BERLIN (AP) — The suspects in the foiled plot to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-taylor-swift-concerts-canceled-extremism-arrests-feff9108d0a14d9941c4bc416c0eb05f">attack Taylor Swift concerts</a>&nbsp;in Vienna earlier this month sought to kill “tens of thousands” of fans before the CIA discovered intelligence that disrupted the planning and led to arrests, the agency's deputy director said.

The CIA notified Austrian authorities of the scheme, which allegedly included links to the Islamic State group. The intelligence and subsequent arrests ultimately led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-extremism-arrests-security-taylor-swift-7ece0b264f6e4152b8214c9fba8c425b">cancellation of three sold-out Eras Tour shows</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">devastating fans</a>&nbsp;who had traveled across the globe to see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Swift in concert</a>.

CIA Deputy Director David Cohen addressed the failed plot during the annual Intelligence and National Security Summit, held this week in Maryland.

“They were plotting to kill a huge number — tens of thousands of people at this concert, including I am sure many Americans — and were quite advanced in this," Cohen said Wednesday. “The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the agency and our partners in the intelligence community provided them information about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.”

Austrian officials said the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian man, was inspired by the Islamic State group. He allegedly planned to attack outside the stadium, where upwards of 30,000 fans were expected to gather, with knives or homemade explosives. Another 65,000 fans were likely to be inside the venue. Investigators discovered chemical substances and technical devices during a raid of the suspect's home.

Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner, previously said help from other intelligence agencies was needed because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, can’t legally monitor text messages.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-taylor-swift-concerts-attack-suspect-lawyer-80e7ac6e79f631bffcf8c42e8f1b836a">19-year-old’s lawyer has said</a>&nbsp;the allegations were “overacting at its best,” and contended Austrian authorities were “presenting this exaggeratedly” in order to get new surveillance powers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-vienna-statement-8cabe53d7762bc3f80c0510918ed0aa8#:~:text=LONDON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Two%20weeks,posted%20to%20Instagram%20on%20Wednesday.">Swift broke her silence</a>&nbsp;about the cancellations last week after her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-london-wembley-6a8aff0c9f0bb45382602a75dfc77904">London shows had concluded</a>.

“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”

She thanked authorities — “thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she wrote — and said she waited to speak until the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-taylor-swift-signs-gelsenkirchen-swiftkirchen-01a68a8c505bf649a0d3f0f149be158e">European leg of her Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;concluded to prioritize safety.

“Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows,” she wrote.

<a href="https://apnews.com/video/austria-taylor-swift-austria-government-vienna-concerts-3a0085b75ae740abb08d158ee7519cac">Concert organizer Barracuda Music</a>&nbsp;said it canceled the three-night Vienna run that would have begun Aug. 8 because the arrests made in connection to the conspiracy were too close to showtime.

The main suspect and a 17-year-old were taken into custody on Aug. 6, the day before the cancellations were announced. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-taylor-swift-concerts-canceled-extremism-arrests-feff9108d0a14d9941c4bc416c0eb05f">third suspect, 18, was arrested</a>&nbsp;Aug. 8. Their names have not been released in line with Austrian privacy rules.

The shows in London, the next stop after Vienna, came on the heels of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-stabbing-attack-southport-far-right-violence-a2e43d0d49776c138790d083713873f7">stabbing at a Swift-themed dance class that left three little girls dead</a>&nbsp;in the U.K. In a statement issued after the Southport attack, Swift said she was “just completely in shock” and “at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.” News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London.

The Vienna plot also drew comparisons to a 2017 attack by a suicide bomber&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9d813da59c6342b09c7ea57f62a5d9a8">at an Ariana Grande concert</a>&nbsp;in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people. The bomb detonated at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving, becoming the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.

Cohen on Wednesday praised the CIA's work in preventing the planned violence, saying that other counterterrorism “successes” in foiling plots typically go unheralded.

“I can tell you within my agency, and I'm sure in others, there were people who thought that was a really good day for Langley,” he said, referring to the CIA headquarters. “And not just the Swifties in my workforce.”

The record-smashing tour is on hiatus until the fall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723064189320.png" alt="File photo-Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File photo-Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>BERLIN (AP) — The suspects in the foiled plot to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-taylor-swift-concerts-canceled-extremism-arrests-feff9108d0a14d9941c4bc416c0eb05f">attack Taylor Swift concerts</a>&nbsp;in Vienna earlier this month sought to kill “tens of thousands” of fans before the CIA discovered intelligence that disrupted the planning and led to arrests, the agency's deputy director said.The CIA notified Austrian authorities of the scheme, which allegedly included links to the Islamic State group. The intelligence and subsequent arrests ultimately led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-extremism-arrests-security-taylor-swift-7ece0b264f6e4152b8214c9fba8c425b">cancellation of three sold-out Eras Tour shows</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">devastating fans</a>&nbsp;who had traveled across the globe to see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Swift in concert</a>.CIA Deputy Director David Cohen addressed the failed plot during the annual Intelligence and National Security Summit, held this week in Maryland.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724925442664.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“They were plotting to kill a huge number — tens of thousands of people at this concert, including I am sure many Americans — and were quite advanced in this," Cohen said Wednesday. “The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the agency and our partners in the intelligence community provided them information about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.”Austrian officials said the main suspect, a 19-year-old Austrian man, was inspired by the Islamic State group. He allegedly planned to attack outside the stadium, where upwards of 30,000 fans were expected to gather, with knives or homemade explosives. Another 65,000 fans were likely to be inside the venue. Investigators discovered chemical substances and technical devices during a raid of the suspect's home.Austria’s interior minister, Gerhard Karner, previously said help from other intelligence agencies was needed because Austrian investigators, unlike some foreign services, can’t legally monitor text messages.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-taylor-swift-concerts-attack-suspect-lawyer-80e7ac6e79f631bffcf8c42e8f1b836a">19-year-old’s lawyer has said</a>&nbsp;the allegations were “overacting at its best,” and contended Austrian authorities were “presenting this exaggeratedly” in order to get new surveillance powers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-vienna-statement-8cabe53d7762bc3f80c0510918ed0aa8#:~:text=LONDON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Two%20weeks,posted%20to%20Instagram%20on%20Wednesday.">Swift broke her silence</a>&nbsp;about the cancellations last week after her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-london-wembley-6a8aff0c9f0bb45382602a75dfc77904">London shows had concluded</a>.“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” she wrote in a statement posted to Instagram. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”She thanked authorities — “thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she wrote — and said she waited to speak until the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-taylor-swift-signs-gelsenkirchen-swiftkirchen-01a68a8c505bf649a0d3f0f149be158e">European leg of her Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;concluded to prioritize safety.“Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows,” she wrote.<a href="https://apnews.com/video/austria-taylor-swift-austria-government-vienna-concerts-3a0085b75ae740abb08d158ee7519cac">Concert organizer Barracuda Music</a>&nbsp;said it canceled the three-night Vienna run that would have begun Aug. 8 because the arrests made in connection to the conspiracy were too close to showtime.The main suspect and a 17-year-old were taken into custody on Aug. 6, the day before the cancellations were announced. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austria-taylor-swift-concerts-canceled-extremism-arrests-feff9108d0a14d9941c4bc416c0eb05f">third suspect, 18, was arrested</a>&nbsp;Aug. 8. Their names have not been released in line with Austrian privacy rules.The shows in London, the next stop after Vienna, came on the heels of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-stabbing-attack-southport-far-right-violence-a2e43d0d49776c138790d083713873f7">stabbing at a Swift-themed dance class that left three little girls dead</a>&nbsp;in the U.K. In a statement issued after the Southport attack, Swift said she was “just completely in shock” and “at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.” News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London.The Vienna plot also drew comparisons to a 2017 attack by a suicide bomber&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9d813da59c6342b09c7ea57f62a5d9a8">at an Ariana Grande concert</a>&nbsp;in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people. The bomb detonated at the end of Grande’s concert as thousands of young fans were leaving, becoming the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.Cohen on Wednesday praised the CIA's work in preventing the planned violence, saying that other counterterrorism “successes” in foiling plots typically go unheralded.“I can tell you within my agency, and I'm sure in others, there were people who thought that was a really good day for Langley,” he said, referring to the CIA headquarters. “And not just the Swifties in my workforce.”The record-smashing tour is on hiatus until the fall.

