Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Mercedez Palmer, Failure to appear, arrested 04/15&nbsp;

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Mercedez Palmer, Failure to appear, arrested 04/15&nbsp;Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos April 16

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement in Kansas are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop arrest.

Just before 10p.m. April 10, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling over 100mph on U.S. 36 near mile marker 356, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp;

After investigating, the deputy arrested 29-year-old Chelsea Cohara of St. Joseph, Missouri on requested charges of Felony DUI, Driving While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked, Transporting Open Container, Speeding&nbsp; and No Proof of Insurance.&nbsp; She remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744731748954.png" alt="Cohara photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Cohara photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement in Kansas are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop arrest.Just before 10p.m. April 10, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling over 100mph on U.S. 36 near mile marker 356, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp;After investigating, the deputy arrested 29-year-old Chelsea Cohara of St. Joseph, Missouri on requested charges of Felony DUI, Driving While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked, Transporting Open Container, Speeding&nbsp; and No Proof of Insurance.&nbsp; She remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Woman with no license caught driving 100mph on Kan. highway

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

A Hays man was arrested after his roommate attempted to pay fines with cash that allegedly smelled like marijuana.

Hays Police Deputy Chief Tim Greenwood said the investigation began Monday after a records clerk reportedly smelled marijuana on the cash and alerted an officer, who confirmed the odor.

Another officer traced the cash to the woman’s residence in the 400 block of West Eighth Street.

Greenwood said an officer knocked on the door, where 28-year-old James Washington answered and admitted to possessing a small amount of marijuana, which he allegedly presented to the officer.

Washington denied the officer entry until a search warrant was obtained. Once executed, authorities allegedly discovered more than a pound of marijuana, THC vape cartridges and liquid wax, and two handguns, Greenwood said.

Washington was arrested on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Greenwood said the woman who paid the fine was not arrested or charged at that time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744751863517.png" alt="Washington photo Ellis County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Washington photo Ellis County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostA Hays man was arrested after his roommate attempted to pay fines with cash that allegedly smelled like marijuana.Hays Police Deputy Chief Tim Greenwood said the investigation began Monday after a records clerk reportedly smelled marijuana on the cash and alerted an officer, who confirmed the odor.Another officer traced the cash to the woman’s residence in the 400 block of West Eighth Street.Greenwood said an officer knocked on the door, where 28-year-old James Washington answered and admitted to possessing a small amount of marijuana, which he allegedly presented to the officer.Washington denied the officer entry until a search warrant was obtained. Once executed, authorities allegedly discovered more than a pound of marijuana, THC vape cartridges and liquid wax, and two handguns, Greenwood said.Washington was arrested on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. Greenwood said the woman who paid the fine was not arrested or charged at that time.

Kan. man jailed after roommate pays fine with marijuana-scented cash

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man accused of intentionally damaging a Tesla was scheduled for a court appearance before Judge William Wooley&nbsp; on Tuesday.&nbsp; The preliminary hearing for&nbsp;30-year-old Johnathan F. Erhart was rescheduled for next month according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On March 27, 2025, the Wichita Police Department presented the results of the investigation into an allegation of intentional damage to a Tesla Model X that occurred on March 20, in northwest Wichita, according to a statement from the District Attorney's office.

After a full review of the investigation, the district attorney charged&nbsp; Erhart of Jefferson County with one count of criminal damage to property, a severity level 9 non-person felony.

Under Kansas law, severity level 9 felony carries a range of sentence of 5 to 17 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, depending on a defendant’s established criminal history (convictions, not arrests).

&nbsp; Earhart is no longer in custody in Jefferson County after meeting the requirement of a $2,500 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743203584353.png" alt="Erhart photo Jefferson Co." />
 <figcaption>Erhart photo Jefferson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man accused of intentionally damaging a Tesla was scheduled for a court appearance before Judge William Wooley&nbsp; on Tuesday.&nbsp; The preliminary hearing for&nbsp;30-year-old Johnathan F. Erhart was rescheduled for next month according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On March 27, 2025, the Wichita Police Department presented the results of the investigation into an allegation of intentional damage to a Tesla Model X that occurred on March 20, in northwest Wichita, according to a statement from the District Attorney's office.After a full review of the investigation, the district attorney charged&nbsp; Erhart of Jefferson County with one count of criminal damage to property, a severity level 9 non-person felony.Under Kansas law, severity level 9 felony carries a range of sentence of 5 to 17 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, depending on a defendant’s established criminal history (convictions, not arrests).&nbsp; Earhart is no longer in custody in Jefferson County after meeting the requirement of a $2,500 bond, according to online jail records.

Hearing delayed for Kan. man accused of intentionally damaging a Tesla 

Gary McKeever, Violation of protection order, arrested 04/14

Lahoma Frey, Violation of protection order, arrested 04/14

Valjay McLean, Disorderly conduct, arrested 04/14

Dwight Reid, Failure to appear, arrested 04/14

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744733338980.jpeg" alt="Megan Mangiaracino, Outside warrant (Two counts), arrested 04/14" />
 <figcaption>Megan Mangiaracino, Outside warrant (Two counts), arrested 04/14</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744733350427.jpeg" alt="Jason Wright, Taxation-Drugs, No drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of marijuana, Possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance; Distribute marijuana &gt; 30 kilograms, arrested 04/14" />
 <figcaption>Jason Wright, Taxation-Drugs, No drug tax stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of marijuana, Possession of paraphernalia with intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate controlled substance; Distribute marijuana &gt; 30 kilograms, arrested 04/14</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Gary McKeever, Violation of protection order, arrested 04/14Lahoma Frey, Violation of protection order, arrested 04/14Valjay McLean, Disorderly conduct, arrested 04/14Dwight Reid, Failure to appear, arrested 04/14Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos April 15

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Wisconsin teenager charged in the deaths of his parents faces wider allegations that he killed them to “obtain the financial means” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">assassinate President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and overthrow the government, according to a recently unsealed federal warrant.

Nikita Casap, 17, was charged last month by Waukesha County authorities with first-degree murder, theft and other crimes in the deaths of his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer. Authorities allege the teenager fatally shot them at their home outside Milwaukee in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog. He was arrested last month in Trego County.

Casap, in custody at the Waukesha County jail on a $1 million bond, is due in court next month to enter a plea. County prosecutors have offered a glimpse of the federal allegations, which were outlined in an FBI warrant unsealed Friday.

Federal authorities accuse Casap of planning his parents’ murders, buying a drone and explosives, and sharing his plans with others, including a Russian speaker. His intentions are detailed in a three-page antisemitic manifesto praising Adolf Hitler. The warrant filed at the federal court in Milwaukee also contains excerpts of communications on TikTok and the Telegram messenger app.

“Casap appears to have written a manifest calling for the assassination of the President of the United States. He was in touch with other parties about his plan to kill the President and overthrow the government of the United States,” the search warrant says. “The killing of his parents appeared to be an effort to obtain the financial means and autonomy necessary to carrying out his plan.”

In court, prosecutors alleged Casap was in touch with a person who speaks Russian and shared a plan to flee to Ukraine. Authorities found him in Kansas with money, passports, a car and the family’s dog.

Federal prosecutors alleged Casap’s manifesto outlined his reasons for wanting to kill Trump and included ideas about how he would live in Ukraine.

Citing Casap’s writings, the federal warrant said the teenager wanted to spur governmental collapse by “by getting rid of the president and perhaps the vice president.”

Phone and online messages seeking comment were left Sunday for Casap’s public defender, Nicole Ostrowski. In court last month, she moved to dismiss some of the charges against her client, including theft, arguing that prosecutors had not laid out their case. She’s also noted her client’s age during court proceedings.

“He is young, he is still in high school,” she said on March 12.

County authorities also charged Casap with hiding a corpse, theft and misappropriating identification to obtain money.

