BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The seven Kansas judges up for retention have been&nbsp;<a href="https://ksbar.org/?pg=Your-kansas-judges" target="_blank">scored by attorneys with the Kansas Bar Association</a>&nbsp;for retention recommendations.&nbsp;

The average was an 86% recommendation for retention, with the highest score of 94% to judge Sarah E. Warner. Warner was appointed be a Court of Appeals judge in 2019 and served as<a href="https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts/Court-of-Appeals/Court-of-Appeals-Judges/COA-Judges/Sarah-E-Warner" target="_blank">&nbsp;president of the KBA</a>&nbsp;from 2018 to 2019. The lowest-scoring judge was judge G. Gordon Atcheson, with a 74%. Atcheson was appointed in 2010.&nbsp;

Judges were graded on overall performance and 13 specific measures of performance — such as timeliness and fairness. The questions KBA posed are similar to the ones from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li_2014/b2013_14/committees/misc/ctte_h_jud_1_20130218_17_other.pdf" target="_blank">Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance</a>, who produced a similar survey for appellate and district court judges until 2013, when it stopped due to the cost.&nbsp;

Tim O’Brien, an attorney with the KBA who worked on the survey, said that itssurvey is intended to provide the same coverage. But the KBA survey has a smaller scope of opinions — the group just surveyed attorneys, while the commission surveyed attorneys, jurors who had appeared before the judges, the sheriffs and other people who interacted with each judge.&nbsp;

Other groups have attempted to replicate the survey, and in 2014 KBA was part of a group who created one, but it has not been produced since.&nbsp;

“This is the first time we have taken the bull by the horns and said, ‘We’re going to do it this time, ” O’Brien said.

O’Brien said that response from the past effort indicated that the voters appreciated the survey. O’Brien said that an election for a judge is not like a regular election — after judges are appointed to a four-year term, voters decide whether they should be retained — meaning a yes or no vote. These judges are appointed by nonpartisan merit selection, so voters don’t have automatic party cues for them on the ballot.&nbsp;

“These judges are presented with difficult issues,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes they have to take a position that’s based on the law that’s contradictory to public opinion. That takes a certain amount of courage to do.”&nbsp;

Most voters don’t follow each judge’s case history to assess their performance. O’Brien said that attorneys with the KBA were being asked about the judges up for retention, and it wanted to provide publicly accessible data to help voters make a choice.&nbsp;

Of the 16,000 attorneys the survey was sent to, O’Brien said about 300 responded. Attorneys were only to respond about the judges they had a “direct and personal knowledge” of. Respondents were kept anonymous to allow each attorney to express their honest opinions.&nbsp;

O’Brien and the subcommittee dedicated to this survey through the KBA have been working on getting this project started for a few years. O’Brien said that he intends to make the survey an annual initiative.&nbsp;

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The seven Kansas judges up for retention have been&nbsp;<a href="https://ksbar.org/?pg=Your-kansas-judges" target="_blank">scored by attorneys with the Kansas Bar Association</a>&nbsp;for retention recommendations.&nbsp;The average was an 86% recommendation for retention, with the highest score of 94% to judge Sarah E. Warner. Warner was appointed be a Court of Appeals judge in 2019 and served as<a href="https://kscourts.gov/About-the-Courts/Court-of-Appeals/Court-of-Appeals-Judges/COA-Judges/Sarah-E-Warner" target="_blank">&nbsp;president of the KBA</a>&nbsp;from 2018 to 2019. The lowest-scoring judge was judge G. Gordon Atcheson, with a 74%. Atcheson was appointed in 2010.&nbsp;Judges were graded on overall performance and 13 specific measures of performance — such as timeliness and fairness. The questions KBA posed are similar to the ones from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li_2014/b2013_14/committees/misc/ctte_h_jud_1_20130218_17_other.pdf" target="_blank">Kansas Commission on Judicial Performance</a>, who produced a similar survey for appellate and district court judges until 2013, when it stopped due to the cost.&nbsp;Tim O’Brien, an attorney with the KBA who worked on the survey, said that itssurvey is intended to provide the same coverage. But the KBA survey has a smaller scope of opinions — the group just surveyed attorneys, while the commission surveyed attorneys, jurors who had appeared before the judges, the sheriffs and other people who interacted with each judge.&nbsp;Other groups have attempted to replicate the survey, and in 2014 KBA was part of a group who created one, but it has not been produced since.&nbsp;“This is the first time we have taken the bull by the horns and said, ‘We’re going to do it this time, ” O’Brien said.O’Brien said that response from the past effort indicated that the voters appreciated the survey. O’Brien said that an election for a judge is not like a regular election — after judges are appointed to a four-year term, voters decide whether they should be retained — meaning a yes or no vote. These judges are appointed by nonpartisan merit selection, so voters don’t have automatic party cues for them on the ballot.&nbsp;“These judges are presented with difficult issues,” O’Brien said. “Sometimes they have to take a position that’s based on the law that’s contradictory to public opinion. That takes a certain amount of courage to do.”&nbsp;Most voters don’t follow each judge’s case history to assess their performance. O’Brien said that attorneys with the KBA were being asked about the judges up for retention, and it wanted to provide publicly accessible data to help voters make a choice.&nbsp;Of the 16,000 attorneys the survey was sent to, O’Brien said about 300 responded. Attorneys were only to respond about the judges they had a “direct and personal knowledge” of. Respondents were kept anonymous to allow each attorney to express their honest opinions.&nbsp;O’Brien and the subcommittee dedicated to this survey through the KBA have been working on getting this project started for a few years. O’Brien said that he intends to make the survey an annual initiative.&nbsp;

Kansas Bar Association grades judges ahead of retention vote 

WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas men pleaded guilty this week to taking part in a scheme to defraud a federal healthcare program.

According to court documents, 60-year-old Todd Eck, 60 and 56-year-old Bradley Eck both of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, according to the United State's Attorney's office.

From January 2017 to April 2019, Todd Eck and Bradley Eck utilized four healthcare related companies they created to enroll to receive Medicare reimbursements for billed medical procedures.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the Medicare Program, a federal healthcare benefits program.

The Ecks concealed their ownership and control of the businesses on the Medicare enrollment form and omitted background information about themselves. Each omission was material to determine if Todd Eck and Bradley Eck were eligible to enroll, thus, all billing reimbursements made by Medicare to the Ecks were fraudulent.

Brad Eck’s license to practice chiropractic medicine was revoked by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in 2013 for gross negligence, professional incompetency, and dishonesty.

Todd Eck had his license to practice chiropractic medicine revoked by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in 2018 for violation of an order, fraud during license renewal, practicing medicine without a license, fraudulent medical records, and failure to maintain records.

As part of the plea agreement, the Eck brothers must pay $3.4 million in restitution.

Todd Eck and Bradley Eck are scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2025. The brothers face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. 

WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas men pleaded guilty this week to taking part in a scheme to defraud a federal healthcare program.According to court documents, 60-year-old Todd Eck, 60 and 56-year-old Bradley Eck both of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, according to the United State's Attorney's office.From January 2017 to April 2019, Todd Eck and Bradley Eck utilized four healthcare related companies they created to enroll to receive Medicare reimbursements for billed medical procedures.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for the Medicare Program, a federal healthcare benefits program.The Ecks concealed their ownership and control of the businesses on the Medicare enrollment form and omitted background information about themselves. Each omission was material to determine if Todd Eck and Bradley Eck were eligible to enroll, thus, all billing reimbursements made by Medicare to the Ecks were fraudulent.Brad Eck’s license to practice chiropractic medicine was revoked by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in 2013 for gross negligence, professional incompetency, and dishonesty.Todd Eck had his license to practice chiropractic medicine revoked by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts in 2018 for violation of an order, fraud during license renewal, practicing medicine without a license, fraudulent medical records, and failure to maintain records.As part of the plea agreement, the Eck brothers must pay $3.4 million in restitution.Todd Eck and Bradley Eck are scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2025. The brothers face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

2 former Kansas chiropractors face prison for Medicare fraud

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating homicide in Kansas City continue asking for help to locate a suspect vehicle.