CIA official: Suspects in plot to attack Taylor Swift shows aimed to kill 'tens of thousands'

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

On August 24, midnight shift officers responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle near 76th Street and Norwood in Prairie Village, according to a media release. 

Officers arrived, located the suspicious vehicle, and contacted the driver later identified as&nbsp;22-year-old Jaylen Stallworth of Wylie, Texas. A search of the vehicle was conducted after drugs were observed in the car. 

 During the search, officers recovered a firearm that was stolen from Fort Worth, Texas. Stallworth was also found to be a felon in possession of a firearm.  After the arrest, Prairie Village police were notified that the Stallworth was also wanted in a homicide in Dallas.

Stallworth remains jailed in Johnson County on a requested charges of felony firearm theft and marijuana possession.

Police reminded, "you never know how far a stolen gun may travel, so please secure your personal firearms."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724840467796.png" alt="Stallworth-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Stallworth-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.On August 24, midnight shift officers responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle near 76th Street and Norwood in Prairie Village, according to a media release. Officers arrived, located the suspicious vehicle, and contacted the driver later identified as&nbsp;22-year-old Jaylen Stallworth of Wylie, Texas. A search of the vehicle was conducted after drugs were observed in the car. During the search, officers recovered a firearm that was stolen from Fort Worth, Texas. Stallworth was also found to be a felon in possession of a firearm. After the arrest, Prairie Village police were notified that the Stallworth was also wanted in a homicide in Dallas.Stallworth remains jailed in Johnson County on a requested charges of felony firearm theft and marijuana possession.Police reminded, "you never know how far a stolen gun may travel, so please secure your personal firearms."

Texas murder suspect captured in Kansas after report of suspicious vehicle

SALINE COUNTY —Officials are working to determine the cause of a 3-alarm fire at a battery manufacturing plant in Salina.

Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, Salina Fire, Rural Fire District One and Two, the Saline County Sheriff's Office, Salina Police Department, Saline County Emergency Management and the Kansas Highway Patrol all responded to a fire at Stryten Energy in Salina.&nbsp;

According to Salina Fire Marshal Joe Kvacik, nearly a dozen fire apparatuses remain on the scene attacking hot spots inside the Stryten Energy building, 413 East Berg Road, Salina.

On the second and third floors of the large, multiple story Stryten Energy complex, Salina and Saline County Rural fire fighters encountered moderate fire conditions.&nbsp;

"Eventually we got the fire knocked down on the inside. Then we had some roofing material and stuff on the on the roof that was burning," Kvacik said. "We had multiple levels of this building that had fire on it. So we had several ladder trucks out here."

According to Michelle Weis, Saline County Emergency Management Director, fire crews have informed her that there were no live flames as of 6:11 p.m. Kvacik said fire crews continue to overhaul the building checking for hot spots.&nbsp;

"We have a lot of hot spots in there," Kvacik said. "They're pulling a lot of insulation and and just chasing down anything that's still smoldering."

On Wednesday Aug. 28, Saline County residents near the Stryten Energy Building saw large black plumes of smoke rise from the large factory building located at 413 East Berg Road.&nbsp; Nate King

According to Kvacik, this was a three alarm fire.

"Our first alarm is basically the crews that are on duty, the fire trucks that would go to this initial alarm when something's called," Kvacik said. "A second alarm is where we'll call back one of our shifts and they staff, like our backup trucks, or they'll send some guys out here to assist, and then the third alarm is when we call the other shift back. Third alarm is everybody."

Kvacik said the cause of the fire at this time is unknown.&nbsp;

"They [fire fighters] are still chasing hot spots," Kvacik said. "We haven't started the investigation yet. We haven't really sat down and talked to Stryten to see what was going on or what was observed. For us, this is a pretty large scene."&nbsp;

Melissa Floyd, a representative of Stryten Energy, said the company was unable to issue a statement at this time. Salina Post asked if residents should avoid the area because of the possibility of potentially harmful chemicals present in the smoke plumes.

Floyd was unable to provide a comment at this time.&nbsp;

SALINE COUNTY —Fire crews are on the scene of a fire at Stryten Energy, 413 E Berg Road, Salina.&nbsp;

Just after 4p.m. Saline County paged first responders to the fire.&nbsp; In addition to fire crews, Saline County Emergency Management officials are on the scene.

Stryten is a&nbsp;stored energy solutions firm, according to the company web site. Their&nbsp; products " power everything from forklifts in warehouses and distribution centers to cars, trains and trucks to microgrids and vast telecom networks. In addition to manufacturing high-quality advanced lead, lithium, and vanadium batteries and intelligent chargers."

This is a developing story. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724880816222.png" alt="Submitted photo" />
 <figcaption>Submitted photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Officials are working to determine the cause of a 3-alarm fire at a battery manufacturing plant in Salina.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/otfY-UhCeWI?si=DOqSJEbheL3sTKOO" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Just after 4p.m. Wednesday, Salina Fire, Rural Fire District One and Two, the Saline County Sheriff's Office, Salina Police Department, Saline County Emergency Management and the Kansas Highway Patrol all responded to a fire at Stryten Energy in Salina.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724881266993.png" alt="Photo by Nate King" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Nate King</figcaption>
 </figure>According to Salina Fire Marshal Joe Kvacik, nearly a dozen fire apparatuses remain on the scene attacking hot spots inside the Stryten Energy building, 413 East Berg Road, Salina.On the second and third floors of the large, multiple story Stryten Energy complex, Salina and Saline County Rural fire fighters encountered moderate fire conditions.&nbsp;"Eventually we got the fire knocked down on the inside. Then we had some roofing material and stuff on the on the roof that was burning," Kvacik said. "We had multiple levels of this building that had fire on it. So we had several ladder trucks out here."According to Michelle Weis, Saline County Emergency Management Director, fire crews have informed her that there were no live flames as of 6:11 p.m. Kvacik said fire crews continue to overhaul the building checking for hot spots.&nbsp;"We have a lot of hot spots in there," Kvacik said. "They're pulling a lot of insulation and and just chasing down anything that's still smoldering."On Wednesday Aug. 28, Saline County residents near the Stryten Energy Building saw large black plumes of smoke rise from the large factory building located at 413 East Berg Road.&nbsp; Nate KingAccording to Kvacik, this was a three alarm fire."Our first alarm is basically the crews that are on duty, the fire trucks that would go to this initial alarm when something's called," Kvacik said. "A second alarm is where we'll call back one of our shifts and they staff, like our backup trucks, or they'll send some guys out here to assist, and then the third alarm is when we call the other shift back. Third alarm is everybody."Kvacik said the cause of the fire at this time is unknown.&nbsp;"They [fire fighters] are still chasing hot spots," Kvacik said. "We haven't started the investigation yet. We haven't really sat down and talked to Stryten to see what was going on or what was observed. For us, this is a pretty large scene."&nbsp;Melissa Floyd, a representative of Stryten Energy, said the company was unable to issue a statement at this time. Salina Post asked if residents should avoid the area because of the possibility of potentially harmful chemicals present in the smoke plumes.Floyd was unable to provide a comment at this time.&nbsp;-------------SALINE COUNTY —Fire crews are on the scene of a fire at Stryten Energy, 413 E Berg Road, Salina.&nbsp;Just after 4p.m. Saline County paged first responders to the fire.&nbsp; In addition to fire crews, Saline County Emergency Management officials are on the scene.Stryten is a&nbsp;stored energy solutions firm, according to the company web site. Their&nbsp; products " power everything from forklifts in warehouses and distribution centers to cars, trains and trucks to microgrids and vast telecom networks. In addition to manufacturing high-quality advanced lead, lithium, and vanadium batteries and intelligent chargers."This is a developing story. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

🎥 Cause of fire at central Kansas battery plant under investigation

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating suspect on drug allegaions.

Just before 9a.m. August 25, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Mercury Milan for a traffic infraction on U.S. Highway 75 near 174th Road in rural Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and discovered illegal contraband. The driver, 21-year-old David Joseph Donald Friend, of Holton, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724705941633.png" alt="Friend photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Friend photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating suspect on drug allegaions.Just before 9a.m. August 25, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a Mercury Milan for a traffic infraction on U.S. Highway 75 near 174th Road in rural Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and discovered illegal contraband. The driver, 21-year-old David Joseph Donald Friend, of Holton, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of cocaine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas man caught transporting cocaine

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The attorney for an 85-year-old white man who shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ralph-yarl-kansas-city-wrong-door-b27aaabdb132fcb1544c97f7161f0027">Ralph Yarl</a>&nbsp;after the teenage Black honor student came to his Kansas City, Missouri, home by mistake has requested a psychological examination for his client, saying he believes the retired aircraft mechanic no longer understands the proceedings against him.

