KANSAS CITY— Authorities continue to work to confirm the identity of a man who drowned in a Kansas City area pond on Saturday, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just after 5:30p.m., the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a water rescue call at 12701 E. 150 highway, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Witnesses stated that two individuals in a canoe on the pond overturned. One victim, an eight year old was able to make their way back to the bank and was safe.

 The second victim, a 23-year-old Hispanic male was not able to swim to shore. The victim was overcome and drowned. KCFD put swimmers in the water and searched the last known location. 

Missouri Highway Patrol was notified, and a water patrol boat was sent to the location to search with sonar. KCFD also called in their search dog. The dog quickly hit on area where the witnesses stated the individual was last seen. 

The Highway patrol then was able to locate the victim on sonar and retrieve the body. Neither the survivor or the victim were wearing life jackets. 

The KCFD stressed to the public to "wear a life jacket any time you are in a body of water where you can not see the bottom, and if you are not a strong swimmer or cannot swim."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723378703298.png" alt="KCFD crews on the scene of the search -photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>KCFD crews on the scene of the search -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— Authorities continue to work to confirm the identity of a man who drowned in a Kansas City area pond on Saturday, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just after 5:30p.m., the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a water rescue call at 12701 E. 150 highway, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.Witnesses stated that two individuals in a canoe on the pond overturned. One victim, an eight year old was able to make their way back to the bank and was safe. The second victim, a 23-year-old Hispanic male was not able to swim to shore. The victim was overcome and drowned. KCFD put swimmers in the water and searched the last known location. Missouri Highway Patrol was notified, and a water patrol boat was sent to the location to search with sonar. KCFD also called in their search dog. The dog quickly hit on area where the witnesses stated the individual was last seen. The Highway patrol then was able to locate the victim on sonar and retrieve the body. Neither the survivor or the victim were wearing life jackets. The KCFD stressed to the public to "wear a life jacket any time you are in a body of water where you can not see the bottom, and if you are not a strong swimmer or cannot swim."

KCPD working to ID man who drowned when canoe overturned

ELLSWORTH COUNTY — Law enforcement across Kansas continue to  see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit. On Saturday night, Trooper Jacoby Williams was out on patrol,&nbsp;according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

During his shift, Williams stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 in Ellsworth County for traveling 114 mph in a 75 mph zone, failing to drive in the right lane, and having an unrestrained child in the car. 

The KHP did not release details on the cost of the ticket or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723476277152.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY — Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit. On Saturday night, Trooper Jacoby Williams was out on patrol,&nbsp;according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol.During his shift, Williams stopped a vehicle on Interstate 70 in Ellsworth County for traveling 114 mph in a 75 mph zone, failing to drive in the right lane, and having an unrestrained child in the car. The KHP did not release details on the cost of the ticket or additional details.

KHP: Driver with unrestrained child clocked at 114mph on I-70

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The next personalized license plate will feature the Flint Hills design after more than 30,000 Kansans&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/05/kansas-invites-voting-on-five-design-options-for-states-new-personalized-license-plate/">voted among five potential designs</a>.

Kansas Department of Revenue spokesman Zach Denny said the design was the “clear favorite,” receiving more than 56% of the vote.

The new design will be ready for purchase in 2025 for $45.50 at county treasurer’s offices.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/press/2020/pr01132020.html" target="_blank">“Powering the Future”</a>&nbsp;personalized plate, the 2020 design that featured a sunset and wind turbines, will no longer be available after Jan. 1, 2025. Kansans with the “Powering the Future” plate must replace their plate during their next renewal period to keep their personalized plate text, Denny said.

“We know how passionate Kansans are about license plates, and this initiative aims to give the public a direct say in selecting the next personalized plate design that will be featured on vehicles across the state for years to come,” KDOR Division of Vehicles director David Harper said in a statement at the beginning of the vote.

The new personalized plate, which is available along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovplates.html" target="_blank">many distinctive plates</a>, comes after last year’s controversy around the standard plate design.

The first design for the state’s new standard plate was met with bipartisan criticism, with complaints that it looked too much like the University of Missouri’s colors and that it looked like the state of New York’s standard plate. Gov. Laura Kelly pulled the plate from production and allowed Kansans to vote on alternate designs. More than half the votes went to a design featuring the state Capitol.

As of January 2024, KDOR started to replace the old standard plate with the new one.

A KDOR statement said feedback during the voting process for the standard plate led to the decision to hold another vote for the personalized plate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723474905874.png" alt="&nbsp;Kansans voted for the new personalized license plate, with the design of the Flint Hills winning more than 56% of the vote.&nbsp; (Kansas Department of Revenue)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansans voted for the new personalized license plate, with the design of the Flint Hills winning more than 56% of the vote.&nbsp; (Kansas Department of Revenue)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> TOPEKA — The next personalized license plate will feature the Flint Hills design after more than 30,000 Kansans&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/05/kansas-invites-voting-on-five-design-options-for-states-new-personalized-license-plate/">voted among five potential designs</a>.Kansas Department of Revenue spokesman Zach Denny said the design was the “clear favorite,” receiving more than 56% of the vote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723544227052.png" alt=" The Kansas Department of Revenue is had Kansans take part in an online vote to select a new background for the state’s personalized license plates. There were five options. (Kansas Department of Revenue)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas Department of Revenue is had Kansans take part in an online vote to select a new background for the state’s personalized license plates. There were five options. (Kansas Department of Revenue)</figcaption>
 </figure>The new design will be ready for purchase in 2025 for $45.50 at county treasurer’s offices.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/press/2020/pr01132020.html" target="_blank">“Powering the Future”</a>&nbsp;personalized plate, the 2020 design that featured a sunset and wind turbines, will no longer be available after Jan. 1, 2025. Kansans with the “Powering the Future” plate must replace their plate during their next renewal period to keep their personalized plate text, Denny said.“We know how passionate Kansans are about license plates, and this initiative aims to give the public a direct say in selecting the next personalized plate design that will be featured on vehicles across the state for years to come,” KDOR Division of Vehicles director David Harper said in a statement at the beginning of the vote.The new personalized plate, which is available along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovplates.html" target="_blank">many distinctive plates</a>, comes after last year’s controversy around the standard plate design.The first design for the state’s new standard plate was met with bipartisan criticism, with complaints that it looked too much like the University of Missouri’s colors and that it looked like the state of New York’s standard plate. Gov. Laura Kelly pulled the plate from production and allowed Kansans to vote on alternate designs. More than half the votes went to a design featuring the state Capitol.As of January 2024, KDOR started to replace the old standard plate with the new one.A KDOR statement said feedback during the voting process for the standard plate led to the decision to hold another vote for the personalized plate.

Kansas reveals winning personalized license plate design

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A judge ruled Monday that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely claimed a New York residence on nominating petitions, invalidating the documents he needs to appear on the ballot in the state.

Judge Christina Ryba’s ruling after a short trial in state court is expected to be appealed. If upheld, it would keep Kennedy off the ballot in New York and could lead to challenges in other states where he used an address in New York City’s suburbs to gather signatures.

The lawsuit backed by a Democrat-aligned political action committee claims Kennedy’s state nominating petition falsely listed a residence in well-to-do Katonah while actually living in the Los Angeles area since 2014, when he married “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Cheryl Hines.

Kennedy argued during the trial that he has lifelong ties to New York and intends to move back.

