Richard Muma says WSU’s internal review finds ‘technical oversights’ not plagiarism

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Wichita State University president Richard Muma said Monday a university inquiry revealed up to 5% of his dissertation lacked full attribution to original scholars and that corrections would be made to the research document that helped him earn a doctorate.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/10/07/wichita-state-university-presidents-doctoral-dissertation-raises-concerns-of-academic-misconduct/">On Monday</a>, Kansas Reflector published a story pointing to the WSU president’s reuse in his 2004 dissertation of text written by more than 20 scholars, but lacking quotation marks to properly identify words of the original authors. More than 10 faculty members at different colleges and universities said Muma’s borrowing of verbatim sentences and paragraphs without full credit met the definition of plagiarism.

In a letter sent Monday to Wichita State faculty, staff and students, Muma said that when contacted weeks ago by Kansas Reflector he directed WSU’s provost and the university’s research officer to lead an investigation of his 88-page dissertation. The president’s letter said a plagiarism expert selected by WSU, who wasn’t publicly identified, took part in the review.

Muma said the university’s analysis confirmed attribution in his dissertation “should have included the use of quotation marks around reuse of text.”

“I was advised that the amount of affected text consists of less than 5% of my entire dissertation,” Muma’s letter said. “These are technical oversights … and I am taking steps to make corrections.”

Muma didn’t include a copy of the internal review in the message to WSU students, staff and faculty, but the president’s letter said the analysis led by his administrative subordinates showed “technical omissions” in the dissertation that didn’t “rise to the level of misconduct.”

The letter said that as far as Muma was concerned “the matter was closed.” The president didn’t set a deadline for submitting the corrected dissertation to University of Missouri at St. Louis.

Muma’s letter incorrectly asserted Kansas Reflector didn’t share information with WSU before publication about allegations of academic misconduct. In advance of publication, WSU had sufficient information from the Reflector to release a statement on Muma’s behalf saying research, analysis and conclusions in the dissertation were “entirely original” and all reference material “properly cited.”

In five chapters of Muma’s dissertation, which included findings of an opinion survey of health educators and professionals, Kansas Reflector identified approximately 55 passages of inadequately attributed material.

“That’s a problem in my eyes,” Jonathan Bailey, founder of Plagiarism Today and a copyright and plagiarism consultant in New Orleans told the Reflector. “When you copy and paste wholesale like that, you’re not proving you have the knowledge and understanding. This person did a shortcut.”

Muma, who has been on the WSU faculty for 28 years, was named president in 2020 by the Kansas Board of Regents. The nine-member board has jurisdiction over Wichita State and five other public state universities.

Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Board of Regents, issued a statement acknowledging Wichita State’s confidential inquiry.

“When he became aware of the allegations about his work, President Muma reached out to me and communicated that he would follow the appropriate procedures that Wichita State has in place to ensure academic integrity,” Flanders said. “As he noted, an independent review conducted by an expert concluded that there was no academic misconduct in his doctoral dissertation. We have no further comment.”

Prior to publication of the Reflector’s story, Board of Regents’ spokesperson Matt Keith said Flanders didn’t want to be interviewed on the subject of academic misconduct by university faculty because it would be wrong “to speculate on how the board might act in hypothetical situations.”

The Board of Regents has no systemwide policy on plagiarism. Members of the board defer to the state universities in terms of policy on academic misconduct.

The next monthly meeting of the Board of Regents will be conducted Oct. 16-17 on the Wichita State campus. It will occur in conjunction with the Oct. 16 observance of International Day of Action for Academic Integrity.

Before hired at Wichita State, Muma earned a master’s degree in community health from University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston. He was a tenured professor at WSU when awarded the doctorate from UMSL.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728384460650.png" alt=" In response to a story published by Kansas Reflector, Wichita State University president Richard Muma said up to 5% of his doctoral dissertation was comprised of inadequately attributed text written by other scholars. He promised to submit a corrected dissertation to University of Missouri-St. Louis. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> In response to a story published by Kansas Reflector, Wichita State University president Richard Muma said up to 5% of his doctoral dissertation was comprised of inadequately attributed text written by other scholars. He promised to submit a corrected dissertation to University of Missouri-St. Louis. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Richard Muma says WSU’s internal review finds ‘technical oversights’ not plagiarism</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Wichita State University president Richard Muma said Monday a university inquiry revealed up to 5% of his dissertation lacked full attribution to original scholars and that corrections would be made to the research document that helped him earn a doctorate.<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/10/07/wichita-state-university-presidents-doctoral-dissertation-raises-concerns-of-academic-misconduct/">On Monday</a>, Kansas Reflector published a story pointing to the WSU president’s reuse in his 2004 dissertation of text written by more than 20 scholars, but lacking quotation marks to properly identify words of the original authors. More than 10 faculty members at different colleges and universities said Muma’s borrowing of verbatim sentences and paragraphs without full credit met the definition of plagiarism.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728303448862.png" alt=" Wichita State University President Richard Muma earned a doctorate in 2004 from University of Missouri-St. Louis with a dissertation that includes dozens of passages from more than 20 scholars without quotation marks to properly cite original authors. Academics interviewed by Kansas Reflector say Muma’s dissertation includes plagiarism. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Wichita State University President Richard Muma earned a doctorate in 2004 from University of Missouri-St. Louis with a dissertation that includes dozens of passages from more than 20 scholars without quotation marks to properly cite original authors. Academics interviewed by Kansas Reflector say Muma’s dissertation includes plagiarism. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>In a letter sent Monday to Wichita State faculty, staff and students, Muma said that when contacted weeks ago by Kansas Reflector he directed WSU’s provost and the university’s research officer to lead an investigation of his 88-page dissertation. The president’s letter said a plagiarism expert selected by WSU, who wasn’t publicly identified, took part in the review.Muma said the university’s analysis confirmed attribution in his dissertation “should have included the use of quotation marks around reuse of text.”“I was advised that the amount of affected text consists of less than 5% of my entire dissertation,” Muma’s letter said. “These are technical oversights … and I am taking steps to make corrections.”Muma didn’t include a copy of the internal review in the message to WSU students, staff and faculty, but the president’s letter said the analysis led by his administrative subordinates showed “technical omissions” in the dissertation that didn’t “rise to the level of misconduct.”The letter said that as far as Muma was concerned “the matter was closed.” The president didn’t set a deadline for submitting the corrected dissertation to University of Missouri at St. Louis.Muma’s letter incorrectly asserted Kansas Reflector didn’t share information with WSU before publication about allegations of academic misconduct. In advance of publication, WSU had sufficient information from the Reflector to release a statement on Muma’s behalf saying research, analysis and conclusions in the dissertation were “entirely original” and all reference material “properly cited.”In five chapters of Muma’s dissertation, which included findings of an opinion survey of health educators and professionals, Kansas Reflector identified approximately 55 passages of inadequately attributed material.“That’s a problem in my eyes,” Jonathan Bailey, founder of Plagiarism Today and a copyright and plagiarism consultant in New Orleans told the Reflector. “When you copy and paste wholesale like that, you’re not proving you have the knowledge and understanding. This person did a shortcut.”Muma, who has been on the WSU faculty for 28 years, was named president in 2020 by the Kansas Board of Regents. The nine-member board has jurisdiction over Wichita State and five other public state universities.Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the Board of Regents, issued a statement acknowledging Wichita State’s confidential inquiry.“When he became aware of the allegations about his work, President Muma reached out to me and communicated that he would follow the appropriate procedures that Wichita State has in place to ensure academic integrity,” Flanders said. “As he noted, an independent review conducted by an expert concluded that there was no academic misconduct in his doctoral dissertation. We have no further comment.”Prior to publication of the Reflector’s story, Board of Regents’ spokesperson Matt Keith said Flanders didn’t want to be interviewed on the subject of academic misconduct by university faculty because it would be wrong “to speculate on how the board might act in hypothetical situations.”The Board of Regents has no systemwide policy on plagiarism. Members of the board defer to the state universities in terms of policy on academic misconduct.The next monthly meeting of the Board of Regents will be conducted Oct. 16-17 on the Wichita State campus. It will occur in conjunction with the Oct. 16 observance of International Day of Action for Academic Integrity.Before hired at Wichita State, Muma earned a master’s degree in community health from University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston. He was a tenured professor at WSU when awarded the doctorate from UMSL.

Wichita State University president vows to fix attribution flaws in up to 5% of dissertation

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge has refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against sports website Deadspin over an article accusing a 9-year-old NFL fan and his family of racism because of his game-day attire.

The lawsuit was filed by California residents Raul Armenta Jr. and his wife, Shannon, on behalf of themselves and their son, Holden, who attended a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders last November.

According to the lawsuit, Holden, referred to in the lawsuit as “H.A.”, is a Chiefs fan who also loves his family’s Chumash-Indian heritage. He wore a Chiefs jersey to the game, with his face painted half-red and half-black, and a costume Native American headdress. Holden got the opportunity to pose with Raiders cheerleaders and was also shown briefly during the television broadcast of the game, with his red-and-black face paint visible. An Associated Press photographer also captured an image of Holden showing both sides of the boy’s painted face.

