KHIMKI, Russia (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-brittney-griner-entertainment-sports-candace-parker-fb9dd460ae1f99e51573a39563fcf683">American basketball star Brittney Griner</a>&nbsp;testified at her drug possession trial in Russia that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was being said while she was detained at Moscow's airport in February and that officials told her to sign documents, but “no one explained any of it to me.”

In her first testimony in the trial under questioning from the prosecution, Griner also said that besides the poor translation at the airport, she received no explanation of her rights or access to a lawyer during the initial hours of her detention. She said she used a translation app on her phone to communicate with a customs officer.

Griner has been held since mid-February after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She has pleaded guilty to the charges but says she had no criminal intent in bringing them into the country and packed in haste for her return to play in a Russian basketball league during the WNBA's offseason.

At one point in her testimony, her tone turned emotional as she said she has always followed the rules and tried to never let down her team.

“My career is my whole life,” she said. “I dedicated everything -- time, my body, time away from my family. I spent six months out of the year away from everybody, and with a huge time difference.”

Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. The slow-moving trial and Griner’s five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the United States, which has formally declared her to be “wrongfully detained” — a designation sharply rejected by Russian officials.

Griner, 31, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Trials in Russia proceed even after a guilty plea, and there has been speculation that her admission was a bid to move the legal process along in hopes of a possible prisoner swap.

At the start of Wednesday's session, Griner’s lawyers asked that she be allowed to testify outside the cage that is standard for defendants in Russian courts, arguing it was too small for the 6-foot-9 (206-centimeter) athlete to testify while standing. The judge denied the request but allowed her to speak while seated.

During her testimony, the Phoenix Mercury standout and two-time Olympic gold medalist described making a grueling 13-hour flight to Moscow from Arizona while recovering from COVID-19. Griner said she still does not know how the cannabis oil ended up in her luggage but explained she had a doctor’s recommendation for using it to address chronic pain from her sports injuries.

“I still don’t understand to this day how they ended up in my bags,” Griner said, adding that she was aware of the Russian law outlawing cannabis oil and that she had not intended to break it.

“I didn’t have any intent to use or keep in my possession any substance that is prohibited in Russia,” Griner said, adding that she understood the charges against her.

"With them being accidentally in my bags, I take responsibility, but I did not intend to smuggle or plan to smuggle anything into Russia,” she said.

She recalled being pulled aside at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Feb. 17 after inspectors found the cartridges.

Along with an interpreter who provided only a bare-bones translation, Griner said she received neither an explanation of her rights nor quick access to her lawyer, but instead was presented with some papers.

“There were documents that I had to sign,” she said. “I can only assume that they were about the search and the cartridges.”

A woman who presented herself as an interpreter only told her where to sign, but did not “explain the contents,” Griner said, and “I didn’t know exactly what I was signing.”.

She said her rights "were never read to me, no one explained any of it to me.”

At one point, she got on her phone "and I contacted my spouse, my sports agent and my club team’s translator” in Yekaterinburg, where she plays for a club in the Ural Mountains city.

“Nothing was ever explained to me thoroughly at all,” Griner said. “There was a lot of short words – ‘sign here’ - and at that point, I felt like being held against my will so that’s why I contacted my family and my agent and asked for legal representation.”

After several hours, she was finally allowed to hand over her personal belongings to a lawyer before being led away in handcuffs, Griner said. She said she received only a cursory translation of the charges against her during the investigation.

Griner described other instances of language confusion when an interpreter struggled to properly translate the accusations against her during a meeting with a detective.

“The translations weren’t very good,” Griner said. “I remember one time him receiving stacks of paper that he was supposed to translate to me, and he looked at them for a brief moment and (his) exact words were: ‘Basically you are guilty.’”

Griner’s lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, told reporters after Wednesday’s session that Griner “repeatedly underlined that she had no intention to bring the forbidden substances into Russia.”

The next trial session was set for Aug. 2. Griner's trial began July 1 in the Moscow suburb of Khimki where the airport is located, and it is unclear how long it will last. The court has held five previous sessions that were short, and her detention has been authorized until Dec. 20.

On Tuesday, a Russian neuropsychologist testified about global use of medicinal cannabis, which is illegal in Russia. Griner’s defense team has submitted to the court a U.S. doctor’s letter recommending she use cannabis for pain.

Griner said Wednesday she used medicinal cannabis for relief from pain due to injuries sustained during her career, adding that it is widely used in the U.S. because it has fewer negative effects than some other painkillers

A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said last week that the legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use in parts of the U.S. had no bearing on what happens in Russia.

Elizabeth Rood, the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires who has been attending the trial, said American officials "are going to continue to monitor the case of Ms. Griner very closely, as well as the case of all U.S. citizens detained or in prison in Russia.”

Some of Griner's supporters contend she is being held in Russia as a pawn, possibly for a prisoner swap. U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe last week said: “She’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously.”

Russian media have speculated that Griner could be exchanged for prominent Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, who is imprisoned in the United States, and that Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia for espionage, may also figure in an exchange.

U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. Russian officials have said no exchange could be discussed until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against Griner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646510097872.png" alt="The 31-year-old Griner, one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury" />
 <figcaption>The 31-year-old Griner, one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury</figcaption>
 </figure>KHIMKI, Russia (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-brittney-griner-entertainment-sports-candace-parker-fb9dd460ae1f99e51573a39563fcf683">American basketball star Brittney Griner</a>&nbsp;testified at her drug possession trial in Russia that an interpreter translated only a fraction of what was being said while she was detained at Moscow's airport in February and that officials told her to sign documents, but “no one explained any of it to me.”In her first testimony in the trial under questioning from the prosecution, Griner also said that besides the poor translation at the airport, she received no explanation of her rights or access to a lawyer during the initial hours of her detention. She said she used a translation app on her phone to communicate with a customs officer.Griner has been held since mid-February after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. She has pleaded guilty to the charges but says she had no criminal intent in bringing them into the country and packed in haste for her return to play in a Russian basketball league during the WNBA's offseason.At one point in her testimony, her tone turned emotional as she said she has always followed the rules and tried to never let down her team.“My career is my whole life,” she said. “I dedicated everything -- time, my body, time away from my family. I spent six months out of the year away from everybody, and with a huge time difference.”Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. The slow-moving trial and Griner’s five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the United States, which has formally declared her to be “wrongfully detained” — a designation sharply rejected by Russian officials.Griner, 31, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Trials in Russia proceed even after a guilty plea, and there has been speculation that her admission was a bid to move the legal process along in hopes of a possible prisoner swap.At the start of Wednesday's session, Griner’s lawyers asked that she be allowed to testify outside the cage that is standard for defendants in Russian courts, arguing it was too small for the 6-foot-9 (206-centimeter) athlete to testify while standing. The judge denied the request but allowed her to speak while seated.During her testimony, the Phoenix Mercury standout and two-time Olympic gold medalist described making a grueling 13-hour flight to Moscow from Arizona while recovering from COVID-19. Griner said she still does not know how the cannabis oil ended up in her luggage but explained she had a doctor’s recommendation for using it to address chronic pain from her sports injuries.“I still don’t understand to this day how they ended up in my bags,” Griner said, adding that she was aware of the Russian law outlawing cannabis oil and that she had not intended to break it.“I didn’t have any intent to use or keep in my possession any substance that is prohibited in Russia,” Griner said, adding that she understood the charges against her."With them being accidentally in my bags, I take responsibility, but I did not intend to smuggle or plan to smuggle anything into Russia,” she said.She recalled being pulled aside at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport on Feb. 17 after inspectors found the cartridges.Along with an interpreter who provided only a bare-bones translation, Griner said she received neither an explanation of her rights nor quick access to her lawyer, but instead was presented with some papers.“There were documents that I had to sign,” she said. “I can only assume that they were about the search and the cartridges.”A woman who presented herself as an interpreter only told her where to sign, but did not “explain the contents,” Griner said, and “I didn’t know exactly what I was signing.”.She said her rights "were never read to me, no one explained any of it to me.”At one point, she got on her phone "and I contacted my spouse, my sports agent and my club team’s translator” in Yekaterinburg, where she plays for a club in the Ural Mountains city.“Nothing was ever explained to me thoroughly at all,” Griner said. “There was a lot of short words – ‘sign here’ - and at that point, I felt like being held against my will so that’s why I contacted my family and my agent and asked for legal representation.”After several hours, she was finally allowed to hand over her personal belongings to a lawyer before being led away in handcuffs, Griner said. She said she received only a cursory translation of the charges against her during the investigation.Griner described other instances of language confusion when an interpreter struggled to properly translate the accusations against her during a meeting with a detective.“The translations weren’t very good,” Griner said. “I remember one time him receiving stacks of paper that he was supposed to translate to me, and he looked at them for a brief moment and (his) exact words were: ‘Basically you are guilty.’”Griner’s lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, told reporters after Wednesday’s session that Griner “repeatedly underlined that she had no intention to bring the forbidden substances into Russia.”The next trial session was set for Aug. 2. Griner's trial began July 1 in the Moscow suburb of Khimki where the airport is located, and it is unclear how long it will last. The court has held five previous sessions that were short, and her detention has been authorized until Dec. 20.On Tuesday, a Russian neuropsychologist testified about global use of medicinal cannabis, which is illegal in Russia. Griner’s defense team has submitted to the court a U.S. doctor’s letter recommending she use cannabis for pain.Griner said Wednesday she used medicinal cannabis for relief from pain due to injuries sustained during her career, adding that it is widely used in the U.S. because it has fewer negative effects than some other painkillersA Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said last week that the legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use in parts of the U.S. had no bearing on what happens in Russia.Elizabeth Rood, the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires who has been attending the trial, said American officials "are going to continue to monitor the case of Ms. Griner very closely, as well as the case of all U.S. citizens detained or in prison in Russia.”Some of Griner's supporters contend she is being held in Russia as a pawn, possibly for a prisoner swap. U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe last week said: “She’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously.”Russian media have speculated that Griner could be exchanged for prominent Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, who is imprisoned in the United States, and that Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia for espionage, may also figure in an exchange.U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. Russian officials have said no exchange could be discussed until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against Griner.-----

