LOGAN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another reported theft of cattle in Kansas.

On Wednesday, the Logan County Sheriff reported approximately 30 weaned calves. black and red angus mix with some baldies, 450 to 500 pounds were missing from Southern Logan County.

Please note the brand. If you have information please contact Logan County, Kansas Sheriff.

On November 17, 2023, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office took a report of five black Angus cattle allegedly stolen from the 17000 block of Onaga Road, Onaga, Kansas, according to a media release.

The cattle are branded on their left hip and also had white ear tags. All five of the stolen cows had calves, and the calves were still present but not the cows.&nbsp;

In October, a dozen calves and a cow were stolen from from rancher Dan Oeding approximately 5 miles southeast of Wamego, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff. Livestock missing include Black Angus or Wagyu calves, one red calf and one Black Angus cow.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Wabaunsee County Sheriff at 785-765-3323. There is a reward offered&nbsp; for information that leads to the arrest of those who stole the cattle.

In August, Reno County Sheriff's Office said Circle H Cattle Company reported fifteen 400 to 500 pound calves stolen from the area of US 50 and Sterling Road, according to a social media report. The cattle went missing sometime between July 29, and August 6.

In mid-July, the Kansas Livestock Associated reported 17-head of 200-350 pound calves were stolen ten miles northeast of Atwood, according to a media release from the Rawlins County sheriff's office. The calves&nbsp; carried fresh brands of V arrow high on the right hip.

In April, the Sheridan County Sheriff's Department asked for the public's assistance in a case involving eighty 80 head of cattle missing from South of Hoxie, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708001081009.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOGAN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating another reported theft of cattle in Kansas.On Wednesday, the Logan County Sheriff reported approximately 30 weaned calves. black and red angus mix with some baldies, 450 to 500 pounds were missing from Southern Logan County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708001007265.png" alt="Logan County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Logan County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Please note the brand. If you have information please contact Logan County, Kansas Sheriff.On November 17, 2023, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office took a report of five black Angus cattle allegedly stolen from the 17000 block of Onaga Road, Onaga, Kansas, according to a media release.The cattle are branded on their left hip and also had white ear tags. All five of the stolen cows had calves, and the calves were still present but not the cows.&nbsp;In October, a dozen calves and a cow were stolen from from rancher Dan Oeding approximately 5 miles southeast of Wamego, according to the Wabaunsee County Sheriff. Livestock missing include Black Angus or Wagyu calves, one red calf and one Black Angus cow.Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Wabaunsee County Sheriff at 785-765-3323. There is a reward offered&nbsp; for information that leads to the arrest of those who stole the cattle.In August, Reno County Sheriff's Office said Circle H Cattle Company reported fifteen 400 to 500 pound calves stolen from the area of US 50 and Sterling Road, according to a social media report. The cattle went missing sometime between July 29, and August 6.In mid-July, the Kansas Livestock Associated reported 17-head of 200-350 pound calves were stolen ten miles northeast of Atwood, according to a media release from the Rawlins County sheriff's office. The calves&nbsp; carried fresh brands of V arrow high on the right hip.In April, the Sheridan County Sheriff's Department asked for the public's assistance in a case involving eighty 80 head of cattle missing from South of Hoxie, Kansas.

More cattle thefts under investigation in Kansas

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the latest attempt by Republican state officials to block taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, citing a failure in the state's legal appeal.

The high court's decision upholds a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-missouri-planned-parenthood-st-louis-1e54f2e9087e72e7ad65c8b1862e06c4?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">ruling by a trial judge</a>, who found that a 2022 funding bill violated the state constitution. The budget bill sought to bar Medicaid health care dollars from going to Planned Parenthood because its affiliates elsewhere performed abortions. But the Supreme Court's ruling was based on procedural grounds, not the merits of the claims.

The court said a trial judge had blocked the provisions in the funding bill for two reasons — because they violated the state constitution's requirement that legislation contain a single subject and because they infringed on equal protection rights. The Supreme Court said Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office failed to appeal the equal protection claim and it thus must stand. As a result, the court said there was no reason to address the single-subject claim.

Bailey's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Planned Parenthood said in a statement that the court had reaffirmed patients' rights to receive its services for such things as cancer screenings and birth control.

“Over and over again, the courts have rejected politicians’ ongoing attempts to deprive patients of their health care by unconstitutionally kicking Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid program,” the organization said in a joint statement from Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, and Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.

Missouri's Republican-led Legislature has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-funding-planned-parenthood-530ec36d6e079f9ee3d25b3d7d95c449?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">tried for years to block</a>&nbsp;any health care funding from going to Planned Parenthood because of its association with abortion. That has continued even though Planned Parenthood no longer performs abortions in Missouri. A state law prohibiting most abortions took effect after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">U.S. Supreme Court overturned</a>&nbsp;a nationwide right to abortion in June 2022.

Lawmakers were able to stop money from going to Planned Parenthood in the 2019 fiscal year by forgoing some federal funding to avoid requirements that the clinics be reimbursed if low-income patients go there for birth control, cancer screenings and other preventative care. Missouri instead used state money to pay for those services.

But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-f7b65c6c22d2def4f87962775022ad56?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">Missouri Supreme Court in 2020</a>&nbsp;ruled lawmakers violated the state constitution by making the policy change through the state budget instead of a separate bill, forcing the state to reimburse Planned Parenthood for health care provided to Medicaid patients.

Lawmakers have been trying since then to reinstate a ban on funding for Planned Parenthood. A bill to create such a prohibition, separate from the budget, faced Democratic opposition when it was brought up for Senate debate earlier this month.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the latest attempt by Republican state officials to block taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood, citing a failure in the state's legal appeal.The high court's decision upholds a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-missouri-planned-parenthood-st-louis-1e54f2e9087e72e7ad65c8b1862e06c4?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">ruling by a trial judge</a>, who found that a 2022 funding bill violated the state constitution. The budget bill sought to bar Medicaid health care dollars from going to Planned Parenthood because its affiliates elsewhere performed abortions. But the Supreme Court's ruling was based on procedural grounds, not the merits of the claims.The court said a trial judge had blocked the provisions in the funding bill for two reasons — because they violated the state constitution's requirement that legislation contain a single subject and because they infringed on equal protection rights. The Supreme Court said Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office failed to appeal the equal protection claim and it thus must stand. As a result, the court said there was no reason to address the single-subject claim.Bailey's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.Planned Parenthood said in a statement that the court had reaffirmed patients' rights to receive its services for such things as cancer screenings and birth control.“Over and over again, the courts have rejected politicians’ ongoing attempts to deprive patients of their health care by unconstitutionally kicking Planned Parenthood out of the Medicaid program,” the organization said in a joint statement from Yamelsie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, and Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.Missouri's Republican-led Legislature has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-funding-planned-parenthood-530ec36d6e079f9ee3d25b3d7d95c449?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">tried for years to block</a>&nbsp;any health care funding from going to Planned Parenthood because of its association with abortion. That has continued even though Planned Parenthood no longer performs abortions in Missouri. A state law prohibiting most abortions took effect after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">U.S. Supreme Court overturned</a>&nbsp;a nationwide right to abortion in June 2022.Lawmakers were able to stop money from going to Planned Parenthood in the 2019 fiscal year by forgoing some federal funding to avoid requirements that the clinics be reimbursed if low-income patients go there for birth control, cancer screenings and other preventative care. Missouri instead used state money to pay for those services.But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-f7b65c6c22d2def4f87962775022ad56?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">Missouri Supreme Court in 2020</a>&nbsp;ruled lawmakers violated the state constitution by making the policy change through the state budget instead of a separate bill, forcing the state to reimburse Planned Parenthood for health care provided to Medicaid patients.Lawmakers have been trying since then to reinstate a ban on funding for Planned Parenthood. A bill to create such a prohibition, separate from the budget, faced Democratic opposition when it was brought up for Senate debate earlier this month.

Mo. Supreme Court: State can't block funding from Planned Parenthood  

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A historic railway station on the edge of downtown Kansas City became the latest backdrop for a mass shooting as gunfire near the end of the Kansas City Chiefs'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-chiefs-dynasty-kansas-city-d16a308684d97a6be2d269c8d56404be">Super Bowl celebration</a>&nbsp;sent terrified fans scrambling for cover and left 21 people wounded — including at least eight children — and a mother of two dead.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-super-bowl-parade-kansas-city-c373ac902961ded32bccc11c67afbd37">Wednesday's shooting</a>&nbsp;outside Union Station happened despite the presence of more than 800 police officers who were in the building and nearby, including on top of nearby structures, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended with his wife and mother and ran for safety when the shots rang out.

