KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution Tuesday, a result that is expected to undo a near-total ban on the procedure.

The measure guarantees people's right to make decisions about their reproductive health, such as whether to get an abortion, take birth control or get in vitro fertilization.

“Today, Missourians made history and sent a clear message: decisions around pregnancy, including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care are personal and private and should be left up to patients and their families, not politicians," Missourians for Constitutional Freedom campaign director Rachel Sweet said in a statement.

Members of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America “mourn the lives that will be lost," the organization's state affairs director, Sue Liebel, said in a statement.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">Voters in eight other states</a>&nbsp;decided Tuesday whether to add the right to abortion to their state constitutions.

Missouri currently allows abortions only in cases of medical emergencies. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. The amendment does not explicitly undo the law, meaning abortion-rights advocates will need to sue to overturn the ban.

The measure allows the state legislature to enact restrictions or bans on abortion after viability — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-viability-ballot-initiatives-2024-roe-fcf440373973b01f740912cd3bbd98a4">sticking point</a>&nbsp;for some abortion-rights supporters. The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there's no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.

Advocates had worried that failing to include such limits would sink their chances of passing abortion protections. But others cautioned against giving the state's Republican-controlled Legislature the power to enact regulations that could effectively end access to the measure.

The campaign ultimately made room for restrictions to late-term abortions in the Missouri amendment.

Just getting on Missouri's ballot was an uphill battle. The Republican attorney general and auditor fought publicly over the estimated cost of the amendment.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-attorney-general-auditor-fbe60ab843041b3509c5275e8a703207">argued</a>&nbsp;the amendment would cost $51 billion in lost tax revenue because allowing abortions could mean fewer residents. The auditor and judges disagreed, instead setting the cost estimate closer to $51,000.

And a Missouri appeals court last year ruled against Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's summaries of the ballot measures, which described proposed amendments as allowing “dangerous and unregulated abortions until live birth.” Judges ruled Ashcroft's language was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-constitution-ruling-edb5f44fc0f9799d01cda22cd1f70b40">politically partisan</a>.

Republicans nationwide have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democracy-ballot-initiatives-abortion-republicans-ohio-missouri-c48033311370f071ccece0da975818cb">trying for years</a>&nbsp;to raise the bar for voter-referred constitutional amendments to be put on the ballot, as well as raise the threshold for those amendments to be enacted.

GOP infighting and a record-breaking, 50-hour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-constitution-ballot-democracy-67bea9bcf4aeeb8d47aff8c716e2298a">Democratic filibuster</a>&nbsp;in May killed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-constitution-amendment-democracy-democrat-voters-filibuster-7996412ccfdfb5b8ee4aa28d77c34610">latest Republican</a>&nbsp;push to make amending Missouri’s constitution harder, an effort that in part had been aimed at thwarting an upcoming ballot measure on abortion-rights.

Missouri requires a simple majority to pass constitutional amendments.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-election-c284f4fe17a23b63a4528bc2b2051943">latest challenge</a>&nbsp;to the amendment was raised by abortion opponents and Republican state lawmakers who argued that voters were not informed about the list of abortion laws it could repeal. The Missouri Supreme Court disagreed, requiring Ashcroft to place the measure on the ballot.

Missouri voters also approved a measure prohibiting ranked-choice voting. Other measures on the state ballot include measures to legalize sports betting; allow a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks; and raise the minimum wage gradually from $13.75 to $15 an hour and require paid sick leave.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725887984419.png" alt=" Supporters of a proposed ballot measure to legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability gathered at a rally hosted by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom in Kansas City (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Supporters of a proposed ballot measure to legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability gathered at a rally hosted by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom in Kansas City (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution Tuesday, a result that is expected to undo a near-total ban on the procedure.The measure guarantees people's right to make decisions about their reproductive health, such as whether to get an abortion, take birth control or get in vitro fertilization.“Today, Missourians made history and sent a clear message: decisions around pregnancy, including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care are personal and private and should be left up to patients and their families, not politicians," Missourians for Constitutional Freedom campaign director Rachel Sweet said in a statement.Members of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America “mourn the lives that will be lost," the organization's state affairs director, Sue Liebel, said in a statement.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">Voters in eight other states</a>&nbsp;decided Tuesday whether to add the right to abortion to their state constitutions.Missouri currently allows abortions only in cases of medical emergencies. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. The amendment does not explicitly undo the law, meaning abortion-rights advocates will need to sue to overturn the ban.The measure allows the state legislature to enact restrictions or bans on abortion after viability — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-viability-ballot-initiatives-2024-roe-fcf440373973b01f740912cd3bbd98a4">sticking point</a>&nbsp;for some abortion-rights supporters. The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there's no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.Advocates had worried that failing to include such limits would sink their chances of passing abortion protections. But others cautioned against giving the state's Republican-controlled Legislature the power to enact regulations that could effectively end access to the measure.The campaign ultimately made room for restrictions to late-term abortions in the Missouri amendment.Just getting on Missouri's ballot was an uphill battle. The Republican attorney general and auditor fought publicly over the estimated cost of the amendment.Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-attorney-general-auditor-fbe60ab843041b3509c5275e8a703207">argued</a>&nbsp;the amendment would cost $51 billion in lost tax revenue because allowing abortions could mean fewer residents. The auditor and judges disagreed, instead setting the cost estimate closer to $51,000.And a Missouri appeals court last year ruled against Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's summaries of the ballot measures, which described proposed amendments as allowing “dangerous and unregulated abortions until live birth.” Judges ruled Ashcroft's language was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-constitution-ruling-edb5f44fc0f9799d01cda22cd1f70b40">politically partisan</a>.Republicans nationwide have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democracy-ballot-initiatives-abortion-republicans-ohio-missouri-c48033311370f071ccece0da975818cb">trying for years</a>&nbsp;to raise the bar for voter-referred constitutional amendments to be put on the ballot, as well as raise the threshold for those amendments to be enacted.GOP infighting and a record-breaking, 50-hour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-constitution-ballot-democracy-67bea9bcf4aeeb8d47aff8c716e2298a">Democratic filibuster</a>&nbsp;in May killed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-constitution-amendment-democracy-democrat-voters-filibuster-7996412ccfdfb5b8ee4aa28d77c34610">latest Republican</a>&nbsp;push to make amending Missouri’s constitution harder, an effort that in part had been aimed at thwarting an upcoming ballot measure on abortion-rights.Missouri requires a simple majority to pass constitutional amendments.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-election-c284f4fe17a23b63a4528bc2b2051943">latest challenge</a>&nbsp;to the amendment was raised by abortion opponents and Republican state lawmakers who argued that voters were not informed about the list of abortion laws it could repeal. The Missouri Supreme Court disagreed, requiring Ashcroft to place the measure on the ballot.Missouri voters also approved a measure prohibiting ranked-choice voting. Other measures on the state ballot include measures to legalize sports betting; allow a casino at the Lake of the Ozarks; and raise the minimum wage gradually from $13.75 to $15 an hour and require paid sick leave.

Missouri votes to overturn state's abortion ban

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Kansas on Tuesday. The third-term congresswoman defeated Republican nominee Prasanth Reddy, a physician and immigrant from India whom some Republicans saw as an ideal candidate for Overland Park, in the Kansas City suburbs. Davids initially flipped this seat in 2018, becoming the first lesbian Native American member of Congress. The Associated Press declared Davids the winner at 11:35 p.m. EST.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids won reelection to a U.S. House seat representing Kansas on Tuesday. The third-term congresswoman defeated Republican nominee Prasanth Reddy, a physician and immigrant from India whom some Republicans saw as an ideal candidate for Overland Park, in the Kansas City suburbs. Davids initially flipped this seat in 2018, becoming the first lesbian Native American member of Congress. The Associated Press declared Davids the winner at 11:35 p.m. EST.

Democrat Sharice Davids wins reelection to U.S. House in Kan. 3rd Congressional District

HARVEY COUNTY— One person is in police custody after an investigation found dozens of illegal explosive devices in a Newton garage.

