SEDGWICK COUNTY —A funeral for Firefighter Ty Voth will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 9 at Hartman Arena, 8151 N Hartman Arena Drive in Park City, according to a statement from the city of Wichita.

Before the funeral, there will be a public viewing at 9 a.m. at Hartman Arena. Information on a memorial and other details are pending.

Voth, 27,&nbsp; a 5-year- veteran of the Wichita Fire Department died from&nbsp; injuries while fighting a fire at a home in the 9800 block of South Laura near Haysville August 1.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722607741656.png" alt="Ty Voth courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Ty Voth courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A funeral for Firefighter Ty Voth will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 9 at Hartman Arena, 8151 N Hartman Arena Drive in Park City, according to a statement from the city of Wichita.Before the funeral, there will be a public viewing at 9 a.m. at Hartman Arena. Information on a memorial and other details are pending.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722598520202.png" alt="Image from the dignified transported from the hospital on Friday-Wichita Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Image from the dignified transported from the hospital on Friday-Wichita Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>Voth, 27,&nbsp; a 5-year- veteran of the Wichita Fire Department died from&nbsp; injuries while fighting a fire at a home in the 9800 block of South Laura near Haysville August 1.

Funeral services announced for fallen Kansas firefighter

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;</a>

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two special prosecutors said Monday that they plan to file a criminal obstruction of justice charge against a former central Kansas police chief over his conduct following a raid last year on his town's newspaper.

In an lengthy report summarizing the findings of their investigation, the special prosecutors, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson, note that the staff of the newspaper that was raided, the Marion County Record, committed no crimes.

It wasn't clear whether they planned to charge former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody with a felony or a misdemeanor, and either is possible. The prosecutors also hadn't filed their criminal case as of Monday. It could be days before they file it because they were working with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which stepped in at the request of its Kansas counterpart.

There was no immediate response to a voicemail left at a possible cellphone number for Cody, and it wasn't clear who might be representing him in the potential criminal case. Attorneys defending Cody in federal lawsuits that were filed over the raid did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.

The prosecutors detailed events before, during and after the Aug. 11, 2023, raid on the Record and the home of its publisher, Eric Meyer. The report suggested that Marion police, who were led at the time by Cody, conducted a poor investigation that led them to “reach erroneous conclusions” that Meyer and reporter Phyllis Zorn had committed identity theft or other computer crimes.

But the prosecutors concluded that they have probable cause to believe that Cody obstructed an official judicial process. They said two pages of a written statement made by a business owner following the raid were not submitted to investigators with the rest of the statement in September 2023, about six weeks after the raid. Cody had accused Meyer and Zorn of identity theft and other computer crimes related to the business owner's driving record to get warrants for the raid.

The report also makes a passing reference to text messages between Cody and the business owner after the raid. The business owner has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-police-chief-resigns-e4ddf5a06defbb702bc23650827e53fd">Cody asked her to delete text messages</a>&nbsp;between them, fearing people could get wrong ideas about their relationship, which she said was professional and platonic.

“The findings will be incorporated into charges which will be sought in Marion County District Court,” the special prosecutors wrote in their report.

Bennett and Wilkerson concluded that neither Meyer nor Zorn committed any crimes in verifying information in the business owner’s driving record through a database available online from the state. Their report suggested Marion police conducted a poor investigation to “reach erroneous conclusions.”

The raid sparked a national debate about press freedoms focused on Marion, a town of about of about 1,900 people set among rolling prairie hills about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri. Cody resigned as chief in early October, weeks after officers were forced to return materials seized in the raid.

Meyer's 98-year-old mother Joan Meyer, who co-owned the paper and lived with him, died the day after the raid from a heart attack. Meyer attributed her death to the stress of the raid.

A felony obstruction charge could be punished by up to nine months in prison for a first-time offender, though the typical sentence would be 18 months or less on probation. A misdemeanor charge could result in up to a year in jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692219843330.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;</a>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two special prosecutors said Monday that they plan to file a criminal obstruction of justice charge against a former central Kansas police chief over his conduct following a raid last year on his town's newspaper.In an lengthy report summarizing the findings of their investigation, the special prosecutors, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson, note that the staff of the newspaper that was raided, the Marion County Record, committed no crimes.It wasn't clear whether they planned to charge former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody with a felony or a misdemeanor, and either is possible. The prosecutors also hadn't filed their criminal case as of Monday. It could be days before they file it because they were working with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which stepped in at the request of its Kansas counterpart.There was no immediate response to a voicemail left at a possible cellphone number for Cody, and it wasn't clear who might be representing him in the potential criminal case. Attorneys defending Cody in federal lawsuits that were filed over the raid did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment.The prosecutors detailed events before, during and after the Aug. 11, 2023, raid on the Record and the home of its publisher, Eric Meyer. The report suggested that Marion police, who were led at the time by Cody, conducted a poor investigation that led them to “reach erroneous conclusions” that Meyer and reporter Phyllis Zorn had committed identity theft or other computer crimes.But the prosecutors concluded that they have probable cause to believe that Cody obstructed an official judicial process. They said two pages of a written statement made by a business owner following the raid were not submitted to investigators with the rest of the statement in September 2023, about six weeks after the raid. Cody had accused Meyer and Zorn of identity theft and other computer crimes related to the business owner's driving record to get warrants for the raid.The report also makes a passing reference to text messages between Cody and the business owner after the raid. The business owner has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-police-chief-resigns-e4ddf5a06defbb702bc23650827e53fd">Cody asked her to delete text messages</a>&nbsp;between them, fearing people could get wrong ideas about their relationship, which she said was professional and platonic.“The findings will be incorporated into charges which will be sought in Marion County District Court,” the special prosecutors wrote in their report.Bennett and Wilkerson concluded that neither Meyer nor Zorn committed any crimes in verifying information in the business owner’s driving record through a database available online from the state. Their report suggested Marion police conducted a poor investigation to “reach erroneous conclusions.”The raid sparked a national debate about press freedoms focused on Marion, a town of about of about 1,900 people set among rolling prairie hills about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri. Cody resigned as chief in early October, weeks after officers were forced to return materials seized in the raid.Meyer's 98-year-old mother Joan Meyer, who co-owned the paper and lived with him, died the day after the raid from a heart attack. Meyer attributed her death to the stress of the raid.A felony obstruction charge could be punished by up to nine months in prison for a first-time offender, though the typical sentence would be 18 months or less on probation. A misdemeanor charge could result in up to a year in jail.

Prosecutors to charge former Kan. police chief over his conduct following newspaper raid

MCPHERSON COUNTY—A Kansas teen died in an accident just before 2a.m. Saturday in McPherson County.

According to the McPherson County Sheriff, a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Dalton Deist of McPherson was southbound in the 2500 Block of 6th Avenue just southeast of Marquette.

 The driver failed to negotiate a curve leading the vehicle off the road and striking several trees. There were no other injuries. The sheriff's office released no additional details.

MCPHERSON COUNTY—A Kansas teen died in an accident just before 2a.m. Saturday in McPherson County.According to the McPherson County Sheriff, a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Dalton Deist of McPherson was southbound in the 2500 Block of 6th Avenue just southeast of Marquette. The driver failed to negotiate a curve leading the vehicle off the road and striking several trees. There were no other injuries. The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Kansas teen dies after vehicle strikes several trees

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly mass shooting in Kansas City.

Just after 2a.m. Monday, police on patrol near&nbsp; 70th St. and Gregory Boulevard in Kansas City heard gunshots, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

A gunshot victim&nbsp; contacted the officers and was rushed to a nearby hospital.&nbsp; First responders found another shooting victim a short distance away who was pronounced deceased, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Investigators determined a large gathering turned violent following an argument between people in attendance. Several people engaged in gunfire, leaving behind dozens of bullet casings lying in the street.

Police do not know as of 8:15 a.m. how many people in total were there at the gathering, how many people had guns, and how many people fired shots.

EMS and private vehicles transported six to area hospitals, according to Gonzalez. She did not have details on the extent or type of injuries.

Police did not have anyone in custody and have not reported suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722853365490.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly mass shooting in Kansas City.Just after 2a.m. Monday, police on patrol near&nbsp; 70th St. and Gregory Boulevard in Kansas City heard gunshots, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.A gunshot victim&nbsp; contacted the officers and was rushed to a nearby hospital.&nbsp; First responders found another shooting victim a short distance away who was pronounced deceased, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722853345249.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators determined a large gathering turned violent following an argument between people in attendance. Several people engaged in gunfire, leaving behind dozens of bullet casings lying in the street.Police do not know as of 8:15 a.m. how many people in total were there at the gathering, how many people had guns, and how many people fired shots.No kids were present and involved.EMS and private vehicles transported six to area hospitals, according to Gonzalez. She did not have details on the extent or type of injuries.Police did not have anyone in custody and have not reported suspect information.

