&nbsp;KANSAS CITy (AP) — A judge will soon decide the fate of a Missouri man who has spent more than three decades in prison for a killing he says he didn't commit.

Christopher Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1990 shooting death of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore believes Dunn was wrongfully convicted, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wrongful-conviction-hearing-missouri-christopher-dunn-ffc9fb15b4cd207ee726d110cd8e74b8">requested a hearing</a>&nbsp;before Judge Jason Sengheiser. It concluded Wednesday.

“In this case, your honor, there simply remains no evidence at all,” Gore said, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/fate-of-man-who-claims-innocence-in-st-louis-murder-now-in-hands-of-judge/article_531064c2-188a-11ef-9bc7-9725c72808b8.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;reported.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office opposed the effort to vacate Dunn's conviction. Lawyers for the state said that initial testimony from two boys at the scene who said Dunn was the shooter was correct, even though they later recanted as adults.

“That verdict was accurate, and that verdict should stand,” said Assistant Attorney General Tristin Estep.

Both sides will now submit written arguments to Sengheiser. It isn't clear when he will decide.

A Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-kansas-missouri-f73d1486d17a1884ff95ce84af75b00f">adopted in 2021</a>&nbsp;allows prosecutors to request hearings when they see evidence of a wrongful conviction. Gore filed a motion in February seeking to vacate the guilty verdict, citing “clear and convincing evidence of Christopher Dunn’s actual innocence.”

While Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office is not required to oppose such efforts, he also opposed another major effort in St. Louis when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wrongful-conviction-vacated-3eb7e5fbe6210dbc38b11995902b9947">Lamar Johnson</a>&nbsp;was freed last year after serving 28 years for a murder a judge ruled he was wrongfully convicted of.

Dunn was convicted based largely on the testimony of 14-year-old DeMorris Stepp and 12-year-old Michael Davis Jr., who said they witnessed the shooting but later recanted.

Rogers was shot to death on May 18, 1990, when a gunman opened fire while he was with a group of other teenage boys outside of a home. Davis and Stepp immediately claimed Dunn was the shooter.

In a recorded interview played Tuesday in court, Davis said he lied because he thought Dunn was affiliated with a rival gang.

Stepp's story has changed a few times over the years, Gore said at Wednesday's hearing. He has most recently said he did not see Dunn as the shooter. Gore said another judge previously found Stepp to be a “completely unreliable witness” and urged Sengheiser to discount him altogether.

Dunn has said he was at his mother's home at the time of the shooting. Childhood friend Nicole Bailey testified that she spoke with Dunn by phone that night. She said Dunn was speaking on a phone at his mother's house.

Estep, the assistant attorney general, said Dunn's alibi could not be trusted. She said his story has shifted multiple times over the years. Dunn did not testify at the hearing.

The 2021 law has resulted in the the release of two men who each spent decades in prison. In addition to Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-missouri-bba67efd61eaa165165e29a7298a1dc3">Kevin Strickland</a>&nbsp;was freed in 2021 after more than 40 years for three killings in Kansas City after a judge ruled he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-kansas-missouri-f73d1486d17a1884ff95ce84af75b00f">had been wrongfully convicted in 1979</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716285440731.png" alt="Dunn photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Dunn photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITy (AP) — A judge will soon decide the fate of a Missouri man who has spent more than three decades in prison for a killing he says he didn't commit.Christopher Dunn was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1990 shooting death of 15-year-old Ricco Rogers. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore believes Dunn was wrongfully convicted, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wrongful-conviction-hearing-missouri-christopher-dunn-ffc9fb15b4cd207ee726d110cd8e74b8">requested a hearing</a>&nbsp;before Judge Jason Sengheiser. It concluded Wednesday.“In this case, your honor, there simply remains no evidence at all,” Gore said, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/fate-of-man-who-claims-innocence-in-st-louis-murder-now-in-hands-of-judge/article_531064c2-188a-11ef-9bc7-9725c72808b8.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>&nbsp;reported.The Missouri Attorney General’s Office opposed the effort to vacate Dunn's conviction. Lawyers for the state said that initial testimony from two boys at the scene who said Dunn was the shooter was correct, even though they later recanted as adults.“That verdict was accurate, and that verdict should stand,” said Assistant Attorney General Tristin Estep.Both sides will now submit written arguments to Sengheiser. It isn't clear when he will decide.A Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-kansas-missouri-f73d1486d17a1884ff95ce84af75b00f">adopted in 2021</a>&nbsp;allows prosecutors to request hearings when they see evidence of a wrongful conviction. Gore filed a motion in February seeking to vacate the guilty verdict, citing “clear and convincing evidence of Christopher Dunn’s actual innocence.”While Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office is not required to oppose such efforts, he also opposed another major effort in St. Louis when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wrongful-conviction-vacated-3eb7e5fbe6210dbc38b11995902b9947">Lamar Johnson</a>&nbsp;was freed last year after serving 28 years for a murder a judge ruled he was wrongfully convicted of.Dunn was convicted based largely on the testimony of 14-year-old DeMorris Stepp and 12-year-old Michael Davis Jr., who said they witnessed the shooting but later recanted.Rogers was shot to death on May 18, 1990, when a gunman opened fire while he was with a group of other teenage boys outside of a home. Davis and Stepp immediately claimed Dunn was the shooter.In a recorded interview played Tuesday in court, Davis said he lied because he thought Dunn was affiliated with a rival gang.Stepp's story has changed a few times over the years, Gore said at Wednesday's hearing. He has most recently said he did not see Dunn as the shooter. Gore said another judge previously found Stepp to be a “completely unreliable witness” and urged Sengheiser to discount him altogether.Dunn has said he was at his mother's home at the time of the shooting. Childhood friend Nicole Bailey testified that she spoke with Dunn by phone that night. She said Dunn was speaking on a phone at his mother's house.Estep, the assistant attorney general, said Dunn's alibi could not be trusted. She said his story has shifted multiple times over the years. Dunn did not testify at the hearing.The 2021 law has resulted in the the release of two men who each spent decades in prison. In addition to Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-kansas-missouri-bba67efd61eaa165165e29a7298a1dc3">Kevin Strickland</a>&nbsp;was freed in 2021 after more than 40 years for three killings in Kansas City after a judge ruled he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-kansas-missouri-f73d1486d17a1884ff95ce84af75b00f">had been wrongfully convicted in 1979</a>.

Fate of Mo. man jailed more than 30 years now in the hands of a judge

GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A deadly tornado that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-midwest-iowa-tornadoes-26c73e14ab481ef77a1b0606a2b10adc">wreaked havoc in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa</a>, left four people dead and nearly three dozen injured, officials said, while a fifth person was killed elsewhere.

The twister that tore through the city&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-flooding-winds-nebraska-omaha-iowa-07e423f20b8e81f40cc648090b8a2409">on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.

It’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.

The fifth person was killed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.

The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area. Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled Thursday's classes and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.

In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornado-iowa-wind-farm-turbines-feb9913c3d53915ffa420e277af4bb6d">crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines</a>&nbsp;outside the city.

Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items. There wasn’t much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hadn’t really set in.

“If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen,” Ergish said.

This is a historically busy tornado season in the U.S., in an era when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSPC/status/1786147051090428273">second-highest number of tornadoes</a>&nbsp;on record.

Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.

On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.

Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers.

The Greenfield tornado was at least an EF-3, according to initial surveys, and more damage assessments could lead to a more powerful ranking, the National Weather Service said.

The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfield’s center square.

“Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. That’s evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was," Porter said.

People as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.

About 90 miles (145 kilometers) away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring “This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District” stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.

“We just couldn’t believe it had traveled that far,” she said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”

Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, so at least a dozen injured people had to be taken elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that they'll remain closed and full repairs could take months. Meanwhile, an urgent care clinic was set up at the elementary school, with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.

Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday. Many basements where people took shelter were exposed, and front yards were littered with furniture and toys and Christmas decorations.

Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in their basement. Seconds after the twister passed, her husband opened the door "and you could just see daylight,” Freeland said. “I just lost it. I just totally lost it.”

Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716371806181.png" alt="Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A deadly tornado that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-midwest-iowa-tornadoes-26c73e14ab481ef77a1b0606a2b10adc">wreaked havoc in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa</a>, left four people dead and nearly three dozen injured, officials said, while a fifth person was killed elsewhere.The twister that tore through the city&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-flooding-winds-nebraska-omaha-iowa-07e423f20b8e81f40cc648090b8a2409">on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.It’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.The fifth person was killed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon, officials said.Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area. Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled Thursday's classes and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716372219187.png" alt="Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornado-iowa-wind-farm-turbines-feb9913c3d53915ffa420e277af4bb6d">crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines</a>&nbsp;outside the city.Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items. There wasn’t much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hadn’t really set in.“If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen,” Ergish said.This is a historically busy tornado season in the U.S., in an era when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSPC/status/1786147051090428273">second-highest number of tornadoes</a>&nbsp;on record.Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers.The Greenfield tornado was at least an EF-3, according to initial surveys, and more damage assessments could lead to a more powerful ranking, the National Weather Service said.The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfield’s center square.“Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. That’s evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was," Porter said.People as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.About 90 miles (145 kilometers) away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring “This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District” stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.“We just couldn’t believe it had traveled that far,” she said.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, so at least a dozen injured people had to be taken elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that they'll remain closed and full repairs could take months. Meanwhile, an urgent care clinic was set up at the elementary school, with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday. Many basements where people took shelter were exposed, and front yards were littered with furniture and toys and Christmas decorations.Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in their basement. Seconds after the twister passed, her husband opened the door "and you could just see daylight,” Freeland said. “I just lost it. I just totally lost it.”___Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed.

Tornadoes killed 5, injured dozens in Iowa. Here’s what they found after the storm

KANSAS CITY(AP) — Missouri prosecutors said Wednesday that they intend to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City-area man who is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/officers-shot-wounded-independence-missouri-87f9ad636e064b3399c17536f727bc8f">charged with murder</a>&nbsp;in the killings of a court employee who tried to serve an eviction notice on him and a police officer who responded.

Larry Acree, 70, of Independence, is accused of shooting court employee Drexel Mack on Feb. 29, plus two police officers who came to the scene, including Cody Allen, who was killed. Officers returned fire and arrested Acree, who suffered minor injuries.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker's office filed a notice with the court saying the state will prove there are aggravating circumstances sufficient to warrant the death penalty. Acree is charged with 18 total counts including two of first-degree murder.

According to court papers, Acree owed delinquent taxes dating back to at least 2019. His 9-acre (3.6-hectare) property and three-bedroom home was sold last August for $260,000, and the new owner paid the taxes. A “Notice to Vacate” sign was posted at the property in February, and authorities have said Acree had no right to be there.

At a brief hearing Wednesday, Acree’s attorney, Edward Berrigan of the Missouri State Public Defender’s office, asked for a continuance so that the public defenders who handle death penalty cases could be reassigned, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article288648525.html">Kansas City Star reported</a>.

Acree's next court date is set for July 10 in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City with about 122,000 residents.

Eleven people are currently on death row in Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709695226784.png" alt="Acree-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Acree-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — Missouri prosecutors said Wednesday that they intend to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City-area man who is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/officers-shot-wounded-independence-missouri-87f9ad636e064b3399c17536f727bc8f">charged with murder</a>&nbsp;in the killings of a court employee who tried to serve an eviction notice on him and a police officer who responded.Larry Acree, 70, of Independence, is accused of shooting court employee Drexel Mack on Feb. 29, plus two police officers who came to the scene, including Cody Allen, who was killed. Officers returned fire and arrested Acree, who suffered minor injuries.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker's office filed a notice with the court saying the state will prove there are aggravating circumstances sufficient to warrant the death penalty. Acree is charged with 18 total counts including two of first-degree murder.According to court papers, Acree owed delinquent taxes dating back to at least 2019. His 9-acre (3.6-hectare) property and three-bedroom home was sold last August for $260,000, and the new owner paid the taxes. A “Notice to Vacate” sign was posted at the property in February, and authorities have said Acree had no right to be there.At a brief hearing Wednesday, Acree’s attorney, Edward Berrigan of the Missouri State Public Defender’s office, asked for a continuance so that the public defenders who handle death penalty cases could be reassigned, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article288648525.html">Kansas City Star reported</a>.Acree's next court date is set for July 10 in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City with about 122,000 residents.Eleven people are currently on death row in Missouri.

Prosecutors to seek death penalty in KC killing of court employee, police officer

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Multiple cyberattacks have hit Kansas in recent weeks.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6dfb291d-3533-4db7-b901-e54ca761719">City of Wichita</a> and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8f5ab8b5-0dba-404d-95ce-f3b305af707e">Via Christi Hospital in Wichita</a> were affected, and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4688fc8f-5406-4760-b5d0-04d3877a55fc">Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital</a> announced Tuesday it was the subject of a ransomware attack.

Dallas Haselhorst, owner of TreeTop Security in Hays, discussed cyber threats and prevention on Thursday on Eagle Radio's Morning Blend show.

Haselhorst said everyone is vulnerable to cyberattacks.

"It's definitely one of those things that now that technology has become so ubiquitous to everything we do that if you are connected to the internet, in any way, shape, or form, there's a good chance that you could be attacked in some way, shape or form," Haselhorst said.

Haselhorst said hackers are not just after big companies and government agencies.

"We have done [incident responses] for billion dollar companies that are multinational. The smallest response we did was a local business here that had a total of four computers," he said. "It can absolutely affect anyone."

Haselhorst said prevention is the best action.

"I always tell people if you want to be secure, you should have started six months ago," he said, "because it's not an overnight thing even in small environments and businesses we work with. It can take a few months to get them more secure — there's no such thing as 100 percent."

He suggested working with a company that can offer comprehensive services and is not just a reseller of hardware, firewalls and software.

He said to look for frameworks and best practices developed by the National Institute of Standards in Technology or the Center for Internet Security.

"You have a burglar that could go through a 20-foot brick wall, or they could go to the house that has an unlocked door. Which one are they going to do?" Haselhorst said. "They are going to do the unlocked door every single time, regardless of what's inside."

"You need to get your doors all locked and do some basic security measures so the attacker bangs on the door enough and decides it's not worth it and goes to the next one that's a lot easier," he said.

Some basics of securing medical data or energy systems are the same for small companies with sales data.

Although security measures can be expensive, much of what TreeTop does also brings businesses into compliance with regulations.

