RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a man was found badly injured in Manhattan.

Just after 3a.m. Sunday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery in the 1100 block of Moro Street in Aggieville, Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Two citizens found a 23-year-old man in the alley behind Tate's Bar. The citizens brought the man to the emergency room at Via Christi in Manhattan with severe head injuries.

&nbsp;The victim was later transferred to Stormont Vail in Topeka for further treatment of a brain bleed.&nbsp;

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=353#">Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers</a>. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a man was found badly injured in Manhattan.Just after 3a.m. Sunday, officers filed a report for aggravated battery in the 1100 block of Moro Street in Aggieville, Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Two citizens found a 23-year-old man in the alley behind Tate's Bar. The citizens brought the man to the emergency room at Via Christi in Manhattan with severe head injuries.&nbsp;The victim was later transferred to Stormont Vail in Topeka for further treatment of a brain bleed.&nbsp;Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=353#">Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers</a>. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police: Man found badly beaten in Manhattan alley

BAGHDAD (AP) — Supporters of an influential Iraqi Shiite cleric fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns into Iraq's Green Zone and security forces returned fire Tuesday, a serious escalation of a months-long political crisis gripping the nation.

Biden&nbsp;administration official John Kirby on Monday expressed concern about the violence unfolding in Iraq but denied that personnel were being evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

<a href="https://iq.usembassy.gov/demonstration-alert-u-s-embassy-baghdad-iraq-august-29-2022/">Click here to read </a>the alert from the U.S. Embassy

The death toll rose to at least 30 people after two days of unrest, officials said.

After cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced Monday he would resign from politics, his supporters stormed the Green Zone, once the stronghold of the U.S. military that's now home to Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies. At least one country evacuated its embassy amid the chaos.

Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government — unleashing months of infighting between different Shiite factions. Al-Sadr refused to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals, and his withdrawal Monday catapulted Iraq into political uncertainty and volatility with no clear path out.

Iran closed its borders to Iraq on Tuesday — a sign of Tehran’s concern that the chaos could spread, though streets beyond the capital's government quarter largely remained calm. The country's vital oil continued to flow, with global benchmark Brent crude trading slightly down at $103 a barrel.

A day after the stormed the Green Zone, supporters of al-Sadr could be seen on live television firing both heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades into the heavily area through a section of pulled-down concrete walls. Security forces armed with machine guns inside the zone sporadically returned fire.

Some bystanders filmed the gunfight with their mobile phones, though most hid behind still-standing segments of wall, wincing when rounds cracked nearby. As al-Sadr's forces fired, a line of armored tanks stood on the other side of the barriers that surround the Green Zone, though they did not use their heavy guns.

At least one wounded man from al-Sadr's forces was taken away in a three-wheel rickshaw, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry visible in the background. Heavy black smoke at one point rose over the area, visible from kilometers (miles) away.

At least 30 people have been killed and over 400 wounded, two Iraqi medical officials said. The toll included both al-Sadr loyalists killed in protests the day before and clashes overnight. Those figures are expected to rise, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information to journalists.

Members of Iraq's majority Shiite Muslim population were oppressed when Saddam Hussein ruled the country for decades. The 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, a Sunni, reversed the political order. Just under two-thirds of Iraq is Shiite, with a third Sunni.

Now, the Shiites are fighting among themselves after the Americans largely withdrew from the nation, with Iranian-backed Shiites and Iraqi-nationalist Shiites jockeying for power, influence and state resources.

It’s an explosive rivalry in a country where many remain way of the Iranian government’s influence even though trade and ties remain strong between its peoples. Iraq and Iran fought a bloody war in the 1980s that saw a million people killed.

Al-Sadr’s nationalist rhetoric and reform agenda resonates powerfully with his supporters, who largely hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and were historically shut out of the political system under Saddam.

Al-Sadr's announcement that he is leaving politics has implicitly given his supporters the freedom to act as they see fit.

Iranian state television cited unrest and a military-imposed curfew in Iraqi cities for the reason for the border closures. It urged Iranians avoid any travel to the neighboring country. The decision came as millions were preparing to visit Iraq for an annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites, and Tehran encouraged any Iranian pilgrims already in Iraq to avoid further travel between cities.

Kuwait, meanwhile, called on its citizens to leave Iraq. The state-run KUNA news agency also encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans.

The tiny Gulf Arab sheikhdom of Kuwait shares a 254-kilometer- (158-mile-) long border with Iraq.

The Netherlands evacuated its embassy in the Green Zone, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra tweeted early Tuesday.

“There are firefights around the embassy in Baghdad. Our staff are now working at the German embassy elsewhere in the city,” Hoekstra wrote.

Dubai's long-haul carrier Emirates stopped flights to Baghdad on Tuesday over the ongoing unrest. The carrier said that it was “monitoring the situation closely.” It did not say when flights would resume.

On Monday, protesters loyal to al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence.

BAGHDAD (AP) — An influential Shiite cleric announced Monday that he would resign from Iraqi politics, prompting hundreds of his angry followers to storm the government palace and sparking clashes with security forces. At least 15 protesters were killed.

Protesters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.

Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence. Medical officials said dozens of protesters were wounded by gunfire and tear gas and physical altercations with riot police.

As night fell, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr clashed with the Popular Mobilization Forces security group. A small force from the special forces division and Iraqi Army's 9th Division also joined to contain the militants as the clashes continued for hours inside the Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's government.

At least one soldier from the special forces division, which is responsible for security in the Green Zone, was killed. Many others, including a civilian woman, were wounded, two security officials said. Several mortar rounds were heard.

The crackle of machine gun fire echoed throughout central Baghdad.

The PMF is an umbrella group composed of state-sanctioned paramilitary groups, the most powerful of which are aligned with al-Sadr's rivals in the Iran-backed political camp.

Security officials said mortars and rocket-propelled grenades were used in the clashes, a culmination of intractable political impasse between the rival camps.

Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government. His refusal to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals and subsequent exit from the talks has catapulted the country into political uncertainty and volatility amid intensifying intra-Shiite wrangling.

Iraq's majority Muslim population is split into two sects, Shiites and Sunnis. Under Saddam Hussein, the Shiites were oppressed until the U.S.-led invasion reversed the political order. Now the Shiites are fighting among themselves, with the dispute centering around power and state resources but also influence over the Shiite street.

To further his political interests, al-Sadr has wrapped his rhetoric with a nationalist and reform agenda that resonates powerfully among his broad grassroots base of supporters who hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and have historically been shut out from the political system.

Many were first followers of his father, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. They are calling for the dissolution of parliament and early elections without the participation of Iran-backed Shiite groups, which they see as responsible for the status quo.

During Monday's clashes, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr gathered in the capital’s Tahrir Square to “protect” protesters, one of its commanders said.

A senior medical official confirmed at least 15 protesters were killed by gunfire.