 Former Big 12 star testifies at Russia drug trial

Back-to-school season means shopping, whether your children learn at home or head to school in person.&nbsp;

Before determining what students may need for the year, <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/4666-create-a-budget-and-stick-to-it" target="_blank">set a budget</a>. Planning ahead as much as possible will help keep expenses to a minimum and help everyone involved stay on task.

Most retailers have dropped mask mandates, but some pharmacies or local stores may still have them. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/26584-supply-chain-challenges-coping-strategies-for-consumers-and-businesses" target="_blank">Supply chain issues</a>
 could also impact shopping. When getting ready to shop, contact the 
store directly if you have questions about hours, policies, or to see if
 supplies are in stock.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Whether
 your children are learning in-person at school or online from home, 
technology has come to the forefront over the past two years. When 
buying new equipment, check with your child's school to learn about any 
technical requirements and determine if any changes are necessary to the
 home's high-speed internet.&nbsp;

Before purchasing an expensive 
laptop, tablet or another computer accessory, research the brands, 
warranty, customer reviews and prices at various stores to make sure the
 best deal can be had. Also, look up the retailer's reputation on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>.

Shop smart with&nbsp;sales and tax-free weekends

Compare
 prices between different retail stores, save coupons, sign up for email
 alerts and redeem any cash-back or rebate offers. This will help get 
the best deals and stay within budget. Also, your state may have a 
tax-free weekend, enabling you to buy clothes, school supplies and other
 items without paying sales tax. Check out <a href="https://www.taxadmin.org/2022-sales-tax-holiday" target="_blank">this resource from the Federation of Tax Administrators</a> to see what your state offers.&nbsp;

Many
 stores and software companies offer discounts. Some are available to 
students with either a ".edu" email address or a student ID. Others may 
have a discount for signing up for marketing materials or surf the 
internet for online coupons and discounts (make sure they are affiliated
 with the retailer). It doesn't hurt to ask, even if you don’t see a 
deal advertised at the store.

If
 meeting in person, some teachers may ask parents to buy bulk items 
(paper towels, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer) for the entire classroom 
to use throughout the year. Compare lists with other parents and see if 
costs can be shared.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">When shopping online</a>,
 be wary of "clickbait" ads that feature items that imply that you may 
want or need them based on your search history. Scammers could be trying
 to drive you to a different website to potentially steal personal 
information. Take note of the ad and go to the store's website by 
directly typing into the search bar. Make note of the website's privacy 
policy, and contact information, and always use a credit card when 
making a purchase.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/back-to-school" target="_blank">BBB Back to School HQ</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658937573221.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Back-to-school season means shopping, whether your children learn at home or head to school in person.&nbsp;Before determining what students may need for the year, <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/4666-create-a-budget-and-stick-to-it" target="_blank">set a budget</a>. Planning ahead as much as possible will help keep expenses to a minimum and help everyone involved stay on task.Here are some useful&nbsp; tips:In-person shoppingMost retailers have dropped mask mandates, but some pharmacies or local stores may still have them. <a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/26584-supply-chain-challenges-coping-strategies-for-consumers-and-businesses" target="_blank">Supply chain issues</a>
 could also impact shopping. When getting ready to shop, contact the 
store directly if you have questions about hours, policies, or to see if
 supplies are in stock.&nbsp;&nbsp;Research big ticket itemsWhether
 your children are learning in-person at school or online from home, 
technology has come to the forefront over the past two years. When 
buying new equipment, check with your child's school to learn about any 
technical requirements and determine if any changes are necessary to the
 home's high-speed internet.&nbsp;Before purchasing an expensive 
laptop, tablet or another computer accessory, research the brands, 
warranty, customer reviews and prices at various stores to make sure the
 best deal can be had. Also, look up the retailer's reputation on <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>.Shop smart with&nbsp;sales and tax-free weekendsCompare
 prices between different retail stores, save coupons, sign up for email
 alerts and redeem any cash-back or rebate offers. This will help get 
the best deals and stay within budget. Also, your state may have a 
tax-free weekend, enabling you to buy clothes, school supplies and other
 items without paying sales tax. Check out <a href="https://www.taxadmin.org/2022-sales-tax-holiday" target="_blank">this resource from the Federation of Tax Administrators</a> to see what your state offers.&nbsp;Ask for discountsMany
 stores and software companies offer discounts. Some are available to 
students with either a ".edu" email address or a student ID. Others may 
have a discount for signing up for marketing materials or surf the 
internet for online coupons and discounts (make sure they are affiliated
 with the retailer). It doesn't hurt to ask, even if you don’t see a 
deal advertised at the store.Consider buying in bulkIf
 meeting in person, some teachers may ask parents to buy bulk items 
(paper towels, tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer) for the entire classroom 
to use throughout the year. Compare lists with other parents and see if 
costs can be shared.&nbsp;Shop wisely, safely online<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online" target="_blank">When shopping online</a>,
 be wary of "clickbait" ads that feature items that imply that you may 
want or need them based on your search history. Scammers could be trying
 to drive you to a different website to potentially steal personal 
information. Take note of the ad and go to the store's website by 
directly typing into the search bar. Make note of the website's privacy 
policy, and contact information, and always use a credit card when 
making a purchase.&nbsp;<h2>For more information</h2><a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/back-to-school" target="_blank">BBB Back to School HQ</a>

Online or in-person: Back-to-school shopping tips

KANSAS CITY -A Kansas City -area man has been sentenced to prison for multiple child sex crimes, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

A judge sentenced 36-year-old Glenn McGinnis of Independence to a total of 175 years in prison.

In May, a jury found McGinnis guilty of five counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, two counts of attempted first-degree statutory rape, two counts of second-degree statutory rape.

According to court records, child victims told forensic interviewers at the Child Protection Center that the defendant had touched their private areas. A second victim, 12, disclosed to Children's Division investigators that the defendant had touched her inappropriately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658751779461.png" alt="McGinnis-photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>McGinnis-photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY -A Kansas City -area man has been sentenced to prison for multiple child sex crimes, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.A judge sentenced 36-year-old Glenn McGinnis of Independence to a total of 175 years in prison.In May, a jury found McGinnis guilty of five counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, two counts of attempted first-degree statutory rape, two counts of second-degree statutory rape.According to court records, child victims told forensic interviewers at the Child Protection Center that the defendant had touched their private areas. A second victim, 12, disclosed to Children's Division investigators that the defendant had touched her inappropriately.

KC-area man sentenced to 175 years in prison for sex crimes

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for financial crimes.

On Monday, police arrested 29-year-old Stacey M. Gorman, Jr. of Atchison, on a requested charge of criminal use of a financial card and unlawful computer act. 

