TAMPA, Fla. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;on Monday declared herself “all in” on President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;bid to remain as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, despite calls by some Democrats for him to drop out after his damaging debate performance against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;shook their confidence in him.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?536838-1/lady-jill-biden-campaigns-wilmington-nc">Click here to watch</a> Jill Biden's campaign appearance

The president himself has brushed aside those calls and insisted anew on Monday that he isn’t leaving the race.

“For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” the first lady told a military crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina, the first of three battleground states she was visiting.

“That’s the decision that he’s made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in too,” said Jill Biden, who teaches English and writing as a community college professor.

Later Monday, in remarks at an American Legion post in Tampa, Florida, she said her husband considers support of the military and veterans a “sacred obligation” that she contended contrasts with Trump.

“As commander in chief, President Biden wakes up every morning ready to work for you,” Jill Biden said. “Donald Trump wakes up every morning thinking of one person and one person only: himself.”

Danny Fuqua, president of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida, said Biden’s ties to the military make him the clear choice in November.

“The Bidens are a military family. They are one of us. They not only see the uniform, they see the person in it,” Fuqua said.

Jill Biden was headed next to an event in Columbus, Georgia, home of the Army’s sprawling Fort Moore.

Her daylong tour was part of the Biden campaign’s broader effort to rebound from the president’s halting performance against Trump in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-debate-age-democrats-b93d7ffaad75fd423ea3953fe16287f0">last month’s debate</a>.

The debate led some congressional Democrats and others to call on him to let another candidate challenge Trump because they no longer believe the 81-year-old president is mentally and physically capable of defeating the former Republican president in November.

Jill Biden also announced the formation of an organizing group, Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris at her Tampa stop.

“We can’t take anything for granted. We have to meet this moment because our freedoms are at risk,” she said.

The president has insisted since the June 27 debate that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-campaign-wisconsin-abc-news-e4657f86f5e82b10a5fefb526bc49b08">he is staying in the race</a>. He did so again on Monday in a letter to congressional Democrats and during an on-air telephone interview with MSNBC.

Jill Biden used her appearance to draw contrasts between her husband’s and Trump’s attitudes toward U.S. service members, veterans and their families.

The president’s late son&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">Beau</a>&nbsp;served in Iraq as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard, and the first lady’s father was a Navy signalman during World War II.

“This is personal to us,” she said, describing the waits to connect by phone with a service member stationed overseas or having to smile through a loved one’s absence on holidays.

“Let me ask you this ... Does Donald Trump know what it’s like?” she said.

The first lady mentioned reports that Trump, during a 2018 trip to France, referred to service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-top-news-politics-europe-edf5d17c4d41cfb69117f0cf97ef6ac6">“suckers” and “losers.”</a>&nbsp;Trump denies making the comments.

“It’s disgraceful, but it’s not surprising,” she said. And, noting that the Supreme Court has said presidents are immune from prosecution for acts committed while in office, the first lady said “our democracy cannot withstand a Trump president with virtually no limits.”

“Members of our military honor their oath to support and defend the Constitution. We cannot trust Donald Trump to do the same,” she said. “You deserve a commander in chief who serves with integrity and wisdom and character, and that’s my husband, Joe Biden.”

A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

During the debate, Biden and Trump argued over who cares the most about veterans. Biden noted that he recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-election-france-451275981e578163c51b5a2562ae6694">visited an American military cemetery in France</a>, the final resting place for U.S. soldiers who fought in World War I, which Trump notably skipped on his 2018 trip.

Trump asserted during the debate that the Democratic president is coddling migrants while neglecting the needs of veterans and service members, and he faulted Biden for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720484737607.png" alt="First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the campaign rally Monday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the campaign rally Monday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>TAMPA, Fla. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;on Monday declared herself “all in” on President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;bid to remain as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, despite calls by some Democrats for him to drop out after his damaging debate performance against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;shook their confidence in him.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?536838-1/lady-jill-biden-campaigns-wilmington-nc">Click here to watch</a> Jill Biden's campaign appearanceThe president himself has brushed aside those calls and insisted anew on Monday that he isn’t leaving the race.“For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” the first lady told a military crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina, the first of three battleground states she was visiting.“That’s the decision that he’s made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in too,” said Jill Biden, who teaches English and writing as a community college professor.Later Monday, in remarks at an American Legion post in Tampa, Florida, she said her husband considers support of the military and veterans a “sacred obligation” that she contended contrasts with Trump.“As commander in chief, President Biden wakes up every morning ready to work for you,” Jill Biden said. “Donald Trump wakes up every morning thinking of one person and one person only: himself.”Danny Fuqua, president of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida, said Biden’s ties to the military make him the clear choice in November.“The Bidens are a military family. They are one of us. They not only see the uniform, they see the person in it,” Fuqua said.Jill Biden was headed next to an event in Columbus, Georgia, home of the Army’s sprawling Fort Moore.Her daylong tour was part of the Biden campaign’s broader effort to rebound from the president’s halting performance against Trump in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-debate-age-democrats-b93d7ffaad75fd423ea3953fe16287f0">last month’s debate</a>.The debate led some congressional Democrats and others to call on him to let another candidate challenge Trump because they no longer believe the 81-year-old president is mentally and physically capable of defeating the former Republican president in November.Jill Biden also announced the formation of an organizing group, Veterans and Military Families for Biden-Harris at her Tampa stop.“We can’t take anything for granted. We have to meet this moment because our freedoms are at risk,” she said.The president has insisted since the June 27 debate that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-campaign-wisconsin-abc-news-e4657f86f5e82b10a5fefb526bc49b08">he is staying in the race</a>. He did so again on Monday in a letter to congressional Democrats and during an on-air telephone interview with MSNBC.Jill Biden used her appearance to draw contrasts between her husband’s and Trump’s attitudes toward U.S. service members, veterans and their families.The president’s late son&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d8f69eb645d74b7886387f713981b739">Beau</a>&nbsp;served in Iraq as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard, and the first lady’s father was a Navy signalman during World War II.“This is personal to us,” she said, describing the waits to connect by phone with a service member stationed overseas or having to smile through a loved one’s absence on holidays.“Let me ask you this ... Does Donald Trump know what it’s like?” she said.The first lady mentioned reports that Trump, during a 2018 trip to France, referred to service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-ap-top-news-politics-europe-edf5d17c4d41cfb69117f0cf97ef6ac6">“suckers” and “losers.”</a>&nbsp;Trump denies making the comments.“It’s disgraceful, but it’s not surprising,” she said. And, noting that the Supreme Court has said presidents are immune from prosecution for acts committed while in office, the first lady said “our democracy cannot withstand a Trump president with virtually no limits.”“Members of our military honor their oath to support and defend the Constitution. We cannot trust Donald Trump to do the same,” she said. “You deserve a commander in chief who serves with integrity and wisdom and character, and that’s my husband, Joe Biden.”A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.During the debate, Biden and Trump argued over who cares the most about veterans. Biden noted that he recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-election-france-451275981e578163c51b5a2562ae6694">visited an American military cemetery in France</a>, the final resting place for U.S. soldiers who fought in World War I, which Trump notably skipped on his 2018 trip.Trump asserted during the debate that the Democratic president is coddling migrants while neglecting the needs of veterans and service members, and he faulted Biden for the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.<h2>___</h2>

🎥Jill Biden says she’s ‘all in’ on Joe's reelection 

Allen Lloyd Graves, 80, died July 7, 2024, at HaysMed, Hays, Kansas. He was born August 21, 1943, in Hoisington, Kansas, the son of James and Velma (Moore) Graves. &nbsp;In 1962 he graduated from Hoisington High School. He then served during the Vietnam War with the United States Navy from 1962 until 1966.&nbsp;

A lifetime Hoisington resident, Allen worked for Sound Control and later retired from the City of Hoisington as the water plant operator 3. He was a member of the V.F.W. and a former officer in the American Legion Post #286, Hoisington. &nbsp;An avid motorcycle enthusiast, he was proud to ride as a member of the Legion Riders. Allen spent time with his children hunting and fishing and coaching their sports teams. He also loved his appaloosa horses, and his Welsh corgi dogs, but especially loved attending all of his grandchildren’s events.

He is survived by his two children; Shawn (Christine) Graves of Topeka, and Stacey (Randy) Hitschmann of Beaver; and two sisters, Donna Ritchie of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, and Darleen Demel of Hoisington; a brother, Jimmy Graves of Herculaneum, Missouri; six grandchildren, Jason Vasquez of Claflin, Jennifer (A.J.) Medina of Castle Rock, Colorado, Nicole (Joe) Cotton, Natalie Graves, Ryan Graves, and Raelynn Graves, all of Topeka; and two great-grandchildren, Derrick and Naomi Cotton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother-in-law, Tom Demel.

