The Marion County Record, a small Kansas newspaper, received a $3 million payout and a formal apology from local officials on Wednesday for a 2023 police raid deemed unlawful. The incident stemmed from the paper's handling of an anonymous tip about a restaurateur's driving record. Editor Eric Meyer hailed the resolution as a victory for press freedoms amid broader concerns over authoritarian pressures.
In Marion, Kansas, a town of about 1,900 residents, the Marion County Record has long served as a local watchdog with a staff of just seven. Two years ago, in 2023, the newspaper found itself targeted by law enforcement over its reporting on restaurateur Kari Newell. An anonymous tip alleged Newell had multiple drunk-driving convictions and had driven with an expired license for 20 years, information the paper verified through public records but ultimately chose not to publish upon learning the source was likely her estranged husband amid divorce proceedings.
Editor and publisher Eric Meyer shared the details—without naming Newell—with Marion County Sheriff Jeff Soyez and Police Chief Gideon Cody to alert them of potential issues. Newell soon accused the Record of illegally obtaining her records during a county council meeting. Soyez then obtained a search warrant alleging identity theft and unlawful computer use, actions that violated federal protections for journalists, who are typically served subpoenas rather than subjected to searches.
On August 11, 2023, police raided the newspaper's office and Meyer's home, where his 98-year-old mother resided, seizing computers, cellphones, and reporting documents. The stress contributed to the elderly woman's death the following day. The raids sparked national support for the Record's First Amendment rights and led to four federal lawsuits by Meyer, staffers, and a council member against the county and officials.
One reporter involved has since retired from journalism. Former Chief Cody faces criminal charges, with a trial set for February 2026. Newell closed her restaurant. On November 13, 2025, the Marion County Sheriff's Office issued an apology, stating, “This likely would not have happened if established law had been reviewed and applied prior to the execution of the warrants.” The $3 million settlement underscores the paper's resilience, as Meyer told WBUR: “These days, there’s an awful lot of people who get abused... But the press is supposed to be a watchdog, and if you attack the watchdog and the watchdog rolls over, it isn’t much of a watchdog anymore.” The Record's post-raid headline captured their spirit: “Seized, but not silenced.”