Kansas
Former Kansas reporter accepts $235K settlement in lawsuit over police raid of local newspaper
A former reporter for a Kansas newspaper has accepted $235,000 to settle part of her federal lawsuit over a police raid on the local newspaper that made national headlines for concerns about press freedom violations.
Former Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver reached the settlement on June 25 following her lawsuit against former Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody, who is accused of reinjuring Gruver’s previously injured hand when he allegedly grabbed her personal phone during an Aug. 11, 2023, raid on the newspaper.
The settlement removed Cody from the lawsuit, but the Marion County sheriff and the county’s prosecutor – who were also sued by Gruver over the raid – were not covered by the settlement, according to The Associated Press.
Gruver’s lawsuit is one of five federal suits filed over the raid against the city, county and eight current or former elected officials or law enforcement officers.
KANSAS POLICE RAID NEWSPAPER’S OFFICE, PUBLISHER’S HOME TO SEIZE RECORDS; REPORTER INJURED
A former reporter for the Marion County Record in Kansas has accepted $235,000 to settle part of her federal lawsuit after she was injured during a police raid on the newspaper. (AP)
Cody led the raid on the newspaper’s office, the home of publisher Eric Meyer and the home of a then-city council member after a source contacted the newspaper and the then-city council member with information about a restaurant owner who was trying to obtain a liquor license.
The source said Kari Newell had been convicted of drunk driving and was driving without a valid driver’s license, and that law enforcement was allegedly ignoring Newell’s repeated violations.
Meyer decided not to publish the story and instead told Cody and Marion County Sheriff Jeff Soyez about the information offered by the source. Law enforcement then launched an investigation and obtained a search warrant for evidence of identity theft and criminal use of a computer and alerted Newell.
Computers, cellphones and reporting materials were then seized over alleged violations related to identity theft and unlawful acts concerning computers after a search warrant was signed by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar. Law enforcement was also given authorization to search for devices used to access the Kansas Department of Revenue’s records website, as well as documents and records pertaining to Newell.
KANSAS REPORTER SUES TOWN, LOCAL OFFICIALS OVER POLICE RAID OF NEWSPAPER OFFICE
The federal Privacy Protection Act prohibits law enforcement from most searches of journalists and newsrooms and usually requires police to issue subpoenas rather than search warrants. The police department said at the time that the law does not apply to instances when journalists are suspected of criminal wrongdoing.
At the time, Cody said he had evidence that the newspaper, reporter Phyllis Zorn and the then-city council member had committed identity theft or other computer crimes through obtaining information about Newell. The three denied doing anything illegal and charges were never filed.
Zorn is seeking $950,000 in damages in her federal lawsuit for being deprived of press and speech freedoms and the protection from unreasonable police searches guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
The lawsuit by former Marion County Record reporter Deb Gruver is one of five federal lawsuits filed over the raid of the newspaper. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
During the search of the newspaper office and Meyer’s home, officers removed two computers and an Alexa smart speaker used by Meyer’s 98-year-old mother and newspaper co-owner. She collapsed and died in her home the day after the raid despite otherwise being in good health for her age, her son said at the time.
Meyer and the newspaper filed a federal lawsuit alleging the raid caused his mother’s death. The lawsuit also suggested the raid was carried out in response to an investigation into Cody’s background.
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Cody seized Gruber’s personal phone and had her desk searched. While she was not involved in obtaining the driving record, she was investigating Cody’s past.
The raid led to national outrage over press freedom concerns. Cody resigned as police chief less than two months after the raid.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Collin Klein and the K-State coaching staff made a major statement on the recruiting trail over the weekend. Cooper Ohnmacht, a four-star recruit and the top-ranked player in Kansas in the 2027 recruiting class, committed to K-State on Sunday. The Wildcats defeated Penn State, Wisconsin and several other power four programs in securing the services of Ohnmacht.
The Great Bend, Kan., native is ranked as the No. 304 player nationally and the 10th-best athlete in the country in the 2027 class, according to the Rivals industry consensus rankings, which incorporates the evaluations of the three major recruiting services nationally.
Ohnmacht is a big-time athlete who has excelled at both safety and wide receiver while also earning major accolades in track and field. The 6-0, 185-pounder, recorded 52 receptions for 755 yards as a junior to lead his team, which also featured national recruit in tight end Ian Premer, who has signed with Notre Dame. Ohnmacht, who is projected to play safety at K-State, had 57 tackles along with five interceptions during the 2025 season.
Ohnmacht is also a two-time state champion in the triple jump in Class 5A. His triple jump of 48-3 as a sophomore was the best all-class jump during the 2025 track season by seven inches, according to Catch it Kansas. He placed 14th in the triple jump at the Nike Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., in 2025.