Per Allen’s wishes cremation has taken place. Friends may sign the book now until service. Family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Daniel Vandenburg presiding. Burial with military honors will follow in Hoisington Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the American Legion Post #286 in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720560991925.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Allen Lloyd Graves, 80, died July 7, 2024, at HaysMed, Hays, Kansas. He was born August 21, 1943, in Hoisington, Kansas, the son of James and Velma (Moore) Graves. &nbsp;In 1962 he graduated from Hoisington High School. He then served during the Vietnam War with the United States Navy from 1962 until 1966.&nbsp;A lifetime Hoisington resident, Allen worked for Sound Control and later retired from the City of Hoisington as the water plant operator 3. He was a member of the V.F.W. and a former officer in the American Legion Post #286, Hoisington. &nbsp;An avid motorcycle enthusiast, he was proud to ride as a member of the Legion Riders. Allen spent time with his children hunting and fishing and coaching their sports teams. He also loved his appaloosa horses, and his Welsh corgi dogs, but especially loved attending all of his grandchildren’s events.He is survived by his two children; Shawn (Christine) Graves of Topeka, and Stacey (Randy) Hitschmann of Beaver; and two sisters, Donna Ritchie of Ninety-Six, South Carolina, and Darleen Demel of Hoisington; a brother, Jimmy Graves of Herculaneum, Missouri; six grandchildren, Jason Vasquez of Claflin, Jennifer (A.J.) Medina of Castle Rock, Colorado, Nicole (Joe) Cotton, Natalie Graves, Ryan Graves, and Raelynn Graves, all of Topeka; and two great-grandchildren, Derrick and Naomi Cotton.He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother-in-law, Tom Demel.Per Allen’s wishes cremation has taken place. Friends may sign the book now until service. Family will greet friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Daniel Vandenburg presiding. Burial with military honors will follow in Hoisington Cemetery.Memorials may be made to the American Legion Post #286 in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Allen Lloyd Graves

Fort Hays State University announces spring 2024 Deans' Honor Roll

Summer may be only half over, but the folks at First Call for Help of Ellis County are busily collecting supplies for Backpacks for Kids.

The annual event provides a free backpack loaded with school supplies and personal hygiene items for any child who needs one. There are no income guidelines, but children must live in Ellis County and must attend school in Ellis County in order to qualify.

Laura Shoaff, Client Service Specialist who supervises the program for First Call, said students may attend either public or private schools. They will still qualify as long as the school is in Ellis County. The program “is geared more toward low-income, but we don’t turn anybody away,” Shoaff said.

Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless will sponsor a School Supply Drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at Walmart in Hays. Customers will be given a list of needed supplies when they walk into the store and may donate items as they leave.

Macey Pfeifer, First Call’s Executive Director, said, “Many families struggle to afford these basic necessities, and every year, we receive requests from school counselors to provide backpacks for students carrying their supplies in grocery sacks.”

Families have until Tuesday, July 23, to register their children to receive a free backpack. Families may register in one of three ways, Shoaff said: They may fill out the paper form and mail or bring it to the First Call Office at 607 E. 13th&nbsp;St.; they may call the office at (785) 623-2800; or they may register online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/backpacks">https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/backpacks</a>.

Shoaff said if families register their children in advance, “they are guaranteed a backpack with school supplies for their grade level.”

The backpacks for registered children will be distributed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Room, 2900 Hall St.

Any remaining backpacks will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis the following day, Friday, Aug. 2, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the same location.

Last year, First Call distributed 592 backpacks. She said this year the nonprofit agency is preparing 650.

In addition to school supplies, backpacks also will contain a hygiene bag containing a full-size bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap. Backpacks for third graders on up also will contain deodorant. Kindergartners through fifth graders will receive facial tissue. Older students may receive that item for the asking, Shoaff said.

Also each year Delta Dental provides “Smile Kits,” which contain toothpaste, a toothbrush, and dental floss. All student participants receive that kit.

In addition to the personal hygiene items mentioned above, First Call is seeking the following items: 3x3-inch Post-It Sticky Notes (any color), new backpacks in medium and large sizes, highlighters and dry erase markers, plastic school boxes or pencil bags, notebook paper (both wide-ruled and college-ruled), 4-oz. Elmer’s School Glue, large pink erasers, 10-pack Crayola Washable Markers (classic colors), pointed scissors, 12-pack colored pencils, 24-pack Crayola Crayons, 2 pocket folders, pencils (#2 yellow), pens (blue, black, and red), earbuds and small headphones, boxes of facial tissue, graph paper, 1-subject spiral notebooks (wide and college ruled), 1-inch three-ring binders, glue sticks (no gel), tab index divider pages, composition notebooks, combination locks.

All donated items must be new, Shoaff emphasized.

“Each year we ask the schools to give us their supply list. I so appreciate the schools who send me a copy, so I don’t have to go track them down,” she said.

Shoaff said the main items needed at press time are the 1-subject spiral notebooks, 1-inch three-ring binders, looseleaf notebook paper, and hand sanitizer.

Monetary donations are also appreciated, mailed to the address above, with Backpacks for Kids in the memo line.

Shoaff said major contributors at press time include VFW Post #9076, the Hays Lions Club, and St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, which all donated between $500 and $1,000. Also, Midwest Energy, Walmart, and Midwestern Pipeworks, which all donated $1,000 or more.

“If we have extras, we will still be handing out backpacks until school starts—for new kids,” Shoaff said. “If a kid needs a backpack, we will get them one.”

Pfeifer added,&nbsp;“Your contributions can make a significant impact on the lives of students in our community. Whether it's a financial donation or purchasing backpacks, school supplies, or hygiene items, every contribution counts.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720129894927.jpeg" alt="Dana Loewen, a staff member at First Call for Help of Ellis County, stuffs school supplies into backpacks in anticipation of the distribution day. Distribution for pre-registered children will be Thursday, Aug. 1. Distribution of any remaining backpacks will be Friday, Aug. 2. (Courtesy Photo)" />
 <figcaption>Dana Loewen, a staff member at First Call for Help of Ellis County, stuffs school supplies into backpacks in anticipation of the distribution day. Distribution for pre-registered children will be Thursday, Aug. 1. Distribution of any remaining backpacks will be Friday, Aug. 2. (Courtesy Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedSummer may be only half over, but the folks at First Call for Help of Ellis County are busily collecting supplies for Backpacks for Kids.The annual event provides a free backpack loaded with school supplies and personal hygiene items for any child who needs one. There are no income guidelines, but children must live in Ellis County and must attend school in Ellis County in order to qualify.Laura Shoaff, Client Service Specialist who supervises the program for First Call, said students may attend either public or private schools. They will still qualify as long as the school is in Ellis County. The program “is geared more toward low-income, but we don’t turn anybody away,” Shoaff said.Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless will sponsor a School Supply Drive from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at Walmart in Hays. Customers will be given a list of needed supplies when they walk into the store and may donate items as they leave.Macey Pfeifer, First Call’s Executive Director, said, “Many families struggle to afford these basic necessities, and every year, we receive requests from school counselors to provide backpacks for students carrying their supplies in grocery sacks.”Families have until Tuesday, July 23, to register their children to receive a free backpack. Families may register in one of three ways, Shoaff said: They may fill out the paper form and mail or bring it to the First Call Office at 607 E. 13th&nbsp;St.; they may call the office at (785) 623-2800; or they may register online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/backpacks">https://www.firstcallelliscounty.com/backpacks</a>.Shoaff said if families register their children in advance, “they are guaranteed a backpack with school supplies for their grade level.”The backpacks for registered children will be distributed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Room, 2900 Hall St.Any remaining backpacks will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis the following day, Friday, Aug. 2, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the same location.Last year, First Call distributed 592 backpacks. She said this year the nonprofit agency is preparing 650.In addition to school supplies, backpacks also will contain a hygiene bag containing a full-size bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap. Backpacks for third graders on up also will contain deodorant. Kindergartners through fifth graders will receive facial tissue. Older students may receive that item for the asking, Shoaff said.Also each year Delta Dental provides “Smile Kits,” which contain toothpaste, a toothbrush, and dental floss. All student participants receive that kit.In addition to the personal hygiene items mentioned above, First Call is seeking the following items: 3x3-inch Post-It Sticky Notes (any color), new backpacks in medium and large sizes, highlighters and dry erase markers, plastic school boxes or pencil bags, notebook paper (both wide-ruled and college-ruled), 4-oz. Elmer’s School Glue, large pink erasers, 10-pack Crayola Washable Markers (classic colors), pointed scissors, 12-pack colored pencils, 24-pack Crayola Crayons, 2 pocket folders, pencils (#2 yellow), pens (blue, black, and red), earbuds and small headphones, boxes of facial tissue, graph paper, 1-subject spiral notebooks (wide and college ruled), 1-inch three-ring binders, glue sticks (no gel), tab index divider pages, composition notebooks, combination locks.All donated items must be new, Shoaff emphasized.“Each year we ask the schools to give us their supply list. I so appreciate the schools who send me a copy, so I don’t have to go track them down,” she said.Shoaff said the main items needed at press time are the 1-subject spiral notebooks, 1-inch three-ring binders, looseleaf notebook paper, and hand sanitizer.Monetary donations are also appreciated, mailed to the address above, with Backpacks for Kids in the memo line.Shoaff said major contributors at press time include VFW Post #9076, the Hays Lions Club, and St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, which all donated between $500 and $1,000. Also, Midwest Energy, Walmart, and Midwestern Pipeworks, which all donated $1,000 or more.“If we have extras, we will still be handing out backpacks until school starts—for new kids,” Shoaff said. “If a kid needs a backpack, we will get them one.”Pfeifer added,&nbsp;“Your contributions can make a significant impact on the lives of students in our community. Whether it's a financial donation or purchasing backpacks, school supplies, or hygiene items, every contribution counts.”