However, using a screenshot that showed only the side of Holden's face painted black, Deadspin writer Carron Phillips published an article the next day accusing the boy of being racist.

“The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in Black face, Native headdress,” the headline on the article reads. “They’re doubling up on the racism,” a subhead reads. “Are you going to say anything, Roger Goodell?” — a reference to the NFL commissioner.

In the article, Phillips wrote that the boy had “found a way to hate black people and the Native American at the same time.” He suggested that the boy had been taught “hatred” by his parents.

Deadspin posted the article on X, generating more than 18,000 comments and a “community note” clarifying its falsity. Phillips, described in the Armentas’ lawsuit as “someone who makes his livelihood through vicious race-baiting,” nevertheless doubled down.

“For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act because the other side of his face was painted red, I could make the argument that it makes it even worse,” Phillips wrote on X. “Y’all are the ones who hate Mexicans but wear sombreros on Cinco.”

The Armentas started receiving hateful messages and death threats, with one person threatening to kill Holden “with a wood chipper," according to the lawsuit. The Armentas say they made repeated demands for Deadspin to retract the article and apologize. In response, Deadspin instead republished an edited version that retained the accusations of racism and continued to display Holden’s picture. Deadspin later updated the article again, removing Holden’s picture and changing the headline to read, “The NFL Must Ban Native Headdress And Culturally Insensitive Face Paint in the Stands.”

“We regret any suggestion that we were attacking the fan or his family,” the article reads.

Unsatisfied with Deadspin’s updates instead of a formal apology and retraction, the Armentas sued for defamation.

On Monday, Superior Court Judge Sean Lugg denied Deadspin’s motion to dismiss the Armentas’ lawsuit, rejecting arguments that the article was opinion and thus protected from liability for defamation.

“Deadspin published an image of a child displaying his passionate fandom as a backdrop for its critique of the NFL’s diversity efforts and, in its description of the child, crossed the fine line protecting its speech from defamation claims,” the judge wrote.

“Having reviewed the complaint, the court concludes that Deadspin’s statements accusing H.A. of wearing black face and Native headdress ‘to hate black people and the Native American at the same time,’ and that he was taught this hatred by his parents, are provable false assertions of fact and are therefore actionable,” Lugg added.

Lugg also refused to dismiss the lawsuit based on Deadspin’s argument that it should have been filed in California, where the Armentas live, instead of Delaware, where Deadspin’s former parent company, G/O Media, is incorporated. One month after the Armentas filed their lawsuit, G/O Media sold the Deadspin website to Lineup Publishing, and the entire staff was laid off.

“Deadspin and Carron Phillips have never shown a morsel of remorse for using a 9-year-old boy as their political football,” Elizabeth Locke, an attorney for the Armentas, said in an email. “The Armenta family is looking forward to taking depositions and presenting this case to a jury at trial.”

A spokesperson for G/O Media said in an email that the company had no comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728409380599.jpeg" alt=" A young Kansas City Chiefs fan, dressed with a headdress and face paint, looks on during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)" />
 <figcaption> A young Kansas City Chiefs fan, dressed with a headdress and face paint, looks on during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>DOVER, Del. (AP) — A Delaware judge has refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against sports website Deadspin over an article accusing a 9-year-old NFL fan and his family of racism because of his game-day attire.The lawsuit was filed by California residents Raul Armenta Jr. and his wife, Shannon, on behalf of themselves and their son, Holden, who attended a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders last November.According to the lawsuit, Holden, referred to in the lawsuit as “H.A.”, is a Chiefs fan who also loves his family’s Chumash-Indian heritage. He wore a Chiefs jersey to the game, with his face painted half-red and half-black, and a costume Native American headdress. Holden got the opportunity to pose with Raiders cheerleaders and was also shown briefly during the television broadcast of the game, with his red-and-black face paint visible. An Associated Press photographer also captured an image of Holden showing both sides of the boy’s painted face.However, using a screenshot that showed only the side of Holden's face painted black, Deadspin writer Carron Phillips published an article the next day accusing the boy of being racist.“The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in Black face, Native headdress,” the headline on the article reads. “They’re doubling up on the racism,” a subhead reads. “Are you going to say anything, Roger Goodell?” — a reference to the NFL commissioner.In the article, Phillips wrote that the boy had “found a way to hate black people and the Native American at the same time.” He suggested that the boy had been taught “hatred” by his parents.Deadspin posted the article on X, generating more than 18,000 comments and a “community note” clarifying its falsity. Phillips, described in the Armentas’ lawsuit as “someone who makes his livelihood through vicious race-baiting,” nevertheless doubled down.“For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act because the other side of his face was painted red, I could make the argument that it makes it even worse,” Phillips wrote on X. “Y’all are the ones who hate Mexicans but wear sombreros on Cinco.”The Armentas started receiving hateful messages and death threats, with one person threatening to kill Holden “with a wood chipper," according to the lawsuit. The Armentas say they made repeated demands for Deadspin to retract the article and apologize. In response, Deadspin instead republished an edited version that retained the accusations of racism and continued to display Holden’s picture. Deadspin later updated the article again, removing Holden’s picture and changing the headline to read, “The NFL Must Ban Native Headdress And Culturally Insensitive Face Paint in the Stands.”“We regret any suggestion that we were attacking the fan or his family,” the article reads.Unsatisfied with Deadspin’s updates instead of a formal apology and retraction, the Armentas sued for defamation.On Monday, Superior Court Judge Sean Lugg denied Deadspin’s motion to dismiss the Armentas’ lawsuit, rejecting arguments that the article was opinion and thus protected from liability for defamation.“Deadspin published an image of a child displaying his passionate fandom as a backdrop for its critique of the NFL’s diversity efforts and, in its description of the child, crossed the fine line protecting its speech from defamation claims,” the judge wrote.“Having reviewed the complaint, the court concludes that Deadspin’s statements accusing H.A. of wearing black face and Native headdress ‘to hate black people and the Native American at the same time,’ and that he was taught this hatred by his parents, are provable false assertions of fact and are therefore actionable,” Lugg added.Lugg also refused to dismiss the lawsuit based on Deadspin’s argument that it should have been filed in California, where the Armentas live, instead of Delaware, where Deadspin’s former parent company, G/O Media, is incorporated. One month after the Armentas filed their lawsuit, G/O Media sold the Deadspin website to Lineup Publishing, and the entire staff was laid off.“Deadspin and Carron Phillips have never shown a morsel of remorse for using a 9-year-old boy as their political football,” Elizabeth Locke, an attorney for the Armentas, said in an email. “The Armenta family is looking forward to taking depositions and presenting this case to a jury at trial.”A spokesperson for G/O Media said in an email that the company had no comment.

Website loses bid to toss defamation suit over article accusing Chiefs fan of racism

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

Just before 8:30a.m. Oct. 6, Sheriff's Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Mercedes E350 on 150th Road, just west of U.S. Highway 75 in rural Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp; Deputies conducted a probable cause search and located illegal drug contraband.&nbsp; The driver, Tyler Ryan Simmons, 46, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728396652103.png" alt="Simmons-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Simmons-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;Just before 8:30a.m. Oct. 6, Sheriff's Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a Mercedes E350 on 150th Road, just west of U.S. Highway 75 in rural Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp; Deputies conducted a probable cause search and located illegal drug contraband.&nbsp; The driver, Tyler Ryan Simmons, 46, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas man accused of transporting methamphetamine

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $88,000 in refunds to consumers who bought Chinese-made measuring cups marketed as “Made in USA” by Instant Brands, the maker of Pyrex-brand kitchen and home products, according to a media release.

The FTC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/01/ftc-order-requires-pyrex-glass-manufacturer-pay-falsely-claiming-chinese-products-were-made-usa">took action against Instant Brands</a>&nbsp;in 2023 charging that the company claimed that all its popular glass measuring cups were made in the United States, despite some measuring cups actually being imported from China. All told, more than 110,000 units of Chinese-made measuring cup sets were sold to U.S. consumers while being marketed as “Made in USA.” Instant Brands agreed to a settlement with the FTC that stopped the company from making deceptive claims about products being “Made in USA” and required them to pay a monetary judgment.

The FTC is sending checks to 10,259 consumers. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, Simpluris, at 833-244-7320, or visit the FTC website to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/recent-ftc-cases-resulting-refunds/refund-programs-frequently-asked-questions">view frequently asked questions</a>&nbsp;about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

The Commission’s&nbsp;<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2023,&nbsp;FTC actions led to $330 million in refunds to consumers across the country.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. &nbsp;The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Learn more about consumer topics at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected/social-media">FTC on social media</a>, read&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts">consumer alerts</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog">business blog</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected">sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts</a>.