Iraq’s caretaker premier said he would open an investigation into the shootings and said the use of live ammunition against protesters was forbidden.

Protests also broke out in the Shiite-majority southern provinces, with al-Sadr’s supporters burning tires and blocking roads in the oil-rich province of Basra and hundreds demonstrating outside the governorate building in Missan.

Iran considers intra-Shiite disharmony as a threat to its influence in Iraq and has repeatedly attempted to broker dialogue with al-Sadr.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-iraq-0a7cb71ade4896ea393bedee0f7b86d7">July, Al-Sadr's supporters broke into the parliament</a>&nbsp;to deter his rivals in the Coordination Framework, an alliance of mostly Iran-aligned Shiite parties, from forming a government. Hundreds have been staging a sit-in outside the building for over four weeks. His bloc has also resigned from parliament. The Framework is led by al-Sadr's chief nemesis, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

This is not the first time al-Sadr, who has called for early elections and the dissolution of parliament, has announced his retirement from politics — and many dismissed Monday's move as another bluff to gain greater leverage against his rivals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-iran-elections-legislature-middle-east-235ad514977355cb1d7cad31d31fc901">amid a worsening stalemate</a>. The cleric has used the tactic on previous occasions when political developments did not go his way.

But many are concerned that it's a risky gambit and are worried how it will affect Iraq’s fragile political climate. By stepping out of the political process, al-Sadr is giving his followers, most disenfranchised from the political system, the green light to act as they see fit.

Al-Sadr also commands a militia and maintains a great degree of influence within Iraq's state institutions through the appointments of key civil servant positions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-saudi-arabia-iraq-d8e8b5fca9a92022e1249381892860ca">His Iran-backed rivals also have militia groups.</a>

Iraq’s military swiftly called on the cleric's supporters to withdraw immediately from the heavily fortified government zone and to practice self-restraint “to prevent clashes or the spilling of Iraqi blood,” according to a statement.

“The security forces affirm their responsibility to protect government institutions, international missions, public and private properties,” the statement said.

Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also demanded that al-Sadr call on his followers to withdraw from government institutions.

The U.N. mission in Iraq said Monday’s protests were an “extremely dangerous escalation” and called on demonstrators to vacate all government buildings to allow the caretaker government to continue running the state.

It urged all to remain peaceful and “refrain from acts that could lead to an unstoppable chain of events.”

“The very survival of the state is at stake,” the statement said.

Al-Sadr announced his withdrawal from politics in a tweet, and ordered the closure of his party offices. Religious and cultural institutions will remain open, it said.

The true motivations behind al-Sadr’s announcement appeared to be a reaction to the retirement of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri, who counts many of al-Sadr’s supporters as followers.

In a surprise announcement Sunday, al-Haeri said he would be stepping down as a religious authority for health reasons and called on his followers to throw their allegiance behind Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rather than the Shiite spiritual center in Iraq's holy city of Najaf.

The move was a blow to al-Sadr, who despite harboring ambitions to be a religious authority lacks the scholarly credentials to be an ayatollah. Al-Haeri, who resides in the Iranian holy city of Qom, once provided him with the legitimacy he lacked by designating al-Sadr as his representative in Iraq. He cut ties shortly after with the cleric, but continued to enjoy the support of his followers.

By calling on his followers to side with Khamenei, al-Haeri brought on a crisis of legitimacy for al-Sadr.

