SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused of violent sex crimes made his first court appearance in the case this we.

Hunter Peach, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 3 counts of rape, 2 counts of aggravated domestic battery, and 2 counts of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On October 17, a 23-year-old woman reported she was sexually&nbsp; assaulted by Peach, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp;

Police located Peach and arrested him in the 400 block of West Central in Wichita and booked him on requested sex crimes.

&nbsp;Peach and the woman know each other, according to police. He is in the Sedgwick County Jail on a bond of $300,000, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp; His next court hearing is October 31.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666123400223.png" alt="Peach-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Peach-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused of violent sex crimes made his first court appearance in the case this we.Hunter Peach, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 3 counts of rape, 2 counts of aggravated domestic battery, and 2 counts of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On October 17, a 23-year-old woman reported she was sexually&nbsp; assaulted by Peach, according to Officer Chad Ditch.&nbsp;Police located Peach and arrested him in the 400 block of West Central in Wichita and booked him on requested sex crimes.&nbsp;Peach and the woman know each other, according to police. He is in the Sedgwick County Jail on a bond of $300,000, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp; His next court hearing is October 31.

Kansas man charged for violent sex crimes

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Microchipping got a dog back to its rightful owner, while another man found himself in the Saline County Jail Sunday morning.

Just after 11a.m., officers were called to the Friendship Center in Centennial Park, 746 Commanche Avenue in Salina, at approximately&nbsp; for the report of a dispute.

Richard Vignery, 58, of Salina, told police that his dog, Meka, had gotten loose. He said he located the dog in Centennial Park where Ian Mathews, 56, of Kansas City, Mo., had the dog on a leash, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. The two men began arguing about ownership of the dog.

Vignery told police that his dog was chipped. Salina Animal Services was called to scan for the chip, which revealed that Vignery was, indeed, Meka's owner.

While an officer was attempting to cite Mathews for theft of lost or misplaced property, Mathews allegedly attempted to slap the citation book out of the officer's hand.

Police arrested Mathews on the requested charges of Battery of a law enforcement officer and Theft of lost or misplaced property

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666615655985.jpeg" alt="Ian Mathews-photo&nbsp;Saline County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Ian Mathews-photo&nbsp;Saline County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostMicrochipping got a dog back to its rightful owner, while another man found himself in the Saline County Jail Sunday morning.Just after 11a.m., officers were called to the Friendship Center in Centennial Park, 746 Commanche Avenue in Salina, at approximately&nbsp; for the report of a dispute.Richard Vignery, 58, of Salina, told police that his dog, Meka, had gotten loose. He said he located the dog in Centennial Park where Ian Mathews, 56, of Kansas City, Mo., had the dog on a leash, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester. The two men began arguing about ownership of the dog.Vignery told police that his dog was chipped. Salina Animal Services was called to scan for the chip, which revealed that Vignery was, indeed, Meka's owner.While an officer was attempting to cite Mathews for theft of lost or misplaced property, Mathews allegedly attempted to slap the citation book out of the officer's hand.Police arrested Mathews on the requested charges of Battery of a law enforcement officer and Theft of lost or misplaced property

Dispute over dog ownership lands man in Kansas jail

KANSAS CITY (AP) — An arbitrator ruled that a Kansas City firefighter lied to police after he drove through a red light and crashed into several vehicles, killing three people last year.

Judge Miles Sweeney said in a summary of his findings that was filed in court Friday the evidence from eyewitnesses, traffic cameras and the scene of the crash showed that Dominic Biscari didn't slow down as he approached the intersection in a 40,000-pound fire engine or slam on the brakes when he saw an SUV pull in front of him like he told investigators,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/article267715462.html#storylink=cpy">according</a>&nbsp;to the Kansas City Star.

The fire truck collided with the SUV and pushed it through the intersection before continuing into several parked cars and smashing into a building. Two people in the SUV and a pedestrian who was about to enter a vehicle died. And the upper floor of the brick building that the fire truck struck collapsed, burying the pedestrian in a pile of rubble.

The crash last Dec. 15 happened about one minute after dispatchers told the fire crew to stand down.

Sweeney recommended that Biscari pay the families of the victims and the owner of the destroyed building $32 million. Another judge will have to approve that order before it becomes final. A separate civil lawsuit against the fire department and the city remains pending.

Sweeney said Biscari violated fire department policies when he drove roughly 15 miles per hour above the speed limit just before the fatal crash.

Sweeney said department officials had notice about Biscari’s “dangerous and reckless driving of KCFD vehicles” because of an email a coworker sent to fire officials about three months before the fatal crash raising concerns about his driving. The employee told supervisors that she was no longer comfortable riding with Biscari because he accelerated to 70 mph when it wasn’t necessary while they were transporting a critically ill patient.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639665850854.png" alt="The crash happened just before 10:30 p.m. Dec. 15, as the firetruck headed to an emergency call with its lights and siren on-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The crash happened just before 10:30 p.m. Dec. 15, as the firetruck headed to an emergency call with its lights and siren on-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — An arbitrator ruled that a Kansas City firefighter lied to police after he drove through a red light and crashed into several vehicles, killing three people last year.Judge Miles Sweeney said in a summary of his findings that was filed in court Friday the evidence from eyewitnesses, traffic cameras and the scene of the crash showed that Dominic Biscari didn't slow down as he approached the intersection in a 40,000-pound fire engine or slam on the brakes when he saw an SUV pull in front of him like he told investigators,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/article267715462.html#storylink=cpy">according</a>&nbsp;to the Kansas City Star.The fire truck collided with the SUV and pushed it through the intersection before continuing into several parked cars and smashing into a building. Two people in the SUV and a pedestrian who was about to enter a vehicle died. And the upper floor of the brick building that the fire truck struck collapsed, burying the pedestrian in a pile of rubble.The crash last Dec. 15 happened about one minute after dispatchers told the fire crew to stand down.Sweeney recommended that Biscari pay the families of the victims and the owner of the destroyed building $32 million. Another judge will have to approve that order before it becomes final. A separate civil lawsuit against the fire department and the city remains pending.Sweeney said Biscari violated fire department policies when he drove roughly 15 miles per hour above the speed limit just before the fatal crash.Sweeney said department officials had notice about Biscari’s “dangerous and reckless driving of KCFD vehicles” because of an email a coworker sent to fire officials about three months before the fatal crash raising concerns about his driving. The employee told supervisors that she was no longer comfortable riding with Biscari because he accelerated to 70 mph when it wasn’t necessary while they were transporting a critically ill patient.

Arbitrator says Kansas City firefighter lied about fatal crash

ST. LOUIS (AP) — An armed former student broke into a St. Louis high school Monday morning warning, “You are all going to die!” before fatally shooting a teacher and a teenage girl, and wounding six others before police killed him in an exchange of gunfire.

The attack just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School forced students to barricade doors and huddle in classroom corners, jump from windows and run out of the building to seek safety. One terrorized girl said she was eye-to-eye with the shooter before his gun apparently jammed and she was able to run out.

Speaking at a news conference, Police Chief Michael Sack said fast actions by a security guard, along with police officers who “ran to the gunfire” helped end the shooting before more people were killed or hurt. Police on Monday evening identified the shooter as 19-year-old Orlando Harris, who graduated from the school last year. Police said they did not have a possible motive. They said earlier in the day that it was not clear if anyone had been targeted.

Sack said Harris had no prior criminal history.

Authorities didn't name the victims, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/health-teacher-killed-in-south-st-louis-school-shooting-loved-her-students/article_b035a1e1-2595-51c2-8d45-0d9a42ea676d.html">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;identified the dead teacher as Jean Kuczka. Her daughter said her mother was killed when the gunman burst into her classroom and she moved between him and her students.

“My mom loved kids,” Abbey Kuczka told the newspaper. “She loved her students. I know her students looked at her like she was their mom.”

St. Louis Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams said seven security guards were in the school at the time of the attack, each stationed at an entrance of the locked building. One of the guards noticed the gunman trying to get in at a locked door, but couldn't. The guard notified school officials, who contacted police, Sack said.

“It was that timely response by that security officer, the fact that the door did cause pause for the suspect, that bought us some time,” Sack said.

