AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas prosecutor on Wednesday moved to dismiss a felony domestic violence case against former Texas basketball coach Chris Beard, in part because of the alleged victim’s wishes not to prosecute.

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said that “after a careful and thorough review of the evidence” and considering the wishes of Randi Trew, Beard’s fiancée, his office determined the charge of assault by strangulation/suffocation-family violence could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Beard was arrested Dec. 12 after Trew called 911 and told officers that Beard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-austin-texas-prisons-violence-579d283260eb916721681dbb3270e06a">strangled, bit and hit her</a>&nbsp;during a confrontation in his home.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-chris-beard-top-25-college-basketball-today-99133534a0645c7318c6557d425d5dcf">She later said Beard didn’t choke her</a>, and that he defended himself from her. She added that she never intended him to be arrested and prosecuted.

“Everyone knows that Coach Beard has maintained his absolute innocence since the moment he was arrested,” said Perry Minton, Beard’s attorney. “Additionally, this district attorney has a well-earned reputation for being very tough regarding domestic violence cases. The fact that Mr. Garza’s review resulted in this determination so quickly says a lot. We are very pleased.”

The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence, but Trew issued a public statement on Dec. 23 about Beard’s arrest and their fight that night, disputing several elements of the initial police account.

The third-degree felony charge carried a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if prosecutors had pressed the case to conviction.

“Our office takes all domestic abuse cases seriously to ensure justice for the victims,” Garza said. “In every case, we are obligated to evaluate the facts and evidence and do our best to reach an outcome that will keep the victim and our community safe.”

Garza also defended his office’s record of pursuing domestic violence cases, noting his office has secured more than 1,000 convictions in family violence cases since 2021, with more than 200 people going to prison.

According to the police affidavit in support of Beard’s arrest, Trew initially told officers he strangled her from behind to the point where she couldn’t breathe for several seconds. The affidavit listed several visible signs of an altercation, including bite marks on her arm and abrasions on her face and leg.

According to the affidavit, Trew initally told police “he choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts.” Her later statement did not address why she called 911 or several of the physical injuries described in the police report.

Texas suspended Beard without pay the day he was arrested.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-sports-chris-beard-texas-law-enforcement-64f650d82cd95028ad80ae5946fe2e24">He was fired on Jan. 5</a>&nbsp;when Texas officials told Beard’s attorney he was “unfit” to lead the program.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-new-mexico-state-aggies-texas-longhorns-top-25-college-basketball-today-mens-d9601fa3c93f7e4fa792f6c5f6196047">Texas has been led by interim coach Rodney Terry since Dec. 12</a>. The Longhorns are ranked No. 6 and share first place in the Big 12.

A University of Texas spokesman declined comment Wednesday.

Beard had five years left on a seven-year guaranteed contract that included a provision saying he could be fired for cause if he was charged with a felony or committed other behavior unbecoming of his position or that reflected poorly on the university.

The university’s vice president of legal affairs, Jim Davis, wrote in a letter to Beard’s attorney on the day the coach was fired that Beard engaged in “unacceptable behavior that makes him unfit to serve as head coach at our university.”

Whether prosecutors continue with the case does not determine whether Beard engaged in conduct unbecoming of the school, Davis wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670872672542.png" alt="Beard from his arrest in Travis County" />
 <figcaption>Beard from his arrest in Travis County</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas prosecutor on Wednesday moved to dismiss a felony domestic violence case against former Texas basketball coach Chris Beard, in part because of the alleged victim’s wishes not to prosecute.Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza said that “after a careful and thorough review of the evidence” and considering the wishes of Randi Trew, Beard’s fiancée, his office determined the charge of assault by strangulation/suffocation-family violence could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670863360648.png" alt="Travis County jail records" />
 <figcaption>Travis County jail records</figcaption>
 </figure>Beard was arrested Dec. 12 after Trew called 911 and told officers that Beard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-austin-texas-prisons-violence-579d283260eb916721681dbb3270e06a">strangled, bit and hit her</a>&nbsp;during a confrontation in his home.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-texas-chris-beard-top-25-college-basketball-today-99133534a0645c7318c6557d425d5dcf">She later said Beard didn’t choke her</a>, and that he defended himself from her. She added that she never intended him to be arrested and prosecuted.“Everyone knows that Coach Beard has maintained his absolute innocence since the moment he was arrested,” said Perry Minton, Beard’s attorney. “Additionally, this district attorney has a well-earned reputation for being very tough regarding domestic violence cases. The fact that Mr. Garza’s review resulted in this determination so quickly says a lot. We are very pleased.”The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence, but Trew issued a public statement on Dec. 23 about Beard’s arrest and their fight that night, disputing several elements of the initial police account.The third-degree felony charge carried a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if prosecutors had pressed the case to conviction.“Our office takes all domestic abuse cases seriously to ensure justice for the victims,” Garza said. “In every case, we are obligated to evaluate the facts and evidence and do our best to reach an outcome that will keep the victim and our community safe.”Garza also defended his office’s record of pursuing domestic violence cases, noting his office has secured more than 1,000 convictions in family violence cases since 2021, with more than 200 people going to prison.According to the police affidavit in support of Beard’s arrest, Trew initially told officers he strangled her from behind to the point where she couldn’t breathe for several seconds. The affidavit listed several visible signs of an altercation, including bite marks on her arm and abrasions on her face and leg.According to the affidavit, Trew initally told police “he choked me, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around and going nuts.” Her later statement did not address why she called 911 or several of the physical injuries described in the police report.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672954198060.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Texas suspended Beard without pay the day he was arrested.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-sports-chris-beard-texas-law-enforcement-64f650d82cd95028ad80ae5946fe2e24">He was fired on Jan. 5</a>&nbsp;when Texas officials told Beard’s attorney he was “unfit” to lead the program.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-new-mexico-state-aggies-texas-longhorns-top-25-college-basketball-today-mens-d9601fa3c93f7e4fa792f6c5f6196047">Texas has been led by interim coach Rodney Terry since Dec. 12</a>. The Longhorns are ranked No. 6 and share first place in the Big 12.A University of Texas spokesman declined comment Wednesday.Beard had five years left on a seven-year guaranteed contract that included a provision saying he could be fired for cause if he was charged with a felony or committed other behavior unbecoming of his position or that reflected poorly on the university.The university’s vice president of legal affairs, Jim Davis, wrote in a letter to Beard’s attorney on the day the coach was fired that Beard engaged in “unacceptable behavior that makes him unfit to serve as head coach at our university.”Whether prosecutors continue with the case does not determine whether Beard engaged in conduct unbecoming of the school, Davis wrote.

DA drops felony domestic violence case against ex-Texas coach 

By RACHEL MIPRO and SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/15/critics-call-proposed-kansas-womens-bill-of-rights-sexist-transphobic/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Lawmakers unrolled a new 
bill that would bar transgender women from female-only spaces under the 
assumption that biological women tend to be naturally weaker and more 
vulnerable to violence than men.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/">Senate Bill 180</a>
 was given about 30 minutes of discussion at Wednesday’s Senate Public 
Health and Welfare Committee hearing, a time frame that critics have 
said is woefully inadequate to address all the bill’s implications. The 
bill has been called a women’s bill of rights, a designation that bill 
opponent Caroline Dean rejected.

Dean, a pastor with the 
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ, and 
spokeswoman for the Kansas Interfaith Action, said the bill didn’t 
actually recognize any rights for women.&nbsp;

“The irony of this ‘Women’s Bill of 
Rights’ is that it doesn’t enumerate any actual rights, instead focusing
 on weaponizing the rhetoric of rights to erase protections for 
transgender and nonbinary people,” Dean said. “But I can name some 
rights that women need: the right to pay equity. The right to be free of
 gendered violence and sexual discrimination. The right to have 
affordable childcare, and to have access to healthcare when I or my 
children are in need.”&nbsp;

SB 180 would define “female” as 
people with biological reproductive systems that are developed to 
produce ova, an definition critics have said excludes intersex women and
 alienates women without ovaries.&nbsp;

The bill states that separate 
accommodations based on biological sex aren’t unequal, and that 
biological women sometimes need women-only social, educational, athletic
 and other spaces to ensure safety. This would include domestic violence
 shelters, restrooms and locker rooms.&nbsp;

One part of the bill says that “male 
individuals are, on average, bigger, stronger and faster than female 
individuals,” as justification for biology-based separation. Similar 
legislation has been introduced in North Dakota, Oklahoma and Arizona, 
among other states.&nbsp;

Former
 University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has made numerous 
national appearances in support of transgender sports bans, said she had
 personally experienced unfair competition.&nbsp;

Gaines swam competitively at Kentucky
 for four years and was a five-time SEC champion, 12-time NCAA 
All-American and two-time Olympic qualifier. She swam against Lia 
Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I 
national championship in swimming. In the 200 freestyle final at the 
NCAA championships, Thomas and Gaines tied for fifth place.&nbsp;

Gaines referenced the competition, 
saying people like Thomas were taking over female sports spaces at an 
“alarming rate,” across all athletic levels and ages, though there is 
little evidence of widespread competition from transgender athletes.

