By BECKY KISER Hays Post

After a daytime high of 103 degrees in Hays on Sunday, a fast moving thunderstorm shortly before 10 p.m. helped cool the temperature down a little more quickly, to 72 degrees.

The rainfall measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town was 0.54 inches.

So far in July, Hays has received 2.88 inches of rain, about half an inch less than the cumulative average for the month of 3.33 inches.

The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map for Kansas shows all of Ellis County still in a drought, ranging from abnormally dry in the northwest part of the county to severe drought in the southeast corner.&nbsp;

Temperatures early this week will be soaring past the century mark according to the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4e795463-b113-46a4-8a6c-310326769109">three-day weather forecast</a>, with a heat advisory in effect for Monday.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682693871209.png" alt="Photo by Unsplash" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Unsplash</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAfter a daytime high of 103 degrees in Hays on Sunday, a fast moving thunderstorm shortly before 10 p.m. helped cool the temperature down a little more quickly, to 72 degrees.The rainfall measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town was 0.54 inches.So far in July, Hays has received 2.88 inches of rain, about half an inch less than the cumulative average for the month of 3.33 inches.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722263046961.jpeg" alt="All of Ellis County remains in drought conditions. U.S. Drought Monitor" />
 <figcaption>All of Ellis County remains in drought conditions. U.S. Drought Monitor</figcaption>
 </figure>The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map for Kansas shows all of Ellis County still in a drought, ranging from abnormally dry in the northwest part of the county to severe drought in the southeast corner.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722263239250.png" alt="National Weather Service, Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>National Weather Service, Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>Temperatures early this week will be soaring past the century mark according to the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4e795463-b113-46a4-8a6c-310326769109">three-day weather forecast</a>, with a heat advisory in effect for Monday.&nbsp;

Overnight rain brings temporary cooling relief to Hays; heat advisory today

WICHITA – The Hays Larks and the Kansas Cannons waited more
than two hours for their game to start Sunday as part of Baseball ‘Round the
Clock at the NBC World Series in Wichita and then proceeded to play a slugfest
that lasted nearly three hours in the mid-day heat but it was the Larks who
came out with the 11-8 victory.

Hays took an early 1-0 lead scoring on a Garrett Gruell RBI
single in to top of the first inning, but that lead was short-lived as the Cannons
scored two in the bottom of the inning.

Both runs came against Larks starter Dalton Campbell who
struggled out of the gate but the settle in and allowed just four runs on eight
hits in six innings with six strikeouts and three walks to pick up the win.

Down 2-1 Hays’ Will Carpenter connected on his first of
back-to-back RBI doubles putting the Larks up 4-2. A Trent Baker sacrifice fly
that scored Carpenter gave Hays a 4-2 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth the Cannons cut the lead to 4-3
but the second Carpenter RBI double in the top of the fifth put Hays up 5-3
through five.

The Cannons got another run back in the bottom of the sixth
making it 5-4 Hays.

In the seventh inning the two teams combined to score 10
runs on eight hits and 20 men took an at bat in an inning that lasted more than
45 minutes.

It was the Larks that got the better of the Cannons though
outscoring them 6-4.

In the top of the inning the Larks scored twice on a bases
loaded walk, three times on RBI singles by Kaleb Duncan, Trent Baker and Thomas
Lyssy and a Garrett Gruell sacrifice fly. 

Hays had built an 11-4 through six and a half innings. 

The Cannons were able to push across their four runs making
it 11-8 Hays through seven innings and they held on for the three-run victory.

All nine Larks collected at least one base hit. Ashton,
Espinal, Lyssy, Carpenter and Baker each had two hits.

Ashton and Carpenter each doubled twice. 

Carpenter drove in three and Ashton walked three times.

Campbell earned the win for Hays and Garrett Hicks got the
save. He allowed just two hits with five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Hays and Lonestar Baseball Club are both 2-0 in pool play
and will square off in the 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The winner earns a first-round bye
in bracket play and will get day off on Wednesday. 

Hays PostWICHITA – The Hays Larks and the Kansas Cannons waited more
than two hours for their game to start Sunday as part of Baseball ‘Round the
Clock at the NBC World Series in Wichita and then proceeded to play a slugfest
that lasted nearly three hours in the mid-day heat but it was the Larks who
came out with the 11-8 victory.<div><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1883205543&color=%23294b71&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509" title="Eagle Radio" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Eagle Radio</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-814667509/frank-leo-postgame-interview-hays-larks-07-28-24" title="Frank Leo Postgame Interview Hays Larks 07 - 28 - 24" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Frank Leo Postgame Interview Hays Larks 07 - 28 - 24</a></div></div>Hays took an early 1-0 lead scoring on a Garrett Gruell RBI
single in to top of the first inning, but that lead was short-lived as the Cannons
scored two in the bottom of the inning.Both runs came against Larks starter Dalton Campbell who
struggled out of the gate but the settle in and allowed just four runs on eight
hits in six innings with six strikeouts and three walks to pick up the win.Down 2-1 Hays’ Will Carpenter connected on his first of
back-to-back RBI doubles putting the Larks up 4-2. A Trent Baker sacrifice fly
that scored Carpenter gave Hays a 4-2 lead.In the bottom of the fourth the Cannons cut the lead to 4-3
but the second Carpenter RBI double in the top of the fifth put Hays up 5-3
through five.The Cannons got another run back in the bottom of the sixth
making it 5-4 Hays.In the seventh inning the two teams combined to score 10
runs on eight hits and 20 men took an at bat in an inning that lasted more than
45 minutes.It was the Larks that got the better of the Cannons though
outscoring them 6-4.In the top of the inning the Larks scored twice on a bases
loaded walk, three times on RBI singles by Kaleb Duncan, Trent Baker and Thomas
Lyssy and a Garrett Gruell sacrifice fly. Hays had built an 11-4 through six and a half innings. The Cannons were able to push across their four runs making
it 11-8 Hays through seven innings and they held on for the three-run victory.All nine Larks collected at least one base hit. Ashton,
Espinal, Lyssy, Carpenter and Baker each had two hits.Ashton and Carpenter each doubled twice. Carpenter drove in three and Ashton walked three times.Campbell earned the win for Hays and Garrett Hicks got the
save. He allowed just two hits with five strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings of relief.Hays and Lonestar Baseball Club are both 2-0 in pool play
and will square off in the 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The winner earns a first-round bye
in bracket play and will get day off on Wednesday.

⚾Larks outlast Cannons; improve to 2-0 at NBC

Garden City- Nelda Kay Laskey, 81, died on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at her home in Kearny County. She was born on June 14, 1943 at Norton the daughter of Floyd &amp; Bulah Mae (Shimm) McKie. She married James Lorimor on June 18, 1961 at Norton. She later married O. Charles Laskey in 1982 at Garden City.

Nelda graduated from Lenora rural High School in 1961. She later completed a home study program and passed the Registered Health Information Technician examination in 1975. She went to work for the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care in it’s initial days and did hospital audits for the Western half of Kansas. She later worked for St Catherine Hospital and Siena Medical Clinic both in Garden City and Kearny County Hospital in Lakin. She loved working in the health field and made many lasting friends and contacts over 55 years.

After retiring she and Chuck downsized and built an apartment on her Daughter’s home near Lakin. Country living was a new life for the two of them including a garden, flowers, animals including bull snakes and the usual country life. They quickly became a part of the Lakin community and enjoyed the friendship of many Lakin people. Her favorite pastime was watching her Grandson Ryder in his baseball career. In her earlier years she enjoyed golf. She was a member of Community Congregational Church of Garden City.

She is survived by her Husband- Chuck Laskey, Children- Christine &amp; Erin Carter of Dighton, Kalene Yakel of Lakin, Anita &amp; James Lorimor, Jr. of Dighton, Brian &amp; Diana Laskey of Canon City, Colorado, and Jennifer &amp; Robert Kaess of Westcliffe, Colorado, Sister-In-Law- Barbara McKie of Norton, 12 Grandchildren, 13 Great-Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Grandchild, Niece- Diane &amp; Wayne Ford of Wachusett, Texas and Adopted Daughter- Kathy Weatherred of Deerfield

She is preceded in death by her Parents, 2 Sisters- Thelma &amp; Wren Armstrong and Ila Jean &amp; Glen Schooler, 1 Brother- Floyd T. McKie Jr., Half Sister- Maxine Nelson and Son-In-Law- Kirk Yakel

Funeral Service will be at 10:30 AM Friday at Community Congregational Church in Garden City with Rev. Jeff Starkey officiating. Burial will be in Lakin Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Susan G. Komen in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Garden City- Nelda Kay Laskey, 81, died on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at her home in Kearny County. She was born on June 14, 1943 at Norton the daughter of Floyd &amp; Bulah Mae (Shimm) McKie. She married James Lorimor on June 18, 1961 at Norton. She later married O. Charles Laskey in 1982 at Garden City.Nelda graduated from Lenora rural High School in 1961. She later completed a home study program and passed the Registered Health Information Technician examination in 1975. She went to work for the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care in it’s initial days and did hospital audits for the Western half of Kansas. She later worked for St Catherine Hospital and Siena Medical Clinic both in Garden City and Kearny County Hospital in Lakin. She loved working in the health field and made many lasting friends and contacts over 55 years.After retiring she and Chuck downsized and built an apartment on her Daughter’s home near Lakin. Country living was a new life for the two of them including a garden, flowers, animals including bull snakes and the usual country life. They quickly became a part of the Lakin community and enjoyed the friendship of many Lakin people. Her favorite pastime was watching her Grandson Ryder in his baseball career. In her earlier years she enjoyed golf. She was a member of Community Congregational Church of Garden City.She is survived by her Husband- Chuck Laskey, Children- Christine &amp; Erin Carter of Dighton, Kalene Yakel of Lakin, Anita &amp; James Lorimor, Jr. of Dighton, Brian &amp; Diana Laskey of Canon City, Colorado, and Jennifer &amp; Robert Kaess of Westcliffe, Colorado, Sister-In-Law- Barbara McKie of Norton, 12 Grandchildren, 13 Great-Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Grandchild, Niece- Diane &amp; Wayne Ford of Wachusett, Texas and Adopted Daughter- Kathy Weatherred of DeerfieldShe is preceded in death by her Parents, 2 Sisters- Thelma &amp; Wren Armstrong and Ila Jean &amp; Glen Schooler, 1 Brother- Floyd T. McKie Jr., Half Sister- Maxine Nelson and Son-In-Law- Kirk YakelFuneral Service will be at 10:30 AM Friday at Community Congregational Church in Garden City with Rev. Jeff Starkey officiating. Burial will be in Lakin Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Susan G. Komen in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Nelda Kay Laskey

By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas Outdoors

When I was a kid, I owned a big ole’ jumbo prehistoric aluminum canoe that looked like it would have been more at home on four big tires and pushing a snowplow. Its saving grace was that it was also extra stable on the water. One particular evening my brother-in-law and I were anchored in the middle of dad’s farm pond, fishing. A boat anchor on one end and a big steel ball for an anchor on the other kept the thing from twirling around in the wind. We had multiple tackle boxes open on the seats, I guess to give the appearance that we were big-time contenders on the professional farm-pond bluegill circuit. Anyway, as it was getting dark, we pulled anchor to paddle toward shore. My anchor came up with no problems, but the steel ball on his end was stuck in the black, oozy mud bottom of the pond. Wrapping the rope around his hands a couple times, he leaned backwards to dislodge the steel ball. He was built like a dump truck and when the ball came free, he hit the other side of the canoe like a rodeo bull out of the chute, causing ole’ jumbo to do the unthinkable and dump us both into the drink. There we were, bobbing around in the middle of an absolute flotilla of fishing lures; some floating and some sinking slowly toward the bottom, but all sporting at least three razor-sharp hooks. Now, Katie Ledecky could swim the length of dad’s pond as easily as the rest of us could walk across the kitchen, but how about swimming it through a scum of floating fishing lures.

Welcome to the first event in the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics, the freestyle lure swim. The swimmers can choose their stroke, but they have to stay on top of the water. We’ll divide the pond into lanes with bailer twine tied to electric fence posts on each side of the pond. All shapes and sizes of floating fishing lures will be scattered over each lane beforehand, and at the crack of the starter’s pistol, the swimmers simply swim to the other side of the pond as quickly as possible. The event can be scored a variety of ways; most lures on their body, fewest lures on their body or certain lures could be given a point value and the winner would be the swimmer with the most points when the point value of the lures clinging to their body is tallied. The event could be made even more life-like by unceremoniously flinging each swimmer from a sinking canoe to start the race.

The diving board at dad’s pond was an old steel frame with a big old barn plank for a board. We welded the frame from stuff dug out of the usual farmer’s scrap pile and carried it to the pond with the tractor and loader. It was on the dam, so the frame was made to be as tall as the dam. One end of the old barn plank lay across the steel frame and hung out over the water and the other end rested on top of the dam and was held there with a huge rock. It did little good to bounce on the board when diving because the old plank had zero spring to it. I remember going to a nice swimming pool once with the church youth group and running out onto the diving board and pouncing on it like I did at the pond. The thing flung me so high I had a nose bleed when I hit the water! I once watched my buddy Ralph bounce off the end of the board as usual,

then looked-on as the plank followed him end-over-end into the pond cause’ the rock had somehow gotten moved. Anyway, the next event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be farm pond diving. The degree of difficulty will always be high no matter what dive they choose, and the chunkier divers will have a definite advantage in the event. We’ll probably have to employ an extra person at the judges table to keep an eye on the rock.

Dads pond was chock full of pesky little bluegills and each tiny one we caught found its way into the nearby fencerow as a way to weed them out of the pond. We found out that smacking them with a canoe paddle was a pretty novel and effective way to get them to the fencerow, so the third event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be bluegill batting. The event will be divided into two categories; land batting in which each contestant will bat his or her bluegill from the bank, and water batting where the batting will take place from a canoe. The batters can choose to have their bluegills pitched to them or they can choose the freestyle delivery where they throw it up in the air themselves before whacking it. Winners will be chosen for both longest distance and for highest flight, and naturally canoe paddles will be provided so that no one has an unfair advantage.

I’ve made my pitch to the International Olympic Committee, but I’m not yet sure if this Farm Pond Olympic thing will catch on. I figure we have ranch rodeos so why not Farm Pond Olympics. Any way, if the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics become a reality, I’ll be available to coach bluegill batting…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsWhen I was a kid, I owned a big ole’ jumbo prehistoric aluminum canoe that looked like it would have been more at home on four big tires and pushing a snowplow. Its saving grace was that it was also extra stable on the water. One particular evening my brother-in-law and I were anchored in the middle of dad’s farm pond, fishing. A boat anchor on one end and a big steel ball for an anchor on the other kept the thing from twirling around in the wind. We had multiple tackle boxes open on the seats, I guess to give the appearance that we were big-time contenders on the professional farm-pond bluegill circuit. Anyway, as it was getting dark, we pulled anchor to paddle toward shore. My anchor came up with no problems, but the steel ball on his end was stuck in the black, oozy mud bottom of the pond. Wrapping the rope around his hands a couple times, he leaned backwards to dislodge the steel ball. He was built like a dump truck and when the ball came free, he hit the other side of the canoe like a rodeo bull out of the chute, causing ole’ jumbo to do the unthinkable and dump us both into the drink. There we were, bobbing around in the middle of an absolute flotilla of fishing lures; some floating and some sinking slowly toward the bottom, but all sporting at least three razor-sharp hooks. Now, Katie Ledecky could swim the length of dad’s pond as easily as the rest of us could walk across the kitchen, but how about swimming it through a scum of floating fishing lures.Welcome to the first event in the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics, the freestyle lure swim. The swimmers can choose their stroke, but they have to stay on top of the water. We’ll divide the pond into lanes with bailer twine tied to electric fence posts on each side of the pond. All shapes and sizes of floating fishing lures will be scattered over each lane beforehand, and at the crack of the starter’s pistol, the swimmers simply swim to the other side of the pond as quickly as possible. The event can be scored a variety of ways; most lures on their body, fewest lures on their body or certain lures could be given a point value and the winner would be the swimmer with the most points when the point value of the lures clinging to their body is tallied. The event could be made even more life-like by unceremoniously flinging each swimmer from a sinking canoe to start the race.The diving board at dad’s pond was an old steel frame with a big old barn plank for a board. We welded the frame from stuff dug out of the usual farmer’s scrap pile and carried it to the pond with the tractor and loader. It was on the dam, so the frame was made to be as tall as the dam. One end of the old barn plank lay across the steel frame and hung out over the water and the other end rested on top of the dam and was held there with a huge rock. It did little good to bounce on the board when diving because the old plank had zero spring to it. I remember going to a nice swimming pool once with the church youth group and running out onto the diving board and pouncing on it like I did at the pond. The thing flung me so high I had a nose bleed when I hit the water! I once watched my buddy Ralph bounce off the end of the board as usual,then looked-on as the plank followed him end-over-end into the pond cause’ the rock had somehow gotten moved. Anyway, the next event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be farm pond diving. The degree of difficulty will always be high no matter what dive they choose, and the chunkier divers will have a definite advantage in the event. We’ll probably have to employ an extra person at the judges table to keep an eye on the rock.Dads pond was chock full of pesky little bluegills and each tiny one we caught found its way into the nearby fencerow as a way to weed them out of the pond. We found out that smacking them with a canoe paddle was a pretty novel and effective way to get them to the fencerow, so the third event in the Farm Pond Olympics would be bluegill batting. The event will be divided into two categories; land batting in which each contestant will bat his or her bluegill from the bank, and water batting where the batting will take place from a canoe. The batters can choose to have their bluegills pitched to them or they can choose the freestyle delivery where they throw it up in the air themselves before whacking it. Winners will be chosen for both longest distance and for highest flight, and naturally canoe paddles will be provided so that no one has an unfair advantage.I’ve made my pitch to the International Olympic Committee, but I’m not yet sure if this Farm Pond Olympic thing will catch on. I figure we have ranch rodeos so why not Farm Pond Olympics. Any way, if the 2024 Farm Pond Olympics become a reality, I’ll be available to coach bluegill batting…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Kansas Outdoors: Farm Pond Olympics

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A federal judge granted an Overland Park nonprofit organization’s request for a temporary restraining order blocking the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission from enforcing a campaign finance law until a trial on constitutionality of the state’s definition of a political action committee.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree issued the order Wednesday on behalf of Fresh Vision OP, which ran afoul of the state commission in 2021 after sending a mailer endorsing the candidacy of Faris Farassati, an Overland Park City Council member campaigning for mayor. Fresh Vision OP posted comparable information to its website. The organization also opposed use of “tax give aways,” incentives for economic development and tolling on U.S. 69.

Fresh Vision OP’s attorneys, including lawyers with the Institute for Free Speech, filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s definition of a PAC. The plaintiff’s attorneys argued the law could be interpreted to include groups such as Fresh Vision OP that were organized primarily for a neighborhood’s benefit, but also periodically endorsed candidates. The lawsuit was designed to protect free speech rights of Fresh Vision OP and organizations like it, plaintiffs said.

Crabtree’s temporary restraining order would allow Fresh Vision OP to resume community advocacy activities without being regulated at a PAC.

The judge said the state’s definition of a PAC would likely be found to violate the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Buckley v. Valeo, which said express advocacy had to be “the major purpose” of an organization to be regarded as a PAC. The order said the statute in question was written in a way that applied PAC requirements without first determining whether that organization’s express advocacy was “a singular major purpose” or the major purpose.

“After considering the statutory scheme and the parties’ arguments and submissions, the court grants a narrowed temporary restraining order,” Crabtree wrote in the order.

A court hearing on the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction and a trial on merits of the case has been scheduled for September.

“The court applied existing precedent that bars the imposition of burdensome political committee requirements on groups that only occasionally engage in express advocacy,” said Charles Miller, an attorney with Institute for Free Speech. “Those requirements chill and potentially punish protected political speech.”

Lawsuit plaintiffs James Muir and Chengny Thao, who served as officers of Fresh Vision OP, sought to have the federal court block the state Governmental Ethics Commission from enforcing laws and regulations that appeared to violate their First Amendment rights to speech.

They have contended Fresh Vision OP engaged in public activism and education to promote wholesome neighborhoods, local small business growth, public safety and responsible land development. In July 2021, the organization endorsed Farassati’s candidacy for mayor on its website and in a mailer.

The state ethics commission responded by notifying Fresh Vision OP that the endorsements equated to operation as a political action committee and required the organization to register in the state.

The letter advised Fresh Vision OP that it could face civil fines and criminal penalties for failing to comply with state campaign finance law. Fresh Vision OP suspended operations to avoid regulation as a political committee and disclosure of donors to the organization.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722131835233.png" alt=" A federal judge in Kansas issued a temporary order forbidding enforcement of a state campaign finance law that an Overland Park nonprofit organization believes violates constitutional rights. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> A federal judge in Kansas issued a temporary order forbidding enforcement of a state campaign finance law that an Overland Park nonprofit organization believes violates constitutional rights. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A federal judge granted an Overland Park nonprofit organization’s request for a temporary restraining order blocking the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission from enforcing a campaign finance law until a trial on constitutionality of the state’s definition of a political action committee.U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Crabtree issued the order Wednesday on behalf of Fresh Vision OP, which ran afoul of the state commission in 2021 after sending a mailer endorsing the candidacy of Faris Farassati, an Overland Park City Council member campaigning for mayor. Fresh Vision OP posted comparable information to its website. The organization also opposed use of “tax give aways,” incentives for economic development and tolling on U.S. 69.Fresh Vision OP’s attorneys, including lawyers with the Institute for Free Speech, filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s definition of a PAC. The plaintiff’s attorneys argued the law could be interpreted to include groups such as Fresh Vision OP that were organized primarily for a neighborhood’s benefit, but also periodically endorsed candidates. The lawsuit was designed to protect free speech rights of Fresh Vision OP and organizations like it, plaintiffs said.Crabtree’s temporary restraining order would allow Fresh Vision OP to resume community advocacy activities without being regulated at a PAC.The judge said the state’s definition of a PAC would likely be found to violate the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Buckley v. Valeo, which said express advocacy had to be “the major purpose” of an organization to be regarded as a PAC. The order said the statute in question was written in a way that applied PAC requirements without first determining whether that organization’s express advocacy was “a singular major purpose” or the major purpose.“After considering the statutory scheme and the parties’ arguments and submissions, the court grants a narrowed temporary restraining order,” Crabtree wrote in the order.A court hearing on the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction and a trial on merits of the case has been scheduled for September.“The court applied existing precedent that bars the imposition of burdensome political committee requirements on groups that only occasionally engage in express advocacy,” said Charles Miller, an attorney with Institute for Free Speech. “Those requirements chill and potentially punish protected political speech.”Lawsuit plaintiffs James Muir and Chengny Thao, who served as officers of Fresh Vision OP, sought to have the federal court block the state Governmental Ethics Commission from enforcing laws and regulations that appeared to violate their First Amendment rights to speech.They have contended Fresh Vision OP engaged in public activism and education to promote wholesome neighborhoods, local small business growth, public safety and responsible land development. In July 2021, the organization endorsed Farassati’s candidacy for mayor on its website and in a mailer.The state ethics commission responded by notifying Fresh Vision OP that the endorsements equated to operation as a political action committee and required the organization to register in the state.The letter advised Fresh Vision OP that it could face civil fines and criminal penalties for failing to comply with state campaign finance law. Fresh Vision OP suspended operations to avoid regulation as a political committee and disclosure of donors to the organization.

Judge issues temporary order blocking enforcement of a Kansas campaign finance law

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays Post

What started as a way to help out the high school play 13 years ago has turned into a phenomenal opportunity for youngsters in a six-county area in northwest Kansas.

The Main Street Summer Theater Festival—developed by the Main Street Arts Council in Hoxie—has now expanded to six communities, all in different counties.

Led by two local musical/theatrical icons, the 2024 festival is in its seventh year, and this summer provided more than 225 youngsters ages 5 to 18 opportunities to explore their creativity on stage.

This is all free to participants because the program is funded through various grants and local donations and fundraisers.

“I don’t like the pay-to-play concept. It excludes too many kids,” said Bonnie Cameron, creative director of the Main Street Arts Council and show director of the summer festival. “I want this program to be available to any child.”

Qualifications to participate are simple.

“We just ask them to put the work in and have good behavior and try their best,” Cameron said.

Karl Pratt, executive director of the Main Street Arts Council and festival manager, said they have the children take ownership in the productions.

“Over the years, we have had the kids help sell tickets to the shows and contribute baked goods for bake sales after their performances,” he said. “That makes it possible to plant seeds for the next year’s festival.”

Work on the shows begins in May following spring auditions.&nbsp;

Cognizant of how busy summer schedules can be for youngsters, the directors hold practices for one hour a day, four days a week.

“That’s the model we have found that works the best,” Pratt said. “We really require the kids to do their homework and practice at home. We hold them accountable, and they always come through.”

“We hold them to a pretty high standard,” she said. “They have to come in with their lines learned and be ready to go.”&nbsp;

A born musician who has studied abroad and performed opera professionally in Europe, Cameron returned to her hometown in 2011.

After helping Hoxie High School with its spring play in 2012, she decided to direct the summer community production “Snow White.”

“After that, everyone was asking, ‘What are we doing next year?’ ” Cameron said. “I remember thinking, ‘I guess we just started something.’”

That something soon developed into a full-fledged festival as more and more youngsters jumped on board.

The Main Street Arts Council was formed as a nonprofit organization in 2015, and the summer theater festival was started shortly thereafter.

The festival quickly expanded, with shows added at Atwood, Goodland, Colby, Quinter and Oakley.

Coincidentally, all six towns in which the productions are performed are in different counties, giving more children the chance to participate.

“A big part of our mission is to provide that opportunity at home so they don’t have to travel three to four hours away to participate in something like this,” Pratt said. “There is a lot of untapped talent in their own backyard that you don’t know about until they have an opportunity to express it.”

“It was very organic, knowing other teachers and talking about what we were doing in Hoxie,” Cameron said. “All of a sudden, it was getting bigger and bigger.”

The council has acquired more than 3,000 costume pieces and many other materials over the years, and they are all stored for next year’s use.

“We’ve gathered materials for more than 20 different shows,” Pratt said. “That allows us to recycle materials and stage them in different communities year after year.”&nbsp;

While the starting age to participate is 5, a younger sibling occasionally will be able to get on stage. For example, this year, 4-year-old Kolbe Schrick got to join his three older brothers and sisters in the “Honk!” production in Colby.

Cameron said it’s not unusual for entire families to participate.

This year, the Atwood production of “Aladdin” featured all but one of the seven sons of Mike and Shandi Sayre.

Shandi Sayer is one of several parents in the communities who go above and beyond to help out backstage during performances.&nbsp;

“We are always grateful for the help of parents and other volunteers, especially during performance weeks, when it’s all hands on deck for the finishing touches to put on a show,” Pratt said.

Student interns are funded through the Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth organization, and they continue to enjoy preparing for the productions—just in a different role.

“It’s a lot more complicated than I thought,” said Hailey Vaughn, a junior-to-be at Hoxie High School this fall.

Vaughn served as an intern this year after performing for five years.

“I’ve learned so much, how the show all comes together behind the scenes,” she said.

Vaughn is thinking of pursuing nursing when she goes off to college in two years. She said she will take valuable life lessons from the summer theater festivals with her, no matter what career path she chooses.

“I’ve learned how to work with a lot of different age groups and how to communicate with them,” she said. “It’s been a great experience. When you work together like this, you build a big family. And once a year, we get together with that family.”

Intern Tori Rucker has been involved with the summer festival since she was 10 years old.

A 2024 Fort Hays State University graduate, Rucker will begin her professional career in education this fall as a sixth-grade science and social studies teacher in Russell.

Like Vaughn, Rucker said she has learned many life lessons.

“I’ve really developed my classroom management skills through the festival and how I want to be a teacher,” she said. “You can have strict expectations but still be able to have fun.”

One of the many duties of a student intern includes building sets for the productions. Rucker has a real knack for that skill, which she learned from her dad, Ed, while helping him in years past.

This year, Rucker added another task to her summer duties and directed the Quinter production of “Shrek The Musical.”

As the 2024 summer season winds down, Rucker said she realized how being a teacher had many parallels with directing a play.

“Everything I’ve learned at school about being a teacher, I was able to put into action here,” she said. “This summer was a breeze with the kids.”

Cameron moved to Chicago about a year ago but vows to keep returning each summer to help direct shows in the music theater festival back home.

She said she “was busting at the seams” while watching “Shrek The Musical” in Quinter the weekend of July 13-14.

“Tori has grown up with us, and this summer she did it all,” Cameron said. “That’s so rewarding to see how she has taken to what we are doing so well and loves it. Shrek was phenomenal. I was so proud of her.”

This season will conclude with the "Alice in Wonderland" production on Aug. 2 and 3 in Oakley.&nbsp;

“We are so grateful to everyone who has made this summer’s theater festival possible,” Pratt said. “The hard work and talent that these amazing kids give to us all summer long—added with a dash of blessings from the theater gods—continue to culminate in better and better performances each year.”

To learn more about the Main Street Arts Council and to view photos from past performances, visit <a href="http://www.mainstreetartscouncil.com">www.mainstreetartscouncil.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722128159797.jpeg" alt="The musical “Aladdin” is always a popular choice for the Main Street Summer Theater Festival in northwest Kansas. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The musical “Aladdin” is always a popular choice for the Main Street Summer Theater Festival in northwest Kansas. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717536573500.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays PostWhat started as a way to help out the high school play 13 years ago has turned into a phenomenal opportunity for youngsters in a six-county area in northwest Kansas.The Main Street Summer Theater Festival—developed by the Main Street Arts Council in Hoxie—has now expanded to six communities, all in different counties.Led by two local musical/theatrical icons, the 2024 festival is in its seventh year, and this summer provided more than 225 youngsters ages 5 to 18 opportunities to explore their creativity on stage.This is all free to participants because the program is funded through various grants and local donations and fundraisers.“I don’t like the pay-to-play concept. It excludes too many kids,” said Bonnie Cameron, creative director of the Main Street Arts Council and show director of the summer festival. “I want this program to be available to any child.”Qualifications to participate are simple.“We just ask them to put the work in and have good behavior and try their best,” Cameron said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722128294926.jpeg" alt="Lead characters can be of any age. This year’s lead in production of “Willy Wonka” in Hoxie was played by 12-year-old Dominic Mishler. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Lead characters can be of any age. This year’s lead in production of “Willy Wonka” in Hoxie was played by 12-year-old Dominic Mishler. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Karl Pratt, executive director of the Main Street Arts Council and festival manager, said they have the children take ownership in the productions.“Over the years, we have had the kids help sell tickets to the shows and contribute baked goods for bake sales after their performances,” he said. “That makes it possible to plant seeds for the next year’s festival.”Work on the shows begins in May following spring auditions.&nbsp;Cognizant of how busy summer schedules can be for youngsters, the directors hold practices for one hour a day, four days a week.“That’s the model we have found that works the best,” Pratt said. “We really require the kids to do their homework and practice at home. We hold them accountable, and they always come through.”Cameron agreed.“We hold them to a pretty high standard,” she said. “They have to come in with their lines learned and be ready to go.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722128370212.jpeg" alt="Cast members rehearse an hour a day, four days a week, for four to six weeks leading up to their show. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien" />
 <figcaption>Cast members rehearse an hour a day, four days a week, for four to six weeks leading up to their show. Photo by Diane Gasper-O’Brien</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>How it all began</h2>A born musician who has studied abroad and performed opera professionally in Europe, Cameron returned to her hometown in 2011.After helping Hoxie High School with its spring play in 2012, she decided to direct the summer community production “Snow White.”“After that, everyone was asking, ‘What are we doing next year?’ ” Cameron said. “I remember thinking, ‘I guess we just started something.’”That something soon developed into a full-fledged festival as more and more youngsters jumped on board.The Main Street Arts Council was formed as a nonprofit organization in 2015, and the summer theater festival was started shortly thereafter.The festival quickly expanded, with shows added at Atwood, Goodland, Colby, Quinter and Oakley.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722128432112.jpeg" alt="The cast in Hoxie put on a beautiful rendition of “Frozen” in 2023. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The cast in Hoxie put on a beautiful rendition of “Frozen” in 2023. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Coincidentally, all six towns in which the productions are performed are in different counties, giving more children the chance to participate.“A big part of our mission is to provide that opportunity at home so they don’t have to travel three to four hours away to participate in something like this,” Pratt said. “There is a lot of untapped talent in their own backyard that you don’t know about until they have an opportunity to express it.”“It was very organic, knowing other teachers and talking about what we were doing in Hoxie,” Cameron said. “All of a sudden, it was getting bigger and bigger.”The council has acquired more than 3,000 costume pieces and many other materials over the years, and they are all stored for next year’s use.“We’ve gathered materials for more than 20 different shows,” Pratt said. “That allows us to recycle materials and stage them in different communities year after year.”&nbsp;While the starting age to participate is 5, a younger sibling occasionally will be able to get on stage. For example, this year, 4-year-old Kolbe Schrick got to join his three older brothers and sisters in the “Honk!” production in Colby.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722128501543.jpeg" alt="Student intern Payton Juenemann, Atwood, helps Goodland cast member Kafui Agboka into his Rooster costume for the “Annie”production in Goodland. Couresty photo" />
 <figcaption>Student intern Payton Juenemann, Atwood, helps Goodland cast member Kafui Agboka into his Rooster costume for the “Annie”production in Goodland. Couresty photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Cameron said it’s not unusual for entire families to participate.This year, the Atwood production of “Aladdin” featured all but one of the seven sons of Mike and Shandi Sayre.Shandi Sayer is one of several parents in the communities who go above and beyond to help out backstage during performances.&nbsp;“We are always grateful for the help of parents and other volunteers, especially during performance weeks, when it’s all hands on deck for the finishing touches to put on a show,” Pratt said.<h2>Learning by doing</h2>Student interns are funded through the Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth organization, and they continue to enjoy preparing for the productions—just in a different role.“It’s a lot more complicated than I thought,” said Hailey Vaughn, a junior-to-be at Hoxie High School this fall.Vaughn served as an intern this year after performing for five years.“I’ve learned so much, how the show all comes together behind the scenes,” she said.Vaughn is thinking of pursuing nursing when she goes off to college in two years. She said she will take valuable life lessons from the summer theater festivals with her, no matter what career path she chooses.“I’ve learned how to work with a lot of different age groups and how to communicate with them,” she said. “It’s been a great experience. When you work together like this, you build a big family. And once a year, we get together with that family.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722128592846.jpeg" alt="Timothy Wente plays Pinocchio in “Shrek The Musical” in Quinter. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Timothy Wente plays Pinocchio in “Shrek The Musical” in Quinter. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Intern Tori Rucker has been involved with the summer festival since she was 10 years old.A 2024 Fort Hays State University graduate, Rucker will begin her professional career in education this fall as a sixth-grade science and social studies teacher in Russell.Like Vaughn, Rucker said she has learned many life lessons.“I’ve really developed my classroom management skills through the festival and how I want to be a teacher,” she said. “You can have strict expectations but still be able to have fun.”One of the many duties of a student intern includes building sets for the productions. Rucker has a real knack for that skill, which she learned from her dad, Ed, while helping him in years past.This year, Rucker added another task to her summer duties and directed the Quinter production of “Shrek The Musical.”As the 2024 summer season winds down, Rucker said she realized how being a teacher had many parallels with directing a play.“Everything I’ve learned at school about being a teacher, I was able to put into action here,” she said. “This summer was a breeze with the kids.”Cameron moved to Chicago about a year ago but vows to keep returning each summer to help direct shows in the music theater festival back home.She said she “was busting at the seams” while watching “Shrek The Musical” in Quinter the weekend of July 13-14.“Tori has grown up with us, and this summer she did it all,” Cameron said. “That’s so rewarding to see how she has taken to what we are doing so well and loves it. Shrek was phenomenal. I was so proud of her.”This season will conclude with the "Alice in Wonderland" production on Aug. 2 and 3 in Oakley.&nbsp;“We are so grateful to everyone who has made this summer’s theater festival possible,” Pratt said. “The hard work and talent that these amazing kids give to us all summer long—added with a dash of blessings from the theater gods—continue to culminate in better and better performances each year.”To learn more about the Main Street Arts Council and to view photos from past performances, visit <a href="http://www.mainstreetartscouncil.com">www.mainstreetartscouncil.com</a>.

NWester: Theater program helps youth harness talent in their own back yard

PARIS (AP) — In an unprecedented display of inclusivity, drag queens took center stage at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-paris-olympics-france-sabotage-9ed330cb83d89d68092ac5858c0fe590">Paris Olympics opening ceremony,</a>&nbsp;showcasing the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community — while also attracting criticism over a tableau reminiscent of “The Last Supper.”

Held along the Seine River, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-highlights-c87e1ebd06e27e6ed71764bc17293ab0">spectacular four-hour event</a>&nbsp;featured global stars such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-celine-dion-opening-ceremony-bca4ca3d7e828afcbfa616bedf2da97a">Celine Dion</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-lady-gaga-opening-ceremony-900240493391dbac1fc0d3a3a6143b80">Lady Gaga,</a>&nbsp;both considered queer icons. The ceremony blended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-photos-paris-4703be2235b5daa766582bdbc0f45dae">historic and modern French culture</a>&nbsp;with a touch of kitsch, culminating in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians.

Nicky Doll, known for competing on the 12th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and hosting “Drag Race France,” participated in a high-octane fashion runway segment along with “Drag Race France” Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3's Piche, and Giselle Palmer. Initially, they stood alongside the runway, gazing fiercely at the strutting models. Later, they joined in, showcasing their own style.

Le Filip, the recent winner of “Drag Race France,” expressed their positive “surprise” and “pride” at the ceremony’s scale and representation.

“I thought it would be a five-minute drag event with queer representation. I was amazed. It started with Lady Gaga, then we had drag queens, a huge rave, and a fire in the sky,” they said. “It felt like a crowning all over again. I am proud to see my friends and queer people on the world stage.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/live/olympics-opening-ceremony-2024-updates">Among their bold performances</a>&nbsp;was a scene that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” featuring the drag queens and other performers in a configuration reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This segment drew significant attention — and mixed reactions.

“The (French) government knows what it’s doing. They want to show themselves in the best way possible. They showed no restraints in expression,” Le Filip told The Associated Press.

On the other hand, prominent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ccb8813cc9dc47e8b6b332994da6d282">far-right politician Marion Maréchal</a>&nbsp;denounced the performance on social media.

“To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation,” she posted on the social platform X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally.

“... because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of #OlympicGames,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hungary-visit-orban-ukraine-5d35e834ebac80ec14840fa90071af95">Eduard Habsburg,</a>&nbsp;Hungary's ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X, also referencing a scene depicting the beheading of Marie Antoinette.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-thomas-jolly-165c4ed071be5e65fd854dedef693a0f">Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony,</a>&nbsp;afterward drew attention away from “The Last Supper” references, saying that hadn't been his intention.

Le Filip responded to the criticism of the scene with a touch of humor and sorrow.

“It feels like the words of somebody who didn’t get on the guest list. We could all be laughing together. It’s sad to me, honestly,” they said.

Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier was more circumspect, arguing that France still has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-gay-rights-macron-marriage-f803c7eff54b0ac9842b23af9864c3d0">significant strides to make</a>&nbsp;in inclusivity.

“We know in the LGBTQ community in France we are far from what the ceremony showed. There’s much progress to do in society regarding transgender people. It’s terrible that to legally change their identity they are forced to be on trial,” Leperlier said.

He also highlighted the disparity in acceptance, saying that the community is not visible in other official ceremonies and “has difficulty being heard.”

“If you saw the opening ceremony last night you’d think it was like that normally, but it’s not. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is,” he said.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paris-olympics-lgbtq-rights-discrimination-homophobia-00c32050c7733dd9e66fa26faa2c71df">opening ceremony</a>&nbsp;came as drag and the voguing nightclub scene in France has experienced a revival. The cabaret club Madame Arthur, founded in 1946 in the ashes of World War II, is one of the world’s oldest continually running LGBTQ+ theaters. It opened as Europe was only just beginning to understand the extent of the widespread murder of members of the queer community in WWII and is currently experiencing a massive renaissance.

Drag is not just a pastime; for many minority French communities who feel alienated over tensions arising from divisive politics and scars from the anti-gay marriage protests a decade ago, it’s a statement of defiance. Many gay Black and Arab youths — especially those from Paris’ less affluent and religiously conservative suburbs — and others who feel a sense of disconnect with French society&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/27d06e73dd65491f8f60f8986889d7b4">find voguing and drag events safe places</a>&nbsp;where their identities can be expressed without fear of reprisal.

Despite the backlash, Le Filip believes the opening ceremony will ultimately transcend controversy.

“The message of the show is freedom, and it’s a good postcard for France,” they concluded.

PARIS (AP) — In an unprecedented display of inclusivity, drag queens took center stage at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-paris-olympics-france-sabotage-9ed330cb83d89d68092ac5858c0fe590">Paris Olympics opening ceremony,</a>&nbsp;showcasing the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community — while also attracting criticism over a tableau reminiscent of “The Last Supper.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always… <a href="https://t.co/s88c9ymG9j">pic.twitter.com/s88c9ymG9j</a>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1817229481972473922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Held along the Seine River, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-highlights-c87e1ebd06e27e6ed71764bc17293ab0">spectacular four-hour event</a>&nbsp;featured global stars such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-celine-dion-opening-ceremony-bca4ca3d7e828afcbfa616bedf2da97a">Celine Dion</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-lady-gaga-opening-ceremony-900240493391dbac1fc0d3a3a6143b80">Lady Gaga,</a>&nbsp;both considered queer icons. The ceremony blended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-photos-paris-4703be2235b5daa766582bdbc0f45dae">historic and modern French culture</a>&nbsp;with a touch of kitsch, culminating in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians.Nicky Doll, known for competing on the 12th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and hosting “Drag Race France,” participated in a high-octane fashion runway segment along with “Drag Race France” Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3's Piche, and Giselle Palmer. Initially, they stood alongside the runway, gazing fiercely at the strutting models. Later, they joined in, showcasing their own style.Le Filip, the recent winner of “Drag Race France,” expressed their positive “surprise” and “pride” at the ceremony’s scale and representation.“I thought it would be a five-minute drag event with queer representation. I was amazed. It started with Lady Gaga, then we had drag queens, a huge rave, and a fire in the sky,” they said. “It felt like a crowning all over again. I am proud to see my friends and queer people on the world stage.”<a href="https://apnews.com/live/olympics-opening-ceremony-2024-updates">Among their bold performances</a>&nbsp;was a scene that seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” featuring the drag queens and other performers in a configuration reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This segment drew significant attention — and mixed reactions.“The (French) government knows what it’s doing. They want to show themselves in the best way possible. They showed no restraints in expression,” Le Filip told The Associated Press.On the other hand, prominent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ccb8813cc9dc47e8b6b332994da6d282">far-right politician Marion Maréchal</a>&nbsp;denounced the performance on social media.“To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation,” she posted on the social platform X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally.“... because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of #OlympicGames,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hungary-visit-orban-ukraine-5d35e834ebac80ec14840fa90071af95">Eduard Habsburg,</a>&nbsp;Hungary's ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X, also referencing a scene depicting the beheading of Marie Antoinette.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-thomas-jolly-165c4ed071be5e65fd854dedef693a0f">Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony,</a>&nbsp;afterward drew attention away from “The Last Supper” references, saying that hadn't been his intention.Le Filip responded to the criticism of the scene with a touch of humor and sorrow.“It feels like the words of somebody who didn’t get on the guest list. We could all be laughing together. It’s sad to me, honestly,” they said.Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier was more circumspect, arguing that France still has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-gay-rights-macron-marriage-f803c7eff54b0ac9842b23af9864c3d0">significant strides to make</a>&nbsp;in inclusivity.“We know in the LGBTQ community in France we are far from what the ceremony showed. There’s much progress to do in society regarding transgender people. It’s terrible that to legally change their identity they are forced to be on trial,” Leperlier said.He also highlighted the disparity in acceptance, saying that the community is not visible in other official ceremonies and “has difficulty being heard.”“If you saw the opening ceremony last night you’d think it was like that normally, but it’s not. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is,” he said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paris-olympics-lgbtq-rights-discrimination-homophobia-00c32050c7733dd9e66fa26faa2c71df">opening ceremony</a>&nbsp;came as drag and the voguing nightclub scene in France has experienced a revival. The cabaret club Madame Arthur, founded in 1946 in the ashes of World War II, is one of the world’s oldest continually running LGBTQ+ theaters. It opened as Europe was only just beginning to understand the extent of the widespread murder of members of the queer community in WWII and is currently experiencing a massive renaissance.Drag is not just a pastime; for many minority French communities who feel alienated over tensions arising from divisive politics and scars from the anti-gay marriage protests a decade ago, it’s a statement of defiance. Many gay Black and Arab youths — especially those from Paris’ less affluent and religiously conservative suburbs — and others who feel a sense of disconnect with French society&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/27d06e73dd65491f8f60f8986889d7b4">find voguing and drag events safe places</a>&nbsp;where their identities can be expressed without fear of reprisal.Despite the backlash, Le Filip believes the opening ceremony will ultimately transcend controversy.“The message of the show is freedom, and it’s a good postcard for France,” they concluded.

Drag queens shine at Olympics opening; 'Last Supper' tableau draws criticism

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yellowstone-biscuit-basin-closed-explosion-b8d414abda4cfcd844ccadba81bb3590">surprise eruption</a>&nbsp;of steam in a Yellowstone National Park geyser basin that sent people scrambling for safety as large rocks shot into the air has highlighted a little-known hazard that scientists hope to be able to predict someday.

The hydrothermal explosion on Tuesday in Biscuit Basin caused no injuries as dozens of people fled down the boardwalk before the wooden walkway was destroyed. The blast sent steam, water and dark-colored rock and dirt an estimated 100 feet into the air.

It came in a park teeming with geysers, hot springs and other hydrothermal features that attracts millions of tourists annually. Some, like the famous Old Faithful, erupt like clockwork and are well understood by the scientists who monitor the park's seismic activity.

But the type of explosion that happened this week is less common and understood, and potentially more hazardous given that they happen without warning.

“This drives home that even small events — and this one in the scheme of things was relatively small, if dramatic — can be really hazardous,” said Michael Poland, lead scientist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. “We've gotten pretty good at being able to understand the signs that a volcano is waking up and may erupt. We don't have that knowledge base for hydrothermal systems like the one in Yellowstone.”

Poland and other scientists are trying to change that with a fledgling monitoring system that was recently installed in another Yellowstone geyser basin. It measures seismic activity, deformations in the Earth's surface and low-frequency acoustic energy that could signal an eruption.

A day before the Biscuit Basin explosion, the U.S. Geological Survey posted an article by observatory scientists about a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/a-small-hydrothermal-explosion-norris-geyser-basin">smaller hydrothermal explosion</a>&nbsp;in April in Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin. It was the first time such an event was recognized based on monitoring data, which was closely scrutinized after geologists in May come across a small crater in the basin.

The two explosions are believed to result from clogged passageways in the extensive natural plumbing network under Yellowstone, Poland said. A clog could cause the heated, pressurized water to turn into steam instantly and explode.

Tuesday's explosion came with little warning. Witness Vlada March told The Associated Press that steam started rising in the Biscuit Basin "and within seconds, it became this huge thing. ... It just exploded and became like a black cloud that covered the sun.”

March captured widely-circulated video of the explosion, which sent debris hurtling into the air as tourists fled in fear.

“I think our tour guide said, ‘Run!’ And I started running and I started screaming at the kids, ‘Run, run, run!'” she added.

The scientists don't know if they'll be able to devise a way to predict the blasts, Poland said. The detection system alone would take time to develop, with monitoring stations that can cost roughly $30,000 each. And even if they could be predicted, there's no feasible way to prevent such explosions, he said.

"One of the things people ask me occasionally is, ‘How do you stop a volcano from erupting?’ You don't. You get out of the way," Poland said. “For any of this activity, you don't want to be there when it happens.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721940347052.png" alt="Photo National Park Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo National Park Service</figcaption>
 </figure>BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yellowstone-biscuit-basin-closed-explosion-b8d414abda4cfcd844ccadba81bb3590">surprise eruption</a>&nbsp;of steam in a Yellowstone National Park geyser basin that sent people scrambling for safety as large rocks shot into the air has highlighted a little-known hazard that scientists hope to be able to predict someday.The hydrothermal explosion on Tuesday in Biscuit Basin caused no injuries as dozens of people fled down the boardwalk before the wooden walkway was destroyed. The blast sent steam, water and dark-colored rock and dirt an estimated 100 feet into the air.It came in a park teeming with geysers, hot springs and other hydrothermal features that attracts millions of tourists annually. Some, like the famous Old Faithful, erupt like clockwork and are well understood by the scientists who monitor the park's seismic activity.But the type of explosion that happened this week is less common and understood, and potentially more hazardous given that they happen without warning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721765630612.png" alt="Photos National Park Service" />
 <figcaption>Photos National Park Service</figcaption>
 </figure>“This drives home that even small events — and this one in the scheme of things was relatively small, if dramatic — can be really hazardous,” said Michael Poland, lead scientist at the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. “We've gotten pretty good at being able to understand the signs that a volcano is waking up and may erupt. We don't have that knowledge base for hydrothermal systems like the one in Yellowstone.”Poland and other scientists are trying to change that with a fledgling monitoring system that was recently installed in another Yellowstone geyser basin. It measures seismic activity, deformations in the Earth's surface and low-frequency acoustic energy that could signal an eruption.A day before the Biscuit Basin explosion, the U.S. Geological Survey posted an article by observatory scientists about a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/yvo/news/a-small-hydrothermal-explosion-norris-geyser-basin">smaller hydrothermal explosion</a>&nbsp;in April in Yellowstone's Norris Geyser Basin. It was the first time such an event was recognized based on monitoring data, which was closely scrutinized after geologists in May come across a small crater in the basin.The two explosions are believed to result from clogged passageways in the extensive natural plumbing network under Yellowstone, Poland said. A clog could cause the heated, pressurized water to turn into steam instantly and explode.Tuesday's explosion came with little warning. Witness Vlada March told The Associated Press that steam started rising in the Biscuit Basin "and within seconds, it became this huge thing. ... It just exploded and became like a black cloud that covered the sun.”March captured widely-circulated video of the explosion, which sent debris hurtling into the air as tourists fled in fear.“I think our tour guide said, ‘Run!’ And I started running and I started screaming at the kids, ‘Run, run, run!'” she added.The scientists don't know if they'll be able to devise a way to predict the blasts, Poland said. The detection system alone would take time to develop, with monitoring stations that can cost roughly $30,000 each. And even if they could be predicted, there's no feasible way to prevent such explosions, he said."One of the things people ask me occasionally is, ‘How do you stop a volcano from erupting?’ You don't. You get out of the way," Poland said. “For any of this activity, you don't want to be there when it happens.”

Surprise Yellowstone geyser eruption highlights little known hazard at park

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post

After an exciting offseason that saw Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce trotting around the globe, he's now back with the Chiefs seeking to make history.

Kelce says that it hasn't been much of a transition to get back to work at training camp, and calls St. Joseph his "sanctuary"

"St. Joe, year 12, that means I've spent just about an entire year of my life up here in the dorms," Kelce tells reporter's post-practice. "Everybody may see that as pretty grueling, but I enjoy it man, there's something about this place that gets you ready every single year and I'm not going to lie I got pretty excited as the time started counting down to get out here and get this thing rolling."

Kelce says the biggest challenge this offseason was getting his body ready after the toll taken on it last season.

There is a lot of excitement this Chiefs Training Camp about new faces that promise to make an already dynamic team even more competitive.

Kelce says he's excited about a lot of those new pieces.

"We got new chess pieces, guys that have different traits and we're just trying to blend that all together to make the best team possible, both on offense and defense and obviously special teams," Kelce says. "It's just the ultimate grind session of working together."

"We have to be more together right now then even, well I don't want to say during the season, but right now this is where you really build that togetherness, that chemistry, that ability to lean on each other and fight for each other."

While there are a lot of new faces on this year's Chiefs team stepping into new roles, it's the same story for one not so new face on the defense.

The Chiefs lost linebacker Willie Gay to free agency this offseason, and now it's expected that third year linebacker Leo Chenal will have his role expanded to fill that gap.

Chenal says right now he's just doing whatever coaches ask him to do.

"I have certain strengths to my game, whether it's getting on the line or addressing blockers, so it's really just doing whatever Spags asks me to do," Chenal explains. "Lining up in the A gap, on the edge, off the ball, I'm getting more and more comfortable with the things I didn't do in college and hopefully it will get me more time on the field, and I can help the team out as best I can."

Chenal says it's been good to learn all these different formations and says he's been working with guys like George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, and defensive line coach Terry Bradden on ways to line up and defensive line moves.

The Chiefs held their second practice in full pads and practiced for nearly two hours today. They practice again tomorrow at 9:15 at Missouri Western State University.

The Chiefs know whose kicking, but who could be returning kicks?

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub knows who's going to be kicking off this season, but as for punt and kick returns that's still being determined.

Toub says every practice he has at least 19 guys working out at punt and kick return, but realistically in his mind there are five or six that could take the job.

"(Xavier) Worthy no question, (Kadarius) Toney is in there, Mecole, Hollywood he's exciting to think that he can do it," Toub says. "And the guy that's done a really good job is Nikko Remigio."

Toub says he's already tabbed Harrison Butker as the guy who will be kicking off this season, under new kickoff rules, which Toub says he's both excited and nervous about.

"We've been working on it a lot, we'll work on it again tomorrow in practice, you work on it in walkthroughs almost every time," Toub explains. "But there's a lot of unknowns with it, how are teams going to attack you, what are they going to do and what are the kickers going to do, what's going to be the philosophy, and how are they going to officiate it too."

Toub says it's going to be an ongoing learning process and stresses the importance of this year's preseason games.

Chiefs' receiver Justin Watson was again not in pads for practice today. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said on Friday that he's day to day with an ankle injury.

Watson was spotted after practice getting some work in taking passes off the jugs machine kneeling on one knee. There was no boot, no noticeable wrap, no noticeable limp before he headed back to the training complex.

Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson again left practice early following cornerback and wide receiver drills. He did walk off the field on his own power and seemed to want to return to practice before leaving for the training complex.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722105594971.jpeg" alt="Travis Kelce holds off a defender as he runs downfield/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Travis Kelce holds off a defender as he runs downfield/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph PostAfter an exciting offseason that saw Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce trotting around the globe, he's now back with the Chiefs seeking to make history.Kelce says that it hasn't been much of a transition to get back to work at training camp, and calls St. Joseph his "sanctuary""St. Joe, year 12, that means I've spent just about an entire year of my life up here in the dorms," Kelce tells reporter's post-practice. "Everybody may see that as pretty grueling, but I enjoy it man, there's something about this place that gets you ready every single year and I'm not going to lie I got pretty excited as the time started counting down to get out here and get this thing rolling."Kelce says the biggest challenge this offseason was getting his body ready after the toll taken on it last season.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722105659670.jpeg" alt="Travis Kelce celebrates after scoring a touchdown during drills at Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Travis Kelce celebrates after scoring a touchdown during drills at Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>There is a lot of excitement this Chiefs Training Camp about new faces that promise to make an already dynamic team even more competitive.Kelce says he's excited about a lot of those new pieces."We got new chess pieces, guys that have different traits and we're just trying to blend that all together to make the best team possible, both on offense and defense and obviously special teams," Kelce says. "It's just the ultimate grind session of working together.""We have to be more together right now then even, well I don't want to say during the season, but right now this is where you really build that togetherness, that chemistry, that ability to lean on each other and fight for each other."While there are a lot of new faces on this year's Chiefs team stepping into new roles, it's the same story for one not so new face on the defense.The Chiefs lost linebacker Willie Gay to free agency this offseason, and now it's expected that third year linebacker Leo Chenal will have his role expanded to fill that gap.Chenal says right now he's just doing whatever coaches ask him to do."I have certain strengths to my game, whether it's getting on the line or addressing blockers, so it's really just doing whatever Spags asks me to do," Chenal explains. "Lining up in the A gap, on the edge, off the ball, I'm getting more and more comfortable with the things I didn't do in college and hopefully it will get me more time on the field, and I can help the team out as best I can."Chenal says it's been good to learn all these different formations and says he's been working with guys like George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, and defensive line coach Terry Bradden on ways to line up and defensive line moves.The Chiefs held their second practice in full pads and practiced for nearly two hours today. They practice again tomorrow at 9:15 at Missouri Western State University.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722105936347.jpeg" alt="Kicker Harrison Butker (7) attempts a kick as new punter Matt Araiza (49) holds/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Kicker Harrison Butker (7) attempts a kick as new punter Matt Araiza (49) holds/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>The Chiefs know whose kicking, but who could be returning kicks?Kansas City Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub knows who's going to be kicking off this season, but as for punt and kick returns that's still being determined.Toub says every practice he has at least 19 guys working out at punt and kick return, but realistically in his mind there are five or six that could take the job."(Xavier) Worthy no question, (Kadarius) Toney is in there, Mecole, Hollywood he's exciting to think that he can do it," Toub says. "And the guy that's done a really good job is Nikko Remigio."Toub says he's already tabbed Harrison Butker as the guy who will be kicking off this season, under new kickoff rules, which Toub says he's both excited and nervous about."We've been working on it a lot, we'll work on it again tomorrow in practice, you work on it in walkthroughs almost every time," Toub explains. "But there's a lot of unknowns with it, how are teams going to attack you, what are they going to do and what are the kickers going to do, what's going to be the philosophy, and how are they going to officiate it too."Toub says it's going to be an ongoing learning process and stresses the importance of this year's preseason games.Injury ReportChiefs' receiver Justin Watson was again not in pads for practice today. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said on Friday that he's day to day with an ankle injury.Watson was spotted after practice getting some work in taking passes off the jugs machine kneeling on one knee. There was no boot, no noticeable wrap, no noticeable limp before he headed back to the training complex.Cornerback Nazeeh Johnson again left practice early following cornerback and wide receiver drills. He did walk off the field on his own power and seemed to want to return to practice before leaving for the training complex.

🏈 After travelling the globe, Kelce glad to be back at training camp

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly two weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vp-vance-rubio-7c7ba6b99b5f38d2d840ed95b2fdc3e5">Donald Trump’s near assassination</a>, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.

“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the agency said in a statement.

The statement from the FBI marked the most definitive law enforcement account of Trump’s injuries and followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-assassination-attempt-shooting-f1ff0a636f3e2e1a28762c400852167e">ambiguous comments earlier in the week from Director Christopher Wray</a>&nbsp;that appeared to cast doubt on whether Trump had actually been hit by a bullet.

The comment drew fury from Trump and his allies and further stoked conspiracy theories that have flourished on both sides of the political aisle amid a dearth of information following the July 13 attack.

Up until now, federal law enforcement agents involved in the investigation, including the FBI and Secret Service, had repeatedly refused to provide information about what caused Trump’s injuries. Trump’s campaign has also declined to release medical records from the hospital where he was first treated or to make the doctors there available for questions.

Updates have instead come either from Trump himself or from Trump’s former White House doctor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronny-jackson">Ronny Jackson</a>, a staunch ally who now represents Texas in Congress. Though Jackson has been treating Trump since the night of the attack, he has come under considerable scrutiny and is not Trump’s primary care physician.

The FBI’s apparent reluctance to immediately vouch for the former president’s version of events — along with the ire he and some supporters have directed at the bureau in the shooting’s aftermath — has also raised fresh tension between the Republican nominee and the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency, which he could soon exert control over once again.

Trump and his supporters have repeatedly accused federal law enforcement of being weaponized against him.

Questions about the extent and nature of Trump’s wound began immediately after the attack, as his campaign and law enforcement officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-transparency-db2f4437237ad03d3b04b0b5f1573977">declined to answer questions</a>&nbsp;about his condition or the treatment he received after Trump narrowly escaped death in an attempted assassination by a gunman with a high-powered rifle.

Those questions have persisted despite photos showing the trace of a projectile speeding past Trump’s head, photographs that show Trump’s teleprompter glass intact after the shooting, and the account Trump himself gave in a Truth Social post within hours of the shooting saying he had been “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”

“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he wrote.

Days later, in a speech accepting the nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump described the horrific scene in detail, while wearing a large, white, gauze bandage over his right ear.

“I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard, on my right ear. I said to myself, ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,’” he said.

“If I had not moved my head at that very last instant,” Trump said, “the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be here tonight.”

But the first medical account of Trump’s condition didn’t come until a full week after the shooting, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ronny-jackson-shooting-medical-report-e95a2888cd5eeb64820d6fa789b03463">Jackson released his first letter</a>&nbsp;last Saturday evening. In that letter, he said the bullet that struck Trump had “produced a 2 cm wide wound that extended down to the cartilaginous surface of the ear.” He also revealed that Trump had received a CT scan at the hospital.

But federal law enforcement involved in the investigation, including the FBI and Secret Service, had declined to confirm that account. And Wray’s testimony offered apparently conflicting answers on the issue.

“There’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear,” Wray testified, before he seemed to suggest it was indeed a bullet.

“I don’t know whether that bullet, in addition to causing the grazing, could have also landed somewhere else,” he said.

The following day, the FBI sought to clarify matters with a statement affirming that the shooting was an “attempted assassination of former President Trump which resulted in his injury, as well as the death of a heroic father and the injuries of several other victims.” The FBI also said Thursday that its Shooting Reconstruction Team continues to examine bullet fragments and other evidence from the scene.

Jackson, who has been treating the former president since the night of the July 13 shooting, told The Associated Press on Thursday that any suggestion Trump’s ear was bloodied by anything other than a bullet was reckless.

“It was a bullet wound,” said Jackson. “You can’t make statements like that. It leads to all these conspiracy theories.”

In his letter Friday, Jackson insisted “there is absolutely no evidence” Trump was struck by anything other than a bullet and said it was “wrong and inappropriate to suggest anything else.”

He wrote that at Butler Memorial Hospital, where the GOP nominee was rushed after the shooting, he was evaluated and treated for a “Gunshot Wound to the Right Ear.”

“Having served as an Emergency Medicine physician for over 20 years in the United States Navy, including as a combat physician on the battlefield in Iraq,” he wrote, “I have treated many gunshot wounds in my career. Based on my direct observations of the injury, my relevant clinical background, and my significant experience evaluating and treating patients with similar wounds, I completely concur with the initial assessment and treatment provided by the doctors at nurses at Butler Memorial Hospital on the day of the shooting.”

The FBI declined to comment on the Jackson letters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722037146584.png" alt="Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures while surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)" />
 <figcaption>Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures while surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he is helped off the stage at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly two weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vp-vance-rubio-7c7ba6b99b5f38d2d840ed95b2fdc3e5">Donald Trump’s near assassination</a>, the FBI confirmed Friday that it was indeed a bullet that struck the former president’s ear, moving to clear up conflicting accounts about what caused the former president’s injuries after a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania rally.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722018277152.png" alt="Letter from former physician to President Trump" />
 <figcaption>Letter from former physician to President Trump</figcaption>
 </figure>“What struck former President Trump in the ear was a bullet, whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces, fired from the deceased subject’s rifle,” the agency said in a statement.The statement from the FBI marked the most definitive law enforcement account of Trump’s injuries and followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-assassination-attempt-shooting-f1ff0a636f3e2e1a28762c400852167e">ambiguous comments earlier in the week from Director Christopher Wray</a>&nbsp;that appeared to cast doubt on whether Trump had actually been hit by a bullet.The comment drew fury from Trump and his allies and further stoked conspiracy theories that have flourished on both sides of the political aisle amid a dearth of information following the July 13 attack.Up until now, federal law enforcement agents involved in the investigation, including the FBI and Secret Service, had repeatedly refused to provide information about what caused Trump’s injuries. Trump’s campaign has also declined to release medical records from the hospital where he was first treated or to make the doctors there available for questions.Updates have instead come either from Trump himself or from Trump’s former White House doctor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronny-jackson">Ronny Jackson</a>, a staunch ally who now represents Texas in Congress. Though Jackson has been treating Trump since the night of the attack, he has come under considerable scrutiny and is not Trump’s primary care physician.The FBI’s apparent reluctance to immediately vouch for the former president’s version of events — along with the ire he and some supporters have directed at the bureau in the shooting’s aftermath — has also raised fresh tension between the Republican nominee and the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency, which he could soon exert control over once again.Trump and his supporters have repeatedly accused federal law enforcement of being weaponized against him.Questions about the extent and nature of Trump’s wound began immediately after the attack, as his campaign and law enforcement officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-transparency-db2f4437237ad03d3b04b0b5f1573977">declined to answer questions</a>&nbsp;about his condition or the treatment he received after Trump narrowly escaped death in an attempted assassination by a gunman with a high-powered rifle.Those questions have persisted despite photos showing the trace of a projectile speeding past Trump’s head, photographs that show Trump’s teleprompter glass intact after the shooting, and the account Trump himself gave in a Truth Social post within hours of the shooting saying he had been “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.”“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” he wrote.Days later, in a speech accepting the nomination at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump described the horrific scene in detail, while wearing a large, white, gauze bandage over his right ear.“I heard a loud whizzing sound and felt something hit me really, really hard, on my right ear. I said to myself, ‘Wow, what was that? It can only be a bullet,’” he said.“If I had not moved my head at that very last instant,” Trump said, “the assassin’s bullet would have perfectly hit its mark, and I would not be here tonight.”But the first medical account of Trump’s condition didn’t come until a full week after the shooting, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ronny-jackson-shooting-medical-report-e95a2888cd5eeb64820d6fa789b03463">Jackson released his first letter</a>&nbsp;last Saturday evening. In that letter, he said the bullet that struck Trump had “produced a 2 cm wide wound that extended down to the cartilaginous surface of the ear.” He also revealed that Trump had received a CT scan at the hospital.But federal law enforcement involved in the investigation, including the FBI and Secret Service, had declined to confirm that account. And Wray’s testimony offered apparently conflicting answers on the issue.“There’s some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear,” Wray testified, before he seemed to suggest it was indeed a bullet.“I don’t know whether that bullet, in addition to causing the grazing, could have also landed somewhere else,” he said.The following day, the FBI sought to clarify matters with a statement affirming that the shooting was an “attempted assassination of former President Trump which resulted in his injury, as well as the death of a heroic father and the injuries of several other victims.” The FBI also said Thursday that its Shooting Reconstruction Team continues to examine bullet fragments and other evidence from the scene.Jackson, who has been treating the former president since the night of the July 13 shooting, told The Associated Press on Thursday that any suggestion Trump’s ear was bloodied by anything other than a bullet was reckless.“It was a bullet wound,” said Jackson. “You can’t make statements like that. It leads to all these conspiracy theories.”In his letter Friday, Jackson insisted “there is absolutely no evidence” Trump was struck by anything other than a bullet and said it was “wrong and inappropriate to suggest anything else.”He wrote that at Butler Memorial Hospital, where the GOP nominee was rushed after the shooting, he was evaluated and treated for a “Gunshot Wound to the Right Ear.”“Having served as an Emergency Medicine physician for over 20 years in the United States Navy, including as a combat physician on the battlefield in Iraq,” he wrote, “I have treated many gunshot wounds in my career. Based on my direct observations of the injury, my relevant clinical background, and my significant experience evaluating and treating patients with similar wounds, I completely concur with the initial assessment and treatment provided by the doctors at nurses at Butler Memorial Hospital on the day of the shooting.”The FBI declined to comment on the Jackson letters.Asked if the campaign would release those hospital records, or allow the doctors who treated him there to speak, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung blasted the media for asking.“The media has no shame in engaging in disgusting conspiracy theories,” he said. “The facts are the facts, and to question an abhorrent assassination attempt that ultimately cost a life and injured two others is beyond the pale.”In emails last week, he told the AP that “medical readouts” had already been provided.“It’s sad some people still don’t believe a shooting happened,” Cheung said, “even after one person was killed and others were injured.”Anyone who believes the conspiracies, he added, “is either mentally deficient or willfully peddling falsehoods for political reasons.”Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a close Trump ally, also urged Wray to correct his testimony in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/graham_to_director_wray_on_correcting_testimony.pdf">a letter Friday to the FBI director</a>, saying the fact Trump had been hit by a bullet “was made clear in briefings my office received and should not be a point of contention.”“As head of the FBI, you should not be creating confusion about such matters, as it further undercuts the agency’s credibility with millions of Americans,” he wrote.Trump also lashed out at Wray in a post on his Truth Social network, saying it was “No wonder the once storied FBI has lost the confidence of America!”“No, it was, unfortunately, a bullet that hit my ear, and hit it hard. There was no glass, there was no shrapnel,” he wrote.On Friday, he called Wray’s comments “so damaging to the Great People that work in the FBI.”Jackson has faced significant scrutiny over the years.After administering a physical to Trump in 2018, he drew headlines for suggesting that “if he had a healthier diet over the last 20 years, he might live to be 200 years old.”He was reportedly demoted by the Navy after the Department of Defense inspector general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ronny-jackson-barack-obama-682860f2106b28065eb8e73353d00f93">released a scathing report on his conduct as a top White House physician</a>&nbsp;that found Jackson had made “sexual and denigrating” comments about a female subordinates and took prescription-strength sleeping medication that prompted worries from his colleagues about his ability to provide proper medical care.Trump appointed Wray in 2017 to replace the fired James Comey as director of the FBI. But the then-president swiftly soured on his hire as the bureau continued its investigation into the Russian election interference.Trump flirted openly with the idea of firing Wray as his term drew to a close, and he lashed out anew after the FBI executed a search warrant at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida to recover boxes of classified documents from his presidency.___ Colvin reported from New York.