In his tweet, al-Sadr said al-Haeri's stepping down “was not out of his own volition.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661809188063.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BAGHDAD (AP) — Supporters of an influential Iraqi Shiite cleric fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns into Iraq's Green Zone and security forces returned fire Tuesday, a serious escalation of a months-long political crisis gripping the nation.Biden&nbsp;administration official John Kirby on Monday expressed concern about the violence unfolding in Iraq but denied that personnel were being evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.<a href="https://iq.usembassy.gov/demonstration-alert-u-s-embassy-baghdad-iraq-august-29-2022/">Click here to read </a>the alert from the U.S. EmbassyThe death toll rose to at least 30 people after two days of unrest, officials said.After cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced Monday he would resign from politics, his supporters stormed the Green Zone, once the stronghold of the U.S. military that's now home to Iraqi government offices and foreign embassies. At least one country evacuated its embassy amid the chaos.Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government — unleashing months of infighting between different Shiite factions. Al-Sadr refused to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals, and his withdrawal Monday catapulted Iraq into political uncertainty and volatility with no clear path out.Iran closed its borders to Iraq on Tuesday — a sign of Tehran’s concern that the chaos could spread, though streets beyond the capital's government quarter largely remained calm. The country's vital oil continued to flow, with global benchmark Brent crude trading slightly down at $103 a barrel.A day after the stormed the Green Zone, supporters of al-Sadr could be seen on live television firing both heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades into the heavily area through a section of pulled-down concrete walls. Security forces armed with machine guns inside the zone sporadically returned fire.Some bystanders filmed the gunfight with their mobile phones, though most hid behind still-standing segments of wall, wincing when rounds cracked nearby. As al-Sadr's forces fired, a line of armored tanks stood on the other side of the barriers that surround the Green Zone, though they did not use their heavy guns.At least one wounded man from al-Sadr's forces was taken away in a three-wheel rickshaw, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry visible in the background. Heavy black smoke at one point rose over the area, visible from kilometers (miles) away.At least 30 people have been killed and over 400 wounded, two Iraqi medical officials said. The toll included both al-Sadr loyalists killed in protests the day before and clashes overnight. Those figures are expected to rise, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to release the information to journalists.Members of Iraq's majority Shiite Muslim population were oppressed when Saddam Hussein ruled the country for decades. The 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, a Sunni, reversed the political order. Just under two-thirds of Iraq is Shiite, with a third Sunni.Now, the Shiites are fighting among themselves after the Americans largely withdrew from the nation, with Iranian-backed Shiites and Iraqi-nationalist Shiites jockeying for power, influence and state resources.It’s an explosive rivalry in a country where many remain way of the Iranian government’s influence even though trade and ties remain strong between its peoples. Iraq and Iran fought a bloody war in the 1980s that saw a million people killed.Al-Sadr’s nationalist rhetoric and reform agenda resonates powerfully with his supporters, who largely hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and were historically shut out of the political system under Saddam.Al-Sadr's announcement that he is leaving politics has implicitly given his supporters the freedom to act as they see fit.Iranian state television cited unrest and a military-imposed curfew in Iraqi cities for the reason for the border closures. It urged Iranians avoid any travel to the neighboring country. The decision came as millions were preparing to visit Iraq for an annual pilgrimage to Shiite sites, and Tehran encouraged any Iranian pilgrims already in Iraq to avoid further travel between cities.Kuwait, meanwhile, called on its citizens to leave Iraq. The state-run KUNA news agency also encouraged those hoping to travel to Iraq to delay their plans.The tiny Gulf Arab sheikhdom of Kuwait shares a 254-kilometer- (158-mile-) long border with Iraq.The Netherlands evacuated its embassy in the Green Zone, Foreign Affairs Minister Wopke Hoekstra tweeted early Tuesday.“There are firefights around the embassy in Baghdad. Our staff are now working at the German embassy elsewhere in the city,” Hoekstra wrote.Dubai's long-haul carrier Emirates stopped flights to Baghdad on Tuesday over the ongoing unrest. The carrier said that it was “monitoring the situation closely.” It did not say when flights would resume.On Monday, protesters loyal to al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence.-----------BAGHDAD (AP) — An influential Shiite cleric announced Monday that he would resign from Iraqi politics, prompting hundreds of his angry followers to storm the government palace and sparking clashes with security forces. At least 15 protesters were killed.Protesters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pulled down the cement barriers outside the government palace with ropes and breached the palace gates. Many rushed into the lavish salons and marbled halls of the palace, a key meeting place for Iraqi heads of state and foreign dignitaries.Iraq’s military announced a nationwide curfew, and the caretaker premier suspended Cabinet sessions in response to the violence. Medical officials said dozens of protesters were wounded by gunfire and tear gas and physical altercations with riot police.As night fell, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr clashed with the Popular Mobilization Forces security group. A small force from the special forces division and Iraqi Army's 9th Division also joined to contain the militants as the clashes continued for hours inside the Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's government.At least one soldier from the special forces division, which is responsible for security in the Green Zone, was killed. Many others, including a civilian woman, were wounded, two security officials said. Several mortar rounds were heard.The crackle of machine gun fire echoed throughout central Baghdad.The PMF is an umbrella group composed of state-sanctioned paramilitary groups, the most powerful of which are aligned with al-Sadr's rivals in the Iran-backed political camp.Security officials said mortars and rocket-propelled grenades were used in the clashes, a culmination of intractable political impasse between the rival camps.Iraq’s government has been deadlocked since al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in October parliamentary elections but not enough to secure a majority government. His refusal to negotiate with his Iran-backed Shiite rivals and subsequent exit from the talks has catapulted the country into political uncertainty and volatility amid intensifying intra-Shiite wrangling.Iraq's majority Muslim population is split into two sects, Shiites and Sunnis. Under Saddam Hussein, the Shiites were oppressed until the U.S.-led invasion reversed the political order. Now the Shiites are fighting among themselves, with the dispute centering around power and state resources but also influence over the Shiite street.To further his political interests, al-Sadr has wrapped his rhetoric with a nationalist and reform agenda that resonates powerfully among his broad grassroots base of supporters who hail from Iraq’s poorest sectors of society and have historically been shut out from the political system.Many were first followers of his father, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. They are calling for the dissolution of parliament and early elections without the participation of Iran-backed Shiite groups, which they see as responsible for the status quo.During Monday's clashes, Saraya Salam, a militia aligned with al-Sadr gathered in the capital’s Tahrir Square to “protect” protesters, one of its commanders said.A senior medical official confirmed at least 15 protesters were killed by gunfire.Iraq’s caretaker premier said he would open an investigation into the shootings and said the use of live ammunition against protesters was forbidden.Protests also broke out in the Shiite-majority southern provinces, with al-Sadr’s supporters burning tires and blocking roads in the oil-rich province of Basra and hundreds demonstrating outside the governorate building in Missan.Iran considers intra-Shiite disharmony as a threat to its influence in Iraq and has repeatedly attempted to broker dialogue with al-Sadr.In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-iraq-0a7cb71ade4896ea393bedee0f7b86d7">July, Al-Sadr's supporters broke into the parliament</a>&nbsp;to deter his rivals in the Coordination Framework, an alliance of mostly Iran-aligned Shiite parties, from forming a government. Hundreds have been staging a sit-in outside the building for over four weeks. His bloc has also resigned from parliament. The Framework is led by al-Sadr's chief nemesis, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.This is not the first time al-Sadr, who has called for early elections and the dissolution of parliament, has announced his retirement from politics — and many dismissed Monday's move as another bluff to gain greater leverage against his rivals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-iran-elections-legislature-middle-east-235ad514977355cb1d7cad31d31fc901">amid a worsening stalemate</a>. The cleric has used the tactic on previous occasions when political developments did not go his way.But many are concerned that it's a risky gambit and are worried how it will affect Iraq’s fragile political climate. By stepping out of the political process, al-Sadr is giving his followers, most disenfranchised from the political system, the green light to act as they see fit.Al-Sadr also commands a militia and maintains a great degree of influence within Iraq's state institutions through the appointments of key civil servant positions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-religion-iran-saudi-arabia-iraq-d8e8b5fca9a92022e1249381892860ca">His Iran-backed rivals also have militia groups.</a>Iraq’s military swiftly called on the cleric's supporters to withdraw immediately from the heavily fortified government zone and to practice self-restraint “to prevent clashes or the spilling of Iraqi blood,” according to a statement.“The security forces affirm their responsibility to protect government institutions, international missions, public and private properties,” the statement said.Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi also demanded that al-Sadr call on his followers to withdraw from government institutions.The U.N. mission in Iraq said Monday’s protests were an “extremely dangerous escalation” and called on demonstrators to vacate all government buildings to allow the caretaker government to continue running the state.It urged all to remain peaceful and “refrain from acts that could lead to an unstoppable chain of events.”“The very survival of the state is at stake,” the statement said.Al-Sadr announced his withdrawal from politics in a tweet, and ordered the closure of his party offices. Religious and cultural institutions will remain open, it said.The true motivations behind al-Sadr’s announcement appeared to be a reaction to the retirement of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Kadhim al-Haeri, who counts many of al-Sadr’s supporters as followers.In a surprise announcement Sunday, al-Haeri said he would be stepping down as a religious authority for health reasons and called on his followers to throw their allegiance behind Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rather than the Shiite spiritual center in Iraq's holy city of Najaf.The move was a blow to al-Sadr, who despite harboring ambitions to be a religious authority lacks the scholarly credentials to be an ayatollah. Al-Haeri, who resides in the Iranian holy city of Qom, once provided him with the legitimacy he lacked by designating al-Sadr as his representative in Iraq. He cut ties shortly after with the cleric, but continued to enjoy the support of his followers.By calling on his followers to side with Khamenei, al-Haeri brought on a crisis of legitimacy for al-Sadr.In his tweet, al-Sadr said al-Haeri's stepping down “was not out of his own volition.”

White House: Violence in Iraq disturbing; embassy not being evacuated

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City-area woman was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting in July 2021 of her boyfriend, Ryan Wheeler, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

A Jackson County judge sentenced 27-year-old Katie L. Black to 17 years after she pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Tampering With Electronic Monitoring Equipment. 

