SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and continue to search for a suspect.

Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the Dillons store at 2010 SE 29th Street in Topeka in reference to a stabbing that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Michael Hern.

The male victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace, according to Hern. An area search was conducted. Police have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654167037449.png" alt="The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and continue to search for a suspect.Just after 2:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the Dillons store at 2010 SE 29th Street in Topeka in reference to a stabbing that had just occurred, according to Police Lt. Michael Hern.The male victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;The possible suspect vehicle was located abandoned in the 2200 block of SW Edgewater Terrace, according to Hern. An area search was conducted. Police have not reported an arrest.

Police search for suspect after Kan. man stabbed at Dillons

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Missouri man has been convicted of killing a woman he was accused of stalking and faces life in prison when he's sentenced in October. 

The Kansas City Star reports that a Johnson County jury found 44-year-old Clyde James Barnes Jr., of Kansas City, guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder and other counts in the July 2020 killing of 42-year-old Jessica Smith in her Olathe home. 

Barnes was also found guilty of aggravated burglary, unlawful tampering with electronic monitoring, criminal threat and violation of a protection order. Olathe police who were responding to a burglary call at Smith's home found her body inside and arrested Barnes hours later. At the time, Barnes was out on bond for a stalking charge involving Smith, but the charge was later dismissed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594330565958.png" alt="Barnes-photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Barnes-photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Missouri man has been convicted of killing a woman he was accused of stalking and faces life in prison when he's sentenced in October. The Kansas City Star reports that a Johnson County jury found 44-year-old Clyde James Barnes Jr., of Kansas City, guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder and other counts in the July 2020 killing of 42-year-old Jessica Smith in her Olathe home. Barnes was also found guilty of aggravated burglary, unlawful tampering with electronic monitoring, criminal threat and violation of a protection order. Olathe police who were responding to a burglary call at Smith's home found her body inside and arrested Barnes hours later. At the time, Barnes was out on bond for a stalking charge involving Smith, but the charge was later dismissed.

Man guilty of killing Kan. woman he was accused of stalking

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County is now offering an increased reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case of Kurt Krueger, who was killed last month in a West Wichita neighborhood

An anonymous donor has offered an additional $5,000 in reward funds to be paid to the tipster who provides the information. This is in addition to the award already offered by our program, bringing the maximum possible reward to $7,500 for this case.

On May 1, at around 2:00 a.m. WPD officers responded to a report of a man down in the roadway in the 7900 block of West Cottontail in Wichita. Officers located Krueger unconscious and not breathing. He was pronounced deceased on scene.

Investigators learned that Krueger was walking in the neighborhood where he lives, approximately 20-30 minutes before his body was found. They believe he was struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.

Anyone with information regarding a crime that occurred in Sedgwick County is eligible to receive a reward by submitting a tip through Crime Stoppers by calling **TIPS, 316-267-2111 or online at www.stopcrime316.com. Tipsters are always anonymous – Crime Stoppers will never ask someone to identify themselves. If your information leads to an arrest in a felony case, you could be eligible to receive up to $2,500.

Crime Stoppers is a division of the non-profit Wichita Metro Crime Commission. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1651519978529.png" alt="photo of the suspect vehicle -Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>photo of the suspect vehicle -Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County is now offering an increased reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case of Kurt Krueger, who was killed last month in a West Wichita neighborhoodAn anonymous donor has offered an additional $5,000 in reward funds to be paid to the tipster who provides the information. This is in addition to the award already offered by our program, bringing the maximum possible reward to $7,500 for this case.On May 1, at around 2:00 a.m. WPD officers responded to a report of a man down in the roadway in the 7900 block of West Cottontail in Wichita. Officers located Krueger unconscious and not breathing. He was pronounced deceased on scene.Investigators learned that Krueger was walking in the neighborhood where he lives, approximately 20-30 minutes before his body was found. They believe he was struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.Anyone with information regarding a crime that occurred in Sedgwick County is eligible to receive a reward by submitting a tip through Crime Stoppers by calling **TIPS, 316-267-2111 or online at www.stopcrime316.com. Tipsters are always anonymous – Crime Stoppers will never ask someone to identify themselves. If your information leads to an arrest in a felony case, you could be eligible to receive up to $2,500.Crime Stoppers is a division of the non-profit Wichita Metro Crime Commission.

Reward: Search continues for vehicle in death of Kansas man

RENO COUNTY — A preliminary hearing is set for Thursday morning in Reno County District Court for a Hutchinson man facing two counts of first-degree murder.

Kyle Hardwick is accused in the deaths of 58-year-old Philip Anstine and 56-year-old Marion Bates in August of 2021.

Police arrested Hardwick in Maize Sept. 1 after he was listed as a person of interest after authorities discovered the bodies of Bates and Anstine on a property in eastern Reno County.

Thursday’s hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in front of Judge Joe McCarville.

----------- RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double homicide in Reno County have found the 2000 red Ford F-150 truck connected to the crime, according to a social media report from the Reno County Sheriff's Department.

Someone called authorities on a suspicious vehicle in a rural area of Reno county and it matched the description of the suspect vehicle.

Kyle Hardwick, 37, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 56-year-old Marion Edward Bates and 58-year-old Phillip Duane Anstine.

Police arrested Hardwick in&nbsp; Maize Sept. 1 after he was&nbsp; listed as a person of interest when two bodies were discovered on a property in eastern Reno County. The truck had been missing since the crime was discovered.

The sheriff’s department says it hopes that the truck will bring about new information that will assist in the investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630599777911.png" alt="Hardwick-photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Hardwick-photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — A preliminary hearing is set for Thursday morning in Reno County District Court for a Hutchinson man facing two counts of first-degree murder.Kyle Hardwick is accused in the deaths of 58-year-old Philip Anstine and 56-year-old Marion Bates in August of 2021.Police arrested Hardwick in Maize Sept. 1 after he was listed as a person of interest after authorities discovered the bodies of Bates and Anstine on a property in eastern Reno County.Thursday’s hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in front of Judge Joe McCarville.----------- RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a double homicide in Reno County have found the 2000 red Ford F-150 truck connected to the crime, according to a social media report from the Reno County Sheriff's Department.Someone called authorities on a suspicious vehicle in a rural area of Reno county and it matched the description of the suspect vehicle.Kyle Hardwick, 37, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 56-year-old Marion Edward Bates and 58-year-old Phillip Duane Anstine.Police arrested Hardwick in&nbsp; Maize Sept. 1 after he was&nbsp; listed as a person of interest when two bodies were discovered on a property in eastern Reno County. The truck had been missing since the crime was discovered.The sheriff’s department says it hopes that the truck will bring about new information that will assist in the investigation.&nbsp;

Preliminary hearing to begin in Kansas double murder

RENO COUNTY— Police arrested a Hutchinson man after he allegedly threatened to harm his co-workers at a business in Hutchinson business.