Officers found the bodies of Tatiana Casap, 35; and Mayer, 51, on Feb. 28. Family members requested a well-being check after Mayer didn’t report for work and Nikita Casap skipped school for about two weeks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744674855261.png" alt="Casp PhotoWaukesha County Sheriff's Department)" />
 <figcaption>Casp PhotoWaukesha County Sheriff's Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Wisconsin teenager charged in the deaths of his parents faces wider allegations that he killed them to “obtain the financial means” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">assassinate President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and overthrow the government, according to a recently unsealed federal warrant.Nikita Casap, 17, was charged last month by Waukesha County authorities with first-degree murder, theft and other crimes in the deaths of his mother, Tatiana Casap, and his stepfather, Donald Mayer. Authorities allege the teenager fatally shot them at their home outside Milwaukee in February and lived with the decomposing bodies for weeks before fleeing with $14,000 cash, passports and the family dog. He was arrested last month in Trego County.Casap, in custody at the Waukesha County jail on a $1 million bond, is due in court next month to enter a plea. County prosecutors have offered a glimpse of the federal allegations, which were outlined in an FBI warrant unsealed Friday.Federal authorities accuse Casap of planning his parents’ murders, buying a drone and explosives, and sharing his plans with others, including a Russian speaker. His intentions are detailed in a three-page antisemitic manifesto praising Adolf Hitler. The warrant filed at the federal court in Milwaukee also contains excerpts of communications on TikTok and the Telegram messenger app.“Casap appears to have written a manifest calling for the assassination of the President of the United States. He was in touch with other parties about his plan to kill the President and overthrow the government of the United States,” the search warrant says. “The killing of his parents appeared to be an effort to obtain the financial means and autonomy necessary to carrying out his plan.”In court, prosecutors alleged Casap was in touch with a person who speaks Russian and shared a plan to flee to Ukraine. Authorities found him in Kansas with money, passports, a car and the family’s dog.Federal prosecutors alleged Casap’s manifesto outlined his reasons for wanting to kill Trump and included ideas about how he would live in Ukraine.Citing Casap’s writings, the federal warrant said the teenager wanted to spur governmental collapse by “by getting rid of the president and perhaps the vice president.”Phone and online messages seeking comment were left Sunday for Casap’s public defender, Nicole Ostrowski. In court last month, she moved to dismiss some of the charges against her client, including theft, arguing that prosecutors had not laid out their case. She’s also noted her client’s age during court proceedings.“He is young, he is still in high school,” she said on March 12.County authorities also charged Casap with hiding a corpse, theft and misappropriating identification to obtain money.Officers found the bodies of Tatiana Casap, 35; and Mayer, 51, on Feb. 28. Family members requested a well-being check after Mayer didn’t report for work and Nikita Casap skipped school for about two weeks.

Teen arrested in NW Kansas accused of plotting to kill Trump

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22TARA%20COPP%20and%20LOLITA%20C.%20BALDOR%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By TARA COPP and LOLITA C. BALDOR&nbsp;</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — A long sliver of federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border that President Donald Trump is turning over to the Department of Defense would be controlled by the Army as part of a base, which could allow troops to detain any trespassers, including migrants, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

The transfer of that border zone to military control — and making it part of an Army installation — is an attempt by the Trump administration to get around a federal law that prohibits U.S. troops from being used in domestic law enforcement on American soil.

But if the troops are providing security for land that is part of an Army base, they can perform that function. However, at least one presidential powers expert said the move is likely to be challenged in the courts.

The officials said the issue is still under review in the Pentagon, but even as any legal review goes on, the administration’s intent is to have troops detain migrants at the border.

The land transfer is the farthest the Trump administration has gone yet to use the military for border security. Up until now, the military's involvement has been limited largely to helping build or fortify sections of the border wall and operating deportation flights to send migrants back to their home countries or, in some cases, to the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The military also has assisted U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents by conducting surveillance or performing backup administrative tasks.

The corridor, known as the Roosevelt Reservation, is a 60-foot-wide federal buffer zone that ribbons along the border from New Mexico to California, except where it encounters tribal or privately owned land. It had been run by the Interior Department until Trump directed control be transferred to the Defense Department in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/military-mission-for-sealing-the-southern-border-of-the-united-states-and-repelling-invasions/">presidential memo</a>&nbsp;released Friday night.

For the next 45 days, the Defense Department will test taking control of a section of the Roosevelt Reservation in New Mexico, east of Fort Huachuca, which is an Army installation in Arizona, one of the U.S. officials said. During that period, the Army will put up additional fencing and signs warning people not to trespass.

People not authorized to be in that area could be arrested by the Army’s security forces, the officials said, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public.

Any migrants in the country illegally who are detained by military personnel on those lands would be turned over to local civilian law enforcement agencies, the officials said.

It was not clear if the added land would require the military to deploy additional forces to the border. There are about 7,100 active duty troops under federal control currently assigned to the border and about 4,600 National Guard troops under state control.

Troops are prohibited from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil under the Posse Comitatus Act. An exception known as the military purpose doctrine allows it in some cases — but would not apply here and would likely be challenged in the courts, said Elizabeth Goitein, an expert on presidential emergency powers at the Brennan Center for Justice.

That’s because even though troops would be on land designated as an Army installation, they would have to prove that their primary mission there was not to conduct border security and law enforcement — and the whole point of Trump’s order transferring the Roosevelt Reservation to the military’s control is to secure the border, she said.

The military purpose doctrine “only applies if the law enforcement aspect is incidental,” Goitein said. “Does this (area) have a military purpose that has nothing to do with enforcing customs and security at the border?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738854959688.png" alt="File Photos U.S. Northern Command" />
 <figcaption>File Photos U.S. Northern Command</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22TARA%20COPP%20and%20LOLITA%20C.%20BALDOR%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By TARA COPP and LOLITA C. BALDOR&nbsp;</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — A long sliver of federal land along the U.S.-Mexico border that President Donald Trump is turning over to the Department of Defense would be controlled by the Army as part of a base, which could allow troops to detain any trespassers, including migrants, U.S. officials told The Associated Press.The transfer of that border zone to military control — and making it part of an Army installation — is an attempt by the Trump administration to get around a federal law that prohibits U.S. troops from being used in domestic law enforcement on American soil.But if the troops are providing security for land that is part of an Army base, they can perform that function. However, at least one presidential powers expert said the move is likely to be challenged in the courts.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738854978070.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The officials said the issue is still under review in the Pentagon, but even as any legal review goes on, the administration’s intent is to have troops detain migrants at the border.The land transfer is the farthest the Trump administration has gone yet to use the military for border security. Up until now, the military's involvement has been limited largely to helping build or fortify sections of the border wall and operating deportation flights to send migrants back to their home countries or, in some cases, to the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The military also has assisted U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents by conducting surveillance or performing backup administrative tasks.The corridor, known as the Roosevelt Reservation, is a 60-foot-wide federal buffer zone that ribbons along the border from New Mexico to California, except where it encounters tribal or privately owned land. It had been run by the Interior Department until Trump directed control be transferred to the Defense Department in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/military-mission-for-sealing-the-southern-border-of-the-united-states-and-repelling-invasions/">presidential memo</a>&nbsp;released Friday night.For the next 45 days, the Defense Department will test taking control of a section of the Roosevelt Reservation in New Mexico, east of Fort Huachuca, which is an Army installation in Arizona, one of the U.S. officials said. During that period, the Army will put up additional fencing and signs warning people not to trespass.People not authorized to be in that area could be arrested by the Army’s security forces, the officials said, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public.Any migrants in the country illegally who are detained by military personnel on those lands would be turned over to local civilian law enforcement agencies, the officials said.It was not clear if the added land would require the military to deploy additional forces to the border. There are about 7,100 active duty troops under federal control currently assigned to the border and about 4,600 National Guard troops under state control.Troops are prohibited from conducting civilian law enforcement on U.S. soil under the Posse Comitatus Act. An exception known as the military purpose doctrine allows it in some cases — but would not apply here and would likely be challenged in the courts, said Elizabeth Goitein, an expert on presidential emergency powers at the Brennan Center for Justice.That’s because even though troops would be on land designated as an Army installation, they would have to prove that their primary mission there was not to conduct border security and law enforcement — and the whole point of Trump’s order transferring the Roosevelt Reservation to the military’s control is to secure the border, she said.The military purpose doctrine “only applies if the law enforcement aspect is incidental,” Goitein said. “Does this (area) have a military purpose that has nothing to do with enforcing customs and security at the border?”—-

US Army to control land on Mexico border as part of base, migrants could be detained

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in a Kansas City suburb.

Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday,&nbsp; police officer observed a vehicle speeding and driving recklessly on Watson Drive near Price Chopper Kearney, Missouri, according to a media release. As the officer got behind the speeding vehicle, he noticed a paper temporary tag that expired in 2024. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver had other plans. 

The vehicle continued south on Watson Drive past the water tower and toward 19th Street, failing to stop. The vehicle then took the 19th street bridge to southbound Interstate 35 where he continued to evade officers who were now in pursuit.

Assistance was requested to other law enforcement agencies for help. Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff's Office set up a perfect cascade of tire deflation devices (stop sticks) near the 69/Lightburne exit ramp from Interstate 35. The suspect drove over all the sticks and every tire was quickly deflating. The driver then took the 291 Highway exit into Liberty, turning onto N Church Road near the Price Chopper.

As all the tires were shredded, the vehicle stopped, and the driver immediately got out and started to run from the vehicle. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was tased and taken into custody without further incident. 

The driver was revealed to have a revoked driver's license and had 6 active warrants for his arrest to include resisting/evading arrest . There were no damages to any other property and no other people were injured during this pursuit.

The 33-year-old male of Gladstone, Missouri was transported to the Clay County Detention Center where he was booked in requested felony charges of aggravated fleeing in motor vehicle (Valentine's Law). He was charged in custody by the Clay County Prosecutors Office with a bond of $75,000.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744508951322.png" alt="Shredded tire -photo Kearney Police" />
 <figcaption>Shredded tire -photo Kearney Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in a Kansas City suburb.Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday,&nbsp; police officer observed a vehicle speeding and driving recklessly on Watson Drive near Price Chopper Kearney, Missouri, according to a media release. As the officer got behind the speeding vehicle, he noticed a paper temporary tag that expired in 2024. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver had other plans. The vehicle continued south on Watson Drive past the water tower and toward 19th Street, failing to stop. The vehicle then took the 19th street bridge to southbound Interstate 35 where he continued to evade officers who were now in pursuit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744508909470.png" alt="&nbsp;Kearney Police body camera image" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kearney Police body camera image</figcaption>
 </figure>Assistance was requested to other law enforcement agencies for help. Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff's Office set up a perfect cascade of tire deflation devices (stop sticks) near the 69/Lightburne exit ramp from Interstate 35. The suspect drove over all the sticks and every tire was quickly deflating. The driver then took the 291 Highway exit into Liberty, turning onto N Church Road near the Price Chopper.As all the tires were shredded, the vehicle stopped, and the driver immediately got out and started to run from the vehicle. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was tased and taken into custody without further incident. The driver was revealed to have a revoked driver's license and had 6 active warrants for his arrest to include resisting/evading arrest . There were no damages to any other property and no other people were injured during this pursuit.The 33-year-old male of Gladstone, Missouri was transported to the Clay County Detention Center where he was booked in requested felony charges of aggravated fleeing in motor vehicle (Valentine's Law). He was charged in custody by the Clay County Prosecutors Office with a bond of $75,000.&nbsp;

Wanted suspect captured after running from KC area high-speed chase

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Promises to voters ring hollow as emphasis remains on reducing income taxes

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly patted themselves on the back last June after placing into state law a compromise bill slashing income taxes an estimated $1.2 billion over three years.

Senate Bill 1 had broad support with a mere six opponents among 159 legislators voting on the package negotiated by the Democratic governor, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita. The focus of that bill was income taxes, but it did raise to $75,000 the exemption on the value of a residence when calculating a taxpayer’s obligation to the state’s property tax levy for public schools.

While 2024 was viewed as the year of the income tax, promises were made by Republicans and Democrats to address property tax reform during the 2025 legislative session. The end of the annual session last week offered evidence the performance of lawmakers on property tax relief was again underwhelming.

“When it came time to lead, both the governor and leadership came up short,” said Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday.

He said state lawmakers this session delivered a paltry $25.88 property tax break for the owner of a $150,000 home. That’s not enough to fill the gas tank in many vehicles, cover the cost of a couple sacks of groceries or pay someone to mow a lawn.

Schwab encouraged “every property owner” to respond by challenging their property tax valuation with the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.

“Kansans expected leadership that would address runaway property tax increases, arrest out-of-control valuations and restore confidence that they can afford the homes they live in — not rent them from the government,” he said.

The Senate did endorse an amendment to the Kansas Constitution imposing a 3% cap on residential property tax valuation increases. That won’t be appearing on statewide ballots, however, because the amendment was never taken up in the House.

“We came here with a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican. “I’m just disappointed that we end up at the end of this session with no&nbsp;real&nbsp;relief for those homeowners who are facing selling their home or paying their&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax. That’s where we are.”

Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who serves as Democratic leader of the Senate, drew the same conclusion with a partisan twist. She said progress on property tax reform was minimal, but reminded Kansans that Republicans held supermajorities in the House and Senate. Those two-thirds majorities meant the GOP could pass just about any bill it desired and had numbers to override the governor’s vetoes and place constitutional amendments on the ballot.

“Kansans deserve better than what they got from their Legislature in 2025,” Sykes said. “Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues refused to join us in that effort. Republicans promised Kansans they would deliver&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;relief, but they failed to make good on that promise.”

Kansas voters were assured by sloganeering candidates during last year’s August primary and November general elections that nothing would stand in the way of meaningful property tax reform in 2025. Voters made it clear they thought property taxes were too high, valuations were rising faster than paychecks and, incredibly, some people on fixed incomes who worked all their lives to have a home of their own were being forced out.

As the legislative session began in January, another layer of political vows emerged about cutting property taxes.

“You expect us to put Kansans first, control the overreach of government and keep our promises — and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Masterson said. “That must begin with property tax relief and reform.”

When the dust settled in April, the Legislature barely scratched the surface on rolling back state property taxes. The governor signed Senate Bill 35, which used general state tax dollars to replace a 1.5-mill state property tax dedicated to government building projects. It was unanimously approved in the Senate and overwhelmingly endorsed in the House 96-26.

The Legislature passed a bill renewing the state’s 20-mill property tax, valued at about $875 million annually, to provide financial support to K-12 public schools. The Legislature could have earmarked state income or sales tax dollars to public schools and trimmed state property tax dedicated to that purpose.

Instead, the Republican-controlled House and Senate placed emphasis on income tax reform by voting to override Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 269. This so-called income-tax-trigger bill was designed to methodically drop individual and corporate income tax rates to 4%.

“I have proposed and supported tax cuts when they are implemented responsibly and benefit the people of Kansas, especially those who need it most,” Kelly said. “This bill ignores Kansas families at a time of rising costs and inflation in favor of hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and the wealthy.”

The override vote on SB 269 was 87-37 in the House and 30-10 in the Senate. Instead of responding to Kansans’ demands for gradual reduction of property taxes, the Legislature in 2025 ended up dedicating future state revenue surpluses to gradually reducing income taxes.

The Senate did endorse a constitutional amendment that would have set a 3% cap on property taxes starting in 2027, but House GOP leaders said the necessary two-thirds majority to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 before Kansas voters didn’t exist in the House.

Critics of the amendment had argued the limitation would cripple the ability of cities and counties to operate, because municipal government relied heavily on property and sales taxes. The state’s revenue stream includes income, sales and property taxes.

In January, the conservative Kansas Policy Institute highlighted for legislators an opinion poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Wichita think tank. It showed 64% of participants were in favor of limits on annual increases in the appraised value of property rather than the current practice of annually resetting appraisals to fair market value.

The poll showed majority support for restraint of property taxes existed in urban and rural regions of the state, said Dave Trabert, a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute.

He said 70% of conservatives in the poll were supportive of steps to hold down property taxes, while 67% of moderates and 52% of liberals were on board. Eighteen percent were opposed and the same percentage was uncertain.