1 dead after mass shooting at gathering in Kansas City

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

TOPEKA — Former Attorney General Derek Schmidt continued to consolidate support in the Republican primary for the open 2nd District congressional seat by adding the endorsement of former GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer.

The support of Colyer was significant given that former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, who preceded Colyer as governor in Kansas, endorsed Republican candidate Jeff Kahrs in May. Kahrs served in the Brownback administration, and both Brownback and Kahrs were appointees in the administration of President Donald Trump.

Colyer, chairman of the Trump presidential campaign in Kansas, was elected lieutenant governor twice on the same ticket with Brownback. Colyer’s announcement less than one week before the Aug. 6 primary followed Trump’s endorsement of Schmidt.

“Derek Schmidt and I have been in the trenches together for years fighting for our conservative values and Kansas common sense,” Colyer said. “Republicans are coming together around Derek in this race.”

Colyer was sworn into office as governor in 2018 after Brownback resigned to become ambassador of religious freedom in the Trump administration. Colyer ran for a full term, but lost a close race for the GOP nomination to Kris Kobach. In that campaign, Trump endorsed Kobach. And, Kobach went on to lose the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly. She replaced Colyer in January 2019.

“Governor Colyer knows what it takes to be a conservative leader who gets things done, and I’m grateful to have his endorsement,” Schmidt said. “Kansas needs a conservative fighter in Congress who can help make a difference for America’s future.”

The eastern Kansas congressional seat is open because U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican from Topeka, decided not to seek reelection in 2024.

In addition to Schmidt and Kahrs, Republicans taking part in the primary can choose from among candidates Michael Ogle of Topeka, Sean Tiffany of&nbsp; and Chad Young of Lawrence. The Democratic Party primary is a race between Matt Kleinmann of Kansas City, Kansas, and Nancy Boyda of Baldwin City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722612803472.png" alt=" Former Kansas GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer, sitting with two-term Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, endorsed former Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the 2nd District primary election. Colyer's predecessor, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, endorsed GOP congressional candidate Jeff Kahrs in the Aug. 6 primary election. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Former Kansas GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer, sitting with two-term Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, endorsed former Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the 2nd District primary election. Colyer's predecessor, Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, endorsed GOP congressional candidate Jeff Kahrs in the Aug. 6 primary election. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Former Attorney General Derek Schmidt continued to consolidate support in the Republican primary for the open 2nd District congressional seat by adding the endorsement of former GOP Gov. Jeff Colyer.The support of Colyer was significant given that former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, who preceded Colyer as governor in Kansas, endorsed Republican candidate Jeff Kahrs in May. Kahrs served in the Brownback administration, and both Brownback and Kahrs were appointees in the administration of President Donald Trump.Colyer, chairman of the Trump presidential campaign in Kansas, was elected lieutenant governor twice on the same ticket with Brownback. Colyer’s announcement less than one week before the Aug. 6 primary followed Trump’s endorsement of Schmidt.“Derek Schmidt and I have been in the trenches together for years fighting for our conservative values and Kansas common sense,” Colyer said. “Republicans are coming together around Derek in this race.”Colyer was sworn into office as governor in 2018 after Brownback resigned to become ambassador of religious freedom in the Trump administration. Colyer ran for a full term, but lost a close race for the GOP nomination to Kris Kobach. In that campaign, Trump endorsed Kobach. And, Kobach went on to lose the general election to Democrat Laura Kelly. She replaced Colyer in January 2019.“Governor Colyer knows what it takes to be a conservative leader who gets things done, and I’m grateful to have his endorsement,” Schmidt said. “Kansas needs a conservative fighter in Congress who can help make a difference for America’s future.”The eastern Kansas congressional seat is open because U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican from Topeka, decided not to seek reelection in 2024.In addition to Schmidt and Kahrs, Republicans taking part in the primary can choose from among candidates Michael Ogle of Topeka, Sean Tiffany of&nbsp; and Chad Young of Lawrence. The Democratic Party primary is a race between Matt Kleinmann of Kansas City, Kansas, and Nancy Boyda of Baldwin City.

Former Kansas GOP governors split in 2nd District: Colyer for Schmidt, Brownback for Kahrs

SUMNER COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6p.m. Sunday in Sumner County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Toyota Crown driven by Cap Cung, 45, Clive, Iowa, was northbound in the southbound lanes of the Kansas Turnpike as the traveled from Bell Plaine service area.

The Toyota struck a 2013 Ford Explorer driven by&nbsp;Colby Choate, 36, Marshall, Oklahoma. After impact, a 2022 Honda Civic driven by&nbsp;Thomas Richter, 67, Edmond, Oklahoma and a 2025 Western Star semi driven by Jason Jones, 38,&nbsp;West Bay Springs, Mississippi, struck the Ford.

Colby was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Cung to Wesley Medical Center. The other drivers were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722855104429.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6p.m. Sunday in Sumner County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Toyota Crown driven by Cap Cung, 45, Clive, Iowa, was northbound in the southbound lanes of the Kansas Turnpike as the traveled from Bell Plaine service area.The Toyota struck a 2013 Ford Explorer driven by&nbsp;Colby Choate, 36, Marshall, Oklahoma. After impact, a 2022 Honda Civic driven by&nbsp;Thomas Richter, 67, Edmond, Oklahoma and a 2025 Western Star semi driven by Jason Jones, 38,&nbsp;West Bay Springs, Mississippi, struck the Ford.Colby was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Cung to Wesley Medical Center. The other drivers were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

1 dead after 4-vehicle wrong-way Kansas crash

KANSAS CITY —An Illinois man has been charged with a felony after he threatened on social media to shoot two individuals at the Morgan Wallen concert Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Aaron Brown, 23, of Winchester, Ill,&nbsp; faces a Class E felony of Making a Terroristic Threat in the 2nd Degree.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2409/ABrown_Redacted"> Click here to read the </a>complete charging documents.

According to court records, Kansas City police detectives and intelligence analysts in the Kansas City Fusion Center working at GEHA field at Arrowhead on Friday were monitoring threats at a planned concert when they observed on X (Twitter) threat against two individuals, who were members of the Kansas City Chiefs and were present at the event. 

Brown confirmed to police where he was located at Arrowhead. The concert was delayed for 40 minutes while Brown was located.

Brown was charged Saturday and a $15,000 bond was set.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722732498834.png" alt="Brown photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —An Illinois man has been charged with a felony after he threatened on social media to shoot two individuals at the Morgan Wallen concert Friday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Aaron Brown, 23, of Winchester, Ill,&nbsp; faces a Class E felony of Making a Terroristic Threat in the 2nd Degree.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2409/ABrown_Redacted"> Click here to read the </a>complete charging documents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722772141253.png" alt="A portion of the charging documents from the Jackson Co. Attorney's office" />
 <figcaption>A portion of the charging documents from the Jackson Co. Attorney's office</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court records, Kansas City police detectives and intelligence analysts in the Kansas City Fusion Center working at GEHA field at Arrowhead on Friday were monitoring threats at a planned concert when they observed on X (Twitter) threat against two individuals, who were members of the Kansas City Chiefs and were present at the event. Brown confirmed to police where he was located at Arrowhead. The concert was delayed for 40 minutes while Brown was located.Brown was charged Saturday and a $15,000 bond was set.

Read charging docs: Man threatened to shoot 2 KC Chiefs players at concert

ELLSWORTH COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol reported an out of this world vehicle traveling down Interstate 70 Saturday.

According to a social media report from Trooper Ben Gardner, "While patrolling in Ellsworth County, our very own Lieutenant Brown made a rather unusual observation. During a routine traffic stop, he noticed an unidentified object passing by his stopped patrol car on I-70 eastbound. Intrigued, he rewound his in-car camera footage and discovered what appeared to be a UFO flying saucer."

"What’s even more noteworthy is that this “UFO” slowed down and moved over, adhering to Kansas law by giving space to our law enforcement officers on the side of the highway."

"Apparently, the move over law is not just here on planet Earth, but in other solar systems far away as well."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722773107360.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol reported an out of this world vehicle traveling down Interstate 70 Saturday.According to a social media report from Trooper Ben Gardner, "While patrolling in Ellsworth County, our very own Lieutenant Brown made a rather unusual observation. During a routine traffic stop, he noticed an unidentified object passing by his stopped patrol car on I-70 eastbound. Intrigued, he rewound his in-car camera footage and discovered what appeared to be a UFO flying saucer.""What’s even more noteworthy is that this “UFO” slowed down and moved over, adhering to Kansas law by giving space to our law enforcement officers on the side of the highway.""Apparently, the move over law is not just here on planet Earth, but in other solar systems far away as well."