During the trial, which ran for less than four days, Kennedy maintained that he began living in New York when he was 10 and that he currently rents a room in a friend’s home in Katonah, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan. However, Kennedy testified that he has only slept in that room once due to his constant campaign travel.

The 70-year-old candidate testified that his move to California a decade ago was so he could be with his wife, and that he always planned to return to New York, where he is registered to vote.

Barbara Moss, who rents the room to Kennedy, testified that he pays her $500 a month. But she acknowledged there is no written lease and that Kennedy’s first payment wasn’t made until after the New York Post&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2024/05/19/us-news/rfk-jr-lists-voting-address-at-westchester-home-thats-in-foreclosure-and-neighbors-have-never-seen-him/">published a story</a>&nbsp;casting doubt on Kennedy’s claim that he lived at that address.

The judge also heard from a longtime friend of Kennedy’s who said the candidate had regularly been an overnight guest at his own Westchester home from 2014 through 2017, but was not a tenant there as Kennedy had claimed.

Attorneys representing several New York voters grilled Kennedy in often heated exchanges as they sought to make their case, pointing to government documents including a federal statement of candidacy with a California address, and even a social media video in which Kennedy talks about training ravens at his Los Angeles home.

Kennedy has the potential to do better than any independent presidential candidate in decades thanks to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-kennedy-rfk-trump-pennsylvania-b411e744d3b13fc6365029cb3dfd00c4">famous name</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-rfk-independent-phoenix-ce8ef411c13bb7d5fc4ddff198cbbac9">loyal base.</a>&nbsp;Both Democrat and Republican strategists have expressed concerns that he could affect their candidate’s chances.

Kennedy’s campaign has said he has enough signatures to qualify in a majority of states, but his ballot drive has faced challenges and lawsuits in several, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-rfk-ballot-election-2024-6578c475c48887f736270248d1664a4a">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-new-jersey-ballot-7d522fb10901599e197804096baaabf0">New Jersey</a>.

Clear Choice, a super PAC, filed the New York suit on behalf of several voters in the state.

Kennedy told reporters last week that getting knocked off the ballot in New York could lead to lawsuits in other states where his campaign listed the same address.

After the trial ended Thursday, Kennedy argued that people who signed his petitions deserve a chance to vote for him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715712559050.png" alt="File photo RFK, Jr. courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo RFK, Jr. courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A judge ruled Monday that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. falsely claimed a New York residence on nominating petitions, invalidating the documents he needs to appear on the ballot in the state.Judge Christina Ryba’s ruling after a short trial in state court is expected to be appealed. If upheld, it would keep Kennedy off the ballot in New York and could lead to challenges in other states where he used an address in New York City’s suburbs to gather signatures.The lawsuit backed by a Democrat-aligned political action committee claims Kennedy’s state nominating petition falsely listed a residence in well-to-do Katonah while actually living in the Los Angeles area since 2014, when he married “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actor Cheryl Hines.Kennedy argued during the trial that he has lifelong ties to New York and intends to move back.During the trial, which ran for less than four days, Kennedy maintained that he began living in New York when he was 10 and that he currently rents a room in a friend’s home in Katonah, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of midtown Manhattan. However, Kennedy testified that he has only slept in that room once due to his constant campaign travel.The 70-year-old candidate testified that his move to California a decade ago was so he could be with his wife, and that he always planned to return to New York, where he is registered to vote.Barbara Moss, who rents the room to Kennedy, testified that he pays her $500 a month. But she acknowledged there is no written lease and that Kennedy’s first payment wasn’t made until after the New York Post&nbsp;<a href="https://nypost.com/2024/05/19/us-news/rfk-jr-lists-voting-address-at-westchester-home-thats-in-foreclosure-and-neighbors-have-never-seen-him/">published a story</a>&nbsp;casting doubt on Kennedy’s claim that he lived at that address.The judge also heard from a longtime friend of Kennedy’s who said the candidate had regularly been an overnight guest at his own Westchester home from 2014 through 2017, but was not a tenant there as Kennedy had claimed.Attorneys representing several New York voters grilled Kennedy in often heated exchanges as they sought to make their case, pointing to government documents including a federal statement of candidacy with a California address, and even a social media video in which Kennedy talks about training ravens at his Los Angeles home.Kennedy has the potential to do better than any independent presidential candidate in decades thanks to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-kennedy-rfk-trump-pennsylvania-b411e744d3b13fc6365029cb3dfd00c4">famous name</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-rfk-independent-phoenix-ce8ef411c13bb7d5fc4ddff198cbbac9">loyal base.</a>&nbsp;Both Democrat and Republican strategists have expressed concerns that he could affect their candidate’s chances.Kennedy’s campaign has said he has enough signatures to qualify in a majority of states, but his ballot drive has faced challenges and lawsuits in several, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-rfk-ballot-election-2024-6578c475c48887f736270248d1664a4a">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-new-jersey-ballot-7d522fb10901599e197804096baaabf0">New Jersey</a>.Clear Choice, a super PAC, filed the New York suit on behalf of several voters in the state.Kennedy told reporters last week that getting knocked off the ballot in New York could lead to lawsuits in other states where his campaign listed the same address.After the trial ended Thursday, Kennedy argued that people who signed his petitions deserve a chance to vote for him.

Judge rules against RFK Jr. in fight to be on another state ballot

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a 2021 murder.

On August 7, Judge Neil B. Foth sentenced Kyle Anthony Gutierres to 285 months in prison for second degree intentional murder, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In May of 2024, Gutierres pleaded guilty to second degree intentional murder in the death of Jeren Hinton.

On May 24, 2021, police responded to the report of an armed disturbance&nbsp;in an apartment complex in the 8500 block of Greenbrier Drive in Overland Park.&nbsp; Officers found a man later identified as Hinton lying in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Hinton was suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and died of his injury.

After asking the public for help to locate a suspect, police arrested Gutierres.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716935604176.png" alt="Gutierres -photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Gutierres -photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a 2021 murder.On August 7, Judge Neil B. Foth sentenced Kyle Anthony Gutierres to 285 months in prison for second degree intentional murder, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.In May of 2024, Gutierres pleaded guilty to second degree intentional murder in the death of Jeren Hinton.On May 24, 2021, police responded to the report of an armed disturbance&nbsp;in an apartment complex in the 8500 block of Greenbrier Drive in Overland Park.&nbsp; Officers found a man later identified as Hinton lying in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Hinton was suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and died of his injury.After asking the public for help to locate a suspect, police arrested Gutierres.

Prison for Kansas man in apartment complex killing

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.

On August 9, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 3400 Block of SE Girard Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police&nbsp;LT Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrant, officers located cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Officers arrested 56-year-old&nbsp; Cindy Kinmon and transported her to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for the following charges on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Distribution/Possession with intent of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Kinmon has six previous forgery convictions and one for ID theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723469508697.png" alt="Kinmon has six previous forgery convictions and one for ID theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-&nbsp; photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Kinmon has six previous forgery convictions and one for ID theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-&nbsp; photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.On August 9, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in the 3400 Block of SE Girard Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police&nbsp;LT Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrant, officers located cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.Officers arrested 56-year-old&nbsp; Cindy Kinmon and transported her to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for the following charges on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Distribution/Possession with intent of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.Kinmon has six previous forgery convictions and one for ID theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

Kan. woman with history ID theft caught with cocaine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI said Monday it is investigating allegations that sensitive documents from Donald Trump's presidential campaign were stolen in a cyber intrusion days after the campaign declared it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-campaign-hacked-036ffd3ed07cf3fe9fb74d4958808b65">had been hacked by Iran</a>.

