By JAMES BELL <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>

HAYS, Kan. — While the current situation in Ukraine has dominated domestic and international headlines in recent weeks, one Fort Hays State University expert said the conflict is less a standalone event and more of an escalation of hostilities.

Along with her academic expertise as a historian of central and eastern Europe, Amber Nickell, associate professor of history, also spent time living in Ukraine as a Fulbright Scholar and has traveled to and from the country for research since 2018.

While half a world away, she said there are parallels to the people of Ukraine and those living in the area.

“Ukrainians are extremely resilient, very hard-working,” Nickell said. “And it definitely reminds me of some of the hard-working folks here in Kansas, that you know, are pulling themselves up and doing what it takes to get things done. And we're definitely seeing that in Ukraine right now, as Ukrainians are fighting against Russian aggression.”

And much like the Kansas farmers who help drive local economies, Ukrainians also rely on agriculture, with corn, wheat and seed oils among their top five exports.

“Ukraine has a large swath is what of what is known black earth territory,” Nickell said. “And this is soil that is so nutrient rich, that it can give two crops per season as opposed to one. And so, for those folks out there that are working in agriculture, know that there are many Ukrainians out there just like you spending their days in the fields. This is this is part of who they are.”

Now with the recent conflict escalation, those people are fighting for their county, but she said current hostilities are only the most recent in a long history of Russian interference in the county.

“For some time, Ukrainians have been trying to fight Russian aggression,” Nickell said. “And we can really reach back pretty far in the historical narrative, all the way back to the violent escalation inside of independent Ukraine in the interwar and Bolsheviks, kind of forcibly placing power over the Ukrainian population.

“But in the more recent memory, Ukraine has been illegally occupied since 2014, in both Crimea and the Donbass region which is Luhansk, and Donetsk. Here, Russians have backed so-called separatists and well over 4,000 Ukrainian citizens and soldiers have died in this conflict since 2014.”

While the conflict might be an old one, in the last week the conflict has become decidedly more pronounced.

“Things have definitely escalated exponentially in the past five days,” Nickell said. “The emails and messages and Facebook messages that I'm getting from my friends and colleagues in Ukraine are heartbreaking. Bombs dropping on their neighborhoods in their communities, children doing kindergarten underground and bunkers, folks fleeing to the borders looking for any chance to help their families survive. ... It's heartbreaking to see the escalation these past few days.”

Along with the similarities of the people of Ukraine, she said the country is like the U.S. — multiracial, with populations living in the country from around the globe.

"It is, in very many ways, a civic nation, much like us here, where you can be a citizen of the United States, regardless of where you come from,” Nickell said. “And you can have that patriotism and sense of belonging really, regardless of what languages you speak.”

And so, while Russian language and culture might remain prevalent in Ukraine, the sense of self-determination is also a large part of the society.

“Much like me sitting here, I have family from Poland, but I am an American citizen,” Nickell said. “And so that is something that I think we need to think about a little closely when we're listening to some of the media that is coming out of these places.”

The trend toward simplicity in reporting from the region, she added, can create an understanding that does not fully reflect national complexities.

“I think often folks think that Ukraine is just this small country out in the middle of nowhere,” Nickell said. “And I've definitely heard those things said. But it isn't a small country. It isn't in the middle of nowhere.”

The size of the nation itself is important for a good understanding of the situation and relevant to the desire of Russia to increase their sphere of influence in Ukraine.

“It is the largest country entirely in Europe. It's bigger than Germany. It's bigger than France. It's bigger than Spain. It's bigger than the UK. And so, we're talking about a very, very large swath of territory, we're talking a couple Kansases, for those that are thinking about size relative to where they are,” Nickell said. “It is geopolitically important for both the Kremlin and for the European Union because of this relative size.”

The country is also a regional economic power, that despite ongoing conflicts, has seen growth in recent years.

“(It’s a) massive economy,” Nickell said. “A very vibrant tech sector is emerging from Ukraine, especially in the past six or so years. ... They also have a very large education sector that they are building. They are exporters of various raw materials, perhaps the most beautiful, and maybe I'm biased, is amber. But this is something that they are building and they're working very hard to build this economy, despite the fact that it was decimated in 2014, in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan">Euromaidan</a>, and despite the fact that their former president absconded with almost the entirety of the National Treasury when he left in 2014.”

The size, location and economic value of Ukraine is a primary driver of the desire of Russian to control the country, in part or in whole, and she said is an important buffer between NATO-allied countries and Russia.

“One of my scholarly colleagues by the name of Serhii&nbsp;Plokhy, he has called Ukraine the gates of Europe,” Nickell said. “And I think this is a really apt description, because it is the gates of Europe and Mr. Putin is afraid that those gates will come flooding open and European ideas, and what are perceived as Western ideas, like democracy will flood into Russian territory.

“And so I think he sees this as strategically a place to try to cut those ideas from flooding over,” she said. “So that location is very, very important. And, of course, it is bordering several NATO countries.”

Putin’s invoking of NATO creeping into the area is also a misrepresentation of the situation, Nickell said.

“I think it's important when we're listening to the news and thinking about these things, you're going to hear several people say that Mr. Putin is worried about NATO coming to his doorstep. I encourage you to open a map of NATO. You will see that NATO is already on his doorstep in the Baltics and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, so he does have NATO countries already bordering Russia. So much of this is just rhetoric.”

But while the rhetoric coming out of the Russian government has been presented around the globe, Nickell said the situation has shown even within the country Putin’s messaging has been increasing scrutinized.

“I think we're seeing definitely over the past five days that some of our assumptions about some of these things are breaking down,” she said. “If you would have asked me five days ago about the extent of Putin's propaganda machine and its success, I might have thought it to be a little bit more successful than we're finding out it actually is. The propaganda is breaking down on the ground. Russians are coming out into the streets in the thousands, despite the very literal threat to their personal livelihoods to protest this. They're getting arrested. They're getting disappeared.”

Further, as those protests are occurring in the light of a “very sophisticated propaganda machine” and the heavy clampdown on the public sphere, showing complexity and divergence of thought within the region that highlights potential threats to Putin.

“Much of this is also just kind of in rooted in an autocrats' attempt to maintain power,” Nickell said. “And, really, I think he's afraid right now.”

Specifically, she said he seems to fear a growing trend toward democracy on Russia’s doorstep.

While Ukraine continues the fight to fend off Russian forces, Nickell said the Ukrainian response has come as surprising to Putin and his allies.

“We have evidence, empirical evidence at this point, he thought that this was going to go very differently,” she said. “He was under the impression that Russia would arrive and then Ukraine would capitulate within three days. We know these to be facts, because the Wayback Machine, which Putin tried to prevent from having access to Russian media outlets, caught something that was supposed to go out 48 hours ago, with pictures and everything, announcing that Ukraine had capitulated. And that is not what happened.

“So here we are. We're two days after that (and) Ukraine is fighting hard. And the world is seeing the propaganda machine for what it is.”

A large part of that propaganda perpetuated by Putin, is based on “entangled history,” Nickell said. But is not actually rooted in historical fact.

He often tries to use the shared history “as a way to depict both entities as the same thing, when in fact, they are different, but related things and the true heirs to Kievan Rus’ are not only Russians, but also Bella Russians and Ukrainians, all distinct separate national identities and now distinct sovereign nation states,” Nickell said.

While, historically, borders have shifted as the result of conflicts and wars in Europe, Ukrainian borders as they are now formed after World War Two.

“It's important that we understand that all of this rhetoric coming from the Kremlin, that Ukraine was always part of Russia is just that Ukraine is composed of parts of several different empires, be it Polish, be it Ottoman, be it Russian, be it Austrian,” Nickell said. “And so, it really is this place for many places, and not necessarily something that was Russian, and then became something else after.

While the lines were formalized in more recent history, they stem from movements in the 17th to 20th centuries.