If a business that accepts credit cards or digital payments is breached, it is liable for any data that might be compromised, Haselhorst said.

"You are basically out of business because you will fined out of business," he said.

Sometimes, cyber security comes down to people.

"If I'm an attacker, why would I go through all of these hoops if I could simply call up Cristina and act like I'm the IT help desk?" Haslehorst said. "'Hey, Cristina, it looks like you got locked out of your account. I can help with that. What's your old password?'"

Unfortunately, Haselhorst said often those tactics work.

"Your people can be the weakest link," he said. "Your people can also be the strongest link."

TreeTop offers free cybersecurity training.

If a hacker makes it past all of the technical barriers, but an employee is adequately trained to recognize phishing attempts, they can stop the hacker, Haselhorst said.

Haselhorst described a phishing attack in which a hacker posed as someone high in a company. A hacker sent 73 emails within 30 minutes, but several employees alerted cybersecurity of the emails.&nbsp;

Those emails were blocked and labeled as missed attacks, which helped train the AI security program, and the emails were removed from users' accounts.

As a user or consumer, there's not much you can do if an entity you do business with has been attacked, Haslehorst said.

However, if you are a business, he recommends cutting digital ties with the affected business or entity. He said he helped some companies do this when the Kansas court system was a cyberattack victim.

Businesses can also limit access to networks and data without completely cutting ties.

If an affected business or entity offers you free ID protection or credit monitoring, Haselhorst said it can help in some regards, but your information is already out there.

He did not suggest buying ID theft protection/credit monitoring.

"It's a running joke among cybersecurity professions, don't buy credit monitoring because your next free year is right around the corner because there's going to be another breech from someone," he said.

"Unfortunately, that's the world we live in that your data is all over the place. Once that cat's out of the bag, it's really hard to put it back in," Haselhorst said.

He suggested watching credit reports and card transactions and signing up for transaction alerts.

He also recommends having regular discussions with your spouse or anyone else on your bank or credit card about charges so you can better track transactions and spot fraud.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716318391157.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Hays cyber expert discusses security in light of attacks" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=hjjhf-161d6d3-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostMultiple cyberattacks have hit Kansas in recent weeks.&nbsp;The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6dfb291d-3533-4db7-b901-e54ca761719">City of Wichita</a> and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/8f5ab8b5-0dba-404d-95ce-f3b305af707e">Via Christi Hospital in Wichita</a> were affected, and <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4688fc8f-5406-4760-b5d0-04d3877a55fc">Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital</a> announced Tuesday it was the subject of a ransomware attack.Dallas Haselhorst, owner of TreeTop Security in Hays, discussed cyber threats and prevention on Thursday on Eagle Radio's Morning Blend show.Haselhorst said everyone is vulnerable to cyberattacks."It's definitely one of those things that now that technology has become so ubiquitous to everything we do that if you are connected to the internet, in any way, shape, or form, there's a good chance that you could be attacked in some way, shape or form," Haselhorst said.Haselhorst said hackers are not just after big companies and government agencies."We have done [incident responses] for billion dollar companies that are multinational. The smallest response we did was a local business here that had a total of four computers," he said. "It can absolutely affect anyone."Haselhorst said prevention is the best action."I always tell people if you want to be secure, you should have started six months ago," he said, "because it's not an overnight thing even in small environments and businesses we work with. It can take a few months to get them more secure — there's no such thing as 100 percent."He suggested working with a company that can offer comprehensive services and is not just a reseller of hardware, firewalls and software.He said to look for frameworks and best practices developed by the National Institute of Standards in Technology or the Center for Internet Security."You have a burglar that could go through a 20-foot brick wall, or they could go to the house that has an unlocked door. Which one are they going to do?" Haselhorst said. "They are going to do the unlocked door every single time, regardless of what's inside.""You need to get your doors all locked and do some basic security measures so the attacker bangs on the door enough and decides it's not worth it and goes to the next one that's a lot easier," he said.Some basics of securing medical data or energy systems are the same for small companies with sales data.Although security measures can be expensive, much of what TreeTop does also brings businesses into compliance with regulations.If a business that accepts credit cards or digital payments is breached, it is liable for any data that might be compromised, Haselhorst said."You are basically out of business because you will fined out of business," he said.Sometimes, cyber security comes down to people."If I'm an attacker, why would I go through all of these hoops if I could simply call up Cristina and act like I'm the IT help desk?" Haslehorst said. "'Hey, Cristina, it looks like you got locked out of your account. I can help with that. What's your old password?'"Unfortunately, Haselhorst said often those tactics work."Your people can be the weakest link," he said. "Your people can also be the strongest link."TreeTop offers free cybersecurity training.If a hacker makes it past all of the technical barriers, but an employee is adequately trained to recognize phishing attempts, they can stop the hacker, Haselhorst said.Haselhorst described a phishing attack in which a hacker posed as someone high in a company. A hacker sent 73 emails within 30 minutes, but several employees alerted cybersecurity of the emails.&nbsp;Those emails were blocked and labeled as missed attacks, which helped train the AI security program, and the emails were removed from users' accounts.As a user or consumer, there's not much you can do if an entity you do business with has been attacked, Haslehorst said.However, if you are a business, he recommends cutting digital ties with the affected business or entity. He said he helped some companies do this when the Kansas court system was a cyberattack victim.Businesses can also limit access to networks and data without completely cutting ties.If an affected business or entity offers you free ID protection or credit monitoring, Haselhorst said it can help in some regards, but your information is already out there.He did not suggest buying ID theft protection/credit monitoring."It's a running joke among cybersecurity professions, don't buy credit monitoring because your next free year is right around the corner because there's going to be another breech from someone," he said."Unfortunately, that's the world we live in that your data is all over the place. Once that cat's out of the bag, it's really hard to put it back in," Haselhorst said.He suggested watching credit reports and card transactions and signing up for transaction alerts.He also recommends having regular discussions with your spouse or anyone else on your bank or credit card about charges so you can better track transactions and spot fraud.

🎙 Hays cyber expert discusses security in light of attacks

JOHNSON COUNTY —Two members of the Kansas City Chiefs arrested Friday in Johnson County are due to appear in court Thursday, according to online booking information.

The Johnson County sheriff's office reported&nbsp; 23-year-old Chukwuebuka <a href="https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/chukwuebuka-jason-godrick/">Godrick </a>and 23-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/wanya-morris/">Wanya Morris </a>were booked into jail for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Both were released on Friday afternoon after posting $2,500 bond.&nbsp;

Morris, an offensive lineman from the University of Oklahoma, was a third-round draft pick (92nd overall) by the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to his bio on the team web site.

Godrick, an offensive lineman, is also entering his second season with the Chiefs. He originally entered the NFL as a designated International Pathway Player with the Chiefs in 2023, according to his bio on the team web site.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Both are due back in court May 23, according to online records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716029417033.png" alt="Godrick-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Godrick-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Two members of the Kansas City Chiefs arrested Friday in Johnson County are due to appear in court Thursday, according to online booking information.The Johnson County sheriff's office reported&nbsp; 23-year-old Chukwuebuka <a href="https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/chukwuebuka-jason-godrick/">Godrick </a>and 23-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/wanya-morris/">Wanya Morris </a>were booked into jail for misdemeanor marijuana possession.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716029434679.png" alt="Morris-photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Morris-photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716029595231.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716029631137.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Both were released on Friday afternoon after posting $2,500 bond.&nbsp;Morris, an offensive lineman from the University of Oklahoma, was a third-round draft pick (92nd overall) by the Chiefs in the 2023 NFL Draft, according to his bio on the team web site.Godrick, an offensive lineman, is also entering his second season with the Chiefs. He originally entered the NFL as a designated International Pathway Player with the Chiefs in 2023, according to his bio on the team web site.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both are due back in court May 23, according to online records.

