The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Monday, according to a statement from the agency.

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.&nbsp; NORAD reported similar activity in December, January and twice in February.

An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security.

NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions. NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Monday, according to a statement from the agency.The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.&nbsp; NORAD reported similar activity in December, January and twice in February.An ADIZ begins where sovereign airspace ends and is a defined stretch of international airspace that requires the ready identification of all aircraft in the interest of national security.NORAD employs a layered defense network of satellites, ground-based and airborne radars and fighter aircraft to detect and track aircraft and inform appropriate actions. NORAD remains ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America.

More Russian war planes detected flying off coast of Alaska

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said Tuesday a request was submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to reinstate more than $22 million in federal funding appropriated to Kansas to help students who fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic catch up with peers and to retrain teachers in the science of reading.

The U.S. Department of Education announced in March that approximately $3 billion in pandemic relief funds would be frozen nationwide.

The Kansas State Department of Education had&nbsp;received an extension on the deadline for expending the funds, but the federal government’s latest maneuver reversed that decision. The state Department of Education requested the administration of President Donald Trump set aside the latest plan to sweep the $22.6 million allocated to Kansas. That request is pending at the federal level.

“Abruptly stripping this funding is a disservice to the Kansas students and teachers who rely on it to excel in the classroom,” Kelly said.

In Kansas, the funding in jeopardy was allocated to supporting student learning recovery and ensuring the education workforce was prepared to assist those students with academic deficiencies. The aid also was used to retrain teachers in reading instruction, support students’ career and college exploration and to lower start-up costs for child care providers.

In addition, a portion of the funds was relied on to cover the cost of&nbsp; licensure, fingerprinting and background check fees for early childhood educators. The Kelly administration began waiving the fees using federal and state funds in 2021. The fees will be reinstated until the Trump administration restores Kansas’ funding allocation, the governor said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744734048435.jpeg" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education requesting the administration of President Donald Trump reverse a decision to freeze $22.6 million allocated to the state for benefit of students and teachers. This is a 2023 image of Kelly meeting students at Jardine Elementary in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education requesting the administration of President Donald Trump reverse a decision to freeze $22.6 million allocated to the state for benefit of students and teachers. This is a 2023 image of Kelly meeting students at Jardine Elementary in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly said Tuesday a request was submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to reinstate more than $22 million in federal funding appropriated to Kansas to help students who fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic catch up with peers and to retrain teachers in the science of reading.The U.S. Department of Education announced in March that approximately $3 billion in pandemic relief funds would be frozen nationwide.The Kansas State Department of Education had&nbsp;received an extension on the deadline for expending the funds, but the federal government’s latest maneuver reversed that decision. The state Department of Education requested the administration of President Donald Trump set aside the latest plan to sweep the $22.6 million allocated to Kansas. That request is pending at the federal level.“Abruptly stripping this funding is a disservice to the Kansas students and teachers who rely on it to excel in the classroom,” Kelly said.In Kansas, the funding in jeopardy was allocated to supporting student learning recovery and ensuring the education workforce was prepared to assist those students with academic deficiencies. The aid also was used to retrain teachers in reading instruction, support students’ career and college exploration and to lower start-up costs for child care providers.In addition, a portion of the funds was relied on to cover the cost of&nbsp; licensure, fingerprinting and background check fees for early childhood educators. The Kelly administration began waiving the fees using federal and state funds in 2021. The fees will be reinstated until the Trump administration restores Kansas’ funding allocation, the governor said.

Gov. Laura Kelly urges Trump administration to release $22.6 million in frozen funding

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Missouri man with a drug trafficking related offense, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Otis J. Newton, 58, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744319036629.png" alt="Newton is being held in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Newton is being held in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Missouri man with a drug trafficking related offense, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Otis J. Newton, 58, of Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted on one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

Missouri man accused of attempting to sell meth in Kansas

COWLEY COUNTY—A Kansas family is celebrating the birth of their fourth child who arrived sooner than expected.

According to a social media report on Monday from the Arkansas City Fire and EMS, shortly after 11:30 a.m. March 31, emergency crews responded to a 911 call reporting an unexpected childbirth at the home of Mary Trenary and Donovan Dean. When responders arrived, they discovered that baby Kyng Kyrie Dean had already made his entrance into the world — a week ahead of schedule — at 11:20 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long.

“I was taking care of my toddlers, and then the next thing I know, I was giving birth,” Mary said. “I thought it was just Braxton Hicks contractions.”Earlier that morning, Mary experienced back pain, which she attributed to lying on a heating pad. But by 11 a.m., it was clear she needed to get to the hospital. However, Baby Kyng had his own plans. With contractions rapidly intensifying, Donovan found himself playing PlayStation one minute — the next, he was delivering his son.

“I used to play doctor as a kid, but I never guessed I’d actually play one in real life,” Donovan said. “I just knew I had to get him out and make sure he could breathe.

 After I realized what happened, I started shaking. I wanted to make sure she was okay and he was okay. I know complications can happen. Then I heard him crying, and EMS came — and I knew it was going to be okay. I appreciate EMS getting there so quickly.

”For Mary, the experience was a whirlwind.“I just remember the police arriving, then EMS,” she said. “I don’t think it really hit me that I had given birth until they said, ‘Here’s the umbilical cord.’”

Arkansas City Fire/EMS crews transported both mom and baby safely to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WilliamNewtonHospital?__cft__[0]=AZX0c4TouQ39qu07s-c2aMxk9anyY2jJxOBIZZWo216YrRDfHqCTMsIk_8CZH5lbIC-I10-xXmeEAF3IgH-A9-u9WbEbbEaiMDzSUtHMhOORapnz4bkILEY0Q1h4Mf9I9OBR8LDgHZhaSz8bBpGuDjUwdj0_cIzCCizdMgTihOKPruMyoLMAcYXpF1b1Rwm0Qtg&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">William Newton Hospital</a>. Kyng is Mary and Donovan’s fourth child — and their first boy. Their daughters are 5, 3, and 2 years old.“I’ve had a hospital birth, a water birth, and now a home birth,” Mary said. “Each one has been different, but this was definitely the most unexpected!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744717717084.png" alt="Photo Arkansas City Fire and EMS" />
 <figcaption>Photo Arkansas City Fire and EMS</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—A Kansas family is celebrating the birth of their fourth child who arrived sooner than expected.According to a social media report on Monday from the Arkansas City Fire and EMS, shortly after 11:30 a.m. March 31, emergency crews responded to a 911 call reporting an unexpected childbirth at the home of Mary Trenary and Donovan Dean. When responders arrived, they discovered that baby Kyng Kyrie Dean had already made his entrance into the world — a week ahead of schedule — at 11:20 a.m., weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long.“I was taking care of my toddlers, and then the next thing I know, I was giving birth,” Mary said. “I thought it was just Braxton Hicks contractions.”Earlier that morning, Mary experienced back pain, which she attributed to lying on a heating pad. But by 11 a.m., it was clear she needed to get to the hospital. However, Baby Kyng had his own plans. With contractions rapidly intensifying, Donovan found himself playing PlayStation one minute — the next, he was delivering his son.“I used to play doctor as a kid, but I never guessed I’d actually play one in real life,” Donovan said. “I just knew I had to get him out and make sure he could breathe. After I realized what happened, I started shaking. I wanted to make sure she was okay and he was okay. I know complications can happen. Then I heard him crying, and EMS came — and I knew it was going to be okay. I appreciate EMS getting there so quickly.”For Mary, the experience was a whirlwind.“I just remember the police arriving, then EMS,” she said. “I don’t think it really hit me that I had given birth until they said, ‘Here’s the umbilical cord.’”Arkansas City Fire/EMS crews transported both mom and baby safely to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WilliamNewtonHospital?__cft__[0]=AZX0c4TouQ39qu07s-c2aMxk9anyY2jJxOBIZZWo216YrRDfHqCTMsIk_8CZH5lbIC-I10-xXmeEAF3IgH-A9-u9WbEbbEaiMDzSUtHMhOORapnz4bkILEY0Q1h4Mf9I9OBR8LDgHZhaSz8bBpGuDjUwdj0_cIzCCizdMgTihOKPruMyoLMAcYXpF1b1Rwm0Qtg&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">William Newton Hospital</a>. Kyng is Mary and Donovan’s fourth child — and their first boy. Their daughters are 5, 3, and 2 years old.“I’ve had a hospital birth, a water birth, and now a home birth,” Mary said. “Each one has been different, but this was definitely the most unexpected!”