“Many homeowners have experienced double-digit property tax increases because local officials took advantage of valuation spikes,” Trabert said.

Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat often distant from KPI’s perspective on public policy issues, said it was folly to ignore will of the people.

“Our constituents are asking for property tax relief,” said Sawyer, who contended the income tax trigger law would prove to be an obstacle to property tax reform. “We go to a rachet so all of our money above inflation in the future goes to cutting the income tax.”

Some of the Senate’s most right-wing members were convinced the Legislature did a belly flop on property taxes in 2025.

Sen. Virgil Peck, a Republican from Havana, said it wasn’t enough the Legislature worked on income tax policy and ditched the 1.5-mill property tax for building construction.

“I think we could do better when it comes to&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;reductions,” Peck said.

Finally, Wichita GOP Sen. Renee Erickson, said the Legislature’s approach to property tax issues didn’t answer the public’s call for relief.

“I’m very disappointed we did not do more for our constituents on&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;and I hope that we seriously are able to do something next session,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744653464396.png" alt=" Republican Sen. Mike Thompson, right, says the Kansas Legislature failed to deliver on a bipartisan promise to concentrate during the 2025 session on meaningful property tax reform. Here, Thompson speaks with Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau on the floor of the Kansas Senate in March. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Republican Sen. Mike Thompson, right, says the Kansas Legislature failed to deliver on a bipartisan promise to concentrate during the 2025 session on meaningful property tax reform. Here, Thompson speaks with Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau on the floor of the Kansas Senate in March. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Promises to voters ring hollow as emphasis remains on reducing income taxes</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly patted themselves on the back last June after placing into state law a compromise bill slashing income taxes an estimated $1.2 billion over three years.Senate Bill 1 had broad support with a mere six opponents among 159 legislators voting on the package negotiated by the Democratic governor, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita. The focus of that bill was income taxes, but it did raise to $75,000 the exemption on the value of a residence when calculating a taxpayer’s obligation to the state’s property tax levy for public schools.While 2024 was viewed as the year of the income tax, promises were made by Republicans and Democrats to address property tax reform during the 2025 legislative session. The end of the annual session last week offered evidence the performance of lawmakers on property tax relief was again underwhelming.“When it came time to lead, both the governor and leadership came up short,” said Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday.He said state lawmakers this session delivered a paltry $25.88 property tax break for the owner of a $150,000 home. That’s not enough to fill the gas tank in many vehicles, cover the cost of a couple sacks of groceries or pay someone to mow a lawn.Schwab encouraged “every property owner” to respond by challenging their property tax valuation with the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.“Kansans expected leadership that would address runaway property tax increases, arrest out-of-control valuations and restore confidence that they can afford the homes they live in — not rent them from the government,” he said.The Senate did endorse an amendment to the Kansas Constitution imposing a 3% cap on residential property tax valuation increases. That won’t be appearing on statewide ballots, however, because the amendment was never taken up in the House.“We came here with a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican. “I’m just disappointed that we end up at the end of this session with no&nbsp;real&nbsp;relief for those homeowners who are facing selling their home or paying their&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax. That’s where we are.”Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who serves as Democratic leader of the Senate, drew the same conclusion with a partisan twist. She said progress on property tax reform was minimal, but reminded Kansans that Republicans held supermajorities in the House and Senate. Those two-thirds majorities meant the GOP could pass just about any bill it desired and had numbers to override the governor’s vetoes and place constitutional amendments on the ballot.“Kansans deserve better than what they got from their Legislature in 2025,” Sykes said. “Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues refused to join us in that effort. Republicans promised Kansans they would deliver&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;relief, but they failed to make good on that promise.”<h2>‘Put Kansans first’</h2>Kansas voters were assured by sloganeering candidates during last year’s August primary and November general elections that nothing would stand in the way of meaningful property tax reform in 2025. Voters made it clear they thought property taxes were too high, valuations were rising faster than paychecks and, incredibly, some people on fixed incomes who worked all their lives to have a home of their own were being forced out.As the legislative session began in January, another layer of political vows emerged about cutting property taxes.“You expect us to put Kansans first, control the overreach of government and keep our promises — and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Masterson said. “That must begin with property tax relief and reform.”When the dust settled in April, the Legislature barely scratched the surface on rolling back state property taxes. The governor signed Senate Bill 35, which used general state tax dollars to replace a 1.5-mill state property tax dedicated to government building projects. It was unanimously approved in the Senate and overwhelmingly endorsed in the House 96-26.The Legislature passed a bill renewing the state’s 20-mill property tax, valued at about $875 million annually, to provide financial support to K-12 public schools. The Legislature could have earmarked state income or sales tax dollars to public schools and trimmed state property tax dedicated to that purpose.Instead, the Republican-controlled House and Senate placed emphasis on income tax reform by voting to override Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 269. This so-called income-tax-trigger bill was designed to methodically drop individual and corporate income tax rates to 4%.“I have proposed and supported tax cuts when they are implemented responsibly and benefit the people of Kansas, especially those who need it most,” Kelly said. “This bill ignores Kansas families at a time of rising costs and inflation in favor of hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and the wealthy.”The override vote on SB 269 was 87-37 in the House and 30-10 in the Senate. Instead of responding to Kansans’ demands for gradual reduction of property taxes, the Legislature in 2025 ended up dedicating future state revenue surpluses to gradually reducing income taxes.The Senate did endorse a constitutional amendment that would have set a 3% cap on property taxes starting in 2027, but House GOP leaders said the necessary two-thirds majority to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 before Kansas voters didn’t exist in the House.Critics of the amendment had argued the limitation would cripple the ability of cities and counties to operate, because municipal government relied heavily on property and sales taxes. The state’s revenue stream includes income, sales and property taxes.<h2>‘Very disappointed’</h2>In January, the conservative Kansas Policy Institute highlighted for legislators an opinion poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Wichita think tank. It showed 64% of participants were in favor of limits on annual increases in the appraised value of property rather than the current practice of annually resetting appraisals to fair market value.The poll showed majority support for restraint of property taxes existed in urban and rural regions of the state, said Dave Trabert, a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute.He said 70% of conservatives in the poll were supportive of steps to hold down property taxes, while 67% of moderates and 52% of liberals were on board. Eighteen percent were opposed and the same percentage was uncertain.“Many homeowners have experienced double-digit property tax increases because local officials took advantage of valuation spikes,” Trabert said.Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat often distant from KPI’s perspective on public policy issues, said it was folly to ignore will of the people.“Our constituents are asking for property tax relief,” said Sawyer, who contended the income tax trigger law would prove to be an obstacle to property tax reform. “We go to a rachet so all of our money above inflation in the future goes to cutting the income tax.”Some of the Senate’s most right-wing members were convinced the Legislature did a belly flop on property taxes in 2025.Sen. Virgil Peck, a Republican from Havana, said it wasn’t enough the Legislature worked on income tax policy and ditched the 1.5-mill property tax for building construction.“I think we could do better when it comes to&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;reductions,” Peck said.Finally, Wichita GOP Sen. Renee Erickson, said the Legislature’s approach to property tax issues didn’t answer the public’s call for relief.“I’m very disappointed we did not do more for our constituents on&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;and I hope that we seriously are able to do something next session,” she said.