Andrew Lester's lawyer filed the motion on Tuesday. Lester has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the April 13, 2023, shooting of Yarl, then 16. Lester was 84 at the time.

Yarl survived the shooting and graduated from high school in the spring. But his family said the shooting took a big emotional toll and has filed a lawsuit against Lester.

The shooting shocked the country and renewed national debates about gun policies and race in the U.S. Lester's trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 7.

Attorney Steve Salmon has long argued that Lester was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ralph-yarl-shooting-stand-your-ground-69f91b0a09b25f9758219897f5890278">acting in self-defense</a>, terrified by the stranger who knocked on his door as he settled into bed for the night.

Now he contends that Lester needs psychiatrists or psychologists to examine him and make a recommendation about whether he should be held in custody in a suitable hospital facility for treatment while decisions about how to proceed are made.

Yarl showed up on Lester's doorstep after he mixed up the streets where he was supposed to pick up his twin siblings. Yarl testified at an earlier hearing that Lester shot him in the head and uttered, “Don’t come here ever again." Although the bullet didn't penetrate Yarl's brain, the impact knocked him to the ground. Yarl said Lester then shot him in the arm.

In the ensuing months, Lester's physical and mental condition has deteriorated, Salmon wrote. He said Lester has had heart issues, a broken hip and hospitalizations.

Lester also has lost 50 pounds, which Salmon blames on the stress he has experienced because of intense scrutiny from the news media and death threats.

Salmon said Lester has memory issues relating to key facts about the case that formerly were not a problem. He said Lester thinks every pretrial hearing is the actual trial, despite being told otherwise, and believes that coins he purchased from a TV ad are now worth about $20 million.

Salmon wrote that he believes that Lester now lacks the capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681844207619.png" alt="Lester photo Clay Co." />
 <figcaption>Lester photo Clay Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The attorney for an 85-year-old white man who shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ralph-yarl-kansas-city-wrong-door-b27aaabdb132fcb1544c97f7161f0027">Ralph Yarl</a>&nbsp;after the teenage Black honor student came to his Kansas City, Missouri, home by mistake has requested a psychological examination for his client, saying he believes the retired aircraft mechanic no longer understands the proceedings against him.Andrew Lester's lawyer filed the motion on Tuesday. Lester has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the April 13, 2023, shooting of Yarl, then 16. Lester was 84 at the time.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681726215314.png" alt="Ralph Yarl photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Ralph Yarl photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Yarl survived the shooting and graduated from high school in the spring. But his family said the shooting took a big emotional toll and has filed a lawsuit against Lester.The shooting shocked the country and renewed national debates about gun policies and race in the U.S. Lester's trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 7.Attorney Steve Salmon has long argued that Lester was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ralph-yarl-shooting-stand-your-ground-69f91b0a09b25f9758219897f5890278">acting in self-defense</a>, terrified by the stranger who knocked on his door as he settled into bed for the night.Now he contends that Lester needs psychiatrists or psychologists to examine him and make a recommendation about whether he should be held in custody in a suitable hospital facility for treatment while decisions about how to proceed are made.Yarl showed up on Lester's doorstep after he mixed up the streets where he was supposed to pick up his twin siblings. Yarl testified at an earlier hearing that Lester shot him in the head and uttered, “Don’t come here ever again." Although the bullet didn't penetrate Yarl's brain, the impact knocked him to the ground. Yarl said Lester then shot him in the arm.In the ensuing months, Lester's physical and mental condition has deteriorated, Salmon wrote. He said Lester has had heart issues, a broken hip and hospitalizations.Lester also has lost 50 pounds, which Salmon blames on the stress he has experienced because of intense scrutiny from the news media and death threats.Salmon said Lester has memory issues relating to key facts about the case that formerly were not a problem. He said Lester thinks every pretrial hearing is the actual trial, despite being told otherwise, and believes that coins he purchased from a TV ad are now worth about $20 million.Salmon wrote that he believes that Lester now lacks the capacity to understand the proceedings against him or to assist in his own defense.

Attorney for KC man who shot Ralph Yarl: Client needs a psychological evaluation

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a man's body found in the trunk of a car in Wichita on August 21.

On Tuesday, the Wichita Police Department arrested a 23-year old Daitrez J. Birch, according to the Sedgwick County booking report on a requested charge of First-Degree Murder.&nbsp;The arrest took place in the 1800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

Just after 8a.m. August 21, police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a vacant lot located in the 8200 block of West Irving Street in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

Officers were directed to a white four door Mercedes and discovered a deceased 39-year-old man later identified as Kyce Barnes in the trunk of the vehicle.

Barnes was found wrapped in blood-stained bedding with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. His remains were transported to the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner's Office for further examination.

During the investigation, detectives identified the Deluxe Motel at 8401 W. Kellogg Drive as the original crime scene.&nbsp;

Barnes had a long history of crime. He spent time in the Kansas Department of Corrections for drug convictions in Cowley County. He was released from prison in 2020.&nbsp; On August 20, police booked Barnes into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges that included possession of stolen property and drug possession, according to jail booking records. He was released from the Sedgwick County jail just after 3p.m. August 21.

Police in Wichita also arrested him in 2022 on requested charges of theft, violation of a protection order, domestic battery and failure to appear.&nbsp;

Birch is expected to make a court appearance in the case later this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724854691982.png" alt="Birch photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Birch photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a man's body found in the trunk of a car in Wichita on August 21.On Tuesday, the Wichita Police Department arrested a 23-year old Daitrez J. Birch, according to the Sedgwick County booking report on a requested charge of First-Degree Murder.&nbsp;The arrest took place in the 1800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724266152157.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8a.m. August 21, police responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a vacant lot located in the 8200 block of West Irving Street in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.Officers were directed to a white four door Mercedes and discovered a deceased 39-year-old man later identified as Kyce Barnes in the trunk of the vehicle.Barnes was found wrapped in blood-stained bedding with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. His remains were transported to the Sedgwick County Medical Examiner's Office for further examination.During the investigation, detectives identified the Deluxe Motel at 8401 W. Kellogg Drive as the original crime scene.&nbsp;Barnes had a long history of crime. He spent time in the Kansas Department of Corrections for drug convictions in Cowley County. He was released from prison in 2020.&nbsp; On August 20, police booked Barnes into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges that included possession of stolen property and drug possession, according to jail booking records. He was released from the Sedgwick County jail just after 3p.m. August 21.Police in Wichita also arrested him in 2022 on requested charges of theft, violation of a protection order, domestic battery and failure to appear.&nbsp;Birch is expected to make a court appearance in the case later this week.

 Kan. man accused in murder of victim found in trunk of car

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday kept on hold the latest multibillion-dollar plan from the Biden administration that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts.

The justices rejected an administration request to put most of it back into effect. It was blocked by 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In an unsigned order, the court said it expects the appeals court to issue a fuller decision on the plan “with appropriate dispatch.”

The Education Department is seeking to provide a faster path to loan cancellation, and reduce monthly income-based repayments from 10% to 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income. The plan also wouldn’t require borrowers to make payments if they earn less than 225% of the federal poverty line — $32,800 a year for a single person.

Last year, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">rejected</a>&nbsp;an earlier plan that would have wiped away more than $400 billion in student loan debt.

Cost estimates of the new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">SAVE plan</a>&nbsp;vary. The Republican-led states challenging the plan peg the cost at $475 billion over 10 years. The administration cites a Congressional Budget Office estimate of $276 billion.

Two separate legal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/joe-biden-000001904d5edaf5afd4df5f13b00000">challenges</a>&nbsp;to the SAVE plan have been making their way through federal courts. In June, judges in Kansas and Missouri issued separate rulings that blocked much of the administration’s plan. Debt that already had been forgiven under the plan was unaffected.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-repayment-save-plan-b39342e0dce69dce2c5582ffba1cfcb7">ruling</a>&nbsp;that allowed the department to proceed with a provision allowing for lower monthly payments. Republican-led states had asked the high court to undo that ruling.