KHP reports 'UFO' on Interstate 70

FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement in southwest Kansas are investigating a deadly stabbing at a party in Garden City and have made two arrests.&nbsp;

Just before 3a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2600 block of Chainey Street in Garden City, according to a media release.

First responders found three people had been stabbed. The victims were transported to St. Catherine Hospital.&nbsp; One of the victims, identified as Xavier Castaneda, 20, later died. 

Through a collaborative investigation by the GCPD and Finney County Sheriff’s Office, it was revealed that a fight broke out during a party and&nbsp; 20-year-old&nbsp;Fernando Sandoval stabbed the three victims.

 Sandoval and 21-year-old&nbsp;Ximena Sanchez-Espinoza fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. 

Sandoval and Sanchez-Espinoza were later located in Hugoton and taken into custody, with the assistance of the Hugoton Police Department and Dodge City Police Department.

Sandoval is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Murder in the Second Degree, multiple counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and multiple counts of Aggravated Battery.

Sanchez-Espinoza is being held in the Finney County jail on a requested charge of Obstruction. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722864997643.png" alt="Sandoval photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Sandoval photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement in southwest Kansas are investigating a deadly stabbing at a party in Garden City and have made two arrests.&nbsp;Just before 3a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a stabbing in the 2600 block of Chainey Street in Garden City, according to a media release.First responders found three people had been stabbed. The victims were transported to St. Catherine Hospital.&nbsp; One of the victims, identified as Xavier Castaneda, 20, later died. Through a collaborative investigation by the GCPD and Finney County Sheriff’s Office, it was revealed that a fight broke out during a party and&nbsp; 20-year-old&nbsp;Fernando Sandoval stabbed the three victims. Sandoval and 21-year-old&nbsp;Ximena Sanchez-Espinoza fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. Sandoval and Sanchez-Espinoza were later located in Hugoton and taken into custody, with the assistance of the Hugoton Police Department and Dodge City Police Department.Sandoval is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Murder in the Second Degree, multiple counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and multiple counts of Aggravated Battery.Sanchez-Espinoza is being held in the Finney County jail on a requested charge of Obstruction.

Police ID victim in deadly SW Kansas party stabbing

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel is already in a “multi-front war” with Iran and its proxies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday, as the United States and allies prepared to defend Israel from an expected counterstrike and prevent an even more destructive regional conflict.

Tensions have soared following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">nearly 10 months of war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;and the killing last week of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-strike-beirut-52c2a1711e274859b60daf8d2db3e0e2">senior Hezbollah commander</a>&nbsp;in Lebanon and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hamas-israel-30968a7acb31cd8b259de9650014b779">Hamas’ top political leader</a>&nbsp;in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas says it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader.

Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan's foreign minister was making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-jordan-israel-hezbollah-hamas-us-tensions-732e70e991115364141d7a16e0cc7475">a rare trip to Iran</a>&nbsp;as part of diplomatic efforts — “We want the escalation to end,” Ayman Safadi said — while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-israel-iran-hamas-hezbollah-418a990ab69cb766e126c60dbaebedb3">Pentagon has moved significant assets</a>&nbsp;to the region.

“We are doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not boil over,” White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told ABC.

In Israel, some prepared bomb shelters and recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">Iran's unprecedented direct military assault in April</a>&nbsp;following a suspected Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals. Israel said almost all the drones and ballistic and cruise missiles were intercepted.

A stabbing attack on Sunday near Tel Aviv killed a woman in her 70s and an 80-year-old man, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service, and two others were wounded. The police said the attack was carried out by a Palestinian militant, who was “neutralized.”

Inside Gaza, the Health Ministry said at least 25 people were killed and 19 others injured when Israel struck two schools in Gaza City. AP video showed at least one child among the dead. Israel's military, which regularly accuses Palestinian militants of sheltering in civilian areas, said it hit Hamas command centers.

“As you can see, there is no equipment to recover the injured. Rescuers are digging with their hands,” said one man, Yusuf Al-Mashharawi.

Earlier, Israeli strikes killed at least 18 people. One hit a tent camp for thousands of displaced Palestinians in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, killing four people, including one woman, the Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it targeted a Palestinian militant in the strike, which it said caused secondary explosions, "indicating the presence of weaponry in the area.”

The hospital in Deir al-Balah is the main medical facility operating in central Gaza as many others in the territory no longer function. A separate strike on a home near Deir al-Balah killed a girl and her parents, according to the hospital.

Another strike flattened a house in northern Gaza, killing at least eight, including three children, their parents and their grandmother, according to the Health Ministry. Another three people were killed in a strike on a vehicle in Gaza City, according to Civil Defense first responders.

Palestinian militants in Gaza fired at least five projectiles at Israeli communities near the border without causing casualties or damage, the military said. The military later told people in some parts of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis to evacuate.

The Health Ministry also said an Israeli strike on Saturday at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City killed at least 16 people. Israel’s military said it struck a Hamas command center.

The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 people hostage.

Israel's massive offensive in response has killed at least 39,580 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Heavy airstrikes and ground operations have caused widespread destruction and displaced the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million people, often multiple times.

The militant group Hezbollah and Israel have continued to trade fire along the Lebanon border since the war began, with the severity growing in recent months. The Lebanese state-run National News Agency said an Israeli strike targeted a house in Beit Lef, and the Lebanese Health Ministry said two people were critically wounded.

Hezbollah says it's aimed at relieving pressure on fellow Iran-backed ally Hamas. A growing number of countries, including the U.S., are encouraging citizens to leave Lebanon after last week's killing of a senior commander.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722801011505.png" alt="An F-15E Strike Eagle takes off from an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility -File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>An F-15E Strike Eagle takes off from an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility -File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel is already in a “multi-front war” with Iran and its proxies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday, as the United States and allies prepared to defend Israel from an expected counterstrike and prevent an even more destructive regional conflict.Tensions have soared following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">nearly 10 months of war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;and the killing last week of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-strike-beirut-52c2a1711e274859b60daf8d2db3e0e2">senior Hezbollah commander</a>&nbsp;in Lebanon and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-hamas-israel-30968a7acb31cd8b259de9650014b779">Hamas’ top political leader</a>&nbsp;in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas says it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader.Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan's foreign minister was making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-jordan-israel-hezbollah-hamas-us-tensions-732e70e991115364141d7a16e0cc7475">a rare trip to Iran</a>&nbsp;as part of diplomatic efforts — “We want the escalation to end,” Ayman Safadi said — while the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-israel-iran-hamas-hezbollah-418a990ab69cb766e126c60dbaebedb3">Pentagon has moved significant assets</a>&nbsp;to the region.“We are doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not boil over,” White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told ABC.In Israel, some prepared bomb shelters and recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">Iran's unprecedented direct military assault in April</a>&nbsp;following a suspected Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals. Israel said almost all the drones and ballistic and cruise missiles were intercepted.A stabbing attack on Sunday near Tel Aviv killed a woman in her 70s and an 80-year-old man, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service, and two others were wounded. The police said the attack was carried out by a Palestinian militant, who was “neutralized.”Inside Gaza, the Health Ministry said at least 25 people were killed and 19 others injured when Israel struck two schools in Gaza City. AP video showed at least one child among the dead. Israel's military, which regularly accuses Palestinian militants of sheltering in civilian areas, said it hit Hamas command centers.“As you can see, there is no equipment to recover the injured. Rescuers are digging with their hands,” said one man, Yusuf Al-Mashharawi.Earlier, Israeli strikes killed at least 18 people. One hit a tent camp for thousands of displaced Palestinians in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, killing four people, including one woman, the Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it targeted a Palestinian militant in the strike, which it said caused secondary explosions, "indicating the presence of weaponry in the area.”The hospital in Deir al-Balah is the main medical facility operating in central Gaza as many others in the territory no longer function. A separate strike on a home near Deir al-Balah killed a girl and her parents, according to the hospital.Another strike flattened a house in northern Gaza, killing at least eight, including three children, their parents and their grandmother, according to the Health Ministry. Another three people were killed in a strike on a vehicle in Gaza City, according to Civil Defense first responders.Palestinian militants in Gaza fired at least five projectiles at Israeli communities near the border without causing casualties or damage, the military said. The military later told people in some parts of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis to evacuate.The Health Ministry also said an Israeli strike on Saturday at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City killed at least 16 people. Israel’s military said it struck a Hamas command center.The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 people hostage.Israel's massive offensive in response has killed at least 39,580 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Heavy airstrikes and ground operations have caused widespread destruction and displaced the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million people, often multiple times.The militant group Hezbollah and Israel have continued to trade fire along the Lebanon border since the war began, with the severity growing in recent months. The Lebanese state-run National News Agency said an Israeli strike targeted a house in Beit Lef, and the Lebanese Health Ministry said two people were critically wounded.Hezbollah says it's aimed at relieving pressure on fellow Iran-backed ally Hamas. A growing number of countries, including the U.S., are encouraging citizens to leave Lebanon after last week's killing of a senior commander.___

US, allies prepare to defend Israel in 'multi-front war' with Iran

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas felon is going back to prison for child sex crimes.