A judge sentenced her to 17 years on the Murder 2nd conviction, 3 years on the Armed Criminal Action conviction and 5 years on the Tampering With Electronic Monitoring Equipment conviction. The first two sentences were set to run consecutive to each other and the third was set to run concurrent to the first, for a total of 20 years.

According to court records, on July 7, 2021, Jackson County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Atherton Sibley Road on a reported shooting. Deputies found Black at the scene while emergency responders cared for the Wheeler, who was taken to the hospital. 

Black told detectives she had accidentally shot her boyfriend. But eventually she stated they were arguing when she fired a shot to scare him. Then, she fired a second shot that struck him.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631641337336.png" alt="Black photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Black photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City-area woman was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for the fatal shooting in July 2021 of her boyfriend, Ryan Wheeler, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.A Jackson County judge sentenced 27-year-old Katie L. Black to 17 years after she pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Tampering With Electronic Monitoring Equipment. A judge sentenced her to 17 years on the Murder 2nd conviction, 3 years on the Armed Criminal Action conviction and 5 years on the Tampering With Electronic Monitoring Equipment conviction. The first two sentences were set to run consecutive to each other and the third was set to run concurrent to the first, for a total of 20 years.According to court records, on July 7, 2021, Jackson County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Atherton Sibley Road on a reported shooting. Deputies found Black at the scene while emergency responders cared for the Wheeler, who was taken to the hospital. Black told detectives she had accidentally shot her boyfriend. But eventually she stated they were arguing when she fired a shot to scare him. Then, she fired a second shot that struck him.&nbsp;

Kansas City-area woman sentenced for killing her boyfriend

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects who were captured after prompt action by a citizen to notify the sheriff's department that a crime had just occurred.

On August 26, a homeowners surveillance camera caught a package theft at a home in the 2300 Block of SW Indian Trail, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Detectives were quickly able to identify suspects seen on the video taking the packages.&nbsp; Deputies detained 35-year-old Chelsea Mullinix and 24-year-old Kelsey Sanstra both of Topeka for questioning.

Both were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit theft. Mullinix also faces multiple traffic violations.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661564822426.png" alt="Sanstra-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sanstra-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects who were captured after prompt action by a citizen to notify the sheriff's department that a crime had just occurred.On August 26, a homeowners surveillance camera caught a package theft at a home in the 2300 Block of SW Indian Trail, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661564880241.png" alt="Mullinix photo Shawnee&nbsp; Co." />
 <figcaption>Mullinix photo Shawnee&nbsp; Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives were quickly able to identify suspects seen on the video taking the packages.&nbsp; Deputies detained 35-year-old Chelsea Mullinix and 24-year-old Kelsey Sanstra both of Topeka for questioning.Both were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit theft. Mullinix also faces multiple traffic violations.&nbsp;

Kan. homeowner's camera caught women stealing packages

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Republican-led states continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-nashville-idaho-3c1fa60987ad945b4935d2ac8c1f318f">ban nearly all abortions</a>, President Joe Biden said Friday that such restrictions were “beyond the pale.”

Biden and Democrats are trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-dc870c873aec72e5c266133a01694aa3">harness outrage</a>&nbsp;over the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide, in this year's midterm elections.

“You’re going to hear women roar on this issue, and it’s going to be consequential,” he said.

Biden made the comments at a White House meeting of state and local officials to talk about ways to expand access to abortion and to mark Women's Equality Day. Kansas State Senator Dinah&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/members/sen_sykes_dinah_1/">Sykes of Lenexa&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;attended the meeting.

Biden reiterated his desire for Congress to codify Roe v. Wade into law, but "we're short a handful of votes," he said.

Democrats would need 10 Republican votes to overcome a filibuster and get a bill through the 50-50 Senate, but only two GOP senators have publicly backed abortion rights. And even though they narrowly control the Senate, Democrats don't have enough votes to sidestep the filibuster.

“The only way it's going to happen if the American people make it happen in November,” Biden said.

In the meantime, Biden has been looking for ways to protect abortion access. But his options are limited.

Idaho, Tennessee and Texas are the latest Republican-led states to tighten their restrictions. They've been implementing so-called “trigger laws" that were put on the books to severely limit abortions if Roe was overturned, which happened in June.

Lina Hidalgo, the county judge from Harris County, Texas, called her state's law a “slap in the face.”

"I think you speak for the majority of the American people," Biden responded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661602202321.png" alt="Biden reiterated his desire for Congress to codify Roe v. Wade into law, but "we're short a handful of votes," he said." />
 <figcaption>Biden reiterated his desire for Congress to codify Roe v. Wade into law, but "we're short a handful of votes," he said.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As Republican-led states continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-us-supreme-court-health-nashville-idaho-3c1fa60987ad945b4935d2ac8c1f318f">ban nearly all abortions</a>, President Joe Biden said Friday that such restrictions were “beyond the pale.”Biden and Democrats are trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-biden-us-supreme-court-health-dc870c873aec72e5c266133a01694aa3">harness outrage</a>&nbsp;over the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide, in this year's midterm elections.“You’re going to hear women roar on this issue, and it’s going to be consequential,” he said.Biden made the comments at a White House meeting of state and local officials to talk about ways to expand access to abortion and to mark Women's Equality Day. Kansas State Senator Dinah&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/members/sen_sykes_dinah_1/">Sykes of Lenexa&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;attended the meeting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661557134756.png" alt="State Senator Dinah Sykes at the White House-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>State Senator Dinah Sykes at the White House-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden reiterated his desire for Congress to codify Roe v. Wade into law, but "we're short a handful of votes," he said.Democrats would need 10 Republican votes to overcome a filibuster and get a bill through the 50-50 Senate, but only two GOP senators have publicly backed abortion rights. And even though they narrowly control the Senate, Democrats don't have enough votes to sidestep the filibuster.“The only way it's going to happen if the American people make it happen in November,” Biden said.In the meantime, Biden has been looking for ways to protect abortion access. But his options are limited.Idaho, Tennessee and Texas are the latest Republican-led states to tighten their restrictions. They've been implementing so-called “trigger laws" that were put on the books to severely limit abortions if Roe was overturned, which happened in June.Lina Hidalgo, the county judge from Harris County, Texas, called her state's law a “slap in the face.”"I think you speak for the majority of the American people," Biden responded.

Biden calls abortion restrictions 'beyond the pale'

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Five people were injured when a car struck a horse and buggy southeast of Kansas City during the weekend, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.

A vehicle driven by a 71-year-old man hit the back of the buggy on Saturday afternoon on U.S. 58 near Holden, the patrol said.

Ada and Truman Gingerich and three girls in the buggy were all taken to Kansas City hospitals. The three girls, ages 3 to 7, were all listed in serious condition. Truman Gingerich had minor injuries and Ada Gingerich was listed with moderate injuries.

