KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 46-year-old Keevon U. Mitchell, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just after 11:30a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched a report of a vehicle accident in the area of 56th and Woodland in Kansas City.

The call was upgraded to a shooting. As officers arrived they located Mitchell inside of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS. Emergency medical personnel pronounced Mitchell deceased on scene.This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739759041991.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 46-year-old Keevon U. Mitchell, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just after 11:30a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched a report of a vehicle accident in the area of 56th and Woodland in Kansas City.The call was upgraded to a shooting. As officers arrived they located Mitchell inside of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound.Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS. Emergency medical personnel pronounced Mitchell deceased on scene.This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Police: Victim in weekend KC homicide a 46-year-old man

CASS COUNTY, Neb. —The Nebraska State Patrol announced Monday that Trooper Kyle McAcy #302 was killed in the line of duty in a traffic crash on Interstate 80.

Preliminary investigation shows that Trooper McAcy was responding with other troopers to a crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 424, between Ashland and Greenwood. During that response, Trooper McAcy was outside his patrol unit and was struck by a snowplow.

Troopers immediately rushed to his aid, but Trooper McAcy succumbed to his injuries on scene. The Nebraska State Patrol has asked the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the crash investigation. Trooper McAcy’s family has been notified and NSP personnel are providing support at this time.

“Our NSP family is devastated today,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Kyle was a dedicated trooper, a devoted public servant, and most importantly a good friend to many in Omaha and beyond. His loss is being felt by countless people. Please keep his family, friends, colleagues, and community in your hearts as they deal with this unimaginable loss.”

Trooper McAcy, 31, was a ten-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol. He was a graduate of Camp 56 and wore badge #302. Trooper McAcy has served in the Patrol Division, Carrier Enforcement, and as a Crisis Negotiator. He was stationed in Omaha.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739823420144.png" alt="Portions of I-80 were closed between mile markers 420 and 426 after the crash-photo courtesy KETV" />
 <figcaption>Portions of I-80 were closed between mile markers 420 and 426 after the crash-photo courtesy KETV</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY, Neb. —The Nebraska State Patrol announced Monday that Trooper Kyle McAcy #302 was killed in the line of duty in a traffic crash on Interstate 80.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739843479943.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary investigation shows that Trooper McAcy was responding with other troopers to a crash on Interstate 80 near mile marker 424, between Ashland and Greenwood. During that response, Trooper McAcy was outside his patrol unit and was struck by a snowplow.Troopers immediately rushed to his aid, but Trooper McAcy succumbed to his injuries on scene. The Nebraska State Patrol has asked the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the crash investigation. Trooper McAcy’s family has been notified and NSP personnel are providing support at this time.“Our NSP family is devastated today,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Kyle was a dedicated trooper, a devoted public servant, and most importantly a good friend to many in Omaha and beyond. His loss is being felt by countless people. Please keep his family, friends, colleagues, and community in your hearts as they deal with this unimaginable loss.”Trooper McAcy, 31, was a ten-year veteran of the Nebraska State Patrol. He was a graduate of Camp 56 and wore badge #302. Trooper McAcy has served in the Patrol Division, Carrier Enforcement, and as a Crisis Negotiator. He was stationed in Omaha.

Patrol IDs Trooper killed after struck by a snow plow

KANSAS CITY– Employees with the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service are among three defendants who have been indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing and cashing a U.S. Treasury check, according to the United State's Attorney.

Sierra S. McCall, 31, of Independence, Mo., Jalen Koonce, 31, of Raytown, Mo., and Julian A. King, 31, address unknown, were charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, Feb. 6. The indictment was unsealed and made public following Koonce’s arrest and initial court appearance on Friday, Feb. 7.

McCall is employed by the IRS as a customer contact representative. Koonce is employed by the U.S. Postal Service at the sorting facility where government checks are processed.

The federal indictment charges McCall, Koonce, and King together in one count of the theft of government property. The indictment alleges they aided and abetted each other to steal and cash a $72,236 U.S. Treasury check on Aug. 9, 2023.