“There's an independent Ukraine that emerges in 1917-1918,” Nickell said. “There's a brief moment in which they are kind of put down or pacified. And then they emerge as an independent Ukraine again shortly after that. This is short-lived, because unlike our war for independence, where we succeeded in gaining our independence from an imperial power, they did not succeed in gaining their independence from an imperial power. The Bolsheviks violently pacified Ukraine, they murdered millions in the process of doing this and incorporated Ukraine into the Soviet Union. And so that's how Ukraine gets into the Soviet Union.”

Ukraine would function as a part of the Soviet Union until 1991.

“But there was always kind of an undercurrent or demand for Ukrainian independence,” Nickell said. “This is hard to do in a totalitarian state, to come out and be like 'I want to independent state,' but there were always those ideas and cultures of Ukrainian independence. And as they steadily marched closer and closer to the collapse of communism, you saw them become more overt in these calls.”

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukrainians voted for their independence.

But in doing so, they found themselves in a precarious situation that was the impetus behind a meeting in Budapest in 1994.

“It's here that Yeltsin, that leaders of the United States, leaders of the U.K., and leaders of Ukraine all came together to discuss one of the biggest issues facing independent Ukraine,” Nickell said. “And that was the fact that they were sitting on top of the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. And we wanted to denuclearize. We were moving away from the Cold War world, and that we put full faith in Russia and full faith in ourselves that we would begin this process of disarming our nukes.

“As a Colorado girl,” she continued, “I watched that process unfold at home. ... Ukraine agreed to this, that they would give up their nuclear weapons in exchange for one thing — that Russia and the United States acknowledged their territorial sovereignty and promise to protect it. So, we are right now contractually obligated to protect Ukrainian sovereignty, though much of our conversation has been about NATO. And Russia is also contractually obligated to do so. And this is kind of a little bit of a lesson and Putin's promises.”

As elections in Ukraine yielded pro-Russian and more pro-democratic leaders, tensions with Russia would come to a head in 2014 with the Euromaidan.

“Maidan is just the word for Square in Ukrainian, which is why Ukrainians call this the Revolution of Dignity, because this was the moment that they claimed back their dignity from the state,” Nickell said. “And they demanded democratic policies.”

Despite the desire of the people to live in a democratic system, the president at the time desired to bring Ukraine closer to Russia.

“And so, he essentially sicced the secret police on the population that was protesting,” Nickell said. "(A) little over 100 individuals were murdered ruthlessly in the streets of Kiev protesting. And today Ukrainians call them the Heavenly 100.”

The timing of those deaths corresponds with the Russian annexation of Crimea, something she attributes to Putin, or at least on his behalf. Soon after as a democratic election was underway, he took advantage of the situation to invade Crimea.

It was at this time he “also began the process of backing so-called separatists in eastern Ukraine in two regions called Donetsk and Luhansk,” Nickell said. “And they're kind of the equivalent to states here in the United States. And this has been ongoing since 2014. Well, over 4,000 Ukrainians have died in this war and war has been part of their everyday lives since."

Until recently, military action has been confined to those two regions.

“And Mr. Putin has at least maintained the facade of nonintervention in the eastern kind of crisis in Luhansk and Donetsk, the war of aggression there,” Nickell said. “However, over the past five days, we've seen this rapid escalation there. ... There is no more facade. Mr. Putin is sending in troops, he is sending in tanks, he is sending in planes, he is using weapons that even here we consider violations of human rights. And so, this is a violent, violent escalation that most of us hoped that we would not be coming to.”

And while allegiances in those regions created complex international relations, Ukrainian borders had been clearly set, she said.

As a historian, Nickell said she has no ability to predict what the outcome of the conflict might be, but fears the situation will not be quickly resolved.

“What I can say is based off of what has been occurring so far and the ratcheting up of violence, I do think this will be a very long and protracted — like very long — conflict,” Nickell said. “And given Putin's general approach to Ukraine over the past 15 years or so, I do think that he will continue to fight&nbsp; (and) Ukrainians will continue to resist. This is something I can say, I think, with some level of certainty.”

But she is encouraged by internal action to stop Russian aggression.

“Some of the rhetoric inside of us inside of the Russian Federation is really starting to break down his grip on power, I think protests out of Belarus in 2020 and again, this week, protests in Kazakhstan, all of these areas surrounding the Russian Federation, as well as inside where there are calls for democracy calls for an open public sphere calls for transparency,” Nickell said. “I think this is where our best hope lies, this would be the most ideal outcome, that democratic ideas overturn autocratic ideas.”

“But other than that,” she continued “I don't I don't know what comes next. I do know that the people of Ukraine need our support, they need our voices, they need anything that we can send their way. Call your congresspeople, do what you can do your bit. And this is a place that does their bit. So do your bit and make change.”

Nickell is scheduled to speak on this topic during an event at Hays
Public Library at 10 a.m. that can be viewed online by visiting their facebook page, f<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary">facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary</a>.