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $88,000 in refunds to consumers who bought Chinese-made measuring cups marketed as “Made in USA” by Instant Brands, the maker of Pyrex-brand kitchen and home products, according to a media release.The FTC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/01/ftc-order-requires-pyrex-glass-manufacturer-pay-falsely-claiming-chinese-products-were-made-usa">took action against Instant Brands</a>&nbsp;in 2023 charging that the company claimed that all its popular glass measuring cups were made in the United States, despite some measuring cups actually being imported from China. All told, more than 110,000 units of Chinese-made measuring cup sets were sold to U.S. consumers while being marketed as “Made in USA.” Instant Brands agreed to a settlement with the FTC that stopped the company from making deceptive claims about products being “Made in USA” and required them to pay a monetary judgment.The FTC is sending checks to 10,259 consumers. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, Simpluris, at 833-244-7320, or visit the FTC website to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/recent-ftc-cases-resulting-refunds/refund-programs-frequently-asked-questions">view frequently asked questions</a>&nbsp;about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.The Commission’s&nbsp;<a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/Refunds_15797958402020/RefundsbyCase">interactive dashboards for refund data</a>&nbsp;provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2023,&nbsp;FTC actions led to $330 million in refunds to consumers across the country.The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/about-ftc/bureaus-offices/bureau-consumer-protection">protect and educate consumers</a>. &nbsp;The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Learn more about consumer topics at&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/">consumer.ftc.gov</a>, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>. Follow the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected/social-media">FTC on social media</a>, read&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts">consumer alerts</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog">business blog</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/stay-connected">sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts</a>.

Pyrex refund for glass products falsely advertised as ‘Made in USA’

Justices reject Kimberly Younger’s claim that her rights were violated when the judge in her original trial allowed a defendant to testify remotely via videoconference

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

The Kansas Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a woman who orchestrated the murder of a couple working at a traveling carnival during a stop in Barton County.

Kimberly Younger had claimed that her Constitutional rights were violated in the original trial when a witness was allowed to testify remotely via videoconference. Both the U.S. and Kansas constitutions guarantee defendants’ rights to confront witnesses to criminal cases.

In oral arguments before the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/kansas-supreme-court/">Kansas Supreme Court</a>, Younger’s defense attorney, Clayton Jay Perkins, said Younger had been “convicted of capital murder without having killed anyone.”

“Her conviction rests on the troubling foundation of the credibility of co-defendants,” Perkins said, “including the actual killers that received reduced or lesser convictions and had incentives to place culpability on Miss Younger — and whose testimony was propped up by numerous Constitutional and legal errors.”

Attorneys for Younger declined to comment, saying Younger had not signed a release allowing them to speak with media.&nbsp;

Younger was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for her role in the murders of Alfred and Pauline Carpenter, an elderly couple from Wichita that sold merchandise from a camper at county fairs.&nbsp;

Younger — who also used the names Myrna Khan, Jenna Roberts and Tiffany Jones — is in her 50s and worked as a truck driver and ticket seller at the carnival, which in the summer of 2018, stopped at the Barton County Fair.&nbsp;

At the carnival, Younger shared a unit in the bunkhouse with her significant other — and possible husband —&nbsp;Michael Fowler. Younger was known to Fowler as Jenna.&nbsp;

The court ruling outlines an elaborate story she told police about how a competing carnival owner with mafia ties instructed her and others to kill the Carpenters and dispose of their bodies in Arkansas.&nbsp;

Fellow employees Rusty Frasier and Christine Tenney were given instructions by Younger to help Fowler with the killing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://kscourts.gov/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/124601.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">According to the Kansas Supreme Court ruling</a>, in July 2018, Younger asked Alfred Carpenter out of the camper to talk about buying his&nbsp;business as he and Pauline Carpenter were preparing to retire. The plan was for&nbsp;Fowler to then slit his throat. Carpenter fought back, and Frasier rushed in and stabbed him. Then, Fowler shot Alfred Carpenter and entered the trailer and shot Pauline.&nbsp;

The group then drove the trailer with the bodies for more than six hours to Van Buren, Arkansas, and stayed with Fowler’s daughter and son-in-law. They then drove to Ozark National Forest where Fowler’s son-in-law and his other daughter’s boyfriend helped them put the bodies in a ravine and cover them with a mattress, rocks and dirt.&nbsp;

During the Van Buren police’s investigation, Younger initially identified herself as Tiffany Jones. When she became “belligerent,” she was arrested and put in the police car where she was recorded without her knowledge and made incriminating statements.&nbsp;

At the police station, the gun used to kill the Carpenters was found in her backpack. While she was interviewed, “the others started cooperating with law enforcement almost immediately,” the Supreme Court ruling says.

First, Younger denied the murders, but “she eventually told an elaborate version of what had happened, blaming the events on a crime syndicate.” She was charged in December&nbsp;2018.

Fowler, Frasier and Tenney all pleaded guilty to various charges and testified against her at trial.&nbsp;

At trial in September 2021, Younger claimed another traveling carnival owner, Frank Zaitshik, “ran a criminal enterprise, paid her to transport drugs and guns around the country, and hired bodyguards to shadow Fowler and protect him from a supposed hitman.” She said Zaitshik put the group up to the murders.

Zaitshik was called as a witness and allowed —&nbsp;over Younger’s objections — to testify remotely via videoconference because of his concerns about COVID-19. He said that “he had no connections with criminal enterprises, he had no idea who Fowler or Younger …&nbsp;were, he had never directed anyone to commit murders, and he did not have Italian ancestry.”&nbsp;

Younger’s counsel claimed the judge’s decision to allow Zaitshik to testify remotely violated her right to confront witnesses, guaranteed by both the U.S. and Kansas constitutions.

But the justices cited case law saying the “right to a face-to-face confrontation with an adversarial witness is not absolute and is subject to narrow exceptions when necessary to further important public policies.”

The witness’ underlying health issues and concern about contracting COVID-19, the justices said, “suffice to allow an at-risk witness to testify remotely.”&nbsp;

Younger’s lawyers also attempted to have her conviction overturned on the grounds that she made incriminating statements before being informed of her right to remain silent and to request counsel.&nbsp;

But the court found Younger had made incriminating statements voluntarily while in the back of the police car. They found that despite requesting counsel at the police station, she voluntarily re-initiated an interrogation with police, who had stopped questioning her while they waited for an attorney.&nbsp;

“She repeatedly said she wanted to talk,” the ruling says. “She even showed impatience at delays in the interview when she outright asked whether they even wanted to hear what she had to say. There is little indication of coercive conduct by the police.”&nbsp;

Younger’s attorneys also sought, unsuccessfully, to suppress evidence found in Younger’s backpack, which she gave written consent for police to search.&nbsp;

While the Kansas Supreme Court upheld Younger’s convictions, it overturned portions of the restitution she was ordered to pay, finding that the court didn’t have enough evidence to justify the claim. It remanded the restitution issue back to the trial court for correction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728381811046.png" alt="Kimberly Younger-photo Kanas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Kimberly Younger-photo Kanas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Justices reject Kimberly Younger’s claim that her rights were violated when the judge in her original trial allowed a defendant to testify remotely via videoconference</h2>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>The Kansas Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a woman who orchestrated the murder of a couple working at a traveling carnival during a stop in Barton County.Kimberly Younger had claimed that her Constitutional rights were violated in the original trial when a witness was allowed to testify remotely via videoconference. Both the U.S. and Kansas constitutions guarantee defendants’ rights to confront witnesses to criminal cases.In oral arguments before the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/tag/kansas-supreme-court/">Kansas Supreme Court</a>, Younger’s defense attorney, Clayton Jay Perkins, said Younger had been “convicted of capital murder without having killed anyone.”“Her conviction rests on the troubling foundation of the credibility of co-defendants,” Perkins said, “including the actual killers that received reduced or lesser convictions and had incentives to place culpability on Miss Younger — and whose testimony was propped up by numerous Constitutional and legal errors.”Attorneys for Younger declined to comment, saying Younger had not signed a release allowing them to speak with media.&nbsp;Younger was convicted in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for her role in the murders of Alfred and Pauline Carpenter, an elderly couple from Wichita that sold merchandise from a camper at county fairs.&nbsp;Younger — who also used the names Myrna Khan, Jenna Roberts and Tiffany Jones — is in her 50s and worked as a truck driver and ticket seller at the carnival, which in the summer of 2018, stopped at the Barton County Fair.&nbsp;At the carnival, Younger shared a unit in the bunkhouse with her significant other — and possible husband —&nbsp;Michael Fowler. Younger was known to Fowler as Jenna.&nbsp;The court ruling outlines an elaborate story she told police about how a competing carnival owner with mafia ties instructed her and others to kill the Carpenters and dispose of their bodies in Arkansas.&nbsp;Fellow employees Rusty Frasier and Christine Tenney were given instructions by Younger to help Fowler with the killing.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kscourts.gov/KSCourts/media/KsCourts/Opinions/124601.pdf?ext=.pdf" target="_blank">According to the Kansas Supreme Court ruling</a>, in July 2018, Younger asked Alfred Carpenter out of the camper to talk about buying his&nbsp;business as he and Pauline Carpenter were preparing to retire. The plan was for&nbsp;Fowler to then slit his throat. Carpenter fought back, and Frasier rushed in and stabbed him. Then, Fowler shot Alfred Carpenter and entered the trailer and shot Pauline.&nbsp;The group then drove the trailer with the bodies for more than six hours to Van Buren, Arkansas, and stayed with Fowler’s daughter and son-in-law. They then drove to Ozark National Forest where Fowler’s son-in-law and his other daughter’s boyfriend helped them put the bodies in a ravine and cover them with a mattress, rocks and dirt.&nbsp;During the Van Buren police’s investigation, Younger initially identified herself as Tiffany Jones. When she became “belligerent,” she was arrested and put in the police car where she was recorded without her knowledge and made incriminating statements.&nbsp;At the police station, the gun used to kill the Carpenters was found in her backpack. While she was interviewed, “the others started cooperating with law enforcement almost immediately,” the Supreme Court ruling says.First, Younger denied the murders, but “she eventually told an elaborate version of what had happened, blaming the events on a crime syndicate.” She was charged in December&nbsp;2018.Fowler, Frasier and Tenney all pleaded guilty to various charges and testified against her at trial.&nbsp;At trial in September 2021, Younger claimed another traveling carnival owner, Frank Zaitshik, “ran a criminal enterprise, paid her to transport drugs and guns around the country, and hired bodyguards to shadow Fowler and protect him from a supposed hitman.” She said Zaitshik put the group up to the murders.Zaitshik was called as a witness and allowed —&nbsp;over Younger’s objections — to testify remotely via videoconference because of his concerns about COVID-19. He said that “he had no connections with criminal enterprises, he had no idea who Fowler or Younger …&nbsp;were, he had never directed anyone to commit murders, and he did not have Italian ancestry.”&nbsp;Younger’s counsel claimed the judge’s decision to allow Zaitshik to testify remotely violated her right to confront witnesses, guaranteed by both the U.S. and Kansas constitutions.But the justices cited case law saying the “right to a face-to-face confrontation with an adversarial witness is not absolute and is subject to narrow exceptions when necessary to further important public policies.”The witness’ underlying health issues and concern about contracting COVID-19, the justices said, “suffice to allow an at-risk witness to testify remotely.”&nbsp;Younger’s lawyers also attempted to have her conviction overturned on the grounds that she made incriminating statements before being informed of her right to remain silent and to request counsel.&nbsp;But the court found Younger had made incriminating statements voluntarily while in the back of the police car. They found that despite requesting counsel at the police station, she voluntarily re-initiated an interrogation with police, who had stopped questioning her while they waited for an attorney.&nbsp;“She repeatedly said she wanted to talk,” the ruling says. “She even showed impatience at delays in the interview when she outright asked whether they even wanted to hear what she had to say. There is little indication of coercive conduct by the police.”&nbsp;Younger’s attorneys also sought, unsuccessfully, to suppress evidence found in Younger’s backpack, which she gave written consent for police to search.&nbsp;While the Kansas Supreme Court upheld Younger’s convictions, it overturned portions of the restitution she was ordered to pay, finding that the court didn’t have enough evidence to justify the claim. It remanded the restitution issue back to the trial court for correction.