School supply drive to benefit Backpacks for Kids

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State will take on George Washington to conclude the first round of the 2024 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Friday, November 22, as tournament organizers announced the complete bracket for the tournament on Tuesday morning (July 9).

The annual Paradise Jam will run from Friday-Monday, November 22-25, 2024, at the University of Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. This will mark the tournament’s 24th&nbsp;year with K-State appearing for the third time (2002, 2018, 2024) in its existence, including a championship in 2018.

K-State and the Atlantic 10’s George Washington will meet for the sixth time in their respective histories in the final game of the first day of the tournament at 7 p.m., CT on Friday, November 22. Big South Tournament champion Longwood and AAC Tournament champion UAB will meet in the tournament opener at 11:30 a.m., CT followed by Illinois State and Southland Conference champion McNeese at 2 p.m., CT. Louisiana and Liberty will open the evening session at 4:30 p.m., CT followed by the Wildcats and Revolutionaries.

The K-State/GW winner will advance to face the winner of the contest between Louisiana and Liberty on Sunday, November 24 at 7 p.m., CT, while the two remaining teams will play on Saturday, November 23 at 4:30 p.m., CT.

In the opponent bracket, the winner of the first game between Longwood and UAB will play the winner of the second game between Illinois State and McNeese on Sunday, November 24 at 4:30 p.m., CT, while the two remaining teams will play on Saturday, November 23 at 2 p.m., CT.

The winner of each bracket will face off in the championship game on Monday, November 25 at 7 p.m., CT. There will be three consolation games that will precede the title contest at 11:30 a.m., CT (seventh-place game), 2 p.m., CT (fourth-place game) and 4:30 p.m., CT (third-place game), respectively.

All games will be streamed on ESPN platforms.

Six of the eight teams in the Paradise Jam won 18 or more games in 2023-24, while Longwood, McNeese and UAB all advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Fan travel packages are currently available via the Paradise Jam&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballtravelers.com/paradise-jam/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;or by clicking&nbsp;<a href="https://checkout.eventcreate.com/2024-paradisejam-fanpackages/select-buy" target="_blank">here</a>. All packages include tickets, transportation to/from games, a tournament gift as well as dedicated tournament staff at The Westin Beach Resort &amp; Spa at Frenchman’s Reef (can view&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sttwi-the-westin-beach-resort-and-spa-at-frenchmans-reef/overview/" target="_blank">here</a>).

This will mark K-State’s third appearance in the Paradise Jam with the Wildcats winning the 2018 event with victories over Eastern Kentucky (95-68), Penn (64-48) and Missouri (82-67). The team is 4-2 all-time in the tournament, posting a 1-2 mark in its inaugural appearance in 2002.

Previous winners of the Paradise Jam include Big 12 members BYU (2002), Baylor (2007) and Colorado (2017) as well as Arkansas (2004), Wisconsin (2005), Alabama (2006), UConn (2008), Purdue (2009), Marquette (2011) and Creighton (2016). Last season, Missouri State defeated Abilene Christian, 87-69, in the championship game.

The Wildcats won the Cayman Islands Classic in head coach&nbsp;Jerome Tang’s&nbsp;first season in 2022 before finishing as the runner-up at the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship in 2023.

K-State has already announced several aspects of its non-conference schedule, including the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle at St. John’s on Saturday, December 7 and the Wildcat Classic matchup with Drake on Tuesday, December 17 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Other games will be released in the coming weeks.

In addition to their non-conference slate, the Wildcats will play a 20-game Big 12 schedule that includes 10 home games with NCAA Tournament teams Arizona, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas and Texas Tech as well as Arizona State, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.

K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including an 8-10 mark in Big 12 play, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats’ 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in Tang’s first two seasons, including consecutive postseason appearances.

The Wildcats return 3 lettermen (senior&nbsp;David N’Guessan&nbsp;and sophomores&nbsp;Taj Manning&nbsp;and&nbsp;Macaleab Rich) in 2024-25, along with the 10 newcomers, which includes 8 Division I transfers, a junior college All-American (Mobi Ikegwuruka) and a top-50 high school prospect (David Castillo).