The allegations are in connection to a stolen financial card used at Kings Super Store, 912 Unity in Atchison and Stop and Go at 405 U.S.59 in Atchison on July 21.&nbsp; He is being held&nbsp; without bond and due to appear in court on July 29, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658848013102.png" alt="Gorman-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Gorman-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for financial crimes.On Monday, police arrested 29-year-old Stacey M. Gorman, Jr. of Atchison, on a requested charge of criminal use of a financial card and unlawful computer act. The allegations are in connection to a stolen financial card used at Kings Super Store, 912 Unity in Atchison and Stop and Go at 405 U.S.59 in Atchison on July 21.&nbsp; He is being held&nbsp; without bond and due to appear in court on July 29, according to online jail records.

Kansas man accused of using stolen credit cards

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Police have arrested a man believed to be responsible for a Salina liquor store robbery after the liquor store owner recognized him in another part of the city.

Just after 7p.m. Monday, officers were sent to the area of Ohio Street and E. Iron Avenue in Salina after the owner of Hillside Liquor, 1200 E. Crawford Street, saw a man who matched the description of the person who burgled the liquor store early Monday, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

Through surveillance video from the liquor store, an officer had identified the burglar as Vitaliy Pochapskiy, 33, of Salina.

Officers made contact with Pochapskiy and found him to be in possession of some of the items taken from the liquor store. Forrester said liquor and cigarettes had been stolen from the liquor store.

Police arrested Pochapskiy on requested charges of Burglary, Theft and Felony damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658843280124.png" alt="Vitaliy Pochapskiy—Saline County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Vitaliy Pochapskiy—Saline County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostPolice have arrested a man believed to be responsible for a Salina liquor store robbery after the liquor store owner recognized him in another part of the city.Just after 7p.m. Monday, officers were sent to the area of Ohio Street and E. Iron Avenue in Salina after the owner of Hillside Liquor, 1200 E. Crawford Street, saw a man who matched the description of the person who burgled the liquor store early Monday, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.Through surveillance video from the liquor store, an officer had identified the burglar as Vitaliy Pochapskiy, 33, of Salina.Officers made contact with Pochapskiy and found him to be in possession of some of the items taken from the liquor store. Forrester said liquor and cigarettes had been stolen from the liquor store.Police arrested Pochapskiy on requested charges of Burglary, Theft and Felony damage to property.

Kansas liquor store owner helps police catch burglary suspect

By DEWEY TERRILL JC Post

JUNCTION CITY —Numerous Geary Community Hospital doctors, nurses and staff are out sick due to COVID-19. 

Margaret Grismer, Interim Hospital Administrator, told JC Post that Dr. Tom Craig "is holding down the fort for us and we're very appreciative of that. " She noted that one doctor is away on drill and another one is on vacation. "And the remaining physicians all have COVID, so we have five providers out this week with COVID." 

Grismer also confirmed that many nurses and support staff are also out. "We have many of our staff in every department that are currently experiencing COVID right now."

The absences will impact treatment of patients and the financial bottom line for the hospital. "Luckily those services are remaining open and available due to Stormont Vail stepping in and sending us help, "said Grismer.

There was a review for the Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees Tuesday about the positions where COVID-19 was causing absences. In attendance was Dr. Rob Kenagi, the President and CEO of Stormont Vail Health, who noted that Stormont Vail was also in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak and a lot of their workforce and providers were out.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658869364136.jpeg" alt="Geary Community Hospital" />
 <figcaption>Geary Community Hospital</figcaption>
 </figure>By DEWEY TERRILL JC PostJUNCTION CITY —Numerous Geary Community Hospital doctors, nurses and staff are out sick due to COVID-19. Margaret Grismer, Interim Hospital Administrator, told JC Post that Dr. Tom Craig "is holding down the fort for us and we're very appreciative of that. " She noted that one doctor is away on drill and another one is on vacation. "And the remaining physicians all have COVID, so we have five providers out this week with COVID." Grismer also confirmed that many nurses and support staff are also out. "We have many of our staff in every department that are currently experiencing COVID right now."The absences will impact treatment of patients and the financial bottom line for the hospital. "Luckily those services are remaining open and available due to Stormont Vail stepping in and sending us help, "said Grismer.There was a review for the Geary Community Hospital Board of Trustees Tuesday about the positions where COVID-19 was causing absences. In attendance was Dr. Rob Kenagi, the President and CEO of Stormont Vail Health, who noted that Stormont Vail was also in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak and a lot of their workforce and providers were out.&nbsp;

COVID-19 hits Kansas hospital providers, staff 

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/26/kelly-schmidt-campaigns-raise-more-than-2-2-million-combined-in-2022-in-kansas-governors-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Gov. Laura Kelly has raised more than double what her Republican 
challenger, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, raised so far this 
year.

New fundraising reports show that Schmidt,
 who is without a major primary opponent, raised $707,279.02 from Jan. 1
 to July 21. Kelly, on the other hand, brought in $1.5 million for her 
reelection campaign.

The Democratic governor’s campaign
 said the fundraising totals indicate support for what she has 
accomplished so far, particularly in the economic and educational arena.

“She’s worked with both parties to
 fully fund schools four years in a row, bring in over $13.5 billion in 
new business investment to the state, and cut property and food taxes,” 
said Shelbi Dantic, Kelly’s campaign manager. “Governor Kelly has gotten
 Kansas back on track, and her fundraising record proves that Kansans 
are looking forward to her continued, steady leadership.”&nbsp;

However, the Schmidt campaign 
reported slightly more cash on hand with $1.5 million available to 
Kelly’s reported $1.3 million. C.J. Grover, Schmidt’s campaign manager, 
said this was a reflection of the need for change in leadership in the 
state.

“Kansans are disappointed with 
Governor Kelly’s failures and are excited about Derek’s positive vision 
for our state,” Grover said.

The Aug. 2 primary will likely solidify Kelly and Schmidt as their party’s nominees, setting up a general election battle.

Potentially complicating the race 
is state Sen. Dennis Pyle, who announced his campaign on June 7 as a 
far-right independent. He was a Republican until earlier this year, when
 he dropped his party affiliation to run for governor.

As an independent, Pyle must get 5,000 signatures before Aug. 1 to qualify for the ballot.

The Hiawatha senator reported raising $35,950 between Jan. 1 and July 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658865403128.png" alt="Republican Derek Schmidt raised $707,279.02 from Jan. 1 to July 21 for his gubernatorial campaign, about half of what Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly brought in for the same period. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Thad Allton/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Republican Derek Schmidt raised $707,279.02 from Jan. 1 to July 21 for his gubernatorial campaign, about half of what Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly brought in for the same period. (Photos by Sherman Smith and Thad Allton/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/26/kelly-schmidt-campaigns-raise-more-than-2-2-million-combined-in-2022-in-kansas-governors-race/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Gov. Laura Kelly has raised more than double what her Republican 
challenger, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, raised so far this 
year.New fundraising reports show that Schmidt,
 who is without a major primary opponent, raised $707,279.02 from Jan. 1
 to July 21. Kelly, on the other hand, brought in $1.5 million for her 
reelection campaign.The Democratic governor’s campaign
 said the fundraising totals indicate support for what she has 
accomplished so far, particularly in the economic and educational arena.“She’s worked with both parties to
 fully fund schools four years in a row, bring in over $13.5 billion in 
new business investment to the state, and cut property and food taxes,” 
said Shelbi Dantic, Kelly’s campaign manager. “Governor Kelly has gotten
 Kansas back on track, and her fundraising record proves that Kansans 
are looking forward to her continued, steady leadership.”&nbsp;However, the Schmidt campaign 
reported slightly more cash on hand with $1.5 million available to 
Kelly’s reported $1.3 million. C.J. Grover, Schmidt’s campaign manager, 
said this was a reflection of the need for change in leadership in the 
state.“Kansans are disappointed with 
Governor Kelly’s failures and are excited about Derek’s positive vision 
for our state,” Grover said.The Aug. 2 primary will likely solidify Kelly and Schmidt as their party’s nominees, setting up a general election battle.Potentially complicating the race 
is state Sen. Dennis Pyle, who announced his campaign on June 7 as a 
far-right independent. He was a Republican until earlier this year, when
 he dropped his party affiliation to run for governor.As an independent, Pyle must get 5,000 signatures before Aug. 1 to qualify for the ballot.The Hiawatha senator reported raising $35,950 between Jan. 1 and July 21.