The FBI released a brief statement reading, “We can confirm the FBI is investigating this matter.”

A person familiar with the matter said the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign was also targeted in the suspected Iranian cyber intrusion that is under FBI investigation. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details of the investigation.

The Trump campaign provided no specific evidence of Iran’s involvement, but the claim came shortly after Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn-dynmedia-1.microsoft.com/is/content/microsoftcorp/microsoft/final/en-us/microsoft-brand/documents/5bc57431-a7a9-49ad-944d-b93b7d35d0fc.pdf">issued a report</a>&nbsp;detailing foreign agents’ attempts to interfere in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">U.S. election in 2024</a>. The report cited an instance of an Iranian military intelligence unit in June sending “a spear-phishing email to a high-ranking official of a presidential campaign from a compromised email account of a former senior advisor.”

Politico reported Saturday that it began receiving emails on July 22 from an anonymous account. The source — an AOL email account identified only as “Robert” — passed along what appeared to be a research dossier the campaign had apparently done on the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>. The document was dated Feb. 23, almost five months before Trump selected Vance as his running mate.

“These documents were obtained illegally” and “intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said.

Vice President Harris' campaign said in a statement, “Our campaign vigilantly monitors and protects against cyber threats, and we are not aware of any security breaches of our systems.” It declined to address whether it had identified any state-based intrusion attempts.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations, when asked about the claim of the Trump campaign, denied being involved.

However, Iran long has been suspected of running hacking campaigns targeting its enemies in the Middle East and beyond. Tehran also long has threatened to retaliate against Trump over the 2020 drone strike he ordered that killed prominent Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

In its report, Microsoft stated that “foreign malign influence concerning the 2024 US election started off slowly but has steadily picked up pace over the last six months due initially to Russian operations, but more recently from Iranian activity.”

The analysis continued: “Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations have been a consistent feature of at least the last three U.S. election cycles. Iran’s operations have been notable and distinguishable from Russian campaigns for appearing later in the election season and employing cyberattacks more geared toward election conduct than swaying voters.”

“Recent activity suggests the Iranian regime — along with the Kremlin — may be equally engaged in election 2024,” Microsoft concluded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723499768905.png" alt="File photo -Trump during the campaign stop over the weekend in Montana-courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo -Trump during the campaign stop over the weekend in Montana-courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI said Monday it is investigating allegations that sensitive documents from Donald Trump's presidential campaign were stolen in a cyber intrusion days after the campaign declared it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-campaign-hacked-036ffd3ed07cf3fe9fb74d4958808b65">had been hacked by Iran</a>.The FBI released a brief statement reading, “We can confirm the FBI is investigating this matter.”A person familiar with the matter said the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign was also targeted in the suspected Iranian cyber intrusion that is under FBI investigation. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details of the investigation.The Trump campaign provided no specific evidence of Iran’s involvement, but the claim came shortly after Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn-dynmedia-1.microsoft.com/is/content/microsoftcorp/microsoft/final/en-us/microsoft-brand/documents/5bc57431-a7a9-49ad-944d-b93b7d35d0fc.pdf">issued a report</a>&nbsp;detailing foreign agents’ attempts to interfere in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">U.S. election in 2024</a>. The report cited an instance of an Iranian military intelligence unit in June sending “a spear-phishing email to a high-ranking official of a presidential campaign from a compromised email account of a former senior advisor.”Politico reported Saturday that it began receiving emails on July 22 from an anonymous account. The source — an AOL email account identified only as “Robert” — passed along what appeared to be a research dossier the campaign had apparently done on the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>. The document was dated Feb. 23, almost five months before Trump selected Vance as his running mate.“These documents were obtained illegally” and “intended to interfere with the 2024 election and sow chaos throughout our Democratic process,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said.Vice President Harris' campaign said in a statement, “Our campaign vigilantly monitors and protects against cyber threats, and we are not aware of any security breaches of our systems.” It declined to address whether it had identified any state-based intrusion attempts.Iran’s mission to the United Nations, when asked about the claim of the Trump campaign, denied being involved.However, Iran long has been suspected of running hacking campaigns targeting its enemies in the Middle East and beyond. Tehran also long has threatened to retaliate against Trump over the 2020 drone strike he ordered that killed prominent Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.In its report, Microsoft stated that “foreign malign influence concerning the 2024 US election started off slowly but has steadily picked up pace over the last six months due initially to Russian operations, but more recently from Iranian activity.”The analysis continued: “Iranian cyber-enabled influence operations have been a consistent feature of at least the last three U.S. election cycles. Iran’s operations have been notable and distinguishable from Russian campaigns for appearing later in the election season and employing cyberattacks more geared toward election conduct than swaying voters.”“Recent activity suggests the Iranian regime — along with the Kremlin — may be equally engaged in election 2024,” Microsoft concluded.

FBI investigating alleged campaign hack that Trump blames on Iran

PARIS (AP) —USA Gymnastics officials say an arbitration panel won't reconsider a decision&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-paris-gymnastics-4004ae4869ac2eafbb89b68ee5966110">asking gymnast Jordan Chiles to return the bronze medal</a>&nbsp;she was awarded in the floor exercise at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games">Paris Olympics</a>.

USA Gymnastics says it will continue efforts to let Chiles keep the medal.

“USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement.

“We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan.”

CAS voided an on-floor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-romania-inquiry-007b6136128a934b4a5c900ad8fb608f">appeal from Chiles’ coach</a>&nbsp;that vaulted her to third, saying the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the one-minute time limit for scoring inquiries.

USA Gymnastics disputed the timing, saying in a statement Sunday that the agency submitted video evidence to CAS that showed Team USA coach Cecile Landi first appealed 13 seconds before the deadline.

The dispute over such minute details sets up what could be a months- or years-long legal battle over the gymnastics scores.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said Saturday night it would respect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-jordan-chiles-bronze-5a7db5537e2defb3ebe57b0b746556f3">the court’s decision</a>&nbsp;and elevate Ana Barbosu of Romania to third. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the ruling Sunday, announcing that it was reallocating the medal.

CAS ruled Saturday that Landi’s inquiry to have 0.1 added to Chiles’ score came outside the one-minute window. The CAS ad hoc committee wrote that Landi’s inquiry came 1 minute, 4 seconds after Chiles’ initial score was posted.

The IOC said in a statement it will be in touch with the USOPC regarding the return of Chiles’ bronze and will work with the Romanian Olympic Committee to discuss a reallocation ceremony honoring Barbosu.

The appeal could go to Switzerland’s highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights.

Rebeca Andrade of Brazil won gold and Simone Biles of the U.S. was the silver medalist.

PARIS (AP) — U.S. Olympic officials are appealing a court ruling that resulted in American gymnast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-paris-gymnastics-4004ae4869ac2eafbb89b68ee5966110">Jordan Chiles being asked to return the bronze medal</a>&nbsp;she won in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games">Paris Olympics</a>&nbsp;floor exercise.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) voided an on-floor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-romania-inquiry-007b6136128a934b4a5c900ad8fb608f">appeal by Chiles' coach</a>&nbsp;that vaulted her to third, saying the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the 1-minute time limit for scoring inquiries.

USA Gymnastics disputed the timing, saying in a statement Sunday that the agency submitted video evidence to CAS that showed coach Cecile Landi first appealed 13 seconds before the deadline.