On Tuesday afternoon, police detained 24-year-old Andrew Patterson during a traffic stop after law enforcement received information that he had made the threatening comments, according to a media release.

During the stop, police found detailed plans in Patterson’s vehicle to carry out an act of mass violence against the employees. A search warrant was executed at his residence where additional evidence related to the plan was collected.

Patterson was taken into custody on requested charges of domestic terrorism. His bond has been set at $3,000,000. Formal charges are pending.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654095767992.jpeg" alt="Patterson-photo Reno County" />
 <figcaption>Patterson-photo Reno County</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY— Police arrested a Hutchinson man after he allegedly threatened to harm his co-workers at a business in Hutchinson business.On Tuesday afternoon, police detained 24-year-old Andrew Patterson during a traffic stop after law enforcement received information that he had made the threatening comments, according to a media release.During the stop, police found detailed plans in Patterson’s vehicle to carry out an act of mass violence against the employees. A search warrant was executed at his residence where additional evidence related to the plan was collected.Patterson was taken into custody on requested charges of domestic terrorism. His bond has been set at $3,000,000. Formal charges are pending.

Police: Kan. man had plan for mass violence against co-workers

RILEY COUNTY—A Manhattan man arrested in connection with a violent pocket knife attack faces attempted murder charges, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report. 

Mark Nicholas Rickenbaker, 32, is being held without bond on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Attempted murder in the 2nd degree; Intentional Aggravated battery; Knowingly use physical contact in angry/rude manner w/weapon, according to the RCPD.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a violent crime in Manhattan and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery in the 1300 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 27-year-old man reported a 32-year-old male suspect identified&nbsp; as Mark Rickenbacker stabbed him in the neck with a pocket knife.

The victim was treated at Via Christi and later released.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, police asked the public for help to locate Rickenbacker in connection with the case. Just after 2p.m. the RCPD reported they had him in custody.&nbsp; Police have not released any requested charges.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent crime in Manhattan and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.

Police would like to speak to Rickenbacker in connection with the case. He is 5-foot-9, weighs 170 pounds, has&nbsp; brown eyes and brown hair. 

If you have any information on Rickenbacker's whereabouts, please contact the Riley County Police Department at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1654022436875.png" alt="Rickenbaker-photo RCPD" />
 <figcaption>Rickenbaker-photo RCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—A Manhattan man arrested in connection with a violent pocket knife attack faces attempted murder charges, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report. Mark Nicholas Rickenbaker, 32, is being held without bond on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Attempted murder in the 2nd degree; Intentional Aggravated battery; Knowingly use physical contact in angry/rude manner w/weapon, according to the RCPD.------RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a violent crime in Manhattan and have a suspect in custody.Just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery in the 1300 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 27-year-old man reported a 32-year-old male suspect identified&nbsp; as Mark Rickenbacker stabbed him in the neck with a pocket knife.The victim was treated at Via Christi and later released.&nbsp;On Tuesday, police asked the public for help to locate Rickenbacker in connection with the case. Just after 2p.m. the RCPD reported they had him in custody.&nbsp; Police have not released any requested charges.----------RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent crime in Manhattan and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.Just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery in the 1300 block of Flint Hills Pl. in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 27-year-old man reported a 32-year-old male suspect identified&nbsp; as Mark Rickenbacker stabbed him in the neck with a pocket knife.Police would like to speak to Rickenbacker in connection with the case. He is 5-foot-9, weighs 170 pounds, has&nbsp; brown eyes and brown hair. The victim was treated at Via Christi and later released.&nbsp;If you have any information on Rickenbacker's whereabouts, please contact the Riley County Police Department at (785) 537-2112 or Crime Stoppers at (785) 539-7777. Using the Crime Stoppers service allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Suspect in pocket knife attack faces attempted murder charge

SEWARD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspect in connection with a home robbery in southwest Kansas.

Just before 7p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to report of an armed robbery at a home in the 900 Block of Milwood Circle in Liberal, according to a media release.

Investigators learned two men held a man at gunpoint and took several items from the residence.

Police quickly located the vehicle used in the robbery and followed the suspects. The chase continued into Beaver County, Oklahoma. Deputies in Oklahoma chased the suspects into Ochiltree County, Texas, where the getaway car ran out of gas. Two men and two women were arrested.

Deputies located property from the robbery and a handgun in the vehicle and along the highway.&nbsp; Deputies h

SEWARD COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspect in connection with a home robbery in southwest Kansas.Just before 7p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to report of an armed robbery at a home in the 900 Block of Milwood Circle in Liberal, according to a media release.Investigators learned two men held a man at gunpoint and took several items from the residence.Police quickly located the vehicle used in the robbery and followed the suspects. The chase continued into Beaver County, Oklahoma. Deputies in Oklahoma chased the suspects into Ochiltree County, Texas, where the getaway car ran out of gas. Two men and two women were arrested.Deputies located property from the robbery and a handgun in the vehicle and along the highway.&nbsp; Deputies h

Suspects arrested for Kan. home robbery after 3-state chase

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Texas woman on drug charges after a traffic stop.

Just before 4a.m. Sunday,&nbsp; a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Honda passenger car near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, Megan Michelle Brown, 26, of Dallas, Texas was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of cocaine and possession of a hallucinogenic drug.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653993738376.png" alt="Brown-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Brown-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Texas woman on drug charges after a traffic stop.Just before 4a.m. Sunday,&nbsp; a sheriff’s deputy stopped a Honda passenger car near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, Megan Michelle Brown, 26, of Dallas, Texas was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of cocaine and possession of a hallucinogenic drug.

