Latest news with #MichaelStewart
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Satanic Grotto sets date for ‘Witching Hour' protest
Context: The above video initially aired on May 29. TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Satanic Grotto has announced a new protest after a 'Black Mass' demonstration in the Kansas Statehouse resulted in its leader, Michael Stewart, being arrested. The new protest The Satanic Grotto has planned for the Statehouse will be called the 'Witching Hour Protest', according to the event listing. The Satanic Grotto said that it will include live music and speeches from community leaders. 'The Grotto calls to all that walk the paths of magic, the moon, and the night,' the Satanic Grotto wrote on social media. 'We will gather together at the halls of power and together our spirit will shatter their walls.' City has spent over $10 million on Hotel Topeka The event will last for three hours and start at 9 p.m. on Aug. 2, according to the event listing. The Satanic Grotto reported that permits are pending and some details may change. 'The goal behind this new one [Witching Hour Protest] I think is to start getting solidarity between these fringe religions and groups here in Kansas that might feel isolated and feel like they don't have any power on their own,' Stewart told 27 News in late May. Officers tackled Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto, to the floor inside the Kansas Statehouse rotunda on March 28 as he attempted to hold a Black Mass ceremony. He entered the building to hold the event after being warned by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly to move the ceremony to the outer grounds. An officer told Stewart as he entered the Kansas Statehouse that he was welcome to enter the building, but could not hold an event or cause a disruption, or he would be arrested. Another individual who was involved in the physical altercation with Stewart, a 21-year-old man, was also arrested, in addition to a handful of other Satanic Grotto members. Prosecutors haven't filed charges against Stewart at this time. Rainfall reports for northeast Kansas Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay told 27 News that his office has yet to make a decision on whether or not charges will be filed in connection to the Black Mass event on March 28. A total of four people, including Stewart, were arrested as Stewart tried to hold the ceremony inside the Statehouse building. Dozens of Catholics and Christians gathered at the Kansas Statehouse to protest the planned Black Mass. Both Kansas lawmakers and the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City condemned the Black Mass in the days leading up allegedly due to the anti-Catholic nature of the ceremony. For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
More Satanic protests planned for Kansas Statehouse
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Satanic organization is planning additional protests at the Kansas Statehouse after an earlier 'Black Mass' ceremony turned violent and ended in several arrests. Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto, said his organization has plans to hold more protests in Topeka in the coming days. Stewart and other participants were arrested during a controversial Black Mass ceremony inside the Kansas Statehouse in March this year, but that isn't deterring Stewart from returning to the home of the state's Legislature. Stewart told Rebekah Chung with 27 News' Capitol Bureau that he is planning to hold other events at the Statehouse soon. One of these includes a 'Witching Hour Protest.' 'Yes, that's what we're working on,' Steward said. 'We're gonna send in a permit here pretty soon for what I like to call the Witching Hour Protest. We'll be showing up here at midnight and we will be inviting not just Satanists but pagans, wiccans.' Former Kickapoo leader pleads guilty to child pornography crime Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay told 27 News earlier this week his office has yet to make a decision on whether or not charges will be filed in connection to the Black Mass event on March 28. Four people, including Stewart, were arrested as Stewart tried to hold the ceremony inside the Statehouse building. The Black Mass sparked controversy in the days leading up to it, especially among Catholic and Christian organizations. Members of the Kansas Legislature and Governor Laura Kelly issued statements as the Black Mass approached with many legislators condemning it. 'The goal behind this new one [Witching Hour Protest] I think is to start getting solidarity between these fringe religions and groups here in Kansas that might feel isolated and feel like they don't have any power on their own,' Stewart said. What new Kansas laws go into effect on July 1, 2025? For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kansas satanists plan new protest, won't face charges in Catholic clash at Statehouse
Law enforcement officers inside the Kansas Capitol rotunda tackle and detain Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto organization, for violating a permit that limited protests to the exterior of the building. Hundreds of Catholics conducted a counter-protest in opposition of Satanic Grotto's presence in Topeka. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Members of the Kansas satanist group appear to be off the hook for criminal charges that stemmed from a highly anticipated, hotly criticized black mass demonstration at the Statehouse that resulted in clashes with Catholics and, ultimately, their arrests. Shawnee County prosecutors decided Wednesday not to pursue charges against Michael Stewart, leader of the Satanic Grotto, and two other group members. After the court hearing, Stewart returned to the Statehouse to discuss the details of his next protest with law enforcement. Attracting nationwide attention, Stewart's satanic protest in March drew ire from elected and religious officials. Hundreds gathered at the Statehouse in Topeka on March 28, some in support of the satanic organization, which is a nonprofit not affiliated with the Church of Satan, and others in vehement opposition. About 11:30 a.m., following speeches, prayers, chants and sign-waving on the lawn of the Statehouse in Topeka, Stewart entered the building to perform a satanic ceremony, called the black mass, which can involve desecrating a host. Across the street, a Catholic mass and prayer service took place, where archbishop of Kansas City Joseph Naumann lambasted nonbelievers. Naumann also tried to sue Stewart before the protests, falsely accusing him of stealing a consecrated host. Stewart had a permit to demonstrate outside on Statehouse grounds and was warned as he entered the building that any protest would violate that permit. He walked to the first-floor rotunda, accompanied by supporters, reporters and watchful counter-protestors and began a dedication to Satan. A man and woman with young children interrupted him, physically intervening. Stewart turned away, and then a counter-protestor, Marcus Schroeder, attempted twice to grab papers from Stewart's hands. On Schroeder's second reach, Stewart punched him twice in the face before a law enforcement officer took his legs out from underneath him. Stewart and two supporters were booked in jail and charged with unlawful gathering. Stewart faced an additional charge of disorderly conduct. At a hearing Wednesday, county prosecutors said they don't plan to pursue charges at this time, Stewart told Kansas Reflector. However, the statute of limitations lasts five years. A call to the Shawnee County District Attorney's Office seeking confirmation of the charges was not immediately returned Wednesday. After the hearing, Stewart traveled a few blocks to the Capitol building, where he talked about plans for a nighttime protest in August with a law enforcement officer to preemptively soothe any concerns. Planned for early August, Stewart envisions the 'Witches Hour Protest' taking place from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the Statehouse's south lawn. He plans to extend the invitation to Wiccans, pagans and 'any kind of witchy inclined hippie we can find.' 'We're happy that we're able to get back at it,' Stewart said. He added the members of the grotto have been 'restless,' as they awaited their fate.
The Courier
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Raith Rovers FC: Premier Sports Cup draw pits Rovers against Championship newcomers and SPFL first-timers
Raith Rovers have been drawn against new Championship rivals and SPFL first-timers in the Premier Sports Cup. Wednesday's group stage draw saw Barry Robson's side picked in Group F, having been seeded in the second pot of sides for next season's tournament. Championship new boys St Johnstone were drawn first by former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart, before Rovers joined their sure-to-be Championship promotion rivals. The group was rounded out by Inverness Caley Thistle of League One, Elgin City of League Two and newly minted SPFL outfit East Kilbride, who won their place in the league by beating Bonnyrigg Rose in the pyramid play-off. Rovers, under new manager Barry Robson, will be aiming to return to the knockout stages of the tournament after last season's failure to escape the groups. Home and away fixtures are to be decided. St Johnstone Raith Rovers Inverness CT Elgin City East Kilbride Matchday one: Weekend of July 12/13 Matchday two: Midweek of July 15/16 Matchday three: Weekend of July 19/20 Matchday four: Midweek of July 22/23 Matchday five: Weekend of July 25/26 Weekend of August 16/17 Weekend of September 20/21 Weekend of November 1//2 Sunday, December 14
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ATF still investigating Jacksonville International Airport garage fire, structure could be salvaged
Jacksonville International Airport leaders say it is still too early to determine what will happen to the south end of the Hourly Parking Garage after a fire on May 16 that burned about 50 cars. Michael Stewart, VP of External Affairs with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, said the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) is treating the third and fourth floors of the garage as a crime scene until they can determine the cause of the fire. While the ATF conducts its investigations, about 100 cars between the two most impacted floors will have to stay where they are. 'We still have a crime scene area and a structurally compromised area that we cannot get into,' Stewart said. Once the cause of the fire is determined, that's when Stewart said construction crews can start to work their way through the third and fourth floors, assess the damage, and decide how the structure can be repaired. PHOTO GALLERY: Parking garage fire at Jacksonville International Airport RELATED: Jacksonville International Airport Hourly Parking Garage Fire: Timeline of events Right now, Stewart said there is hope that the structure can be salvaged without demolition, but there is no way to say that for sure until crews make their assessment. He said the crews have already started to shore up, or reinforce the strength of the structure with beams and columns, on the lower-level floors of the garage. Stewart touts the success of the airport's efforts to reunite drivers with their cars. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'Seven hundred vehicle owners were contacted in this process, and the call center made contact with 3,500 people just last week,' Stewart said. He said there are still about 17 people that the airport has not made contact with, though. For those people who still need to make contact with airport officials, Stewart said they can: Go to and supply the information required Or call 904-741-2710 and leave a message [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Stewart also said that while the airport has made moves to accommodate the parking lapse with the opening of 300 economy lot spots, he's still encouraging flyers to be dropped off instead of parking. 'We are going to be down and challenged with respect to parking, but we have enough parking for people coming to the airport now,' he said. Stewart said there is no estimated timeline for when the ATF could complete its investigation. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