This week, George Joseph Burgess Jr., 45, was sentenced to serve 618 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for one count of rape followed by 25 years for a second rape conviction, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

&nbsp;In January a jury convicted Burgess of two counts of rape and six counts of indecent liberties with a child.

Charges stemmed from incidents that occurred between January 1, 2017 and February 7, 2019 when the child was between 6 and 8 years old.&nbsp;

“The young survivor showed exceptional grace and courage while testifying against her perpetrator particularly during intense questioning by the defense,” District Attorney Valdez said. “We are committed to seeking justice for victims of sexual violence and ensuring the safety of all children in our community.”&nbsp; Burgess has a previous conviction for burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718462614249.png" alt="Burgess photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Burgess photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas felon is going back to prison for child sex crimes.This week, George Joseph Burgess Jr., 45, was sentenced to serve 618 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for one count of rape followed by 25 years for a second rape conviction, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.&nbsp;In January a jury convicted Burgess of two counts of rape and six counts of indecent liberties with a child.Charges stemmed from incidents that occurred between January 1, 2017 and February 7, 2019 when the child was between 6 and 8 years old.&nbsp;“The young survivor showed exceptional grace and courage while testifying against her perpetrator particularly during intense questioning by the defense,” District Attorney Valdez said. “We are committed to seeking justice for victims of sexual violence and ensuring the safety of all children in our community.”&nbsp; Burgess has a previous conviction for burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

DA: Young survivor showed courage testifying against her perpetrator 

HARPER COUNTY —The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Harper, Kansas, man.

&nbsp;David L. Reese, 73,&nbsp;&nbsp;is believed to be driving a white Chevy Silverado bearing Kansas tag 885NEW.

Reese was last seen on Thursday evening, Aug. 1, but investigators believe he was driving southbound on U.S. Highway 281 near Medicine Lodge, on Friday morning around 7:40 a.m. 

 Reese is a white male who is 5-feet-11 inches tall and weighs around 250 pounds. He has brown eyes, a white beard, and is balding. 

He may be traveling with a chocolate Labrador retriever, and is likely wearing a baseball cap. Reese has diabetes, anxiety, and a condition impairing cognition and memory. 

If you see David Reese or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Harper Police Department at (620) 842-3830.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722706150273.png" alt="David Reese courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>David Reese courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>HARPER COUNTY —The Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Harper, Kansas, man.&nbsp;David L. Reese, 73,&nbsp;&nbsp;is believed to be driving a white Chevy Silverado bearing Kansas tag 885NEW.Reese was last seen on Thursday evening, Aug. 1, but investigators believe he was driving southbound on U.S. Highway 281 near Medicine Lodge, on Friday morning around 7:40 a.m. Reese is a white male who is 5-feet-11 inches tall and weighs around 250 pounds. He has brown eyes, a white beard, and is balding. He may be traveling with a chocolate Labrador retriever, and is likely wearing a baseball cap. Reese has diabetes, anxiety, and a condition impairing cognition and memory. If you see David Reese or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Harper Police Department at (620) 842-3830.

KBI: Silver Alert continues for missing Kansas man

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —A Kansas man remains jailed for altercation that led to a man's death.

On July 26, police issued a warrant for the arrest of 41-year-old Ryan J. McCullough of Neodesha in connection with the death of 63-year-old David L. Wintjen of Coffeyville, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

On May 5, McCullough was involved in an altercation with Wintjen who died a few days later, according to the sheriff's office. After a thorough investigation by Coffeyville police, authorities made an arrest.

McCullough remains jailed on charges of Murder in the 2nd degree.Unintentional but reckless, Aggravated battery and Knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722425559031.png" alt="McCullough-photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>McCullough-photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —A Kansas man remains jailed for altercation that led to a man's death.On July 26, police issued a warrant for the arrest of 41-year-old Ryan J. McCullough of Neodesha in connection with the death of 63-year-old David L. Wintjen of Coffeyville, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.On May 5, McCullough was involved in an altercation with Wintjen who died a few days later, according to the sheriff's office. After a thorough investigation by Coffeyville police, authorities made an arrest.McCullough remains jailed on charges of Murder in the 2nd degree.Unintentional but reckless, Aggravated battery and Knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement.

Kansas man accused of altercation that led to man's death

WASHINGTON (AP) — New blood tests could help doctors diagnose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-drug-kisunla-leqembi-donanemab-fd804c1271ae185a62f080e072d21698">Alzheimer’s</a>&nbsp;disease faster and more accurately, researchers reported Sunday – but some appear to work far better than others.

It’s tricky to tell if memory problems are caused by Alzheimer’s. That requires confirming one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-dementia-amyloid-tau-b31db4ce15caf8b5c9c722b6240b2951">disease’s hallmark signs</a>&nbsp;— buildup of a sticky protein called beta-amyloid — with a hard-to-get brain scan or uncomfortable spinal tap. Many patients instead are diagnosed based on symptoms and cognitive exams.

Labs have begun offering a variety of tests that can detect certain signs of Alzheimer's in blood. Scientists are excited by their potential but the tests aren't widely used yet because there's little data to guide doctors about which kind to order and when. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't formally approved any of them and there's little insurance coverage.

“What tests can we trust?” asked Dr. Suzanne Schindler, a neurologist at Washington University in St. Louis who’s part of a research project examining that. While some are very accurate, “other tests are not much better than a flip of a coin.”

Demand for earlier Alzheimer's diagnosis is increasing

More than 6 million people in the United States and millions more around the world have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. Its telltale “biomarkers” are brain-clogging amyloid plaques and abnormal tau protein that leads to neuron-killing tangles.

New drugs,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alzheimer-leqembi-slow-start-f9022b85b16cc6de4491594ce875657b">Leqembi</a>&nbsp;and Kisunla, can modestly slow worsening symptoms by removing gunky amyloid from the brain. But they only work in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s and proving patients qualify in time can be difficult. Measuring amyloid in spinal fluid is invasive. A special PET scan to spot plaques is costly and getting an appointment can take months.

Even specialists can struggle to tell if Alzheimer’s or something else is to blame for a patient’s symptoms.

“I have patients not infrequently who I am convinced have Alzheimer’s disease and I do testing and it’s negative,” Schindler said.

New study suggests blood tests for Alzheimer’s can be simpler and faster

Blood tests so far have been used mostly in carefully controlled research settings. But a new study of about 1,200 patients in Sweden shows they also can work in the real-world bustle of doctors' offices — especially primary care doctors who see far more people with memory problems than specialists but have fewer tools to evaluate them.

In the study, patients who visited either a primary care doctor or a specialist for memory complaints got an initial diagnosis using traditional exams, gave blood for testing and were sent for a confirmatory spinal tap or brain scan.

Blood testing was far more accurate, Lund University researchers reported Sunday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Philadelphia. The primary care doctors' initial diagnosis was 61% accurate and the specialists' 73% — but the blood test was 91% accurate, according to the findings, which also were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Which blood tests for Alzheimer’s work best?

There’s almost “a wild West” in the variety being offered, said Dr. John Hsiao of the National Institute on Aging. They measure different biomarkers, in different ways.

Doctors and researchers should only use blood tests proven to have a greater than 90% accuracy rate, said Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo.

Today's tests most likely to meet that benchmark measure what’s called p-tau217, Carrillo and Hsiao agreed. Schindler helped lead an unusual direct comparison of several kinds of blood tests, funded by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, that came to the same conclusion.

That type of test measures a form of tau that correlates with how much plaque buildup someone has, Schindler explained. A high level signals a strong likelihood the person has Alzheimer’s while a low level indicates that’s probably not the cause of memory loss.

Several companies are developing p-tau217 tests including ALZpath Inc., Roche, Eli Lilly and C2N Diagnostics, which supplied the version used in the Swedish study.

Who should use blood tests for Alzheimer’s?

Only doctors can order them from labs. The Alzheimer’s Association is working on guidelines and several companies plan to seek FDA approval, which would clarify proper use.

For now, Carrillo said doctors should use blood testing only in people with memory problems, after checking the accuracy of the type they order.

