WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist swimmer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/klete-keller">Klete Keller</a>, who threw his USA team jacket in a trash can after he stormed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the U.S. Capitol</a>, was sentenced on Friday to six months of home detention for joining the mob's Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the seat of American democracy.

At 6-foot-6, Keller towered over police officers guarding the Capitol and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;supporters who breached the building, and he was quickly identified by authorities. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to a felony charge and was one of the first rioters to publicly agree to cooperate with authorities investigating the Capitol attack.

Video captured Keller leading profane chants directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats. He also joined a chorus of rioters in singing the national anthem in the middle of the Capitol. He resisted efforts to remove him from the Capitol, ripping an elbow away and shaking off a police officer, prosecutors said.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon sentenced Keller to three years of probation, including six months of home detention, and ordered him to perform 360 hours of community service.

Keller told the judge he knew his actions on Jan. 6 left lawmakers in fear and made it more difficult for police to do their job.

“I have no excuse for why I am in front of you today,” he said. “I understand my actions were criminal and that I am fully responsible for my conduct.”

During the Jan. 6 riot, Keller wore a jacket with an American flag on a sleeve, an Olympic team patch on the front and the letters “U.S.A.” across the back. Prosecutors said he tossed the jacket into a trash can on his way back to a hotel and later smashed his cellphone with a hammer because he knew he was “fleeing a crime scene."

“Klete Derik Keller once wore the American flag as an Olympian. On January 6, 2021, he threw that flag in a trash can,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.51.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote in a court filing</a>.

Keller's lawyer said he threw away the jacket out of shame after leaving the Capitol and encountering a young boy and his father on a train. The boy asked Keller about his Olympic career and requested a photo with him, defense attorney Zachary Deubler&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.0.pdf">said in a court filing</a>.

Keller felt that “he let this young man down by behaving the way that he did, and the moment that this young man and father find out what he did, their admiration for him would be shattered,” Deubler wrote.

Investigators never recovered the jacket or any cellphone videos or photos that he recorded at the Capitol. Keller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-donald-trump-klete-keller-2020-tokyo-olympics-a1845b8b2490d3642689fa877b1639d6">surrendered to authorities</a>&nbsp;about a week after returning home to Colorado.

Keller has been cooperating with investigators since he pleaded guilty to obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Prosecutors pointed to Keller's “substantial assistance” as grounds for leniency. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a term of imprisonment ranging from 15 to 21 months.

Prosecutors said his early guilty plea “undoubtedly reached thousands of others weighing whether to turn themselves in, plead guilty, or even cooperate." They added that his “public acknowledgement that his interference with the peaceful transfer of power was, in fact, a serious crime provided an important counterweight to the false narrative that January 6 was a peaceful, lawful protest.”

Keller experienced personal and financial problems after retiring from professional swimming. After separating from his wife in 2014, Keller lived out of his car for nearly a year while working three jobs to pay for child support and other expenses, according to his attorney.

After the Capitol riot, he lost a job and regular visitation with his children. Last year, he signed the paperwork for his children to be adopted by their stepfather, his attorney said.

“I hope my case serves as a warning to anyone who rationalizes illegal conduct, especially in a moment of political fervor,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.1.pdf">Keller wrote in a letter to the judge</a>. “The consequences of my behavior will follow me and my family for the rest of our lives.”

On Jan. 6, Keller attended then-President Donald Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House with a friend before marching with a crowd to the Capitol. He entered the building through an open door on the Upper West Terrace and remained inside for nearly an hour.

Keller came within 50 feet of the Senate chamber, which lawmakers evacuated as the mob swarmed the building. Police officers had to forcibly remove Keller and other rioters from the Capitol through the East Rotunda lobby.

<a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/klete-keller">Keller won five medals</a>, including two golds, while competing for the U.S. at three summer Olympics. At the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia, he won an individual bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle event and a silver medal as the anchor leg of a relay.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Keller swam the anchor leg when the U.S. won gold medals in the 800-meter freestyle relay, He and teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2004/08/18/keller-holds-off-thorpe/50322729007/">narrowly held off a rival Australian team.</a>&nbsp;At the 2008 games in Beijing, China, Mr. Keller won another gold medal in a freestyle relay.

Approximately 1,200 people have been charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">Capitol riot-related federal crimes</a>. Nearly 900 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a judge or jury after trials. Over 700 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving prison sentences ranging from three days to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">22 years</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701469216678.png" alt="Keller as shown in an image from a video from the Jan. 6 committee" />
 <figcaption>Keller as shown in an image from a video from the Jan. 6 committee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Olympic gold medalist swimmer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/klete-keller">Klete Keller</a>, who threw his USA team jacket in a trash can after he stormed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the U.S. Capitol</a>, was sentenced on Friday to six months of home detention for joining the mob's Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the seat of American democracy.At 6-foot-6, Keller towered over police officers guarding the Capitol and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;supporters who breached the building, and he was quickly identified by authorities. He pleaded guilty in 2021 to a felony charge and was one of the first rioters to publicly agree to cooperate with authorities investigating the Capitol attack.Video captured Keller leading profane chants directed at then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats. He also joined a chorus of rioters in singing the national anthem in the middle of the Capitol. He resisted efforts to remove him from the Capitol, ripping an elbow away and shaking off a police officer, prosecutors said.U.S. District Judge Richard Leon sentenced Keller to three years of probation, including six months of home detention, and ordered him to perform 360 hours of community service.Keller told the judge he knew his actions on Jan. 6 left lawmakers in fear and made it more difficult for police to do their job.“I have no excuse for why I am in front of you today,” he said. “I understand my actions were criminal and that I am fully responsible for my conduct.”During the Jan. 6 riot, Keller wore a jacket with an American flag on a sleeve, an Olympic team patch on the front and the letters “U.S.A.” across the back. Prosecutors said he tossed the jacket into a trash can on his way back to a hotel and later smashed his cellphone with a hammer because he knew he was “fleeing a crime scene."“Klete Derik Keller once wore the American flag as an Olympian. On January 6, 2021, he threw that flag in a trash can,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.51.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote in a court filing</a>.Keller's lawyer said he threw away the jacket out of shame after leaving the Capitol and encountering a young boy and his father on a train. The boy asked Keller about his Olympic career and requested a photo with him, defense attorney Zachary Deubler&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.0.pdf">said in a court filing</a>.Keller felt that “he let this young man down by behaving the way that he did, and the moment that this young man and father find out what he did, their admiration for him would be shattered,” Deubler wrote.Investigators never recovered the jacket or any cellphone videos or photos that he recorded at the Capitol. Keller&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-donald-trump-klete-keller-2020-tokyo-olympics-a1845b8b2490d3642689fa877b1639d6">surrendered to authorities</a>&nbsp;about a week after returning home to Colorado.Keller has been cooperating with investigators since he pleaded guilty to obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Prosecutors pointed to Keller's “substantial assistance” as grounds for leniency. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a term of imprisonment ranging from 15 to 21 months.Prosecutors said his early guilty plea “undoubtedly reached thousands of others weighing whether to turn themselves in, plead guilty, or even cooperate." They added that his “public acknowledgement that his interference with the peaceful transfer of power was, in fact, a serious crime provided an important counterweight to the false narrative that January 6 was a peaceful, lawful protest.”Keller experienced personal and financial problems after retiring from professional swimming. After separating from his wife in 2014, Keller lived out of his car for nearly a year while working three jobs to pay for child support and other expenses, according to his attorney.After the Capitol riot, he lost a job and regular visitation with his children. Last year, he signed the paperwork for his children to be adopted by their stepfather, his attorney said.“I hope my case serves as a warning to anyone who rationalizes illegal conduct, especially in a moment of political fervor,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417/gov.uscourts.dcd.227417.52.1.pdf">Keller wrote in a letter to the judge</a>. “The consequences of my behavior will follow me and my family for the rest of our lives.”On Jan. 6, Keller attended then-President Donald Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House with a friend before marching with a crowd to the Capitol. He entered the building through an open door on the Upper West Terrace and remained inside for nearly an hour.Keller came within 50 feet of the Senate chamber, which lawmakers evacuated as the mob swarmed the building. Police officers had to forcibly remove Keller and other rioters from the Capitol through the East Rotunda lobby.<a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/klete-keller">Keller won five medals</a>, including two golds, while competing for the U.S. at three summer Olympics. At the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia, he won an individual bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle event and a silver medal as the anchor leg of a relay.At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, Keller swam the anchor leg when the U.S. won gold medals in the 800-meter freestyle relay, He and teammates Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Peter Vanderkaay&nbsp;<a href="https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/sports/2004/08/18/keller-holds-off-thorpe/50322729007/">narrowly held off a rival Australian team.</a>&nbsp;At the 2008 games in Beijing, China, Mr. Keller won another gold medal in a freestyle relay.Approximately 1,200 people have been charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">Capitol riot-related federal crimes</a>. Nearly 900 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a judge or jury after trials. Over 700 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds receiving prison sentences ranging from three days to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">22 years</a>.

