SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 9:30p.m. Jan. 16, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Studer Street on a red 2001 Dodge Dakota for a turn signal violation, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson.

 During the investigation, the deputy located illegal narcotics.&nbsp;

Caleb S. Eslick, 38, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, fail to use turn signal, and no vehicle insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705586976453.png" alt="Eslick-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Eslick-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY–Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 9:30p.m. Jan. 16, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop near NW Topeka Boulevard and NW Studer Street on a red 2001 Dodge Dakota for a turn signal violation, according to Deputy Shayna Anderson. During the investigation, the deputy located illegal narcotics.&nbsp;Caleb S. Eslick, 38, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, fail to use turn signal, and no vehicle insurance.

Sheriff: Kan. driver making improper turn was transporting meth

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A federal judge on Friday reinstated Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who had been suspended from the team since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-terrence-shannon-326d92b58d5d86f7492f35e8e4458553">he was charged with rape</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.

U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Lawless found that the university had violated Shannon's civil rights.

The suspension, she ruled, deprived Shannon of “protected property interests” without due process. In the case of Shannon, whom the court noted is supporting several family members, his property interests include retaining his chances to be an NBA lottery pick — among the first 14 players taken in the draft — and to cash in on potential endorsements allowed under the NCAA's name, image and likeness (NIL) policy.

“Plaintiff’s participation in sports is vital to the development of his career as well as his current and future economic opportunities considering plaintiff’s intention to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft,” Lawless wrote in the order issued Friday. “Prior to his suspension, plaintiff was projected to be a lottery pick in the NBA. His participation in future games impact his prospects in the draft and his earning potential.”

Lawless said that the “public interest is not harmed” by putting in place “procedural safeguards while he is presumed innocent of the criminal charges.”

The preliminary injunction gives the university the right to appeal. In a statement, Associate Chancellor Robin Kaler said Shannon “has been reinstated to full status as a university student-athlete and will be available for basketball practice and competition. We will continue to review the court order and monitor the case.”

Shannon, a 6-foot-6 guard, missed six games during his suspension. The 14th-ranked Illini have gone 4-2 in his absence and host Rutgers on Sunday. He is averaging a team-best 21.7 points per game.

Prosecutors in Douglas County, Kansas, charged Shannon on Dec. 5 with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. After an arrest warrant was issued, the university suspended Shannon on Dec. 28 from “all team activities, effective immediately.”

The rape charge carries a sentence of 12 to 54 years in prison, while the battery charge carries a fine of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail.

The alleged incident occurred early on Sept. 9 after Shannon and a friend attended the Illini's football game at Kansas. Police reports that are part of the court record indicate a woman, who said she was born in 2005, told police she was at a bar when she was summoned by a man&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball">she later identified from an online team roster</a>&nbsp;as Shannon.

The woman said Shannon grabbed her buttocks and then reached under her skirt and touched her sexually. The woman said the bar was so crowded, she couldn't move.

However, a graduate assistant for the Illini basketball team who was assigned to drive Shannon and a teammate to Kansas and chaperone them said he was near Shannon the entire night and saw no activity of the type the woman described.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703798657514.png" alt="Shannon-photo courtesy University of Illinois athletics" />
 <figcaption>Shannon-photo courtesy University of Illinois athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A federal judge on Friday reinstated Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., who had been suspended from the team since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-terrence-shannon-326d92b58d5d86f7492f35e8e4458553">he was charged with rape</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Lawless found that the university had violated Shannon's civil rights.The suspension, she ruled, deprived Shannon of “protected property interests” without due process. In the case of Shannon, whom the court noted is supporting several family members, his property interests include retaining his chances to be an NBA lottery pick — among the first 14 players taken in the draft — and to cash in on potential endorsements allowed under the NCAA's name, image and likeness (NIL) policy.“Plaintiff’s participation in sports is vital to the development of his career as well as his current and future economic opportunities considering plaintiff’s intention to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft,” Lawless wrote in the order issued Friday. “Prior to his suspension, plaintiff was projected to be a lottery pick in the NBA. His participation in future games impact his prospects in the draft and his earning potential.”Lawless said that the “public interest is not harmed” by putting in place “procedural safeguards while he is presumed innocent of the criminal charges.”The preliminary injunction gives the university the right to appeal. In a statement, Associate Chancellor Robin Kaler said Shannon “has been reinstated to full status as a university student-athlete and will be available for basketball practice and competition. We will continue to review the court order and monitor the case.”Shannon, a 6-foot-6 guard, missed six games during his suspension. The 14th-ranked Illini have gone 4-2 in his absence and host Rutgers on Sunday. He is averaging a team-best 21.7 points per game.Prosecutors in Douglas County, Kansas, charged Shannon on Dec. 5 with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery. After an arrest warrant was issued, the university suspended Shannon on Dec. 28 from “all team activities, effective immediately.”The rape charge carries a sentence of 12 to 54 years in prison, while the battery charge carries a fine of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail.The alleged incident occurred early on Sept. 9 after Shannon and a friend attended the Illini's football game at Kansas. Police reports that are part of the court record indicate a woman, who said she was born in 2005, told police she was at a bar when she was summoned by a man&nbsp;<a href="https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball">she later identified from an online team roster</a>&nbsp;as Shannon.The woman said Shannon grabbed her buttocks and then reached under her skirt and touched her sexually. The woman said the bar was so crowded, she couldn't move.However, a graduate assistant for the Illini basketball team who was assigned to drive Shannon and a teammate to Kansas and chaperone them said he was near Shannon the entire night and saw no activity of the type the woman described.

Judge ends suspension of basketball star charged in Kan. for alleged rape

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have made an arrest and continue to search for another suspect.

Just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots in the 1000 block of S. Market, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; 

In the 900 block of S. Market Street, first responders discovered 35-year-old Ladonte Ostrander with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported him in critical condition to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415">According to online arrest</a> records 37-year-old Yancy Hermosillo is being held on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415"> requested charges </a>of murder and interference with law enforcement in connection with the death.