Especially for primary care physicians, “it really has great potential to help them in sorting out who to give a reassuring message and who to send on to memory specialists,” said Dr. Sebastian Palmqvist of Lund University, who led the Swedish study with Lund’s Dr. Oskar Hansson.

The tests aren't yet for people who don't have symptoms but worry about Alzheimer's in the family — unless it's part of enrollment in research studies, Schindler stressed.

That's partly because amyloid buildup can begin two decades before the first sign of memory problems, and so far there are no preventive steps other than basic advice to eat healthy, exercise and get enough sleep. But there are studies underway testing possible therapies for people at high risk of Alzheimer's, and some include blood testing.

WASHINGTON (AP) — New blood tests could help doctors diagnose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-drug-kisunla-leqembi-donanemab-fd804c1271ae185a62f080e072d21698">Alzheimer’s</a>&nbsp;disease faster and more accurately, researchers reported Sunday – but some appear to work far better than others.It’s tricky to tell if memory problems are caused by Alzheimer’s. That requires confirming one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alzheimers-dementia-amyloid-tau-b31db4ce15caf8b5c9c722b6240b2951">disease’s hallmark signs</a>&nbsp;— buildup of a sticky protein called beta-amyloid — with a hard-to-get brain scan or uncomfortable spinal tap. Many patients instead are diagnosed based on symptoms and cognitive exams.Labs have begun offering a variety of tests that can detect certain signs of Alzheimer's in blood. Scientists are excited by their potential but the tests aren't widely used yet because there's little data to guide doctors about which kind to order and when. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hasn't formally approved any of them and there's little insurance coverage.“What tests can we trust?” asked Dr. Suzanne Schindler, a neurologist at Washington University in St. Louis who’s part of a research project examining that. While some are very accurate, “other tests are not much better than a flip of a coin.”<h2>Demand for earlier Alzheimer's diagnosis is increasing</h2>More than 6 million people in the United States and millions more around the world have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia. Its telltale “biomarkers” are brain-clogging amyloid plaques and abnormal tau protein that leads to neuron-killing tangles.New drugs,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alzheimer-leqembi-slow-start-f9022b85b16cc6de4491594ce875657b">Leqembi</a>&nbsp;and Kisunla, can modestly slow worsening symptoms by removing gunky amyloid from the brain. But they only work in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s and proving patients qualify in time can be difficult. Measuring amyloid in spinal fluid is invasive. A special PET scan to spot plaques is costly and getting an appointment can take months.Even specialists can struggle to tell if Alzheimer’s or something else is to blame for a patient’s symptoms.“I have patients not infrequently who I am convinced have Alzheimer’s disease and I do testing and it’s negative,” Schindler said.<h2>New study suggests blood tests for Alzheimer’s can be simpler and faster</h2>Blood tests so far have been used mostly in carefully controlled research settings. But a new study of about 1,200 patients in Sweden shows they also can work in the real-world bustle of doctors' offices — especially primary care doctors who see far more people with memory problems than specialists but have fewer tools to evaluate them.In the study, patients who visited either a primary care doctor or a specialist for memory complaints got an initial diagnosis using traditional exams, gave blood for testing and were sent for a confirmatory spinal tap or brain scan.Blood testing was far more accurate, Lund University researchers reported Sunday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Philadelphia. The primary care doctors' initial diagnosis was 61% accurate and the specialists' 73% — but the blood test was 91% accurate, according to the findings, which also were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.<h2>Which blood tests for Alzheimer’s work best?</h2>There’s almost “a wild West” in the variety being offered, said Dr. John Hsiao of the National Institute on Aging. They measure different biomarkers, in different ways.Doctors and researchers should only use blood tests proven to have a greater than 90% accuracy rate, said Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo.Today's tests most likely to meet that benchmark measure what’s called p-tau217, Carrillo and Hsiao agreed. Schindler helped lead an unusual direct comparison of several kinds of blood tests, funded by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, that came to the same conclusion.That type of test measures a form of tau that correlates with how much plaque buildup someone has, Schindler explained. A high level signals a strong likelihood the person has Alzheimer’s while a low level indicates that’s probably not the cause of memory loss.Several companies are developing p-tau217 tests including ALZpath Inc., Roche, Eli Lilly and C2N Diagnostics, which supplied the version used in the Swedish study.<h2>Who should use blood tests for Alzheimer’s?</h2>Only doctors can order them from labs. The Alzheimer’s Association is working on guidelines and several companies plan to seek FDA approval, which would clarify proper use.For now, Carrillo said doctors should use blood testing only in people with memory problems, after checking the accuracy of the type they order.Especially for primary care physicians, “it really has great potential to help them in sorting out who to give a reassuring message and who to send on to memory specialists,” said Dr. Sebastian Palmqvist of Lund University, who led the Swedish study with Lund’s Dr. Oskar Hansson.The tests aren't yet for people who don't have symptoms but worry about Alzheimer's in the family — unless it's part of enrollment in research studies, Schindler stressed.That's partly because amyloid buildup can begin two decades before the first sign of memory problems, and so far there are no preventive steps other than basic advice to eat healthy, exercise and get enough sleep. But there are studies underway testing possible therapies for people at high risk of Alzheimer's, and some include blood testing.

New blood test can help diagnose Alzheimer's faster, more accurately

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

The ACLU of Kansas will provide a statewide voter assistance hotline for the 2024 primary and general elections, staffed by lawyers and on-site poll monitors to help voters with any issues or concerns.&nbsp;

The hotline offers assistance in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Tagalog. Voters who call 1-866-OUR-VOTE will be connected with an attorney, thanks to a partnership with Kansas City law firm Stinson Leonard Street.&nbsp;

“Most of the issues we anticipate could be as simple as someone at the wrong polling location because they moved and didn’t update their information,” said staff attorney Kunyu Ching in a news release. “Historically, we’ve resolved the vast majority of calls quickly. In those cases, voters benefitted from just talking to one of our trained hotline attorneys about the next step they could take to make sure their votes counted.”

This is the ACLU’s sixth year providing the service. Calls are logged, tracked for trends and flagged for follow-up.&nbsp;

In August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/02/kansas-voters-defeat-abortion-amendment-in-unexpected-landslide-1/">when the Kansasabortion amendment was on the ballot</a>, the hotline reported that multiple voters were turned away from a polling location in Maize. They were in line before 7 p.m., meaning they were legally allowed to vote. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksn.com/news/your-local-election-hq/maize-recreation-center-polling-location-makes-wrong-decision-in-telling-voters-to-leave/" target="_blank">Dawn Johanson for KSNT</a>, a line of voters was wrapped around the building. Johanson said an election worker told the voters in line that computers were down and they needed to go to a different polling location.&nbsp;

The Mazie voters contacted the election protection hotline, which resulted in the county releasing a statement that night saying election workers “did not have the authority to make this decision.” Those&nbsp; who were turned away voted provisionally at a different polling location.

Ching, leads the hotline, said the ACLU is prepared to address serious issues. The primary Aug. 6 will come just days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/01/judge-clears-way-for-civic-groups-to-resume-voter-registration-drives/">judge cleared the way</a>&nbsp;for civic groups to resume voter registration.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, Micah Kubic, executive director for the Kansas ACLU, told&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/12/kansans-arent-having-it-aclu-loud-light-talk-state-elections-restrictions/">Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;about multiple bills from theKansas legislative session that could prevent people from voting. He referenced former president Donald Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen from him as a reason.&nbsp;

“Amidst heightened attacks from the Legislature on our right to vote as well as a barrage of politicized rhetoric aimed at undermining faith in our election, the ACLU of Kansas remains determined to ensure that every vote counts and that voters have the assistance they need – because citizens actually participating makes our democracy stronger,” Kubic said in the news release.&nbsp;