The indictment also charges Koonce and King each with one count of money laundering related to financial transactions on Aug. 9, 2023, that involved the proceeds of the theft of government property.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

KANSAS CITY– Employees with the IRS and the U.S. Postal Service are among three defendants who have been indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing and cashing a U.S. Treasury check, according to the United State's Attorney.Sierra S. McCall, 31, of Independence, Mo., Jalen Koonce, 31, of Raytown, Mo., and Julian A. King, 31, address unknown, were charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, Feb. 6. The indictment was unsealed and made public following Koonce’s arrest and initial court appearance on Friday, Feb. 7.McCall is employed by the IRS as a customer contact representative. Koonce is employed by the U.S. Postal Service at the sorting facility where government checks are processed.The federal indictment charges McCall, Koonce, and King together in one count of the theft of government property. The indictment alleges they aided and abetted each other to steal and cash a $72,236 U.S. Treasury check on Aug. 9, 2023.The indictment also charges Koonce and King each with one count of money laundering related to financial transactions on Aug. 9, 2023, that involved the proceeds of the theft of government property.The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General.

IRS, KC postal employees accused of stealing U.S. Treasury check

Good news from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp; The Department's Game Warden social media page released a video last week of amazing effort by a warden in November.

According to the post, last Thanksgiving, a Kansas Game Wardens was called out on his day off to a whitetail buck stuck in a fence.

 It was apparent that the buck had been there most of the night, as he was very tired and not happy. The buck appeared to have a nylon rope tied to an aluminum pipe that was caught in his antlers, and when he attempted to jump the fence it must have got caught.

 The game warden was able to successfully cut the deer free without harm. Wardens across the state frequently get these types of calls during the months when deer are on the move, and many times wonder if they survive such a stressful incident. This story has a happy ending as a local passerby posted a photo he took of what appears to be the same buck in the area approximately one month later.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739460602264.png" alt="image from the video" />
 <figcaption>image from the video</figcaption>
 </figure>Good news from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.&nbsp; The Department's Game Warden social media page released a video last week of amazing effort by a warden in November.According to the post, last Thanksgiving, a Kansas Game Wardens was called out on his day off to a whitetail buck stuck in a fence.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkdwpgamewardens%2Fvideos%2F606352438774414%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=8" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div> It was apparent that the buck had been there most of the night, as he was very tired and not happy. The buck appeared to have a nylon rope tied to an aluminum pipe that was caught in his antlers, and when he attempted to jump the fence it must have got caught. The game warden was able to successfully cut the deer free without harm. Wardens across the state frequently get these types of calls during the months when deer are on the move, and many times wonder if they survive such a stressful incident. This story has a happy ending as a local passerby posted a photo he took of what appears to be the same buck in the area approximately one month later.

Kansas game warden frees whitetail buck stuck in a fence

SALINE COUNTY —Police in Salina are investigating a double-homicide and have a registered Kansas violent offender in custody.

Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 700 block of Vassar Drive in Salina, according to a media release.

First responders located two women in the driveway of the home who were deceased due to an apparent homicide.

Moments later, officers located the suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Preston James Reyna a couple blocks from the scene and took him into custody without incident.

Reyna, of Salina, is being held on requested charges that include two counts of 1st Degree Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated DV Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, 2 counts of DV Battery, and DV Damage to Property.

Reyna has been listed as a Registered Offender since 2014 after a 2009 conviction in Saline County for second degree murder.&nbsp; According to the Associated Press, Reyna was to be evaluated at Larned State Hospital after he pleaded guilty to unintentional second-degree murder in death of Nicolas Chavez Castro. He beat Castro to death with a board.