GOP, Democrats blast Kan. Legislature for failure to meaningfully lower property taxes in 2025 session

Steven Rochin, Transporting of alcoholic beverage; DUI-Liquor or drugs; Interference with law enforcement, arrested 04/11

Deion Singleton, Domestic battery; Failure to appear, arrested 04/11

Tessence Richards-Foster, Probation violation, arrested 04/11

Makayla Hamilton, Failure to appear, arrested 04/12

Yaidalez Villa, Failure to appear, arrested 04/12

Shelby Koegh, Violation of a protection order, arrested 04/12

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744653896002.jpeg" alt="Christopher Hill, Failure to appear, arrested 04/11" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Hill, Failure to appear, arrested 04/11</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744653927763.jpeg" alt="Melvin Sanford II, Probation violation, arrested 04/11" />
 <figcaption>Melvin Sanford II, Probation violation, arrested 04/11</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744653965541.jpeg" alt="Jon Sherrod, Failure to appear, arrested 04/11" />
 <figcaption>Jon Sherrod, Failure to appear, arrested 04/11</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744654021176.jpeg" alt="Steven Watt, Abuse of a child, Aggravated endangering a child, Reckless situation to child &lt; 18; Criminal damage to property without consent (value $1,000); Domestic battery, Knowing rude physical contact with family member or dating relationship, arrested 04/12" />
 <figcaption>Steven Watt, Abuse of a child, Aggravated endangering a child, Reckless situation to child &lt; 18; Criminal damage to property without consent (value $1,000); Domestic battery, Knowing rude physical contact with family member or dating relationship, arrested 04/12</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744654180353.jpeg" alt="William Guice, Distribute or possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia for illegal use; Possession of controlled substance, Criminal damage to property, Criminal restraint; Aggravated battery, recklessly cause great bodily harm/disfigurement; Kidnapping, inflict bodily harm to terrorize the victim; Aggravated domestic battery, Choke in rude manner, family member/dating relationship, arrested 04/13" />
 <figcaption>William Guice, Distribute or possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia for illegal use; Possession of controlled substance, Criminal damage to property, Criminal restraint; Aggravated battery, recklessly cause great bodily harm/disfigurement; Kidnapping, inflict bodily harm to terrorize the victim; Aggravated domestic battery, Choke in rude manner, family member/dating relationship, arrested 04/13</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744654770498.jpeg" alt="Frederick Swinson, Probation violation, arrested 04/13" />
 <figcaption>Frederick Swinson, Probation violation, arrested 04/13</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744654781058.jpeg" alt="Rakari Coleman, Probation violation (Two counts); Violate offender registration act, Aggravated offender registration act, Failure to appear, arrested 04/13" />
 <figcaption>Rakari Coleman, Probation violation (Two counts); Violate offender registration act, Aggravated offender registration act, Failure to appear, arrested 04/13</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Steven Rochin, Transporting of alcoholic beverage; DUI-Liquor or drugs; Interference with law enforcement, arrested 04/11Deion Singleton, Domestic battery; Failure to appear, arrested 04/11Tessence Richards-Foster, Probation violation, arrested 04/11Makayla Hamilton, Failure to appear, arrested 04/12Yaidalez Villa, Failure to appear, arrested 04/12Shelby Koegh, Violation of a protection order, arrested 04/12Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos April 12-14

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man is facing charges after authorities say he broke into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-charges-pennsylvania-governor-c3ccfc0f23a40f2b10bd6ba767d53f80">Pennsylvania governor’s</a>&nbsp;mansion in the middle of the night, set a fire that left significant damage and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Firefighters extinguished the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-police-fire-pennsylvania-governor-2d17ec60c48f7d4d15123dda60c88699">fire early Sunday</a>&nbsp;morning and no injuries were reported. The suspect, identified as Cody Balmer, 38, was arrested nearby later in the day, police said.

Balmer, who turned himself in to police, told police that he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledge hammer if he found him, according to court documents released Monday.

Authorities said they were investigating how someone was able to elude police to break into the governor’s residence in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris said the fire was a carefully planned attack but emphasized the investigation is continuing. He did not give a possible motive.

Balmer apparently scaled an iron security fence that stands around 7 feet (2.1 meters) and is monitored by security cameras, police said.

Police became aware someone had climbed over the fence and began a pursuit on the grounds but initially didn't locate anyone.

Police allege Balmer broke into the southern wing of the residence, entering a room often used to entertain crowds and display art, and set a fire using a homemade incendiary device. Police said two broken glass beer bottles containing gasoline were found. The fire left significant damage to the room, charring walls, tables, buffet serving dishes, plates and a piano. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were blackened.

Balmer was inside for around a minute before he left and escaped the premises, authorities said.

Authorities said Balmer, who turned himself after police received a call from a female “ex-paramour” who said he confessed, faces charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault.

Balmer "admitted to harboring hatred toward Governor Shapiro,” according to a police affidavit. No reason was given.

Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online court records. He drew a sentence of probation after guilty pleas to theft and forgery counts. Simple assault charges from 2023 appeared unresolved.

Authorities did not say whether Balmer has a lawyer. He was being held at Dauphin County Prison. Calls to people believed to be his relatives went unanswered or unreturned on Sunday. One recent residence listed for him in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/josh-shapiro">Shapiro</a>, 51, is the first-term governor of the nation's fifth-most populous state, a presidential battleground that has helped make him a rising star in the Democratic Party and viewed as a potential White House contender in 2028.

Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/passover-jewish-holiday-israel-hamas-antisemitism-6bb47e4b095e9bca4304f9b6e11f18d3">Passover</a>&nbsp;at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday.

Shapiro has been outspoken about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-religion-pennsylvania-donald-trump-fb8dbc1cd6e8fabfc1c32482f8f1aaa5">his Jewish faith</a>.

He used his first ad in his campaign for governor in 2022 to tell family stories and describe his commitment to making “it home Friday night for Sabbath dinner,” complete with footage of him and his children at the table.

“Family and faith ground me,” he said.

In stump speeches and his election-night victory speech, Shapiro regularly quoted an ancient rabbinic maxim: “No one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it.”

The attack happened on the Jewish holiday of Passover, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/passover-jewish-holiday-israel-hamas-antisemitism-6bb47e4b095e9bca4304f9b6e11f18d3">began at sundown Saturday</a>.

The holiday commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, including their 40-year journey through the desert. It is one of the holiest days of the year for Jews and is celebrated with a special meal called a Seder, which includes the eating of matzah, a type of unleavened bread, and the retelling of the Exodus story.

Shapiro had celebrated with a Seder at the official residence with his family and members of the Jewish community in the same room where authorities said the fire was set.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744635153169.png" alt="Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro during a media briefing Sunday on the arson attack-image courtesy Commonwealth Media Services" />
 <figcaption>Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro during a media briefing Sunday on the arson attack-image courtesy Commonwealth Media Services</figcaption>
 </figure>HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man is facing charges after authorities say he broke into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-charges-pennsylvania-governor-c3ccfc0f23a40f2b10bd6ba767d53f80">Pennsylvania governor’s</a>&nbsp;mansion in the middle of the night, set a fire that left significant damage and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building during the Jewish holiday of Passover.Firefighters extinguished the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-police-fire-pennsylvania-governor-2d17ec60c48f7d4d15123dda60c88699">fire early Sunday</a>&nbsp;morning and no injuries were reported. The suspect, identified as Cody Balmer, 38, was arrested nearby later in the day, police said.Balmer, who turned himself in to police, told police that he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledge hammer if he found him, according to court documents released Monday.Authorities said they were investigating how someone was able to elude police to break into the governor’s residence in Harrisburg.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744635616546.png" alt="Image from video courtesy Commonwealth Media Services" />
 <figcaption>Image from video courtesy Commonwealth Media Services</figcaption>
 </figure>Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris said the fire was a carefully planned attack but emphasized the investigation is continuing. He did not give a possible motive.<h2>Police call arson a planned attack</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744635673713.png" alt="Image from video courtesy Commonwealth Media Services" />
 <figcaption>Image from video courtesy Commonwealth Media Services</figcaption>
 </figure>Balmer apparently scaled an iron security fence that stands around 7 feet (2.1 meters) and is monitored by security cameras, police said.Police became aware someone had climbed over the fence and began a pursuit on the grounds but initially didn't locate anyone.Police allege Balmer broke into the southern wing of the residence, entering a room often used to entertain crowds and display art, and set a fire using a homemade incendiary device. Police said two broken glass beer bottles containing gasoline were found. The fire left significant damage to the room, charring walls, tables, buffet serving dishes, plates and a piano. Window panes and brick around doors and windows were blackened.Balmer was inside for around a minute before he left and escaped the premises, authorities said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744635576081.jpeg" alt="Image from video courtesy Commonwealth Media Services" />
 <figcaption>Image from video courtesy Commonwealth Media Services</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Suspect faces charges</h2>Authorities said Balmer, who turned himself after police received a call from a female “ex-paramour” who said he confessed, faces charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault.Balmer "admitted to harboring hatred toward Governor Shapiro,” according to a police affidavit. No reason was given.Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online court records. He drew a sentence of probation after guilty pleas to theft and forgery counts. Simple assault charges from 2023 appeared unresolved.Authorities did not say whether Balmer has a lawyer. He was being held at Dauphin County Prison. Calls to people believed to be his relatives went unanswered or unreturned on Sunday. One recent residence listed for him in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022.<h2>Governor is a rising Democratic star</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/josh-shapiro">Shapiro</a>, 51, is the first-term governor of the nation's fifth-most populous state, a presidential battleground that has helped make him a rising star in the Democratic Party and viewed as a potential White House contender in 2028.Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/passover-jewish-holiday-israel-hamas-antisemitism-6bb47e4b095e9bca4304f9b6e11f18d3">Passover</a>&nbsp;at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday.Shapiro has been outspoken about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-religion-pennsylvania-donald-trump-fb8dbc1cd6e8fabfc1c32482f8f1aaa5">his Jewish faith</a>.He used his first ad in his campaign for governor in 2022 to tell family stories and describe his commitment to making “it home Friday night for Sabbath dinner,” complete with footage of him and his children at the table.“Family and faith ground me,” he said.In stump speeches and his election-night victory speech, Shapiro regularly quoted an ancient rabbinic maxim: “No one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it.”<h2>Attack happened during Passover</h2>The attack happened on the Jewish holiday of Passover, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/passover-jewish-holiday-israel-hamas-antisemitism-6bb47e4b095e9bca4304f9b6e11f18d3">began at sundown Saturday</a>.The holiday commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, including their 40-year journey through the desert. It is one of the holiest days of the year for Jews and is celebrated with a special meal called a Seder, which includes the eating of matzah, a type of unleavened bread, and the retelling of the Exodus story.Shapiro had celebrated with a Seder at the official residence with his family and members of the Jewish community in the same room where authorities said the fire was set.