<div><iframe title="Area Ukraine expert shares insights into situation; history" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=d3fid-11bd71a-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>HAYS, Kan. — While the current situation in Ukraine has dominated domestic and international headlines in recent weeks, one Fort Hays State University expert said the conflict is less a standalone event and more of an escalation of hostilities.Along with her academic expertise as a historian of central and eastern Europe, Amber Nickell, associate professor of history, also spent time living in Ukraine as a Fulbright Scholar and has traveled to and from the country for research since 2018.While half a world away, she said there are parallels to the people of Ukraine and those living in the area.“Ukrainians are extremely resilient, very hard-working,” Nickell said. “And it definitely reminds me of some of the hard-working folks here in Kansas, that you know, are pulling themselves up and doing what it takes to get things done. And we're definitely seeing that in Ukraine right now, as Ukrainians are fighting against Russian aggression.”And much like the Kansas farmers who help drive local economies, Ukrainians also rely on agriculture, with corn, wheat and seed oils among their top five exports.“Ukraine has a large swath is what of what is known black earth territory,” Nickell said. “And this is soil that is so nutrient rich, that it can give two crops per season as opposed to one. And so, for those folks out there that are working in agriculture, know that there are many Ukrainians out there just like you spending their days in the fields. This is this is part of who they are.”Now with the recent conflict escalation, those people are fighting for their county, but she said current hostilities are only the most recent in a long history of Russian interference in the county.“For some time, Ukrainians have been trying to fight Russian aggression,” Nickell said. “And we can really reach back pretty far in the historical narrative, all the way back to the violent escalation inside of independent Ukraine in the interwar and Bolsheviks, kind of forcibly placing power over the Ukrainian population.“But in the more recent memory, Ukraine has been illegally occupied since 2014, in both Crimea and the Donbass region which is Luhansk, and Donetsk. Here, Russians have backed so-called separatists and well over 4,000 Ukrainian citizens and soldiers have died in this conflict since 2014.”While the conflict might be an old one, in the last week the conflict has become decidedly more pronounced.“Things have definitely escalated exponentially in the past five days,” Nickell said. “The emails and messages and Facebook messages that I'm getting from my friends and colleagues in Ukraine are heartbreaking. Bombs dropping on their neighborhoods in their communities, children doing kindergarten underground and bunkers, folks fleeing to the borders looking for any chance to help their families survive. ... It's heartbreaking to see the escalation these past few days.”<h2>A civic nation</h2>Along with the similarities of the people of Ukraine, she said the country is like the U.S. — multiracial, with populations living in the country from around the globe."It is, in very many ways, a civic nation, much like us here, where you can be a citizen of the United States, regardless of where you come from,” Nickell said. “And you can have that patriotism and sense of belonging really, regardless of what languages you speak.”And so, while Russian language and culture might remain prevalent in Ukraine, the sense of self-determination is also a large part of the society.“Much like me sitting here, I have family from Poland, but I am an American citizen,” Nickell said. “And so that is something that I think we need to think about a little closely when we're listening to some of the media that is coming out of these places.”The trend toward simplicity in reporting from the region, she added, can create an understanding that does not fully reflect national complexities.“I think often folks think that Ukraine is just this small country out in the middle of nowhere,” Nickell said. “And I've definitely heard those things said. But it isn't a small country. It isn't in the middle of nowhere.”The size of the nation itself is important for a good understanding of the situation and relevant to the desire of Russia to increase their sphere of influence in Ukraine.“It is the largest country entirely in Europe. It's bigger than Germany. It's bigger than France. It's bigger than Spain. It's bigger than the UK. And so, we're talking about a very, very large swath of territory, we're talking a couple Kansases, for those that are thinking about size relative to where they are,” Nickell said. “It is geopolitically important for both the Kremlin and for the European Union because of this relative size.”The country is also a regional economic power, that despite ongoing conflicts, has seen growth in recent years.“(It’s a) massive economy,” Nickell said. “A very vibrant tech sector is emerging from Ukraine, especially in the past six or so years. ... They also have a very large education sector that they are building. They are exporters of various raw materials, perhaps the most beautiful, and maybe I'm biased, is amber. But this is something that they are building and they're working very hard to build this economy, despite the fact that it was decimated in 2014, in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan">Euromaidan</a>, and despite the fact that their former president absconded with almost the entirety of the National Treasury when he left in 2014.”<h2>Why it matters</h2>The size, location and economic value of Ukraine is a primary driver of the desire of Russian to control the country, in part or in whole, and she said is an important buffer between NATO-allied countries and Russia.“One of my scholarly colleagues by the name of Serhii&nbsp;Plokhy, he has called Ukraine the gates of Europe,” Nickell said. “And I think this is a really apt description, because it is the gates of Europe and Mr. Putin is afraid that those gates will come flooding open and European ideas, and what are perceived as Western ideas, like democracy will flood into Russian territory.“And so I think he sees this as strategically a place to try to cut those ideas from flooding over,” she said. “So that location is very, very important. And, of course, it is bordering several NATO countries.”Putin’s invoking of NATO creeping into the area is also a misrepresentation of the situation, Nickell said.“I think it's important when we're listening to the news and thinking about these things, you're going to hear several people say that Mr. Putin is worried about NATO coming to his doorstep. I encourage you to open a map of NATO. You will see that NATO is already on his doorstep in the Baltics and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, so he does have NATO countries already bordering Russia. So much of this is just rhetoric.”But while the rhetoric coming out of the Russian government has been presented around the globe, Nickell said the situation has shown even within the country Putin’s messaging has been increasing scrutinized.“I think we're seeing definitely over the past five days that some of our assumptions about some of these things are breaking down,” she said. “If you would have asked me five days ago about the extent of Putin's propaganda machine and its success, I might have thought it to be a little bit more successful than we're finding out it actually is. The propaganda is breaking down on the ground. Russians are coming out into the streets in the thousands, despite the very literal threat to their personal livelihoods to protest this. They're getting arrested. They're getting disappeared.”Further, as those protests are occurring in the light of a “very sophisticated propaganda machine” and the heavy clampdown on the public sphere, showing complexity and divergence of thought within the region that highlights potential threats to Putin.“Much of this is also just kind of in rooted in an autocrats' attempt to maintain power,” Nickell said. “And, really, I think he's afraid right now.”Specifically, she said he seems to fear a growing trend toward democracy on Russia’s doorstep.<h2>The conflict</h2>While Ukraine continues the fight to fend off Russian forces, Nickell said the Ukrainian response has come as surprising to Putin and his allies.“We have evidence, empirical evidence at this point, he thought that this was going to go very differently,” she said. “He was under the impression that Russia would arrive and then Ukraine would capitulate within three days. We know these to be facts, because the Wayback Machine, which Putin tried to prevent from having access to Russian media outlets, caught something that was supposed to go out 48 hours ago, with pictures and everything, announcing that Ukraine had capitulated. And that is not what happened.“So here we are. We're two days after that (and) Ukraine is fighting hard. And the world is seeing the propaganda machine for what it is.”A large part of that propaganda perpetuated by Putin, is based on “entangled history,” Nickell said. But is not actually rooted in historical fact.He often tries to use the shared history “as a way to depict both entities as the same thing, when in fact, they are different, but related things and the true heirs to Kievan Rus’ are not only Russians, but also Bella Russians and Ukrainians, all distinct separate national identities and now distinct sovereign nation states,” Nickell said.While, historically, borders have shifted as the result of conflicts and wars in Europe, Ukrainian borders as they are now formed after World War Two.“It's important that we understand that all of this rhetoric coming from the Kremlin, that Ukraine was always part of Russia is just that Ukraine is composed of parts of several different empires, be it Polish, be it Ottoman, be it Russian, be it Austrian,” Nickell said. “And so, it really is this place for many places, and not necessarily something that was Russian, and then became something else after.While the lines were formalized in more recent history, they stem from movements in the 17th to 20th centuries.“There's an independent Ukraine that emerges in 1917-1918,” Nickell said. “There's a brief moment in which they are kind of put down or pacified. And then they emerge as an independent Ukraine again shortly after that. This is short-lived, because unlike our war for independence, where we succeeded in gaining our independence from an imperial power, they did not succeed in gaining their independence from an imperial power. The Bolsheviks violently pacified Ukraine, they murdered millions in the process of doing this and incorporated Ukraine into the Soviet Union. And so that's how Ukraine gets into the Soviet Union.”Ukraine would function as a part of the Soviet Union until 1991.“But there was always kind of an undercurrent or demand for Ukrainian independence,” Nickell said. “This is hard to do in a totalitarian state, to come out and be like 'I want to independent state,' but there were always those ideas and cultures of Ukrainian independence. And as they steadily marched closer and closer to the collapse of communism, you saw them become more overt in these calls.”After the collapse of the USSR, Ukrainians voted for their independence.But in doing so, they found themselves in a precarious situation that was the impetus behind a meeting in Budapest in 1994.“It's here that Yeltsin, that leaders of the United States, leaders of the U.K., and leaders of Ukraine all came together to discuss one of the biggest issues facing independent Ukraine,” Nickell said. “And that was the fact that they were sitting on top of the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. And we wanted to denuclearize. We were moving away from the Cold War world, and that we put full faith in Russia and full faith in ourselves that we would begin this process of disarming our nukes.“As a Colorado girl,” she continued, “I watched that process unfold at home. ... Ukraine agreed to this, that they would give up their nuclear weapons in exchange for one thing — that Russia and the United States acknowledged their territorial sovereignty and promise to protect it. So, we are right now contractually obligated to protect Ukrainian sovereignty, though much of our conversation has been about NATO. And Russia is also contractually obligated to do so. And this is kind of a little bit of a lesson and Putin's promises.”<h2>The conflict heats up</h2>As elections in Ukraine yielded pro-Russian and more pro-democratic leaders, tensions with Russia would come to a head in 2014 with the Euromaidan.“Maidan is just the word for Square in Ukrainian, which is why Ukrainians call this the Revolution of Dignity, because this was the moment that they claimed back their dignity from the state,” Nickell said. “And they demanded democratic policies.”Despite the desire of the people to live in a democratic system, the president at the time desired to bring Ukraine closer to Russia.“And so, he essentially sicced the secret police on the population that was protesting,” Nickell said. "(A) little over 100 individuals were murdered ruthlessly in the streets of Kiev protesting. And today Ukrainians call them the Heavenly 100.”The timing of those deaths corresponds with the Russian annexation of Crimea, something she attributes to Putin, or at least on his behalf. Soon after as a democratic election was underway, he took advantage of the situation to invade Crimea.It was at this time he “also began the process of backing so-called separatists in eastern Ukraine in two regions called Donetsk and Luhansk,” Nickell said. “And they're kind of the equivalent to states here in the United States. And this has been ongoing since 2014. Well, over 4,000 Ukrainians have died in this war and war has been part of their everyday lives since."Until recently, military action has been confined to those two regions.“And Mr. Putin has at least maintained the facade of nonintervention in the eastern kind of crisis in Luhansk and Donetsk, the war of aggression there,” Nickell said. “However, over the past five days, we've seen this rapid escalation there. ... There is no more facade. Mr. Putin is sending in troops, he is sending in tanks, he is sending in planes, he is using weapons that even here we consider violations of human rights. And so, this is a violent, violent escalation that most of us hoped that we would not be coming to.”And while allegiances in those regions created complex international relations, Ukrainian borders had been clearly set, she said.As a historian, Nickell said she has no ability to predict what the outcome of the conflict might be, but fears the situation will not be quickly resolved.“What I can say is based off of what has been occurring so far and the ratcheting up of violence, I do think this will be a very long and protracted — like very long — conflict,” Nickell said. “And given Putin's general approach to Ukraine over the past 15 years or so, I do think that he will continue to fight&nbsp; (and) Ukrainians will continue to resist. This is something I can say, I think, with some level of certainty.”But she is encouraged by internal action to stop Russian aggression.“Some of the rhetoric inside of us inside of the Russian Federation is really starting to break down his grip on power, I think protests out of Belarus in 2020 and again, this week, protests in Kazakhstan, all of these areas surrounding the Russian Federation, as well as inside where there are calls for democracy calls for an open public sphere calls for transparency,” Nickell said. “I think this is where our best hope lies, this would be the most ideal outcome, that democratic ideas overturn autocratic ideas.”“But other than that,” she continued “I don't I don't know what comes next. I do know that the people of Ukraine need our support, they need our voices, they need anything that we can send their way. Call your congresspeople, do what you can do your bit. And this is a place that does their bit. So do your bit and make change.”Nickell is scheduled to speak on this topic during an event at Hays
Public Library at 10 a.m. that can be viewed online by visiting their facebook page, f<a href="https://www.facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary">facebook.com/hayspubliclibrary</a>.

