In a show of unwavering commitment to the principles of free press and journalism, the dedicated staff of the Marion County Record pulled off an impressive feat. They pulled an “all-nighter” to publish the newspaper's weekly edition. 

Just a few days ago the paper's newsroom was raided by the police. Authorities seized all computers and cell phones along with other equipment typically used to publish.

 The front-page headline was a single word in 200-point bold type: "SEIZED," followed by a defiant declaration, "… but not silenced."

The raid, which took place on Friday, was orchestrated by Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody and his officers. They executed a search warrant not only at the newspaper office but also at the homes of Eric Meyer, the owner, and publisher. And at the residence of a local councilwoman. 

This unprecedented action not only sent shockwaves through the community but also had tragic consequences. Meyer's 98-year-old mother tragically passed away in the midst of the turmoil. 

Meyer remained steadfast in his determination to uphold the paper’s First Amendment rights.

Police Raid on Kansas Newspaper Causes Outrage and First Amendment Concerns – USA Herald

The newspaper gets lots of support

He emphasized, "This just couldn't stand. If it did, it would be the end of people ever being able to send anything anonymously to a newspaper. It would be the end of news organizations ever pursuing any sort of controversial story."

The repercussions of the raid extended beyond the newsroom's walls. In an astonishing display of solidarity, the community rallied behind the newspaper, leading to an influx of support. 

2,000 new subscriptions were purchased. This is a big boost for a publication that previously had a circulation of around 4,000. The distribution team, amidst the chaos, handled an overwhelming barrage of phone calls from interested individuals seeking to subscribe. 

The calls continue from New Hampshire, Florida, New Mexico, New York, Michigan, Texas, Vermont, Germany, Massachusetts, Illinois and Montana. And it appears that the County Record will more than double their readership by the end of the week.

Katherine Jacobsen, program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, monitored the situation closely. She claims this type of raid is unprecedented in the history of the United States. And underscores the vital importance of a free press and the delicate balance between law enforcement and the Fourth Estate.

Marion County Record met weekly deadline

Facing the daunting challenge of producing the weekly edition without their confiscated resources, they ingeniously pieced together a working machine from discarded computers. 

The staff was able to retrieve backup files stored on DVDs to reconstruct the layout. 

Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, along with a staff photographer, took on the responsibility of protecting the makeshift newsroom from media intrusion, allowing the staff to focus on their task.

Shortly after 5 a.m., the newspaper was ready to go.

After overseeing the marathon effort, Meyer remarked, "If we hadn't been able to figure out how to get computers together, Phyllis and I and everybody else would-be handwriting out on Post-It notes and putting them on doors around the town, because we were going to publish one way or another."

Chain of events

It all began when the newspaper received information about a local restaurant operator's driver's license history from a confidential source.

 Staff reporter Phyllis Zorn's diligent efforts to verify this information by consulting a state database inadvertently triggered the chain of events leading to the raid. 

It was even more complicated by the fact that the record had an open investigation of Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody. And information on him was also taken from the newspaper office.

Magistrate Judge Laura Viar signed a search warrant that alleged a newspaper reporter had committed identity theft and unlawful use of a computer. However, the basis for such claims remained uncertain. And questions still remain about the legality of the raid.

Marion County attorney Joel Ensey reviewed the affidavits that support the search warrants. And he has requested the district court to release them.

“I have come to the conclusion that insufficient evidence exists to establish a legally sufficient nexus between this alleged crime and the places searched and the items seized,” Ensey said. 

“As a result, I have submitted a proposed order asking the court to release the evidence seized. I have asked local law enforcement to return the material seized to the owners of the property.”