Photos show devastation inside Pa. Gov.'s home after arson attack

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman arrested in connection with an accidental shooting that injured a 4-year-old girl is no longer in custody.

On Friday,&nbsp; police arrested 50-year-old Ana Rosa Sorto of Wichita on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, according to online&nbsp; booking records.

Just before 2p.m. Friday, police responded to the 2500 block of E. Harry in Wichita following reports of a shooting, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders found a 4-year-old girl who had sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower torso. She was immediately transported to a local hospital and was still in critical condition Saturday, according to Gupilan.

After preliminary investigation, it was found that the child's guardian, identified as Sorto, left a firearm unsecured, allowing the child to access it, resulting in the child unintentionally shooting themselves.&nbsp; At 11:39p.m. Friday police booked Sorto into the Sedgwick County Jail. She bonded out of jail Sunday evening, according to online jail records.

Police will the case to the District Attorney for formal charges.&nbsp; Police did proved an update on the child's condition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744469792810.png" alt="Sorto photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Sorto photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman arrested in connection with an accidental shooting that injured a 4-year-old girl is no longer in custody.On Friday,&nbsp; police arrested 50-year-old Ana Rosa Sorto of Wichita on requested charges of Aggravated Child Endangerment, according to online&nbsp; booking records.Just before 2p.m. Friday, police responded to the 2500 block of E. Harry in Wichita following reports of a shooting, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders found a 4-year-old girl who had sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower torso. She was immediately transported to a local hospital and was still in critical condition Saturday, according to Gupilan.After preliminary investigation, it was found that the child's guardian, identified as Sorto, left a firearm unsecured, allowing the child to access it, resulting in the child unintentionally shooting themselves.&nbsp; At 11:39p.m. Friday police booked Sorto into the Sedgwick County Jail. She bonded out of jail Sunday evening, according to online jail records.Police will the case to the District Attorney for formal charges.&nbsp; Police did proved an update on the child's condition.

Kan. woman accused in accidental shooting of 4-year-old is out of jail

SEDGWICK COUNTY –The Wichita Police Department has arrested a 50-year-old woman for Aggravated Child Endangerment, stemming from the shooting investigation of a 4-year-old girl.

First responders a 4-year-old girl who had sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower torso. She was immediately transported to a local hospital and was still in critical condition early Saturday, according to Gupilan.

After preliminary investigation, it was found that the child's guardian, identified in Sedgwick County booking records as Ana Rosa Sorto, left a firearm unsecured, allowing the child to access it, resulting in the child unintentionally shooting themselves.

 This remains an active investigation. The case will be presented to the District Attorney for formal charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744469792810.png" alt="Sorto photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Sorto photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY –The Wichita Police Department has arrested a 50-year-old woman for Aggravated Child Endangerment, stemming from the shooting investigation of a 4-year-old girl.Just before 2p.m. Friday, police responded to the 2500 block of E. Harry in Wichita following reports of a shooting, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders a 4-year-old girl who had sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower torso. She was immediately transported to a local hospital and was still in critical condition early Saturday, according to Gupilan.After preliminary investigation, it was found that the child's guardian, identified in Sedgwick County booking records as Ana Rosa Sorto, left a firearm unsecured, allowing the child to access it, resulting in the child unintentionally shooting themselves. This remains an active investigation. The case will be presented to the District Attorney for formal charges.

Police make arrest in accidental shooting of 4-year-old Kan. girl

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man is in custody following a stolen vehicle investigation in Shawnee County.

On Thursday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received information regarding someone attempting to sell a stolen vehicle on Facebook Marketplace, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The Sheriff’s Proactive Operational Response Ream (S.P.O.R.T.) was activated immediately.&nbsp; They determined a location for the seller and vehicle.

Just before 1 p.m. near NW Lower Silver Lake Road and NW Brickyard Road, deputies located a red Chevrolet Corvette that was reported stolen out of Olathe, Kansas. Deputies also found a stolen firearm out of Johnson County.

Cooper E. Rash, 19, of Lecompton, Kan., was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of stolen property: firearm with value less than $25,000; Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000.

Rash also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest out of Shawnee County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744374212055.png" alt="Rash photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Rash photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man is in custody following a stolen vehicle investigation in Shawnee County.On Thursday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received information regarding someone attempting to sell a stolen vehicle on Facebook Marketplace, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The Sheriff’s Proactive Operational Response Ream (S.P.O.R.T.) was activated immediately.&nbsp; They determined a location for the seller and vehicle.Just before 1 p.m. near NW Lower Silver Lake Road and NW Brickyard Road, deputies located a red Chevrolet Corvette that was reported stolen out of Olathe, Kansas. Deputies also found a stolen firearm out of Johnson County.Cooper E. Rash, 19, of Lecompton, Kan., was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of stolen property: firearm with value less than $25,000; Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000.Rash also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest out of Shawnee County.

Sheriff: Kan. teen tried to sell stolen car on Facebook Marketplace

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A firing squad on Friday executed a South Carolina man who killed an off-duty police officer, the second time the rare execution method has been used by the state in the past five weeks.

Mikal Mahdi gave no final statement and did not look to his right toward the nine witnesses in the room behind bulletproof glass and bars once the curtain opened.

He cried out as the shots hit him, and his arms flexed. A white target with the red bull’s-eye over Mahdi’s heart was pushed into the wound in his chest.

He groaned two more times about 45 seconds after that. His breaths continued for about 80 seconds before he appeared to take one final gasp.

A doctor checked him for a little over a minute before declaring him dead at 6:05 p.m. He died less than four minutes after the shots were fired.

Mahdi, 42, chose to die by three bullets to the heart instead of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-penalty-south-carolina-lethal-injection-418b9f5ef6e5e4257458fab60b2df3c5">lethal injection</a>&nbsp;or the electric chair. On March 7,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-execution-south-carolina-sigmond-c998f11ecd3fcbf117d55b682ce3604a">Brad Sigmon</a>&nbsp;was executed in the first U.S. firing squad death in 15 years and only the fourth since 1976. The others all occurred in Utah.