Kan. court upholds woman’s conviction in 2018 county fair murders

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has spent a record of at least $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;began and led to escalating conflict around the Middle East,&nbsp;<a href="https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/papers/2024/USspendingIsrael">according to a report for Brown University's Costs of War project</a>, released Monday on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-war-anniversary-survivors-fb65aa677e344a873566dc948d6bf52a">anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel</a>.

An additional $4.86 billion has gone into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">stepped-up U.S. military operations</a>&nbsp;in the region since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, researchers said in findings first provided to The Associated Press. That includes the costs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-yemen-us-strikes-weapons-752dd1e5dd6c284a7909878f89c73149">a Navy-led campaign to quell strikes</a>&nbsp;on commercial shipping by Yemen's Houthis, who are carrying them out in solidarity with the fellow Iranian-backed group Hamas.

The report — completed before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-lebanon-hezbollah-hamas-5-october-2024-a8b70daeccc57a86fc6d939c604f2caf">Israel opened a second front</a>, this one against Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, in late September — is one of the first tallies of estimated U.S. costs as the Biden administration backs Israel in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-what-to-know-hezbollah-incursion-c44358cb4c70db69bdab4b254cb2ed76">conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon</a>&nbsp;and seeks to contain hostilities by Iran-allied armed groups in the region.

The financial toll is on top of&nbsp;<a href="https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/papers/2024/IndirectDeathsGaza">the cost in human lives</a>: Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people in Israel a year ago and took others hostage. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed nearly 42,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.

At least 1,400 people in Lebanon, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians, have been killed since Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">greatly expanded its strikes in that country in late September</a>.

The financial costs were calculated by Linda J. Bilmes, a professor at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, who has assessed the full costs of U.S. wars since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and fellow researchers William D. Hartung and Stephen Semler.

Here's a look at where some of the U.S. taxpayer money went:

Israel — a protege of the United States since its 1948 founding — is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-20-billion-weapons-us-aid-b6a99129c88a5dcc4a4753e20b5e19ec">biggest recipient of U.S. military aid in history</a>, getting $251.2 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars since 1959, the report says.

Even so, the $17.9 billion spent since Oct. 7, 2023, in inflation-adjusted dollars, is by far the most military aid sent to Israel in one year. The U.S. committed to providing billions in military assistance to Israel and Egypt each year when they signed their 1979 U.S.-brokered peace treaty, and an agreement since the Obama administration set the annual amount for Israel at $3.8 billion through 2028.

The U.S. aid since the Gaza war started includes military financing, arms sales, at least $4.4 billion in drawdowns from U.S. stockpiles and hand-me-downs of used equipment.

Much of the U.S. weapons delivered in the year were munitions, from artillery shells to 2,000-pound bunker-busters and precision-guided bombs.

Expenditures range from $4 billion to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-defense-iron-dome-iran-hezbollah-hamas-326cd1e9484dd38c430d62739b7f2ef3">replenish Israel's Iron Dome</a>&nbsp;and David’s Sling missile defense systems to cash for rifles and jet fuel, the study says.

Unlike the United States' publicly documented&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-weapons-missiles-a4a109e2eb4581e59d5d1455deb92b09">military aid to Ukraine</a>, it was impossible to get the full details of what the U.S. has shipped Israel since last Oct. 7, so the $17.9 billion for the year is a partial figure, the researchers said.

They cited Biden administration “efforts to hide the full amounts of aid and types of systems through bureaucratic maneuvering.”

Funding for the key U.S. ally during a war that has exacted a heavy toll on civilians has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-activist-college-protest-362d2adc0c771f2b3ad250fe7e6f4623">divided Americans during the presidential campaign</a>. But support for Israel has long carried weight in U.S. politics, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-mideast-israel-d9f53ba8c7b3b4db953be020f676274c">Biden said Friday</a>&nbsp;that “no administration has helped Israel more than I have."

U.S. military operations in the Middle East

The Biden administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">bolstered its military strength in the region</a>&nbsp;since the war in Gaza started, aiming to deter and respond to any attacks on Israeli and American forces.

Those additional operations cost at least $4.86 billion, the report said, not including beefed-up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-us-military-aid-human-rights-blinken-416c7e79e287c8ff937ba7b7a0be515d">U.S. military aid to Egypt</a>&nbsp;and other partners in the region.

The U.S. had 34,000 forces in the Middle East the day that Hamas broke through Israeli barricades around Gaza to attack. That number rose to about 50,000 in August when two aircraft carriers were in the region, aiming to discourage retaliation after a strike attributed to Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hama-haniyeh-funeral-9d293642dc44c75232db09739b71a6c6">killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh</a>&nbsp;in Iran. The total is now around 43,000.

The number of U.S. vessels and aircraft deployed — aircraft carrier strike groups, an amphibious ready group, fighter squadrons, and air defense batteries — in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has varied during the year.

The Pentagon has said another aircraft carrier strike group is headed to Europe very soon and that could increase the troop total again if two carriers are again in the region at the same time.

The U.S. military has deployed since the start of the war to try to counter escalated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-gaza-israel-defe499e9df870381f078ad3e3b667b5">strikes by the Houthis</a>, an armed faction that controls Yemen's capital and northern areas, and has been firing on merchant ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza. The researchers called the $4.86 billion cost to the U.S. an “unexpectedly complicated and asymmetrically expensive challenge.”

Houthis have kept launching attacks on ships traversing the critical trade route, drawing U.S. strikes on launch sites and other targets. The campaign has become the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-yemen-houthis-israel-war-7a9997f9d84ac669fae69ecf819913fb">most intense running sea battle</a>&nbsp;the Navy has faced since World War II.

“The U.S. has deployed multiple aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers and expensive multimillion-dollar missiles against cheap Iranian-made Houthi drones that cost $2,000,” the authors said.