Kansas man delivers baby boy at home

Legislation giving new power to Missouri’s attorney general and secretary of state has been sent to the governor’s desk

BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

A&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=SB%2022" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;that would give the Missouri Attorney General the authority to appeal judges’ decisions to temporarily block state law and change how ballot measures are written and certified was sent to the governor Monday.&nbsp;

The House gave final approval to the bill in a 109-46 vote, with Democrats calling the legislation a “power grab” that targets a Jackson County judge’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu-mo.org/en/news/missouri-abortion-providers-resume-care-after-judge-blocks-discriminatory-licensure" target="_blank">temporary hold</a>&nbsp;on the state’s strictest abortion regulations which opened the door for Missouri clinics to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/28/planned-parenthood-abortion-appointments-columbia-kansas-city/">resume surgical abortions</a>.

“There is pending litigation going on right now,” said state Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat. “The Attorney General doesn’t like how it’s going because there’s a preliminary injunction issued, so (Republicans) are trying to jam legislation through so they can change the outcome of the litigation.”

The bill passed Monday would allow Attorney General Andrew Bailey to challenge the preliminary injunction before the judge issues a final ruling on the case.

Democrats argued that since the legislation allows for appeals on “any preliminary injunction that existed prior to August 28, 2025,” it is retroactive and unconstitutional.

State Rep. Darin Chappell, a Republican from Springfield, called the accusation “ridiculous.”

“There’s only one ongoing case that this power grants that it could possibly be used for,” he said.

The House passed an emergency clause on the provision, making it effective as soon as the governor signs it into law. The emergency clause says that “immediate action is necessary to ensure judicial efficiency.”

Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=1.130#:~:text=(1)%20A%20law%20necessary%20for,taken%20by%20yeas%20and%20nays" target="_blank">limits emergency clauses</a>&nbsp;to when they are “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety.”

The bill’s House handler, state Rep. Ben Keathley, a Chesterfield Republican, justified the clause because action could “save the lives of women in (facilities that perform abortions) and the children that are the unnecessary victims of these acts.”

State Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, said this provision was not part of the bill.

“We’re not voting on what the court may do one day,” she said.

The emergency clause passed along party lines with the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, smiling at the House dais.

Provisions on ballot measures from the General Assembly also drew criticism from Democrats who disagreed with shifting power from the courts to the Missouri Secretary of State.

The bill would give the Secretary of State three chances to rewrite ballot language proposed by state lawmakers after the initial summary is challenged. The courts are charged with giving the Secretary of State advice and approving the final language.

State Rep. Eric Woods, a Kansas City Democrat, said the legislation is an “entire upheaval” of the current process.

“The court exists as a check on us in case we turn out some language that… has ballot candy on it which is completely unrelated to the topic at hand or something that is entirely intended to trick people into voting for it,” Woods said.

He referenced&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/10/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-gop-rape-incest/">a joint resolution the House</a>&nbsp;is prepared to discuss Tuesday with language he says is deceitful to voters.

Keathley said the courts should be “the last step in the process.”

“We have a constitutional duty and job to send that ballot language through. The courts are only there to call the balls and strikes,” he said.

Since the court has the final say, he said, there is still separation of powers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744714181349.png" alt=" State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, mingles ahead of Gov. Mike Kehoe's inauguration ceremony. Brattin's bill on ballot measures passed the House Monday evening (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, mingles ahead of Gov. Mike Kehoe's inauguration ceremony. Brattin's bill on ballot measures passed the House Monday evening (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Legislation giving new power to Missouri’s attorney general and secretary of state has been sent to the governor’s desk</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=SB%2022" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;that would give the Missouri Attorney General the authority to appeal judges’ decisions to temporarily block state law and change how ballot measures are written and certified was sent to the governor Monday.&nbsp;The House gave final approval to the bill in a 109-46 vote, with Democrats calling the legislation a “power grab” that targets a Jackson County judge’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu-mo.org/en/news/missouri-abortion-providers-resume-care-after-judge-blocks-discriminatory-licensure" target="_blank">temporary hold</a>&nbsp;on the state’s strictest abortion regulations which opened the door for Missouri clinics to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/28/planned-parenthood-abortion-appointments-columbia-kansas-city/">resume surgical abortions</a>.“There is pending litigation going on right now,” said state Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat. “The Attorney General doesn’t like how it’s going because there’s a preliminary injunction issued, so (Republicans) are trying to jam legislation through so they can change the outcome of the litigation.”The bill passed Monday would allow Attorney General Andrew Bailey to challenge the preliminary injunction before the judge issues a final ruling on the case.Democrats argued that since the legislation allows for appeals on “any preliminary injunction that existed prior to August 28, 2025,” it is retroactive and unconstitutional.State Rep. Darin Chappell, a Republican from Springfield, called the accusation “ridiculous.”“There’s only one ongoing case that this power grants that it could possibly be used for,” he said.The House passed an emergency clause on the provision, making it effective as soon as the governor signs it into law. The emergency clause says that “immediate action is necessary to ensure judicial efficiency.”Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=1.130#:~:text=(1)%20A%20law%20necessary%20for,taken%20by%20yeas%20and%20nays" target="_blank">limits emergency clauses</a>&nbsp;to when they are “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety.”The bill’s House handler, state Rep. Ben Keathley, a Chesterfield Republican, justified the clause because action could “save the lives of women in (facilities that perform abortions) and the children that are the unnecessary victims of these acts.”State Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, said this provision was not part of the bill.“We’re not voting on what the court may do one day,” she said.The emergency clause passed along party lines with the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, smiling at the House dais.Provisions on ballot measures from the General Assembly also drew criticism from Democrats who disagreed with shifting power from the courts to the Missouri Secretary of State.The bill would give the Secretary of State three chances to rewrite ballot language proposed by state lawmakers after the initial summary is challenged. The courts are charged with giving the Secretary of State advice and approving the final language.State Rep. Eric Woods, a Kansas City Democrat, said the legislation is an “entire upheaval” of the current process.“The court exists as a check on us in case we turn out some language that… has ballot candy on it which is completely unrelated to the topic at hand or something that is entirely intended to trick people into voting for it,” Woods said.He referenced&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/10/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-gop-rape-incest/">a joint resolution the House</a>&nbsp;is prepared to discuss Tuesday with language he says is deceitful to voters.Keathley said the courts should be “the last step in the process.”“We have a constitutional duty and job to send that ballot language through. The courts are only there to call the balls and strikes,” he said.Since the court has the final say, he said, there is still separation of powers.

Missouri lawmakers approve bill targeting pending abortion lawsuit

NEWTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Monday in Newton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Chevy Trailblazer driven by a 55-year-old Granby man was northbound on Highway J three miles east of Diamond. The driver failed to yield to a westbound 2003 Ford F250 driven by a 45-year-old Pierce City man.