In an interview after the hearing, 
Gaines told the Reflector that the media wasn’t doing a good job of 
reporting on biological males competing as females but that there were 
many cases of it happening.&nbsp;

&nbsp;In Kansas, only two public school students across the state <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/13/kansas-democrats-describe-attempt-to-ban-transgender-student-athletes-as-crushing-weight/">would be affected by a transgender sports ban</a>, according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

Proponents speaking in favor of this 
bill and other anti-trans legislation have been mostly from out of the 
state, or from national organizations. During a Tuesday hearing about 
effectively banning gender-affirming care, national anti-transgender 
activists were flown in from North Carolina and California <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/14/bill-blocking-gender-affirming-care-for-kansas-transgender-youth-panned-by-opponents/">to give their testimony</a>.&nbsp;

Gaines said it wasn’t important that 
she had no Kansas connections because her religion and nationality 
qualified her to speak on the issue.&nbsp;

“It doesn’t matter to me where it’s 
coming from,” Gaines said. “One, I identify myself as a Christian and 
two, I’m an American, and so I’m willing to help advocate for anyone in 
this nation who is having to deal with comparing themselves to a 
biological male.”&nbsp;

Bill opponents said they did care 
that people from out of state were given a significant platform to speak
 on Kansas policies, especially with the short allotment of time given 
for SB 180. &nbsp;Kansas ACLU policy director Aileen Berquist said she wanted more Kansas voices to be heard.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“My understanding is that they are 
jumping from state to state, pushing a very specific agenda,” Berquist 
said. “The people who are opponents of this bill are living, working, 
having children and fighting this hatred in our communities every day, 
and they deserve to have their voices heard.”&nbsp;

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park
 Democrat, complained that Sen. Beverly Gossage, a Eudora Republican who
 serves as chairwoman of the Senate health committee, scheduled multiple
 hearings on complex bills on the same day.&nbsp;

After the womens’ bill of rights bill
 was heard, the committee had about 15 minutes to discuss a proposed ban
 on using telemedicine to prescribe abortion drugs.&nbsp;

“I feel like we’re trying to cram 
through a lot of things in a very short time,” Holscher said. “And these
 are very serious matters. We have the professionals here, the experts 
here.”

Gossage told the committee members they were running out of time to consider legislation this session.

“As you know, bills came in very late
 this year compared to other years,” Gossage said. “That’s one of the 
reasons why things feel a little bit rushed, because we actually only 
have two days next week to finish up our hearings, and final action on 
bills, giving us very little time.”

She asked members if they would be 
willing to work on Friday this week, but Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson
 Republican, and Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, objected.

“I’d rather do anything but that,” Steffen said. “I have business responsibilities.”

“I know you do,” Gossage said. “we all do.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492432091.png" alt="Caroline Dean spoke against a proposed women’s bill of rights during a Feb. 15, 2023 hearing, saying the legislation doesn’t actually benefit women. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Caroline Dean spoke against a proposed women’s bill of rights during a Feb. 15, 2023 hearing, saying the legislation doesn’t actually benefit women. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO and SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/15/critics-call-proposed-kansas-womens-bill-of-rights-sexist-transphobic/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Lawmakers unrolled a new 
bill that would bar transgender women from female-only spaces under the 
assumption that biological women tend to be naturally weaker and more 
vulnerable to violence than men.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb180/">Senate Bill 180</a>
 was given about 30 minutes of discussion at Wednesday’s Senate Public 
Health and Welfare Committee hearing, a time frame that critics have 
said is woefully inadequate to address all the bill’s implications. The 
bill has been called a women’s bill of rights, a designation that bill 
opponent Caroline Dean rejected.Dean, a pastor with the 
Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ, and 
spokeswoman for the Kansas Interfaith Action, said the bill didn’t 
actually recognize any rights for women.&nbsp;“The irony of this ‘Women’s Bill of 
Rights’ is that it doesn’t enumerate any actual rights, instead focusing
 on weaponizing the rhetoric of rights to erase protections for 
transgender and nonbinary people,” Dean said. “But I can name some 
rights that women need: the right to pay equity. The right to be free of
 gendered violence and sexual discrimination. The right to have 
affordable childcare, and to have access to healthcare when I or my 
children are in need.”&nbsp;SB 180 would define “female” as 
people with biological reproductive systems that are developed to 
produce ova, an definition critics have said excludes intersex women and
 alienates women without ovaries.&nbsp;The bill states that separate 
accommodations based on biological sex aren’t unequal, and that 
biological women sometimes need women-only social, educational, athletic
 and other spaces to ensure safety. This would include domestic violence
 shelters, restrooms and locker rooms.&nbsp;One part of the bill says that “male 
individuals are, on average, bigger, stronger and faster than female 
individuals,” as justification for biology-based separation. Similar 
legislation has been introduced in North Dakota, Oklahoma and Arizona, 
among other states.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492481760.png" alt="Riley Gaines, a former swimmer for the University of Kentucky, said transgender people are taking over women’s spaces during a Feb. 15 bill hearing. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Riley Gaines, a former swimmer for the University of Kentucky, said transgender people are taking over women’s spaces during a Feb. 15 bill hearing. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Former
 University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has made numerous 
national appearances in support of transgender sports bans, said she had
 personally experienced unfair competition.&nbsp;Gaines swam competitively at Kentucky
 for four years and was a five-time SEC champion, 12-time NCAA 
All-American and two-time Olympic qualifier. She swam against Lia 
Thomas, the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I 
national championship in swimming. In the 200 freestyle final at the 
NCAA championships, Thomas and Gaines tied for fifth place.&nbsp;Gaines referenced the competition, 
saying people like Thomas were taking over female sports spaces at an 
“alarming rate,” across all athletic levels and ages, though there is 
little evidence of widespread competition from transgender athletes.In an interview after the hearing, 
Gaines told the Reflector that the media wasn’t doing a good job of 
reporting on biological males competing as females but that there were 
many cases of it happening.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Kansas, only two public school students across the state <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/13/kansas-democrats-describe-attempt-to-ban-transgender-student-athletes-as-crushing-weight/">would be affected by a transgender sports ban</a>, according to the Kansas State High School Activities Association.Proponents speaking in favor of this 
bill and other anti-trans legislation have been mostly from out of the 
state, or from national organizations. During a Tuesday hearing about 
effectively banning gender-affirming care, national anti-transgender 
activists were flown in from North Carolina and California <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/14/bill-blocking-gender-affirming-care-for-kansas-transgender-youth-panned-by-opponents/">to give their testimony</a>.&nbsp;Gaines said it wasn’t important that 
she had no Kansas connections because her religion and nationality 
qualified her to speak on the issue.&nbsp;“It doesn’t matter to me where it’s 
coming from,” Gaines said. “One, I identify myself as a Christian and 
two, I’m an American, and so I’m willing to help advocate for anyone in 
this nation who is having to deal with comparing themselves to a 
biological male.”&nbsp;Bill opponents said they did care 
that people from out of state were given a significant platform to speak
 on Kansas policies, especially with the short allotment of time given 
for SB 180. &nbsp;Kansas ACLU policy director Aileen Berquist said she wanted more Kansas voices to be heard.&nbsp;&nbsp;“My understanding is that they are 
jumping from state to state, pushing a very specific agenda,” Berquist 
said. “The people who are opponents of this bill are living, working, 
having children and fighting this hatred in our communities every day, 
and they deserve to have their voices heard.”&nbsp;Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park
 Democrat, complained that Sen. Beverly Gossage, a Eudora Republican who
 serves as chairwoman of the Senate health committee, scheduled multiple
 hearings on complex bills on the same day.&nbsp;After the womens’ bill of rights bill
 was heard, the committee had about 15 minutes to discuss a proposed ban
 on using telemedicine to prescribe abortion drugs.&nbsp;“I feel like we’re trying to cram 
through a lot of things in a very short time,” Holscher said. “And these
 are very serious matters. We have the professionals here, the experts 
here.”Gossage told the committee members they were running out of time to consider legislation this session.“As you know, bills came in very late
 this year compared to other years,” Gossage said. “That’s one of the 
reasons why things feel a little bit rushed, because we actually only 
have two days next week to finish up our hearings, and final action on 
bills, giving us very little time.”She asked members if they would be 
willing to work on Friday this week, but Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson
 Republican, and Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, objected.“I’d rather do anything but that,” Steffen said. “I have business responsibilities.”“I know you do,” Gossage said. “we all do.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492532905.png" alt="Sens. Mark Steffen and Cindy Holscher chatted at a Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee meeting on Feb. 15, 2023. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sens. Mark Steffen and Cindy Holscher chatted at a Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee meeting on Feb. 15, 2023. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Critics: Proposed Kan. ‘women’s bill of rights’ sexist, transphobic

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. has suspended production and halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery caught fire during a pre-delivery quality check.

Production at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, has been stopped until at least the end of next week.

The automaker said in a statement Wednesday night it has no reason to believe electric pickups already in use by customers are affected by the battery issue.

“By the end of next week, we expect to conclude our investigation and apply what we learn to the truck’s battery production processes,” Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg said in the statement. “This could take a few weeks.”

The fire happened at an outdoor lot nearby in Dearborn where vehicles are held for quality checks. The truck with the battery problem and two nearby vehicles were damaged by the fire, Bergg said. No injuries were reported.

The company believes it has identified the root cause of the battery problem, including the likely population of trucks affected by it. “We monitor vehicle data to help ensure our vehicles are performing as expected in the field,” Bergg said.

The company will continue to hold completed trucks until engineering and production changes are made.

Batteries for the trucks are supplied by SK Innovation, a Korean supplier with a factory in Georgia.

The production halt comes at an inopportune time for Ford, which has struggled with quality issues, recalls and high warranty costs for several years.

The problem also stops production of a popular product. Bergg said the company is still working through a backlog of nearly 200,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning since it stopped taking them in December 2021. Reservation holders put down $100 deposits, which Ford was converting to orders.