The transfer class is considered one of the best in the country and includes notable additions&nbsp;Achor Achor&nbsp;(Samford),&nbsp;Coleman Hawkins&nbsp;(Illinois),&nbsp;Dug McDaniel&nbsp;(Michigan) and&nbsp;Ugonna Onyenso&nbsp;(Kentucky) as well as&nbsp;Baye Fall&nbsp;(Arkansas),&nbsp;Brendan Hausen&nbsp;(Villanova),&nbsp;C.J. Jones&nbsp;(UIC) and&nbsp;Max Jones&nbsp;(Cal State Fullerton).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720542347544.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas State Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas State AthleticsMANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State will take on George Washington to conclude the first round of the 2024 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Friday, November 22, as tournament organizers announced the complete bracket for the tournament on Tuesday morning (July 9).The annual Paradise Jam will run from Friday-Monday, November 22-25, 2024, at the University of Virgin Islands Sports and Fitness Center in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. This will mark the tournament’s 24th&nbsp;year with K-State appearing for the third time (2002, 2018, 2024) in its existence, including a championship in 2018.K-State and the Atlantic 10’s George Washington will meet for the sixth time in their respective histories in the final game of the first day of the tournament at 7 p.m., CT on Friday, November 22. Big South Tournament champion Longwood and AAC Tournament champion UAB will meet in the tournament opener at 11:30 a.m., CT followed by Illinois State and Southland Conference champion McNeese at 2 p.m., CT. Louisiana and Liberty will open the evening session at 4:30 p.m., CT followed by the Wildcats and Revolutionaries.The K-State/GW winner will advance to face the winner of the contest between Louisiana and Liberty on Sunday, November 24 at 7 p.m., CT, while the two remaining teams will play on Saturday, November 23 at 4:30 p.m., CT.In the opponent bracket, the winner of the first game between Longwood and UAB will play the winner of the second game between Illinois State and McNeese on Sunday, November 24 at 4:30 p.m., CT, while the two remaining teams will play on Saturday, November 23 at 2 p.m., CT.The winner of each bracket will face off in the championship game on Monday, November 25 at 7 p.m., CT. There will be three consolation games that will precede the title contest at 11:30 a.m., CT (seventh-place game), 2 p.m., CT (fourth-place game) and 4:30 p.m., CT (third-place game), respectively.All games will be streamed on ESPN platforms.Six of the eight teams in the Paradise Jam won 18 or more games in 2023-24, while Longwood, McNeese and UAB all advanced to the NCAA Tournament.Fan travel packages are currently available via the Paradise Jam&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballtravelers.com/paradise-jam/" target="_blank">website</a>&nbsp;or by clicking&nbsp;<a href="https://checkout.eventcreate.com/2024-paradisejam-fanpackages/select-buy" target="_blank">here</a>. All packages include tickets, transportation to/from games, a tournament gift as well as dedicated tournament staff at The Westin Beach Resort &amp; Spa at Frenchman’s Reef (can view&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sttwi-the-westin-beach-resort-and-spa-at-frenchmans-reef/overview/" target="_blank">here</a>).Tournament capsulesGeorge Washington<ol>
 <li>2023-24 record: 15-17 (4-14 in Atlantic 10/15th)</li><li>Head coach Chris Caputo (31-33/3rd season)</li><li>K-State leads 4-1 (Last meeting: W 67-59/Nov. 14, 2017)</li>
 </ol>Liberty<ol>
 <li>2023-24 record: 18-14 (7-9 in C-USA/t-4th)</li><li>Head coach Ritchie McKay (244-127/12th season)</li><li>First meeting</li>
 </ol>Louisiana<ol>
 <li>2023-24 record: 19-14 (10-8 in Sun Belt/5th)</li><li>Head coach Bob Marlin (266-189/15th season)</li><li>K-State leads 1-0 (Last meeting: W 66-63/March 15, 1973)</li>
 </ol>Illinois State<ol>
 <li>2023-24 record: 15-17 (9-11 in Missouri Valley/t-7th)</li><li>Head coach Ryan Pedon (26-38/3rd season)</li><li>K-State leads 2-0 (Last meeting: W 83-79/March 18, 2009)</li>
 </ol>Longwood<ol>
 <li>2023-24 record: 21-14 (6-10 in Big South/t-5th&nbsp;– NCAA Tournament)</li><li>Head coach Griff Aldrich (109-86/7th season)</li><li>K-State leads 1-0 (Last meeting: W 89-60/Dec. 5, 2005)</li>
 </ol>McNeese<ol>
 <li>2023-24 record: 30-4 (17-1 in Southland/1st&nbsp;– NCAA Tournament)</li><li>Head coach Will Wade (22-2/2nd season)</li><li>K-State leads 1-0 (Last meeting: W 74-59/Dec. 21, 2021)</li>
 </ol>UAB<ol>
 <li>2023-24 record: 23-12 (12-6 in AAC/4th&nbsp;– NCAA Tournament)</li><li>Head coach Andy Kennedy (101-37/5th season)</li><li>First meeting</li>
 </ol>This will mark K-State’s third appearance in the Paradise Jam with the Wildcats winning the 2018 event with victories over Eastern Kentucky (95-68), Penn (64-48) and Missouri (82-67). The team is 4-2 all-time in the tournament, posting a 1-2 mark in its inaugural appearance in 2002.Previous winners of the Paradise Jam include Big 12 members BYU (2002), Baylor (2007) and Colorado (2017) as well as Arkansas (2004), Wisconsin (2005), Alabama (2006), UConn (2008), Purdue (2009), Marquette (2011) and Creighton (2016). Last season, Missouri State defeated Abilene Christian, 87-69, in the championship game.The Wildcats won the Cayman Islands Classic in head coach&nbsp;Jerome Tang’s&nbsp;first season in 2022 before finishing as the runner-up at the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship in 2023.K-State has already announced several aspects of its non-conference schedule, including the BIG EAST/Big 12 Battle at St. John’s on Saturday, December 7 and the Wildcat Classic matchup with Drake on Tuesday, December 17 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Other games will be released in the coming weeks.In addition to their non-conference slate, the Wildcats will play a 20-game Big 12 schedule that includes 10 home games with NCAA Tournament teams Arizona, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas and Texas Tech as well as Arizona State, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.K-State finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 record, including an 8-10 mark in Big 12 play, and advanced to the NIT. Among the Wildcats’ 19 victories were 4 over Top 25 teams, including 3 in the Top 10. The team has won 45 games in Tang’s first two seasons, including consecutive postseason appearances.The Wildcats return 3 lettermen (senior&nbsp;David N’Guessan&nbsp;and sophomores&nbsp;Taj Manning&nbsp;and&nbsp;Macaleab Rich) in 2024-25, along with the 10 newcomers, which includes 8 Division I transfers, a junior college All-American (Mobi Ikegwuruka) and a top-50 high school prospect (David Castillo).The transfer class is considered one of the best in the country and includes notable additions&nbsp;Achor Achor&nbsp;(Samford),&nbsp;Coleman Hawkins&nbsp;(Illinois),&nbsp;Dug McDaniel&nbsp;(Michigan) and&nbsp;Ugonna Onyenso&nbsp;(Kentucky) as well as&nbsp;Baye Fall&nbsp;(Arkansas),&nbsp;Brendan Hausen&nbsp;(Villanova),&nbsp;C.J. Jones&nbsp;(UIC) and&nbsp;Max Jones&nbsp;(Cal State Fullerton).

🏀 K-State to open Paradise Jam with George Washington

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Police scanners across Ellis County went quiet on Monday.&nbsp;

As a part of an Ellis County public safety radio infrastructure upgrade, radio traffic will be encrypted for&nbsp;all the public safety radio channels in Ellis County, including the following agencies: Victoria Police, Victoria Fire, Fort Hays State University Police, Ellis Police, Ellis Fire, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Fire, Ellis County Sheriff, Hays Police and the Hays Fire Department.

This means that home police scanners and scanner apps will no longer be able to pick up radio traffic from these law enforcement agencies and emergency departments.

The added layer of encryption is part of a statewide effort to protect information broadcast over public safety radios. This will make the radio traffic compliant with the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation requirements, according to a press release from Darin Myer, Ellis County manager.

Although the Kansas Highway Patrol is not using encryption, the agency plans to make that move in the future.

"In addition to Kansas Criminal Justice Information System, encryption also increases safety for our emergency responders, as well as it will help protect the information shared over the radio regarding members of the community," Myers said.

Myers said certain law enforcement radio traffic to this point has been limited because of the requirements on non-encrypted channels. 

 There are also Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy concerns about releasing certain medical information over the radio during medical emergencies, he said.

"During an emergency response, it is our primary focus to ensure the safety of the incident scene and our personnel," Myers said.

Being able to communicate over the radio exactly what and how to operate at an incident allows better communication to all staff, he said.

Myers said encrypted traffic means criminals can't listen in to law enforcement and emergency personal activity, and those criminals can't use that information to&nbsp;create a counter plan for the emergency response.

"We also know that we need to have public information releases to inform everyone what is going on," Myers said. "It is hard to juggle these two because the faster and safer our personnel resolve an incident, the quicker the public is free of harm."

Max Kautsch, legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and Kansas Association of Broadcasters, questioned the need to encrypt all traffic.

A 2016 report in partnership with the Federal Partnership of Interoperable Communications discussed how some law enforcement agencies encrypted SWAT traffic but did not encrypt day-to-day patrol traffic. 

In many cases, emergency medical traffic is encrypted to protect patient privacy, but the report noted the importance of emergency response vehicles' ability to communicate with medical facilities.

"The press release fails to account for the negative impact encryption has on the public's right to know," Kautsch said. "Reasonable alternatives, such as delaying the scanner broadcast, could accomplish the goals stated in the press release without cutting off entirely the public's access to a traditional means of gathering information that is squarely in the public interest."

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he thought the HPD was transparent and would continue to be even though the police radio traffic would be encrypted.

"I think we are very transparent about what we do," Scheibler said. "We have regular meetings with [the Hays Post.] We release information on the Hays Post. We record every conversation we have with the public. ...

"I suspect the overwhelming majority of people don't listen to the scanner."

In addition, the HPD anticipates it will be rolling out body cameras next week. The agency has had cameras in their vehicles for some time. The Ellis Sheriff's Department and Corrections also have used body cameras for years.

Victoria Police Chief Cole Dinkel said that in large-scale emergencies, the department will inform the public through social media or a media release.

Dinkel said his department is willing to start releasing police activity reports to the Hays Post. Readers can already view Hays Police Department activity and arrests, Ellis County Sheriff activity, Ellis County Jail bookings, a monthly Ellis Police summary and FHSU police reports on the Hays Post under the Arrests tab.

FHSU Police Chief Terry Pierce said he did not think encryption of police radio traffic would affect police transparency or the ability to inform the public in cases of emergency.

The university also uses an alert system called Rave to alert students and staff members of campus-related emergencies.

The city of Ellis also has an alert system, which residents can sign up for by contacting the city clerk's office.

Ellis Police Chief Avery Smith said he thought his department was transparent and would continue to be so under the new radio system.

He said he thought encryption will help keep law enforcement, victims and those who report crimes safer.

"Several times in the last several years, we have had active scenes and we are still information gathering to determine where the threats are and whether they are armed," Smith said. "People have driven by an active scene. I think this will help us do our jobs more effectively."

"Moreover, in a couple of instances, we responded to scenes. The suspects who committed crimes are there, and we can hear scanner traffic coming from their pockets. They know who is coming and how many of us are coming, who the reporting person is and the reporting person's name. I think this will make reporting parties safer."

He said he thought the privacy that encryption offers would also protect sex offense victims and make them more comfortable in reporting those crimes.

Smith said the only alternative to radio encryption would be using cell phones to transmit private information, which, as a technology, is much less reliable than radios.

A radio channel will be open to the public to help with public communications during severe weather events. This channel will be used while trained storm spotters are reporting weather as it passes through Ellis County.