Just before 10:30a.m. Thursday police responded to a shooting near East 55th Street and College Avenue, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

When officers arrived to the area, they located a man in the middle of the street suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive. EMS responded and declared the victim deceased on scene, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

Investigators believed the victim and a suspect were involved in a verbal altercation that escalated to shots being fired and the victim was struck. Detectives are requesting assistance locating the suspect described as an adult black male, wearing all dark clothing, and occupying a burgundy over tan mid-2000s Ford F-150 pickup truck. The suspect left the area in an unknown direction in the pickup.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating homicide in Kansas City continue asking for help to locate a suspect vehicle.Just before 10:30a.m. Thursday police responded to a shooting near East 55th Street and College Avenue, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727984542912.png" alt="-Burgundy over tan Ford F150 4-door Lic# 8FHB06 (MO). The vehicle was stolen with the bed cover rolled up and the tailgate down." />
 <figcaption>-Burgundy over tan Ford F150 4-door Lic# 8FHB06 (MO). The vehicle was stolen with the bed cover rolled up and the tailgate down.</figcaption>
 </figure>When officers arrived to the area, they located a man in the middle of the street suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive. EMS responded and declared the victim deceased on scene, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.Investigators believed the victim and a suspect were involved in a verbal altercation that escalated to shots being fired and the victim was struck. Detectives are requesting assistance locating the suspect described as an adult black male, wearing all dark clothing, and occupying a burgundy over tan mid-2000s Ford F-150 pickup truck. The suspect left the area in an unknown direction in the pickup.

Search continues for stolen pickup in KC man's killing

KANSAS CITY—Police are investigating another homicide in Kansas City after a teen injured in a shooting on Labor Day died this week.

Just after 6:30p.m. September 2, police responded to a shooting in the 7500 block of East 87th Street, according to a media release.

First responders found a teen, later identified as 17-year-old&nbsp; Lipara Westmoreland suffering from apparent gunshot wounds in the parking lot of a nearby store.

Investigators determined the Westmoreland was standing in the parking lot of the store armed with a gun when there was an exchange of gunfire with other unknown suspects.

EMS transported the teen to an area hospital for treatment and he died&nbsp; on October 3. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Police are investigating another homicide in Kansas City after a teen injured in a shooting on Labor Day died this week.Just after 6:30p.m. September 2, police responded to a shooting in the 7500 block of East 87th Street, according to a media release.First responders found a teen, later identified as 17-year-old&nbsp; Lipara Westmoreland suffering from apparent gunshot wounds in the parking lot of a nearby store.Investigators determined the Westmoreland was standing in the parking lot of the store armed with a gun when there was an exchange of gunfire with other unknown suspects.EMS transported the teen to an area hospital for treatment and he died&nbsp; on October 3. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

17-year-old dies from injuries in Labor Day gunfight in Kansas City

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, significantly increasing the size of the College of Cardinals and further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor.

Among those named by history’s first Latin American pope were the heads of several major dioceses and archdioceses in South America. They include the heads of the Catholic Church in Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Porto Alegre, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru.

The new cardinals will get their red hats at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on Dec. 8, an important feast day on its own that officially kicks off the Christmas season in Rome.

Even before Sunday’s announcement, Francis had already named the vast majority of the voting-age cardinals who will one day vote in a conclave to choose his successor. According to Vatican statistics, before Sunday, 92 of the cardinals under 80 — and thus eligible to vote in a conclave — had been named by Francis, compared with 24 named by Pope Benedict XVI and six by St. John Paul II.

Added to their ranks on Sunday were two Vatican officials who hold positions that don’t usually carry with them a cardinal’s rank: the official in charge of the migrants section of the Vatican development office, the Rev. Fabio Baggio, and the official who organizes the pope’s foreign travels, the Rev. George Jacob Koovakad.

In a nod to the current synod underway at the Vatican this month debating the future of the church, Francis also tapped the Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, a British theologian who is one of the spiritual advisers for the meeting.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718390317432.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By NICOLE WINFIELD&nbsp;ROME (AP) — Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, significantly increasing the size of the College of Cardinals and further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor.Among those named by history’s first Latin American pope were the heads of several major dioceses and archdioceses in South America. They include the heads of the Catholic Church in Santiago del Estero, Argentina; Porto Alegre, Brazil; Santiago, Chile; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Lima, Peru.The new cardinals will get their red hats at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on Dec. 8, an important feast day on its own that officially kicks off the Christmas season in Rome.Even before Sunday’s announcement, Francis had already named the vast majority of the voting-age cardinals who will one day vote in a conclave to choose his successor. According to Vatican statistics, before Sunday, 92 of the cardinals under 80 — and thus eligible to vote in a conclave — had been named by Francis, compared with 24 named by Pope Benedict XVI and six by St. John Paul II.Added to their ranks on Sunday were two Vatican officials who hold positions that don’t usually carry with them a cardinal’s rank: the official in charge of the migrants section of the Vatican development office, the Rev. Fabio Baggio, and the official who organizes the pope’s foreign travels, the Rev. George Jacob Koovakad.In a nod to the current synod underway at the Vatican this month debating the future of the church, Francis also tapped the Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, a British theologian who is one of the spiritual advisers for the meeting.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Pope names 21 new cardinals, significantly increasing pool who will one day elect successor

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Saturday in Montgomery County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Scion driven by Matthew Wayne&nbsp;Creed, 33, Parsons, was northbound on U.S. 169 five and one half miles south of U.S. 400

&nbsp;A 2025 Freightliner semi driven by Lumomba Kwabene&nbsp;Idlette,&nbsp; 52, Fort Myers, Florida, was southbound.&nbsp;The car crossed the center line and entered the southbound lane.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both vehicles took evasive action onto the northbound shoulder where the vehicles collided head-on.

Creed was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Idlette was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Saturday in Montgomery County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Scion driven by Matthew Wayne&nbsp;Creed, 33, Parsons, was northbound on U.S. 169 five and one half miles south of U.S. 400&nbsp;A 2025 Freightliner semi driven by Lumomba Kwabene&nbsp;Idlette,&nbsp; 52, Fort Myers, Florida, was southbound.&nbsp;The car crossed the center line and entered the southbound lane.&nbsp;&nbsp;Both vehicles took evasive action onto the northbound shoulder where the vehicles collided head-on.Creed was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Idlette was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after head-on crash with a semi

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;returned on Saturday to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">nearly assassinated</a>&nbsp;in July, urging a large crowd to deliver an Election Day victory that he tied to his survival of the shooting.

The former president and Republican nominee picked up where he left off in July when a gunman’s bullet struck his ear. He began his speech with, “As I was saying,” and gestured toward an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-chart-butler-border-67866bd05a894a6bea0d670de2adc4f7">immigration chart</a>&nbsp;he was looking at when the gunfire began.

“Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America,” Trump said. “All we are all asking is that everyone goes out and votes. We got to win. We can’t let this happen to our country.”

The Trump campaign worked to maximize the event’s headline-grabbing potential with just&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/ziEfd/30/">30 days to go</a>&nbsp;and voting already underway in some states in his race against his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Musician Lee Greenwood appeared on stage and serenaded him with “God Bless the USA,” frequently played at his rallies, and billionaire Elon Musk spoke for the first time at a Trump rally.

“We fought together. We have endured together. We have pushed onward together,” Trump said. “And right here in Pennsylvania, we have bled together. We’ve bled.”

At the beginning of the rally, Trump asked for a moment of silence to honor firefighter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/corey-comperatore">Corey Comperatore</a>, who died as he shielded family members from gunfire in July. Classical singer Christopher Macchio sang “Ave Maria” after a bell rung at the same time that gunfire began on July 13. Several of Comperatore's family members were in attendance, including his widow, Helen, who stood during Trump's remarks next to the former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

Standing behind protective glass that now encases the stage at his outdoor rallies, Trump called the would-be assassin “a vicious monster” and said he did not succeed “by the hand of providence and the grace of God.” There was a very visible heightened security presence, with armed law enforcers in camouflage uniforms on roofs.