Just Friday, the U.S. military struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen, going after weapons systems, bases and other equipment, officials said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713493747235.png" alt="IDF Spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari couresy photo" />
 <figcaption>IDF Spokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari couresy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has spent a record of at least $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;began and led to escalating conflict around the Middle East,&nbsp;<a href="https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/papers/2024/USspendingIsrael">according to a report for Brown University's Costs of War project</a>, released Monday on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-war-anniversary-survivors-fb65aa677e344a873566dc948d6bf52a">anniversary of Hamas’ attacks on Israel</a>.An additional $4.86 billion has gone into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">stepped-up U.S. military operations</a>&nbsp;in the region since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, researchers said in findings first provided to The Associated Press. That includes the costs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-yemen-us-strikes-weapons-752dd1e5dd6c284a7909878f89c73149">a Navy-led campaign to quell strikes</a>&nbsp;on commercial shipping by Yemen's Houthis, who are carrying them out in solidarity with the fellow Iranian-backed group Hamas.The report — completed before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-lebanon-hezbollah-hamas-5-october-2024-a8b70daeccc57a86fc6d939c604f2caf">Israel opened a second front</a>, this one against Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, in late September — is one of the first tallies of estimated U.S. costs as the Biden administration backs Israel in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-what-to-know-hezbollah-incursion-c44358cb4c70db69bdab4b254cb2ed76">conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon</a>&nbsp;and seeks to contain hostilities by Iran-allied armed groups in the region.The financial toll is on top of&nbsp;<a href="https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/papers/2024/IndirectDeathsGaza">the cost in human lives</a>: Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 people in Israel a year ago and took others hostage. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed nearly 42,000 people in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.At least 1,400 people in Lebanon, including Hezbollah fighters and civilians, have been killed since Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">greatly expanded its strikes in that country in late September</a>.The financial costs were calculated by Linda J. Bilmes, a professor at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, who has assessed the full costs of U.S. wars since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and fellow researchers William D. Hartung and Stephen Semler.Here's a look at where some of the U.S. taxpayer money went:<h2>Record military aid to Israel</h2>Israel — a protege of the United States since its 1948 founding — is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-20-billion-weapons-us-aid-b6a99129c88a5dcc4a4753e20b5e19ec">biggest recipient of U.S. military aid in history</a>, getting $251.2 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars since 1959, the report says.Even so, the $17.9 billion spent since Oct. 7, 2023, in inflation-adjusted dollars, is by far the most military aid sent to Israel in one year. The U.S. committed to providing billions in military assistance to Israel and Egypt each year when they signed their 1979 U.S.-brokered peace treaty, and an agreement since the Obama administration set the annual amount for Israel at $3.8 billion through 2028.The U.S. aid since the Gaza war started includes military financing, arms sales, at least $4.4 billion in drawdowns from U.S. stockpiles and hand-me-downs of used equipment.Much of the U.S. weapons delivered in the year were munitions, from artillery shells to 2,000-pound bunker-busters and precision-guided bombs.Expenditures range from $4 billion to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-defense-iron-dome-iran-hezbollah-hamas-326cd1e9484dd38c430d62739b7f2ef3">replenish Israel's Iron Dome</a>&nbsp;and David’s Sling missile defense systems to cash for rifles and jet fuel, the study says.Unlike the United States' publicly documented&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-weapons-missiles-a4a109e2eb4581e59d5d1455deb92b09">military aid to Ukraine</a>, it was impossible to get the full details of what the U.S. has shipped Israel since last Oct. 7, so the $17.9 billion for the year is a partial figure, the researchers said.They cited Biden administration “efforts to hide the full amounts of aid and types of systems through bureaucratic maneuvering.”Funding for the key U.S. ally during a war that has exacted a heavy toll on civilians has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-activist-college-protest-362d2adc0c771f2b3ad250fe7e6f4623">divided Americans during the presidential campaign</a>. But support for Israel has long carried weight in U.S. politics, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-mideast-israel-d9f53ba8c7b3b4db953be020f676274c">Biden said Friday</a>&nbsp;that “no administration has helped Israel more than I have."<h2>U.S. military operations in the Middle East</h2>The Biden administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">bolstered its military strength in the region</a>&nbsp;since the war in Gaza started, aiming to deter and respond to any attacks on Israeli and American forces.Those additional operations cost at least $4.86 billion, the report said, not including beefed-up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-us-military-aid-human-rights-blinken-416c7e79e287c8ff937ba7b7a0be515d">U.S. military aid to Egypt</a>&nbsp;and other partners in the region.The U.S. had 34,000 forces in the Middle East the day that Hamas broke through Israeli barricades around Gaza to attack. That number rose to about 50,000 in August when two aircraft carriers were in the region, aiming to discourage retaliation after a strike attributed to Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hama-haniyeh-funeral-9d293642dc44c75232db09739b71a6c6">killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh</a>&nbsp;in Iran. The total is now around 43,000.The number of U.S. vessels and aircraft deployed — aircraft carrier strike groups, an amphibious ready group, fighter squadrons, and air defense batteries — in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has varied during the year.The Pentagon has said another aircraft carrier strike group is headed to Europe very soon and that could increase the troop total again if two carriers are again in the region at the same time.<h2>The fight against the Houthis</h2>The U.S. military has deployed since the start of the war to try to counter escalated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-gaza-israel-defe499e9df870381f078ad3e3b667b5">strikes by the Houthis</a>, an armed faction that controls Yemen's capital and northern areas, and has been firing on merchant ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with Gaza. The researchers called the $4.86 billion cost to the U.S. an “unexpectedly complicated and asymmetrically expensive challenge.”Houthis have kept launching attacks on ships traversing the critical trade route, drawing U.S. strikes on launch sites and other targets. The campaign has become the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-yemen-houthis-israel-war-7a9997f9d84ac669fae69ecf819913fb">most intense running sea battle</a>&nbsp;the Navy has faced since World War II.“The U.S. has deployed multiple aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers and expensive multimillion-dollar missiles against cheap Iranian-made Houthi drones that cost $2,000,” the authors said.Just Friday, the U.S. military struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen, going after weapons systems, bases and other equipment, officials said.

US spent a record $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel in past year

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities investigating a fatal house fire on Sunday in Topeka have determined the cause of this fire was intentionally set,&nbsp;according to Topeka Fire Department spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; The incident is being investigated as a homicide.

 Just after 6p.m. Sunday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department&nbsp; responded to a reported house fire at 1640 SW Buchanan Street.

Firs responders found heavy smoke and flames coming from the two-story residence. Firefighters performed a search and found an individual on the second floor of the residence who was later pronounced deceased. 

Crews extinguished the fire. Investigators have not released name of the victim.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728296520340.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities investigating a fatal house fire on Sunday in Topeka have determined the cause of this fire was intentionally set,&nbsp;according to Topeka Fire Department spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; The incident is being investigated as a homicide. Just after 6p.m. Sunday, crews from the Topeka Fire Department&nbsp; responded to a reported house fire at 1640 SW Buchanan Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728296248154.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Firs responders found heavy smoke and flames coming from the two-story residence. Firefighters performed a search and found an individual on the second floor of the residence who was later pronounced deceased. Crews extinguished the fire. Investigators have not released name of the victim.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Homicide: Deadly Kan. house fire was intentionally set

One year after former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody resigned, he returns to town for his own criminal case

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

MARION — Former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody returned Monday to the town where he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/police-stage-chilling-raid-on-marion-county-newspaper-seizing-computers-records-and-cellphones/">raided a newspaper</a>&nbsp;to face a dozen journalists along with a felony charge for his actions after the raid.

Cody&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/12/police-defend-raid-on-kansas-newspaper-amid-backlash-over-brazen-violation-of-press-freedom/">led police</a>&nbsp;in the Aug. 11, 2023, raid on the Marion County Record, the editor’s home and a councilwoman’s home under the false pretense that a newspaper reporter had committed identity theft by looking up restaurateur Kari Newell’s driving record. Special prosecutors charged Cody with one count of interference with the judicial process, a low-level felony, for asking Newell after the raid to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/20/marion-woman-told-investigators-she-deleted-texts-with-police-chief-to-avoid-rumor-of-affair/">delete text messages</a>&nbsp;between the two. Cody told her he was concerned their relationship would be misinterpreted, according to court documents.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/05/one-year-after-chilling-police-raid-on-kansas-newspaper-aftershocks-linger-in-marion/">One year later</a>, Cody is party to five federal civil lawsuits in addition to the criminal case.

Monday’s hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes, was Cody’s first public appearance in the town since he resigned as police chief amid intense scrutiny in October 2023. In a courtroom with an audience mostly of reporters, Cody was straight-faced and silent.

District Judge Ryan Rosauer rejected Cody’s motion to dismiss the charge for lack of probable cause.

Rosauer, prosecutors and Cody’s defense agreed that Cody won’t be required to appear in court for minor hearings and case proceedings, including the case’s next scheduled hearing on Dec. 16. Court filings show Cody is believed to be living in Hawaii.

Cody and Sal Intagliata, a Wichita attorney who is defending Cody, declined to answer reporters’ questions as they left the courthouse. Intagliata said the “full story” would come out as the case is litigated in court. Cody didn’t speak.

Intagliata, as he ushered Cody into a car, told reporters: “If I have any comment at all on behalf of Mr. Cody, it would be this: that the people of Marion County, really the most important people involved in this situation, take a minute to reserve judgment, take a moment to, like, avoid jumping to conclusions, and allow the system to work.”

Cody won’t be required to pay a cash bond. Instead, Rosauer ordered a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, which Cody only will have to pay if he fails to show up to court when required.

If convicted, Cody would face presumed probation.

Following the hearing, Marion County Record editor and publisher Eric Meyer answered questions from a dozen reporters who gathered outside the newspaper office across the street from the courthouse. They asked him to respond to Intagliata.