On Tuesday morning a suspect fled from a North Newton Police officer during an unrelated traffic stop, according to a media release from the city of Newton.

 Newton Police assisted in the chase and eventually located the suspect in a garage in the 500 block of East 11th Street in Newton. While in the garage, officers found about 60 suspicious items consistent with homemade explosives.

The Wichita Bomb Squad and ATF agents examined the items and believed them to be illegal explosive materials. The items were rendered safe early in the investigation, but out of an abundance of caution, police cordoned off the area. The items were taken to a safe location and destroyed at around 5:3op.m.

One resident of the house is in custody, and police are seeking one other person of interest.

The original suspect from the traffic stop is not believed to have any connection to the location or residents of the property. He was arrested on misdemeanor warrants.

HARVEY COUNTY— One person is in police custody after an investigation found dozens of illegal explosive devices in a Newton garage.On Tuesday morning a suspect fled from a North Newton Police officer during an unrelated traffic stop, according to a media release from the city of Newton. Newton Police assisted in the chase and eventually located the suspect in a garage in the 500 block of East 11th Street in Newton. While in the garage, officers found about 60 suspicious items consistent with homemade explosives.The Wichita Bomb Squad and ATF agents examined the items and believed them to be illegal explosive materials. The items were rendered safe early in the investigation, but out of an abundance of caution, police cordoned off the area. The items were taken to a safe location and destroyed at around 5:3op.m.One resident of the house is in custody, and police are seeking one other person of interest.The original suspect from the traffic stop is not believed to have any connection to the location or residents of the property. He was arrested on misdemeanor warrants.

Police find illegal explosives in garage at Kansas home

The presidential campaign is coming to a close.

As with previous elections, the candidates have largely stuck to the swing states they’ll need to try to reach the 270 electoral votes required to claim the presidency. The U.S.’s unique Electoral College method of electing the president forces the candidates to appeal to voters in the states that could go either way, rather than trying to win the nation’s popular vote.

Seven states are considered in play this year, representing less than 20% of the U.S. population. Of those, the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets have focused most on Pennsylvania, the swing state with the greatest number of electoral votes.

Going back to March, when President Joe Biden was the presumed Democratic nominee, here are the number of visits the campaigns have made to those seven states through Monday, according to Associated Press tracking of the campaigns’ public events:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730745545807.png" alt="Where the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets have held campaign events since March 2024, when Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump had won enough delegates to clinch their parties' nominations. It includes stops by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris since Biden dropped out of the race on July 21, and shows campaign events by Republican JD Vance since July 17 and Democrat Tim Walz since Aug. 6, the dates they joined their respective tickets as the vice presidential nominees. The map does not include the sites of the presidential or vice presidential debates, or stops by either side related to Hurricane Helene relief efforts.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Where the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets have held campaign events since March 2024, when Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump had won enough delegates to clinch their parties' nominations. It includes stops by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris since Biden dropped out of the race on July 21, and shows campaign events by Republican JD Vance since July 17 and Democrat Tim Walz since Aug. 6, the dates they joined their respective tickets as the vice presidential nominees. The map does not include the sites of the presidential or vice presidential debates, or stops by either side related to Hurricane Helene relief efforts.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The presidential campaign is coming to a close.As with previous elections, the candidates have largely stuck to the swing states they’ll need to try to reach the 270 electoral votes required to claim the presidency. The U.S.’s unique Electoral College method of electing the president forces the candidates to appeal to voters in the states that could go either way, rather than trying to win the nation’s popular vote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724427243614.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall shared on social media a photo welcoming Trump Vice Presidential pick JD Vance to Kansas on August 22.&nbsp; The Associated Press map does not include this visit" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall shared on social media a photo welcoming Trump Vice Presidential pick JD Vance to Kansas on August 22.&nbsp; The Associated Press map does not include this visit</figcaption>
 </figure>Seven states are considered in play this year, representing less than 20% of the U.S. population. Of those, the Democratic and Republican presidential tickets have focused most on Pennsylvania, the swing state with the greatest number of electoral votes.Going back to March, when President Joe Biden was the presumed Democratic nominee, here are the number of visits the campaigns have made to those seven states through Monday, according to Associated Press tracking of the campaigns’ public events:1. Pennsylvania — 802. Michigan — 633. Wisconsin — 504. North Carolina — 455. Arizona — 276. Georgia — 267. Nevada — 25

See where Presidential candidates made campaign stops

Balloting settles races for Kansas Legislature, Congress and municipal government

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/max-mccoy/">MAX MCCOY</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LECOMPTON — Paola resident Cameron Mott, a registered Republican for more than half a century, paid special attention to the 2024 election cycle.

His attentiveness wasn’t anchored in city council, county commission, state legislative or congressional contests dotting the Tuesday ballot. He was primarily invested in outcome of the presidential showdown between Republican Donald Trump, who prevailed in 2016 and lost in 2020, and Democrat Kamala Harris, the vice president who stepped into the void created when President Joe Biden withdrew under pressure.

“I voted for Harris, and I’m a registered Republican since 1972,” he said. “It’s just Trump. He was a total disaster. He wasn’t qualified and never should have been president. I never saw any behavior that was presidential.”

Mott voted by advance ballot and was relaxing on Election Day at a Lecompton playground with Spring Hill’s Martha Heavilin and her 2-year-old son, Rubin. Voters flowed in an out of the nearby polling station in Lecompton, just a stone’s throw from Constitution Hall that played a role in the Bleeding Kansas crisis over slavery.

Heavilin, a registered Democrat since 18 years of age, said she was dedicated to exercising her right to vote. That sentiment acknowledged every vote mattered regardless of outcome, she said. In this election, Heavilin said, she thought it was important to cast a vote for U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the Democrat who serves the 3rd District covering Johnson, Anderson, Franklin and Miami counties and half of Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area.

“I was keen to keep Sharice Davids in office,” Heavilin said. “I find her incredibly responsive to people. I tend to vote blue, but I have two children. The last pregnancy got a little scary at the end. For any woman to be pregnant and want to end that pregnancy for valid reasons and not be able to is scary.”

Abortion took center stage in the reelection campaign of Davids, an advocate for abortion rights. She was challenged by Republican Prasanth Reddy, a physician endorsed by the Kansans for Life PAC.

In the 2024 election cycle in Kansas, voters will determine the 125 members of the Kansas House and 40 members of the Kansas Senate. The state will elect four members to the U.S. House, including at least one newcomer because U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner decided not to seek reelection in the 2nd District. In addition, Kansans were asked to make decisions on local ballot issues, city and county commission races and judicial retention decisions.

Brent Smith of Lenexa said he split his ticket by voting for Harris for president, but Republicans for Congress and the Legislature. Smith said he’s a fiscally conservative independent voter and has never cast a ballot for Trump. Smith said Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are a “better fit.”

In Johnson County, the presidential election also loomed large as issues from abortion to border security and democracy itself were on voters’ minds.

Brittany Nicholson, 38, joined her son Darrius Comeaux, 20, as he voted for the first time. Nicholson cajoled Comeaux into posing for a photo as they left the Roeland Park Community Center, both having voted for Harris for president.

“Democracy,” Nicholson said. “That was really the most pressing issue for me.”

Nicholson said she also was concerned about Project 2025, a wide-ranging policy document published by a conservative think tank. While Trump has denied involvement in producing the document, many former Trump staffers contributed to it. Nicholson said she likes that Harris has proposed helping first-time homebuyers with up to $25,000 toward a down payment.

Calley Saye, 47, said she voted a straight Democratic ticket. She said she “can’t stand Donald Trump.”

“I think he is the worst thing that’s ever happened to our country,” Saye said, “and I would really like to see someone decent in office. And I’m excited about having a female president.”

Saye said while the presidential race was her biggest concern, she was excited to cast her vote for down-ballot Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Davids. Saye said she felt strongly that women should have the right to seek an abortion.

“It’s kind of sad that we’re going back in time,” Saye said.