He declined to say how the man eventually got inside, armed with what he described as a long gun. Central Visual and Performing Arts shares a building with another magnet school, Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. Central has 383 students, Collegiate 336.

Officers worked to get students out of the three-story building, then “ran to that gunfire, located that shooter and engaged that shooter in an exchange of gunfire," killing him, Sack said.

Monday’s school shooting was the fortieth this year resulting in injuries or death, according to a tally by Education Week — the most in any year since it began tracking shootings in 2018. The deadly attacks include the killings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May, when 19 children and two teachers died. Monday's St. Louis shooting came on the same day a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pontiac-michigan-oxford-high-school-shooting-crime-shootings-ff69e26f96bb07af5dcb76bddc650bb4">Michigan teenager pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to terrorism and first-degree murder in a school shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-michigan-77eb45f22f5d9dab802e4378608ca307">killed four students</a>&nbsp;in December 2021.

Some of the six people hospitalized in Monday's attack suffered gunshot wounds, while others were struck by shrapnel, Sack said. He did not provide any information on their conditions.

Taniya Gholston said she was saved when the shooter's gun jammed as he entered her classroom. “All I heard was two shots and he came in there with a gun,” the 16-year-old told the Post-Dispatch. “I was trying to run and I couldn't run. Me and him made eye contact but I made it out because his gun got jammed.”

Two teachers recounted near-miss confrontations with the shooter.

Ashley Rench told The Associated Press she was teaching advanced algebra to sophomores when she heard a loud bang. Then the school intercom announced, “Miles Davis is in the building.”

“That’s our code for intruder,” Rench said.

Students took refuge beneath her desk and behind her podium as the shooter tried to enter the locked classroom before giving up and going away.

“I don’t know why he chose not to break my windows or shoot through the lock,” she said.

Raymond Parks was about to teach a dance class for juniors when a man dressed in black approached. At first, Parks thought the man was carrying a broom or a stick. Then he realized it was a gun.

“The kids started screaming and running and scrambling. He walked directly into the two doors and pointed the gun over at me because I was in the front,” Parks said.

For some unknown reason, Parks said, the shooter pointed the gun away from him and let Parks and the dozen or so students leave the room. “That’s what I don’t understand. He let me go,” Parks said.

Janay Douglas’ 15-year-old daughter got stuck in a hallway when the school was locked down. Douglas said she received a call from her daughter letting her know she heard shots.

“One of her friends busted through the door, he was shot in the hand, and then her and her friends just took off running. The phone disconnected,” Douglas said. “I was on my way.”

Kuczka, the slain teacher, taught health at Central for 14 years and recently began coaching cross-country at Collegiate, her daughter said. “She was definitely looking forward to retirement though. She was close," Abbey Kuczka said.

Kuczka's biography on the school website said she was the married mother of five and a grandmother of seven. She was an avid bike rider and was part of a 1979 national championship field hockey team at what is now Missouri State University.

“I cannot imagine myself in any other career but teaching,” Kuczka wrote on the website. “In high school, I taught swimming lessons at the YMCA. From that point on, I knew I wanted to be a teacher.”

The shooting left St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones shaken.

“Our children shouldn’t have to experience this,” Jones said at the news conference. “They shouldn’t have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens. And unfortunately that happened today.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said additional action is needed to stop gun violence.

“Every day that the Senate fails to send an assault weapons ban to the president’s desk or waits to take another other common sense actions, is a day too late for families and communities impacted by gun violence," Jean-Pierre said.

The school district placed all of its schools on lockdown for the remainder of the day, and canceled all after-school activities, including sports.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis police say three people are dead after a shooting a high school Monday morning.

Speaking at a news conference, Police Commissioner Michael Sack said the three dead included an adult, a girl and the shooter.

The shooting just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School forced students to barricade doors and huddle in classroom corners, jump from windows and run out of the building to seek safety. Within minutes, the school was surrounded by dozens of police vehicles.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — At least two students were injured Monday morning in a shooting inside a St. Louis high school.

The shooting was reported just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, prompting hundreds of students, faculty and staff to leave the building, many of them running. The school was immediately surrounded by dozens of police vehicles.

St. Louis Public Schools said on Twitter that the shooter was “quickly stopped” by police. A tweet from the police department said the shooter was in custody. No further details about the shooter were immediately released.

The FBI said in a statement later Monday morning that there was no longer an “immediate threat” at the school. The district said the injured students were on the way to the hospital, but did not indicate how badly they were injured.

One student, 16-year-old Taniya Gholston, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch she was in a room when the shooter entered.

“All I heard was two shots and he came in there with a gun,” Gholston said. “And I was trying to run and I couldn't run. Me and him made eye contact but I made it out because his gun got jammed. But we saw blood on the floor.”

TV reports said officers entered the area with guns drawn shortly after 9 a.m. Crime tape was placed around the school and some parents arrived to pick up kids and check on their safety. The district, in a tweet, said students could be picked up at another school building or a nearby grocery store.