The firing squad is an execution method with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-death-penalty-south-carolina-sigmon-05000e874b12bb67c00832c2230f42c8">long and violent history</a>&nbsp;around the world. It has been used to punish mutinies and desertion in armies, as frontier justice in America’s Old West and as a tool of terror and political repression in the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

But South Carolina lawmakers saw it as the quickest and most humane way to kill an inmate, especially with the uncertainty in obtaining lethal injection drugs. Three volunteers fired the bullets that killed Mahdi.

Mahdi is the fifth inmate executed by South Carolina in less than eight months as the state makes its way through prisoners who ran out of appeals during an unintended 13-year pause on executions in the state.

Mahdi's is the 12th execution in the U.S. this year. Twenty-five prisoners in nine states were killed in all of 2024.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-execution-demetrius-frazier-nitrogen-gas-e1b391e1e157f2815be1baa248737778">Alabama</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/execution-louisiana-nitrogen-eb5e7e61ff0875dc7b68664b42b6e980">Louisiana</a>&nbsp;have killed inmates by nitrogen gas.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-tanzi-execution-janet-acosta-miami-herald-1a7dc19703a57df9a48b1e5ebd391ecb">Florida</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-execution-lethal-injection-wendell-grissom-8dc3a6b8e0fc412dbb4d610e15020dc0">Oklahoma</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://e415c25a244be5a82ce0ee586990244e/">Arizona</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://ed88e415f3f6e786ecc62639f1036ef6/">Texas</a>&nbsp;have executed men by lethal injection, while South Carolina has used both the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-execution-south-carolina-sigmond-c998f11ecd3fcbf117d55b682ce3604a">firing squad</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-execution-marion-bowman-lethal-injection-6ea9748c15f815e01249b6d706b0fb7e">lethal injection</a>.

Mahdi admitted he killed Orangeburg Public Safety officer James Myers in 2004, shooting him at least eight times before burning his body. Myers’ wife found him in the couple's Calhoun County shed, which had been the backdrop to their wedding 15 months earlier.

Myers’ shed was a short distance through the woods from a gas station where Mahdi tried but failed to buy gas with a stolen credit card and left behind a vehicle he had carjacked in Columbia. Mahdi was arrested in Florida while driving Myers’ unmarked police pickup truck.

Mahdi also admitted to the killing three days earlier of Christopher Boggs, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, convenience store clerk who was shot twice in the head as he checked Mahdi’s ID. Mahdi was sentenced to life in prison for that killing.

Mahdi's final appeal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-firing-squad-execution-mikal-mahdi-2c470315f60ccef35bc702f9551d2b29">was rejected</a>&nbsp;this week by both the U.S. and South Carolina Supreme Courts. His lawyers said Mahdi's original attorneys put on a shallow case trying to spare his life that didn’t call on relatives, teachers or others who knew him and ignored the impact of months spent in solitary confinement in prison as a teen.

The defense’s case to spare Mahdi’s life before a judge lasted only about 30 minutes. It “didn’t even span the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-execution-mikal-mahdi-b53aa588397b4664a63ba09d44cea5e4">length of a Law &amp; Order episode</a>, and was just as superficial,” Mahdi’s lawyers wrote.

Mahdi's earliest memory was his father slamming his mother through a glass table and later lying to his son and saying his mother was dead. Mahdi's father pulled him out of school in fifth grade when officials suggested he needed behavioral help, defense lawyers said.

Prosecutors said Mahdi constantly used brutality to solve his problems. As a death row prisoner, he stabbed a guard and hit another worker with a concrete block. Mahdi was caught three times with tools he could have used to escape, including a piece of sharpened metal that could be used as a knife, according to prison records.

“The nature of the man is violence,” prosecutors wrote.

Mahdi's death is the end of a busy time in South Carolina's death chamber. He is the fifth inmate killed since September after the state had not had any executions since 2011. No other inmates are out of appeals but several are close.

The state was able to restart executions after lawmakers allowed the firing squad and passed a bill allowing suppliers of the pentobarbital to remain secret, along with the exact procedures used to kill inmates and the names of prison employees on execution teams, including the firing squad shooters.

Along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-execution-south-carolina-sigmond-c998f11ecd3fcbf117d55b682ce3604a">Sigmon's firing squad</a>&nbsp;death last month, three other South Carolina prisoners have been executed via lethal injection since September.

South Carolina now has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doc.sc.gov/sites/doc/files/Documents/news/death-row-report.pdf">28 inmates</a>&nbsp;on its death row. Just one man has been sentenced to death in the past decade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744411159926.png" alt="Mahdi photo South Carolina Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Mahdi photo South Carolina Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A firing squad on Friday executed a South Carolina man who killed an off-duty police officer, the second time the rare execution method has been used by the state in the past five weeks.Mikal Mahdi gave no final statement and did not look to his right toward the nine witnesses in the room behind bulletproof glass and bars once the curtain opened.He cried out as the shots hit him, and his arms flexed. A white target with the red bull’s-eye over Mahdi’s heart was pushed into the wound in his chest.He groaned two more times about 45 seconds after that. His breaths continued for about 80 seconds before he appeared to take one final gasp.A doctor checked him for a little over a minute before declaring him dead at 6:05 p.m. He died less than four minutes after the shots were fired.Mahdi, 42, chose to die by three bullets to the heart instead of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-penalty-south-carolina-lethal-injection-418b9f5ef6e5e4257458fab60b2df3c5">lethal injection</a>&nbsp;or the electric chair. On March 7,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-execution-south-carolina-sigmond-c998f11ecd3fcbf117d55b682ce3604a">Brad Sigmon</a>&nbsp;was executed in the first U.S. firing squad death in 15 years and only the fourth since 1976. The others all occurred in Utah.The firing squad is an execution method with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-death-penalty-south-carolina-sigmon-05000e874b12bb67c00832c2230f42c8">long and violent history</a>&nbsp;around the world. It has been used to punish mutinies and desertion in armies, as frontier justice in America’s Old West and as a tool of terror and political repression in the former Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.But South Carolina lawmakers saw it as the quickest and most humane way to kill an inmate, especially with the uncertainty in obtaining lethal injection drugs. Three volunteers fired the bullets that killed Mahdi.Mahdi is the fifth inmate executed by South Carolina in less than eight months as the state makes its way through prisoners who ran out of appeals during an unintended 13-year pause on executions in the state.Mahdi's is the 12th execution in the U.S. this year. Twenty-five prisoners in nine states were killed in all of 2024.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alabama-execution-demetrius-frazier-nitrogen-gas-e1b391e1e157f2815be1baa248737778">Alabama</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/execution-louisiana-nitrogen-eb5e7e61ff0875dc7b68664b42b6e980">Louisiana</a>&nbsp;have killed inmates by nitrogen gas.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-tanzi-execution-janet-acosta-miami-herald-1a7dc19703a57df9a48b1e5ebd391ecb">Florida</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-execution-lethal-injection-wendell-grissom-8dc3a6b8e0fc412dbb4d610e15020dc0">Oklahoma</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://e415c25a244be5a82ce0ee586990244e/">Arizona</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://ed88e415f3f6e786ecc62639f1036ef6/">Texas</a>&nbsp;have executed men by lethal injection, while South Carolina has used both the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-execution-south-carolina-sigmond-c998f11ecd3fcbf117d55b682ce3604a">firing squad</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-execution-marion-bowman-lethal-injection-6ea9748c15f815e01249b6d706b0fb7e">lethal injection</a>.<h2>The crime</h2>Mahdi admitted he killed Orangeburg Public Safety officer James Myers in 2004, shooting him at least eight times before burning his body. Myers’ wife found him in the couple's Calhoun County shed, which had been the backdrop to their wedding 15 months earlier.Myers’ shed was a short distance through the woods from a gas station where Mahdi tried but failed to buy gas with a stolen credit card and left behind a vehicle he had carjacked in Columbia. Mahdi was arrested in Florida while driving Myers’ unmarked police pickup truck.Mahdi also admitted to the killing three days earlier of Christopher Boggs, a Winston-Salem, North Carolina, convenience store clerk who was shot twice in the head as he checked Mahdi’s ID. Mahdi was sentenced to life in prison for that killing.<h2>Final appeal</h2>Mahdi's final appeal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-firing-squad-execution-mikal-mahdi-2c470315f60ccef35bc702f9551d2b29">was rejected</a>&nbsp;this week by both the U.S. and South Carolina Supreme Courts. His lawyers said Mahdi's original attorneys put on a shallow case trying to spare his life that didn’t call on relatives, teachers or others who knew him and ignored the impact of months spent in solitary confinement in prison as a teen.The defense’s case to spare Mahdi’s life before a judge lasted only about 30 minutes. It “didn’t even span the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/south-carolina-execution-mikal-mahdi-b53aa588397b4664a63ba09d44cea5e4">length of a Law &amp; Order episode</a>, and was just as superficial,” Mahdi’s lawyers wrote.Mahdi's earliest memory was his father slamming his mother through a glass table and later lying to his son and saying his mother was dead. Mahdi's father pulled him out of school in fifth grade when officials suggested he needed behavioral help, defense lawyers said.Prosecutors said Mahdi constantly used brutality to solve his problems. As a death row prisoner, he stabbed a guard and hit another worker with a concrete block. Mahdi was caught three times with tools he could have used to escape, including a piece of sharpened metal that could be used as a knife, according to prison records.“The nature of the man is violence,” prosecutors wrote.<h2>Busy death chamber</h2>Mahdi's death is the end of a busy time in South Carolina's death chamber. He is the fifth inmate killed since September after the state had not had any executions since 2011. No other inmates are out of appeals but several are close.The state was able to restart executions after lawmakers allowed the firing squad and passed a bill allowing suppliers of the pentobarbital to remain secret, along with the exact procedures used to kill inmates and the names of prison employees on execution teams, including the firing squad shooters.Along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-execution-south-carolina-sigmond-c998f11ecd3fcbf117d55b682ce3604a">Sigmon's firing squad</a>&nbsp;death last month, three other South Carolina prisoners have been executed via lethal injection since September.South Carolina now has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doc.sc.gov/sites/doc/files/Documents/news/death-row-report.pdf">28 inmates</a>&nbsp;on its death row. Just one man has been sentenced to death in the past decade.