During trial, Reyna's mother, Rosalinda Reyna, testified that on the day Castro was killed, she was trying to get someone to help her get her son to the Salina Regional Health Center. Prosecutors say Castro was killed because Reyna mistakenly believed he had kidnapped and raped his mother.&nbsp;Reyna has been previously been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739792336312.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Police in Salina are investigating a double-homicide and have a registered Kansas violent offender in custody.Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at a home in the 700 block of Vassar Drive in Salina, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739789789567.png" alt="Reyna photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Reyna photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located two women in the driveway of the home who were deceased due to an apparent homicide.Moments later, officers located the suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Preston James Reyna a couple blocks from the scene and took him into custody without incident.Reyna, of Salina, is being held on requested charges that include two counts of 1st Degree Murder, 2 counts of Aggravated DV Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, 2 counts of DV Battery, and DV Damage to Property.Reyna has been listed as a Registered Offender since 2014 after a 2009 conviction in Saline County for second degree murder.&nbsp; According to the Associated Press, Reyna was to be evaluated at Larned State Hospital after he pleaded guilty to unintentional second-degree murder in death of Nicolas Chavez Castro. He beat Castro to death with a board.During trial, Reyna's mother, Rosalinda Reyna, testified that on the day Castro was killed, she was trying to get someone to help her get her son to the Salina Regional Health Center. Prosecutors say Castro was killed because Reyna mistakenly believed he had kidnapped and raped his mother.&nbsp;Reyna has been previously been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

Suspect in death of 2 women has previous Kan. murder conviction 

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is investigating&nbsp; ​the use of skimming devices in the Kansas City metro area.&nbsp; Thieves placed illegal skimming devices at the businesses to collect purchase EBT card information used at stores, according to a media release from the agency.

The EBT team recently discovered suspicious out-of-state phone numbers calling to complete balance&nbsp;inquiries for multiple EBT cards. This unusual activity prompted the team to further investigate&nbsp;and identify three businesses in common where the EBT cards were used. 

The team then took quick&nbsp;action and proactively shut down about 1,000 EBT cards that were identified as being used at these&nbsp;businesses. Skimming devices were subsequently discovered at these businesses. DCF immediately made&nbsp;the stores aware of the devices and encouraged the stores to work with law enforcement. 

DCF is&nbsp;working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the incidents. “Through quick action, DCF prevented the theft of a total of $369,532 in benefits for about 830&nbsp;cardholders,”said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.

These cardholders will automatically have a replacement card loaded with their benefits mailed to&nbsp;their homes. Their new cards should arrive 5-7 business days after their original card was&nbsp;canceled.

To date, DCF has also identified 162 cardholders whose benefits were stolen through these skimming&nbsp;events with a total of $38,653.90 in benefits stolen.

A federal provision that provided federal funds to replace SNAP and TANF benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods expired on Dec. 20, 2024. It was not extended with the 2025 American Relief Act. At this time stolen benefits cannot be replaced and there is not state funding available to replace stolen benefits.DCF encourages victims to call United Way 211 by dialing 211 on their phone or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://unitedwaygkc.org/211-2/" target="_blank">211KC.org​</a>if they need help accessing food.

“It’s disheartening that there are people preying on some of the most vulnerable Kansans – children and the elderly – and are stealing the money they depend on to put food on their tables,”Howard said.Protecting cards/benefitsThe illegal use of skimming devices is a growing problem across the country. 

All Kansas EBT cardholders are encouraged to use the ebtEDGE app from DCF’s EBT contractor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS), or access the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com&nbsp;</a>to monitor their account and help safeguard their benefits by using the following features:

