5c87094257ee4db2">year</a>, the bill puts enforcement in the hands of residents, who could file lawsuits against those they believe have violated it.State Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s bill is aimed at a key frustration for abortion foes: people crossing state lines to avoid restrictions. The bill also targets a network of 90-plus groups across the U.S. that have sprung up specifically to preserve access to abortion.The proposal comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide by June&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-united-states-mississippi-65751e1b9ca7d34f1458ffe9729f82b2">whether to overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion&nbsp;</a>and GOP-led states rush to pass more restrictions in anticipation that the landmark ruling could be tossed out.“If the court does that, the ability to get an abortion will be on the line for everyone in America, and so we’re at a crisis point,” said Andrew Beck, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. “The Missouri bill crystallizes that as extreme and dangerous as that crisis is, it’s just the first step in politicians’ effort to outlaw abortions for everyone.”Missouri lawmakers in 2019&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/df05286364fb4ba6bfb501aea5c335d8">passed a law banning almost all abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned.</a>Under Coleman’s measure, anything from driving women across state lines for abortions to internet providers allowing access to certain abortion-related websites would be outlawed. She said St. Louis-area billboards advertising easier-to-get abortions in neighboring Illinois would be banned, too.“It’s trying to evade the laws of the state of Missouri,” said Coleman, a St. Louis-area Republican. “Abortion is a really brutal practice and Illinois has chosen not to, in any way, provide protections for the unborn and women, and so we’re trying to do everything we can to make sure Missourians are protected.”For a clinic across the state line from St. Louis, 75% of the patients from September 2021 through February were from Missouri, according to the Planned Parenthood affiliate that operates it.In the Kansas City area, the two clinics performing abortions are on the Kansas side. Missouri residents have traditionally accounted for a large percentage of the abortions performed in Kansas — 42% in 2020, the latest data available.“We’re taking it (Coleman’s proposal) seriously because I think if we’ve learned anything from Missouri and also from what’s happened in Texas, it’s that laws that clearly violate an individual’s constitutional rights, rights that have been recognized and protected for decades, are now going into effect and impacting whether people can get care,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood affiliate that operates one of those Kansas City clinics.Coleman’s proposal also would outlaw paying for a woman’s abortion or helping them get insurance coverage to pay for the procedure.The Missouri Abortion Fund provided financial assistance to 1,866 Missouri residents seeking abortions last year — only two of them in Missouri. Its aid averaged $113, but Michele Landeau, its president, said it helped some people who were only $10 short of being able to pay for their procedures.“It’s already so difficult to obtain abortion in Missouri and in a lot of parts of the country, and we don’t need additional threats to people’s lives and people’s livelihoods,” Landeau said.While some legal experts doubt that Coleman’s proposal is constitutional, they also worry that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-56fe96917e21b53b581005cb30db66e0">Supreme Court might refuse to intervene to stop it — just as it did with the Texas law.</a>“It’s unclear to these states what they’re going to be able to do, and so I think they’re sort of throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks,” said Mary Ziegler, a Florida State University law professor.The Missouri proposal comes as other Republican-led states consider laws like Texas,′ with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-business-lawsuits-51f006f5be4ac59b85c28a2d50f1710d">Idaho lawmakers passing</a>&nbsp;a similar measure this week.“While this is the first, it could kick off similar measures elsewhere as states look to adopt more and more outrageous legislation,” said Elizabeth Nash, a policy expert for the abortion-rights supporting Guttmacher Institute.John Seago, legislative director of Texas Right to Life, said women traveling to other states is “going to be a reality” if Roe v. Wade is overturned.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-coronavirus-pandemic-health-austin-texas-d85d715dc7f73a3cc4f1638df7ce4a14">Since Texas’ six-week ban took effect last year,&nbsp;</a>clinics in neighboring states have reported a sharp increase in the number of patients from that state.“This is something that the pro-life movement has to come to terms with and figure out what really is the proper response,” he said.Abortion-rights advocates said regardless of what happens with such laws in the courts, they can create fear or confusion.“We still get calls from Texas ... where they ask, ‘Is it even legal for me to call you?’” said Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, spokesperson for the abortion-rights group Trust Women, which operates clinics proving abortions in Wichita, Kansas, and Norman, Oklahoma.

Missouri could make it harder to get out-of-state abortions

&nbsp;Interstate 70 Westbound has now reopened late Friday, according to Kansas City Kansas Police.&nbsp; However, only the inside lane is clear.  The middle and outside lanes remain closed to clear accident debris. 

Westbound drivers were cautioned not to driver at full speed.&nbsp;

Authorities have not released additional details on the crash.

Eastbound Interstate 70 reopened to traffic just after 12:40p.m. Friday, according to Kansas City, Kansas Police. Westbound remains closed will likely remain closed for a good portion of the afternoon.