This weather channel is currently used as a tactical channel, called "TAC 5." It will just be changed to be called "Weather."  It will not be encrypted so that the public can listen to the weather spotting activities and reports during severe weather, Myers said in an email to the Hays Post.

Although the directives for criminal justice information have been in place for years, Sheriff Scott Braun said the money only became available recently to upgrade the radio system.

This project was submitted as a grant request as part of the Kansas Local Safety and Security Equipment Grant Program. In late 2023, Ellis County was awarded $100,000 in assistance to help pay for the project from federal COVID relief funds.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostPolice scanners across Ellis County went quiet on Monday.&nbsp;As a part of an Ellis County public safety radio infrastructure upgrade, radio traffic will be encrypted for&nbsp;all the public safety radio channels in Ellis County, including the following agencies: Victoria Police, Victoria Fire, Fort Hays State University Police, Ellis Police, Ellis Fire, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Fire, Ellis County Sheriff, Hays Police and the Hays Fire Department.This means that home police scanners and scanner apps will no longer be able to pick up radio traffic from these law enforcement agencies and emergency departments.The added layer of encryption is part of a statewide effort to protect information broadcast over public safety radios. This will make the radio traffic compliant with the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System and the Federal Bureau of Investigation requirements, according to a press release from Darin Myer, Ellis County manager.Although the Kansas Highway Patrol is not using encryption, the agency plans to make that move in the future."In addition to Kansas Criminal Justice Information System, encryption also increases safety for our emergency responders, as well as it will help protect the information shared over the radio regarding members of the community," Myers said.Myers said certain law enforcement radio traffic to this point has been limited because of the requirements on non-encrypted channels. There are also Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy concerns about releasing certain medical information over the radio during medical emergencies, he said."During an emergency response, it is our primary focus to ensure the safety of the incident scene and our personnel," Myers said.Being able to communicate over the radio exactly what and how to operate at an incident allows better communication to all staff, he said.Myers said encrypted traffic means criminals can't listen in to law enforcement and emergency personal activity, and those criminals can't use that information to&nbsp;create a counter plan for the emergency response."We also know that we need to have public information releases to inform everyone what is going on," Myers said. "It is hard to juggle these two because the faster and safer our personnel resolve an incident, the quicker the public is free of harm."Max Kautsch, legal hotline attorney for the Kansas Press Association and Kansas Association of Broadcasters, questioned the need to encrypt all traffic.A 2016 report in partnership with the Federal Partnership of Interoperable Communications discussed how some law enforcement agencies encrypted SWAT traffic but did not encrypt day-to-day patrol traffic. In many cases, emergency medical traffic is encrypted to protect patient privacy, but the report noted the importance of emergency response vehicles' ability to communicate with medical facilities."The press release fails to account for the negative impact encryption has on the public's right to know," Kautsch said. "Reasonable alternatives, such as delaying the scanner broadcast, could accomplish the goals stated in the press release without cutting off entirely the public's access to a traditional means of gathering information that is squarely in the public interest."Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he thought the HPD was transparent and would continue to be even though the police radio traffic would be encrypted."I think we are very transparent about what we do," Scheibler said. "We have regular meetings with [the Hays Post.] We release information on the Hays Post. We record every conversation we have with the public. ..."I suspect the overwhelming majority of people don't listen to the scanner."In addition, the HPD anticipates it will be rolling out body cameras next week. The agency has had cameras in their vehicles for some time. The Ellis Sheriff's Department and Corrections also have used body cameras for years.Victoria Police Chief Cole Dinkel said that in large-scale emergencies, the department will inform the public through social media or a media release.Dinkel said his department is willing to start releasing police activity reports to the Hays Post. Readers can already view Hays Police Department activity and arrests, Ellis County Sheriff activity, Ellis County Jail bookings, a monthly Ellis Police summary and FHSU police reports on the Hays Post under the Arrests tab.FHSU Police Chief Terry Pierce said he did not think encryption of police radio traffic would affect police transparency or the ability to inform the public in cases of emergency.The university also uses an alert system called Rave to alert students and staff members of campus-related emergencies.The city of Ellis also has an alert system, which residents can sign up for by contacting the city clerk's office.Ellis Police Chief Avery Smith said he thought his department was transparent and would continue to be so under the new radio system.He said he thought encryption will help keep law enforcement, victims and those who report crimes safer."Several times in the last several years, we have had active scenes and we are still information gathering to determine where the threats are and whether they are armed," Smith said. "People have driven by an active scene. I think this will help us do our jobs more effectively.""Moreover, in a couple of instances, we responded to scenes. The suspects who committed crimes are there, and we can hear scanner traffic coming from their pockets. They know who is coming and how many of us are coming, who the reporting person is and the reporting person's name. I think this will make reporting parties safer."He said he thought the privacy that encryption offers would also protect sex offense victims and make them more comfortable in reporting those crimes.Smith said the only alternative to radio encryption would be using cell phones to transmit private information, which, as a technology, is much less reliable than radios.A radio channel will be open to the public to help with public communications during severe weather events. This channel will be used while trained storm spotters are reporting weather as it passes through Ellis County.This weather channel is currently used as a tactical channel, called "TAC 5." It will just be changed to be called "Weather." It will not be encrypted so that the public can listen to the weather spotting activities and reports during severe weather, Myers said in an email to the Hays Post.Although the directives for criminal justice information have been in place for years, Sheriff Scott Braun said the money only became available recently to upgrade the radio system.This project was submitted as a grant request as part of the Kansas Local Safety and Security Equipment Grant Program. In late 2023, Ellis County was awarded $100,000 in assistance to help pay for the project from federal COVID relief funds.

Ellis County police scanners go mute; agencies argue they will continue to be transparent

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, in an open&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24794149-biden-letter-to-congressional-democrats">letter to congressional Democrats</a>, stood firm Monday against calls for him to drop his reelection candidacy and called for an end to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-campaigning-pennsylvania-democratic-doubts-election-77b050b1c5c39aec2ef633281d082566">dismal public debate performance</a>.

Biden's efforts to shore up a deeply anxious Democratic Party came as lawmakers returned to Washington confronting a choice: Work to revive his campaign or try to edge out the party leader, a make-or-break time for his campaign and their own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">political futures</a>.

Biden wrote in the two-page letter that “the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end.” He stressed that the party has “one job,” which is to defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24794331-bidenletterjuly8">Click here to read the full letter</a> from Biden.

“We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election,” Biden said in the letter, distributed by his reelection campaign. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”

Anxiety is running high as top-ranking Democratic lawmakers are joining calls for Biden to step aside despite his defiance. At the same time, some of the president’s most staunch supporters are redoubling the fight for Biden’s presidency, insisting there’s no one better to beat Trump in what many see as among the most important elections of a lifetime.

Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, in which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was frustrated by the calls from party officials for him to step aside.

“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden said.

He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they’re serious they ought to “announce for president, challenge me at the convention” or rally behind him against Trump. Later, Biden joined a call with members of his national finance committee, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-veterans-north-carolina-florida-georgia-7cfa60e967da9ce9514f89841fc2addc">first lady Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;campaigned for her husband in a three-state swing focused on engaging veterans and military families.

“For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” she told a military crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina. “That’s the decision that he’s made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in, too."

Democratic voters are split on whether Biden should remain the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, or whether there should be a different Democratic nominee,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/03/us/elections/times-siena-poll-registered-voter-crosstabs.html">according to a New York Times/Siena College poll</a>.

More voices spoke up Monday, including the chair of the House’s Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who was not ready to cast aside Biden, saying that the threat of a second Trump presidency remains too high. Yet one of the most endangered Democrats this election cycle, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, said in a statement, “President Biden has got to prove to the American people—including me—that he’s up to the job for another four years.”

However, Biden’s letter left some House Democrats, who want to hear directly from Biden himself, furious, according to one House aide granted anonymity to discuss the situation. Lawmakers particularly bristled at being cast as out of touch with voters since representatives in particular have been home in their districts listening to voters.

A person familiar with the matter said Biden would meet virtually Monday with the Congressional Black Caucus. The White House would not say whether Biden would meet with all Democratic lawmakers in person at the Capitol this week.

(click below to watch the complete Monday White House Press briefing)

Meanwhile, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had undergone three neurological exams while in the White House as part of his annual physical exams — and no more — and said the president has not been diagnosed with or treated for Parkinson’s.

It’s a tenuous and highly volatile juncture for the president’s party. Democrats who have worked alongside Biden for years — if not decades — and cherished his life's work on policy priorities are now entertaining uncomfortable questions about his political future. And it's unfolding as Biden hosts world leaders for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-summit-trump-biden-europe-ukraine-e45273ef1bd408d72245f8f7fd1ec5c0">the NATO summit</a>&nbsp;this week in Washington.

