DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas High School student is being hailed as a hero for taking action to save a woman's life.

Adrian Mendoza, a senior from Free State High School in Lawrence has attended the Lawrence Kansas&nbsp; Police Department's Teen Police Academy the last two summers, according to a social media report from Lawrence Police.

There, he learned life-saving techniques that he used when there were needed.  Adrian was serving food at a local independent living facility where he saw someone choking and another person struggling to help.  He says he doesn't even remember thinking about it.  His training took over and he performed the Heimlich maneuver the officers taught him. A chicken bone dislodged in her throat and the woman is fine today.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759801520261.png" alt="Adrian Mendoza courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Adrian Mendoza courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas High School student is being hailed as a hero for taking action to save a woman's life.Adrian Mendoza, a senior from Free State High School in Lawrence has attended the Lawrence Kansas&nbsp; Police Department's Teen Police Academy the last two summers, according to a social media report from Lawrence Police.There, he learned life-saving techniques that he used when there were needed. Adrian was serving food at a local independent living facility where he saw someone choking and another person struggling to help. He says he doesn't even remember thinking about it. His training took over and he performed the Heimlich maneuver the officers taught him. A chicken bone dislodged in her throat and the woman is fine today.

Kan. high school student takes action to save a woman's life

‘This is nothing more than an attempt to harass (Planned Parenthood) and should not be permitted by the court,’ attorneys for the clinics wrote in a court filing opposing the subpoena

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is demanding health records of Planned Parenthood abortion patients in an effort to argue in favor of keeping in place several regulations that limit access to the procedure.

The office is asking for patient medical records, incident reports, “adverse event documentation” and communications about patient care,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Plaintiffs%20Corrected%20Motion%20to%20Quash%20State%20Defendants%20Subpoenas,%20Enforce%20Rule%2057.03,%20and%20Extend%20Protective%20Order%20and%20Suggestions%20in%20Support.PDF?courtCode=16&amp;di=28975693" target="_blank">according to court records</a>. Also requested through a subpoena were operational and clinical protocols, equipment patient records, contractual arrangements and documentation of compliance.&nbsp;

“Despite the Missouri attorney general’s blatant attempts to overturn the will of the people, all patients expect and have the right for their medical records to be private,” leadership with Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and the ACLU of Missouri said in a joint statement. “Politicians have no place in the exam room with patients and their medical providers, and that’s why we will keep fighting for patients and their rights.”

The attorney general’s office, newly&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">under the leadership of Catherine Hanaway,</a>&nbsp;did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.&nbsp;

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office also subpoenaed two former Planned Parenthood Great Rivers board members, one physician contracted by Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, who was handed a subpoena during recess of a court hearing related to abortion access on Sept. 10.

“This is nothing more than an attempt to harass (Planned Parenthood) and should not be permitted by the court,” attorneys for the clinics wrote in a court filing asking Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang to throw out the subpoenas.&nbsp;

Last November, Missourians voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">codify the right to reproductive health care</a>, including abortion up to the point of fetal viability, in the state constitution. A day later, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">sued the state in an effort to take down several abortion regulations&nbsp;</a>that remain part of state statute, arguing that those regulations are now unconstitutional because they burden abortion patients and providers.&nbsp;

That lawsuit is set to go to trial in January. Until then, Zhang temporarily enjoined —&nbsp;or struck down —&nbsp;some of the regulations,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-trumps-most-restrictions-judge-rules/">allowing Planned Parenthood to begin offering procedural abortions again</a>.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood is also awaiting a decision from Zhang after asking her to enjoin even more state regulations that the clinic argues are preventing clinics from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol, which are used in medication abortions. As of Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">Missourians could not access medication abortion&nbsp;</a>from an in-state provider because of these regulations.

Planned Parenthood is currently offering procedural abortions at its clinics in Kansas City,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/04/abortion-returns-columbia-missouri-planned-parenthood-clinic/">Columbia</a>&nbsp;and St. Louis.&nbsp;

Last month, the Missouri Court of Appeals gave the green light for the attorney general’s office to subpoena patient health information in a separate case involving the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/16/appeals-court-gives-missouri-ag-pathway-to-transgender-center-patient-records/">Washington University Transgender Center.</a>&nbsp;But it has to be done under more stringent parameters, the court ruled.&nbsp;

The attorney general’s office initially requested “all electronic health records of (the center’s) clients” and a list of all the center’s patients. The higher court is now requiring that only the minimum required health information be turned over.

The appeals court reversed a<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/08/judge-rules-missouri-ag-has-no-right-to-medical-records-of-transgender-minors-at-wash-u/">&nbsp;ruling last year&nbsp;</a>in which a district judge said the center did not have to turn over patient information protected by the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA.

In that case,&nbsp; the attorney general’s office argued that it qualifies as a<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Appellants%20Brief.PDF?courtCode=EA&amp;di=513469" target="_blank">&nbsp;“health oversight agency,”&nbsp;</a>and as such should be privy to patient information protected by HIPPA.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746190042115.png" alt="An abortion procedure room pictured on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Planned Parenthood in Columbia, Missouri (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>An abortion procedure room pictured on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Planned Parenthood in Columbia, Missouri (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘This is nothing more than an attempt to harass (Planned Parenthood) and should not be permitted by the court,’ attorneys for the clinics wrote in a court filing opposing the subpoena</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is demanding health records of Planned Parenthood abortion patients in an effort to argue in favor of keeping in place several regulations that limit access to the procedure.The office is asking for patient medical records, incident reports, “adverse event documentation” and communications about patient care,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Plaintiffs%20Corrected%20Motion%20to%20Quash%20State%20Defendants%20Subpoenas,%20Enforce%20Rule%2057.03,%20and%20Extend%20Protective%20Order%20and%20Suggestions%20in%20Support.PDF?courtCode=16&amp;di=28975693" target="_blank">according to court records</a>. Also requested through a subpoena were operational and clinical protocols, equipment patient records, contractual arrangements and documentation of compliance.&nbsp;“Despite the Missouri attorney general’s blatant attempts to overturn the will of the people, all patients expect and have the right for their medical records to be private,” leadership with Planned Parenthood Great Plains, Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and the ACLU of Missouri said in a joint statement. “Politicians have no place in the exam room with patients and their medical providers, and that’s why we will keep fighting for patients and their rights.”The attorney general’s office, newly&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">under the leadership of Catherine Hanaway,</a>&nbsp;did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.&nbsp;The Missouri Attorney General’s Office also subpoenaed two former Planned Parenthood Great Rivers board members, one physician contracted by Planned Parenthood Great Rivers and the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, who was handed a subpoena during recess of a court hearing related to abortion access on Sept. 10.“This is nothing more than an attempt to harass (Planned Parenthood) and should not be permitted by the court,” attorneys for the clinics wrote in a court filing asking Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang to throw out the subpoenas.&nbsp;Last November, Missourians voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">codify the right to reproductive health care</a>, including abortion up to the point of fetal viability, in the state constitution. A day later, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">sued the state in an effort to take down several abortion regulations&nbsp;</a>that remain part of state statute, arguing that those regulations are now unconstitutional because they burden abortion patients and providers.&nbsp;That lawsuit is set to go to trial in January. Until then, Zhang temporarily enjoined —&nbsp;or struck down —&nbsp;some of the regulations,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-trumps-most-restrictions-judge-rules/">allowing Planned Parenthood to begin offering procedural abortions again</a>.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood is also awaiting a decision from Zhang after asking her to enjoin even more state regulations that the clinic argues are preventing clinics from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol, which are used in medication abortions. As of Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">Missourians could not access medication abortion&nbsp;</a>from an in-state provider because of these regulations.Planned Parenthood is currently offering procedural abortions at its clinics in Kansas City,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/04/abortion-returns-columbia-missouri-planned-parenthood-clinic/">Columbia</a>&nbsp;and St. Louis.&nbsp;<h2>A separate battle for patient records</h2>Last month, the Missouri Court of Appeals gave the green light for the attorney general’s office to subpoena patient health information in a separate case involving the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/16/appeals-court-gives-missouri-ag-pathway-to-transgender-center-patient-records/">Washington University Transgender Center.</a>&nbsp;But it has to be done under more stringent parameters, the court ruled.&nbsp;The attorney general’s office initially requested “all electronic health records of (the center’s) clients” and a list of all the center’s patients. The higher court is now requiring that only the minimum required health information be turned over.The appeals court reversed a<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/08/judge-rules-missouri-ag-has-no-right-to-medical-records-of-transgender-minors-at-wash-u/">&nbsp;ruling last year&nbsp;</a>in which a district judge said the center did not have to turn over patient information protected by the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA.In that case,&nbsp; the attorney general’s office argued that it qualifies as a<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Appellants%20Brief.PDF?courtCode=EA&amp;di=513469" target="_blank">&nbsp;“health oversight agency,”&nbsp;</a>and as such should be privy to patient information protected by HIPPA.&nbsp;

Missouri attorney general subpoenas Planned Parenthood for patient abortion records

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple charges for a shooting at a home in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2734/Roscoe-COMPLAINTREDACTED">Nathan Roscoe</a>, 42,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Assault, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2735/Roscoe-PCREDACTED-1">Click here to read the probable cause statement</a>

On September 27, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence regarding shots fired and located the victim who was alert and conscious. The victim had an obvious wound on his head and was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the head, a<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2735/Roscoe-PCREDACTED-1">ccording to court records</a>.