Central Visual and Performing Arts High School is a magnet school specializing in visual art, musical art and performing art. The district website says the school's “educational program is designed to create a nurturing environment where students receive a quality academic and artistic education that prepares them to compete successfully at the post-secondary level or perform competently in the world of work.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666624155958.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting early Monday-photo courtesy KTVI" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting early Monday-photo courtesy KTVI</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. LOUIS (AP) — An armed former student broke into a St. Louis high school Monday morning warning, “You are all going to die!” before fatally shooting a teacher and a teenage girl, and wounding six others before police killed him in an exchange of gunfire.The attack just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School forced students to barricade doors and huddle in classroom corners, jump from windows and run out of the building to seek safety. One terrorized girl said she was eye-to-eye with the shooter before his gun apparently jammed and she was able to run out.Speaking at a news conference, Police Chief Michael Sack said fast actions by a security guard, along with police officers who “ran to the gunfire” helped end the shooting before more people were killed or hurt. Police on Monday evening identified the shooter as 19-year-old Orlando Harris, who graduated from the school last year. Police said they did not have a possible motive. They said earlier in the day that it was not clear if anyone had been targeted.Sack said Harris had no prior criminal history.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666624221873.png" alt="Students ran from the building -photo courtesy KTVI&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Students ran from the building -photo courtesy KTVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities didn't name the victims, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/health-teacher-killed-in-south-st-louis-school-shooting-loved-her-students/article_b035a1e1-2595-51c2-8d45-0d9a42ea676d.html">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;identified the dead teacher as Jean Kuczka. Her daughter said her mother was killed when the gunman burst into her classroom and she moved between him and her students.“My mom loved kids,” Abbey Kuczka told the newspaper. “She loved her students. I know her students looked at her like she was their mom.”St. Louis Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams said seven security guards were in the school at the time of the attack, each stationed at an entrance of the locked building. One of the guards noticed the gunman trying to get in at a locked door, but couldn't. The guard notified school officials, who contacted police, Sack said.“It was that timely response by that security officer, the fact that the door did cause pause for the suspect, that bought us some time,” Sack said.He declined to say how the man eventually got inside, armed with what he described as a long gun. Central Visual and Performing Arts shares a building with another magnet school, Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. Central has 383 students, Collegiate 336.Officers worked to get students out of the three-story building, then “ran to that gunfire, located that shooter and engaged that shooter in an exchange of gunfire," killing him, Sack said.Monday’s school shooting was the fortieth this year resulting in injuries or death, according to a tally by Education Week — the most in any year since it began tracking shootings in 2018. The deadly attacks include the killings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May, when 19 children and two teachers died. Monday's St. Louis shooting came on the same day a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pontiac-michigan-oxford-high-school-shooting-crime-shootings-ff69e26f96bb07af5dcb76bddc650bb4">Michigan teenager pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to terrorism and first-degree murder in a school shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-football-michigan-77eb45f22f5d9dab802e4378608ca307">killed four students</a>&nbsp;in December 2021.Some of the six people hospitalized in Monday's attack suffered gunshot wounds, while others were struck by shrapnel, Sack said. He did not provide any information on their conditions.Taniya Gholston said she was saved when the shooter's gun jammed as he entered her classroom. “All I heard was two shots and he came in there with a gun,” the 16-year-old told the Post-Dispatch. “I was trying to run and I couldn't run. Me and him made eye contact but I made it out because his gun got jammed.”Two teachers recounted near-miss confrontations with the shooter.Ashley Rench told The Associated Press she was teaching advanced algebra to sophomores when she heard a loud bang. Then the school intercom announced, “Miles Davis is in the building.”“That’s our code for intruder,” Rench said.Students took refuge beneath her desk and behind her podium as the shooter tried to enter the locked classroom before giving up and going away.“I don’t know why he chose not to break my windows or shoot through the lock,” she said.Raymond Parks was about to teach a dance class for juniors when a man dressed in black approached. At first, Parks thought the man was carrying a broom or a stick. Then he realized it was a gun.“The kids started screaming and running and scrambling. He walked directly into the two doors and pointed the gun over at me because I was in the front,” Parks said.For some unknown reason, Parks said, the shooter pointed the gun away from him and let Parks and the dozen or so students leave the room. “That’s what I don’t understand. He let me go,” Parks said.Janay Douglas’ 15-year-old daughter got stuck in a hallway when the school was locked down. Douglas said she received a call from her daughter letting her know she heard shots.“One of her friends busted through the door, he was shot in the hand, and then her and her friends just took off running. The phone disconnected,” Douglas said. “I was on my way.”Kuczka, the slain teacher, taught health at Central for 14 years and recently began coaching cross-country at Collegiate, her daughter said. “She was definitely looking forward to retirement though. She was close," Abbey Kuczka said.Kuczka's biography on the school website said she was the married mother of five and a grandmother of seven. She was an avid bike rider and was part of a 1979 national championship field hockey team at what is now Missouri State University.“I cannot imagine myself in any other career but teaching,” Kuczka wrote on the website. “In high school, I taught swimming lessons at the YMCA. From that point on, I knew I wanted to be a teacher.”The shooting left St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones shaken.“Our children shouldn’t have to experience this,” Jones said at the news conference. “They shouldn’t have to go through active shooter drills in case something happens. And unfortunately that happened today.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said additional action is needed to stop gun violence.“Every day that the Senate fails to send an assault weapons ban to the president’s desk or waits to take another other common sense actions, is a day too late for families and communities impacted by gun violence," Jean-Pierre said.The school district placed all of its schools on lockdown for the remainder of the day, and canceled all after-school activities, including sports.-----------ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis police say three people are dead after a shooting a high school Monday morning.Speaking at a news conference, Police Commissioner Michael Sack said the three dead included an adult, a girl and the shooter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666624221873.png" alt="Students ran from the building -photo courtesy KTVI&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Students ran from the building -photo courtesy KTVI&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The shooting just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School forced students to barricade doors and huddle in classroom corners, jump from windows and run out of the building to seek safety. Within minutes, the school was surrounded by dozens of police vehicles.--------ST. LOUIS (AP) — At least two students were injured Monday morning in a shooting inside a St. Louis high school.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Police are on site at Central Visual and Performing Arts this morning following reports of an active shooter and both CVPA and Collegiate are on lockdown. The shooter was quickly stopped by police inside CVPA. We have reports of 2 students injured and on the way to the hospital.&mdash; Saint Louis Public Schools (@SLPS_INFO) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLPS_INFO/status/1584557124281327617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The shooting was reported just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, prompting hundreds of students, faculty and staff to leave the building, many of them running. The school was immediately surrounded by dozens of police vehicles.St. Louis Public Schools said on Twitter that the shooter was “quickly stopped” by police. A tweet from the police department said the shooter was in custody. No further details about the shooter were immediately released.The FBI said in a statement later Monday morning that there was no longer an “immediate threat” at the school. The district said the injured students were on the way to the hospital, but did not indicate how badly they were injured.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Praying for the children, families, teachers, and staff impacted and present during a school shooting today in South St. Louis. My thoughts are with our educators, first responders, my sister Mayor <a href="https://twitter.com/tishaura?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tishaura</a> and all in the community working hard to keep our young people safe.&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1584561787680493570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>One student, 16-year-old Taniya Gholston, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch she was in a room when the shooter entered.“All I heard was two shots and he came in there with a gun,” Gholston said. “And I was trying to run and I couldn't run. Me and him made eye contact but I made it out because his gun got jammed. But we saw blood on the floor.”TV reports said officers entered the area with guns drawn shortly after 9 a.m. Crime tape was placed around the school and some parents arrived to pick up kids and check on their safety. The district, in a tweet, said students could be picked up at another school building or a nearby grocery store.Central Visual and Performing Arts High School is a magnet school specializing in visual art, musical art and performing art. The district website says the school's “educational program is designed to create a nurturing environment where students receive a quality academic and artistic education that prepares them to compete successfully at the post-secondary level or perform competently in the world of work.”

Update: Police ID shooter who killed 2 at Missouri high school

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A Kansas native convicted of leading an all-female battalion of the Islamic State group had a long history of monstrous behavior that included sexual and physical abuse of her own children, family members said in court filings.

Prosecutors cited the abuse allegations in seeking a maximum 20-year sentence for Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, when she is sentenced Nov. 1 for providing material support to the Islamic State group.

“Allison Fluke-Ekren brainwashed young girls and trained them to kill. She carved a path of terror, plunging her own children into unfathomable depths of cruelty by physically, psychologically, emotionally, and sexually abusing them,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh wrote in a sentencing memo spelling out the allegations Fluke-Ekren's own children and parents have made against her.

Fluke-Ekren pleaded guilty to terrorism charges after she admitted that she led the Khatiba Nusaybah, an all-female battalion of the Islamic State, in which roughly 100 women and girls — some as young as 10 years old — learned how to use automatic weapons and detonate grenades and suicide belts.

Parekh's sentencing memo spells out how Fluke-Ekren went from a childhood on an 81-acre farm in Overbrook, Kansas, to an Islamic State leader, traveling from Kansas to Egypt to Libya and then to Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria. Along the way she had 12 children and five different husbands, several of whom were killed in fighting.

Through all the years, family and acquaintances of Fluke-Ekren portrayed her as the driving force who pushed her second husband into radicalization and convinced him to take her and the kids to Egypt. Her plans for an all-female battalion were ignored and rejected by other terrorist groups like Jabhat al-Nusra, and only the Islamic State finally acquiesced to her idea, prosecutors said.

Fluke-Ekren's parents describe her as manipulative and difficult from the start. Family members describe how she would laughingly tell the story of how she tried to drown her brother in an icy lake as children.

Perhaps most disturbing in a laundry list of disturbing reports are allegations from two of her children that she engaged in sexual abuse of her kids.

“My mother would beat my body, leaving my muscles cramping in agony. (She) would then go to her room and masturbate over the fact that she beat me. I could hear her from the other room,” one of Fluke-Ekren's daughters, now an adult, wrote in a letter to the court. She is expected to testify at Fluke-Ekren's sentencing hearing.

Fluke-Ekren's oldest child, a son, also says he was molested.

“My mother is a monster who enjoys torturing children for sexual pleasure,” he wrote in his own letter to the court.

It is unclear to what extent the abuse allegations will affect the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema because they are not directly related to the terrorism crimes. The daughter will be allowed to testify at the sentencing hearing because she was a victim of the terrorism — her mother enrolled her in the Khatiba Nusaybah as a child. The son is not expected to testify.

Fluke-Ekren, for her part, is denying many of the abuse allegations. She has complained that she has an inadequate opportunity to refute her family's statements.

Fluke-Ekren “is shocked and saddened by these allegations but acknowledges Witness-1 (her daughter) experienced trauma in Syria,” defense attorney Joseph King wrote in his sentencing memo, which seeks a sentence below 20 years. “She cannot undo the pain that she caused in taking Witness-1 to Syria.”

Her son said Fluke-Ekren has a long history of denying abuse and people choosing to believe her over her children.

“I know her and I know she wants to lie her way out of this, to get a slap on the wrist and try to use a sob story to once again get power and access to victims,” the son wrote.