Olympic gold medal swimmer sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos.">George Santos</a>&nbsp;of New York after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. He was just the&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/">sixth member</a>&nbsp;in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues.

The vote to expel was 311-114. Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethics-congress-santos-5ebffe514d8779fbc16a77fa1ab5e0df">blistering House Ethics Committee report</a>&nbsp;that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive. All four members of the Kansas delegation voted to expel Santos.

GOP members of the Missouri delegation including Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Ann Wagner voted against the measure. The democrat members of the Missouri delegation Emanuel Cleaver and Cori Bush voted to expel. Just before noon eastern time Friday, Rep. Jason Smith's office could not confirm his vote.

As it became clear that he would be expelled, Santos placed his overcoat over his shoulders, shook hands with conservative members who voted against his expulsion and departed the House chamber.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., soon took the gavel, quieted the chamber and solemnly instructed the House clerk to inform the governor of New York that Santos’ former House seat was now vacant.

Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews.

“I will not stand by quietly,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-house-expulsion-vote-ethics-d24b4b727da4f6b9af26e5aa902db992">Santos declared</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”

Of the previous expulsions in the House, three were for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court. Santos made his case for remaining in office by appealing directly to lawmakers who worry they are setting a new precedent that could make expulsions more common.

Johnson was among those who voiced concerns about removing Santos, though he has told members to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/santos-expel-house-speaker-johnson-ethics-committee-b84a4f00b92825c671b6a91061442865">vote their conscience</a>. Others in leadership agreed with his reasoning and opposed expulsion. But some Republicans, including Santos' colleagues from New York, said voters would welcome lawmakers being held to a higher standard.

“I’m pretty confident the American people would applaud that. I’m pretty confident that the American people expect that," Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose district adjoins Santos', said before the vote.

Santos warned lawmakers they would regret removing a member before they have had their day in court.

“This will haunt them in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts,” Santos said.

The expulsion was the final congressional chapter in what was a spectacular fall from grace for Santos. The first-term lawmaker initially was celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year and helped Republicans win control of the House. But soon after, troubles began.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-queens-ae463f9ef3497ce4479f9fe5f2defde1">Reports began to emerge</a>&nbsp;that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. His presence in the House quickly became a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-lies-congress-new-york-republicans-9e4fd69b75894addb5bd2d4d5e8171ff">distraction</a>&nbsp;and an embarrassment to the party.

In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. Then in May, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York indicted Santos, accusing him of duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress. Prosecutors would later add more charges in an updated 23-count indictment.

The indictment alleges he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-federal-charges-updates-33667a0900271e5002459ab748d8fdc8">pleaded not guilty</a>, wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers.

Meanwhile, Ethics Committee investigators spent eight months investigating Santos and interviewing witnesses. When their work was complete, the panel said it had amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Santos that it sent to the Justice Department.

Among other things, the committee said Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, used campaign funds for personal purposes and violated the Ethics in Government Act with his financial disclosure statements.

Arguing against expulsion during debate on Thursday, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said that while he respected the committee, he had concerns about how the Santos case was handled. He said he was troubled that a Republican-led committee would submit a report that was so judgmental and publicized.

“The totality of circumstance appears biased," Higgins said. "It stinks of politics and I'll oppose this action in every way.”

While the committee does have a Republican chairman, its membership is evenly divided. Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the committee, reminded members that the decision approving the investigators' findings was unanimous.

“As the Ethics Committee's report lays out in thorough detail, Mr. Santos has repeatedly, egregiously and brazenly violated the public's trust,” Wild said. “Mr. Santos is not a victim. He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701465529625.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos.">George Santos</a>&nbsp;of New York after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. He was just the&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/">sixth member</a>&nbsp;in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sign removed from the office of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY). Note: Video has no audio. <a href="https://t.co/h3GarHm84M">pic.twitter.com/h3GarHm84M</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1730687645603229758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former Rep. George Santos departs the U.S. Capitol following his expulsion. <a href="https://t.co/XZrvGdtyaU">pic.twitter.com/XZrvGdtyaU</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1730621201511334169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The vote to expel was 311-114. Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethics-congress-santos-5ebffe514d8779fbc16a77fa1ab5e0df">blistering House Ethics Committee report</a>&nbsp;that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive. All four members of the Kansas delegation voted to expel Santos.GOP members of the Missouri delegation including Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Ann Wagner voted against the measure. The democrat members of the Missouri delegation Emanuel Cleaver and Cori Bush voted to expel. Just before noon eastern time Friday, Rep. Jason Smith's office could not confirm his vote.As it became clear that he would be expelled, Santos placed his overcoat over his shoulders, shook hands with conservative members who voted against his expulsion and departed the House chamber.House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., soon took the gavel, quieted the chamber and solemnly instructed the House clerk to inform the governor of New York that Santos’ former House seat was now vacant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701446532648.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted against the measure, delivers the news on the final result of the vote-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted against the measure, delivers the news on the final result of the vote-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews.“I will not stand by quietly,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-house-expulsion-vote-ethics-d24b4b727da4f6b9af26e5aa902db992">Santos declared</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”Of the previous expulsions in the House, three were for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court. Santos made his case for remaining in office by appealing directly to lawmakers who worry they are setting a new precedent that could make expulsions more common.Johnson was among those who voiced concerns about removing Santos, though he has told members to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/santos-expel-house-speaker-johnson-ethics-committee-b84a4f00b92825c671b6a91061442865">vote their conscience</a>. Others in leadership agreed with his reasoning and opposed expulsion. But some Republicans, including Santos' colleagues from New York, said voters would welcome lawmakers being held to a higher standard.“I’m pretty confident the American people would applaud that. I’m pretty confident that the American people expect that," Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose district adjoins Santos', said before the vote.Santos warned lawmakers they would regret removing a member before they have had their day in court.“This will haunt them in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts,” Santos said.The expulsion was the final congressional chapter in what was a spectacular fall from grace for Santos. The first-term lawmaker initially was celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year and helped Republicans win control of the House. But soon after, troubles began.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-queens-ae463f9ef3497ce4479f9fe5f2defde1">Reports began to emerge</a>&nbsp;that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. His presence in the House quickly became a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-lies-congress-new-york-republicans-9e4fd69b75894addb5bd2d4d5e8171ff">distraction</a>&nbsp;and an embarrassment to the party.In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. Then in May, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York indicted Santos, accusing him of duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress. Prosecutors would later add more charges in an updated 23-count indictment.The indictment alleges he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-federal-charges-updates-33667a0900271e5002459ab748d8fdc8">pleaded not guilty</a>, wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers.Meanwhile, Ethics Committee investigators spent eight months investigating Santos and interviewing witnesses. When their work was complete, the panel said it had amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Santos that it sent to the Justice Department.Among other things, the committee said Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, used campaign funds for personal purposes and violated the Ethics in Government Act with his financial disclosure statements.Arguing against expulsion during debate on Thursday, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said that while he respected the committee, he had concerns about how the Santos case was handled. He said he was troubled that a Republican-led committee would submit a report that was so judgmental and publicized.“The totality of circumstance appears biased," Higgins said. "It stinks of politics and I'll oppose this action in every way.”While the committee does have a Republican chairman, its membership is evenly divided. Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the committee, reminded members that the decision approving the investigators' findings was unanimous.“As the Ethics Committee's report lays out in thorough detail, Mr. Santos has repeatedly, egregiously and brazenly violated the public's trust,” Wild said. “Mr. Santos is not a victim. He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people.”

🎥History: Santos is booted from the House, lost his office 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the drive=by killing of a trophy buck in Riley County.

Just after 10:30a.m. November 24, someone shot a buck a few miles south of Zendale in Southern Riley County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Game Wardens.

The buck was shot with a rifle through the hind end and died. A local farmer was feeding&nbsp; cattle, and only a few yards away, out ran the deer. At that same time, a white Chevy truck was driving south down the road and fired one shot from the passenger side of the truck, striking the deer. 