In August 2022, Kansas voters unexpectedly rejected by a wide margin a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would have nullified a Kansas Supreme Court decision that identified a fundamental right in the state’s Bill of Rights granting women the right to end a pregnancy. This constitutional right remained in Kansas after repeal by the U.S. Supreme Court of the landmark precedent of Roe v. Wade that granted abortion rights nationally.

In Lawrence, Adela Solis took a break from work to outline reasons it was important for Kansans to express themselves at the ballot box. She took the opportunity to vote on local ballot questions about reforming the size and management structure of the city commissioner. She voted on a measure that would dedicate tax dollars to housing issues.

But it was the diminishing of abortion rights across the United States that served as a decisive motivator.

“The fact that women are moving backwards,” Solis said. “And that there are some men out there who think that’s okay. It’s so egregiously awful. I thought Puritanism ended.”

Abortion was similarly top-of-mind for voters who selected Trump for president.

Hannah Lackamp, 22, voted for Trump in Lenexa with abortion on her list of concerns. She voted for him four years ago in the first presidential election after she turned 18.

“I don’t want to kill babies,” Lackamp said. “That’s kind of like my biggest thing.”

Tiffany and Noah Strain, both 30, walked to the polls in Roeland Park with their four children and cast ballots for Trump and down-ballot Republicans, driven primarily by their opposition to abortion.

“We value life,” Noah Strain said. “… If you don’t value that sort of life at that level, then everything else just doesn’t really matter.”

Beyond that, they said, the former president was better for the economy. Tiffany Strain said it’s difficult to know what Harris’ policies are other than opposing Trump.

“Some things that really bother me about (Harris),” she said, “are that she’s really into the pathos arguments. It’s all about feelings. It’s all about how she sounds rather than the actual things she’s talking about.”

The couple said they voted for Evan McMullin in 2016, who waged a write-in campaign, because they were skeptical of Trump. But Trump’s four years in office persuaded them to vote for him in his first reelection bid in 2020.

In Emporia, after Sandy and Keith Carnes cast their votes at White Auditorium, Keith Carnes said he voted “Republican all the way.”

“I did it because I don’t want another four years like this,” Carnes said. “We need a change.”

Sandy Carnes said there was no disagreement in their household over politics and that she also turned out to vote for Trump. But, she said, she would accept the choice voters make, no matter who wins.

“Whatever the results, I will support them as best I can,” she said.

In Tonganoxie, voters left polling cubicles inside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church proud of doing their civic duty. There were expressions of anxiety and optimism about outcomes on Election Day.

Rezty Felty, 58, said this election felt particularly important. A regular voter and almost 30-year resident of Tonganoxie, Felty had a set of Kamala Harris-themed fingernails for the occasion.

“Because we had one side that seemed to be pulling for the whole country and another side that seemed to be dragging us into fascism,” Felty said.

Sue Hicks, 60, expects to retire soon and about worries about economic slippage. She said she voted for Trump “because I’m not better off than I was four years ago.” She said high property taxes and an income that doesn’t stretch as far as it used to were factors in her presidential decision, but would welcome a feeling of hope in American politics.

Nicole Martin, 51, felt similarly. She said the rising cost of living and illegal immigration informed her votes.

“I need my stocks to go up,” she said. “I need my food to go down. I need my gas to go down.”

Loren Harrell, 28, said reproductive rights and rights for fellow LGBTQ+ community members were top of mind when voting for president.

“Those were the kind of big things for me, but I know in this area I’m a bit of an outlier,” Harrell said.

Some of the voters in the Leavenworth County community of about 6,000 people said they voted to represent their conservative values while others voted to keep certain candidates out of office.

Sarah Dunkle, 21, is a first-time voter. She came to the polls with her mother, 63-year-old Robin Thompson, and she said she was proud to be able to represent a younger generation.

Thompson was most interested in the presidential race, but Dunkle said she made sure to pay attention to local races too.