Last year, Ford sold more than 15,000 of the trucks in its first full year of production.

There have been previous problems with the lithium-ion batteries used in most electric vehicles. Fires in the batteries can burn very hot and take thousands of gallons of water to extinguish, which has caused difficulty for firefighters attempting to put out battery fires in several Teslas after crashes. General Motors, Hyundai, BMW and others have issued recalls of the batteries.

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. has suspended production and halted shipments of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup after a battery caught fire during a pre-delivery quality check.Production at Ford’s Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, has been stopped until at least the end of next week.The automaker said in a statement Wednesday night it has no reason to believe electric pickups already in use by customers are affected by the battery issue.“By the end of next week, we expect to conclude our investigation and apply what we learn to the truck’s battery production processes,” Ford spokeswoman Emma Bergg said in the statement. “This could take a few weeks.”The fire happened at an outdoor lot nearby in Dearborn where vehicles are held for quality checks. The truck with the battery problem and two nearby vehicles were damaged by the fire, Bergg said. No injuries were reported.The company believes it has identified the root cause of the battery problem, including the likely population of trucks affected by it. “We monitor vehicle data to help ensure our vehicles are performing as expected in the field,” Bergg said.The company will continue to hold completed trucks until engineering and production changes are made.Batteries for the trucks are supplied by SK Innovation, a Korean supplier with a factory in Georgia.The production halt comes at an inopportune time for Ford, which has struggled with quality issues, recalls and high warranty costs for several years.The problem also stops production of a popular product. Bergg said the company is still working through a backlog of nearly 200,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning since it stopped taking them in December 2021. Reservation holders put down $100 deposits, which Ford was converting to orders.Last year, Ford sold more than 15,000 of the trucks in its first full year of production.There have been previous problems with the lithium-ion batteries used in most electric vehicles. Fires in the batteries can burn very hot and take thousands of gallons of water to extinguish, which has caused difficulty for firefighters attempting to put out battery fires in several Teslas after crashes. General Motors, Hyundai, BMW and others have issued recalls of the batteries.

Ford stops production of electric F-150 due to battery failure

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City police officer, his K-9 partner and a pedestrian died in a crash Wednesday night.

Just after 10:15p.m., the officer and his police dog were on duty and on patrol in the area of Truman Road and Benton Boulevard when the patrol car was struck by another vehicle. The collision caused a secondary impact with a pedestrian.

The pedestrian and police K-9 was declared deceased at the scene, according to the release. EMS transported the officer to the hospital with critical injuries and he died.

The driver of the citizen vehicle has minor injuries and is in custody for further investigation

The officer was a 20-year veteran of the KCPD and had been assigned to the K-9 Unit for nearly 3-years. His K9 partner  was an approximately 1-year veteran of the KCPD.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released names of the victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676552907457.png" alt="The driver of the citizen vehicle has minor injuries and is in custody for further investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The driver of the citizen vehicle has minor injuries and is in custody for further investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City police officer, his K-9 partner and a pedestrian died in a crash Wednesday night.Just after 10:15p.m., the officer and his police dog were on duty and on patrol in the area of Truman Road and Benton Boulevard when the patrol car was struck by another vehicle. The collision caused a secondary impact with a pedestrian.The pedestrian and police K-9 was declared deceased at the scene, according to the release. EMS transported the officer to the hospital with critical injuries and he died.The driver of the citizen vehicle has minor injuries and is in custody for further investigationThe officer was a 20-year veteran of the KCPD and had been assigned to the K-9 Unit for nearly 3-years. His K9 partner was an approximately 1-year veteran of the KCPD.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released names of the victims.

1 in custody: KC officer, pedestrian, police dog dead after crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Moontee Sinquah spent only one minute onstage inside the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix during the NFL's Super Bowl Opening Night. But it's a minute that will remain unforgettable.

The Native American hoop dancer had never been that close to football players and coaches about to compete in the league's biggest game. As he and other Indigenous performers sang and danced, they heard elated whoops from Indigenous people in the audience.

“I’m just really grateful that they did highlight our people because I think it’s really important," said Sinquah, who is a member of the Hopi-Tewa and Choctaw nations. But when he thinks of that inclusion coupled with Super Bowl cameras panning to Kansas City Chiefs fans doing the maligned “tomahawk chop,” Sinquah says that juxtaposition leaves him “perplexed.”

“I think that’s the only thing that really bothers me about that whole thing is that, and I don’t know where it came from. And I don’t really fully understand it, but it is almost like a mockery,” Sinquah said.

The Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs embarked on their victory lap Wednesday, with players and fans alike doing the “chop” during a raucous parade and rally. Indigenous people are grappling with the national spotlight once again falling on the team’s mascot and fan “war chant” — which they deem racist. This past week in Arizona, where at least a quarter of the land base is tribal reservations, there's been a complicated mix of delight for the NFL involving Native and Indigenous cultures but disdain for those cultures being appropriated.

Fans of the Chiefs long ago adopted the chanting and arm movement symbolizing the brandishing of a tomahawk that began at Florida State University in the 1980s — though the school has an agreement with the Seminole tribe to use the moniker and tribal imagery. In 2020, the Chiefs banned headdresses and war paint in the stadium and pushed for cheerleaders to do the “chop” with a closed fist instead of an open hand.

There were plenty performing the chop in a red sea of fans in Chiefs gear along the parade route and in front of Kansas City's Union Station, where the parade ended. The team then closed out the rally by doing the “chop” in unison in a slurry of confetti.

Andrea Robinson, an 18-year-old psychology major at the University of Kansas, hollered while doing the open-handed chop with the crowd.

“I think we should keep it,” Robinson said. “I mean we need to be respectful about it. I understand but I mean it's a tradition.”

David Cordray, a 38-year-old heating, cooling and refrigeration technician from Kansas City, Missouri, said he doesn't see the harm in the gesture or the mascot. He also pointed to changes such as the retirement of the live mascot, a horse named “Warpaint" that a cheerleader would ride in the stadium after the team scored. Previously, a man donning a Native headdress rode the horse.

“If they don’t think it is OK to do then maybe we should stop. But the Native Americans I’ve come in contact with have said that they didn’t have any issues with it. Basically it is all opinion-based," Cordray said. “We’ve gone a long way to make sure that we are respectful of everybody’s culture and being vigilant about it.”

The origin of the Chiefs nickname may have more to do with the mayor who helped lure the franchise from Dallas in 1963 than any connection to Native Americans.

Mayor H. Roe Bartle was a large man known as “The Chief” for his many years of leadership in the Boy Scouts. Team owner Lamar Hunt reportedly named the team the Chiefs in honor of Bartle.

Even the connection with Bartle has undertones that some find offensive. Though he was white, Bartle started the “Mic-O-Say Tribe,” a youth camping organization that remains active and continues to use Native American attire and language. Young participants are “braves,” and the top leader is the “chief.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-native-americans-protest-8ae3ec6cd25a6a0fd4d394ea23583079">Chiefs President Mark Donovan said</a>&nbsp;last week that Bartle obtained permission from the Northern Arapaho Tribe to use the term “chief." Rhonda LeValdo, founder of the Kansas City-based Indigenous activist group Not In Our Honor, disputed that narrative.

James Simermeyer, a member of the Coharie Tribe based in North Carolina, watched most of the game from his home in Baltimore. He appreciated the involvement of Sinquah's dance troupe and a University of Arizona student who is Navajo and deaf using Native American sign language during “America the Beautiful" before the game. At the same time, it felt like “one step forward two steps back” when he heard the chant Kansas City fans do during the chop.

With the publicity around the Chiefs' win, Simermeyer said it's like an implicit condoning of all the things Native and Indigenous people find hurtful.

