Kansas
Inquiry into Marion raid has been hopelessly compromised. Kansans deserve an independent review. • Kansas Reflector
We will not see justice in the law enforcement raid on the Marion County Record newspaper until officials take an entirely different approach.
Until now, the investigation into abuse of power by local officials has been overseen by Marion County Attorney Joel Ensey’s handpicked special prosecutors and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, with an assist from its Colorado compatriots. All have shown themselves unlikely or unwilling to serve justice. The prosecutors’ report offers a how-to manual for abusing journalists. The KBI, as shown by First Amendment attorney Max Kautsch’s columns last month, has long obfuscated the details of high-profile cases and covered for guilty cops.
We need to start over.
And that begins by having a truly independent counsel to review all of the investigative files related to the raid, collected by both the KBI and Colorado Bureau of Investigation in its follow-up work.
That independent counsel should be a retired judge or lawyer of unimpeachable credentials, someone respected by law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys and reporters alike. This person should have a clear record of leveling with the public and explaining why charges are or are not brought in cases.
After a careful review of all of the evidence, this independent counsel should then write their own report free of influence from Kansas law enforcement officials and share it with the public. If they believe further charges should be brought against one or more parties in the case, they should be empowered to do so.
I suggest this approach as a compromise.
In his columns, Kautsch called for the release of raw investigative files from the KBI and CBI. The more public information the better, but law enforcement officials have denied open-records requests from Kansas Reflector editor in chief Sherman Smith. On the other hand, special prosecutor Barry Wilkerson told Smith he doesn’t foresee any new charges in the case (beyond the token slap on the wrist administered to former police chief Gideon Cody).
The least Kansas officials could do is allow someone else to take a hard look at what happened in Marion and why.
Special prosecutors’ history
You may wonder why I’m so quickly discarding the work of Wilkerson and his fellow special prosecutor, Marc Bennett.
Unfortunately, both men are hardly objective referees. The circumstances surrounding their appointment and earlier public testimony about open records raise questions that, to my mind, invalidates their report. I don’t mean to cast aspersions on the two men personally, or their work in Riley and Sedgewick counties. In this specific situation, however, they were flawed picks.
As Smith reported last month, Bennett offered Ensey advice in the immediate aftermath of the raid (Wilkerson pitched in a couple of days later). Bennett told the county attorney that search warrants in the case “will not sustain appellate review” and “to return the material seized to the owners in an expedited manner.”
Ensey then selected Bennett and Wilkerson as the special prosecutors. Surely, in the entire state of Kansas, he could have found legal minds without prior involvement in the case.
But that’s just the beginning. Wilkerson happens to have made extensive public comment about the relationship between news reporters and law enforcement. A decade ago, he testified against a House bill improving law enforcement transparency and accountability. The Kansas Press Association explained more here.
In written testimony, Wilkerson offered his take as president of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association. He didn’t just argue against the bill. He instead appeared to criticize the very concept of crime reporting.
“I have never met the victim of a violent crime who wanted to be on the front page, or the families of murder victims who want to be today’s top story,” he said. “They have been victimized already and they do not want their pain and agony paraded publicly and their dignity invaded while they read or hear from others who have read gruesome details of a murder or sexual assault. It is an unspeakable gut wrenching experience, not a headline.
“The Kansas Legislature is here to protect its citizens not to help sell sensationalized news accounts.”
I don’t know which is more disgraceful. That Wilkerson hid his obvious contempt for the free speech rights of the press behind a shield of crime victims or that he believes reporters relish the despair of others. For one thing, there is no shortage of such victims who want to tell their stories in a public forum, and as loudly as possible. For the other, I’ve watched reporters throughout my two-decade career grapple with the toll of reporting on inhumanity.
Members of the news media understand the seriousness of the issues, which is why we cover them. We aren’t paid Wilkerson’s county attorney salary ($192,723 for 2023) to do so, either.