🎙 Kan. Ukraine expert shares insights into situation, history

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Prosecutors are recommending that a former&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City police detective be sentenced to nine years in prison for the shooting death of a Black man in 2019.

Eric DeValkenaere, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in the death of Cameron Lamb. DeValkenaere, who is white, was convicted in November of second-degree involuntary manslaughter in the shooting on Dec. 3, 2019.

Lamb, 26, was shot as he backed his pickup truck into a garage at his home.

In an 11-page sentencing memorandum, prosecutors asked Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs to sentence DeValkenaere to four years for manslaughter and nine years for armed criminal action, with the sentences to run concurrently, The Kansas City Star reported Tuesday.

Youngs has already ruled that DeValkenaere will remain free after the sentencing while he appeals his conviction.

In a sentencing memorandum, defense attorney Dawn Parsons asked for leniency, arguing that DeValkenaere would be especially susceptible to prison violence because of his nearly two decades in law enforcement.

DeValkenaere and detective Troy Schwalm were not in uniform when they went into Lamb's back yard after receiving a report of a pickup chasing a car. DeValkenaere said he fired after Lamb pointed a gun at Schwalm.

Prosecutors alleged during the trial in November that a gun found near Lamb's truck was planted.

When he convicted DeValkenaere, Youngs said the officers violated Lamb’s constitutional rights because they had no probable cause to believe he had committed a crime, had no warrant for Lamb’s arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property. He did not address the allegations that evidence had been planted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592994941014.png" alt="DeValkenaere-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>DeValkenaere-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Prosecutors are recommending that a former&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City police detective be sentenced to nine years in prison for the shooting death of a Black man in 2019.Eric DeValkenaere, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in the death of Cameron Lamb. DeValkenaere, who is white, was convicted in November of second-degree involuntary manslaughter in the shooting on Dec. 3, 2019.Lamb, 26, was shot as he backed his pickup truck into a garage at his home.In an 11-page sentencing memorandum, prosecutors asked Jackson County Circuit Court Presiding Judge J. Dale Youngs to sentence DeValkenaere to four years for manslaughter and nine years for armed criminal action, with the sentences to run concurrently, The Kansas City Star reported Tuesday.Youngs has already ruled that DeValkenaere will remain free after the sentencing while he appeals his conviction.In a sentencing memorandum, defense attorney Dawn Parsons asked for leniency, arguing that DeValkenaere would be especially susceptible to prison violence because of his nearly two decades in law enforcement.DeValkenaere and detective Troy Schwalm were not in uniform when they went into Lamb's back yard after receiving a report of a pickup chasing a car. DeValkenaere said he fired after Lamb pointed a gun at Schwalm.Prosecutors alleged during the trial in November that a gun found near Lamb's truck was planted.When he convicted DeValkenaere, Youngs said the officers violated Lamb’s constitutional rights because they had no probable cause to believe he had committed a crime, had no warrant for Lamb’s arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property. He did not address the allegations that evidence had been planted.

Prosecutors recommend 9 years for ex-KC detective in death of Black man

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspect on multiple charges including felony interference with law enforcement following a pursuit on Saturday.

&nbsp;Shortly before 12:30 a.m. Saturday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a silver 1997 Ford Crown Victoria near SE 37th Street and SE Colfax Place for speeding, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. 

The driver, later identified as Anthony L. Marshall III, 29, Topeka, pulled over and the deputy approached the vehicle. While the deputy was speaking to the driver, he learned the driver did not have a driver’s license and he observed a bag of illegal narcotic pills.

While the deputy was continuing the investigation, the driver fled the scene in his vehicle, initiating a pursuit. The pursuit continued and was ended in the 2300 block of SE Highland Avenue when the deputy performed a tactical vehicle intervention.

Deputies took Marshall into custody and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, reckless driving, interference with law enforcement, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, failure to wear a seat belt, no vehicle liability insurance and speeding.

This incident is under investigation. Additional evidence is being sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Additional charges are pending. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645970631480.png" alt="Marshall-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Marshall-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspect on multiple charges including felony interference with law enforcement following a pursuit on Saturday.&nbsp;Shortly before 12:30 a.m. Saturday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a silver 1997 Ford Crown Victoria near SE 37th Street and SE Colfax Place for speeding, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The driver, later identified as Anthony L. Marshall III, 29, Topeka, pulled over and the deputy approached the vehicle. While the deputy was speaking to the driver, he learned the driver did not have a driver’s license and he observed a bag of illegal narcotic pills.While the deputy was continuing the investigation, the driver fled the scene in his vehicle, initiating a pursuit. The pursuit continued and was ended in the 2300 block of SE Highland Avenue when the deputy performed a tactical vehicle intervention.Deputies took Marshall into custody and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, reckless driving, interference with law enforcement, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, failure to wear a seat belt, no vehicle liability insurance and speeding.This incident is under investigation. Additional evidence is being sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Additional charges are pending.

Sheriff: Evidence going to KBI after chase, arrest

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A preliminary hearing is set for April 7th for the man arrested in connection with the abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick County July 19.

Kamden Campos is facing 12 counts including six counts of attempted first degree murder one count of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of criminal threat.&nbsp;

The six counts of attempted murder and the single kidnapping carry sentences of up to 55 years in prison if Campos is convicted.&nbsp;

Campos was arrested after allegedly abducting a woman and her family in Wichita. They drove out to Cheney Lake. When the woman tried to escape in a vehicle Campos allegedly shot at the vehicle hitting a 2-year-old girl.&nbsp;

The woman drove into Sedgwick County where she called 911. The child was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she underwent surgery and has recovered.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1646063022103.jpeg" alt="Campos-photo Hutchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Campos-photo Hutchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOK Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — A preliminary hearing is set for April 7th for the man arrested in connection with the abduction and shooting in Reno and Sedgwick County July 19.Kamden Campos is facing 12 counts including six counts of attempted first degree murder one count of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated battery and two counts of criminal threat.&nbsp;The six counts of attempted murder and the single kidnapping carry sentences of up to 55 years in prison if Campos is convicted.&nbsp;Campos was arrested after allegedly abducting a woman and her family in Wichita. They drove out to Cheney Lake. When the woman tried to escape in a vehicle Campos allegedly shot at the vehicle hitting a 2-year-old girl.&nbsp;The woman drove into Sedgwick County where she called 911. The child was taken to Wesley Medical Center where she underwent surgery and has recovered.