“We can take a delay of the justice system, as long as the delay actually results in proper assessment of things,” Meyer said. “We’re not in a hurry. He should have plenty of time to think about what he did.”

Meyer said Cody shouldn’t be the only one who is charged with a crime. Others, Meyer said, should have intervened — including other police officers, the sheriff, the county attorney, and the magistrate who signed the search warrants.

“Somewhere the system failed,” Meyer said. “These are the people who are supposed to protect our rights. They didn’t do it. That’s why I hate to see Gideon Cody be the fall guy for all this. Yes, he deserves a great deal of credit or blame for what went on in here, but there are others who were well aware of it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728384281817.png" alt=" Former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody on Oct. 7, 2024, enters the Marion County Courthouse for his first appearance in a low-level felony case. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody on Oct. 7, 2024, enters the Marion County Courthouse for his first appearance in a low-level felony case. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>One year after former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody resigned, he returns to town for his own criminal case</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>MARION — Former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody returned Monday to the town where he&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/police-stage-chilling-raid-on-marion-county-newspaper-seizing-computers-records-and-cellphones/">raided a newspaper</a>&nbsp;to face a dozen journalists along with a felony charge for his actions after the raid.Cody&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/12/police-defend-raid-on-kansas-newspaper-amid-backlash-over-brazen-violation-of-press-freedom/">led police</a>&nbsp;in the Aug. 11, 2023, raid on the Marion County Record, the editor’s home and a councilwoman’s home under the false pretense that a newspaper reporter had committed identity theft by looking up restaurateur Kari Newell’s driving record. Special prosecutors charged Cody with one count of interference with the judicial process, a low-level felony, for asking Newell after the raid to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/20/marion-woman-told-investigators-she-deleted-texts-with-police-chief-to-avoid-rumor-of-affair/">delete text messages</a>&nbsp;between the two. Cody told her he was concerned their relationship would be misinterpreted, according to court documents.<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/05/one-year-after-chilling-police-raid-on-kansas-newspaper-aftershocks-linger-in-marion/">One year later</a>, Cody is party to five federal civil lawsuits in addition to the criminal case.Monday’s hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes, was Cody’s first public appearance in the town since he resigned as police chief amid intense scrutiny in October 2023. In a courtroom with an audience mostly of reporters, Cody was straight-faced and silent.District Judge Ryan Rosauer rejected Cody’s motion to dismiss the charge for lack of probable cause.Rosauer, prosecutors and Cody’s defense agreed that Cody won’t be required to appear in court for minor hearings and case proceedings, including the case’s next scheduled hearing on Dec. 16. Court filings show Cody is believed to be living in Hawaii.Cody and Sal Intagliata, a Wichita attorney who is defending Cody, declined to answer reporters’ questions as they left the courthouse. Intagliata said the “full story” would come out as the case is litigated in court. Cody didn’t speak.Intagliata, as he ushered Cody into a car, told reporters: “If I have any comment at all on behalf of Mr. Cody, it would be this: that the people of Marion County, really the most important people involved in this situation, take a minute to reserve judgment, take a moment to, like, avoid jumping to conclusions, and allow the system to work.”Cody won’t be required to pay a cash bond. Instead, Rosauer ordered a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, which Cody only will have to pay if he fails to show up to court when required.If convicted, Cody would face presumed probation.Following the hearing, Marion County Record editor and publisher Eric Meyer answered questions from a dozen reporters who gathered outside the newspaper office across the street from the courthouse. They asked him to respond to Intagliata.“We can take a delay of the justice system, as long as the delay actually results in proper assessment of things,” Meyer said. “We’re not in a hurry. He should have plenty of time to think about what he did.”Meyer said Cody shouldn’t be the only one who is charged with a crime. Others, Meyer said, should have intervened — including other police officers, the sheriff, the county attorney, and the magistrate who signed the search warrants.“Somewhere the system failed,” Meyer said. “These are the people who are supposed to protect our rights. They didn’t do it. That’s why I hate to see Gideon Cody be the fall guy for all this. Yes, he deserves a great deal of credit or blame for what went on in here, but there are others who were well aware of it.”

Former police chief, who raided Kansas newspaper, returns to face criminal charge

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified the victim as 35-year-old Terry D. Moore of Kansas City, Kansas.

Just after 1a.m. Saturday police responded to report of a shooting in the 500 Block of Barnett Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

First responders found Moore on the road with apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal weekend shooting have identified the victim as 35-year-old Terry D. Moore of Kansas City, Kansas.Just after 1a.m. Saturday police responded to report of a shooting in the 500 Block of Barnett Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.First responders found Moore on the road with apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Police ID man who died in Kansas shooting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Taylor Swift was back at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night to see her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs play the New Orleans Saints after the pop superstar had missed the team's previous two games on the road.

Swift is in the final days of a break from her record-setting Eras Tour, which resumes with the first of three shows Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The tour's North American leg continues in New Orleans and Indianapolis before heading to Toronto and Vancouver in November and December. The final show is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Swift also missed Kelce's annual Kelce Car Jam over the weekend, a charity car show that raises money for his 87 and Running foundation, which helps underserved youth in the areas around Kansas City and Cleveland. There was still plenty of star power with Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, joining Kelce's parents his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce.

Swift began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. Since then, the two have spent plenty of time together, often with cameras following every move.

Swift has stayed out of the spotlight the past couple of weeks, though. That after a particularly headline-grabbing week in which she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-endorse-kamala-harris-president-3a36b6f9695c20153891bba35c47f21d">endorsed Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;for president, took home&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mtv-vmas-video-music-awards-2024-c8611104c22b980398b440ef9dd8ceed">seven trophies from the MTV Video Music Awards</a>, and show up to see the Chiefs beat the visiting Cincinnati Bengals.

Swift has become close friends with the Mahomes family over the past year. That created some controversy when the 14-time Grammy winner said she supported Harris over Donald Trump in the November election; Trump has referenced the quarterback's wife after she had liked — and then unliked — an Instagram post by the Republican presidential nominee.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-wife-donald-trump-chiefs-nfl-b2ba221de1c83138c2fac126223e46bb">Patrick Mahomes has declined to endorse anyone in the election</a>, instead urging people to register to vote.

“I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate,” Mahomes said. “My place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728352544471.png" alt="Taylor Swift arrives before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift arrives before the start of an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Taylor Swift was back at Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night to see her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs play the New Orleans Saints after the pop superstar had missed the team's previous two games on the road.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨| Taylor Swift stuns at today&#39;s Chiefs game! <a href="https://t.co/LIwcxAio6j">pic.twitter.com/LIwcxAio6j</a>&mdash; The Eras Tour (@tswifterastour) <a href="https://twitter.com/tswifterastour/status/1843435493880672648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Swift is in the final days of a break from her record-setting Eras Tour, which resumes with the first of three shows Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The tour's North American leg continues in New Orleans and Indianapolis before heading to Toronto and Vancouver in November and December. The final show is scheduled for Dec. 8.Swift also missed Kelce's annual Kelce Car Jam over the weekend, a charity car show that raises money for his 87 and Running foundation, which helps underserved youth in the areas around Kansas City and Cleveland. There was still plenty of star power with Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, joining Kelce's parents his brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce.Swift began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. Since then, the two have spent plenty of time together, often with cameras following every move.Swift has stayed out of the spotlight the past couple of weeks, though. That after a particularly headline-grabbing week in which she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-endorse-kamala-harris-president-3a36b6f9695c20153891bba35c47f21d">endorsed Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;for president, took home&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mtv-vmas-video-music-awards-2024-c8611104c22b980398b440ef9dd8ceed">seven trophies from the MTV Video Music Awards</a>, and show up to see the Chiefs beat the visiting Cincinnati Bengals.Swift has become close friends with the Mahomes family over the past year. That created some controversy when the 14-time Grammy winner said she supported Harris over Donald Trump in the November election; Trump has referenced the quarterback's wife after she had liked — and then unliked — an Instagram post by the Republican presidential nominee.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-wife-donald-trump-chiefs-nfl-b2ba221de1c83138c2fac126223e46bb">Patrick Mahomes has declined to endorse anyone in the election</a>, instead urging people to register to vote.“I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate,” Mahomes said. “My place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family.”___

Taylor Swift back to watch Kelce and the Chiefs with Eras Tour soon to resume

SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police Department has completed its investigation of an incident that occurred at South Middle School on September 6.

Police eported a 13-year-old was bench pressing in the school weight room. When the student finished the exercise the 39-year-old male teacher sat on him. 

Shortly thereafter, the student passed out and rolled off the bench striking his head on a portion of the bench resulting in a cut to his head.

Upon completing interviews of all those present during the incident, the case was forwarded to Salina Municipal Court who requested the case be reviewed by the Saline County Attorney’s Office.

The Saline County Attorney declined prosecution based on all witness statements indicating they did not feel it met the threshold for filing criminal charges.

The County Attorney determined based on the prevailing witness opinions, that most felt the incident was playful. Therefore they could not establish criminal intent.

SALINE COUNTY —USD 305 Salina is actively investigating a report of a student injury that occurred during class in a weight room within Salina Public Schools, according to a statement from the school district.

&nbsp;"The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. In accordance with district procedures, the teacher involved has been placed on administrative leave. We are committed to conducting a thorough review," the district wrote in a statement on the incident.

