WICHITA— A Kansas been found guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kake.com/news/police-identify-man-accused-of-kidnapping-3-children-in-southeast-wichita/article_c783162b-8420-5cc1-877f-2ccf151eee26.html" target="_blank">kidnapping three children and sexually assaulting two of them</a>&nbsp;last year.&nbsp;

On Aug. 2, a jury convicted 23-year-old Manasseh Ward of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, three counts of aggravated sodomy, attempted rape, aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In June, a judge ruled <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=246512">&nbsp;Ward</a>&nbsp; was competent to stand trial for charges.

Just before 4p.m. January 4, 2023, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

The man later identified as Ward attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. Ward let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.

Just before 9a.m. January 5, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.

A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..

While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; In September, police arrested Ward in connection with the alleged crimes.

Ward is scheduled to be sentenced on September 27, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673010286685.png" alt="Ward photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ward photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA— A Kansas been found guilty of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kake.com/news/police-identify-man-accused-of-kidnapping-3-children-in-southeast-wichita/article_c783162b-8420-5cc1-877f-2ccf151eee26.html" target="_blank">kidnapping three children and sexually assaulting two of them</a>&nbsp;last year.&nbsp;On Aug. 2, a jury convicted 23-year-old Manasseh Ward of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, three counts of aggravated sodomy, attempted rape, aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In June, a judge ruled <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=246512">&nbsp;Ward</a>&nbsp; was competent to stand trial for charges.Just before 4p.m. January 4, 2023, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.The man later identified as Ward attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. Ward let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.Just before 9a.m. January 5, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; In September, police arrested Ward in connection with the alleged crimes.Ward is scheduled to be sentenced on September 27, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas man guilty of sex crimes near elementary school

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

Just before noon Tuesday, police responded to Diehl Construction, 521 Bishop Street in Salina after a neighbor reported seeing suspicious activity, according to Salina Police Lt. Kyle Tonniges.

"A neighbor witnessed a subject go inside the business," Tonniges said. "The garage door had been left partially open, but the employee had left for lunch, so the neighbor knew there shouldn't be anybody inside."

When officers arrived, they found a suspect, identified as 45-year-old Isaac Miller of Salina, just outside the business. Miller had a flashlight valued at $30, which was allegedly stolen from inside the business. 

Tonniges said during the search, a small amount of methamphetamine fell from Miller's pocket. He then attempted to destroy the methamphetamine by stepping on it, leading to a struggle with officers.

Police arrested Miller on requested charges of burglary, theft, possession of methamphetamine and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723048782523.png" alt="Miller photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.Just before noon Tuesday, police responded to Diehl Construction, 521 Bishop Street in Salina after a neighbor reported seeing suspicious activity, according to Salina Police Lt. Kyle Tonniges."A neighbor witnessed a subject go inside the business," Tonniges said. "The garage door had been left partially open, but the employee had left for lunch, so the neighbor knew there shouldn't be anybody inside."When officers arrived, they found a suspect, identified as 45-year-old Isaac Miller of Salina, just outside the business. Miller had a flashlight valued at $30, which was allegedly stolen from inside the business. Tonniges said during the search, a small amount of methamphetamine fell from Miller's pocket. He then attempted to destroy the methamphetamine by stepping on it, leading to a struggle with officers.Police arrested Miller on requested charges of burglary, theft, possession of methamphetamine and interference with law enforcement.

Police: Meth fell from Kan. burglary suspect 's pocket during arrest

VIENNA (AP) — Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts.

Swift was scheduled to play at the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-taylor-swift-signs-gelsenkirchen-swiftkirchen-01a68a8c505bf649a0d3f0f149be158e">Eras Tour</a>.

Event organizer Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.” It cited government officials' “confirmation” of a planned attack at the stadium.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the upcoming concerts.

The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.

Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, said authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” the Austria Press Agency reported.

Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalized on the internet. Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated. He didn't give more details.

The cancelation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up. Ruf said that there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.

Vienna police chief Gerhard Pürstl said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had been minimized, an abstract risk justified raising security.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a post on social network X that “the cancelation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organizers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.”

“The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious,” he wrote. But he added that, thanks to intensive cooperation between police, Austrian and foreign intelligence, “the threat could be recognized early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.”

Barracuda Music said that “all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.” The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swift's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taylorswift.com/tour/">official website</a>.

The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria.

Swift fans took to social media to express their devastation at missing out on one of the superstar’s shows. Some who posted on X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.

Annmarie Timmins, a journalist who traveled from the U.S. for Thursday’s show, said she and her husband were waiting for the subway after dinner when they heard the news.

“I can’t even believe it,” she said. “There was a girl with her mom who looked so sad - even more than me. I gave her one of my bracelets. I wanted to hug her.”

In 2017, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9d813da59c6342b09c7ea57f62a5d9a8">attack at an Ariana Grande concert</a>&nbsp;in Manchester, England killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchester-ariana-grande-concert-bombing-lawsuit-f2e8298cb045501eff5245392522d29c">a knapsack bomb</a>&nbsp;in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.

An official&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mi5-manchester-arena-concert-bombing-inquiry-uk-3563d529056ae51e201ae8d379f930b5">inquiry reported last year</a>&nbsp;that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693768918136.png" alt="File photo-Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File photo-Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>VIENNA (AP) — Organizers of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna this week called them off on Wednesday after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the concerts.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I CANT BELIEVE THIS 😭 <a href="https://t.co/gW3uJPq5z3">pic.twitter.com/gW3uJPq5z3</a>&mdash; The Eras Tour (@TSTheErasTour) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSTheErasTour/status/1821271661272035634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Swift was scheduled to play at the Austrian capital’s Ernst Happel Stadium on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as part of her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-taylor-swift-signs-gelsenkirchen-swiftkirchen-01a68a8c505bf649a0d3f0f149be158e">Eras Tour</a>.Event organizer Barracuda Music said in a post on its Instagram channel late Wednesday that “we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety.” It cited government officials' “confirmation” of a planned attack at the stadium.Earlier Wednesday, authorities said they had arrested two suspected extremists, one of whom appeared to be planning an attack on an event in the Vienna area such as the upcoming concerts.The 19-year-old main suspect was arrested in Ternitz, south of Vienna, and the second person in the Austrian capital.Franz Ruf, the public security director at Austria’s interior ministry, said authorities were aware of “preparatory actions” for a possible attack “and also that there is a focus by the 19-year-old perpetrator on the Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna,” the Austria Press Agency reported.Ruf said the 19-year-old had pledged an oath of allegiance to the Islamic State group.The Austrian citizen is believed to have become radicalized on the internet. Ruf said that chemical substances were secured and were being evaluated. He didn't give more details.The cancelation came hours after authorities said security measures for the Swift concerts would be stepped up. Ruf said that there would be a special focus among other things on entry checks and concertgoers should plan a bit more time.Vienna police chief Gerhard Pürstl said at the same time that, while any concrete danger had been minimized, an abstract risk justified raising security.Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said in a post on social network X that “the cancelation of the Taylor Swift concerts by the organizers is a bitter disappointment for all fans in Austria.”“The situation surrounding the apparently planned terror attack in Vienna was very serious,” he wrote. But he added that, thanks to intensive cooperation between police, Austrian and foreign intelligence, “the threat could be recognized early on, tackled and a tragedy prevented.”Barracuda Music said that “all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.” The same wording was posted under the Vienna dates on Swift's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taylorswift.com/tour/">official website</a>.The Vienna stadium had been sold out for the planned concerts, APA reported, with an estimated 170,000 fans expected for the concerts in Austria.Swift fans took to social media to express their devastation at missing out on one of the superstar’s shows. Some who posted on X lamented months of now-wasted efforts to make friendship bracelets and pick out fashionable outfits for the performance.Annmarie Timmins, a journalist who traveled from the U.S. for Thursday’s show, said she and her husband were waiting for the subway after dinner when they heard the news.“I can’t even believe it,” she said. “There was a girl with her mom who looked so sad - even more than me. I gave her one of my bracelets. I wanted to hug her.”In 2017, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9d813da59c6342b09c7ea57f62a5d9a8">attack at an Ariana Grande concert</a>&nbsp;in Manchester, England killed 22 people. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manchester-ariana-grande-concert-bombing-lawsuit-f2e8298cb045501eff5245392522d29c">a knapsack bomb</a>&nbsp;in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving. More than 100 people were injured. Abedi died in the explosion.An official&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mi5-manchester-arena-concert-bombing-inquiry-uk-3563d529056ae51e201ae8d379f930b5">inquiry reported last year</a>&nbsp;that Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, didn’t act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years.