“There’s no positive reason to support it. But it just kind of affirms the negative behavior that Kansas City fans are doing,” Simermeyer said. “I can’t imagine how many other people are out there and having the conversation with their non-Native colleagues about whether or not they’re offended by this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676490712326.png" alt="Image courtesy KSHB-TV" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KSHB-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Moontee Sinquah spent only one minute onstage inside the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix during the NFL's Super Bowl Opening Night. But it's a minute that will remain unforgettable.The Native American hoop dancer had never been that close to football players and coaches about to compete in the league's biggest game. As he and other Indigenous performers sang and danced, they heard elated whoops from Indigenous people in the audience.It gave Sinquah chills.“I’m just really grateful that they did highlight our people because I think it’s really important," said Sinquah, who is a member of the Hopi-Tewa and Choctaw nations. But when he thinks of that inclusion coupled with Super Bowl cameras panning to Kansas City Chiefs fans doing the maligned “tomahawk chop,” Sinquah says that juxtaposition leaves him “perplexed.”“I think that’s the only thing that really bothers me about that whole thing is that, and I don’t know where it came from. And I don’t really fully understand it, but it is almost like a mockery,” Sinquah said.The Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs embarked on their victory lap Wednesday, with players and fans alike doing the “chop” during a raucous parade and rally. Indigenous people are grappling with the national spotlight once again falling on the team’s mascot and fan “war chant” — which they deem racist. This past week in Arizona, where at least a quarter of the land base is tribal reservations, there's been a complicated mix of delight for the NFL involving Native and Indigenous cultures but disdain for those cultures being appropriated.Fans of the Chiefs long ago adopted the chanting and arm movement symbolizing the brandishing of a tomahawk that began at Florida State University in the 1980s — though the school has an agreement with the Seminole tribe to use the moniker and tribal imagery. In 2020, the Chiefs banned headdresses and war paint in the stadium and pushed for cheerleaders to do the “chop” with a closed fist instead of an open hand.There were plenty performing the chop in a red sea of fans in Chiefs gear along the parade route and in front of Kansas City's Union Station, where the parade ended. The team then closed out the rally by doing the “chop” in unison in a slurry of confetti.Andrea Robinson, an 18-year-old psychology major at the University of Kansas, hollered while doing the open-handed chop with the crowd.“I think we should keep it,” Robinson said. “I mean we need to be respectful about it. I understand but I mean it's a tradition.”David Cordray, a 38-year-old heating, cooling and refrigeration technician from Kansas City, Missouri, said he doesn't see the harm in the gesture or the mascot. He also pointed to changes such as the retirement of the live mascot, a horse named “Warpaint" that a cheerleader would ride in the stadium after the team scored. Previously, a man donning a Native headdress rode the horse.“If they don’t think it is OK to do then maybe we should stop. But the Native Americans I’ve come in contact with have said that they didn’t have any issues with it. Basically it is all opinion-based," Cordray said. “We’ve gone a long way to make sure that we are respectful of everybody’s culture and being vigilant about it.”The origin of the Chiefs nickname may have more to do with the mayor who helped lure the franchise from Dallas in 1963 than any connection to Native Americans.Mayor H. Roe Bartle was a large man known as “The Chief” for his many years of leadership in the Boy Scouts. Team owner Lamar Hunt reportedly named the team the Chiefs in honor of Bartle.Even the connection with Bartle has undertones that some find offensive. Though he was white, Bartle started the “Mic-O-Say Tribe,” a youth camping organization that remains active and continues to use Native American attire and language. Young participants are “braves,” and the top leader is the “chief.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-native-americans-protest-8ae3ec6cd25a6a0fd4d394ea23583079">Chiefs President Mark Donovan said</a>&nbsp;last week that Bartle obtained permission from the Northern Arapaho Tribe to use the term “chief." Rhonda LeValdo, founder of the Kansas City-based Indigenous activist group Not In Our Honor, disputed that narrative.James Simermeyer, a member of the Coharie Tribe based in North Carolina, watched most of the game from his home in Baltimore. He appreciated the involvement of Sinquah's dance troupe and a University of Arizona student who is Navajo and deaf using Native American sign language during “America the Beautiful" before the game. At the same time, it felt like “one step forward two steps back” when he heard the chant Kansas City fans do during the chop.With the publicity around the Chiefs' win, Simermeyer said it's like an implicit condoning of all the things Native and Indigenous people find hurtful.“There’s no positive reason to support it. But it just kind of affirms the negative behavior that Kansas City fans are doing,” Simermeyer said. “I can’t imagine how many other people are out there and having the conversation with their non-Native colleagues about whether or not they’re offended by this.”

Native Americans grapple with Chiefs Super Bowl celebrations

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

Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Acura passenger vehicle for a traffic infraction near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver was identified as Randy Thanh Nguyen, 31, of Kansas City, Missouri.

Deputies arrested Nguyen and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a firearm, transporting an open container, driving while suspended, no vehicle registration and no insurance.&nbsp;

He remains in custody on a $15,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676494162030.png" alt="Nguyen-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Nguyen-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Acura passenger vehicle for a traffic infraction near 142nd and U.S. Highway 75, according to sheriff Tim Morse.The driver was identified as Randy Thanh Nguyen, 31, of Kansas City, Missouri.Deputies arrested Nguyen and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal use of a firearm, transporting an open container, driving while suspended, no vehicle registration and no insurance.&nbsp;He remains in custody on a $15,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Sheriff: Kan. deputy found cocaine, firearm during traffic stop

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-15/ice-muck-and-a-480-million-price-tag-the-keystone-oil-spill-cleanup-carries-on-in-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>

In the two months since the Keystone pipeline erupted in Washington 
County, Mill Creek has gone from being coated in floating oil nearly a 
foot deep, to a layer less than one inch.

About four miles of the creek <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">remain shut off</a> from the normal flow of water as part of the ongoing, round-the-clock cleanup.

Workers
 have pulled nearly 2 million gallons of oily water out of Mill Creek, 
carrying on in freezing temperatures by breaking and melting ice.

In mid-December, the Environmental Protection Agency says, about 1.5 
miles of the stream were coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that pooled
 more than 10 inches deep in some places.

By Jan. 25, less than 
one-tenth of a mile remained coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that 
had dropped to less than one inch deep.

Now, no areas of the creek remain coated bank-to-bank, the federal agency says, though workers are still recovering oil.

Since workers <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">bypassed about four miles of Mill Creek</a>
 to help with the cleanup and stop chemicals and bitumen from washing 
downstream, part of the isolated stream now has little water left and 
workers are pulling ice and sediment from the creek bed and banks, the 
EPA says.

The agency says oil company TC Energy and state 
environmental officials have taken samples from drinking water wells 
near the spill site, but tests haven’t turned up any chemicals from the 
spill.

Springtime brings heavier rains to the area, and landowners
 worry about the risk that hard rains could cause the creek to overflow 
its banks.

The EPA says workers built a spillway in case of 
flooding. The National Weather Service provides daily input. And two 
weeks ago, TC Energy began work to increase the pumping capacity for 
diverting water.

The
 nearly 2 million gallons of fluid pulled out of Mill Creek so far go 
into huge tanks or treatment ponds to separate the water and oil before 
transporting the oil to a refinery.

Workers inject air into the contaminated water to help vaporize some of the remaining chemicals. They also treat the water with <a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/topics/gac.html" target="_blank">granular activated carbon</a>, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says.

Next,
 samples of the treated water will go to a lab for analysis to determine
 whether workers can pour the water back into the creek downstream from 
the cleanup site.

“If not, the water will be re-treated until all 
contaminants are removed,” said KDHE, which oversees water treatment and
 discharge.

The EPA says construction is ongoing for a large water
 treatment system, including 5 acres of pond or ponds for the 
contaminated surface water. It says the ponds will be more efficient 
than the tanks now that most of the oil has been pulled from Mill Creek.

TC
 Energy says crews have recovered about 90% of the spilled oil. It has 
deleted from its website a counter that showed updates on how many 
barrels have been recovered.

A Nebraska landfill agreed to take the contaminated soil from the Keystone oil spill.

Trucks
 began hauling away the topsoil on Jan. 17 from the site in Washington 
County where the Keystone ruptured on Dec. 7 and sprayed extra sticky 
tar sands oil called diluted bitumen, or dilbit, onto several acres of 
prairie, cropland and Mill Creek.

“Laboratory analysis of the oil and waste defined it as not being hazardous,” KDHE said in an email.

A
 Shawnee County landfill north of Topeka, Rolling Meadows, had 
previously been named as a potential destination for waste from the oil 
spill.

“Landfills have discretion on whether or not they wish to 
receive waste,” KDHE said. “Pheasant Point Landfill (near Omaha) 
accepted the waste.”

In addition to the contaminated soil, 
Pheasant Point will take other waste from the site, such as oily 
protective clothing and absorbent pads, and floating booms used to block
 the oil slick on the surface of Mill Creek.

Separately,
 the Canadian company behind the oil spill will donate $60,000 to 
Washington County Hospital as part of a campaign it launched after the 
incident to match donations from the public.

TC Energy has also said it would give $7,500 to equip local emergency responders with better mobile and radio equipment.

TC Energy reported an annual revenue of nearly $10 billion and a net income of more than $1.5 billion in its most recent <a href="https://www.tcenergy.com/siteassets/pdfs/investors/reports-and-filings/annual-and-quarterly-reports/2021/tc-2021-annual-report.pdf" target="_blank">yearly report</a>.

Last week <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-09/keystone-pipeline-operator-says-faulty-welding-and-other-problems-led-to-the-kansas-oil-spill" target="_blank">the company estimated</a> that cleaning up and investigating the Keystone spill will cost $480 million, and said it has “appropriate insurance coverage.”