2 KC Chiefs players due in court after arrest in Kansas

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Downtown Hays Development Corp. executive director Julie Rider about the upcoming Farmer's Market and Brews on the Bricks.

<div><iframe title="Downtown Farmers Market kicks off May 25" allowtransparency="true" height="600" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:600px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=kt2ef-161d6b0-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=600" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Post reporter Becky Kiser speaks with Downtown Hays Development Corp. executive director Julie Rider about the upcoming Farmer's Market and Brews on the Bricks.

🎙 Post Podcast: Downtown Farmers Market kicks off May 25

NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/music">band</a>&nbsp;Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like “Drops of Jupiter" and “Meet Virginia,” has died. He was 58.

Colin’s sister Carolyn Stephens confirmed her brother's death to The Associated Press Wednesday. He died after slipping and falling in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/05/22/charlie-colin-dead-dies-train-founding-member-fall-shower/#continued">celebrity website TMZ.com reported</a>.

Colin grew up in California and Virginia and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston.

He played in a group called Apostles after college with guitarist Jimmy Stafford and singer Rob Hotchkiss. The band eventually dissolved, and Colin moved to Singapore for a year to write jingles.

Eventually, Colin, Hotchkiss and Stafford relocated to San Francisco, where Train formed in the early ‘90s with singer Pat Monahan. Colin brought in drummer Scott Underwood to round out the group, according to an interview with Colin and Hotchkiss in Berklee’s alumni magazine.

As a founding member of Train, Colin played on the band's first three records, 1998's self-titled album, 2001's “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003's “My Private Nation." The latter two releases peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.

“Meet Virginia,” from Train's debut album broke the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, but it was their sophomore album, “Drops of Jupiter,” that confirmed the band's success.

The eight-times platinum title track “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" — which features&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-rolling-stones">the Rolling Stones</a>&nbsp;′ session pianist Chuck Leavell and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/leonard-cohen">Leonard Cohen</a>&nbsp;’s string orchestrator Paul Buckmaster and was written about the death of Monahan's mother — hit No. 5 on the same chart. It also earned two Grammys, for best rock song and best instrumental arrangement accompanying vocalist(s).

Colin left Train in 2003 due to substance abuse. “Charlie is one incredible bass player, but he was in a lot of pain, and the way he was dealing with it was very painful for everyone else around him," Monahan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/in-your-neighborhood/train/14823/">told NBC San Diego</a>.

In 2015, he reunited with Hotchkiss to start a new band called Painbirds, alongside Tom Luce.

In 2017, he formed another band, the Side Deal, with Sugar Ray’s Stan Frazier and the PawnShop Kings’ Joel and Scott Owen.

On Wednesday, a tribute to Colin appeared on the official Facebook and X social media pages for the band Train. “When I met Charlie Colin, front left, I fell in love with him. He was the sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Let’s make a band that’s the only reasonable thing to do,” it reads.

“His unique bass playing a beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. I’ll always have a warm place for him in my heart. I always tried to pull him closer but he had a vision of his own. You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels.”

Prior to his death, Colin documented his time in Brussels, writing “Officially my favorite city,” in a March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4XBXQHIfJ9/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">Instagram post</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716427609107.png" alt="As a founding member of Train, Colin played on the band's first three records, 1998's self-titled album, 2001's “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003's “My Private Nation." The latter two releases peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart." />
 <figcaption>As a founding member of Train, Colin played on the band's first three records, 1998's self-titled album, 2001's “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003's “My Private Nation." The latter two releases peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/music">band</a>&nbsp;Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like “Drops of Jupiter" and “Meet Virginia,” has died. He was 58.Colin’s sister Carolyn Stephens confirmed her brother's death to The Associated Press Wednesday. He died after slipping and falling in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/05/22/charlie-colin-dead-dies-train-founding-member-fall-shower/#continued">celebrity website TMZ.com reported</a>.Colin grew up in California and Virginia and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston.He played in a group called Apostles after college with guitarist Jimmy Stafford and singer Rob Hotchkiss. The band eventually dissolved, and Colin moved to Singapore for a year to write jingles.Eventually, Colin, Hotchkiss and Stafford relocated to San Francisco, where Train formed in the early ‘90s with singer Pat Monahan. Colin brought in drummer Scott Underwood to round out the group, according to an interview with Colin and Hotchkiss in Berklee’s alumni magazine.As a founding member of Train, Colin played on the band's first three records, 1998's self-titled album, 2001's “Drops of Jupiter” and 2003's “My Private Nation." The latter two releases peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.“Meet Virginia,” from Train's debut album broke the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, but it was their sophomore album, “Drops of Jupiter,” that confirmed the band's success.The eight-times platinum title track “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" — which features&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-rolling-stones">the Rolling Stones</a>&nbsp;′ session pianist Chuck Leavell and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/leonard-cohen">Leonard Cohen</a>&nbsp;’s string orchestrator Paul Buckmaster and was written about the death of Monahan's mother — hit No. 5 on the same chart. It also earned two Grammys, for best rock song and best instrumental arrangement accompanying vocalist(s).Colin left Train in 2003 due to substance abuse. “Charlie is one incredible bass player, but he was in a lot of pain, and the way he was dealing with it was very painful for everyone else around him," Monahan&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/in-your-neighborhood/train/14823/">told NBC San Diego</a>.In 2015, he reunited with Hotchkiss to start a new band called Painbirds, alongside Tom Luce.In 2017, he formed another band, the Side Deal, with Sugar Ray’s Stan Frazier and the PawnShop Kings’ Joel and Scott Owen.On Wednesday, a tribute to Colin appeared on the official Facebook and X social media pages for the band Train. “When I met Charlie Colin, front left, I fell in love with him. He was the sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Let’s make a band that’s the only reasonable thing to do,” it reads.“His unique bass playing a beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. I’ll always have a warm place for him in my heart. I always tried to pull him closer but he had a vision of his own. You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels.”Prior to his death, Colin documented his time in Brussels, writing “Officially my favorite city,” in a March&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4XBXQHIfJ9/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1">Instagram post</a>.

Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58

SALINE COUNTY—A Kansas man faces multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in and around Salina.

Just before 10p.m. Tuesday, a sheriff's deputy saw a black 2005 Ford Mustang speeding northbound on Ohio Street in Salina, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. Once the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver continued, leading to a chase.

"The deputy turned on the red lights, but the vehicle continued eastbound on Magnolia," Soldan said. "The vehicle made a U-turn on East Magnolia and went back westbound on Magnolia — at this point, the vehicle was fleeing from the deputy. They checked the vehicle's speed at 123 mph in a 35mph zone in the area of Magnolia and Belmont."

Soldan said the driver then ran a red light at Ninth Street and Magnolia Road and turned south onto Interstate 135, where he allegedly reached speeds of 127 mph.