Sheriff: Texas woman jailed in Kansas for transporting cocaine

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — First she saw the graphic cellphone video showing Ahmaud Arbery’s shooting death in Georgia, then news that Breonna Taylor had been shot in her Kentucky home during a botched drug raid. But when Teresa Parks watched videos of the white Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee onto a Black man’s neck, and heard George Floyd cry out for his mother as his life drained away, she was spurred not just to tears, but also to action.

After Floyd’s May 2020 death, Parks and a friend formed a Black Lives Matter group in their hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, a largely white city that had elected no Black leaders since 1969. Parks’ activism led to her appointment to a task force that city leaders said was designed to make the community more welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds.

That task force issued a report in December 2021 with more than 60 recommendations, but so far the city commission hasn’t discussed them. And that’s not unusual. All over Kansas, elected leaders convened task forces or held town hall meetings to gather community input on racial justice and diversity issues after demonstrators in more than a dozen communities protested Floyd’s death. But almost two years later, the passion and energy evident in those protests hasn’t translated into widespread change.

One of the most common results has been formalizing changes that had already been made. Topeka and Lawrence police banned “no-knock” search warrants, for example, but police in both cities had already discontinued the practice. In several Kansas cities including Wichita and Kansas City, police have put into writing the practices they said they had already adopted.

Lauren Bonds, the legal director for a New Orleans-based group of lawyers, legal workers and law students called the National Police Accountability Project, said local leaders sometimes form working groups when they want to appear to be on the right side of an issue but lack the political will to make real change.

“You’ll put some people of color on it, and then you’ll be able to point to that when someone says you didn’t respond to this egregious situation, but then you don’t actually have to change anything,” said Bonds, who is based in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Hispanic population in Kansas has more than quadrupled over the last 30 years, largely because of immigrants attracted to jobs in the meatpacking industry in the southwest of the state, and the Black population grew 15% between 1990 and 2020. But Kansas remains largely white and non-Hispanic; 72% of residents self-identified as such in the 2020 census and the Kansas Legislature was 92% white that year according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Proposals pushed by advocacy groups on behalf of racial justice in Kansas typically stall. After the Floyd protests, for example, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly appointed a committee on racial equity and justice, saying “communities of color do not have the luxury of time for leaders to address these issues.” But neither the panel nor the governor pushed the Legislature to adopt the group’s recommendations.

And this year, the momentum in the Republican-controlled Legislature swung away from racial justice toward limiting what public schools teach about racism and tightening voting laws.

Kevin Willmott, a University of Kansas film professor who in 2019 won the best adapted screenplay Oscar for “BlacKkKlansman,” said that when elected officials create task force groups, they often face little opposition, giving people hope that they can bring change.

“But then the task force doesn’t change anything,” Willmott said. “So it appears on the surface like you’re being brought to water, but you’re not allowed to drink.”

“They know that you just allow the focus to drift away and then you get to go back to normal. Until the next George Floyd, which might be in Kansas. You never know,” he said.

Post-Floyd racial justice efforts in other Kansas cities have seen mixed results.

In Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, then-Mayor David Alvey created a task force in 2020 to discuss policing practices, but he told task force members not to advocate for specific changes during meetings.

“It was such a politically charged atmosphere,” Alvey said. “I wanted to keep the politics out of it as much as possible.”

About a quarter of Wyandotte County’s population is Black and voters have elected a similar percentage of Black commissioners since 2005. Alvey narrowly lost reelection last year to Tyrone Garner, who became the community’s first Black mayor. Garner, who previously served as deputy police chief, ran for office on a police reform platform. He also announced a new committee to look into policing practices, which he said would — unlike his predecessor’s group — craft proposals for the city to vote on. The committee held introductory meetings last month.

Garner’s views of the community and policing have been shaped by his years as a police officer. Early in his career, a Black police major told him about how minority officers previously weren’t allowed to arrest or interact with white residents. Stories like that prompted Garner to pay attention to how colleagues talked about minority police leaders and officers.

Among other things, Garner hopes his new task force will consider requiring an outside law enforcement agency to conduct police misconduct investigations.

Discussions are in progress in other Kansas communities. In Topeka, a task force set up by a former mayor is reviewing police policies in response to proposals to ban chokeholds, prohibit officers from firing at fleeing suspects and create an independent citizen panel to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The group has met for almost two years and hasn’t made any recommendations to the City Council.

City commissioners in Salina approved a 2020 proposal to create a new citizens review board, but advocates were disappointed that it didn’t give the board authority to investigate complaints.

In the affluent Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village, where Black residents make up about 1% of the population, the city’s budget this year included $10,000 for a diversity committee that is using some of the funds to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

After rallies in the southwestern Kansas community of Liberal following Floyd’s death, the city held a town hall where attendees discussed their experiences with racism. Latinos make up almost two-thirds of Liberal’s population.

About a month after the meeting, Liberal city commissioners passed an ordinance calling for similar public forums as needed, but so far no other meetings have occurred.

Racial justice advocate Kathleen Alonso pushed for the ordinance, but told the AP that she had shifted focus to increasing voter turnout. In November, Liberal elected two Hispanic members to the city commission, including its first Latina city commissioner.

In Manhattan, Parks, the local Black Lives Matter founder, is hopeful instead of frustrated that the city hasn’t yet taken up the task force’s more than 60 recommendations. Many of them are outside the city government’s control, but some are in its purview, including the hiring of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer to work across city-sponsored organizations.

Through her involvement, Parks has gained a line of communication with police that enables her to share information with other residents when they’re worried about something they’re hearing or seeing on social media. That’s leading to a better relationship between police and Black residents, who make up about 6% of the community, and that was one of Parks’ main goals.

Shortly before her Black Lives Matter group’s 2020 demonstration, Parks met an officer to contact with concerns. That new line of communication was tested that year when a witness made a video recording of a man who appeared to be having a seizure while he was detained in handcuffs. Parks contacted the officer and learned from police that they had kept him in handcuffs to prevent him from injuring himself.

“They answered every single question that we had and we were able to bring that back and kind of give people a little bit of clarity about the situation,” Parks said.

It’s all aimed at meeting Parks’ goal of avoiding a high-profile police killing like George Floyd’s in Manhattan.