But after the 8th Circuit blocked the entire plan, the states had no need for the Supreme Court to intervene, the justices noted in a separate order issued Wednesday.

The Justice Department had suggested the Supreme Court could take up the legal fight over the new plan now, as it did with the earlier debt forgiveness plan. But the justices declined to do so.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721337854914.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday kept on hold the latest multibillion-dollar plan from the Biden administration that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts.The justices rejected an administration request to put most of it back into effect. It was blocked by 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.In an unsigned order, the court said it expects the appeals court to issue a fuller decision on the plan “with appropriate dispatch.”The Education Department is seeking to provide a faster path to loan cancellation, and reduce monthly income-based repayments from 10% to 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income. The plan also wouldn’t require borrowers to make payments if they earn less than 225% of the federal poverty line — $32,800 a year for a single person.Last year, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">rejected</a>&nbsp;an earlier plan that would have wiped away more than $400 billion in student loan debt.Cost estimates of the new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">SAVE plan</a>&nbsp;vary. The Republican-led states challenging the plan peg the cost at $475 billion over 10 years. The administration cites a Congressional Budget Office estimate of $276 billion.Two separate legal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/politics/joe-biden-000001904d5edaf5afd4df5f13b00000">challenges</a>&nbsp;to the SAVE plan have been making their way through federal courts. In June, judges in Kansas and Missouri issued separate rulings that blocked much of the administration’s plan. Debt that already had been forgiven under the plan was unaffected.The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-repayment-save-plan-b39342e0dce69dce2c5582ffba1cfcb7">ruling</a>&nbsp;that allowed the department to proceed with a provision allowing for lower monthly payments. Republican-led states had asked the high court to undo that ruling.But after the 8th Circuit blocked the entire plan, the states had no need for the Supreme Court to intervene, the justices noted in a separate order issued Wednesday.The Justice Department had suggested the Supreme Court could take up the legal fight over the new plan now, as it did with the earlier debt forgiveness plan. But the justices declined to do so.

Supreme Court refuses to revive Biden's latest student loan debt relief plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The gunman in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vp-vance-rubio-7c7ba6b99b5f38d2d840ed95b2fdc3e5">assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;searched online for events of both Trump and President Joe Biden, repeatedly looked up information about explosives and saw the Pennsylvania campaign rally where he opened fire last month as a “target of opportunity,” a senior FBI official said Wednesday.

Investigators who have conducted nearly 1,000 interviews do not have a motive for why&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-thomas-matthew-crooks-shooter-881581c46c07025898027143fc9132e5">20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks</a>&nbsp;shot at Trump during a July 13 campaign rally but they believe that he conducted "extensive attack planning," including looking up campaign events involving both the current president and former president, particularly in western Pennsylvania.

The FBI analysis of his online search history reveals a “sustained, detailed effort to plan an attack on some event, meaning he looked at any number of events or targets,” Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, told reporters Wednesday in the latest in a series of briefings on the investigation.

Once a Trump rally was announced for July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, “He became hyper-focused on that specific event and looked at it as a target of opportunity,” Rojek said. Crooks' internet searches in the days leading up to the rally included queries about the grounds where the rally was held, “Where will Trump speak from at Butler Farm Show?” “Butler Farm Show podium and ”Butler Farm Show photos."

In the 30 days before the attack, the FBI says, Crooks did more than 60 internet searches related to Biden and Trump, including seeking the dates of both the Democratic and Republican national conventions.&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/believed%20to%20have%20done%20a%20Google%20search%20one%20week%20before%20the%20shooting%20of%20%E2%80%9CHow%20far%20away%20was%20Oswald%20from%20Kennedy?">FBI Director Christopher Wray has previously revealed</a>&nbsp;that one week before the shooting, Crooks did a Google search for “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”

That's an apparent reference to Lee Harvey Oswald, the shooter who killed President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963.

The new details add to an emerging portrait of Crooks as a highly intelligent and reclusive man who investigators say in the years before the shooting had taken an eerie interest in explosives and major events involving prominent public figures, but whose internet searches across major political parties have frustrated efforts to assign a simple motive or to establish why Trump himself would have been targeted.

“We have a clear idea of mindset, but we are not ready to make any conclusive statements regarding motive at this time,” Rojek said. The FBI has also not found that anyone else had advance knowledge of the shooting or that Crooks had conspired with anyone else.

The FBI found explosive devices in his car and home, and investigators say his internet searches revealed that since at least 2019 he had looked up information about bomb-making materials.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720953321409.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The gunman in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vp-vance-rubio-7c7ba6b99b5f38d2d840ed95b2fdc3e5">assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;searched online for events of both Trump and President Joe Biden, repeatedly looked up information about explosives and saw the Pennsylvania campaign rally where he opened fire last month as a “target of opportunity,” a senior FBI official said Wednesday.Investigators who have conducted nearly 1,000 interviews do not have a motive for why&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-thomas-matthew-crooks-shooter-881581c46c07025898027143fc9132e5">20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks</a>&nbsp;shot at Trump during a July 13 campaign rally but they believe that he conducted "extensive attack planning," including looking up campaign events involving both the current president and former president, particularly in western Pennsylvania.The FBI analysis of his online search history reveals a “sustained, detailed effort to plan an attack on some event, meaning he looked at any number of events or targets,” Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh field office, told reporters Wednesday in the latest in a series of briefings on the investigation.Once a Trump rally was announced for July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, “He became hyper-focused on that specific event and looked at it as a target of opportunity,” Rojek said. Crooks' internet searches in the days leading up to the rally included queries about the grounds where the rally was held, “Where will Trump speak from at Butler Farm Show?” “Butler Farm Show podium and ”Butler Farm Show photos."In the 30 days before the attack, the FBI says, Crooks did more than 60 internet searches related to Biden and Trump, including seeking the dates of both the Democratic and Republican national conventions.&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/believed%20to%20have%20done%20a%20Google%20search%20one%20week%20before%20the%20shooting%20of%20%E2%80%9CHow%20far%20away%20was%20Oswald%20from%20Kennedy?">FBI Director Christopher Wray has previously revealed</a>&nbsp;that one week before the shooting, Crooks did a Google search for “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?”That's an apparent reference to Lee Harvey Oswald, the shooter who killed President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963.The new details add to an emerging portrait of Crooks as a highly intelligent and reclusive man who investigators say in the years before the shooting had taken an eerie interest in explosives and major events involving prominent public figures, but whose internet searches across major political parties have frustrated efforts to assign a simple motive or to establish why Trump himself would have been targeted.“We have a clear idea of mindset, but we are not ready to make any conclusive statements regarding motive at this time,” Rojek said. The FBI has also not found that anyone else had advance knowledge of the shooting or that Crooks had conspired with anyone else.The FBI found explosive devices in his car and home, and investigators say his internet searches revealed that since at least 2019 he had looked up information about bomb-making materials.

FBI: Gunman in Trump assassination attempt saw rally as 'target of opportunity'

ATCHISON COUNTY—A child critically injured in an accident during a police pursuit just after 5:30p.m. Sunday in Atchison County has died.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Toyota Corolla driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Maria&nbsp; Papalas, 28, Atchison, was southbound on Sherman Road at&nbsp; 244th Road five miles south of Atchison at a high rate of speed. 

The driver was attempting to elude law enforcement. Due to the speed, the driver lost control on a curve. The car entered the west ditch and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its top.

EMS transported a passenger identified as 1-year-old Mixalis&nbsp;Papalas-Schulpz of Atchison to Children's Mercy for treatment of critical injuries. He died on Tuesday, according to the KHP.

&nbsp;EMS transported Papalas to Stormont Vail for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

ATCHISON COUNTY—A child critically injured in an accident during a police pursuit just after 5:30p.m. Sunday in Atchison County has died.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Toyota Corolla driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Maria&nbsp; Papalas, 28, Atchison, was southbound on Sherman Road at&nbsp; 244th Road five miles south of Atchison at a high rate of speed. The driver was attempting to elude law enforcement. Due to the speed, the driver lost control on a curve. The car entered the west ditch and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its top.EMS transported a passenger identified as 1-year-old Mixalis&nbsp;Papalas-Schulpz of Atchison to Children's Mercy for treatment of critical injuries. He died on Tuesday, according to the KHP.&nbsp;EMS transported Papalas to Stormont Vail for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

1-year-old Kan. boy injured in crash during chase has died

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the father of a Kansas teen for alleged child abuse.

