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Kansas appeals court says secretary of state violated open records law by altering computer system – Kansas Reflector

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Kansas appeals court says secretary of state violated open records law by altering computer system – Kansas Reflector


TOPEKA — Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab violated state open data legislation when he ordered a software program vendor to disable the flexibility to supply a public document, the Kansas Courtroom of Appeals dominated on Friday.

The ruling is the newest victory for Davis Hammet, a voting rights advocate, in his three-year authorized combat with Schwab over entry to provisional poll knowledge beneath the Kansas Open Data Act.

“By turning off the report functionality, the secretary denied affordable public entry to that public document and the knowledge inside it,” Justice Stephen Hill wrote within the appeals courtroom resolution. “That motion — selecting to hide moderately than reveal public data — violates KORA.”

Every election cycle, Kansans solid tens of 1000’s of provisional ballots, a lot of that are discarded. A number of the points may be corrected. A voter might have uncared for to replace their registration after shifting, or an election official might query the validity of a signature on a mail-in poll.

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Hammet, the president of Loud Gentle, which works to teach and interact younger adults and underrepresented communities on elections in Kansas, has filed a sequence of requests for provisional poll stories beneath the Kansas Open Data Act. The objective is to assist voters have their ballots may be counted, and to analysis the difficulty to higher advise public officers about insurance policies that affect voters.

In an earlier lawsuit, Shawnee County District Choose Teresa Watson ordered Schwab to show the knowledge over to Hammet. Schwab responded by criticizing the courtroom and asking ES&S, the software program vendor for the state’s election system, to disable the reporting function.

Hammet, who’s represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, responded by submitting a second lawsuit. This time, Watson dominated that KORA doesn’t require public companies to create a software program performance.

Hill rejected Watson’s “strained evaluation,” which “successfully seals laptop data.”

“That ruling would enable all laptop data of public data to turn out to be inaccessible via the easy manipulation of what the pc system is requested to do,” Hill wrote.

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KORA declares the state coverage is that public data be open for inspection by any individual and that the coverage “shall be liberally construed and utilized.” Meaning companies shouldn’t conceal data, Hill wrote.

The legislation specifies 55 kinds of data that aren’t open, however each side of the lawsuit agreed none of these exemptions apply on this case.

“It is a clear victory for presidency transparency and public data entry,” stated Josh Pierson, the senior workers legal professional for the ACLU of Kansas who argued the attraction earlier than the courtroom. “It affirms what we’ve stated all alongside  — that Secretary Scott Schwab violated KORA, and that authorities companies ought to be working to make data extra clear, moderately than much less.”

Hammet tried to get provisional poll stories by submitting an open data request to every of the state’s county clerks, who administer elections. One clerk stated in an e-mail that Schwab’s workplace had instructed clerks at a statewide convention not to answer Hammet’s request. The secretary denied giving that instruction.

Schwab argued that he was being held hostage by KORA, and that his motivation for disabling entry to public data is irrelevant.

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Hill stated the courtroom can’t “see how this KORA request held the secretary hostage when all it required was for considered one of his workers to push a button on the pc.”

The secretary’s declare that he not can produce the provisional poll document is “disingenuous,” Hill wrote.

“What may be turned off may be turned on,” Hill wrote. “When the secretary directed ES&S to show off the pc function that generates the provisional poll element report — a report accurately declared to be a public document — he denied affordable public entry to that public document. That denial of public inspection of a public document violates the Kansas Open Data Act.”

The appeals courtroom directed the district courtroom to order Schwab to revive the reporting function.

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Kansas

Family of man killed by Kansas City, Kansas police officer sues chief, Unified Government

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Family of man killed by Kansas City, Kansas police officer sues chief, Unified Government


KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – The family of a man shot and killed by a Kansas City, Kan. police officer filed a lawsuit against the officer, the police chief and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.

According to the lawsuit, an officer shot 50-year-old John Anderton in the back five times as he ran away from an emergency scene in February 2023. Anderton died from his injuries.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney investigated the shooting and determined the officer was justified in shooting Anderton.

According to the DA’s investigation, Anderton failed to follow the officer’s orders and reached for a gun when the officer fired at him.

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ALSO READ: Man recently released from Leavenworth penitentiary charged with first murder of 2025

Anderton’s brother disagrees according to the lawsuit filed Jan. 14.

The lawsuit claims the police officer violated Anderson’s civil rights when he used excessive force and shot him.

The shooting happened as crews responded to a call about two people overdosing in a house near N. 55th Street and Haskell Ave.

The lawsuit said Anderton tried helping his friends by performing CPR. He left after paramedics arrive. The lawsuit said Anderton left the house because he was concerned that staying would exacerbate his chronic COPD.

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ALSO READ: KCKFD firefighter hospitalized after person drives over fire hose

The officer stopped Anderton as he left the house.