Kelly, Schmidt raise more than $2.2M in Kan. governor’s race

ATCHISON—A man was injured in a mowing accident just after 11a.m. Tuesday in Atchison.

The 20-year-old city of Atchison Public Works employee was mowing on an embankment in the 300 Block of River Road, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Thee mower began to slid towards the river.&nbsp; The employee&nbsp;was able to jump off the mower before it slid into the river. EMS transported him to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

The mower was recovered from the river, according to Wilson. Police released no additional details Tuesday afternoon including the employee's name.

ATCHISON—A man was injured in a mowing accident just after 11a.m. Tuesday in Atchison.The 20-year-old city of Atchison Public Works employee was mowing on an embankment in the 300 Block of River Road, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Thee mower began to slid towards the river.&nbsp; The employee&nbsp;was able to jump off the mower before it slid into the river. EMS transported him to the hospital for treatment of injuries.The mower was recovered from the river, according to Wilson. Police released no additional details Tuesday afternoon including the employee's name.

Kansas man injured while mowing embankment near river

By MARGARET MELLOTT <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/26/emporia-state-university-to-close-child-care-center-despite-student-and-faculty-objections/">Kansas Reflector</a>

EMPORIA — Emporia State 
University will close the doors on its Center for Early Childhood 
Education after the upcoming school year, making it the only state 
university without on-campus child care.

This shutdown is happening in the midst of a national child care 
crisis. In Lyon County, there are between 21-30 children per opening at a
 child care facility as of 2021, according to Child Care Aware of 
Kansas.

“I think most folks, particularly parents of young children, can 
appreciate that one of the hardest things to do is do your work and go 
to your job and do all of the activities that those kids need to do 
while still doing a good job at work,” said Erika Martin, associate 
professor of aquatic ecology and biology education at ESU. “There are 
folks out there that can have someone stay at home with their child, and
 that’s wonderful. Most of us have one or more working parents, where 
having someone in the home just isn’t an option.”

Emporia State will be the only state university without campus child 
care when it closes the child care center in August 2023. Wichita State 
University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Pittsburg 
State University and Fort Hays State all have existing programs.

“I think it speaks volumes that the other institutions do offer 
(child care), and ESU is not going to look into that,” Martin said. 
“That’s embarrassing to them.”

Following news of the closing in May, ESU students, faculty, staff, 
and alumni created a petition to keep the Center for Early Childhood 
Education on campus and prevent the demolition of the Butcher Education 
Center, where the Center for Early Childhood Education Center is 
located. It is also home to the Sociology, Anthropology, Crime and 
Delinquencies Studies programs.

The early childhood center “serves a vital function in allowing 
caregiving students to remain enrolled and caregiving faculty and staff 
to do and stay in their jobs,” the petition stated. “To that end, we are
 dismayed that the university would make this decision in light of 
persistent and worsening community child care needs as well as urgent 
student and employee retention and morale concerns.”

The petition had 345 signatures as of July 19.

“In sum, we urge President Ken Hush and the ESU Leadership Team to 
reconsider the demolition of the Butcher Education Center building and 
the closure of CECE, for it is in direct opposition to its strategic 
plan and its core values of 1) excellence 2) respect 3) responsibility 
and 4) service,” the petition stated.

Hush said he believes the school’s resources could be better used elsewhere.

“Emporia State is focused on the successful future of the university,
 and part of that is making difficult decisions,” Hush said in the news 
release announcing the closure. “As we work to develop and evolve our 
core academic mission and the changing needs of our students, we must 
plan where to invest our resources, as well as decide where we must 
discontinue programs or spaces.”

ESU said it will help families find other child care arrangements, but for many parents, child care isn’t affordable.

“You have to be able to have a job that not only pays for the child 
care but also a little bit more to make the job worth going into,” 
Martin said.

As the mother of a 3-year-old, Martin said, she knows and empathizes 
with people who were directly impacted by news of the closing.

“If she wakes up with a fever and I have three classes to teach that 
day, well s***,” Martin said. “What do you do? Well, you can call your 
friends and faculty and ask for people to cover you and maybe some 
students will, or just cancel classes. But, that’s tough and there’s not
 a lot of help out there for parents to deal with that kind of thing.”

While asking family to help take care of a child is beneficial, for 
many, it’s just not feasible. Martin’s family, for example, is 13 hours 
away. In a college town, many students, staff and faculty don’t have the
 ability to ask family for help.

For over a decade, child care centers have been closing their doors 
across the U.S. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem, causing more 
closings as a result of staff shortages. This doesn’t change the need of
 more than 12 million households across the country that have children 
younger than 6.

In June, a month after the announcement of the ESU closing, Gov. 
Laura Kelly visited Emporia for the grand opening of the Jones Early 
Childhood Development Center, a new addition to the Emporia Public 
School District. It was built approximately two miles from ESU.

Emporia Public Schools describe the new facility as “designed to 
serve the needs of young children in the district through play-based 
learning to grow social skills, coordination, and empower learners. The 
facility will have expanded classrooms and learning environments, 
student support spaces, and indoor activity areas. Outdoor playgrounds 
will feature age-appropriate areas for play and exploration.”

During her visit, Kelly also made a stop at a local senior care facility.

“We are focused on ensuring Kansans of all ages have the support and 
resources they need to have happy, full lives,” Kelly said. “Both the 
early childhood development center and senior care facility I visited 
today are proof that communities like Emporia are making strides in how 
they care for Kansans at all stages of life.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658851973691.png" alt="The Center for Early Childhood Education, which is in the Butcher Education Center at Emporia State University, is set to close in August 2023. (Margaret Mellott/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Center for Early Childhood Education, which is in the Butcher Education Center at Emporia State University, is set to close in August 2023. (Margaret Mellott/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARGARET MELLOTT <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/07/26/emporia-state-university-to-close-child-care-center-despite-student-and-faculty-objections/">Kansas Reflector</a>EMPORIA — Emporia State 
University will close the doors on its Center for Early Childhood 
Education after the upcoming school year, making it the only state 
university without on-campus child care.This shutdown is happening in the midst of a national child care 
crisis. In Lyon County, there are between 21-30 children per opening at a
 child care facility as of 2021, according to Child Care Aware of 
Kansas.“I think most folks, particularly parents of young children, can 
appreciate that one of the hardest things to do is do your work and go 
to your job and do all of the activities that those kids need to do 
while still doing a good job at work,” said Erika Martin, associate 
professor of aquatic ecology and biology education at ESU. “There are 
folks out there that can have someone stay at home with their child, and
 that’s wonderful. Most of us have one or more working parents, where 
having someone in the home just isn’t an option.”Emporia State will be the only state university without campus child 
care when it closes the child care center in August 2023. Wichita State 
University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Pittsburg 
State University and Fort Hays State all have existing programs.“I think it speaks volumes that the other institutions do offer 
(child care), and ESU is not going to look into that,” Martin said. 
“That’s embarrassing to them.”Following news of the closing in May, ESU students, faculty, staff, 
and alumni created a petition to keep the Center for Early Childhood 
Education on campus and prevent the demolition of the Butcher Education 
Center, where the Center for Early Childhood Education Center is 
located. It is also home to the Sociology, Anthropology, Crime and 
Delinquencies Studies programs.The early childhood center “serves a vital function in allowing 
caregiving students to remain enrolled and caregiving faculty and staff 
to do and stay in their jobs,” the petition stated. “To that end, we are
 dismayed that the university would make this decision in light of 
persistent and worsening community child care needs as well as urgent 
student and employee retention and morale concerns.”The petition had 345 signatures as of July 19.“In sum, we urge President Ken Hush and the ESU Leadership Team to 
reconsider the demolition of the Butcher Education Center building and 
the closure of CECE, for it is in direct opposition to its strategic 
plan and its core values of 1) excellence 2) respect 3) responsibility 
and 4) service,” the petition stated.Hush said he believes the school’s resources could be better used elsewhere.“Emporia State is focused on the successful future of the university,
 and part of that is making difficult decisions,” Hush said in the news 
release announcing the closure. “As we work to develop and evolve our 
core academic mission and the changing needs of our students, we must 
plan where to invest our resources, as well as decide where we must 
discontinue programs or spaces.”ESU said it will help families find other child care arrangements, but for many parents, child care isn’t affordable.“You have to be able to have a job that not only pays for the child 
care but also a little bit more to make the job worth going into,” 
Martin said.As the mother of a 3-year-old, Martin said, she knows and empathizes 
with people who were directly impacted by news of the closing.“If she wakes up with a fever and I have three classes to teach that 
day, well s***,” Martin said. “What do you do? Well, you can call your 
friends and faculty and ask for people to cover you and maybe some 
students will, or just cancel classes. But, that’s tough and there’s not
 a lot of help out there for parents to deal with that kind of thing.”While asking family to help take care of a child is beneficial, for 
many, it’s just not feasible. Martin’s family, for example, is 13 hours 
away. In a college town, many students, staff and faculty don’t have the
 ability to ask family for help.For over a decade, child care centers have been closing their doors 
across the U.S. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the problem, causing more 
closings as a result of staff shortages. This doesn’t change the need of
 more than 12 million households across the country that have children 
younger than 6.In June, a month after the announcement of the ESU closing, Gov. 
Laura Kelly visited Emporia for the grand opening of the Jones Early 
Childhood Development Center, a new addition to the Emporia Public 
School District. It was built approximately two miles from ESU.Emporia Public Schools describe the new facility as “designed to 
serve the needs of young children in the district through play-based 
learning to grow social skills, coordination, and empower learners. The 
facility will have expanded classrooms and learning environments, 
student support spaces, and indoor activity areas. Outdoor playgrounds 
will feature age-appropriate areas for play and exploration.”During her visit, Kelly also made a stop at a local senior care facility.“We are focused on ensuring Kansans of all ages have the support and 
resources they need to have happy, full lives,” Kelly said. “Both the 
early childhood development center and senior care facility I visited 
today are proof that communities like Emporia are making strides in how 
they care for Kansans at all stages of life.”