The driver of the car refused treatment at the scene. All those involved are from Holden.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Five people were injured when a car struck a horse and buggy southeast of Kansas City during the weekend, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.A vehicle driven by a 71-year-old man hit the back of the buggy on Saturday afternoon on U.S. 58 near Holden, the patrol said.Ada and Truman Gingerich and three girls in the buggy were all taken to Kansas City hospitals. The three girls, ages 3 to 7, were all listed in serious condition. Truman Gingerich had minor injuries and Ada Gingerich was listed with moderate injuries.The driver of the car refused treatment at the scene. All those involved are from Holden.

Patrol: 5 injured after car strikes horse and buggy near Kansas City 

BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend murder at a rural Kansas home and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 7a.m. Saturday, Butler County deputies were dispatched to a third party report of a possible shooting in the 7900 block of SW 163rd Street, rural Augusta, an area commonly known as Gordon, according to&nbsp;Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.

 A person called 911 and told dispatchers that a family member had contacted them stating they had shot another individual in the home. 

Upon arrival of patrol deputies a perimeter was established and deputies attempted to make contact without success. Based upon the nature of the report, the situation was treated as a barricaded subject and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Team was deployed to the residence. 

After numerous unsuccessful attempts to make contact with people inside the home the tactical team made entry and took a 56-year-old male resident into custody. Deputies found a deceased 51-year-old female in the residence who appeared to have a gunshot wound. The case is being investigated as a murder.

The 56-year-old has been booked into the Butler County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder. Names of the victim and suspect are being withheld until official identification of the deceased as well as notification of next-of-kin, according to Cundiff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661798212258.png" alt="The Butler County Tactical Team on the scene of the investigation Saturday-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>The Butler County Tactical Team on the scene of the investigation Saturday-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a weekend murder at a rural Kansas home and have a suspect in custody.Just before 7a.m. Saturday, Butler County deputies were dispatched to a third party report of a possible shooting in the 7900 block of SW 163rd Street, rural Augusta, an area commonly known as Gordon, according to&nbsp;Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff. A person called 911 and told dispatchers that a family member had contacted them stating they had shot another individual in the home. Upon arrival of patrol deputies a perimeter was established and deputies attempted to make contact without success. Based upon the nature of the report, the situation was treated as a barricaded subject and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Team was deployed to the residence. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to make contact with people inside the home the tactical team made entry and took a 56-year-old male resident into custody. Deputies found a deceased 51-year-old female in the residence who appeared to have a gunshot wound. The case is being investigated as a murder.The 56-year-old has been booked into the Butler County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder. Names of the victim and suspect are being withheld until official identification of the deceased as well as notification of next-of-kin, according to Cundiff.

56-year-old jailed for deadly shooting at rural Kansas home

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas suspended starting wide receiver Trevor Wilson indefinitely and backup Tanaka Scott for the Jayhawks' season-opener against Tennessee Tech on Monday after the pair were arrested last week near campus.

Wilson was charged with suspicion of aggravated assault and use of a deadly weapon for the incident Thursday, when a Lawrence police spokesperson said a man flashed a gun at another car before driving away from the scene.

Wilson was released from Douglas County Jail on $5,000 bond and is due back in court Tuesday. The same charges against Tanaka were dismissed Friday for lack of probable cause.

Wilson started in seven games and appeared in all 12 for the Jayhawks last season, catching 27 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown. He had transferred from Buffalo, where he played for current Kansas coach Lance Leipold. Scott played in two games before redshirting the remainder of last season

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661802825673.png" alt="Tanaka Scott-photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Tanaka Scott-photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas suspended starting wide receiver Trevor Wilson indefinitely and backup Tanaka Scott for the Jayhawks' season-opener against Tennessee Tech on Monday after the pair were arrested last week near campus.Wilson was charged with suspicion of aggravated assault and use of a deadly weapon for the incident Thursday, when a Lawrence police spokesperson said a man flashed a gun at another car before driving away from the scene.Wilson was released from Douglas County Jail on $5,000 bond and is due back in court Tuesday. The same charges against Tanaka were dismissed Friday for lack of probable cause.Wilson started in seven games and appeared in all 12 for the Jayhawks last season, catching 27 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown. He had transferred from Buffalo, where he played for current Kansas coach Lance Leipold. Scott played in two games before redshirting the remainder of last season

KU suspends 1 WR indefinitely, another for 1 game after arrest

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/29/qa-with-ali-alexander-organizer-of-stop-the-steal-protests-before-jan-6/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Conservative political 
activist and provocateur Ali Alexander chose Nebraska to give what he 
called his first public speech since organizing “Stop the Steal” rallies
 in the run-up to Jan. 6, 2021, when more than 2,000 people stormed the 
U.S. Capitol as Congress certified the 2020 presidential election 
results.

Alexander, a Texas resident who has 
testified to the U.S. House Select Committee investigating Jan. 6 and to
 separate grand juries investigating potential criminal wrongdoing, 
spoke Saturday at the Nebraska Freedom Coalition’s <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/08/26/nebraska-freedom-festival-loses-key-speaker-after-charles-herbster-pulls-out/">Freedom Festival</a>, after the event moved indoors because of storms in Sarpy County.

He called for a more “radical” 
Republican Party, led by conservatives who are willing to hold their own
 accountable. He suggested that congressional subpoenas would swing 
toward Democrats if the GOP took control of the U.S. House this fall.

He sat down with the Nebraska 
Examiner on Sunday and said he remains an ardent supporter of former 
President Donald Trump and a believer in efforts to deny results of the 
2020 presidential election. A number of audits and court challenges have
 failed to change the election results.&nbsp;

What follows are excerpts from an 
interview with Alexander in downtown Omaha. Questions and answers were 
edited for brevity and clarity

Q: What do you think voters are 
missing about what happened between Jan. 6 and now? Where are they? 
Where is the movement that you helped? And what’s changed?

A: The significance of taking an 
issue (election integrity) after Election Day from a zero-percent issue 
to the top issue that Republican voters are concerned with can’t be 
understated. That’s not a me thing. That’s not even a Donald Trump 
thing. That’s a voter thing. But certainly Donald Trump and I poured 
gasoline on the proverbial fire.&nbsp;

We should all want our elections to 
be secure, predictable, auditable, transparent. I mean, that should be 
something that has a bipartisan consensus, and it does with the voters. 
It just doesn’t with the politicians.

That’s the bad side of what’s 
happened, post J6 (Jan. 6, 2021), is it really allowed it (the movement)
 to truly become leaderless, and then the loudest people saying the 
craziest things have gotten to lead it.

Q: Talk a little bit about what 
these last 15 months have been like for you, where you are now and what 
you’re trying to do moving forward.