The farmer was walking in the pasture near the cattle and witnessed the shot, first assuming it was towards them, which was only ~100 yds from the roadway, according to game wardens.

The truck then sped off. The farmer provided law enforcement with a partial tag and vehicle description.

If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact Warden Jedlicka at (785) 256-3614 or Lieutenant Gehrt at (785) 256-1199. Hopefully, with the information provided, officers can track down a suspect(s). 

Unfortunately, a first-time youth archery hunter has been hunting this trophy relentlessly and was devastated to see the warrior fall this way. The meat was salvaged and did not go to waste.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701458740248.png" alt="Photo Kansas game wardens" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas game wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the drive=by killing of a trophy buck in Riley County.Just after 10:30a.m. November 24, someone shot a buck a few miles south of Zendale in Southern Riley County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Game Wardens.The buck was shot with a rifle through the hind end and died. A local farmer was feeding&nbsp; cattle, and only a few yards away, out ran the deer. At that same time, a white Chevy truck was driving south down the road and fired one shot from the passenger side of the truck, striking the deer. The farmer was walking in the pasture near the cattle and witnessed the shot, first assuming it was towards them, which was only ~100 yds from the roadway, according to game wardens.The truck then sped off. The farmer provided law enforcement with a partial tag and vehicle description.If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact Warden Jedlicka at (785) 256-3614 or Lieutenant Gehrt at (785) 256-1199. Hopefully, with the information provided, officers can track down a suspect(s). Unfortunately, a first-time youth archery hunter has been hunting this trophy relentlessly and was devastated to see the warrior fall this way. The meat was salvaged and did not go to waste.&nbsp;

Suspect wanted: Trophy buck shot in Kan. drive-by

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a 29-year-old murder and are asking the public for help with information.

On the morning of October 29, 1994 while cleaning the ditches and tree row’s in the 5600 block of west 47th&nbsp;Street South, workers with the Kansas Gas and Electric Company came across human remains buried in a shallow grave, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office.

Following an examination by the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office and a Forensic Anthropologist the manner of death was determined to be homicide.&nbsp;

Until May of 2023 the identity of the victim has remained unknown to detectives, greatly hampering the investigation.&nbsp; In late 2022 Sgt. Michael Guthrie of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office submitted and was awarded a grant for DNA testing of the victim by Othram Inc.

In May of 2023 Othram was able to utilize DNA technology to identify a relative of the victim and through further investigation an identification was made.&nbsp; Harold “James” Crawford, date of birth January 11th, 1973 was identified as the unknown victim.&nbsp; James was 21 at the time of his death and lived in an apartment complex on the east side of Wichita.&nbsp;

If you knew James or have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, you’re asked to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp; You can call the Cold Case Hotline at (316)660-3799, Crime Stoppers at (316)267-2111 or Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coldcase@sedgwick.gov">coldcase@sedgwick.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701453422466.png" alt="Harold 'James' Crawford-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Harold 'James' Crawford-photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a 29-year-old murder and are asking the public for help with information.On the morning of October 29, 1994 while cleaning the ditches and tree row’s in the 5600 block of west 47th&nbsp;Street South, workers with the Kansas Gas and Electric Company came across human remains buried in a shallow grave, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office.Following an examination by the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office and a Forensic Anthropologist the manner of death was determined to be homicide.&nbsp;Until May of 2023 the identity of the victim has remained unknown to detectives, greatly hampering the investigation.&nbsp; In late 2022 Sgt. Michael Guthrie of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office submitted and was awarded a grant for DNA testing of the victim by Othram Inc.In May of 2023 Othram was able to utilize DNA technology to identify a relative of the victim and through further investigation an identification was made.&nbsp; Harold “James” Crawford, date of birth January 11th, 1973 was identified as the unknown victim.&nbsp; James was 21 at the time of his death and lived in an apartment complex on the east side of Wichita.&nbsp;If you knew James or have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, you’re asked to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office.&nbsp; You can call the Cold Case Hotline at (316)660-3799, Crime Stoppers at (316)267-2111 or Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coldcase@sedgwick.gov">coldcase@sedgwick.gov</a>.

Sheriff IDs victim in 29-year-old Kansas unsolved murder

PRATT, Kan. — Pratt Police caught a robbery suspect Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

According to a social media report, police located the man inside the lobby at People's Bank at 202 South Main and he was arrested immediately without incident.

The suspect was unarmed and cooperated with law enforcement. He was taken to the Pratt County Jail and booked for robbery.

“I appreciate the quick response of our officers in handling the potentially dangerous situation," said Chief Nate Humble. "The calm exhibited by professional bank personnel and the quick response of your officers made this arrest very effective, with no one hurt.

Criminal charges are pending following a complete investigation of the incident.

PRATT, Kan. — Pratt Police caught a robbery suspect Friday afternoon.&nbsp;According to a social media report, police located the man inside the lobby at People's Bank at 202 South Main and he was arrested immediately without incident.The suspect was unarmed and cooperated with law enforcement. He was taken to the Pratt County Jail and booked for robbery.“I appreciate the quick response of our officers in handling the potentially dangerous situation," said Chief Nate Humble. "The calm exhibited by professional bank personnel and the quick response of your officers made this arrest very effective, with no one hurt.Criminal charges are pending following a complete investigation of the incident.

Police make arrest at Kansas bank

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The family of a 22-year-old woman who died in an apartment fire in Kansas’ largest city after mistakes by the 911 dispatch center believes the center has “systemic issues," and the local firefighters union is calling for an independent investigation.

Paoly Bedeski's family in Wichita issued a statement Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/article282500823.html">The Wichita Eagle reported</a>. It was the family's first since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article280544379.html">the fatal fire</a>&nbsp;and it came two days after the city firefighters union held a news conference to detail “significant and devastating” errors by the dispatch center in Sedgwick County, where the city is located.

The dispatch center failed to relay the number of Bedeski's third-floor apartment to firefighters and waited 17 minutes to sound a second alarm to bring more crews to the scene. Bedeski called 911 just before 4 a.m. on Oct. 13 to report her apartment was on fire.

County officials said they are still gathering information and expect to have an advisory board review the details next week. But local firefighters union President Ted Bush&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article282420753.html">has said publicly</a>&nbsp;that the dispatch center's mistakes delayed the response to the fire and prevented Bedeski's rescue, and the Sedgwick County Commission said it also supports an independent review.

The family's statement, issued by its lawyer, said, “These failures cost Paoly her life.”

“The Bedeskis are now calling for immediate correction of these systemic issues and accountability for those responsible, emphasizing the need for adequate protection for the county’s residents," the statement said.

Elora Forshee, director of Sedgwick County Emergency Communications, has said Bedeski’s call was not intelligible enough for the dispatcher to understand that she was trapped.

Audio from the call, posted online by The Eagle, showed that much of the first 50 seconds of the call from a terrified-sounding Bedeski was hard to understand. However, she clearly stated the name of her apartment complex and her apartment number after being asked by the dispatcher to repeat herself.

Bedeski's voice is not heard after the first 50 seconds of the four-plus minutes of audio. About 45 seconds after last hearing her voice, the dispatcher says, “Hello? I need you to say your apartment number clearly and distinctly."

He then reports the blaze to firefighters, with the address of the apartment complex but not the apartment number.

As for the delay in sounding a second alarm, Forshee said the issue was “addressed on the spot” with additional training.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701457363060.png" alt="Fire crews working the night of the deadly apartment fire photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews working the night of the deadly apartment fire photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The family of a 22-year-old woman who died in an apartment fire in Kansas’ largest city after mistakes by the 911 dispatch center believes the center has “systemic issues," and the local firefighters union is calling for an independent investigation.Paoly Bedeski's family in Wichita issued a statement Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/article282500823.html">The Wichita Eagle reported</a>. It was the family's first since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article280544379.html">the fatal fire</a>&nbsp;and it came two days after the city firefighters union held a news conference to detail “significant and devastating” errors by the dispatch center in Sedgwick County, where the city is located.The dispatch center failed to relay the number of Bedeski's third-floor apartment to firefighters and waited 17 minutes to sound a second alarm to bring more crews to the scene. Bedeski called 911 just before 4 a.m. on Oct. 13 to report her apartment was on fire.County officials said they are still gathering information and expect to have an advisory board review the details next week. But local firefighters union President Ted Bush&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article282420753.html">has said publicly</a>&nbsp;that the dispatch center's mistakes delayed the response to the fire and prevented Bedeski's rescue, and the Sedgwick County Commission said it also supports an independent review.The family's statement, issued by its lawyer, said, “These failures cost Paoly her life.”“The Bedeskis are now calling for immediate correction of these systemic issues and accountability for those responsible, emphasizing the need for adequate protection for the county’s residents," the statement said.Elora Forshee, director of Sedgwick County Emergency Communications, has said Bedeski’s call was not intelligible enough for the dispatcher to understand that she was trapped.Audio from the call, posted online by The Eagle, showed that much of the first 50 seconds of the call from a terrified-sounding Bedeski was hard to understand. However, she clearly stated the name of her apartment complex and her apartment number after being asked by the dispatcher to repeat herself.Bedeski's voice is not heard after the first 50 seconds of the four-plus minutes of audio. About 45 seconds after last hearing her voice, the dispatcher says, “Hello? I need you to say your apartment number clearly and distinctly."He then reports the blaze to firefighters, with the address of the apartment complex but not the apartment number.As for the delay in sounding a second alarm, Forshee said the issue was “addressed on the spot” with additional training.