A 6-year-old Pierce City boy in the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. Newton County ambulance transported the driver of the pickup, a 45-year-old woman, an 8-year-old boy in the pickup and the driver of the SUV to Freeman West in Joplin.&nbsp; All five were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NEWTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Monday in Newton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Chevy Trailblazer driven by a 55-year-old Granby man was northbound on Highway J three miles east of Diamond. The driver failed to yield to a westbound 2003 Ford F250 driven by a 45-year-old Pierce City man.A 6-year-old Pierce City boy in the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. Newton County ambulance transported the driver of the pickup, a 45-year-old woman, an 8-year-old boy in the pickup and the driver of the SUV to Freeman West in Joplin.&nbsp; All five were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

6-year-old Missouri boy dies in pickup, SUV crash

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in a Kansas City suburb.

Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday,&nbsp; police officer observed a vehicle speeding and driving recklessly on Watson Drive near Price Chopper Kearney, Missouri, according to a media release. As the officer got behind the speeding vehicle, he noticed a paper temporary tag that expired in 2024. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver had other plans. 

The vehicle continued south on Watson Drive past the water tower and toward 19th Street, failing to stop. The vehicle then took the 19th street bridge to southbound Interstate 35 where he continued to evade officers who were now in pursuit.

Assistance was requested to other law enforcement agencies for help. Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff's Office set up a perfect cascade of tire deflation devices (stop sticks) near the 69/Lightburne exit ramp from Interstate 35. The suspect drove over all the sticks and every tire was quickly deflating. The driver then took the 291 Highway exit into Liberty, turning onto N Church Road near the Price Chopper.

As all the tires were shredded, the vehicle stopped, and the driver immediately got out and started to run from the vehicle. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was tased and taken into custody without further incident. 

The driver was revealed to have a revoked driver's license and had 6 active warrants for his arrest to include resisting/evading arrest . There were no damages to any other property and no other people were injured during this pursuit.

The 33-year-old male of Gladstone, Missouri was transported to the Clay County Detention Center where he was booked in requested felony charges of aggravated fleeing in motor vehicle (Valentine's Law). He was charged in custody by the Clay County Prosecutors Office with a bond of $75,000.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744508951322.png" alt="Shredded tire -photo Kearney Police" />
 <figcaption>Shredded tire -photo Kearney Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in a Kansas City suburb.Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday,&nbsp; police officer observed a vehicle speeding and driving recklessly on Watson Drive near Price Chopper Kearney, Missouri, according to a media release. As the officer got behind the speeding vehicle, he noticed a paper temporary tag that expired in 2024. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, but the driver had other plans. The vehicle continued south on Watson Drive past the water tower and toward 19th Street, failing to stop. The vehicle then took the 19th street bridge to southbound Interstate 35 where he continued to evade officers who were now in pursuit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744508909470.png" alt="&nbsp;Kearney Police body camera image" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kearney Police body camera image</figcaption>
 </figure>Assistance was requested to other law enforcement agencies for help. Deputies with the Clay County Sheriff's Office set up a perfect cascade of tire deflation devices (stop sticks) near the 69/Lightburne exit ramp from Interstate 35. The suspect drove over all the sticks and every tire was quickly deflating. The driver then took the 291 Highway exit into Liberty, turning onto N Church Road near the Price Chopper.As all the tires were shredded, the vehicle stopped, and the driver immediately got out and started to run from the vehicle. After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was tased and taken into custody without further incident. The driver was revealed to have a revoked driver's license and had 6 active warrants for his arrest to include resisting/evading arrest . There were no damages to any other property and no other people were injured during this pursuit.The 33-year-old male of Gladstone, Missouri was transported to the Clay County Detention Center where he was booked in requested felony charges of aggravated fleeing in motor vehicle (Valentine's Law). He was charged in custody by the Clay County Prosecutors Office with a bond of $75,000.&nbsp;

Wanted suspect captured after running from KC area high-speed chase

GEARY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Sunday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Corolla driven by&nbsp; Derrick A&nbsp;Holler, 23, Manhattan, was&nbsp;&nbsp;northbound on Kansas 177 just south of the Interstate 70 eastbound exit ramp driving on the paved median strip. 

The car struck three traffic control signs before colliding with a bridge impact attenuator. He was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Hospital/Mortuary:&nbsp;Johnson and Mass-Hinitt.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Sunday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Corolla driven by&nbsp; Derrick A&nbsp;Holler, 23, Manhattan, was&nbsp;&nbsp;northbound on Kansas 177 just south of the Interstate 70 eastbound exit ramp driving on the paved median strip. The car struck three traffic control signs before colliding with a bridge impact attenuator. He was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Hospital/Mortuary:&nbsp;Johnson and Mass-Hinitt.&nbsp; He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

KHP IDs Kan. man who died when car struck bridge impact attenuator

Promises to voters ring hollow as emphasis remains on reducing income taxes

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly patted themselves on the back last June after placing into state law a compromise bill slashing income taxes an estimated $1.2 billion over three years.

Senate Bill 1 had broad support with a mere six opponents among 159 legislators voting on the package negotiated by the Democratic governor, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita. The focus of that bill was income taxes, but it did raise to $75,000 the exemption on the value of a residence when calculating a taxpayer’s obligation to the state’s property tax levy for public schools.

While 2024 was viewed as the year of the income tax, promises were made by Republicans and Democrats to address property tax reform during the 2025 legislative session. The end of the annual session last week offered evidence the performance of lawmakers on property tax relief was again underwhelming.

“When it came time to lead, both the governor and leadership came up short,” said Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday.

He said state lawmakers this session delivered a paltry $25.88 property tax break for the owner of a $150,000 home. That’s not enough to fill the gas tank in many vehicles, cover the cost of a couple sacks of groceries or pay someone to mow a lawn.

Schwab encouraged “every property owner” to respond by challenging their property tax valuation with the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.

“Kansans expected leadership that would address runaway property tax increases, arrest out-of-control valuations and restore confidence that they can afford the homes they live in — not rent them from the government,” he said.

The Senate did endorse an amendment to the Kansas Constitution imposing a 3% cap on residential property tax valuation increases. That won’t be appearing on statewide ballots, however, because the amendment was never taken up in the House.

“We came here with a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican. “I’m just disappointed that we end up at the end of this session with no&nbsp;real&nbsp;relief for those homeowners who are facing selling their home or paying their&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax. That’s where we are.”

Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who serves as Democratic leader of the Senate, drew the same conclusion with a partisan twist. She said progress on property tax reform was minimal, but reminded Kansans that Republicans held supermajorities in the House and Senate. Those two-thirds majorities meant the GOP could pass just about any bill it desired and had numbers to override the governor’s vetoes and place constitutional amendments on the ballot.

“Kansans deserve better than what they got from their Legislature in 2025,” Sykes said. “Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues refused to join us in that effort. Republicans promised Kansans they would deliver&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;relief, but they failed to make good on that promise.”

Kansas voters were assured by sloganeering candidates during last year’s August primary and November general elections that nothing would stand in the way of meaningful property tax reform in 2025. Voters made it clear they thought property taxes were too high, valuations were rising faster than paychecks and, incredibly, some people on fixed incomes who worked all their lives to have a home of their own were being forced out.

As the legislative session began in January, another layer of political vows emerged about cutting property taxes.

“You expect us to put Kansans first, control the overreach of government and keep our promises — and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Masterson said. “That must begin with property tax relief and reform.”

When the dust settled in April, the Legislature barely scratched the surface on rolling back state property taxes. The governor signed Senate Bill 35, which used general state tax dollars to replace a 1.5-mill state property tax dedicated to government building projects. It was unanimously approved in the Senate and overwhelmingly endorsed in the House 96-26.

The Legislature passed a bill renewing the state’s 20-mill property tax, valued at about $875 million annually, to provide financial support to K-12 public schools. The Legislature could have earmarked state income or sales tax dollars to public schools and trimmed state property tax dedicated to that purpose.