Based on witness reports, Roscoe was identified as the shooter and was still in the residence before complying with the deputies’ orders and being taken into custody.&nbsp;

Roscoe remains jailed on a $50,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759709167606.png" alt="Roscoe photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Roscoe photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple charges for a shooting at a home in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2734/Roscoe-COMPLAINTREDACTED">Nathan Roscoe</a>, 42,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Assault, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm charges.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2735/Roscoe-PCREDACTED-1">Click here to read the probable cause statement</a>On September 27, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence regarding shots fired and located the victim who was alert and conscious. The victim had an obvious wound on his head and was transported to a nearby hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the head, a<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2735/Roscoe-PCREDACTED-1">ccording to court records</a>.Based on witness reports, Roscoe was identified as the shooter and was still in the residence before complying with the deputies’ orders and being taken into custody.&nbsp;Roscoe remains jailed on a $50,000 bond.&nbsp;

Victim survived after shot in the head by Kansas City felon

BUTLER COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a Butler County Lake.

Just after 4 a.m. Monday, Butler County Dispatch received a report of a shooting at a campsite in the Bluestem Point area of El Dorado Lake, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.

First responders found 57-year-old Rodney Logan of Augusta unresponsive from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Deputies took a suspect into custody. The sheriff's office did not release his name. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759784520481.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a Butler County Lake.Just after 4 a.m. Monday, Butler County Dispatch received a report of a shooting at a campsite in the Bluestem Point area of El Dorado Lake, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.First responders found 57-year-old Rodney Logan of Augusta unresponsive from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Deputies took a suspect into custody. The sheriff's office did not release his name. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the shooting.

Sheriff: 57-year-old shot, killed at Kansas lake campground

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are currently investigating a vehicle theft from a Ford dealership in Salina.

On Friday, employees from the Long McArthur Ford dealership,&nbsp;3450 S 9th Street in Salina, reported that between 10:50 am and 11p.m. on September 28, a&nbsp;used&nbsp;red 2013 Camaro&nbsp;was stolen. The car possibly had an unknown dealer tag. Loss of value is $44,900.

The suspect appeared to be a male from surveillance footage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759780825767.png" alt="Long McArthur Ford&nbsp; -Google image" />
 <figcaption>Long McArthur Ford&nbsp; -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are currently investigating a vehicle theft from a Ford dealership in Salina.On Friday, employees from the Long McArthur Ford dealership,&nbsp;3450 S 9th Street in Salina, reported that between 10:50 am and 11p.m. on September 28, a&nbsp;used&nbsp;red 2013 Camaro&nbsp;was stolen. The car possibly had an unknown dealer tag. Loss of value is $44,900.The suspect appeared to be a male from surveillance footage.

Police: $44,000 red Camaro stolen from Kansas car dealer

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/micah-drew/">Micah Drew</a> <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/">Daily Montanan</a>

Glacier National Park remains open to visitors during the federal government shutdown, which a former superintendent said could lead to trash pileup, a lack of communication for visitors and limited emergency response operations.&nbsp;

Last month, former Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow joined more than 40 former national park superintendents in signing a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectnps.org/2025/09/25/former-nps-superintendents-urge-secretary-burgum-to-close-national-parks-if-government-shuts-down/" target="_blank">letter urging</a>&nbsp;the federal government to close National Park Service sites in the event of a government shutdown.&nbsp;

“Past shutdowns in which gates remained open with limited staff have hurt our parks: Iconic symbols cut down and vandalized, trash piled up, habitats destroyed, and visitor safety jeopardized. If you don’t act now, history is not just doomed to repeat itself, the damage could in fact be much worse,” the letter states.&nbsp;

But when the calendar rolled over to October, the federal government shut down and roughly 750,000 federal workers were furloughed, but parks stayed open.&nbsp;

A bright red banner across the websites for Glacier and Yellowstone national parks states that national parks “remain as accessible as possible” during the shutdown, but services may be limited or unavailable. Visitors are directed to a Department of the Interior webpage that lists contingency plan documents for each agency group, which vaguely outline what operations can remain.&nbsp;

However, those contingency plans are about the only communication given to the public about national park system operations, which Mow said adds to the uncertainty for visitors and staff alike.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For example, Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road typically closes the third Monday of October, but that is contingent on weather conditions along the alpine stretches of the 50-mile scenic byway. The park superintendent has the ability to close the road if inclement weather hits, and typically, any winter-related closures are communicated through press releases, social media posts, and updates to the park’s website.&nbsp;

But during a shutdown of the federal government, communication isn’t a top priority.&nbsp;

According to Glacier’s official&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRm_7WDtq8/?hl=en" target="_blank">social media accounts</a>, the National Park Service “will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited.”&nbsp;

But Glacier’s communications specialist is among those furloughed, and cannot respond to emails or speak on behalf of the park. Emails sent to the National Park Service’s media office about what constitutes “critical information about park access” went unanswered.&nbsp;

“If there’s a snowstorm that closes the Sun Road, will that show up on the website?” Mow said. “I don’t know. We’ll see how long it stays open.”

There is currently a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mdt.mt.gov/_resources/pl/rdrpt.pl?rptname=Winter" target="_blank">winter storm warning</a>&nbsp;in place over the weekend for elevations over 5,500 feet — with four to eight inches of snow possible. Logan Pass has a 15% chance of receiving 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Mow served as Glacier’s superintendent during the last government shutdown, a 35-day long affair that stretched from December 2018 to January 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first administration.&nbsp;

Back then, Mow said, Glacier was fully in winter mode — most roads into the park, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, were closed, and operations and programming were already parred down compared to peak season.&nbsp;

Mow was among the employees furloughed during the last shutdown as a “nonessential” part of daily operations. He said one of the biggest concerns for the year-round staff who also ended up furloughed was the lack of communication — about what employees could still do, any timeline for returning to work, and whether to sign up for unemployment benefits.&nbsp;

“It’s adding more of this uncertainty in their lives, and this administration has certainly done a lot to add uncertainty into federal employees’ lives,” Mow said.&nbsp;

In 2018, Mow said there was an employee Facebook page where staff could post updates to communicate — furloughed staff can’t access their emails or government-issued devices — and they found ways to bring the staff together, including setting up work days at the local food bank to “maintain our community as employees of Glacier National Park,” Mow said.&nbsp;

There is no indication how long the current shutdown will last. Friday, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/repub/government-shutdown-primed-to-roll-into-next-week-after-us-senate-deadlocks-again/" target="_blank">clashed again</a>&nbsp;and failed to advance measures to partially fund the government.&nbsp;

The current shutdown comes amid one of the largest reductions in force across the National Park system. According to Politico, since Trump took office for his second term, the Park Service has lost roughly 35% of its staff, while the Interior Department as a whole is down around 14%.

An internal memo from Glacier obtained by the Daily Montanan in May indicated that 20% of park positions were vacant, including almost half of dispatch positions.&nbsp;

A shutdown further compounds problems from short staffing.&nbsp;

“National parks are not designed to run with so little staff. I think that’s one of the things that differentiates us from other public lands — national parks are designed and staffed for high levels of visitation,” Mow said. “There’s lots of infrastructure, visitor information centers, and a response system for visitor safety issues. Our counterparts in FS and BLM, not so much, they depend more on local and county resources.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/doi-nps-lapse-plan2025930508.pdf" target="_blank">contingency plan</a>&nbsp;released by the park service late Tuesday said “park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors.” However, parks without “accessible areas,” such as primarily indoor exhibitions, will be closed, and sites currently open could close if damage is done to park resources or garbage is building up, the plan says.