&nbsp;The student received medical care under the supervision of parents/guardians

Due to the investigation, USD 305 said it was unable to provide further details including the name of the teacher or the injury to the student.l.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694639848087.jpeg" alt="USD 305 Salina Public Schools District Offic&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>USD 305 Salina Public Schools District Offic&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —The Salina Police Department has completed its investigation of an incident that occurred at South Middle School on September 6.Police eported a 13-year-old was bench pressing in the school weight room. When the student finished the exercise the 39-year-old male teacher sat on him. Shortly thereafter, the student passed out and rolled off the bench striking his head on a portion of the bench resulting in a cut to his head.Upon completing interviews of all those present during the incident, the case was forwarded to Salina Municipal Court who requested the case be reviewed by the Saline County Attorney’s Office.The Saline County Attorney declined prosecution based on all witness statements indicating they did not feel it met the threshold for filing criminal charges.The County Attorney determined based on the prevailing witness opinions, that most felt the incident was playful. Therefore they could not establish criminal intent.------------------SALINE COUNTY —USD 305 Salina is actively investigating a report of a student injury that occurred during class in a weight room within Salina Public Schools, according to a statement from the school district.&nbsp;"The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. In accordance with district procedures, the teacher involved has been placed on administrative leave. We are committed to conducting a thorough review," the district wrote in a statement on the incident.&nbsp;The student received medical care under the supervision of parents/guardiansDue to the investigation, USD 305 said it was unable to provide further details including the name of the teacher or the injury to the student.l.&nbsp;&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

No charges against Kan. teacher after student injured in weight room

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a violent crime in Texas have issued an alert for a suspect.

Last week, the Police Chief of Memphis Texas was shot by Seth Michael Altman, according to a Wichita-Sedgwick County Crime Stoppers alert.

Altmas is wanted for Attempted Capitol Murder in the State of Texas.

Governor Greg Abbott announced a $10,000 reward through Texas Crime Stoppers, for information leading to the arrest and capture of Altman. There were indications he&nbsp;may be in the Wichita Metro Area.&nbsp; He is described as 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5 and weighs aproximately 220 pounds.

He wears glasses that is possibly missing one of the lenses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728324156130.png" alt="Altman-photo Crime Stoppers" />
 <figcaption>Altman-photo Crime Stoppers</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a violent crime in Texas have issued an alert for a suspect.Last week, the Police Chief of Memphis Texas was shot by Seth Michael Altman, according to a Wichita-Sedgwick County Crime Stoppers alert.Altmas is wanted for Attempted Capitol Murder in the State of Texas.Governor Greg Abbott announced a $10,000 reward through Texas Crime Stoppers, for information leading to the arrest and capture of Altman. There were indications he&nbsp;may be in the Wichita Metro Area.&nbsp; He is described as 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5 and weighs aproximately 220 pounds.He wears glasses that is possibly missing one of the lenses.

Suspect wanted for shooting police chief could be in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Wichita Police Department investigating a deadly shooting incident on Sunday have identified the victim as 21-year-old&nbsp;Hannah Tanui, according to Police Department spokesman Andrew Ford.

Just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday, officers from the Patrol East Bureau were flagged down by an individual reporting that a man they knew, later identified as 26-year-old&nbsp;Jan Tanui&nbsp; had broken into their residence in the 800 block of South Edgemoor, armed with a handgun, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

He was reportedly inside the home with his ex-domestic partner and had made suicidal statements.

Officers arrived at the scene and attempted to make contact but received no response. The Wichita Police SWAT and Crisis Negotiation teams were immediately activated. Despite efforts to establish communication, no contact was made.

SWAT entered the residence later in the morning and discovered both the Jan Tanui and his ex-domestic partner,&nbsp;Hannah Tanui, deceased from non-survivable gunshot wounds. Police released no additional details Monday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728251189682.png" alt="-Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>-Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Wichita Police Department investigating a deadly shooting incident on Sunday have identified the victim as 21-year-old&nbsp;Hannah Tanui, according to Police Department spokesman Andrew Ford.Just after 3:30 a.m. Sunday, officers from the Patrol East Bureau were flagged down by an individual reporting that a man they knew, later identified as 26-year-old&nbsp;Jan Tanui&nbsp; had broken into their residence in the 800 block of South Edgemoor, armed with a handgun, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.He was reportedly inside the home with his ex-domestic partner and had made suicidal statements.Officers arrived at the scene and attempted to make contact but received no response. The Wichita Police SWAT and Crisis Negotiation teams were immediately activated. Despite efforts to establish communication, no contact was made.SWAT entered the residence later in the morning and discovered both the Jan Tanui and his ex-domestic partner,&nbsp;Hannah Tanui, deceased from non-survivable gunshot wounds. Police released no additional details Monday afternoon.

Police ID Kan. woman killed by ex-domestic partner after home break-in

NEW YORK (AP) —A judge granted preliminary approval Monday to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-b6ff58d62f93359789dde1626f827bf1">$2.78 billion legal settlement</a>&nbsp;that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-legal-battles-d2115349e2d81e481818159a4863cce4">transform college sports</a>&nbsp;by allowing schools to pay players.

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken released an order setting a timeline for a deal that would put millions of dollars into the pockets of college athletes, who can begin applying for payment on Oct. 18.

A final hearing is set for April 7, 2025, the day that one of college sports' biggest moneymakers, March Madness, comes to a close with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball">college basketball's</a>&nbsp;national title game. If finalized, the deal would allow the biggest schools to establish a pool of about $21.5 million in the first year to distribute money to athletes through a revenue-sharing plan. Athletes would still be able to cut name, image and likeness deals with outside groups.

Former college athletes from as far back as 2016 would be able to apply for their share of $2.576 billion set aside to help them recoup money they could've made from NIL deals, which weren't allowed until 2021.

“We are pleased that we are one step closer to a revolutionary change in college athletics that will allow billions in revenue sharing,” said plaintiff attorney Steve Berman.

The judge’s approval comes 11 days after attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-nil-lawsuit-settlement-booster-4812f2f48dfae4b9f6dfd536e652dc5a">tweaked wording in the original settlement</a>&nbsp;agreement to address Wilken’s concerns. The main change involved getting rid of the word “boosters” and replacing it with a better-defined description of whose potential NIL deals would be subject to oversight by a neutral arbitrator once the deal goes through.

That did not, however, strike to the heart of the settlement, which sets up a revenue-sharing arrangement between schools and athletes who, for decades, played for scholarships, a few expenses and little else, while coaches and athletic departments brought in millions. The $21.5 million figure comes from the 22% of average revenue that power conference schools generate through media rights, tickets and other sources. It will be recalculated periodically through the 10-year window the agreement covers.

Not every school will chip in the full amount. Those that will are hurrying to find ways to replace what they'll pay out to athletes. They worry it could impact their overall sports programs, especially the “non-revenue” sports that play an outsized role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-ncaa-revenue-sharing-e8d8afbdc4b3e74c2ad2695e72c838a2">populating U.S. Olympic rosters</a>.

“We are thrilled by Judge Wilken’s decision to give preliminary approval to the landmark settlement that will help bring stability and sustainability to college athletics while delivering increased benefits to student-athletes for years to come,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “Today’s progress is a significant step in writing the next chapter for the future of college sports.”

In addition to creating a payment system, the settlement sets up a framework to regulate future NIL deals and replaces scholarship caps with “roster limits,” which will grow to 105 for football, the biggest sport at most major universities, and also the sport that brings in the most money while incurring the most expense.

How those new roster caps and everything else will impact Title IX has yet to be seen. Plaintiffs lawyers have estimated around 90% of the money will go to football and men's basketball players whose sports bring in the lion's share of the revenue. Critics of the settlement have suggested that could be in violation of Title IX.

This settlement resolves three major antitrust lawsuits filed against the NCAA, including one spearheaded by Grant House, a former swimmer at Arizona State. Berman’s law firm says the value of new payments and benefits to college athletes is expected to exceed $20 billion over 10 years.

The $21 million that the biggest schools will dole out represents not even 10% of an NFL salary cap, but is considered big progress for college sports, which are undergoing a revolution with an expanded football playoff (with its $7.8 billion TV contract) and a related move to mega-conferences; the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences now have 34 teams between them.

“For far too long, these athletes have been deprived of their economic rights in an unjust system that will now, finally, be fundamentally reformed,” plaintiff attorney Jeffrey Kessler said in a news release that was part of the court filings.