“To hear that grown man call out for his mother — I just couldn’t — I can’t even talk about it,” Parks said, her voice shaking. “That is just something I would never want to see for my kids.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653754980517.png" alt="Marchers in the Little Apple Pride Parade-from the organization's Facebook page." />
 <figcaption>Marchers in the Little Apple Pride Parade-from the organization's Facebook page.</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANDY TSUBASA FIELDTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — First she saw the graphic cellphone video showing Ahmaud Arbery’s shooting death in Georgia, then news that Breonna Taylor had been shot in her Kentucky home during a botched drug raid. But when Teresa Parks watched videos of the white Minneapolis police officer pressing his knee onto a Black man’s neck, and heard George Floyd cry out for his mother as his life drained away, she was spurred not just to tears, but also to action.After Floyd’s May 2020 death, Parks and a friend formed a Black Lives Matter group in their hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, a largely white city that had elected no Black leaders since 1969. Parks’ activism led to her appointment to a task force that city leaders said was designed to make the community more welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds.That task force issued a report in December 2021 with more than 60 recommendations, but so far the city commission hasn’t discussed them. And that’s not unusual. All over Kansas, elected leaders convened task forces or held town hall meetings to gather community input on racial justice and diversity issues after demonstrators in more than a dozen communities protested Floyd’s death. But almost two years later, the passion and energy evident in those protests hasn’t translated into widespread change.One of the most common results has been formalizing changes that had already been made. Topeka and Lawrence police banned “no-knock” search warrants, for example, but police in both cities had already discontinued the practice. In several Kansas cities including Wichita and Kansas City, police have put into writing the practices they said they had already adopted.Lauren Bonds, the legal director for a New Orleans-based group of lawyers, legal workers and law students called the National Police Accountability Project, said local leaders sometimes form working groups when they want to appear to be on the right side of an issue but lack the political will to make real change.“You’ll put some people of color on it, and then you’ll be able to point to that when someone says you didn’t respond to this egregious situation, but then you don’t actually have to change anything,” said Bonds, who is based in Kansas City, Kansas.The Hispanic population in Kansas has more than quadrupled over the last 30 years, largely because of immigrants attracted to jobs in the meatpacking industry in the southwest of the state, and the Black population grew 15% between 1990 and 2020. But Kansas remains largely white and non-Hispanic; 72% of residents self-identified as such in the 2020 census and the Kansas Legislature was 92% white that year according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.Proposals pushed by advocacy groups on behalf of racial justice in Kansas typically stall. After the Floyd protests, for example, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly appointed a committee on racial equity and justice, saying “communities of color do not have the luxury of time for leaders to address these issues.” But neither the panel nor the governor pushed the Legislature to adopt the group’s recommendations.And this year, the momentum in the Republican-controlled Legislature swung away from racial justice toward limiting what public schools teach about racism and tightening voting laws.Kevin Willmott, a University of Kansas film professor who in 2019 won the best adapted screenplay Oscar for “BlacKkKlansman,” said that when elected officials create task force groups, they often face little opposition, giving people hope that they can bring change.“But then the task force doesn’t change anything,” Willmott said. “So it appears on the surface like you’re being brought to water, but you’re not allowed to drink.”“They know that you just allow the focus to drift away and then you get to go back to normal. Until the next George Floyd, which might be in Kansas. You never know,” he said.Post-Floyd racial justice efforts in other Kansas cities have seen mixed results.In Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, then-Mayor David Alvey created a task force in 2020 to discuss policing practices, but he told task force members not to advocate for specific changes during meetings.“It was such a politically charged atmosphere,” Alvey said. “I wanted to keep the politics out of it as much as possible.”About a quarter of Wyandotte County’s population is Black and voters have elected a similar percentage of Black commissioners since 2005. Alvey narrowly lost reelection last year to Tyrone Garner, who became the community’s first Black mayor. Garner, who previously served as deputy police chief, ran for office on a police reform platform. He also announced a new committee to look into policing practices, which he said would — unlike his predecessor’s group — craft proposals for the city to vote on. The committee held introductory meetings last month.Garner’s views of the community and policing have been shaped by his years as a police officer. Early in his career, a Black police major told him about how minority officers previously weren’t allowed to arrest or interact with white residents. Stories like that prompted Garner to pay attention to how colleagues talked about minority police leaders and officers.Among other things, Garner hopes his new task force will consider requiring an outside law enforcement agency to conduct police misconduct investigations.Discussions are in progress in other Kansas communities. In Topeka, a task force set up by a former mayor is reviewing police policies in response to proposals to ban chokeholds, prohibit officers from firing at fleeing suspects and create an independent citizen panel to investigate allegations of police misconduct. The group has met for almost two years and hasn’t made any recommendations to the City Council.City commissioners in Salina approved a 2020 proposal to create a new citizens review board, but advocates were disappointed that it didn’t give the board authority to investigate complaints.In the affluent Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village, where Black residents make up about 1% of the population, the city’s budget this year included $10,000 for a diversity committee that is using some of the funds to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.After rallies in the southwestern Kansas community of Liberal following Floyd’s death, the city held a town hall where attendees discussed their experiences with racism. Latinos make up almost two-thirds of Liberal’s population.About a month after the meeting, Liberal city commissioners passed an ordinance calling for similar public forums as needed, but so far no other meetings have occurred.Racial justice advocate Kathleen Alonso pushed for the ordinance, but told the AP that she had shifted focus to increasing voter turnout. In November, Liberal elected two Hispanic members to the city commission, including its first Latina city commissioner.In Manhattan, Parks, the local Black Lives Matter founder, is hopeful instead of frustrated that the city hasn’t yet taken up the task force’s more than 60 recommendations. Many of them are outside the city government’s control, but some are in its purview, including the hiring of a diversity, equity and inclusion officer to work across city-sponsored organizations.Through her involvement, Parks has gained a line of communication with police that enables her to share information with other residents when they’re worried about something they’re hearing or seeing on social media. That’s leading to a better relationship between police and Black residents, who make up about 6% of the community, and that was one of Parks’ main goals.Shortly before her Black Lives Matter group’s 2020 demonstration, Parks met an officer to contact with concerns. That new line of communication was tested that year when a witness made a video recording of a man who appeared to be having a seizure while he was detained in handcuffs. Parks contacted the officer and learned from police that they had kept him in handcuffs to prevent him from injuring himself.“They answered every single question that we had and we were able to bring that back and kind of give people a little bit of clarity about the situation,” Parks said.It’s all aimed at meeting Parks’ goal of avoiding a high-profile police killing like George Floyd’s in Manhattan.“To hear that grown man call out for his mother — I just couldn’t — I can’t even talk about it,” Parks said, her voice shaking. “That is just something I would never want to see for my kids.”___

Kansas equity efforts bring little change after George Floyd

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a school teacher for alleged child sex crimes.