Other allegations included in prosecutors sentencing memo:

— She urged a woman to commit a suicide bombing. When the woman said she could no longer carry out an attack because she was pregnant, Fluke-Ekren took in the child after his birth so the woman could go forward with the attack.

— She told others that her oldest son was was born after she was raped by an American soldier as a way to ingratiate herself inside the terrorist groups where she sought to increase her status.

— She forced her 13-year-old daughter to marry an Islamic State fighter.

— In Libya, she sought to establish a school for girls in which she showed young girls videos of Iraqi women being raped by American soldiers. “She would tell us that if we didn’t kill the ‘kuffar’ (non-believer) that we would be raped,” the daughter wrote in court papers about the experience.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643715398750.png" alt="Prosecutors cited abuse allegations in seeking a maximum 20-year sentence for Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, when she is sentenced Nov. 1 for providing material support to the Islamic State group." />
 <figcaption>Prosecutors cited abuse allegations in seeking a maximum 20-year sentence for Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, when she is sentenced Nov. 1 for providing material support to the Islamic State group.</figcaption>
 </figure>ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A Kansas native convicted of leading an all-female battalion of the Islamic State group had a long history of monstrous behavior that included sexual and physical abuse of her own children, family members said in court filings.Prosecutors cited the abuse allegations in seeking a maximum 20-year sentence for Allison Fluke-Ekren, 42, when she is sentenced Nov. 1 for providing material support to the Islamic State group.“Allison Fluke-Ekren brainwashed young girls and trained them to kill. She carved a path of terror, plunging her own children into unfathomable depths of cruelty by physically, psychologically, emotionally, and sexually abusing them,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh wrote in a sentencing memo spelling out the allegations Fluke-Ekren's own children and parents have made against her.Fluke-Ekren pleaded guilty to terrorism charges after she admitted that she led the Khatiba Nusaybah, an all-female battalion of the Islamic State, in which roughly 100 women and girls — some as young as 10 years old — learned how to use automatic weapons and detonate grenades and suicide belts.Parekh's sentencing memo spells out how Fluke-Ekren went from a childhood on an 81-acre farm in Overbrook, Kansas, to an Islamic State leader, traveling from Kansas to Egypt to Libya and then to Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria. Along the way she had 12 children and five different husbands, several of whom were killed in fighting.Through all the years, family and acquaintances of Fluke-Ekren portrayed her as the driving force who pushed her second husband into radicalization and convinced him to take her and the kids to Egypt. Her plans for an all-female battalion were ignored and rejected by other terrorist groups like Jabhat al-Nusra, and only the Islamic State finally acquiesced to her idea, prosecutors said.Fluke-Ekren's parents describe her as manipulative and difficult from the start. Family members describe how she would laughingly tell the story of how she tried to drown her brother in an icy lake as children.Perhaps most disturbing in a laundry list of disturbing reports are allegations from two of her children that she engaged in sexual abuse of her kids.“My mother would beat my body, leaving my muscles cramping in agony. (She) would then go to her room and masturbate over the fact that she beat me. I could hear her from the other room,” one of Fluke-Ekren's daughters, now an adult, wrote in a letter to the court. She is expected to testify at Fluke-Ekren's sentencing hearing.Fluke-Ekren's oldest child, a son, also says he was molested.“My mother is a monster who enjoys torturing children for sexual pleasure,” he wrote in his own letter to the court.It is unclear to what extent the abuse allegations will affect the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema because they are not directly related to the terrorism crimes. The daughter will be allowed to testify at the sentencing hearing because she was a victim of the terrorism — her mother enrolled her in the Khatiba Nusaybah as a child. The son is not expected to testify.Fluke-Ekren, for her part, is denying many of the abuse allegations. She has complained that she has an inadequate opportunity to refute her family's statements.Fluke-Ekren “is shocked and saddened by these allegations but acknowledges Witness-1 (her daughter) experienced trauma in Syria,” defense attorney Joseph King wrote in his sentencing memo, which seeks a sentence below 20 years. “She cannot undo the pain that she caused in taking Witness-1 to Syria.”Her son said Fluke-Ekren has a long history of denying abuse and people choosing to believe her over her children.“I know her and I know she wants to lie her way out of this, to get a slap on the wrist and try to use a sob story to once again get power and access to victims,” the son wrote.Other allegations included in prosecutors sentencing memo:— She urged a woman to commit a suicide bombing. When the woman said she could no longer carry out an attack because she was pregnant, Fluke-Ekren took in the child after his birth so the woman could go forward with the attack.— She told others that her oldest son was was born after she was raped by an American soldier as a way to ingratiate herself inside the terrorist groups where she sought to increase her status.— She forced her 13-year-old daughter to marry an Islamic State fighter.— In Libya, she sought to establish a school for girls in which she showed young girls videos of Iraqi women being raped by American soldiers. “She would tell us that if we didn’t kill the ‘kuffar’ (non-believer) that we would be raped,” the daughter wrote in court papers about the experience.

Family: Horrific abuse at hands of Kansas native, ISIS leader 

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

On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1100 Block SE 33rd Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

 While conducting the search warrant, officers located marijuana.

As a result, Daniel A. Rivera-Ruiz, 18, Topeka was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Distribution of opiate within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of paraphernalia, Possession of marijuana, Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility and&nbsp;Drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666446747387.png" alt="Rivera-Ruiz-Photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Rivera-Ruiz-Photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen on drug allegations.On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1100 Block SE 33rd Street related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell. While conducting the search warrant, officers located marijuana.As a result, Daniel A. Rivera-Ruiz, 18, Topeka was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Distribution of opiate within 1000 feet of a school, Possession of paraphernalia, Possession of marijuana, Unlawful distribution of a controlled substance using a communication facility and&nbsp;Drug tax stamp.

Police: Kansas teen allegedly sold marijuana near school

FINNEY COUNTY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a grass fire in southwest Kansas.

At approximately 2p.m. Sunday, the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire at the intersection of Towns Road and U.S. Highway 50. 

Upon arrival, fire personnel confirmed there was a large grass fire on the south side of US Highway 50 that had spread to the north side of the road. Wildland Task Force 7, Holcomb, Garfield Township, Kansas Forestry Service, and Pierceville Township were all dispatched for mutual aid assistance. 

Finney County EMS was on scene for standby and firefighter rehab, Finney County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched for traffic control, and Wheatland Electric was dispatched to replace a damaged power pole. 

U.S. Highway 50 was closed at Farmland Road to Towns Road from approximately 2:15 p.m. to 5:09 p.m. The fire was determined to be 98% contained at approximately 6:40 p.m. and agencies providing mutual aid started to be released.

In total, seven homes were evacuated. Preliminary estimates indicate 500-600 acres were burned, and 33 personnel were on scene fighting the fire. Two Garden City firefighters were transported to St. Catherine Hospital for evaluation where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released. One fire apparatus, Brush 4 (Ford F350), sustained damage and is a total loss. At this time, the cause of the fire is undetermined and there is no damage estimate available. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666561630686.png" alt="SW Kansas fire on Sunday-photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>SW Kansas fire on Sunday-photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Investigators are working to determine the cause of a grass fire in southwest Kansas.At approximately 2p.m. Sunday, the Garden City Fire Department was dispatched to a reported grass fire at the intersection of Towns Road and U.S. Highway 50. Upon arrival, fire personnel confirmed there was a large grass fire on the south side of US Highway 50 that had spread to the north side of the road. Wildland Task Force 7, Holcomb, Garfield Township, Kansas Forestry Service, and Pierceville Township were all dispatched for mutual aid assistance. Finney County EMS was on scene for standby and firefighter rehab, Finney County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched for traffic control, and Wheatland Electric was dispatched to replace a damaged power pole. U.S. Highway 50 was closed at Farmland Road to Towns Road from approximately 2:15 p.m. to 5:09 p.m. The fire was determined to be 98% contained at approximately 6:40 p.m. and agencies providing mutual aid started to be released.In total, seven homes were evacuated. Preliminary estimates indicate 500-600 acres were burned, and 33 personnel were on scene fighting the fire. Two Garden City firefighters were transported to St. Catherine Hospital for evaluation where they were treated for smoke inhalation and released. One fire apparatus, Brush 4 (Ford F350), sustained damage and is a total loss. At this time, the cause of the fire is undetermined and there is no damage estimate available.