Hotline calls will be answered live on the primary and general election days, and during weeks leading up to the elections during business hours.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722612986208.png" alt="Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, talks democratic needs. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas, talks democratic needs. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> The ACLU of Kansas will provide a statewide voter assistance hotline for the 2024 primary and general elections, staffed by lawyers and on-site poll monitors to help voters with any issues or concerns.&nbsp;The hotline offers assistance in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and Tagalog. Voters who call 1-866-OUR-VOTE will be connected with an attorney, thanks to a partnership with Kansas City law firm Stinson Leonard Street.&nbsp;“Most of the issues we anticipate could be as simple as someone at the wrong polling location because they moved and didn’t update their information,” said staff attorney Kunyu Ching in a news release. “Historically, we’ve resolved the vast majority of calls quickly. In those cases, voters benefitted from just talking to one of our trained hotline attorneys about the next step they could take to make sure their votes counted.”This is the ACLU’s sixth year providing the service. Calls are logged, tracked for trends and flagged for follow-up.&nbsp;In August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/08/02/kansas-voters-defeat-abortion-amendment-in-unexpected-landslide-1/">when the Kansasabortion amendment was on the ballot</a>, the hotline reported that multiple voters were turned away from a polling location in Maize. They were in line before 7 p.m., meaning they were legally allowed to vote. According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksn.com/news/your-local-election-hq/maize-recreation-center-polling-location-makes-wrong-decision-in-telling-voters-to-leave/" target="_blank">Dawn Johanson for KSNT</a>, a line of voters was wrapped around the building. Johanson said an election worker told the voters in line that computers were down and they needed to go to a different polling location.&nbsp;The Mazie voters contacted the election protection hotline, which resulted in the county releasing a statement that night saying election workers “did not have the authority to make this decision.” Those&nbsp; who were turned away voted provisionally at a different polling location.Ching, leads the hotline, said the ACLU is prepared to address serious issues. The primary Aug. 6 will come just days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/01/judge-clears-way-for-civic-groups-to-resume-voter-registration-drives/">judge cleared the way</a>&nbsp;for civic groups to resume voter registration.&nbsp;Earlier this year, Micah Kubic, executive director for the Kansas ACLU, told&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/02/12/kansans-arent-having-it-aclu-loud-light-talk-state-elections-restrictions/">Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;about multiple bills from theKansas legislative session that could prevent people from voting. He referenced former president Donald Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen from him as a reason.&nbsp;“Amidst heightened attacks from the Legislature on our right to vote as well as a barrage of politicized rhetoric aimed at undermining faith in our election, the ACLU of Kansas remains determined to ensure that every vote counts and that voters have the assistance they need – because citizens actually participating makes our democracy stronger,” Kubic said in the news release.&nbsp;Hotline calls will be answered live on the primary and general election days, and during weeks leading up to the elections during business hours.

Kansas ACLU offers voter assistance hotline for primary and general elections

HAMILTON COUNTY—Law enforcement across Kansas continue to&nbsp; see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit. Despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding. 

Last week, the Hamilton County Kansas Sheriff’s Office reported a traffic stop on Kansas 27 Highway where the driver was traveling 136 mph in a 65 mph zone.

As of July 22, 2024, KHP troopers have issued 1,501 citations for speeds greater than 100 mph, according to a social media report. Over the past four years the Kansas Highway Patrol&nbsp;issued over 12,000 tickets for drivers going over 100 miles per hour.

The Hamilton County Sheriff asked drivers to&nbsp;"Please slow down even if you’re late to work."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722480066970.png" alt="Photo Hamilton Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Hamilton Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>HAMILTON COUNTY—Law enforcement across Kansas continue to&nbsp; see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit. Despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding. Last week, the Hamilton County Kansas Sheriff’s Office reported a traffic stop on Kansas 27 Highway where the driver was traveling 136 mph in a 65 mph zone.As of July 22, 2024, KHP troopers have issued 1,501 citations for speeds greater than 100 mph, according to a social media report. Over the past four years the Kansas Highway Patrol&nbsp;issued over 12,000 tickets for drivers going over 100 miles per hour.The Hamilton County Sheriff asked drivers to&nbsp;"Please slow down even if you’re late to work."

Sheriff: Driver was traveling 71 mph over speed limit in Kansas

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ADRIANA%20GOMEZ%20LICON%20and%20AMELIA%20THOMSON-DEVEAUX%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press</a>

Most Americans have doubts about the Secret Service's ability to keep presidential candidates safe after last month's attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life, a new poll from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;finds.

Only around 3 in 10 Americans are extremely or very confident that the Secret Service can keep the presidential candidates safe from violence before the election, according to the poll. The survey also found that about 7 in 10 Americans think the Secret Service bears at least a moderate amount of responsibility for the assassination attempt.

The law enforcement agency tasked with protecting presidents for more than a century is under intense scrutiny after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/secret-service-trump-rally-4e3415b1461f5acefbc8e1fadad0375b">gunman got within 150 yards of Trump</a>&nbsp;and fired several bullets from an AR-style rifle. Trump was injured in one ear but was millimeters away from being killed.

The poll was conducted after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/secret-service-director-trump-rally-8b1b13cece2ff25590c81093032dceb4">resignation of director Kimberly Cheatle</a>, who faced intense questioning at a congressional hearing that was broadcast live last week and in which she gave evasive answers. The new acting director Ronald Rowe said earlier this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-secret-service-a382e3ec081dd13e85eaa9e726cca02c">he was “ashamed”</a>&nbsp;after the July 13 attack in Butler, Pennsylvania, saying he considered it indefensible that the roof used by the gunman was not secured.

During a news conference Friday, Rowe acknowledged the agency’s loss of trust from the American people. He said people generally only know about the agency’s failures — not its successes. He praised the agency’s staff who are quietly “working in the background” to protect political rallies, inauguration day and other events.

“We will earn back your trust,” he vowed.

The poll revealed that Americans were most likely to say that political division in the U.S. had “a great deal” of responsibility for the assassination attempt.

Half of U.S. adults say that, while about 4 in 10 say the Secret Service bears a high level of responsibility, and about 4 in 10 say the widespread availability of guns is greatly responsible.

Democrats were far more likely to blame the availability of guns while Republicans were more likely to blame the Secret Service.

Roger Berg, a 70-year-old farmer from Keota, Iowa, is planning to vote for Trump, the Republican nominee, in November. But he expressed discontent about Republicans blaming President Joe Biden for issues he thought Biden had no control over. Biden ended his reelection bid eight days after the shooting and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, now the likely Democratic nominee.

“The people that are making everything about politics, I wish they would just quit,” Berg said. “They pin it all on Biden, and I don’t believe in that.”

Democrats, meanwhile, are substantially more likely than independents or Republicans to say the availability of guns bears a great deal of responsibility. Six in 10 Democrats say this, compared to about one-third of independents and 15% of Republicans.

Republican respondents were more likely than independents and Democrats to blame the Secret Service: About half of Republicans think the Secret Service has a great deal of responsibility, compared to around 4 in 10 Democrats and independents.

George Velasco, a 65-year-old Navy veteran from Tucson, Arizona, said he thought both the Secret Service and local law enforcement were to blame along with poor communication and a lack of proper planning. The Secret Service’s acting director said earlier this week that it was regrettable that local law enforcement had not alerted his agency before the shooting that an armed subject had been spotted on a roof, while also recognizing the Secret Service assumed that state and local police had presence.

“It was as if the Secret Service expected those guys to know what they had to do,” Velasco said. “It was a very small area, a small town. How did they expect them to know how to prepare for something huge like that rally?”

The poll found that half of Americans think local law enforcement in Pennsylvania had at least a moderate amount of responsibility for the assassination attempt, although only about 2 in 10 said it had “a great deal” of responsibility.

The Secret Service was first created as part of the Treasury Department to investigate the counterfeiting of U.S. currency during the Civil War. The agency began informally protecting presidents in 1894, according to the its records. Congress requested Secret Service protection of U.S. presidents after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901.

Protection was extended to the president's immediate family, presidents-elect and vice presidents after a White House police officer was shot and killed while protecting President Harry S. Truman in 1950. It was later extended to former presidents in 1965. After the 1968 assassination of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination, Congress authorized protection of major presidential and vice presidential candidates.

About one-third of Americans are extremely or very confident that the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, will conduct a full and fair investigation of the assassination attempt, while about one-third are somewhat confident and about 3 in 10 are not very confident or not at all confident.