Trump honored Comperatore and recognized the two other July rallygoers injured, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. They and Trump were struck when 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire from an unsecured rooftop nearby before he was fatally shot by sharpshooters.

The building from which Crooks fired was completely obscured by tractor-trailers, a large grassy perimeter and a fence.

How Crooks managed to outmaneuver law enforcement that day and scramble on top of a building within easy shooting distance of the ex-president is among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">many questions that remain unanswered</a>&nbsp;about the worst Secret Service security failure in decades. Another is his motive.

Pennsylvania is critical to both presidential campaigns

Trump lost Pennsylvania four years ago after flipping it to the Republican column in 2016. He needs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-virus-outbreak-5e4005b14bfdba6eb2d339b188975410">drive up voter turnout</a>&nbsp;in conservative strongholds like Butler County, an overwhelmingly white, rural-suburban community, if he wants to win Pennsylvania in November after losing it four years ago. Harris, too, has targeted her campaign efforts at Pennsylvania, rallying there repeatedly as part of her&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/2e37bc15924993299d8a3d9876adaaa3">aggressive outreach in critical swing states</a>.

“Pennsylvania, clearly, is going to be the center of the universe for the next 30 days, for both sides, and we’re pretty bullish on where we are here organizationally, politically, and in terms of the resources that we’ve been able to commit here,” campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita told reporters.

Trump highlighted Harris’ previous stance against fracking, a process of producing natural gas key to Pennsylvania’s economy, like he has done in the past. But then, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-fema-trump-disasters-b191d88e2ab77d3b79eeeb860e4ae13b">continued to spread falsehoods about the federal response to Hurricane Helene</a>, further spreading a claim floating around that disaster survivors are only getting $750 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That figure refers to help the agency can give someone in an affected area for what they might need immediately.

Trump also claimed Harris had “lost more than 325,000 migrant children that are now dead, in slavery or just plain missing.” An August report from a government watchdog said those were cases where immigration officials were faulted for failing to consistently “monitor the location and status of unaccompanied migrant children” once they are released from federal government custody. Those figures also covered more than two years of the Trump administration.

One of the most anticipated guests of the evening was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-rally-butler-election-f718967ec29431a2b9858b1121e70da1">Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla</a>&nbsp;and owner of X, formerly Twitter. Musk climbed onto the stage on Saturday jumping and pumping his fists in the air after Trump introduced him as a “great gentleman” and said he “saved free speech.”

“President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America,” said Musk, who endorsed Trump after the assassination attempt. “This is a must-win situation.”

Musk, who has embraced conservative politics and is funding get-out-the-vote efforts for Trump in several swing states, met with Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>, backstage, donning a black “Make America Great Again” hat. A billboard on the way into the rally said, “IN MUSK WE TRUST,” and showed his photo.

Earlier on Saturday, Vance got on stage and reflected on the events that day while severely criticizing Democrats for calling Trump “a threat to democracy,” saying that kind of language is “inflammatory."

"You heard the shots. You saw the blood. We all feared the worst. But you knew everything would be OK when President Trump raised his fist high in the air and shouted, ‘Fight, fight!’" said Vance, who was chosen as his vice presidential nominee less than two days later.

Rallygoers said they felt secure coming back to Butler

Crowds were lined up as the sun rose Saturday. A large crowd packed bleachers, folding chairs and the expansive field stretching to the venue’s edges. Area hotels, motels and inns were said to be full and some rallygoers arrived Friday. Much of the crowd waited several hours for Trump. About half an hour into his speech, Trump paused his remarks for more than five minutes after an attendee had a medical issue and needed a medic.

Butler County, on the western edge of a coveted presidential swing state, is a Trump stronghold. He won the county with about 66% of the vote in both 2016 and 2020. About 57% of the county’s 139,000 registered voters are Republicans, compared with about 29% who are Democrats and 14% something else.

Chris Harpster, 30, of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, was accompanied by his girlfriend on Saturday as he returned to the scene. Of July 13, he said, “I was afraid” — as were his parents, watching at home, who texted him immediately after the shots rang out.

Heightened security measures were making him feel better now, as well as the presence of his girlfriend, a first-time rallygoer. Harpster said he will be a third-time Trump voter in November, based on the Republican nominee’s stances on immigration, guns, abortion and energy. Harpster said he hopes Pennsylvania will go Republican, particularly out of concern over gas and oil industry jobs.

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-54f385fbdac215b89c6df047fa399039">townspeople were divided</a>&nbsp;over the value of Trump's return. Heidi Priest, a Butler resident who started a Facebook group supporting Harris, said Trump's last visit fanned political tensions in the city.

“Whenever you see people supporting him and getting excited about him being here, it scares the people who don’t want to see him reelected,” she said.

Terri Palmquist came from Bakersfield, California, and said her 18-year-old daughter tried to dissuade her from traveling. “I just figure we need to not let fear control us. That’s what the other side wants is fear. If fear controls us, we lose,” she said.

She said she was not worried about her own safety.