The commitment of Ohnmacht marks the third time the Wildcats have landed the state’s No. 1 recruit since 2023. Avery Johnson’s decision to sign with K-State in 2023 ended an 18-year drought of the top player in Kansas going elsewhere. Offensive tackle Gus Hawkins, a top-200 player nationally from Mill Valley in the 2024 class, made it back-to-back years the No. 1 player in the state elected to continue their career in Manhattan. The Wildcats landed another national recruit in 2025 when Linkon Cure, a top-50 recruit in the country, chose K-State over Oregon and others. However, the Goodland, Kan., native was the second-ranked player in the state behind Andrew Babalola, who signed with Michigan.
K-State also earned the commitment of Correll Buckhalter Jr. on Sunday. The Texas native is the son of former Nebraska running back and NFL veteran Correll Buckhalter. He is ranked as the No. 742 player nationally and a top 100 prospect in Texas for the 2027 class.
Klein and his staff have now secured 17 commitments in the 2027 class, which is ranked 40th nationally and fourth-best in the Big 12, per the Rivals industry consensus rankings.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – One man is dead and another is in critical condition after a shooting overnight on Westport Rd., police say.
The Kansas City Police Department said it responded to the area of Mercier and Westport Rd. just before 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, after reports of a shooting.
Officers indicated that they entered a nearby business and found two men unresponsive. They began rendering medical aid until EMS arrived.
First responders reported that one man was taken to a nearby hospital with critical injuries. The other was pronounced dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives noted that they began to gather evidence and collect witness statements. As of Sunday morning, police do not know what led to the shooting and no one is in custody.
Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
KSHB 41 reporter La’Nita Brooks covers stories in Kansas City, Missouri, and stories offering solutions on crime. Share your story idea with La’Nita.
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Hundreds of people filled the streets of Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday for the KC Pride 2026 parade. The route started in Westport and ended near Country Club Plaza.
This year’s theme, “It’s all ours,” represents everything Pride has built and all that is to come — a message that resonated deeply with many in the crowd.
Brian Luton
“I feel like today means like we matter, like as queer people,” said attendee Erynn. “I’m a lesbian but anyone who’s queer, trans — especially right now — it feels like they’re trying to make us matter less. They’re trying to almost reduce visibility. And something like this, to me, says you’re not going to silence us and we’re going keep being visible and keep being who we are, and we’re going to do it in a joyful fun-loving way.”
The parade drew people from across the region, including some who came to KCMO specifically for the event.
Brian Luton
“I’m from Pittsburg, Kansas, so we came up to spend the day and hangout and go to the parade,” Stan Forrest said.
For others, the day was about community and a decades-long journey.
Brian Luton
“I came out 50 years ago,” Fanny Mandelberger said. “So, obviously to be in community. To keep the not so much a fight just living your authentic self. I’m grateful to my ancestry that taught me resilience, (to) stand up for who you are.”
Those in attendance said they hope the celebration continues to grow.
“It was amazing,” Forrest said. “We had a lot of fun. Everyone here is so joyful, it’s really refreshing to see.”
Brian Luton
A social media post from Our Spot KC/KC Pride this week sparked discussion after it suggested Kansas City, Missouri, officials were banned from attending this year, due to the city council’s rescission of the city’s conversion therapy ban. The organizations responded with a new statement on social media and the original post has since been removed.
“We posted the wrong draft. We are human, after all, and we’ve been quite busy running our biggest weekend of the year,” KC Pride said in part on social media.
An excerpt from the new statement can be read below.
“As Our Sport KC’s staff and volunteers have been preparing for KC PrideFest and Parade 2026, we’ve heard from countless community members who feel betrayed and hurt by the recent repeal of Kansas City, Missouri’s conversion therapy ban and the vague replacement language that followed. We want to publicly give voice to those legitimate concerns and the impacts to LGBTQ+ youth, adults and families.
“We stepped away from PrideFest production to have several conversations this week and make sure our voices were at the table because that is what this work actually looks like. Showing up when it is hard, building relationships that last, and staying committed to real solutions over quick reactions. We have seen and heard apologies from some leaders for the way this was handled and we receive that accountability as a step in the right direction. We are working directly with the LGBTQ+ Commission, the mayor’s office, legal teams, community members and councilmembers to get the language right and get our community protected. We are hopeful that this moment also opens the door to getting the commission fully seated, supported and resourced with a dedicated full-time liaison, so it can function the way our community has always deserved…”
PrideFest continues at Theis Park through the weekend.
Below are more sights from the parade Saturday morning.
Brian Luton/KSHB
Brian Luton/KSHB
Brian Luton/KSHB Brian Luton/KSHB
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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