“Parades, rallies, schools, movies. It seems like almost nothing is safe,” Lucas said.

Three people were detained and firearms were recovered, Police Chief Stacey Graves said at an evening news conference. She said police were still piecing together what happened and did not release details about those who were detained or a possible motive.

“I’m angry at what happened today. The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment,” Graves said.

It is the latest sports celebration in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-parade-shooting-2a500aff2edea212bf54cf6597b2f4f7">to be marred by gun violence</a>, following a shooting that wounded several people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-shooting-nuggets-suspect-ee4869abf1afee855565f1c517bfae1f">last year in Denver</a>&nbsp;after the Nuggets' NBA championship, and gunfire last year at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers' World Series championship parade.

Social media users posted shocking video of police running through Wednesday's crowded scene as people scrambled for cover and fled. One video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.

Another video showed two people chase and tackle a person, holding them down until two police officers arrived.

Radio station KKFI said via Facebook that Lisa Lopez-Galvan, host of “Taste of Tejano,” was killed.

“This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community,” KKFI said in a statement.

Lopez-Galvan, whose DJ name was “Lisa G,” was an extrovert and devoted mother from a prominent Latino family in the area, said Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, two childhood friends who worked with her at a staffing company. Izurieta said Lopez-Galvan attended the parade with her husband and her adult son, a die-hard Kansas City sports fan who also was shot.

“She's the type of person who would jump in front of a bullet for anybody — that would be Lisa,” Izurieta said.

Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence, and in 2020 it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/in-state-wire-tn-state-wire-mo-state-wire-politics-oh-state-wire-0950ff59635979d7d2d2d3479f4d9c58">among nine cities</a>&nbsp;targeted by the U.S. Justice Department in an effort to crack down on violent crime. In 2023 the city matched a record with 182 homicides, most of which involved guns.

Lucas has joined with mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including mandating universal background checks.

Lisa Money of Kansas City was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell, “Down, down, everybody down!” At first she thought it might be a joke, until she saw the SWAT team jumping over the fence.

“I can’t believe it really happened,” Money said. “Who in their right mind would do something like this?”

Kevin Sanders of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people started running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.

“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.

University Health spokesperson Nancy Lewis said the hospital was treating eight gunshot victims. Two were in critical condition and six were stable. The hospital also was treating four people for other injuries resulting from the chaos after the shooting, Lewis said.

Stephanie Meyer, chief nursing officer for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said it was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children between the ages of 6 and 15, many of whom suffered gunshot wounds. All were expected to recover, she said.

When asked about the condition of the children, Meyer responded: “Fear. The one word I would use to describe what we saw and how they came to us was fear.”

St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received one gunshot patient in critical condition, a spokesperson said.

Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members at the time of the shooting, and that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-parade-shooting-58db068706aa90b1d174f2b688484df7">team was on buses and returning</a>&nbsp;to Arrowhead Stadium.

“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today's parade and rally," the team said in a statement.

Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson were at the parade during the gunfire but were unhurt. In a statement, he thanked security officers and first responders for their professionalism.

President Joe Biden, who was briefed on the shooting and received updates throughout the day, said the tragedy “cuts deep in the American soul” and called for Congress to take action to prevent gun violence.

“And I ask the country to stand with me,” Biden said in a statement. “To make your voice heard in Congress so we finally act to ban assault weapons, to limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, keep guns out of the hands of those who have no business owning them or handling them.”

Throngs had lined the parade route before the shooting, with fans climbing trees and street poles or standing on rooftops for a better view. Players rolled through the crowd on double-decker buses, as DJs and drummers heralded their arrival.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A historic railway station on the edge of downtown Kansas City became the latest backdrop for a mass shooting as gunfire near the end of the Kansas City Chiefs'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-chiefs-dynasty-kansas-city-d16a308684d97a6be2d269c8d56404be">Super Bowl celebration</a>&nbsp;sent terrified fans scrambling for cover and left 21 people wounded — including at least eight children — and a mother of two dead.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FKKFI901FM%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0tWCioBjQSyDfcoaf1uQxnMdzkQNtHRNmdh5bhNYwtP4D62Yjyn12zUwm9Jhad8LSl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="603" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-super-bowl-parade-kansas-city-c373ac902961ded32bccc11c67afbd37">Wednesday's shooting</a>&nbsp;outside Union Station happened despite the presence of more than 800 police officers who were in the building and nearby, including on top of nearby structures, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended with his wife and mother and ran for safety when the shots rang out.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/wSoBavmXgy">pic.twitter.com/wSoBavmXgy</a>&mdash; Children&#39;s Mercy (@ChildrensMercy) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChildrensMercy/status/1757941249036664876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Parades, rallies, schools, movies. It seems like almost nothing is safe,” Lucas said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Praying for Kansas City… 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽&mdash; Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1757874492733297003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Three people were detained and firearms were recovered, Police Chief Stacey Graves said at an evening news conference. She said police were still piecing together what happened and did not release details about those who were detained or a possible motive.“I’m angry at what happened today. The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment,” Graves said.It is the latest sports celebration in the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-parade-shooting-2a500aff2edea212bf54cf6597b2f4f7">to be marred by gun violence</a>, following a shooting that wounded several people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-shooting-nuggets-suspect-ee4869abf1afee855565f1c517bfae1f">last year in Denver</a>&nbsp;after the Nuggets' NBA championship, and gunfire last year at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers' World Series championship parade.Social media users posted shocking video of police running through Wednesday's crowded scene as people scrambled for cover and fled. One video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.Another video showed two people chase and tackle a person, holding them down until two police officers arrived.Radio station KKFI said via Facebook that Lisa Lopez-Galvan, host of “Taste of Tejano,” was killed.“This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community,” KKFI said in a statement.Lopez-Galvan, whose DJ name was “Lisa G,” was an extrovert and devoted mother from a prominent Latino family in the area, said Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, two childhood friends who worked with her at a staffing company. Izurieta said Lopez-Galvan attended the parade with her husband and her adult son, a die-hard Kansas City sports fan who also was shot.“She's the type of person who would jump in front of a bullet for anybody — that would be Lisa,” Izurieta said.Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence, and in 2020 it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/in-state-wire-tn-state-wire-mo-state-wire-politics-oh-state-wire-0950ff59635979d7d2d2d3479f4d9c58">among nine cities</a>&nbsp;targeted by the U.S. Justice Department in an effort to crack down on violent crime. In 2023 the city matched a record with 182 homicides, most of which involved guns.Lucas has joined with mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including mandating universal background checks.Lisa Money of Kansas City was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell, “Down, down, everybody down!” At first she thought it might be a joke, until she saw the SWAT team jumping over the fence.“I can’t believe it really happened,” Money said. “Who in their right mind would do something like this?”Kevin Sanders of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people started running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.University Health spokesperson Nancy Lewis said the hospital was treating eight gunshot victims. Two were in critical condition and six were stable. The hospital also was treating four people for other injuries resulting from the chaos after the shooting, Lewis said.Stephanie Meyer, chief nursing officer for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said it was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children between the ages of 6 and 15, many of whom suffered gunshot wounds. All were expected to recover, she said.When asked about the condition of the children, Meyer responded: “Fear. The one word I would use to describe what we saw and how they came to us was fear.”St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received one gunshot patient in critical condition, a spokesperson said.Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members at the time of the shooting, and that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-parade-shooting-58db068706aa90b1d174f2b688484df7">team was on buses and returning</a>&nbsp;to Arrowhead Stadium.“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today's parade and rally," the team said in a statement.Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson were at the parade during the gunfire but were unhurt. In a statement, he thanked security officers and first responders for their professionalism.President Joe Biden, who was briefed on the shooting and received updates throughout the day, said the tragedy “cuts deep in the American soul” and called for Congress to take action to prevent gun violence.“And I ask the country to stand with me,” Biden said in a statement. “To make your voice heard in Congress so we finally act to ban assault weapons, to limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, keep guns out of the hands of those who have no business owning them or handling them.”Throngs had lined the parade route before the shooting, with fans climbing trees and street poles or standing on rooftops for a better view. Players rolled through the crowd on double-decker buses, as DJs and drummers heralded their arrival.