Third-party EBT apps do not provide the same protection features as ebtEDGE. The ebtEDGE app can be accessed in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.Cardholders are also encouraged to beware of phishing attempts and they should not share their card info or the PIN over the phone or via text message. DCF and FIS will never call or text cardholders and explicitly ask for their card number or PIN.“We encourage all cardholders to utilize the tools available through ebtEDGE to help protect their money from falling into the hands of thieves,”Howard said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/skimming" target="_blank">Federal Bureau of Investigation’s skimming</a>page provides more information about skimming scams and EBT card skimming.Requesting a new cardIf a Kansas EBT cardholder suspects their card has been compromised, they should immediately report the suspected fraud and request a new card by calling ebtEDGE Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com​</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597867755742.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) is investigating&nbsp; ​the use of skimming devices in the Kansas City metro area.&nbsp; Thieves placed illegal skimming devices at the businesses to collect purchase EBT card information used at stores, according to a media release from the agency.The EBT team recently discovered suspicious out-of-state phone numbers calling to complete balance&nbsp;inquiries for multiple EBT cards. This unusual activity prompted the team to further investigate&nbsp;and identify three businesses in common where the EBT cards were used. The team then took quick&nbsp;action and proactively shut down about 1,000 EBT cards that were identified as being used at these&nbsp;businesses. Skimming devices were subsequently discovered at these businesses. DCF immediately made&nbsp;the stores aware of the devices and encouraged the stores to work with law enforcement. DCF is&nbsp;working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate the incidents. “Through quick action, DCF prevented the theft of a total of $369,532 in benefits for about 830&nbsp;cardholders,”said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.These cardholders will automatically have a replacement card loaded with their benefits mailed to&nbsp;their homes. Their new cards should arrive 5-7 business days after their original card was&nbsp;canceled.To date, DCF has also identified 162 cardholders whose benefits were stolen through these skimming&nbsp;events with a total of $38,653.90 in benefits stolen.A federal provision that provided federal funds to replace SNAP and TANF benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning and other similar methods expired on Dec. 20, 2024. It was not extended with the 2025 American Relief Act. At this time stolen benefits cannot be replaced and there is not state funding available to replace stolen benefits.DCF encourages victims to call United Way 211 by dialing 211 on their phone or visit&nbsp;<a href="https://unitedwaygkc.org/211-2/" target="_blank">211KC.org​</a>if they need help accessing food.“It’s disheartening that there are people preying on some of the most vulnerable Kansans – children and the elderly – and are stealing the money they depend on to put food on their tables,”Howard said.Protecting cards/benefitsThe illegal use of skimming devices is a growing problem across the country. All Kansas EBT cardholders are encouraged to use the ebtEDGE app from DCF’s EBT contractor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS), or access the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com&nbsp;</a>to monitor their account and help safeguard their benefits by using the following features:<ol>
 <li>Freeze the EBT card when not using it. Cardholders must unfreeze the card when they are ready to make a purchase.</li><li>Block out-of-state and online transactions. Cardholders will have to unblock these transactions when they want to make an out-of-state or online purchase.</li><li>Regularly change the four-digit PIN and use number combinations that are not easy for others to figure out. For example, don’t use birthdays or anniversaries.</li>
 </ol>Third-party EBT apps do not provide the same protection features as ebtEDGE. The ebtEDGE app can be accessed in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.Cardholders are also encouraged to beware of phishing attempts and they should not share their card info or the PIN over the phone or via text message. DCF and FIS will never call or text cardholders and explicitly ask for their card number or PIN.“We encourage all cardholders to utilize the tools available through ebtEDGE to help protect their money from falling into the hands of thieves,”Howard said.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/skimming" target="_blank">Federal Bureau of Investigation’s skimming</a>page provides more information about skimming scams and EBT card skimming.Requesting a new cardIf a Kansas EBT cardholder suspects their card has been compromised, they should immediately report the suspected fraud and request a new card by calling ebtEDGE Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do" target="_blank">ebtedge.com​</a>.

Hundreds of Kansas EBT cards impacted by skimming fraud

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

Just after 11:30a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched a report of a vehicle accident in the area of 56th and Woodland in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

The call was upgraded to a shooting. As officers arrived they located an adult male victim inside of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. 

Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS. Emergency medical personnel pronounced the man deceased on scene.This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739759311054.png" alt="PHoto courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>PHoto courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 11:30a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched a report of a vehicle accident in the area of 56th and Woodland in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.The call was upgraded to a shooting. As officers arrived they located an adult male victim inside of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS. Emergency medical personnel pronounced the man deceased on scene.This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;

Homicide: Man found with gunshot wound in Kansas City

DAMASCUS —On Saturday, U.S. Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

"The airstrike is part of CENTCOM's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.'