Taylor Swift concerts canceled after terrorist plot foiled by police

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">MAYA SMITH</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a>&nbsp;- <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — Kansas voters on Tuesday ousted an incumbent Senate Republican and House Democrat who were seen as traitors by their parties, expanding an expected shakeup of the Legislature and setting the stage for a high-stakes general election.

In the 40-member Senate, there will be at least 12 newcomers by January. In the 125-member House, there will be at least 21 newcomers. Those numbers could increase, depending on November results, when Democrats hope to break GOP supermajorities in both chambers.

Democratic voters in Kansas City favored educator Wanda Brownlee Paige over incumbent Rep. Marvin Robinson, who voted almost exclusively with Republicans for most of his single term in office. He was backed by GOP-aligned special interest groups, which flooded the district with mailers favorable to Robinson. But Paige prevailed with 49% of the vote, compared with 22% for Robinson, 20% for Michelle Watley and 9% for Kimberly DeWitt.

“I am so excited, grateful, thankful and just want to continue to turn the page,” Paige said. “After I noticed this man wasn’t going for the people in the district, he voted with the Republicans and for the Republicans, I thought we needed to do something to help the people.”

Sen. Dennis Pyle, a Hiawatha Republican who has represented his district for 20 years, finished in third place. Pyle rankled party members who accused him of helping Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly win reelection by running as an independent candidate for governor in 2022. He also routinely challenged Senate leadership, who redrew his district to make it more difficult for him to win reelection.

Craig Bowser, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran from Holton, was leading the race with 41% of the vote over Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison physician, with 37%. Pyle had 23%.

In a Democratic primary in Lawrence, five-term Sen. Marci Francisco held off a challenge from Rep. Christina Haswood, who was backed by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

In a victory speech Tuesday night at Black Stag Brewery and Pub, Francisco told supporters she “absolutely did not get here on my own.”

“I have had so many people come out, be willing to walk, be willing to talk to their friends, be willing to write postcards, give me advice, give me endorsements,” Francisco said.

Francisco emphasized her experience as a legislator, during which she has never missed a vote, in a race where there was little policy difference between the two candidates.

“I mean, it was two people who are essentially saying the same thing, right?” Francisco said. “We want to expand Medicaid. We want to be concerned about the environment. We want to fund public education.”

In a Democratic Senate primary in Topeka, Navy veteran Patrick Schmidt won 54% of the vote to defeat longtime legislator and House Minority Leader Vic Miller, who had 34%, and educator ShaMecha King Simms with 12%.

Republican Sens. Chase Blasi, of Wichita; Brenda Dietrich, of Topeka; Beverly Gossage, of Eudora; Caryn Tyson, of Parker; Tim Shallenburger, of Baxter Springs; and Elaine Bowers, of Concordia, defeated or held large leads over primary challengers. Democratic Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, also defeated a challenger.

Rep. Tory Marie Blew, of Great Bend, defeated John Sturn, of Ellinwood, in the GOP primary for a Senate seat.

Seven other House members who are seeking a Senate seat didn’t have a primary opponent.

Among contested House races, Leavenworth County Commissioner Mike Stieben led Rep. Lance Neelly, of Tonganoxie, by 41 votes after all ballots were counted Tuesday night in the GOP primary for Neelly’s House seat. But the outcome could depend on mail-in ballots, as long as they are postmarked by Tuesday and received by Friday, as well as provisional ballots.

Rep. Mark Schreiber, an Emporia Republican, won 64% of the vote to defeat businessman Will Spencer.

Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, praised voters for favoring Schreiber, who is viewed as a moderate, and for disposing of Robinson, who cast anti-LGBTQ+ votes. The ACLU of Kansas PAC targeted both races with “educational materials.”

“Kansans have had enough of politicians’ misinformation or misrepresentation of their positions,” Kubic said. “When given truthful, reliable, and accurate sources focused on issues of civil liberties and civil rights, voters prioritize those issues even amidst the noise of the campaign season.”

Former Rep. Steve Huebert, a Valley Center Republican, won 64% of the vote in a four-way race for a seat he held until two years ago. Rep. Carl Maughan, of Colwich, was on the ballot but stopped campaigning after the Kansas Supreme Court in June suspended his law license for engaging in a conflict of interest. Maughan also was arrested in March after driving drunk.

Alexis Simmons, a Topeka Democrat who was the spokeswoman for House Democrats, won 85% of the vote in Miller’s House district.

Brooklynne Mosley, a Lawrence Democrat and Air Force veteran, won 67% of the vote in a three-way race for a House seat.