Hermosillo has previous felony convictions for domestic battery, criminal threat,&nbsp; and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

The Wichita Police is actively seeking another individual related to the case who may have information or involvement. Anyone with information is urged to contact Wichita Police Investigators at (316) 268-4407.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705588462988.png" alt="Hermosillo-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Hermosillo-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have made an arrest and continue to search for another suspect.Just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots in the 1000 block of S. Market, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; In the 900 block of S. Market Street, first responders discovered 35-year-old Ladonte Ostrander with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported him in critical condition to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415">According to online arrest</a> records 37-year-old Yancy Hermosillo is being held on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415"> requested charges </a>of murder and interference with law enforcement in connection with the death.Hermosillo has previous felony convictions for domestic battery, criminal threat,&nbsp; and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;The Wichita Police is actively seeking another individual related to the case who may have information or involvement. Anyone with information is urged to contact Wichita Police Investigators at (316) 268-4407.

Homicide: Police make 1 arrest, search for 2nd Kansas suspect

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City that injured multiple people.

The shooting around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at Crown Center left shattered glass inside the mall. Two of the six injured were found in a food court area on the lower level. Police later learned four other people went to a hospital in a private vehicle. All six are expected to survive, police spokesperson Sgt. Jake Becchina said.

Most of the injured were in their late teens or early 20s, but police said one victim was at least 50. It wasn’t immediately known if some or all of the injured were involved in the dispute or if they were bystanders.

Witnesses told police that a verbal argument between two groups led to the shooting that damaged some businesses inside the mall. Witness John Gaston told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2024/01/18/kansas-citys-crown-center-closed-after-4-people-struck-shooting-near-food-court/">KCTV-TV</a>&nbsp;he heard gunfire, then saw chaos.

“Pretty much everybody was just screaming, running,” Gaston said.

Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, Becchina said, but police have not yet announced any arrests.&nbsp; Crown Center had a delayed opening Thursday and is referring all questions about the incident to police.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705578003872.png" alt="-Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, according to police but they have not yet announced any arrests-.Photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>-Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, according to police but they have not yet announced any arrests-.Photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City that injured multiple people.The shooting around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at Crown Center left shattered glass inside the mall. Two of the six injured were found in a food court area on the lower level. Police later learned four other people went to a hospital in a private vehicle. All six are expected to survive, police spokesperson Sgt. Jake Becchina said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705578148945.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Most of the injured were in their late teens or early 20s, but police said one victim was at least 50. It wasn’t immediately known if some or all of the injured were involved in the dispute or if they were bystanders.Witnesses told police that a verbal argument between two groups led to the shooting that damaged some businesses inside the mall. Witness John Gaston told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2024/01/18/kansas-citys-crown-center-closed-after-4-people-struck-shooting-near-food-court/">KCTV-TV</a>&nbsp;he heard gunfire, then saw chaos.“Pretty much everybody was just screaming, running,” Gaston said.Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, Becchina said, but police have not yet announced any arrests.&nbsp; Crown Center had a delayed opening Thursday and is referring all questions about the incident to police.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Search continues for suspects in shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City

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

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Odessey Moore, Failure to appear, arrested 01/16

Rein Morffith,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 01/16

Ian Posey, Outside warrant, arrested 01/16

Lin Kennedy, Outside warrant (Two counts), Canceled/suspended/revoked license, arrested 01/16

Janine Williams, Domestic battery, arrested 01/17

Gregory Dyrness, Failure to appear, Outside warrant, arrested 01/17

Tyler Roberts, Harass by telecom device, Phone call with intent to abuse/threaten/harass, arrested 01/17

Joseph Paperny, Distribute or possess with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia for illegal use; Taxation, drugs, No drug stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Distribute marijuana &gt; 30 kilograms, arrested 01/17

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/2024/1/1705633890356.jpeg" alt="Ernest Myers, Criminal damage to property, Aggravated assault, arrested 01/16" />
 <figcaption>Ernest Myers, Criminal damage to property, Aggravated assault, arrested 01/16</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705633966876.jpeg" alt="Sarah Harrison, Domestic battery, arrested 01/16" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Harrison, Domestic battery, arrested 01/16</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705634020304.jpeg" alt="Lisa Ewing, DUI-Liquor or Drugs, arrested 01/17" />
 <figcaption>Lisa Ewing, DUI-Liquor or Drugs, arrested 01/17</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705634102160.jpeg" alt="Vanessa Nixon, Operate a motor vehicle without a license, arrested 01/17" />
 <figcaption>Vanessa Nixon, Operate a motor vehicle without a license, arrested 01/17</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705634156117.jpeg" alt="Magen Kirksey, Failure to appear (Two counts), Aggravated failure to appear, arrested 01/17" />
 <figcaption>Magen Kirksey, Failure to appear (Two counts), Aggravated failure to appear, arrested 01/17</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Odessey Moore, Failure to appear, arrested 01/16Rein Morffith,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 01/16Ian Posey, Outside warrant, arrested 01/16Lin Kennedy, Outside warrant (Two counts), Canceled/suspended/revoked license, arrested 01/16Janine Williams, Domestic battery, arrested 01/17Gregory Dyrness, Failure to appear, Outside warrant, arrested 01/17Tyler Roberts, Harass by telecom device, Phone call with intent to abuse/threaten/harass, arrested 01/17Joseph Paperny, Distribute or possess with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia for illegal use; Taxation, drugs, No drug stamp payment for marijuana or controlled substance, Distribute marijuana &gt; 30 kilograms, arrested 01/17Recent 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 Jan. 17-18

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a high-speed chase.

A speeding truck led a short chase in North Douglas Co. before the driver, who is known to start violent pursuits, rammed into a patrol vehicle, lost control of his pickup and was soon arrested.