A version of the bill ultimately made it into law in 2014. In an interview with Smith, the attorney suggested that he was representing the group’s position, “but we ended up working out a compromise on all this … and we were able to get something done, the bill that was eventually passed.”
He added that he supported the current law.
I take Wilkerson at his word today, even though Katusch told me the proposal and compromise were “remarkably similar.” But I also take Wilkerson at his word in 2014. That testimony makes him wholly inappropriate to serve as a special prosecutor in a case concerning press freedom. Full stop.
For the record, Bennett also testified against the House bill, although in more technical terms. Wilkerson spoke with Smith late last month, but Bennett declined to do so.
Keeping up the pressure
In the month since Wilkerson and Bennett’s report dropped, Smith and I have spoken to and heard from Kansas lawyers and law enforcement. Some have made their disagreement with its conclusions public. Others have taken a quieter approach — for now.
What I can say is this: The report does not suffice. It falls short in only charging a single person for their conduct after the fact. It falls short for not making a more forceful case about freedom of the press and the importance of journalists being able to do their jobs unimpeded. Most critically, it falls short in calling precisely no one to account for conducting an illegal raid. At a certain point, it moves beyond excusing bad conduct to laying the groundwork for others to harass the press in the future.
Someone else must take the reins, and as soon as possible.
I don’t have a specific method in mind for selecting the independent counsel. In my conversations with Kautsch, it appears that the appointment could either come at the local level, from state law enforcement agencies, or even Gov. Laura Kelly. He will address possible mechanisms for such an appointment in an upcoming column.
The point is to get a well-respected person selected and starting work sooner rather than later.
The stench of law enforcement abuse in the Marion County Record case has not gone away. It will not go away. It will continue to waft throughout this state until someone in our government stands up and insists on accountability from those who would strip First Amendment rights from their fellow citizens. Record editor Eric Meyer saw support surge into his newsroom from across the nation in the raid’s aftermath. But that’s not enough, and it was never going to be enough. Outrage without consequence eventually evaporates.
As I wrote last year, within a week of the original raid, we need accountability.
At this point, an independent counsel is the only way to get there.
Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed Caleb’s Law, strengthening penalties for online sexual extortion targeting children.
Governor Kelly says the law is named after Caleb Moore, a 14-year-old from El Dorado, who died by suicide after becoming a victim of an online sextortion scheme.
What the Law Does
Caleb’s Law expands Kansas’s existing sexual extortion statute in three key ways:
- Broadens the definition of sexual extortion to include threats involving explicit images – including AI-generated or digitally altered images
- Increase criminal penalties when an adult offender targets a minor or a dependent adult
- Creates two felony offenses: aggravated sexual extortion causing great bodily harm and aggravated sexual extortion causing death
Under the new law, sexual extortion involving a minor or dependent adult is elevated from a severity level 7 to a severity level 6 person felony for coercive intent cases.
The legislation also elevates a level 4 to a level 3 person felony when the victim is caused to produce or distribute sexual content.
Statewide Education Requirements
House Bill 2537 also directs the Kansas Attorney General to lead a statewide public education effort on sextortion. The AG’s office will:
- Prepare and distribute educational materials for schools, students, parents and the public
- Collaborate with the Kansas State Board of Education and law enforcement agencies
- File an annual report beginning July 1, 2027, to the Governor, legislative leadership and the State Board of Education on implementation progress
The Attorney General’s Office estimates the education effort will require two new positions at a cost of around $213,900 from the State General Fund, rising to an estimated $20,300 in 2028.
In Their Own Words
Gov. Kelly said the law reflects the state’s commitment to keeping pace with digital threats facing children.
“Protecting Kansas children means staying ahead of the evolving threats they face, especially in an increasingly digital world where exploitation can happen in an instant,” she said. “By prioritizing education and awareness, Caleb’s Law ensures that young people, families, and educators have the tools to recognize sexual extortion and seek help before it’s too late. By signing this bill, we’re honoring Caleb’s life by shining a light on this growing danger and taking meaningful action to prevent future tragedies.”