The
 company is still investigating why the pipeline erupted, but has so far
 said that “bending stress on the pipe and a weld flaw” played a role.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492082551.png" alt="In freezing conditions, crews keep up the oil spill cleanup by breaking and melting ice at Mill Creek. EPA photo" />
 <figcaption>In freezing conditions, crews keep up the oil spill cleanup by breaking and melting ice at Mill Creek. EPA photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-15/ice-muck-and-a-480-million-price-tag-the-keystone-oil-spill-cleanup-carries-on-in-kansas">Kansas News Service</a>In the two months since the Keystone pipeline erupted in Washington 
County, Mill Creek has gone from being coated in floating oil nearly a 
foot deep, to a layer less than one inch.About four miles of the creek <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">remain shut off</a> from the normal flow of water as part of the ongoing, round-the-clock cleanup.Workers
 have pulled nearly 2 million gallons of oily water out of Mill Creek, 
carrying on in freezing temperatures by breaking and melting ice.In mid-December, the Environmental Protection Agency says, about 1.5 
miles of the stream were coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that pooled
 more than 10 inches deep in some places.By Jan. 25, less than 
one-tenth of a mile remained coated bank-to-bank in floating oil that 
had dropped to less than one inch deep.Now, no areas of the creek remain coated bank-to-bank, the federal agency says, though workers are still recovering oil.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673624165345.png" alt="This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a 4-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy" />
 <figcaption>This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a 4-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy</figcaption>
 </figure>Since workers <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-05/crews-are-diverting-a-kansas-creek-as-they-race-to-clean-an-oil-spill-and-prevent-further-pollution" target="_blank">bypassed about four miles of Mill Creek</a>
 to help with the cleanup and stop chemicals and bitumen from washing 
downstream, part of the isolated stream now has little water left and 
workers are pulling ice and sediment from the creek bed and banks, the 
EPA says.The agency says oil company TC Energy and state 
environmental officials have taken samples from drinking water wells 
near the spill site, but tests haven’t turned up any chemicals from the 
spill.Springtime brings heavier rains to the area, and landowners
 worry about the risk that hard rains could cause the creek to overflow 
its banks.The EPA says workers built a spillway in case of 
flooding. The National Weather Service provides daily input. And two 
weeks ago, TC Energy began work to increase the pumping capacity for 
diverting water.<h2>Contaminated water</h2>The
 nearly 2 million gallons of fluid pulled out of Mill Creek so far go 
into huge tanks or treatment ponds to separate the water and oil before 
transporting the oil to a refinery.Workers inject air into the contaminated water to help vaporize some of the remaining chemicals. They also treat the water with <a href="https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/hazardous/topics/gac.html" target="_blank">granular activated carbon</a>, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says.Next,
 samples of the treated water will go to a lab for analysis to determine
 whether workers can pour the water back into the creek downstream from 
the cleanup site.“If not, the water will be re-treated until all 
contaminants are removed,” said KDHE, which oversees water treatment and
 discharge.The EPA says construction is ongoing for a large water
 treatment system, including 5 acres of pond or ponds for the 
contaminated surface water. It says the ponds will be more efficient 
than the tanks now that most of the oil has been pulled from Mill Creek.TC
 Energy says crews have recovered about 90% of the spilled oil. It has 
deleted from its website a counter that showed updates on how many 
barrels have been recovered.<h2>Soil to Nebraska</h2>A Nebraska landfill agreed to take the contaminated soil from the Keystone oil spill.Trucks
 began hauling away the topsoil on Jan. 17 from the site in Washington 
County where the Keystone ruptured on Dec. 7 and sprayed extra sticky 
tar sands oil called diluted bitumen, or dilbit, onto several acres of 
prairie, cropland and Mill Creek.“Laboratory analysis of the oil and waste defined it as not being hazardous,” KDHE said in an email.A
 Shawnee County landfill north of Topeka, Rolling Meadows, had 
previously been named as a potential destination for waste from the oil 
spill.“Landfills have discretion on whether or not they wish to 
receive waste,” KDHE said. “Pheasant Point Landfill (near Omaha) 
accepted the waste.”In addition to the contaminated soil, 
Pheasant Point will take other waste from the site, such as oily 
protective clothing and absorbent pads, and floating booms used to block
 the oil slick on the surface of Mill Creek.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492196938.png" alt="EPA photo" />
 <figcaption>EPA photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Cleanup costs and corporate donations</h2>Separately,
 the Canadian company behind the oil spill will donate $60,000 to 
Washington County Hospital as part of a campaign it launched after the 
incident to match donations from the public.TC Energy has also said it would give $7,500 to equip local emergency responders with better mobile and radio equipment.TC Energy reported an annual revenue of nearly $10 billion and a net income of more than $1.5 billion in its most recent <a href="https://www.tcenergy.com/siteassets/pdfs/investors/reports-and-filings/annual-and-quarterly-reports/2021/tc-2021-annual-report.pdf" target="_blank">yearly report</a>.Last week <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-09/keystone-pipeline-operator-says-faulty-welding-and-other-problems-led-to-the-kansas-oil-spill" target="_blank">the company estimated</a> that cleaning up and investigating the Keystone spill will cost $480 million, and said it has “appropriate insurance coverage.”The
 company is still investigating why the pipeline erupted, but has so far
 said that “bending stress on the pipe and a weld flaw” played a role.

$480M Keystone oil spill cleanup carries on in Kansas

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he will challenge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-donald-trump-subpoenas-866034edd3ce3dfbc722b31a3d0e465f">a subpoena by the special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing Trump investigations to compel his testimony before a grand jury — pursuing it to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by the Justice Department, is investigating efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump spent the days before Jan. 6, 2021, aggressively pressuring Pence to reject the outcome, even though Pence had no power to do so. Pence was at the U.S. Capitol presiding over a joint session of Congress as Trump's supporters violently stormed the building that day.

“Let me first be clear: I’m going to fight the Biden DOJ subpoena for me to appear before the grand jury because I believe it’s unconstitutional and it’s unprecedented," Pence told reporters in Iowa, the state that will hold the first contest of the 2024 nominating sequence.

“Never before in American history has a vice president been summoned to appear in court to testify against the president with whom they serve," he said.

Pence said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”

The posture marks an aggressive turn for Pence, who has been laying the groundwork for a likely presidential run. While it remains unclear whether Pence will succeed in delaying or limiting the scope of his testimony, the posture gives the former vice president a new opening to attack the Justice Department, which has become increasingly unpopular among conservatives, in part due to Trump's constant attacks.

Indeed, Pence repeatedly criticized the department Wednesday, complaining of a "two-tiered justice system that Republicans have been dealing with throughout the Biden administration.”

The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-subpoena-trump-special-counsel-3d91f095101d4eca30c22582341f8422">previously reported</a>&nbsp;that Pence was ready to contest Smith's demand for his appearance on constitutional grounds. He argues that because he was serving in his role as president of the Senate on Jan. 6, he is protected under the Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-georgia-presidential-atlanta-donald-trump-aebfa86c7c9912c3a720f52ae60a1c87">“speech or debate” clause</a>&nbsp;from being forced to testify. That provision is intended to protect members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts.

A spokesman for Smith declined to comment. The Justice Department, which had earlier declined to comment on Pence’s subpoena, is expected to oppose the former vice president's efforts and make the case that his cooperation is essential.

Pence noted during an earlier stop in Minneapolis that he had written and spoken extensively about Trump's efforts to pressure him to overturn the results of the election —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-275776015398">something he did not have power to do</a>&nbsp;— and has repeatedly denounced Trump's efforts as "reckless" and “dangerous.”

“I have nothing to hide and I’m proud of what we accomplished. But for me, this is a moment where you have to decide where you stand, and I stand on the Constitution of the United States,” he said.

He added that he expects Trump to try to assert&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-disaster-planning-and-response-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-58ce3d93baf0c4e1a9567c4a563b658f">executive privilege</a>&nbsp;to block his own testimony. "That’s not my fight. My fight is on the separation of powers,” Pence said.

Pence made his remarks after headlining events in Minneapolis and Cedar Rapids aimed at rallying conservative parents opposed to transgender-affirming policies in public schools. The events came as a federal appeals court was expected to hear oral arguments in St. Paul, Minnesota, in a case brought last summer by a national group representing parents of students in Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa, near Cedar Rapids.

Parents Defending Education is trying to overturn a policy adopted by the school board last year allowing transgender students to request a gender support plan to begin socially transitioning at school without the permission of their parents. Pence’s advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has filed an amicus brief in the case, as have dozens of mostly conservative groups and several conservative states.

“Across the country, parents' rights are being trampled by a politically correct nanny state that’s ruining our schools and telling our parents that they have no role in their children’s most important decisions,” Pence said in Minneapolis, where he argued that parents must be informed of such decisions. “You do not craft a gender transition plan for my child without my knowledge or consent," he said.

Though Pence says he has yet to make a decision about 2024, he has visited leadoff Iowa several times since the 2020 election. And his Wednesday event had the look and feel of a campaign stop, held in a pizza restaurant where candidates commonly hold court with voters.

Pence is hoping to draw the support of social and religious conservatives in what could be a crowded primary contest that already includes Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who formally launched her campaign Wednesday.