Just before 1:30 a.m. on Monday, police attempted to stop a Chevrolet pickup truck after the driver later identified as 48-year-old Steven Drake had been seen speeding near E. 1600 Road and Highway 24, according to a media release.

Drake initially slowed the truck and then immediately began to accelerate again and the prompted a pursuit.

During the pursuit, deputies successfully implemented a tactical-vehicle-intervention maneuver. However, Drake was able to recover and head east on the highway.

As deputies attempted to identify the driver, he rammed into a patrol vehicle which caused the truck to veer into the ditch and break off the wheel at the axle.

Deputies then took Drake into custody and booked him into the Douglas County jail on requested charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. There were no injuries reported.

In June of 2022, police asked the&nbsp; public for help to locate Drake after he led police on two vehicle pursuits within a week.

Drake has previous felony convictions that include forgery, assault, theft, aggravated endangering a child, obstruction, aggravated interference with parental control, driving while suspended and three convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654253731903.png" alt="Drake-photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Drake-photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a high-speed chase.A speeding truck led a short chase in North Douglas Co. before the driver, who is known to start violent pursuits, rammed into a patrol vehicle, lost control of his pickup and was soon arrested.Just before 1:30 a.m. on Monday, police attempted to stop a Chevrolet pickup truck after the driver later identified as 48-year-old Steven Drake had been seen speeding near E. 1600 Road and Highway 24, according to a media release.Drake initially slowed the truck and then immediately began to accelerate again and the prompted a pursuit.During the pursuit, deputies successfully implemented a tactical-vehicle-intervention maneuver. However, Drake was able to recover and head east on the highway.As deputies attempted to identify the driver, he rammed into a patrol vehicle which caused the truck to veer into the ditch and break off the wheel at the axle.Deputies then took Drake into custody and booked him into the Douglas County jail on requested charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. There were no injuries reported.In June of 2022, police asked the&nbsp; public for help to locate Drake after he led police on two vehicle pursuits within a week.Drake has previous felony convictions that include forgery, assault, theft, aggravated endangering a child, obstruction, aggravated interference with parental control, driving while suspended and three convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

Driver rams Kan. patrol vehicle during high-speed chase

WASHINGTON (AP) —A year ago, pro-life activists from across the U.S. gathered for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-florida-state-government-kentucky-6ed9dbcdaae33312f1425ea38b681a7e">their annual March for Life</a>&nbsp;with reason to celebrate: It was their first march since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court</a>, seven months earlier, had overturned the nationwide right to abortion.

At this year’s march, on Friday, the mood will be very different — reflecting formidable challenges that lie ahead in this election year.

“We have undeniable evidence of victory — lives being saved,” said John Seago, president of Texas Right to Life. “But there is also a realization of the significant hurdles that our movement has right now in the public conversation.”

Participants at the march in Washington will salute the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-exception-lawsuit-legislature-confusion-b2808df90937e96887aa4e1f9c565771">14 states enforcing bans</a>&nbsp;on abortion throughout pregnancy. They will proclaim that thousands of babies have been born who otherwise might have been aborted, even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-count-dobbs-ruling-states-3acdfba421b9f4a5ea0003de6c67260b">studies show</a>&nbsp;the total number of abortions provided in the U.S. rose slightly in the year after that enforcement began.

Moreover, anti-abortion leaders know that their side has a seven-state losing streak in votes on abortion-related ballot measures. Even in red states such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">Ohio</a>, Kansas and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kentucky-abortion-3fa387a4cdc355d50a223f4788aa0ae8">Kentucky</a>, the outcomes favored keeping abortion access legal.

In this year’s election, several more states are expected to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-2024-state-vote-e7d635835dc3a440789ad87787553ec1">abortion-rights ballot measures</a>, and Democratic candidates in many races, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-kamala-harris-abortion-c634452da5e103913982e1cc5a0cae78">President Joe Biden</a>, will be highlighting their support for abortion access.

“We have been around for more than 50 years, and I don’t know of any year that was easy,” said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee.

“But it definitely got harder after Dobbs,” she added. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

Tobias was referring to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in June 2022, overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

The key consequence of Dobbs was to return decision-making on abortion policy to individual states. Some Democratic-governed states — such as California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-new-york-doctor-protection-shield-161fc73174a04f68e93c4312b3b21ea0">New York</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-new-jersey-state-government-006f9a1182946397c9e79342ad80c778">New Jersey</a>&nbsp;— have strengthened protections for abortion access. Roughly 20 states with Republican-controlled legislatures have either banned abortion or sought to impose new restrictions.

After Dobbs, “I didn’t want anyone to get the false sense that we were at the end of our work,” said Brent Leatherwood, an abortion opponent who heads the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy wing.

“We’ve gone from a focal point at the federal level to 50 different focal points,” he said. “It may be another 50 years before we truly establish a culture of life, where preborn lives are saved and mothers are supported.”

Even the current claims of lives being saved due to the Dobbs decision are subject to question. While abortions have decreased to nearly zero in states with total bans, they have increased elsewhere – notably in states such as Illinois, Florida and New Mexico, which are near those with more restrictions.

Anti-abortion leaders are keenly aware that their opponents in the abortion debate depict the wave of state bans as an infringement on women’s rights and a potential danger to their health.

Thus the theme of this year’s March for Life strives to convey support for women facing unexpected pregnancies: “Pro Life: With Every Woman, For Every Child.”

“&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-business-health-nashville-personal-taxes-fffa6f6f86e6eaa448b8ea89087a1c46">Pregnancy care centers</a>&nbsp;and maternity homes are the very backbone of our movement,” March for Life president Jeanne Mancini wrote in a recent opinion piece.

She and her allies have encouraged states to offer support programs for new mothers in need — helping them find housing, jobs and health insurance.