On Monday evening, police were dispatched to a local hospital in response to a child abuse report involving a 13-year-old boy, according to Wichita Police Officer Kris Gupilan.&nbsp; The investigation revealed that the suspect involved was the boy's 39-year-old father Dallas L. Ellis, according to the Sedgwick County daily booking report.

Officers proceeded to the 11000 block of W. Jennie Circle in Wichita to apprehend the Ellis. He refused to cooperate and exit the residence. In response, police negotiators and SWAT were deployed to the scene. After several hours of negotiation, Ellis ultimately surrendered without incident and was taken into custody peacefully.

Just after 8a.m. Tuesday Ellis was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail&nbsp; on requested charges of abuse of a child; reckless great bodily harm/abuse head trauma/permanent disability/disfigurement, according to the jail arrest report. He bonded out of jail on Tuesday afternoon.

Police will present the case to the District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724841201711.png" alt="Ellis-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ellis-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating the father of a Kansas teen for alleged child abuse.On Monday evening, police were dispatched to a local hospital in response to a child abuse report involving a 13-year-old boy, according to Wichita Police Officer Kris Gupilan.&nbsp; The investigation revealed that the suspect involved was the boy's 39-year-old father Dallas L. Ellis, according to the Sedgwick County daily booking report.Officers proceeded to the 11000 block of W. Jennie Circle in Wichita to apprehend the Ellis. He refused to cooperate and exit the residence. In response, police negotiators and SWAT were deployed to the scene. After several hours of negotiation, Ellis ultimately surrendered without incident and was taken into custody peacefully.Just after 8a.m. Tuesday Ellis was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail&nbsp; on requested charges of abuse of a child; reckless great bodily harm/abuse head trauma/permanent disability/disfigurement, according to the jail arrest report. He bonded out of jail on Tuesday afternoon.Police will present the case to the District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;

Kan. father arrested after 13-year-old hospitalized with injuries

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating after a group of possibly teenagers or individuals in their early twenties, were involved in a shooting incident near Exploration Place,&nbsp;300 N McLean Blvd. in Wichita. Police asked for help to identify suspects and released a security camera image.

&nbsp;The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office has charged 19-year-old D’Angelo Martinez for criminal discharge of a firearm in connection with the crime.

Just before 12:30a.m. August 4, there was an exchange of gunshots between the groups, and a bullet struck a glass window at Exploration Place.

Fortunately, no one was injured, including a group of children at a sleepover event at Exploration Place. Police believed that a confrontation occurred near the Keeper of the Plains Statue and the South Bridge prior to the shooting taking place.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722947154401.png" alt="Security camera image Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating after a group of possibly teenagers or individuals in their early twenties, were involved in a shooting incident near Exploration Place,&nbsp;300 N McLean Blvd. in Wichita. Police asked for help to identify suspects and released a security camera image.&nbsp;The Sedgwick County District Attorney's office has charged 19-year-old D’Angelo Martinez for criminal discharge of a firearm in connection with the crime.Just before 12:30a.m. August 4, there was an exchange of gunshots between the groups, and a bullet struck a glass window at Exploration Place.Fortunately, no one was injured, including a group of children at a sleepover event at Exploration Place. Police believed that a confrontation occurred near the Keeper of the Plains Statue and the South Bridge prior to the shooting taking place.

Suspect charged for gunfire that damaged Kan. science museum

WASHINGTON (AP) — An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pvt-travis-king-released-north-korea-746487710c11a812f33ad25d60861b1b">Army private who fled to North Korea</a>&nbsp;just over a year ago will plead guilty to desertion and four other charges and take responsibility for his conduct, his lawyer said Monday.

Travis King’s attorney, Franklin D. Rosenblatt, told The Associated Press that King intends to admit guilt to a total of five military offenses, including desertion and assaulting an officer. Nine other offenses, including possession of sexual images of a child, will be withdrawn and dismissed under the terms of the deal.

King will be given an opportunity at a Sept. 20 hearing at Fort Bliss, Texas, to discuss his actions and explain what he did.

“He wants to take responsibility for the things that he did,” Rosenblatt said.

In a separate statement, he added, “Travis is grateful to his friends and family who have supported him, and to all outside his circle who did not pre-judge his case based on the initial allegations.”

He declined to comment on a possible sentence that his client might face. Desertion is a serious charge and can result in imprisonment.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-king-army-north-korea-court-martial-2e10b58801a89b8f180c0471a0626357">AP reported last month that the two sides were in plea talks.</a>

King bolted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">across the heavily fortified border</a>&nbsp;from South Korea in July 2023, and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years.

His run into North Korea came soon after he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">assault charges</a>.

About a week after his release from the prison, military officers took him to the airport so he could return to Fort Bliss to face disciplinary action. He was escorted as far as customs, but instead of getting on the plane, he joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/panmunjom">Panmunjom</a>. He then ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists.

He was detained by North Korea, but after about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. On Sept. 28, he was flown to back to Texas, and has been in custody there.

The U.S. military in October filed a series of charges against King under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-travis-king-army-14794185ea3dfc197a86ba376b1626ea">desertion</a>, as well as kicking and punching other officers, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. Those allegations date back to July 10, the same day he was released from the prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692140954260.png" alt="A TV screen shows a file image of American soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 24, 2023. The deputy commander of the U.N. Command said Monday it has started conversations with North Korea over King who ran into the North last week across the Koreas' heavily armed border. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)" />
 <figcaption>A TV screen shows a file image of American soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 24, 2023. The deputy commander of the U.N. Command said Monday it has started conversations with North Korea over King who ran into the North last week across the Koreas' heavily armed border. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pvt-travis-king-released-north-korea-746487710c11a812f33ad25d60861b1b">Army private who fled to North Korea</a>&nbsp;just over a year ago will plead guilty to desertion and four other charges and take responsibility for his conduct, his lawyer said Monday.Travis King’s attorney, Franklin D. Rosenblatt, told The Associated Press that King intends to admit guilt to a total of five military offenses, including desertion and assaulting an officer. Nine other offenses, including possession of sexual images of a child, will be withdrawn and dismissed under the terms of the deal.King will be given an opportunity at a Sept. 20 hearing at Fort Bliss, Texas, to discuss his actions and explain what he did.“He wants to take responsibility for the things that he did,” Rosenblatt said.In a separate statement, he added, “Travis is grateful to his friends and family who have supported him, and to all outside his circle who did not pre-judge his case based on the initial allegations.”He declined to comment on a possible sentence that his client might face. Desertion is a serious charge and can result in imprisonment.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/travis-king-army-north-korea-court-martial-2e10b58801a89b8f180c0471a0626357">AP reported last month that the two sides were in plea talks.</a>King bolted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">across the heavily fortified border</a>&nbsp;from South Korea in July 2023, and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years.His run into North Korea came soon after he was released from a South Korean prison where he had served nearly two months on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">assault charges</a>.About a week after his release from the prison, military officers took him to the airport so he could return to Fort Bliss to face disciplinary action. He was escorted as far as customs, but instead of getting on the plane, he joined a civilian tour of the Korean border village of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/panmunjom">Panmunjom</a>. He then ran across the border, which is lined with guards and often crowded with tourists.He was detained by North Korea, but after about two months, Pyongyang abruptly announced that it would expel him. On Sept. 28, he was flown to back to Texas, and has been in custody there.The U.S. military in October filed a series of charges against King under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-travis-king-army-14794185ea3dfc197a86ba376b1626ea">desertion</a>, as well as kicking and punching other officers, unlawfully possessing alcohol, making a false statement and possessing a video of a child engaged in sexual activity. Those allegations date back to July 10, the same day he was released from the prison.

U.S. Army private who fled to North Korea will agree to plea deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Home improvement chain Lowe’s is scaling back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, joining the ranks of several other companies that altered their programs since the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-diversity-corporations-affirmative-action-309864f08e6ec63a45d18ca5f25d7540">outlawed affirmative action</a>&nbsp;in college admissions or after facing a conservative backlash online.

In an internal memo shared by Lowe's with The Associated Press, its executive leadership said the retailer began “reviewing” its programs following the court's July 2023 ruling and the company recently decided to combine its resource groups, which were for "individual groups representing diverse sections of our associate population," into one umbrella organization.