"The time-stamped, video evidence submitted by USA Gymnastics Sunday evening shows Landi first stated her request to file an inquiry at the inquiry table 47 seconds after the score is posted, followed by a second statement 55 seconds after the score was originally posted."

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said Saturday night it would respect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-jordan-chiles-bronze-5a7db5537e2defb3ebe57b0b746556f3">the court's decision</a>&nbsp;and elevate Ana Barbosu of Romania to third. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the ruling Sunday, announcing that it was reallocating the medal from Monday's final.

“We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal, and there were critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the subsequent CAS appeal process that need to be addressed,” the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee statement said.

CAS ruled Saturday that Team USA coach Landi's inquiry to have 0.1 added to Chiles’ score came outside the 1-minute window. The CAS ad hoc committee wrote that Landi’s inquiry came 1 minute, 4 seconds after Chiles' initial score was posted.

The IOC said in a statement it will be in touch with the USOPC regarding the return of Chiles' bronze and will work with the Romanian Olympic Committee to discuss a reallocation ceremony honoring Barbosu.

“The initial error occurred in the scoring by FIG, and the second error was during the CAS appeal process, where the USOPC was not given adequate time or notice to effectively challenge the decision,” said a USOPC statement, which was released Sunday.

It was unclear the exact process the appeal would take first. The two potential places the USOPC could take the appeal would be to Switzerland’s highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights.

CAS wrote Saturday that the initial finishing order should be restored, with Barbosu third, Romanian Sabrina Maneca-Voinea fourth and Chiles fifth. The organization added the FIG should determine the final ranking “in accordance with the above decision,” but left it up to the federation to decide who would get the medal behind gold winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil and silver medalist Simone Biles of the U.S.

The FIG said it was the IOC’s call on whether to reallocate the medal. The IOC confirmed Sunday it would respect FIG's decision and seek to have Chiles' medal returned.

The rapid turn of events adds another layer to what has been a difficult few days for all three athletes.

Romanian gymnastics legend and 1976 Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci feared for Barbosu’s mental health because of the wrenching sequence in which she went from bronze medalist to fourth-place finisher.

“I can’t believe we play with athletes mental health and emotions like this… let’s protect them,” Comaneci&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/nadiacomaneci10/status/1820483816848605506">posted on X</a>&nbsp;earlier in the week.

Chiles hinted at the decision in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jordanchiles/">Instagram story</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, indicating she is heartbroken and is “taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you.”

U.S. teammates offered support to Chiles, a two-time Olympian.

"Sending you so much love Jordan,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/simonebiles/?hl=en">American star Simone Biles posted on Instagram</a>. “Keep your chin up ‘Olympic champ’ we love you.”

Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea were left outside the medals in the floor final after finishing with matching scores of 13.700. Barbosu thought she had won bronze over Maneca-Voinea via a tiebreaker — a higher execution score — and began celebrating with a Romanian flag.

Chiles was the last athlete to compete and initially given a score of 13.666 that placed her fifth, right behind Maneca-Voinea. Landi called for an inquiry on Chiles’ score was announced.

“At this point, we had nothing to lose, so I was like ‘We’re just going to try,‘” Landi said after the awards ceremony. “I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen, but when I heard her scream, I turned around and was like ‘What?’”

Judges awarded the appeal, leapfrogging Chiles past Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea.

Barbosu made it a point after returning home to Romania that she had no problem with Chiles.

“I only want for everybody to be fair, we don’t want to start picking on other athletes of any nationality,” Barbosu told reporters. “We as athletes don’t deserve something like that, we only want to perform as best as we can and to be rewarded based on our performance. The problems lie with the judges, with their calculations and decisions.”

Chiles’ mother, Gina Chiles, called out the critics in a post, writing she was “tired” of the derogatory comments being leveled at Jordan.

“My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched,” Gina Chiles posted. “And she’s being called disgusting things.”

The uncertainty also tinges what had been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-biles-andrade-02e953a669403456aeaf3aee9cf40457">beautiful moment</a>&nbsp;on the medal stand, when Chiles and Biles knelt to honor Andrade after the Brazilian star won her fourth medal in Paris.