“It’s important to me who’s going to be running the country,” Thompson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730846524398.png" alt="Cameron Mott and Martha Heavilin, with Rubin between them, said during a playground visit to Lecompton that both felt a strong commitment to participating in voting Tuesday. Mott, a Republican, voted for Democrat Kamala Harris for president. Heavilin, a Democrat, said it was important to stand up for abortion rights. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Cameron Mott and Martha Heavilin, with Rubin between them, said during a playground visit to Lecompton that both felt a strong commitment to participating in voting Tuesday. Mott, a Republican, voted for Democrat Kamala Harris for president. Heavilin, a Democrat, said it was important to stand up for abortion rights. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Balloting settles races for Kansas Legislature, Congress and municipal government</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/max-mccoy/">MAX MCCOY</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>LECOMPTON — Paola resident Cameron Mott, a registered Republican for more than half a century, paid special attention to the 2024 election cycle.His attentiveness wasn’t anchored in city council, county commission, state legislative or congressional contests dotting the Tuesday ballot. He was primarily invested in outcome of the presidential showdown between Republican Donald Trump, who prevailed in 2016 and lost in 2020, and Democrat Kamala Harris, the vice president who stepped into the void created when President Joe Biden withdrew under pressure.“I voted for Harris, and I’m a registered Republican since 1972,” he said. “It’s just Trump. He was a total disaster. He wasn’t qualified and never should have been president. I never saw any behavior that was presidential.”Mott voted by advance ballot and was relaxing on Election Day at a Lecompton playground with Spring Hill’s Martha Heavilin and her 2-year-old son, Rubin. Voters flowed in an out of the nearby polling station in Lecompton, just a stone’s throw from Constitution Hall that played a role in the Bleeding Kansas crisis over slavery.Heavilin, a registered Democrat since 18 years of age, said she was dedicated to exercising her right to vote. That sentiment acknowledged every vote mattered regardless of outcome, she said. In this election, Heavilin said, she thought it was important to cast a vote for U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the Democrat who serves the 3rd District covering Johnson, Anderson, Franklin and Miami counties and half of Wyandotte County in the Kansas City area.“I was keen to keep Sharice Davids in office,” Heavilin said. “I find her incredibly responsive to people. I tend to vote blue, but I have two children. The last pregnancy got a little scary at the end. For any woman to be pregnant and want to end that pregnancy for valid reasons and not be able to is scary.”Abortion took center stage in the reelection campaign of Davids, an advocate for abortion rights. She was challenged by Republican Prasanth Reddy, a physician endorsed by the Kansans for Life PAC.In the 2024 election cycle in Kansas, voters will determine the 125 members of the Kansas House and 40 members of the Kansas Senate. The state will elect four members to the U.S. House, including at least one newcomer because U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner decided not to seek reelection in the 2nd District. In addition, Kansans were asked to make decisions on local ballot issues, city and county commission races and judicial retention decisions.Brent Smith of Lenexa said he split his ticket by voting for Harris for president, but Republicans for Congress and the Legislature. Smith said he’s a fiscally conservative independent voter and has never cast a ballot for Trump. Smith said Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, are a “better fit.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730846475974.png" alt=" Brittany Nicholson and her son, Darrius Comeaux, cast their ballots for Kamala Harris for president Tuesday at the Roeland Park Community Center. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Brittany Nicholson and her son, Darrius Comeaux, cast their ballots for Kamala Harris for president Tuesday at the Roeland Park Community Center. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Project 2025 and Trump</h2>In Johnson County, the presidential election also loomed large as issues from abortion to border security and democracy itself were on voters’ minds.Brittany Nicholson, 38, joined her son Darrius Comeaux, 20, as he voted for the first time. Nicholson cajoled Comeaux into posing for a photo as they left the Roeland Park Community Center, both having voted for Harris for president.“Democracy,” Nicholson said. “That was really the most pressing issue for me.”Nicholson said she also was concerned about Project 2025, a wide-ranging policy document published by a conservative think tank. While Trump has denied involvement in producing the document, many former Trump staffers contributed to it. Nicholson said she likes that Harris has proposed helping first-time homebuyers with up to $25,000 toward a down payment.Calley Saye, 47, said she voted a straight Democratic ticket. She said she “can’t stand Donald Trump.”“I think he is the worst thing that’s ever happened to our country,” Saye said, “and I would really like to see someone decent in office. And I’m excited about having a female president.”Saye said while the presidential race was her biggest concern, she was excited to cast her vote for down-ballot Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Davids. Saye said she felt strongly that women should have the right to seek an abortion.“It’s kind of sad that we’re going back in time,” Saye said.In August 2022, Kansas voters unexpectedly rejected by a wide margin a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would have nullified a Kansas Supreme Court decision that identified a fundamental right in the state’s Bill of Rights granting women the right to end a pregnancy. This constitutional right remained in Kansas after repeal by the U.S. Supreme Court of the landmark precedent of Roe v. Wade that granted abortion rights nationally.In Lawrence, Adela Solis took a break from work to outline reasons it was important for Kansans to express themselves at the ballot box. She took the opportunity to vote on local ballot questions about reforming the size and management structure of the city commissioner. She voted on a measure that would dedicate tax dollars to housing issues.But it was the diminishing of abortion rights across the United States that served as a decisive motivator.“The fact that women are moving backwards,” Solis said. “And that there are some men out there who think that’s okay. It’s so egregiously awful. I thought Puritanism ended.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730846434621.png" alt="Tiffany and Noah Strain cast their ballots for Donald Trump for president Tuesday at the Roeland Park Community Center. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Tiffany and Noah Strain cast their ballots for Donald Trump for president Tuesday at the Roeland Park Community Center. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Skepticism about Harris</h2>Abortion was similarly top-of-mind for voters who selected Trump for president.Hannah Lackamp, 22, voted for Trump in Lenexa with abortion on her list of concerns. She voted for him four years ago in the first presidential election after she turned 18.“I don’t want to kill babies,” Lackamp said. “That’s kind of like my biggest thing.”Tiffany and Noah Strain, both 30, walked to the polls in Roeland Park with their four children and cast ballots for Trump and down-ballot Republicans, driven primarily by their opposition to abortion.“We value life,” Noah Strain said. “… If you don’t value that sort of life at that level, then everything else just doesn’t really matter.”Beyond that, they said, the former president was better for the economy. Tiffany Strain said it’s difficult to know what Harris’ policies are other than opposing Trump.“Some things that really bother me about (Harris),” she said, “are that she’s really into the pathos arguments. It’s all about feelings. It’s all about how she sounds rather than the actual things she’s talking about.”The couple said they voted for Evan McMullin in 2016, who waged a write-in campaign, because they were skeptical of Trump. But Trump’s four years in office persuaded them to vote for him in his first reelection bid in 2020.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730846390542.png" alt="Keith and Sandy Carnes on Tuesday morning outside the White Auditorium in Emporia, where they had just cast their votes. Both said they were primarily interested in the presidential election rather than state or local races. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Keith and Sandy Carnes on Tuesday morning outside the White Auditorium in Emporia, where they had just cast their votes. Both said they were primarily interested in the presidential election rather than state or local races. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>In Emporia, after Sandy and Keith Carnes cast their votes at White Auditorium, Keith Carnes said he voted “Republican all the way.”“I did it because I don’t want another four years like this,” Carnes said. “We need a change.”Sandy Carnes said there was no disagreement in their household over politics and that she also turned out to vote for Trump. But, she said, she would accept the choice voters make, no matter who wins.“Whatever the results, I will support them as best I can,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730846352287.png" alt=" Rezty Felty, a 58-year-old Tonganoxie resident, shows off Kamala Harris-themed nails after voting. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rezty Felty, a 58-year-old Tonganoxie resident, shows off Kamala Harris-themed nails after voting. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Leavenworth County vibe</h2>In Tonganoxie, voters left polling cubicles inside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church proud of doing their civic duty. There were expressions of anxiety and optimism about outcomes on Election Day.Rezty Felty, 58, said this election felt particularly important. A regular voter and almost 30-year resident of Tonganoxie, Felty had a set of Kamala Harris-themed fingernails for the occasion.“Because we had one side that seemed to be pulling for the whole country and another side that seemed to be dragging us into fascism,” Felty said.Sue Hicks, 60, expects to retire soon and about worries about economic slippage. She said she voted for Trump “because I’m not better off than I was four years ago.” She said high property taxes and an income that doesn’t stretch as far as it used to were factors in her presidential decision, but would welcome a feeling of hope in American politics.Nicole Martin, 51, felt similarly. She said the rising cost of living and illegal immigration informed her votes.“I need my stocks to go up,” she said. “I need my food to go down. I need my gas to go down.”Loren Harrell, 28, said reproductive rights and rights for fellow LGBTQ+ community members were top of mind when voting for president.“Those were the kind of big things for me, but I know in this area I’m a bit of an outlier,” Harrell said.Some of the voters in the Leavenworth County community of about 6,000 people said they voted to represent their conservative values while others voted to keep certain candidates out of office.Sarah Dunkle, 21, is a first-time voter. She came to the polls with her mother, 63-year-old Robin Thompson, and she said she was proud to be able to represent a younger generation.Thompson was most interested in the presidential race, but Dunkle said she made sure to pay attention to local races too.“It’s important to me who’s going to be running the country,” Thompson said.

Kansas voters swarm polling locations with presidential contest, policy issues at forefront

WASHINGTON (AP) —Kamala Harris used her visit to a phone bank hosted by the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday to both thank the supporters working to turn out the vote and make calls herself.

“This truly represents the best of who we are,” Harris told the supporters making calls at the phone bank. She was then handed a cell phone and joined in the phone bank.

“I am well,” Harris told the person. “Have you voted already?”

The person responded, to which Harris said, “You did? Thank you.”

My faith in this country has been so restored,’ Walz says of 2024 experience

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Tuesday that his experience as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate “restored” his faith in the nation.

“This is truly a remarkable thing we do every four years,” he said in a conversation with reporters outside his campaign plane. “It’s democracy. It’s messy. It’s beautiful. It’s the people.”

“My faith in this country has been so restored,” he added.

Walz said he had not talked with Harris on Election Day but projected confidence that they would prevail over former President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Kamala Harris used her visit to a phone bank hosted by the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday to both thank the supporters working to turn out the vote and make calls herself.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Have you voted already? You did! Thank you!&quot; Vice President Harris stops by DNC headquarters, speaks to staff and takes some phone calls. <a href="https://t.co/oKMKYddWso">pic.twitter.com/oKMKYddWso</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1853900539689423037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This truly represents the best of who we are,” Harris told the supporters making calls at the phone bank. She was then handed a cell phone and joined in the phone bank.“I am well,” Harris told the person. “Have you voted already?”The person responded, to which Harris said, “You did? Thank you.”<h2>My faith in this country has been so restored,’ Walz says of 2024 experience</h2>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Tuesday that his experience as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate “restored” his faith in the nation.“This is truly a remarkable thing we do every four years,” he said in a conversation with reporters outside his campaign plane. “It’s democracy. It’s messy. It’s beautiful. It’s the people.”“My faith in this country has been so restored,” he added.Walz said he had not talked with Harris on Election Day but projected confidence that they would prevail over former President Donald Trump.

🎥Harris visited phone bank, took calls on Election Day

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —&nbsp;“If it’s a fair election, I’d be the first one to acknowledge,” the results, Trump said, though what meets that definition wasn’t clear.

Speaking to reporters after voting in Florida, Trump said that he had no plans to tell his supporters to refrain from violence should he lose.

“I don’t have to tell them,” because they “are not violent people,” he said.

Trump planned to visit a nearby campaign office to thank those working on his behalf.

Trump says paper ballots and 1-day voting should be the norm

“I’m hearing in Pennsylvania they won’t have an answer ’til two or three days from now,” Trump said. “I think it’s an absolute outrage if that’s the case.”

Trump says he will have “a very special group of people” at Mar-a-Lago and a few thousand people at a nearby convention center to watch the election results.

“It looks like we have a very substantial lead,” he said without elaborating on whether he has a plan on when to declare victory.