“Honesty, I believe God’s got Trump, for some reason. I do. So we’re rooting for him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728173925413.png" alt="The former president and Republican nominee picked up where he left off in July when a gunman tried to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-rallies-secret-service-iran-2c7fa3966e06b5d7e84c39d27cbc2159">assassinate</a>&nbsp;him and struck his ear. He began his speech with, “As I was saying,” and gestured toward an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-chart-butler-border-67866bd05a894a6bea0d670de2adc4f7">immigration chart</a>&nbsp;he was looking at when the gunfire began.Image -courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The former president and Republican nominee picked up where he left off in July when a gunman tried to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-rallies-secret-service-iran-2c7fa3966e06b5d7e84c39d27cbc2159">assassinate</a>&nbsp;him and struck his ear. He began his speech with, “As I was saying,” and gestured toward an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-chart-butler-border-67866bd05a894a6bea0d670de2adc4f7">immigration chart</a>&nbsp;he was looking at when the gunfire began.Image -courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER, Pa. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;returned on Saturday to the Pennsylvania fairgrounds where he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">nearly assassinated</a>&nbsp;in July, urging a large crowd to deliver an Election Day victory that he tied to his survival of the shooting.The former president and Republican nominee picked up where he left off in July when a gunman’s bullet struck his ear. He began his speech with, “As I was saying,” and gestured toward an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-chart-butler-border-67866bd05a894a6bea0d670de2adc4f7">immigration chart</a>&nbsp;he was looking at when the gunfire began.“Twelve weeks ago, we all took a bullet for America,” Trump said. “All we are all asking is that everyone goes out and votes. We got to win. We can’t let this happen to our country.”The Trump campaign worked to maximize the event’s headline-grabbing potential with just&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/embeds/ziEfd/30/">30 days to go</a>&nbsp;and voting already underway in some states in his race against his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Musician Lee Greenwood appeared on stage and serenaded him with “God Bless the USA,” frequently played at his rallies, and billionaire Elon Musk spoke for the first time at a Trump rally.“We fought together. We have endured together. We have pushed onward together,” Trump said. “And right here in Pennsylvania, we have bled together. We’ve bled.”At the beginning of the rally, Trump asked for a moment of silence to honor firefighter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/corey-comperatore">Corey Comperatore</a>, who died as he shielded family members from gunfire in July. Classical singer Christopher Macchio sang “Ave Maria” after a bell rung at the same time that gunfire began on July 13. Several of Comperatore's family members were in attendance, including his widow, Helen, who stood during Trump's remarks next to the former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.Standing behind protective glass that now encases the stage at his outdoor rallies, Trump called the would-be assassin “a vicious monster” and said he did not succeed “by the hand of providence and the grace of God.” There was a very visible heightened security presence, with armed law enforcers in camouflage uniforms on roofs.Trump honored Comperatore and recognized the two other July rallygoers injured, David Dutch and James Copenhaver. They and Trump were struck when 20-year-old shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, opened fire from an unsecured rooftop nearby before he was fatally shot by sharpshooters.The building from which Crooks fired was completely obscured by tractor-trailers, a large grassy perimeter and a fence.How Crooks managed to outmaneuver law enforcement that day and scramble on top of a building within easy shooting distance of the ex-president is among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">many questions that remain unanswered</a>&nbsp;about the worst Secret Service security failure in decades. Another is his motive.<h2>Pennsylvania is critical to both presidential campaigns</h2>Trump lost Pennsylvania four years ago after flipping it to the Republican column in 2016. He needs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-politics-virus-outbreak-5e4005b14bfdba6eb2d339b188975410">drive up voter turnout</a>&nbsp;in conservative strongholds like Butler County, an overwhelmingly white, rural-suburban community, if he wants to win Pennsylvania in November after losing it four years ago. Harris, too, has targeted her campaign efforts at Pennsylvania, rallying there repeatedly as part of her&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/2e37bc15924993299d8a3d9876adaaa3">aggressive outreach in critical swing states</a>.“Pennsylvania, clearly, is going to be the center of the universe for the next 30 days, for both sides, and we’re pretty bullish on where we are here organizationally, politically, and in terms of the resources that we’ve been able to commit here,” campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita told reporters.Trump highlighted Harris’ previous stance against fracking, a process of producing natural gas key to Pennsylvania’s economy, like he has done in the past. But then, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-fema-trump-disasters-b191d88e2ab77d3b79eeeb860e4ae13b">continued to spread falsehoods about the federal response to Hurricane Helene</a>, further spreading a claim floating around that disaster survivors are only getting $750 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. That figure refers to help the agency can give someone in an affected area for what they might need immediately.Trump also claimed Harris had “lost more than 325,000 migrant children that are now dead, in slavery or just plain missing.” An August report from a government watchdog said those were cases where immigration officials were faulted for failing to consistently “monitor the location and status of unaccompanied migrant children” once they are released from federal government custody. Those figures also covered more than two years of the Trump administration.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728179389121.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Elon Musk made an appearance</h2>One of the most anticipated guests of the evening was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-rally-butler-election-f718967ec29431a2b9858b1121e70da1">Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla</a>&nbsp;and owner of X, formerly Twitter. Musk climbed onto the stage on Saturday jumping and pumping his fists in the air after Trump introduced him as a “great gentleman” and said he “saved free speech.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/3rp9bd61kX">pic.twitter.com/3rp9bd61kX</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1842730813885948001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“President Trump must win to preserve the Constitution. He must win to preserve democracy in America,” said Musk, who endorsed Trump after the assassination attempt. “This is a must-win situation.”Musk, who has embraced conservative politics and is funding get-out-the-vote efforts for Trump in several swing states, met with Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>, backstage, donning a black “Make America Great Again” hat. A billboard on the way into the rally said, “IN MUSK WE TRUST,” and showed his photo.Earlier on Saturday, Vance got on stage and reflected on the events that day while severely criticizing Democrats for calling Trump “a threat to democracy,” saying that kind of language is “inflammatory.""You heard the shots. You saw the blood. We all feared the worst. But you knew everything would be OK when President Trump raised his fist high in the air and shouted, ‘Fight, fight!’" said Vance, who was chosen as his vice presidential nominee less than two days later.<h2>Rallygoers said they felt secure coming back to Butler</h2>Crowds were lined up as the sun rose Saturday. A large crowd packed bleachers, folding chairs and the expansive field stretching to the venue’s edges. Area hotels, motels and inns were said to be full and some rallygoers arrived Friday. Much of the crowd waited several hours for Trump. About half an hour into his speech, Trump paused his remarks for more than five minutes after an attendee had a medical issue and needed a medic.Butler County, on the western edge of a coveted presidential swing state, is a Trump stronghold. He won the county with about 66% of the vote in both 2016 and 2020. About 57% of the county’s 139,000 registered voters are Republicans, compared with about 29% who are Democrats and 14% something else.Chris Harpster, 30, of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, was accompanied by his girlfriend on Saturday as he returned to the scene. Of July 13, he said, “I was afraid” — as were his parents, watching at home, who texted him immediately after the shots rang out.Heightened security measures were making him feel better now, as well as the presence of his girlfriend, a first-time rallygoer. Harpster said he will be a third-time Trump voter in November, based on the Republican nominee’s stances on immigration, guns, abortion and energy. Harpster said he hopes Pennsylvania will go Republican, particularly out of concern over gas and oil industry jobs.Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-54f385fbdac215b89c6df047fa399039">townspeople were divided</a>&nbsp;over the value of Trump's return. Heidi Priest, a Butler resident who started a Facebook group supporting Harris, said Trump's last visit fanned political tensions in the city.“Whenever you see people supporting him and getting excited about him being here, it scares the people who don’t want to see him reelected,” she said.Terri Palmquist came from Bakersfield, California, and said her 18-year-old daughter tried to dissuade her from traveling. “I just figure we need to not let fear control us. That’s what the other side wants is fear. If fear controls us, we lose,” she said.She said she was not worried about her own safety.“Honesty, I believe God’s got Trump, for some reason. I do. So we’re rooting for him.”___

Trump rallies at site of assassination attempt, with Elon Musk 

JACKSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Saturday in Jackson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Toyota Rav4 driven by Jamie Lynn Wells, 38, Topeka, was northbound on U.S. 75 three miles south of Holton.&nbsp; The SUV struck a 2007 Honda CRV driven by Dianna Faye Slavens, 77, Topeka, who was entering U.S. 75 from a private drive and failed to yield.

Slavens was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Shawnee County Coroner's Office.

EMS transported Wells and a passenger in the Honda Alva E. Goff&nbsp; Jr., 89, Topeka, to the Holton Community Hospital. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

JACKSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Saturday in Jackson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Toyota Rav4 driven by Jamie Lynn Wells, 38, Topeka, was northbound on U.S. 75 three miles south of Holton.&nbsp; The SUV struck a 2007 Honda CRV driven by Dianna Faye Slavens, 77, Topeka, who was entering U.S. 75 from a private drive and failed to yield.Slavens was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Shawnee County Coroner's Office.EMS transported Wells and a passenger in the Honda Alva E. Goff&nbsp; Jr., 89, Topeka, to the Holton Community Hospital. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dead, 2 others injured after 2-vehicle crash

JOHNSON COUNTY—A Kansas man is going to prison for the gun sale robbery that left a 16-year-old dead in 2022.

Deon Eugene Austin, 19, was sentenced to life in prison, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

On August 2, a jury convicted Austin of first degree murder, aggravated battery; great bodily harm in the death of 16-year-old Jammal Blacknoll, Jr. who died of gunshot wounds, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

Just before 9p.m. April 10, 2022, the&nbsp;Mission, Kansas, Police Department&nbsp;was called to a shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex In the 5100 block of Foxridge Drive, according to court records.

First responders found 16-year-old Jammaal Blacknoll, Jr. had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Austin also suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg. He was transported to to&nbsp;Children’s Mercy Hospital&nbsp;for treatment.

Investigators said a baggie that contained marijuana and a handgun were found at the scene of the shooting. Witness statements confirmed the incident to be a firearms sale gone wrong as Austin attempted to rob Blacknoll. An autopsy confirmed Blacknoll had been shot 11 times.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723061153324.png" alt="Austin photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Austin photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—A Kansas man is going to prison for the gun sale robbery that left a 16-year-old dead in 2022.Deon Eugene Austin, 19, was sentenced to life in prison, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.On August 2, a jury convicted Austin of first degree murder, aggravated battery; great bodily harm in the death of 16-year-old Jammal Blacknoll, Jr. who died of gunshot wounds, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.Just before 9p.m. April 10, 2022, the&nbsp;Mission, Kansas, Police Department&nbsp;was called to a shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex In the 5100 block of Foxridge Drive, according to court records.First responders found 16-year-old Jammaal Blacknoll, Jr. had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Austin also suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg. He was transported to to&nbsp;Children’s Mercy Hospital&nbsp;for treatment.Investigators said a baggie that contained marijuana and a handgun were found at the scene of the shooting. Witness statements confirmed the incident to be a firearms sale gone wrong as Austin attempted to rob Blacknoll. An autopsy confirmed Blacknoll had been shot 11 times.&nbsp;

Prison for Kansas gun sale robbery that left 16-year-old dead

LABETTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Hyundai Elantra driven by Spencer Alec&nbsp;Gatewood, 30, Altamont, was eastbound on 24000 Road just east of Jackson Road two and one half miles west of Parsons.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road. The car enter the south ditch and overturned in a pond.