Rep. Bob Lewis (R-Garden City), who introduced the bill, added that it earned unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers.
“Our kids are our future and protecting them from online predators, who are increasingly dangerous and sophisticated, must be a top legislative priority,” he stated. “I’m therefore pleased that the governor is signing Caleb’s Law, which I introduced and received unanimous, bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. What happened to Caleb is tragic and must be stopped.”
Rep. Dan Osman (D-Overland Park) credited Caleb Moore’s family for pushing the legislation forward.
“Sexual extortion in any form should never be tolerated, but children under the age of 18 are particularly vulnerable,” he added.
The Kansas Attorney General’s Office also voiced strong support, noting the law addresses one of the state’s most urgent child safety threats.
“HB 2537 is a critical measure to protect Kansans from sexual exploitation and ensure public awareness and education on this growing threat,” said Sarah Hortenstine, Division Chief of Youth Services, Kansas Office of the Attorney General.
Legislative Timeline
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Jan. 23 | Bill introduced, referred to House Committee on Judiciary |
| Feb. 5 | House committee hearing held |
| Feb. 16 | Committee recommends passage |
| Feb. 18 | House passes bill unanimously |
| Feb. 25 | Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary |
| March 17 | Senate committee hearing held |
| March 18 | Senate committee recommends passage |
| March 19 | Senate passes bill unanimously |
The bill received unanimous, bipartisan support in both chambers – with no recorded opposition.
Background: What Is Sextortion?
Officials noted that sextortion is a form of online exploitation in which offenders coerce victims – often minors – into producing sexual images.
Those bad actors then use the images to demand more content, money, or sexual acts, according to investigators.
State leaders said cases can escalate rapidly, and the resulting trauma has led to severe psychological harm and, in some cases, suicide.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
For mental health support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Since losing Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller in the transfer portal, Bill Self has been tasked with rebuilding his frontcourt from the 2025-26 campaign. While he has landed former Utah forward Keanu Dawes to succeed Tiller at the four, the Jayhawks’ roster still lacks a true center to replace Louisville commit Bidunga.
One player KU had hoped to add was Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam, who tormented the Jayhawks when the two schools met this past February. However, the chances of him committing to play in Lawrence appear to be dwindling by the day.
The Senegal native recently wrapped up a trip to St. John’s and is set to visit Ann Arbor on Monday to meet with the defending champions, Michigan.
Source: Cincinnati transfer Moustapha Thiam will visit Michigan on Monday.
Recently visited St. John’s.
Averaged 12.8 PPG and 7.1 RPG last season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 19, 2026
Kansas was initially supposed to be one of the top schools involved in Thiam’s recruitment, but that hasn’t necessarily been the case. The Jayhawks have been relatively quiet so far and haven’t gained much traction toward securing an official visit.
Not only is Michigan a recruiting powerhouse coming off a national title win under second-year head coach Dusty May, but it also boasts one of the largest NIL collectives in the NCAA. If the Wolverines are seriously pursuing Thiam, it likely means he will come at a hefty price tag.
KU is expected to increase the NIL budget this year to handle its roster deficiencies from the past few seasons. Regardless, the program must be strategic with its spending, especially with the decision of 2026 prospect Tyran Stokes still looming.
Who Are Kansas’ Alternatives to Moustapha Thiam?
If the Jayhawks are unable to land Thiam, there are a few alternatives on the open market. Those options may not carry the same hype as the 7-foot-2 phenom, who is ranked as the No. 3 center in 247 Sports’ transfer rankings, but they could still provide solid production nonetheless.
One name to watch is Anton Bonke, another towering big man who has spent time at Providence and most recently Charlotte. He visited KU’s campus earlier this week alongside Dawes and remains a viable option.