Despite objections, Emporia State to close child care center

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The sheriff in Kansas’ most populous county says he took it for granted that local elections ran smoothly — until former President Donald Trump lost there in 2020.

Now he’s assigned detectives to investigate what he claims is election fraud, even though there has been no evidence of any widespread fraud or manipulation of voting machines in 2020. Calvin Hayden in Johnson County, which covers suburban Kansas City, isn’t the only sheriff in the U.S. to try to carve out a bigger role for their office in investigating elections.

Promoters of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-claims-biden-won-explained-bd53b14ce871412b462cb3fe2c563f18">baseless conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;that the last presidential election was stolen from Trump are pushing a dubious theory that county sheriffs can access voting machines and intervene in how elections are run — and also have virtually unchecked power in their counties.

Voting-rights advocates and election experts said any attempts by law enforcement to interfere in elections would be alarming and an extension of the threat posed by the continued circulation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">Trump’s lies</a>&nbsp;about the 2020 election.

“What we have seen time and again is that those who support the ‘Big Lie’ find conduits to groups of people who they think can help perpetuate this conspiracy theory and erode confidence in elections and potentially cast doubt on them going forward,” said David Levine, a former election official who is now a fellow with the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a nonpartisan institute with staff in Washington and Brussels whose mission involves combatting efforts to undermine democratic institutions.

To be sure, law enforcement can play an important role in elections by sharing intelligence, protecting election workers and equipment, and investigating potential election crimes. But that is typically done after election administrators request the help.

Hayden appeared at the “FreedomFest” in Las Vegas earlier this month, held by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, although his office said he is not a member of the group.

Onstage with him were sheriffs Dar Leaf of Barry County in southwest Michigan and Chris Schmaling of Racine County in Wisconsin, south of Milwaukee. Both say they are investigating election fraud claims, and both accuse state officials of violating election laws.

“We’ve been educating ourselves about elections,” Hayden told the gathering. “I’ve sent my detectives through — I’ve got a cyber guy. I sent him through to start evaluating what’s going on with the machines.”

Hayden, a Republican, did not elaborate and declined to be interviewed this week, citing what he said was his ongoing investigation. State and local election officials in Kansas said his office has not gained access to voting machines, and other Johnson County officials said there are no indications of any problems with the 2020 elections there.

The constitutional sheriffs’ group declares on its website that a sheriff’s power in a county is greater than that of any other official and “even supersedes the powers of the President.” Leaf filed a lawsuit in June against Michigan’s attorney general and secretary of state, accusing them of trying to stifle his investigation. He said a sheriff “has no superiors in his county.”

The “constitutional sheriffs” movement has gained visibility in recent years, as some sheriffs — including Hayden — resisted enforcing mask or vaccination requirements during the coronavirus pandemic.

“All of a sudden, it’s like the lights went on. It’s the sheriffs,” said Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of the election-conspiracy group True the Vote, speaking as part of a panel at the recent constitutional sheriffs gathering in Las Vegas. “That’s who can do these investigations. That’s who we can trust.”

It’s not clear how many sheriffs are part of the movement, though the national group’s founder, Richard Mack, said last year that about 300 of the nation’s 3,000 sheriffs were members, according to The Washington Post. Mack did not respond this week to telephone and email requests for an interview.

“It’s like a lot of these theories — it legally has no basis whatsoever,” said Stephen McAllister, the top federal prosecutor for Kansas during most of the Trump administration. “They are subject to state law. They are certainly subject to federal law. They are not sort of supreme little kings within their counties, whether they think so or not.”

Hayden said in a public statement that since the fall of 2021, he has received more than 200 tips alleging fraud in local elections. He said his department has a legal obligation to investigate “any criminal claim.”

But a memo from Peg Trent, Johnson County’s chief legal counsel, suggested Hayden went further in a July 5 meeting with her and county election officials.

Trent said Hayden questioned the use of ballot drop boxes at libraries, called for limiting the hours they would be available and offered to have his staff pick up the ballots. She said his staff also asked to have a deputy in the room as ballots are counted.

“As we discussed, my concern is that these requests give the appearance that the Sheriff’s office is attempting to interfere with an election,” she wrote in the July 7 memo, sent to Hayden, county commissioners and the county manager.

Hayden issued a statement that he would “whole-heartedly disagree” with her account of the meeting.

There is no evidence to support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">Trump’s claims of a stolen election</a>&nbsp;in 2020 or to suggest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voter-fraud-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-7fcb6f134e528fee8237c7601db3328f">widespread fraud</a>&nbsp;or tampering with voting machines or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-covid-health-wisconsin-c61fa93a12a1a51d6d9f4e0a21fa3b75">ballot drop boxes</a>. Dozens of legal claims made by Trump and his allies after the election were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-courts-election-results-e1297d874f45d2b14bc99c403abd0457">rejected by judges</a>, including ones appointed by Trump.

“With the exception of a tiny handful of individual cases of voter fraud around the country, there is absolutely no reason to suspect that a crime was committed in 2020 with regard to the election,” said David Becker, a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney and election law expert who now leads the Center for Election Innovation and Research.

But false claims have sowed doubt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-poll-trump-republicans-future-ba85f8d2a572c553b621f86e991ee197">among many Republican voters</a>, triggered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-new-mexico-donald-trump-presidential-9356ff48f081250aa54040cbd7cf1cc3">death threats to election officials</a>&nbsp;and led to a host of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-voting-iowa-georgia-4ed9243dde80508dd99cf331bab512d6">new voting restrictions</a>&nbsp;in GOP-controlled states. Trump allies have sought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-steve-bannon-voting-donald-trump-a56558112632ff2bfb21667e512c84c9">access to voting equipment</a>&nbsp;and turned the normally routine process of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-donald-trump-presidential-conspiracy-theories-fbbdfa8f2e2227e98fe3f2b79dc05499">certifying election results</a>&nbsp;contentious.

“The danger of anyone embracing a conspiracy theory is the loss of confidence in election results,” said Chris Harvey, the former state elections director in Georgia. “It’s an added danger if it’s law enforcement. Their job is to enforce laws and maintain order. If they are seen as not having confidence in what’s going on, it’s just going to further trickle down into society.”

Harvey is part of a new group bringing together election officials and law enforcement. The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections is comprised of 32 current and former election and law enforcement officials, with a goal of build stronger relationships and providing training.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the state’s top election official, said Hayden has not contacted his office as part of his investigation. Schwab has repeatedly said he is confident that state elections ran well in 2020.

“I think overwhelmingly people trust the election system,” he said.

Hayden said during the Las Vegas gathering that his concerns about election fraud were piqued after Democrat Joe Biden carried Johnson County in the 2020 presidential election because the county had consistently “voted Republican” for more than a century. But that argument — made by election conspiracy promoters — ignores that Democrats have carried Johnson County multiple times in governor’s races during that time, including in Laura Kelly’s winning campaign in 2018.