Among the scheduled speakers at the march is Jean Marie Davis, executive director of Branches Pregnancy Resource Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. Davis says a similar center in New Hampshire helped her break free several years ago after she became pregnant while ensnared in a sex-trafficking operation.

Other scheduled speakers include House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.

Mancini said last year’s march drew tens of thousands of people; she’s hoping this year’s march will be bigger.

The participants, she said, will be in a “persevering mood.”

J.J. Straight, part of an American Civil Liberties Union team working to protect and broaden abortion access, says her side also feels determined, especially in light of the recent ballot-measure results.

“We’ve seen a tremendous pushback to the anti-abortion agenda,” she said. “There’s a huge coalition of folks, regardless of their party and other demographics, who absolutely draw the line at this kind interference in their health care.”

Among the reasons for uncertainty for all parties in the debate is the inconsistent way that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-exception-lawsuit-legislature-confusion-b2808df90937e96887aa4e1f9c565771">federal and state courts</a>&nbsp;have adjudicated abortion-related cases. There have been numerous legal challenges to the various state laws banning or restricting abortion, some failing and others succeeding at least temporarily.

There’s a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-texas-exceptions-lawsuit-82611bda29112775247d8e7adbc0a81b">pending lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in Texas filed by women who say the state’s abortion ban forced them to continue pregnancies despite serious risk to their health.

In an even higher profile Texas case,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-texas-ban-7d865cdfd75bdc6b2f4186f4d1e6e8bd">Kate Cox</a>, a mother of two, sought an abortion after learning the baby she was carrying had a fatal genetic condition. Her request for an exemption from Texas’ ban — one of the country’s strictest — was denied by the state Supreme Court, and Cox left Texas to seek an abortion elsewhere.

For abortion-rights activists, Cox’s case was a powerful illustration of how abortion bans could be dangerous for women with pregnancy complications.

“Never in our history have we had such overwhelming reaction to any case,” said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “We got phone calls, emails, snail-mail. Over and over, people talked about her with awe, her courage in going public.”

Seago, the Texas Right to Life president, defended Texas’ abortion ban. He said the Cox case and the pending lawsuit simply underscored the need for Texas health authorities to clarify what doctors are and aren’t allowed to do in dealing with problem pregnancies.

Carol Tobias acknowledged there can be difficult pregnancies.

“But I don’t think hard circumstances should be used to establish state laws,” she said. In such cases, she added, “the doctors have two patients. They need to take care of both of them to best of their ability.”

All the new bans make an exception to allow abortion if deemed necessary to save the life of the mother. There are divides within the anti-abortion movement over additional exceptions — for example, in cases of rape and incest, or when severe fetal abnormalities are diagnosed.

Other divisions have surfaced over who should be criminalized by the new laws.

Among leading anti-abortion activists, there’s a general consensus that women should not be prosecuted for seeking or obtaining an abortion. But there is support for criminal penalties against doctors and others who help people get an abortion; some states, including Texas and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-abortion-trafficking-travel-ban-270a403d7b4a5e99e566433556614728">Idaho</a>, seek to deter people from traveling out of state to get abortions or obtaining abortion pills by mail.

Dr. Jamila Perritt, an abortion-rights supporter who is president of Physicians for Reproductive Health, worries that abortion opponents in states with bans will criminalize people who seek abortions outside the formal medical system.

“The impact of their campaign has been devastating — and it will get worse,” she said. “I’m worried about many more people being arrested and prosecuted.”

One of the biggest unknowns, heading toward to Election Day on Nov. 5, is how power in Washington will be divided between the two major parties.

Abortion-rights supporters fear a Republican sweep of Congress and the White House might trigger a bid to impose a federal abortion ban. Conversely, some abortion opponents — including Chris Smith — fear a Democratic sweep might lead to a law overriding the state abortion bans that are now in effect.