For Glacier and Yellowstone, two massive parks where the main attractions are natural features more so than exhibitions, that means the public is free to roam.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://montanafreepress.org/2025/10/02/gates-open-at-yellowstone-on-first-day-of-shutdown/" target="_blank">Montana Free Press</a>&nbsp;reported that Yellowstone’s entrance stations are open, concessionaire-run businesses including lodges and restaurants are operational, and private commercial guiding companies were still allowed to operate within open parts of the Park.&nbsp;

In Glacier, private concessionaire Xanterra, which operates lodges, restaurants, gift shops, the iconic red bus tours, and crucially, restrooms, “will be open and welcoming guests and visitors from around the world,” according to their website.&nbsp;

Andrew Heltzel, Chief Commercial Officer for Xanterra, said in an email that staffing has remained the same at both parks as the shutdown began, and the Park Service had shared that entrances and roads to the parks would remain open and accessible.

“We are optimistic that our guests will continue to come and enjoy the incredible landscapes and experiences these parks offer. Travelers can book with confidence knowing that we are working closely with the National Park Service and we are committed to providing clear and timely communication to our guests,” Heltzel said.

One entrance to Glacier, into the Two Medicine Valley, closed on Wednesday for pre-planned construction.

Sarah Lundstrum, the Glacier program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the organization has also pushed for parks to close down if they aren’t being fulling staffed.

“In previous years, we’ve seen vandalism, trees cut down, petroglyphs vandalized, people driving where they shouldn’t, trash, garbage and feces piling up in national parks,” Lundstrum said. “If there’s not going to be full staffing, parks shouldn’t be open.”

The association is encouraging people to avoid going to parks, but if they do visit, do so responsibly.

“Be prepared for not a lot of services. Recreate responsibly, leave no trace, take your garbage with you,” she said. “And be polite to the staff that are there — they’re under a lot of stress — so just be a good steward.”

The National Park Service this week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm" target="_blank">released an economic report</a>&nbsp;showing that Glacier and Yellowstone generated roughly $1.5 billion in economic output in nearby communities in 2024.&nbsp;

While Glacier has largely entered its shoulder season and nearby communities aren’t relying on October visitation to bolster their bottom lines, other parks, including Yellowstone and those in warmer climates, such as Utah and southern California, are closer to peak season, Lundstrum said, and are preparing for much larger economic impacts of a shutdown.

During the last shutdown, public lands across the country saw issues with garbage buildup and human waste as workers were unable to take out the trash and restock toilet paper.&nbsp;

In Grand Teton, the Jackson Hole News &amp; Guide reported Wednesday that toilet paper ran out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/with-grand-teton-open-in-shutdown-tourists-seek-toilet-paper-as-staff-preps-for-furloughs/article_0df2c8e0-a2d8-4cda-9dce-9a798e322a1b.html" target="_blank">in just six hours</a>.&nbsp;

“Whenever we go into these minimal-operations mode, things will suffer. Resources will suffer, staffing will suffer, visitor safety – if there are emergency response needs &nbsp;— they will probably suffer some,” Mow added. “Honestly, it should not be a goal for the National Park Service of ‘how to run a park during a shutdown.’ It’s not a contingency we prepare for.”

Editor’s note: this article has been updated with comments from Xanterra and to reflect the closure of GTTSR.&nbsp;

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/as-federal-government-shuts-down-visitors-can-still-enter-glacier-yellowstone-national-parks/" target="_blank">Daily Montanan</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759774183360.png" alt="A webcam image of the entrance station to Glacier National Park shows blocked off lanes and shuttered windows on Oct. 3, 2025." />
 <figcaption>A webcam image of the entrance station to Glacier National Park shows blocked off lanes and shuttered windows on Oct. 3, 2025.</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/micah-drew/">Micah Drew</a> <a href="https://dailymontanan.com/">Daily Montanan</a>Glacier National Park remains open to visitors during the federal government shutdown, which a former superintendent said could lead to trash pileup, a lack of communication for visitors and limited emergency response operations.&nbsp;Last month, former Glacier National Park Superintendent Jeff Mow joined more than 40 former national park superintendents in signing a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectnps.org/2025/09/25/former-nps-superintendents-urge-secretary-burgum-to-close-national-parks-if-government-shuts-down/" target="_blank">letter urging</a>&nbsp;the federal government to close National Park Service sites in the event of a government shutdown.&nbsp;“Past shutdowns in which gates remained open with limited staff have hurt our parks: Iconic symbols cut down and vandalized, trash piled up, habitats destroyed, and visitor safety jeopardized. If you don’t act now, history is not just doomed to repeat itself, the damage could in fact be much worse,” the letter states.&nbsp;But when the calendar rolled over to October, the federal government shut down and roughly 750,000 federal workers were furloughed, but parks stayed open.&nbsp;A bright red banner across the websites for Glacier and Yellowstone national parks states that national parks “remain as accessible as possible” during the shutdown, but services may be limited or unavailable. Visitors are directed to a Department of the Interior webpage that lists contingency plan documents for each agency group, which vaguely outline what operations can remain.&nbsp;However, those contingency plans are about the only communication given to the public about national park system operations, which Mow said adds to the uncertainty for visitors and staff alike.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road typically closes the third Monday of October, but that is contingent on weather conditions along the alpine stretches of the 50-mile scenic byway. The park superintendent has the ability to close the road if inclement weather hits, and typically, any winter-related closures are communicated through press releases, social media posts, and updates to the park’s website.&nbsp;But during a shutdown of the federal government, communication isn’t a top priority.&nbsp;According to Glacier’s official&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPRm_7WDtq8/?hl=en" target="_blank">social media accounts</a>, the National Park Service “will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited.”&nbsp;But Glacier’s communications specialist is among those furloughed, and cannot respond to emails or speak on behalf of the park. Emails sent to the National Park Service’s media office about what constitutes “critical information about park access” went unanswered.&nbsp;“If there’s a snowstorm that closes the Sun Road, will that show up on the website?” Mow said. “I don’t know. We’ll see how long it stays open.”There is currently a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mdt.mt.gov/_resources/pl/rdrpt.pl?rptname=Winter" target="_blank">winter storm warning</a>&nbsp;in place over the weekend for elevations over 5,500 feet — with four to eight inches of snow possible. Logan Pass has a 15% chance of receiving 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service.Mow served as Glacier’s superintendent during the last government shutdown, a 35-day long affair that stretched from December 2018 to January 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first administration.&nbsp;Back then, Mow said, Glacier was fully in winter mode — most roads into the park, including Going-to-the-Sun Road, were closed, and operations and programming were already parred down compared to peak season.&nbsp;Mow was among the employees furloughed during the last shutdown as a “nonessential” part of daily operations. He said one of the biggest concerns for the year-round staff who also ended up furloughed was the lack of communication — about what employees could still do, any timeline for returning to work, and whether to sign up for unemployment benefits.&nbsp;“It’s adding more of this uncertainty in their lives, and this administration has certainly done a lot to add uncertainty into federal employees’ lives,” Mow said.&nbsp;In 2018, Mow said there was an employee Facebook page where staff could post updates to communicate — furloughed staff can’t access their emails or government-issued devices — and they found ways to bring the staff together, including setting up work days at the local food bank to “maintain our community as employees of Glacier National Park,” Mow said.&nbsp;There is no indication how long the current shutdown will last. Friday, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/repub/government-shutdown-primed-to-roll-into-next-week-after-us-senate-deadlocks-again/" target="_blank">clashed again</a>&nbsp;and failed to advance measures to partially fund the government.&nbsp;The current shutdown comes amid one of the largest reductions in force across the National Park system. According to Politico, since Trump took office for his second term, the Park Service has lost roughly 35% of its staff, while the Interior Department as a whole is down around 14%.An internal memo from Glacier obtained by the Daily Montanan in May indicated that 20% of park positions were vacant, including almost half of dispatch positions.&nbsp;A shutdown further compounds problems from short staffing.&nbsp;“National parks are not designed to run with so little staff. I think that’s one of the things that differentiates us from other public lands — national parks are designed and staffed for high levels of visitation,” Mow said. “There’s lots of infrastructure, visitor information centers, and a response system for visitor safety issues. Our counterparts in FS and BLM, not so much, they depend more on local and county resources.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-09/doi-nps-lapse-plan2025930508.pdf" target="_blank">contingency plan</a>&nbsp;released by the park service late Tuesday said “park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors.” However, parks without “accessible areas,” such as primarily indoor exhibitions, will be closed, and sites currently open could close if damage is done to park resources or garbage is building up, the plan says.For Glacier and Yellowstone, two massive parks where the main attractions are natural features more so than exhibitions, that means the public is free to roam.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://montanafreepress.org/2025/10/02/gates-open-at-yellowstone-on-first-day-of-shutdown/" target="_blank">Montana Free Press</a>&nbsp;reported that Yellowstone’s entrance stations are open, concessionaire-run businesses including lodges and restaurants are operational, and private commercial guiding companies were still allowed to operate within open parts of the Park.&nbsp;In Glacier, private concessionaire Xanterra, which operates lodges, restaurants, gift shops, the iconic red bus tours, and crucially, restrooms, “will be open and welcoming guests and visitors from around the world,” according to their website.&nbsp;Andrew Heltzel, Chief Commercial Officer for Xanterra, said in an email that staffing has remained the same at both parks as the shutdown began, and the Park Service had shared that entrances and roads to the parks would remain open and accessible.“We are optimistic that our guests will continue to come and enjoy the incredible landscapes and experiences these parks offer. Travelers can book with confidence knowing that we are working closely with the National Park Service and we are committed to providing clear and timely communication to our guests,” Heltzel said.One entrance to Glacier, into the Two Medicine Valley, closed on Wednesday for pre-planned construction.Sarah Lundstrum, the Glacier program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association, said the organization has also pushed for parks to close down if they aren’t being fulling staffed.“In previous years, we’ve seen vandalism, trees cut down, petroglyphs vandalized, people driving where they shouldn’t, trash, garbage and feces piling up in national parks,” Lundstrum said. “If there’s not going to be full staffing, parks shouldn’t be open.”The association is encouraging people to avoid going to parks, but if they do visit, do so responsibly.“Be prepared for not a lot of services. Recreate responsibly, leave no trace, take your garbage with you,” she said. “And be polite to the staff that are there — they’re under a lot of stress — so just be a good steward.”The National Park Service this week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm" target="_blank">released an economic report</a>&nbsp;showing that Glacier and Yellowstone generated roughly $1.5 billion in economic output in nearby communities in 2024.&nbsp;While Glacier has largely entered its shoulder season and nearby communities aren’t relying on October visitation to bolster their bottom lines, other parks, including Yellowstone and those in warmer climates, such as Utah and southern California, are closer to peak season, Lundstrum said, and are preparing for much larger economic impacts of a shutdown.During the last shutdown, public lands across the country saw issues with garbage buildup and human waste as workers were unable to take out the trash and restock toilet paper.&nbsp;In Grand Teton, the Jackson Hole News &amp; Guide reported Wednesday that toilet paper ran out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/with-grand-teton-open-in-shutdown-tourists-seek-toilet-paper-as-staff-preps-for-furloughs/article_0df2c8e0-a2d8-4cda-9dce-9a798e322a1b.html" target="_blank">in just six hours</a>.&nbsp;“Whenever we go into these minimal-operations mode, things will suffer. Resources will suffer, staffing will suffer, visitor safety – if there are emergency response needs &nbsp;— they will probably suffer some,” Mow added. “Honestly, it should not be a goal for the National Park Service of ‘how to run a park during a shutdown.’ It’s not a contingency we prepare for.”Editor’s note: this article has been updated with comments from Xanterra and to reflect the closure of GTTSR.&nbsp;This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/03/as-federal-government-shuts-down-visitors-can-still-enter-glacier-yellowstone-national-parks/" target="_blank">Daily Montanan</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