Preliminary hearing set for abduction, shooting of Kan. toddler 

SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County woman faces charges related to a house fire that killed a baby in suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City, Kansas.

&nbsp;Karlie Phelps, 28, is scheduled to appear in court Monday after her arrest Friday on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child. The child was born on 2020, court records show.

The case involves the death of an baby who died in a deadly house fire Feb. 13 in Shawnee, Kansas, television station FOX4 reported. Firefighters battling the flames found the child's body inside the home.

Police later arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Adam Ecker, the father of the child, on charges of with first-degree murder, aggravated arson and other crimes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645917595368.png" alt="Phelps-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Phelps-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County woman faces charges related to a house fire that killed a baby in suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City, Kansas.&nbsp;Karlie Phelps, 28, is scheduled to appear in court Monday after her arrest Friday on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child. The child was born on 2020, court records show.The case involves the death of an baby who died in a deadly house fire Feb. 13 in Shawnee, Kansas, television station FOX4 reported. Firefighters battling the flames found the child's body inside the home.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644924205485.png" alt="Ecker-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ecker-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Police later arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Adam Ecker, the father of the child, on charges of with first-degree murder, aggravated arson and other crimes.

Kansas woman due in court for fire that killed baby

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after an incident at a southwest Kansas residence.

On February 24, police served an arrest search warrant for 38-year-old Luis Adrian Molina of Garden City at 1208 A Street, according to a media release.

During a search of the residence, Molina was discovered in a confined space within the walls of the basement. He resisted arrest but was subsequently taken into custody. Molina was found to be in possession of multiple controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and a stolen firearm.

Molina is being held on requested charges that include Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Use of a Firearm, Possession of a Stimulant,&nbsp; Traffic Contraband into a Correctional Facility, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Assault of a law enforcement officer (LEO) and Interference with LEO.

During the investigation, Daisy Hernandez, 29, Garden City,&nbsp; was arrested and jailed on a requested charge of Interference with LEO.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645843371375.png" alt="Molina-photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Molina-photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after an incident at a southwest Kansas residence.On February 24, police served an arrest search warrant for 38-year-old Luis Adrian Molina of Garden City at 1208 A Street, according to a media release.During a search of the residence, Molina was discovered in a confined space within the walls of the basement. He resisted arrest but was subsequently taken into custody. Molina was found to be in possession of multiple controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and a stolen firearm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645843435407.png" alt="Hernandez-photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Hernandez-photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>Molina is being held on requested charges that include Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Use of a Firearm, Possession of a Stimulant,&nbsp; Traffic Contraband into a Correctional Facility, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia and Assault of a law enforcement officer (LEO) and Interference with LEO.During the investigation, Daisy Hernandez, 29, Garden City,&nbsp; was arrested and jailed on a requested charge of Interference with LEO.

Police: Wanted Kan. man found hiding in walls of basement

The Kansas City Star reported that 28-year-old Karlie Phelps was arrested Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child. The child was born on 2020, court records show.

She is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645917595368.png" alt="Phelps-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Phelps-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County woman faces charges related to a house fire that killed a baby in suburban&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;City, Kansas.The Kansas City Star reported that 28-year-old Karlie Phelps was arrested Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering a child. The child was born on 2020, court records show.She is scheduled to appear in court Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644924205485.png" alt="Ecker-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ecker-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The case involves the death of an baby who died in a deadly house fire Feb. 13 in Shawnee, Kansas, television station FOX4 reported. Firefighters battling the flames found the child's body inside the home.Police later arrested 28-year-old Nicholas Adam Ecker, the father of the child, on charges of with first-degree murder, aggravated arson and other crimes.

Kan. woman faces charges in house fire that killed a baby

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City-area man who killed four family members and burned their bodies was sentenced Friday to four life sentences without parole plus 115 years, Platte County authorities said.

Grayden Denham, 30, was convicted in December of shooting and killing his grandfather, his grandmother, his sister and her 3-month-old son at their home near Edgerton on Feb. 19, 2016.

He was arrested two days later when he was found walking naked near Seligman, Arizona, police said.

Firefighters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e7079be18f184ac9accd09010ae1c489">found the bodies</a>&nbsp;of Russell Denham, 82; Shirley Denham, 81; Heather Ager, 31; and her son, Mason Schiavoni, all of whom had been shot and set on fire, Platte County prosecutors said. A family dog was also killed and burned, authorities said.

Denham stole his grandparents' car and drove to Arizona.

Witnesses testified during the trial about increased tension between Denham and his family before the murders. He was seen arguing with his grandfather the day before the killings and evidence also showed he was using methamphetamine, the Platte County Prosecutor's office said in a news release.

The jury convicted Denham of four counts of first degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, animal abuse, second degree arson, and stealing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639604794631.png" alt="Denham-photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Denham-photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City-area man who killed four family members and burned their bodies was sentenced Friday to four life sentences without parole plus 115 years, Platte County authorities said.Grayden Denham, 30, was convicted in December of shooting and killing his grandfather, his grandmother, his sister and her 3-month-old son at their home near Edgerton on Feb. 19, 2016.He was arrested two days later when he was found walking naked near Seligman, Arizona, police said.Firefighters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e7079be18f184ac9accd09010ae1c489">found the bodies</a>&nbsp;of Russell Denham, 82; Shirley Denham, 81; Heather Ager, 31; and her son, Mason Schiavoni, all of whom had been shot and set on fire, Platte County prosecutors said. A family dog was also killed and burned, authorities said.Denham stole his grandparents' car and drove to Arizona.Witnesses testified during the trial about increased tension between Denham and his family before the murders. He was seen arguing with his grandfather the day before the killings and evidence also showed he was using methamphetamine, the Platte County Prosecutor's office said in a news release.The jury convicted Denham of four counts of first degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, animal abuse, second degree arson, and stealing.

KC-area man sentenced in death of grandparents, sister and her infant son

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/25/kansas-commissioner-of-education-resigns-after-offensive-american-indian-comment/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas State Board of Education rejected the resignation
 Friday of the state education commissioner following evidence he said 
during a video conference that during his youth he tried to persuade 
children to fear for their safety among American Indians.

The state Board of Education reconvened after a closed executive 
session to unanimously approve a one-month suspension without pay of 
commissioner Randy Watson. Board members appointed Craig Neuenswander, 
the department’s deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative 
affairs, to serve as acting commissioner in Watson’s absence.

Board of Education chairman Jim Porter said the board decided remarks
 by Watson weren’t “career ending” and the board was committed to 
“restorative justice.”

Three state legislators with American Indian heritage and Gov. Laura 
Kelly had called for Watson to step down from the administrative job. In
 response, Watson submitted the letter of resignation that was rejected 
by the 10 elected members of the state board. The boards general 
counsel, Mark Ferguson, said the department viewed Watson’s letter as a 
personnel record and wouldn’t be subject to the Kansas Open Records Act.

Members of the state Board of Education adjourned for a one-hour 
executive session to discuss the Watson controversy and weigh options. 
During that meeting, Watson went behind closed doors with the board 
members.

Porter said Watson’s letter of resignation was brought on by a 
statement “that was offensive and even considered racist by many who 
heard it.”

“We are not here to excuse or justify the statement in any way,” 
Porter said. “It should not have been said, and that fact was 
immediately recognized by the commissioner, who has made multiple 
apologies.”

Porter expressed concern that people in “positions of state 
leadership” publicly called for Watson’s resignation despite reality of 
the state Board of Education holding sole responsibility for personnel 
decisions related to executive leadership of the Kansas Department of 
Education.