Such legislation — as modeled in the unsuccessful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-bills-house-vote-fc24d99f184d7aeec4926a6520311da5">Women’s Health Protection Act</a>&nbsp;of 2021-22 — would be “an existential threat,” Smith said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-inflation-us-supreme-court-health-7ea4f8fa597c97042503d856a082ef94">Sen. Lindsay Graham</a>, R-S.C., has introduced a bill proposing to ban most abortions nationwide after 15 weeks of gestation. SBA Pro-Life America, a prominent anti-abortion group, supports the bill, according to its state policy director, Katie Glenn Daniel. But the measure has vehement critics on both sides of the abortion divide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705585012650.png" alt="Photo courtesy SBA Pro-Life America" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy SBA Pro-Life America</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —A year ago, pro-life activists from across the U.S. gathered for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-florida-state-government-kentucky-6ed9dbcdaae33312f1425ea38b681a7e">their annual March for Life</a>&nbsp;with reason to celebrate: It was their first march since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court</a>, seven months earlier, had overturned the nationwide right to abortion.At this year’s march, on Friday, the mood will be very different — reflecting formidable challenges that lie ahead in this election year.“We have undeniable evidence of victory — lives being saved,” said John Seago, president of Texas Right to Life. “But there is also a realization of the significant hurdles that our movement has right now in the public conversation.”Participants at the march in Washington will salute the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-exception-lawsuit-legislature-confusion-b2808df90937e96887aa4e1f9c565771">14 states enforcing bans</a>&nbsp;on abortion throughout pregnancy. They will proclaim that thousands of babies have been born who otherwise might have been aborted, even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-count-dobbs-ruling-states-3acdfba421b9f4a5ea0003de6c67260b">studies show</a>&nbsp;the total number of abortions provided in the U.S. rose slightly in the year after that enforcement began.Moreover, anti-abortion leaders know that their side has a seven-state losing streak in votes on abortion-related ballot measures. Even in red states such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">Ohio</a>, Kansas and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kentucky-abortion-3fa387a4cdc355d50a223f4788aa0ae8">Kentucky</a>, the outcomes favored keeping abortion access legal.In this year’s election, several more states are expected to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-2024-state-vote-e7d635835dc3a440789ad87787553ec1">abortion-rights ballot measures</a>, and Democratic candidates in many races, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-kamala-harris-abortion-c634452da5e103913982e1cc5a0cae78">President Joe Biden</a>, will be highlighting their support for abortion access.“We have been around for more than 50 years, and I don’t know of any year that was easy,” said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee.“But it definitely got harder after Dobbs,” she added. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”Tobias was referring to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in June 2022, overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.The key consequence of Dobbs was to return decision-making on abortion policy to individual states. Some Democratic-governed states — such as California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-new-york-doctor-protection-shield-161fc73174a04f68e93c4312b3b21ea0">New York</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-health-new-jersey-state-government-006f9a1182946397c9e79342ad80c778">New Jersey</a>&nbsp;— have strengthened protections for abortion access. Roughly 20 states with Republican-controlled legislatures have either banned abortion or sought to impose new restrictions.After Dobbs, “I didn’t want anyone to get the false sense that we were at the end of our work,” said Brent Leatherwood, an abortion opponent who heads the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy wing.“We’ve gone from a focal point at the federal level to 50 different focal points,” he said. “It may be another 50 years before we truly establish a culture of life, where preborn lives are saved and mothers are supported.”Even the current claims of lives being saved due to the Dobbs decision are subject to question. While abortions have decreased to nearly zero in states with total bans, they have increased elsewhere – notably in states such as Illinois, Florida and New Mexico, which are near those with more restrictions.Anti-abortion leaders are keenly aware that their opponents in the abortion debate depict the wave of state bans as an infringement on women’s rights and a potential danger to their health.Thus the theme of this year’s March for Life strives to convey support for women facing unexpected pregnancies: “Pro Life: With Every Woman, For Every Child.”“&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-business-health-nashville-personal-taxes-fffa6f6f86e6eaa448b8ea89087a1c46">Pregnancy care centers</a>&nbsp;and maternity homes are the very backbone of our movement,” March for Life president Jeanne Mancini wrote in a recent opinion piece.She and her allies have encouraged states to offer support programs for new mothers in need — helping them find housing, jobs and health insurance.Among the scheduled speakers at the march is Jean Marie Davis, executive director of Branches Pregnancy Resource Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. Davis says a similar center in New Hampshire helped her break free several years ago after she became pregnant while ensnared in a sex-trafficking operation.Other scheduled speakers include House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.Mancini said last year’s march drew tens of thousands of people; she’s hoping this year’s march will be bigger.The participants, she said, will be in a “persevering mood.”J.J. Straight, part of an American Civil Liberties Union team working to protect and broaden abortion access, says her side also feels determined, especially in light of the recent ballot-measure results.“We’ve seen a tremendous pushback to the anti-abortion agenda,” she said. “There’s a huge coalition of folks, regardless of their party and other demographics, who absolutely draw the line at this kind interference in their health care.”Among the reasons for uncertainty for all parties in the debate is the inconsistent way that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-exception-lawsuit-legislature-confusion-b2808df90937e96887aa4e1f9c565771">federal and state courts</a>&nbsp;have adjudicated abortion-related cases. There have been numerous legal challenges to the various state laws banning or restricting abortion, some failing and others succeeding at least temporarily.There’s a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-texas-exceptions-lawsuit-82611bda29112775247d8e7adbc0a81b">pending lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in Texas filed by women who say the state’s abortion ban forced them to continue pregnancies despite serious risk to their health.In an even higher profile Texas case,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-texas-ban-7d865cdfd75bdc6b2f4186f4d1e6e8bd">Kate Cox</a>, a mother of two, sought an abortion after learning the baby she was carrying had a fatal genetic condition. Her request for an exemption from Texas’ ban — one of the country’s strictest — was denied by the state Supreme Court, and Cox left Texas to seek an abortion elsewhere.For abortion-rights activists, Cox’s case was a powerful illustration of how abortion bans could be dangerous for women with pregnancy complications.“Never in our history have we had such overwhelming reaction to any case,” said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “We got phone calls, emails, snail-mail. Over and over, people talked about her with awe, her courage in going public.”Seago, the Texas Right to Life president, defended Texas’ abortion ban. He said the Cox case and the pending lawsuit simply underscored the need for Texas health authorities to clarify what doctors are and aren’t allowed to do in dealing with problem pregnancies.Carol Tobias acknowledged there can be difficult pregnancies.“But I don’t think hard circumstances should be used to establish state laws,” she said. In such cases, she added, “the doctors have two patients. They need to take care of both of them to best of their ability.”All the new bans make an exception to allow abortion if deemed necessary to save the life of the mother. There are divides within the anti-abortion movement over additional exceptions — for example, in cases of rape and incest, or when severe fetal abnormalities are diagnosed.Other divisions have surfaced over who should be criminalized by the new laws.Among leading anti-abortion activists, there’s a general consensus that women should not be prosecuted for seeking or obtaining an abortion. But there is support for criminal penalties against doctors and others who help people get an abortion; some states, including Texas and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-abortion-trafficking-travel-ban-270a403d7b4a5e99e566433556614728">Idaho</a>, seek to deter people from traveling out of state to get abortions or obtaining abortion pills by mail.Dr. Jamila Perritt, an abortion-rights supporter who is president of Physicians for Reproductive Health, worries that abortion opponents in states with bans will criminalize people who seek abortions outside the formal medical system.“The impact of their campaign has been devastating — and it will get worse,” she said. “I’m worried about many more people being arrested and prosecuted.”One of the biggest unknowns, heading toward to Election Day on Nov. 5, is how power in Washington will be divided between the two major parties.Abortion-rights supporters fear a Republican sweep of Congress and the White House might trigger a bid to impose a federal abortion ban. Conversely, some abortion opponents — including Chris Smith — fear a Democratic sweep might lead to a law overriding the state abortion bans that are now in effect.Such legislation — as modeled in the unsuccessful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-bills-house-vote-fc24d99f184d7aeec4926a6520311da5">Women’s Health Protection Act</a>&nbsp;of 2021-22 — would be “an existential threat,” Smith said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-inflation-us-supreme-court-health-7ea4f8fa597c97042503d856a082ef94">Sen. Lindsay Graham</a>, R-S.C., has introduced a bill proposing to ban most abortions nationwide after 15 weeks of gestation. SBA Pro-Life America, a prominent anti-abortion group, supports the bill, according to its state policy director, Katie Glenn Daniel. But the measure has vehement critics on both sides of the abortion divide.