Instead, the Republican-controlled House and Senate placed emphasis on income tax reform by voting to override Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 269. This so-called income-tax-trigger bill was designed to methodically drop individual and corporate income tax rates to 4%.

“I have proposed and supported tax cuts when they are implemented responsibly and benefit the people of Kansas, especially those who need it most,” Kelly said. “This bill ignores Kansas families at a time of rising costs and inflation in favor of hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and the wealthy.”

The override vote on SB 269 was 87-37 in the House and 30-10 in the Senate. Instead of responding to Kansans’ demands for gradual reduction of property taxes, the Legislature in 2025 ended up dedicating future state revenue surpluses to gradually reducing income taxes.

The Senate did endorse a constitutional amendment that would have set a 3% cap on property taxes starting in 2027, but House GOP leaders said the necessary two-thirds majority to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 before Kansas voters didn’t exist in the House.

Critics of the amendment had argued the limitation would cripple the ability of cities and counties to operate, because municipal government relied heavily on property and sales taxes. The state’s revenue stream includes income, sales and property taxes.

In January, the conservative Kansas Policy Institute highlighted for legislators an opinion poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Wichita think tank. It showed 64% of participants were in favor of limits on annual increases in the appraised value of property rather than the current practice of annually resetting appraisals to fair market value.

The poll showed majority support for restraint of property taxes existed in urban and rural regions of the state, said Dave Trabert, a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute.

He said 70% of conservatives in the poll were supportive of steps to hold down property taxes, while 67% of moderates and 52% of liberals were on board. Eighteen percent were opposed and the same percentage was uncertain.

“Many homeowners have experienced double-digit property tax increases because local officials took advantage of valuation spikes,” Trabert said.

Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat often distant from KPI’s perspective on public policy issues, said it was folly to ignore will of the people.

“Our constituents are asking for property tax relief,” said Sawyer, who contended the income tax trigger law would prove to be an obstacle to property tax reform. “We go to a rachet so all of our money above inflation in the future goes to cutting the income tax.”

Some of the Senate’s most right-wing members were convinced the Legislature did a belly flop on property taxes in 2025.

Sen. Virgil Peck, a Republican from Havana, said it wasn’t enough the Legislature worked on income tax policy and ditched the 1.5-mill property tax for building construction.

“I think we could do better when it comes to&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;reductions,” Peck said.

Finally, Wichita GOP Sen. Renee Erickson, said the Legislature’s approach to property tax issues didn’t answer the public’s call for relief.

“I’m very disappointed we did not do more for our constituents on&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;and I hope that we seriously are able to do something next session,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744653464396.png" alt=" Republican Sen. Mike Thompson, right, says the Kansas Legislature failed to deliver on a bipartisan promise to concentrate during the 2025 session on meaningful property tax reform. Here, Thompson speaks with Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau on the floor of the Kansas Senate in March. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Republican Sen. Mike Thompson, right, says the Kansas Legislature failed to deliver on a bipartisan promise to concentrate during the 2025 session on meaningful property tax reform. Here, Thompson speaks with Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau on the floor of the Kansas Senate in March. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Promises to voters ring hollow as emphasis remains on reducing income taxes</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly patted themselves on the back last June after placing into state law a compromise bill slashing income taxes an estimated $1.2 billion over three years.Senate Bill 1 had broad support with a mere six opponents among 159 legislators voting on the package negotiated by the Democratic governor, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita. The focus of that bill was income taxes, but it did raise to $75,000 the exemption on the value of a residence when calculating a taxpayer’s obligation to the state’s property tax levy for public schools.While 2024 was viewed as the year of the income tax, promises were made by Republicans and Democrats to address property tax reform during the 2025 legislative session. The end of the annual session last week offered evidence the performance of lawmakers on property tax relief was again underwhelming.“When it came time to lead, both the governor and leadership came up short,” said Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday.He said state lawmakers this session delivered a paltry $25.88 property tax break for the owner of a $150,000 home. That’s not enough to fill the gas tank in many vehicles, cover the cost of a couple sacks of groceries or pay someone to mow a lawn.Schwab encouraged “every property owner” to respond by challenging their property tax valuation with the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.“Kansans expected leadership that would address runaway property tax increases, arrest out-of-control valuations and restore confidence that they can afford the homes they live in — not rent them from the government,” he said.The Senate did endorse an amendment to the Kansas Constitution imposing a 3% cap on residential property tax valuation increases. That won’t be appearing on statewide ballots, however, because the amendment was never taken up in the House.“We came here with a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican. “I’m just disappointed that we end up at the end of this session with no&nbsp;real&nbsp;relief for those homeowners who are facing selling their home or paying their&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax. That’s where we are.”Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who serves as Democratic leader of the Senate, drew the same conclusion with a partisan twist. She said progress on property tax reform was minimal, but reminded Kansans that Republicans held supermajorities in the House and Senate. Those two-thirds majorities meant the GOP could pass just about any bill it desired and had numbers to override the governor’s vetoes and place constitutional amendments on the ballot.“Kansans deserve better than what they got from their Legislature in 2025,” Sykes said. “Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues refused to join us in that effort. Republicans promised Kansans they would deliver&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;relief, but they failed to make good on that promise.”<h2>‘Put Kansans first’</h2>Kansas voters were assured by sloganeering candidates during last year’s August primary and November general elections that nothing would stand in the way of meaningful property tax reform in 2025. Voters made it clear they thought property taxes were too high, valuations were rising faster than paychecks and, incredibly, some people on fixed incomes who worked all their lives to have a home of their own were being forced out.As the legislative session began in January, another layer of political vows emerged about cutting property taxes.“You expect us to put Kansans first, control the overreach of government and keep our promises — and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Masterson said. “That must begin with property tax relief and reform.”When the dust settled in April, the Legislature barely scratched the surface on rolling back state property taxes. The governor signed Senate Bill 35, which used general state tax dollars to replace a 1.5-mill state property tax dedicated to government building projects. It was unanimously approved in the Senate and overwhelmingly endorsed in the House 96-26.The Legislature passed a bill renewing the state’s 20-mill property tax, valued at about $875 million annually, to provide financial support to K-12 public schools. The Legislature could have earmarked state income or sales tax dollars to public schools and trimmed state property tax dedicated to that purpose.Instead, the Republican-controlled House and Senate placed emphasis on income tax reform by voting to override Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 269. This so-called income-tax-trigger bill was designed to methodically drop individual and corporate income tax rates to 4%.“I have proposed and supported tax cuts when they are implemented responsibly and benefit the people of Kansas, especially those who need it most,” Kelly said. “This bill ignores Kansas families at a time of rising costs and inflation in favor of hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and the wealthy.”The override vote on SB 269 was 87-37 in the House and 30-10 in the Senate. Instead of responding to Kansans’ demands for gradual reduction of property taxes, the Legislature in 2025 ended up dedicating future state revenue surpluses to gradually reducing income taxes.The Senate did endorse a constitutional amendment that would have set a 3% cap on property taxes starting in 2027, but House GOP leaders said the necessary two-thirds majority to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 before Kansas voters didn’t exist in the House.Critics of the amendment had argued the limitation would cripple the ability of cities and counties to operate, because municipal government relied heavily on property and sales taxes. The state’s revenue stream includes income, sales and property taxes.<h2>‘Very disappointed’</h2>In January, the conservative Kansas Policy Institute highlighted for legislators an opinion poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Wichita think tank. It showed 64% of participants were in favor of limits on annual increases in the appraised value of property rather than the current practice of annually resetting appraisals to fair market value.The poll showed majority support for restraint of property taxes existed in urban and rural regions of the state, said Dave Trabert, a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute.He said 70% of conservatives in the poll were supportive of steps to hold down property taxes, while 67% of moderates and 52% of liberals were on board. Eighteen percent were opposed and the same percentage was uncertain.“Many homeowners have experienced double-digit property tax increases because local officials took advantage of valuation spikes,” Trabert said.Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat often distant from KPI’s perspective on public policy issues, said it was folly to ignore will of the people.“Our constituents are asking for property tax relief,” said Sawyer, who contended the income tax trigger law would prove to be an obstacle to property tax reform. “We go to a rachet so all of our money above inflation in the future goes to cutting the income tax.”Some of the Senate’s most right-wing members were convinced the Legislature did a belly flop on property taxes in 2025.Sen. Virgil Peck, a Republican from Havana, said it wasn’t enough the Legislature worked on income tax policy and ditched the 1.5-mill property tax for building construction.“I think we could do better when it comes to&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;reductions,” Peck said.Finally, Wichita GOP Sen. Renee Erickson, said the Legislature’s approach to property tax issues didn’t answer the public’s call for relief.“I’m very disappointed we did not do more for our constituents on&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;and I hope that we seriously are able to do something next session,” she said.