As federal government shuts down, visitors can still enter Glacier, Yellowstone national parks

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshua-haiar/">Joshua Haiar</a> <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/">South Dakota Searchlight</a>

SALEM — Spending 12 hours a day in his combine this week, harvesting amber rows of soybeans he planted in the spring, Andrew Streff has time to think — and it’s hard not to think about the ongoing trade dispute with China.

The country is boycotting purchases of U.S. soybeans in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

“China hasn’t purchased any soybeans from the United States this year, thanks to the president,” said Streff, who farms near Salem. “Our beans are the cheapest in the world, by about $2 a bushel, but this trade war is keeping them out of China — our biggest customer.”

Robert Lee is harvesting 300 acres of soybeans on his land near De Smet. He said many farmers are hesitant to blame Trump for bad bean prices.

“But the fact is, China imported 120 million metric tons of soybeans this year and not one bushel came from the U.S.,” Lee said. “That’s a direct result of this trade war.”

Farmers were similarly affected by trade disputes during Trump’s first term. Congress responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11289/IF11289.3.pdf" target="_blank">$28 billion</a>&nbsp;of aid for farmers in 2018 and 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service. The relief paid for farmers’ lost income by providing direct payments in its place.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said during a Sept. 26 public event in Rapid City that the federal government will probably have to help farmers again.

“I have talked to the president about this, because some of this is a result of tariff policies, trade relationships, etc. — China’s not buying soybeans today,” Thune said. “And so I think, inevitably, what’s going to happen is they’ll probably end up doing what we did a few years ago, because of loss of markets.”

Thune said that’s something “none of us want.”

“But I think some of that tariff revenue that’s coming in probably will end up heading in that direction,” he said.

Trump’s tariffs will increase federal tax revenues by an estimated $171 billion this year, according to a Sept. 26 report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank">Tax Foundation</a>, a nonpartisan, tax policy research nonprofit.

On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the Trump administration is considering aid to farmers. He said in an<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/02/cnbc-transcript-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;interview</a>&nbsp;with CNBC that farmers “should expect some news on Tuesday” about “substantial support for our farmers, especially the soybean farmers.”

Jerry Schmitz is the executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Association. He said U.S. soybean prices are down more than a dollar per bushel from last year, from over $11 down to $10, with South Dakota prices another 80 cents to $1.35 lower. Local grain elevators are struggling because exports through the Pacific Northwest into Asian countries have slowed to a trickle.

Based on the number of soybean acres planted this year, Schmitz said a $1 drop in price equates to about $250 million of lost income for South Dakota farmers.

A tariff is a tax paid by importers, with the cost often passed along in prices charged to customers. Schmitz said the impact of tariffs on farmers goes beyond the obvious. An example is a rise in fertilizer prices, “partly due to inflation, but exacerbated by the tariffs.”

Streff, the Salem-area farmer, also works as a commodities broker in Mitchell. He said farmers like him who locked in a price with a grain buyer months before harvest are doing better, but “you were gambling on the future.”

“A lot of farmers were hoping the president learned from the last time around,” he said. “But it didn’t surprise me — he campaigned on doing these tariffs. The U.S. elected someone who likes to pick fights with other countries, and now we’re in the middle of it.”

He said others waited to see how the crop would turn out and if trade relations with China would improve. They haven’t.

Farm leaders and state officials are creating new domestic soybean uses, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/09/09/500-million-soybean-processing-plant-opens-in-mitchell/" target="_blank">$500 million soybean processing plant</a>&nbsp;in Mitchell that will mostly use soybeans to make renewable diesel and livestock feed.

Streff said that’s encouraging, but it won’t replace the demand of a country with 1.4 billion people who like soybean-fed pork.

“It’s not going to solve all our problems,” he said.

It’s a point Thune echoed while in Rapid City.

“We need to get the Chinese market back at some point because we sell a ton,” Thune said. “Sixty percent of our soybeans are exported, mostly to China. And so we’ve got to have those export markets.”