Associated Press writer Stephen McGrath and AP Sports Writers Eddie Pells and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723543051917.jpeg" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>PARIS (AP) —USA Gymnastics officials say an arbitration panel won't reconsider a decision&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-paris-gymnastics-4004ae4869ac2eafbb89b68ee5966110">asking gymnast Jordan Chiles to return the bronze medal</a>&nbsp;she was awarded in the floor exercise at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games">Paris Olympics</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from USA Gymnastics on CAS Notice: <a href="https://t.co/HoSiKjx9wl">pic.twitter.com/HoSiKjx9wl</a>&mdash; USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1823100703797068224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>USA Gymnastics says it will continue efforts to let Chiles keep the medal.“USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement.“We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan.”CAS voided an on-floor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-romania-inquiry-007b6136128a934b4a5c900ad8fb608f">appeal from Chiles’ coach</a>&nbsp;that vaulted her to third, saying the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the one-minute time limit for scoring inquiries.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">sending <a href="https://twitter.com/ChilesJordan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChilesJordan</a> a whole heap of <a href="https://twitter.com/AbbyCadabbySST?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbbyCadabbySST</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/sesamestreet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sesamestreet</a> hugs 🫶 <a href="https://t.co/Enq4TdL2m3">pic.twitter.com/Enq4TdL2m3</a>&mdash; USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAGym/status/1823133042245828847?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>USA Gymnastics disputed the timing, saying in a statement Sunday that the agency submitted video evidence to CAS that showed Team USA coach Cecile Landi first appealed 13 seconds before the deadline.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Forever THAT GIRL ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/U6ylsOxSuK">pic.twitter.com/U6ylsOxSuK</a>&mdash; Team USA (@TeamUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/1822604940147118222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The dispute over such minute details sets up what could be a months- or years-long legal battle over the gymnastics scores.The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said Saturday night it would respect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-jordan-chiles-bronze-5a7db5537e2defb3ebe57b0b746556f3">the court’s decision</a>&nbsp;and elevate Ana Barbosu of Romania to third. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the ruling Sunday, announcing that it was reallocating the medal.CAS ruled Saturday that Landi’s inquiry to have 0.1 added to Chiles’ score came outside the one-minute window. The CAS ad hoc committee wrote that Landi’s inquiry came 1 minute, 4 seconds after Chiles’ initial score was posted.The IOC said in a statement it will be in touch with the USOPC regarding the return of Chiles’ bronze and will work with the Romanian Olympic Committee to discuss a reallocation ceremony honoring Barbosu.The appeal could go to Switzerland’s highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights.Rebeca Andrade of Brazil won gold and Simone Biles of the U.S. was the silver medalist.___PARIS (AP) — U.S. Olympic officials are appealing a court ruling that resulted in American gymnast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-paris-gymnastics-4004ae4869ac2eafbb89b68ee5966110">Jordan Chiles being asked to return the bronze medal</a>&nbsp;she won in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games">Paris Olympics</a>&nbsp;floor exercise.The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) voided an on-floor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-romania-inquiry-007b6136128a934b4a5c900ad8fb608f">appeal by Chiles' coach</a>&nbsp;that vaulted her to third, saying the appeal came 4 seconds beyond the 1-minute time limit for scoring inquiries.USA Gymnastics disputed the timing, saying in a statement Sunday that the agency submitted video evidence to CAS that showed coach Cecile Landi first appealed 13 seconds before the deadline."The time-stamped, video evidence submitted by USA Gymnastics Sunday evening shows Landi first stated her request to file an inquiry at the inquiry table 47 seconds after the score is posted, followed by a second statement 55 seconds after the score was originally posted."The dispute over such minute details sets up what could be a months- or years-long legal battle over the gymnastics scores.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Forever THAT GIRL ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/U6ylsOxSuK">pic.twitter.com/U6ylsOxSuK</a>&mdash; Team USA (@TeamUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeamUSA/status/1822604940147118222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said Saturday night it would respect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-jordan-chiles-bronze-5a7db5537e2defb3ebe57b0b746556f3">the court's decision</a>&nbsp;and elevate Ana Barbosu of Romania to third. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the ruling Sunday, announcing that it was reallocating the medal from Monday's final.“We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal, and there were critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the subsequent CAS appeal process that need to be addressed,” the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee statement said.CAS ruled Saturday that Team USA coach Landi's inquiry to have 0.1 added to Chiles’ score came outside the 1-minute window. The CAS ad hoc committee wrote that Landi’s inquiry came 1 minute, 4 seconds after Chiles' initial score was posted.The IOC said in a statement it will be in touch with the USOPC regarding the return of Chiles' bronze and will work with the Romanian Olympic Committee to discuss a reallocation ceremony honoring Barbosu.“The initial error occurred in the scoring by FIG, and the second error was during the CAS appeal process, where the USOPC was not given adequate time or notice to effectively challenge the decision,” said a USOPC statement, which was released Sunday.It was unclear the exact process the appeal would take first. The two potential places the USOPC could take the appeal would be to Switzerland’s highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or the European Court of Human Rights.CAS wrote Saturday that the initial finishing order should be restored, with Barbosu third, Romanian Sabrina Maneca-Voinea fourth and Chiles fifth. The organization added the FIG should determine the final ranking “in accordance with the above decision,” but left it up to the federation to decide who would get the medal behind gold winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil and silver medalist Simone Biles of the U.S.The FIG said it was the IOC’s call on whether to reallocate the medal. The IOC confirmed Sunday it would respect FIG's decision and seek to have Chiles' medal returned.The rapid turn of events adds another layer to what has been a difficult few days for all three athletes.Romanian gymnastics legend and 1976 Olympic champion Nadia Comaneci feared for Barbosu’s mental health because of the wrenching sequence in which she went from bronze medalist to fourth-place finisher.“I can’t believe we play with athletes mental health and emotions like this… let’s protect them,” Comaneci&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/nadiacomaneci10/status/1820483816848605506">posted on X</a>&nbsp;earlier in the week.Chiles hinted at the decision in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jordanchiles/">Instagram story</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, indicating she is heartbroken and is “taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health, thank you.”U.S. teammates offered support to Chiles, a two-time Olympian."Sending you so much love Jordan,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/simonebiles/?hl=en">American star Simone Biles posted on Instagram</a>. “Keep your chin up ‘Olympic champ’ we love you.”Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea were left outside the medals in the floor final after finishing with matching scores of 13.700. Barbosu thought she had won bronze over Maneca-Voinea via a tiebreaker — a higher execution score — and began celebrating with a Romanian flag.Chiles was the last athlete to compete and initially given a score of 13.666 that placed her fifth, right behind Maneca-Voinea. Landi called for an inquiry on Chiles’ score was announced.“At this point, we had nothing to lose, so I was like ‘We’re just going to try,‘” Landi said after the awards ceremony. “I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen, but when I heard her scream, I turned around and was like ‘What?’”Judges awarded the appeal, leapfrogging Chiles past Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea.Barbosu made it a point after returning home to Romania that she had no problem with Chiles.“I only want for everybody to be fair, we don’t want to start picking on other athletes of any nationality,” Barbosu told reporters. “We as athletes don’t deserve something like that, we only want to perform as best as we can and to be rewarded based on our performance. The problems lie with the judges, with their calculations and decisions.”Chiles’ mother, Gina Chiles, called out the critics in a post, writing she was “tired” of the derogatory comments being leveled at Jordan.“My daughter is a highly decorated Olympian with the biggest heart and a level of sportsmanship that is unmatched,” Gina Chiles posted. “And she’s being called disgusting things.”The uncertainty also tinges what had been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-olympics-biles-andrade-02e953a669403456aeaf3aee9cf40457">beautiful moment</a>&nbsp;on the medal stand, when Chiles and Biles knelt to honor Andrade after the Brazilian star won her fourth medal in Paris.___Associated Press writer Stephen McGrath and AP Sports Writers Eddie Pells and Graham Dunbar contributed to this report.

U.S. continues fight for star gymnast to keep Olympic medal

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/culyerdunn/">CUYLER DUNN</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

When faculty and staff at Sterling College received an updated employee handbook in August 2023, they were quickly alarmed by changes made without their input.

Those concerns sparked a year of frustration with president Scott Rich’s leadership, frustration that continues as a new school year approaches.

In April, a majority of faculty voted to express a lack of confidence in Rich following months of meetings, letters and complaints. Of the 49 faculty members eligible to vote, 29 said they had either minimal or no confidence in Rich. Nine said they had substantial confidence, and only one voiced full confidence. Ten abstained.

One of the biggest concerns for faculty was new language in the handbook they said created confusion and a chilling effect on what they could say and do, both at work and in their private lives. Many worried about creating barriers for LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus.

“There’s all these things that are in the back of one’s mind,” assistant professor Todd Vogts said. “How long can I continue to be OK with some of these decisions that seem to be directly impacting not only my fellow faculty members but the students in negative ways?”

Sterling faculty have left the college, located in the town of Sterling in central Kansas, and some suggested the exodus would continue if concerns remain unaddressed.

Multiple staff members said they were frustrated by a systemic lack of collaboration on major decisions in recent years, including administration eliminating a diversity initiative and pushing back on a Catholic student group. Those frustrations were compounded as budgets decrease and enrollment drops.

“It seemed that the will of everyone involved was being thwarted by the president without any type of transparency or discussion,” said former Sterling staff member Andy Giorgetti.

Rich is less active around campus, faculty members said. He lives in Hutchinson, a 30-minute drive from Sterling.

“It’s that lack of communication, that unwillingness to listen to concerns,” Vogts said. “Even when there appears that someone is listening, nothing changes. And so that’s just seeded a lot of frustration.”

Tony Thompson, a Sterling graduate and former two-decade member of the board of trustees, said he believed a change in leadership was necessary for the college.

“I definitely love Sterling College and supported her for over 50 years,” he said. “Unfortunately, I do not currently support the current leadership, and there needs to be a change.”

He said his decision was based solely on performance, citing deteriorating faculty relationships, declining enrollment and poor communication. Thompson has long been a supporter and donor for the college and in 2006 won Sterling’s Distinguished Service Award.

Rich said in a statement he was unaware of the faculty’s vote, but the college’s board of trustees held its own unanimous vote reaffirming support for the president.

Randy Henry, chairman of the Sterling College board of trustees, said the board fully supports Rich.

“We want everyone to feel they are valued and the board has tried to do everything we can to try and bring these faculty members and the president to a place where they can work together, as has been the case for almost all of Dr. Rich’s tenure,” he said.

A Kansas Reflector investigation — based on interviews with a half-dozen current and former Sterling College staff members and a review of documents outlining complaints — found widespread concerns about unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, the administration’s willingness to listen to concerns, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students.

Employees were given a new handbook in August 2023 and asked to sign a statement acknowledging they would comply with its contents.