The retailer also will no longer participate in an annual survey by the Human Rights Campaign that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees, and will also stop sponsoring and participating in events, such as festivals and parades, that are outside of its business areas.

The changes were made to ensure Lowe’s policies are “lawful” and aligned with its commitment to “include everyone,” the memo states.

“We may make additional changes over time,” the company’s leadership team said in the memo. “What will not change, though, is our commitment to our people.”

Robby Starbuck, a conservative political commentator who has gone after companies like Tractor Supply and John Deere,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1828124701689876947">took credit</a>&nbsp;for the changes Monday in a post&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1828123733531468008">on X</a>, saying he had approached a Lowe’s executive online last week and detailed his plans to “expose” the company over its hiring policies and other topics, such as LGBTQ+ employee resource groups and funding for Pride events.

However, Lowe's spokesperson Steve Salazar pushed back on that claim in an email Tuesday, noting that Starbuck's outreach came after the company “already announced changes that had long been in process” internally. The company memo did not specify when exactly these changes were implemented but noted that they were discussed at an August 21 meeting.

Over the last week, Lowe’s has knocked down a different claim spreading on social media, in which a digitally-altered image quoted Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison as saying that conservatives who didn’t like the company’s values should instead shop at rival Home Depot.

“Lowe’s CEO did not make this comment,” the company&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Lowes/status/1828107612665114827">wrote on X in response</a>&nbsp;to several users who shared the image. “Everyone is welcome at Lowe’s.”

For his part, Ellison has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-george-floyd-health-business-marvin-ellison-race-and-ethnicity-a6ea211bc3871a51b0688e29c4f5fd2b">diversified the company’s ranks</a>, adding more women and ethnically diverse leaders since taking the helm in 2018. Ellison, who is Black and grew up in segregated rural Tennessee, has also been outspoken about racism since the police killing of George Floyd, which sparked major protests for racial justice in 2020.

Criticism of such DEI policies has extended well beyond Lowe’s to companies across all industries. They include boycott calls on social media as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-diversity-corporations-affirmative-action-309864f08e6ec63a45d18ca5f25d7540">legal attacks</a>&nbsp;following the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, which many anti-DEI activists want to use to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affirmative-action-employer-workforce-403882bbaf75b490cc878de591a73a63">similar precedent</a>&nbsp;in the working world.

Starbuck, who has a sizable following on X, has used the platform as a mega phone to target DEI policies at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tractor-supply-dei-black-farmers-bdd23385a21242cfcfcd4c3e0118c853">Tractor Supply</a>, farm equipment maker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-deere-tractor-supply-dei-backlash-21eb1ea49701d1fd7b0b59aeb48b480d">John Deere</a>, motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson and whiskey maker Jack Daniels. During an interview with The AP last month, the 35-year-old Cuban American said he has a list of companies he is thinking of posting content about, but was starting with ones that have traditionally conservative customer bases.

Following an online pressure campaign earlier this summer, Tractor Supply and John Deere ended some diversity measures. Last week, Harley-Davidson backtracked on its DEI policies, though the company noted in its announcement that it has not “operated a DEI function since April 2024.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Jack Daniels' parent company Brown-Forman said last week that it had “adjusted” its diversity and inclusion strategy to “ensure it continues to drive our business results while appropriately recognizing the current environment in which we find ourselves.” Starbuck suggested on X that the company had reacted preemptively after his team looked at employee profiles on LinkedIn.

Though the changes are welcomed by conservative activists, DEI advocates say that, by conceding to Starbuck and other right-wing figures, corporations are essentially giving in to hate.

“Racial justice and LGBTQ inclusion are being, for lack of a better word, sort of scapegoated by a small, organized effort that’s really seeking to dictate how companies conduct their business," said Jen Stark, co-director of the Center for Business and Social Justice at BSR, a consulting network of more than 300 companies.

Stark said it's a challenging environment for companies today, but stressed that a majority are keeping diversity and inclusion programs in place because they make good business sense. However, following last year’s Supreme Court decision, she noted that businesses need to ensure their DEI programs are “on firm ground” — and avoid overcorrection when and if backlash arrives, which she noted can cause more harm.

“This isn’t just a step backward for workplaces,” she said. “It’s really a retreat from how we normalize practices that remove barriers and impediments for everyone.”

On Tuesday, the Human Rights Campaign, which Lowe's is no longer partnering with under its new policy, blasted such retreats from DEI and pointed to potential impacts on companies' bottom line by turning off LGBTQ+ and other consumers.

Orlando Gonzales, HRC’s senior vice president of programs, research and training, called the changes “shortsighted decisions contrary to safe and inclusive workplaces” that would create a “snowball effect of negative long-term consequences." Gonzales also took particular aim at Starbuck — arguing companies “should not cower to a random guy with zero business experience” and that the activist was removed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-tennessee-nashville-149f2c7badf25a43ddc6c0ee4019187c">from Tennessee Republican party</a>&nbsp;because he is “so extreme.”

Starbuck, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday, said last month that his list included companies perceived as mainstream or middle of the road politically, including Microsoft. For a company such as coffee chain Starbucks, on the other hand, it would be “hard to force boycott pressure on them,” he said.

Stark noted the outcome of the U.S. election “will also turn the thermostat, up or down” on the DEI conversation. A second term for former President Donald Trump would likely increase pressure against DEI policies — with many of Trump's supporters already signaling ways they’d like to see such practices dismantled — whereas his challenger Kamala Harris could have the opposite effect.

Some companies are bracing for the prospects of potential changes in terms of their federal contracts, for example, which have historically been a powerful way to promote equity in workplaces. And others may be looking to change language or find new workarounds to existing programs.