A: God certainly prepared me for this
 moment. It’s taken all of my life experience, be it being a champion 
debater in high school. My mother’s a lawyer. I’ve been sued several 
times. I worked in politics. And so, I think that that prepared me for 
the post J6 fallout, where I face more lawfare (a legal effort to 
delegitimize an opponent) than any other single individual, other than 
Donald Trump.&nbsp;

I’m involved in a civil lawsuit where
 eight cops, might be nine now, U.S. Capitol Police, are suing me, 
Donald Trump. Roger Stone and Brandon Straka (of Nebraska). I testified 
before the J6 Select Committee for eight hours. It was the longest or 
second-longest verbal testimony. I had to testify before the grand jury 
that’s investigating the alternate electors. … I’m also suing Nancy 
Pelosi to try to place a constitutional limit on congressional 
subpoenas, which is very difficult to do.&nbsp;

I’m dealing with a lot of lawfare, a 
hundred thousand dollars in legal bills, juggling four different lawyers
 … And you really want to make sure this stuff is right. …

It’s been kind of crippling and 
crushing, but I’ve dealt with my own peace, competent lawyers, a lot of 
prayer, and that’s where I am. I’m kind of stuck. They’ve taken me out 
of the midterms in 2022. So shout-out to the Democrats for sidelining a 
ton of great organizers in the Republican Party.&nbsp;

Q: Looking back at the run-up to Jan. 6, what, if anything, would you have done differently?

A: I usually think of it in terms of,
 ‘Do I regret organizing on Jan. 6th or not?’ and I don’t. In fact, I 
plan to be at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2025, … for whatever the Congress 
certifies. There’s going to be a winner. There’s going to be a loser. 
And I intend to hold a peaceful event. …

I wish I would have asserted myself 
more. I announced that we were going to go to DC on December 16th, 
President Trump did his tweet December 19th. His staff reached out to me
 on the 20th or 21st. And so as we began coordinating things, I wish we 
would have, I wish I would have put my foot down on some of the things 
that I knew needed to be done and that I did push to be done.

For example, there was supposed to be a video played at the Ellipse (during Trump’s
 Jan. 6 rally) that gave proper instruction of where to go because we 
had a permit on the Capitol bond. I had a permit on area eight. And 
there were three other permits. … So I’m not responsible for what 
happened, and Trump’s not responsible for what happened.&nbsp;

Whenever you’re talking to a group 
that large, you want to do stuff out of an abundance of caution. And I 
don’t think that the people who serve President Trump, some of them, I 
don’t think that they acted out of an abundance of caution.&nbsp;

There’s some negligence in that the 
video that was produced by my team was never played. … They (the crowd) 
didn’t really know where they were supposed to go or not go.

I hope that every organizer in the 
future knows that if you’re talking to tens of thousands or hundreds of 
thousands of people, out of abundance of caution, tell people where to 
go, what to look for, because bad actors are going to be involved in 
hijacking events and, and it’s not just bad actors. Sometimes patriots 
will lose their temper.&nbsp;

Q: Quite a few Nebraskans were 
involved in some of the planning in the run-up to this, including former
 Nebraskan Kimberly Fletcher with Moms for America. You and Charles 
Herbster (a former Nebraska gubernatorial candidate) were <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/25/herbster-was-schmoozing-with-trump-team-jan-5-6-as-they-detailed-plans-to-overturn-election/">both VIPs at The Ellipse rally</a>. Ginni Thomas (the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas) <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/03/29/u-s-supreme-court-justice-clarence-thomas-pressed-to-recuse-himself-from-jan-6-cases/">has Nebraska ties</a>. But talk a little bit about how many of those folks, if any, did you run into during that run-up?&nbsp;

A: I’ve known Ginni Thomas for years,
 but we actually, I don’t think we talked once during the whole election
 integrity campaign. … A lot of my work was centered on talking to state
 legislators, putting a peaceful public pressure through protest and 
various states when a court decision was coming down or there was an ad 
hoc hearing or any of this other type of stuff. Ginni Thomas was working
 on communicating her concerns to the White House and stuff like that.

It is fascinating because I’ve read some of these left-wing Twitter 
troll rumors … they like to bring up the council (The Council of 
National Policy, a conservative group that connects people from across 
the government, business and political worlds). (Ginni and I are) a part
 of an exclusive invite-only organization, and, you know, by association
 there’s somehow a conspiracy. There wasn’t a conspiracy.

I know and admire her work. And I 
understand how confusing it is for the public to see a justice’s spouse 
participate politically. … But for those who have watched politics for 
decades, she’s always been the same person.

Kimberly Fletcher was instrumental. 
There really would not be a Stop the Steal movement to the degree that 
we were effective without Kimberly Fletcher. We got connected through an
 activist down South. She said, ‘You need to talk to her.’

We were on the phone, and five 
minutes later, she said, ‘I’m gonna roll my organization into yours,’ 
and that allowed us, on that first Saturday after the elections, to be 
present in all 50 state capitals. … Without Kimberly Fletcher and Moms 
for America (which has since moved its headquarters to Missouri), that 
would not have been possible. And a lot of these moms who are now active
 in the school board races … they were election-integrity activists 
first.&nbsp;

Brandon Straka (a Nebraskan convicted
 of disorderly conduct for his actions outside the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021)
 and I, our personalities are so similar that we kind of butted heads in
 the conservative influencer space. But when he saw that I was 
organizing, he called me. …&nbsp;

I said, well, I’m sending an 
influencer to every state and then I’m partnering them with an activist 
that I know, you know, through my years of activism, and that turned out
 to be the winning combo. If you want to know why Stop (the Steal) 
worked, it was because we were able to hijack the internet with 
influencers and hijack the grassroots with tea party organizers or GOP 
county chairs.&nbsp;

Q: What do you say to those 
people who look at what has been reported about you and your movement 
and see political extremism or something else entirely?&nbsp;

A: Polarization in this country has 
been increasing, you know, since post-(President Bill) Clinton. But I 
think that’s to the benefit of the people. The polarization I’d like to 
see is between the people and the American oligarchs. So in that way, 
the tea party and Occupy (Wall Street) and Antifa and Stop the Steal, we
 have a similar texture and ethos. …

Certainly, had we known in hindsight 
that there would be a riot, our language would have been different. But 
our language is normative to how we have talked about politics since 
2007, 2008. “1776” is a very popular saying. You can mean a couple 
different things, even “victory or death,” you know. It’s something I’ve
 been raked over the coals for, and rightfully so.

But that references the Travis 
letter. … Me and Alex Jones. We’re lovers of history. It’s a kind of 
give me liberty or give me death and it’s just very famous in Texas 
history. … But I understand how the public sees that or and says, oh my 
gosh, this had to be pre-planned. And the public does deserve answers, 
which is why I’ve always supported, you know, an investigation (a 
bipartisan and balanced investigation) into everything so that the 
public could get answers.&nbsp;

Q: What do you think lit the match that day (Jan. 6, 2021)?

A: So I don’t think anything lit the 
match. … I think that there are probably 20 people in the country that 
are in my position and that is that you can lead and marshal hundreds of
 thousands or millions of people because of a special skill set and 
Rolodex that we each have. … It’s easy for someone to say this one thing
 (is responsible).