Family blames 911 dispatch mistakes after Kan. woman died in an apartment fire

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at a Kansas City home and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to a reported EMS event at a home in the 11700 block of&nbsp;Troost&nbsp;Avenue in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.

First responders were directed inside the home and located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; EMS pronounced the victim deceased.

The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown.&nbsp; Police have taken a subject of interest into custody.

Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.&nbsp; This is the 173rd homicide in Kansas City in 2023, according to Sheriff Forte'.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701437890494.png" alt="First responders at the scene Thursday-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene Thursday-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at a Kansas City home and have a suspect in custody.Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to a reported EMS event at a home in the 11700 block of&nbsp;Troost&nbsp;Avenue in Kansas City, according to Police Captain Corey Carlisle.First responders were directed inside the home and located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; EMS pronounced the victim deceased.The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown.&nbsp; Police have taken a subject of interest into custody.Homicide detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the scene to recover any evidence and speak to any potential witnesses.&nbsp; This is the 173rd homicide in Kansas City in 2023, according to Sheriff Forte'.

Suspect in custody after deadly shooting at KC home

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701446271001.png" alt="George Santos photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>George Santos photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-santos.">George Santos</a>&nbsp;of New York after a critical ethics report on his conduct that accused him of converting campaign donations for his own use. He was just the&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/">sixth member</a>&nbsp;in the chamber's history to be ousted by colleagues.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former Rep. George Santos departs the U.S. Capitol following his expulsion. <a href="https://t.co/XZrvGdtyaU">pic.twitter.com/XZrvGdtyaU</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1730621201511334169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The vote to expel was 311-114. Expulsion requires support from two-thirds of the House, a purposefully high bar, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethics-congress-santos-5ebffe514d8779fbc16a77fa1ab5e0df">blistering House Ethics Committee report</a>&nbsp;that accused Santos of breaking federal law proved decisive. All four members of the Kansas delegation voted to expel Santos.GOP members of the Missouri delegation including Mark Alford, Eric Burlison, Sam Graves, Blaine Luetkemeyer and Ann Wagner voted against the measure. The democrat members of the Missouri delegation Emanuel Cleaver and Cori Bush voted to expel. Just before noon eastern time Friday, Rep. Jason Smith's office could not confirm his vote.As it became clear that he would be expelled, Santos placed his overcoat over his shoulders, shook hands with conservative members who voted against his expulsion and departed the House chamber.House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., soon took the gavel, quieted the chamber and solemnly instructed the House clerk to inform the governor of New York that Santos’ former House seat was now vacant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701446532648.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted against the measure, delivers the news on the final result of the vote-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted against the measure, delivers the news on the final result of the vote-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews.“I will not stand by quietly,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-house-expulsion-vote-ethics-d24b4b727da4f6b9af26e5aa902db992">Santos declared</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”Of the previous expulsions in the House, three were for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War. The remaining two occurred after the lawmakers were convicted of crimes in federal court. Santos made his case for remaining in office by appealing directly to lawmakers who worry they are setting a new precedent that could make expulsions more common.Johnson was among those who voiced concerns about removing Santos, though he has told members to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/santos-expel-house-speaker-johnson-ethics-committee-b84a4f00b92825c671b6a91061442865">vote their conscience</a>. Others in leadership agreed with his reasoning and opposed expulsion. But some Republicans, including Santos' colleagues from New York, said voters would welcome lawmakers being held to a higher standard.“I’m pretty confident the American people would applaud that. I’m pretty confident that the American people expect that," Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, whose district adjoins Santos', said before the vote.Santos warned lawmakers they would regret removing a member before they have had their day in court.“This will haunt them in the future where mere allegations are sufficient to have members removed from office when duly elected by their people in their respective states and districts,” Santos said.The expulsion was the final congressional chapter in what was a spectacular fall from grace for Santos. The first-term lawmaker initially was celebrated as an up-and-comer after he flipped a district from Democrats last year and helped Republicans win control of the House. But soon after, troubles began.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-business-queens-ae463f9ef3497ce4479f9fe5f2defde1">Reports began to emerge</a>&nbsp;that Santos had lied about having Jewish ancestry, a career at top Wall Street firms and a college degree. His presence in the House quickly became a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-lies-congress-new-york-republicans-9e4fd69b75894addb5bd2d4d5e8171ff">distraction</a>&nbsp;and an embarrassment to the party.In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into Santos. Then in May, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York indicted Santos, accusing him of duping donors, stealing from his campaign and lying to Congress. Prosecutors would later add more charges in an updated 23-count indictment.The indictment alleges he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges. Federal prosecutors say Santos, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/george-santos-federal-charges-updates-33667a0900271e5002459ab748d8fdc8">pleaded not guilty</a>, wired some of the money to his personal bank account and used the rest to pad his campaign coffers.Meanwhile, Ethics Committee investigators spent eight months investigating Santos and interviewing witnesses. When their work was complete, the panel said it had amassed “overwhelming evidence” of lawbreaking by Santos that it sent to the Justice Department.Among other things, the committee said Santos knowingly caused his campaign committee to file false or incomplete reports with the Federal Election Commission, used campaign funds for personal purposes and violated the Ethics in Government Act with his financial disclosure statements.Arguing against expulsion during debate on Thursday, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said that while he respected the committee, he had concerns about how the Santos case was handled. He said he was troubled that a Republican-led committee would submit a report that was so judgmental and publicized.“The totality of circumstance appears biased," Higgins said. "It stinks of politics and I'll oppose this action in every way.”While the committee does have a Republican chairman, its membership is evenly divided. Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the committee, reminded members that the decision approving the investigators' findings was unanimous.“As the Ethics Committee's report lays out in thorough detail, Mr. Santos has repeatedly, egregiously and brazenly violated the public's trust,” Wild said. “Mr. Santos is not a victim. He is a perpetrator of a massive fraud on his constituents and the American people.”___

History: House expels Santos; Kan. delegation votes with majority 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, has died. She was 93.

The court says she died in Phoenix on Friday, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.

In 2018, she announced that she had been diagnosed with “the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.” Her husband, John O’Connor, died of complications of Alzheimer’s in 2009.

O’Connor’s nomination in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and subsequent confirmation by the Senate ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court. A native of Arizona who grew up on her family’s sprawling ranch, O’Connor wasted little time building a reputation as a hard worker who wielded considerable political clout on the nine-member court.

The granddaughter of a pioneer who traveled west from Vermont and founded the family ranch some three decades before Arizona became a state, O’Connor had a tenacious, independent spirit that came naturally. As a child growing up in the remote outback, she learned early to ride horses, round up cattle and drive trucks and tractors.

“I didn’t do all the things the boys did,” she said in a 1981 Time magazine interview, “but I fixed windmills and repaired fences.”

On the bench, her influence could best be seen, and her legal thinking most closely scrutinized, in the court’s rulings on abortion, perhaps the most contentious and divisive issue the justices faced. O’Connor balked at letting states outlaw most abortions, refusing in 1989 to join four other justices who were ready to reverse the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.

Then, in 1992, she helped forge and lead a five-justice majority that reaffirmed the core holding of the 1973 ruling. “Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles of morality, but that can’t control our decision," O’Connor said in court, reading a summary of the decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. “Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code.”

Thirty years after that decision, a more conservative court did overturn Roe and Casey, and the opinion was written by the man who took her high court seat, Justice Samuel Alito. He joined the court upon O’Connor’s retirement in 2006, chosen by President George W. Bush.

In 2000, O’Connor was part of the 5-4 majority that effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of Bush, over Democrat Al Gore.