GOP, Democrats blast Kan. Legislature for failure to meaningfully lower property taxes in 2025 session

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement continue searching for the driver of an ATV who drove over and critically injured Kansas City, Missouri Police officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 7p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a disturbance involving an officer at E. Truman Road and S. Main Street, according to KCPD Officer Alyana Gonzalez.

First responders found the driver of an ATV had attempted to avoid tire deflation devices. The driver popped a wheelie and struck the officer who set the devices. The impact caused the officer to fall to the ground before the ATV drove over him and sped off.

The officer transported to a hospital for treatment of a critical head injury and was released and continues to recover at home, according to Kanas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.&nbsp;

Anyone with information about the incident should report it to the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744640895858.png" alt="-The suspect appears to be on a black and lime green Yamaha Raptor 700-Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>-The suspect appears to be on a black and lime green Yamaha Raptor 700-Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement continue searching for the driver of an ATV who drove over and critically injured Kansas City, Missouri Police officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 7p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a disturbance involving an officer at E. Truman Road and S. Main Street, according to KCPD Officer Alyana Gonzalez.First responders found the driver of an ATV had attempted to avoid tire deflation devices. The driver popped a wheelie and struck the officer who set the devices. The impact caused the officer to fall to the ground before the ATV drove over him and sped off.The officer transported to a hospital for treatment of a critical head injury and was released and continues to recover at home, according to Kanas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.&nbsp;Anyone with information about the incident should report it to the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Search continues for ATV rider who struck KCPD officer

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

WASHINGTON — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele won’t return a Maryland man the United States erroneously deported to a mega-prison in his Central American country, he said Monday during a visit to the Oval Office.

Sitting beside President Donald Trump, Bukele told reporters, “Of course I’m not going to do it.”

Administration officials present for the meeting defended the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador who had a protective order from a U.S. immigration court shielding him from being sent back to his country because of risks to his life.

The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ice-admits-administrative-error-deporting-maryland-man-el-salvador-mega-prison" target="_blank">admitted</a>&nbsp;in court filings that it deported Abrego Garcia, of Beltsville, Maryland, by mistake.

“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him, that’s not up to us,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning, provide a plane,” she added.

The Supreme Court issued a 9-0 decision Thursday stating the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/supreme-court-says-trump-administration-must-facilitate-return-wrongly-deported-man" target="_blank">must “facilitate”</a>&nbsp;the return of Abrego Garcia.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 among roughly 260 Venezuelan men the U.S. flew on commercial jets without due process to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT.

ICE agents apprehended Abrego Garcia near Baltimore on March 12 when he was driving his 5-year-old son home. Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, “was called and instructed to appear at their location within ten minutes to get her five-year old son, A.A.V.; otherwise, the ICE officers threatened that the child would be handed over to Child Protective Services,” according to a court&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.1.0.pdf" target="_blank">filing</a>.

Garcia has no criminal history in the U.S., El Salvador or any other country, according to the filing.

The Trump administration is paying the El Salvador government $6 million to detain the men,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-human-rights-law-likely-violated-6m-payment-el-salvador-prison-experts-say" target="_blank">sparking questions</a>&nbsp;over whether the payment violates U.S. human rights law.

Lawyers for many of the Venezuelan men maintain their clients&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/venezuelans-deported-brutal-el-salvador-prison-werent-gang-members-lawyers-say" target="_blank">weren’t gang members</a>.

Trump triggered the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting Venezuelans 14 and older who the administration suspected of having ties to the gang Tren de Aragua.&nbsp;

Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office Monday that he wants to export “homegrown” criminals, as in U.S. citizens, to El Salvador and would be willing to assist Bukele in building more mega prisons.

“I’d like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country, but you’ll have to be looking at the laws on that,” said Trump.

The administration maintains that immigration courts connected Abrego Garcia in 2019 to the violent El Salvadoran gang MS-13 but makes no mention of the protective order granted to Abrego Garcia by an immigration judge that same year.

In addition to Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller defended Abrego Garcia’s deportation and the administration’s refusal to cooperate with a court order to return him to the U.S.

Miller said Friday’s unanimous Supreme Court decision squarely landed on the side of the administration.

“This was a 9-0 (decision) in our favor against the district court ruling saying that no district court has the power to compel the foreign policy function of the United States,” Miller told reporters in the Oval Office Monday.

“The ruling solely stated that if this individual, at El Salvador’s sole discretion, was sent back to our country, that we could deport him a second time. No version of this legally ends up with him ever living here because he is a citizen of El Salvador,” Miller continued.

Bukele said the idea that El Salvador would return Abrego Garcia is “preposterous.”&nbsp;

“How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don’t have the power to return him to the United States,” Bukele said.

The Department of State&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels/" target="_blank">designated</a>&nbsp;MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization in February.

Rubio said he doesn’t understand “what the confusion is.”

“This individual is a citizen of El Salvador. He was illegally in the United States and was returned to his country,” Rubio said, adding that “foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President of the United States, not by a court.”

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement Monday calling Bukele’s comments “pure nonsense.”

“The law is clear, due process was grossly violated, and the Supreme Court has clearly spoken that the Trump administration must facilitate and effectuate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He should be returned to the U.S. immediately.&nbsp;

“Due process and the rule of law are cornerstones of American society for citizens and noncitizens alike and not to follow that is dangerous and outrageous. A threat to one is a threat to all,” Schumer said.

Abrego Garcia’s case is winding through the federal courts.

The administration was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/doj-ordered-give-daily-updates-standoff-judge-over-wrongly-deported-maryland-man" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;Friday, after a standoff in court, to provide daily updates on Abrego Garcia’s physical location and status, and what steps the administration has taken or plans to take to facilitate his return.

Abrego Garcia’s wife&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?filed_after=&amp;filed_before=&amp;entry_gte=&amp;entry_lte=&amp;order_by=desc" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and immigration officials in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland last month, alleging her husband received no due process and his removal was unlawful.

District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. by April 7.

A federal appeals court unanimously upheld the lower court’s order on April 7. The Trump administration missed the deadline and immediately appealed to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket.