2 firefighters injured, 600 acres burned in SW Kansas fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic spared no state or region as it caused historic learning setbacks for America’s children, erasing decades of academic progress and widening racial disparities, according to results of a national test that provide the sharpest look yet at the scale of the crisis.

Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, with some simply treading water at best.

Those are the findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progress — known as the “nation’s report card” — which tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and it’s seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemic’s impact on learning.

“It is a serious wakeup call for us all,” Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department, said in an interview. “In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, we’re talking about it as a significant impact on a student’s achievement. In math, we experienced an 8-point decline — historic for this assessment.”

Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning.

It’s no surprise that children are behind. The pandemic upended every facet of life and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/online-school-covid-learning-loss-7c162ec1b4ce4d5219d5210aaac8f1ae?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_09">left millions learning from home</a>&nbsp;for months or more. The results released Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks, and the size of the challenge facing schools as they help students catch up.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said it’s a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-cdd7728bc85968866d9c8eca23ce5034">billions of dollars that Congress gave schools to help students recover</a>.

“Let me be very clear: these results are not acceptable,” Cardona said.

The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nation’s largest school districts. Scores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/betsy-devos-us-news-ap-top-news-education-ms-state-wire-565be54d26354e72b02a813593923fef">had been stalling even before the pandemic</a>, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before.

In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP test, which began in 1969.

Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38% earning scores deemed “below basic” — a cutoff that measures, for example, whether students can find the third angle of a triangle if they’re given the other two. That’s worse than 2019, when 31% of eighth graders scored below that level.

No part of the country was exempt. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject.

Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessee’s Shelby County also saw precipitous declines.

“This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard,” said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover, the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring.

“I’m not concerned that they can’t or won’t recover,” Gordon said. “I’m concerned that the country won’t stay focused on getting kids caught up.”

The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this year’s relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992.

Most concerning, however, are the gaps between students.

Confirming what many had feared, racial inequities appear to have widened during the pandemic. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades.

Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening chasm between struggling students and the rest of their peers.

Surveys done as part of this year’s test illustrate the divide.

When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found.

The results make clear that schools must address the “long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system,” said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test.

“While the pandemic was a blow to schools and communities, we cannot use it as an excuse,” he said. “We have to stay committed to high standards and expectations and help every child succeed.”

Other recent studies have found that students who spent longer periods learning online suffered greater setbacks. But the NAEP results show no clear connection. Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and cities — which were more likely to stay remote longer — actually saw milder decreases than suburban districts, according to the results.

Los Angeles can claim one of the few bright spots in the results. The nation’s second-largest school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Florida’s Hillsborough County.

Testing critics caution against putting too much stock in exams like NAEP, but there’s no doubt that the skills it aims to measure are critical. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found. And eighth grade is seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math, science and technology careers.

For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills.

“We&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-race-and-ethnicity-milwaukee-5ab5394b2513e7136b9b854355770a1a">want our students to be prepared</a>&nbsp;globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering,” she said. “This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and it’s not going to go away on its own.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624370595340.png" alt=" Students at a summer school program in Wichita-photo by Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption> Students at a summer school program in Wichita-photo by Suzanne Perez / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The COVID-19 pandemic spared no state or region as it caused historic learning setbacks for America’s children, erasing decades of academic progress and widening racial disparities, according to results of a national test that provide the sharpest look yet at the scale of the crisis.Across the country, math scores saw their largest decreases ever. Reading scores dropped to 1992 levels. Nearly four in 10 eighth graders failed to grasp basic math concepts. Not a single state saw a notable improvement in their average test scores, with some simply treading water at best.Those are the findings from the National Assessment of Educational Progress — known as the “nation’s report card” — which tested hundreds of thousands of fourth and eighth graders across the country this year. It was the first time the test had been given since 2019, and it’s seen as the first nationally representative study of the pandemic’s impact on learning.“It is a serious wakeup call for us all,” Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the Education Department, said in an interview. “In NAEP, when we experience a 1- or 2-point decline, we’re talking about it as a significant impact on a student’s achievement. In math, we experienced an 8-point decline — historic for this assessment.”Researchers usually think of a 10-point gain or drop as equivalent to roughly a year of learning.It’s no surprise that children are behind. The pandemic upended every facet of life and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/online-school-covid-learning-loss-7c162ec1b4ce4d5219d5210aaac8f1ae?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_09">left millions learning from home</a>&nbsp;for months or more. The results released Monday reveal the depth of those setbacks, and the size of the challenge facing schools as they help students catch up.Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said it’s a sign that schools need to redouble their efforts, using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-health-coronavirus-pandemic-mental-health-cdd7728bc85968866d9c8eca23ce5034">billions of dollars that Congress gave schools to help students recover</a>.“Let me be very clear: these results are not acceptable,” Cardona said.The NAEP test is typically given every two years. It was taken between January and March by a sample of students in every state, along with 26 of the nation’s largest school districts. Scores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/betsy-devos-us-news-ap-top-news-education-ms-state-wire-565be54d26354e72b02a813593923fef">had been stalling even before the pandemic</a>, but the new results show decreases on a scale not seen before.In both math and reading, students scored lower than those tested in 2019. But while reading scores dipped, math scores plummeted by the largest margins in the history of the NAEP test, which began in 1969.Math scores were worst among eighth graders, with 38% earning scores deemed “below basic” — a cutoff that measures, for example, whether students can find the third angle of a triangle if they’re given the other two. That’s worse than 2019, when 31% of eighth graders scored below that level.No part of the country was exempt. Every region saw test scores slide, and every state saw declines in at least one subject.Several major districts saw test scores fall by more than 10 points. Cleveland saw the largest single drop, falling 16 points in fourth-grade reading, along with a 15-point decline in fourth-grade math. Baltimore and Tennessee’s Shelby County also saw precipitous declines.“This is more confirmation that the pandemic hit us really hard,” said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To help students recover, the school system has beefed up summer school and added after-school tutoring.“I’m not concerned that they can’t or won’t recover,” Gordon said. “I’m concerned that the country won’t stay focused on getting kids caught up.”The results show a reversal of progress on math scores, which had made big gains since the 1990s. Reading, by contrast, had changed little in recent decades, so even this year’s relatively small decreases put the averages back to where they were in 1992.Most concerning, however, are the gaps between students.Confirming what many had feared, racial inequities appear to have widened during the pandemic. In fourth grade, Black and Hispanic students saw bigger decreases than white students, widening gaps that have persisted for decades.Inequities were also reflected in a growing gap between higher and lower performing students. In math and reading, scores fell most sharply among the lowest performing students, creating a widening chasm between struggling students and the rest of their peers.Surveys done as part of this year’s test illustrate the divide.When schools shifted to remote learning, higher performing students were far more likely to have reliable access to quiet spaces, computers and help from their teachers, the survey found.The results make clear that schools must address the “long-standing and systemic shortcomings of our education system,” said Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles schools and a member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets the policies for the test.“While the pandemic was a blow to schools and communities, we cannot use it as an excuse,” he said. “We have to stay committed to high standards and expectations and help every child succeed.”Other recent studies have found that students who spent longer periods learning online suffered greater setbacks. But the NAEP results show no clear connection. Areas that returned to the classroom quickly still saw significant declines, and cities — which were more likely to stay remote longer — actually saw milder decreases than suburban districts, according to the results.Los Angeles can claim one of the few bright spots in the results. The nation’s second-largest school district saw eighth-grade reading scores increase by 9 points, the only significant uptick in any district. For other districts, it was a feat just to hold even, as achieved by Dallas and Florida’s Hillsborough County.Testing critics caution against putting too much stock in exams like NAEP, but there’s no doubt that the skills it aims to measure are critical. Students who take longer to master reading are more likely to drop out and end up in the criminal justice system, research has found. And eighth grade is seen as a pivotal time to develop skills for math, science and technology careers.For Carr, the results raise new questions about what will happen to students who appear to be far behind in attaining those skills.“We&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-race-and-ethnicity-milwaukee-5ab5394b2513e7136b9b854355770a1a">want our students to be prepared</a>&nbsp;globally for STEM careers, science and technology and engineering,” she said. “This puts all of that at risk. We have to do a reset. This is a very serious issue, and it’s not going to go away on its own.”