A KHP trooper joined the chase once the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Salina resident Corey Cantrell, Jr., entered the interstate. Since Cantrell reached such extreme speeds on Interstate 135, KHP discontinued the chase.

After a short time, the Saline County Sheriff's Office began receiving multiple reports of a dark vehicle traveling quickly around town.

"We had several reports of people calling, citizens calling dispatch about a vehicle driving through town with no lights on at a high rate of speed," Soldan said.

Then, at about 10:25 p.m., Salina Police Capt. James Feldman said a citizen reported that a black Ford Mustang was driving on Quincy Street without headlights or taillights.

Feldman said that an officer then observed the Mustang in the 800 block of South Front Street, where they attempted a traffic stop, but Cantrell did not stop but traveled at the speed limit.

"The officer turned around on the vehicle and attempted to do a traffic stop at the intersection of Fourth and Wilson," Feldman said. "Then, he continued northbound on Front Street, then turned onto Fourth Street, then to Bond Street, and still did not stop, but he was driving at the speed limit and did not accelerate away, just not pulling over."

After cruising at the posted speed limit on Bond Street, Cantrell turned onto Second Street and pulled into a parking lot at 500 East Crawford Avenue.

Once Cantrell pulled over at the parking lot, police contacted the Sheriff's Office, where&nbsp;deputies arrested him without incident. Soldan said deputies located an alleged THC pen once they arrested Cantrell.

Cantrell is being held on requested charges of felony flee and elude, three counts of failing to stop at a stop sign, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, improper driving on a laned roadway, failing to signal, a few speeding and racing charges due to the extreme speeds and two traffic control signal violations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716378922195.jpeg" alt=" Cantrell photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption> Cantrell photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—A Kansas man faces multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in and around Salina.Just before 10p.m. Tuesday, a sheriff's deputy saw a black 2005 Ford Mustang speeding northbound on Ohio Street in Salina, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. Once the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver continued, leading to a chase."The deputy turned on the red lights, but the vehicle continued eastbound on Magnolia," Soldan said. "The vehicle made a U-turn on East Magnolia and went back westbound on Magnolia — at this point, the vehicle was fleeing from the deputy. They checked the vehicle's speed at 123 mph in a 35mph zone in the area of Magnolia and Belmont."Soldan said the driver then ran a red light at Ninth Street and Magnolia Road and turned south onto Interstate 135, where he allegedly reached speeds of 127 mph.A KHP trooper joined the chase once the driver, later identified as 24-year-old Salina resident Corey Cantrell, Jr., entered the interstate. Since Cantrell reached such extreme speeds on Interstate 135, KHP discontinued the chase.After a short time, the Saline County Sheriff's Office began receiving multiple reports of a dark vehicle traveling quickly around town."We had several reports of people calling, citizens calling dispatch about a vehicle driving through town with no lights on at a high rate of speed," Soldan said.Then, at about 10:25 p.m., Salina Police Capt. James Feldman said a citizen reported that a black Ford Mustang was driving on Quincy Street without headlights or taillights.Feldman said that an officer then observed the Mustang in the 800 block of South Front Street, where they attempted a traffic stop, but Cantrell did not stop but traveled at the speed limit."The officer turned around on the vehicle and attempted to do a traffic stop at the intersection of Fourth and Wilson," Feldman said. "Then, he continued northbound on Front Street, then turned onto Fourth Street, then to Bond Street, and still did not stop, but he was driving at the speed limit and did not accelerate away, just not pulling over."After cruising at the posted speed limit on Bond Street, Cantrell turned onto Second Street and pulled into a parking lot at 500 East Crawford Avenue.Once Cantrell pulled over at the parking lot, police contacted the Sheriff's Office, where&nbsp;deputies arrested him without incident. Soldan said deputies located an alleged THC pen once they arrested Cantrell.Cantrell is being held on requested charges of felony flee and elude, three counts of failing to stop at a stop sign, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, improper driving on a laned roadway, failing to signal, a few speeding and racing charges due to the extreme speeds and two traffic control signal violations.

Sheriff: Kansas driver was traveling 123mph in a 35mph zone

Alice Sanchez, age 84, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at her home in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was born in Post, Texas to Jose and Rafaela (Hernandez) Camargo on July 5, 1939. She was a member of the Leoti Community for a decade of her life with other years spent in Goodland, Topeka, Gardner, and Kansas City, Kansas.

Alice was a member of the Baptist church. She worked as a nurse aide, cook, and ran a restaurant in Goodland. She loved to cook and bake at home. She also spent time on her knitting &amp; crochet projects.&nbsp;

On June 9, 1986, Alice married Santos Sanchez in Goodland, Kansas. He passed away in November of 1999 in Russell, Kansas.

Alice is survived by her daughter Rosa Kennedy of Kansas City, Kansas, two grandchildren - Brittany King of Waterville, Minnesota, and&nbsp;Ricky Steele of De Soto, Kansas, two great-grandchildren - Elizabeth and Lucy, and&nbsp;two nieces -&nbsp;Velma Gill of Smith Center,&nbsp;Kansas, and Lori Gill of Honolulu, Hawaii.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister (Stella Gill), and one brother-in-law(Jesse Gill).

Funeral Services will be held at the Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, 4th &amp; J Street, Leoti, Kansas, at 2:30 on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Services will be live-streamed at PriceandSons.com &nbsp;

Interment will be at the Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716410684983.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Alice Sanchez, age 84, passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at her home in Kansas City, Kansas.She was born in Post, Texas to Jose and Rafaela (Hernandez) Camargo on July 5, 1939. She was a member of the Leoti Community for a decade of her life with other years spent in Goodland, Topeka, Gardner, and Kansas City, Kansas.Alice was a member of the Baptist church. She worked as a nurse aide, cook, and ran a restaurant in Goodland. She loved to cook and bake at home. She also spent time on her knitting &amp; crochet projects.&nbsp;On June 9, 1986, Alice married Santos Sanchez in Goodland, Kansas. He passed away in November of 1999 in Russell, Kansas.Alice is survived by her daughter Rosa Kennedy of Kansas City, Kansas, two grandchildren - Brittany King of Waterville, Minnesota, and&nbsp;Ricky Steele of De Soto, Kansas, two great-grandchildren - Elizabeth and Lucy, and&nbsp;two nieces -&nbsp;Velma Gill of Smith Center,&nbsp;Kansas, and Lori Gill of Honolulu, Hawaii.She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister (Stella Gill), and one brother-in-law(Jesse Gill).Funeral Services will be held at the Price &amp; Sons Funeral Home, 4th &amp; J Street, Leoti, Kansas, at 2:30 on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Services will be live-streamed at PriceandSons.com &nbsp;There will be no visitationInterment will be at the Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas.

Alice Sanchez

WASHINGTON (AP) —In an isolated part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters known as the 12th-floor “bubble,” chief Anne Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for what she called the “Marijuana Meeting”: Nobody could take notes.

Over the next half hour, she broke the news that the Biden administration would soon be issuing a long-awaited order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">reclassifying pot as a less-dangerous drug</a>, a major hurdle toward federal legalization that DEA has long resisted. And Milgram went on to reveal another twist, according to two people familiar with the private meeting who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, that the process normally steered by the DEA had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department and the action would not be signed by her but by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Milgram didn't give aides a reason for the unprecedented omission and neither she nor the DEA has explained since. But it unfolded this past week exactly as laid out in that meeting two months ago, with the most significant drug policy change in 50 years launched without the support of the nation’s premier narcotics agency.