Gatewood was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

LABETTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday in Labette County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Hyundai Elantra driven by Spencer Alec&nbsp;Gatewood, 30, Altamont, was eastbound on 24000 Road just east of Jackson Road two and one half miles west of Parsons.The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road. The car enter the south ditch and overturned in a pond.Gatewood was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after car overturns in a pond

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after an arrest

On October 3, the Brown County Sheriffs Office arrested 30-year-old&nbsp; River Keo of Horton on a Douglas County $150,000 Felony Criminal Threat Warrant, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

He has previous convictions for driving under influence of alcohol or drugs - 3rd or subsequent conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728160722551.png" alt="Keo photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Keo photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after an arrestOn October 3, the Brown County Sheriffs Office arrested 30-year-old&nbsp; River Keo of Horton on a Douglas County $150,000 Felony Criminal Threat Warrant, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.He has previous convictions for driving under influence of alcohol or drugs - 3rd or subsequent conviction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas felon jailed for alleged criminal threat

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three suspect on multiple allegations after sting operation.

Last month, police received information about an individual in Lenexa who was selling stolen goods in an online Marketplace, according to a social media report from Lenexa Police.

Detectives and officers began communicating with this suspect and set up a sting operation to "buy" some of the stolen merchandise. This operation was successful and 3 individuals were charged as part of this case. 

Police found over 100 Nintendo Switches and over 100 Samsung tablets in the suspect's hotel room. In addition to stolen goods recovered, police also seized methamphetamine in the room and one of the arrested individuals was charged with intent to distribute the meth.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727988029677.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three suspect on multiple allegations after sting operation.Last month, police received information about an individual in Lenexa who was selling stolen goods in an online Marketplace, according to a social media report from Lenexa Police.Detectives and officers began communicating with this suspect and set up a sting operation to "buy" some of the stolen merchandise. This operation was successful and 3 individuals were charged as part of this case. Police found over 100 Nintendo Switches and over 100 Samsung tablets in the suspect's hotel room. In addition to stolen goods recovered, police also seized methamphetamine in the room and one of the arrested individuals was charged with intent to distribute the meth.

100s of stolen computer tablets, video games found in Kan. hotel

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 9a.m. September 30, a sheriff's K9 unit conducted a traffic stop just east of Quenemo on 269th Street for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

 During the stop, illegal narcotics were located.Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.

Jack Sands, 25, of Kansas City, is jailed on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, No driver’s license and Reckless driving

Eric E. Yost, 43, of Kansas City, is in custody on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of marijuana.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727833843091.png" alt="Sands-Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Sands-Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just before 9a.m. September 30, a sheriff's K9 unit conducted a traffic stop just east of Quenemo on 269th Street for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, illegal narcotics were located.Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727833869235.png" alt="Yost-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Yost-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Jack Sands, 25, of Kansas City, is jailed on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, No driver’s license and Reckless drivingEric E. Yost, 43, of Kansas City, is in custody on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and Possession of marijuana.

Kansas sheriff's K9 unit found meth during traffic stop

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Abortion-rights ballot measure supporters across the country have raised nearly eight times as much as groups campaigning against the amendments on the November ballots. But that advantage may not translate into a huge benefit down the stretch in Florida, the most expensive of the nine statewide campaigns&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-states-candidates-2004-953bce3ea1666f128721cab2a5c1cd1d">to enshrine abortion rights</a>&nbsp;into state constitutions.

So far, campaign finance data compiled by the watchdog group Open Secrets and analyzed by The Associated Press tells a similar story in most of those states: Amendment backers have raised multiple times as much money and have far more donors, bringing in nearly $108 million compared to $14 million for their opponents as of reports aggregated by Tuesday. Still, it’s not a sure thing that will mean more spending to promote the measures in every state in the final weeks before the Nov. 5 elections.

“The apparent differential on campaign finance reports does nothing to reassure me that we will not see large, late spending on these campaigns,” said Kelly Hall, executive director of The Fairness Project, which is providing money and other support for abortion rights groups in several of the campaigns.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-amendment-ban-protection-states-2024-052ff9846f8416efb725240af22b92ec">measures</a>&nbsp;would roll back restrictions in some states and enshrine protections into the constitutions in others after the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Most GOP-controlled states implemented bans or restrictions after the ruling. Most Democratic-controlled ones offered some protections for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;access.

The ballot measures could also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-states-candidates-2004-953bce3ea1666f128721cab2a5c1cd1d">drive voter turnout</a>&nbsp;in the elections.

Campaigns that raise more money have an edge reaching voters with ads on TV, radio and websites, along with mailers and yard signs and more organizing power for door-knocking and other efforts.

That's evident so far in Missouri and Montana, where big funding advantages have translated into far more ad buys, according to data collected by the media tracking firm AdImpact.

In Missouri, the Open Secrets data shows abortion rights groups have raised more than $5 million, and state filings reflect millions more in contributions, including $1 million from former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The giving has fueled over $11 million in ad spending supporting a measure that would overturn the state's ban compared with less than $50,000 opposing it.

In Montana, pro-amendment groups lead in ad spending, with more than $11 million compared to under $50,000 for opponents.

There hasn't been as much ad activity so far in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada or South Dakota. In Nebraska, abortion opponents have raised slightly less money but have spent slightly more on ad buys. Contribution totals don't have to be reported in Nevada or South Dakota until later this month.

Supporters of the ballot measures also have some costs that opponents don't.

Getting most of the abortion questions on the ballots required signature drives, which are a major cost for their sponsors. And with most of the questions, there were legal battles over whether ballot requirements were met. Paying lawyers in those battles often falls to the groups behind the campaigns, reducing how much of the money they raise is available for reaching voters.

The costs of legal challenges often do not eat into their opponents' fundraising the same way.

The Thomas More Society, for instance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-nebraska-missouri-2024-5147eee9ca33bfbd37cddbfbba9c7ffe">challenged initiatives in Missouri and Nebraska</a>. The group is not required to file campaign finance reports.

And in Florida, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ashley-moody-florida-politics-0db0a1a4deb47fa1b82410b7670b16e3">state attorney general challenged that state's measure</a>, shifting legal expenses to taxpayers.

Florida’s opposition has help from the GOP — and the state government

Florida's race has some other unique wrinkles.

For one, adopting the measure requires approval from 60% of voters, compared to lesser thresholds needed in other states.

If approved, Florida’s amendment would make abortions legal until the fetus is viable, or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by a health care provider. Florida currently bans most abortions after six weeks, with some exceptions.

Abortion rights groups have reported raising more than $60 million and opponents $9 million. But that does not reflect all of the spending.

The state Republican Party has aired commercials urging voters to defeat the amendment. AdImpact data shows the GOP has spent $9.6 million running TV and online ads. That's about half the $20.7 million bought by groups backing the amendment. But using an industry calculation for how many people see TV ads, it puts the ballot measure's opponents ahead.

Even that spending doesn't include another boost for the argument that the amendment goes too far. A state government website states, “Amendment 4 threatens women's safety." Advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-abortion-amendment-4-website-lawsuit-de510053ee9799d6d6da3d4b203052f3">sued last month</a>&nbsp;to stop the taxpayer-funded messaging. A judge ruled Monday that the website could remain up.

Contributors include big names with deep pockets, along with smaller donors

Peter Northcutt, director for state strategies at National Right to Life, portrays the anti-abortion movement as an underdog up against funding from those with a financial interest in abortion.

“The abortion industry and their allies bring massive funds to the table,” he said. “Those who are trying to fight off these extreme amendments have an uphill climb.”

Planned Parenthood Federation of America and some of its regional affiliates are among those who have kicked in more than $1 million to support the amendments. But the biggest donor so far is Marsha Zlatin Laufer, a frequent contributor to liberal causes. She's given more than $9 million in Florida.

Other abortion-rights groups that have given more than $1 million in multiple states include the Sixteen Thirty Fund, The Fairness Project and Advocacy Action Fund, which aren't required to disclose their donors, as well as the George Soros-connected Open Society Action Fund.