The poll of 1143 adults was conducted July 25-29, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720953321409.png" alt="File photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ADRIANA%20GOMEZ%20LICON%20and%20AMELIA%20THOMSON-DEVEAUX%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX Associated Press</a>Most Americans have doubts about the Secret Service's ability to keep presidential candidates safe after last month's attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life, a new poll from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/">Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;finds.Only around 3 in 10 Americans are extremely or very confident that the Secret Service can keep the presidential candidates safe from violence before the election, according to the poll. The survey also found that about 7 in 10 Americans think the Secret Service bears at least a moderate amount of responsibility for the assassination attempt.The law enforcement agency tasked with protecting presidents for more than a century is under intense scrutiny after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/secret-service-trump-rally-4e3415b1461f5acefbc8e1fadad0375b">gunman got within 150 yards of Trump</a>&nbsp;and fired several bullets from an AR-style rifle. Trump was injured in one ear but was millimeters away from being killed.The poll was conducted after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/secret-service-director-trump-rally-8b1b13cece2ff25590c81093032dceb4">resignation of director Kimberly Cheatle</a>, who faced intense questioning at a congressional hearing that was broadcast live last week and in which she gave evasive answers. The new acting director Ronald Rowe said earlier this week that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-secret-service-a382e3ec081dd13e85eaa9e726cca02c">he was “ashamed”</a>&nbsp;after the July 13 attack in Butler, Pennsylvania, saying he considered it indefensible that the roof used by the gunman was not secured.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe: &quot;The Secret Service takes full responsibility for the tragic events of July 13th.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PcYQX1kEqQ">pic.twitter.com/PcYQX1kEqQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1819436676768239780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>During a news conference Friday, Rowe acknowledged the agency’s loss of trust from the American people. He said people generally only know about the agency’s failures — not its successes. He praised the agency’s staff who are quietly “working in the background” to protect political rallies, inauguration day and other events.“We will earn back your trust,” he vowed.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe: &quot;In no way should any state or local agency supporting us in Butler on July 13th be held responsible for a Secret Service failure.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xFGfAE81DI">pic.twitter.com/xFGfAE81DI</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1819436815733960996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The poll revealed that Americans were most likely to say that political division in the U.S. had “a great deal” of responsibility for the assassination attempt.Half of U.S. adults say that, while about 4 in 10 say the Secret Service bears a high level of responsibility, and about 4 in 10 say the widespread availability of guns is greatly responsible.Democrats were far more likely to blame the availability of guns while Republicans were more likely to blame the Secret Service.Roger Berg, a 70-year-old farmer from Keota, Iowa, is planning to vote for Trump, the Republican nominee, in November. But he expressed discontent about Republicans blaming President Joe Biden for issues he thought Biden had no control over. Biden ended his reelection bid eight days after the shooting and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, now the likely Democratic nominee.“The people that are making everything about politics, I wish they would just quit,” Berg said. “They pin it all on Biden, and I don’t believe in that.”Democrats, meanwhile, are substantially more likely than independents or Republicans to say the availability of guns bears a great deal of responsibility. Six in 10 Democrats say this, compared to about one-third of independents and 15% of Republicans.Republican respondents were more likely than independents and Democrats to blame the Secret Service: About half of Republicans think the Secret Service has a great deal of responsibility, compared to around 4 in 10 Democrats and independents.George Velasco, a 65-year-old Navy veteran from Tucson, Arizona, said he thought both the Secret Service and local law enforcement were to blame along with poor communication and a lack of proper planning. The Secret Service’s acting director said earlier this week that it was regrettable that local law enforcement had not alerted his agency before the shooting that an armed subject had been spotted on a roof, while also recognizing the Secret Service assumed that state and local police had presence.“It was as if the Secret Service expected those guys to know what they had to do,” Velasco said. “It was a very small area, a small town. How did they expect them to know how to prepare for something huge like that rally?”The poll found that half of Americans think local law enforcement in Pennsylvania had at least a moderate amount of responsibility for the assassination attempt, although only about 2 in 10 said it had “a great deal” of responsibility.The Secret Service was first created as part of the Treasury Department to investigate the counterfeiting of U.S. currency during the Civil War. The agency began informally protecting presidents in 1894, according to the its records. Congress requested Secret Service protection of U.S. presidents after the assassination of William McKinley in 1901.Protection was extended to the president's immediate family, presidents-elect and vice presidents after a White House police officer was shot and killed while protecting President Harry S. Truman in 1950. It was later extended to former presidents in 1965. After the 1968 assassination of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was running for the Democratic presidential nomination, Congress authorized protection of major presidential and vice presidential candidates.About one-third of Americans are extremely or very confident that the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Secret Service, will conduct a full and fair investigation of the assassination attempt, while about one-third are somewhat confident and about 3 in 10 are not very confident or not at all confident.—The poll of 1143 adults was conducted July 25-29, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.__Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana contributed to this report.

AP-NORC Poll: Few trust the Secret Service after a gunman nearly killed Trump

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

On April 19, police responded to a disturbance at 32nd and Brighton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found a man suffering from trauma. He was transported to the hospital where he remained until he died.&nbsp; On Friday, police ruled the death was a homicide, according to Forte'.

Police have released suspect details or reported an arrest.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.On April 19, police responded to a disturbance at 32nd and Brighton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found a man suffering from trauma. He was transported to the hospital where he remained until he died.&nbsp; On Friday, police ruled the death was a homicide, according to Forte'.Police have released suspect details or reported an arrest.

KCPD: Man's death in April now ruled a homicide

Kansas may spend billions of dollars to lure pro sports teams from Missouri, just a few miles away

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/kevinhardy/">KEVIN HARDY</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

For decades, academic research has been clear: Taxpayers almost never get their money back on subsidized sports stadiums.

And yet, over and over again, U.S. cities and states find themselves locked in lopsided negotiations with beloved football, baseball and basketball teams, hoping to keep them from jumping to a new market.

In the newest bidding war, Kansas aims to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to lure the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs or MLB’s Royals from their side-by-side stadiums in Missouri just a few miles away. It could be one of the most expensive stadium deals yet, according to Victor Matheson, a researcher who studies stadium subsidies.

“This is wildly destructive,” he said. “This is in some ways significantly worse than intercity competition, because you’re just spending billions of dollars to just move economic activity from one point in the metro area to another.”

Matheson, an economics professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, watched closely in June as lawmakers in Topeka, Kansas, approved an expansion of an often-criticized tax incentive program with the aim of subsidizing a new stadium for one or both teams.

The bidding war for the teams is being viewed as particularly irresponsible by those who hailed a 2019 compact between Kansas and Missouri that some had hoped would set a new model for states across the country to curb corporate tax incentives.

Five years ago, the Democratic governor of Kansas and the Republican governor of Missouri celebrated an end to the so-called economic Border War, a long-standing practice in which governments would offer lucrative subsidies to lure companies back and forth across state lines in the Kansas City area. People saw the practice as wasteful, since it paid companies to relocate without spurring new growth for the regional economy.

The truce was momentous for Kansas and Missouri, two states whose rivalry traces back to bloody Civil War days. But it also garnered national acclaim from both liberals and conservatives who saw the move as a blow to corporate welfare and the cynical practice of companies pitting governments against each other.