“DEA has not yet made a determination as to its views of the appropriate schedule for marijuana,” reads a sentence tucked 13 pages into Garland’s 92-page order last Thursday outlining the Biden administration proposal to shift pot from its current Schedule I alongside heroin and LSD to the less tightly regulated Schedule III with such drugs as ketamine and some anabolic steroids.

Internal records accompanying the order indicate the DEA sent a memo to the Justice Department in late January seeking additional scientific input to determine whether marijuana has an accepted medical use, a key requirement for reclassification. But those concerns were overruled by Justice Department attorneys, who deemed the DEA’s criteria “impermissibly narrow.”

Several current and former DEA officials told the AP they believe politics may be at play, contending the Justice Department is moving forward with the marijuana reclassification because President Joe Biden wants to use the issue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-young-voters-marijuana-reclassification-dea-193e97fc2dd7b32b7d7ad50b4ea80aa0">woo voters in his re-election</a>&nbsp;campaign and wasn’t willing to give the DEA time for more studies that likely would have dragged beyond Election Day.

Those officials also noted that while the Controlled Substances Act grants the attorney general responsibility for regulating the sale of dangerous drugs, federal law still delegates the authority to classify drugs to the DEA administrator.

“It’s crystal clear to me that the Justice Department hijacked the rescheduling process, placing politics above public safety,” said Derek Maltz, a retired agent who once headed the DEA’s Special Operations Division. “If there’s scientific evidence to support this decision, then so be it. But you’ve got to let the scientists evaluate it.”

Former DEA Administrator Tim Shea said the striking absence of Milgram’s sign-off suggests she was backing “the DEA professionals.”

“If she had supported it she would have signed it and sent it in,” said Shea, who served in the Trump administration. “DEA was opposed to this and the politics entered and overruled them. It’s demoralizing. Everybody from the agents in the streets to the leadership in DEA knows the dangers this brings.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment but Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously said Biden was committed to fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise. “He said no person, no American who possesses marijuana should go to jail. It is affecting communities across the country, including communities of color.”

Justice Department attorneys defended Garland’s decision to proceed without Milgram’s backing, saying in a separate memo that the action was prompted by “sharply different views” between DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services. The HHS last year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/2016-17954-HHS.pdf">recommended</a>&nbsp;reclassifying marijuana, deeming it less risky to public health than cocaine, heroin and oxycodone, and effective in treating anorexia, pain and other ailments.

HHS concluded in part that “although abuse of marijuana produces clear evidence of a risk to public health, that risk is relatively lower than” that posed by other drugs.

The DEA balked at those findings and Garland’s order cites at least 10 times when the drug agency requested additional information before blessing HHS’ medical findings. It did not respond to AP questions seeking further comment.

The Justice Department didn't comment on internal differences but in a statement said that the proposal was “consistent with the scientific and medical determinations of HHS."

The dissonance within the federal government underscores the continuing debate over the risks posed by cannabis, even as 38 states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 have legalized its recreational use. All the while, more voters — 70% of adults, according to a Gallup poll last fall — support legalization, the highest level yet recorded by the polling firm.

“The argument that marijuana is as dangerous as fentanyl, cocaine and meth is laughable,” said Matthew C. Zorn, a Houston-based attorney who writes a newsletter on cannabis regulation. “The DEA isn’t where most Americans are. They’re standing on the wrong side of history.”

But even HHS’ National Institute on Drug Abuse has come out with statements in apparent conflict with HHS’ recommendation to reclassify pot, saying the potency of marijuana has been steadily increasing over the years, resulting in higher numbers of emergency room visits to treat a wide range of physical and mental effects, from breathing problems and mental impairment to hallucinations and paranoia.

“Whether smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana has therapeutic benefits that outweigh its health risks is still an open question that science has not resolved,” Nora Volkow, a neuroscientist who leads NIDA, is currently quoted as saying on the institute’s website. A NIDA spokesperson said rescheduling would facilitate research more into the drug.

The NIDA last performed a medical evaluation of marijuana in 2015 — a year before the Obama administration's DEA rejected a similar request to reschedule the drug.

This time, after Biden ordered a review of the drug’s status in 2022, HHS adopted new criteria to reach its rescheduling conclusion, taking into account the states that have already legalized medical marijuana.

The rescheduling move,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-biden-dea-criminal-justice-pot-f833a8dae6ceb31a8658a5d65832a3b8">first reported</a>&nbsp;by the AP last month, faces a potentially lengthy process. The DEA, which is not bound by HHS' medical determinations at this point, will take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">public comment</a>&nbsp;on the rescheduling plan before a review by an administrative judge and the publishing of a final rule. Federal prosecutions involving marijuana are already exceedingly rare but a Schedule III classification would still make pot a controlled substance subject to rules and regulations

For her part, Milgram has said little about her stance on marijuana and was not asked about it during her confirmation. When she took the helm of the agency in 2021, she privately told colleagues she considered the legalization debate a distraction from the far more serious fentanyl crisis, according to one of the people who spoke to the AP.

Milgram is known for a progressive, data-driven approach to law enforcement dating to her days as the Democratic attorney general of New Jersey. When the state’s governor, a close ally, signed a bill in 2010 making the state the 14th to make marijuana legal for medical purposes, she said only that the legislation was “workable.”

This past week, she was similarly opaque in a three-sentence announcement to DEA employees obtained by the AP.