Republicans maintain their traditional advantage in voter registration there, but Johnson County is more Democratic than it was 30 years ago.

“Johnson County going for Biden — well, that’s not an anomaly,” said Davis Hammet, leader of the Kansas voting-rights group Loud Light. “That happened in suburban counties all across the country.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658519374931.png" alt="Sheriff Calvin Hayden-photo courtesy Johnson County, Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Sheriff Calvin Hayden-photo courtesy Johnson County, Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA and CHRISTINA A. CASSIDYTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The sheriff in Kansas’ most populous county says he took it for granted that local elections ran smoothly — until former President Donald Trump lost there in 2020.Now he’s assigned detectives to investigate what he claims is election fraud, even though there has been no evidence of any widespread fraud or manipulation of voting machines in 2020. Calvin Hayden in Johnson County, which covers suburban Kansas City, isn’t the only sheriff in the U.S. to try to carve out a bigger role for their office in investigating elections.Promoters of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-claims-biden-won-explained-bd53b14ce871412b462cb3fe2c563f18">baseless conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;that the last presidential election was stolen from Trump are pushing a dubious theory that county sheriffs can access voting machines and intervene in how elections are run — and also have virtually unchecked power in their counties.Voting-rights advocates and election experts said any attempts by law enforcement to interfere in elections would be alarming and an extension of the threat posed by the continued circulation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-capitol-siege-donald-trump-campaigns-presidential-070ced9a013c58cf001d6d4137e4abc0">Trump’s lies</a>&nbsp;about the 2020 election.“What we have seen time and again is that those who support the ‘Big Lie’ find conduits to groups of people who they think can help perpetuate this conspiracy theory and erode confidence in elections and potentially cast doubt on them going forward,” said David Levine, a former election official who is now a fellow with the Alliance for Securing Democracy, a nonpartisan institute with staff in Washington and Brussels whose mission involves combatting efforts to undermine democratic institutions.To be sure, law enforcement can play an important role in elections by sharing intelligence, protecting election workers and equipment, and investigating potential election crimes. But that is typically done after election administrators request the help.Hayden appeared at the “FreedomFest” in Las Vegas earlier this month, held by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, although his office said he is not a member of the group.Onstage with him were sheriffs Dar Leaf of Barry County in southwest Michigan and Chris Schmaling of Racine County in Wisconsin, south of Milwaukee. Both say they are investigating election fraud claims, and both accuse state officials of violating election laws.“We’ve been educating ourselves about elections,” Hayden told the gathering. “I’ve sent my detectives through — I’ve got a cyber guy. I sent him through to start evaluating what’s going on with the machines.”Hayden, a Republican, did not elaborate and declined to be interviewed this week, citing what he said was his ongoing investigation. State and local election officials in Kansas said his office has not gained access to voting machines, and other Johnson County officials said there are no indications of any problems with the 2020 elections there.The constitutional sheriffs’ group declares on its website that a sheriff’s power in a county is greater than that of any other official and “even supersedes the powers of the President.” Leaf filed a lawsuit in June against Michigan’s attorney general and secretary of state, accusing them of trying to stifle his investigation. He said a sheriff “has no superiors in his county.”The “constitutional sheriffs” movement has gained visibility in recent years, as some sheriffs — including Hayden — resisted enforcing mask or vaccination requirements during the coronavirus pandemic.“All of a sudden, it’s like the lights went on. It’s the sheriffs,” said Catherine Engelbrecht, founder of the election-conspiracy group True the Vote, speaking as part of a panel at the recent constitutional sheriffs gathering in Las Vegas. “That’s who can do these investigations. That’s who we can trust.”It’s not clear how many sheriffs are part of the movement, though the national group’s founder, Richard Mack, said last year that about 300 of the nation’s 3,000 sheriffs were members, according to The Washington Post. Mack did not respond this week to telephone and email requests for an interview.“It’s like a lot of these theories — it legally has no basis whatsoever,” said Stephen McAllister, the top federal prosecutor for Kansas during most of the Trump administration. “They are subject to state law. They are certainly subject to federal law. They are not sort of supreme little kings within their counties, whether they think so or not.”Hayden said in a public statement that since the fall of 2021, he has received more than 200 tips alleging fraud in local elections. He said his department has a legal obligation to investigate “any criminal claim.”But a memo from Peg Trent, Johnson County’s chief legal counsel, suggested Hayden went further in a July 5 meeting with her and county election officials.Trent said Hayden questioned the use of ballot drop boxes at libraries, called for limiting the hours they would be available and offered to have his staff pick up the ballots. She said his staff also asked to have a deputy in the room as ballots are counted.“As we discussed, my concern is that these requests give the appearance that the Sheriff’s office is attempting to interfere with an election,” she wrote in the July 7 memo, sent to Hayden, county commissioners and the county manager.Hayden issued a statement that he would “whole-heartedly disagree” with her account of the meeting.There is no evidence to support&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">Trump’s claims of a stolen election</a>&nbsp;in 2020 or to suggest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voter-fraud-election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-7fcb6f134e528fee8237c7601db3328f">widespread fraud</a>&nbsp;or tampering with voting machines or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-covid-health-wisconsin-c61fa93a12a1a51d6d9f4e0a21fa3b75">ballot drop boxes</a>. Dozens of legal claims made by Trump and his allies after the election were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-courts-election-results-e1297d874f45d2b14bc99c403abd0457">rejected by judges</a>, including ones appointed by Trump.“With the exception of a tiny handful of individual cases of voter fraud around the country, there is absolutely no reason to suspect that a crime was committed in 2020 with regard to the election,” said David Becker, a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney and election law expert who now leads the Center for Election Innovation and Research.But false claims have sowed doubt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-poll-trump-republicans-future-ba85f8d2a572c553b621f86e991ee197">among many Republican voters</a>, triggered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-new-mexico-donald-trump-presidential-9356ff48f081250aa54040cbd7cf1cc3">death threats to election officials</a>&nbsp;and led to a host of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-race-and-ethnicity-voting-iowa-georgia-4ed9243dde80508dd99cf331bab512d6">new voting restrictions</a>&nbsp;in GOP-controlled states. Trump allies have sought&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-steve-bannon-voting-donald-trump-a56558112632ff2bfb21667e512c84c9">access to voting equipment</a>&nbsp;and turned the normally routine process of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-donald-trump-presidential-conspiracy-theories-fbbdfa8f2e2227e98fe3f2b79dc05499">certifying election results</a>&nbsp;contentious.“The danger of anyone embracing a conspiracy theory is the loss of confidence in election results,” said Chris Harvey, the former state elections director in Georgia. “It’s an added danger if it’s law enforcement. Their job is to enforce laws and maintain order. If they are seen as not having confidence in what’s going on, it’s just going to further trickle down into society.”Harvey is part of a new group bringing together election officials and law enforcement. The Committee for Safe and Secure Elections is comprised of 32 current and former election and law enforcement officials, with a goal of build stronger relationships and providing training.ADVERTISEMENTKansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, the state’s top election official, said Hayden has not contacted his office as part of his investigation. Schwab has repeatedly said he is confident that state elections ran well in 2020.“I think overwhelmingly people trust the election system,” he said.Hayden said during the Las Vegas gathering that his concerns about election fraud were piqued after Democrat Joe Biden carried Johnson County in the 2020 presidential election because the county had consistently “voted Republican” for more than a century. But that argument — made by election conspiracy promoters — ignores that Democrats have carried Johnson County multiple times in governor’s races during that time, including in Laura Kelly’s winning campaign in 2018.Republicans maintain their traditional advantage in voter registration there, but Johnson County is more Democratic than it was 30 years ago.“Johnson County going for Biden — well, that’s not an anomaly,” said Davis Hammet, leader of the Kansas voting-rights group Loud Light. “That happened in suburban counties all across the country.”___

Conspiracy-promoting sheriffs claim vast election authority

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has improved enough from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-e29cb0a0a2135f9cc9ecd0967a2bc345">his coronavirus infection</a>&nbsp;that he’s able to resume his regular exercise routine, according to an update Tuesday from his doctor.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Update-7.26.pdf">a new note</a>&nbsp;that Biden’s COVID-19 symptoms “have now almost completely resolved,” and all of his vital signs are good.

Biden took his fifth and final dose of Paxlovid, which is intended to prevent severe symptoms from COVID-19, on Monday night.