Test scores show historic COVID setbacks for kids across US

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A surge in migration from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in September brought the number of illegal crossings to the highest level ever recorded in a fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The year-end numbers reflect deteriorating economic and political conditions in some countries, the relative strength of the U.S. economy and uneven enforcement of Trump-era asylum restrictions.

Migrants were stopped 227,547 times in September at the U.S. border with Mexico, the third-highest month of Joe Biden's presidency. It was up 11.5% from 204,087 times in August and 18.5% from 192,001 times in September 2021.

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-september-2022-monthly-operational-update-0">according to figures</a>&nbsp;released late Friday night. The annual total surpassed 2 million for the first time in August and is more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump's presidency in 2019.

Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-yuma-immigration-128e7440b334cc8fcbd3a629b78c3879">remarkable geographic shift</a>&nbsp;is at least partly a result of Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to see asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Due to strained diplomatic relations, the U.S. cannot expel migrants to Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua. As a result, they are largely released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.

Title 42 authority has been applied 2.4 million times since it began in March 2020 but has fallen disproportionately on migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

U.S. officials say Venezuelan migration to the United States has plunged more than 85% since Oct. 12, when the U.S. began expelling Venezuelans to Mexico under Title 42. At the same time, the Biden administration pledged to admit up to 24,000 Venezuelans to the United States on humanitarian parole if they apply online with a financial sponsor and enter through an airport, similar to how tens of thousands of Ukrainians have come since Russia invaded their country.

The first four Venezuelans paroled into the United States arrived Saturday — two from Mexico, one from Guatemala, one from Peru — and hundreds more have been approved to fly, the Homeland Security Department said.

“While this early data is not reflected in the (September) report, it confirms what we’ve said all along: When there is a lawful and orderly way to enter the country, individuals will be less likely to put their lives in the hands of smugglers and try to cross the border unlawfully,” said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus.

The expansion of Title 42 for Venezuelans to be expelled to Mexico came despite the administration’s attempt to end the public health authority in May, which was blocked by a federal judge.

Venezuelans represented the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mexico-venezuela-texas-caribbean-ede57e313f6334a019db86b25c785971">second-largest nationality</a>&nbsp;at the border after Mexicans for the second straight month, being stopped 33,804 times in September, up 33% from 25,361 times in August.

Cubans, who are participating in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-miami-united-states-immigration-4568de1226ea37ab2799c9b2c1af4aac">largest exodus</a>&nbsp;from the Caribbean island to the United States since 1980, were stopped 26,178 times at the border in September, up 37% from 19,060 in August.

Nicaraguans were stopped 18,199 times in September, up 55% from 7,298 times in August.

The report is the last monthly reading of migration flows before U.S. midterm elections, an issue that many Republicans have emphasized in campaigns to capture control of the House and Senate. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee released a one-sentence statement Saturday in response to the numbers: "You’ve got to be kidding.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617909066947.png" alt="Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.-photo Sen. Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.-photo Sen. Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>SAN DIEGO (AP) — A surge in migration from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in September brought the number of illegal crossings to the highest level ever recorded in a fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.The year-end numbers reflect deteriorating economic and political conditions in some countries, the relative strength of the U.S. economy and uneven enforcement of Trump-era asylum restrictions.Migrants were stopped 227,547 times in September at the U.S. border with Mexico, the third-highest month of Joe Biden's presidency. It was up 11.5% from 204,087 times in August and 18.5% from 192,001 times in September 2021.In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-september-2022-monthly-operational-update-0">according to figures</a>&nbsp;released late Friday night. The annual total surpassed 2 million for the first time in August and is more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump's presidency in 2019.Nearly 78,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua were stopped in September, compared to about 58,000 from Mexico and three countries of northern Central America that have historically accounted for most of the flow.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-health-yuma-immigration-128e7440b334cc8fcbd3a629b78c3879">remarkable geographic shift</a>&nbsp;is at least partly a result of Title 42, a public health rule that suspends rights to see asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.Due to strained diplomatic relations, the U.S. cannot expel migrants to Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua. As a result, they are largely released in the United States to pursue their immigration cases.Title 42 authority has been applied 2.4 million times since it began in March 2020 but has fallen disproportionately on migrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.U.S. officials say Venezuelan migration to the United States has plunged more than 85% since Oct. 12, when the U.S. began expelling Venezuelans to Mexico under Title 42. At the same time, the Biden administration pledged to admit up to 24,000 Venezuelans to the United States on humanitarian parole if they apply online with a financial sponsor and enter through an airport, similar to how tens of thousands of Ukrainians have come since Russia invaded their country.The first four Venezuelans paroled into the United States arrived Saturday — two from Mexico, one from Guatemala, one from Peru — and hundreds more have been approved to fly, the Homeland Security Department said.“While this early data is not reflected in the (September) report, it confirms what we’ve said all along: When there is a lawful and orderly way to enter the country, individuals will be less likely to put their lives in the hands of smugglers and try to cross the border unlawfully,” said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus.The expansion of Title 42 for Venezuelans to be expelled to Mexico came despite the administration’s attempt to end the public health authority in May, which was blocked by a federal judge.Venezuelans represented the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mexico-venezuela-texas-caribbean-ede57e313f6334a019db86b25c785971">second-largest nationality</a>&nbsp;at the border after Mexicans for the second straight month, being stopped 33,804 times in September, up 33% from 25,361 times in August.Cubans, who are participating in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-miami-united-states-immigration-4568de1226ea37ab2799c9b2c1af4aac">largest exodus</a>&nbsp;from the Caribbean island to the United States since 1980, were stopped 26,178 times at the border in September, up 37% from 19,060 in August.Nicaraguans were stopped 18,199 times in September, up 55% from 7,298 times in August.The report is the last monthly reading of migration flows before U.S. midterm elections, an issue that many Republicans have emphasized in campaigns to capture control of the House and Senate. Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee released a one-sentence statement Saturday in response to the numbers: "You’ve got to be kidding.”

Illegal border crossings to US from Mexico hit annual high

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have captured a suspect.

Just after 10a.m. Monday,&nbsp;Lyon County Crimestoppers received a tip that 37-year-old Logan Casteel was located at 1217 Exchange Apartment #3, according to Undersheriff John Koelsch.

Emporia Police, ESU Police, and Lyon County Deputies responded to the location and took Casteel into custody on a Lyon County Arrest Warrant without incident.

Just after 7:30p.m. Oct. 17, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.&nbsp;&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .

Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries and the sheriff's office asked for help to find Casteel.

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a man and asking the public for help to locate a suspect considered armed and dangerous.

Just after 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.

&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as 37-year-old Logan Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .

Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries.

Casteel is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is considered armed and dangerous.

If anyone knows Casteel’s whereabouts or information about the crime, they should report it to the Lyon Co. Sheriff’s Office at 620-341-3205 or Lyon Co. Crime Stoppers at 620-342-2273.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666347549374.png" alt="Casteel-photo Lyon Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Casteel-photo Lyon Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have captured a suspect.Just after 10a.m. Monday,&nbsp;Lyon County Crimestoppers received a tip that 37-year-old Logan Casteel was located at 1217 Exchange Apartment #3, according to Undersheriff John Koelsch.Emporia Police, ESU Police, and Lyon County Deputies responded to the location and took Casteel into custody on a Lyon County Arrest Warrant without incident.Just after 7:30p.m. Oct. 17, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.&nbsp;&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries and the sheriff's office asked for help to find Casteel.----------LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that critically injured a man and asking the public for help to locate a suspect considered armed and dangerous.Just after 7:30p.m. Monday, police responded to&nbsp;Newman Regional Health in Emporia after a man sought treatment for a gunshot wound, according to Sheriff Jeff Cope.&nbsp;Justin Smith, 38, of Fredonia reported that a man he knew identified as 37-year-old Logan Casteel had shot him at a rural residence at 625 Road 160 .Smith was later transferred to a larger hospital due to the serious nature of his injuries.Casteel is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is considered armed and dangerous.If anyone knows Casteel’s whereabouts or information about the crime, they should report it to the Lyon Co. Sheriff’s Office at 620-341-3205 or Lyon Co. Crime Stoppers at 620-342-2273.