On Feb. 12, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), enabled by U.S. Central Command&nbsp; forces, conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Rawa, Iraq, killing five ISIS operatives, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

An initial post-strike clearance confirmed the dead ISIS operatives, various medium and small caliber weapons, grenades, suicide explosive belts, and ammunition.

The ISF-led operation is part of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign to disrupt and degrade ISIS' capabilities, dismantle their attack networks, and ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. Coalition Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CTF-OIR) enabled ISF during the operation by providing technical support and intelligence. CJTF-OIR advises, assists, and enables partner forces to secure the lasting defeat of ISIS and to enable the establishment of enduring security cooperation frameworks. 

"ISF continue to be a credible and capable fighting element leading the D-ISIS mission in Iraq and are a valuable partner in efforts to diminish ISIS’s presence and its radical ideologies.'

"ISIS remains a threat to the region and beyond, and CENTCOM, along with partners and allies, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists."

"We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739746302792.png" alt="U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons patrol the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.-Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons patrol the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.-Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS —On Saturday, U.S. Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command."The airstrike is part of CENTCOM's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.'On Feb. 12, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), enabled by U.S. Central Command&nbsp; forces, conducted an airstrike in the vicinity of Rawa, Iraq, killing five ISIS operatives, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.An initial post-strike clearance confirmed the dead ISIS operatives, various medium and small caliber weapons, grenades, suicide explosive belts, and ammunition.The ISF-led operation is part of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign to disrupt and degrade ISIS' capabilities, dismantle their attack networks, and ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS. Coalition Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CTF-OIR) enabled ISF during the operation by providing technical support and intelligence. CJTF-OIR advises, assists, and enables partner forces to secure the lasting defeat of ISIS and to enable the establishment of enduring security cooperation frameworks. "ISF continue to be a credible and capable fighting element leading the D-ISIS mission in Iraq and are a valuable partner in efforts to diminish ISIS’s presence and its radical ideologies.'"ISIS remains a threat to the region and beyond, and CENTCOM, along with partners and allies, will continue to aggressively pursue these terrorists.""We will continue to relentlessly pursue terrorists in order to defend our homeland, and U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

U.S. forces kill senior operative of Al-Qaeda affiliate 

KANSAS CITY– A man who purchased more than 50 firearms has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally trafficking firearms and methamphetamine, according to the United State's Attorney.

David Allen Gaunt, 57, Strafford, Mo., was charged in a 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Gaunt on Jan. 16, 2025.

The federal indictment alleges that Gaunt participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 21, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2025. Those firearms, according to the indictment, included a Kalashnikov pistol, a Century Arms pistol, a Tokarev shotgun, a Canik pistol and an HS Produkt pistol. In addition to the conspiracy, Gaunt is charged with one count of trafficking those firearms to a recipient who was legally prohibited from possessing them.

The federal indictment also charges Gaunt with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of 15 different firearms. Gaunt is charged with four counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in order to purchase firearms, four counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, four counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of distributing methamphetamine.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Gaunt has personally purchased more than 50 firearms. On every purchase, the affidavit says, Gaunt marked “No” on the federal form that asked, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” Eighteen of these firearms have been recovered by law enforcement, from Gaunt and others. Additionally, 11 of the firearms Gaunt purchased have been either sold to or pawned at pawn shops.

Springfield police officers seized three of those firearms during the execution of two search warrants in separate drug-trafficking investigations in June 2023, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department seized one of those firearms during enforcement activities in July 2023. All of the firearms were seized from individuals who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, the affidavit says, and were traced to Gaunt as the original purchaser.