The drama is playing out with just over a month until the Democratic National Convention and just a week before Republicans gather in Milwaukee to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-project-2025-biden-9d372469033d23e1e3aef5cf0470a2e6">renominate Trump</a>&nbsp;as their presidential pick. Many Democrats are arguing the attention needs to be focused not on Biden but on the former president's felony conviction in the hush money case and pending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">federal charges</a>&nbsp;in his effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-election-2020-indictment">overturn the 2020 election</a>.

In an effort to “get on the same page,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is convening lawmakers for private meetings before he shows his own preference, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. He planned to gather on Monday some Democrats whose bids for reelection are most vulnerable.

A private call Sunday including some 15 top House committee members exposed the deepening divide as at least four more Democrats — Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state and Rep. Mark Takano of California — privately said Biden should step aside.

Nadler, as one of the more senior members on the call, was the first, according to a person familiar with the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it. He did so aware that seniority would allow others to join him.

Many others on the call raised concerns about Biden’s capability and chance of winning reelection, even if they stopped short of saying Biden should step out of the race.

Still other members, including Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, both leaders in the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke forcefully in support of Biden, as did Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

Neal said afterward that the bottom line is Biden beat Trump in 2020 and “he’ll do it again in November.”

Behind the scenes is Speaker Emerita&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>, who continues to field calls from lawmakers seeking advice about the situation and is widely viewed as the one to watch for any ultimate decision on Biden's future because of her proximity to the president and vote-counting skills in party politics.

Pelosi spoke up last week, saying Biden's debate performance raised “legitimate” questions he needed to answer.

But when Biden's prime-time ABC interview on Friday appeared to do little to calm worried Democrats, and some said made the situation worse, Pelosi stepped forward to praise him on social media as a “great President who continues to deliver for America’s kitchen table.” She added, "and we're not done yet!”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would not answer questions about Biden’s reelection as he entered the Capitol on Monday, but he told reporters: “As I’ve said before, I’m for Joe.”

The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, was more cautious.

“I watched the debate, it raised a lot of questions,” Durbin said. “He is trying to answer those questions. In some respects he’s done it very effectively, in other respects not as effectively.”

One Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, had intended to gather senators Monday to discuss Biden privately, but a person familiar with his thinking said those conversations will take place in Tuesday’s regular caucus luncheon with all Democratic senators.

Another Democrat, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, said it was “time to quit the hand-wringing and get back to door knocking.”

While some deep-pocketed donors may be showing discomfort, strategists working on House and Senate races said they have posted record fundraising as donors view congressional Democrats as a “firewall” and last line of defense against Trump.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720469721880.png" alt="Reporters during tense White House press briefing on Monday-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Reporters during tense White House press briefing on Monday-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, in an open&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24794149-biden-letter-to-congressional-democrats">letter to congressional Democrats</a>, stood firm Monday against calls for him to drop his reelection candidacy and called for an end to the intraparty drama that has torn apart Democrats since his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-campaigning-pennsylvania-democratic-doubts-election-77b050b1c5c39aec2ef633281d082566">dismal public debate performance</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a> Karine Jean-Pierre to <a href="https://twitter.com/edokeefe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@edokeefe</a>: &quot;It doesn&#39;t matter how hard you push me. It doesn&#39;t matter how angry you get with me. I&#39;m not going to confirm a name...What I can say share with you is that the president has seen a neurologist for his physical three times.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/oZQjMiIOPv">pic.twitter.com/oZQjMiIOPv</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1810397009150619756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden's efforts to shore up a deeply anxious Democratic Party came as lawmakers returned to Washington confronting a choice: Work to revive his campaign or try to edge out the party leader, a make-or-break time for his campaign and their own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">political futures</a>.Biden wrote in the two-page letter that “the question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end.” He stressed that the party has “one job,” which is to defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24794331-bidenletterjuly8">Click here to read the full letter</a> from Biden.“We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election,” Biden said in the letter, distributed by his reelection campaign. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”Anxiety is running high as top-ranking Democratic lawmakers are joining calls for Biden to step aside despite his defiance. At the same time, some of the president’s most staunch supporters are redoubling the fight for Biden’s presidency, insisting there’s no one better to beat Trump in what many see as among the most important elections of a lifetime.Biden followed up the letter with a phone interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show, in which he insisted that “average Democrats” want him to stay in the race and said he was frustrated by the calls from party officials for him to step aside.“They’re big names, but I don’t care what those big names think,” Biden said.He threw the gauntlet at his critics, saying if they’re serious they ought to “announce for president, challenge me at the convention” or rally behind him against Trump. Later, Biden joined a call with members of his national finance committee, while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jill-biden-veterans-north-carolina-florida-georgia-7cfa60e967da9ce9514f89841fc2addc">first lady Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;campaigned for her husband in a three-state swing focused on engaging veterans and military families.“For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” she told a military crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina. “That’s the decision that he’s made, and just as he has always supported my career, I am all in, too."Democratic voters are split on whether Biden should remain the Democratic Party’s nominee for president, or whether there should be a different Democratic nominee,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/07/03/us/elections/times-siena-poll-registered-voter-crosstabs.html">according to a New York Times/Siena College poll</a>.More voices spoke up Monday, including the chair of the House’s Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who was not ready to cast aside Biden, saying that the threat of a second Trump presidency remains too high. Yet one of the most endangered Democrats this election cycle, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, said in a statement, “President Biden has got to prove to the American people—including me—that he’s up to the job for another four years.”However, Biden’s letter left some House Democrats, who want to hear directly from Biden himself, furious, according to one House aide granted anonymity to discuss the situation. Lawmakers particularly bristled at being cast as out of touch with voters since representatives in particular have been home in their districts listening to voters.A person familiar with the matter said Biden would meet virtually Monday with the Congressional Black Caucus. The White House would not say whether Biden would meet with all Democratic lawmakers in person at the Capitol this week.(click below to watch the complete Monday White House Press briefing)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F495556559822359%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=2259" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>
</div>Meanwhile, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had undergone three neurological exams while in the White House as part of his annual physical exams — and no more — and said the president has not been diagnosed with or treated for Parkinson’s.It’s a tenuous and highly volatile juncture for the president’s party. Democrats who have worked alongside Biden for years — if not decades — and cherished his life's work on policy priorities are now entertaining uncomfortable questions about his political future. And it's unfolding as Biden hosts world leaders for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-summit-trump-biden-europe-ukraine-e45273ef1bd408d72245f8f7fd1ec5c0">the NATO summit</a>&nbsp;this week in Washington.The drama is playing out with just over a month until the Democratic National Convention and just a week before Republicans gather in Milwaukee to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-project-2025-biden-9d372469033d23e1e3aef5cf0470a2e6">renominate Trump</a>&nbsp;as their presidential pick. Many Democrats are arguing the attention needs to be focused not on Biden but on the former president's felony conviction in the hush money case and pending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">federal charges</a>&nbsp;in his effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-election-2020-indictment">overturn the 2020 election</a>.In an effort to “get on the same page,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is convening lawmakers for private meetings before he shows his own preference, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. He planned to gather on Monday some Democrats whose bids for reelection are most vulnerable.A private call Sunday including some 15 top House committee members exposed the deepening divide as at least four more Democrats — Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state and Rep. Mark Takano of California — privately said Biden should step aside.Nadler, as one of the more senior members on the call, was the first, according to a person familiar with the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it. He did so aware that seniority would allow others to join him.Many others on the call raised concerns about Biden’s capability and chance of winning reelection, even if they stopped short of saying Biden should step out of the race.Still other members, including Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, both leaders in the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke forcefully in support of Biden, as did Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee.Neal said afterward that the bottom line is Biden beat Trump in 2020 and “he’ll do it again in November.”Behind the scenes is Speaker Emerita&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>, who continues to field calls from lawmakers seeking advice about the situation and is widely viewed as the one to watch for any ultimate decision on Biden's future because of her proximity to the president and vote-counting skills in party politics.Pelosi spoke up last week, saying Biden's debate performance raised “legitimate” questions he needed to answer.But when Biden's prime-time ABC interview on Friday appeared to do little to calm worried Democrats, and some said made the situation worse, Pelosi stepped forward to praise him on social media as a “great President who continues to deliver for America’s kitchen table.” She added, "and we're not done yet!”Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer would not answer questions about Biden’s reelection as he entered the Capitol on Monday, but he told reporters: “As I’ve said before, I’m for Joe.”The Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, was more cautious.“I watched the debate, it raised a lot of questions,” Durbin said. “He is trying to answer those questions. In some respects he’s done it very effectively, in other respects not as effectively.”One Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, had intended to gather senators Monday to discuss Biden privately, but a person familiar with his thinking said those conversations will take place in Tuesday’s regular caucus luncheon with all Democratic senators.Another Democrat, Sen. Alex Padilla of California, said it was “time to quit the hand-wringing and get back to door knocking.”While some deep-pocketed donors may be showing discomfort, strategists working on House and Senate races said they have posted record fundraising as donors view congressional Democrats as a “firewall” and last line of defense against Trump.__

🎥Tense White House press briefing on President Biden's health

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4aa6bbd1-8340-4dd0-8db1-6aa2a34dc235">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024: Day 3 Quiet Riot</a>

Hays was the site on Saturday of a long-anticipated reunion for two women who grew up in Florida.