Sheriff: Wanted Kansas shooting suspect captured

If you’re a freshman or sophomore in high school, you might think you don’t need to worry about college tuition right now because you have a&nbsp;ton&nbsp;of time before you graduate. But graduation will be here before you know it, and college can be super expensive. You don’t want to walk across the stage in your cap and gown before you make a plan to pay for college—that’s how you get stuck with student loans. If you start thinking about college now, you can pay for college like I did—with scholarships!

When you hear “scholarships,” you might think those are just for extremely lucky and blessed people. Or you might immediately feel overwhelmed because you have no idea where to start or what to look for. Finding (and winning)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/how-to-find-scholarships">scholarships</a>&nbsp;takes time and effort, but everyone—including you—has a shot at winning scholarships. The most common mistakes I see students make are either that they focus too much on big national scholarships that have a lot of competition, or they don’t apply to&nbsp;enough&nbsp;scholarships. That’s why you want to frame your search with a proven method of applying for scholarships: cast wide and go deep.

This tactic can help you get scholarships that you might not otherwise win if you were to only apply for the most well-known ones. It also means if you miss out on one scholarship, you still have others to take its place. The more scholarships you apply to, the more chances you have of being selected for one. So cast wide and apply for several scholarships to increase the odds of success.

Then, once you start looking for scholarships, you’ll realize there are so many different opportunities out there. There are scholarship programs that receive more than 100,000 applicants each year because they have very few restrictions on who can apply. But there are also some scholarship programs that really limit who can apply. Both can turn into cash for college if you’re the right candidate. So go deep in your exploration of the different types available.

Now, when you apply for a scholarship, you’re essentially selling yourself on a piece of paper. But it’s important to remember that just like you’re looking for scholarships that are perfect for you, the people awarding the scholarships are looking for the perfect recipients for their award. One scholarship committee could be completely blown away with your application, while another could pass over the exact same application. But don’t let that hold you back. Keep looking and applying.

Thousands of scholarships are given out each year. Since you can’t apply for them all, it’s important to find the ones that are most relevant to you and your background and experience. It’s better to put your strongest effort into a few scholarships that fit you well than to waste weak efforts on numerous awards that you know you’re not a good candidate for.

Reflect on who you are and what you want. Determine your college goals, then go after the scholarships that make the most sense for you. These scholarships are the best way to invest in your future, and they’re the ones you should spend most of your time and energy on!

After winning $500K in scholarships and graduating from her dream school with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree,&nbsp;Kristina Ellis&nbsp;set out to help students create their own plan to earn a debt-free education. She’s the bestselling author of&nbsp;Confessions of a Scholarship Winner&nbsp;and&nbsp;How to Graduate Debt-Free. She is a featured expert in the 2021 documentary&nbsp;Borrowed Future: How Student Loans Are Killing the American Dream. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, such as&nbsp;Fox &amp; Friends,&nbsp;The Katie Couric Show, CBN,&nbsp;USA Today, Reuters,&nbsp;Seventeen, and&nbsp;Money. As a Ramsey Personality, Kristina helps thousands of families nationwide navigate the complex waters of college finance and graduate debt-free.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644597862271.jpeg" alt="Kristina Ellis" />
 <figcaption>Kristina Ellis</figcaption>
 </figure>By KRISTINA ELLISIf you’re a freshman or sophomore in high school, you might think you don’t need to worry about college tuition right now because you have a&nbsp;ton&nbsp;of time before you graduate. But graduation will be here before you know it, and college can be super expensive. You don’t want to walk across the stage in your cap and gown before you make a plan to pay for college—that’s how you get stuck with student loans. If you start thinking about college now, you can pay for college like I did—with scholarships!When you hear “scholarships,” you might think those are just for extremely lucky and blessed people. Or you might immediately feel overwhelmed because you have no idea where to start or what to look for. Finding (and winning)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/how-to-find-scholarships">scholarships</a>&nbsp;takes time and effort, but everyone—including you—has a shot at winning scholarships. The most common mistakes I see students make are either that they focus too much on big national scholarships that have a lot of competition, or they don’t apply to&nbsp;enough&nbsp;scholarships. That’s why you want to frame your search with a proven method of applying for scholarships: cast wide and go deep.This tactic can help you get scholarships that you might not otherwise win if you were to only apply for the most well-known ones. It also means if you miss out on one scholarship, you still have others to take its place. The more scholarships you apply to, the more chances you have of being selected for one. So cast wide and apply for several scholarships to increase the odds of success.Then, once you start looking for scholarships, you’ll realize there are so many different opportunities out there. There are scholarship programs that receive more than 100,000 applicants each year because they have very few restrictions on who can apply. But there are also some scholarship programs that really limit who can apply. Both can turn into cash for college if you’re the right candidate. So go deep in your exploration of the different types available.Now, when you apply for a scholarship, you’re essentially selling yourself on a piece of paper. But it’s important to remember that just like you’re looking for scholarships that are perfect for you, the people awarding the scholarships are looking for the perfect recipients for their award. One scholarship committee could be completely blown away with your application, while another could pass over the exact same application. But don’t let that hold you back. Keep looking and applying.Thousands of scholarships are given out each year. Since you can’t apply for them all, it’s important to find the ones that are most relevant to you and your background and experience. It’s better to put your strongest effort into a few scholarships that fit you well than to waste weak efforts on numerous awards that you know you’re not a good candidate for.Reflect on who you are and what you want. Determine your college goals, then go after the scholarships that make the most sense for you. These scholarships are the best way to invest in your future, and they’re the ones you should spend most of your time and energy on!After winning $500K in scholarships and graduating from her dream school with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree,&nbsp;Kristina Ellis&nbsp;set out to help students create their own plan to earn a debt-free education. She’s the bestselling author of&nbsp;Confessions of a Scholarship Winner&nbsp;and&nbsp;How to Graduate Debt-Free. She is a featured expert in the 2021 documentary&nbsp;Borrowed Future: How Student Loans Are Killing the American Dream. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets, such as&nbsp;Fox &amp; Friends,&nbsp;The Katie Couric Show, CBN,&nbsp;USA Today, Reuters,&nbsp;Seventeen, and&nbsp;Money. As a Ramsey Personality, Kristina helps thousands of families nationwide navigate the complex waters of college finance and graduate debt-free.&nbsp;

ELLIS: Cast scholarship search net wide and deep

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 800 block of SE 15 Street on a report of a burglary alarm to a business, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.

When officers arrived on scene, they observed a subject fleeing from the property. Officers took the suspect identified as a juvenile into custody.

Police also recovered items taken from the business from the juvenile and returned them to the business.

The juvenile was booked on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage and Obstruction, according to Connell.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the 800 block of SE 15 Street on a report of a burglary alarm to a business, according to Lt. Ronnie Connell.When officers arrived on scene, they observed a subject fleeing from the property. Officers took the suspect identified as a juvenile into custody.Police also recovered items taken from the business from the juvenile and returned them to the business.The juvenile was booked on requested charges of Burglary, Theft, Criminal Damage and Obstruction, according to Connell.

Police catch juvenile during Kansas business burglary 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court late Friday issued an administrative stay temporarily blocking President Joe Biden's plan to cancel billions of dollars in federal student loans, throwing the program into limbo just days after people began applying for loan forgiveness.

The White House responded to the court's ruling. "The temporary order does not prevent borrowers from applying for student debt relief at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/">studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;and in the section on student loan debt relief, click “Apply Now.”&nbsp;

"We encourage eligible borrowers to join the nearly 22 million Americans whose information the Department of Education already has. It also does not prevent us from reviewing these applications and preparing them for transmission to loan servicers," according to a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "It is also important to note that the order does not reverse the trial court’s dismissal of the case, or suggest that the case has merit.&nbsp; It merely prevents debt from being discharged until the court makes a decision." "We will continue to move full speed ahead in our preparations in compliance with this order. And, the Administration will continue to fight Republican&nbsp;officials suing to block our efforts to provide relief to working families."