To that end, Pence's advocacy group launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-south-carolina-2022-midterm-elections-minnesota-iowa-343e37e3967e52e66b21461401973cf8">new campaign last week on the schools issue</a>, a flashpoint for many on the right, as Haley and other presidential prospects, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, prepare for their own visits to the state this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676509558775.png" alt="Pence in Iowa Wednesday said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Pence in Iowa Wednesday said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he will challenge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-donald-trump-subpoenas-866034edd3ce3dfbc722b31a3d0e465f">a subpoena by the special counsel</a>&nbsp;overseeing Trump investigations to compel his testimony before a grand jury — pursuing it to the Supreme Court if necessary.Special counsel Jack Smith, appointed by the Justice Department, is investigating efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump spent the days before Jan. 6, 2021, aggressively pressuring Pence to reject the outcome, even though Pence had no power to do so. Pence was at the U.S. Capitol presiding over a joint session of Congress as Trump's supporters violently stormed the building that day.“Let me first be clear: I’m going to fight the Biden DOJ subpoena for me to appear before the grand jury because I believe it’s unconstitutional and it’s unprecedented," Pence told reporters in Iowa, the state that will hold the first contest of the 2024 nominating sequence.“Never before in American history has a vice president been summoned to appear in court to testify against the president with whom they serve," he said.Pence said he was prepared to take the case “as far as it needs to go, if needs be to the Supreme Court of the United States.”The posture marks an aggressive turn for Pence, who has been laying the groundwork for a likely presidential run. While it remains unclear whether Pence will succeed in delaying or limiting the scope of his testimony, the posture gives the former vice president a new opening to attack the Justice Department, which has become increasingly unpopular among conservatives, in part due to Trump's constant attacks.Indeed, Pence repeatedly criticized the department Wednesday, complaining of a "two-tiered justice system that Republicans have been dealing with throughout the Biden administration.”The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-pence-subpoena-trump-special-counsel-3d91f095101d4eca30c22582341f8422">previously reported</a>&nbsp;that Pence was ready to contest Smith's demand for his appearance on constitutional grounds. He argues that because he was serving in his role as president of the Senate on Jan. 6, he is protected under the Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-georgia-presidential-atlanta-donald-trump-aebfa86c7c9912c3a720f52ae60a1c87">“speech or debate” clause</a>&nbsp;from being forced to testify. That provision is intended to protect members of Congress from questioning about official legislative acts.A spokesman for Smith declined to comment. The Justice Department, which had earlier declined to comment on Pence’s subpoena, is expected to oppose the former vice president's efforts and make the case that his cooperation is essential.Pence noted during an earlier stop in Minneapolis that he had written and spoken extensively about Trump's efforts to pressure him to overturn the results of the election —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-275776015398">something he did not have power to do</a>&nbsp;— and has repeatedly denounced Trump's efforts as "reckless" and “dangerous.”“I have nothing to hide and I’m proud of what we accomplished. But for me, this is a moment where you have to decide where you stand, and I stand on the Constitution of the United States,” he said.He added that he expects Trump to try to assert&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-michael-pence-disaster-planning-and-response-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-58ce3d93baf0c4e1a9567c4a563b658f">executive privilege</a>&nbsp;to block his own testimony. "That’s not my fight. My fight is on the separation of powers,” Pence said.Pence made his remarks after headlining events in Minneapolis and Cedar Rapids aimed at rallying conservative parents opposed to transgender-affirming policies in public schools. The events came as a federal appeals court was expected to hear oral arguments in St. Paul, Minnesota, in a case brought last summer by a national group representing parents of students in Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa, near Cedar Rapids.Parents Defending Education is trying to overturn a policy adopted by the school board last year allowing transgender students to request a gender support plan to begin socially transitioning at school without the permission of their parents. Pence’s advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom, has filed an amicus brief in the case, as have dozens of mostly conservative groups and several conservative states.“Across the country, parents' rights are being trampled by a politically correct nanny state that’s ruining our schools and telling our parents that they have no role in their children’s most important decisions,” Pence said in Minneapolis, where he argued that parents must be informed of such decisions. “You do not craft a gender transition plan for my child without my knowledge or consent," he said.Though Pence says he has yet to make a decision about 2024, he has visited leadoff Iowa several times since the 2020 election. And his Wednesday event had the look and feel of a campaign stop, held in a pizza restaurant where candidates commonly hold court with voters.Pence is hoping to draw the support of social and religious conservatives in what could be a crowded primary contest that already includes Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who formally launched her campaign Wednesday.To that end, Pence's advocacy group launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-south-carolina-2022-midterm-elections-minnesota-iowa-343e37e3967e52e66b21461401973cf8">new campaign last week on the schools issue</a>, a flashpoint for many on the right, as Haley and other presidential prospects, including South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, prepare for their own visits to the state this month.

Pence says he will fight subpoena as far as Supreme Court

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas sex offender on new charges after

Shortly after midnight on Monday night an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle in the the 100 block South 4th in Atchison for not having a vehicle license tag, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The officer subsequently found the driver, Danny Groshong, to be in possession of controlled substances.

Police arrested 32-year-old Danny E. Groshong of Atchison, on requested charges of no vehicle tag, no vehicle insurance, driving without a license, and possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

He has previous convictions for rape of a child under the age of 14 and aggravated indecent liberties. He's been listed as a registered offender since 2011, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676430078346.png" alt="Groshong photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Groshong photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas sex offender on new charges afterShortly after midnight on Monday night an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle in the the 100 block South 4th in Atchison for not having a vehicle license tag, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The officer subsequently found the driver, Danny Groshong, to be in possession of controlled substances.Police arrested 32-year-old Danny E. Groshong of Atchison, on requested charges of no vehicle tag, no vehicle insurance, driving without a license, and possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;He has previous convictions for rape of a child under the age of 14 and aggravated indecent liberties. He's been listed as a registered offender since 2011, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kansas sex offender jailed after drugs found during traffic stop

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A man accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kidnapping-missouri-fb3dd5739aaa2a2d037f858163adb322">keeping a woman hidden in his basement</a>&nbsp;while repeatedly sexually assaulting her was indicted by a grand jury on nine new charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Timothy M. Haslett, of Excelsior Springs, was indicted on one count of rape, four counts of sodomy, two counts of second-degree assault and one count each of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said.

Haslett, 40, is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on $3 million bond. If found guilty, he faces up to five life sentences and another 36 years in prison.

The charges supersede charges of rape, kidnapping and assault filed after Haslett was arrested in October when a woman told investigators she was raped repeatedly while being held captive in his basement for about a month.

“We would not be here today if not for the bravery of one woman and the tireless efforts of 16 different agencies,” Thompson said.

He said law enforcement officers have followed more than 100 leads and spent more than 1,200 hours on the case, but he said the investigation continues.

Court documents say the child endangerment charge stems from leaving unsecured weapons accessible to the child, KSHB-TV reported.

Thompson declined to comment on whether detectives are investigating the possibility of other possible victims.

Haslett's public defender, Tiffany Leuty, did not return a call seeking comment. Haslett's next court hearing is scheduled for Friday.

The woman, who has not been named, said she escaped when Haslett left the house to take his child to school and then ran to a neighbor's home for help.

At the time, the victim was wearing latex lingerie and a metal collar with what appeared to be a padlock on the front, according to court documents.

In January, the Excelsior Springs Police Department said it was looking for 36-year-old Jaynie M. Crosdale as a potential witness in case. Thompson said Tuesday that police continue to look for Crosdale.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665352038142.png" alt="Haslett-photo Clay Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Haslett-photo Clay Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — A man accused of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-kidnapping-missouri-fb3dd5739aaa2a2d037f858163adb322">keeping a woman hidden in his basement</a>&nbsp;while repeatedly sexually assaulting her was indicted by a grand jury on nine new charges, prosecutors announced Tuesday.Timothy M. Haslett, of Excelsior Springs, was indicted on one count of rape, four counts of sodomy, two counts of second-degree assault and one count each of kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said.Haslett, 40, is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on $3 million bond. If found guilty, he faces up to five life sentences and another 36 years in prison.The charges supersede charges of rape, kidnapping and assault filed after Haslett was arrested in October when a woman told investigators she was raped repeatedly while being held captive in his basement for about a month.“We would not be here today if not for the bravery of one woman and the tireless efforts of 16 different agencies,” Thompson said.He said law enforcement officers have followed more than 100 leads and spent more than 1,200 hours on the case, but he said the investigation continues.Court documents say the child endangerment charge stems from leaving unsecured weapons accessible to the child, KSHB-TV reported.Thompson declined to comment on whether detectives are investigating the possibility of other possible victims.Haslett's public defender, Tiffany Leuty, did not return a call seeking comment. Haslett's next court hearing is scheduled for Friday.The woman, who has not been named, said she escaped when Haslett left the house to take his child to school and then ran to a neighbor's home for help.At the time, the victim was wearing latex lingerie and a metal collar with what appeared to be a padlock on the front, according to court documents.In January, the Excelsior Springs Police Department said it was looking for 36-year-old Jaynie M. Crosdale as a potential witness in case. Thompson said Tuesday that police continue to look for Crosdale.

KC-area man accused of confining woman faces new charge

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Adam Kellogg was a nerdy 16-year-old preparing to board a flight from Kansas City to Florida for a space and science camp trip to Cape Canaveral when security held him up for 30 minutes because his driver's license identified him as female.

Three years later, the University of Kansas student's driver's license identifies him as male, but legislative proposals in at least eight states could prevent transgender people like him from changing their driver's licenses and birth certificates. The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature is considering a bill that would define male and female in state law and base people's legal gender identities on their anatomy at birth.

Nationally, conservatives are pushing dozens of proposals in statehouses to restrict transgender athletes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-tennessee-state-government-bill-lee-gender-979fc5aaccd5bf6476fcc6942506f6c8">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-arkansas-children-9ba1ccb44ede4668b10ceb26182cbf24">drag shows.</a>&nbsp;But in measures like Kansas', LGBTQ-rights advocates see a new, sweeping effort to erase trans people's legal existence, deny recognition to nonbinary or gender-fluid people and ignore those who are intersex — people born with genitalia, reproductive organs, chromosomes and/or hormone levels that don’t fit typical definitions for male or female.

“Something that's really important for me is being able to just simply exist as a man, not even think about it," Kellogg said this week while visiting the Statehouse with other transgender people and LGBTQ advocates.

Kellogg laughs now about his experience at the airport, but it was no laughing matter at the time. Back then, he bound the breasts that he'd later have surgically removed and, “They thought I had a bomb strapped to me.”

Doctors say reproductive anatomy at birth doesn’t always align with strict definitions of sex and that binary views of sexual identity can miss biological nuances.

LGBTQ-rights advocates say having a driver's license or birth certificate confirm a transgender person's identity is important by itself but also can prevent daily hassles or harassment. They believe Kansas' bill also would prevent transgender people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their gender identities.

Republicans have put transgender issues at the center of their agenda, a tactic that many observers see as an effort to keep conservative voters energized and to push voters sympathetic to Democrats on other issues into the GOP camp. In the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders derided the Democratic president as “the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is.”