Ruth Prince and Gloria Trammell met in junior high in 1969 while growing up in Miami, Florida.

The two were the closest friends until they graduated high school in 1973.

The friends lost track of each other, but recently, Prince and Trammil reconnected through classmates on Facebook.

"I put on our high school site, 'Does anyone know where Geni Trammell is? The same day I put it on, I got a return message. I found her, and I was overcome with joy, believe me," Prince said.

Prince now lives in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Trammell lives in Denver.

The two decided they would reunite halfway between their two homes last year in Colby.

"It was a little boring," Trammell said, "because you blink your eye and you're already done."

"I searched some more, and I saw they were having a Wild Wild West Festival here in Hays," Trammell said. "I said let's meet there, so I reserved the hotel room right away.

"We bought tickets online, and we are here six hours later each."

The duo went to multiple nights of festival concerts and sat in the front row in the VIP section. They also watched the fireworks on Thursday night and attended the festival parade on Saturday.&nbsp;

"We sat in the parking lot for six hours all by ourselves," Prince said of the two taking time to talk and catch up.

The duo hugged, and Prince was almost brought to tears.

"It's like it never was ever, ever," Trammell said with a huge smile and laugh.

"We're just really happy that we found each other, and we can enjoy each other's company again," Prince said.

The two friends were the special guests of the Wild West Festival on Saturday night and were recognized before the Quiet Riot show.

The friends have been invited to attend the festival next year, and the two women said they are looking forward to coming back to Hays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720377798433.jpeg" alt="Gloria Trammell, Denver, left, and Ruth Prince, Blackwell, Oklahoma, right, sing along at the Wild West Festival concert in Hays Friday night. The two former classmates chose Hays for a reunion after losing touch 50 years ago. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Gloria Trammell, Denver, left, and Ruth Prince, Blackwell, Oklahoma, right, sing along at the Wild West Festival concert in Hays Friday night. The two former classmates chose Hays for a reunion after losing touch 50 years ago. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4aa6bbd1-8340-4dd0-8db1-6aa2a34dc235">RELATED STORY: Wild West Festival 2024: Day 3 Quiet Riot</a>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays was the site on Saturday of a long-anticipated reunion for two women who grew up in Florida.Ruth Prince and Gloria Trammell met in junior high in 1969 while growing up in Miami, Florida.The two were the closest friends until they graduated high school in 1973.The friends lost track of each other, but recently, Prince and Trammil reconnected through classmates on Facebook."I put on our high school site, 'Does anyone know where Geni Trammell is? The same day I put it on, I got a return message. I found her, and I was overcome with joy, believe me," Prince said.Prince now lives in Blackwell, Oklahoma, and Trammell lives in Denver.The two decided they would reunite halfway between their two homes last year in Colby."It was a little boring," Trammell said, "because you blink your eye and you're already done.""I searched some more, and I saw they were having a Wild Wild West Festival here in Hays," Trammell said. "I said let's meet there, so I reserved the hotel room right away."We bought tickets online, and we are here six hours later each."The duo went to multiple nights of festival concerts and sat in the front row in the VIP section. They also watched the fireworks on Thursday night and attended the festival parade on Saturday.&nbsp;"We sat in the parking lot for six hours all by ourselves," Prince said of the two taking time to talk and catch up.The duo hugged, and Prince was almost brought to tears."It's like it never was ever, ever," Trammell said with a huge smile and laugh."We're just really happy that we found each other, and we can enjoy each other's company again," Prince said.The two friends were the special guests of the Wild West Festival on Saturday night and were recognized before the Quiet Riot show.The friends have been invited to attend the festival next year, and the two women said they are looking forward to coming back to Hays.

50 years later, classmates from Miami choose Hays Wild West Festival for reunion

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — An assistant fire chief in central Missouri died early Monday when the boat he was in capsized during a water rescue in a flash flood.

The Boone County Fire Protection District said Matthew Tobben and another firefighter had just rescued two people from flooded Bear Creek in Columbia when the boat overturned. The other firefighter and the two rescued people were OK after being pulled from the water, but Tobben drowned, the district said in a Facebook posting.

Heavy rain led to several water rescues in the Columbia area. Rivers and creeks were already high after a rainy early summer. More rain is expected through Tuesday as the remnant of Tropical Storm Beryl makes it into Missouri.

Fire officials said the boat Tobben was in lost power, but it wasn't immediately clear why it capsized.

Tobben's death was the second blamed on flash flooding in Boone County in about a week. A woman died Wednesday when the car she was in became trapped in floodwater.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720463882385.png" alt="Photo courtesy KOMU TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KOMU TV</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — An assistant fire chief in central Missouri died early Monday when the boat he was in capsized during a water rescue in a flash flood.The Boone County Fire Protection District said Matthew Tobben and another firefighter had just rescued two people from flooded Bear Creek in Columbia when the boat overturned. The other firefighter and the two rescued people were OK after being pulled from the water, but Tobben drowned, the district said in a Facebook posting.Heavy rain led to several water rescues in the Columbia area. Rivers and creeks were already high after a rainy early summer. More rain is expected through Tuesday as the remnant of Tropical Storm Beryl makes it into Missouri.Fire officials said the boat Tobben was in lost power, but it wasn't immediately clear why it capsized.Tobben's death was the second blamed on flash flooding in Boone County in about a week. A woman died Wednesday when the car she was in became trapped in floodwater.

Fire official dies when boat he was in capsizes during water rescue

ROME (AP) — The Vatican on Friday excommunicated its former ambassador to Washington after finding him guilty of schism, an inevitable outcome for Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano. The conservative had became one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;' most ardent critics and a symbol of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7078a805c9ea4585874cd22559f0046a">polarized Catholic Church in the United States and beyond.</a>

While once enjoying support in the Vatican and U.S. church hierarchies, the Italian archbishop alienated many as he developed a fringe following while delving deeper into conspiracy theories on everything — from the coronavirus pandemic to what he called the “Great Reset” and Russia's war in Ukraine.

The Vatican's doctrine office announced the penalty after a meeting of its members and informed Vigano of its decision on Friday.

It cited Vigano's public “refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the church subject to him, and of the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council.”

The excommunication, which Vigano incurred automatically with his positions, means he is formally outside communion with the church, and cannot celebrate or receive its sacraments. The crime of schism occurs when someone withdraws submission to the pope or from the communion of Catholics who are subject to him.

Unlike defrocking, a punitive measure that makes a priest a layman again, excommunication is considered a “medicinal” penalty and is declared in hope those who incurred it would repent and come back into communion. If that happens, the Holy See can lift the penalty.

Schisms, which have been regular in the church's 2,000-year history, are considered particularly dangerous as they threaten the unity of the church.

Vigano’s dire pronunciations about the current state of the church, amplified on Catholic social media and by ideologically friendly bloggers on both sides of the Atlantic, were an exaggerated version of the chasm between U.S. ultra-conservatives and Francis. And while Vigano enjoyed mainstream support among bishops early in his career, many quietly distanced themselves as his ideas became more extreme.

The Italian prelate, who has not been seen publicly since before 2018, knew the schism declaration was coming after the Vatican informed him of the penal process launched against him last month. He defiantly called it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-vigano-schism-9dee2819028e8ab66bcbd079b5b42614">“an honor,” and refused to appear in person</a>&nbsp;or defend himself or submit a written defense.

On June 20, Vigano issued a lengthy public statement refusing to recognize the authority of the Vatican's doctrinal office “that claims to judge me, nor of its prefect, nor of the one who appointed him.”

He did not directly respond to the schism declaration on Friday on X, his usual forum. Shortly before the Vatican decree was made public, he announced he would be celebrating a Mass on Friday for those who have been supporting him and asked for donations.

Vigano burst onto the public scene in 2012, during the first so-called Vatileaks scandal, when Pope Benedict XVI’s butler leaked the pontiff’s private papers to an Italian journalist to try to draw attention to corruption in the Holy See.

In some of the leaked letters, Vigano, then the No. 2 in the Vatican City State administration, begged the pope not to be transferred after exposing corruption in the awarding of Vatican contracts that cost the Holy See millions of euros (dollars).

