TOPEKA — A state panel agreed Friday to allow Republican Kyler Sweely to remain on the ballot as a candidate for a Kansas House seat in a Hutchinson district, despite concerns that he appears not to be living at the house he leased shortly before filing.

Reno County Republicans Robin Jackson and Dawn Varney objected to Sweely’s candidacy after compiling evidence that he doesn’t live at the residence where he signed a lease shortly before filing for office. But the Kansas State Objections Board — composed of Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Dwight Carswell from the attorney general’s office and Ashley Stites-Hubbard from the governor’s office — rejected the complaint.

The board members unanimously agreed with Sweely’s attorney, Ryan Kriegshauser, who argued the standard is low for establishing residency under state law. Because Sweely intends to renovate and eventually live at the house in Hutchinson, Kriegshauser said, he must be allowed to remain on the ballot.

Sweely, who is endorsed by the Kansas Chamber, faces Tyson Thrall in the GOP primary. The winner will take on incumbent Democratic Rep. Jason Probst.

Probst said in an interview earlier this month that Republicans engaged in “district shopping” to bring Sweely into the race, even though he had “no connection to our community.”

Sweely is a 26-year-old U.S. Army veteran who moved from Harvey County to Reno County on May 29, shortly before the June 3 filing deadline.

In a presentation before the objections board, Jackson and Varney presented evidence they collected by walking around Sweely’s residence in Hutchinson. They described an overgrown yard, rooms with no furniture, uncollected mail, the absence of trash service and a real estate lockbox on the door.

“I believe what we’re really seeing is an attempt to deceive,” Varney said.

Sweely told the objections board that he grew up in Kansas, joined the military out of high school, was deployed to the Middle East and eastern Europe, and had lived in five or six states before working as a legislative staffer this past session. Sweely was an administrative assistant to the House Transportation and Public Safety Budget Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Avery Anderson, R-Newton.

Sweely provided a copy of the lease agreement he signed for the house in Hutchinson. He said he was working to improve the condition of the house while paying rent there.

Kriegshauser said the law is clear that candidates can move where they want before filing for office, voters should get to decide who wins the race, and the board for 30 years has consistently rejected residency-based objections.

The panel members, in brief discussion, agreed with Krieghauser’s interpretation of the law.

“My personal opinion would be that it’s on the Legislature to change it,” Schwab said.

The Texas Rangers are limping into another showdown as they prepare to host the Kansas City Royals in a three-game series beginning Friday at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

The Rangers (34-40) dropped two of three to the New York Mets earlier this week, and their path to returning to the playoffs continues to get harder to see. Texas enters Friday’s action 8.5 games back of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West and 6.5 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.

It’s not insurmountable, but the Rangers have to start doing the work to climb back into the race.

A good series against the Royals would help. Kansas City (42-34) is having an unexpectedly successful season. The Royals are not leading the AL Central, but are in the second Wild Card spot.

Beyond Nathan Eovaldi the Rangers’ pitching rotation isn’t clear. Earlier this week national outlets reported that Max Scherzer would make his season debut on Saturday. However, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters on Wednesday that a decision had not been made.

The Rangers won’t see former left-hander Cole Ragans this time around the Kansas City starter pitched on Wednesday against Oakland. But relievers Will Smith and Chris Stratton — who were both with the Rangers during last year’s World Series — are in the Kansas City bullpen.  

Here is the preview for the game, with probable pitchers, how to watch, listen and more.

Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington

Friday’s Game

Time: 7:05 p.m. CT

Television: Bally Sports Southwest. Radio: 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270. Watch on fubo.tv.

Probable pitchers

Texas Rangers: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (3-2, 3.15)

Kansas City Royals RHP Brady Singer (4-4, 3.39)

Saturday’s Game

Time: 3:05 p.m. CT

Television: Bally Sports Southwest, ESPN+. Radio: 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270.

Probable pitchers

Texas Rangers: TBA

Kansas City Royals: TBA

Sunday’s Game

Time: 1:35 p.m. CT

Television: Bally Sports Southwest. Radio: 105.3 The Fan, KFLC 1270.