“There are a number of people in this state in elected and executive 
positions who have actually been arrested for various illegal activities
 who have some things in common,” Porter said. “All were given the 
opportunity to participate in due process and had the opportunity to be 
heard in the appropriate forum.”

“It seems ironic to me that commissioner Watson, who owned and did 
take responsibility for his statement, which was not illegal, feels 
obligated or feels forced to resign by outside forces,” Porter said.

Video of Watson’s remarks received through an Kansas Open Records 
Request showed what he said during a Kansas Virtual Learning Conference 
in mid-February while speaking to people attending the Andover Center 
for Advanced Professional Studies.

He was talking about a 1991 tornado when he shifted to his memory of 
trying to convince relatives they should be more fearful of American 
Indians than of violent storms.

Here is what he said: &nbsp;“I had some cousins from California. They were
 petrified of tornadoes. They’d come visit us, you know, in the summer. 
They were like, ‘Are we going to get killed by a tornado?’ And I’d say, 
‘Don’t worry about that, but you got to worry about the Indians raiding 
the town at any time.’ And they really thought that. Grow up in 
California, I guess you don’t know much of the history of Kansas.”

Watson, a former school administrator in McPherson, was hired by the state Board of Education as the commissioner in 2014.

The state’s commissioner of education has responsibility for the 
Department of Education and oversees agency functions that include 
communications, legal services and human resources. The office of the 
commissioner provides leadership to schools and the state Board of 
Education in complying with all state and federal laws, regulations and 
requirements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645807190734.png" alt="The Kansas State Board of Education announced Friday commissioner Randy Watson submitted a letter of resignation. In the board meeting room, his seat sat empty. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas State Board of Education announced Friday commissioner Randy Watson submitted a letter of resignation. In the board meeting room, his seat sat empty. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/02/25/kansas-commissioner-of-education-resigns-after-offensive-american-indian-comment/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas State Board of Education rejected the resignation
 Friday of the state education commissioner following evidence he said 
during a video conference that during his youth he tried to persuade 
children to fear for their safety among American Indians.The state Board of Education reconvened after a closed executive 
session to unanimously approve a one-month suspension without pay of 
commissioner Randy Watson. Board members appointed Craig Neuenswander, 
the department’s deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative 
affairs, to serve as acting commissioner in Watson’s absence.Board of Education chairman Jim Porter said the board decided remarks
 by Watson weren’t “career ending” and the board was committed to 
“restorative justice.”Three state legislators with American Indian heritage and Gov. Laura 
Kelly had called for Watson to step down from the administrative job. In
 response, Watson submitted the letter of resignation that was rejected 
by the 10 elected members of the state board. The boards general 
counsel, Mark Ferguson, said the department viewed Watson’s letter as a 
personnel record and wouldn’t be subject to the Kansas Open Records Act.Members of the state Board of Education adjourned for a one-hour 
executive session to discuss the Watson controversy and weigh options. 
During that meeting, Watson went behind closed doors with the board 
members.Porter said Watson’s letter of resignation was brought on by a 
statement “that was offensive and even considered racist by many who 
heard it.”“We are not here to excuse or justify the statement in any way,” 
Porter said. “It should not have been said, and that fact was 
immediately recognized by the commissioner, who has made multiple 
apologies.”Porter expressed concern that people in “positions of state 
leadership” publicly called for Watson’s resignation despite reality of 
the state Board of Education holding sole responsibility for personnel 
decisions related to executive leadership of the Kansas Department of 
Education.“There are a number of people in this state in elected and executive 
positions who have actually been arrested for various illegal activities
 who have some things in common,” Porter said. “All were given the 
opportunity to participate in due process and had the opportunity to be 
heard in the appropriate forum.”“It seems ironic to me that commissioner Watson, who owned and did 
take responsibility for his statement, which was not illegal, feels 
obligated or feels forced to resign by outside forces,” Porter said.Video of Watson’s remarks received through an Kansas Open Records 
Request showed what he said during a Kansas Virtual Learning Conference 
in mid-February while speaking to people attending the Andover Center 
for Advanced Professional Studies.He was talking about a 1991 tornado when he shifted to his memory of 
trying to convince relatives they should be more fearful of American 
Indians than of violent storms.Here is what he said: &nbsp;“I had some cousins from California. They were
 petrified of tornadoes. They’d come visit us, you know, in the summer. 
They were like, ‘Are we going to get killed by a tornado?’ And I’d say, 
‘Don’t worry about that, but you got to worry about the Indians raiding 
the town at any time.’ And they really thought that. Grow up in 
California, I guess you don’t know much of the history of Kansas.”Watson, a former school administrator in McPherson, was hired by the state Board of Education as the commissioner in 2014.The state’s commissioner of education has responsibility for the 
Department of Education and oversees agency functions that include 
communications, legal services and human resources. The office of the 
commissioner provides leadership to schools and the state Board of 
Education in complying with all state and federal laws, regulations and 
requirements.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Tp9DHJhIk8"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

UPDATE: Kan. BOE rejects resignation of education commissioner

HALL COUNTY, NE —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a pursuit overnight in Hall County, Nebraska.

Just before 2:230 a.m., a trooper observed an Acura MDX traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 near Wood River, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Patrol.

The trooper was able to get the vehicle to pull into the median and come to stop. The trooper then attempted to make contact with the driver, but the vehicle accelerated and fled.

The vehicle continued traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-80. A short time later, the trooper successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver later identified as 31-year-old Casey Jasper of Chanute, Kansas, then refused to exit the vehicle. As troopers attempted to remove him from the vehicle, he kicked a trooper multiple times.

Troopers arrested Jasper on requested charges of&nbsp; flight to avoid arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol, willful reckless driving, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, assault on an officer, and several other charges. Jasper was lodged in Hall County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645739750184.png" alt="Jasper-photo Hall Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Jasper-photo Hall Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>HALL COUNTY, NE —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a pursuit overnight in Hall County, Nebraska.Just before 2:230 a.m., a trooper observed an Acura MDX traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 near Wood River, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Patrol.The trooper was able to get the vehicle to pull into the median and come to stop. The trooper then attempted to make contact with the driver, but the vehicle accelerated and fled.The vehicle continued traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-80. A short time later, the trooper successfully performed a tactical vehicle intervention to bring the vehicle to a stop. The driver later identified as 31-year-old Casey Jasper of Chanute, Kansas, then refused to exit the vehicle. As troopers attempted to remove him from the vehicle, he kicked a trooper multiple times.Troopers arrested Jasper on requested charges of&nbsp; flight to avoid arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol, willful reckless driving, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, assault on an officer, and several other charges. Jasper was lodged in Hall County Jail.

Kansas man jailed after wrong-way pursuit on Nebraska highway

COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspect following a January 19, arrest have added numerous charges against him, according to a media release from Arkansas City police.

On January 19,&nbsp; police arrested 29-year-old Dakota Mikel Hughes of Arkansas City, who was running from police and booked him into the Cowley County Jail on suspicion of two felony counts of interference with a law enforcement officer, three outside warrants for failure to appear, and one count each of criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of a firearm.

Since then, police in Arkansas City investigated numerous burglaries, thefts and criminal damage to property cases that have occurred from November 2021 through January 2022.

Officers were able to link Hughes to many of these incidents. Cases were presented to the Cowley County Attorney’s Office from both the Arkansas City Police Department and the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;

Hughes now is charged with seven counts of burglary, six counts of theft, four counts of criminal damage to property, three counts of criminal trespass, one count of fleeing and eluding, one count of failure to stop at the scene of an accident, and various drug-related charges.