The entreaties did not work. By the time the letters were published, Vigano was appointed the Vatican’s ambassador to the U.S. — a prestigious post but one that took him far from Rome and out of the running to one day be a cardinal.

Vigano reappeared on the scene during Francis’ 2015 visit to the U.S., which as nuncio he helped organize. Everything was going fine until Vigano arranged for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kim-davis-marriage-licenses-rowan-county-b99cdf7b93a1e144fdff2c3b24d96c2c">Kim Davis, a Kentucky clerk at the center of the U.S. gay marriage debate</a>, to be present at the Vatican residence to greet Francis, along with many other people.

After the visit, Davis and her lawyers claimed the encounter with Francis amounted to an affirmation of her cause denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Vatican later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-international-news-f27eb8dd7bf744aa9fb11572c15748f4">turned the tables on Davis' claim</a>, saying she had merely been among a group of well-wishers but that the “only” private audience Francis had in Washington was with a small group of people that included a gay couple.

But Vigano’s deception in inviting Davis to meet the pope put the prelate and the pontiff on a collision course that exploded in August 2018.

At the time, the U.S. church was reeling from a new chapter in its clergy sex abuse scandal: One of the most senior U.S. churchmen, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, was accused of molesting a minor and a Pennsylvania grand jury issued a devastating investigation into decades of abuse and cover-up.

As Francis was wrapping up a tense visit to Ireland, Vigano&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ad7d52030c90472eafeacef7ba2d9d39">published an 11-page screed</a>&nbsp;accusing him and a long string of U.S. and Vatican officials of covering for McCarrick. Specifically, Vigano accused Francis of rehabilitating McCarrick from sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict, and called on him to resign — accusations that created the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c7786459105b41639033c183e1a6ddb5">greatest crisis of Francis’ then-young pontificate.</a>

Francis quickly authorized an in-house investigation into McCarrick. The report, released in 2020, confirmed that a generation of church officials, including Pope John Paul II, had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-vatican-investigation-0204b0d67e0685d658bae71cf558383a">turned a blind eye to McCarrick’s misconduct</a>. It largely spared Francis, who eventually defrocked the churchman.

But the report also faulted Vigano for not looking into new claims against McCarrick or enforcing Vatican restrictions on him when specifically ordered to do so by the Vatican.

At that point, Vigano’s claims against Francis became more unhinged, endorsing conspiracy theories about the coronavirus vaccines, appearing at far-right U.S. political rallies via video, backing Russia in its war on Ukraine, and eventually, refusing to recognize Francis as pope.

Massimo Faggioli, a theologian at Villanova University, said while a good number of U.S. bishops vouched for Vigano's integrity when he first made his claims about McCarrick in 2018, his declarations in the ensuing years “led some of them to more prudent positions.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718390145622.png" alt="File photo Pope Francis courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Pope Francis courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — The Vatican on Friday excommunicated its former ambassador to Washington after finding him guilty of schism, an inevitable outcome for Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano. The conservative had became one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;' most ardent critics and a symbol of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7078a805c9ea4585874cd22559f0046a">polarized Catholic Church in the United States and beyond.</a>While once enjoying support in the Vatican and U.S. church hierarchies, the Italian archbishop alienated many as he developed a fringe following while delving deeper into conspiracy theories on everything — from the coronavirus pandemic to what he called the “Great Reset” and Russia's war in Ukraine.The Vatican's doctrine office announced the penalty after a meeting of its members and informed Vigano of its decision on Friday.It cited Vigano's public “refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the church subject to him, and of the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council.”The excommunication, which Vigano incurred automatically with his positions, means he is formally outside communion with the church, and cannot celebrate or receive its sacraments. The crime of schism occurs when someone withdraws submission to the pope or from the communion of Catholics who are subject to him.Unlike defrocking, a punitive measure that makes a priest a layman again, excommunication is considered a “medicinal” penalty and is declared in hope those who incurred it would repent and come back into communion. If that happens, the Holy See can lift the penalty.Schisms, which have been regular in the church's 2,000-year history, are considered particularly dangerous as they threaten the unity of the church.Vigano’s dire pronunciations about the current state of the church, amplified on Catholic social media and by ideologically friendly bloggers on both sides of the Atlantic, were an exaggerated version of the chasm between U.S. ultra-conservatives and Francis. And while Vigano enjoyed mainstream support among bishops early in his career, many quietly distanced themselves as his ideas became more extreme.The Italian prelate, who has not been seen publicly since before 2018, knew the schism declaration was coming after the Vatican informed him of the penal process launched against him last month. He defiantly called it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-vigano-schism-9dee2819028e8ab66bcbd079b5b42614">“an honor,” and refused to appear in person</a>&nbsp;or defend himself or submit a written defense.On June 20, Vigano issued a lengthy public statement refusing to recognize the authority of the Vatican's doctrinal office “that claims to judge me, nor of its prefect, nor of the one who appointed him.”He did not directly respond to the schism declaration on Friday on X, his usual forum. Shortly before the Vatican decree was made public, he announced he would be celebrating a Mass on Friday for those who have been supporting him and asked for donations.Vigano burst onto the public scene in 2012, during the first so-called Vatileaks scandal, when Pope Benedict XVI’s butler leaked the pontiff’s private papers to an Italian journalist to try to draw attention to corruption in the Holy See.In some of the leaked letters, Vigano, then the No. 2 in the Vatican City State administration, begged the pope not to be transferred after exposing corruption in the awarding of Vatican contracts that cost the Holy See millions of euros (dollars).The entreaties did not work. By the time the letters were published, Vigano was appointed the Vatican’s ambassador to the U.S. — a prestigious post but one that took him far from Rome and out of the running to one day be a cardinal.Vigano reappeared on the scene during Francis’ 2015 visit to the U.S., which as nuncio he helped organize. Everything was going fine until Vigano arranged for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kim-davis-marriage-licenses-rowan-county-b99cdf7b93a1e144fdff2c3b24d96c2c">Kim Davis, a Kentucky clerk at the center of the U.S. gay marriage debate</a>, to be present at the Vatican residence to greet Francis, along with many other people.After the visit, Davis and her lawyers claimed the encounter with Francis amounted to an affirmation of her cause denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The Vatican later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-international-news-f27eb8dd7bf744aa9fb11572c15748f4">turned the tables on Davis' claim</a>, saying she had merely been among a group of well-wishers but that the “only” private audience Francis had in Washington was with a small group of people that included a gay couple.But Vigano’s deception in inviting Davis to meet the pope put the prelate and the pontiff on a collision course that exploded in August 2018.At the time, the U.S. church was reeling from a new chapter in its clergy sex abuse scandal: One of the most senior U.S. churchmen, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, was accused of molesting a minor and a Pennsylvania grand jury issued a devastating investigation into decades of abuse and cover-up.As Francis was wrapping up a tense visit to Ireland, Vigano&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ad7d52030c90472eafeacef7ba2d9d39">published an 11-page screed</a>&nbsp;accusing him and a long string of U.S. and Vatican officials of covering for McCarrick. Specifically, Vigano accused Francis of rehabilitating McCarrick from sanctions imposed by Pope Benedict, and called on him to resign — accusations that created the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c7786459105b41639033c183e1a6ddb5">greatest crisis of Francis’ then-young pontificate.</a>Francis quickly authorized an in-house investigation into McCarrick. The report, released in 2020, confirmed that a generation of church officials, including Pope John Paul II, had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/theodore-mccarrick-vatican-investigation-0204b0d67e0685d658bae71cf558383a">turned a blind eye to McCarrick’s misconduct</a>. It largely spared Francis, who eventually defrocked the churchman.But the report also faulted Vigano for not looking into new claims against McCarrick or enforcing Vatican restrictions on him when specifically ordered to do so by the Vatican.At that point, Vigano’s claims against Francis became more unhinged, endorsing conspiracy theories about the coronavirus vaccines, appearing at far-right U.S. political rallies via video, backing Russia in its war on Ukraine, and eventually, refusing to recognize Francis as pope.Massimo Faggioli, a theologian at Villanova University, said while a good number of U.S. bishops vouched for Vigano's integrity when he first made his claims about McCarrick in 2018, his declarations in the ensuing years “led some of them to more prudent positions.”In an essay in the French daily La Croix, Faggioli also noted that Vigano had had a seeming unintended effect of mainstreaming another schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X, which also rejects the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the 1960s meetings that modernized the church.However, the society known as SSPX founded by the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1969, distanced itself from Vigano and his rejection of the legitimacy of Francis' pontificate, saying they “have not ventured down that perilous road.”Vigano's positions make Lefebvre and the SSPX "look like right-of-center Catholics, and not like the extreme traditionalists they actually are," Faggioli wrote. "This says something about the ground shifting under the feet of Vatican II Catholics.”