KC radio station DJ died in shooting at Chiefs Super Bowl rally

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a pair of alleged school threats at two middle schools in Kansas and have made arrests.

Just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, police received the report of an alleged threat from a student at Robinson Middle School, 1125 SW 14th Street in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Donna Eubanks. The school went into a secure campus out of an abundance of caution.

Investigators responded and determined there was no threat to the school or the public. They also took a student into custody. Following the police investigation police arrested the 13-year-old boy and booked him into the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center on the following on a requested charge of Aggravated criminal threat, according to Eubanks.

Meanwhile in Salina, police on Wednesday afternon learned a Lakewood Middle School student had allegedly posted on social media that he was going to "shoot up the school" due to being suspended from school for a school related issue, according to a media release from Salina Police. School resource officers confirmed the information with the school and observed the victim, witness's social media information corroborating the initial report.

Just before 8p.m. officers contacted the student, took them into custody and made an arrest on a requested charge of criminal threat. The juvenile is being transferred to the Saline County Sheriff's office and juvenile intake and assessment&nbsp; with a recommendation of detention at the north Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility in Junction City.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a pair of alleged school threats at two middle schools in Kansas and have made arrests.Just after 11 a.m. Wednesday, police received the report of an alleged threat from a student at Robinson Middle School, 1125 SW 14th Street in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Donna Eubanks. The school went into a secure campus out of an abundance of caution.Investigators responded and determined there was no threat to the school or the public. They also took a student into custody. Following the police investigation police arrested the 13-year-old boy and booked him into the Shawnee County Juvenile Detention Center on the following on a requested charge of Aggravated criminal threat, according to Eubanks.Meanwhile in Salina, police on Wednesday afternon learned a Lakewood Middle School student had allegedly posted on social media that he was going to "shoot up the school" due to being suspended from school for a school related issue, according to a media release from Salina Police. School resource officers confirmed the information with the school and observed the victim, witness's social media information corroborating the initial report.Just before 8p.m. officers contacted the student, took them into custody and made an arrest on a requested charge of criminal threat. The juvenile is being transferred to the Saline County Sheriff's office and juvenile intake and assessment&nbsp; with a recommendation of detention at the north Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Facility in Junction City.

Juveniles arrested for alleged threats at Kansas middle schools

JERUSALEM —The U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday that the U.S. military conducted additional self-defense strikes

Just after 2:30p.m., U.S&gt; forces successfully conducted a strike against one mobile anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.

Separately, at approximately 9:20 p.m.(Sanaa time), one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden.  U.S. Navy ships tracked the missile but took no action because the missile was not projected to impact near any ships. There were no reports of injuries or damage from ships in the area.

&nbsp;Meanwhile, explosions struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran early on Wednesday, with an official blaming the blasts on a “sabotage and terrorist action” in the country as tensions remain high in the Middle East amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>.

Details were scarce, though the blasts hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran's western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. The roughly 1,270-kilometer (790-mile) pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran's offshore South Pars gas field.

Saeed Aghli, the manager of Iran's gas network control center, told Iranian state television that a “sabotage and terrorist” action caused explosions along several areas of the line.

There are no known insurgent groups operating in that province, home to the Bakhtiari, a branch of Iran's Lur ethnic group. Aghli did not name any suspects in the blasts.

Iran's Oil Minister Javad Owji, also speaking to state TV, compared the attack to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assaults on gas pipelines in 2011 — including around the anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-islamic-revolution-anniversary-tensions-us-israel-c8ebdc3f98fa23a67e570e45b8875bc9">Tehran marked the 45th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the revolution on Sunday.

“The goal that the enemies were pursuing was to cut the gas in the major provinces of the country and it did not happen,” Owji said. “Except for the number of villages that were near the gas transmission lines, no province suffered a cut.”

In the past, Arab separatists in southwestern Iran have claimed attacks against oil pipelines. However, attacks elsewhere in Iran against such infrastructure are rare.

Since the revolution, Iran has faced low-level separatist unrest from Kurds in the country's northwest, the Baluch in the east and Arabs in the southwest.

However, tensions have risen in recent years as Iran faces an economy hobbled by international sanctions over its nuclear program. The country has faced years of mass demonstrations, most recently in 2022 over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-mahsa-amini-crackdown-f26a5f687d87785841241d266ca3e872">the death of Mahsa Amini</a>, a young woman who died in custody after her arrest allegedly over how she wore her mandatory headscarf.

Meanwhile, Israel has carried out attacks in Iran that have predominantly targeted its nuclear program. On Tuesday, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-program-iaea-gross-israel-hamas-gaza-war-ee164aefb63a533548a54179c952b5e1">Iran is “not entirely transparent” regarding its atomic program</a>, particularly after an official who once led Tehran’s program announced the Islamic Republic has all the pieces for a weapon “in our hands.”

Tensions over Iran's nuclear program comes as groups that Tehran is arming in the region — Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels — have launched attacks targeting Israel over the war in Gaza.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-ship-missile-houthi-rebels-attack-bab-elmandeb-strait-999b911c916f9266c07a6d29cc020e9e">The Houthis continue to attack commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;in the region, sparking repeated airstrikes from the United States and the United Kingdom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699124273212.png" alt="photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM —The U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday that the U.S. military conducted additional self-defense strikesJust after 2:30p.m., U.S&gt; forces successfully conducted a strike against one mobile anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM), in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen, that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.Separately, at approximately 9:20 p.m.(Sanaa time), one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. U.S. Navy ships tracked the missile but took no action because the missile was not projected to impact near any ships. There were no reports of injuries or damage from ships in the area.&nbsp;Meanwhile, explosions struck a natural gas pipeline in Iran early on Wednesday, with an official blaming the blasts on a “sabotage and terrorist action” in the country as tensions remain high in the Middle East amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>.Details were scarce, though the blasts hit a natural gas pipeline running from Iran's western Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province up north to cities on the Caspian Sea. The roughly 1,270-kilometer (790-mile) pipeline begins in Asaluyeh, a hub for Iran's offshore South Pars gas field.Saeed Aghli, the manager of Iran's gas network control center, told Iranian state television that a “sabotage and terrorist” action caused explosions along several areas of the line.There are no known insurgent groups operating in that province, home to the Bakhtiari, a branch of Iran's Lur ethnic group. Aghli did not name any suspects in the blasts.Iran's Oil Minister Javad Owji, also speaking to state TV, compared the attack to a series of mysterious and unclaimed assaults on gas pipelines in 2011 — including around the anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-islamic-revolution-anniversary-tensions-us-israel-c8ebdc3f98fa23a67e570e45b8875bc9">Tehran marked the 45th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the revolution on Sunday.“The goal that the enemies were pursuing was to cut the gas in the major provinces of the country and it did not happen,” Owji said. “Except for the number of villages that were near the gas transmission lines, no province suffered a cut.”In the past, Arab separatists in southwestern Iran have claimed attacks against oil pipelines. However, attacks elsewhere in Iran against such infrastructure are rare.Since the revolution, Iran has faced low-level separatist unrest from Kurds in the country's northwest, the Baluch in the east and Arabs in the southwest.However, tensions have risen in recent years as Iran faces an economy hobbled by international sanctions over its nuclear program. The country has faced years of mass demonstrations, most recently in 2022 over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-mahsa-amini-crackdown-f26a5f687d87785841241d266ca3e872">the death of Mahsa Amini</a>, a young woman who died in custody after her arrest allegedly over how she wore her mandatory headscarf.Meanwhile, Israel has carried out attacks in Iran that have predominantly targeted its nuclear program. On Tuesday, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-program-iaea-gross-israel-hamas-gaza-war-ee164aefb63a533548a54179c952b5e1">Iran is “not entirely transparent” regarding its atomic program</a>, particularly after an official who once led Tehran’s program announced the Islamic Republic has all the pieces for a weapon “in our hands.”Tensions over Iran's nuclear program comes as groups that Tehran is arming in the region — Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels — have launched attacks targeting Israel over the war in Gaza.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-ship-missile-houthi-rebels-attack-bab-elmandeb-strait-999b911c916f9266c07a6d29cc020e9e">The Houthis continue to attack commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;in the region, sparking repeated airstrikes from the United States and the United Kingdom.

U.S. warships conduct more self defense strikes in Red Sea

JEFFERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.