O’Connor was regarded with great fondness by many of her colleagues. When she retired, Justice Clarence Thomas, a consistent conservative, called her “an outstanding colleague, civil in dissent and gracious when in the majority.”

She could, nonetheless, express her views tartly. In one of her final actions as a justice, a dissent to a 5-4 ruling to allow local governments to condemn and seize personal property to allow private developers to build shopping plazas, office buildings and other facilities, she warned the majority had unwisely ceded yet more power to the powerful. “The specter of condemnation hangs over all property,” O’Connor wrote. “Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing ... any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”

O’Connor, whom commentators had once called the nation’s most powerful woman, remained the court’s only woman until 1993, when, much to O’Connor’s delight and relief, President Bill Clinton nominated Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The current court includes a record four women.

Check the Post for additional details as they are released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701444356161.png" alt="FILE - Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor poses for a photo in 1982. O'Connor joined the Supreme Court in 1981 as the nation's first female justice, has died at age 93. (AP Photo, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor poses for a photo in 1982. O'Connor joined the Supreme Court in 1981 as the nation's first female justice, has died at age 93. (AP Photo, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, has died. She was 93.The court says she died in Phoenix on Friday, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701443142394.png" alt="During the dedication of Sandra Day O'Connor High School in 2003-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>During the dedication of Sandra Day O'Connor High School in 2003-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>In 2018, she announced that she had been diagnosed with “the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.” Her husband, John O’Connor, died of complications of Alzheimer’s in 2009.O’Connor’s nomination in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan and subsequent confirmation by the Senate ended 191 years of male exclusivity on the high court. A native of Arizona who grew up on her family’s sprawling ranch, O’Connor wasted little time building a reputation as a hard worker who wielded considerable political clout on the nine-member court.The granddaughter of a pioneer who traveled west from Vermont and founded the family ranch some three decades before Arizona became a state, O’Connor had a tenacious, independent spirit that came naturally. As a child growing up in the remote outback, she learned early to ride horses, round up cattle and drive trucks and tractors.“I didn’t do all the things the boys did,” she said in a 1981 Time magazine interview, “but I fixed windmills and repaired fences.”On the bench, her influence could best be seen, and her legal thinking most closely scrutinized, in the court’s rulings on abortion, perhaps the most contentious and divisive issue the justices faced. O’Connor balked at letting states outlaw most abortions, refusing in 1989 to join four other justices who were ready to reverse the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that said women have a constitutional right to abortion.Then, in 1992, she helped forge and lead a five-justice majority that reaffirmed the core holding of the 1973 ruling. “Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles of morality, but that can’t control our decision," O’Connor said in court, reading a summary of the decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. “Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code.”Thirty years after that decision, a more conservative court did overturn Roe and Casey, and the opinion was written by the man who took her high court seat, Justice Samuel Alito. He joined the court upon O’Connor’s retirement in 2006, chosen by President George W. Bush.In 2000, O’Connor was part of the 5-4 majority that effectively resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election in favor of Bush, over Democrat Al Gore.O’Connor was regarded with great fondness by many of her colleagues. When she retired, Justice Clarence Thomas, a consistent conservative, called her “an outstanding colleague, civil in dissent and gracious when in the majority.”She could, nonetheless, express her views tartly. In one of her final actions as a justice, a dissent to a 5-4 ruling to allow local governments to condemn and seize personal property to allow private developers to build shopping plazas, office buildings and other facilities, she warned the majority had unwisely ceded yet more power to the powerful. “The specter of condemnation hangs over all property,” O’Connor wrote. “Nothing is to prevent the state from replacing ... any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”O’Connor, whom commentators had once called the nation’s most powerful woman, remained the court’s only woman until 1993, when, much to O’Connor’s delight and relief, President Bill Clinton nominated Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The current court includes a record four women.Check the Post for additional details as they are released.

Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman on the Supreme Court, has died 

HELENA, Mont. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/montana">Montana</a>'s first-in-the-nation law banning the video-sharing app TikTok in the state was blocked Thursday, one month before it was set to take effect, by a federal judge who called the measure unconstitutional.

The ruling delivered a temporary win for the social media company that has argued Montana's Republican-controlled Legislature went “completely overboard” in trying to regulate the app. A final ruling will come at a later date after the legal challenge moves through the courts.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said the ban “oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses" while singling out the state for its fixation on purported Chinese influence.

“Despite the state’s attempt to defend (the law) as a consumer protection bill, the current record leaves little doubt that Montana’s legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting China’s ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers,” Molloy wrote Thursday in granting the preliminary injunction. “This is especially apparent in that the same legislature enacted an entirely separate law that purports to broadly protect consumers’ digital data and privacy.”

Montana lawmakers in May made the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-325a33578a2bbfbe53e9c251d528c5fb">the first in the U.S</a>. to pass a complete ban on the app based on the argument that the Chinese government could gain access to user information from TikTok, whose parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing.

The ban, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, was first brought before the Montana Legislature a few weeks after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-surveillance-balloon-united-states-montana-47248b0ef2b085620fcd866c105054be">Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;flew over the state.

It would prohibit downloads of TikTok in the state and fine any “entity” — an app store or TikTok — $10,000 per day for each time someone “is offered the ability” to access or download the app. There would not be penalties for users.

TikTok issued a statement saying it was pleased that “the judge rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on TikTok.”

A spokeswoman for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, also a Republican, tried to downplay the significance of the ruling in a statement.

“The judge indicated several times that the analysis could change as the case proceeds,” said Emily Cantrell, spokeswoman for Knudsen. “We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data.”

Western governments have expressed worries that the popular social media platform could put sensitive data in the hands of the Chinese government or be used as a tool to spread misinformation. Chinese law allows the government to order companies to help it gather intelligence.

More than half of U.S. states and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">federal government</a>&nbsp;have banned TikTok on official devices. The company has called the bans “political theatre” and says further restrictions are unnecessary due to the efforts it is taking to protect U.S. data by storing it on Oracle servers.

Attorneys for TikTok and the content creators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-lawsuit-1c58d56064f6b53992196649249e1dc8">argued on Oct. 12</a>&nbsp;that the state had gone too far in trying to regulate TikTok and is essentially trying to implement its own foreign policy over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-lawsuit-security-fd4a963efb1d13f909a5b80787de9e73">unproven concerns</a>&nbsp;that TikTok might share user data with the Chinese government.

TikTok has said in court filings that Montana could have limited the kinds of data TikTok could collect from its users rather than enacting a complete ban. Meanwhile, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-lawsuit-72be560de89fb87e3c677c8e0cfd9fec">content creators</a>&nbsp;say the ban violates free speech rights and could cause economic harm for their businesses.

Christian Corrigan, the state’s solicitor general, argued Montana’s law was less a statement of foreign policy and instead addresses “serious, widespread concerns about data privacy.”

Molloy noted during the hearing that TikTok users' consent to the company’s data collection policies and that Knudsen — whose office drafted the legislation — could air public service announcements warning people about the data TikTok collects.