Allen Sylvester, 51, who is listed as a <a href="https://www.usd320.com/vnews/display.v/StaffDirectory">science teacher </a>in Wamego, according to the USD 320 web site, is in custody on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child and electronic solicitation, "Offender believes child &gt;14&lt;16." according to online jail records.

Sylvester is being held on a $100,000 bond. USD 320 has not issued a statement on the arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1654007129515.png" alt="Sylvester-photo Wabaunsee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sylvester-photo Wabaunsee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a school teacher for alleged child sex crimes.Allen Sylvester, 51, who is listed as a <a href="https://www.usd320.com/vnews/display.v/StaffDirectory">science teacher </a>in Wamego, according to the USD 320 web site, is in custody on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child and electronic solicitation, "Offender believes child &gt;14&lt;16." according to online jail records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1654008255967.png" alt="Image USD 320" />
 <figcaption>Image USD 320</figcaption>
 </figure>Sylvester is being held on a $100,000 bond. USD 320 has not issued a statement on the arrest.

Wamego teacher jailed for alleged child sex crimes

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Saturday shooting have made an arrest.

Just before 10p.m., Saturday officers responded to a shooting at an apartment complex&nbsp;in the 4900 block of East Harry. Upon their arrival, they located 30-year-old Emmanuel Hardy of Wichita outside of the residence with gunshot wounds, according to Office Paul Cruz. EMS transported Hardy&nbsp;to an area hospital where he died.

The investigation revealed 27-year-old Roger Gale and Hardy were in a verbal disturbance that&nbsp;stemmed from a prior verbal argument while Gale was walking his dog, according to Cruz.&nbsp; 

During the disturbance Gale fired several shots at a 39-year-old woman and Hardy. Hardy was shot several times which caused his fatal injuries.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20064899">Gale remains jailed </a>on requested charges of first degree murder and aggravated assault on a $250,000 bond, according to online jail records.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653857468279.png" alt="Gale-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gale-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal Saturday shooting have made an arrest.Just before 10p.m., Saturday officers responded to a shooting at an apartment complex&nbsp;in the 4900 block of East Harry. Upon their arrival, they located 30-year-old Emmanuel Hardy of Wichita outside of the residence with gunshot wounds, according to Office Paul Cruz. EMS transported Hardy&nbsp;to an area hospital where he died.The investigation revealed 27-year-old Roger Gale and Hardy were in a verbal disturbance that&nbsp;stemmed from a prior verbal argument while Gale was walking his dog, according to Cruz.&nbsp; During the disturbance Gale fired several shots at a 39-year-old woman and Hardy. Hardy was shot several times which caused his fatal injuries.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20064899">Gale remains jailed </a>on requested charges of first degree murder and aggravated assault on a $250,000 bond, according to online jail records.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.

Dispute while Kansas man walked his dog led to murder

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a confrontation in northeast Kansas.

On May 28, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a theft in progress at Walmart in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies observed two individuals, later identified as Monica Ann Bustamante, 43, of Junction City, Kansas, and John Richard Tidwell, 47, of St. Louis, Missouri, inside the store allegedly concealing merchandise.

Law enforcement confronted both individuals as they were leaving the store. During the investigation, stolen merchandise was recovered and it is was discovered Tidwell was on federal supervised release from previous weapons charges, as well as distribution and manufacturing methamphetamine, according to Morse.

    A search of the vehicle associated with the pair revealed multiple items of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine.  Tidwell and Bustamante were arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail. Both subjects were booked into the Jail on requested charges of theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine, according to Morse. Bustamante is no longer in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653994131055.png" alt="Tidwell-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Tidwell-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects after a confrontation in northeast Kansas.On May 28, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a theft in progress at Walmart in Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies observed two individuals, later identified as Monica Ann Bustamante, 43, of Junction City, Kansas, and John Richard Tidwell, 47, of St. Louis, Missouri, inside the store allegedly concealing merchandise.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653993995490.png" alt="Bustamante-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bustamante-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Law enforcement confronted both individuals as they were leaving the store. During the investigation, stolen merchandise was recovered and it is was discovered Tidwell was on federal supervised release from previous weapons charges, as well as distribution and manufacturing methamphetamine, according to Morse. A search of the vehicle associated with the pair revealed multiple items of drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. Tidwell and Bustamante were arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail. Both subjects were booked into the Jail on requested charges of theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine, according to Morse. Bustamante is no longer in custody.

Sheriff: Junction City woman jailed on theft and drug charges

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting at a weekend graduation party that fatally injured 17-year-old Boisy D. Barefield of Wichita followed by a fatal hit and run crash have identified the victim the girl who died as 15-year-old&nbsp; Jaxson Hunt of Wichita, according to Office Paul Cruz.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting at The Banquet Hall located in the 3100 block of East 25th&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz.

 Upon arriving at the scene, they located Boisy inside with a gunshot wound. EMS transported Boisy to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.

The initial investigation revealed there was a graduation party with several people in attendance. During the party, a disturbance ensued between two groups that led to shots being fired striking Boisy.

Hunt was fleeing the gunfire at the party and was struck at the intersection of 25th&nbsp;Street North and Estelle, by 18-year-old Samara Rockmore, who fled the pedestrian accident in her vehicle. 

EMS transported the 15-year-old girl to an area hospital where she later died from her injuries, according to Cruz.

Rockmore was later located and arrested and booked for felony hit and run.&nbsp;

Investigators are still trying to determine what led up to the shooting. Lack of cooperation has made the investigation difficult to determine all the details of the case, according to Cruz.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that fatally injured 17-year-old Boisy D. Barefield of Wichita, and a hit and run that fatally injured 15-year-old female of Wichita.