According to online jail records, On Feb. 10, deputies booked 49-year-old&nbsp;Billy Ketron of Topeka into the Jefferson County Jail on requested charges of burglary, criminal trespass, aggravated burglary, and aggravated escape from custody.

Ketron allegedly attempted to escape from a deputy during his arrest, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp; Ketron remains jailed on a $1,500&nbsp; bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707836798942.png" alt="Ketron-photo Jefferson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ketron-photo Jefferson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have a suspect in custody.According to online jail records, On Feb. 10, deputies booked 49-year-old&nbsp;Billy Ketron of Topeka into the Jefferson County Jail on requested charges of burglary, criminal trespass, aggravated burglary, and aggravated escape from custody.Ketron allegedly attempted to escape from a deputy during his arrest, according to the sheriff's office.&nbsp; Ketron remains jailed on a $1,500&nbsp; bond.

Sheriff: Kan. burglary suspect tried to escape during arrest

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has gathered highly sensitive intelligence about Russian anti-satellite weapons that has been shared in recent weeks with the upper echelons of government, according to four people who have been briefed on the intelligence. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said the capability was not yet operational.

The intelligence sparked an urgent but vague warning Wednesday from the Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee, who urged the Biden administration to declassify information about what he called a serious national security threat.

Rep. Mike Turner gave no details about the nature of the threat, and the Biden administration also declined to address it. But several leading lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, cautioned against being overly alarmed.

A congressional aide said he understood that the threat relates to a space-deployed Russian anti-satellite weapon. Such a weapon could pose a major danger to U.S. satellites that transmit billions of bytes of data each hour.

The aide, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said it was not yet clear if the Russian weapon has nuclear capability, but said that is the fear.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the claims about a new Russian military capability as a ruse intended to make the U.S. Congress support aid for Ukraine.

“It’s obvious that Washington is trying to force Congress to vote on the aid bill by hook or by crook,” Peskov said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. “Let’s see what ruse the White House will use.”

The threat Turner raised concerns about is not an active capability, according to U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence. One added that intelligence officials consider the threat to be significant, but it should not cause panic.

Turner issued a statement urging the administration to declassify the information so the U.S. and its allies can openly discuss how to respond.

He also sent an email to members of Congress saying his committee had “identified an urgent matter with regard to a destabilizing foreign military capability” that should be known to all congressional policy makers. He encouraged them to come to a SCIF, a secure area, to review the intelligence.

Turner has been a voice for stronger U.S. national security, putting him at odds with some Republican colleagues who favor a more isolationist approach. He has called for the renewal of a key U.S. government surveillance tool while some fellow Republicans and liberal Democrats have raised privacy objections.

And he supports continuing U.S. military aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia at a time that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-johnson-ukraine-aid-06889e166a5417d5b4bc7795813e37ef">funding remains uncertain</a>&nbsp;because of opposition in the Republican-led House.

Johnson said he was not at liberty to disclose the classified information. “But we just want to assure everyone steady hands are at the wheel. We’re working on it and there’s no need for alarm,” he told reporters at the Capitol.

Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that the classified information is “significant” but “not a cause for panic.”

The Senate Intelligence Committee said it has been tracking the issue.

“We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the administration,” Sen. Mark Warner, the Democratic committee chairman, and Sen. Marco Rubio, the Republican vice chairman, said in a statement. "In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that may be key to preserving a range of options for U.S. action.”

The rapidly evolving threat in space was one of the primary reasons that the U.S. Space Force was established in 2019. A lot of that threat has to do with new capabilities that China and Russia have already developed that can interfere with critical satellite-based U.S. communications, such as GPS and the ability to quickly detect missile launches.

In recent years the U.S. has seen both China and Russia pursue new ways to jam satellites, intercept their feeds, blind them, shoot them down and even potentially grab them with a robotic arm to pull them out of their programmed orbits. One of the key missions of the Space Force is to train troops skilled in detecting and defending against those threats.

In its 2020 Defense Space Strategy, the Pentagon said China and Russia presented the greatest strategic threat in space due to their aggressive development of counterspace abilities, and their military doctrine calling for extending conflict to space.

The White House and lawmakers expressed frustration at how Turner raised his concerns. His announcement appeared to catch the Biden administration off-guard.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House that he already had been due to brief Turner and other senior congressional leaders on Thursday. Sullivan did not disclose the topic or provide any other details related to Turner’s statement.

“I’m focused on going to see him, sit with him as well as the other House members of the Gang of Eight, tomorrow,” Sullivan said. “And I’m not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time.”

He acknowledged it was not standard practice to offer such a briefing.

“I’ll just say that I personally reached out to the Gang of Eight. It is highly unusual, in fact, for the national security adviser to do that," Sullivan said. He said he had reached out earlier this week.

Johnson said he sent a letter last month to the White House requesting a meeting with the president to discuss “the serious national security issue that is classified.” He said Sullivan's meeting was in response to his request.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee urged the Biden administration on Wednesday to declassify information about what he called a serious national security threat. A senior congressional aide speaking to The Associated Press pointed to concerns about Russian anti-satellite weapons.

The congressional aide said he understood that the threat relates to a space-deployed Russian anti-satellite weapon that may or may not already have been launched. Such a weapon could pose a major danger to U.S. satellites that transmit billions of bytes of data each hour.