Tuesday is Biden's fifth full day of isolation, and he plans to test for the virus on Wednesday.

If he tests negative, he will return to working in person.

“The moment that he turns negative, he’ll return to work,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, during Monday's briefing at the White House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658854706773.png" alt="Tuesday is Biden's fifth full day of isolation, and he plans to test for the virus on Wednesday.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Tuesday is Biden's fifth full day of isolation, and he plans to test for the virus on Wednesday.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has improved enough from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-health-government-and-politics-e29cb0a0a2135f9cc9ecd0967a2bc345">his coronavirus infection</a>&nbsp;that he’s able to resume his regular exercise routine, according to an update Tuesday from his doctor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658854614980.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Kevin O’Connor wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Update-7.26.pdf">a new note</a>&nbsp;that Biden’s COVID-19 symptoms “have now almost completely resolved,” and all of his vital signs are good.Biden took his fifth and final dose of Paxlovid, which is intended to prevent severe symptoms from COVID-19, on Monday night.Tuesday is Biden's fifth full day of isolation, and he plans to test for the virus on Wednesday.If he tests negative, he will return to working in person.“The moment that he turns negative, he’ll return to work,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, during Monday's briefing at the White House.

Doctor: Biden's COVID symptoms 'almost completely resolved'

ELK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged illegal hunting and asking the public for help to identify suspects.

The game warden in Elk County is working to&nbsp;locate the individual(s) responsible for the illegal shooting of two Whitetail bucks, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.

The bucks were believed to have been shot sometime between July 22 and 23 east of Oak Valley on private property.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Game Warden Gerler at (620)-388-7643. If you want to remain anonymous contact Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658850909225.png" alt="Photo KDWP Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>Photo KDWP Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>ELK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged illegal hunting and asking the public for help to identify suspects.The game warden in Elk County is working to&nbsp;locate the individual(s) responsible for the illegal shooting of two Whitetail bucks, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658851133632.png" alt="Image KDWP Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>Image KDWP Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>The bucks were believed to have been shot sometime between July 22 and 23 east of Oak Valley on private property.Anyone with information is asked to contact Game Warden Gerler at (620)-388-7643. If you want to remain anonymous contact Operation Game Thief at 1-877-426-3843.

Kansas game warden:  Buck deer found illegally shot

KHIMKI, Russia (AP) — The drug trial of American basketball star Brittney Griner in a Russian court focused Tuesday on testimony that cannabis, while illegal in Russia, is regarded in other countries as having legitimate medicinal use.

Griner has acknowledged that she was carrying vape canisters containing cannabis oil when she was arrested in February at a Moscow airport, but she contends that she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage inadvertently because of hasty packing.

“We are not arguing that Brittney took it here as a medicine. We are still saying that she involuntarily brought it here because she was in a rush,” defense attorney Alexander Boykov said after the session in which a Russian neuropsychologist testified about worldwide use of medicinal cannabis.

“The Russian public has to know, and the Russian court in the first place has to know, that it was not used for recreational purposes in the United States. It was prescribed by a doctor,” he said.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who plays for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The medical testimony and Griner's admission that she had the canisters is aimed at bringing her a mild sentence.

“We have a lot of mitigating factors. So we do hope that the court will take it into consideration. And the courts in Russia, in fact, have very broad discretion with regard to the sentence," said Maria Blagovolina, another of Griner's lawyers.

After about 90 minutes in session Tuesday, the case was adjourned until Wednesday afternoon.

The trial of the two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury standout began July 1 but only five sessions have been held, some them lasting only about an hour.

The slow-moving trial and Griner's five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the United States, which has formally declared her to be “wrongfully detained,” a designation sharply rejected by Russian officials.

Elizabeth Rood, the U.S. Embassy's charge d'affaires, attended Tuesday's court session. Griner “confirms that she is doing ok and as well as can be expected under these circumstances,” she told reporters.

ABC’s “Good Morning America” aired a producer’s brief interview with Griner in which she wished her wife, Cherelle “good luck on the bar exam.”

When asked whether she had any complaints, she replied: “No, no complaints. Just waiting patiently.” She displayed photos of her wife, friends and teammates.

Griner was arrested in February amid high U.S.-Moscow tensions ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. Some supporters contend she is being held in Russia as a pawn, possibly for a prisoner swap. American soccer notable Megan Rapinoe last week said “she’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry last week lashed out at the U.S. contention that Griner is being wrongfully detained and said Russian laws should be respected.

“If a U.S. citizen was taken in connection with the fact that she was smuggling drugs, and she does not deny this, then this should be commensurate with our Russian local laws, and not with those adopted in San Francisco, New York and Washington,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

“If drugs are legalized in the United States, in a number of states, and this is done for a long time and now the whole country will become drug-addicted, this does not mean that all other countries are following the same path,” she added.

U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. Russian officials have said no exchange could be discussed until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against Griner. It is unclear how long the trial will last, but a court has authorized Griner’s detention until Dec. 20.

Previous trial sessions have included character-witness testimony from the director and captain of the Russian team that Griner played for in the off-season, along with written testimony including a doctor's letter saying he had authorized her to use cannabis for pain treatment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1646510097872.png" alt="The 31-year-old Griner, one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury" />
 <figcaption>The 31-year-old Griner, one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, has won two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury and a national championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star and three-time Big 12 Player of the year at Baylor-photo courtesy Phoenix Mercury</figcaption>
 </figure>KHIMKI, Russia (AP) — The drug trial of American basketball star Brittney Griner in a Russian court focused Tuesday on testimony that cannabis, while illegal in Russia, is regarded in other countries as having legitimate medicinal use.Griner has acknowledged that she was carrying vape canisters containing cannabis oil when she was arrested in February at a Moscow airport, but she contends that she had no criminal intent and that the canisters ended up in her luggage inadvertently because of hasty packing.“We are not arguing that Brittney took it here as a medicine. We are still saying that she involuntarily brought it here because she was in a rush,” defense attorney Alexander Boykov said after the session in which a Russian neuropsychologist testified about worldwide use of medicinal cannabis.“The Russian public has to know, and the Russian court in the first place has to know, that it was not used for recreational purposes in the United States. It was prescribed by a doctor,” he said.Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who plays for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The medical testimony and Griner's admission that she had the canisters is aimed at bringing her a mild sentence.“We have a lot of mitigating factors. So we do hope that the court will take it into consideration. And the courts in Russia, in fact, have very broad discretion with regard to the sentence," said Maria Blagovolina, another of Griner's lawyers.After about 90 minutes in session Tuesday, the case was adjourned until Wednesday afternoon.The trial of the two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury standout began July 1 but only five sessions have been held, some them lasting only about an hour.The slow-moving trial and Griner's five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the United States, which has formally declared her to be “wrongfully detained,” a designation sharply rejected by Russian officials.Elizabeth Rood, the U.S. Embassy's charge d'affaires, attended Tuesday's court session. Griner “confirms that she is doing ok and as well as can be expected under these circumstances,” she told reporters.ABC’s “Good Morning America” aired a producer’s brief interview with Griner in which she wished her wife, Cherelle “good luck on the bar exam.”When asked whether she had any complaints, she replied: “No, no complaints. Just waiting patiently.” She displayed photos of her wife, friends and teammates.Griner was arrested in February amid high U.S.-Moscow tensions ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. Some supporters contend she is being held in Russia as a pawn, possibly for a prisoner swap. American soccer notable Megan Rapinoe last week said “she’s being held as a political prisoner, obviously.”The Russian Foreign Ministry last week lashed out at the U.S. contention that Griner is being wrongfully detained and said Russian laws should be respected.“If a U.S. citizen was taken in connection with the fact that she was smuggling drugs, and she does not deny this, then this should be commensurate with our Russian local laws, and not with those adopted in San Francisco, New York and Washington,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.“If drugs are legalized in the United States, in a number of states, and this is done for a long time and now the whole country will become drug-addicted, this does not mean that all other countries are following the same path,” she added.Russian media have speculated that Griner could be exchanged for prominent Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, who is imprisoned in the United States, and that Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia for espionage, may also figure in an exchange.U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. Russian officials have said no exchange could be discussed until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against Griner. It is unclear how long the trial will last, but a court has authorized Griner’s detention until Dec. 20.Previous trial sessions have included character-witness testimony from the director and captain of the Russian team that Griner played for in the off-season, along with written testimony including a doctor's letter saying he had authorized her to use cannabis for pain treatment.