At approximately 11:20 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting at The Banquet Hall located in the 3100 block of East 25th&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz.

The initial investigation revealed there was a graduation party with several people in attendance. During the party, a disturbance ensued between two groups that led to shots being fired striking Boisy. 

A 15-year-old girl who was fleeing the gunfire at the party was struck at the intersection of 25th&nbsp;Street North and Estelle, by 18-year-old Samara Rockmore, who fled the pedestrian accident in her vehicle. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653961867307.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting at a weekend graduation party that fatally injured 17-year-old Boisy D. Barefield of Wichita followed by a fatal hit and run crash have identified the victim the girl who died as 15-year-old&nbsp; Jaxson Hunt of Wichita, according to Office Paul Cruz.Just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting at The Banquet Hall located in the 3100 block of East 25th&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz. Upon arriving at the scene, they located Boisy inside with a gunshot wound. EMS transported Boisy to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.The initial investigation revealed there was a graduation party with several people in attendance. During the party, a disturbance ensued between two groups that led to shots being fired striking Boisy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653858499131.png" alt="Rockmore-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Rockmore-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Hunt was fleeing the gunfire at the party and was struck at the intersection of 25th&nbsp;Street North and Estelle, by 18-year-old Samara Rockmore, who fled the pedestrian accident in her vehicle. EMS transported the 15-year-old girl to an area hospital where she later died from her injuries, according to Cruz.Rockmore was later located and arrested and booked for felony hit and run.&nbsp;Investigators are still trying to determine what led up to the shooting. Lack of cooperation has made the investigation difficult to determine all the details of the case, according to Cruz.-----SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that fatally injured 17-year-old Boisy D. Barefield of Wichita, and a hit and run that fatally injured 15-year-old female of Wichita.At approximately 11:20 p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting at The Banquet Hall located in the 3100 block of East 25th&nbsp;Street in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz. Upon arriving at the scene, they located Boisy inside with a gunshot wound. EMS transported Boisy to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.The initial investigation revealed there was a graduation party with several people in attendance. During the party, a disturbance ensued between two groups that led to shots being fired striking Boisy. A 15-year-old girl who was fleeing the gunfire at the party was struck at the intersection of 25th&nbsp;Street North and Estelle, by 18-year-old Samara Rockmore, who fled the pedestrian accident in her vehicle. EMS transported the 15-year-old girl to an area hospital where she later died from her injuries, according to Cruz.Rockmore was later located and arrested and booked for felony hit and run.&nbsp;Investigators are still trying to determine what led up to the shooting. Lack of cooperation has made the investigation difficult to determine all the details of the case, according to Cruz.

Police ID Kan. girl who died running from fatal shooting at grad party

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.

&nbsp; Just after 9:30p.m. Sunday,&nbsp; a sheriff's deputy stopped a 1993 Ford F-150 for a traffic infraction&nbsp;near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The driver of the vehicle, Jamie D. Perron, 50, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The passenger, Stephenie Lee Anne Wagner, 29, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653993464980.png" alt="Perron-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Perron-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a traffic stop.&nbsp; Just after 9:30p.m. Sunday,&nbsp; a sheriff's deputy stopped a 1993 Ford F-150 for a traffic infraction&nbsp;near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver of the vehicle, Jamie D. Perron, 50, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653993427798.png" alt="Wagner-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wagner-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The passenger, Stephenie Lee Anne Wagner, 29, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas deputies catch couple transporting meth 

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal crash that killed a pedestrian near Interstate 435 and Truman Road on Wednesday, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Corey M. Holloway, 22m faces Involuntary Manslaughter 1st Degree, Tampering With a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree, Resisting Arrest and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

According to court records, a GMC vehicle stopped on Wednesday evening by Kansas City police on Independence Avenue drove forward striking a police car. 

The driver then attempted to elude police. The vehicle reached speeds up to 95 mph on residential streets. As the vehicle approached Independence Avenue and Interstate 435, it traveled southbound in the northbound lanes. 

At that time, officers terminated the pursuit. Other KCPD officers located the vehicle near Truman Road and Interested 435, where the GMC had been involved in a crash involving a signal box. A pedestrian was struck by the GMC and died of those injuries.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in Kansas City are searching for a driver of a stolen pickup truck they say fatally hit a pedestrian as it fled from officers.

The chase began Wednesday afternoon on Kansas City’s east side when officers spotted the stolen pickup and tried to pull it over, police said in a news release. The truck fled, ramming a patrol car in the process.

Police said the officers called off the chase as the truck entered the northbound lanes of Interstate 435 traveling southbound. Less that a minute later, police found the body a man in the road that appeared to have been hit by the fleeing truck.

The truck was found a short distance away, and a woman who was a passenger in the truck was arrested. The driver of the truck fled on foot and, despite a search involving helicopters and police dogs, was not found, police said.

The name of the pedestrian killed was not immediately released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653581203815.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal crash that killed a pedestrian near Interstate 435 and Truman Road on Wednesday, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.Corey M. Holloway, 22m faces Involuntary Manslaughter 1st Degree, Tampering With a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree, Resisting Arrest and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653703196685.png" alt="Holloway-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Holloway-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court records, a GMC vehicle stopped on Wednesday evening by Kansas City police on Independence Avenue drove forward striking a police car. The driver then attempted to elude police. The vehicle reached speeds up to 95 mph on residential streets. As the vehicle approached Independence Avenue and Interstate 435, it traveled southbound in the northbound lanes. At that time, officers terminated the pursuit. Other KCPD officers located the vehicle near Truman Road and Interested 435, where the GMC had been involved in a crash involving a signal box. A pedestrian was struck by the GMC and died of those injuries.Prosecutors requested a $250,000 bond.----------KANSAS CITY (AP) — Police in Kansas City are searching for a driver of a stolen pickup truck they say fatally hit a pedestrian as it fled from officers.The chase began Wednesday afternoon on Kansas City’s east side when officers spotted the stolen pickup and tried to pull it over, police said in a news release. The truck fled, ramming a patrol car in the process.Police said the officers called off the chase as the truck entered the northbound lanes of Interstate 435 traveling southbound. Less that a minute later, police found the body a man in the road that appeared to have been hit by the fleeing truck.The truck was found a short distance away, and a woman who was a passenger in the truck was arrested. The driver of the truck fled on foot and, despite a search involving helicopters and police dogs, was not found, police said.The name of the pedestrian killed was not immediately released.