Turner earlier Wednesday sent an email to members of Congress saying his committee had “identified an urgent matter with regard to a destabilizing foreign military capability” that should be known to all congressional policy makers. He encouraged them to come to a SCIF, a secure area, to review the intelligence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707937254112.png" alt="File Rep. Mike Turner image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File Rep. Mike Turner image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has gathered highly sensitive intelligence about Russian anti-satellite weapons that has been shared in recent weeks with the upper echelons of government, according to four people who have been briefed on the intelligence. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said the capability was not yet operational.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from Chairman <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeTurner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMikeTurner</a>: <a href="https://t.co/OA9yJuEPlf">pic.twitter.com/OA9yJuEPlf</a>&mdash; House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntel) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseIntel/status/1757805804885823775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The intelligence sparked an urgent but vague warning Wednesday from the Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee, who urged the Biden administration to declassify information about what he called a serious national security threat.Rep. Mike Turner gave no details about the nature of the threat, and the Biden administration also declined to address it. But several leading lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, cautioned against being overly alarmed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707936857850.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A congressional aide said he understood that the threat relates to a space-deployed Russian anti-satellite weapon. Such a weapon could pose a major danger to U.S. satellites that transmit billions of bytes of data each hour.The aide, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said it was not yet clear if the Russian weapon has nuclear capability, but said that is the fear.In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the claims about a new Russian military capability as a ruse intended to make the U.S. Congress support aid for Ukraine.“It’s obvious that Washington is trying to force Congress to vote on the aid bill by hook or by crook,” Peskov said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. “Let’s see what ruse the White House will use.”The threat Turner raised concerns about is not an active capability, according to U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence. One added that intelligence officials consider the threat to be significant, but it should not cause panic.Turner issued a statement urging the administration to declassify the information so the U.S. and its allies can openly discuss how to respond.He also sent an email to members of Congress saying his committee had “identified an urgent matter with regard to a destabilizing foreign military capability” that should be known to all congressional policy makers. He encouraged them to come to a SCIF, a secure area, to review the intelligence.Turner has been a voice for stronger U.S. national security, putting him at odds with some Republican colleagues who favor a more isolationist approach. He has called for the renewal of a key U.S. government surveillance tool while some fellow Republicans and liberal Democrats have raised privacy objections.And he supports continuing U.S. military aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia at a time that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-johnson-ukraine-aid-06889e166a5417d5b4bc7795813e37ef">funding remains uncertain</a>&nbsp;because of opposition in the Republican-led House.Johnson said he was not at liberty to disclose the classified information. “But we just want to assure everyone steady hands are at the wheel. We’re working on it and there’s no need for alarm,” he told reporters at the Capitol.Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that the classified information is “significant” but “not a cause for panic.”The Senate Intelligence Committee said it has been tracking the issue.“We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the administration,” Sen. Mark Warner, the Democratic committee chairman, and Sen. Marco Rubio, the Republican vice chairman, said in a statement. "In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that may be key to preserving a range of options for U.S. action.”The rapidly evolving threat in space was one of the primary reasons that the U.S. Space Force was established in 2019. A lot of that threat has to do with new capabilities that China and Russia have already developed that can interfere with critical satellite-based U.S. communications, such as GPS and the ability to quickly detect missile launches.In recent years the U.S. has seen both China and Russia pursue new ways to jam satellites, intercept their feeds, blind them, shoot them down and even potentially grab them with a robotic arm to pull them out of their programmed orbits. One of the key missions of the Space Force is to train troops skilled in detecting and defending against those threats.In its 2020 Defense Space Strategy, the Pentagon said China and Russia presented the greatest strategic threat in space due to their aggressive development of counterspace abilities, and their military doctrine calling for extending conflict to space.The White House and lawmakers expressed frustration at how Turner raised his concerns. His announcement appeared to catch the Biden administration off-guard.National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House that he already had been due to brief Turner and other senior congressional leaders on Thursday. Sullivan did not disclose the topic or provide any other details related to Turner’s statement.“I’m focused on going to see him, sit with him as well as the other House members of the Gang of Eight, tomorrow,” Sullivan said. “And I’m not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time.”He acknowledged it was not standard practice to offer such a briefing.“I’ll just say that I personally reached out to the Gang of Eight. It is highly unusual, in fact, for the national security adviser to do that," Sullivan said. He said he had reached out earlier this week.Johnson said he sent a letter last month to the White House requesting a meeting with the president to discuss “the serious national security issue that is classified.” He said Sullivan's meeting was in response to his request.---------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican head of the House Intelligence Committee urged the Biden administration on Wednesday to declassify information about what he called a serious national security threat. A senior congressional aide speaking to The Associated Press pointed to concerns about Russian anti-satellite weapons.Rep. Mike Turner gave no details about the nature of the threat, and the Biden administration also declined to address it. But several leading lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, cautioned against being overly alarmed.The congressional aide said he understood that the threat relates to a space-deployed Russian anti-satellite weapon that may or may not already have been launched. Such a weapon could pose a major danger to U.S. satellites that transmit billions of bytes of data each hour.The aide, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said it was not yet clear if the Russian weapon has nuclear capability, but said that is the fear.Turner earlier Wednesday sent an email to members of Congress saying his committee had “identified an urgent matter with regard to a destabilizing foreign military capability” that should be known to all congressional policy makers. He encouraged them to come to a SCIF, a secure area, to review the intelligence.Turner has been a voice for stronger U.S. national security, putting him at odds with some Republican colleagues who favor a more isolationist approach. He has called for the renewal of a key U.S. government surveillance tool while some fellow Republicans and liberal Democrats have raised privacy objections.And he supports continuing U.S. military aid for Ukraine in its war against Russia at a time that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-johnson-ukraine-aid-06889e166a5417d5b4bc7795813e37ef">funding remains uncertain</a>&nbsp;because of opposition in the Republican-led House.Johnson said he was not at liberty to disclose the classified information. “But we just want to assure everyone steady hands are at the wheel. We’re working on it and there’s no need for alarm,” he told reporters at the Capitol.Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that the classified information is “significant” but “not a cause for panic.”The Senate Intelligence Committee said it has been tracking the issue.“We continue to take this matter seriously and are discussing an appropriate response with the administration,” Sen. Mark Warner, the Democratic committee chairman, and Sen. Marco Rubio, the Republican vice chairman, said in a statement. "In the meantime, we must be cautious about potentially disclosing sources and methods that may be key to preserving a range of options for U.S. action.”The rapidly evolving threat in space was one of the primary reasons that the U.S. Space Force was established in 2019. A lot of that threat has to do with new capabilities that China and Russia have already developed that can interfere with critical satellite-based U.S. communications, such as GPS and the ability to quickly detect missile launches.In recent years the U.S. has seen both China and Russia pursue new ways to jam satellites, intercept their feeds, blind them, shoot them down and even potentially grab them with a robotic arm to pull them out of their programmed orbits. One of the key missions of the Space Force is to train troops skilled in detecting and defending against those threats.In its 2020 Defense Space Strategy, the Pentagon said China and Russia presented the greatest strategic threat in space due to their aggressive development of counterspace abilities, and their military doctrine calling for extending conflict to space.The White House and lawmakers expressed frustration at how Turner raised his concerns. His announcement appeared to catch the Biden administration off-guard.National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House that he already had been due to brief Turner and other senior congressional leaders on Thursday. Sullivan did not disclose the topic or provide any other details related to Turner’s statement.“I’m focused on going to see him, sit with him as well as the other House members of the Gang of Eight, tomorrow,” Sullivan said. “And I’m not in a position to say anything further from this podium at this time.”He acknowledged it was not standard practice to offer such a briefing.“I’ll just say that I personally reached out to the Gang of Eight. It is highly unusual, in fact, for the national security adviser to do that," Sullivan said. He said he had reached out earlier this week.Johnson said he sent a letter last month to the White House requesting a meeting with the president to discuss “the serious national security issue that is classified.” He said Sullivan's meeting was in response to his request.___

Read GOP chairman's warning of serious national security threat

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eight children were among 22 people hit by gunfire in a shooting at the end of Wednesday's parade to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-chiefs-dynasty-kansas-city-d16a308684d97a6be2d269c8d56404be">Super Bowl win</a>, authorities said, as terrified fans ran for cover and yet another high-profile public event was marred by gun violence. One person was killed.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves detailed the shooting's toll at a news conference and said three people had been taken into custody. She said she has heard that fans may have been involved in apprehending a suspect but couldn’t immediately confirm that.

"I’m angry at what happened today. The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment." Graves said. Police did not immediately release any details about the people taken into custody or about a possible motive for the shootings.

It is the latest sports celebration in the U.S. marred by gun violence, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-shooting-nuggets-suspect-ee4869abf1afee855565f1c517bfae1f">shooting last year in downtown Denver</a>&nbsp;after the Nuggets' winning an NBA championship that injured several people, and gunfire last year at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers' World Series championship parade.

Social media users posted shocking video of police running through a crowded scene as people in attendance hurriedly scrambled for cover and ran away. One video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.

Another video showed two onlookers chase and tackle someone, holding that person down until two police officers arrived.

Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence, and in 2020 it was among nine cities targeted by the U.S. Justice Department in an effort to crack down on violent crime. In 2023 the city matched a record with 182 homicides, most of which involved guns.

Mayor Quinton Lucas has joined with mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including mandating universal background checks.

Lucas, who attended the celebration with his wife and mother, said he was heartbroken and angry.

“This is absolutely a tragedy, the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City, the likes of which we'll remember for some time,” Lucas said.

Lisa Money of Kansas City, Kansas, was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell, “Down, down, everybody down!”

At first Money thought somebody might be joking until she saw the SWAT team jumping over the fence.

“I can’t believe it really happened. Who in their right mind would do something like this? This is supposed to be a day of celebration for everybody in the city and the surrounding area. and then you’ve got some idiot that wants to come along and do something like this,” she said.

Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But he said 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.

University Health spokeswoman Nancy Lewis said the hospital was treating eight gunshot victims. Two were in critical condition and six were in stable condition, she said. The hospital also was treating four people for other injuries resulting from the chaos after the shooting, Lewis said.

Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said the hospital was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children, some of whom suffered gunshot wounds.

St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received one gunshot patient in critical condition and three walk-in patients with injuries that were not life- threatening, spokesperson Laurel Gifford said.

“When you have this many casualties, it’s going to get spread out among a lot of hospitals so that you don’t overwhelm any single ER,” she said.

“Praying for Kansas City,” Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1757874492733297003">post on X,</a>&nbsp;formerly known as Twitter, that also included three emojis of hands in prayer.

Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson were at the parade during the gunfire but were unhurt. “Thanks to the professionalism of our security officers and first responders, Teresa and I and our staff are safe and secure,” Parson said in a statement.

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting in Kansas City and will continue to receive updates, a White House spokesperson said. White House officials have been in touch with state and local leaders, and federal law enforcement is on the scene supporting local law enforcement.

Areas that had been filled with crowds were empty after the shooting, with police and firefighters standing and talking behind an area restricted by yellow tape.

Throngs had lined the route, with fans climbing trees and street poles, or standing on rooftops for a better view. Players rolled through the crowd on double-decker buses, DJs and drummers heralding their arrival. Owner Clark Hunt was on one of those buses, holding the Lombardi Trophy.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — One person was killed and up to 15 were injured in a shooting at the end of the parade to celebrate the Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs, the city's police chief said.

“I’m angry at what happened today,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a news conference.

Graves said two people had been taken into custody and has heard that fans may have been involved in apprehending a suspect but couldn’t confirm that.