“As required,” she wrote, “the DEA will post this notice and all attachments on our website.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691592576687.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —In an isolated part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters known as the 12th-floor “bubble,” chief Anne Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for what she called the “Marijuana Meeting”: Nobody could take notes.Over the next half hour, she broke the news that the Biden administration would soon be issuing a long-awaited order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">reclassifying pot as a less-dangerous drug</a>, a major hurdle toward federal legalization that DEA has long resisted. And Milgram went on to reveal another twist, according to two people familiar with the private meeting who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, that the process normally steered by the DEA had been taken over by the U.S. Justice Department and the action would not be signed by her but by Attorney General Merrick Garland.Milgram didn't give aides a reason for the unprecedented omission and neither she nor the DEA has explained since. But it unfolded this past week exactly as laid out in that meeting two months ago, with the most significant drug policy change in 50 years launched without the support of the nation’s premier narcotics agency.“DEA has not yet made a determination as to its views of the appropriate schedule for marijuana,” reads a sentence tucked 13 pages into Garland’s 92-page order last Thursday outlining the Biden administration proposal to shift pot from its current Schedule I alongside heroin and LSD to the less tightly regulated Schedule III with such drugs as ketamine and some anabolic steroids.Internal records accompanying the order indicate the DEA sent a memo to the Justice Department in late January seeking additional scientific input to determine whether marijuana has an accepted medical use, a key requirement for reclassification. But those concerns were overruled by Justice Department attorneys, who deemed the DEA’s criteria “impermissibly narrow.”Several current and former DEA officials told the AP they believe politics may be at play, contending the Justice Department is moving forward with the marijuana reclassification because President Joe Biden wants to use the issue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-young-voters-marijuana-reclassification-dea-193e97fc2dd7b32b7d7ad50b4ea80aa0">woo voters in his re-election</a>&nbsp;campaign and wasn’t willing to give the DEA time for more studies that likely would have dragged beyond Election Day.Those officials also noted that while the Controlled Substances Act grants the attorney general responsibility for regulating the sale of dangerous drugs, federal law still delegates the authority to classify drugs to the DEA administrator.“It’s crystal clear to me that the Justice Department hijacked the rescheduling process, placing politics above public safety,” said Derek Maltz, a retired agent who once headed the DEA’s Special Operations Division. “If there’s scientific evidence to support this decision, then so be it. But you’ve got to let the scientists evaluate it.”Former DEA Administrator Tim Shea said the striking absence of Milgram’s sign-off suggests she was backing “the DEA professionals.”“If she had supported it she would have signed it and sent it in,” said Shea, who served in the Trump administration. “DEA was opposed to this and the politics entered and overruled them. It’s demoralizing. Everybody from the agents in the streets to the leadership in DEA knows the dangers this brings.”The White House did not respond to a request for comment but Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously said Biden was committed to fulfilling a 2020 campaign promise. “He said no person, no American who possesses marijuana should go to jail. It is affecting communities across the country, including communities of color.”Justice Department attorneys defended Garland’s decision to proceed without Milgram’s backing, saying in a separate memo that the action was prompted by “sharply different views” between DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services. The HHS last year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/2016-17954-HHS.pdf">recommended</a>&nbsp;reclassifying marijuana, deeming it less risky to public health than cocaine, heroin and oxycodone, and effective in treating anorexia, pain and other ailments.HHS concluded in part that “although abuse of marijuana produces clear evidence of a risk to public health, that risk is relatively lower than” that posed by other drugs.The DEA balked at those findings and Garland’s order cites at least 10 times when the drug agency requested additional information before blessing HHS’ medical findings. It did not respond to AP questions seeking further comment.The Justice Department didn't comment on internal differences but in a statement said that the proposal was “consistent with the scientific and medical determinations of HHS."The dissonance within the federal government underscores the continuing debate over the risks posed by cannabis, even as 38 states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 have legalized its recreational use. All the while, more voters — 70% of adults, according to a Gallup poll last fall — support legalization, the highest level yet recorded by the polling firm.“The argument that marijuana is as dangerous as fentanyl, cocaine and meth is laughable,” said Matthew C. Zorn, a Houston-based attorney who writes a newsletter on cannabis regulation. “The DEA isn’t where most Americans are. They’re standing on the wrong side of history.”But even HHS’ National Institute on Drug Abuse has come out with statements in apparent conflict with HHS’ recommendation to reclassify pot, saying the potency of marijuana has been steadily increasing over the years, resulting in higher numbers of emergency room visits to treat a wide range of physical and mental effects, from breathing problems and mental impairment to hallucinations and paranoia.“Whether smoking or otherwise consuming marijuana has therapeutic benefits that outweigh its health risks is still an open question that science has not resolved,” Nora Volkow, a neuroscientist who leads NIDA, is currently quoted as saying on the institute’s website. A NIDA spokesperson said rescheduling would facilitate research more into the drug.The NIDA last performed a medical evaluation of marijuana in 2015 — a year before the Obama administration's DEA rejected a similar request to reschedule the drug.This time, after Biden ordered a review of the drug’s status in 2022, HHS adopted new criteria to reach its rescheduling conclusion, taking into account the states that have already legalized medical marijuana.The rescheduling move,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-biden-dea-criminal-justice-pot-f833a8dae6ceb31a8658a5d65832a3b8">first reported</a>&nbsp;by the AP last month, faces a potentially lengthy process. The DEA, which is not bound by HHS' medical determinations at this point, will take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-rescheduling-drug-policy-biden-15b43441670757b0c2bfa36731e47d07">public comment</a>&nbsp;on the rescheduling plan before a review by an administrative judge and the publishing of a final rule. Federal prosecutions involving marijuana are already exceedingly rare but a Schedule III classification would still make pot a controlled substance subject to rules and regulationsFor her part, Milgram has said little about her stance on marijuana and was not asked about it during her confirmation. When she took the helm of the agency in 2021, she privately told colleagues she considered the legalization debate a distraction from the far more serious fentanyl crisis, according to one of the people who spoke to the AP.Milgram is known for a progressive, data-driven approach to law enforcement dating to her days as the Democratic attorney general of New Jersey. When the state’s governor, a close ally, signed a bill in 2010 making the state the 14th to make marijuana legal for medical purposes, she said only that the legislation was “workable.”This past week, she was similarly opaque in a three-sentence announcement to DEA employees obtained by the AP.“As required,” she wrote, “the DEA will post this notice and all attachments on our website.”_____

Top U.S. drug agency a holdout in Biden's push to loosen  marijuana restrictions

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Incentive requests for a couple of projects through the city of Hays' economic development program will be considered on Thursday.

Vernie's Trux-N-Equip. plans to construct a new shop and office north of Interstate 70 on six acres northwest of the intersection of 48th Street and General Hays Road at 4885 Vine. It's the site of the former Hays Livestock sales barn.

The owners are requesting the establishment of a commercial improvement district with a 2% sales tax and the issuance of industrial revenue bonds. 

It's estimated the CID sales tax will generate $1 million during the maximum 22-year term.&nbsp;IRBs would allow a sales tax exemption for purchases related to the construction of the $2.6 million project. 

Commissioners will consider two resolutions for those requests.&nbsp;

The second project at 1108 N. Main in downtown Hays involves redeveloping the existing building into a new luxury short-term rental Airbnb called Chestnut Suites. The building was constructed in 1965 and has been vacant for 40 years.

Chestnut Suites is pursuing a $300,000 community development block grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce.&nbsp;

The city of Hays must be the official applicant for the CDBG funds, although developer Adam Pray will own and operate the project. Components of the grant application require an interlocal agreement between the city and the developer, two resolutions, and a public hearing.

No city funds would be disbursed for the $3.2 million project.

The commission will also vote on a three-year contract renewal for city attorney services with&nbsp;Dreiling, Bieker &amp; Hoffman. 

Some expenses would go up to reflect the current costs of providing city attorney and municipal prosecution services for Hays. The main change is the monthly retainer, which increases to $12,500.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716393802297.jpeg" alt="Hays city commissioners at the May 16 work session. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays city commissioners at the May 16 work session. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostIncentive requests for a couple of projects through the city of Hays' economic development program will be considered on Thursday.Vernie's Trux-N-Equip. plans to construct a new shop and office north of Interstate 70 on six acres northwest of the intersection of 48th Street and General Hays Road at 4885 Vine. It's the site of the former Hays Livestock sales barn.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714949794159.png" alt="The planned new location of Vernie's Trux-N-Equip. City of Hays image" />
 <figcaption>The planned new location of Vernie's Trux-N-Equip. City of Hays image</figcaption>
 </figure>The owners are requesting the establishment of a commercial improvement district with a 2% sales tax and the issuance of industrial revenue bonds. It's estimated the CID sales tax will generate $1 million during the maximum 22-year term.&nbsp;IRBs would allow a sales tax exemption for purchases related to the construction of the $2.6 million project. No property tax abatement is requested.Commissioners will consider two resolutions for those requests.&nbsp;The second project at 1108 N. Main in downtown Hays involves redeveloping the existing building into a new luxury short-term rental Airbnb called Chestnut Suites. The building was constructed in 1965 and has been vacant for 40 years.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716393146439.png" alt="Planned location of Chestnut Suites in downtown Hays. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Planned location of Chestnut Suites in downtown Hays. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Chestnut Suites is pursuing a $300,000 community development block grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce.&nbsp;The city of Hays must be the official applicant for the CDBG funds, although developer Adam Pray will own and operate the project. Components of the grant application require an interlocal agreement between the city and the developer, two resolutions, and a public hearing.No city funds would be disbursed for the $3.2 million project.The commission will also vote on a three-year contract renewal for city attorney services with&nbsp;Dreiling, Bieker &amp; Hoffman. Some expenses would go up to reflect the current costs of providing city attorney and municipal prosecution services for Hays. The main change is the monthly retainer, which increases to $12,500.

Hays City Commission to vote on economic help for development projects

A couple of spring thunderstorms rumbled through Hays Tuesday night into early morning Wednesday.

The official rainfall amount measured at the K-State Agricultural Center was just shy of a half-inch at 0.49 inches.

That brings the total amount of rain so far in May to&nbsp;1.83 inches. The average for all of May is 3.34 inches.

So far this year, Hays has received 5.60 inches of moisture. The 154-cumulative average is&nbsp;7.92 inches by the end of May, leaving a shortage of two and a third inches.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716390809457.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostA couple of spring thunderstorms rumbled through Hays Tuesday night into early morning Wednesday.The official rainfall amount measured at the K-State Agricultural Center was just shy of a half-inch at 0.49 inches.That brings the total amount of rain so far in May to&nbsp;1.83 inches. The average for all of May is 3.34 inches.So far this year, Hays has received 5.60 inches of moisture. The 154-cumulative average is&nbsp;7.92 inches by the end of May, leaving a shortage of two and a third inches.&nbsp;

More thunderstorms bring rain to Hays; still 2 inches below normal

Due to the observance of the Memorial Day on May 27, Hays' refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows: 

Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28 routes will both be picked up on&nbsp; May 28.&nbsp;

 Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes will not be altered.

It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule. 

City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605721681274.jpeg" alt="File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HaysDue to the observance of the Memorial Day on May 27, Hays' refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows: Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28 routes will both be picked up on&nbsp; May 28.&nbsp; Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes will not be altered.It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recycling will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your refuse and recycling are out by 7:00 a.m., and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule. City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.

Hays' refuse, recycling schedule changes for holiday 

By LAAH TUCKER American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109

Natoma American Legion Post 109 with the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 109, will be commemorating the 159th Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 27, 2024. American flags will be posted on veterans' graves by the Post and Unit with volunteers at 7 cemeteries in Osborne and Russell Counties. Natoma's Avenue of Flags will be placed by Post 109 and the Sons of the American Legion. Monday’s cemetery services will be observed at Natoma Catholic, 9:30 AM; North Immanuel Lutheran, 10 AM; Paradise Mount Herman, 10:30 AM; Natoma City Cemetery, 11 AM. The program will include Post 109 Color Guard; welcome and Pledge of Allegiance by Jenjer Murphy, Unit 109 president; Veterans will be remembered by name from the American Revolution, Civil War, War of 1812, Mexican American War, Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, Conflicts, and through Peace Times by Shawna Dunlap, Unit 109 Chaplain. Camdyn Makings and Andreya Lyle will present poppies for each veteran; Prayer and Message will be given by Pastor Thayne Sparke, Codell Community Church. Everyone will be invited to sing “My Country Tis of Thee” and “God Bless America”. Post Commander William Workman and American Legion Post 109 will present a 21 Gun Salute followed by Lucy Alexander playing “Taps”.

At 11:45 AM, Corporal James W. Castor will be remembered by his sister, Judy Castor, during a dedication of an iron bench located in front of Natoma American Legion Post 109 Hall. Corporal Castor was awarded the Silver Star of Valor, Purple Heart, and many other medals following his death by enemy fire while rescuing fellow soldiers near Quang Nam Province Vietnam, August 8, 1969. After the dedication, a traditional Memorial Day Beef and Noodle Community Dinner will be served by the American Legion Auxiliary, 12 Noon, Post 109 Hall, 520 North First Street, Natoma.

For God and Country, the Natoma American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary continue serving veterans, their families, children, youth, and community with a myriad of projects throughout the year. For information on joining the organizations contact:

Post Commander William Workman, 785-224-7993; Auxiliary President. Jenjer Murphy,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705067071723.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By LAAH TUCKER American Legion Auxiliary Unit 109Natoma American Legion Post 109 with the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 109, will be commemorating the 159th Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 27, 2024. American flags will be posted on veterans' graves by the Post and Unit with volunteers at 7 cemeteries in Osborne and Russell Counties. Natoma's Avenue of Flags will be placed by Post 109 and the Sons of the American Legion. Monday’s cemetery services will be observed at Natoma Catholic, 9:30 AM; North Immanuel Lutheran, 10 AM; Paradise Mount Herman, 10:30 AM; Natoma City Cemetery, 11 AM. The program will include Post 109 Color Guard; welcome and Pledge of Allegiance by Jenjer Murphy, Unit 109 president; Veterans will be remembered by name from the American Revolution, Civil War, War of 1812, Mexican American War, Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, Conflicts, and through Peace Times by Shawna Dunlap, Unit 109 Chaplain. Camdyn Makings and Andreya Lyle will present poppies for each veteran; Prayer and Message will be given by Pastor Thayne Sparke, Codell Community Church. Everyone will be invited to sing “My Country Tis of Thee” and “God Bless America”. Post Commander William Workman and American Legion Post 109 will present a 21 Gun Salute followed by Lucy Alexander playing “Taps”.At 11:45 AM, Corporal James W. Castor will be remembered by his sister, Judy Castor, during a dedication of an iron bench located in front of Natoma American Legion Post 109 Hall. Corporal Castor was awarded the Silver Star of Valor, Purple Heart, and many other medals following his death by enemy fire while rescuing fellow soldiers near Quang Nam Province Vietnam, August 8, 1969. After the dedication, a traditional Memorial Day Beef and Noodle Community Dinner will be served by the American Legion Auxiliary, 12 Noon, Post 109 Hall, 520 North First Street, Natoma.For God and Country, the Natoma American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary continue serving veterans, their families, children, youth, and community with a myriad of projects throughout the year. For information on joining the organizations contact:Post Commander William Workman, 785-224-7993; Auxiliary President. Jenjer Murphy,785-885-8079. Poppy is the Remembrance Memorial flower since 1919. After the Second Battle of Ypres, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a physician with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, wrote the poem, "In Flanders Fields", in 1915. The opening lines refer to the fields of poppies that grew among the soldiers' graves in Flanders. In 1918, inspired by the poem, YWCA worker Moina Michael attended a YWCA Overseas War Secretaries' conference wearing a silk poppy pinned to her coat and distributed over two dozen more to others present. In 1920, the National American Legion adopted it as their official memorial symbol. Each red crepe paper poppy is hand crafted by a Kansas Disabled Veteran. 100% of donations help disabled and deserving Kansas Veterans.