<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_00_0000.pdf">The Kansas bill</a>&nbsp;had a hearing Wednesday before the state Senate's health committee and is similar to a Republican measure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/1136/text">introduced in the U.S. House</a>&nbsp;last year. Oklahoma's Legislature is weighing a similar proposal, while&nbsp;<a href="https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-3027-03000.pdf">North Dakota lawmakers</a>&nbsp;are considering a resolution that would urge public schools and other “public entities” to distinguish “between the sexes according to biological sex at birth.” Mississippi lawmakers had three proposals like Kansas', but none advanced this year.

New Hampshire, Tennessee and Texas also have proposals to define male and female in state law, and a Republican lawmaker in South Carolina has proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/276.htm">an amendment to the state's constitution</a>&nbsp;to declare that legally, a person's gender would be based on anatomy at birth, not a “psychological, chosen, or subjective experience of gender.”

“They’re afraid of what they don’t understand," said Luc Bensimon, a transgender man who serves on Topeka's anti-discrimination commission and is an activist for the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. ”Anything or any lifestyle that is different or outside the norm, they’re not OK."

The Kansas measure would declare that legally, “sex” means “biological” sex, “either male or female, at birth.” It says females have a reproductive system “developed to produce ova,” while males have one “developed to fertilize the ova.”

It's not clear how far the measure will go, though the state Senate committee could vote on it next week. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-legislature-libraries-9ffb07cf3b25faf848dda6d78bff8856">twice vetoed bills</a>&nbsp;to ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's club, K-12 and college sports, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-city-state-government-gender-7f11f63aaf26e193aa9d30d935747002">she opposes restricting</a>&nbsp;gender affirming care.

Supporters of the Kansas bill contend that they're responding to parents and others who are uncomfortable with “biological men” or “biological boys” sharing spaces meant for women and girls — especially bathrooms and locker rooms but also prisons and domestic violence shelters.

They also are trying to frame the debate as protecting the rights of “biological” women, and the Kansas bill is called, “The Women's Bill of Rights.”

In Kansas, Republican state Sen. Renee Erickson, the Senate health committee's vice chair, asked it to sponsor the measure. A former college basketball player, she has also led the push to restrict transgender athletes. She said defining male and female in state law would not prevent anyone from “living how they choose to live."

In North Dakota, Republican state Rep. SuAnn Olson decried what she called “radical gender ideologues” and said they want to redefine womanhood as a subjective state. In Kansas, conservative activist and Statehouse lobbyist Phillip Cosby called young people's increased identity as transgender or nonbinary “a social contagion.”

Dr. Kristyn Brandi, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said she doesn’t automatically assume female reproductive anatomy means female gender.

“It’s helpful to know what anatomical structures are present when I’m doing an exam, when I’m recommending tests,” she said. “I often ask my patient, how do they like to be identified? And I go with that.’’

Brandi also said proclaiming that sex is binary ignores that intersex conditions and differences in gender identity exist.

At birth, external genital anatomy can be ambiguous, sometimes because of differences in sex development, or intersex conditions, which affect about 1% of the population.

Intersex conditions can involve external genitals that don’t match a person’s sex chromosomes. In one condition, testes develop internally but external genitals and breasts appear female. These babies are usually assigned female at birth, but their bodies will never produce eggs.

“There’s variation,’’ Brandi said. “Not everyone fits into this exact box.’’

Jae Moyer, a Kansas City-area activist, has a driver's license and birth certificate identifying them as male, although they identify as nonbinary. The Kansas measure feels designed to force them into “molds that I personally don’t fit into.”

“They want to make sure that they’re taking every avenue possible to just erase who I am as a person,” Moyer said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676486487293.png" alt="Members of the Kansas House LGBTQ caucus Rep. Brandon Woodard,&nbsp;Rep. Heather Meyer and Rep. Susan Ruiz-photo courtesy Rep. Woodard" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Kansas House LGBTQ caucus Rep. Brandon Woodard,&nbsp;Rep. Heather Meyer and Rep. Susan Ruiz-photo courtesy Rep. Woodard</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Adam Kellogg was a nerdy 16-year-old preparing to board a flight from Kansas City to Florida for a space and science camp trip to Cape Canaveral when security held him up for 30 minutes because his driver's license identified him as female.Three years later, the University of Kansas student's driver's license identifies him as male, but legislative proposals in at least eight states could prevent transgender people like him from changing their driver's licenses and birth certificates. The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature is considering a bill that would define male and female in state law and base people's legal gender identities on their anatomy at birth.Nationally, conservatives are pushing dozens of proposals in statehouses to restrict transgender athletes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-tennessee-state-government-bill-lee-gender-979fc5aaccd5bf6476fcc6942506f6c8">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-arkansas-children-9ba1ccb44ede4668b10ceb26182cbf24">drag shows.</a>&nbsp;But in measures like Kansas', LGBTQ-rights advocates see a new, sweeping effort to erase trans people's legal existence, deny recognition to nonbinary or gender-fluid people and ignore those who are intersex — people born with genitalia, reproductive organs, chromosomes and/or hormone levels that don’t fit typical definitions for male or female.“Something that's really important for me is being able to just simply exist as a man, not even think about it," Kellogg said this week while visiting the Statehouse with other transgender people and LGBTQ advocates.Kellogg laughs now about his experience at the airport, but it was no laughing matter at the time. Back then, he bound the breasts that he'd later have surgically removed and, “They thought I had a bomb strapped to me.”Doctors say reproductive anatomy at birth doesn’t always align with strict definitions of sex and that binary views of sexual identity can miss biological nuances.LGBTQ-rights advocates say having a driver's license or birth certificate confirm a transgender person's identity is important by itself but also can prevent daily hassles or harassment. They believe Kansas' bill also would prevent transgender people from using restrooms and other facilities aligned with their gender identities.Republicans have put transgender issues at the center of their agenda, a tactic that many observers see as an effort to keep conservative voters energized and to push voters sympathetic to Democrats on other issues into the GOP camp. In the Republican response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders derided the Democratic president as “the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is.”<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_00_0000.pdf">The Kansas bill</a>&nbsp;had a hearing Wednesday before the state Senate's health committee and is similar to a Republican measure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/1136/text">introduced in the U.S. House</a>&nbsp;last year. Oklahoma's Legislature is weighing a similar proposal, while&nbsp;<a href="https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/documents/23-3027-03000.pdf">North Dakota lawmakers</a>&nbsp;are considering a resolution that would urge public schools and other “public entities” to distinguish “between the sexes according to biological sex at birth.” Mississippi lawmakers had three proposals like Kansas', but none advanced this year.New Hampshire, Tennessee and Texas also have proposals to define male and female in state law, and a Republican lawmaker in South Carolina has proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/276.htm">an amendment to the state's constitution</a>&nbsp;to declare that legally, a person's gender would be based on anatomy at birth, not a “psychological, chosen, or subjective experience of gender.”“They’re afraid of what they don’t understand," said Luc Bensimon, a transgender man who serves on Topeka's anti-discrimination commission and is an activist for the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition. ”Anything or any lifestyle that is different or outside the norm, they’re not OK."The Kansas measure would declare that legally, “sex” means “biological” sex, “either male or female, at birth.” It says females have a reproductive system “developed to produce ova,” while males have one “developed to fertilize the ova.”It's not clear how far the measure will go, though the state Senate committee could vote on it next week. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-legislature-libraries-9ffb07cf3b25faf848dda6d78bff8856">twice vetoed bills</a>&nbsp;to ban transgender athletes from girls' and women's club, K-12 and college sports, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-city-state-government-gender-7f11f63aaf26e193aa9d30d935747002">she opposes restricting</a>&nbsp;gender affirming care.Supporters of the Kansas bill contend that they're responding to parents and others who are uncomfortable with “biological men” or “biological boys” sharing spaces meant for women and girls — especially bathrooms and locker rooms but also prisons and domestic violence shelters.They also are trying to frame the debate as protecting the rights of “biological” women, and the Kansas bill is called, “The Women's Bill of Rights.”In Kansas, Republican state Sen. Renee Erickson, the Senate health committee's vice chair, asked it to sponsor the measure. A former college basketball player, she has also led the push to restrict transgender athletes. She said defining male and female in state law would not prevent anyone from “living how they choose to live."In North Dakota, Republican state Rep. SuAnn Olson decried what she called “radical gender ideologues” and said they want to redefine womanhood as a subjective state. In Kansas, conservative activist and Statehouse lobbyist Phillip Cosby called young people's increased identity as transgender or nonbinary “a social contagion.”Dr. Kristyn Brandi, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said she doesn’t automatically assume female reproductive anatomy means female gender.“It’s helpful to know what anatomical structures are present when I’m doing an exam, when I’m recommending tests,” she said. “I often ask my patient, how do they like to be identified? And I go with that.’’Brandi also said proclaiming that sex is binary ignores that intersex conditions and differences in gender identity exist.At birth, external genital anatomy can be ambiguous, sometimes because of differences in sex development, or intersex conditions, which affect about 1% of the population.Intersex conditions can involve external genitals that don’t match a person’s sex chromosomes. In one condition, testes develop internally but external genitals and breasts appear female. These babies are usually assigned female at birth, but their bodies will never produce eggs.“There’s variation,’’ Brandi said. “Not everyone fits into this exact box.’’Jae Moyer, a Kansas City-area activist, has a driver's license and birth certificate identifying them as male, although they identify as nonbinary. The Kansas measure feels designed to force them into “molds that I personally don’t fit into.”“They want to make sure that they’re taking every avenue possible to just erase who I am as a person,” Moyer said.