“This is absolutely a tragedy, the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City, the likes of which we’ll remember for some time,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said.

Social media users posted shocking video. One user’s video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.

Another video showed two onlookers chase down and tackle someone, holding that person down until two police officers arrived.

Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said the hospital “is receiving patients from the rally.” She didn’t know how many or immediately offer any details about their injuries.

St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received one gunshot patient in critical condition and one walk-in patient with injuries that were not life threatening, spokesperson Laurel Gifford said.

The University of Kansas Health System was treating one person wounded in the shooting, said Jill Jensen Chadwick, news director for the health system. She didn’t know the person’s condition.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the first lady were at the parade when shots were fired but are safe, Parson posted on X.

“State law enforcement personnel are assisting local authorities in response efforts,” Parson posted. “As we wait to learn more, our hearts go out to the victims.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A shooting at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade left at least eight injured while sending terrified fans running for cover.

Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said eight to 10 people were injured but declined further comment, saying only that additional information will be released soon.

Police said in a news release that two people were detained. Fans were urged to exit the area as quickly as possible.

Lisa Money of Kansas City, Kansas, was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell “Down, down, everybody down!”

“I can’t believe it really happened. Who in their right mind would do something like this? This is supposed to be a day of celebration for everybody in the city and the surrounding area. and then you’ve got some idiot that wants to come along and do something like this," she said.

Ofilio Martinez, 48, said he heard shots fired a couple blocks away about 10 or 15 minutes before the gunfire near the Union Station rally.

“This is making me nervous, scared,” he said.

“When you have this many casualties, it’s going to get spread out among a lot of hospitals so that you don’t overwhelm single ER,” she said.

Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members, and the team was on buses and returning to Arrowhead Stadium.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fire official says 8 to 10 people injured after shooting near Chiefs parade in Kansas City..

At the conclusion of the rally Wednesday afternoon, there were shots fired west of Union Station near the garage and several people were struck, according KCPD&nbsp;Police Captain Jake Becchina.

There have been two armed people detained for more investigation, according to KCPD.

Police asked the public to exit the area as quickly and safely as possible and avoid the Union Station parking garage in order to facilitate treatment of shooting victims.

Kansas City police said on X that “child reunification stations” were set up at the main entrance to Union Station, and at 2301 Main St. “We still have several needing reunification,” the tweet read. Police also asked witnesses to the shooting to go to a corner near Union Station.

Police are working to provide for the safety of everyone inside Union Station and expedite care of those injured.&nbsp;

This is a developing story. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707945570654.jpeg" alt="A woman is taken to an ambulance after an incident following the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the Super Bowl 58. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)." />
 <figcaption>A woman is taken to an ambulance after an incident following the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the Super Bowl 58. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann).</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eight children were among 22 people hit by gunfire in a shooting at the end of Wednesday's parade to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-chiefs-dynasty-kansas-city-d16a308684d97a6be2d269c8d56404be">Super Bowl win</a>, authorities said, as terrified fans ran for cover and yet another high-profile public event was marred by gun violence. One person was killed.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Update on shooting at Union Station after Chiefs Parade. <a href="https://t.co/vFj50HneBH">https://t.co/vFj50HneBH</a>&mdash; kcpolice (@kcpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/kcpolice/status/1757883367788347880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves detailed the shooting's toll at a news conference and said three people had been taken into custody. She said she has heard that fans may have been involved in apprehending a suspect but couldn’t immediately confirm that."I’m angry at what happened today. The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment." Graves said. Police did not immediately release any details about the people taken into custody or about a possible motive for the shootings.It is the latest sports celebration in the U.S. marred by gun violence, following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-shooting-nuggets-suspect-ee4869abf1afee855565f1c517bfae1f">shooting last year in downtown Denver</a>&nbsp;after the Nuggets' winning an NBA championship that injured several people, and gunfire last year at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers' World Series championship parade.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707941847128.png" alt="The crowd running for exits after a shooting at the Chiefs rally -image Associated Press video" />
 <figcaption>The crowd running for exits after a shooting at the Chiefs rally -image Associated Press video</figcaption>
 </figure>Social media users posted shocking video of police running through a crowded scene as people in attendance hurriedly scrambled for cover and ran away. One video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.Another video showed two onlookers chase and tackle someone, holding that person down until two police officers arrived.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Praying for Kansas City… 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽&mdash; Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1757874492733297003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence, and in 2020 it was among nine cities targeted by the U.S. Justice Department in an effort to crack down on violent crime. In 2023 the city matched a record with 182 homicides, most of which involved guns.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/W9vgWLHmN8">pic.twitter.com/W9vgWLHmN8</a>&mdash; Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raiders/status/1757910170079056149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Mayor Quinton Lucas has joined with mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including mandating universal background checks.Lucas, who attended the celebration with his wife and mother, said he was heartbroken and angry.“This is absolutely a tragedy, the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City, the likes of which we'll remember for some time,” Lucas said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707945460107.jpeg" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Lisa Money of Kansas City, Kansas, was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell, “Down, down, everybody down!”At first Money thought somebody might be joking until she saw the SWAT team jumping over the fence.“I can’t believe it really happened. Who in their right mind would do something like this? This is supposed to be a day of celebration for everybody in the city and the surrounding area. and then you’ve got some idiot that wants to come along and do something like this,” she said.Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But he said 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.University Health spokeswoman Nancy Lewis said the hospital was treating eight gunshot victims. Two were in critical condition and six were in stable condition, she said. The hospital also was treating four people for other injuries resulting from the chaos after the shooting, Lewis said.Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said the hospital was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children, some of whom suffered gunshot wounds.St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received one gunshot patient in critical condition and three walk-in patients with injuries that were not life- threatening, spokesperson Laurel Gifford said.“When you have this many casualties, it’s going to get spread out among a lot of hospitals so that you don’t overwhelm any single ER,” she said.Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members at the time of the shooting, and that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-parade-shooting-58db068706aa90b1d174f2b688484df7">team was on buses and returning</a>&nbsp;to Arrowhead Stadium.“Praying for Kansas City,” Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1757874492733297003">post on X,</a>&nbsp;formerly known as Twitter, that also included three emojis of hands in prayer.Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson were at the parade during the gunfire but were unhurt. “Thanks to the professionalism of our security officers and first responders, Teresa and I and our staff are safe and secure,” Parson said in a statement.President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting in Kansas City and will continue to receive updates, a White House spokesperson said. White House officials have been in touch with state and local leaders, and federal law enforcement is on the scene supporting local law enforcement.Areas that had been filled with crowds were empty after the shooting, with police and firefighters standing and talking behind an area restricted by yellow tape.Throngs had lined the route, with fans climbing trees and street poles, or standing on rooftops for a better view. Players rolled through the crowd on double-decker buses, DJs and drummers heralding their arrival. Owner Clark Hunt was on one of those buses, holding the Lombardi Trophy.------------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — One person was killed and up to 15 were injured in a shooting at the end of the parade to celebrate the Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs, the city's police chief said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Update on shooting at Union Station after Chiefs Parade. <a href="https://t.co/vFj50HneBH">https://t.co/vFj50HneBH</a>&mdash; kcpolice (@kcpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/kcpolice/status/1757883367788347880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I’m angry at what happened today,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a news conference.Graves said two people had been taken into custody and has heard that fans may have been involved in apprehending a suspect but couldn’t confirm that.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Praying for Kansas City… 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽&mdash; Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickMahomes/status/1757874492733297003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This is absolutely a tragedy, the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City, the likes of which we’ll remember for some time,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said.Social media users posted shocking video. One user’s video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707941450912.png" alt="Police on stage with members of the Kansas Chiefs at the end of the rally-image Associated Press video." />
 <figcaption>Police on stage with members of the Kansas Chiefs at the end of the rally-image Associated Press video.</figcaption>
 </figure>Another video showed two onlookers chase down and tackle someone, holding that person down until two police officers arrived.Lisa Money of Kansas City, Kansas, was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell, “Down, down, everybody down!”At first Money thought somebody might be joking until she saw the SWAT team jumping over the fence.“I can’t believe it really happened. Who in their right mind would do something like this? This is supposed to be a day of celebration for everybody in the city and the surrounding area. and then you’ve got some idiot that wants to come along and do something like this,” she said.Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But he said 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said the hospital “is receiving patients from the rally.” She didn’t know how many or immediately offer any details about their injuries.St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received one gunshot patient in critical condition and one walk-in patient with injuries that were not life threatening, spokesperson Laurel Gifford said.The University of Kansas Health System was treating one person wounded in the shooting, said Jill Jensen Chadwick, news director for the health system. She didn’t know the person’s condition.“When you have this many casualties, it’s going to get spread out among a lot of hospitals so that you don’t overwhelm any single ER,” she said.Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the first lady were at the parade when shots were fired but are safe, Parson posted on X.“State law enforcement personnel are assisting local authorities in response efforts,” Parson posted. “As we wait to learn more, our hearts go out to the victims.”-------------KANSAS CITY (AP) — A shooting at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade left at least eight injured while sending terrified fans running for cover.Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said eight to 10 people were injured but declined further comment, saying only that additional information will be released soon.Police said in a news release that two people were detained. Fans were urged to exit the area as quickly as possible.Lisa Money of Kansas City, Kansas, was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell “Down, down, everybody down!”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707941847128.png" alt="The crowd running for exits after a shooting at the Chiefs rally -image Associated Press video" />
 <figcaption>The crowd running for exits after a shooting at the Chiefs rally -image Associated Press video</figcaption>
 </figure>At first Money thought somebody might be joking until she saw the SWAT team jumping over the fence.“I can’t believe it really happened. Who in their right mind would do something like this? This is supposed to be a day of celebration for everybody in the city and the surrounding area. and then you’ve got some idiot that wants to come along and do something like this," she said.Ofilio Martinez, 48, said he heard shots fired a couple blocks away about 10 or 15 minutes before the gunfire near the Union Station rally.“This is making me nervous, scared,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707941478356.png" alt="Police encouraging members of the Kansas City Chiefs to exit the stage at the end of the victory rally-image Associated Press video." />
 <figcaption>Police encouraging members of the Kansas City Chiefs to exit the stage at the end of the victory rally-image Associated Press video.</figcaption>
 </figure>Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But he said 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said the hospital “is receiving patients from the rally.” She didn’t know how many or immediately offer any details about their injuries.The University of Kansas Health System was treating one person wounded in the shooting, said Jill Jensen Chadwick, news director for the health system. She didn’t know the person’s condition.“When you have this many casualties, it’s going to get spread out among a lot of hospitals so that you don’t overwhelm single ER,” she said.Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the first lady were at the parade when shots were fired but are safe, Parson posted on X.“State law enforcement personnel are assisting local authorities in response efforts,” Parson posted. “As we wait to learn more, our hearts go out to the victims.”Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members, and the team was on buses and returning to Arrowhead Stadium.Areas that had been filled with crowds were empty after the shooting, with police and firefighters standing and talking behind an area restricted by yellow tape.------------------KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fire official says 8 to 10 people injured after shooting near Chiefs parade in Kansas City..At the conclusion of the rally Wednesday afternoon, there were shots fired west of Union Station near the garage and several people were struck, according KCPD&nbsp;Police Captain Jake Becchina.There have been two armed people detained for more investigation, according to KCPD.Police asked the public to exit the area as quickly and safely as possible and avoid the Union Station parking garage in order to facilitate treatment of shooting victims.Kansas City police said on X that “child reunification stations” were set up at the main entrance to Union Station, and at 2301 Main St. “We still have several needing reunification,” the tweet read. Police also asked witnesses to the shooting to go to a corner near Union Station.Police are working to provide for the safety of everyone inside Union Station and expedite care of those injured.&nbsp;This is a developing story. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