The American Civil Liberties Union, its Montana chapter and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital privacy rights advocacy group, have submitted an amicus brief in support of the challenge. Meanwhile, 18 attorneys generals from mostly Republican-led states are backing Montana and asking the judge to let the law be implemented. Even if that happens, cybersecurity experts have said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-china-data-chinese-government-71143a3a87c9a0b692d927f72b6fec70">could be challenging to enforce</a>.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/montana">Montana</a>'s first-in-the-nation law banning the video-sharing app TikTok in the state was blocked Thursday, one month before it was set to take effect, by a federal judge who called the measure unconstitutional.The ruling delivered a temporary win for the social media company that has argued Montana's Republican-controlled Legislature went “completely overboard” in trying to regulate the app. A final ruling will come at a later date after the legal challenge moves through the courts.U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said the ban “oversteps state power and infringes on the Constitutional right of users and businesses" while singling out the state for its fixation on purported Chinese influence.“Despite the state’s attempt to defend (the law) as a consumer protection bill, the current record leaves little doubt that Montana’s legislature and Attorney General were more interested in targeting China’s ostensible role in TikTok than with protecting Montana consumers,” Molloy wrote Thursday in granting the preliminary injunction. “This is especially apparent in that the same legislature enacted an entirely separate law that purports to broadly protect consumers’ digital data and privacy.”Montana lawmakers in May made the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-325a33578a2bbfbe53e9c251d528c5fb">the first in the U.S</a>. to pass a complete ban on the app based on the argument that the Chinese government could gain access to user information from TikTok, whose parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing.The ban, which was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, was first brought before the Montana Legislature a few weeks after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chinese-surveillance-balloon-united-states-montana-47248b0ef2b085620fcd866c105054be">Chinese spy balloon</a>&nbsp;flew over the state.It would prohibit downloads of TikTok in the state and fine any “entity” — an app store or TikTok — $10,000 per day for each time someone “is offered the ability” to access or download the app. There would not be penalties for users.TikTok issued a statement saying it was pleased that “the judge rejected this unconstitutional law and hundreds of thousands of Montanans can continue to express themselves, earn a living, and find community on TikTok.”A spokeswoman for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, also a Republican, tried to downplay the significance of the ruling in a statement.“The judge indicated several times that the analysis could change as the case proceeds,” said Emily Cantrell, spokeswoman for Knudsen. “We look forward to presenting the complete legal argument to defend the law that protects Montanans from the Chinese Communist Party obtaining and using their data.”Western governments have expressed worries that the popular social media platform could put sensitive data in the hands of the Chinese government or be used as a tool to spread misinformation. Chinese law allows the government to order companies to help it gather intelligence.More than half of U.S. states and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-is-tiktok-being-banned-7d2de01d3ac5ab2b8ec2239dc7f2b20d">federal government</a>&nbsp;have banned TikTok on official devices. The company has called the bans “political theatre” and says further restrictions are unnecessary due to the efforts it is taking to protect U.S. data by storing it on Oracle servers.Attorneys for TikTok and the content creators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-lawsuit-1c58d56064f6b53992196649249e1dc8">argued on Oct. 12</a>&nbsp;that the state had gone too far in trying to regulate TikTok and is essentially trying to implement its own foreign policy over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-lawsuit-security-fd4a963efb1d13f909a5b80787de9e73">unproven concerns</a>&nbsp;that TikTok might share user data with the Chinese government.TikTok has said in court filings that Montana could have limited the kinds of data TikTok could collect from its users rather than enacting a complete ban. Meanwhile, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-lawsuit-72be560de89fb87e3c677c8e0cfd9fec">content creators</a>&nbsp;say the ban violates free speech rights and could cause economic harm for their businesses.Christian Corrigan, the state’s solicitor general, argued Montana’s law was less a statement of foreign policy and instead addresses “serious, widespread concerns about data privacy.”Molloy noted during the hearing that TikTok users' consent to the company’s data collection policies and that Knudsen — whose office drafted the legislation — could air public service announcements warning people about the data TikTok collects.The American Civil Liberties Union, its Montana chapter and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital privacy rights advocacy group, have submitted an amicus brief in support of the challenge. Meanwhile, 18 attorneys generals from mostly Republican-led states are backing Montana and asking the judge to let the law be implemented. Even if that happens, cybersecurity experts have said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-montana-china-data-chinese-government-71143a3a87c9a0b692d927f72b6fec70">could be challenging to enforce</a>.

Unconstitutional: Judge blocks first-in-the-nation TikTok ban 

DOUGLAS COUNTY —The man found dead in an apartment following the standoff Wednesday night has been identified as 23-year-old Josiah Emmanuel Henderson of Lawrence.

Officers were attempting to serve a Kansas City, Kansas warrant on Henderson for Rape, Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, Aggravated Indecent Liberties, Aggravated Domestic Battery, and Aggravated Endangering a Child. The warrant was for charges that had not yet been proven in court. Officers knocked on the door and identified themselves, heard Henderson acknowledge their presence, then heard a single gunshot inside the apartment.

Officers immediately backed away from the apartment, established a&nbsp;perimeter, and called for additional resources to assist. Officers evacuated nearby apartments and provided a secure perimeter to ensure the safety of everyone in the area. 

At 9:30p.m., 0fficers entered the apartment&nbsp;and located Henderson inside with an apparent gunshot wound. 

Lawrence Police personnel remained on scene investigating. Area residents were allowed to return to their homes. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY —The man found dead in an apartment following the standoff Wednesday night has been identified as 23-year-old Josiah Emmanuel Henderson of Lawrence.Officers were attempting to serve a Kansas City, Kansas warrant on Henderson for Rape, Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, Aggravated Indecent Liberties, Aggravated Domestic Battery, and Aggravated Endangering a Child. The warrant was for charges that had not yet been proven in court. Officers knocked on the door and identified themselves, heard Henderson acknowledge their presence, then heard a single gunshot inside the apartment.Officers immediately backed away from the apartment, established a&nbsp;perimeter, and called for additional resources to assist. Officers evacuated nearby apartments and provided a secure perimeter to ensure the safety of everyone in the area. At 9:30p.m., 0fficers entered the apartment&nbsp;and located Henderson inside with an apparent gunshot wound. Lawrence Police personnel remained on scene investigating. Area residents were allowed to return to their homes.

Police: Kansas rape suspect found dead after standoff

WASHINGTON&nbsp; —U.S. health officials recalled additional brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes as more are reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cantaloupe-salmonella-malichita-recall-b0e630ffcab3aff0936d7c43d3c3b323">sickened by salmonella</a>.

Nearly 117 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-cantaloupes-november-2023">34 states</a> including Kansas and Missouri have gotten sick from the contaminated fruits.

Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio have the highest number of cases. Two people have died of the infections in Minnesota, and 45 people are hospitalized nationwide.

FDA&nbsp; has posted a compiled list of these recalls on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/major-product-recalls/2023-recalls-food-products-associated-cantaloupes-due-potential-risk-salmonella">FDA website</a>. This list will be updated as the agency receives notifications of new recalls. If you cannot tell if your cantaloupe, including pre-cut cantaloupe or products containing pre-cut cantaloupe is part of the recall, do not eat or use it and throw it away.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's original recall included Malichita brand whole cantaloupe, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products. Rudy brand whole cantaloupes and Freshness Guaranteed brand and RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupes joined the list last week.

Health officials say anyone who bought&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/sundsvall-11-23/index.html">the recalled fruits</a>&nbsp;should throw them away and wash surfaces that touched them with hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within six hour to six days after consuming food contaminated with the bacteria. Illnesses typically last four to seven days. Vulnerable people, including children, people older than 65 and those with weakened immune systems may develop severe illnesses that require medical care or hospitalization.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701430941052.png" alt="States with Cases:&nbsp;AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Product Distribution: Nationwide and Canada-FDA map" />
 <figcaption>States with Cases:&nbsp;AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Product Distribution: Nationwide and Canada-FDA map</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp; —U.S. health officials recalled additional brands of whole and pre-cut cantaloupes as more are reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cantaloupe-salmonella-malichita-recall-b0e630ffcab3aff0936d7c43d3c3b323">sickened by salmonella</a>.Nearly 117 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-cantaloupes-november-2023">34 states</a> including Kansas and Missouri have gotten sick from the contaminated fruits. Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio have the highest number of cases. Two people have died of the infections in Minnesota, and 45 people are hospitalized nationwide.FDA&nbsp; has posted a compiled list of these recalls on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/major-product-recalls/2023-recalls-food-products-associated-cantaloupes-due-potential-risk-salmonella">FDA website</a>. This list will be updated as the agency receives notifications of new recalls. If you cannot tell if your cantaloupe, including pre-cut cantaloupe or products containing pre-cut cantaloupe is part of the recall, do not eat or use it and throw it away.&nbsp;&nbsp;The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's original recall included Malichita brand whole cantaloupe, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products. Rudy brand whole cantaloupes and Freshness Guaranteed brand and RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupes joined the list last week.Health officials say anyone who bought&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/sundsvall-11-23/index.html">the recalled fruits</a>&nbsp;should throw them away and wash surfaces that touched them with hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher.Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within six hour to six days after consuming food contaminated with the bacteria. Illnesses typically last four to seven days. Vulnerable people, including children, people older than 65 and those with weakened immune systems may develop severe illnesses that require medical care or hospitalization.___

Salmonella: Cantaloupe recall expands to Kan., 33 other states

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as 21-year-old Jayden D. James.

Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, officers were dispatched to 4900 block of Heritage Avenue in Kansas on a reported shooting.

Upon arrival, officers were directed to a man, later identified as James, lying in the yard suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; 

Officers administered life saving measures until EMS arrived and took over. EMS subsequently pronounced him deceased.

The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released any suspect details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701311990623.png" alt="First responders at the scene -photo courtesy Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene -photo courtesy Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as 21-year-old Jayden D. James.Just after 4 p.m. Tuesday, officers were dispatched to 4900 block of Heritage Avenue in Kansas on a reported shooting.Upon arrival, officers were directed to a man, later identified as James, lying in the yard suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Officers administered life saving measures until EMS arrived and took over. EMS subsequently pronounced him deceased.The circumstances leading up to the homicide are unknown.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released any suspect details.

