First Amendment

Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody initiated the Aug. 11 raid of the newspaper office, the publisher’s home, and the home of a city councilwoman under the pretense that a reporter committed identity theft by looking at public records. First Amendment attorneys say the reporter committed no crime and Magistrate Judge Laura Viar should have known the search warrants were unconstitutional when she signed them.

The family-owned Marion County Record stands out for holding local officials accountable. That role is becoming increasingly rare as local newspapers vanish across the country.

The paper’s attorney rejected law enforcement's claim that the paper committed identity theft, saying a reporter conducted a legal search on the Department of Revenue’s website to verify a tip. The Marion County Attorney withdrew the search warrants last week, citing insufficient grounds for the search.

Meyer, the 98-year-old co-owner of the local newspaper, died a day after law enforcement raided her home. Her son believes the stress of the raid on her home and the newsroom was a contributing factor in her death.

The Marion County attorney withdrew the search warrant that police used to justify a raid on the Marion County Record last Friday, and all seized items were returned. But, the newspaper's lawyer says the fight isn't over.

The police raid on the Marion County Record potentially violated federal law and constitutional rights. It could leave taxpayers covering a big legal settlement.

Journalists at the Marion County Record worked late into the night to publish their first issue since the widely criticized raid of their office by local police. Plus: Senior Kansans who want to live out their golden years in the rural towns where they grew up face the growing issue of how to get around.

Journalists at the Marion County Record worked late into the night to publish their first issue since the widely-criticized raid. “SEIZED … but not silenced,” its headline read.

Police seized computers, cell phones and documents during raids on the offices of the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher on Friday. Now, the lawyer for the newspaper is speaking out.

The Marion County Record had been looking into allegations of misconduct against the local police chief just months ago, according to the paper's publisher, raising concerns about their motives.

Local police raided the offices of the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher, in an unprecedented and potentially illegal move that is being called a violation of First Amendment rights.

As the nation learns more about the raid of the Marion County Record, staffers at the publication keep working while advocates for press freedom offer support and demand answers from the local police.