A Kansas county agrees to pay out $3 million and apologize for a raid on a small town newspaper – CNN

A Kansas county has agreed to a $3 million settlement and issued a formal apology following a controversial police raid on a local newspaper office and the publisher's home last year.

The incident occurred when law enforcement officers executed search warrants at the Marion County Record's office and the residence of its publisher, Eric Meyer. The raid drew national attention and raised concerns about press freedoms and the use of police power against journalists.

As part of the settlement agreement, the county acknowledged that the raid violated the newspaper's constitutional rights. The county also agreed to implement new policies regarding interactions with media organizations and review search warrant procedures.

In the formal apology, county officials stated they "regret the circumstances that led to the execution of the search warrants and the resulting impact on the newspaper staff and the community."

The newspaper's publisher expressed relief at the resolution, stating the settlement would help the publication continue its community reporting while acknowledging the importance of protecting First Amendment rights.

Legal experts noted that the case highlighted ongoing tensions between law enforcement actions and press protections, with the settlement serving as a reminder of constitutional safeguards for news organizations.

The agreement concludes the civil litigation between the newspaper and the county, though separate investigations into the circumstances surrounding the raid continue.