🎥 At least 8 children hit by gunfire at Chiefs Super Bowl rally; 1 person killed

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

An event that combined ashes and glitter for the celebration of Ash Wednesday has sparked a backlash in the Hays community.

Fort Hays State University students or members of the public were able to be blessed with the traditional ashes or ashes mixed with glitter at the Memorial Union.

Organizers billed the event as a means to foster inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.

More than 200 people commented on a Facebook posting on the event. Some comments were supportive.

However, other community members expressed outrage about the event calling it "disgusting," sacrilege" and "evil."&nbsp;

The event was sponsored by the FHSU group US4U. This is the fifth year that the group has hosted the event since 2017.

"There is a tradition of exclusion, and we don't feel it really reflects what Jesus was about," Cheryl Duffy, Us4U adviser, said. "Jesus was about love and inclusion, and we want to open up that tradition to everyone.

"Ash Wednesday is a meaningful, inflective day. We want everyone to be able to experience that."

The Us4U information cards given at the event said, "Glitter is a sign of hope, which does not despair. It signals our promise to repent, to show up, to witness, to work. Glitter never gives up — and neither do we. Glitter+Ash captures the relationship between death and new life."

Jaelyn Sutter, group president, said people of any orientation can be religious.&nbsp;

"I feel that community has felt left out and excluded from religion," she said. "It is important to make sure they feel safe and they have an opportunity like everyone else."

In response to the backlash, Sutter said, "We stand for love and supporting the community. We are not going to let that affect us or influence us or change us."

Anna Towns, group member, said, "We are continuing a tradition our religious practice has always done; adding the glitter is just an option. It's not the only thing. We also have traditional ashes people can get. This was not meant in any way to be a mockery of other religions."&nbsp;

In years past, the event, which lasted two hours, drew about 30 people split fairly evenly between people who wished to receive traditional ashes and the glitter ashes, Towns said.

You can learn more about US4U on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/Us4U.fhsu">www.facebook.com/Us4U.fhsu</a>.

Ben Houchen of the St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Hays delivered the ashes.&nbsp;

"This is a day that requires all of us to remember where we come from and where we end up," he said. "That is a thing that should bring us unity. We all experience that.&nbsp;

"Specifically being able to bring in the unity of the LGBTQ+ community that has so often been excluded from church spaces is a very important thing for us to be able to do."

Houchen suggested those who feel anger and offense would turn to scripture.&nbsp;

"Romans 12 is pretty clear that if someone offends them, you feed them and clothe them and you care for them. That's our response as Christians, regardless of how we feel about a situation. Our response has to be one of love."

Brenda Rodger, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, was also present as a supporter.

Troy Miller, a pastor at the United Methodist Church in Hays, was originally slated to participate in the event. However, he canceled.

He said on Facebook, "Please know that after this advertisement came out, which I had no part in producing, I respectfully withdrew my participation. Being a local United Methodist pastor, I was asked by this student group to join other local pastors to impose ashes at the Union. I was not expecting this."

Critics of the event not only had issues with the nature of the event, but also how it was publicized.

The event was announced over the daily calendar system for FHSU. See the full announcement below.

Some of the critics were offended about the tone of the announcement, including the phrase, "Get your ash on campus!"

Laura Cune said she did not condemn the LGBTQ+ community as whole but was upset by this event.

In a lengthy Facebook post, she said, "I felt like my faith was not important to someone else. Not just someone else, a lot of someone elses. In fact, I felt like my faith was a joke. The first two sentences of the announcement are alarming, yes. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of “getting ashes to-go” on Ash Wednesday, because, to me, Ash Wednesday is a holy day that is celebrated within a church. There is no drive-thru, no to-go — you attend mass/service and celebrate the beginning of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, the most important time within our faith."

Kamryn Summers said on Facebook, "This is so saddening. I pray for everyone’s souls. Let yourself be saved by Jesus. Do as Jesus did. He left us a book on how to worship him. As tomorrow we worship him with his ashes, not glitter."

"God’s people better rise up. ... Not just here but across our nation and world. This is spiritual warfare and there is no other correct description. PERIOD!" said&nbsp;Ruby Goldman McGuill&nbsp;on Facebook.

Some also took aim directly at the university for allowing the club to announce the event on a university-wide system. Some community members even threatened to stop donating to the university.

President Tisa Mason made a statement about the posting of the event through the university calendar system on Facebook Wednesday morning.

"The inclusion of the university brand mark in the header is not intended to serve as an affirmed or implied endorsement of the beliefs and views held or expressed by any Student Organization," the statement said. "In the interest of ensuring that the First Amendment right of every individual is respected, FHSU remains viewpoint-neutral on this and other Student Organization-led events."