In the House, 33 Republicans and 19 Democrats will be unopposed in November. In the Senate, six Republicans and three Democrats will run unopposed in November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720316487639.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">MAYA SMITH</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a>&nbsp;- <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE — Kansas voters on Tuesday ousted an incumbent Senate Republican and House Democrat who were seen as traitors by their parties, expanding an expected shakeup of the Legislature and setting the stage for a high-stakes general election.In the 40-member Senate, there will be at least 12 newcomers by January. In the 125-member House, there will be at least 21 newcomers. Those numbers could increase, depending on November results, when Democrats hope to break GOP supermajorities in both chambers.Democratic voters in Kansas City favored educator Wanda Brownlee Paige over incumbent Rep. Marvin Robinson, who voted almost exclusively with Republicans for most of his single term in office. He was backed by GOP-aligned special interest groups, which flooded the district with mailers favorable to Robinson. But Paige prevailed with 49% of the vote, compared with 22% for Robinson, 20% for Michelle Watley and 9% for Kimberly DeWitt.“I am so excited, grateful, thankful and just want to continue to turn the page,” Paige said. “After I noticed this man wasn’t going for the people in the district, he voted with the Republicans and for the Republicans, I thought we needed to do something to help the people.”Sen. Dennis Pyle, a Hiawatha Republican who has represented his district for 20 years, finished in third place. Pyle rankled party members who accused him of helping Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly win reelection by running as an independent candidate for governor in 2022. He also routinely challenged Senate leadership, who redrew his district to make it more difficult for him to win reelection.Craig Bowser, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran from Holton, was leading the race with 41% of the vote over Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison physician, with 37%. Pyle had 23%.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723043984598.png" alt="Democratic Sen. Marci Francisco waits for results at her watch party Aug. 6, 2024, at Black Stag Brewery and Pub in Lawrence. Francisco defeated Rep. Christina Haswood. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Democratic Sen. Marci Francisco waits for results at her watch party Aug. 6, 2024, at Black Stag Brewery and Pub in Lawrence. Francisco defeated Rep. Christina Haswood. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>In a Democratic primary in Lawrence, five-term Sen. Marci Francisco held off a challenge from Rep. Christina Haswood, who was backed by former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.In a victory speech Tuesday night at Black Stag Brewery and Pub, Francisco told supporters she “absolutely did not get here on my own.”“I have had so many people come out, be willing to walk, be willing to talk to their friends, be willing to write postcards, give me advice, give me endorsements,” Francisco said.Francisco emphasized her experience as a legislator, during which she has never missed a vote, in a race where there was little policy difference between the two candidates.“I mean, it was two people who are essentially saying the same thing, right?” Francisco said. “We want to expand Medicaid. We want to be concerned about the environment. We want to fund public education.”In a Democratic Senate primary in Topeka, Navy veteran Patrick Schmidt won 54% of the vote to defeat longtime legislator and House Minority Leader Vic Miller, who had 34%, and educator ShaMecha King Simms with 12%.Republican Sens. Chase Blasi, of Wichita; Brenda Dietrich, of Topeka; Beverly Gossage, of Eudora; Caryn Tyson, of Parker; Tim Shallenburger, of Baxter Springs; and Elaine Bowers, of Concordia, defeated or held large leads over primary challengers. Democratic Sen. David Haley, of Kansas City, also defeated a challenger.Rep. Tory Marie Blew, of Great Bend, defeated John Sturn, of Ellinwood, in the GOP primary for a Senate seat.Seven other House members who are seeking a Senate seat didn’t have a primary opponent.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723044047344.png" alt="Rep. Mark Schreiber appears at an April 25, 2024, event in Emporia with Gov. Laura Kelly to promote Medicaid expansion. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Mark Schreiber appears at an April 25, 2024, event in Emporia with Gov. Laura Kelly to promote Medicaid expansion. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Among contested House races, Leavenworth County Commissioner Mike Stieben led Rep. Lance Neelly, of Tonganoxie, by 41 votes after all ballots were counted Tuesday night in the GOP primary for Neelly’s House seat. But the outcome could depend on mail-in ballots, as long as they are postmarked by Tuesday and received by Friday, as well as provisional ballots.Rep. Mark Schreiber, an Emporia Republican, won 64% of the vote to defeat businessman Will Spencer.Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, praised voters for favoring Schreiber, who is viewed as a moderate, and for disposing of Robinson, who cast anti-LGBTQ+ votes. The ACLU of Kansas PAC targeted both races with “educational materials.”“Kansans have had enough of politicians’ misinformation or misrepresentation of their positions,” Kubic said. “When given truthful, reliable, and accurate sources focused on issues of civil liberties and civil rights, voters prioritize those issues even amidst the noise of the campaign season.”Former Rep. Steve Huebert, a Valley Center Republican, won 64% of the vote in a four-way race for a seat he held until two years ago. Rep. Carl Maughan, of Colwich, was on the ballot but stopped campaigning after the Kansas Supreme Court in June suspended his law license for engaging in a conflict of interest. Maughan also was arrested in March after driving drunk.Alexis Simmons, a Topeka Democrat who was the spokeswoman for House Democrats, won 85% of the vote in Miller’s House district.Brooklynne Mosley, a Lawrence Democrat and Air Force veteran, won 67% of the vote in a three-way race for a House seat.In the House, 33 Republicans and 19 Democrats will be unopposed in November. In the Senate, six Republicans and three Democrats will run unopposed in November.

Senate Republican and House Democrat ousted by primary challengers in Kansas legislative races

WASHINGTON —On Tuesday, a complaint was unsealed in Brooklyn charging Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, with murder-for-hire as part of an alleged scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1362846/dl?inline">Click here to read</a> the criminal complaint

“For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security.”

“This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s complaint allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.&nbsp;“A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.” &nbsp;

“The complaint unsealed today underscores, yet again, that those who engage in lethal plotting on U.S. soil will face the full force of the American justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The targeting of former and current officials by foreign actors is an affront to our sovereignty and our democratic institutions and the Department of Justice will use every possible tool to expose and disrupt this egregious activity.”

“Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This prosecution demonstrates that this office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats

“Fortunately, the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office. “This case underscores the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston, and Dallas.&nbsp;Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome but also reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats.”

According to allegations contained in the complaint and related publicly filed court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. In approximately April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (the CS).&nbsp;

In early June, Merchant met the CS in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one-time opportunity and would be ongoing. Merchant then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” meaning in the United States. Merchant instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions.&nbsp;Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1)&nbsp;stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official.&nbsp;

At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the CS on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the CS to explain how a target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told the CS that there would be “security [] all around” the person.&nbsp;

Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States.

In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had departed the United States.&nbsp;

Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.”&nbsp;The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.” &nbsp;

Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722990788867.png" alt="Merchant photo Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Merchant photo Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Tuesday, a complaint was unsealed in Brooklyn charging Asif Merchant, also known as Asif Raza Merchant, 46, with murder-for-hire as part of an alleged scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. Law enforcement foiled the charged plot before any attack could be carried out. Merchant is in federal custody.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1362846/dl?inline">Click here to read</a> the criminal complaint“For years, the Justice Department has been working aggressively to counter Iran’s brazen and unrelenting efforts to retaliate against American public officials for the killing of Iranian General Soleimani,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens and will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to target American public officials and endanger America’s national security.”“This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s complaint allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.&nbsp;“A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.” &nbsp;“The complaint unsealed today underscores, yet again, that those who engage in lethal plotting on U.S. soil will face the full force of the American justice system,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The targeting of former and current officials by foreign actors is an affront to our sovereignty and our democratic institutions and the Department of Justice will use every possible tool to expose and disrupt this egregious activity.”“Working on behalf of others overseas, Merchant planned the murder of U.S. government officials on American soil,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “This prosecution demonstrates that this office and the entire Department of Justice will take swift and decisive action to protect our nation’s security, our government officials and our citizens from foreign threats“Fortunately, the assassins Merchant allegedly tried to hire were undercover FBI Agents,” said Acting Assistant Director Christie Curtis of the FBI New York Field Office. “This case underscores the dedication and formidable efforts of our agents, analysts and prosecutors in New York, Houston, and Dallas.&nbsp;Their success in neutralizing this threat not only prevented a tragic outcome but also reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting our nation and its citizens from both domestic and international threats.”According to allegations contained in the complaint and related publicly filed court documents, Merchant orchestrated a plot to assassinate a politician or U.S. government official on U.S. soil. In approximately April 2024, after spending time in Iran, Merchant arrived in the United States from Pakistan and contacted a person he believed could assist him with the scheme. That person reported Merchant’s conduct to law enforcement and became a confidential source (the CS).&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722990871698.png" alt="&nbsp;Merchant paid the undercover officers $5,000 -photo Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Merchant paid the undercover officers $5,000 -photo Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>In early June, Merchant met the CS in New York and explained his assassination plot. Merchant told the CS that the opportunity he had for the CS was not a one-time opportunity and would be ongoing. Merchant then made a “finger gun” motion with his hand, indicating that the opportunity was related to a killing. Merchant further stated that the intended victims would be “targeted here,” meaning in the United States. Merchant instructed the CS to arrange meetings with individuals whom Merchant could hire to carry out these actions.&nbsp;Merchant explained that his plot involved multiple criminal schemes: (1)&nbsp;stealing documents or USB drives from a target’s home; (2) planning a protest; and (3) killing a politician or government official.&nbsp;At that meeting, Merchant began planning potential assassination scenarios and quizzed the CS on how he would kill a target in the various scenarios. Specifically, Merchant asked the CS to explain how a target would die in different scenarios. Merchant told the CS that there would be “security [] all around” the person.&nbsp;Merchant stated that the assassination would occur after he left the United States and he would communicate with the CS from overseas using code words. The CS asked whether Merchant had spoken to the unidentified “party” back home with whom Merchant was working. Merchant responded that he had and that the party back home told him to “finalize” the plan and leave the United States.In mid-June, Merchant met with the purported hitmen, who were in fact undercover U.S. law enforcement officers (the UCs) in New York. Merchant advised the UCs that he was looking for three services from them: theft of documents, arranging protests at political rallies, and for them to kill a “political person.” Merchant stated that the hitmen would receive instructions on who to kill either the last week of August or the first week of September, after Merchant had departed the United States.&nbsp;Merchant then began arranging means to obtain $5,000 in cash to pay the UCs as an advance payment for the assassination, which he eventually received with assistance from an individual overseas. On June 21, Merchant met with the UCs in New York and paid them the $5,000 advance. After Merchant paid the $5,000 to the UCs, one of the UCs stated, “now we’re bonded,” to which Merchant responded “yes.”&nbsp;The UC then stated “Now we know we’re going forward. We’re doing this,” to which Merchant responded “Yes, absolutely.” &nbsp;Merchant subsequently made flight arrangements and planned to leave the United States on Friday, July 12, 2024. On July 12, law enforcement agents placed Merchant under arrest before he could leave the country. Merchant has stated that he has a wife and children in Iran and a wife and children in Pakistan.The FBI is investigating the case.