So I would say, the lack of proper 
instruction at the Ellipse contributed to that, OK? Then the D.C. metro 
police and D.C. mayor not cooperating meant that there were no police 
from the Ellipse or Freedom Plaza to the Capitol. If there had been a 
police presence … it’s a mitigating technique. If you had just seen a 
hundred or 500 police down Pennsylvania Avenue, nothing ever would have 
happened.&nbsp;

There’s the release of (former Vice 
President) Mike Pence’s ill-timed press release.&nbsp; … That’s one of the 
dumbest things I’ve ever seen in my career. What he should have done as a
 great steward of the Constitution is commit himself to the action that 
he was going to do and then explain it afterwards. … What we do know is 
that that agitated some people who didn’t understand.&nbsp;

Q: What do you say to those people who call you an insurrectionist?&nbsp;

A: Insurrection is a criminal charge,
 and no one’s been charged with it. I think that’s inaccurate. 
Insurrection requires an armed rebellion. There were people, I think 
three or five or two, something like that, people who had weapons on the
 Capitol grounds on Jan. 6. (At least three people facing charges were 
alleged by police to possess firearms on Capitol grounds. More than 100 
people have been charged with possessing or using other types of 
weapons. Eleven have been charged with seditious conspiracy.) 
Congressman (Paul) Gosar, myself, Alex Jones and other people were 
adamant about no one bringing weapons. That’s what I tell people is that
 90% of that crowd, at least, are gun owners. … They didn’t bring guns 
because nobody wanted an armed rebellion.&nbsp;.

So I’d say I can’t be an 
insurrectionist because I don’t believe in that, and the moment I decide
 to become an insurrectionist, I’ll have no qualms about doing that. I’d
 say be careful what you wish for, because you could accidentally 
gaslight the right into actually becoming insurrectionists. And I think 
there are still peaceful ways to come together. … And again, I blame our
 federal government more than I blame the Democrat Party.

Q: When you look at what 
happened, after all of this — the police officers who were injured, the 
folks who lost lives, including protesters — how do you describe what 
happened as peaceful?&nbsp;

A: I would say that those people have
 very legitimate grievances and legitimate anger, and I first try to, 
you know, empathize with them, because if I were in their shoes, I would
 feel that way. Then certainly because of the corporate media coverage 
of the event, that is how it was characterized for the first four 
months.&nbsp; … There are a couple times in our country’s history where there
 are just pure riots. But most riots in this country’s history start as 
protests that a criminal element then takes over, and then most 
protesters don’t participate in the riots.&nbsp;

So I would say that it’s very 
difficult to hear, but Jan. 6 was 90-something percent peaceful, but 
people don’t hear that because they associate it with the riot element.&nbsp;

And there are a lot of people 
including myself who had to get counseling for it. I would just say that
 people really need just plug into the raw video, in the raw material, 
and notice how many people are standing back from the Capitol. Notice 
how many people chose not to participate when given the opportunity. 
Notice how many people try to de-escalate. …

There’s been no serious inquiry into 
potential police abuses. Then themselves they got caught in a horrible 
situation.&nbsp; … I’m horrified that anybody would fight. It seems so 
unnecessary to me. It seems so unwinnable. Why would you do it? And 
that’s why I think that you didn’t see any leaders participated in any 
violence.

Q: What do you see in the sort of
 change to state party leadership structures happening in places like 
Nebraska and Arizona? And where does the state party fit in this new era
 of activism?

A: A lot of what we are observing I 
think happening between grassroots organizations and the party apparatus
 is better explained just through campaign finance (including the U.S. 
Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that struck down many limits on
 the amounts of money that could be spent on outside groups for 
political speech), but it does coincide with Trump and that, and that is
 that strong personalities, email marketing can raise more money than 
the party. …

What I’ve told behind the scenes to the activists here is, OK, you’ve taken over the state party (which <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/07/09/old-guard-conservatives-and-trump-populists-take-nebraska-gop-from-ricketts/">happened in July in Nebraska</a>).
 It’s a fundraising operation, but you also have three seats. If you do 
it right … they can have three seats on the RNC (Republican National 
Committee) and that affects our (party) platform, scheduling debates, 
the primary, and that is almost as powerful. If you can’t fundraise, 
then accept that as a challenge.

Q: What’s the organizing 
principle next time (in 2024) for conservatives, other than just a 
person, because Americans fought a war to get rid of kings?

A: We on the right are not going to 
be able to evade that we are centered around a personality, because he’s
 the avatar of something that seems to have been around since, you know,
 (Ross) Perot and (Pat) Buchanan. … What Trump was genius in doing was 
rolling all the rest of us who were ideologues, I was an ideologue. I’m 
not anymore.&nbsp;

And it’s really interesting watching 
the conservative movement move away from the Heritage Foundation. Then 
when you get the tea party movement, there’s the incorporation of, like,
 FreedomWorks. Then what you’ve seen now is that we as a movement have 
transferred from FreedomWorks and from Heritage Foundation to the 
Claremont Institute.&nbsp;

No one’s been able to do it quite 
like him (Trump). (Ron) DeSantis comes close, but even these statewide 
candidates have to be a little bit more consistent, because they’re 
appealing to the party base, party activists, conservative activists, 
but Trump didn’t need to do that.&nbsp;

He could just flood it in with new 
voters and balance that out with coalitions of pockets of special 
interests within the conservative movement.&nbsp;

I’d say things are very, very dark. 
Everything mainstream corporate media says that we have to restore 
norms, and they’re doing nothing to contribute to that. The Democrats 
say they want to restore norms and democracy, and they are breaking the 
norms. … And Republicans aren’t concerned about this at all. … I’d say 
things are going to get worse before they get better.&nbsp;

Q&A organizer of ‘Stop the Steal’ protests before Jan. 6

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal-hit and-run crash in Kansas City.

Just after 6a.m. Saturday, an unknown vehicle struck and killed a southbound&nbsp; bicyclist at Longview and View High Drive in Kansas&nbsp; City, according to a media release from police.&nbsp; The driver left the scene. Detectives have now narrowed the search to a white 2017 to 2020 Acura MDX with damage to the right front passenger side and grill area of the vehicle.

The vehicle was last seen traveling south on View High towards Lee’s Summit, Missouri.&nbsp; 

If anyone has information please call <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop">@KCCrimeStop</a> TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or Det. Rives with the Traffic Investigation Section at 816-482-8296 or email chad.rives@kcpd.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661799582839.png" alt="Photo courtesy Fox4KansasCity" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Fox4KansasCity</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal-hit and-run crash in Kansas City.Just after 6a.m. Saturday, an unknown vehicle struck and killed a southbound&nbsp; bicyclist at Longview and View High Drive in Kansas&nbsp; City, according to a media release from police.&nbsp; The driver left the scene. Detectives have now narrowed the search to a white 2017 to 2020 Acura MDX with damage to the right front passenger side and grill area of the vehicle.The vehicle was last seen traveling south on View High towards Lee’s Summit, Missouri.&nbsp; If anyone has information please call <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop">@KCCrimeStop</a> TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or Det. Rives with the Traffic Investigation Section at 816-482-8296 or email chad.rives@kcpd.org.