Man who fled KC traffic stop charged in fatal pedestrian crash

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/27/immigrants-face-new-reality-and-old-fears-under-a-kansas-law-banning-sanctuary-cities/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Alejandro Rangel-Lopez says fear is a given in a mixed-status household.

Growing up in Dodge City with an undocumented parent, Rangel-Lopez 
constantly feared his father coming home with news that immigration 
agents had detained his mother.

And he says fear of deportation kept his mother from reporting an 
abusive ex-husband who fled with their two oldest children to Mexico in 
2001.

“That’s what delayed her justice and cost her the right to see my two
 older siblings grow up,” Rangel-Lopez said. “She couldn’t see them 
until she got her green card this year, 21 years later.”

The fear of law enforcement or other government authorities that many
 immigrants experience is corrosive to a community, said Rangel-Lopez, 
the lead coordinator for New Frontiers Project, a southwest Kansas group
 working to civically empower people of color. And that’s why the 
21-year-old University of Kansas student supports city ordinances like 
the short-lived Safe and Welcoming Act in Wyandotte County that limit or
 prohibit how much city officials can cooperate with federal immigration
 enforcement.

The policy also provided immigrants a municipal identification card 
without fear of information going to U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement. But a <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/30/kansas-senate-quickly-endorses-legislation-banning-sanctuary-cities/">new state law passed with haste</a> earlier this year in response to the Wyandotte County ordinance.

Immigrants are reeling from the law and the far reaching effects it 
could have on their communities, even beyond those with welcoming 
ordinances. With a growing immigrant population, advocates warn of 
economic and criminal fallout from the legislative action.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/HB2717/">The law</a>
 prohibits local governments from taking action to prevent law 
enforcement from working with federal immigration authorities. 
Municipality ID cards are invalid when used instead of state 
identification for purposes like voter ID.

The state law undercuts not only the Wyandotte County ordinance but 
similar ones in Lawrence and Roeland Park. Immigration advocates say the
 law will have a chilling effect on the state’s economy and create 
several legal dilemmas.

A coalition of Wyandotte County organizations, including the mayor of
 Kansas City, Kansas, urged Gov. Laura Kelly to reject the measure. But <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/11/kelly-signs-bill-spiking-wyandotte-countys-adoption-of-sanctuary-city-policy/">in signing the law</a>,
 Kelly said immigration reform “cannot be resolved at the municipal 
level” and that the responsibility to address a “broken” system “rests 
with Congress.”

Judy Ancel, president of the Cross Border Network, a Kansas City 
organization that supports workers across borders and who cross borders,
 acknowledged the bill had enough support in the Legislature to override
 a veto, but said the governor’s action sent the wrong message to her 
immigrant supporters, many of whom are law-abiding citizens.

<a target="_blank" href="https://dashboards.mysidewalk.com/aclu-ks/immigration">Data compiled</a>
 from 2011 to 2019 by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas shows
 more than 4,000 people arrested or removed by ICE during that time, 
many of whom have not been convicted of a crime. During that time, the 
state’s population grew by more than 60,000 — driven predominantly by 
immigrants, according to the ACLU data.

ICE detainers are not arrest warrants, and immigration law is civil, not criminal, Ancel said.

“What (the new state law) says is that Kansas is really ignorant and 
backward,” Ancel said. “To families who might be thinking of moving 
here, who may or may not have undocumented people but who are 
immigrants, it says Kansas is unsafe and unwelcome to immigrant labor.”

Ancel was among the people who <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/10/why-wont-mayor-alvey-put-safe-and-welcoming-wyandotte-on-the-agenda/">spent years working to pass</a> the Safe and Welcoming Act in Wyandotte County.

For Ancel, the effort began in 2007 but did not catch the attention 
of the local government until about five years ago. Since then, Ancel 
and a coalition of community organizations knocked on doors and worked 
to create an ordinance they said would ensure a more cohesive community.

Finally, in February, Wyandotte County commissioners approved the ordinance.

“A lot of people in Wyandotte County were set to benefit from it when we passed it,” Ancel said. “Hopes were raised.”

According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wycoid.org/wyandotte-county">Safe and Welcoming Wyandotte</a>,
 as many as 30,000 people in Wyandotte County have difficulty accessing a
 government-issued ID card. That is approximately 1 in 5 people who live
 in the county, including foster children, immigrants, people without 
housing and the elderly.

Yazmin Bruno Valdez, a community organizer for Advocates for 
Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, said with the law in place and the 
information potentially liable to be used in other ways, she is advising
 against the ID.

Valdez, 21, is an immigrant, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/DACA">DACA recipient</a>,
 and lived without identification for more than 20 years. She says 
lacking an ID made her feel like she was not part of society and kept 
her from doing many of the things she wanted to do.

She was even denied entrance at first to her senior prom because she 
did not have a driver’s license or state-issued ID. Safe and Welcoming 
was an opportunity to include a community working hard but often unseen,
 Valdez said.

“To turn back around a month later and tell those same people that 
those protections we promised, that you worked hard for, were ripped 
away because of a law that passed in less than a month,” Valdez said. 
“It will completely change people’s lives — I can guarantee that.”

The law allows the attorney general, a county or district attorney to
 bring a court action to compel a municipality or person to comply with 
provisions of the law.

Wyandotte County was not the first local government to become a 
so-called “sanctuary city.” Lawrence took the initiative in 2020, 
passing an ordinance that prohibits collecting immigration-related 
information for people to access city services and limiting local law 
enforcement’s cooperation with ICE agents.

Mariel Ferreiro, co-founder and organizer with Sanctuary Alliance 
Lawrence, said incidents involving immigration enforcement agents 
driving up and down Iowa Street in town, and eventually detaining 
someone, caused a big stir that started the conversation.

Then in January 2018, ICE agents detained Syed Jamal in front of his 
home as he was preparing to take his children to school. Jamal’s case 
became <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43034784">a matter of international interest</a> amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants whose legal status in the country was in doubt.