‘Iranian agent’ tried to hire hitmen for assassination of Trump, other gov't officials

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Wichita Police Department officer involved shooting&nbsp;

Just before 11:30 p.m. on July 31, Wichita Police Department Officers, riding as a two-officer vehicle, observed a black Chevy Impala leaving the area of a drug trafficking complaint, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.

The officers observed the Impala had an altered and expired registration tag. A traffic stop was conducted, and the vehicle pulled into the McDonalds parking lot located at 545 North Hillside.

The Officers approached the vehicle and observed three occupants. The occupant located in the back seat later identified as 29-year-old Brennan Russell was making furtive movements and was observed stuffing an object under the seat.

The officer&nbsp; ordered Russell out of the vehicle advising him he was under arrest. Russell refused to comply and resisted arrest. Officers requested backup and were placed out in trouble. 

The officer who ordered Russel out of the vehicle deployed his Taser through the open passenger side rear door, the deployment did not result in Russel complying with commands.

&nbsp;Russell drew a firearm from his waistband and pointed it towards officer the officer. 

A second officer&nbsp; had moved to the rear of the vehicle and through the rear window observed&nbsp; Russell point a firearm at at the officer who had deployed the Taser.

This second officer then observed Russell point the firearm at his own head and fired. After the gun shot fired by Russell. The officer&nbsp; who had fired the Taser also discharged his firearm.

Additional officers arrived on the scene and performed CPR until EMS arrived and pronounced Russell deceased at the scene.

No officers were injured during this incident.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962046081.png" alt="Police body camera image provided by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office" />
 <figcaption>Police body camera image provided by the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Wichita Police Department officer involved shooting&nbsp;Just before 11:30 p.m. on July 31, Wichita Police Department Officers, riding as a two-officer vehicle, observed a black Chevy Impala leaving the area of a drug trafficking complaint, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.The officers observed the Impala had an altered and expired registration tag. A traffic stop was conducted, and the vehicle pulled into the McDonalds parking lot located at 545 North Hillside.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722508150709.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Officers approached the vehicle and observed three occupants. The occupant located in the back seat later identified as 29-year-old Brennan Russell was making furtive movements and was observed stuffing an object under the seat.The officer&nbsp; ordered Russell out of the vehicle advising him he was under arrest. Russell refused to comply and resisted arrest. Officers requested backup and were placed out in trouble. The officer who ordered Russel out of the vehicle deployed his Taser through the open passenger side rear door, the deployment did not result in Russel complying with commands.&nbsp;Russell drew a firearm from his waistband and pointed it towards officer the officer. A second officer&nbsp; had moved to the rear of the vehicle and through the rear window observed&nbsp; Russell point a firearm at at the officer who had deployed the Taser.This second officer then observed Russell point the firearm at his own head and fired. After the gun shot fired by Russell. The officer&nbsp; who had fired the Taser also discharged his firearm.Additional officers arrived on the scene and performed CPR until EMS arrived and pronounced Russell deceased at the scene.No officers were injured during this incident.Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.

Sheriff: Victim in reported Kan. officer shooting shot himself

CHARLOTTESVILLE&nbsp; – A Winchester, Virginia man, who made online threats against the Vice President and&nbsp;thousands of posts and replies in online forums targeting the President of the United States, FBI Director, and other public officials, was arrested on federal charges, according to the United State's Attorney

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vawd.132230/gov.uscourts.vawd.132230.1.1.pdf">Click here to read </a>the criminal complaint

Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, made his initial court appearance this morning in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, Virginia after being arrested last week at his home in Winchester. Carillo is charged in a federal criminal complaint with one count of making threats against the Vice President of the United States.

“Open political discourse is a cornerstone of our American experience. We can disagree. We can argue and we can debate. However, when those disagreements cross the line to threats of violence, &nbsp;law enforcement must step in,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia said today.

“The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people. We take all threats of violence seriously, and we will investigate them to the fullest and hold those responsible accountable,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today.

According to court documents, on July 27, 2024, the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office notified the FBI’s Phoenix Office of potential threats being made on the social media platform GETTR. The threats were being made by a user with the name “joemadarats1.”

FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to, President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Vice President Harris was mentioned 19 times by “joemadarats1,” including numerous threats of violence.

In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”

Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to match the &nbsp;“joemadarats1” username with Carillo and to locate his physical location in Winchester, Virginia.

On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722966189254.png" alt="Carillo-photo Roanoke City Jail" />
 <figcaption>Carillo-photo Roanoke City Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTESVILLE&nbsp; – A Winchester, Virginia man, who made online threats against the Vice President and&nbsp;thousands of posts and replies in online forums targeting the President of the United States, FBI Director, and other public officials, was arrested on federal charges, according to the United State's Attorney<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vawd.132230/gov.uscourts.vawd.132230.1.1.pdf">Click here to read </a>the criminal complaintFrank Lucio Carillo, 66, made his initial court appearance this morning in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, Virginia after being arrested last week at his home in Winchester. Carillo is charged in a federal criminal complaint with one count of making threats against the Vice President of the United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722966333633.png" alt="A portion of the criminal complaint -Western District of Virginia&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A portion of the criminal complaint -Western District of Virginia&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Open political discourse is a cornerstone of our American experience. We can disagree. We can argue and we can debate. However, when those disagreements cross the line to threats of violence, &nbsp;law enforcement must step in,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia said today.“The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people. We take all threats of violence seriously, and we will investigate them to the fullest and hold those responsible accountable,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today.According to court documents, on July 27, 2024, the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office notified the FBI’s Phoenix Office of potential threats being made on the social media platform GETTR. The threats were being made by a user with the name “joemadarats1.”FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to, President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.Vice President Harris was mentioned 19 times by “joemadarats1,” including numerous threats of violence.In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.”Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to match the &nbsp;“joemadarats1” username with Carillo and to locate his physical location in Winchester, Virginia.On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition.The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.

Read charging docs: Man made online threat to kill Kamala Harris

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

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962144214.jpeg" alt="Linus Davis, Failure to appear, arrested 08/05" />
 <figcaption>Linus Davis, Failure to appear, arrested 08/05</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962179100.jpeg" alt="Christopher Barnes, Criminal damage to property, Aggravated assault, Use of a deadly weapon, Criminal discharge of a firearm, Criminal possession of a weapon, Firearm used in a crime, Stalking, arrested 08/05" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Barnes, Criminal damage to property, Aggravated assault, Use of a deadly weapon, Criminal discharge of a firearm, Criminal possession of a weapon, Firearm used in a crime, Stalking, arrested 08/05</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962312012.jpeg" alt="Ricardo Lopez-Garcia, Probation violation, arrested 08/05" />
 <figcaption>Ricardo Lopez-Garcia, Probation violation, arrested 08/05</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962342319.jpeg" alt="Anthony Bilyeu, Unlawful restraint, Unlawful damage to property, Domestic battery, arrested 08/06" />
 <figcaption>Anthony Bilyeu, Unlawful restraint, Unlawful damage to property, Domestic battery, arrested 08/06</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962387993.jpeg" alt="Mikal Kairson, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, Fleeing and eluding, arrested 08/06" />
 <figcaption>Mikal Kairson, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, Fleeing and eluding, arrested 08/06</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962432114.jpeg" alt="Jada Floyd, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 08/06" />
 <figcaption>Jada Floyd, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 08/06</figcaption>
 </figure>Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos Aug. 6

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement in Saline County are investigating a woman accused in a rural Kansas burglary in February involving&nbsp;more than $1,000 in frozen beef and pork on multiple new allegations.