States' push to define sex decried as erasing trans people

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans lined up Wednesday to get a prime spot in downtown Kansas City as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in four NFL seasons.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes were riding in double-decker buses, joined by teammates, family and Chiefs officials, in front of fans standing up to 10 people deep as the parade rolled down a main downtown street on the way to a rally at Union Station.

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt stood in one of the buses holding the Lombardi Trophy, denoting the Chiefs 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday. He later handed it off to players, who passed it around.

Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e93ae229-1f73-4427-8e55-f5c93e6ac7d2">and beyond</a> were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities.

Fans were generally happy and in good spirits while waiting in long lines for food trucks, merchandise trucks and, of course, portable toilets. Some people slept overnight to get prime spots across from Union Station.

But Shellie Diehl, 46, of Kansas City, was seated along a street about a block from Union Station as the crowd became more congested in front of the rally site. She was joined by her 8-year-old daughter, Skyler; 16-year-old daughter, Taylor; and a friend.

Diehl said she came to the Chiefs parade in 2020 and decided to have mother-daughter time while celebrating Skyler's first parade.

“The last one was so much fun, we decided we had to come to this one,” Diehl said. “We're big Chiefs fans, and we wanted to celebrate a great day with the community.”

After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Four seasons ago, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers for the team’s first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city’s first baseball championship in 30 years.

Some fans admitted that Kansas City might be getting a little spoiled.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676490712326.png" alt="Photos courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans lined up Wednesday to get a prime spot in downtown Kansas City as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in four NFL seasons.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676491690062.png" alt="Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledges the crowd during the Union Station portion of the celebration-image courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs coach Andy Reid acknowledges the crowd during the Union Station portion of the celebration-image courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes were riding in double-decker buses, joined by teammates, family and Chiefs officials, in front of fans standing up to 10 people deep as the parade rolled down a main downtown street on the way to a rally at Union Station.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492639699.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Chiefs owner Clark Hunt stood in one of the buses holding the Lombardi Trophy, denoting the Chiefs 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday. He later handed it off to players, who passed it around.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676491667840.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e93ae229-1f73-4427-8e55-f5c93e6ac7d2">and beyond</a> were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It is an honor to be in the Victory Parade today in <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KansasCity</a> to continue to celebrate our <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Chiefs</a>. It’s always a good day to be part of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChiefsKingdom</a>! <a href="https://t.co/G9X6XnbUpg">pic.twitter.com/G9X6XnbUpg</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1625936503871250434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Fans were generally happy and in good spirits while waiting in long lines for food trucks, merchandise trucks and, of course, portable toilets. Some people slept overnight to get prime spots across from Union Station.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676492703682.png" alt="photo courtesy KSHB TV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KSHB TV</figcaption>
 </figure>But Shellie Diehl, 46, of Kansas City, was seated along a street about a block from Union Station as the crowd became more congested in front of the rally site. She was joined by her 8-year-old daughter, Skyler; 16-year-old daughter, Taylor; and a friend.Diehl said she came to the Chiefs parade in 2020 and decided to have mother-daughter time while celebrating Skyler's first parade.“The last one was so much fun, we decided we had to come to this one,” Diehl said. “We're big Chiefs fans, and we wanted to celebrate a great day with the community.”After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Four seasons ago, the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers for the team’s first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city’s first baseball championship in 30 years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676487685664.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Some fans admitted that Kansas City might be getting a little spoiled.“Kind of getting used to it, but that's OK,” said Liz Barber, 50, of Shawnee, Kansas. “It is good.”David Cordray, 38, from Kansas City, said “We had a 50-year-drought, so it's about time we had our own dynasty.”A group of about 25 Chiefs fans from Kansas City who arrived about 6 a.m. cooked up a breakfast feast, complete with corn on the cob, bacon and potatoes and all the trimmings — and they had steaks ready for later in the day.Dominic Zamora, 18, of Kansas City, said the friends arrived about 6 a.m. to set up their tailgate, continuing a tradition whenever he and his friends attend Chiefs games. He said he expects to return for more parades in the coming years.“With Mahomes, there's more to come,” Zamora said. “It's going to be fun, and I'm excited to show up."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676477589551.png" alt="photo 10 a.m. from the KC Police helicopter&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>photo 10 a.m. from the KC Police helicopter&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Manuel Palacio, 48, of Kansas City, was dressed in a cow's suit in a tribute to Kansas City's “Cowtown” nickname. He said he was a longtime Buffalo Bills fan who converted to the Chiefs in about 1993 after losing a bet with a Chiefs fan.“I had to convert,” Palacio said. “It's like being an Oakland Raiders fan; at some point you have to cheer for the team who keeps winning,” he said, laughing.Palacio said he and his extended family spend the season watching the Chiefs games at home and decided “when — not if — we win the Super Bowl, we're going to go down there and have some fun, celebrate together.”Officials began planning the parade weeks before the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">defeated the Eagles</a>&nbsp;on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.Kansas City police said about 675 law enforcement officers from more than 20 agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders, were fanned out along the route for the anticipated crowd.The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.---------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fans lined up Wednesday morning to get a prime spot in downtown Kansas City as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in two years.<a href="https://www.visitkc.com/chiefs/champions-parade-live">Click here to watch</a>&nbsp;the parade that begins at noon courtesy Visit KC and KSHB-TVChiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes will join teammates, family and Chiefs officials as they ride in open-air vehicles down a main downtown streets to a rally at Union Station.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Celebration ready ❤️💛 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChiefsKingdom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChiefsKingdom</a> <a href="https://t.co/HL1ErOwoPW">pic.twitter.com/HL1ErOwoPW</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1625850767293947904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676467622628.png" alt="Fans along the parade route 7:30a.m. Wednesday-image courtesy KSHB" />
 <figcaption>Fans along the parade route 7:30a.m. Wednesday-image courtesy KSHB</figcaption>
 </figure>Fans endured a chilly wind as the sun came up to wait in long lines for food trucks and merchandise trucks, and even at a tent where a barber was giving free haircuts. Tents of those who slept overnight to get a prime spot dotted the area around Union Station, and some people were fast asleep hours before the parade began.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good morning, Chiefs Kingdom! Who’s ready to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Kansas City Chiefs! Parking is currently still available in Union Station’s West Yards Garage with access from Pershing and Broadway. <a href="https://t.co/3gDvXjQQty">pic.twitter.com/3gDvXjQQty</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1625830189266796545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A group of about 25 Chiefs fans from Kansas City cooked up a breakfast feast, complete with corn on the cob, bacon and potatoes and all the trimmings — and they had steaks ready for later in the day.Dominic Zamora, 18, of Kansas City, said the friends arrived about 6 a.m. to set up their tailgate, continuing a tradition whenever he and his friends attend Chiefs games. He said he expects to return for more parades in the coming years.“With Mahomes, there's more to come,” Zamora said. “It's going to be fun, and I'm excited to show up."Manuel Palacio, 48, of Kansas City, was dressed in a cow's suit in a tribute to Kansas City's “Cowtown” nickname.He said he was a longtime Buffalo Bills fan who converted to the Chiefs in about 1993 after losing a bet with a Chiefs fan.“I had to convert,” Palacio said. “It's like being an Oakland Raiders fan; at some point you have to cheer for the team who keeps winning,” he said, laughing.Palacio said he and his extended family spend the season watching the Chiefs games at home and decided “when — not if — we win the Super Bowl, we're going to go down there and have some fun, celebrate together.”Officials began planning the parade even before the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35</a>&nbsp;Sunday on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.Officials said that more than 19 local and area law enforcement agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders are ready for the anticipated crowd.The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Two years ago, the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-49ers-sports-general-super-bowl-football-ap-top-news-8f6178fbfa3844677b5fc374bc53b80f">defeated the San Francisco 49ers</a>&nbsp;for the team's first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city's first baseball championship in 30 years.---------KANSAS CITY(AP) — Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to line the streets of downtown Kansas City on Wednesday as the city celebrates the Kansas City Chiefs' second&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship in two years.<a href="https://www.visitkc.com/chiefs/champions-parade-live">Click here to watch</a> the parade that begins at noon. The rally at Union Station&nbsp;and the National&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theworldwar.org/">WWI Museum and Memorial north lawn&nbsp;</a>will begin at approximately 1:45p.m and last approximately 1 hour.Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be joined by teammates, family and Chiefs officials as they ride in open-air vehicles down one of the city’s main downtown streets.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good morning, Chiefs Kingdom! Who’s ready to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPION Kansas City Chiefs! Parking is currently still available in Union Station’s West Yards Garage with access from Pershing and Broadway. <a href="https://t.co/3gDvXjQQty">pic.twitter.com/3gDvXjQQty</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1625830189266796545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area will be closed so people can celebrate. The event starts at noon and will end with a victory rally at the city’s Union Station.Officials began planning the parade even before the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2023-kansas-city-chiefs-philadelphia-eagles-43a1fb387f63438c1eea23b6a4244d95">defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35</a>&nbsp;Sunday on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.Officials said that more than 19 local and area law enforcement agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders are ready for the anticipated crowd.The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.After decades of championship drought, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Two years ago, the Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-49ers-sports-general-super-bowl-football-ap-top-news-8f6178fbfa3844677b5fc374bc53b80f">defeated the San Francisco 49ers</a>&nbsp;for the team's first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city's first baseball championship in 30 years.