Trump refuses to say how he voted on Florida’s abortion ballot measure

Asked about the measure, which would keep the state’s six-week restriction in place, he avoided answering by simply saying he’d done “a great job bringing it back to the states.”

The second time, he snapped at a reporter, saying: “You should stop talking about it.”

Trump had previously indicated he would back the measure, but then changed his mind, saying he would vote against it.

The abortion measure would prevent lawmakers from passing any law that penalizes, prohibits, delays or restricts abortion until fetal viability, which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks. If it’s rejected, the state’s current abortion law would stand.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730838075874.png" alt="Donald Trump spoke to reporters after voting on Tuesday- Image courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>Donald Trump spoke to reporters after voting on Tuesday- Image courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) —&nbsp;“If it’s a fair election, I’d be the first one to acknowledge,” the results, Trump said, though what meets that definition wasn’t clear.Speaking to reporters after voting in Florida, Trump said that he had no plans to tell his supporters to refrain from violence should he lose.“I don’t have to tell them,” because they “are not violent people,” he said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump speaks to reporters after voting: &quot;I feel very confident...I ran a good campaign, this was maybe the best of the three.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/v84ltJ0JyQ">pic.twitter.com/v84ltJ0JyQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1853891227206221897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump planned to visit a nearby campaign office to thank those working on his behalf.<h2>Trump says paper ballots and 1-day voting should be the norm</h2>“I’m hearing in Pennsylvania they won’t have an answer ’til two or three days from now,” Trump said. “I think it’s an absolute outrage if that’s the case.”Trump says he will have “a very special group of people” at Mar-a-Lago and a few thousand people at a nearby convention center to watch the election results.“It looks like we have a very substantial lead,” he said without elaborating on whether he has a plan on when to declare victory.<h2>Trump refuses to say how he voted on Florida’s abortion ballot measure</h2>Asked about the measure, which would keep the state’s six-week restriction in place, he avoided answering by simply saying he’d done “a great job bringing it back to the states.”The second time, he snapped at a reporter, saying: “You should stop talking about it.”Trump had previously indicated he would back the measure, but then changed his mind, saying he would vote against it.The abortion measure would prevent lawmakers from passing any law that penalizes, prohibits, delays or restricts abortion until fetal viability, which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks. If it’s rejected, the state’s current abortion law would stand.

🎥Trump: I ran a good campaign, this was maybe the best of the three

WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. Capitol Police say the man was stopped Tuesday during a security screening at the Capitol Visitor Center. Authorities say he smelled of fuel and was carrying the flare gun and torch.

Officials have canceled public tours of the Capitol for the remainder of the day.

The arrest comes as authorities are on heightened alert for security issues around the nation’s capital and have increased patrols in areas downtown and near the White House around Election Day.&nbsp;

WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. Capitol Police say the man was stopped Tuesday during a security screening at the Capitol Visitor Center. Authorities say he smelled of fuel and was carrying the flare gun and torch.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our officers just arrested a man who was stopped during our screening process at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The man smelled like fuel, had a torch &amp; a flare gun. The CVC is closed for tours for the day, while we investigate. We will provide more information when we can. <a href="https://t.co/J5geNud1h2">pic.twitter.com/J5geNud1h2</a>&mdash; The U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/CapitolPolice/status/1853869248562475086?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Officials have canceled public tours of the Capitol for the remainder of the day.Police say they are still investigating.The arrest comes as authorities are on heightened alert for security issues around the nation’s capital and have increased patrols in areas downtown and near the White House around Election Day.&nbsp;

Police stop man trying to enter the US Capitol with a torch and flare gun 

DALLAS (AP) — A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” are on the auction block nearly two decades after a thief stole the iconic shoes, convinced they were adorned with real jewels.

Online bidding has started and will continue through Dec. 7, Heritage Auctions in Dallas announced in a news release Monday.

The auction company received the sequin-and-bead-bedazzled slippers from Michael Shaw, the memorabilia collector who originally owned the footwear at the heart of the beloved 1939 musical. Shaw had loaned the shoes in 2005 to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

That summer, someone smashed through a display case and stole the slippers. Their whereabouts remained a mystery until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">the FBI recovered them in 2018</a>.

Now the museum is among those vying for the slippers, which were one of several pairs Garland wore during the filming. Only four remain.

Grand Rapids&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-minnesota-6a5231773021fab3ef7e39b4a2568799">raised money</a>&nbsp;for the slippers at its annual&nbsp;<a href="https://judygarlandmuseum.com/judy-garland-museum-events/">Judy Garland festival.</a>&nbsp;The funds will supplement the $100,000 set aside this year by Minnesota lawmakers to purchase the slippers.

The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, was 76 when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-f2bd6d4455a9821c311d1d0a03f6d77a">was sentenced in January to time served because of his poor health.</a>&nbsp;He admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off “one last score” after an old associate with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.

The auction of movie memorabilia includes other items from “The Wizard of Oz,” such as a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West and the screen door from Dorothy’s Kansas home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684352824766.png" alt="FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>DALLAS (AP) — A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” are on the auction block nearly two decades after a thief stole the iconic shoes, convinced they were adorned with real jewels.Online bidding has started and will continue through Dec. 7, Heritage Auctions in Dallas announced in a news release Monday.The auction company received the sequin-and-bead-bedazzled slippers from Michael Shaw, the memorabilia collector who originally owned the footwear at the heart of the beloved 1939 musical. Shaw had loaned the shoes in 2005 to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.That summer, someone smashed through a display case and stole the slippers. Their whereabouts remained a mystery until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">the FBI recovered them in 2018</a>.Now the museum is among those vying for the slippers, which were one of several pairs Garland wore during the filming. Only four remain.Grand Rapids&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-minnesota-6a5231773021fab3ef7e39b4a2568799">raised money</a>&nbsp;for the slippers at its annual&nbsp;<a href="https://judygarlandmuseum.com/judy-garland-museum-events/">Judy Garland festival.</a>&nbsp;The funds will supplement the $100,000 set aside this year by Minnesota lawmakers to purchase the slippers.The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, was 76 when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-f2bd6d4455a9821c311d1d0a03f6d77a">was sentenced in January to time served because of his poor health.</a>&nbsp;He admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off “one last score” after an old associate with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.The auction of movie memorabilia includes other items from “The Wizard of Oz,” such as a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West and the screen door from Dorothy’s Kansas home.

Ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' are for sale nearly 2 decades after they were stolen

WASHINGTON (AP) —A news clip that purports to come from the FBI tells voters that they should vote remotely because of a high terror threat at polling stations.

But the FBI said that the clip is bogus, did not come from the bureau and does not accurately represent concerns about safety at polling locations.

Also false is a video depicting a fabricated FBI press release claiming that the management of prisons in several key battleground states rigged inmate voting and colluded with one of the political parties.

The FBI did not identify anyone who it thought might be responsible for the manufactured videos. Over the past two weeks, the agency has blamed Russian influence actors for a variety of manufactured internet postings and videos officials say were released as part of a broader disinformation campaign.

WASHINGTON (AP) —A news clip that purports to come from the FBI tells voters that they should vote remotely because of a high terror threat at polling stations.But the FBI said that the clip is bogus, did not come from the bureau and does not accurately represent concerns about safety at polling locations.Also false is a video depicting a fabricated FBI press release claiming that the management of prisons in several key battleground states rigged inmate voting and colluded with one of the political parties.The FBI did not identify anyone who it thought might be responsible for the manufactured videos. Over the past two weeks, the agency has blamed Russian influence actors for a variety of manufactured internet postings and videos officials say were released as part of a broader disinformation campaign.

FBI warns voters of fabricated videos misusing its name and insignia

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Before early voting poll locations closed at noon Monday in Kansas, the state’s top election official already predicted record-breaking voter turnout.

The Kansas Secretary of State’s office reported Saturday that more than 453,000 early ballots had been cast in person and nearly 123,000 of the 165,700 ballots mailed to voters had been returned. Secretary of State Scott Schwab predicted that Kansas’ total voter turnout will exceed the totals from 2016 and 2020.