Probable pitchers

Texas Rangers: TBA

Kansas City Royals: RHP Alec Marsh (5-4, 4.37)

Next Road Trip

June 24-26: at Milwaukee Brewers

June 27-30: at Baltimore Orioles

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new room at the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department will be used to interview survivors of sexual assault and trauma.

The ‘soft room’ is the first of its kind in Missouri.

An organization called Project Beloved has set up over 100 soft rooms nationwide. The most recent room put into service isi n Kansas City.

“I’m really excited for Kansas City to have this room, and to set that precedent in this area for their approach to sexual assault,” said Becky Halterman, Project Beloved vice president.

Halterman has personal ties to Project Beloved’s cause.

“Project Beloved was started April 10, 2018, a year to the day after my niece, Molly Jane Matheson was found raped and murdered,” Halterman. Her sister, Tracy Mathesan, is the founder and Molly’s mother.

Rachel Henderson/KSHB 41

The organization seeks to educate the public and advocate for sexual assault survivors so they’re empowered to find their voices through the support they’re given.

“There’s a lot more progress that needs to be made, starting from a place of believing,” Halterman said. “Let’s invite them into this room, have them tell their story, investigate it, and find out what we can do.”

Zachary Mallory understands just how much progress is necessary.

“I was sexually assaulted at 17,” Mallory said. “I know what it felt like to be not believed. I know what it felt like to be unheard and to be re-victimized.”

A decade later, Mallory’s found love and safe spaces in his partner, his dog and community involvement. But that doesn’t mean he’s forgotten what he went through, particularly in interview rooms.

“Sitting in that room and just listening to them ask me questions, I’m like, ‘Why am I here?’” he said. “Sitting in fluorescent lights is not going to be a good situation, it’s going to make me more frustrated, it’s going to make me very uncomfortable, and I’m going to be very agitated.”

Tye Grant is President and CEO of the Police Foundation of Kansas City.

As a former high-ranking member of the police department, he recalls how straightforward interview rooms were during his time.

Rachel Henderson/KSHB 41

“An interview room is built just to do that – interview somebody,” Grant said. “It’s a table and chair, not really a lot a thought about providing anything beyond a location to conduct an interview.”

The Police Foundation supports projects intended improve the police department. It funded KCPD’s first soft room, and Grant says there’s already talk of a second room.

“This is innovative today,” Grant said. “We should have done this a long time ago. So when they brought us this concept, our response was, ‘Absolutely, let’s do it.’”

The police department works over 500 sexual assault cases a year.

Though the room was just unveiled Thursday, it’s a space hundreds of survivors will now be able to use.

“Imagine if you were a victim of something, and you’re having to come and tell law enforcement about the worst day of your life, and you step into this space, it’s not what you’re expecting,” Halterman said. “You are able to sit in a space that’s safe, warm and inviting as opposed to cold, stark and sterile and talk to law enforcement, who also are in a different frame of mind. They’re also not interrogating someone, they’re not in that same space that maybe they were two hours ago interrogating a really violent offender.”

The space includes new furniture, lamps, rugs, paint, artwork, plants, blankets and dim lighting.

“This is a part of accountability and a part of bringing the community back together,” Mallory said. “I think that this is also going to save lives.”

As someone who’s attempted to take their own life, Mallory says the mental health support for survivors goes far beyond the soft room.

“I think going further is bringing more mental health support into the interviewing process,” Mallory said. “There’s a lot of work that can happen, and include people who have that experience to advise on what the next steps can be. I’m more than willing to be that resource if they want to reach directly out.”

A resource Mallory says was crucial when he was seeking help was the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault, or MOSCA.

“I finally found that passion within me that I didn’t know that I had,” Mallory said. “I started speaking out, speaking up every time I see something, I say something.”

Mallory also says it’s important to remember how common sexual assault can be.

“Sexual assault doesn’t just happen to women, doesn’t just happen to men, it happens to trans people, nonbinary people,” Mallory said. “It happens to everybody. It doesn’t discriminate.”

So along with advocates like Halterman, Mallory will keep the conversation going so that safe spaces can grow and spread.

“Being able to be that vocal voice and be that leader that the community needs, I’m happy to be here,” Mallory said.

If you or anyone you know has been impacted by sexual violence and needs support, please call MOCSA’s 24-hour crisis line at 816-531-0233.