Police search for vehicle in KC hit-and-run that killed bicyclist 

Plus: Women's health after incarceration

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5OXbuBGXXc"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Plus: Women's health after incarceration

🎥 Doctors: Helping children and adults with anxiety

WASHINGTON — The government <a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests">website </a>for people to request free COVID-19 at-home tests shows the program will be suspended on Friday, September 2. The web site says the program is ending because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.

In May, the White House announced that U.S. households could request an additional eight free at-home tests to be shipped by the U.S. Postal Service.

President Joe Biden committed in January to making 1 billion tests available to the public free of charge, including 500 million available through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests" target="_blank">covidtests.gov.</a>&nbsp;

People who have difficulty getting online or need help placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 for assistance. Households were eligible to receive four tests during each of two earlier rounds of ordering through the website.

Biden has requested an additional $22 billion from Congress to buy vaccines and therapeutics to prepare for a fall spike in COVID-19 cases, but lawmakers have balked at the price tag.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642104330616.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The government <a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests">website </a>for people to request free COVID-19 at-home tests shows the program will be suspended on Friday, September 2. The web site says the program is ending because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.In May, the White House announced that U.S. households could request an additional eight free at-home tests to be shipped by the U.S. Postal Service.President Joe Biden committed in January to making 1 billion tests available to the public free of charge, including 500 million available through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covid.gov/tests" target="_blank">covidtests.gov.</a>&nbsp;People who have difficulty getting online or need help placing an order can call 1-800-232-0233 for assistance. Households were eligible to receive four tests during each of two earlier rounds of ordering through the website.Biden has requested an additional $22 billion from Congress to buy vaccines and therapeutics to prepare for a fall spike in COVID-19 cases, but lawmakers have balked at the price tag.

No money: Biden ending free at-home COVID test program

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged with a felony count of forgery for presenting to county officials a fraudulent Warranty Deed to obtain possession of a south Kansas City residential property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Miles W. Thomas, 51, faces a felony charge of Forgery.

According to court records, the Kansas City Police Department's Economic Crimes Section investigated the report of a forgery. An individual reported that the name of a family member, deceased, had been forged in order for the reported buyer to obtain possession of the property in south Kansas City. The fraudulent Warranty Deed, the police investigation found, transferred property to the defendant's company.&nbsp;

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker noted the investigation also showed numerous other records associated with the defendant or his company in the county's land records system. Baker thanked KCPD for its investigation and called for other community members, if they have any suspicion about other real estate deals involving the defendant, to quickly contact the KC police department.

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged with a felony count of forgery for presenting to county officials a fraudulent Warranty Deed to obtain possession of a south Kansas City residential property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Miles W. Thomas, 51, faces a felony charge of Forgery.According to court records, the Kansas City Police Department's Economic Crimes Section investigated the report of a forgery. An individual reported that the name of a family member, deceased, had been forged in order for the reported buyer to obtain possession of the property in south Kansas City. The fraudulent Warranty Deed, the police investigation found, transferred property to the defendant's company.&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker noted the investigation also showed numerous other records associated with the defendant or his company in the county's land records system. Baker thanked KCPD for its investigation and called for other community members, if they have any suspicion about other real estate deals involving the defendant, to quickly contact the KC police department.

KC man allegedly used signature of dead relative to obtain property

MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Authorities have located the state psychiatric hospital patient identified as  18-year-old Salvador Reyes III and 20-year-old Jamey Anderson, a hospital employee, according to the Miami County sheriff's office.

Both left the Osawatomie State Hospital in Anderson’s vehicle early Monday.

Authorities located Anderson’s vehicle in the area of 287th and Osawatomie Road and were believed to be in the area of Hillsdale Lake entrance on 255th Street.

Authorities released no additional details.

MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities including sheriff's deputies&nbsp;Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Wildlife wardens are assisting the Osawatomie Police Department with a missing person report involving an Osawatomie State Hospital patient identified as&nbsp; 18-year-old Salvador Reyes III and 20-year-old Jamey Anderson, a hospital employee, according to the Miami County sheriff.

Authorities located Anderson’s vehicle in the area of 287th and Osawatomie Road. There is reason to believe both are in the area of Hillsdale Lake entrance on 255th Street, according to the sheriff.

Jamey Anderson is described as a white female, 5-foot-6, approximately 220 pounds, with green eyes and blonde hair. She was wearing dark grey scrubs. 

Salvador Reyes III is described as a Hispanic male, dark eyes, dark hair, 189 pounds with multiple tattoos and was wearing a black t-shirt with deer skull and blue sweatpants. 

Both are believed to be on foot in the area of the lake. There were multiple emergency personnel in the area. Reyes is considered dangerous. The sheriff asked the public to call 911 if you see them. Do not approach.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661786074794.png" alt="Reyes-photo Miami Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Reyes-photo Miami Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Authorities have located the state psychiatric hospital patient identified as 18-year-old Salvador Reyes III and 20-year-old Jamey Anderson, a hospital employee, according to the Miami County sheriff's office.Both left the Osawatomie State Hospital in Anderson’s vehicle early Monday.Authorities located Anderson’s vehicle in the area of 287th and Osawatomie Road and were believed to be in the area of Hillsdale Lake entrance on 255th Street.Authorities released no additional details.-----------MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities including sheriff's deputies&nbsp;Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Wildlife wardens are assisting the Osawatomie Police Department with a missing person report involving an Osawatomie State Hospital patient identified as&nbsp; 18-year-old Salvador Reyes III and 20-year-old Jamey Anderson, a hospital employee, according to the Miami County sheriff.Both left the Osawatomie State Hospital in Anderson’s vehicle early Monday.Authorities located Anderson’s vehicle in the area of 287th and Osawatomie Road. There is reason to believe both are in the area of Hillsdale Lake entrance on 255th Street, according to the sheriff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661786009130.png" alt="Anderson-photo Miami Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Anderson-photo Miami Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Jamey Anderson is described as a white female, 5-foot-6, approximately 220 pounds, with green eyes and blonde hair. She was wearing dark grey scrubs. Salvador Reyes III is described as a Hispanic male, dark eyes, dark hair, 189 pounds with multiple tattoos and was wearing a black t-shirt with deer skull and blue sweatpants. Both are believed to be on foot in the area of the lake. There were multiple emergency personnel in the area. Reyes is considered dangerous. The sheriff asked the public to call 911 if you see them. Do not approach.