News

PAGEANT IN LEAVENWORTH

The second annual Miss Kansas Volunteer Pageant was held in Leavenworth on Sunday. Miss Capital City, Paige Harding, second from right, was crowned Miss Kansas Volunteer and was awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Paige is a graduate of the University of Kansas and currently attends Washburn School of Law. Miss Leavenworth Teen, Bella Whitlock, second from le_, was crowned Miss Kansas Teen Volunteer and was awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Bella is a senior at Lansing High School and plans to pursue a degree in business. The Miss Kansas Volunteer Pageant is a statewide, service-oriented scholarship program seeking to empower young women through education and opportunity. Paige and Bella will compete in the national Miss Volunteer Pageant and Miss Teen Volunteer America Pageant next year in Jackson, Tennessee. Holly Pittman

Read MorePAGEANT IN LEAVENWORTH

Russia evacuates occupied Ukrainian city, orders martial law

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered martial law on Wednesday for four illegally annexed Ukrainian regions, doubling down on a faltering invasion he described as “very difficult.” In a tacit acknowledgment that another stinging battlefield defeat may be unfolding, his forces organized evacuations of civilians from one of the first major cities they seized.

Read MoreRussia evacuates occupied Ukrainian city, orders martial law

NEWS BRIEFS

From witness stand, Kevin Spacey denies sex abuse claims Kevin Spacey testified in a New York courtroom Monday that he never made a sexual pass at the actor Anthony Rapp, who has sued, claiming the Academy Awardwinning actor tried to take him to bed when he was 14. Identifying himself as “Kevin Spacey Fowler,” the actor was asked about Rapp’s claims that a then-26-year-old Spacey picked him up like a groom does a bride after a 1986 party and put him on his bed before lying on top of him.

Read MoreNEWS BRIEFS