“We could see potentially a resurgence of DEI related efforts or retrenchment," she said. “I think a through line will be that companies will continue again to do this work in practice or in name — (but) the degree to which they show up publicly will be dependent on the landscape."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724849481325.png" alt="Lowe's at 2626 N Maize Road in Wichita- Google image" />
 <figcaption>Lowe's at 2626 N Maize Road in Wichita- Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Home improvement chain Lowe’s is scaling back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, joining the ranks of several other companies that altered their programs since the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-diversity-corporations-affirmative-action-309864f08e6ec63a45d18ca5f25d7540">outlawed affirmative action</a>&nbsp;in college admissions or after facing a conservative backlash online.In an internal memo shared by Lowe's with The Associated Press, its executive leadership said the retailer began “reviewing” its programs following the court's July 2023 ruling and the company recently decided to combine its resource groups, which were for "individual groups representing diverse sections of our associate population," into one umbrella organization.The retailer also will no longer participate in an annual survey by the Human Rights Campaign that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees, and will also stop sponsoring and participating in events, such as festivals and parades, that are outside of its business areas.The changes were made to ensure Lowe’s policies are “lawful” and aligned with its commitment to “include everyone,” the memo states.“We may make additional changes over time,” the company’s leadership team said in the memo. “What will not change, though, is our commitment to our people.”Robby Starbuck, a conservative political commentator who has gone after companies like Tractor Supply and John Deere,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1828124701689876947">took credit</a>&nbsp;for the changes Monday in a post&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/robbystarbuck/status/1828123733531468008">on X</a>, saying he had approached a Lowe’s executive online last week and detailed his plans to “expose” the company over its hiring policies and other topics, such as LGBTQ+ employee resource groups and funding for Pride events.However, Lowe's spokesperson Steve Salazar pushed back on that claim in an email Tuesday, noting that Starbuck's outreach came after the company “already announced changes that had long been in process” internally. The company memo did not specify when exactly these changes were implemented but noted that they were discussed at an August 21 meeting.Over the last week, Lowe’s has knocked down a different claim spreading on social media, in which a digitally-altered image quoted Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison as saying that conservatives who didn’t like the company’s values should instead shop at rival Home Depot.“Lowe’s CEO did not make this comment,” the company&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Lowes/status/1828107612665114827">wrote on X in response</a>&nbsp;to several users who shared the image. “Everyone is welcome at Lowe’s.”For his part, Ellison has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-of-george-floyd-health-business-marvin-ellison-race-and-ethnicity-a6ea211bc3871a51b0688e29c4f5fd2b">diversified the company’s ranks</a>, adding more women and ethnically diverse leaders since taking the helm in 2018. Ellison, who is Black and grew up in segregated rural Tennessee, has also been outspoken about racism since the police killing of George Floyd, which sparked major protests for racial justice in 2020.Criticism of such DEI policies has extended well beyond Lowe’s to companies across all industries. They include boycott calls on social media as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-diversity-corporations-affirmative-action-309864f08e6ec63a45d18ca5f25d7540">legal attacks</a>&nbsp;following the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling, which many anti-DEI activists want to use to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affirmative-action-employer-workforce-403882bbaf75b490cc878de591a73a63">similar precedent</a>&nbsp;in the working world.Starbuck, who has a sizable following on X, has used the platform as a mega phone to target DEI policies at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tractor-supply-dei-black-farmers-bdd23385a21242cfcfcd4c3e0118c853">Tractor Supply</a>, farm equipment maker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-deere-tractor-supply-dei-backlash-21eb1ea49701d1fd7b0b59aeb48b480d">John Deere</a>, motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson and whiskey maker Jack Daniels. During an interview with The AP last month, the 35-year-old Cuban American said he has a list of companies he is thinking of posting content about, but was starting with ones that have traditionally conservative customer bases.Following an online pressure campaign earlier this summer, Tractor Supply and John Deere ended some diversity measures. Last week, Harley-Davidson backtracked on its DEI policies, though the company noted in its announcement that it has not “operated a DEI function since April 2024.”Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Jack Daniels' parent company Brown-Forman said last week that it had “adjusted” its diversity and inclusion strategy to “ensure it continues to drive our business results while appropriately recognizing the current environment in which we find ourselves.” Starbuck suggested on X that the company had reacted preemptively after his team looked at employee profiles on LinkedIn.Though the changes are welcomed by conservative activists, DEI advocates say that, by conceding to Starbuck and other right-wing figures, corporations are essentially giving in to hate.“Racial justice and LGBTQ inclusion are being, for lack of a better word, sort of scapegoated by a small, organized effort that’s really seeking to dictate how companies conduct their business," said Jen Stark, co-director of the Center for Business and Social Justice at BSR, a consulting network of more than 300 companies.Stark said it's a challenging environment for companies today, but stressed that a majority are keeping diversity and inclusion programs in place because they make good business sense. However, following last year’s Supreme Court decision, she noted that businesses need to ensure their DEI programs are “on firm ground” — and avoid overcorrection when and if backlash arrives, which she noted can cause more harm.“This isn’t just a step backward for workplaces,” she said. “It’s really a retreat from how we normalize practices that remove barriers and impediments for everyone.”On Tuesday, the Human Rights Campaign, which Lowe's is no longer partnering with under its new policy, blasted such retreats from DEI and pointed to potential impacts on companies' bottom line by turning off LGBTQ+ and other consumers.Orlando Gonzales, HRC’s senior vice president of programs, research and training, called the changes “shortsighted decisions contrary to safe and inclusive workplaces” that would create a “snowball effect of negative long-term consequences." Gonzales also took particular aim at Starbuck — arguing companies “should not cower to a random guy with zero business experience” and that the activist was removed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-tennessee-nashville-149f2c7badf25a43ddc6c0ee4019187c">from Tennessee Republican party</a>&nbsp;because he is “so extreme.”Starbuck, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday, said last month that his list included companies perceived as mainstream or middle of the road politically, including Microsoft. For a company such as coffee chain Starbucks, on the other hand, it would be “hard to force boycott pressure on them,” he said.Stark noted the outcome of the U.S. election “will also turn the thermostat, up or down” on the DEI conversation. A second term for former President Donald Trump would likely increase pressure against DEI policies — with many of Trump's supporters already signaling ways they’d like to see such practices dismantled — whereas his challenger Kamala Harris could have the opposite effect.Some companies are bracing for the prospects of potential changes in terms of their federal contracts, for example, which have historically been a powerful way to promote equity in workplaces. And others may be looking to change language or find new workarounds to existing programs.“We could see potentially a resurgence of DEI related efforts or retrenchment," she said. “I think a through line will be that companies will continue again to do this work in practice or in name — (but) the degree to which they show up publicly will be dependent on the landscape."

Lowe's changes some DEI policies amid legal attacks on diversity programs

RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural Kansas house fire.

Just after 4:30p.m. Tuesday, Reno County Fire units from Pretty Prairie, District 8, and District 9 were dispatched to a fire at a residence in the 26,000 block of South Sandcreek Road, according to a social media report from Reno County Emergency management.

Crews encountered an abandoned home that had smoke coming from the roof, as well as a grass fire on the east and west side of the home. There were also two small storage sheds that were fully involved in fire. 

 Crews made an aggressive interior attack on the home, but the fire was located in the attic space and was difficult to access. Due to the progression of the fire and partial collapse of a section of the roof, crews went to a defensive attack from the exterior. 

Due to the extreme heat and humidity, crews were rotated out to rehab often. Cheney Fire was also requested for extra manpower. The fire took 2 hours to control. The home is considered a total loss. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724845945318.png" alt="Photo Reno Co. Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Photo Reno Co. Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural Kansas house fire.Just after 4:30p.m. Tuesday, Reno County Fire units from Pretty Prairie, District 8, and District 9 were dispatched to a fire at a residence in the 26,000 block of South Sandcreek Road, according to a social media report from Reno County Emergency management.Crews encountered an abandoned home that had smoke coming from the roof, as well as a grass fire on the east and west side of the home. There were also two small storage sheds that were fully involved in fire. Crews made an aggressive interior attack on the home, but the fire was located in the attic space and was difficult to access. Due to the progression of the fire and partial collapse of a section of the roof, crews went to a defensive attack from the exterior. Due to the extreme heat and humidity, crews were rotated out to rehab often. Cheney Fire was also requested for extra manpower. The fire took 2 hours to control. The home is considered a total loss.

Rural Kansas home a total loss after fire

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a teens death just days after a violent attack in Kansas City.

Just after 6:30p.m. August 21, police responded to report of disturbance in the 5000 block of Swope Parkway, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found 18-year-old Montague Ashline suffering from head trauma. EMS transported him Ashline to a local hospital

Preliminary investigation showed there was an argument between multiple people that led to Ashline being hit with an object.

On Monday, Ashline died from his injuries. Police have not reported an arrest.

If anyone has any information on Ashline’s death they are asked to call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously that leads to closure in the case.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a teens death just days after a violent attack in Kansas City.Just after 6:30p.m. August 21, police responded to report of disturbance in the 5000 block of Swope Parkway, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found 18-year-old Montague Ashline suffering from head trauma. EMS transported him Ashline to a local hospitalPreliminary investigation showed there was an argument between multiple people that led to Ashline being hit with an object.On Monday, Ashline died from his injuries. Police have not reported an arrest.If anyone has any information on Ashline’s death they are asked to call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously that leads to closure in the case.

18-year-old dies days after violent attack in Kansas City

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Ellis USD 388 school board voted during a special meeting on Aug. 16 to suspend implementation of a new random drug testing policy.

The policy was included in the 2024-25 school handbook and was set to take effect this fall. It would have required random drug testing of students participating in Kansas State High School Activities Association activities by an outside firm.

However, parents expressed concerns about a lack of communication about the policy with parents, a lack of a clear implementation plan and cost.

Board member Latisha Haag said the policy was created because of issues with drug use last school year.

"We started this process last January because we had coaches come to us because we have students coming to practices who were clearly under the influence of something," Haag said.

"It was not only hindering that student's participation. It was hindering other students' participation because practices had to stop. At one point, an ambulance had to be called and, on the ride over, that particular coach in the ambulance learned that person was under the influence," she said.

Haag added, “It’s happening in our schools. I don’t think we have a problem, but it’s present. I think that is something we need to make sure people understand.”

The committee that created the policy included administrators, a law enforcement officer, teachers, a coach and a school nurse.

The drug policy was approved during a special meeting on Aug. 5. Board members said the final vote was delayed because the district was waiting to hire a new high school/junior high principal.

However, the board wanted to approve the policy for inclusion in the student handbook for the 2024-25 school year.

Drug testing was set to apply only to students in KSHAA activities in grades nine through 12. High school parents were emailed to inform them of the new policy.

At the Aug. 16 meeting, some parents said they were not opposed to drug testing, but they wanted to know more about implementation and wished the communication with parents had been better.

Board members said they saw the testing as a deterrent and a way to get students who might have drug issues help.