Police continue to investigate related cases and more cases will be presented to the county attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645625665661.png" alt="Hughes-photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Hughes-photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a suspect following a January 19, arrest have added numerous charges against him, according to a media release from Arkansas City police.On January 19,&nbsp; police arrested 29-year-old Dakota Mikel Hughes of Arkansas City, who was running from police and booked him into the Cowley County Jail on suspicion of two felony counts of interference with a law enforcement officer, three outside warrants for failure to appear, and one count each of criminal possession of a firearm and criminal use of a firearm.Since then, police in Arkansas City investigated numerous burglaries, thefts and criminal damage to property cases that have occurred from November 2021 through January 2022.Officers were able to link Hughes to many of these incidents. Cases were presented to the Cowley County Attorney’s Office from both the Arkansas City Police Department and the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp;Hughes now is charged with seven counts of burglary, six counts of theft, four counts of criminal damage to property, three counts of criminal trespass, one count of fleeing and eluding, one count of failure to stop at the scene of an accident, and various drug-related charges.Police continue to investigate related cases and more cases will be presented to the county attorney.

Kansas man arrested in January linked to numerous other crimes

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A black man who was arrested when he was 15 and held for three weeks for a crime he did not commit reached a $900,000 settlement with the Kansas City Police Department.

The settlement announced by attorneys for both sides Tuesday comes in a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of Tyree Bell over his June 8, 2016, arrest. As part of the agreement, the Police Department said it would apologize to Bell. A federal judge must still approve the settlement, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/kansas-city-police-agree-to-pay-900-000-and-apologize-to-black-teen-wrongfully-jailed-for-weeks">reported</a>.

Officers Peter Neukrich and Jonathan Munyan said they arrested Bell because he looked like another teen who ran from them earlier in the day and threw away a gun as he fled.

Police video showed Bell was taller, had a different hairstyle and was wearing different clothing than the original suspect. He also cooperated with police and was breathing normally, unlike someone who had just run from police.

An appeals court said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-lawsuits-kansas-city-courts-e748a624036ac6caac19dae3026a0265">in an October 2020 ruling</a>&nbsp;that allowed the lawsuit to go forward that Bell’s only resemblance to the suspect was that he was black, juvenile and male.

Kansas City lawyer Arthur Benson, who represented Bell, said the case was not just one of mistaken identity or “walking while black.” He said it was part of a longtime “national disgrace” of white officers wrongly identifying black suspects.

“And they are often wrong because too many police departments do not train their officers that all blacks do not look alike and how to make an eyewitness identification that is not tainted by racial stereotypes,” Benson said.

Kansas City police officers Peter Neukrich and Jonathan Munyan were looking for a suspect who fled from an earlier confrontation when another policeman saw Bell walking and talking on his cellphone and detained him.

The officers said they identified Bell as the suspect and arrested him after watching dashcam video of the original event several times.

Bell was placed on a 24-hour “investigative hold” but was not released until June 29, 2016, after a detective watched the video and determined Bell was not the suspect.

Bell originally sued Neukrich and Munyan as well as the officer who detained him, along with several police officials. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit after finding the officers were entitled to qualified immunity.

An appeals court reinstated the lawsuit in October 2020 after finding the officers did not have probable cause to arrest Bell. The first trial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-lawsuits-kansas-city-2abd9ce5f638043d2a09a633a5c0ea19">ended in a mistrial&nbsp;</a>after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

The case had been set to go to trial again on Feb. 28, but that was canceled when the pending settlement was announced.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A black man who was arrested when he was 15 and held for three weeks for a crime he did not commit reached a $900,000 settlement with the Kansas City Police Department.The settlement announced by attorneys for both sides Tuesday comes in a civil rights lawsuit filed by the family of Tyree Bell over his June 8, 2016, arrest. As part of the agreement, the Police Department said it would apologize to Bell. A federal judge must still approve the settlement, KCUR&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-23/kansas-city-police-agree-to-pay-900-000-and-apologize-to-black-teen-wrongfully-jailed-for-weeks">reported</a>.Officers Peter Neukrich and Jonathan Munyan said they arrested Bell because he looked like another teen who ran from them earlier in the day and threw away a gun as he fled.Police video showed Bell was taller, had a different hairstyle and was wearing different clothing than the original suspect. He also cooperated with police and was breathing normally, unlike someone who had just run from police.An appeals court said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-lawsuits-kansas-city-courts-e748a624036ac6caac19dae3026a0265">in an October 2020 ruling</a>&nbsp;that allowed the lawsuit to go forward that Bell’s only resemblance to the suspect was that he was black, juvenile and male.Kansas City lawyer Arthur Benson, who represented Bell, said the case was not just one of mistaken identity or “walking while black.” He said it was part of a longtime “national disgrace” of white officers wrongly identifying black suspects.“And they are often wrong because too many police departments do not train their officers that all blacks do not look alike and how to make an eyewitness identification that is not tainted by racial stereotypes,” Benson said.Kansas City police officers Peter Neukrich and Jonathan Munyan were looking for a suspect who fled from an earlier confrontation when another policeman saw Bell walking and talking on his cellphone and detained him.The officers said they identified Bell as the suspect and arrested him after watching dashcam video of the original event several times.Bell was placed on a 24-hour “investigative hold” but was not released until June 29, 2016, after a detective watched the video and determined Bell was not the suspect.Bell originally sued Neukrich and Munyan as well as the officer who detained him, along with several police officials. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit after finding the officers were entitled to qualified immunity.An appeals court reinstated the lawsuit in October 2020 after finding the officers did not have probable cause to arrest Bell. The first trial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arrests-lawsuits-kansas-city-2abd9ce5f638043d2a09a633a5c0ea19">ended in a mistrial&nbsp;</a>after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.The case had been set to go to trial again on Feb. 28, but that was canceled when the pending settlement was announced.

Kansas City settles with black man wrongly jailed at 15

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an altercation with a police officer.

Just before 9:30p.m. Wednesday, Salina Police received information that 36-year-old Devon Wayne Dirksen, who had warrants for his arrest, was located at the Pump Mart, 1118 North 9th Street, in Salina, Kansas, according to a statement from police.

Officer Michael Chandler was dispatched to that location and contacted Dirksen inside the business.

Dirksen resisted Officer Chandler’s efforts to arrest him, and a physical altercation ensued. Dirksen was able to break free from Officer Chandler and fled outside. 

Officer Chandler caught Dirksen across the street from the Pump Mart and tackled him to the ground. During the struggle on the ground, Dirksen pulled on Officer Chandler’s sidearm, and then Officer Chandler heard the sound of a gunshot. Dirksen was able to break free, and fled into a nearby residential area. Officer Chandler checked his handgun, and it was still secured in his holster.

With the assistance of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol, Dirksen was located hiding in the area and was taken into custody without further incident. A handgun was found in the area where Officer Chandler and Dirksen were struggling on the ground, and the gunshot was heard.

No one was injured by the gunfire, but Officer Chandler and Dirksen suffered minor injuries from the physical confrontation.

Dirksen was booked into the Saline County Jail requested charges of&nbsp;Attempted Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer, Attempted Aggravated Burglary, Felony Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm in the City Limits, Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property. In addition, Dirksen was booked on three Salina Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear and one Saline County District Court warrant for failure to appear.