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/10/02/harvest-of-stress-soybean-farmers-await-help-as-tariff-dispute-closes-china-market/" target="_blank">South Dakota Searchlight</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759754181444.png" alt="Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshua-haiar/">Joshua Haiar</a> <a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/">South Dakota Searchlight</a>SALEM — Spending 12 hours a day in his combine this week, harvesting amber rows of soybeans he planted in the spring, Andrew Streff has time to think — and it’s hard not to think about the ongoing trade dispute with China.The country is boycotting purchases of U.S. soybeans in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs.“China hasn’t purchased any soybeans from the United States this year, thanks to the president,” said Streff, who farms near Salem. “Our beans are the cheapest in the world, by about $2 a bushel, but this trade war is keeping them out of China — our biggest customer.”Robert Lee is harvesting 300 acres of soybeans on his land near De Smet. He said many farmers are hesitant to blame Trump for bad bean prices.“But the fact is, China imported 120 million metric tons of soybeans this year and not one bushel came from the U.S.,” Lee said. “That’s a direct result of this trade war.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759754226543.png" alt="Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Streff drives his combine while harvesting soybeans on Sept. 29, 2025, near Salem. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)</figcaption>
 </figure>Farmers were similarly affected by trade disputes during Trump’s first term. Congress responded with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/IF/PDF/IF11289/IF11289.3.pdf" target="_blank">$28 billion</a>&nbsp;of aid for farmers in 2018 and 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service. The relief paid for farmers’ lost income by providing direct payments in its place.U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said during a Sept. 26 public event in Rapid City that the federal government will probably have to help farmers again.“I have talked to the president about this, because some of this is a result of tariff policies, trade relationships, etc. — China’s not buying soybeans today,” Thune said. “And so I think, inevitably, what’s going to happen is they’ll probably end up doing what we did a few years ago, because of loss of markets.”Thune said that’s something “none of us want.”“But I think some of that tariff revenue that’s coming in probably will end up heading in that direction,” he said.Trump’s tariffs will increase federal tax revenues by an estimated $171 billion this year, according to a Sept. 26 report from the&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/" target="_blank">Tax Foundation</a>, a nonpartisan, tax policy research nonprofit.On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the Trump administration is considering aid to farmers. He said in an<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/02/cnbc-transcript-us-treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-speaks-with-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;interview</a>&nbsp;with CNBC that farmers “should expect some news on Tuesday” about “substantial support for our farmers, especially the soybean farmers.”Jerry Schmitz is the executive director of the South Dakota Soybean Association. He said U.S. soybean prices are down more than a dollar per bushel from last year, from over $11 down to $10, with South Dakota prices another 80 cents to $1.35 lower. Local grain elevators are struggling because exports through the Pacific Northwest into Asian countries have slowed to a trickle.Based on the number of soybean acres planted this year, Schmitz said a $1 drop in price equates to about $250 million of lost income for South Dakota farmers.A tariff is a tax paid by importers, with the cost often passed along in prices charged to customers. Schmitz said the impact of tariffs on farmers goes beyond the obvious. An example is a rise in fertilizer prices, “partly due to inflation, but exacerbated by the tariffs.”Streff, the Salem-area farmer, also works as a commodities broker in Mitchell. He said farmers like him who locked in a price with a grain buyer months before harvest are doing better, but “you were gambling on the future.”“A lot of farmers were hoping the president learned from the last time around,” he said. “But it didn’t surprise me — he campaigned on doing these tariffs. The U.S. elected someone who likes to pick fights with other countries, and now we’re in the middle of it.”He said others waited to see how the crop would turn out and if trade relations with China would improve. They haven’t.Farm leaders and state officials are creating new domestic soybean uses, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/09/09/500-million-soybean-processing-plant-opens-in-mitchell/" target="_blank">$500 million soybean processing plant</a>&nbsp;in Mitchell that will mostly use soybeans to make renewable diesel and livestock feed.Streff said that’s encouraging, but it won’t replace the demand of a country with 1.4 billion people who like soybean-fed pork.“It’s not going to solve all our problems,” he said.It’s a point Thune echoed while in Rapid City.“We need to get the Chinese market back at some point because we sell a ton,” Thune said. “Sixty percent of our soybeans are exported, mostly to China. And so we’ve got to have those export markets.”This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2025/10/02/harvest-of-stress-soybean-farmers-await-help-as-tariff-dispute-closes-china-market/" target="_blank">South Dakota Searchlight</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Harvest of stress: Soybean farmers await help as tariff dispute closes China market

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for an alleged attack on a bus driver in Lawrence.

Just after 3p.m. Saturday, police were called to 11th and New Hampshire in Lawrence after a bus passenger witnessed a man acting erratically - then shove the bus driver and break out a window with his fist, according to a media release from Lawrence police.

The driver asked the passenger to roll up the window because it wasn’t allowed. When the passenger refused and began disrupting other passengers, the driver pulled the bus over and told the passenger to get off the bus.

The man then shoved the bus driver, ripped the driver’s glasses off his face and punched out the window.   Officers quickly arrived and found the man shirtless and agitated outside the bus and took him into custody.  The driver did not require medical treatment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758456623358.png" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for an alleged attack on a bus driver in Lawrence.Just after 3p.m. Saturday, police were called to 11th and New Hampshire in Lawrence after a bus passenger witnessed a man acting erratically - then shove the bus driver and break out a window with his fist, according to a media release from Lawrence police.The driver asked the passenger to roll up the window because it wasn’t allowed. When the passenger refused and began disrupting other passengers, the driver pulled the bus over and told the passenger to get off the bus.The man then shoved the bus driver, ripped the driver’s glasses off his face and punched out the window. Officers quickly arrived and found the man shirtless and agitated outside the bus and took him into custody. The driver did not require medical treatment.

Police: Kansas man jailed after attack on bus driver

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp;Ta’Kori Jones, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just before 5:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 7100 block of Longview Road on a reported shooting, according to DiMartino.

Upon arrival officers located Jones suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD EMS responded and transported the boy to a local hospital in critical condition. Crime scene personnel and Assault Squad detectives responded to the scene to begin the investigation .Just before 9:30 PM, detectives were notified that Jones died of his injuries. Homicide detectives took over the investigation continue to look for video surveillance and potential witnesses. 

&nbsp;The preliminary investigation indicated there was an interaction between multiple individuals in a nearby park just prior to the shots being fired and the Jones being struck. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759714434941.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp;Ta’Kori Jones, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just before 5:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to the 7100 block of Longview Road on a reported shooting, according to DiMartino.Upon arrival officers located Jones suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD EMS responded and transported the boy to a local hospital in critical condition. Crime scene personnel and Assault Squad detectives responded to the scene to begin the investigation .Just before 9:30 PM, detectives were notified that Jones died of his injuries. Homicide detectives took over the investigation continue to look for video surveillance and potential witnesses. &nbsp;The preliminary investigation indicated there was an interaction between multiple individuals in a nearby park just prior to the shots being fired and the Jones being struck.

KCPD: 16-year-old killed in shooting at a park

WASHINGTON —The government shutdown is moving into day 6 with no end in sight. The White House has&nbsp;a rolling government shutdown clock on the official White House website.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/government-shutdown-clock/">Click here to view the Clock</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759744952822.png" alt="White House government shutdown clock just after 5a.m. Monday" />
 <figcaption>White House government shutdown clock just after 5a.m. Monday</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The government shutdown is moving into day 6 with no end in sight. The White House has&nbsp;a rolling government shutdown clock on the official White House website.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/government-shutdown-clock/">Click here to view the Clock</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759315687610.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>

Government shutdown day 6: No immediate end in sight

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City&nbsp; man was sentenced in federal court this week for illegally possessing eight firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.

David Michael Gager, also known as David Kash, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 71 months in federal prison without parole for being a felon in possession of firearms.

On Mar. 7, 2025, Gager pleaded guilty to five counts of knowingly being a felon in possession of firearms between Apr. 19, 2024, and May 16, 2024.&nbsp; During this period, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives utilized a confidential informant and an undercover agent to conduct four separate controlled purchases of firearms from Gager.&nbsp; During these transactions, Gager mentioned that he could get machineguns and methamphetamine for future transactions.&nbsp; 

During one transaction, Gager indicated that he acquires firearms in Kansas City and transports them to Chicago where he sells them for a profit.&nbsp;On May 9, 2024, Kansas City, Mo. Police Department officers executed a warrant for Gager’s arrest.&nbsp; The arrest occurred at a convenience store located on Prospect Avenue.&nbsp; Officers discovered a 9mm handgun that Gager had thrown in a trashcan near the front of the convenience store when he noticed officers approaching.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759539473749.png" alt="Gager from a previous arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Gager from a previous arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City&nbsp; man was sentenced in federal court this week for illegally possessing eight firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.David Michael Gager, also known as David Kash, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 71 months in federal prison without parole for being a felon in possession of firearms.On Mar. 7, 2025, Gager pleaded guilty to five counts of knowingly being a felon in possession of firearms between Apr. 19, 2024, and May 16, 2024.&nbsp; During this period, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives utilized a confidential informant and an undercover agent to conduct four separate controlled purchases of firearms from Gager.&nbsp; During these transactions, Gager mentioned that he could get machineguns and methamphetamine for future transactions.&nbsp; During one transaction, Gager indicated that he acquires firearms in Kansas City and transports them to Chicago where he sells them for a profit.&nbsp;On May 9, 2024, Kansas City, Mo. Police Department officers executed a warrant for Gager’s arrest.&nbsp; The arrest occurred at a convenience store located on Prospect Avenue.&nbsp; Officers discovered a 9mm handgun that Gager had thrown in a trashcan near the front of the convenience store when he noticed officers approaching.