Police ID 21-year-old found dead in front yard of KC home

NEOSHO COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Neosho County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Toyota Corolla driven by Danny R. Romine, 68, Chanute, was eastbound on Kansas 39 highway one mile west of Chanute.

The Toyota crossed the center line. The Toyota and a westbound 2020 Freightliner semi driven by Donald B. Blair, 58, Freedon, Indiana, collided.

Romine was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Countryside Funeral Home. Blair was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

NEOSHO COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 10p.m. Thursday in Neosho County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Toyota Corolla driven by Danny R. Romine, 68, Chanute, was eastbound on Kansas 39 highway one mile west of Chanute.The Toyota crossed the center line. The Toyota and a westbound 2020 Freightliner semi driven by Donald B. Blair, 58, Freedon, Indiana, collided.Romine was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Countryside Funeral Home. Blair was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after crash with a semi

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s (KBI) Joint Fentanyl Impact Team announced they made a major seizure of illegal drugs, according to a media release from the agency.

On Wednesday, intelligence was developed related to the movement of illicit drugs into Kansas. On, Thursday, the KBI, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Drug Enforcement Administration executed four search warrants at two residences in south Wichita and one residence in northwest Wichita. As a result of the investigation around 60,000 fentanyl pills (weighing 13 pounds), 59 pounds of methamphetamine, and 4.2 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized.&nbsp;

At this time the suspects have not been arrested. The cases will be presented to county and federal prosecutors for consideration of charges.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation’s (KBI) Joint Fentanyl Impact Team announced they made a major seizure of illegal drugs, according to a media release from the agency.On Wednesday, intelligence was developed related to the movement of illicit drugs into Kansas. On, Thursday, the KBI, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and Drug Enforcement Administration executed four search warrants at two residences in south Wichita and one residence in northwest Wichita. As a result of the investigation around 60,000 fentanyl pills (weighing 13 pounds), 59 pounds of methamphetamine, and 4.2 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized.&nbsp;At this time the suspects have not been arrested. The cases will be presented to county and federal prosecutors for consideration of charges.&nbsp;

KBI: Police seize 60,000 fentanyl pills, 59 pounds of meth

KANSAS CITY. – A federal grand jury indicted a Kansas City couple on charges related to the sexual exploitation of three child victims, according to the United State's Attorney.

Houston Wade Young, 36, and Jessica Ann Young, 33, were charged in an eight-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury earlier this month.

The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment returned against Houston Young on July 25, 2023, and adds Jessica Young, arrested earlier this month, as a defendant with additional charges.

The federal indictment charges Houston Young with one count of using a minor (identified in court documents as Jane Doe) to produce child pornography, two counts of using the internet and a cell phone to attempt to induce Jane Doe and another minor (identified in court documents as John Doe 1) to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of receiving and distributing child pornography, and one count of distributing child pornography.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700944946218.png" alt="Jessica Young -photo Greene Co." />
 <figcaption>Jessica Young -photo Greene Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY. – A federal grand jury indicted a Kansas City couple on charges related to the sexual exploitation of three child victims, according to the United State's Attorney.Houston Wade Young, 36, and Jessica Ann Young, 33, were charged in an eight-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury earlier this month.The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment returned against Houston Young on July 25, 2023, and adds Jessica Young, arrested earlier this month, as a defendant with additional charges.The federal indictment charges Houston Young with one count of using a minor (identified in court documents as Jane Doe) to produce child pornography, two counts of using the internet and a cell phone to attempt to induce Jane Doe and another minor (identified in court documents as John Doe 1) to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of receiving and distributing child pornography, and one count of distributing child pornography.

KC couple accused of sexual exploitation of 3 children

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

Just before&nbsp;11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at Topeka and Santa Fe in Burlingame for an alleged traffic violation, according&nbsp; to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. The driver of the vehicle, Judith A Mundy, 58, of Carbondale, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701293327323.png" alt="Mundy-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Mundy-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before&nbsp;11:30 p.m. Wednesday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at Topeka and Santa Fe in Burlingame for an alleged traffic violation, according&nbsp; to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. The driver of the vehicle, Judith A Mundy, 58, of Carbondale, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia

Kansas woman was allegedly transporting methamphetamine 

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas freed eight Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">cease-fire in Gaza</a>&nbsp;by another day. But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.

Hamas freed two Israeli women Thursday afternoon, and in the evening six more hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were being brought to Israel, the Israeli military said.

At least 10 Israelis a day, along with other nationals, have been released during the truce, in return for Israel’s release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel was to free 30 Palestinian prisoners later in the evening under the deal.

International pressure has mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign following Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-war-hamas-attack-border-wall-aa0b0f5f3613b6c6882cf37168e8e8ed">deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war</a>. Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million have been uprooted, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">humanitarian crisis</a>.

Israel has vowed to resume the fighting — with the goal of dismantling Hamas — once the cease-fire ends.

The cease-fire is set to expire early Friday, though international mediators are working to extend it. The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped on Oct. 7. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers. Roughly 140 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas captivity.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-nato-ukraine-russia-balkans-blinken-69ecd14aed1962e1283965cc80879234">his third visit to the region</a>&nbsp;since the start of the war, said he hoped the cease-fire could be extended and more hostages could be released.

Blinken also said that if Israel resumes the war and moves against southern Gaza to pursue Hamas, it must do so in “compliance with international humanitarian law" and must have “a clear plan in place” to protect civilians. He said Israeli leaders understood that ”the massive levels of civilian life and displacement scale we saw in the north not be repeated in the south.”

Most of Gaza's population is now crammed into the south with no exit, however, raising questions over how an Israeli ground assault backed by bombardment can avoid heavy civilian casualties.

Qatar and Egypt, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/qatar-palestinians-israel-negotiation-hostages-6a11f09dd0968de8eb232260d7aca90d">have played a key role</a>&nbsp;in mediating, are seeking to prolong the deal by another two days, according to Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service.

Thursday morning, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main highway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding several others, according to Israeli police.

The two attackers, brothers from a neighborhood in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-98e4ad57e0784e05b9fdde2e0ffd7439">annexed east Jerusalem</a>, were killed. After the attack, six other members of the family were detained, and the government ordered their house be demolished. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and other Israeli “crimes.”

The attack did not appear to threaten the truce in Gaza. But escalating violence — including Israeli raids — in the West Bank and east Jerusalem could blow back to wreck the quiet in Gaza, even though these areas are not covered under the cease-fire. On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys during a raid in Jenin, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military separately said the raid killed two Islamic Jihad militants.

Netanyahu is under intense pressure from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-hostages-families-protest-war-netanyahu-9846d568b3021582b5c588e28850cbea">families of the hostages</a>&nbsp;to bring them home. But his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-jerusalem-israel-benjamin-netanyahu-189ef3fc8c82d7163c1339e64bb1e40f">far-right governing partners</a>&nbsp;are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.

Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group, even as the Biden administration has urged it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-displacement-south-operation-biden-788b05c51b5582b39aeb2466b7825525">to operate with far greater precision</a>&nbsp;if it does so.

The initial truce, which began Friday and has now been extended twice, called for the release of women and children. Israeli officials said before Thursday's hostage releases that Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who would all be released within a few days at the current rate.

The two women released earlier on Thursday — who are 21 and 40 years old — have returned to Israel. Hamas said it handed them over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, suggesting they may have been held in northern Gaza, where Israeli troops have controlled much of the area for weeks and have been searching for hostages.

It’s not clear how many of the remaining women hostages might be soldiers. For soldiers and the civilian men still in captivity, Hamas is expected to demand the release of high-profile Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, something Israel has strongly resisted in the past.

Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers.

The 30 Palestinians due to be released by Israel on Thursday include 22 teenagers and eight Israeli Palestinian women who were arrested since the war started, most of them for pro-Palestinian social media posts, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, which advocates for prisoners. Israeli authorities have carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-palestinian-citizens-dissent-b0a85e866c8a2ee9235ed4452d3185a7">a crackdown on such posts,</a>&nbsp;arresting more than 270 Palestinian citizens on allegations of inciting violence, according to rights groups.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-prisoner-exchange-hostage-92545883b1fef86fb9b34549b7deca58">The 210 Palestinians released</a>&nbsp;so far under the cease-fire have mostly been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several of the freed women were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers, some of them after being found carrying scissors or knives near security positions.