Nationally, the abortion rights side also has far more donors: More than 94,000 to fewer than 2,600.

On the opposing side, the big individual contributors are U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Nebraska Republican, and his mother, Marlene Ricketts. Each of them has given at least $1 million in Nebraska. Nebraska is the one state where campaign finance filings show the two sides have raised similar amounts of money, with both between $3 million and $4 million.

There's a reason for that: Nebraska has competing ballot measures. One would expand access to abortion and the other would enshrine the current ban on most abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Some big anti-abortion groups haven't put cash in the races

The fundraising gap is partly explained by the fact that two big national organizations that together spent about $40 million trying to defeat a similar campaign last year in Ohio have not gotten heavily involved in campaign funding this year.

One is The Concord Fund, which spent more than $25 million in Ohio last year – more than 40% of the total in opposition to the amendment. Like abortion-related ballot measures in six other states since 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">abortion-rights side prevailed</a>.

The group, formerly known as the Judicial Crisis Network, is part of a network of political groups centered around Leonard Leo, a prominent conservative legal activist and driving force in securing nominations of conservative Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The other is Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which contributed nearly $15 million in Ohio last year. The group said it planned to raise $92 million for political campaigns this year, but the focus was not on abortion-related measures. Instead, it said it would prioritize helping Republicans win the presidency and Congress.

Neither organization commented for this article.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725887984419.png" alt="File photo 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 photo by Anna Spoerre" />
 <figcaption>File photo 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 photo by Anna Spoerre</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Abortion-rights ballot measure supporters across the country have raised nearly eight times as much as groups campaigning against the amendments on the November ballots. But that advantage may not translate into a huge benefit down the stretch in Florida, the most expensive of the nine statewide campaigns&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-states-candidates-2004-953bce3ea1666f128721cab2a5c1cd1d">to enshrine abortion rights</a>&nbsp;into state constitutions.So far, campaign finance data compiled by the watchdog group Open Secrets and analyzed by The Associated Press tells a similar story in most of those states: Amendment backers have raised multiple times as much money and have far more donors, bringing in nearly $108 million compared to $14 million for their opponents as of reports aggregated by Tuesday. Still, it’s not a sure thing that will mean more spending to promote the measures in every state in the final weeks before the Nov. 5 elections.“The apparent differential on campaign finance reports does nothing to reassure me that we will not see large, late spending on these campaigns,” said Kelly Hall, executive director of The Fairness Project, which is providing money and other support for abortion rights groups in several of the campaigns.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-amendment-ban-protection-states-2024-052ff9846f8416efb725240af22b92ec">measures</a>&nbsp;would roll back restrictions in some states and enshrine protections into the constitutions in others after the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Most GOP-controlled states implemented bans or restrictions after the ruling. Most Democratic-controlled ones offered some protections for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;access.The ballot measures could also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-states-candidates-2004-953bce3ea1666f128721cab2a5c1cd1d">drive voter turnout</a>&nbsp;in the elections.<h2>The money goes to ads — and elsewhere</h2>Campaigns that raise more money have an edge reaching voters with ads on TV, radio and websites, along with mailers and yard signs and more organizing power for door-knocking and other efforts.That's evident so far in Missouri and Montana, where big funding advantages have translated into far more ad buys, according to data collected by the media tracking firm AdImpact.In Missouri, the Open Secrets data shows abortion rights groups have raised more than $5 million, and state filings reflect millions more in contributions, including $1 million from former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The giving has fueled over $11 million in ad spending supporting a measure that would overturn the state's ban compared with less than $50,000 opposing it.In Montana, pro-amendment groups lead in ad spending, with more than $11 million compared to under $50,000 for opponents.There hasn't been as much ad activity so far in Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada or South Dakota. In Nebraska, abortion opponents have raised slightly less money but have spent slightly more on ad buys. Contribution totals don't have to be reported in Nevada or South Dakota until later this month.Supporters of the ballot measures also have some costs that opponents don't.Getting most of the abortion questions on the ballots required signature drives, which are a major cost for their sponsors. And with most of the questions, there were legal battles over whether ballot requirements were met. Paying lawyers in those battles often falls to the groups behind the campaigns, reducing how much of the money they raise is available for reaching voters.The costs of legal challenges often do not eat into their opponents' fundraising the same way.The Thomas More Society, for instance,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-nebraska-missouri-2024-5147eee9ca33bfbd37cddbfbba9c7ffe">challenged initiatives in Missouri and Nebraska</a>. The group is not required to file campaign finance reports.And in Florida, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ashley-moody-florida-politics-0db0a1a4deb47fa1b82410b7670b16e3">state attorney general challenged that state's measure</a>, shifting legal expenses to taxpayers.<h2>Florida’s opposition has help from the GOP — and the state government</h2>Florida's race has some other unique wrinkles.For one, adopting the measure requires approval from 60% of voters, compared to lesser thresholds needed in other states.If approved, Florida’s amendment would make abortions legal until the fetus is viable, or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by a health care provider. Florida currently bans most abortions after six weeks, with some exceptions.Abortion rights groups have reported raising more than $60 million and opponents $9 million. But that does not reflect all of the spending.The state Republican Party has aired commercials urging voters to defeat the amendment. AdImpact data shows the GOP has spent $9.6 million running TV and online ads. That's about half the $20.7 million bought by groups backing the amendment. But using an industry calculation for how many people see TV ads, it puts the ballot measure's opponents ahead.Even that spending doesn't include another boost for the argument that the amendment goes too far. A state government website states, “Amendment 4 threatens women's safety." Advocates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-abortion-amendment-4-website-lawsuit-de510053ee9799d6d6da3d4b203052f3">sued last month</a>&nbsp;to stop the taxpayer-funded messaging. A judge ruled Monday that the website could remain up.<h2>Contributors include big names with deep pockets, along with smaller donors</h2>Peter Northcutt, director for state strategies at National Right to Life, portrays the anti-abortion movement as an underdog up against funding from those with a financial interest in abortion.“The abortion industry and their allies bring massive funds to the table,” he said. “Those who are trying to fight off these extreme amendments have an uphill climb.”Planned Parenthood Federation of America and some of its regional affiliates are among those who have kicked in more than $1 million to support the amendments. But the biggest donor so far is Marsha Zlatin Laufer, a frequent contributor to liberal causes. She's given more than $9 million in Florida.Other abortion-rights groups that have given more than $1 million in multiple states include the Sixteen Thirty Fund, The Fairness Project and Advocacy Action Fund, which aren't required to disclose their donors, as well as the George Soros-connected Open Society Action Fund.Nationally, the abortion rights side also has far more donors: More than 94,000 to fewer than 2,600.On the opposing side, the big individual contributors are U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Nebraska Republican, and his mother, Marlene Ricketts. Each of them has given at least $1 million in Nebraska. Nebraska is the one state where campaign finance filings show the two sides have raised similar amounts of money, with both between $3 million and $4 million.There's a reason for that: Nebraska has competing ballot measures. One would expand access to abortion and the other would enshrine the current ban on most abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.<h2>Some big anti-abortion groups haven't put cash in the races</h2>The fundraising gap is partly explained by the fact that two big national organizations that together spent about $40 million trying to defeat a similar campaign last year in Ohio have not gotten heavily involved in campaign funding this year.One is The Concord Fund, which spent more than $25 million in Ohio last year – more than 40% of the total in opposition to the amendment. Like abortion-related ballot measures in six other states since 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-amendment-election-2023-fe3e06747b616507d8ca21ea26485270">abortion-rights side prevailed</a>.The group, formerly known as the Judicial Crisis Network, is part of a network of political groups centered around Leonard Leo, a prominent conservative legal activist and driving force in securing nominations of conservative Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.The other is Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which contributed nearly $15 million in Ohio last year. The group said it planned to raise $92 million for political campaigns this year, but the focus was not on abortion-related measures. Instead, it said it would prioritize helping Republicans win the presidency and Congress.Neither organization commented for this article.