The high court unanimously ruled Thursday that the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return but stopped short of requiring his return and did not give a deadline. The court also ordered Xinis to clarify language in the lower court’s ruling to test whether the court overreached into foreign affairs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744665072669.png" alt="&nbsp;El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and President Trump in the Oval office Monday-photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and President Trump in the Oval office Monday-photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele won’t return a Maryland man the United States erroneously deported to a mega-prison in his Central American country, he said Monday during a visit to the Oval Office.Sitting beside President Donald Trump, Bukele told reporters, “Of course I’m not going to do it.”Administration officials present for the meeting defended the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador who had a protective order from a U.S. immigration court shielding him from being sent back to his country because of risks to his life.The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ice-admits-administrative-error-deporting-maryland-man-el-salvador-mega-prison" target="_blank">admitted</a>&nbsp;in court filings that it deported Abrego Garcia, of Beltsville, Maryland, by mistake.“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him, that’s not up to us,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.“If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning, provide a plane,” she added.The Supreme Court issued a 9-0 decision Thursday stating the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/supreme-court-says-trump-administration-must-facilitate-return-wrongly-deported-man" target="_blank">must “facilitate”</a>&nbsp;the return of Abrego Garcia.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 among roughly 260 Venezuelan men the U.S. flew on commercial jets without due process to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT.ICE agents apprehended Abrego Garcia near Baltimore on March 12 when he was driving his 5-year-old son home. Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, “was called and instructed to appear at their location within ten minutes to get her five-year old son, A.A.V.; otherwise, the ICE officers threatened that the child would be handed over to Child Protective Services,” according to a court&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.1.0.pdf" target="_blank">filing</a>.Garcia has no criminal history in the U.S., El Salvador or any other country, according to the filing.The Trump administration is paying the El Salvador government $6 million to detain the men,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-human-rights-law-likely-violated-6m-payment-el-salvador-prison-experts-say" target="_blank">sparking questions</a>&nbsp;over whether the payment violates U.S. human rights law.Lawyers for many of the Venezuelan men maintain their clients&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/venezuelans-deported-brutal-el-salvador-prison-werent-gang-members-lawyers-say" target="_blank">weren’t gang members</a>.Trump triggered the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting Venezuelans 14 and older who the administration suspected of having ties to the gang Tren de Aragua.&nbsp;Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office Monday that he wants to export “homegrown” criminals, as in U.S. citizens, to El Salvador and would be willing to assist Bukele in building more mega prisons.“I’d like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country, but you’ll have to be looking at the laws on that,” said Trump.<h2>Rubio, Miller defend deportation</h2>The administration maintains that immigration courts connected Abrego Garcia in 2019 to the violent El Salvadoran gang MS-13 but makes no mention of the protective order granted to Abrego Garcia by an immigration judge that same year.In addition to Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller defended Abrego Garcia’s deportation and the administration’s refusal to cooperate with a court order to return him to the U.S.Miller said Friday’s unanimous Supreme Court decision squarely landed on the side of the administration.“This was a 9-0 (decision) in our favor against the district court ruling saying that no district court has the power to compel the foreign policy function of the United States,” Miller told reporters in the Oval Office Monday.“The ruling solely stated that if this individual, at El Salvador’s sole discretion, was sent back to our country, that we could deport him a second time. No version of this legally ends up with him ever living here because he is a citizen of El Salvador,” Miller continued.Bukele said the idea that El Salvador would return Abrego Garcia is “preposterous.”&nbsp;“How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don’t have the power to return him to the United States,” Bukele said.The Department of State&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels/" target="_blank">designated</a>&nbsp;MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization in February.Rubio said he doesn’t understand “what the confusion is.”“This individual is a citizen of El Salvador. He was illegally in the United States and was returned to his country,” Rubio said, adding that “foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President of the United States, not by a court.”Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement Monday calling Bukele’s comments “pure nonsense.”“The law is clear, due process was grossly violated, and the Supreme Court has clearly spoken that the Trump administration must facilitate and effectuate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He should be returned to the U.S. immediately.&nbsp;“Due process and the rule of law are cornerstones of American society for citizens and noncitizens alike and not to follow that is dangerous and outrageous. A threat to one is a threat to all,” Schumer said.<h2>Daily updates</h2>Abrego Garcia’s case is winding through the federal courts.The administration was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/doj-ordered-give-daily-updates-standoff-judge-over-wrongly-deported-maryland-man" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;Friday, after a standoff in court, to provide daily updates on Abrego Garcia’s physical location and status, and what steps the administration has taken or plans to take to facilitate his return.Abrego Garcia’s wife&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?filed_after=&amp;filed_before=&amp;entry_gte=&amp;entry_lte=&amp;order_by=desc" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and immigration officials in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland last month, alleging her husband received no due process and his removal was unlawful.District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. by April 7.A federal appeals court unanimously upheld the lower court’s order on April 7. The Trump administration missed the deadline and immediately appealed to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket.The high court unanimously ruled Thursday that the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return but stopped short of requiring his return and did not give a deadline. The court also ordered Xinis to clarify language in the lower court’s ruling to test whether the court overreached into foreign affairs.

President of El Salvador refuses to return wrongly deported man to the U.S.

SHERMAN—The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victims of a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 in Sherman County approximately 9 miles east of Goodland that occurred before 3:30p.m. March 14.

According to the Patrol the victims included 20-year-old Dawson Hogan of Salina; 72-year-old Larry Smith of Sharon Springs; 57-year-old Manuel Alacron of Dodge City; 31-year-old Mario Juarez of Garden City; 24-year-old Baiel Sharshembiev of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 48-year-old Carlos Arzate of Shattuck, Oklahoma; 61-year-old Stephane Purcell of Evansville Indiana and 60-year-old Giovanni Stephan of Troy Michigan.

A total of seventy-one&nbsp; vehicles were identified as being involved in the collision event, resulting in eight fatalities and forty-six injured who were transported to local hospitals. 

The patrol will complete multiple motor vehicle collision reports to document and separate the collisions that occurred within the event. Investigators believe the separate collisions occurred between the times of approximately 3:20pm - 3:35pm (CDT). Due to the extreme circumstances the exact sequence of events is is still under investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744654081515.png" alt="Photo from the crash scene KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo from the crash scene KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SHERMAN—The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victims of a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 in Sherman County approximately 9 miles east of Goodland that occurred before 3:30p.m. March 14.According to the Patrol the victims included 20-year-old Dawson Hogan of Salina; 72-year-old Larry Smith of Sharon Springs; 57-year-old Manuel Alacron of Dodge City; 31-year-old Mario Juarez of Garden City; 24-year-old Baiel Sharshembiev of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 48-year-old Carlos Arzate of Shattuck, Oklahoma; 61-year-old Stephane Purcell of Evansville Indiana and 60-year-old Giovanni Stephan of Troy Michigan.A total of seventy-one&nbsp; vehicles were identified as being involved in the collision event, resulting in eight fatalities and forty-six injured who were transported to local hospitals. The patrol will complete multiple motor vehicle collision reports to document and separate the collisions that occurred within the event. Investigators believe the separate collisions occurred between the times of approximately 3:20pm - 3:35pm (CDT). Due to the extreme circumstances the exact sequence of events is is still under investigation.&nbsp;

Patrol IDs 8 who died in Kansas dust storm crash

KANSAS CITY —Three police officers were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Monday in Kansas City

Incident Date/Time: 4/14/2025 0052 CRN: 25-022492 Division: CPDEvent Start Address: 12th and GrandEvent End Address: 12th and GrandNature: Injury Crash involving PD Members

Narrative: AIS responded to assist CPD in a crash at 12th and Grand. Preliminary investigation revealed that

According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a marked Police Vehicle was traveling code 1 eastbound on 12th Street with a green light at Grand Avenue.

At the same time, a Marked Police Vehicle was driving with red and blue light Southbound on Grand with a red traffic signal. The Eastbound Vehicle struck the Southbound vehicle in a T-Bone manner. Three officers were taken to an area hospital for injuries. No other vehicles nor pedestrian were involved.

KANSAS CITY —Three police officers were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Monday in Kansas CityIncident Date/Time: 4/14/2025 0052 CRN: 25-022492 Division: CPDEvent Start Address: 12th and GrandEvent End Address: 12th and GrandNature: Injury Crash involving PD MembersNarrative: AIS responded to assist CPD in a crash at 12th and Grand. Preliminary investigation revealed thatAccording to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a marked Police Vehicle was traveling code 1 eastbound on 12th Street with a green light at Grand Avenue.At the same time, a Marked Police Vehicle was driving with red and blue light Southbound on Grand with a red traffic signal. The Eastbound Vehicle struck the Southbound vehicle in a T-Bone manner. Three officers were taken to an area hospital for injuries. No other vehicles nor pedestrian were involved.