Many of them still haven’t signed the agreement.

Multiple faculty members expressed concern the phrasing would allow the school to terminate them for being too liberal in their beliefs or coming from a denomination that theologically varied from the school.

The handbook included new wording requiring staff to “exhibit habits and actions consistent with biblical standards and in accordance with Sterling College’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, and Faith Perspectives.” Staff would face disciplinary action including termination if they violated the requirement.

According to Sterling’s website, the college is “thoroughly Christian, but not in any sense sectarian.” Multiple faculty members said the new employee handbook jeopardizes that idea by forcing faculty to personally agree with certain beliefs or face punishment.

“When we have these issues and we can’t talk about them, faculty and staff don’t feel safe in this community, in our jobs, if we can’t actually know where we stand on these issues,” Giorgetti said.

The handbook also added a section on social media usage that said staff should consider their social media presence to be an extension of their classroom or office. Multiple faculty said they worried about how the policy could be interpreted. The ambiguity left them wondering if they could be fired for personal social media activity like adding a pride flag to their profile picture.

The Faculty Welfare Committee — faculty members who act as liaisons with administration — began hearing concerns as soon as the handbook was released. They compiled the issues and sent them to human resources, Rich and the board of trustees.

At each stage, they said they were met with an initial willingness to discuss changes or clarifications before being shut down.

The final blow came when the board of trustees responded to detailed faculty concerns by saying it had voted to reaffirm confidence in Rich and scolded the faculty for bringing the complaint to the board.

“The board will not be making a habit of dealing with these types of issues,” Henry, the board chairman, wrote in a May letter to faculty.

In a statement, Rich said handbook revisions occur at the will of the human resources department. The edits were made, he said, “to further protect the institution.”

The new language, which faculty said was ambiguous and confusing, left them with many questions about what they could say or do, creating a chilling effect on both their professional and personal lives.

“I think it’s incredibly important to be open to all of the ideas and to weigh them and evaluate them,” said professor Ken Troyer. “I’m not saying, you know, everything needs to be supported, but everything needs to at least be able to be heard and be discussed.”

Some staff worried the handbook change could create an unwelcoming space for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Staff were asked to affirm a Statement on Life, Marriage, Gender Identity and Human Sexuality, which includes anti-LGBTQ+ language.

Sterling is a religious college, but students don’t necessarily hold the same beliefs as the college, especially because many of them are recruited for athletics.

“I think it’s our job to just welcome everybody,” Troyer said. “I mean, if Christianity is important and we want people to hear that message, then it’s great if you’re a believer. And if you’re not, cool, come along for the ride and enrich our lives by giving us different perspectives. And maybe we can do the same.”

Adam Moore lived through this tension firsthand as a student. In 2019-20, he was elected student body president. He was the first openly gay student to hold the role.

Growing up in nearby Hutchinson, he knew that being gay and attending Sterling wouldn’t be easy. But he was drawn to the college’s debate team and liked that it was a Christian school where he could continue his faith. He arrived committed to having difficult conversations.

His challenges began when he became a resident assistant for the dorms. He had weekly meetings with administration he said felt like “conversion therapy.” When he was elected student body president, students asked to start a gay-straight alliance. Clubs normally received approval from the student government, he said. Moore passed along his approval of the club to administrators, who swiftly overturned it.

“Gay people feel ostracized from the religious community,” Moore said. “It definitely has affected me. But I’ve also seen a church community that can be welcoming and loving and caring for LGBTQ+ people. … If I had only talked to administrators about this, there’s no chance I’d ever be a part of a church community again.”

The battle over LGBTQ+ inclusion spread throughout campus.

When faculty at Sterling conduct research, they are supposed to follow American Psychological Association standards, which say to include an “other” option when asking about gender. But Rich only wanted to include “male” and “female” on surveys, Vogts said.

After a year, faculty members were allowed to add the “other” option to surveys after Rich took the clash to the cabinet, a group of representatives from across campus selected by the president that advise him.

Rich said staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. He said there were no personal interpretations involved and the board had laid out how the administration was to run the college.

“If (faculty) violate campus policies then they could be reprimanded for violating such policies,” Rich said. “The board and cabinet extend grace until grace has been exhausted.”

But faculty said their concerns were not with the religious foundations of the college.

Because Christianity has diverse denominations, many worried that cracking down on what staff could say or believe would exclude some groups. Before the changes, the handbook allowed for more diversity, they said.

“I’m a Christian. I have no problem saying that,” Troyer said. “Our statements have enough wiggle room and are kind of vague in some ways, that it allows for a Baptist and a Catholic and a Mennonite and all of these different denominations to still be able to work for the same common cause.”

Staff say they see a clear way forward: a seat at the table.

“I would just like to see more deliberation and more collaboration about these types of decisions,” Vogts said.

Many of them believe that Sterling is a place with a solid mission, but they say recent decisions have jeopardized the faculty’s ability to carry it out, rendering the college almost unrecognizable.

While many have left the school, those who stayed did so out of love for the college and its students.

“There needs to be a greater sense of everyone, all employees, are all kind of in this together, moving forward in lockstep,” said Troyer, who has taught at Sterling for nearly two decades. “But we need to reach the point where we at least are like, ‘Oh, I understand why that decision is made.’ ”

Rich said he intended to address frustrations by reminding staff that “they are always welcome to visit with the president about anything — including concerns.”

Moore said there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from the small college of less than 1,000 north of Hutchinson.

He saw many sides of the community during his time there, including with Rich. He said while Rich held opinions he viewed as severely harmful, he also saw a side of the leader that was thoughtful and authentic.

“There’s a lot of trauma that is created,” Moore said. “Ever since I’ve left Sterling, I continue to grapple with these two very different Sterlings that I know.”

Now living in Emporia, Moore keeps an eye on the college, hoping that one of the two sides will win out in the end.