Just after 6:30a.m. August 2, police responded to a reported disturbance involving a woman wielding a hatchet and attempting to break into a home in the 400 Block of Baker Street, according to Saline Police Captain James Feldman.

Officers made contact with 52-year-old Andrea Randecker of Salina. She told police her cell phone had been stolen, and she had tracked it to this area and decided she was going to go into the residence where she thought phone was, according to Feldman.

Randecker allegedly damaged the door and its metal frame with the hatchet.

According to the police report, Randecker admitted that she intended to threaten the individual inside the residence if she gained entry. She was subsequently arrested on requested charges of attempted burglary and criminal damage to property.

In February, sheriff's deputies arrested her in connection with a&nbsp; burglary in the 4700 block of North Woodward Road in rural Saline County.&nbsp; Randecker and an accomplice stole more than $1,000 in frozen beef and pork, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722722550012.png" alt="Randecker, Andrea Renee" />
 <figcaption>Randecker, Andrea Renee</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement in Saline County are investigating a woman accused in a rural Kansas burglary in February involving&nbsp;more than $1,000 in frozen beef and pork on multiple new allegations.Just after 6:30a.m. August 2, police responded to a reported disturbance involving a woman wielding a hatchet and attempting to break into a home in the 400 Block of Baker Street, according to Saline Police Captain James Feldman.Officers made contact with 52-year-old Andrea Randecker of Salina. She told police her cell phone had been stolen, and she had tracked it to this area and decided she was going to go into the residence where she thought phone was, according to Feldman.Randecker allegedly damaged the door and its metal frame with the hatchet.According to the police report, Randecker admitted that she intended to threaten the individual inside the residence if she gained entry. She was subsequently arrested on requested charges of attempted burglary and criminal damage to property.In February, sheriff's deputies arrested her in connection with a&nbsp; burglary in the 4700 block of North Woodward Road in rural Saline County.&nbsp; Randecker and an accomplice stole more than $1,000 in frozen beef and pork, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

Police: Kan. woman attempted to break into home with hatchet

KANSAS CITY —Acting on tips a Drug Task Force recovered a large amount of illegal explosives and drugs at a Northland Kansas City house while serving a search warrant, according to a media release from the Clay County Sheriff's office.

Just after 7a.m. August 2, the STAR (Special Tactics and Response) Team arrested three people in the 6500 block of North Hickory Street in Kansas City.. A search of the home turned up&nbsp; 107 pounds of explosive powder, two pipe bombs,&nbsp; 15 grenades,&nbsp; 20 grams of fentanyl paste,&nbsp; 15 grams of meth,&nbsp; Psychedelic mushrooms, Seven guns, including an Uzi and&nbsp; a large amount of ammunition.

An elementary school-aged child also was in the home. The child is now staying with relatives.

Cory D. Young, 46, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm and child endangerment. He is being held on a bond of $350,000 cash only.

Erika Lahr, 32, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon and child endangerment. She is being held on a bond of $250,000 cash only.

Tammie L. Bindel Cole, 52, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon. She is being held on a bond of $150,000 cash only.

Additional federal charges could be forthcoming related to the explosives and weapons.

This was a joint investigation by the Clay County Drug Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Kansas City Missouri Police Department’s Bomb Squad assisted with the removal and processing of the explosives. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722708820689.png" alt="Young-photo Clay Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Clay Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Acting on tips a Drug Task Force recovered a large amount of illegal explosives and drugs at a Northland Kansas City house while serving a search warrant, according to a media release from the Clay County Sheriff's office.Just after 7a.m. August 2, the STAR (Special Tactics and Response) Team arrested three people in the 6500 block of North Hickory Street in Kansas City.. A search of the home turned up&nbsp; 107 pounds of explosive powder, two pipe bombs,&nbsp; 15 grenades,&nbsp; 20 grams of fentanyl paste,&nbsp; 15 grams of meth,&nbsp; Psychedelic mushrooms, Seven guns, including an Uzi and&nbsp; a large amount of ammunition.An elementary school-aged child also was in the home. The child is now staying with relatives.Cory D. Young, 46, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm and child endangerment. He is being held on a bond of $350,000 cash only.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722708853161.png" alt="Lahr photo Clay Co." />
 <figcaption>Lahr photo Clay Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Erika Lahr, 32, is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon and child endangerment. She is being held on a bond of $250,000 cash only.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722708899567.png" alt="Cole photo Clay Co." />
 <figcaption>Cole photo Clay Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Tammie L. Bindel Cole, 52, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon. She is being held on a bond of $150,000 cash only.Additional federal charges could be forthcoming related to the explosives and weapons.This was a joint investigation by the Clay County Drug Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The Kansas City Missouri Police Department’s Bomb Squad assisted with the removal and processing of the explosives. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting with the investigation.

Deputies found pipe bombs, grenades and fentanyl at KC area home

Police are reporting the arrest of a 31 year old Junction City man, Christopher Barnes, in a shots fired case.&nbsp;

Assistant Police Chief Cory Odell reported that the call came in about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Police cordoned off the 1200, 1300 and 1400 blocks of North Washington Street downtown for their investigation. That area has since been reopened.

Barnes was arrested at a Sandusky Street location on recommended charges&nbsp; of Stalking, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Felony Possession of a Firearm, and drug related allegations.

Barnes is being held in the Geary County Detention Center without bond. There were not any injuries in the case.

Police are reporting the arrest of a 31 year old Junction City man, Christopher Barnes, in a shots fired case.&nbsp;Assistant Police Chief Cory Odell reported that the call came in about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Police cordoned off the 1200, 1300 and 1400 blocks of North Washington Street downtown for their investigation. That area has since been reopened.Barnes was arrested at a Sandusky Street location on recommended charges&nbsp; of Stalking, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm, Felony Possession of a Firearm, and drug related allegations.Barnes is being held in the Geary County Detention Center without bond. There were not any injuries in the case.

Authorities make one arrest in a shots fired case

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement in southwest Kansas are investigating a deadly stabbing at a party in Garden City and have made two arrests.&nbsp;

Just before 3a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2600 block of Chainey Street in Garden City, according to a media release.

First responders found three people had been stabbed. The victims were transported to St. Catherine Hospital.&nbsp; One of the victims, identified as Xavier Castaneda, 20, later died. 

Through a collaborative investigation by the GCPD and Finney County Sheriff’s Office, it was revealed that a fight broke out during a party and&nbsp; 20-year-old&nbsp;Fernando Sandoval stabbed the three victims.

 Sandoval and 21-year-old&nbsp;Ximena Sanchez-Espinoza fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. 

Sandoval and Sanchez-Espinoza were later located in Hugoton and taken into custody, with the assistance of the Hugoton Police Department and Dodge City Police Department.

Sandoval is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Murder in the Second Degree, multiple counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and multiple counts of Aggravated Battery.