State executes killer of off-duty police officer by firing squad 

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744394190899.jpeg" alt="Justin Beckham, Possession of stolen property (Value $1,500 to $25,000), Making false information, arrested 04/10" />
 <figcaption>Justin Beckham, Possession of stolen property (Value $1,500 to $25,000), Making false information, arrested 04/10</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744394200602.jpeg" alt="Chara Baca, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of controlled substance, arrested 04/10" />
 <figcaption>Chara Baca, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of controlled substance, arrested 04/10</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744394211291.jpeg" alt="Gary Lopez, Failure to appear, arrested 04/10" />
 <figcaption>Gary Lopez, Failure to appear, arrested 04/10</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744394221964.jpeg" alt="Brandon Gamache, Disorderly conduct; Interference with LEO; Battery on LEO, Physical contact with county or city officer on duty, arrested 04/11" />
 <figcaption>Brandon Gamache, Disorderly conduct; Interference with LEO; Battery on LEO, Physical contact with county or city officer on duty, arrested 04/11</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos April 11

&nbsp;Officers from the Junction City Police Department and Geary County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at residences located on the 1100 block of Haven Drive and the 2200 block of Thompson Drive at approximately 5:30 PM Wednesday.&nbsp; The JCPD said these warrants were the culmination of a several-month-long narcotics investigation.

During the execution of the search warrants, officers seized approximately 1.25 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as quantities of cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, approximately $17,000 in U.S. currency, and three firearms. One of the firearms recovered had been reported stolen.

Mashaun J. Baker, a 39-year-old man from Junction City, was arrested as a direct result of this investigation. Baker faces charges including distribution of certain stimulants, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, taxation; drugs (no drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substances), unlawful acquisition of proceeds from drug transactions, and possession of stolen property

The investigation remains active and ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744380354179.png" alt="Baker -photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Baker -photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Officers from the Junction City Police Department and Geary County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at residences located on the 1100 block of Haven Drive and the 2200 block of Thompson Drive at approximately 5:30 PM Wednesday.&nbsp; The JCPD said these warrants were the culmination of a several-month-long narcotics investigation.During the execution of the search warrants, officers seized approximately 1.25 pounds of methamphetamine, as well as quantities of cocaine, marijuana, fentanyl, approximately $17,000 in U.S. currency, and three firearms. One of the firearms recovered had been reported stolen.Mashaun J. Baker, a 39-year-old man from Junction City, was arrested as a direct result of this investigation. Baker faces charges including distribution of certain stimulants, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, taxation; drugs (no drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substances), unlawful acquisition of proceeds from drug transactions, and possession of stolen propertyThe investigation remains active and ongoing.

Narcotics investigation leads to an arrest

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said the Trump administration must facilitate the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to prison in El Salvador, rejecting the administration’s emergency appeal.

The court acted in the case of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a Salvadoran citizen who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered Abrego Garcia, now being held in a notorious Salvadoran prison, returned to the United States by midnight Monday.

“The order properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” the court said in an unsigned order with no noted dissents.

Chief Justice John Roberts had already pushed back Xinis’ deadline, and the justices said that her order must now be clarified to make sure it doesn’t intrude into executive branch power over foreign affairs, since Abrego Garcia is being held abroad. The court said the Trump administration should also be prepared to share what steps it has taken to try and get him back — and what more it could potentially do.

The administration claims Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, though he has never been charged with or convicted of a crime. His attorneys said there is no evidence he was in MS-13.

The administration has conceded that it made a mistake in sending him to El Salvador, but argued that it no longer could do anything about it.

The court’s liberal justices said the administration should have hastened to correct “its egregious error” and was “plainly wrong” to suggest it could not bring him home.

“The Government’s argument, moreover, implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, joined by her two colleagues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744328941021.png" alt="Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on social media last month from the prison in El Salvador holding Kilmar Abrego Garcia" />
 <figcaption>Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on social media last month from the prison in El Salvador holding Kilmar Abrego Garcia</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said the Trump administration must facilitate the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to prison in El Salvador, rejecting the administration’s emergency appeal.The court acted in the case of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a Salvadoran citizen who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs.U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered Abrego Garcia, now being held in a notorious Salvadoran prison, returned to the United States by midnight Monday.“The order properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” the court said in an unsigned order with no noted dissents.Chief Justice John Roberts had already pushed back Xinis’ deadline, and the justices said that her order must now be clarified to make sure it doesn’t intrude into executive branch power over foreign affairs, since Abrego Garcia is being held abroad. The court said the Trump administration should also be prepared to share what steps it has taken to try and get him back — and what more it could potentially do.The administration claims Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, though he has never been charged with or convicted of a crime. His attorneys said there is no evidence he was in MS-13.The administration has conceded that it made a mistake in sending him to El Salvador, but argued that it no longer could do anything about it.The court’s liberal justices said the administration should have hastened to correct “its egregious error” and was “plainly wrong” to suggest it could not bring him home.“The Government’s argument, moreover, implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, joined by her two colleagues.AdvertisementIn the district court, Xinis wrote that the decision to arrest Abrego Garcia and send him to El Salvador appears to be “wholly lawless.” There is little to no evidence to support a “vague, uncorroborated” allegation that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;was once in the MS-13 street gang, Xinis wrote.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-el-salvador-prison-kilmar-abrego-garcia-5a92d6bd7f893eed64c2607cc129a6f9">Abrego Garcia</a>, 29, was detained by immigration agents and deported last month.He had a permit from the Homeland Security Department to legally work in the U.S. and was a sheet metal apprentice pursuing a journeyman license, his attorney said. His wife is a U.S. citizen.In 2019, an immigration judge barred the U.S. from deporting Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, finding that he faced likely persecution by local gangs.A Justice Department lawyer conceded in a court hearing that Abrego Garcia should not have been deported. Attorney General Pam Bondi later removed the lawyer, Erez Reuveni, from the case and placed him on leave.