“Even though Sterling is a teeny tiny community,” Moore said, “I think that there are so many others just like it that the story can only help.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723477223880.png" alt=" Faculty at Sterling College, a private religious school in central Kansas, have raised concerns with president Scott Rich’s leadership, unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students. (Andy Giorgetti)" />
 <figcaption> Faculty at Sterling College, a private religious school in central Kansas, have raised concerns with president Scott Rich’s leadership, unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students. (Andy Giorgetti)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/culyerdunn/">CUYLER DUNN</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> When faculty and staff at Sterling College received an updated employee handbook in August 2023, they were quickly alarmed by changes made without their input.Those concerns sparked a year of frustration with president Scott Rich’s leadership, frustration that continues as a new school year approaches.In April, a majority of faculty voted to express a lack of confidence in Rich following months of meetings, letters and complaints. Of the 49 faculty members eligible to vote, 29 said they had either minimal or no confidence in Rich. Nine said they had substantial confidence, and only one voiced full confidence. Ten abstained.One of the biggest concerns for faculty was new language in the handbook they said created confusion and a chilling effect on what they could say and do, both at work and in their private lives. Many worried about creating barriers for LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus.“There’s all these things that are in the back of one’s mind,” assistant professor Todd Vogts said. “How long can I continue to be OK with some of these decisions that seem to be directly impacting not only my fellow faculty members but the students in negative ways?”Sterling faculty have left the college, located in the town of Sterling in central Kansas, and some suggested the exodus would continue if concerns remain unaddressed.Multiple staff members said they were frustrated by a systemic lack of collaboration on major decisions in recent years, including administration eliminating a diversity initiative and pushing back on a Catholic student group. Those frustrations were compounded as budgets decrease and enrollment drops.“It seemed that the will of everyone involved was being thwarted by the president without any type of transparency or discussion,” said former Sterling staff member Andy Giorgetti.Rich is less active around campus, faculty members said. He lives in Hutchinson, a 30-minute drive from Sterling.“It’s that lack of communication, that unwillingness to listen to concerns,” Vogts said. “Even when there appears that someone is listening, nothing changes. And so that’s just seeded a lot of frustration.”Tony Thompson, a Sterling graduate and former two-decade member of the board of trustees, said he believed a change in leadership was necessary for the college.“I definitely love Sterling College and supported her for over 50 years,” he said. “Unfortunately, I do not currently support the current leadership, and there needs to be a change.”He said his decision was based solely on performance, citing deteriorating faculty relationships, declining enrollment and poor communication. Thompson has long been a supporter and donor for the college and in 2006 won Sterling’s Distinguished Service Award.Rich said in a statement he was unaware of the faculty’s vote, but the college’s board of trustees held its own unanimous vote reaffirming support for the president.Randy Henry, chairman of the Sterling College board of trustees, said the board fully supports Rich.“We want everyone to feel they are valued and the board has tried to do everything we can to try and bring these faculty members and the president to a place where they can work together, as has been the case for almost all of Dr. Rich’s tenure,” he said.A Kansas Reflector investigation — based on interviews with a half-dozen current and former Sterling College staff members and a review of documents outlining complaints — found widespread concerns about unilateral policy changes, forced religious beliefs, the administration’s willingness to listen to concerns, and discrimination of LGBTQ+ students.<h2>A chilling effect</h2>Employees were given a new handbook in August 2023 and asked to sign a statement acknowledging they would comply with its contents.Many of them still haven’t signed the agreement.Multiple faculty members expressed concern the phrasing would allow the school to terminate them for being too liberal in their beliefs or coming from a denomination that theologically varied from the school.The handbook included new wording requiring staff to “exhibit habits and actions consistent with biblical standards and in accordance with Sterling College’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, and Faith Perspectives.” Staff would face disciplinary action including termination if they violated the requirement.According to Sterling’s website, the college is “thoroughly Christian, but not in any sense sectarian.” Multiple faculty members said the new employee handbook jeopardizes that idea by forcing faculty to personally agree with certain beliefs or face punishment.“When we have these issues and we can’t talk about them, faculty and staff don’t feel safe in this community, in our jobs, if we can’t actually know where we stand on these issues,” Giorgetti said.The handbook also added a section on social media usage that said staff should consider their social media presence to be an extension of their classroom or office. Multiple faculty said they worried about how the policy could be interpreted. The ambiguity left them wondering if they could be fired for personal social media activity like adding a pride flag to their profile picture.The Faculty Welfare Committee — faculty members who act as liaisons with administration — began hearing concerns as soon as the handbook was released. They compiled the issues and sent them to human resources, Rich and the board of trustees.At each stage, they said they were met with an initial willingness to discuss changes or clarifications before being shut down.The final blow came when the board of trustees responded to detailed faculty concerns by saying it had voted to reaffirm confidence in Rich and scolded the faculty for bringing the complaint to the board.“The board will not be making a habit of dealing with these types of issues,” Henry, the board chairman, wrote in a May letter to faculty.In a statement, Rich said handbook revisions occur at the will of the human resources department. The edits were made, he said, “to further protect the institution.”The new language, which faculty said was ambiguous and confusing, left them with many questions about what they could say or do, creating a chilling effect on both their professional and personal lives.“I think it’s incredibly important to be open to all of the ideas and to weigh them and evaluate them,” said professor Ken Troyer. “I’m not saying, you know, everything needs to be supported, but everything needs to at least be able to be heard and be discussed.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723477179968.png" alt=" Staff at Sterling College were asked to sign a policy that includes anti-LGBTQ+ language. President Scott Rich says staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. (Andy Giorgetti)" />
 <figcaption> Staff at Sterling College were asked to sign a policy that includes anti-LGBTQ+ language. President Scott Rich says staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. (Andy Giorgetti)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Grappling with LGBTQ+ inclusion</h2>Some staff worried the handbook change could create an unwelcoming space for LGBTQ+ students on campus. Staff were asked to affirm a Statement on Life, Marriage, Gender Identity and Human Sexuality, which includes anti-LGBTQ+ language.Sterling is a religious college, but students don’t necessarily hold the same beliefs as the college, especially because many of them are recruited for athletics.“I think it’s our job to just welcome everybody,” Troyer said. “I mean, if Christianity is important and we want people to hear that message, then it’s great if you’re a believer. And if you’re not, cool, come along for the ride and enrich our lives by giving us different perspectives. And maybe we can do the same.”Adam Moore lived through this tension firsthand as a student. In 2019-20, he was elected student body president. He was the first openly gay student to hold the role.Growing up in nearby Hutchinson, he knew that being gay and attending Sterling wouldn’t be easy. But he was drawn to the college’s debate team and liked that it was a Christian school where he could continue his faith. He arrived committed to having difficult conversations.His challenges began when he became a resident assistant for the dorms. He had weekly meetings with administration he said felt like “conversion therapy.” When he was elected student body president, students asked to start a gay-straight alliance. Clubs normally received approval from the student government, he said. Moore passed along his approval of the club to administrators, who swiftly overturned it.“Gay people feel ostracized from the religious community,” Moore said. “It definitely has affected me. But I’ve also seen a church community that can be welcoming and loving and caring for LGBTQ+ people. … If I had only talked to administrators about this, there’s no chance I’d ever be a part of a church community again.”The battle over LGBTQ+ inclusion spread throughout campus.When faculty at Sterling conduct research, they are supposed to follow American Psychological Association standards, which say to include an “other” option when asking about gender. But Rich only wanted to include “male” and “female” on surveys, Vogts said.After a year, faculty members were allowed to add the “other” option to surveys after Rich took the clash to the cabinet, a group of representatives from across campus selected by the president that advise him.Rich said staff are aware of the college’s biblical foundation when hired. He said there were no personal interpretations involved and the board had laid out how the administration was to run the college.“If (faculty) violate campus policies then they could be reprimanded for violating such policies,” Rich said. “The board and cabinet extend grace until grace has been exhausted.”But faculty said their concerns were not with the religious foundations of the college.Because Christianity has diverse denominations, many worried that cracking down on what staff could say or believe would exclude some groups. Before the changes, the handbook allowed for more diversity, they said.“I’m a Christian. I have no problem saying that,” Troyer said. “Our statements have enough wiggle room and are kind of vague in some ways, that it allows for a Baptist and a Catholic and a Mennonite and all of these different denominations to still be able to work for the same common cause.”Staff say they see a clear way forward: a seat at the table.“I would just like to see more deliberation and more collaboration about these types of decisions,” Vogts said.<h2>All in this together</h2>Many of them believe that Sterling is a place with a solid mission, but they say recent decisions have jeopardized the faculty’s ability to carry it out, rendering the college almost unrecognizable.While many have left the school, those who stayed did so out of love for the college and its students.“There needs to be a greater sense of everyone, all employees, are all kind of in this together, moving forward in lockstep,” said Troyer, who has taught at Sterling for nearly two decades. “But we need to reach the point where we at least are like, ‘Oh, I understand why that decision is made.’ ”Rich said he intended to address frustrations by reminding staff that “they are always welcome to visit with the president about anything — including concerns.”Moore said there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from the small college of less than 1,000 north of Hutchinson.He saw many sides of the community during his time there, including with Rich. He said while Rich held opinions he viewed as severely harmful, he also saw a side of the leader that was thoughtful and authentic.“There’s a lot of trauma that is created,” Moore said. “Ever since I’ve left Sterling, I continue to grapple with these two very different Sterlings that I know.”Now living in Emporia, Moore keeps an eye on the college, hoping that one of the two sides will win out in the end.“Even though Sterling is a teeny tiny community,” Moore said, “I think that there are so many others just like it that the story can only help.”