Still unknown is how long the terms of this deal will last. Litigation regarding the rights of players to unionize and potentially be considered employees remains unsettled. Meanwhile, the NCAA is pushing for federal legislation to knit together a streamlined policy for NIL, which is currently regulated by a patchwork of state laws, legal settlements and NCAA rules.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716518230646.jpeg" alt="NCAA Headquarters photo AP" />
 <figcaption>NCAA Headquarters photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —A judge granted preliminary approval Monday to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-b6ff58d62f93359789dde1626f827bf1">$2.78 billion legal settlement</a>&nbsp;that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-legal-battles-d2115349e2d81e481818159a4863cce4">transform college sports</a>&nbsp;by allowing schools to pay players.U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken released an order setting a timeline for a deal that would put millions of dollars into the pockets of college athletes, who can begin applying for payment on Oct. 18.A final hearing is set for April 7, 2025, the day that one of college sports' biggest moneymakers, March Madness, comes to a close with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball">college basketball's</a>&nbsp;national title game. If finalized, the deal would allow the biggest schools to establish a pool of about $21.5 million in the first year to distribute money to athletes through a revenue-sharing plan. Athletes would still be able to cut name, image and likeness deals with outside groups.Former college athletes from as far back as 2016 would be able to apply for their share of $2.576 billion set aside to help them recoup money they could've made from NIL deals, which weren't allowed until 2021.“We are pleased that we are one step closer to a revolutionary change in college athletics that will allow billions in revenue sharing,” said plaintiff attorney Steve Berman.The judge’s approval comes 11 days after attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-nil-lawsuit-settlement-booster-4812f2f48dfae4b9f6dfd536e652dc5a">tweaked wording in the original settlement</a>&nbsp;agreement to address Wilken’s concerns. The main change involved getting rid of the word “boosters” and replacing it with a better-defined description of whose potential NIL deals would be subject to oversight by a neutral arbitrator once the deal goes through.That did not, however, strike to the heart of the settlement, which sets up a revenue-sharing arrangement between schools and athletes who, for decades, played for scholarships, a few expenses and little else, while coaches and athletic departments brought in millions. The $21.5 million figure comes from the 22% of average revenue that power conference schools generate through media rights, tickets and other sources. It will be recalculated periodically through the 10-year window the agreement covers.Not every school will chip in the full amount. Those that will are hurrying to find ways to replace what they'll pay out to athletes. They worry it could impact their overall sports programs, especially the “non-revenue” sports that play an outsized role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-ncaa-revenue-sharing-e8d8afbdc4b3e74c2ad2695e72c838a2">populating U.S. Olympic rosters</a>.“We are thrilled by Judge Wilken’s decision to give preliminary approval to the landmark settlement that will help bring stability and sustainability to college athletics while delivering increased benefits to student-athletes for years to come,” said NCAA President Charlie Baker. “Today’s progress is a significant step in writing the next chapter for the future of college sports.”In addition to creating a payment system, the settlement sets up a framework to regulate future NIL deals and replaces scholarship caps with “roster limits,” which will grow to 105 for football, the biggest sport at most major universities, and also the sport that brings in the most money while incurring the most expense.How those new roster caps and everything else will impact Title IX has yet to be seen. Plaintiffs lawyers have estimated around 90% of the money will go to football and men's basketball players whose sports bring in the lion's share of the revenue. Critics of the settlement have suggested that could be in violation of Title IX.This settlement resolves three major antitrust lawsuits filed against the NCAA, including one spearheaded by Grant House, a former swimmer at Arizona State. Berman’s law firm says the value of new payments and benefits to college athletes is expected to exceed $20 billion over 10 years.The $21 million that the biggest schools will dole out represents not even 10% of an NFL salary cap, but is considered big progress for college sports, which are undergoing a revolution with an expanded football playoff (with its $7.8 billion TV contract) and a related move to mega-conferences; the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences now have 34 teams between them.“For far too long, these athletes have been deprived of their economic rights in an unjust system that will now, finally, be fundamentally reformed,” plaintiff attorney Jeffrey Kessler said in a news release that was part of the court filings.Still unknown is how long the terms of this deal will last. Litigation regarding the rights of players to unionize and potentially be considered employees remains unsettled. Meanwhile, the NCAA is pushing for federal legislation to knit together a streamlined policy for NIL, which is currently regulated by a patchwork of state laws, legal settlements and NCAA rules.___

NCAA's $2 billion settlement with colleges to allow athlete payments gets preliminary Ok

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that the Kansas Division of Emergency Management received another Emergency Management Assistance Compact request from Florida for a swift water search and rescue task force in preparation for Hurricane Milton’s arrival, according to a media release from Kelly's office.

Working with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kansas Task Force 2 was deployed Sunday night to Florida.

“Kansas is once again sending assistance to Florida due to another large and powerful hurricane landing this week in the Gulf Coast,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’re committed to mobilizing resources and personnel to provide immediate support to those affected by Hurricane Milton.”

“The personnel responding to Florida to assist with Hurricane Milton have trained for this kind of disaster response,”&nbsp;Mark Engholm, Kansas Fire Marshal, said. “They are committed to providing professional search and rescue support to those in need. Kansas can be proud of our men and women who have chosen to deploy.”

Kansas Task Force 2 consists of personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Chanute Fire Department, Cherryvale Fire-Rescue, Johnson County Med-Act, Manhattan Fire Department, Neodesha Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Shawnee Kansas Fire Department, and Wichita Fire Department.

Their objectives will be to search for and rescue individuals, provide basic life support medical care, transport humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport, provide shore-based and boat-based water rescue, provide animal rescues, and support helicopter and urban search and rescue in water environments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728334485679.png" alt="Image National Weather Service" />
 <figcaption>Image National Weather Service</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday that the Kansas Division of Emergency Management received another Emergency Management Assistance Compact request from Florida for a swift water search and rescue task force in preparation for Hurricane Milton’s arrival, according to a media release from Kelly's office.Working with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Kansas Task Force 2 was deployed Sunday night to Florida.“Kansas is once again sending assistance to Florida due to another large and powerful hurricane landing this week in the Gulf Coast,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’re committed to mobilizing resources and personnel to provide immediate support to those affected by Hurricane Milton.”“The personnel responding to Florida to assist with Hurricane Milton have trained for this kind of disaster response,”&nbsp;Mark Engholm, Kansas Fire Marshal, said. “They are committed to providing professional search and rescue support to those in need. Kansas can be proud of our men and women who have chosen to deploy.”Kansas Task Force 2 consists of personnel from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, Chanute Fire Department, Cherryvale Fire-Rescue, Johnson County Med-Act, Manhattan Fire Department, Neodesha Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Shawnee Kansas Fire Department, and Wichita Fire Department.Their objectives will be to search for and rescue individuals, provide basic life support medical care, transport humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport, provide shore-based and boat-based water rescue, provide animal rescues, and support helicopter and urban search and rescue in water environments.

Kansas sending 2nd swift water search, rescue task force to Florida 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The cost of buying a Mega Millions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-mega-millions-jackpot-2ca3af2378b56cb272877f2c0a674cd5">jackpot dream</a>&nbsp;will soon more than double, but lottery officials said they're confident players won't mind paying more after changes that will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maryland-iowa-coronavirus-pandemic-18bb35b80dc9acb1f0509d0d7b2bb289">lead to larger prizes</a>&nbsp;and more frequent winners.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690365684963.png" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The cost of buying a Mega Millions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lottery-mega-millions-jackpot-2ca3af2378b56cb272877f2c0a674cd5">jackpot dream</a>&nbsp;will soon more than double, but lottery officials said they're confident players won't mind paying more after changes that will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maryland-iowa-coronavirus-pandemic-18bb35b80dc9acb1f0509d0d7b2bb289">lead to larger prizes</a>&nbsp;and more frequent winners.Lottery officials announced Monday that it will cost $5 to play Mega Millions, beginning in April, up from the current $2 per ticket. The price increase will be one of many changes to Mega Millions that officials said will result in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mega-millions-jackpot-lottery-powerball-winner-1b2ab74a356187cafccda905a5936cad">improved jackpot odds</a>, more frequent giant prizes and even larger payouts.“Spending 5 bucks to become a millionaire or billionaire, that's pretty good,” said Joshua Johnston, director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group that oversees Mega Millions.Mega Millions and its lottery compatriot Powerball are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-alabama-alaska-lotteries-business-86424cf8e2b7cccf8ae9d06f6652d559">sold in 45 states</a>, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico.Powerball officials said they have no plans to change that game's odds or the $2 price for most tickets.Mega Millions will introduce changes at a time when fewer people are buying tickets and jackpots need to reach ever-higher figures before sporadic players notice and opt to buy a ticket or two. Whereas a $500 million jackpot once prompted lines out convenience store doors, top prizes of $1 billion now often draw more of a ho-hum response.Those much-hyped jackpot numbers also could take a hit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mega-millions-lottery-jackpot-66aa7beb592c6bb408da87d5b677dcab">as interest rates fall</a>. That's because on billboards or other advertisements, state lotteries emphasize the annuity payout for jackpots, distributed over decades from an investment fund. As interest rates have been high, the annuity jackpots have more than doubled the cash prizes that winners nearly always choose.With an expectation that interest rates will drop, those annuity jackpot figures will decline, so the advertised jackpot won't seem quite so massive.Johnston said expected declines in interest rates were not a factor in the upcoming changes.The biggest motivation was to differentiate Mega Millions from Powerball and attract customers who might now pass on both games, Johnston said.More than doubling the ticket price is a big move, but Johnston said research shows people feel comfortable spending at least $5 when they buy scratch tickets or chances at the draw games, like Mega Millions. It is the second price increase since the game was created in 2002.“You pay 5 bucks for your Starbucks,” Johnston noted.Lottery officials will announce more specifics about the changes in the coming months, he said.