Another possible solution could come from within if Paul Mbiya decides to withdraw from the transfer portal and return to Kansas. The incoming sophomore flashed his potential during the postseason and is reportedly open to rejoining the program.
Finally, FC Barcelona center Sayon Keita is an international prospect who could make his college decision within the next month or two. He took an official visit to Kansas last July.
Whoever ultimately replaces Bidunga, Self will need to act quickly before the remaining top targets come off the board. Bringing back Mbiya and adding a transfer would be a strong start.
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In 2025 at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Larson set a significant record.
In 2026 at the 1.5-mile intermediate track, the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet might simply settle for a win in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400.
In winning last year’s spring race at Kansas, Larson led 221 laps, most in NASCAR history for a driver in a 400-mile race on a 1.5-mile speedway.
That victory, however, was Larson’s last in the NASCAR Cup Series, though he did claim the 2025 series title by finishing third in the Championship 4 Race at Phoenix in November.
Statistics augur well for Larson as he tries to end his 32-race drought on Sunday. He has led 761 laps at Kansas Speedway since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, more than double the total of any other driver. Denny Hamlin is second with 337.
His 1,842 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in the Gen 7 era (since 2022 inclusive) more than double the total of the next driver on the list (Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron at 912).
Larson has led laps in 21 of the last 22 races on 1.5-mile speedways, including the last 10 in a row. If he leads 25 laps on Sunday at Kansas, he will surpass Kevin Harvick’s track-record of 949.
The two-time series champion is the only repeat winner in the last 11 races at Kansas, having won three times during that span, including the last two spring races.
His history considered, Larson has every reason to be confident at a track he thoroughly enjoys.
“Kansas is a lot of fun,” Larson said. “It’s really fast. You’re always trying to carry a lot of speed and momentum off the corners and run big arcs into the entry. There are two different ends of the racetrack, but I feel like you approach the corners in a similar way.
“In the race, you settle into a comfortable pace and balance and try to run as close to the wall as possible without hitting it. It’s a fun place. It can be challenging, but it’s good because you have options to move around.”
Chevrolet teams have been dealing with a new body style this season. Chase Elliott’s win at Martinsville is the car maker’s only trip to Victory Lane so far.
“I think we’re gaining on it,” Larson said. “I think the body stuff maybe is what we’re fighting right now. Entries (into the turns) seem to be pretty loose at most tracks, and then the window of balance is pretty narrow…
“I think we’re not bad on speed. I feel like we’re close to a win, but at the same time, I feel like we have a lot of work to do to get our cars better to where a win would be much easier.”
If a victory for Larson is realistic possibility, Kyle Busch might be satisfied with a top-10 run. On a miserable afternoon last Sunday at Bristol, Busch started 29th and finished 25th, two laps down, after tangling twice with the Toyota of Riley Herbst.
Busch’s winless streak reached 101 races at Thunder Valley, and Richard Childress Racing, the organization that fields Busch’s Chevrolets, has failed to score a top-10 finish in eight straight races for the first time since 1981. RCR is the only multicar team without a top-10 finish this year.
Ty Gibbs got his first Cup Series victory at Bristol last Sunday, but the odds are heavily against another first-time winner at Kansas. In 40 Cup races at the track, there has never been a first-time winner.
Toyota drivers have won six of the first eight Cup races this season, and they’re likely to be strong again at Kansas. Tyler Reddick could become the fourth driver in series history and the first since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to win five of the first nine races in a season.
Both Reddick and 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace, who is making his 300th career start, are former winners at the 1.5-mile track. The 23XI organization has three victories at Kansas, most at any single venue.
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin boasts four Kansas victories, more than any other driver. He has finished in the top-five in seven of the last nine races there.
If a Toyota driver wins on Sunday, it will be the first time a single manufacturer has won seven of the first nine races in a season since Chevrolet accomplished the feat in 2007.
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