By JIM MCLEAN

Roughly 80 politicians gathered Wednesday for an early morning meeting at the Kansas Statehouse.

The session wasn’t technically mandatory, more encouraged by legislative leaders determined to be seen as doing something in response to the recent wave of sexual harassment allegations.

Several of the women in attendance nodded at what they heard — that four in five women and one in five men have suffered some form of sexual harassment.

Most of the men wore studied looks of concentration. A few appeared less receptive, arms folded across their chests, as the instructors talked about the power imbalance — typically a male boss and female subordinate — responsible for the pervasiveness of harassment.

Legislative leaders organized the session in response to both the national #metoo movement and allegations made by Abbie Hodgson. The former Kansas legislative staffer has said harassment was “rampant” during her time — 2014 to 2016 — at the Statehouse.

Rep. Cindy Holscher, a first-term Democrat from Olathe, said she hasn’t seen evidence of widespread harassment. That may be, she said, becasue she commutes to Topeka and doesn’t attend many after-hours events.

“But I would also think that staff members and interns may be the more likely targets because of the power hierarchy,” Holscher said.

More than 100 of the 125 members of the Kansas House attended one of two Wednesday training sessions. Senators will get their opportunity on Thursday.

Many called the training a good first step toward addressing whatever harassment problem exists. But Rep. Susan Humphries was disappointed, calling it “shallow.”

“I feel like in a way it was (just) checking a box,” Humphries said.

In particular, Humphries said the instructors’ overly broad definition of harassment prevented a more meaningful discussion.

“I would love to have gone deeper,” she said, arguing that any discussion of harassment should explore the differences between boorish and predatory behavior.

“Let’s make a distinction between an inappropriate comment that makes me uncomfortable versus a woman who has truly been abused,” she said.

Given more time, instructor Michelle McCormick, program director at the Topeka YWCA’s Center for Safety and Empowerment, said she would have prompted a discussion about how to more effectively deal with those guilty of harassment. She said holding them accountable doesn’t mean banishing them from the workplace.

“We can’t just ship people off to the moon,” McCormick said.

Several lawmakers who attended the training credited legislative leaders for starting a long overdue conversation.

“We still have a ways to go, but I think this will be helpful to a lot of people,” said Rep. Stephanie Clatyon, an Overland Park Republican.

Rep. Tom Cox, a Shawnee Republican, welcomed the discussion about harassment but said he believes “sexism” is a bigger problem at the Capitol.

“It’s been really eye opening that we’re now in 2018 and that’s still happening,” Cox said. “But I’ve seen it. Whether it’s a (female) lobbyist, a legislator or a staff member, they have to work a little harder to be taken seriously and get seat at the table.”

Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.

MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of 22-year-old Matthew Snyder at a residence in the 3300 Block of Claflin Avenue in Manhattan.

Just after 1p.m. Wednesday, authorities responded to a medical call at that location, according to Hali Rowland with the Riley County Police Department. “We are currently investigating a suicide at that address,” according to Rowland.

Matthew Snyder is the son of K-State assistant coach Sean Snyder and the grandson of head coach Bill Snyder.

I am heartbroken for my Coach and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sean’s son. Please provide your thoughts and prayers for the Snyder family.

— Matthew D. McCrane (@mmccrane16) January 18, 2018

I am deeply deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Sean Snyder’s son Matthew. My heart breaks for Sean and his family. Please keep them in your thoughts. #EMAW #family

— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) January 18, 2018

Just after 9a.m. Thursday Police confirmed Matthew Snyder’s death. Current and former Wildcat players expressed sympathy surrounding the death Thursday on social media.

The University has not issued a statement on the death.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the debate over immigration (all times local):

President Donald Trump insisted Thursday his views on a border wall with Mexico have not evolved, pushing back against his own chief of staff’s comments to lawmakers.

Trump said on Twitter: “The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it.”

The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it. Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

We need the Wall for the safety and security of our country. We need the Wall to help stop the massive inflow of drugs from Mexico, now rated the number one most dangerous country in the world. If there is no Wall, there is no Deal!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

Some Democrats who met with White House chief of staff John Kelly on Wednesday say Kelly told them parts of the border don’t need a wall — and that Trump didn’t know that when making campaign promises.

Trump tweeted Thursday that some of the wall will be “see through,” and he wrote that the wall was never supposed to be built where there are natural barriers. He added that it “will be paid for, directly or indirectly, or through longer term reimbursement, by Mexico, which has a ridiculous $71 billion dollar trade surplus with the U.S.”

Kelly’s assertion that Trump’s views on immigration had evolved came as lawmakers try to reach accord on protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation, a push the White House and Republicans say they would back, if it’s coupled with tough border security measures and other restrictions.