Abortion-rights groups are outraising opponents 8-to-1 on November ballot measures

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fall means it’s time for just about everybody to get up to date on their flu and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-novavax-virus-shots-4630f56cc909816db736ed6249c259e3">COVID-19 vaccines</a>&nbsp;– and a lot of older adults also need protection against another risky winter virus, RSV.

Yes, you can get your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/">flu and COVID-19 shots</a>&nbsp;at the same time. Don't call them boosters — they're not just another dose of last year’s protection. The coronavirus and influenza are escape artists that constantly mutate to evade your body’s immune defenses, so both vaccines are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccinations-cdc-coronavirus-a785acb4aca8e69f21b6f1a41c021e2c">reformulated</a>&nbsp;annually to target newer strains.

While they’re not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccine-effectiveness-cdc-47a5a5466e95b65216bf2dc6db508a0f">perfect</a>, vaccinations are the best bet for avoiding a bad case of flu or COVID-19 this winter.

“It may not prevent every infection but those infections are going to be less severe,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I would rather have my grandmother or my great-grandmother have a sniffle than have to go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.”

The challenge: Getting more Americans to roll up their sleeves. Last year, just 45% of adults got a flu vaccination and even fewer, 23%, got a COVID-19 shot. A survey released Wednesday by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases shows an equally low number intend to this fall.

And the coronavirus still killed more Americans than flu last year.

“Maybe we believe that it’s not going to be me but let’s not take a chance,” said Dr. Michael Knight of George Washington University. “Why not get a vaccine that’s going to help you reduce that risk?”

Who needs a fall COVID-19 or flu vaccination?

The CDC urges both an updated COVID-19 shot and yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. If you recently had COVID-19, you can wait two or three months but still should get an updated vaccination because of the expected winter surge.

Both viruses can be especially dangerous to certain groups including older people and those with weak immune systems and lung or heart disease. Young children also are more vulnerable. The CDC counted 199 child deaths from flu last year.

Pregnancy also increases the chances of serious COVID-19 or flu – and vaccination guards mom plus ensures the newborn has some protection, too.

Last fall’s shots targeted a coronavirus strain that’s no longer spreading while this year’s are tailored to a new section of the coronavirus family tree. The Pfizer and Moderna shots are formulated against a virus subtype called KP.2 while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-novavax-virus-shots-4630f56cc909816db736ed6249c259e3">Novavax</a>&nbsp;vaccine targets its parent strain, JN.1. Daskalakis said all should offer good cross protection to other subtypes now spreading.

The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines can be used by adults and children as young as 6 months. The Novavax shot is a more traditional protein vaccine combined with an immune booster, and open to anyone 12 and older.

High-dose shots and one with a special immune booster are designed for people 65 and older, but if they can't find one easily they can choose a regular all-ages flu shot.

For the shot-averse, the nasal spray FluMist is available for ages 2 to 49 at pharmacies and clinics — although next year it's set to be available for use at home.

All flu vaccinations this year will guard against two Type A flu strains and one Type B strain. Another once-common form of Type B flu quit spreading a few years ago and was removed from the vaccine.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a coldlike nuisance for most people but it, too, packs hospitals every winter and can be deadly for children under 5, the elderly and people with certain high-risk health problems.

The CDC recommends an RSV vaccination for everyone 75 and older, and for people 60 to 74 who are at increased risk. This is a one-time shot, not a yearly vaccination – but only 24% of seniors got it last year. It's also recommended late in pregnancy to protect babies born during the fall and winter.

And while “your arm may hurt and you may feel crummy for a day,” it's also fine to get the RSV, flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, Daskalakis said.

The vaccines are supposed to be free under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans if people use an in-network provider.

About 1.5 million uninsured adults got free COVID-19 vaccinations through a federal program last year but that has ended. Instead, the CDC is providing $62 million to health departments to help improve access -- and states and large cities are starting to roll out their plans.

Call your local health department to ask about options because in many areas, “availability of vaccine at lower or no cost is expected to trickle in over the next couple of weeks,” advised Dr. Raynard Washington, who heads the Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, health department.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fall means it’s time for just about everybody to get up to date on their flu and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-novavax-virus-shots-4630f56cc909816db736ed6249c259e3">COVID-19 vaccines</a>&nbsp;– and a lot of older adults also need protection against another risky winter virus, RSV.Yes, you can get your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/">flu and COVID-19 shots</a>&nbsp;at the same time. Don't call them boosters — they're not just another dose of last year’s protection. The coronavirus and influenza are escape artists that constantly mutate to evade your body’s immune defenses, so both vaccines are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccinations-cdc-coronavirus-a785acb4aca8e69f21b6f1a41c021e2c">reformulated</a>&nbsp;annually to target newer strains.While they’re not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccine-effectiveness-cdc-47a5a5466e95b65216bf2dc6db508a0f">perfect</a>, vaccinations are the best bet for avoiding a bad case of flu or COVID-19 this winter.“It may not prevent every infection but those infections are going to be less severe,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “I would rather have my grandmother or my great-grandmother have a sniffle than have to go to the emergency room on Thanksgiving.”The challenge: Getting more Americans to roll up their sleeves. Last year, just 45% of adults got a flu vaccination and even fewer, 23%, got a COVID-19 shot. A survey released Wednesday by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases shows an equally low number intend to this fall.And the coronavirus still killed more Americans than flu last year.“Maybe we believe that it’s not going to be me but let’s not take a chance,” said Dr. Michael Knight of George Washington University. “Why not get a vaccine that’s going to help you reduce that risk?”<h2>Who needs a fall COVID-19 or flu vaccination?</h2>The CDC urges both an updated COVID-19 shot and yearly flu vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. If you recently had COVID-19, you can wait two or three months but still should get an updated vaccination because of the expected winter surge.Both viruses can be especially dangerous to certain groups including older people and those with weak immune systems and lung or heart disease. Young children also are more vulnerable. The CDC counted 199 child deaths from flu last year.Pregnancy also increases the chances of serious COVID-19 or flu – and vaccination guards mom plus ensures the newborn has some protection, too.<h2>What’s new about the COVID-19 shots?</h2>Last fall’s shots targeted a coronavirus strain that’s no longer spreading while this year’s are tailored to a new section of the coronavirus family tree. The Pfizer and Moderna shots are formulated against a virus subtype called KP.2 while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-novavax-virus-shots-4630f56cc909816db736ed6249c259e3">Novavax</a>&nbsp;vaccine targets its parent strain, JN.1. Daskalakis said all should offer good cross protection to other subtypes now spreading.The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines can be used by adults and children as young as 6 months. The Novavax shot is a more traditional protein vaccine combined with an immune booster, and open to anyone 12 and older.<h2>Which flu vaccine to choose?</h2>High-dose shots and one with a special immune booster are designed for people 65 and older, but if they can't find one easily they can choose a regular all-ages flu shot.For the shot-averse, the nasal spray FluMist is available for ages 2 to 49 at pharmacies and clinics — although next year it's set to be available for use at home.All flu vaccinations this year will guard against two Type A flu strains and one Type B strain. Another once-common form of Type B flu quit spreading a few years ago and was removed from the vaccine.<h2>What about that other virus, RSV?</h2>RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a coldlike nuisance for most people but it, too, packs hospitals every winter and can be deadly for children under 5, the elderly and people with certain high-risk health problems.The CDC recommends an RSV vaccination for everyone 75 and older, and for people 60 to 74 who are at increased risk. This is a one-time shot, not a yearly vaccination – but only 24% of seniors got it last year. It's also recommended late in pregnancy to protect babies born during the fall and winter.And while “your arm may hurt and you may feel crummy for a day,” it's also fine to get the RSV, flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, Daskalakis said.<h2>What will it cost?</h2>The vaccines are supposed to be free under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans if people use an in-network provider.About 1.5 million uninsured adults got free COVID-19 vaccinations through a federal program last year but that has ended. Instead, the CDC is providing $62 million to health departments to help improve access -- and states and large cities are starting to roll out their plans.Call your local health department to ask about options because in many areas, “availability of vaccine at lower or no cost is expected to trickle in over the next couple of weeks,” advised Dr. Raynard Washington, who heads the Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, health department.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City. Just after 8:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of Drury Avenue, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

When officers arrived, EMS was already on scene and advised an adult male victim was located in the street and declared deceased after suffering from gunshot trauma.