Former Big 12 star's Russian trial considers medicinal use of cannabis

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas jail deputy arrested last week&nbsp; and charged with two counts of felony official misconduct for crimes related to a security breach at the Sedgwick County Jail is facing new charges.

Two female inmates have reported inappropriate sexual contact with 22-year-old Dustin Burnett, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The alleged sexual contact occurred on July 17.

Detectives investigated the allegations and added three requested counts of Unlawful Sexual Relations to <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076697">Burnett’s current charges.</a>

While investigating a security breach at Sedgwick County Jail last week, investigators learned Burnett, the on-duty deputy in that area of the jail, observed inmates break a window, bring the contraband into the facility and didn't stop it or inform anyone it occurred. He also did not give investigators the full story about the incident when confronted about it, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;

On Friday, Burnett was charged with the two counts of official misconduct, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Both are felonies. 

Burnett had been employed by the jail since January and was terminated upon his arrest. <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076697">He remains jailed </a>on a $150,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658429257903.png" alt="Burnett-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Burnett-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas jail deputy arrested last week&nbsp; and charged with two counts of felony official misconduct for crimes related to a security breach at the Sedgwick County Jail is facing new charges.Two female inmates have reported inappropriate sexual contact with 22-year-old Dustin Burnett, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The alleged sexual contact occurred on July 17.Detectives investigated the allegations and added three requested counts of Unlawful Sexual Relations to <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076697">Burnett’s current charges.</a><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSedgwickCountySheriff%2Fvideos%2F5513627518658845%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=118" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>While investigating a security breach at Sedgwick County Jail last week, investigators learned Burnett, the on-duty deputy in that area of the jail, observed inmates break a window, bring the contraband into the facility and didn't stop it or inform anyone it occurred. He also did not give investigators the full story about the incident when confronted about it, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;On Friday, Burnett was charged with the two counts of official misconduct, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Both are felonies. Burnett had been employed by the jail since January and was terminated upon his arrest. <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076697">He remains jailed </a>on a $150,000 bond.

🎥Kansas jail deputy accused of sex with inmates

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' attorney general is trying to get ahead of arguments that an anti-abortion measure up for a statewide vote next week would hinder medical care for patients with life-threatening pregnancies.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor who supports&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hcr5003_enrolled.pdf">the measure,</a>&nbsp;argues in a legal opinion issued Friday that treating miscarriages, removing dead fetuses and ending ectopic pregnancies do not fall under Kansas' legal definition of abortion. The proposal on the ballot Aug. 2 would amend the Kansas Constitution to allow the Legislature to further restrict or ban abortion. It's the first referendum on abortion policy by a state since the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last month.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-government-and-politics-da85c82bf3e9ced09ad499e350ae5ee3">The Texas Medical Society told the state medical board</a>&nbsp;this month that some hospitals were delaying care for pregnancy complications over fears of violating the state's ban on most abortions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-lupus-e4042947e4cc0c45e38837d394199033">An Ohio clinic reported</a>&nbsp;calls from two women who said their doctors would not end their ectopic pregnancies, which occur when an embryo grows outside the womb and often are life-threatening to the women involved.

Opponents of the Kansas measure predict it will lead to an abortion ban, while backers including Schmidt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-ee885ee70503518fa02f982a7ffff464">are not saying</a>&nbsp;whether they would pursue one. Schmidt’s opinion says the proposed amendment would not itself “ban or restrict abortion or any medical treatment.”

“Nor would it affect a physician’s ability to render care for ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages or fetal demise,” the opinion states.

Schmidt's opinion confirms what the coalition leading the vote yes campaign has said “all along” about the Kansas measure, spokesperson Mackenzie Haddix said.

Television ads opposing the measure have not specifically mentioned ectopic pregnancies, stillbirths or miscarriages, but they've said that women's lives could be in danger if voters approve the measure. The proposal is anti-abortion lawmakers' response to a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision declaring access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state constitution.

“What these abortion bans are doing that we’ve seen across the country is bringing with them a whole host of other unintended consequences,” said Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesperson for the abortion-rights group Trust Women, which operates a Wichita clinic.

State Rep. John Eplee, a doctor and a northeastern Kansas Republican, asked Schmidt to issue an opinion earlier this month. Although he already believed the amendment wouldn't hinder medical care, he said he had gotten enough questions from constituents that he wanted Schmidt to weigh in.

“You know, people believe things better when they hear it from an attorney,” said Eplee, who voted to put the proposed amendment on the ballot.

Schmidt's legal opinion says that the state’s legal definition of abortion already excludes treating miscarriages and removing dead fetuses. But it acknowledges that Kansas law contains no reference to ectopic pregnancies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654711684391.png" alt="Attorney General Derek Schmidt -photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Derek Schmidt -photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' attorney general is trying to get ahead of arguments that an anti-abortion measure up for a statewide vote next week would hinder medical care for patients with life-threatening pregnancies.Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a Republican running for governor who supports&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hcr5003_enrolled.pdf">the measure,</a>&nbsp;argues in a legal opinion issued Friday that treating miscarriages, removing dead fetuses and ending ectopic pregnancies do not fall under Kansas' legal definition of abortion. The proposal on the ballot Aug. 2 would amend the Kansas Constitution to allow the Legislature to further restrict or ban abortion. It's the first referendum on abortion policy by a state since the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last month.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-texas-government-and-politics-da85c82bf3e9ced09ad499e350ae5ee3">The Texas Medical Society told the state medical board</a>&nbsp;this month that some hospitals were delaying care for pregnancy complications over fears of violating the state's ban on most abortions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-lupus-e4042947e4cc0c45e38837d394199033">An Ohio clinic reported</a>&nbsp;calls from two women who said their doctors would not end their ectopic pregnancies, which occur when an embryo grows outside the womb and often are life-threatening to the women involved.Opponents of the Kansas measure predict it will lead to an abortion ban, while backers including Schmidt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-health-government-and-politics-ee885ee70503518fa02f982a7ffff464">are not saying</a>&nbsp;whether they would pursue one. Schmidt’s opinion says the proposed amendment would not itself “ban or restrict abortion or any medical treatment.”“Nor would it affect a physician’s ability to render care for ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages or fetal demise,” the opinion states.Schmidt's opinion confirms what the coalition leading the vote yes campaign has said “all along” about the Kansas measure, spokesperson Mackenzie Haddix said.Television ads opposing the measure have not specifically mentioned ectopic pregnancies, stillbirths or miscarriages, but they've said that women's lives could be in danger if voters approve the measure. The proposal is anti-abortion lawmakers' response to a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision declaring access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state constitution.“What these abortion bans are doing that we’ve seen across the country is bringing with them a whole host of other unintended consequences,” said Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesperson for the abortion-rights group Trust Women, which operates a Wichita clinic.State Rep. John Eplee, a doctor and a northeastern Kansas Republican, asked Schmidt to issue an opinion earlier this month. Although he already believed the amendment wouldn't hinder medical care, he said he had gotten enough questions from constituents that he wanted Schmidt to weigh in.“You know, people believe things better when they hear it from an attorney,” said Eplee, who voted to put the proposed amendment on the ballot.Schmidt's legal opinion says that the state’s legal definition of abortion already excludes treating miscarriages and removing dead fetuses. But it acknowledges that Kansas law contains no reference to ectopic pregnancies.Schmidt's opinion notes that an abortion is the termination of a pregnancy, and that's defined as having an “unborn child in the mother's body.” The opinion says at least two laws define an unborn child as being in the womb, not outside it. The opinion also argues that the embryo in an ectopic pregnancy is no longer in a stage “leading to birth.”“On balance, we believe the best interpretation is that the termination of an ectopic pregnancy does not constitute an abortion as defined by Kansas law,” Schmidt wrote, adding that even if it were, state law has consistently allowed abortions to save a patient's life.Also, the state health department said it does not require providers to report the termination of an ectopic pregnancy as an abortion and does not include such procedures in state abortion statistics.But opponents of the Kansas amendment find no comfort in Schmidt's legal analysis, saying the measure would allow lawmakers to change the definition of abortion. Dr. Beth Oller, a family physician in Rooks County in northwest Kansas, said Monday that if abortion is banned, doctors might wonder how long they'd have to wait for a woman to be "in jeopardy for her life” before ending an ectopic pregnancy.“We know that the reason for the amendment is to allow the Legislature to make decisions to restrict reproductive access,” she said in a text to The Associated Press.