March for Life: Activists brace for challenges as they gather for annual event

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex crimes.

On Tuesday, an officer was patrolling Wright Park,&nbsp;71 N 2nd Avenue in Dodge Cityduring closed hours, according to a media release from police.

The officer found a vehicle parked in the area and when he checked on the vehicle, he found that it was occupied by 21-year-old Garden City resident identified as Hector Romero and a 12-year-old Dodge City female engaged in sexual activity. 

Romero had allegedly used a social media account to contact the 12-year-old at random.&nbsp; Police arrested Romero without incident and he has been charged by the Ford County Attorney's Office with rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, and aggravated intimidation of a victim. 

Romero is being held on a $250,000 bond. 

Police reminded all parents to "please keep an eye out for what your children are doing on their social media platforms. There are people out there looking to lure children into inappropriate relationships."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705604369700.png" alt="Romero-photo Ford County" />
 <figcaption>Romero-photo Ford County</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged sex crimes.On Tuesday, an officer was patrolling Wright Park,&nbsp;71 N 2nd Avenue in Dodge Cityduring closed hours, according to a media release from police.The officer found a vehicle parked in the area and when he checked on the vehicle, he found that it was occupied by 21-year-old Garden City resident identified as Hector Romero and a 12-year-old Dodge City female engaged in sexual activity. Romero had allegedly used a social media account to contact the 12-year-old at random.&nbsp; Police arrested Romero without incident and he has been charged by the Ford County Attorney's Office with rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, and aggravated intimidation of a victim. Romero is being held on a $250,000 bond. Police reminded all parents to "please keep an eye out for what your children are doing on their social media platforms. There are people out there looking to lure children into inappropriate relationships."

SW Kan. man caught in car with 12-year-old he met on social media

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City that injured multiple people.

Just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of gunfire in the lower level near the food court, according to Sergeant Jake Becchina.

A preliminary investigation indicated 3-4 people were struck by gunfire after a disturbance between two groups turned into gunfire.

Police later learned three additional victims showed up on their own at other hospitals. That brings the total number of shooting victims to six. The ages of all but one victim range from late teens to early 20s the other one is in their 50s

Crime Scene Investigators and detectives responded to process the scene and speak to witnesses. 

Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, Becchina said, but police have not yet announced any arrests.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705577536210.png" alt="photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City that injured multiple people.Just after 5:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of gunfire in the lower level near the food court, according to Sergeant Jake Becchina.A preliminary investigation indicated 3-4 people were struck by gunfire after a disturbance between two groups turned into gunfire.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705577447675.png" alt="photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Police later learned three additional victims showed up on their own at other hospitals. That brings the total number of shooting victims to six. The ages of all but one victim range from late teens to early 20s the other one is in their 50sCrime Scene Investigators and detectives responded to process the scene and speak to witnesses. Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, Becchina said, but police have not yet announced any arrests.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Police investigate mass shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after an arrest.

Just before noon Tuesday, police arrested 39-year-old Curtis Colley, Jr., of Grandview Plaza in the 1000 block of South Seth Child Road in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 Colley was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for distribution of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia with the intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance, distribution of opiate/opium/narcotic/stimulant/heroin, and possession. Colley remains jailed on a bond of $10,000.

He has previous convictions for criminal threat, aggravated burglary, aggravated intimidation of a witness, and for drugs and for arranging sale/purchase using communication facility, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705506527696.png" alt="Colley-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Colley-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after an arrest.Just before noon Tuesday, police arrested 39-year-old Curtis Colley, Jr., of Grandview Plaza in the 1000 block of South Seth Child Road in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. Colley was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for distribution of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia with the intent to manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance, distribution of opiate/opium/narcotic/stimulant/heroin, and possession. Colley remains jailed on a bond of $10,000.He has previous convictions for criminal threat, aggravated burglary, aggravated intimidation of a witness, and for drugs and for arranging sale/purchase using communication facility, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

RCPD: Kansas felon accused of selling marijuana

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary is over.&nbsp;

The U.S. Marshal's Service Fugitive Task Force arrested 50-year-old James Thompson, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, according to a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Marshal's Service

On Nov. 10, authorities discovered Thompson was missing. A federal grand jury indicted him on one count of escape from custody.&nbsp;

He is currently back in federal custody. Thompson was serving a sentence of 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud at the time of his escape.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699585891299.png" alt="Thompson-photo U.S. Bureau of Prisons" />
 <figcaption>Thompson-photo U.S. Bureau of Prisons</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — The search for an inmate who escaped from a satellite camp at the Leavenworth Penitentiary is over.&nbsp;The U.S. Marshal's Service Fugitive Task Force arrested 50-year-old James Thompson, in Mount Pleasant, Texas, according to a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Marshal's ServiceOn Nov. 10, authorities discovered Thompson was missing. A federal grand jury indicted him on one count of escape from custody.&nbsp;He is currently back in federal custody. Thompson was serving a sentence of 80 months in prison in the Northern District of Georgia for mail fraud at the time of his escape.

Inmate who escaped Kan. penitentiary camp captured

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle near 126th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;The driver was identified as Jose Arturo Conejo, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas. 

 During the stop, a deputy observed drug paraphernalia in plain view.   Deputies discovered more drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. 