Presidential election years typically see higher voter turnout. The office said Kansas saw 71% turnout in 2020 and 67% in 2016. The office reported more than 2 million Kansans are registered to vote this year, which is up from 1.98 million in 2022, 1.93 million in 2020 and 1.74 million in 2016. As of Friday, more than 500,000 people and counting had voted early, a 25% turnout ahead of Election Day.

“We are on track to set a record, so I encourage every voter to get out and exercise their constitutional right,” Schwab said in a Friday news release.

Estimates from the&nbsp;<a href="https://ike-lab.com/dailyev_241105.html" target="_blank">IKE Lab</a>, a project overseen by two associate professors in Wichita State University’s political science department, put the number of in-person early ballots cast at more than 526,000 Monday. That’s compared to about 373,000 early votes cast in-person in 2020 and nearly 275,000 early votes in 2022.

About 53% of this year’s early ballots came from Republicans and almost 30% from Democrats, according to the lab. Nearly 54% of early in-person ballots came from women.

Almost 75% of ballots mailed to voters ahead of the election have been returned, the Secretary of State’s Office wrote Saturday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KansasSOS/status/1852819174835224930" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;to social media platform X, formerly Twitter. In 2020, more than 508,000 ballots were mailed ahead of Election Day, and about 393,000 were returned. About 319,000 people voted in-person in advance of the 2020 election, according to data from the office.

“While we are comparing this year’s advance voting data to 2020 and 2016 elections, remember that the 2020 cycle was unusual due to the pandemic. Take that year with a grain of salt,” Schwab said.

Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and the Secretary of State’s Office is scheduled to begin releasing results around that time on its website,&nbsp;<a href="http://sos.ks.gov/" target="_blank">sos.ks.gov</a>. Kansans must provide a government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday and delivered to the county election office by Friday, or may be returned on Election Day to any polling place, county election office or ballot drop box. Electioneering is not allowed within 250 feet of a polling place. Voter concerns or suspicious activity can be reported to the Secretary of State’s Office&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voterfraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;or via phone at 800-262-8683.

Schwab encouraged voters in a Monday news release to prepare for voting on Election Day by confirming their polling location via&nbsp;<a href="http://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/" target="_blank">myvoteinfo.voteks.org</a>&nbsp;and viewing a sample ballot.

“Having a voting plan is beneficial and can help ensure a smooth voting experience on Election Day,” Schwab said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is one of a handful of organizations administering the state’s Election Protection program.

Kunyu Ching, a staff attorney with the organization, said in a Monday news release that program volunteers are anticipating simple issues on Election Day, such as voters visiting the incorrect polling location.

“We’re also prepared to address and escalate more serious issues, such as an election worker with a misunderstanding about the law, or voter intimidation by a third party trying to prevent someone from voting,” Ching said.

The ACLU in partnership with national civil rights nonprofit the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; Kansas City, Missouri-based law firm Stinson LLP; and Topeka-based voter advocacy group Loud Light operate a voter assistance hotline and monitor polling locations throughout the state to observe and document any issues.

The hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day and the three days following, and it can be reached at the following numbers:

Voters can call the hotline to report issues or questions, including those that are “resolved at the time without intervention but nevertheless could indicate a trend or issue potentially affecting others,” the ACLU of Kansas news release said.

The ACLU of Kansas also released a report Thursday that found almost 85,000 Kansans have past felony convictions and are eligible to vote, but the vast majority haven’t registered.

The report estimated about 71,000 people with former felony convictions, or 2% of Kansas’ population, are eligible to vote and not registered.

To remedy the registration gap, the ACLU of Kansas suggested a number of policy recommendations, including automatic voting rights restoration, a synchronization of statewide voter registration databases, and vote from jail programs.

“Democracy is at its core the idea that each of us counts and has a say in our decision-making as a community,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. “And in 2024, the absence of returning Kansans from our electoral process impoverishes our democracy, government accountability, policy outcomes that impact all of us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730825881795.png" alt=" Kansas voters cast their ballots Monday morning at the Douglas County Election Office in Lawrence. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas voters cast their ballots Monday morning at the Douglas County Election Office in Lawrence. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Before early voting poll locations closed at noon Monday in Kansas, the state’s top election official already predicted record-breaking voter turnout.The Kansas Secretary of State’s office reported Saturday that more than 453,000 early ballots had been cast in person and nearly 123,000 of the 165,700 ballots mailed to voters had been returned. Secretary of State Scott Schwab predicted that Kansas’ total voter turnout will exceed the totals from 2016 and 2020.Presidential election years typically see higher voter turnout. The office said Kansas saw 71% turnout in 2020 and 67% in 2016. The office reported more than 2 million Kansans are registered to vote this year, which is up from 1.98 million in 2022, 1.93 million in 2020 and 1.74 million in 2016. As of Friday, more than 500,000 people and counting had voted early, a 25% turnout ahead of Election Day.“We are on track to set a record, so I encourage every voter to get out and exercise their constitutional right,” Schwab said in a Friday news release.Estimates from the&nbsp;<a href="https://ike-lab.com/dailyev_241105.html" target="_blank">IKE Lab</a>, a project overseen by two associate professors in Wichita State University’s political science department, put the number of in-person early ballots cast at more than 526,000 Monday. That’s compared to about 373,000 early votes cast in-person in 2020 and nearly 275,000 early votes in 2022.About 53% of this year’s early ballots came from Republicans and almost 30% from Democrats, according to the lab. Nearly 54% of early in-person ballots came from women.Almost 75% of ballots mailed to voters ahead of the election have been returned, the Secretary of State’s Office wrote Saturday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KansasSOS/status/1852819174835224930" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;to social media platform X, formerly Twitter. In 2020, more than 508,000 ballots were mailed ahead of Election Day, and about 393,000 were returned. About 319,000 people voted in-person in advance of the 2020 election, according to data from the office.“While we are comparing this year’s advance voting data to 2020 and 2016 elections, remember that the 2020 cycle was unusual due to the pandemic. Take that year with a grain of salt,” Schwab said.Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and the Secretary of State’s Office is scheduled to begin releasing results around that time on its website,&nbsp;<a href="http://sos.ks.gov/" target="_blank">sos.ks.gov</a>. Kansans must provide a government-issued photo ID in order to vote. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday and delivered to the county election office by Friday, or may be returned on Election Day to any polling place, county election office or ballot drop box. Electioneering is not allowed within 250 feet of a polling place. Voter concerns or suspicious activity can be reported to the Secretary of State’s Office&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.ks.gov/elections/voterfraud/default.aspx" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;or via phone at 800-262-8683.Schwab encouraged voters in a Monday news release to prepare for voting on Election Day by confirming their polling location via&nbsp;<a href="http://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/" target="_blank">myvoteinfo.voteks.org</a>&nbsp;and viewing a sample ballot.“Having a voting plan is beneficial and can help ensure a smooth voting experience on Election Day,” Schwab said.<h2>Voter hotline</h2>The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is one of a handful of organizations administering the state’s Election Protection program.Kunyu Ching, a staff attorney with the organization, said in a Monday news release that program volunteers are anticipating simple issues on Election Day, such as voters visiting the incorrect polling location.“We’re also prepared to address and escalate more serious issues, such as an election worker with a misunderstanding about the law, or voter intimidation by a third party trying to prevent someone from voting,” Ching said.The ACLU in partnership with national civil rights nonprofit the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights; Kansas City, Missouri-based law firm Stinson LLP; and Topeka-based voter advocacy group Loud Light operate a voter assistance hotline and monitor polling locations throughout the state to observe and document any issues.The hotline is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day and the three days following, and it can be reached at the following numbers:<ul>
 <li>English: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)</li><li>Spanish/English: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)</li><li>Asian languages/English: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)</li><li>Arabic/English: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)</li>
 </ul>Voters can call the hotline to report issues or questions, including those that are “resolved at the time without intervention but nevertheless could indicate a trend or issue potentially affecting others,” the ACLU of Kansas news release said.<h2>Felony convictions</h2>The ACLU of Kansas also released a report Thursday that found almost 85,000 Kansans have past felony convictions and are eligible to vote, but the vast majority haven’t registered.The report estimated about 71,000 people with former felony convictions, or 2% of Kansas’ population, are eligible to vote and not registered.To remedy the registration gap, the ACLU of Kansas suggested a number of policy recommendations, including automatic voting rights restoration, a synchronization of statewide voter registration databases, and vote from jail programs.“Democracy is at its core the idea that each of us counts and has a say in our decision-making as a community,” said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. “And in 2024, the absence of returning Kansans from our electoral process impoverishes our democracy, government accountability, policy outcomes that impact all of us.”