Jamal eventually walked free, but the incident was enough to push the
 Lawrence community to enact a protective ordinance for immigrants.

“It was this idea that all citizens and community members should have
 access to city resources and immigration not be something that’s a 
barrier to them,” Ferreiro said. “Unfortunately, this (state law) 
definitely put a huge pause and now we’re kind of trying to figure out 
what we can do.”

The new law also largely negates a Roeland Park ordinance that said 
city officials can decline to use funds or resources to help federal 
immigration agencies or to share information on an individual’s 
immigration status. Police were required to alert residents of any 
federal immigration enforcement action within 48 hours, except in cases 
where a crime had occurred.

Yeni Telles said this could fracture trust built between the 
immigrant community and law enforcement beyond eastern Kansas. Telles 
was born in Mexico but came to the U.S. in 1999, eventually moving to 
Kansas to fulfill her dream of becoming a homeowner and graduating from a
 university.

“As a social worker working directly with victims of crime, 
especially victims of domestic violence, there is already fear within 
the immigrant community contacting law enforcement to report a crime 
committed against them,” Telles said. “Immigrants are not strangers. 
They are our neighbors, the family of our children’s classmates, our 
coworkers.”

While testimony provided to the Legislature on the law banning sanctuary jurisdictions was <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/15/ag-backed-bill-prohibiting-sanctuary-cities-brings-heavy-opposition-to-kansas-statehouse/">predominantly in opposition</a> to the measure, a handful of elected state officials argued a patchwork of local ordinances presented several issues.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-attorney-general-files-bill-banning-sanctuary-cities-issuance-of-ids/">proposed the legislation</a> in February, shortly after Wyandotte County approved its act.

“Citizens throughout our state deserve to know that wherever they may
 travel in Kansas, law enforcement officials are cooperating with 
federal and state agencies to fairly enforce applicable law and are not 
obliged to turn a blind eye to some unlawful conduct merely because of 
local politics,” Schmidt said in a statement upon filing the bill.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/03/15/ag-backed-bill-prohibiting-sanctuary-cities-brings-heavy-opposition-to-kansas-statehouse/">Testifying before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee</a>,
 the Republican candidate for governor said Kansas required such a law 
to ensure the entire state can be safe and welcoming to immigrants.

Bryan Caskey, the state election director, followed Schmidt’s 
testimony and said the Secretary of State’s office supported the bill to
 ensure proper voting protocol.

“It is the firm position of the Kansas Secretary of State that only 
United States citizens may vote in an election,” Caskey said. “Requiring
 voter identification to cast a ballot ensures the protection of voters’
 rights and the integrity of the electoral process.”

Opponents said this was a misplaced concern because immigrants would 
need to register to vote, which only citizens can do, before casting a 
ballot.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/20/kansas-republican-attorney-general-candidates-wrangle-over-experience-electability/">At a recent debate</a>
 among Republican candidates for attorney general, all three 
participants agreed outlawing sanctuary cities was the best course for 
the state. Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach said the 
legislation did not go far enough.

“I propose one that would take away all state money from any city or any company that has a sanctuary policy,” Kobach said.

While Schmidt and Republican legislators argued different policies in
 various parts of the state would create confusion, Genevra Alberti said
 the new law is the real source of uncertainty.

Alberti, the vice-chairwoman of the Missouri-Kansas Chapter of the 
American Immigration Lawyers Association, told legislators during a 
hearing on the matter that immigration law is incredibly complicated, 
even for those who practice it daily. She said immigration law 
enforcement falls under the purview of the federal government, but the 
new state law would “deputize” any law enforcement officer to enforce 
immigration law without limit or oversight.

Other parts of the bill were concerningly vague, Alberti added in her
 testimony on the law. She said nowhere in the law is it explicitly 
established what actions local jurisdictions are required or permitted 
to take.

“In effect, this legislation permits, even encourages, any law 
enforcement person or office to take any action, no matter what 
overreach, and prohibits any commonsense policy or limitation from being
 placed on any act construed to be ‘cooperation’ — just so long as it, 
ostensibly, is related to immigration,” Alberti said.

Alberti also said the new state law strips Kansas communities of 
their right to oversight of their police departments. Coordinating with 
ICE activities has frequently been found to be illegal and 
unconstitutional, leaving law enforcement vulnerable to potential 
complaints and lawsuits.

The ripples of the bill will be felt in businesses across Kansas, 
said Martin Rosas, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local Two 
President.

Rosas, who also serves as vice president of the UFCW International 
Union, testified during the legislature’s hearing on the bill on behalf 
of more than 11,000 workers in the food-supply industry in Kansas. He 
said the measure would impact agricultural and food processing 
industries.

Rosas, citing a recent analysis of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/acs-1year.html">American Community Survey</a>,
 said foreign-born workers make up 34.5% of the employees working in the
 food processing industry in the state and 25.6% of those work in the 
agricultural industry.

“The most recent public health crisis is a proof of this statement,” 
Rosas said. “Thousands of immigrants, considered essentials to the state
 infrastructure, stood up through the pandemic to keep the food supply 
in all Kansas’ tables.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-effects-of-sanctuary-policies-on-crime-and-the-economy/">According to a recent study</a>
 on the effects of sanctuary policies, welcoming counties had median 
household incomes that were $4,353 higher, 2.3% lower poverty rates and 
1.1% lower unemployment rates.

“(The law) will make our state less inclusive, less prosperous and 
less safe,” said Caleb Smith of Kansas Appleseed. “Our state’s future 
and the well-being of our communities is at stake.”

With the law enrolled, immigration reform advocates and stakeholders 
involved in passing their city or county sanctuary ordinances are 
asking: “What next?”

Karla Juarez, executive director of the Advocates for Immigrant 
Rights and Reconciliation, and a member of the Safe and Welcoming 
Wyandotte Coalition, said step one was to analyze what parts of their 
ordinance might be salvageable. In addition, Juarez was hopeful there 
would be some sort of statewide education initiative.

“So, focusing on the individual and communities, give them the facts 
about how this is going to affect you because there is lots of fear 
mongering,” Juarez said.

Juarez also agreed with the governor’s assertion that Congress should
 address federal immigration. Unfortunately, she said the law put 
community organizers in a tight spot where making meaningful policy 
changes to protect immigrants was now in question.