Preliminary investigation indicates an argument took place between the victim and an adult male suspect that escalated to gunfire and the victim was struck.&nbsp; There is no person of interest identified and no one is in custody. Police have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728137529290.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City. Just after 8:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of Drury Avenue, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.When officers arrived, EMS was already on scene and advised an adult male victim was located in the street and declared deceased after suffering from gunshot trauma.Preliminary investigation indicates an argument took place between the victim and an adult male suspect that escalated to gunfire and the victim was struck.&nbsp; There is no person of interest identified and no one is in custody. Police have not released the name of the victim.

KCPD: Man dead after argument escalated to gunfire 

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

TOPEKA — Lawmakers’ plans to take control of the state’s budget-writing process could be rocky upon rollout, Republican leadership warned Wednesday as outside groups weighed in.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/29/kansas-gop-leaders-drafting-new-roadmap-for-legislatures-annual-budgeting-process/">new approach</a>&nbsp;positions the Legislature as the state’s chief budget authority and, if successful, would mean a budget is proposed as a bill on the first day of the 2025 session. The spending recommendations that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly proposes in the first week of the session, which are typically lawmakers’ first glimpse at the budget, would become merely supplemental.

The special committee tasked with sorting out the details of the budget takeover, formed by House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, held its second meeting Wednesday. Three organizations provided testimony and recommendations.

Ultimately, such an overhaul isn’t going to go perfectly in its first year, Hawkins said at the meeting.

“It’s gonna be probably a little rocky, but we’re gonna get through it, and we’re gonna learn,” Hawkins said. “And we’re going to become better at this process every single year.”

Leah Fliter, executive assistant director of advocacy for Kansas Association of School Boards, urged the committee to consider creating a “clean K-12 budget” instead of packaging it alongside non-budget policies. She also recommended passing the school funding bill before the midway point in the legislative session to avoid the addition of last-minute earmarks and late-night negotiations, she wrote in testimony to the committee.

Lawmakers in recent years have tied school funding to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/16/kelly-signs-education-budget-and-policy-bundle-asks-legislature-to-fully-fund-special-education/">open enrollment</a>&nbsp;and attempts to create&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/27/kansas-lawmakers-polish-plan-to-fully-fund-public-schools-revive-voucher-program/">a voucher program</a>&nbsp;for private schools.

The approach “resulted in legislators reluctantly voting for education funding bills that also include policy measures which harm their local school boards’ ability to support success for all Kansas students,” Fliter said.

Vance Ginn, a senior fellow at Kansas Policy Institute, offered a shortlist of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_spc_2024_on_bdgt_and_dev_1/documents/testimony/20241002_03.pdf" target="_blank">six recommendations</a>, which included reducing the state’s dependency on federal funds, imposing stronger spending limits and conducting regular third-party efficiency audits.

Kurt Couchman with Americans for Prosperity encouraged the committee to consider a comprehensive budget, in which all spending and revenues would be contained. That would allow lawmakers to make relative value judgements on different programs, he said.

“It also would help provide more political cover to do the tough but necessary things,” Couchman said, including “pension reform.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728065552192.png" alt=" Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Eastborough, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, talk amongst themselves during a special committee meeting on budget process and development on Oct. 2, 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Eastborough, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, talk amongst themselves during a special committee meeting on budget process and development on Oct. 2, 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/"></a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Lawmakers’ plans to take control of the state’s budget-writing process could be rocky upon rollout, Republican leadership warned Wednesday as outside groups weighed in.The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/29/kansas-gop-leaders-drafting-new-roadmap-for-legislatures-annual-budgeting-process/">new approach</a>&nbsp;positions the Legislature as the state’s chief budget authority and, if successful, would mean a budget is proposed as a bill on the first day of the 2025 session. The spending recommendations that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly proposes in the first week of the session, which are typically lawmakers’ first glimpse at the budget, would become merely supplemental.The special committee tasked with sorting out the details of the budget takeover, formed by House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, held its second meeting Wednesday. Three organizations provided testimony and recommendations.Ultimately, such an overhaul isn’t going to go perfectly in its first year, Hawkins said at the meeting.“It’s gonna be probably a little rocky, but we’re gonna get through it, and we’re gonna learn,” Hawkins said. “And we’re going to become better at this process every single year.”Leah Fliter, executive assistant director of advocacy for Kansas Association of School Boards, urged the committee to consider creating a “clean K-12 budget” instead of packaging it alongside non-budget policies. She also recommended passing the school funding bill before the midway point in the legislative session to avoid the addition of last-minute earmarks and late-night negotiations, she wrote in testimony to the committee.Lawmakers in recent years have tied school funding to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/05/16/kelly-signs-education-budget-and-policy-bundle-asks-legislature-to-fully-fund-special-education/">open enrollment</a>&nbsp;and attempts to create&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/27/kansas-lawmakers-polish-plan-to-fully-fund-public-schools-revive-voucher-program/">a voucher program</a>&nbsp;for private schools.The approach “resulted in legislators reluctantly voting for education funding bills that also include policy measures which harm their local school boards’ ability to support success for all Kansas students,” Fliter said.Vance Ginn, a senior fellow at Kansas Policy Institute, offered a shortlist of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_spc_2024_on_bdgt_and_dev_1/documents/testimony/20241002_03.pdf" target="_blank">six recommendations</a>, which included reducing the state’s dependency on federal funds, imposing stronger spending limits and conducting regular third-party efficiency audits.Kurt Couchman with Americans for Prosperity encouraged the committee to consider a comprehensive budget, in which all spending and revenues would be contained. That would allow lawmakers to make relative value judgements on different programs, he said.“It also would help provide more political cover to do the tough but necessary things,” Couchman said, including “pension reform.”Rep. Henry Helgerson, D-Eastborough, questioned the goals of the special committee and whether it was truly without partisan motivations.&nbsp;“The budget process should not be a partisan effort by one side or the other,” he told Kansas Reflector. “It should be based on good public policy.”Following the committee meeting, Helgerson said he’s interested in marrying the governor’s customary budget approach with the new legislative experiment while working toward limiting government growth and returning funds to Kansans. Citizens in his Sedgwick County district are struggling with the costs of gasoline, food and property taxes, according to a recent survey he conducted of his constituents.&nbsp;“Too many people are out there hurting,” he said.&nbsp;In Helgerson’s mind, a married approach means legislators examine the budget in November and December but still allow the governor to propose a primary budget in January.&nbsp;Republican leadership maintained that the procedural change isn’t fueled by partisan politics. Rep. Troy Waymaster, committee chairman and Republican from Bunker Hill, said his frustration with the budget process existed under Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration in addition to Kelly’s.“We can’t really do a deep dive into efficiencies and cost savings for the taxpayers of the state of Kansas,” Waymaster said.Hawkins said GOP leadership approached the governor last year to ask that she release the budget sooner.She released a few items, Hawkins said, “but not enough to make any difference.”Dylan Dear with the Kansas Legislative Research Department said the department will have to take on more work to carry out the committee’s vision. Briefing the committee while simultaneously drafting budget summaries will be a challenge, he said.Dear is one of few people who have early access to the governor’s budget recommendations, and he said Wednesday she requires him to sign a nondisclosure agreement.He also said the governor typically works on the budget up until “very close” to the beginning of the session.Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for the governor, said in an email that the governor’s “meticulously crafted budget proposals have reversed years of financial irresponsibility and instability.”“The governor’s budgets have fully funded our public schools, made historic investments in our transportation infrastructure and State Water Plan, and created a record budget surplus, while still cutting taxes for all Kansans,” Hoge said. “Although the Legislature has discussed changing the budget process, Kansans can trust that Governor Kelly will submit another commonsense, fiscally responsible budget proposal at the beginning of the 2025 session.”Hoge didn’t answer questions about legislators’ claims that the governor doesn’t give them enough time to conduct a deep dive on budget efficiencies and whether she sees the effort to create a new budget process as partisan.