But more powerful than the bipartisan cross-border cease-fire, apparently, is the allure of a new professional sports venue.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669408667473.png" alt="A red-clad crowd packs Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)." />
 <figcaption>A red-clad crowd packs Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Kansas may spend billions of dollars to lure pro sports teams from Missouri, just a few miles away</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/kevinhardy/">KEVIN HARDY</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>For decades, academic research has been clear: Taxpayers almost never get their money back on subsidized sports stadiums.And yet, over and over again, U.S. cities and states find themselves locked in lopsided negotiations with beloved football, baseball and basketball teams, hoping to keep them from jumping to a new market.In the newest bidding war, Kansas aims to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to lure the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs or MLB’s Royals from their side-by-side stadiums in Missouri just a few miles away. It could be one of the most expensive stadium deals yet, according to Victor Matheson, a researcher who studies stadium subsidies.“This is wildly destructive,” he said. “This is in some ways significantly worse than intercity competition, because you’re just spending billions of dollars to just move economic activity from one point in the metro area to another.”Matheson, an economics professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, watched closely in June as lawmakers in Topeka, Kansas, approved an expansion of an often-criticized tax incentive program with the aim of subsidizing a new stadium for one or both teams.The bidding war for the teams is being viewed as particularly irresponsible by those who hailed a 2019 compact between Kansas and Missouri that some had hoped would set a new model for states across the country to curb corporate tax incentives.Five years ago, the Democratic governor of Kansas and the Republican governor of Missouri celebrated an end to the so-called economic Border War, a long-standing practice in which governments would offer lucrative subsidies to lure companies back and forth across state lines in the Kansas City area. People saw the practice as wasteful, since it paid companies to relocate without spurring new growth for the regional economy.The truce was momentous for Kansas and Missouri, two states whose rivalry traces back to bloody Civil War days. But it also garnered national acclaim from both liberals and conservatives who saw the move as a blow to corporate welfare and the cynical practice of companies pitting governments against each other.But more powerful than the bipartisan cross-border cease-fire, apparently, is the allure of a new professional sports venue.“Literally every piece of public policy that people said was bad before is being seen here,” said Kansas City, Missouri, Democratic Mayor Quinton Lucas.Across the country, professional sports teams are playing various local and state governments against each other — a trend that will likely accelerate as a wave of existing stadium leases begin to expire across the country.It’s a page from the pro sports playbook: Teams often threaten to move to other markets — one without an NFL or NBA franchise, for example. But when those efforts don’t work, team owners often seek to spark competition among local jurisdictions, Matheson said.New Jersey officials are currently in talks with the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers to get that NBA franchise to hop over to Camden, New Jersey. And the NFL’s Washington Commanders, whose current stadium is in Maryland, are in talks with officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia as they look to build a new facility.“If there’s not a credible threat to relocate,” Matheson said, “the only way to really get the money out of people’s hands is to play localities against one another.”Lucas said the bidding war between Kansas and Missouri — and local governments in each — gives more leverage to the Chiefs and Royals in negotiations. But it’s up to elected officials to keep from being outmatched.“I do think some support is important,” Lucas said. “Giving away the farm is not.”In Topeka, the GOP-controlled legislature expanded Kansas’ Sales Tax and Revenue Bond program, known as STAR, which would redirect sales tax generated at the stadiums and surrounding areas to pay off construction debt. If the teams were to hop the state line, they could benefit from an unprecedented level of taxpayer support: as much as 70% of the costs of two stadiums, which could amount to billions.The law allows the state to strike stadium deals with little to no public involvement, doubles down on a state incentive program with a spotty track record of success and potentially puts the state’s finances at risk — all for the prospect of luring a sports team a few miles away.“I do not like this. It feels gross,” Kansas state Rep. Jason Probst said during a caucus meeting of House Democrats in June. “This whole show that’s going on feels disgusting to me. And it’s still the right thing to do.”In an interview, Probst, who is from Hutchinson in central Kansas, said the reality of professional sports requires governments “to play the game” and offer public assistance, lest they risk losing teams altogether.“You can stand on your principles. … But if another state isn’t playing by the same set of rules you are, then they’re going to make that investment and they’re going to take that away,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722689139327.png" alt=" Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson at a 2019 event in Kansas City. (Missouri Governor’s Office)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson at a 2019 event in Kansas City. (Missouri Governor’s Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Reigniting the Border War</h2>On a hot summer day in 2019, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate an end to Missouri’s and Kansas’ practice of offering tax incentives to move companies and jobs from one state to the other.<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article233725152.html" target="_blank">By one estimate</a>, the practice cost taxpayers more than $300 million over a decade and created almost no new jobs for the Kansas City metro area, which straddles both states.“Sometimes common sense does prevail,” Missouri’s Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article233725152.html" target="_blank">Gov. Mike Parson said at the time.&nbsp;</a>“Because you don’t have to be a scientist to figure out this was a bad deal for both states.”Parson’s office did not respond to requests for comment for this story. But in July, the governor said he was confident the NFL team would stay put at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri.“I’m not too worried about Kansas at this point,” Parson said.This spring,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2024-04-02/royals-chiefs-stadium-sales-tax-question-1-results-jackson-county-kansas-city-election" target="_blank">voters’ rejection of a 40-year sales tax</a>&nbsp;to help finance a new Royals stadium — and upgrades for Arrowhead — sparked a fear that the teams might leave if they don’t get new facilities. Claiming voters in the Chiefs’ and Royals’ home county had “dropped the ball,” Republican leaders in Kansas pushed to offer the teams a deal, worried they could leave the region altogether.That fear was enough to reignite the dormant competition between officials in the two states.“And then they said, ‘Oh, but this is sports, that doesn’t count,’” Matheson said. “Bad economics with sports teams seems to have few boundaries.”While some&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/20/missouri-lawmakers-criticize-kansas-attempt-to-poach-royals-chiefs/" target="_blank">Missouri officials have criticized Kansas’ overtures</a>&nbsp;to the teams, Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said in June she made no promises about leaving the teams alone when she signed the Border War truce.This week, Kelly’s office declined to comment on the legislation, referring questions to the Kansas Department of Commerce, which would oversee any stadium deals. That agency did not answer questions but provided a statement saying such projects “require discretion and confidentiality.”“The department will not disclose any details regarding the activity surrounding negotiations or future agreements,” department spokesperson Patrick Lowry wrote in an email.Missouri House Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson, a Republican from Lee’s Summit in suburban Kansas City, likewise said the truce wasn’t meant to cover sports teams — and he wants his state to keep the teams. He expects the state to respond with an offer of its own.“The sports teams are sort of in a special category of their own. I don’t think that’s what that legislation really was meant for,” Patterson said of the truce.Kansas’ offer to the Chiefs and Royals enhances an often-criticized program meant to bring major tourist attractions to the state.But in most cases, the STAR bond program, according to a state audit, failed at its goal of increasing tourism. There may have been some cases, the audit said, where certain projects kept Kansans spending money in Kansas rather than going to Missouri.“But we think it’s more often that local visitors simply move existing economic activity from one part of Kansas to another,” the audit said.Prairiefire, a sprawling development in the Kansas suburb of Overland Park,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/development/article283839588.html" target="_blank">defaulted on its STAR construction bonds</a>&nbsp;earlier this year because sales tax revenues from its restaurants, movie theater and museum came in far below projections.The proposal for the stadiums would allow the Chiefs or Royals to pay off construction loans using the increased sales and liquor tax collections at the stadium. In pushing for the legislation, lawmakers noted that the money for the stadium would come from spending in and around the stadiums, not general taxpayers.And they claimed that bond investors would be on the hook — not the state — if sales tax collections come up short.But Geoffrey Propheter, an associate professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver, said it’s unclear how interested investors will be in loaning huge sums for stadium projects, which typically do not create enough revenue to cover costs.And if those state-issued bonds were ever at risk of failure, he said, lawmakers would feel implicit pressure to bail out the stadium.“In the real world, there’s a huge risk to Kansas state taxpayers,” he said. “They’re going to have to decide to either bail out the project or do nothing. And if they do nothing, their credit, the state’s credit worthiness, will take a hit. And that will make all future borrowing more expensive.”<h2>‘Zero-sum’ game between states</h2>Experts viewed the Kansas-Missouri truce as a model that other states and cities could emulate.“We were very interested in the Kansas and Missouri situation, because it gives a test as to whether this will work,” said Marc Joffe, a state policy analyst at the libertarian Cato Institute think tank. “And there have been some encouraging results since 2019 … but I think sports teams are just too big of a war, and they weren’t able to avoid the temptation.”The institute&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cato.org/blog/how-kansas-city-chiefs-royals-restarted-subsidies-war" target="_blank">is studying</a>&nbsp;the Kansas-Missouri truce, in its larger effort to end bidding wars for factories and other major employers.Joffe criticized such competition as wasteful, and said bidding for stadiums was no exception.“It is at best a zero-sum game,” Joffe said, “and because of all the waste involved, it’s a really negative-sum game.”Joffe pointed to the Coalition to Phase Out Corporate Tax Giveaways, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers that sponsored bills in more than a dozen legislatures between 2019 and 2021.Pennsylvania state Rep. Christopher Rabb, a Democrat, has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2021&amp;sind=0&amp;body=H&amp;type=B&amp;bn=873" target="_blank">twice introduced legislation in Harrisburg</a>&nbsp;to end corporate subsidies. He said he was motivated by Amazon’s 2018 announcement that it was seeking a new corporate headquarters, a move that set off a national bidding war among cities.He broadly believes corporate incentives are wasteful, especially for professional sports teams. Rabb views the Philadelphia 76ers talks of moving across the Delaware River to New Jersey as a ploy for public subsidies.He noted most average people can’t afford to attend pro games and likened chasing the purported economic benefits of stadiums and arenas to hunting for “fool’s gold.”“How does this really change the collective quality of opportunity for regular Philadelphians? It doesn’t,” he said. “Let’s be honest: This is the sandbox of billionaires.”Rabb said elected leaders should be focused on policies that help marginalized people, not the “excessively wealthy,” such as team owners.After talks stalled over a new arena for the 76ers in Philadelphia, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said&nbsp;<a href="https://6abc.com/post/new-jersey-officials-vying-philadelphia-76ers-open-new/15083409/" target="_blank">he proposed the team relocate</a>&nbsp;just a few miles to Camden.Murphy’s office declined to comment, but the Democratic governor&nbsp;<a href="https://newjersey.news12.com/gov-murphy-answers-viewers-questions-on-ask-gov-murphy-program-july-25-2024" target="_blank">told a local television station&nbsp;</a>last week that the team’s interest was “legitimate.”“We think we got an angle here. We’re taking it seriously. Where it lands? I can’t promise you,” he said. “I think they are taking it seriously as well — we shall see. I say this as a Boston Celtics fan — don’t get mad at me.”But this sort of jockeying between states only benefits team owners, said Neil deMause, a journalist who has written a book about stadium subsidies. Taxpayers and fans, he said, stand to gain little, especially if game tickets become more expensive at new facilities.“All the economists I know say the best thing you could do is reject it for your state and have the stadiums get built in the other state,” deMause said. “You still get to go drive across the border and see the games the same way as you would otherwise … but you don’t have to pay for building the thing.”