 Kansas voting update: More than a half-million ballots cast, election chief predicts record turnout

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Monday hopscotched across swing states and prepared for what could be an exceedingly tense election night watch as the 2024 presidential election sped to a close.

So far, more than 80.6 million Americans have voted, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://election.lab.ufl.edu/early-vote/2024-early-voting/" target="_blank">the University of Florida’s Election Lab.</a>

In a presidential contest that pollsters say is virtually a toss-up, seven battleground states likely will determine the outcome of the election. The results could take days, election officials repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/article/final-results-may-lag-deadlocked-presidential-contest-anxious-election-officials-warn">have warned</a>&nbsp;and stressed again Monday. The 2020 presidential race was called for President Joe Biden the Saturday following Election Day.

“Election Day is not results day,” said&nbsp;Quentin Turner, the Common Cause Michigan executive director, during a Monday webinar.

Jen O’Malley Dillon, chair of the Harris-Walz campaign, made similar remarks during a Monday call with reporters, but still issued predictions as to when the campaign expects to know some results from key states.

She said the campaign understands that results could take a while based on each state’s law. Some states begin counting votes after the polls close, some as they come in.

O’Malley Dillon said because of that, the campaign expects on election night to have “near complete results” for North Carolina, Michigan and Georgia, “and then partial results from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arizona.”

She said the campaign expects by Wednesday morning to have most of the “results in from Wisconsin and additional results from Pennsylvania and potentially Michigan.”

“And then on Wednesday and beyond, we expect additional results from Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada,” she said. “So we think some of this stuff will trickle in, but keep in mind that some ballots will continue to be counted for many days.”

Democracy groups like Common Cause said during the webinar that they are prepared for high voter turnout on Election Day.

Bob Phillips, the Common Cause North Carolina executive director, said he expects about 1 to 1.5 million voters in his state on Election Day.

“For the most part, we’ve seen a lot of voter enthusiasm,” he said.

He added that there have been more calls on the voter help hotline than in the previous elections.

“There is definitely higher tension, more emotion, particularly among the electioneering that goes on outside the precincts, as well as some issues since this is our first major election where we’ve had the voter ID requirements,”&nbsp;Phillips said.

Harris is closing out her campaign in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, which offers the most electoral votes of the swing states at 19.

O’Malley Dillon said the campaign will have get-out-the-vote rallies late Monday night in the seven swing states with Harris and surrogates.&nbsp;

“We’ve believed all along this race is going to be incredibly close, and so it’s really going to come down to mobilization, and that’s why an event like tonight matters so much,” she said.

Harris will head to Scranton and then to Allentown, a city with a large Puerto Rican population that Democrats have courted following racist remarks by a comedian at a Trump rally that referred to the island of Puerto Rico as “garbage.” She’ll then rally in Philadelphia with musical performances from The Roots and Lady Gaga among others.

Trump will make four stops in three states — starting in Raleigh, North Carolina, stopping twice in Pennsylvania at&nbsp;Reading and Pittsburgh and finishing in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

<a href="https://ncnewsline.com/2024/11/04/trump-in-final-nc-rally-looks-for-a-third-straight-win-harris-barnstorms-pennsylvania/" target="_blank">While at his first campaign stop in North Carolina</a>&nbsp;on Monday, he told supporters that if he wins another term he will levy a 25% tariff on Mexico if migrants continue to head from that country to the U.S.-Mexico border.

“You’re the first I’ve told this to,” Trump told the crowd. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll go up to 50. And if that doesn’t work, we’ll go to 75.”

Trump will hold his election night watch party at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Harris will have hers at her alma mater at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Polls published over the weekend still showed a tight race, but one in Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/article/harris-takes-slim-lead-over-trump-final-iowa-poll-2024-election">rattled the Trump campaign</a>, showing that Harris had a lead in a state that the former president easily won in 2016 and 2020.

The highly regarded pollster — somewhat of a Midwestern oracle — showed that independent and women voters were breaking for Harris.

Both candidates are within the margin of error in all seven swing states meaning any of the states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin — could tip to either one.

Over the weekend, Harris appeared on NBC’s live sketch comedy show, “Saturday Night Live.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/nbc-donald-trump-campaign-free-ad-time-nascar-race-kamala-harris-snl-sketch-1236052709/" target="_blank">Trump also appeared</a>&nbsp;on a free commercial during NBC’s broadcast of a Sunday NASCAR race in compliance with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/political_programming_fact_sheet.pdf" target="_blank">FCC’s Equal Time rule.</a>

<a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/11/04/harris-vows-to-end-war-in-gaza-during-final-michigan-rally-at-msu/" target="_blank">On Sunday, while at Michigan State University,</a>&nbsp;Harris pledged that she would do “everything in her power” to end the war in Gaza if she were to win the White House. Michigan has a high Arab American population that has been critical of Democrats’ handling of the Israel-Hamas war, where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker" target="_blank">more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed.</a>