Sanchez-Espinoza is being held in the Finney County jail on a requested charge of Obstruction. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722864997643.png" alt="Sandoval photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Sandoval photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement in southwest Kansas are investigating a deadly stabbing at a party in Garden City and have made two arrests.&nbsp;Just before 3a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2600 block of Chainey Street in Garden City, according to a media release.First responders found three people had been stabbed. The victims were transported to St. Catherine Hospital.&nbsp; One of the victims, identified as Xavier Castaneda, 20, later died. Through a collaborative investigation by the GCPD and Finney County Sheriff’s Office, it was revealed that a fight broke out during a party and&nbsp; 20-year-old&nbsp;Fernando Sandoval stabbed the three victims. Sandoval and 21-year-old&nbsp;Ximena Sanchez-Espinoza fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Sandoval and Sanchez-Espinoza were later located in Hugoton and taken into custody, with the assistance of the Hugoton Police Department and Dodge City Police Department.Sandoval is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Murder in the Second Degree, multiple counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and multiple counts of Aggravated Battery.Sanchez-Espinoza is being held in the Finney County jail on a requested charge of Obstruction.

Police ID victim in deadly SW Kansas party stabbing

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —A Kansas man remains jailed for altercation that led to a man's death.

On July 26, police issued a warrant for the arrest of 41-year-old Ryan J. McCullough of Neodesha in connection with the death of 63-year-old David L. Wintjen of Coffeyville, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

On May 5, McCullough was involved in an altercation with Wintjen who died a few days later, according to the sheriff's office. After a thorough investigation by Coffeyville police, authorities made an arrest.

McCullough remains jailed on charges of Murder in the 2nd degree.Unintentional but reckless, Aggravated battery and Knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722425559031.png" alt="McCullough-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>McCullough-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —A Kansas man remains jailed for altercation that led to a man's death.On July 26, police issued a warrant for the arrest of 41-year-old Ryan J. McCullough of Neodesha in connection with the death of 63-year-old David L. Wintjen of Coffeyville, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.On May 5, McCullough was involved in an altercation with Wintjen who died a few days later, according to the sheriff's office. After a thorough investigation by Coffeyville police, authorities made an arrest.McCullough remains jailed on charges of Murder in the 2nd degree.Unintentional but reckless, Aggravated battery and Knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement.

Kansas man accused of altercation that led to man's death

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

On April 19, police responded to a disturbance at 32nd and Brighton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found a man suffering from trauma. He was transported to the hospital where he remained until he died.&nbsp; On Friday, police ruled the death was a homicide, according to Forte'.

Police have released suspect details or reported an arrest.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.On April 19, police responded to a disturbance at 32nd and Brighton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found a man suffering from trauma. He was transported to the hospital where he remained until he died.&nbsp; On Friday, police ruled the death was a homicide, according to Forte'.Police have released suspect details or reported an arrest.

KCPD: Man's death in April now ruled a homicide

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted stealing and destroying a Jackie Robinson statue from a Wichita Park was sentenced Friday afternoon.

&nbsp;Judge Tyler Roush sentenced 45-year-old Ricky Alderete of Wichita, to 15-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;The judge imposed a sentence of 162 months on one count of Aggravated Burglary and 18 months on one count of Aggravated Criminal Damage to property in connection with the destruction of the Jackie Robinson statute for a total of 180 months or 15-years in prison.

In May, Alderete pled guilty to the theft of the statue from League 42, according to the district attorney's office.

On January 26, police learned the statue was cut at the ankles to be removed. All that remained of the statue were Robinson's feet.&nbsp;

Alerete, who was in custody after an arrest on&nbsp;February 1, for a probation violation, burglary, kidnapping and criminal damage to property unrelated to the theft of the statue,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">according to online jail records</a>&nbsp;was charged with the crime.

Wichita police detectives conducted over 100 interviews both within and outside Sedgwick County to resolve the case.

On January 28, officers from the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located a suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita.

On January 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered parts of the statue in a trash can at Garvey Park while responding to a fire call.

The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime, instead, police believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal, according to Moses.&nbsp;

Alderete has been the only suspect apprehended in the statue’s destruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707844320270.png" alt="Alderete photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Alderete photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted stealing and destroying a Jackie Robinson statue from a Wichita Park was sentenced Friday afternoon.&nbsp;Judge Tyler Roush sentenced 45-year-old Ricky Alderete of Wichita, to 15-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;The judge imposed a sentence of 162 months on one count of Aggravated Burglary and 18 months on one count of Aggravated Criminal Damage to property in connection with the destruction of the Jackie Robinson statute for a total of 180 months or 15-years in prison.In May, Alderete pled guilty to the theft of the statue from League 42, according to the district attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706214143377.png" alt="Photo City of Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Photo City of Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 26, police learned the statue was cut at the ankles to be removed. All that remained of the statue were Robinson's feet.&nbsp;Alerete, who was in custody after an arrest on&nbsp;February 1, for a probation violation, burglary, kidnapping and criminal damage to property unrelated to the theft of the statue,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">according to online jail records</a>&nbsp;was charged with the crime.Wichita police detectives conducted over 100 interviews both within and outside Sedgwick County to resolve the case.On January 28, officers from the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located a suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706641670170.png" alt="-Parts of the burned statue found in a trash bin-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>-Parts of the burned statue found in a trash bin-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered parts of the statue in a trash can at Garvey Park while responding to a fire call.The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime, instead, police believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal, according to Moses.&nbsp;Alderete has been the only suspect apprehended in the statue’s destruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Prison for Kan. man who stole Jackie Robinson statue from park

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation after two bodies were located near the 300 Block of River Road in rural Sumner County, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.&nbsp; &nbsp;In May, the Sheriff’s Office reported they identified several suspects in the case. Authorities have not reported an arrest and detectives are waiting for some information to come back, according to Gibbs.

 One of the bodies was located on May 10,&nbsp; the other on May 13.&nbsp; Both bodies were transported to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center for further testing and examination. &nbsp;

On May 17, the sheriff's office received confirmation through DNA testing on the identities of the two deceased individuals as 30-year-old Monica R. Williams and 24-year-old Kevin M. Ledesma. Both had been reporteed missing and were last seen&nbsp;at a residence in the 9500 block South Hydraulic in Wichita on January 1, 2024. The sheriff's office also reported there were homicide victims.

The circumstances in which Williams and Ledesma were killed remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715979738614.png" alt="Williams photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is assisting the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation after two bodies were located near the 300 Block of River Road in rural Sumner County, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.&nbsp; &nbsp;In May, the Sheriff’s Office reported they identified several suspects in the case. Authorities have not reported an arrest and detectives are waiting for some information to come back, according to Gibbs. One of the bodies was located on May 10,&nbsp; the other on May 13.&nbsp; Both bodies were transported to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center for further testing and examination. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715980197399.png" alt="Kevin Ledesma-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Kevin Ledesma-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>On May 17, the sheriff's office received confirmation through DNA testing on the identities of the two deceased individuals as 30-year-old Monica R. Williams and 24-year-old Kevin M. Ledesma. Both had been reporteed missing and were last seen&nbsp;at a residence in the 9500 block South Hydraulic in Wichita on January 1, 2024. The sheriff's office also reported there were homicide victims.The circumstances in which Williams and Ledesma were killed remains under investigation.

Still no arrests 2 months after bodies found in rural Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/evan-gershkovich">Evan Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;and fellow American&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-whelan">Paul Whelan</a>, along with dissidents including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vladimir-kara-murza-pulitzer-commentary-column-writing-db7f9cf85d5843c99f287bb240d52389">Vladimir Kara-Murza</a>, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free.

Gershkovich, Whelan and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-kurmasheva-crackdown-journalist-rferl-7a9bfe693edbfc8dd222e24d9baac46e">Alsu Kurmasheva</a>, a journalist with dual U.S.-Russia citizenship, arrived on American soil shortly before midnight for a joyful reunion with their families. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also were at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to greet them and dispense hugs all around.

The trade unfolded despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-europe-moscow-e88497e7e8d4ad178057b599cc9ec8f6">February 2022 invasion of Ukraine</a>.