 The driver was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705410391353.png" alt="Conejo-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Conejo-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 8:30 a.m. Monday, a sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle near 126th and U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic violation, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;The driver was identified as Jose Arturo Conejo, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas. During the stop, a deputy observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Deputies discovered more drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. The driver was arrested and transported to the Jackson County Jail and booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.

Kan. deputy observes drug paraphernalia during traffic stop

Cindy Greve, Failure to appear, arrested 01/12

Jayson Tolbert, Failure to appear, arrested 01/13

TJ Gould, Interference with LEO, misdemeanor, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, arrested 01/14

Tiffani Armstrong, Possession of stolen property, value less than $1,500, arrested 01/14

Gary Webb, DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 01/14

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435259973.jpeg" alt="Kambria Holloway, Arrest by LEO, Warrant arrest (Five counts), arrested 01/12" />
 <figcaption>Kambria Holloway, Arrest by LEO, Warrant arrest (Five counts), arrested 01/12</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435309679.jpeg" alt="Eladio Benitez, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, arrested 01/13" />
 <figcaption>Eladio Benitez, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, arrested 01/13</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435357657.jpeg" alt="Charles Reeves, Aggravated intimidation of a witness/victim, Threat of force or violence; Criminal deprivation of property, Domestic battery; Assault, arrested 01/14" />
 <figcaption>Charles Reeves, Aggravated intimidation of a witness/victim, Threat of force or violence; Criminal deprivation of property, Domestic battery; Assault, arrested 01/14</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435495202.jpeg" alt="Adam Branshaw, Failure to appear, Interference with LEO, Obstruct/resist/oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, arrested 01/14" />
 <figcaption>Adam Branshaw, Failure to appear, Interference with LEO, Obstruct/resist/oppose misdemeanor warrant service or execution, arrested 01/14</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435556358.jpeg" alt="Kevin Cope, Domestic battery, arrested 01/14" />
 <figcaption>Kevin Cope, Domestic battery, arrested 01/14</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435626354.jpeg" alt="Kimberly Wade, Possession of stolen property, Felony, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of controlled substance, arrested 01/15" />
 <figcaption>Kimberly Wade, Possession of stolen property, Felony, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of controlled substance, arrested 01/15</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435704686.jpeg" alt="Mathew Rossetti, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Felony, Driving while suspended, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of stolen property, Felony, arrested 01/15" />
 <figcaption>Mathew Rossetti, Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Felony, Driving while suspended, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of stolen property, Felony, arrested 01/15</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705435818117.jpeg" alt="James Floyd, Failure to appear, arrested 01/15" />
 <figcaption>James Floyd, Failure to appear, arrested 01/15</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Cindy Greve, Failure to appear, arrested 01/12Jayson Tolbert, Failure to appear, arrested 01/13TJ Gould, Interference with LEO, misdemeanor, Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, arrested 01/14Tiffani Armstrong, Possession of stolen property, value less than $1,500, arrested 01/14Gary Webb, DUI-Liquor/Drugs, arrested 01/14Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Geary County Booking Photos Jan. 13-16

WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.

Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.

Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.

Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.

The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.

Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.

Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.

The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.

Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.

WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?

Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.

Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.

In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.

Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.

Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.

The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”

Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.

In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.

In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.

No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.

Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.

In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705413308466.png" alt="FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.Here's a look at the spike in threats:WHAT IS ‘SWATTING’?Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.WHO IN THE COURTS HAS BEEN TARGETED?<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.HOW WIDESPREAD IS THE PROBLEM?Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”DO FALSE THREATS POSE OTHER RISKS?Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE COULD THIS PROMPT?No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

White House is latest 'swatting' site—after series of fake 911 calls

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegaions following a traffic stop.

Just after 10:30p.m. Jan. 12, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1979 Ford Mustang near 150th and Q.4 Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputy observed what was believed to be drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.&nbsp; A search of the vehicle was conducted, where methamphetamine, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a hallucinogenic drug and open containers of alcohol were located.

The deputy arrested the driver 57-year-old Bruce Leroy Bowers of Harveyville and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a hallucinogenic drug,&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 3rd conviction,&nbsp;&nbsp;Transporting open container,&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating motor vehicle w/o license and Improper driving on laned roadway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705325503118.png" alt="Bowers-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bowers-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegaions following a traffic stop.Just after 10:30p.m. Jan. 12, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1979 Ford Mustang near 150th and Q.4 Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The deputy observed what was believed to be drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.&nbsp; A search of the vehicle was conducted, where methamphetamine, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a hallucinogenic drug and open containers of alcohol were located.The deputy arrested the driver 57-year-old Bruce Leroy Bowers of Harveyville and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a hallucinogenic drug,&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 3rd conviction,&nbsp;&nbsp;Transporting open container,&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating motor vehicle w/o license and Improper driving on laned roadway.

Sheriff: Kan. man transporting drugs accused of DUI again

JOHNSON COUNTY—A man from Iowa is going to prison for the 2021 killing of a man in Kansas.

According to the Johnson County District Attorney, Michael Balance, 60, Des Moines, was sentenced to just more than 51-year-years in prison for the death of 70-year-old John Hoffman, of Prairie Village. 

In May of 2021, police found Hoffman’s body in his apartment. He had been shot several times. Police quickly identified Balance as a suspect in the shooting and contacted Des Moines police, who arrested him.

In October, a Johnson County jury found Balance guilty of second-degree murder. He was&nbsp;originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder, according to the district attorney's office.