Trump tweeted Thursday, “If there is no Wall, there is no Deal!” He said the U.S. needs a wall “to help stop the massive inflow of drugs from Mexico, now rated the number one most dangerous country in the world.”

Kelly made the remarks about Trump and the wall Wednesday at a closed-door meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, participants said, and he made similar comments later on Fox News Channel.

Kelly said on Fox he told the caucus that “they all say things during the course of campaigns that may or may not be fully informed.” He said Trump has “very definitely changed his attitude” toward protecting the young immigrants, “and even the wall, once we briefed him.”

“So he has evolved in the way he’s looked at things,” Kelly said. “Campaign to governing are two different things and this president has been very, very flexible in terms of what is within the realms of the possible.”

Kelly’s comments were noteworthy because they openly acknowledged the difference between campaign promises and governing, and even suggested that Trump needed to be educated on the subject.

They also come as lawmakers struggle to reach a bipartisan deal protecting “dreamers” — around 800,000 people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children and could be deported without legal protections. Part of negotiators’ problem has been uncertainty over what Trump would accept.

“He’s not yet indicated what measure he’s willing to sign,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters Wednesday. “As soon as we figure out what he is for, then I will be convinced that we would not just be spinning our wheels going to this issue on the floor.”

Trump’s tweets on Thursday were hardly the first time his words have been in conflict with comments by a senior aide. Among other clashes, he has repeatedly undercut Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Some lawmakers who met with Kelly Wednesday recounted his remarks.

“He specifically said that there’s some areas of the border that didn’t need the wall, and that the president didn’t know that when he was making his campaign promises,” Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a brief interview.

Another lawmaker, Rep. Luis, Gutierrez, D-Ill., said Kelly told them that “there were statements made about the wall that were not informed statements. In other words, I’ve informed the president of what it takes to build a wall, so here’s how we’re going to do it. That’s what I understood, and all of that was helpful.”

Many Democrats have said that without an immigration deal in sight, they’ll vote against a Republican bill preventing a weekend government shutdown. Congressional passage must come by Friday to prevent an election-year shutdown of federal agencies that could be damaging to both parties.

During his presidential campaign, Trump made it a mantra to promise to build a “beautiful” wall that would be paid for by Mexico. Supporters at his rallies often chanted, “Build that wall.”

White House officials have repeatedly said it doesn’t have to be a concrete wall from coast to coast but could include large stretches of fencing, technology or other systems. Trump also now wants Congress to provide taxpayer money to finance it.

Trump ended the legal shields on “Dreamers” last year and gave Congress until March to renew them.

Last week, he rejected a compromise by three Democratic and three Republican senators to restore those protections, a deal that included money to begin building the wall and other security steps. Trump’s rejection angered the bargainers, and partisan feelings worsened after participants in a White House meeting last week said Trump had referred to African nations as “shitholes.”

Another group of high-level lawmakers has also started talks aimed at brokering an immigration deal, adding an additional level of uncertainty.

Kelly said on Fox that “there’s no doubt in my mind there’s going to be a deal” protecting the Dreamers.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said there’s “very, very strong” sentiment among Democrats in the chamber to oppose GOP-drafted legislation to keep the government’s doors open.

His comments underscored the problems GOP leaders face in winning congressional passage of that legislation. The bill would keep agencies open until mid-February and finance a popular children’s health insurance program for a year.

Democrats’ votes are needed to advance the stopgap measure through the Senate. It’s even unclear whether GOP leaders have nailed down enough votes to prevail in the House, where conservatives and strong boosters of the Pentagon have been unhappy.

Conservative leader Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said he wants GOP leaders to add additional defense money. But he said he was pessimistic leaders would grant other conservative-backed ideas, such as the promise of a vote on a more conservative immigration bill authored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va.

BATES COUNTY, MO — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on felony charges for shooting and killing two horses.

On Wednesday, Detectives followed up on a lead in reference to two horses that were shot and killed on Christmas Eve near Amoret, Missouri about an hour south of Kansas City, according to a media release.

The lead took the Detectives to Garden City, Missouri. The suspect in the shooting identified as 55-year-old David Hugh Johnson of Garden City was at the police department for an unrelated case. Detectives interviewed Johnson in reference to the shooting and made an arrest.

Johnson is the adult son of the property owner where the horses where shot, according to the sheriff’s department. The horses’ owner, Terry Wisdom, said 30-year-old Rusty and 9-year-old Brownie were being boarded on the property in Amoret. Wisdom said they were shot inside a fenced area and found dead Christmas Eve. Wisdom said the horses were “like my kids” and described what happened as “senseless.

Johnson was charged Wednesday evening with two counts of Felony Property damage for the intentional death of the two horses. Detectives will continue to work with the Bates County Prosecutor’s Office to file additional charges related to weapons offenses and abuse of an animal.

A reward of $5,500 was offered for information.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report