Negotiators in backchannel talks at one point explored an exchange involving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-navalny-prison-death-swap-ce214909b1088a1d67fa9cd323864f50">Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny</a>, but after his death in February ultimately stitched together a 24-person deal that required significant concessions from European allies, including the release of a Russian assassin, and secured freedom for a cluster of journalists, suspected spies, political prisoners and others.

Biden trumpeted the exchange, by far the largest in a series of swaps with Russia, as a diplomatic feat while welcoming families of the returning Americans to the White House. But the deal, like others before it, reflected an innate imbalance: The U.S. and allies gave up Russians charged or convicted of serious crimes in exchange for Russia releasing journalists, dissidents and others imprisoned by the country's highly politicized legal system on charges seen by the West as trumped-up.

“Deals like this one come with tough calls,” Biden said. He added, “There’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad.”

Under the deal, Russia released Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was jailed in 2023 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evan-gershkovich-russia-espionage-trial-ef2e9fffc44570cf797e97aa6afa50a1#:~:text=YEKATERINBURG%2C%20Russia%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,government%20have%20rejected%20as%20fabricated.">convicted in July of espionage charges</a>&nbsp;that he and the U.S. government vehemently denied. His family said in a statement released by the newspaper that “we can't wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close." The paper's editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker, called it a “joyous day.”

“While we waited for this momentous day, we were determined to be as loud as we could be on Evan’s behalf. We are so grateful for all the voices that were raised when his was silent. We can finally say, in unison, ‘Welcome home, Evan,’” she wrote in a letter posted online.

Also released was Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed since 2018, also on espionage charges he and Washington have denied, and Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist convicted in July of spreading false information about the Russian military, accusations her family and employer have rejected.

The three flew from Maryland to Texas and landed at Joint Base San Antonio early Friday to begin medical evaluations after spending some time with their family members. If they choose, they can receive treatment the military offers to wrongfully detained Americans.

The dissidents released included Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer serving 25 years on charges of treason widely seen as politically motivated, as well as multiple associates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alexei-navalny">of Navalny</a>. Freed Kremlin critics included Oleg Orlov, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-orlov-nobel-sentenced-8539517d8b2c846706607584ba5f9bbb">veteran human rights campaigner convicted of discrediting the Russian military</a>, and Ilya Yashin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-dissident-yashin-06e10d17e2552393b6c517e6022103cf">imprisoned for criticizing the war in Ukraine</a>.

The Russian side got&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/belarus-german-sentenced-krieger-lukashenko-krasikov-f7d3d4c18245487557623c27664aedaf">Vadim Krasikov</a>, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison for killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services. Throughout the negotiations, Moscow had been persistent in pressing for his release, with Putin himself raising it.

At the time of Navalny's death, officials were discussing a possible exchange involving Krasikov. But with that prospect erased, senior U.S. officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, made a fresh push to encourage Germany to release Krasikov. In the end, a handful of the prisoners Russia released were either German nationals or dual German-Russian nationals.

Russia also received two alleged sleeper agents jailed in Slovenia, as well as three men charged by federal authorities in the U.S., including Roman Seleznev,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-c5bac679915f486bab26861bd991bc61">a convicted computer hacker and the son of a Russian lawmaker</a>, and Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected Russian intelligence operative accused of providing American-made electronics and ammunition to the Russian military. Norway returned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-russia-brazilian-university-spy-1f93f5ddb7195f4b70fb394bf3403ef3">an academic arrested on suspicions of being a Russian spy</a>; Poland sent back a man it detained on espionage charges.

“Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world,” Biden said.

All told, six countries released at least one prisoner and a seventh, Turkey, participated by hosting the location for the swap, in Ankara.

Biden placed securing the release of Americans held wrongfully overseas at the top of his foreign policy agenda for the six months before he leaves office. In an Oval Office address discussing his decision to drop his bid for a second term, Biden said, “We’re also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.”

At one point Thursday, he grabbed the hand of Whelan's sister, Elizabeth, and said she had practically been living at the White House as the administration tried to free Paul. He then motioned for Kurmasheva’s daughter, Miriam, to come closer and took her hand, telling the room it was her 13th birthday. He asked everyone to sing “Happy Birthday” with him. She wiped tears from her eyes.

The Biden administration has now brought home more than 70 Americans detained in other countries as part of deals that have required the U.S. to give up a broad array of convicted criminals, including for drug and weapons offenses. The swaps, though celebrated with fanfare, have spurred criticism that they incentivize future hostage-taking and give adversaries leverage over the U.S. and its allies.

The U.S. government's top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, has sought to defend the deals by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-detainees-gershkovich-russia-venezuela-edeacd5736d0c9ce9c77bf68a6ccd7c8">saying the number of wrongfully detained Americans</a>&nbsp;has actually gone down even as swaps have increased.

Tucker, the Journal's editor-in-chief, acknowledged the debate, writing, “We know the U.S. government is keenly aware, as are we, that the only way to prevent a quickening cycle of arresting innocent people as pawns in cynical geopolitical games is to remove the incentive for Russia and other nations that pursue the same detestable practice."

Though she called for a change to the dynamic, “for now,” she wrote, “we are celebrating the return of Evan.”