3 KCPD officers hospitalized after 2 police vehicles collide

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Two years ago, Missouri regulators suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s THC concentrate was made with out-state cannabis

In Missouri’s massive marijuana recall two years ago, regulators pulled 62,000 products off the shelves that contained a THC concentrate the state deemed a “potential threat to health and safety.”&nbsp;

Last week, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation added another 6,000 products to that list that should have been pulled in 2023 because they were all made with an ingredient produced by the company at the heart of the recall, Robertsville-based Delta Extraction.

The new “threats” were found after the division was ordered in February by the state’s administrative hearing commission to release any Midwest Magic brand products from its 2023 recall list.&nbsp;During that review, the division discovered additional marijuana products containing a THC oil that Delta Extraction made using “unregulated cannabis,” the division stated in a Thursday press release.

“Regarding risks to the public, the department recalled these products for the same reason it issued the original, related recall: It identified a potential threat to health and safety,”&nbsp;said Amy Moore, the divisions director, in an email to The Independent.

However, there have been no adverse reactions reported for any of the product in the original or updated recall, she said.

“The initial recall was a large and complex endeavor requiring expert application of system functionality and program processes,”&nbsp;she said.&nbsp;“The department has made improvements in both areas since that time and continues to improve in ways that ensure future recalls can better identify all relevant product at initial issuance.”

Delta Extraction is a licensed cannabis manufacturing facility that specializes in making THC distillate, a highly potent and pure form of THC used for things like vape pens, infused pre-rolled joints and edibles. About 100 other manufacturers bought the distillate in question in spring 2023 and went on to make thousands of products.&nbsp;

In August 2023, the division suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910265-conference-call-delta-extraction" target="_blank">marijuana or converted hemp</a>&nbsp;from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility.”&nbsp;

The state also issued the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">product recall</a>.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/01/missouri-rolls-back-part-of-its-cannabis-product-recall/">few months later</a>, the state&nbsp;rolled back its recall of nearly 15,000 Midwest Magic products and allowed them to return to the dispensary shelves.&nbsp;Though part owner of the Delta facility, Midwest Magic owners successfully argued that the brand didn’t use the distillate in its products.&nbsp;

A company called A Joint Operation owns the other 50% of Delta Extraction.

In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/delta-extraction-loses-appeal-of-its-revoked-license-following-missouri-cannabis-recall/">Delta Extraction lost its appeal&nbsp;</a>of its license suspension, but it was awarded a renewed search for Midwest Magic products on the recall list. The Thursday update released about 120 Midwest Magic products from dispensaries and manufacturing facilities. The update also allowed testing labs to release samples of several hundred recalled products so they can be destroyed.

Ted Maritz, co-owner of Midwest Magic, said the company had already written off the released items as a loss.

“I’m not going to ask any stores for payment or anything,” Maritz said. “Everyone’s gone through hell for this.”

While the ordered search had a small impact on Midwest Magic, it is having a big impact on some dispensaries and manufacturers carrying the 6,200 products.&nbsp;

The recall list actually represents product tags used by the state’s tracing system called Metrc. Each tag in dispensaries typically represents a case of 10 to 12 units. And Metrc tags for manufacturing facilities represent ingredients that could make thousands or millions of units.&nbsp;

One Kansas City manufacturer had almost 700 ingredients recalled Thursday.&nbsp;

Josh Corson, co-owner of A Joint Operation, said he had not yet heard about the updated recall, in a text message Friday to The Independent and could not immediately comment.

Over the last two years, several companies have opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/06/companies-can-now-work-with-state-to-destroy-recalled-missouri-marijuana-products/">destroy the products</a>&nbsp;to make more room in their storage areas.&nbsp;

Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the division, said&nbsp;there was a slight increase for destruction requests since February through April, following the commission’s decision and totaling about 200 requests. However the division is “unable to identify whether these requests are specific to the February decision,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The units remaining on hold for the Delta Extraction recall, which have not been destroyed, total nearly 157,000 items. That includes 4,000 THC concentrate items that equal 378,000 grams of oil, along with about 13,000 grams of marijuana flower. It also includes 18,000 infused edibles, more than 40,000 pre-rolled joints and 90,000 vape cartridges.&nbsp;

In Delta’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/07/three-day-hearing-reveals-behind-the-scenes-details-of-missouri-marijuana-recall/">appeal</a>, the company argued the process it used to make the distillate was safe and legal.&nbsp;

Delta Extraction admitted to importing<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/25/missouri-cannabis-recall-hemp/">&nbsp;a large amount of THC-A</a>&nbsp;— a non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant that becomes intoxicating when heated — purportedly extracted from hemp plants. The company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/04/hearing-on-recall-of-60000-missouri-marijuana-products-set-to-begin/">contractor</a>&nbsp;would mix it with a smaller amount of THC-A extracted from Missouri-regulated marijuana.&nbsp;

Delta argued the hemp-derived THC-A should fall under the same rules as added ingredients, like flavors or the non-intoxicating cannabis compound CBD, because hemp is not a federally controlled substance like marijuana. It was taken off the federal controlled substance list in the 2018 farm bill.

But Carole Iles of Missouri’s administrative hearing commission, wrote in her 137-page ruling that THC-A becomes intoxicating through the exact same process no matter if it’s extracted from hemp or marijuana, so the state is correct in regulating the THC the same as marijuana.&nbsp;

That means it must be grown and manufactured in licensed Missouri facilities, Iles concluded, and tracked from the time the seed goes into the soil in the Metrc system.

“THC originating from other sources,” she wrote, “is prohibited.”&nbsp;

Chuck Hatfield, former attorney for Delta Extraction, said licensed facilities have the ability to challenge these new recalls of the products on their shelves.&nbsp;