Sterling College faculty members vote ‘no confidence’ in president after repeated clashes

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly made a guest appearance on the CBS public affairs program Face the Nation on Sunday.

Kelly is the new chair of the Democratic Governors Association. She assumed leadership of the organization last week when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz resigned to join the Kamala Harris campaign as her running mate.

Kelly told Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan that Walz "is the epitome of the Midwestern dad" and "understands rural America."

Kelly also addressed abortion in the 2024 campaign.

Kelly served as vice chair of the DGA since December 2022.

TOPEKA —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly made a guest appearance on the CBS public affairs program Face the Nation on Sunday.Kelly is the new chair of the Democratic Governors Association. She assumed leadership of the organization last week when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz resigned to join the Kamala Harris campaign as her running mate.Kelly told Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan that Walz "is the epitome of the Midwestern dad" and "understands rural America."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovLauraKelly</a> of Kansas, a Democrat, says Tim Walz &quot;is the epitome of the Midwestern dad&quot; and &quot;understands rural America.&quot; &quot;You could put him at any state fair on any Main Street, and certainly in a Friday night football game in rural Kansas, and he would fit right in.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/1UTc00ihJj">pic.twitter.com/1UTc00ihJj</a>&mdash; Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1822667416909791273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kelly also addressed abortion in the 2024 campaign.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovLauraKelly</a> of Kansas, where voters upheld the right to abortion, says she does not think Democrats are miscalculating by putting abortion front-and-center as an issue, citing Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as a successful example. &quot;They have moved the needle in Michigan and… <a href="https://t.co/OMoAV7iqIe">pic.twitter.com/OMoAV7iqIe</a>&mdash; Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1822667133718802747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kelly served as vice chair of the DGA since December 2022.

🎥Kan. governor talks 2024 campaign, abortion on 'Face the Nation'

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp; A&nbsp; Kansas woman who hid from police for 17-days after a deadly shooting is going to prison.

La'Niha Banks, 20, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years,&nbsp; according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

&nbsp;If the parole board grants parole, she must serve an additional 65 months before she can be released.&nbsp; Judge Jeffrey Goering gave her the life sentence for 1st&nbsp;degree felony murder and 13 months each for five additional crimes including criminal discharge of a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault.

The Judge ran each of those charges consecutive to the life sentence.&nbsp; She was sentenced to 165 months for attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder and 13 months for a second charge of criminal discharge of a firearm.&nbsp; Those last two charges are to run concurrently with the previous sentence.

The Judge also ordered $7,500 in restitution to the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board and $14,773.26 to the family of the victim.

In March, a jury found her guilty of murder&nbsp; in the first degree in the commission of a felony and Criminal discharge of a firearm.

Just after 11 pm May 20, 2023 police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1000 block of E 1st Street N. in Wichita's Old Town. Upon arrival, officers located&nbsp; 19-year-old Lationna Johnson &nbsp;with two gunshot wounds to her upper body.

EMS transported Johnson to an area hospital in critical condition and with life-threatening injuries. She died on May 23, accord to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

The investigation revealed that Johnson was trying to break up a physical altercation between an acquaintance of hers and Banks in a parking lot. After the victim managed to stop the fight, Johnson started to drive away, but Banks produced a handgun and started to shoot into the occupied vehicle.

Banks hid from police who finally arrested her on&nbsp;On June 6.&nbsp; She quickly was able to meet the requirements of a $500,000 bond and was out of custody. After the jury verdict, Banks is in&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740335">custody on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00</a>&nbsp;bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686138861430.png" alt="Banks photo Sedgwick&nbsp; County" />
 <figcaption>Banks photo Sedgwick&nbsp; County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp; A&nbsp; Kansas woman who hid from police for 17-days after a deadly shooting is going to prison.La'Niha Banks, 20, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years,&nbsp; according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;If the parole board grants parole, she must serve an additional 65 months before she can be released.&nbsp; Judge Jeffrey Goering gave her the life sentence for 1st&nbsp;degree felony murder and 13 months each for five additional crimes including criminal discharge of a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault.The Judge ran each of those charges consecutive to the life sentence.&nbsp; She was sentenced to 165 months for attempted 1st&nbsp;degree murder and 13 months for a second charge of criminal discharge of a firearm.&nbsp; Those last two charges are to run concurrently with the previous sentence.The Judge also ordered $7,500 in restitution to the Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board and $14,773.26 to the family of the victim.In March, a jury found her guilty of murder&nbsp; in the first degree in the commission of a felony and Criminal discharge of a firearm.Just after 11 pm May 20, 2023 police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1000 block of E 1st Street N. in Wichita's Old Town. Upon arrival, officers located&nbsp; 19-year-old Lationna Johnson &nbsp;with two gunshot wounds to her upper body.EMS transported Johnson to an area hospital in critical condition and with life-threatening injuries. She died on May 23, accord to Officer Juan Rebolledo.The investigation revealed that Johnson was trying to break up a physical altercation between an acquaintance of hers and Banks in a parking lot. After the victim managed to stop the fight, Johnson started to drive away, but Banks produced a handgun and started to shoot into the occupied vehicle.Banks hid from police who finally arrested her on&nbsp;On June 6.&nbsp; She quickly was able to meet the requirements of a $500,000 bond and was out of custody. After the jury verdict, Banks is in&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=740335">custody on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00</a>&nbsp;bond.

Kan. woman who hid for 17 days after a murder is going to prison

SHAWNE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 6:30a.m. Sunday in Shawnee County.

The Shawnee County Sheriff reported 74-year-old Charles Whitmarsh Jr., was the driver and sole occupant of a single vehicle involved in an accident near SE 93rd Street and SW U.S. 75 Highway.

The sheriff's office released no additional details.

SHAWNE COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 6:30a.m. Sunday in Shawnee County.The Shawnee County Sheriff reported 74-year-old Charles Whitmarsh Jr., was the driver and sole occupant of a single vehicle involved in an accident near SE 93rd Street and SW U.S. 75 Highway.The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died in crash

GARDNER, Kansas. –&nbsp;Ricardo Marin-Valadez, a minimum-custody resident of Johnson County Adult Residential Center (ARC) has been apprehended, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Marin-Valadez was taken into custody Sunday night by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. He was arrested without incident on the Kansas Department of Corrections escape warrant.

Marin-Valadez was placed on escape status after not reporting for his scheduled shift Friday morning or returning to the (ARC).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723306461184.png" alt="Marin-Valadez-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Marin-Valadez-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>GARDNER, Kansas. –&nbsp;Ricardo Marin-Valadez, a minimum-custody resident of Johnson County Adult Residential Center (ARC) has been apprehended, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.Marin-Valadez was taken into custody Sunday night by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. He was arrested without incident on the Kansas Department of Corrections escape warrant.Marin-Valadez was placed on escape status after not reporting for his scheduled shift Friday morning or returning to the (ARC).