The “Glitter + Ash” event scheduled for today (February 14) on campus is sponsored by Us4U and the United Methodist Campus Ministry. Both are recognized Student Organizations at Fort Hays State University, and both followed established protocols for creating, announcing, and holding this event. As with any Student Organization-led event, email communications about this event included an FHSU-branded header graphic. The inclusion of the university brand mark in the header is not intended to serve as an affirmed or implied endorsement of the beliefs and views held or expressed by any Student Organization. In the interest of ensuring that the First Amendment right of every individual is respected, FHSU remains viewpoint-neutral on this and other Student Organization-led events. We are in the process of updating our student organization event announcement procedures to clarify that these are announcements from the Student Organizations, not the university, and the content of the emails and the events themselves may not reflect the opinions/beliefs of the university or university leadership. The Kansas Board of Regents and Fort Hays State University are committed to the free expression of ideas and beliefs, and we are united in our commitment to full and open inquiry and discourse and the robust exchange of ideas and perspectives. The principles of freedom of speech and freedom of expression are fundamental rights guaranteed under the U.S. and Kansas Constitutions. To read the Kansas Board of Regents statement on freedom of expression, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2021-news-releases/797-regents-commit-to-safeguarding-the-rights-of-students-to-free-expression?fbclid=IwAR3pajpEXzce-Qin3zvmWw4QG-2k6c82GIrKggPOVySfax8G-NVXRB7IKPA">https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2021-news-releases/797-regents-commit-to-safeguarding-the-rights-of-students-to-free-expression?fbclid=IwAR3pajpEXzce-Qin3zvmWw4QG-2k6c82GIrKggPOVySfax8G-NVXRB7IKPA</a>.

For additional questions or comments, please contact Scott Cason at 785-628-4208 or sacason@fhsu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707944312858.jpeg" alt="Jaelyn Sutter, FHSU student and member of Us4U, receives ashes on Ash Wednesday from Pastor Ben Houchen of the St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Hays during a Glitter+Ash event at the FHSU Memorial Union. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Jaelyn Sutter, FHSU student and member of Us4U, receives ashes on Ash Wednesday from Pastor Ben Houchen of the St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Hays during a Glitter+Ash event at the FHSU Memorial Union. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAn event that combined ashes and glitter for the celebration of Ash Wednesday has sparked a backlash in the Hays community.Fort Hays State University students or members of the public were able to be blessed with the traditional ashes or ashes mixed with glitter at the Memorial Union.Organizers billed the event as a means to foster inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community.More than 200 people commented on a Facebook posting on the event. Some comments were supportive.However, other community members expressed outrage about the event calling it "disgusting," sacrilege" and "evil."&nbsp;The event was sponsored by the FHSU group US4U. This is the fifth year that the group has hosted the event since 2017."There is a tradition of exclusion, and we don't feel it really reflects what Jesus was about," Cheryl Duffy, Us4U adviser, said. "Jesus was about love and inclusion, and we want to open up that tradition to everyone."Ash Wednesday is a meaningful, inflective day. We want everyone to be able to experience that."The Us4U information cards given at the event said, "Glitter is a sign of hope, which does not despair. It signals our promise to repent, to show up, to witness, to work. Glitter never gives up — and neither do we. Glitter+Ash captures the relationship between death and new life."Jaelyn Sutter, group president, said people of any orientation can be religious.&nbsp;"I feel that community has felt left out and excluded from religion," she said. "It is important to make sure they feel safe and they have an opportunity like everyone else."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707944717786.jpeg" alt="Members of Us4U and pastors Brenda Rodger and Ben Houchen, far right. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Members of Us4U and pastors Brenda Rodger and Ben Houchen, far right. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>In response to the backlash, Sutter said, "We stand for love and supporting the community. We are not going to let that affect us or influence us or change us."Anna Towns, group member, said, "We are continuing a tradition our religious practice has always done; adding the glitter is just an option. It's not the only thing. We also have traditional ashes people can get. This was not meant in any way to be a mockery of other religions."&nbsp;In years past, the event, which lasted two hours, drew about 30 people split fairly evenly between people who wished to receive traditional ashes and the glitter ashes, Towns said.You can learn more about US4U on Facebook at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/Us4U.fhsu">www.facebook.com/Us4U.fhsu</a>.Ben Houchen of the St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Hays delivered the ashes.&nbsp;"This is a day that requires all of us to remember where we come from and where we end up," he said. "That is a thing that should bring us unity. We all experience that.&nbsp;"Specifically being able to bring in the unity of the LGBTQ+ community that has so often been excluded from church spaces is a very important thing for us to be able to do."Houchen suggested those who feel anger and offense would turn to scripture.&nbsp;"Romans 12 is pretty clear that if someone offends them, you feed them and clothe them and you care for them. That's our response as Christians, regardless of how we feel about a situation. Our response has to be one of love."Brenda Rodger, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, was also present as a supporter.Troy Miller, a pastor at the United Methodist Church in Hays, was originally slated to participate in the event. However, he canceled.He said on Facebook, "Please know that after this advertisement came out, which I had no part in producing, I respectfully withdrew my participation. Being a local United Methodist pastor, I was asked by this student group to join other local pastors to impose ashes at the Union. I was not expecting this."Critics of the event not only had issues with the nature of the event, but also how it was publicized.The event was announced over the daily calendar system for FHSU. See the full announcement below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707940794820.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Some of the critics were offended about the tone of the announcement, including the phrase, "Get your ash on campus!"Laura Cune said she did not condemn the LGBTQ+ community as whole but was upset by this event.In a lengthy Facebook post, she said, "I felt like my faith was not important to someone else. Not just someone else, a lot of someone elses. In fact, I felt like my faith was a joke. The first two sentences of the announcement are alarming, yes. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of “getting ashes to-go” on Ash Wednesday, because, to me, Ash Wednesday is a holy day that is celebrated within a church. There is no drive-thru, no to-go — you attend mass/service and celebrate the beginning of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, the most important time within our faith."Kamryn Summers said on Facebook, "This is so saddening. I pray for everyone’s souls. Let yourself be saved by Jesus. Do as Jesus did. He left us a book on how to worship him. As tomorrow we worship him with his ashes, not glitter."Others took a harder line."God’s people better rise up. ... Not just here but across our nation and world. This is spiritual warfare and there is no other correct description. PERIOD!" said&nbsp;Ruby Goldman McGuill&nbsp;on Facebook.Some also took aim directly at the university for allowing the club to announce the event on a university-wide system. Some community members even threatened to stop donating to the university.President Tisa Mason made a statement about the posting of the event through the university calendar system on Facebook Wednesday morning."The inclusion of the university brand mark in the header is not intended to serve as an affirmed or implied endorsement of the beliefs and views held or expressed by any Student Organization," the statement said. "In the interest of ensuring that the First Amendment right of every individual is respected, FHSU remains viewpoint-neutral on this and other Student Organization-led events."See her complete statement below:The “Glitter + Ash” event scheduled for today (February 14) on campus is sponsored by Us4U and the United Methodist Campus Ministry. Both are recognized Student Organizations at Fort Hays State University, and both followed established protocols for creating, announcing, and holding this event. As with any Student Organization-led event, email communications about this event included an FHSU-branded header graphic. The inclusion of the university brand mark in the header is not intended to serve as an affirmed or implied endorsement of the beliefs and views held or expressed by any Student Organization. In the interest of ensuring that the First Amendment right of every individual is respected, FHSU remains viewpoint-neutral on this and other Student Organization-led events. We are in the process of updating our student organization event announcement procedures to clarify that these are announcements from the Student Organizations, not the university, and the content of the emails and the events themselves may not reflect the opinions/beliefs of the university or university leadership. The Kansas Board of Regents and Fort Hays State University are committed to the free expression of ideas and beliefs, and we are united in our commitment to full and open inquiry and discourse and the robust exchange of ideas and perspectives. The principles of freedom of speech and freedom of expression are fundamental rights guaranteed under the U.S. and Kansas Constitutions. To read the Kansas Board of Regents statement on freedom of expression, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2021-news-releases/797-regents-commit-to-safeguarding-the-rights-of-students-to-free-expression?fbclid=IwAR3pajpEXzce-Qin3zvmWw4QG-2k6c82GIrKggPOVySfax8G-NVXRB7IKPA">https://www.kansasregents.org/about/news-releases/2021-news-releases/797-regents-commit-to-safeguarding-the-rights-of-students-to-free-expression?fbclid=IwAR3pajpEXzce-Qin3zvmWw4QG-2k6c82GIrKggPOVySfax8G-NVXRB7IKPA</a>.For additional questions or comments, please contact Scott Cason at 785-628-4208 or sacason@fhsu.edu.