The lawsuit states the officer “suddenly demanded” Anderton to put his hands on top of his head. That’s when Anderton tried to run away. The lawsuit claims the officer fired a dozen shots at Anderton. Five of the bullets hit him, including two in the back and one in the back of the head.

The lawsuit claims Police Chief Karl Oakman and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County are responsible because they should know how the officers are trained to use force.

ALSO READ: Kansas City begins to plan for another possible Superbowl Parade in the wake of tragedy

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Spokespeople for both the police department and Wyandotte County declined to comment due to pending litigation.

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and demands more than $75,000.



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Max Jones’ Effort For Kansas State Can Translate To Wins

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Max Jones’ Effort For Kansas State Can Translate To Wins


Even with Kansas State’s loss to Texas Tech Tuesday night, there was still much the Wildcats could appreciate.

One was Max Jones’s level of play, as he finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. But amidst his solid performance, a ton of plays beyond the box score made the difference. He kept them afloat in the second half when Texas Tech looked like they were going to turn the game back into a blowout.

“I promise our fans that we’ll put dudes on the floor that are gonna give an effort that’s worthy of wearing a K-State uniform. And if they’re not gonna be gritty and tough like Max Jones and some of the other guys showed tonight, then they won’t be on that floor,” coach Jerome Tang said.

Jones has been one of Kansas State’s most consistent scorers, scoring close to his median every game. Despite the three-game losing streak, he’s put up double-digit performances while regularly getting to the free-throw line. Jones’ stability and aggressive play make it easier for Tang to know what he can provide nightly.

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Nevertheless, Kansas State needs to start winning conference games. Jones says there’s “not a lot of pressure” to immediately win, but a fifth Big 12 loss will only fuel outside doubts.

“I’d just say we gotta keep getting better,” Jones said. “I feel like today we got a lot better, and a lot better in practice before this game. We gotta take one game at a time, and just take each game like it’s our last and just try to win.”

Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.



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Kansas influencer SB Mowing raises over $750K for elderly homeowner who faced fine from city for overgrown lawn

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Kansas influencer SB Mowing raises over 0K for elderly homeowner who faced fine from city for overgrown lawn


A Kansas influencer raised over $793,000 to save a disabled elderly woman who faced a hefty fine from her town for failing to trim her overgrown yard.

Spencer, a content creator known for his landscaping business SB Mowing, said he met homeowner Beth last summer when a town official familiar with his social media videos contacted him and asked if he could help fix her lawn.

He was warned that Beth, who uses a cane to move around her property, needed to trim the yard or pay $240 for the town, which was not revealed in the video, to cut it for her.

An influencer raised $793,000 to change the life of a disabled woman. GoFundMe

‘I’ve spent a month trying to get someone to come mow,” Beth said in a video uploaded on Jan. 10. “They won’t answer their phones.”

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Beth revealed that the town officials had implemented a date for when she was required to have the yard cut before she faced the financial loss.

Spencer described the lawn that surrounded Beth’s small white house as unkept and was “getting crazy.”

“I can get that taken care of for ya,” Spencer assured her, offering his landscaping service at no cost.

“I can’t believe it that’s great,” Beth replied.

Spencer transformed her lawn by clearing grass from the driveway cracks, trimming the bushes, removing trees and mowing very tall grass.

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Spencer stepped in after lawn care companies wouldn’t help Beth. GoFundMe
Spencer offered his landscaping service at no cost. GoFundMe

“I cried on and off just listening to your machine,” Beth told Spencer after the big reveal.

Spencer added that he was happy to help Beth as she became emotional over the gesture.

“Your work makes me twinkle so I really appreciate you. I can’t tell you how much. No one’s been happy to help me,” she added.

On top of the lawn issues, Spencer then noticed the home needed improvements to accommodate Beth, who was “in desperate need of help.”

The money raised will help Beth “gain accessibility and comfort” on her property. GoFundMe

Spencer launched a GoFundMe when he noticed how Beth’s old stairs posed an issue for her to walk on and that the driveway cracks could cause her to fall.

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The small business owner raised over a half million dollars within a day to help her “gain accessibility and comfort” on other parts of her property.

Funds raised will help address accessibility issues she faces including building a new ramp outside so it’s easier for her to get to her front door, a smooth driveway and a chair lift that will allow her to get up and down stairs for her laundry.

“We’re gonna be able to do a little bit more than just your driveway and your ramp here,” Spencer revealed. GoFundMe

The money will also pay a lawn care company to maintain her yard for the “next few years” because Spencer lives too far away.

The elderly homeowner was stunned when she received the life-changing donation.

“I can’t even cry,” Beth said. “I can’t even think.”

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“I never expected help ever, ever, ever. I always help people until I got down and out,” Beth added.

“We’re gonna be able to do a little bit more than just your driveway and your ramp here,” Spencer revealed.

Spencer is making sure all the money that was raised doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

“I am also working with an attorney to set up a trust for her to make sure that all of the funds are protected,” Spencer wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page. “I don’t want anybody trying to take advantage of her and I want to make sure that the funds are used properly.”

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