Before Thursday’s releases, a total of 75 Israelis, including dual nationals, had been freed during the truce, most of whom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostage-gaza-freed-israel-captive-408f65fcc1b8f016f3735cd5022163eb">appear physically well but shaken</a>. Another 24 hostages — 23 Thais and one Filipino — have also been released, including several men.

Before the cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza. On Thursday, the military confirmed the death of Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to be among the hostages, without providing any further details. The 27-year-old attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-music-festival-6a55aae2375944f10ecc4c52d05f2ffe">a music festival where at least 360 people were killed</a>&nbsp;and several others were kidnapped on Oct. 7.

Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed over 1,200 people — mostly civilians — in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and took around 240 people captive. Authorities have only ever provided approximate figures.

Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza</a>, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

The toll is likely much higher, as officials have only&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-health-ministry-gaza-hamas-fe30cbc76479fa437d5f5a0e96c36e52">sporadically updated</a>&nbsp;the count since Nov. 11. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble.

Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.

Palestinians in Gaza have been calling for a permanent end to the war, saying the temporary truces don’t resolve the humanitarian catastrophe across the territory. Over 1.8 million people, around 80% of the territory’s population, have fled their homes, with more than 1 million sheltering in U.N. schools

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701381267971.png" alt="U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Thursday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah about the conflict in Gaza and measures to improve security and freedom for Palestinians in the West Bank. Blinken reiterated the U.S. commitment to advancing the establishment of a Palestinian state.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Thursday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah about the conflict in Gaza and measures to improve security and freedom for Palestinians in the West Bank. Blinken reiterated the U.S. commitment to advancing the establishment of a Palestinian state.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas freed eight Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners under a last-minute deal to extend their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">cease-fire in Gaza</a>&nbsp;by another day. But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.Hamas freed two Israeli women Thursday afternoon, and in the evening six more hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were being brought to Israel, the Israeli military said.At least 10 Israelis a day, along with other nationals, have been released during the truce, in return for Israel’s release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.Israel was to free 30 Palestinian prisoners later in the evening under the deal.International pressure has mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign following Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-war-hamas-attack-border-wall-aa0b0f5f3613b6c6882cf37168e8e8ed">deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war</a>. Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and more than three-quarters of the population of 2.3 million have been uprooted, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">humanitarian crisis</a>.Israel has vowed to resume the fighting — with the goal of dismantling Hamas — once the cease-fire ends.The cease-fire is set to expire early Friday, though international mediators are working to extend it. The talks appear to be growing tougher, with Hamas having already freed most of the women and children it kidnapped on Oct. 7. The militants are expected to make greater demands in return for freeing scores of civilian men and soldiers. Roughly 140 hostages are believed to remain in Hamas captivity.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-nato-ukraine-russia-balkans-blinken-69ecd14aed1962e1283965cc80879234">his third visit to the region</a>&nbsp;since the start of the war, said he hoped the cease-fire could be extended and more hostages could be released.Blinken also said that if Israel resumes the war and moves against southern Gaza to pursue Hamas, it must do so in “compliance with international humanitarian law" and must have “a clear plan in place” to protect civilians. He said Israeli leaders understood that ”the massive levels of civilian life and displacement scale we saw in the north not be repeated in the south.”Most of Gaza's population is now crammed into the south with no exit, however, raising questions over how an Israeli ground assault backed by bombardment can avoid heavy civilian casualties.Qatar and Egypt, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/qatar-palestinians-israel-negotiation-hostages-6a11f09dd0968de8eb232260d7aca90d">have played a key role</a>&nbsp;in mediating, are seeking to prolong the deal by another two days, according to Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service.Thursday morning, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on people waiting for buses along a main highway entering Jerusalem, killing at least three people and wounding several others, according to Israeli police.The two attackers, brothers from a neighborhood in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-98e4ad57e0784e05b9fdde2e0ffd7439">annexed east Jerusalem</a>, were killed. After the attack, six other members of the family were detained, and the government ordered their house be demolished. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, casting it as retaliation for the killing of women and children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and other Israeli “crimes.”The attack did not appear to threaten the truce in Gaza. But escalating violence — including Israeli raids — in the West Bank and east Jerusalem could blow back to wreck the quiet in Gaza, even though these areas are not covered under the cease-fire. On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed two Palestinian boys during a raid in Jenin, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military separately said the raid killed two Islamic Jihad militants.INCREASINGLY TENSE HOSTAGE TALKSNetanyahu is under intense pressure from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-hostages-families-protest-war-netanyahu-9846d568b3021582b5c588e28850cbea">families of the hostages</a>&nbsp;to bring them home. But his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-jerusalem-israel-benjamin-netanyahu-189ef3fc8c82d7163c1339e64bb1e40f">far-right governing partners</a>&nbsp;are also pushing him to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed, and could abandon his coalition if he is seen as making too many concessions.Israel says it will maintain the truce until Hamas stops releasing captives, at which point it will resume military operations aimed at eliminating the group, even as the Biden administration has urged it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-displacement-south-operation-biden-788b05c51b5582b39aeb2466b7825525">to operate with far greater precision</a>&nbsp;if it does so.The initial truce, which began Friday and has now been extended twice, called for the release of women and children. Israeli officials said before Thursday's hostage releases that Gaza militants still hold around 30 women and children, who would all be released within a few days at the current rate.The two women released earlier on Thursday — who are 21 and 40 years old — have returned to Israel. Hamas said it handed them over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, suggesting they may have been held in northern Gaza, where Israeli troops have controlled much of the area for weeks and have been searching for hostages.It’s not clear how many of the remaining women hostages might be soldiers. For soldiers and the civilian men still in captivity, Hamas is expected to demand the release of high-profile Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, something Israel has strongly resisted in the past.Israel says around 125 men are still held hostage, including several dozen soldiers.The 30 Palestinians due to be released by Israel on Thursday include 22 teenagers and eight Israeli Palestinian women who were arrested since the war started, most of them for pro-Palestinian social media posts, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, which advocates for prisoners. Israeli authorities have carried out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-palestinian-citizens-dissent-b0a85e866c8a2ee9235ed4452d3185a7">a crackdown on such posts,</a>&nbsp;arresting more than 270 Palestinian citizens on allegations of inciting violence, according to rights groups.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-prisoner-exchange-hostage-92545883b1fef86fb9b34549b7deca58">The 210 Palestinians released</a>&nbsp;so far under the cease-fire have mostly been teenagers accused of throwing stones and firebombs during confrontations with Israeli forces. Several of the freed women were convicted by military courts of attempting to attack soldiers, some of them after being found carrying scissors or knives near security positions.Before Thursday’s releases, a total of 75 Israelis, including dual nationals, had been freed during the truce, most of whom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostage-gaza-freed-israel-captive-408f65fcc1b8f016f3735cd5022163eb">appear physically well but shaken</a>. Another 24 hostages — 23 Thais and one Filipino — have also been released, including several men.Before the cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one. Two others were found dead in Gaza. On Thursday, the military confirmed the death of Ofir Tzarfati, who was believed to be among the hostages, without providing any further details. The 27-year-old attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-music-festival-6a55aae2375944f10ecc4c52d05f2ffe">a music festival where at least 360 people were killed</a>&nbsp;and several others were kidnapped on Oct. 7.Hamas and other Palestinian militants killed over 1,200 people — mostly civilians — in their wide-ranging attack across southern Israel that day and took around 240 people captive. Authorities have only ever provided approximate figures.Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza have killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza</a>, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.The toll is likely much higher, as officials have only&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-israel-health-ministry-gaza-hamas-fe30cbc76479fa437d5f5a0e96c36e52">sporadically updated</a>&nbsp;the count since Nov. 11. The ministry says thousands more people are feared dead under the rubble.Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive. It claims to have killed thousands of militants, without providing evidence.IN GAZA, AN ANXIOUS RESPITEPalestinians in Gaza have been calling for a permanent end to the war, saying the temporary truces don’t resolve the humanitarian catastrophe across the territory. Over 1.8 million people, around 80% of the territory’s population, have fled their homes, with more than 1 million sheltering in U.N. schoolsIn the central city of Deir al-Balah, life’s daily struggle now consists of hunting down basic commodities such as flour and cooking gas that remain scarce despite increased aid entering during the truce.“People want the war to stop ... to see what happened in our homes and to our families,” said Samir Yaghi, who fled from Gaza City. He said he’s been searching for flour but can’t find any.___Jeffery reported from Cairo, Lidman from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Tel Aviv, Israel; Josef Federman in Jerusalem; Najib Jobain in Rafah, Gaza Strip; and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed.