By RANDY GONZALES Special to Hays Post

It might have been surprising if Kahne Johnson had not chosen sprint car racing as his career path.

Kahne, a 2024 graduate of Quinter Junior-Senior High, is on track to make his dreams come true.

From a racing family devoted to dirt tracks on warm summer evenings, Kahne moved to Missouri this past Thursday. He began his full-time job as crew chief for Ayrton Gennetten Racing, which runs a sprint car in the World of Outlaws circuit.

“My dream always was to get a sprint car, but I fell in love with working on them,” Kahne said.

Kahne, 18, is part of a third generation of racing. He raced go-karts, as did his older brother, 20-year-old Kyler, who graduated to driving sprint cars on weekends.

His younger sister, Kendyl, 15, also used to race go-karts. His father, CJ Johnson, retired in 2015 after a long career racing sprint cars. His paternal grandfather, Jon Johnson, raced sprint cars, as did Dennis Park, stepfather of Kahne’s mom, Kayla.

The family loved the track so much that a little thing like the birth of a child wouldn’t wave the red flag. All three Johnson siblings were born in the middle of the week, and days after their birth, they were at the track that weekend. CJ won a race the weekend after each child’s birth, and after Kyler was born, CJ won 11 straight races. Other drivers jokingly pleaded with CJ that he not have any more kids.

“We’ve never been the kind of family that stays home or goes to the lake on weekends,” Johnson said. “All we’ve ever known was racing.”

Kahne moves from one family to another. Ayrton Gennetten said the racing community is close-knit.

“Racing is basically a second family to anyone involved in the sport,” Gennetten said. “You grow fond of the people you’re around.”

From the it’s-a-small-world department, Gennetten’s grandfather raced against Kahne’s grandfather, and their dads also raced against each other a few times. Gennetten also has raced against Kahne’s older brother a few times. Now, Kahne is Gennetten's crew chief.

“It’s kind of cool we get to work together,” Gennetten said.

Kahne’s grandfather raced against his mom’s stepfather, and both dads raced each other. And, Kahne’s mom met his dad at the track. Years later, decades later, they’re still at the track.

“She kind of knew what she was getting into,” Kahne said.

Kahne had no idea what was going to happen after a chance meeting with Gennetten at a race weekend a couple of years ago. They were parked together and started talking racing. Talking turned into texts, but a summer job did not work out.

However, another racer, Brian Brown, offered a summer job a year later, and Kahne worked with him last season. Kahne credited his crew chief, Chad Morgan, for showing him the ropes in the pit.

“He explained things really well,” Kahne said. “He’s definitely a mentor because he knew what he was doing.”

Over the winter, Gennetten offered Kahne a full-time position as crew chief with his racing team. So Kahne packed up and moved to Warrensburg, Mo., with the shop in nearby Knob Noster. He was helping get the car ready to race this weekend and from now until November, with race weekends scheduled in nine states.

“I’m probably one of the younger (crew chiefs) who gets this much say, what we’re doing on the car,” Kahne said. “Eighteen is kind of pretty early. I’m very blessed to have this opportunity.”

Gennetten, 24, said while it was rare to have a crew chief that young, he was confident Kahne could do the job.

“I think we will make a good combination,” Gennetten said. “I trust that he will do it right because he wants to have a career in this. Hopefully, we can build a good program and grow together.”

Typically, the season goes from March to the end of October, but graduation delayed Kahne’s involvement this year. Gennetten races on two different circuits.

“He’s not really committed to one or the other,” Kahne said. “He picks and chooses which one he wants to go to on that particular weekend.”

Kahne once wanted to be a sprint car driver like his brother, but working on cars was a better fit than driving them—literally. At 6 feet 3 inches, Johnson found the sprint car cockpit too confining.

“It’s not a real comfortable car if you’re tall,” Kahne said.

Johnson feels comfortable tinkering with cars, getting them to perform their best every weekend.

“The main goal is to work full-time World of Outlaws,” Kahne said. “That is the best of the best, coast-to-coast. Just be successful, win a bunch of races as a crew chief.”

The roar of the track, with cars racing for the checkered flag, is part of the allure.

“It’s exciting for me to just hear the sprint cars go on the track. They’re plenty loud,” Kahne said.

Now, at a young age, Kahne is making noise as a crew chief for a racing team. He remembers his reaction when he received the job offer.

“I was pretty happy for it all to come together,” Johnson said. “I’d much rather do this than&nbsp;anything else, for sure.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716676381401.jpeg" alt="Quinter 18-year-old Kahne Johnson, who has just graduated from high school, will be the full-time crew chief for sprint car racer Ayrton Gennetten. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Quinter 18-year-old Kahne Johnson, who has just graduated from high school, will be the full-time crew chief for sprint car racer Ayrton Gennetten. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715890703398.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RANDY GONZALES Special to Hays PostIt might have been surprising if Kahne Johnson had not chosen sprint car racing as his career path.Kahne, a 2024 graduate of Quinter Junior-Senior High, is on track to make his dreams come true.From a racing family devoted to dirt tracks on warm summer evenings, Kahne moved to Missouri this past Thursday. He began his full-time job as crew chief for Ayrton Gennetten Racing, which runs a sprint car in the World of Outlaws circuit.“My dream always was to get a sprint car, but I fell in love with working on them,” Kahne said.Kahne, 18, is part of a third generation of racing. He raced go-karts, as did his older brother, 20-year-old Kyler, who graduated to driving sprint cars on weekends.His younger sister, Kendyl, 15, also used to race go-karts. His father, CJ Johnson, retired in 2015 after a long career racing sprint cars. His paternal grandfather, Jon Johnson, raced sprint cars, as did Dennis Park, stepfather of Kahne’s mom, Kayla.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716676438301.jpeg" alt="Part of Johnson’s duties as a crew chief is to watch the car go around the track. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Part of Johnson’s duties as a crew chief is to watch the car go around the track. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The family loved the track so much that a little thing like the birth of a child wouldn’t wave the red flag. All three Johnson siblings were born in the middle of the week, and days after their birth, they were at the track that weekend. CJ won a race the weekend after each child’s birth, and after Kyler was born, CJ won 11 straight races. Other drivers jokingly pleaded with CJ that he not have any more kids.“We’ve never been the kind of family that stays home or goes to the lake on weekends,” Johnson said. “All we’ve ever known was racing.”Kahne moves from one family to another. Ayrton Gennetten said the racing community is close-knit.“Racing is basically a second family to anyone involved in the sport,” Gennetten said. “You grow fond of the people you’re around.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716676611933.jpeg" alt="Kyler Johnson, Kahne’s older brother, turns a corner in a sprint car race. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kyler Johnson, Kahne’s older brother, turns a corner in a sprint car race. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>From the it’s-a-small-world department, Gennetten’s grandfather raced against Kahne’s grandfather, and their dads also raced against each other a few times. Gennetten also has raced against Kahne’s older brother a few times. Now, Kahne is Gennetten's crew chief.“It’s kind of cool we get to work together,” Gennetten said.Kahne’s grandfather raced against his mom’s stepfather, and both dads raced each other. And, Kahne’s mom met his dad at the track. Years later, decades later, they’re still at the track.“She kind of knew what she was getting into,” Kahne said.Kahne had no idea what was going to happen after a chance meeting with Gennetten at a race weekend a couple of years ago. They were parked together and started talking racing. Talking turned into texts, but a summer job did not work out.However, another racer, Brian Brown, offered a summer job a year later, and Kahne worked with him last season. Kahne credited his crew chief, Chad Morgan, for showing him the ropes in the pit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716676677350.jpeg" alt="Kahne, age 5, “works” on his dad’s sprint car while older brother Kyler, age 7, looks on. Courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kahne, age 5, “works” on his dad’s sprint car while older brother Kyler, age 7, looks on. Courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“He explained things really well,” Kahne said. “He’s definitely a mentor because he knew what he was doing.”Over the winter, Gennetten offered Kahne a full-time position as crew chief with his racing team. So Kahne packed up and moved to Warrensburg, Mo., with the shop in nearby Knob Noster. He was helping get the car ready to race this weekend and from now until November, with race weekends scheduled in nine states.“I’m probably one of the younger (crew chiefs) who gets this much say, what we’re doing on the car,” Kahne said. “Eighteen is kind of pretty early. I’m very blessed to have this opportunity.”Gennetten, 24, said while it was rare to have a crew chief that young, he was confident Kahne could do the job.“I think we will make a good combination,” Gennetten said. “I trust that he will do it right because he wants to have a career in this. Hopefully, we can build a good program and grow together.”Typically, the season goes from March to the end of October, but graduation delayed Kahne’s involvement this year. Gennetten races on two different circuits.“He’s not really committed to one or the other,” Kahne said. “He picks and chooses which one he wants to go to on that particular weekend.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716676737614.jpeg" alt="Kahne works on a tire on his brother Kyler’s mud-covered sprint car. Photo courtesy of Carrie Towns Photography&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kahne works on a tire on his brother Kyler’s mud-covered sprint car. Photo courtesy of Carrie Towns Photography&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Kahne once wanted to be a sprint car driver like his brother, but working on cars was a better fit than driving them—literally. At 6 feet 3 inches, Johnson found the sprint car cockpit too confining.“It’s not a real comfortable car if you’re tall,” Kahne said.Johnson feels comfortable tinkering with cars, getting them to perform their best every weekend.“The main goal is to work full-time World of Outlaws,” Kahne said. “That is the best of the best, coast-to-coast. Just be successful, win a bunch of races as a crew chief.”The roar of the track, with cars racing for the checkered flag, is part of the allure.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716676789352.jpeg" alt="Kahne Johnson says he feels “blessed” to be a crew chief for a racing team at such a young age. Photo courtesy of Carrie Towns Photography&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kahne Johnson says he feels “blessed” to be a crew chief for a racing team at such a young age. Photo courtesy of Carrie Towns Photography&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s exciting for me to just hear the sprint cars go on the track. They’re plenty loud,” Kahne said.Now, at a young age, Kahne is making noise as a crew chief for a racing team. He remembers his reaction when he received the job offer.“I was pretty happy for it all to come together,” Johnson said. “I’d much rather do this than&nbsp;anything else, for sure.”

NWester: Quinter teenager races to top as crew chief

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The bodies of three more hostages killed on Oct 7. were recovered overnight from Gaza, Israel's army said Friday, as the top United Nations court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-palestinians-court-ceasefire-01d093d21a1eadaa31af5708cf1cbf38">prepares to rule</a>&nbsp;on whether Israel must halt its military operations and withdraw from the enclave.

The bodies of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-unaccounted-people-095f64d06108416ff9c58ea7550b9a74">Hanan Yablonka</a>, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez Radoux were found and their families have been notified. The army said they were killed on the day of the attack at the Mefalsim intersection and their bodies were taken to Gaza.

The announcement comes less than a week after the army said it found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-hostages-shani-louk-a37e4fd656b46be36c4c659a9c2aac7d">the bodies of three other Israeli hostages</a>&nbsp;killed on Oct. 7.

Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others in the Oct. 7 attack. Around half of those hostages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-25-2023-7d83895eb736c09fab3eada4c31524b0">have since been freed</a>, most in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a weeklong cease-fire in November.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to both eliminate Hamas and bring all the hostages back, but he’s made little progress. He faces pressure to resign, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4">U.S. has threatened to scale back</a>&nbsp;its support over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

On Friday Netanyahu said the country had a duty to do everything to return those abducted, both those killed and those who are alive.

Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of at least 39 more, while 17 bodies of hostages have been recovered.

In a post on X Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron gave condolences to the family of Hernández-Radoux, a French-Mexican citizen, saying France remains committed to releasing the hostages.

The country is also expecting a ruling Friday afternoon by the International Court of Justice to decide on an urgent plea by South Africa to order Israel to cease operations. Israel is unlikely to comply with any such order. Even so, a cease-fire order by judges of the International Court of Justice would heap more pressure on an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-palestinian-state-ddfd774a23d39f77f5977b9c89c43dbc">increasingly isolated Israel</a>.

On the hostages, Israelis are divided into two main camps: those who want the government to put the war on hold and free the hostages, and others who think the hostages are an unfortunate price to pay for eradicating Hamas. On-and-off negotiations mediated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt have yielded little.

Anger is growing at home at the government’s handling of the hostage crisis.

Earlier this week a group representing the families of hostages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-gaza-hostages-dcb39658d1afcd00341d2c1cd54c38b0">released new video footage</a>&nbsp;showing Hamas’ capture of five female Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Oct. 7.

The video shows several of the young soldiers bloody and wounded. In one scene, a militant tells one of the terrified women she is beautiful.

The video sparked more protests across the country calling for the hostages’ release.

The army said on Friday the hostages were found during an operation in Jabaliya. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a news conference that the army was able to retrieve the bodies based on “critical intelligence” uncovered last week by Israeli forces operating in Gaza.

The group representing the families of the hostages said the bodies had been returned to their families for burial.

Nisenbaum, 59, was a Brazilian-Israeli from the southern city of Sderot. He was taken hostage when he went to rescue his 4-year-old granddaughter.

Oryon Hernandez Radoux, 30, was taken from the Nova music festival, which he attended with his partner Shani Louk. Louk's body was one of those found by the army nearly a week ago.

Yablonka, 42, a father of two, was also taken from the music festival. His family in December told the AP that he loved music. Yablonka’s family had no news of him for nearly two months after he’d been taken, not knowing if he was alive or dead.

Israel’s offensive since the war began has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and has caused a humanitarian crisis and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-world-food-program-israel-hamas-war-476941bf2dc259f85a706408b2a665ff">near-famine.</a>

While it has weakened Hamas' capabilities, after nearly eight months of war, militants are regrouping in some of the hardest-hit areas in northern Gaza and resuming rocket attacks into nearby Israeli communities. Israel says its troops are operating in Rafah in the south, in central Gaza and in Jabaliya in the north.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701204582165.png" alt="File photo -Israeli soldiers look at photos of people killed and taken captive by Hamas militants during their violent rampage through the Nova music festival in southern Israel, which are displayed at the site of the event, as Israeli DJs spun music, to commemorate the October 7, massacre, near Kibbutz Re'im, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)" />
 <figcaption>File photo -Israeli soldiers look at photos of people killed and taken captive by Hamas militants during their violent rampage through the Nova music festival in southern Israel, which are displayed at the site of the event, as Israeli DJs spun music, to commemorate the October 7, massacre, near Kibbutz Re'im, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)</figcaption>
 </figure>TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The bodies of three more hostages killed on Oct 7. were recovered overnight from Gaza, Israel's army said Friday, as the top United Nations court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-palestinians-court-ceasefire-01d093d21a1eadaa31af5708cf1cbf38">prepares to rule</a>&nbsp;on whether Israel must halt its military operations and withdraw from the enclave.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716546463209.png" alt="L-R: Hostages Michel Nisenbaum, Orion Hernandez, Hanan Yablonka. Their bodies were recovered from northern Gaza's Jabaliya in an operation announced May 24, 2024. (Courtesy)" />
 <figcaption>L-R: Hostages Michel Nisenbaum, Orion Hernandez, Hanan Yablonka. Their bodies were recovered from northern Gaza's Jabaliya in an operation announced May 24, 2024. (Courtesy)</figcaption>
 </figure>The bodies of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-unaccounted-people-095f64d06108416ff9c58ea7550b9a74">Hanan Yablonka</a>, Michel Nisenbaum, and Orion Hernandez Radoux were found and their families have been notified. The army said they were killed on the day of the attack at the Mefalsim intersection and their bodies were taken to Gaza.The announcement comes less than a week after the army said it found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-hostages-shani-louk-a37e4fd656b46be36c4c659a9c2aac7d">the bodies of three other Israeli hostages</a>&nbsp;killed on Oct. 7.Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others in the Oct. 7 attack. Around half of those hostages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-11-25-2023-7d83895eb736c09fab3eada4c31524b0">have since been freed</a>, most in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during a weeklong cease-fire in November.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to both eliminate Hamas and bring all the hostages back, but he’s made little progress. He faces pressure to resign, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-weapons-shipment-us-eed365ebef0477ba74bf9848cacae4f4">U.S. has threatened to scale back</a>&nbsp;its support over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.On Friday Netanyahu said the country had a duty to do everything to return those abducted, both those killed and those who are alive.Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of at least 39 more, while 17 bodies of hostages have been recovered.In a post on X Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron gave condolences to the family of Hernández-Radoux, a French-Mexican citizen, saying France remains committed to releasing the hostages.The country is also expecting a ruling Friday afternoon by the International Court of Justice to decide on an urgent plea by South Africa to order Israel to cease operations. Israel is unlikely to comply with any such order. Even so, a cease-fire order by judges of the International Court of Justice would heap more pressure on an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-palestinian-state-ddfd774a23d39f77f5977b9c89c43dbc">increasingly isolated Israel</a>.On the hostages, Israelis are divided into two main camps: those who want the government to put the war on hold and free the hostages, and others who think the hostages are an unfortunate price to pay for eradicating Hamas. On-and-off negotiations mediated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt have yielded little.Anger is growing at home at the government’s handling of the hostage crisis.Earlier this week a group representing the families of hostages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-gaza-hostages-dcb39658d1afcd00341d2c1cd54c38b0">released new video footage</a>&nbsp;showing Hamas’ capture of five female Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border on Oct. 7.The video shows several of the young soldiers bloody and wounded. In one scene, a militant tells one of the terrified women she is beautiful.The video sparked more protests across the country calling for the hostages’ release.The army said on Friday the hostages were found during an operation in Jabaliya. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a news conference that the army was able to retrieve the bodies based on “critical intelligence” uncovered last week by Israeli forces operating in Gaza.The group representing the families of the hostages said the bodies had been returned to their families for burial.Nisenbaum, 59, was a Brazilian-Israeli from the southern city of Sderot. He was taken hostage when he went to rescue his 4-year-old granddaughter.Oryon Hernandez Radoux, 30, was taken from the Nova music festival, which he attended with his partner Shani Louk. Louk's body was one of those found by the army nearly a week ago.Yablonka, 42, a father of two, was also taken from the music festival. His family in December told the AP that he loved music. Yablonka’s family had no news of him for nearly two months after he’d been taken, not knowing if he was alive or dead.Israel’s offensive since the war began has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and has caused a humanitarian crisis and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-world-food-program-israel-hamas-war-476941bf2dc259f85a706408b2a665ff">near-famine.</a>While it has weakened Hamas' capabilities, after nearly eight months of war, militants are regrouping in some of the hardest-hit areas in northern Gaza and resuming rocket attacks into nearby Israeli communities. Israel says its troops are operating in Rafah in the south, in central Gaza and in Jabaliya in the north.

Israel: At least 100 hostages still being held in Gaza

North Central Kansas Technical College

North Central Kansas Technical College is excited announce that Wyatt Varner will represent both NCK Technical College and the state of Kansas as a national competitor at the 2024 National Clash of Trades Competition! Wyatt is a student in the Welding program on the Beloit, KS campus.

The Project MFG 2023-2024 season was loaded with competitors from across the country, all battling to make it to the national competition. The season started in October 2023 and ran through May 2024, during which time 92 schools, totaling 262 students participated in the competition.

To qualify for the national competition, the students had to compete in 3 rounds. Each round presented unique challenges that required both skill and extreme attention to detail. In the first round Wyatt welded a Corsair Fighter plane using the drawings and instructions provided by Project MFG. After successfully completing the first round, the next two rounds were exponentially more difficult. In the second round he welded an SR-71 Blackbird using aluminum, and in the final round a B-2 Stealth Bomber. He completed all of the required welds with masterful precision and earned an invitation to the 2024 Project MFG National Welding Championship.

The Project MFG National Welding Championship is held during the 2024 National Clash of Trades Competition held June 11-14th at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA. Top-performing participants for the year will have the opportunity to compete head-to-head at the Project MFG National Welding Championship, where they will compete for the national title and a grand prize of $10,000 in cash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716228225460.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>North Central Kansas Technical CollegeNorth Central Kansas Technical College is excited announce that Wyatt Varner will represent both NCK Technical College and the state of Kansas as a national competitor at the 2024 National Clash of Trades Competition! Wyatt is a student in the Welding program on the Beloit, KS campus.The Project MFG 2023-2024 season was loaded with competitors from across the country, all battling to make it to the national competition. The season started in October 2023 and ran through May 2024, during which time 92 schools, totaling 262 students participated in the competition.To qualify for the national competition, the students had to compete in 3 rounds. Each round presented unique challenges that required both skill and extreme attention to detail. In the first round Wyatt welded a Corsair Fighter plane using the drawings and instructions provided by Project MFG. After successfully completing the first round, the next two rounds were exponentially more difficult. In the second round he welded an SR-71 Blackbird using aluminum, and in the final round a B-2 Stealth Bomber. He completed all of the required welds with masterful precision and earned an invitation to the 2024 Project MFG National Welding Championship.The Project MFG National Welding Championship is held during the 2024 National Clash of Trades Competition held June 11-14th at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA. Top-performing participants for the year will have the opportunity to compete head-to-head at the Project MFG National Welding Championship, where they will compete for the national title and a grand prize of $10,000 in cash.

NCK Tech student to represent Kansas during national competiton

Keren Elizabeth (Lowman) Duran, age 83, of Overland Park, KS, died Monday, May 6, 2024, in Overland Park surrounded by her family. She was born October 6, 1940, in Lebo, KS, the daughter of Clyde "Deacon" and Bertha Nadine (Combes) Lowman.

Keren attended elementary and high school in Lebo, KS. She continued her education at the Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. She was a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Keren married Robert "Bob" Duran on May 20, 1962, in Lebo, KS. She taught high school English in Dodge City, KS, until 1970 when the family moved to Tipton, MO. In 1972, the family moved to Johnson to begin farming with Bob's father. After her children were all in school, she returned to the classroom, teaching middle school English and Literature in Johnson for 25 years. Bob and Keren lived in Johnson for 48 years until they moved to a retirement community in Lawrence, KS in 2020. After Bob passed in 2021, Keren moved to Overland Park, KS to be closer to her two sons. Keren was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Johnson, the Altar Society, and the MNO club. She played the organ for church, and she enjoyed reading, quilting, playing cards, spending time at the lake, and taking long trips in the RV.

Keren is survived by her sons, Bob Duran and partner John Humbert of Roeland Park, KS, and Phil Duran and wife Krista of Leawood, KS; daughter, Keri Veach and husband Shae of Hays, KS; sister, Jeanie Facklam and husband Bert of Tescott, KS; brother-in-law, Richard Duran and wife Linda of Horseshoe Bay, TX; sisters-in-law, Anita Antony of Golden, CO, and Rosemary Wilkerson and husband Charlie of Johnson, KS; 11 grandchildren, Kayla Duran Latham, Brock Duran, Jared Duran, Devon Duran, Dani Duran, Dawson Duran, Dina Duran, Kelli Veach, Jodi Veach, Tucker Veach, and Mindi Veach; and ten nieces and nephews.

Keren is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and brother-in-law, Ron Antony.

Vigil Service and Rosary will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 1, 2024, with Mass of Christian Burial immediately following at 10:00 AM both at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ulysses, KS, with Reverend Matthew Qumi officiating. The Mass may also be viewed live on the Garnand Funeral Home Facebook page. Inurnment will follow at the Stanton County Cemetery in Johnson, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, KS 67855. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Keren Elizabeth (Lowman) Duran, age 83, of Overland Park, KS, died Monday, May 6, 2024, in Overland Park surrounded by her family. She was born October 6, 1940, in Lebo, KS, the daughter of Clyde "Deacon" and Bertha Nadine (Combes) Lowman.Keren attended elementary and high school in Lebo, KS. She continued her education at the Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. She was a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Keren married Robert "Bob" Duran on May 20, 1962, in Lebo, KS. She taught high school English in Dodge City, KS, until 1970 when the family moved to Tipton, MO. In 1972, the family moved to Johnson to begin farming with Bob's father. After her children were all in school, she returned to the classroom, teaching middle school English and Literature in Johnson for 25 years. Bob and Keren lived in Johnson for 48 years until they moved to a retirement community in Lawrence, KS in 2020. After Bob passed in 2021, Keren moved to Overland Park, KS to be closer to her two sons. Keren was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Johnson, the Altar Society, and the MNO club. She played the organ for church, and she enjoyed reading, quilting, playing cards, spending time at the lake, and taking long trips in the RV.Keren is survived by her sons, Bob Duran and partner John Humbert of Roeland Park, KS, and Phil Duran and wife Krista of Leawood, KS; daughter, Keri Veach and husband Shae of Hays, KS; sister, Jeanie Facklam and husband Bert of Tescott, KS; brother-in-law, Richard Duran and wife Linda of Horseshoe Bay, TX; sisters-in-law, Anita Antony of Golden, CO, and Rosemary Wilkerson and husband Charlie of Johnson, KS; 11 grandchildren, Kayla Duran Latham, Brock Duran, Jared Duran, Devon Duran, Dani Duran, Dawson Duran, Dina Duran, Kelli Veach, Jodi Veach, Tucker Veach, and Mindi Veach; and ten nieces and nephews.Keren is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and brother-in-law, Ron Antony.Vigil Service and Rosary will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 1, 2024, with Mass of Christian Burial immediately following at 10:00 AM both at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ulysses, KS, with Reverend Matthew Qumi officiating. The Mass may also be viewed live on the Garnand Funeral Home Facebook page. Inurnment will follow at the Stanton County Cemetery in Johnson, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Alzheimer's Association in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, KS 67855. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Keren Elizabeth (Lowman) Duran

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A U.S. missionary couple was shot and killed by criminal gang members in Haiti’s capital after they were abducted while leaving a youth group activity held at a local church, according to a police official and a religious group.

A third person also was killed during the attack Thursday evening in the community of Lizon in northern Port-au-Prince, Lionel Lazarre, head of a Haitian police union, told The Associated Press on Friday.

The slayings occurred as the capital crumbles under the relentless assault of violent gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince while authorities await the arrival of a police force from Kenya as part of a U.N.-backed deployment aimed at quelling gang violence in the troubled Caribbean country.

Two of the victims were a young married couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, according to a Facebook posting from Natalie Lloyd’s father, Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker. The name of the third person killed wasn’t immediately available.

“My heart is broken in a thousand pieces,” Baker wrote on Facebook on Thursday. “I’ve never felt this kind of pain. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together.”

The couple worked for Missions in Haiti Inc. The Claremore, Oklahoma, organization was founded by David and Alicia Lloyd, Davy Lloyd’s parents. Natalie Lloyd’s Facebook page said the couple married on June 18, 2022, and she began working with the missionary organization in August 2022. She frequently posted photos of Haitian children on her page.

The mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It runs a school in Lizon for more than 240 students that it opened in September 2008, according to its website.

A Facebook posting on the Missions for Haiti page late Thursday stated that Davy and Natalie, along with children, were leaving a church when “they were ambushed by a gang of 3 trucks full of guys.”

The posting said Davy Lloyd was taken to a house, where he was tied up and beaten. The post later said that Davy, Natalie and a third person, listed only as Jude, were at the house when shooting broke out. It said that gang members “shot all the windows out of the house and continue to shoot. Their lives are in danger."

Three hours later, another posting from Missions in Haiti read: “Around midnight: Davy and Natalie and Jude were shot and killed by the gang about 9 o’clock this evening. We all are devastated.”

It wasn’t immediately clear which gang or gangs were responsible for the fatal shootings.

However, a gang leader called Chyen Mechan, which means “mean dog” in Haitian Creole, controls the area where the shooting occurred. His real name is Claudy Célestin, and he is a dismissed civil servant from Haiti’s Ministry of the Interior.

The leader of another gang known as General Jeff also controls territory near the neighborhood where the couple was killed. Both gangs are part of a coalition known as Viv Ansanm, which means “Live Together.”

The coalition is responsible for launching large-scale attacks on key government infrastructure starting Feb. 29. Gunmen have attacked police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that remained closed for nearly three months before opening earlier this week and stormed Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

Gangs also are blamed for killing or injuring more than 2,500 people across Haiti from January to March, a 50% increase compared with the same period last year, according to the United Nations.

Kidnappings also are rampant, with targets including U.S. missionaries.

In October 2021, gang members kidnapped 17 missionaries, the majority U.S. citizens. Many in the group, which included five children, were held captive for more than two months before escaping.

Then in July 2023, gangs kidnapped a U.S. nurse and her daughter from the campus of a Christian-run school near Port-au-Prince. They were released nearly two weeks later.

The U.S. Department of State has long had a “do not travel” advisory for Haiti and urges any U.S. citizens in the country to depart as soon as possible.

On the Missions for Haiti website, the founders wrote that the organization was founded in 2000. It said it aimed to help with “the country's biggest need — its children.”

"Although the entire nation is steeped in poverty, the children suffer the worst. Thousands are malnourished, uneducated, and headed for hopeless lives apart from Christ,” the website said.

A May 2023 newsletter posted on the mission website said Natalie “has been helping with the kids at the House of Compassion and assisting in our ACE school. Davy has been working on a lot of badly needed projects around our compound,” including building a laundry room and repairing bathrooms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716572749882.png" alt="Photo courtesy Missions in Haiti, Inc" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Missions in Haiti, Inc</figcaption>
 </figure>PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A U.S. missionary couple was shot and killed by criminal gang members in Haiti’s capital after they were abducted while leaving a youth group activity held at a local church, according to a police official and a religious group.A third person also was killed during the attack Thursday evening in the community of Lizon in northern Port-au-Prince, Lionel Lazarre, head of a Haitian police union, told The Associated Press on Friday.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fben.r.baker%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0uSePSFF7xqugpeMptsqveTj3W48WADSz3wnvQy6ZgjLEMteBu2rNGoXCPdRaLXJel&show_text=true&width=500&is_preview=true" width="500" height="686" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The slayings occurred as the capital crumbles under the relentless assault of violent gangs that control 80% of Port-au-Prince while authorities await the arrival of a police force from Kenya as part of a U.N.-backed deployment aimed at quelling gang violence in the troubled Caribbean country.Two of the victims were a young married couple, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, according to a Facebook posting from Natalie Lloyd’s father, Missouri state Rep. Ben Baker. The name of the third person killed wasn’t immediately available.“My heart is broken in a thousand pieces,” Baker wrote on Facebook on Thursday. “I’ve never felt this kind of pain. Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together.”The couple worked for Missions in Haiti Inc. The Claremore, Oklahoma, organization was founded by David and Alicia Lloyd, Davy Lloyd’s parents. Natalie Lloyd’s Facebook page said the couple married on June 18, 2022, and she began working with the missionary organization in August 2022. She frequently posted photos of Haitian children on her page.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid035raQK1fkFfUKKDQVtfjNVFAULhzubYC4MBPCzke5APm7o3jSNSAnuiNVTGbpJdYFl%26id%3D100064274396167&show_text=true&width=500&is_preview=true" width="500" height="170" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It runs a school in Lizon for more than 240 students that it opened in September 2008, according to its website.A Facebook posting on the Missions for Haiti page late Thursday stated that Davy and Natalie, along with children, were leaving a church when “they were ambushed by a gang of 3 trucks full of guys.”The posting said Davy Lloyd was taken to a house, where he was tied up and beaten. The post later said that Davy, Natalie and a third person, listed only as Jude, were at the house when shooting broke out. It said that gang members “shot all the windows out of the house and continue to shoot. Their lives are in danger."Three hours later, another posting from Missions in Haiti read: “Around midnight: Davy and Natalie and Jude were shot and killed by the gang about 9 o’clock this evening. We all are devastated.”It wasn’t immediately clear which gang or gangs were responsible for the fatal shootings.However, a gang leader called Chyen Mechan, which means “mean dog” in Haitian Creole, controls the area where the shooting occurred. His real name is Claudy Célestin, and he is a dismissed civil servant from Haiti’s Ministry of the Interior.The leader of another gang known as General Jeff also controls territory near the neighborhood where the couple was killed. Both gangs are part of a coalition known as Viv Ansanm, which means “Live Together.”The coalition is responsible for launching large-scale attacks on key government infrastructure starting Feb. 29. Gunmen have attacked police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that remained closed for nearly three months before opening earlier this week and stormed Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.Gangs also are blamed for killing or injuring more than 2,500 people across Haiti from January to March, a 50% increase compared with the same period last year, according to the United Nations.Kidnappings also are rampant, with targets including U.S. missionaries.In October 2021, gang members kidnapped 17 missionaries, the majority U.S. citizens. Many in the group, which included five children, were held captive for more than two months before escaping.Then in July 2023, gangs kidnapped a U.S. nurse and her daughter from the campus of a Christian-run school near Port-au-Prince. They were released nearly two weeks later.The U.S. Department of State has long had a “do not travel” advisory for Haiti and urges any U.S. citizens in the country to depart as soon as possible.On the Missions for Haiti website, the founders wrote that the organization was founded in 2000. It said it aimed to help with “the country's biggest need — its children.”"Although the entire nation is steeped in poverty, the children suffer the worst. Thousands are malnourished, uneducated, and headed for hopeless lives apart from Christ,” the website said.A May 2023 newsletter posted on the mission website said Natalie “has been helping with the kids at the House of Compassion and assisting in our ACE school. Davy has been working on a lot of badly needed projects around our compound,” including building a laundry room and repairing bathrooms.___

Gunmen in Haiti abduct and kill American missionary couple

Sondra Jo Murphy, beloved wife, mother, and dedicated social worker, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2024, at the age of 85. Her life was filled with the unconditional love she gave and received from her family, friends, and cherished canine companions.

Born on October 16, 1939, in Beloit, KS to Joseph and Gladys (Slater) Cunningham. Sondra was the eldest of two children. From a young age, she exhibited a profound sense of empathy and a desire to make a difference in the lives of those around her. This calling led her to pursue a degree in social work at Fort Hays State University, where she excelled academically and found her true vocation.

Sondra married the love of her life, Earl Keith Murphy. Together, they built a home filled with love and laughter. Their marriage was a partnership built on mutual respect, shared dreams, and deep affection. Together, they raised two wonderful children, Michael and Melissa, who were the pride and joy of Sondra's life. She instilled in them the values of kindness, perseverance, and the importance of service to others.

Sondra's professional career as a social worker was marked by her tireless efforts to advocate for the vulnerable and marginalized. She worked for various non-profit organizations in Washington state. And was known for always going above and beyond to ensure that those in need received the support and resources they deserved. Her colleagues admired her dedication, integrity, and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

Outside of her professional life, Sondra had a deep love of dogs and a passion for reading. Her home was always filled with the joyful barks and wagging tails of her furry companions. Over the years, she rescued and cared for numerous dogs, providing them with a loving home and a second chance at life; a testament to her boundless capacity for love and care.

Sondra’s legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and a life well-lived. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Stephen Cunningham, husband Earl “Keith” Murphy and daughter Melissa Murphy. She leaves behind her beloved son Michael (Karyn) Murphy of Osborne, KS; grandchildren, Lindsey Murphy of Kansas City, KS, Allie (Trevor) Hickman of Lenexa, KS; and step-grandchildren Hailey (Lamar) Mutchler Fayetteville, NC and Heath (Jocelyn) Arnold of Salina, KS; and several great-grandchildren who will forever cherish memories of their grandmother's warmth, wisdom, and generosity.

Sondra has requested that no funeral service be held. The family respects her wishes and asks that you honor her memory in your own special way. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Sondra Jo Murphy, beloved wife, mother, and dedicated social worker, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2024, at the age of 85. Her life was filled with the unconditional love she gave and received from her family, friends, and cherished canine companions.Born on October 16, 1939, in Beloit, KS to Joseph and Gladys (Slater) Cunningham. Sondra was the eldest of two children. From a young age, she exhibited a profound sense of empathy and a desire to make a difference in the lives of those around her. This calling led her to pursue a degree in social work at Fort Hays State University, where she excelled academically and found her true vocation.Sondra married the love of her life, Earl Keith Murphy. Together, they built a home filled with love and laughter. Their marriage was a partnership built on mutual respect, shared dreams, and deep affection. Together, they raised two wonderful children, Michael and Melissa, who were the pride and joy of Sondra's life. She instilled in them the values of kindness, perseverance, and the importance of service to others.Sondra's professional career as a social worker was marked by her tireless efforts to advocate for the vulnerable and marginalized. She worked for various non-profit organizations in Washington state. And was known for always going above and beyond to ensure that those in need received the support and resources they deserved. Her colleagues admired her dedication, integrity, and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life.Outside of her professional life, Sondra had a deep love of dogs and a passion for reading. Her home was always filled with the joyful barks and wagging tails of her furry companions. Over the years, she rescued and cared for numerous dogs, providing them with a loving home and a second chance at life; a testament to her boundless capacity for love and care.Sondra’s legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and a life well-lived. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Stephen Cunningham, husband Earl “Keith” Murphy and daughter Melissa Murphy. She leaves behind her beloved son Michael (Karyn) Murphy of Osborne, KS; grandchildren, Lindsey Murphy of Kansas City, KS, Allie (Trevor) Hickman of Lenexa, KS; and step-grandchildren Hailey (Lamar) Mutchler Fayetteville, NC and Heath (Jocelyn) Arnold of Salina, KS; and several great-grandchildren who will forever cherish memories of their grandmother's warmth, wisdom, and generosity.Sondra has requested that no funeral service be held. The family respects her wishes and asks that you honor her memory in your own special way. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Sondra Jo Murphy

LABETTE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating the murders of 39-year-old Jason M. Bakken and 43-year-old Leanda R. Pound, of Mound Valley, Kansas, since they were discovered deceased in October of 2022.

Governor Laura Kelly has issued an executive order offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information to investigators that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murders.

Bakken and Pound were found by a friend on Oct. 3, 2022, shot and killed in their home at 693 16000 Rd., in Mound Valley. Investigators believe the murders may have occurred up to a month prior to their discovery.

Anyone with information about these crimes, no matter how small the detail might seem, is asked to contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Labette County Sheriff’s Office at 620-795-2565.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716326924424.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LABETTE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating the murders of 39-year-old Jason M. Bakken and 43-year-old Leanda R. Pound, of Mound Valley, Kansas, since they were discovered deceased in October of 2022.Governor Laura Kelly has issued an executive order offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information to investigators that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murders.Bakken and Pound were found by a friend on Oct. 3, 2022, shot and killed in their home at 693 16000 Rd., in Mound Valley. Investigators believe the murders may have occurred up to a month prior to their discovery.Anyone with information about these crimes, no matter how small the detail might seem, is asked to contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or the Labette County Sheriff’s Office at 620-795-2565.

KBI: Reward offered in unsolved murder of Kansas couple

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An investigation has been opened into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-dead-drowning-friends-f2963e83691d2bd2a8626d85a69c73cb">death of Matthew Perry</a>&nbsp;and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.

Los Angeles Police Capt. Scot Williams said in an email Tuesday that the police department was working with the Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Postal Inspection Service with a probe into why the 54-year-old star had so much ketamine in his system when he died in October. The investigation was first reported by TMZ.

Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-death-cause-054e67f7495845804f801c57a1ae2522">His autopsy, released in December, found</a>&nbsp;that the amount of ketamine in Perry’s blood was in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery. The drug is sometimes used to treat depression.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” but that it was a secondary factor in his death, deemed an accident.

According to Perry's autopsy, people close to the actor told investigators that he was undergoing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketamine-pain-drugs-psychedelic-fda-2c67eeac1932962a7b0affc07d24c09a">ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment</a>&nbsp;used to treat depression and anxiety. But the medical examiner said that his last treatment 1 1/2 weeks earlier wouldn't explain the levels of ketamine in Perry’s blood. The drug is typically metabolized in a matter of hours.

Perry was among the biggest television stars of his generation when he played Chandler Bing alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-china-friends-fandom-0876bc8bf20b613c336d8c684eb5524f">NBC’s mega-hit sitcom “Friends.”</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698541233773.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — An investigation has been opened into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-dead-drowning-friends-f2963e83691d2bd2a8626d85a69c73cb">death of Matthew Perry</a>&nbsp;and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.Los Angeles Police Capt. Scot Williams said in an email Tuesday that the police department was working with the Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Postal Inspection Service with a probe into why the 54-year-old star had so much ketamine in his system when he died in October. The investigation was first reported by TMZ.Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-death-cause-054e67f7495845804f801c57a1ae2522">His autopsy, released in December, found</a>&nbsp;that the amount of ketamine in Perry’s blood was in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery. The drug is sometimes used to treat depression.The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” but that it was a secondary factor in his death, deemed an accident.According to Perry's autopsy, people close to the actor told investigators that he was undergoing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ketamine-pain-drugs-psychedelic-fda-2c67eeac1932962a7b0affc07d24c09a">ketamine infusion therapy, an experimental treatment</a>&nbsp;used to treat depression and anxiety. But the medical examiner said that his last treatment 1 1/2 weeks earlier wouldn't explain the levels of ketamine in Perry’s blood. The drug is typically metabolized in a matter of hours.Perry was among the biggest television stars of his generation when he played Chandler Bing alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-china-friends-fandom-0876bc8bf20b613c336d8c684eb5524f">NBC’s mega-hit sitcom “Friends.”</a>

Matthew Perry's death under investigation over ketamine found in actor's blood

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas abortion providers have challenged an abortion survey law less than a month after lawmakers overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said the law is meant to shame abortion seekers in a Monday announcement of the challenge.&nbsp;

“Kansans want their medical decisions to be their own, and we will not shame or stigmatize patients to satisfy the cruel whims of anti-abortion politicians,” Wales said. “This bill was never intended to improve the health of Kansans; it was meant to shame reproductive care and force patients to answer deeply personal questions that accomplish nothing beyond trauma and judgment.”&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2749/">House Bill 2749</a>&nbsp;requires medical care facilities and providers to report women’s reasons for their abortions. Kelly vetoed the bill, but the House overrode her 84-41 and the Senate completed the veto override with a 27-10 vote.

Under HB 2749, abortion seekers will have to answer a series of questions before undergoing the procedure, including questions asking them if they have been raped, if they have an abusive partner, and if the pregnancy is the result of incest.

The law also requires a report that includes the patients’ age, marital status, home state, race, education level, whether the patient received financial or social services from a nonprofit geared toward helping pregnant women, whether they experienced domestic violence the previous year, whether they live in a stable and affordable home, whether the patient was ever a reported victim of abuse and the abortion method.

The Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood are asking the court to add this challenge to an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC9-2BzNnBILVxvTYCpgBjoWrAHCS4qk0GV9ci9sQ0nHftNROMIOvRg1SRzRhRJAL2ECftVZ-2BVBrbvyKkA8yV6diMs2IX0vhzvNYDDAGe3znBeNytBm_ZBHyPWJbdMARO2kB5qns-2BD4xJCKGpFySUKHsRCI-2BfZrhOpwoa8T0GjAmCKUHOrSALH7-2BAftqgWlN6ZTGe-2BinD1D9MOFWrN2VK1OPlMZuxC15KUvaqSiXYLnwYGs0doUR4NhTHsX7dXChqM3l-2FUgR69qOvncZ8FyXwexcWt4jBtiqgPndz0hC5Lfo5wWwcdRz30wok7S2sBoEFXPwG0TdYN4Dx9huqNNYSP7cFKBcuiBmXsk3n-2B3cE2dK6ETX0LOhs-2BCR9WFggHtepX4VyyOBJlxjWEFgE6mYMDGVcEe2ABl1rda-2FO1klvwloNCoJIEUaTHElltCkI116N53VYfzTKg-2Bpi8IqNhmlZq4YduvADcY-3D">ongoing case</a>. The groups, along with other reproductive rights groups, first filed a lawsuit in June with the Center for Reproductive Rights to ask for an injunction on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/KS-Hodes-Nauser-v.-Kobach_PI.pdf">several abortion requirements</a>&nbsp;set out in the “Women’s Right to Know Act,” a patchwork of legislation enacted over the past two decades that uses medically inaccurate information to dictate abortion restrictions.

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Kansas has become one of the few states left in the region that protects reproductive rights. As more travelers have come into the state seeking abortions, Republican lawmakers have attempted to chip away at these protections or add red tape.&nbsp;

Lawmakers supporting the “abortion reasons” bill said this information was necessary to gain a sense of the abortion landscape in the state, although the state already releases a comprehensive annual abortion report.&nbsp;The bill was first introduced by Rep. Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville, on behalf of the anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

During Senate debate about the law, lawmakers shared their feelings on abortion. Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, said abortion would lead to a life of “regret and emptiness”&nbsp;

“Every abortion kills an innocent child,” Steffen said. “That’s a fact. Every abortion kills an innocent child.”

KFL celebrated the veto override of the law, along with several other pieces of abortion legislation, in an April 29 news release.

“Each of these proposals will help address a truth that the vast majority of Kansans believe: that too many women feel abortion is their only choice,” said Jeanne Gawdun, KFL director of government relations.&nbsp;

Following the abortion providers’ lawsuit filing in June, a Johnson County district judge in October blocked a law requiring abortion providers to tell patients it might be possible to reverse a medication abortion. This supposed “abortion reversal” is based on junk science and has been known to cause hemorrhaging.&nbsp;

He also blocked a mandate that anti-abortion information be given to patients in printed form, in specific typeface, font size and color, at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion, along with a section that required providers post inaccurate information on their websites and in clinics that abortions could increase risk of breast cancer and premature birth in the future — a claim not supported by scientific research.&nbsp;The state has appealed over the decision.

“The decision to have an abortion is deeply personal—no one should be forced to tell the government why they are making that decision,” said&nbsp;Alice Wang, staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights.&nbsp;“It’s frankly frightening that the state of Kansas is attempting to collect this type of private information, and unclear how it will be used.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665657486023.png" alt="&nbsp;Planned Parenthood Great Plains on Monday announced a lawsuit over an "abortion reasons" law, calling it medically unnecessary and stigmatizing. Google image" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Planned Parenthood Great Plains on Monday announced a lawsuit over an "abortion reasons" law, calling it medically unnecessary and stigmatizing. Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/rmipro/">RACHEL MIPRO</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas abortion providers have challenged an abortion survey law less than a month after lawmakers overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.&nbsp;&nbsp;Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said the law is meant to shame abortion seekers in a Monday announcement of the challenge.&nbsp;“Kansans want their medical decisions to be their own, and we will not shame or stigmatize patients to satisfy the cruel whims of anti-abortion politicians,” Wales said. “This bill was never intended to improve the health of Kansans; it was meant to shame reproductive care and force patients to answer deeply personal questions that accomplish nothing beyond trauma and judgment.”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2749/">House Bill 2749</a>&nbsp;requires medical care facilities and providers to report women’s reasons for their abortions. Kelly vetoed the bill, but the House overrode her 84-41 and the Senate completed the veto override with a 27-10 vote.Under HB 2749, abortion seekers will have to answer a series of questions before undergoing the procedure, including questions asking them if they have been raped, if they have an abusive partner, and if the pregnancy is the result of incest.The law also requires a report that includes the patients’ age, marital status, home state, race, education level, whether the patient received financial or social services from a nonprofit geared toward helping pregnant women, whether they experienced domestic violence the previous year, whether they live in a stable and affordable home, whether the patient was ever a reported victim of abuse and the abortion method.The Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood are asking the court to add this challenge to an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rC9-2BzNnBILVxvTYCpgBjoWrAHCS4qk0GV9ci9sQ0nHftNROMIOvRg1SRzRhRJAL2ECftVZ-2BVBrbvyKkA8yV6diMs2IX0vhzvNYDDAGe3znBeNytBm_ZBHyPWJbdMARO2kB5qns-2BD4xJCKGpFySUKHsRCI-2BfZrhOpwoa8T0GjAmCKUHOrSALH7-2BAftqgWlN6ZTGe-2BinD1D9MOFWrN2VK1OPlMZuxC15KUvaqSiXYLnwYGs0doUR4NhTHsX7dXChqM3l-2FUgR69qOvncZ8FyXwexcWt4jBtiqgPndz0hC5Lfo5wWwcdRz30wok7S2sBoEFXPwG0TdYN4Dx9huqNNYSP7cFKBcuiBmXsk3n-2B3cE2dK6ETX0LOhs-2BCR9WFggHtepX4VyyOBJlxjWEFgE6mYMDGVcEe2ABl1rda-2FO1klvwloNCoJIEUaTHElltCkI116N53VYfzTKg-2Bpi8IqNhmlZq4YduvADcY-3D">ongoing case</a>. The groups, along with other reproductive rights groups, first filed a lawsuit in June with the Center for Reproductive Rights to ask for an injunction on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/KS-Hodes-Nauser-v.-Kobach_PI.pdf">several abortion requirements</a>&nbsp;set out in the “Women’s Right to Know Act,” a patchwork of legislation enacted over the past two decades that uses medically inaccurate information to dictate abortion restrictions.Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Kansas has become one of the few states left in the region that protects reproductive rights. As more travelers have come into the state seeking abortions, Republican lawmakers have attempted to chip away at these protections or add red tape.&nbsp;Lawmakers supporting the “abortion reasons” bill said this information was necessary to gain a sense of the abortion landscape in the state, although the state already releases a comprehensive annual abortion report.&nbsp;The bill was first introduced by Rep. Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville, on behalf of the anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.During Senate debate about the law, lawmakers shared their feelings on abortion. Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, said abortion would lead to a life of “regret and emptiness”&nbsp;“Every abortion kills an innocent child,” Steffen said. “That’s a fact. Every abortion kills an innocent child.”KFL celebrated the veto override of the law, along with several other pieces of abortion legislation, in an April 29 news release.“Each of these proposals will help address a truth that the vast majority of Kansans believe: that too many women feel abortion is their only choice,” said Jeanne Gawdun, KFL director of government relations.&nbsp;Following the abortion providers’ lawsuit filing in June, a Johnson County district judge in October blocked a law requiring abortion providers to tell patients it might be possible to reverse a medication abortion. This supposed “abortion reversal” is based on junk science and has been known to cause hemorrhaging.&nbsp;He also blocked a mandate that anti-abortion information be given to patients in printed form, in specific typeface, font size and color, at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion, along with a section that required providers post inaccurate information on their websites and in clinics that abortions could increase risk of breast cancer and premature birth in the future — a claim not supported by scientific research.&nbsp;The state has appealed over the decision.“The decision to have an abortion is deeply personal—no one should be forced to tell the government why they are making that decision,” said&nbsp;Alice Wang, staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights.&nbsp;“It’s frankly frightening that the state of Kansas is attempting to collect this type of private information, and unclear how it will be used.”

Kansas providers challenge new ‘abortion survey’ law in court

Mack Palmer of Stockton was chosen as the grand prize winner of the Eagle Radio Cash Grab on Monday.

Palmer won one of two daily $50 prizes to be entered to win the grand prize of $1,000.

Eagle received 14,774 entries for the contest, which ran through the month of October.

The staff at Eagle Radio of Hays, including stations 94.3 FM and 1400 AM KAYS, 99.5 FM KHAZ, 103.3 FM KJLS, 96.9 FM KFIX and 101.9 FM KKQY thank all who entered the Cash Grab contest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698779322108.jpeg" alt="Mack Palmer, center, of Stockton with programmers from the five Eagle-run stations in Hays. Palmer won the $1,000 Eagle Radio Cash Grab grand prize." />
 <figcaption>Mack Palmer, center, of Stockton with programmers from the five Eagle-run stations in Hays. Palmer won the $1,000 Eagle Radio Cash Grab grand prize.</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostMack Palmer of Stockton was chosen as the grand prize winner of the Eagle Radio Cash Grab on Monday.Palmer won one of two daily $50 prizes to be entered to win the grand prize of $1,000.Eagle received 14,774 entries for the contest, which ran through the month of October.The staff at Eagle Radio of Hays, including stations 94.3 FM and 1400 AM KAYS, 99.5 FM KHAZ, 103.3 FM KJLS, 96.9 FM KFIX and 101.9 FM KKQY thank all who entered the Cash Grab contest.