Dirksen has previous convictions for criminal threat, endangering a child, harassment by telephone and fir drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645721912604.png" alt="Devon Wayne Dirksen has previous convictions for criminal threat, endangering a child, harassment by telephone and fir drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections -photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Devon Wayne Dirksen has previous convictions for criminal threat, endangering a child, harassment by telephone and fir drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections -photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after an altercation with a police officer.Just before 9:30p.m. Wednesday, Salina Police received information that 36-year-old Devon Wayne Dirksen, who had warrants for his arrest, was located at the Pump Mart, 1118 North 9th Street, in Salina, Kansas, according to a statement from police.Officer Michael Chandler was dispatched to that location and contacted Dirksen inside the business.Dirksen resisted Officer Chandler’s efforts to arrest him, and a physical altercation ensued. Dirksen was able to break free from Officer Chandler and fled outside. Officer Chandler caught Dirksen across the street from the Pump Mart and tackled him to the ground. During the struggle on the ground, Dirksen pulled on Officer Chandler’s sidearm, and then Officer Chandler heard the sound of a gunshot. Dirksen was able to break free, and fled into a nearby residential area. Officer Chandler checked his handgun, and it was still secured in his holster.With the assistance of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol, Dirksen was located hiding in the area and was taken into custody without further incident. A handgun was found in the area where Officer Chandler and Dirksen were struggling on the ground, and the gunshot was heard.No one was injured by the gunfire, but Officer Chandler and Dirksen suffered minor injuries from the physical confrontation.Dirksen was booked into the Saline County Jail requested charges of&nbsp;Attempted Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer, Attempted Aggravated Burglary, Felony Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm in the City Limits, Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property. In addition, Dirksen was booked on three Salina Municipal Court warrants for failure to appear and one Saline County District Court warrant for failure to appear.Dirksen has previous convictions for criminal threat, endangering a child, harassment by telephone and fir drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

Police: Gunshot during altercation with Kan. officer during arrest

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Riley County man on numerous charges after an arrest&nbsp;

Just after 8p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for theft in the 11,900 block of Crooked Creek Rd. near Leonardville, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 50-year-old man reported a 23-year-old male suspect later identified as 23-year-old Brandon Welty of Riley, stole multiple guns, credit cards, bow and arrows, keys, liquor and $200 cash. 

Junction City Police arrested Welty and he was booked into the Geary County Jail early Thursday on requested charges of possession of stolen property; value less than $1,500, possession of stolen property; Firearm with value less than $25,000, transporting an open container, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of stimulant, interference with law enforcement,&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body and&nbsp;Traffic contraband in corr/care facility; Intro item on grounds, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645718126129.png" alt="Welty-photo Geary County" />
 <figcaption>Welty-photo Geary County</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Riley County man on numerous charges after an arrest&nbsp;Just after 8p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for theft in the 11,900 block of Crooked Creek Rd. near Leonardville, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 50-year-old man reported a 23-year-old male suspect later identified as 23-year-old Brandon Welty of Riley, stole multiple guns, credit cards, bow and arrows, keys, liquor and $200 cash. Junction City Police arrested Welty and he was booked into the Geary County Jail early Thursday on requested charges of possession of stolen property; value less than $1,500, possession of stolen property; Firearm with value less than $25,000, transporting an open container, criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of stimulant, interference with law enforcement,&nbsp;Use/possess w/intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body and&nbsp;Traffic contraband in corr/care facility; Intro item on grounds, according to online jail records.

RCPD: Riley man jailed for weapons and cash theft

MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a juvenile after an incident in Manhattan.&nbsp;

Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for aggravated assault in the 1400 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity Report.

A 54-year-old woman reported an 11-year-old boy threatened her with a knife. The 11-year-old was arrested, processed through juvenile intake, and released to a family member. In compliance with the Kansas Open Records Act, the RCPD released no further offender information.

MANHATTAN —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a juvenile after an incident in Manhattan.&nbsp;Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, officers filed a report for aggravated assault in the 1400 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity Report.A 54-year-old woman reported an 11-year-old boy threatened her with a knife. The 11-year-old was arrested, processed through juvenile intake, and released to a family member. In compliance with the Kansas Open Records Act, the RCPD released no further offender information.

RCPD: 11-year-old threatened woman with a knife

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—A suspect wounded in an officer-involved shooting is now in a Kansas jail.

Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agents arrested 31-year-old Donald Barden Jr., of Leavenworth, as he was discharged from the University of Kansas Rehabilitation Center.

Just before 5 a.m. on February 13, a woman called 911 to report that a male acquaintance was near 4th&nbsp;Street and Miami Street in Leavenworth, and was armed with a handgun.

Preliminary information indicates that officers from the Leavenworth Police Department, the Lansing Police Department, and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area.

 Upon arriving they located an armed man standing in the middle of the street at the intersection of 5th&nbsp;Street and Seneca Street. They blocked traffic and began to negotiate with the man, who was later identified as Donald Barden Jr., 31, of Leavenworth. From a distance, they attempted to convince him to drop his gun. During the incident Barden ignored commands, waved his gun around, and made suicidal statements.

At approximately 6:20 a.m., Barden ran toward officers while pointing his gun in their direction. One officer from the Leavenworth Police Department and one officer from the Lansing Police Department fired rounds toward Barden, striking him. At the same time, another officer from the Leavenworth Police Department fired bean bag rounds at Barden.&nbsp;

Officers then rendered aid to Barden. EMS, who had been waiting nearby during the incident, responded and took over life-saving measures. EMS transported Barden to the KU Medical Center in critical, but stable condition.

Barden is being held in the Leavenworth County Jail on requested charges that include three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645670530417.png" alt="Barden, Jr. has previous convictions for robbery and burglary, according to the KDOC-photo Leavenworth Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Barden, Jr. has previous convictions for robbery and burglary, according to the KDOC-photo Leavenworth Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—A suspect wounded in an officer-involved shooting is now in a Kansas jail.Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agents arrested 31-year-old Donald Barden Jr., of Leavenworth, as he was discharged from the University of Kansas Rehabilitation Center.Just before 5 a.m. on February 13, a woman called 911 to report that a male acquaintance was near 4th&nbsp;Street and Miami Street in Leavenworth, and was armed with a handgun.Preliminary information indicates that officers from the Leavenworth Police Department, the Lansing Police Department, and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area. Upon arriving they located an armed man standing in the middle of the street at the intersection of 5th&nbsp;Street and Seneca Street. They blocked traffic and began to negotiate with the man, who was later identified as Donald Barden Jr., 31, of Leavenworth. From a distance, they attempted to convince him to drop his gun. During the incident Barden ignored commands, waved his gun around, and made suicidal statements.At approximately 6:20 a.m., Barden ran toward officers while pointing his gun in their direction. One officer from the Leavenworth Police Department and one officer from the Lansing Police Department fired rounds toward Barden, striking him. At the same time, another officer from the Leavenworth Police Department fired bean bag rounds at Barden.&nbsp;Officers then rendered aid to Barden. EMS, who had been waiting nearby during the incident, responded and took over life-saving measures. EMS transported Barden to the KU Medical Center in critical, but stable condition.Barden is being held in the Leavenworth County Jail on requested charges that include three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.----------

Man wounded in Kan. officer-shooting moved from hospital to jail

LA CROSSE COUNTY, WI —Law enforcement authorities in Wisconsin are investigating a Kansas man on drug allegations.

On Saturday, police arrested 22-year-old Jimmy Castillo of Topeka on requested charges that included&nbsp; possession of meth with intent to deliver and he is being held on a $250,000 bond, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Authorities received an anonymous tip someone would be delivering meth to a hotel in the central Wisconsin community of Onalaska on Saturday, according to La Crosse Police.

Shortly after Castillo arrived, police arrested him. Castillo admitted he had meth in his backpack. 

Investigators say the 15 pounds of meth has a street value is about $250,000 and is the largest one-time seizure for La Crosse law enforcement. Castillo is due back in court on March 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645616424955.png" alt="Castillo-photo La Crosse Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Castillo-photo La Crosse Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LA CROSSE COUNTY, WI —Law enforcement authorities in Wisconsin are investigating a Kansas man on drug allegations.On Saturday, police arrested 22-year-old Jimmy Castillo of Topeka on requested charges that included&nbsp; possession of meth with intent to deliver and he is being held on a $250,000 bond, according to online jail records.&nbsp;&nbsp;Authorities received an anonymous tip someone would be delivering meth to a hotel in the central Wisconsin community of Onalaska on Saturday, according to La Crosse Police.Shortly after Castillo arrived, police arrested him. Castillo admitted he had meth in his backpack. Investigators say the 15 pounds of meth has a street value is about $250,000 and is the largest one-time seizure for La Crosse law enforcement. Castillo is due back in court on March 2.