KANSAS CITY— Authorities say it may take until late Friday afternoon to reopen Interstate 70 to east and westbound traffic due to a fatal crash and fire in Kansas City, Kansas just <a href="https://legendsshopping.com/">east of The Legends Outlets.</a>

According to KCK Police, eastbound traffic continues to be diverted at Interstate 435 and westbound at 78th Street.

Just after 7:30a.m. Friday, police responded to the crash that involved two semi trucks, according to KCK police. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647617462937.png" alt="The crash occurred just after 7:30 a.m. Friday -Photo courtesy Kansas City Scout" />
 <figcaption>The crash occurred just after 7:30 a.m. Friday -Photo courtesy Kansas City Scout</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Interstate 70 Westbound has now reopened late Friday, according to Kansas City Kansas Police.&nbsp; However, only the inside lane is clear. The middle and outside lanes remain closed to clear accident debris. Westbound drivers were cautioned not to driver at full speed.&nbsp;Authorities have not released additional details on the crash.-----------Eastbound Interstate 70 reopened to traffic just after 12:40p.m. Friday, according to Kansas City, Kansas Police. Westbound remains closed will likely remain closed for a good portion of the afternoon.---------KANSAS CITY— Authorities say it may take until late Friday afternoon to reopen Interstate 70 to east and westbound traffic due to a fatal crash and fire in Kansas City, Kansas just <a href="https://legendsshopping.com/">east of The Legends Outlets.</a>According to KCK Police, eastbound traffic continues to be diverted at Interstate 435 and westbound at 78th Street.Just after 7:30a.m. Friday, police responded to the crash that involved two semi trucks, according to KCK police. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Westbound I-70 now open after crash, fire east of Legends Outlets

ELLIS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a chase and crash in Hays.

Just before 5p.m. Friday, police responded to a robbery at All the Rage Studios, 2707 Vine Street in Hays, according to a media release.

 It was reported that a black male with dreadlocks and a face mask came into the business with his hand stuffed into a bag and demanded the money from the business. 

An employee handed the man the money and the male suspect left the area driving a black SUV with a Texas tag. &nbsp;

Other law enforcement started looking for the suspect’s vehicle and information was given out to the surrounding jurisdictions on the robbery suspect and his vehicle.

 The Russell Police Department located a black Toyota 4 Runner SUV with a Texas license plate in the McDonald’s drive-thru. From running the license plate, officers were able to determine the vehicle was reported stolen out of Colorado.

The suspect vehicle fled from officers, and a pursuit was initiated that headed west bound on Interstate 70 with speeds exceeding 100 mph.&nbsp; Numerous attempts to deploy stop stick tire deflation devices were attempted but were unsuccessful. 

The suspect drove down the west bound off ramp at the 159 exit and drove onto Vine Street in Hays.

 The suspect continued south on Vine Street after driving through the roundabout at the off-ramp exit. 

As the suspect’s vehicle exited the second roundabout just south of interstate on Vine Street, the vehicle started driving south in the northbound lane, directly into oncoming traffic. Hays Police Officers interceded and stopped the suspect vehicle from continuing into oncoming traffic. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647653621461.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after a chase and crash in Hays.Just before 5p.m. Friday, police responded to a robbery at All the Rage Studios, 2707 Vine Street in Hays, according to a media release. It was reported that a black male with dreadlocks and a face mask came into the business with his hand stuffed into a bag and demanded the money from the business. An employee handed the man the money and the male suspect left the area driving a black SUV with a Texas tag. &nbsp;Other law enforcement started looking for the suspect’s vehicle and information was given out to the surrounding jurisdictions on the robbery suspect and his vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647653478281.jpeg" alt="Photos by James Bell" />
 <figcaption>Photos by James Bell</figcaption>
 </figure> The Russell Police Department located a black Toyota 4 Runner SUV with a Texas license plate in the McDonald’s drive-thru. From running the license plate, officers were able to determine the vehicle was reported stolen out of Colorado.The suspect vehicle fled from officers, and a pursuit was initiated that headed west bound on Interstate 70 with speeds exceeding 100 mph.&nbsp; Numerous attempts to deploy stop stick tire deflation devices were attempted but were unsuccessful. The suspect drove down the west bound off ramp at the 159 exit and drove onto Vine Street in Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647653659036.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> The suspect continued south on Vine Street after driving through the roundabout at the off-ramp exit. As the suspect’s vehicle exited the second roundabout just south of interstate on Vine Street, the vehicle started driving south in the northbound lane, directly into oncoming traffic. Hays Police Officers interceded and stopped the suspect vehicle from continuing into oncoming traffic. Three police vehicles were damaged along with the suspect’s stolen vehicle. The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Irving Wozanee Brooks III from Jacksonville, Florida. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647653727062.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Brooks was arrested and taken to the Ellis County Jail. One officer was injured and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Traffic on north Vine Street was blocked and congested to one lane for a lengthy period, causing traffic to be diverted onto interstate for a while as emergency responders worked to remove the damaged vehicles and debris from the roadway.Irving W. Brooks III is currently being held in the Ellis County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647653832353.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>