KC felon sold firearms to undercover ATF agent 

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces felony charges for a gunfight at a business in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2736/Cushon-REDACT-COMP">Unique A. Cushon</a>, 35,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Assault, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.&nbsp;

On September 28,&nbsp;Kansas City police were dispatched to a business in south Kansas City on Sept. 28 and located a victim who was shot in the chest. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition, ,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2737/Cushon-REDACT-PC">According to court records</a>,

While on scene, Raytown police advised they located a shooting victim, later identified as Cushon, who was shot in the head and back and was transported to the hospital.&nbsp;

Based on multiple witness reports, Cushon left the business and tried to come back in. The shooting victim, who was working security, told him that if he came back in, he would have to pay. Cushon started arguing with the victim. Another man went and retrieved a firearm from a vehicle and handed it to Cushon who fired a shot into the air and then pointed the firearm at the victim and everyone else inside the business.&nbsp;

The victim, in self-defense of himself and others, pulled his firearm and fired one round at the Cushon. The victim realized he was shot and ran inside for help.&nbsp;

Surveillance footage captured the argument between the victim and Cushon and an unknown man taking a firearm from his waistband and handing it to someone. Shortly afterward, the crowd started ducking and the victim returned fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759708658060.png" alt="Cushon photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Cushon photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces felony charges for a gunfight at a business in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2736/Cushon-REDACT-COMP">Unique A. Cushon</a>, 35,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Assault, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.&nbsp;On September 28,&nbsp;Kansas City police were dispatched to a business in south Kansas City on Sept. 28 and located a victim who was shot in the chest. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition, ,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2737/Cushon-REDACT-PC">According to court records</a>,While on scene, Raytown police advised they located a shooting victim, later identified as Cushon, who was shot in the head and back and was transported to the hospital.&nbsp;Based on multiple witness reports, Cushon left the business and tried to come back in. The shooting victim, who was working security, told him that if he came back in, he would have to pay. Cushon started arguing with the victim. Another man went and retrieved a firearm from a vehicle and handed it to Cushon who fired a shot into the air and then pointed the firearm at the victim and everyone else inside the business.&nbsp;The victim, in self-defense of himself and others, pulled his firearm and fired one round at the Cushon. The victim realized he was shot and ran inside for help.&nbsp;Surveillance footage captured the argument between the victim and Cushon and an unknown man taking a firearm from his waistband and handing it to someone. Shortly afterward, the crowd started ducking and the victim returned fire.Cushon is being held on a $75,000 bond.

Man injured in gunfight with security guard at KC business

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> arrive aboard the USS George H.W. Bush off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, to celebrate the <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a>&#39;s 250th birthday. <a href="http
s://t.co/BrP0ByFZmX">pic.twitter.com/BrP0ByFZmX</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974892908827300085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump and theFirst Lady walk through a cordon of U.S. Navy Sailors as they arrive on the USSS Harry’s Truman 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/EXhHyWHQ0e">pic.twitter.com/EXhHyWHQ0e</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1974927779763556583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">NAVY 1! President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> makes an announcement on USSS George H.W. Bush 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/WqMVLvREXg">pic.twitter.com/WqMVLvREXg</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1974928957561819394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: We are gathered on this storied waterfront to celebrate 250 years of strength, tenacity, and unwavering courage by the greatest fighting force ever to roam the seas — the UNITED STATES NAVY. <a href="https://t.co/sOYwKP8V3x">pic.twitter.com/sOYwKP8V3x</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974933318073508208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Docked beside us today are a combined 150,000 tons of pure American Naval supremacy — and two colossal reasons why NO ONE should ever want to start a fight with the USA.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7uGYhVlpWh">pic.twitter.com/7uGYhVlpWh</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974934985653277096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUIS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUIS</a>: &quot;Whenever duty calls, American Sailors will hoist our flag high and they will rally to Admiral Farragut&#39;s immortal battle cry: &#39;DAMN THE TORPEDOS, FULL SPEED AHEAD!&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0pJleUey7N">pic.twitter.com/0pJleUey7N</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974943920779153693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>: &quot;HOOYAH, NAVY!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gUMfbjZZv5">pic.twitter.com/gUMfbjZZv5</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974931079682457750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">THE <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNAVY</a> LOVES <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a>! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/my6pxPAHOP">pic.twitter.com/my6pxPAHOP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974929453295006076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">THE <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNAVY</a> LOVES <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECWAR</a>! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/my6pxPAHOP">pic.twitter.com/my6pxPAHOP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974929453295006076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">250 years of the greatest fighting force ever to roam the seas — THE UNITED STATES NAVY. 🇺🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a> ⚓️ <a href="https://t.co/pwZLiAMNz6">pic.twitter.com/pwZLiAMNz6</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1974944835108065313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sailors wave goodbye to President Trump after the largest celebration in the history of the U.S. Navy! ⚓️🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/03f8ztRTSl">pic.twitter.com/03f8ztRTSl</a>&mdash; Anna Kelly (@AnnaKelly47) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnaKelly47/status/1974946429543366974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">TRUMP DANCE ABOARD THE USS HARRY S. TRUMAN! GOD BLESS OUR NAVY! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/TCYmQ2ayh0">pic.twitter.com/TCYmQ2ayh0</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1974944086718403000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 President, First Lady celebrate Navy's 250th birthday 

WABAUNSEE COUNTY&nbsp;– A former correctional officer of the Wabaunsee County Jail was arrested Sunday following an investigation led by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, according to a media relase.

Jeffery Patrick, 48, was arrested Sunday at approximately 12:00 p.m. after he turned himself in to authorities at the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Patrick was arrested for one count of mistreatment of a confined person.

On May 28 of this year, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office contacted the KBI for assistance with a correctional officer who was reportedly taking money from an inmate for personal use. The KBI conducted an investigation, leading to the arrest warrant being served by the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office.

The alleged incidents occurred between March and May at the Wabaunsee County Jail, where Patrick served as a correctional officer until he was terminated in June.

Following his arrest, Patrick was booked into the Pottawatomie County Jail.

WABAUNSEE COUNTY&nbsp;– A former correctional officer of the Wabaunsee County Jail was arrested Sunday following an investigation led by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, according to a media relase.Jeffery Patrick, 48, was arrested Sunday at approximately 12:00 p.m. after he turned himself in to authorities at the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Patrick was arrested for one count of mistreatment of a confined person.On May 28 of this year, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office contacted the KBI for assistance with a correctional officer who was reportedly taking money from an inmate for personal use. The KBI conducted an investigation, leading to the arrest warrant being served by the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office.The alleged incidents occurred between March and May at the Wabaunsee County Jail, where Patrick served as a correctional officer until he was terminated in June.Following his arrest, Patrick was booked into the Pottawatomie County Jail.

KBI: Former Kansas county jailer arrested

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

A pedestrian was crossing 31st Street westbound in the crosswalk, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. At the same time, a Mazda CX-9 was traveling northbound on Southwest Trafficway with a green traffic light and struck the pedestrian.

 The pedestrian was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased by medical staff. Police released no additional details. The incident remains under investigation.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.A pedestrian was crossing 31st Street westbound in the crosswalk, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. At the same time, a Mazda CX-9 was traveling northbound on Southwest Trafficway with a green traffic light and struck the pedestrian. The pedestrian was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased by medical staff. Police released no additional details. The incident remains under investigation.

KCPD investigating fatal pedestrian accident

KANSAS CITY —One person died and three others were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday in Clay County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Subaru Forester driven by a 36-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 29 just south of U.S. 169. The Subaru struck a 2007 Honda Accord driven by a 22-year-old Kansas City, Kansas man head-on.&nbsp; After impact the Honda struck a 2021 Chevy Traverse driven by a 67-year-old Kansas City, Missouri woman and a 2024 Toyota Venza driven by a 27-year-old Smithville woman.