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay while it considers a motion from Kansas, Missouri and four other Republican-led states to block the program. The stay ordered the Biden administration not to act on the program while it considers the appeal.

It’s unclear what the decision means for the 22 million borrowers who already applied for the relief. The Biden administration had promised not to clear any debt before Oct. 23 as it battled the legal challenges, but the soonest it was expected to begin erasing debt was mid-November.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666046738612.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court late Friday issued an administrative stay temporarily blocking President Joe Biden's plan to cancel billions of dollars in federal student loans, throwing the program into limbo just days after people began applying for loan forgiveness.The White House responded to the court's ruling. "The temporary order does not prevent borrowers from applying for student debt relief at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/">studentaid.gov</a>&nbsp;and in the section on student loan debt relief, click “Apply Now.”&nbsp; "We encourage eligible borrowers to join the nearly 22 million Americans whose information the Department of Education already has. It also does not prevent us from reviewing these applications and preparing them for transmission to loan servicers," according to a statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "It is also important to note that the order does not reverse the trial court’s dismissal of the case, or suggest that the case has merit.&nbsp; It merely prevents debt from being discharged until the court makes a decision." "We will continue to move full speed ahead in our preparations in compliance with this order. And, the Administration will continue to fight Republican&nbsp;officials suing to block our efforts to provide relief to working families."The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals issued the stay while it considers a motion from Kansas, Missouri and four other Republican-led states to block the program. The stay ordered the Biden administration not to act on the program while it considers the appeal.It’s unclear what the decision means for the 22 million borrowers who already applied for the relief. The Biden administration had promised not to clear any debt before Oct. 23 as it battled the legal challenges, but the soonest it was expected to begin erasing debt was mid-November.

White House: 22 million have applied for student loan forgiveness

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — An undersheriff in rural Kansas faces a manslaughter trial Monday for fatally shooting an unarmed man with a homemade beanbag round out of his personal shotgun, a case that comes amid a national reckoning on police violence.

Jury selection will start in the trial of Virgil Brewer, who was with the Barber County Sheriff's Office at the time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">the deadly encounter with Steven Myers</a>&nbsp;in October 2017 outside a shed in Sun City, about 300 miles (555 kilometers) from the Kansas City, Kansas.

A civil lawsuit brought by Myers’ family against Brewer and then-Barber County Sheriff Lonnie Small was settled in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8480d5726b3275a28130abeeea1faae0">county officials agreed to pay $3.5 million</a>.

Brewer’s criminal trial is expected to focus on whether his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03fbce83f90a495ba80be7f80a5ce4b2">lack of knowledge and training</a>&nbsp;with the less-lethal munitions amounted to reckless involuntary manslaughter.

Defense attorney David Harger did not respond to messages seeking comment on the case. Brewer has been on unpaid leave since his 2018 arrest. He has been free pending trial.

“The fact of the matter is that it is not going to be a good outcome for anybody, no matter whether or not he gets convicted," Steven Myers' widow, Kristina Myers, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "Yes, it will be over in that sense, but this one bad decision has ruined the lives of so many people.”

On the evening of Oct. 6, 2017, Brewer was carrying his personal weapon when he, along with the sheriff and a sheriff’s deputy, responded to a call about a man holding a rifle on a street after an altercation at a local bar.

About five minutes before the fatal shooting, Small said: “A little luck and he’ll just pass out and die,” a remark captured on the sheriff’s body camera as they searched for Myers. They eventually found him hiding in a shed.

Both Brewer and the deputy later told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that they could clearly see that Myers was not armed when they confronted him outside the shed, according to the probable cause affidavit obtained by AP.

Body camera footage reviewed by investigators shows Brewer repeatedly told Myers to “get on the ground” before shooting him, while Deputy Mark Suchy gave conflicting commands to “put your hands up now.” Seconds later, Brewer shot Myers with one round.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591026923971.png" alt="Brewer booking photo Barber County" />
 <figcaption>Brewer booking photo Barber County</figcaption>
 </figure>BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — An undersheriff in rural Kansas faces a manslaughter trial Monday for fatally shooting an unarmed man with a homemade beanbag round out of his personal shotgun, a case that comes amid a national reckoning on police violence.Jury selection will start in the trial of Virgil Brewer, who was with the Barber County Sheriff's Office at the time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/48f367e57fc14cb39febf89f3d501feb">the deadly encounter with Steven Myers</a>&nbsp;in October 2017 outside a shed in Sun City, about 300 miles (555 kilometers) from the Kansas City, Kansas.A civil lawsuit brought by Myers’ family against Brewer and then-Barber County Sheriff Lonnie Small was settled in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8480d5726b3275a28130abeeea1faae0">county officials agreed to pay $3.5 million</a>.Brewer’s criminal trial is expected to focus on whether his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03fbce83f90a495ba80be7f80a5ce4b2">lack of knowledge and training</a>&nbsp;with the less-lethal munitions amounted to reckless involuntary manslaughter.Defense attorney David Harger did not respond to messages seeking comment on the case. Brewer has been on unpaid leave since his 2018 arrest. He has been free pending trial.“The fact of the matter is that it is not going to be a good outcome for anybody, no matter whether or not he gets convicted," Steven Myers' widow, Kristina Myers, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "Yes, it will be over in that sense, but this one bad decision has ruined the lives of so many people.”On the evening of Oct. 6, 2017, Brewer was carrying his personal weapon when he, along with the sheriff and a sheriff’s deputy, responded to a call about a man holding a rifle on a street after an altercation at a local bar.About five minutes before the fatal shooting, Small said: “A little luck and he’ll just pass out and die,” a remark captured on the sheriff’s body camera as they searched for Myers. They eventually found him hiding in a shed.Both Brewer and the deputy later told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that they could clearly see that Myers was not armed when they confronted him outside the shed, according to the probable cause affidavit obtained by AP.Body camera footage reviewed by investigators shows Brewer repeatedly told Myers to “get on the ground” before shooting him, while Deputy Mark Suchy gave conflicting commands to “put your hands up now.” Seconds later, Brewer shot Myers with one round.Brewer told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation during an interview that he was in fear for his and the deputy’s lives when Myers continued to walk toward them, adding that he did not expect the beanbag round to penetrate Myers’ chest.The deputy’s body camera video showed Myers was not making any aggressive movement at the time Brewer shot him, according to Bureau Agent Brian Carroll in an affidavit in support of the criminal charge against the undersheriff.“Myers was never told he was under arrest, Myers was never warned that his failure to comply with commands would result in the use of the impending force,” Carroll wrote.Brewer then discharged his personal weapon at too close of a distance and shot Myers in the chest, a lethal force zone.Carroll’s affidavit contends that Brewer’s lack of knowledge and training regarding the proper use of less-lethal beanbag munitions recklessly caused Myer’s death. Proper training would have provided critical information about the proper distance to deploy the round and the proper target zone on a person.Such training would have also informed Brewer about past problems with rectangular-shaped bean bags like the one he used, Carroll wrote. Those are known to penetrate subjects shot with them, and their use has been discontinued for years. The rounds used today are rounded, balloon-shaped bean bags, according to the affidavit.Before coming to Kansas, Brewer worked in Texas where he was given the beanbag ammunition used the evening of Myers’ death. The affidavit revealed that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation interviewed Travis Martin, the deputy at the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office in Texas who gave Brewer the ammunition.Martin, who is expected to testify, told the agency that after speaking with the beanbag maker, that type of ammunition would no longer be carried and should not be fired on a person.Martin told investigators that he “thought he had talked with Brewer about not using the ammunition on a person,” according to the affidavit.Medical Examiner Timothy Gorrill is also expected to take the witness stand. His autopsy found the cause of death to be a penetrating shotgun bag wound to the trunk with the manner of death ruled a homicide.Kristina Myers said she has been subpoenaed, adding she hopes to be allowed to watch the trial after her testimony.“It doesn’t bring him back, but it does give us a sense of justice,” she said. “Everyone, no matter their occupation, should be held responsible for their actions. All actions have consequences.”