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/article/harris-takes-slim-lead-over-trump-final-iowa-poll-2024-election">During a Sunday rally</a>&nbsp;in Pennsylvania, Trump told supporters that he shouldn’t have left the White House after losing the 2020 presidential race and then he joked about not minding if journalists were shot while covering his campaign event.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730773867298.png" alt="Vice President Harris knocked on doors in Pennsylvania Monday night-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Harris knocked on doors in Pennsylvania Monday night-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump on Monday hopscotched across swing states and prepared for what could be an exceedingly tense election night watch as the 2024 presidential election sped to a close.So far, more than 80.6 million Americans have voted, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://election.lab.ufl.edu/early-vote/2024-early-voting/" target="_blank">the University of Florida’s Election Lab.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730814909704.png" alt="Former President Donald Trump with his family on stage late Monday in Michigan. Image courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump with his family on stage late Monday in Michigan. Image courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>In a presidential contest that pollsters say is virtually a toss-up, seven battleground states likely will determine the outcome of the election. The results could take days, election officials repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/article/final-results-may-lag-deadlocked-presidential-contest-anxious-election-officials-warn">have warned</a>&nbsp;and stressed again Monday. The 2020 presidential race was called for President Joe Biden the Saturday following Election Day.“Election Day is not results day,” said&nbsp;Quentin Turner, the Common Cause Michigan executive director, during a Monday webinar.Jen O’Malley Dillon, chair of the Harris-Walz campaign, made similar remarks during a Monday call with reporters, but still issued predictions as to when the campaign expects to know some results from key states.She said the campaign understands that results could take a while based on each state’s law. Some states begin counting votes after the polls close, some as they come in.O’Malley Dillon said because of that, the campaign expects on election night to have “near complete results” for North Carolina, Michigan and Georgia, “and then partial results from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Arizona.”She said the campaign expects by Wednesday morning to have most of the “results in from Wisconsin and additional results from Pennsylvania and potentially Michigan.”“And then on Wednesday and beyond, we expect additional results from Pennsylvania, Arizona, Nevada,” she said. “So we think some of this stuff will trickle in, but keep in mind that some ballots will continue to be counted for many days.”Democracy groups like Common Cause said during the webinar that they are prepared for high voter turnout on Election Day.Bob Phillips, the Common Cause North Carolina executive director, said he expects about 1 to 1.5 million voters in his state on Election Day.“For the most part, we’ve seen a lot of voter enthusiasm,” he said.He added that there have been more calls on the voter help hotline than in the previous elections.“There is definitely higher tension, more emotion, particularly among the electioneering that goes on outside the precincts, as well as some issues since this is our first major election where we’ve had the voter ID requirements,”&nbsp;Phillips said.<h2>It’s all about Pennsylvania (almost)</h2>Harris is closing out her campaign in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, which offers the most electoral votes of the swing states at 19.O’Malley Dillon said the campaign will have get-out-the-vote rallies late Monday night in the seven swing states with Harris and surrogates.&nbsp;“We’ve believed all along this race is going to be incredibly close, and so it’s really going to come down to mobilization, and that’s why an event like tonight matters so much,” she said.Harris will head to Scranton and then to Allentown, a city with a large Puerto Rican population that Democrats have courted following racist remarks by a comedian at a Trump rally that referred to the island of Puerto Rico as “garbage.” She’ll then rally in Philadelphia with musical performances from The Roots and Lady Gaga among others.Trump will make four stops in three states — starting in Raleigh, North Carolina, stopping twice in Pennsylvania at&nbsp;Reading and Pittsburgh and finishing in Grand Rapids, Michigan.<a href="https://ncnewsline.com/2024/11/04/trump-in-final-nc-rally-looks-for-a-third-straight-win-harris-barnstorms-pennsylvania/" target="_blank">While at his first campaign stop in North Carolina</a>&nbsp;on Monday, he told supporters that if he wins another term he will levy a 25% tariff on Mexico if migrants continue to head from that country to the U.S.-Mexico border.“You’re the first I’ve told this to,” Trump told the crowd. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll go up to 50. And if that doesn’t work, we’ll go to 75.”Trump will hold his election night watch party at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Harris will have hers at her alma mater at Howard University in Washington, D.C.<h2>Polling puzzles</h2>Polls published over the weekend still showed a tight race, but one in Iowa&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/article/harris-takes-slim-lead-over-trump-final-iowa-poll-2024-election">rattled the Trump campaign</a>, showing that Harris had a lead in a state that the former president easily won in 2016 and 2020.The highly regarded pollster — somewhat of a Midwestern oracle — showed that independent and women voters were breaking for Harris.Both candidates are within the margin of error in all seven swing states meaning any of the states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin — could tip to either one.Over the weekend, Harris appeared on NBC’s live sketch comedy show, “Saturday Night Live.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/nbc-donald-trump-campaign-free-ad-time-nascar-race-kamala-harris-snl-sketch-1236052709/" target="_blank">Trump also appeared</a>&nbsp;on a free commercial during NBC’s broadcast of a Sunday NASCAR race in compliance with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/political_programming_fact_sheet.pdf" target="_blank">FCC’s Equal Time rule.</a><a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/11/04/harris-vows-to-end-war-in-gaza-during-final-michigan-rally-at-msu/" target="_blank">On Sunday, while at Michigan State University,</a>&nbsp;Harris pledged that she would do “everything in her power” to end the war in Gaza if she were to win the White House. Michigan has a high Arab American population that has been critical of Democrats’ handling of the Israel-Hamas war, where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker" target="_blank">more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed.</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/article/harris-takes-slim-lead-over-trump-final-iowa-poll-2024-election">During a Sunday rally</a>&nbsp;in Pennsylvania, Trump told supporters that he shouldn’t have left the White House after losing the 2020 presidential race and then he joked about not minding if journalists were shot while covering his campaign event.&nbsp;

‘Election Day is not results day’: Get ready for a wait to find out who’s president

KANSAS CITY —The Traffic Officer who was critically injured in a crash almost three weeks ago left the hospital Monday, according to Kansas City Police.

 He has a long road of recovery ahead and will rehab at an out-of-state hospital.

His fellow Traffic Officers and command staff escorted him and his family to the downtown airport in a show of support. "Please join us in wishing the officer strength, resilience, and a full recovery."

The crash occurred just after 9:30a.m. October 17, at the intersection of 72nd&nbsp;and Troost. Investigators determined the motorcycle officer was northbound when a southbound SUV turned left (east) in front of the officer causing a collision.

Responding officers and EMS administered aid and transported the officer to the hospital with what was reported to be Critical, life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

The other involved driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

KCPD was initially alerted to this crash thanks to some quick thinking by some nearby bystanders who rushed to the officer’s aid after hearing the crash. One person pushed the emergency button on the officer’s police radio while another person provided medical aid and CPR. Because of those citizen’s quick thinking first responders were alerted to the emergency, and able to locate the officer quickly, thanks to GPS on the police radio.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730756589616.png" alt="Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The Traffic Officer who was critically injured in a crash almost three weeks ago left the hospital Monday, according to Kansas City Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730756623275.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> He has a long road of recovery ahead and will rehab at an out-of-state hospital.His fellow Traffic Officers and command staff escorted him and his family to the downtown airport in a show of support. "Please join us in wishing the officer strength, resilience, and a full recovery."The crash occurred just after 9:30a.m. October 17, at the intersection of 72nd&nbsp;and Troost. Investigators determined the motorcycle officer was northbound when a southbound SUV turned left (east) in front of the officer causing a collision.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729105015166.png" alt="View of the crash scene -image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene -image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Responding officers and EMS administered aid and transported the officer to the hospital with what was reported to be Critical, life threatening injuries.&nbsp;The other involved driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.KCPD was initially alerted to this crash thanks to some quick thinking by some nearby bystanders who rushed to the officer’s aid after hearing the crash. One person pushed the emergency button on the officer’s police radio while another person provided medical aid and CPR. Because of those citizen’s quick thinking first responders were alerted to the emergency, and able to locate the officer quickly, thanks to GPS on the police radio.

KC Officer injured in crash released from hospital

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man who admitted his role in a gunfight at a funeral in Wichita is going to prison.

On Monday, District Judge Eric Williams sentenced 20-year-old Demetrious Carter of Wichita, to 24 months in prison., according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The sentence is to run consecutive to an earlier sentence of 92 months in a case where he rammed a police patrol car.&nbsp; The total number of years in the Kansas Department of Corrections is 116 month

In August, Carter pled guilty to aggravated endangering of a child, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He had&nbsp; originally been charged with with two counts of aggravated assault.

On June 16, 2023.&nbsp; police were dispatched to a shooting call at Life Center Church in the 1100 block of North Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders encountered a chaotic scene and a crowd of more than 50 people running in different directions. During the initial response officers located an 18-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to his right forearm and provided life-saving measures. The 18-year-old victim later identified as Carter was treated for his serious but not life-threatening injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687431619099.png" alt="Carter photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Carter photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man who admitted his role in a gunfight at a funeral in Wichita is going to prison.On Monday, District Judge Eric Williams sentenced 20-year-old Demetrious Carter of Wichita, to 24 months in prison., according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The sentence is to run consecutive to an earlier sentence of 92 months in a case where he rammed a police patrol car.&nbsp; The total number of years in the Kansas Department of Corrections is 116 monthIn August, Carter pled guilty to aggravated endangering of a child, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He had&nbsp; originally been charged with with two counts of aggravated assault.On June 16, 2023.&nbsp; police were dispatched to a shooting call at Life Center Church in the 1100 block of North Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730756997295.png" alt="First responders at the church in June of 2023 -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the church in June of 2023 -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders encountered a chaotic scene and a crowd of more than 50 people running in different directions. During the initial response officers located an 18-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to his right forearm and provided life-saving measures. The 18-year-old victim later identified as Carter was treated for his serious but not life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed that several suspects arrived at the parking lot of the church and confronted a large group of people attending a funeral right outside the main door.After a brief verbal altercation between both groups, an unknown number of people from both groups started to shoot at each other. After initial interviews, officers arrested Carter and transported him to investigations for further questioning before an arrest.During the incident, several vehicles, and residences around and in front of the church’s parking lot were hit with gunfire. Police also recovered several firearms from the scene.&nbsp;