Thursday’s swap of 24 prisoners surpassed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apnews.com/78e7f17b47bb445386bb36b92017a375/Spy-swap:-A-look-at-the-4-Russians-freed-in-2010-exchange">a deal involving 14 people</a>&nbsp;that was struck in 2010. In that exchange, Washington freed 10 Russians living in the U.S. as sleepers, while Moscow deported four Russians, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-acf8c155ad744f69aa5741177f0d9459">Sergei Skripal</a>, a double agent working with British intelligence. He and his daughter in 2018 were nearly killed in Britain by nerve agent poisoning blamed on Russian agents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722592597964.png" alt="President Biden welcomes Paul Whelan home-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Biden welcomes Paul Whelan home-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia completed their biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history on Thursday, with Moscow releasing journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/evan-gershkovich">Evan Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;and fellow American&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/paul-whelan">Paul Whelan</a>, along with dissidents including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vladimir-kara-murza-pulitzer-commentary-column-writing-db7f9cf85d5843c99f287bb240d52389">Vladimir Kara-Murza</a>, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Happening Now: President Biden and Vice President Harris greet Americans freed from Russia at Joint Base Andrews. <a href="https://t.co/Z1gP6RUAIW">https://t.co/Z1gP6RUAIW</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1819218084537761849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Gershkovich, Whelan and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-kurmasheva-crackdown-journalist-rferl-7a9bfe693edbfc8dd222e24d9baac46e">Alsu Kurmasheva</a>, a journalist with dual U.S.-Russia citizenship, arrived on American soil shortly before midnight for a joyful reunion with their families. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also were at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to greet them and dispense hugs all around.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home. Since taking office, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made clear that they will not stop working until every American wrongfully… <a href="https://t.co/ZvVVC2TuIh">pic.twitter.com/ZvVVC2TuIh</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1819186562766389632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The trade unfolded despite relations between Washington and Moscow being at their lowest point since the Cold War after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-joe-biden-business-europe-moscow-e88497e7e8d4ad178057b599cc9ec8f6">February 2022 invasion of Ukraine</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722593277039.png" alt="President Biden welcomes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/evan-gershkovich">Evan Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;home-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Biden welcomes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/evan-gershkovich">Evan Gershkovich</a>&nbsp;home-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>Negotiators in backchannel talks at one point explored an exchange involving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-navalny-prison-death-swap-ce214909b1088a1d67fa9cd323864f50">Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny</a>, but after his death in February ultimately stitched together a 24-person deal that required significant concessions from European allies, including the release of a Russian assassin, and secured freedom for a cluster of journalists, suspected spies, political prisoners and others.Biden trumpeted the exchange, by far the largest in a series of swaps with Russia, as a diplomatic feat while welcoming families of the returning Americans to the White House. But the deal, like others before it, reflected an innate imbalance: The U.S. and allies gave up Russians charged or convicted of serious crimes in exchange for Russia releasing journalists, dissidents and others imprisoned by the country's highly politicized legal system on charges seen by the West as trumped-up.“Deals like this one come with tough calls,” Biden said. He added, “There’s nothing that matters more to me than protecting Americans at home and abroad.”Under the deal, Russia released Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was jailed in 2023 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evan-gershkovich-russia-espionage-trial-ef2e9fffc44570cf797e97aa6afa50a1#:~:text=YEKATERINBURG%2C%20Russia%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,government%20have%20rejected%20as%20fabricated.">convicted in July of espionage charges</a>&nbsp;that he and the U.S. government vehemently denied. His family said in a statement released by the newspaper that “we can't wait to give him the biggest hug and see his sweet and brave smile up close." The paper's editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker, called it a “joyous day.”“While we waited for this momentous day, we were determined to be as loud as we could be on Evan’s behalf. We are so grateful for all the voices that were raised when his was silent. We can finally say, in unison, ‘Welcome home, Evan,’” she wrote in a letter posted online.Also released was Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive jailed since 2018, also on espionage charges he and Washington have denied, and Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist convicted in July of spreading false information about the Russian military, accusations her family and employer have rejected.The three flew from Maryland to Texas and landed at Joint Base San Antonio early Friday to begin medical evaluations after spending some time with their family members. If they choose, they can receive treatment the military offers to wrongfully detained Americans.The dissidents released included Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer serving 25 years on charges of treason widely seen as politically motivated, as well as multiple associates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alexei-navalny">of Navalny</a>. Freed Kremlin critics included Oleg Orlov, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-orlov-nobel-sentenced-8539517d8b2c846706607584ba5f9bbb">veteran human rights campaigner convicted of discrediting the Russian military</a>, and Ilya Yashin,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-dissident-yashin-06e10d17e2552393b6c517e6022103cf">imprisoned for criticizing the war in Ukraine</a>.The Russian side got&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/belarus-german-sentenced-krieger-lukashenko-krasikov-f7d3d4c18245487557623c27664aedaf">Vadim Krasikov</a>, who was convicted in Germany in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison for killing a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park two years earlier, apparently on the orders of Moscow’s security services. Throughout the negotiations, Moscow had been persistent in pressing for his release, with Putin himself raising it.At the time of Navalny's death, officials were discussing a possible exchange involving Krasikov. But with that prospect erased, senior U.S. officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, made a fresh push to encourage Germany to release Krasikov. In the end, a handful of the prisoners Russia released were either German nationals or dual German-Russian nationals.Russia also received two alleged sleeper agents jailed in Slovenia, as well as three men charged by federal authorities in the U.S., including Roman Seleznev,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-c5bac679915f486bab26861bd991bc61">a convicted computer hacker and the son of a Russian lawmaker</a>, and Vadim Konoshchenok, a suspected Russian intelligence operative accused of providing American-made electronics and ammunition to the Russian military. Norway returned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-russia-brazilian-university-spy-1f93f5ddb7195f4b70fb394bf3403ef3">an academic arrested on suspicions of being a Russian spy</a>; Poland sent back a man it detained on espionage charges.“Today is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world,” Biden said.All told, six countries released at least one prisoner and a seventh, Turkey, participated by hosting the location for the swap, in Ankara.Biden placed securing the release of Americans held wrongfully overseas at the top of his foreign policy agenda for the six months before he leaves office. In an Oval Office address discussing his decision to drop his bid for a second term, Biden said, “We’re also working around the clock to bring home Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.”At one point Thursday, he grabbed the hand of Whelan's sister, Elizabeth, and said she had practically been living at the White House as the administration tried to free Paul. He then motioned for Kurmasheva’s daughter, Miriam, to come closer and took her hand, telling the room it was her 13th birthday. He asked everyone to sing “Happy Birthday” with him. She wiped tears from her eyes.The Biden administration has now brought home more than 70 Americans detained in other countries as part of deals that have required the U.S. to give up a broad array of convicted criminals, including for drug and weapons offenses. The swaps, though celebrated with fanfare, have spurred criticism that they incentivize future hostage-taking and give adversaries leverage over the U.S. and its allies.The U.S. government's top hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, has sought to defend the deals by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-detainees-gershkovich-russia-venezuela-edeacd5736d0c9ce9c77bf68a6ccd7c8">saying the number of wrongfully detained Americans</a>&nbsp;has actually gone down even as swaps have increased.Tucker, the Journal's editor-in-chief, acknowledged the debate, writing, “We know the U.S. government is keenly aware, as are we, that the only way to prevent a quickening cycle of arresting innocent people as pawns in cynical geopolitical games is to remove the incentive for Russia and other nations that pursue the same detestable practice."Though she called for a change to the dynamic, “for now,” she wrote, “we are celebrating the return of Evan.”Thursday’s swap of 24 prisoners surpassed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apnews.com/78e7f17b47bb445386bb36b92017a375/Spy-swap:-A-look-at-the-4-Russians-freed-in-2010-exchange">a deal involving 14 people</a>&nbsp;that was struck in 2010. In that exchange, Washington freed 10 Russians living in the U.S. as sleepers, while Moscow deported four Russians, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-acf8c155ad744f69aa5741177f0d9459">Sergei Skripal</a>, a double agent working with British intelligence. He and his daughter in 2018 were nearly killed in Britain by nerve agent poisoning blamed on Russian agents.Speculation had mounted for weeks that a swap was near because of a confluence of unusual developments, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/evan-gershkovich-russia-espionage-trial-ef2e9fffc44570cf797e97aa6afa50a1#:~:text=YEKATERINBURG%2C%20Russia%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,government%20have%20rejected%20as%20fabricated.">a startlingly quick trial for Gershkovich</a>, which Washington regarded as a sham. He was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security prison.In a trial that concluded in two days in secrecy in the same week as Gershkovich’s,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-kurmasheva-crackdown-journalist-rferl-7a9bfe693edbfc8dd222e24d9baac46e">Kurmasheva was convicted</a>&nbsp;on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military that her family, employer and U.S. officials rejected. Also in recent days,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-prisoners-dissident-yashin-06e10d17e2552393b6c517e6022103cf">several other figures imprisoned</a>&nbsp;in Russia for speaking out against the war in Ukraine or over their work with Navalny were moved from prison to unknown locations.Gershkovich was arrested March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Authorities claimed, without offering any evidence, that he was gathering secret information for the U.S. The son of Soviet emigres who settled in New Jersey, he moved to Russia in 2017 to work for The Moscow Times newspaper before being hired by the Journal in 2022.Gershkovich was designated as wrongfully detained, as was Whelan, who was detained in December 2018 after traveling to Russia for a wedding.Whelan, who was serving a 16-year prison sentence, had been excluded from prior high-profile deals involving Russia, including the April 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trevor-reed-russia-prisoner-marine-ukraine-bdfe9b245571f479c25a09d1872ac726">swap by Moscow of imprisoned Marine veteran Trevor Reed</a>&nbsp;for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot convicted in a drug trafficking conspiracy. That December, the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-freed-viktor-bout-swap-us-russia-ee51f5c14f35dc4d4cf21224a8e44eaa">released notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout</a>&nbsp;in exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner, who had been jailed on drug charges.“Paul Whelan is free. Our family is grateful to the United States government for making Paul’s freedom a reality,” his family said in a statement.On a warm and steamy night, the freed Americans lingered on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, soaking up the moment of their return to the U.S. They took selfies with family members and friends, shared hugs with Biden and Harris, and patted loved ones on the back and smothered them with kisses.At one point, Biden gave Whelan the flag pin off his own lapel.