“They probably should,” Hatfield said. “Because DCR has had such difficulty figuring out which products should be recalled, no licensee can be sure which products it can sell.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712141630999.png" alt="&nbsp;In August 2023, the state suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “marijuana or converted hemp from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility" (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;In August 2023, the state suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “marijuana or converted hemp from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility" (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Two years ago, Missouri regulators suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s THC concentrate was made with out-state cannabis</h2>In Missouri’s massive marijuana recall two years ago, regulators pulled 62,000 products off the shelves that contained a THC concentrate the state deemed a “potential threat to health and safety.”&nbsp;Last week, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation added another 6,000 products to that list that should have been pulled in 2023 because they were all made with an ingredient produced by the company at the heart of the recall, Robertsville-based Delta Extraction.The new “threats” were found after the division was ordered in February by the state’s administrative hearing commission to release any Midwest Magic brand products from its 2023 recall list.&nbsp;During that review, the division discovered additional marijuana products containing a THC oil that Delta Extraction made using “unregulated cannabis,” the division stated in a Thursday press release.“Regarding risks to the public, the department recalled these products for the same reason it issued the original, related recall: It identified a potential threat to health and safety,”&nbsp;said Amy Moore, the divisions director, in an email to The Independent.However, there have been no adverse reactions reported for any of the product in the original or updated recall, she said.“The initial recall was a large and complex endeavor requiring expert application of system functionality and program processes,”&nbsp;she said.&nbsp;“The department has made improvements in both areas since that time and continues to improve in ways that ensure future recalls can better identify all relevant product at initial issuance.”Delta Extraction is a licensed cannabis manufacturing facility that specializes in making THC distillate, a highly potent and pure form of THC used for things like vape pens, infused pre-rolled joints and edibles. About 100 other manufacturers bought the distillate in question in spring 2023 and went on to make thousands of products.&nbsp;In August 2023, the division suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910265-conference-call-delta-extraction" target="_blank">marijuana or converted hemp</a>&nbsp;from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility.”&nbsp;The state also issued the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">product recall</a>.A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/01/missouri-rolls-back-part-of-its-cannabis-product-recall/">few months later</a>, the state&nbsp;rolled back its recall of nearly 15,000 Midwest Magic products and allowed them to return to the dispensary shelves.&nbsp;Though part owner of the Delta facility, Midwest Magic owners successfully argued that the brand didn’t use the distillate in its products.&nbsp;A company called A Joint Operation owns the other 50% of Delta Extraction.In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/delta-extraction-loses-appeal-of-its-revoked-license-following-missouri-cannabis-recall/">Delta Extraction lost its appeal&nbsp;</a>of its license suspension, but it was awarded a renewed search for Midwest Magic products on the recall list. The Thursday update released about 120 Midwest Magic products from dispensaries and manufacturing facilities. The update also allowed testing labs to release samples of several hundred recalled products so they can be destroyed.Ted Maritz, co-owner of Midwest Magic, said the company had already written off the released items as a loss.“I’m not going to ask any stores for payment or anything,” Maritz said. “Everyone’s gone through hell for this.”While the ordered search had a small impact on Midwest Magic, it is having a big impact on some dispensaries and manufacturers carrying the 6,200 products.&nbsp;The recall list actually represents product tags used by the state’s tracing system called Metrc. Each tag in dispensaries typically represents a case of 10 to 12 units. And Metrc tags for manufacturing facilities represent ingredients that could make thousands or millions of units.&nbsp;One Kansas City manufacturer had almost 700 ingredients recalled Thursday.&nbsp;Josh Corson, co-owner of A Joint Operation, said he had not yet heard about the updated recall, in a text message Friday to The Independent and could not immediately comment.Over the last two years, several companies have opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/06/companies-can-now-work-with-state-to-destroy-recalled-missouri-marijuana-products/">destroy the products</a>&nbsp;to make more room in their storage areas.&nbsp;Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the division, said&nbsp;there was a slight increase for destruction requests since February through April, following the commission’s decision and totaling about 200 requests. However the division is “unable to identify whether these requests are specific to the February decision,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The units remaining on hold for the Delta Extraction recall, which have not been destroyed, total nearly 157,000 items. That includes 4,000 THC concentrate items that equal 378,000 grams of oil, along with about 13,000 grams of marijuana flower. It also includes 18,000 infused edibles, more than 40,000 pre-rolled joints and 90,000 vape cartridges.&nbsp;In Delta’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/07/three-day-hearing-reveals-behind-the-scenes-details-of-missouri-marijuana-recall/">appeal</a>, the company argued the process it used to make the distillate was safe and legal.&nbsp;Delta Extraction admitted to importing<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/25/missouri-cannabis-recall-hemp/">&nbsp;a large amount of THC-A</a>&nbsp;— a non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant that becomes intoxicating when heated — purportedly extracted from hemp plants. The company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/04/hearing-on-recall-of-60000-missouri-marijuana-products-set-to-begin/">contractor</a>&nbsp;would mix it with a smaller amount of THC-A extracted from Missouri-regulated marijuana.&nbsp;Delta argued the hemp-derived THC-A should fall under the same rules as added ingredients, like flavors or the non-intoxicating cannabis compound CBD, because hemp is not a federally controlled substance like marijuana. It was taken off the federal controlled substance list in the 2018 farm bill.But Carole Iles of Missouri’s administrative hearing commission, wrote in her 137-page ruling that THC-A becomes intoxicating through the exact same process no matter if it’s extracted from hemp or marijuana, so the state is correct in regulating the THC the same as marijuana.&nbsp;That means it must be grown and manufactured in licensed Missouri facilities, Iles concluded, and tracked from the time the seed goes into the soil in the Metrc system.“THC originating from other sources,” she wrote, “is prohibited.”&nbsp;Chuck Hatfield, former attorney for Delta Extraction, said licensed facilities have the ability to challenge these new recalls of the products on their shelves.&nbsp;“They probably should,” Hatfield said. “Because DCR has had such difficulty figuring out which products should be recalled, no licensee can be sure which products it can sell.”&nbsp;

Missouri cannabis regulators find another 6,000 products that should have been recalled in 2023

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The U.S. Education Department has agreed to delay for nearly two weeks enforcement of a disputed directive seeking to ban diversity, equity and inclusion practices, according to a court filing Thursday in the case challenging the order.

The agreement between the department and the groups suing it over the order pauses enforcement until after April 24. According to the<a href="https://www.aclu.org/cases/national-education-association-et-al-v-us-department-of-education-et-al?document=Agreement" target="_blank">&nbsp;agreement</a>, states and local education agencies until then cannot be investigated or asked to provide certification that they are not using DEI, a term for race- and gender-conscious practices, in admissions, programming, training, hiring or scholarships.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The U.S. Education Department has agreed to delay for nearly two weeks enforcement of a disputed directive seeking to ban diversity, equity and inclusion practices, according to a court filing Thursday in the case challenging the order.The agreement between the department and the groups suing it over the order pauses enforcement until after April 24. According to the<a href="https://www.aclu.org/cases/national-education-association-et-al-v-us-department-of-education-et-al?document=Agreement" target="_blank">&nbsp;agreement</a>, states and local education agencies until then cannot be investigated or asked to provide certification that they are not using DEI, a term for race- and gender-conscious practices, in admissions, programming, training, hiring or scholarships.Education Department spokeswoman Madi Biedermann said the department and the groups reached the agreement Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743709447177.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.ed.gov/media/document/reminder-of-legal-obligations-undertaken-exchange-receiving-federal-financial-assistance-and-request-certification-under-title-vi-and-sffa-v-harvard-april-3">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the full noticeAn April 3 letter from the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/states-ordered-us-education-department-certify-school-dei-ban-or-lose-funds" target="_blank">demanded states and districts provide certifications</a>&nbsp;they were complying with the order within 10 days or risk losing federal funding. That letter<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-education-department-threatens-yanking-funds-schools-use-race-decisions" target="_blank">&nbsp;followed a February missive</a>&nbsp;introducing the order.The National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu.org/documents/complaint-in-aclu-nea-et-al-v-u-s-department-of-education" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;in New Hampshire federal court last month to block enforcement of the directive.“This pause in enforcement provides immediate relief to schools across the country while the broader legal challenge continues,” the NEA said in a Thursday statement.In a written statement, Biedermann said the extension was due to what the department saw as states’ efforts to comply with the order.“The Department extended the certification requirement on Monday in response to states’ good-faith inquiries to ensure compliance,” Biedermann wrote. “Having voluntarily extended the deadline, commonsense would dictate the Department would not take enforcement action until the deadline had passed.”<h2>Court battle</h2>The groups asked the court to issue an emergency ruling to block enforcement of the department’s order while the case is ongoing.The agreement effectively grants that request without a court order.“No school district, state agency, or higher education institution will face investigation or penalties for failure to return the challenged certification that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts do not exist within their curriculums,” the NEA said.The underlying lawsuit remains ongoing.The suit challenges the department’s authority to impose restrictions on state K-12 curriculum and says the order limits academic freedom and restricts educators’ ability to teach.<h2>Trump and DEI</h2>President Donald Trump campaigned against progressive cultural positions, including how race, gender and sexuality are handled in public schools.In the early months of his second presidency, the entire executive branch has moved to restrict DEI initiatives and education policy, which has long been a battleground for such issues, has been a focal point.The administration has used antidiscrimination requirements to pursue restrictions on DEI initiatives in education, arguing that DEI discriminates against white students.DEI programs “discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI,” Craig Trainor, the Education Department’s acting head of civil rights, said in an April 3 statement.