A 21-year-old Kansas City, Kansas woman in Honda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported the Honda driver and the Subaru driver to North Kansas City Hospital. The 67-year-old driver refused treatment at the scene. The Subaru driver was also not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759667832059.png" alt="Image KC Scout Camera" />
 <figcaption>Image KC Scout Camera</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —One person died and three others were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday in Clay County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Subaru Forester driven by a 36-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 29 just south of U.S. 169. The Subaru struck a 2007 Honda Accord driven by a 22-year-old Kansas City, Kansas man head-on.&nbsp; After impact the Honda struck a 2021 Chevy Traverse driven by a 67-year-old Kansas City, Missouri woman and a 2024 Toyota Venza driven by a 27-year-old Smithville woman.A 21-year-old Kansas City, Kansas woman in Honda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported the Honda driver and the Subaru driver to North Kansas City Hospital. The 67-year-old driver refused treatment at the scene. The Subaru driver was also not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

1 dead, 3 injured after wrong-way, head-on crash on Mo. highway

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">Maya Smith</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>

LAWRENCE — Lawrence firefighters union president Seamus Albritton says the community might have to wait longer for emergency responses as a result of budget cuts.

The Lawrence City Commission recently cut the Lawrence Fire-Medical Department budget by $1.5 million. The department’s response times already exceed six minutes for arrival to structured fires, above the National Fire Protection Association standard of four minutes or less for career departments.

“We have the data that support that we’re already understaffed at the number of fire trucks that we have now,” Albritton said. “They’re choosing to cut the core services of the city. Your core services keep the citizens safe, and they choose to fund things beyond public safety.”

This cut will eliminate one truck from Lawrence Station No. 5, right next to the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Lawrence is not alone in cutting fire-medical budgets. Amid budget shortfalls across the state, public safety departments are facing cuts. And service providers are sounding alarms about the impact those cuts could have, especially in rural communities.

“When people dial 911, they expect a response,” state fire management officer Bill Waln said. “The mission of any emergency response organization is to make sure that their response is timely, safe, and effective. Significant cuts can make that more challenging, not because the commitment of the emergency responder changes, but because resources are what allow us to meet the public’s expectations.”

Kansas communities rely on federal grants that provide funding for small fire departments’ training, maintaining equipment and funding jobs. For rural communities, Waln said, federal grants can be a lifeline.

“When those grants are cut, departments don’t lose their dedication, but they may lose the tools or people they need to meet the public’s expectation when they dial 911,” Waln said. “For emergency responders, that translates into longer hours, more stress, and in some cases greater risk on the job. They carry a tremendous weight, knowing the community depends on them no matter what.”

Beyond the cost of equipment and facilities, some small communities struggle to have enough manpower to cover their county’s emergencies.

Rural counties are heavily reliant on volunteer firefighters, with 78.6% of departments across the state being volunteer, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://klcjournal.com/the-volunteer-fire-departments-protecting-rural-kansas-face-an-emergency-finding-enough-joiners/#:~:text=But%20the%20state%20is%20disproportionately%20reliant%20on,another%2011.4%25%20rate%20as%20%E2%80%9Cmostly%20volunteer%E2%80%9D%20departments." target="_blank">the National Fire Department Registry.</a>

“We have 65- and 70-year-olds in the line of duty,” said Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell. “ This is an incredibly physically demanding job.  The fire doesn’t care what your paycheck is. Old men and women still serving simply because they want to serve their community — and there’s no one coming in to take over for them is really a travesty in my opinion.”

With fewer volunteers, rural counties rely on neighboring counties to take on emergency response — putting rural communities at risk of first responders arriving too late.&nbsp;

“Instead of seven minutes, they get there in 27 minutes,” Russell said. “They’re there to help clean up — to put out the ashes.”

Response times highlight the broader issues within fire-medical departments, from staffing shortages to the politics involved with the budget making process, ultimately leading to first responders being stretched too thin, Waln said.

“When reductions affect emergency response organizations, I hope leaders fully recognize the potential impact,” Waln said. “Citizens expect that when they call for help, the response is quick, safe, and effective. Any decision that changes that expectation carries very real consequences for safety, trust, and the wellbeing of those on the front lines.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759612611355.png" alt=" Lawrence Station 5 is among fire departments across the state facing budget cuts, leading to potentially longer response times. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Lawrence Station 5 is among fire departments across the state facing budget cuts, leading to potentially longer response times. (Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">Maya Smith</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>LAWRENCE — Lawrence firefighters union president Seamus Albritton says the community might have to wait longer for emergency responses as a result of budget cuts.The Lawrence City Commission recently cut the Lawrence Fire-Medical Department budget by $1.5 million. The department’s response times already exceed six minutes for arrival to structured fires, above the National Fire Protection Association standard of four minutes or less for career departments.“We have the data that support that we’re already understaffed at the number of fire trucks that we have now,” Albritton said. “They’re choosing to cut the core services of the city. Your core services keep the citizens safe, and they choose to fund things beyond public safety.”This cut will eliminate one truck from Lawrence Station No. 5, right next to the University of Kansas.&nbsp;Lawrence is not alone in cutting fire-medical budgets. Amid budget shortfalls across the state, public safety departments are facing cuts. And service providers are sounding alarms about the impact those cuts could have, especially in rural communities.“When people dial 911, they expect a response,” state fire management officer Bill Waln said. “The mission of any emergency response organization is to make sure that their response is timely, safe, and effective. Significant cuts can make that more challenging, not because the commitment of the emergency responder changes, but because resources are what allow us to meet the public’s expectations.”Kansas communities rely on federal grants that provide funding for small fire departments’ training, maintaining equipment and funding jobs. For rural communities, Waln said, federal grants can be a lifeline.“When those grants are cut, departments don’t lose their dedication, but they may lose the tools or people they need to meet the public’s expectation when they dial 911,” Waln said. “For emergency responders, that translates into longer hours, more stress, and in some cases greater risk on the job. They carry a tremendous weight, knowing the community depends on them no matter what.”Beyond the cost of equipment and facilities, some small communities struggle to have enough manpower to cover their county’s emergencies.Rural counties are heavily reliant on volunteer firefighters, with 78.6% of departments across the state being volunteer, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://klcjournal.com/the-volunteer-fire-departments-protecting-rural-kansas-face-an-emergency-finding-enough-joiners/#:~:text=But%20the%20state%20is%20disproportionately%20reliant%20on,another%2011.4%25%20rate%20as%20%E2%80%9Cmostly%20volunteer%E2%80%9D%20departments." target="_blank">the National Fire Department Registry.</a>“We have 65- and 70-year-olds in the line of duty,” said Andover Fire Chief Chad Russell. “ This is an incredibly physically demanding job.  The fire doesn’t care what your paycheck is. Old men and women still serving simply because they want to serve their community — and there’s no one coming in to take over for them is really a travesty in my opinion.”With fewer volunteers, rural counties rely on neighboring counties to take on emergency response — putting rural communities at risk of first responders arriving too late.&nbsp;“Instead of seven minutes, they get there in 27 minutes,” Russell said. “They’re there to help clean up — to put out the ashes.”Response times highlight the broader issues within fire-medical departments, from staffing shortages to the politics involved with the budget making process, ultimately leading to first responders being stretched too thin, Waln said.“When reductions affect emergency response organizations, I hope leaders fully recognize the potential impact,” Waln said. “Citizens expect that when they call for help, the response is quick, safe, and effective. Any decision that changes that expectation carries very real consequences for safety, trust, and the wellbeing of those on the front lines.”

From budget cuts to lack of volunteers, Kansas counties face increased fire response times

KANSAS CITY. – A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court to being in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the United State's Attorney.

Donnique H. Kelley, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to participating in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents, between the dates of Dec. 14, 2022 and March 23, 2023, Kelley and others sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to law enforcement officials on at least seven separate occasions.&nbsp;

On Sept. 12, 2023, following a car stop on East 63rd Street, Kansas City, Mo., a co-conspirator and source of supply of fentanyl and methamphetamine for the conspiracy was found in possession of 4.45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.02 kilograms of marijuana, and $14,382.