A Johnson County jury found Michael L. Balance, 60, of Des Moines, Iowa, guilty of second-degree murder. He was originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704488000265.png" alt="Balance-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Balance-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—A man from Iowa is going to prison for the 2021 killing of a man in Kansas.According to the Johnson County District Attorney, Michael Balance, 60, Des Moines, was sentenced to just more than 51-year-years in prison for the death of 70-year-old John Hoffman, of Prairie Village. In May of 2021, police found Hoffman’s body in his apartment. He had been shot several times. Police quickly identified Balance as a suspect in the shooting and contacted Des Moines police, who arrested him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620143853583.png" alt="Balance following his arrest in Iowa" />
 <figcaption>Balance following his arrest in Iowa</figcaption>
 </figure>In October, a Johnson County jury found Balance guilty of second-degree murder. He was&nbsp;originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder, according to the district attorney's office.A Johnson County jury found Michael L. Balance, 60, of Des Moines, Iowa, guilty of second-degree murder. He was originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder.

Suspect captured in Iowa going to prison for Kansas murder

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jaykwon Walton and Jahvon Quinerly scored 23 points apiece to lead No. 13 Memphis past Wichita State 112-86 on Sunday for its tenth consecutive win.

Walton, who played for Wichita State last season, and Quinerly were two of six players to finish in double-digit scoring for Memphis (15-2, 4-0 American Athletic Conference).

The Tigers recorded their most points this season, set a program record with 19 three-pointers and shot a season-high 65% from the floor. It was the first time since 1986 they have scored more than 100 points in back-to-back games.

“My biggest takeaway was the 19 3s we made as a team,” Quinerly said. “We shot the ball really well. … To be able to come out here on the road and shoot 19 3s was huge.”

Colby Rogers had 20 points to lead Wichita State (8-8, 0-3), which suffered its first loss of the season when scoring more than 80 points.

The Tigers held a 49-46 lead at halftime, with both teams shooting 60% from the floor. Wichita State tied the game early after the break, but Memphis erupted for 63 second-half points.

"We couldn’t get caught up in a shootout, and we did,” Wichita State coach Paul Mills said. “We are not the kind of team that can win those games.”

The American's leading scorer, Memphis' David Jones, was held to just two points in the first half, but the Shockers struggled to contain him in the second half. Jones finished with 19 points.

Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored 14, Nick Jourdain added 12 and Malcolm Dandridge had 10 for the Tigers, whose last loss came on Dec. 2. They are off to their best start since the 2007-08 season, when they began 17-0.

“All can say is wow, I was just as shocked as everybody else,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “We finally made some 3s and when they came, they came in bunches and that pushed the game away."

Harlond Beverly scored 17 points and Dalen Ridgnal added 15 for Wichita State.

Memphis: After being limited in the first half, Jones had 10 points in the opening three minutes of the second, which sparked a dominant half for the Tigers. Memphis scored 31 points off 18 Wichita State turnovers.

Wichita State: The Shockers got off to a hot start, hitting 8 of 9 to open the game, and ended the half trailing by three. Wichita State shot the ball well in the first half but struggled to continue the pace after the break.

Tomlin made his return to the Sunflower State for the first time since being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-wildcats-30904b1f25692c09947ac7fcb57fc129">dismissed from Kansas State</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 6, nearly one month after his arrest for disorderly conduct. Tomlin, who was was arrested following a bar fight in October, committed to Memphis on Dec. 12 and has appeared in six games for the Tigers.

Memphis: Hosts South Florida on Thursday.

Wichita State: Travels to Boca Raton to face Florida Atlantic on Thursday for the first conference meeting between the two schools.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705272822634.png" alt="Tomlin photo courtesy Memphis Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Tomlin photo courtesy Memphis Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Jaykwon Walton and Jahvon Quinerly scored 23 points apiece to lead No. 13 Memphis past Wichita State 112-86 on Sunday for its tenth consecutive win.Walton, who played for Wichita State last season, and Quinerly were two of six players to finish in double-digit scoring for Memphis (15-2, 4-0 American Athletic Conference).The Tigers recorded their most points this season, set a program record with 19 three-pointers and shot a season-high 65% from the floor. It was the first time since 1986 they have scored more than 100 points in back-to-back games.“My biggest takeaway was the 19 3s we made as a team,” Quinerly said. “We shot the ball really well. … To be able to come out here on the road and shoot 19 3s was huge.”Colby Rogers had 20 points to lead Wichita State (8-8, 0-3), which suffered its first loss of the season when scoring more than 80 points.The Tigers held a 49-46 lead at halftime, with both teams shooting 60% from the floor. Wichita State tied the game early after the break, but Memphis erupted for 63 second-half points."We couldn’t get caught up in a shootout, and we did,” Wichita State coach Paul Mills said. “We are not the kind of team that can win those games.”The American's leading scorer, Memphis' David Jones, was held to just two points in the first half, but the Shockers struggled to contain him in the second half. Jones finished with 19 points.Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored 14, Nick Jourdain added 12 and Malcolm Dandridge had 10 for the Tigers, whose last loss came on Dec. 2. They are off to their best start since the 2007-08 season, when they began 17-0.“All can say is wow, I was just as shocked as everybody else,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “We finally made some 3s and when they came, they came in bunches and that pushed the game away."Harlond Beverly scored 17 points and Dalen Ridgnal added 15 for Wichita State.BIG PICTUREMemphis: After being limited in the first half, Jones had 10 points in the opening three minutes of the second, which sparked a dominant half for the Tigers. Memphis scored 31 points off 18 Wichita State turnovers.Wichita State: The Shockers got off to a hot start, hitting 8 of 9 to open the game, and ended the half trailing by three. Wichita State shot the ball well in the first half but struggled to continue the pace after the break.RETURN TO THE SUNFLOWER STATETomlin made his return to the Sunflower State for the first time since being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-state-wildcats-30904b1f25692c09947ac7fcb57fc129">dismissed from Kansas State</a>&nbsp;on Dec. 6, nearly one month after his arrest for disorderly conduct. Tomlin, who was was arrested following a bar fight in October, committed to Memphis on Dec. 12 and has appeared in six games for the Tigers.UP NEXTMemphis: Hosts South Florida on Thursday.Wichita State: Travels to Boca Raton to face Florida Atlantic on Thursday for the first conference meeting between the two schools.