"It is not meant to punish students. It is meant as a deterrent if there is a problem to identify it and to provide that student help," board member&nbsp;Brain Shannon said.

Parents expressed concerns about student privacy and cost.

According to the board, only a school administrator, the testing company, the student and the student's parents would have access to the test results.&nbsp;

The estimated test costs were $60 to $70 per student.

The board had not yet determined what substances it would test for. However, they said it would not include alcohol or nicotine.

Shannon said law enforcement would only be contacted if a student was found in possession of illegal substances on school property.

“If we have one student using drugs, it’s a problem. It’s not a pandemic. Do we wait until there are 10 students before we address it? Do we wait until there are 50 students before we address it?" he said.

Although Haag ultimately voted with the board to suspend the testing's implementation, she said she thought it should not be postponed until next year.

“We have been looking at this since last December. We did not do this willy-nilly. We started talking to people and asking questions clear back in January,” she said. “If you watch the board meetings, they’re on there.”

Board member Cindy Hertel said she thought the district should wait to start the testing.

&nbsp;“We have a small enough school that there are very few students this is not going to touch,” she said. “It’s not targeted toward athletes. It’s to keep people from doing it. I also understand that we need more answers.”

No timeline was given for when the policy would be implemented.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579030633433.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Ellis USD 388 school board voted during a special meeting on Aug. 16 to suspend implementation of a new random drug testing policy.The policy was included in the 2024-25 school handbook and was set to take effect this fall. It would have required random drug testing of students participating in Kansas State High School Activities Association activities by an outside firm.However, parents expressed concerns about a lack of communication about the policy with parents, a lack of a clear implementation plan and cost.Board member Latisha Haag said the policy was created because of issues with drug use last school year."We started this process last January because we had coaches come to us because we have students coming to practices who were clearly under the influence of something," Haag said."It was not only hindering that student's participation. It was hindering other students' participation because practices had to stop. At one point, an ambulance had to be called and, on the ride over, that particular coach in the ambulance learned that person was under the influence," she said.Haag added, “It’s happening in our schools. I don’t think we have a problem, but it’s present. I think that is something we need to make sure people understand.”The committee that created the policy included administrators, a law enforcement officer, teachers, a coach and a school nurse.It did not include parents or students.The drug policy was approved during a special meeting on Aug. 5. Board members said the final vote was delayed because the district was waiting to hire a new high school/junior high principal.However, the board wanted to approve the policy for inclusion in the student handbook for the 2024-25 school year.Drug testing was set to apply only to students in KSHAA activities in grades nine through 12. High school parents were emailed to inform them of the new policy.At the Aug. 16 meeting, some parents said they were not opposed to drug testing, but they wanted to know more about implementation and wished the communication with parents had been better.Board members said they saw the testing as a deterrent and a way to get students who might have drug issues help."It is not meant to punish students. It is meant as a deterrent if there is a problem to identify it and to provide that student help," board member&nbsp;Brain Shannon said.Parents expressed concerns about student privacy and cost.According to the board, only a school administrator, the testing company, the student and the student's parents would have access to the test results.&nbsp;The estimated test costs were $60 to $70 per student.The board had not yet determined what substances it would test for. However, they said it would not include alcohol or nicotine.Shannon said law enforcement would only be contacted if a student was found in possession of illegal substances on school property.“If we have one student using drugs, it’s a problem. It’s not a pandemic. Do we wait until there are 10 students before we address it? Do we wait until there are 50 students before we address it?" he said.Although Haag ultimately voted with the board to suspend the testing's implementation, she said she thought it should not be postponed until next year.“We have been looking at this since last December. We did not do this willy-nilly. We started talking to people and asking questions clear back in January,” she said. “If you watch the board meetings, they’re on there.”Board member Cindy Hertel said she thought the district should wait to start the testing.&nbsp;“We have a small enough school that there are very few students this is not going to touch,” she said. “It’s not targeted toward athletes. It’s to keep people from doing it. I also understand that we need more answers.”No timeline was given for when the policy would be implemented.Below is the full Ellis public school substance abuse policy, including the section on random drug testing.----ATHLETIC AND ACTIVITY SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY:*Possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and other controlled substances.<ul>
 <li>Students involved in school sponsored athletic programs or non-athletic extracurricular student organizations are subject to this policy, which applies to those students 24 hours per day, any place, and between seasons. The consequences will apply to both athletic and all non-athletic organizations. This policy may not cover every possible scenario. Some interpretation will be left up to the coach/sponsor and administration.&nbsp;</li><li>Use and/or possession or promotion of any tobacco product or nicotine delivery device by students is prohibited in any district facility; in school vehicles; at school-sponsored activities, programs or events; and on school owned or operated property.</li><li>Violations are to be substantiated by law enforcement, faculty/staff member, school administration, social-networking sites or other sources deemed credible by the following 3 people, coach/sponsor of sport or organization, Principal/AD.</li><li>It is a violation of this policy to be under the influence of, in possession of, using, distributing, selling, or attempting to sell any of the substances or devices listed above. Violations are subject to disciplinary action and/or legal action as determined by the administration. It is not a violation for a student to be in possession of a drug specifically prescribed for a student’s own use by his or her own doctor.</li><li>Students who are concerned about their substance abuse and voluntarily notify faculty or staff will not be subject to disciplinary action. Confidentiality will be observed while seeking and finding support for such a student. Self-disclosure may be utilized once to avoid disciplinary action and must be made prior to determination they have violated this policy.</li><li>Consequence of offenses:</li><li>FIRST OFFENSE:</li><li>HS Football – 1 game			HS Volleyball – 3 matches</li><li>HS Basketball – 2 games		HS Track – 1 meet</li><li>HS Baseball/Softball – 2 games	Wrestling – 1 event			</li><li>Cross Country – 1 event	Golf – 1 Event			</li><li>	HS Cheerleading* -will coincide with the event in which the season currently is in, i.e Football – 1 game, HS Basketball – 2 games, etc.**</li>
 </ul>*Cheerleading is classified by KSHSAA as a sport during an athletic season and an organization when no cheering sports are in season.** A cheering event is one night of cheering regardless of how many games are included.During this period of ineligibility, the student will practice and participate in team activities/meetings. The student may attend competitions at the coach’s discretion but will not dress out.Non-Athletic – the student will lose eligibility through the next major event sponsored or attended by the organization. During this time the student will attend organizational meetings and participate in fundraising events.Students will also miss the next major social event i.e. Homecoming, Snoball, Prom or other school events as determined by administration.&nbsp; Officers of an organization violating this policy will be removed from office, but not the organization.In the event that more than one organization is involved, the sponsors will meet to determine the consequences.The organizations’ sponsors shall be responsible for determining “major events”.&nbsp;SECOND OFFENSEAthletic – the student will be ineligible to participate in athletics for the remainder of the year (ALL SPORTS)Non-Athletic – The student will be dismissed from ALL non-athletic student organizations for the remainder of the school year and not be allowed to attend all remaining social events. (i.e. Prom, Homecoming, etc.)SCHOOL DAY RELATED CONSEQUENCESIn addition to consequences from KSHSAA Activities, students will also be subject to the following academic consequences related to the school day;	1st Offense – 1 day ISS	2nd Offense – 2 days OSS	3rd Offense – Possible ExpulsionRANDOM DRUG TESTINGThe USD 388 Board of Education, in an effort to protect the health and safety of its students involved in KSHSAA sponsored extracurricular activities from illegal drug and alcohol use and abuse or injuries resulting from the use of illegal drugs and or alcohol has adopted a policy for drug testing of students participating in KSHSAA sponsored extracurricular activities.&nbsp;KSHSAA Sponsored Extracurricular Activities – School-sponsored activities including:<ul>
 <li>Grades 9-12 competitive athletic teams, including, but not limited to:&nbsp; boys/girls cross country, football, boys/girls basketball, wrestling, baseball, volleyball, softball, boys/girls track &amp; field, Powerlifting and other athletics as specified by the Board of Education.</li><li>Grades 9-12 noncompetitive extracurricular activities including, but not limited to, cheerleading, forensics, band, orchestra, vocal music, National Honor Society, Student Council, scholar’s bowl, FBLA, TSA and other activities as specified by the Board of Education.</li>
 </ul>The above list of KSHSAA sponsored extracurricular activities will be prepared by the building principal and may be modified as determined by the building principal.The complete policy may be viewed at www.usd388.com.