Under federal statutes, Kelley is subject to a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

KANSAS CITY. – A Kansas City man pleaded guilty in federal court to being in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the United State's Attorney.Donnique H. Kelley, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to participating in a conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl.According to court documents, between the dates of Dec. 14, 2022 and March 23, 2023, Kelley and others sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to law enforcement officials on at least seven separate occasions.&nbsp;On Sept. 12, 2023, following a car stop on East 63rd Street, Kansas City, Mo., a co-conspirator and source of supply of fentanyl and methamphetamine for the conspiracy was found in possession of 4.45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.02 kilograms of marijuana, and $14,382.Under federal statutes, Kelley is subject to a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Kansas City man sold fentanyl, meth to law enforcement officers

By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

The Des Moines School Board is suing JG Consulting, the firm contracted in the search that led to hiring former Superintendent Ian Roberts.

The board hired Roberts in 2023. He held the position until Sept. 30, when he resigned after being placed on&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/29/state-board-revokes-dmps-superintendent-ian-roberts-license-after-ice-arrest/">unpaid administrative leave</a>&nbsp;by the school board Monday and having his license revoked by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Sunday.

These actions came after Roberts was&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/26/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-in-ice-custody-after-arrest/">detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement</a>. Roberts, who is a citizen of Guyana according to court documents, was arrested by ICE agents Sept. 26 during a “targeted enforcement operation,” a news release from the federal agency stated. A handgun, hunting knife and $3,000 in cash were found in his vehicle, and ICE stated he evaded arrest.

While there has been significant confusion and backlash surrounding Roberts’ detainment, in the days since his arrest, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/03/dhs-releases-new-information-extensive-criminal-history-illegal-alien-ian-roberts" target="_blank">has released documents</a>&nbsp;confirming Roberts was given an order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, and he has faced multiple criminal charges.

Some of the information that has come to light about Roberts’ background, such as a 2022 criminal charge for having a loaded weapon in his vehicle while hunting, and that he had not received the doctorate from Morgan State University claimed in his resume, were subjects flagged for Des Moines Public Schools and board members during the superintendent search process.

But DMPS officials said many of the issues brought up since his arrest — including his immigration status, previous criminal charges as well as the falsification of other parts of his resume — were subjects that should have been flagged during the search and background check process.

After two closed session meetings Friday, Board President Jackie Norris announced the board was filing a lawsuit against JG Consulting for breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation and negligence in the process of offering Roberts as a candidate.

The lawsuit states the $41,000 contract between the search firm and DMPS required candidates be referred to the district only if the business “reasonably believed the candidate could lawfully and satisfactorily perform the position and that the candidate’s application materials were true and complete.”

Norris said JG Consulting “failed its duty to properly vet candidates,” and that Roberts “should have never been presented as a finalist.” The contract required the firm to conduct “comprehensive reference calls” to verify employment experiences, in addition to criminal, credit and background checks conducted through a third party, Norris said, and the business was required to provide all known information, both positive and negative, to the board.

“That did not occur,” Norris said. “We are pursuing pursuing legal action, as allowed by law. This is about accountability. Taxpayer dollars were used, and we are seeking accountability.”

The DHS report, released Friday, included information on Roberts’ alleged criminal history such as 1996 charges for the criminal possession of narcotics and possession of a forged instrument in New York as well as previously reported weapons charges.

“Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in the news release. “When ICE officers arrested this Superintendent, he was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash. This criminal illegal alien is now in U.S. Marshals custody and facing charges for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearms.”

Several of the academic institutions Roberts claimed to have received degrees or honors from disputed having records of his enrollment, or of granting him awards,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2025/10/01/dmps-superintendent-ian-andre-roberts-did-not-attend-mit-university-says/86454972007/" target="_blank">the Des Moines Register</a>&nbsp;has reported.

Josh Romero, attorney for JG Consulting, said in a statement Friday that Roberts had provided the necessary documents to show he was eligible for the superintendent position in regard to his citizenship — he had completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted other required documentation showing his employment eligibility when hired by DMPS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758925503158.png" alt="&nbsp;Ian Roberts in February 2020.- photo ICE" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Ian Roberts in February 2020.- photo ICE</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a> <a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>The Des Moines School Board is suing JG Consulting, the firm contracted in the search that led to hiring former Superintendent Ian Roberts.The board hired Roberts in 2023. He held the position until Sept. 30, when he resigned after being placed on&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/29/state-board-revokes-dmps-superintendent-ian-roberts-license-after-ice-arrest/">unpaid administrative leave</a>&nbsp;by the school board Monday and having his license revoked by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Sunday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759615148707.png" alt=" Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, right, greets students and staff on the first day of school at Goodrell Elementary on Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jon Lemons/Courtesy of Des Moines Public Schools)" />
 <figcaption> Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, right, greets students and staff on the first day of school at Goodrell Elementary on Aug. 25, 2025. (Photo by Jon Lemons/Courtesy of Des Moines Public Schools)</figcaption>
 </figure>These actions came after Roberts was&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/26/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-in-ice-custody-after-arrest/">detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement</a>. Roberts, who is a citizen of Guyana according to court documents, was arrested by ICE agents Sept. 26 during a “targeted enforcement operation,” a news release from the federal agency stated. A handgun, hunting knife and $3,000 in cash were found in his vehicle, and ICE stated he evaded arrest.While there has been significant confusion and backlash surrounding Roberts’ detainment, in the days since his arrest, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/10/03/dhs-releases-new-information-extensive-criminal-history-illegal-alien-ian-roberts" target="_blank">has released documents</a>&nbsp;confirming Roberts was given an order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2024, and he has faced multiple criminal charges.Some of the information that has come to light about Roberts’ background, such as a 2022 criminal charge for having a loaded weapon in his vehicle while hunting, and that he had not received the doctorate from Morgan State University claimed in his resume, were subjects flagged for Des Moines Public Schools and board members during the superintendent search process.But DMPS officials said many of the issues brought up since his arrest — including his immigration status, previous criminal charges as well as the falsification of other parts of his resume — were subjects that should have been flagged during the search and background check process.After two closed session meetings Friday, Board President Jackie Norris announced the board was filing a lawsuit against JG Consulting for breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation and negligence in the process of offering Roberts as a candidate.The lawsuit states the $41,000 contract between the search firm and DMPS required candidates be referred to the district only if the business “reasonably believed the candidate could lawfully and satisfactorily perform the position and that the candidate’s application materials were true and complete.”Norris said JG Consulting “failed its duty to properly vet candidates,” and that Roberts “should have never been presented as a finalist.” The contract required the firm to conduct “comprehensive reference calls” to verify employment experiences, in addition to criminal, credit and background checks conducted through a third party, Norris said, and the business was required to provide all known information, both positive and negative, to the board.“That did not occur,” Norris said. “We are pursuing pursuing legal action, as allowed by law. This is about accountability. Taxpayer dollars were used, and we are seeking accountability.”The DHS report, released Friday, included information on Roberts’ alleged criminal history such as 1996 charges for the criminal possession of narcotics and possession of a forged instrument in New York as well as previously reported weapons charges.“Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in the news release. “When ICE officers arrested this Superintendent, he was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash. This criminal illegal alien is now in U.S. Marshals custody and facing charges for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearms.”Several of the academic institutions Roberts claimed to have received degrees or honors from disputed having records of his enrollment, or of granting him awards,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2025/10/01/dmps-superintendent-ian-andre-roberts-did-not-attend-mit-university-says/86454972007/" target="_blank">the Des Moines Register</a>&nbsp;has reported.Josh Romero, attorney for JG Consulting, said in a statement Friday that Roberts had provided the necessary documents to show he was eligible for the superintendent position in regard to his citizenship — he had completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted other required documentation showing his employment eligibility when hired by DMPS.Romero also stated that the firm’s team “identified and reported to the board on the discrepancy in his educational history prior to the board making its selection,” and that the Des Moines school board chose to move forward.“That the district has now decided to litigate about their choice of candidate at this time, when they have had all relevant information since the beginning, is unfortunate and unwarranted,” Romero said in the statement. “We will answer any claims brought by the district in court.”JG Consulting had contracted with Baker-Eubanks, a separate consulting firm, to perform third-party background checks during Roberts’ hiring process. A news release from Baker-Eubanks stated it was not contracted to perform work addressing eligibility or citizenship verification.But Norris said information on Roberts’ criminal history and educational background should have been uncovered through the search process.“I think it’s clear that people are identifying and finding information online in a matter of hours,” Norris said. “And so it is probably something that they should have caught, and that was our expectation.”