On Aug. 16, 2023, Springfield police officers stopped Gaunt near S. Glenstone Avenue and E. St. Louis Street. When officers searched his vehicle, they found six firearms. On Nov. 6, 2024, Springfield officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Gaunt. Officers seized a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from Gaunt’s waistband. A clear plastic bag of methamphetamine was found in the center console of the vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739053132958.png" alt="Gaunt photo Greene County" />
 <figcaption>Gaunt photo Greene County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A man who purchased more than 50 firearms has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally trafficking firearms and methamphetamine, according to the United State's Attorney.David Allen Gaunt, 57, Strafford, Mo., was charged in a 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Gaunt on Jan. 16, 2025.The federal indictment alleges that Gaunt participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 21, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2025. Those firearms, according to the indictment, included a Kalashnikov pistol, a Century Arms pistol, a Tokarev shotgun, a Canik pistol and an HS Produkt pistol. In addition to the conspiracy, Gaunt is charged with one count of trafficking those firearms to a recipient who was legally prohibited from possessing them.The federal indictment also charges Gaunt with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of 15 different firearms. Gaunt is charged with four counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in order to purchase firearms, four counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, four counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of distributing methamphetamine.According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Gaunt has personally purchased more than 50 firearms. On every purchase, the affidavit says, Gaunt marked “No” on the federal form that asked, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” Eighteen of these firearms have been recovered by law enforcement, from Gaunt and others. Additionally, 11 of the firearms Gaunt purchased have been either sold to or pawned at pawn shops.Springfield police officers seized three of those firearms during the execution of two search warrants in separate drug-trafficking investigations in June 2023, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department seized one of those firearms during enforcement activities in July 2023. All of the firearms were seized from individuals who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, the affidavit says, and were traced to Gaunt as the original purchaser.On Aug. 16, 2023, Springfield police officers stopped Gaunt near S. Glenstone Avenue and E. St. Louis Street. When officers searched his vehicle, they found six firearms. On Nov. 6, 2024, Springfield officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Gaunt. Officers seized a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from Gaunt’s waistband. A clear plastic bag of methamphetamine was found in the center console of the vehicle.

KC grand jury indicts man who purchased more than 50 firearms

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two men on drug allegations.

Just after 7:30a.m. February 10, a Sheriff’s Deputy located a stolen vehicle west of Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse The vehicle had been reported stolen on February 4, 2025, in Lansing, Kansas.

Deputies arrested two men and booked them into the Jackson County Jail. Justin Joe Riis, 31, of Topeka, is being held on requested charges that include distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, interference with law enforcement altering/conceal/destroy evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; 

Curtis Dean Sult, 63, of Lansing, is jailed on requested charges for possession of stolen property, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. The PBPN Police assisted with the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739279742586.png" alt="Riis photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Riis photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two men on drug allegations.Just after 7:30a.m. February 10, a Sheriff’s Deputy located a stolen vehicle west of Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse The vehicle had been reported stolen on February 4, 2025, in Lansing, Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739279709622.png" alt="Sult photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Sult photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies arrested two men and booked them into the Jackson County Jail. Justin Joe Riis, 31, of Topeka, is being held on requested charges that include distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, interference with law enforcement altering/conceal/destroy evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; Curtis Dean Sult, 63, of Lansing, is jailed on requested charges for possession of stolen property, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of opiates, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. The PBPN Police assisted with the incident.

Sheriff: 2 Kansas meth dealers caught in stolen vehicle

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/janaroseschleis/">JANA ROSE SCHLEIS</a>

A Republican lawmaker is proposing to raise taxes on Missouri farmers who participate in wind or solar energy projects.

As utilities and energy developers increase solar and wind power, people in rural areas across the nation have been offered opportunities to lease their land to house a wind turbine or a field of solar panels.

A bill proposed by Rep. Danny Busick, a Newtown Republican, would change the tax rate for agricultural land that is leased for solar or wind energy generation by reassessing it as commercial property.

Busick’s district covers Kirksville and north central Missouri. His bill would nearly triple the assessment rate for agricultural land that hosts energy infrastructure.

“It is a tax increase,” Busick said, “but I think it is designed to try to be fair to the players in this game.”

According to the legislative research division, agricultural land is currently assessed at 12% of its value. Utility, industrial and commercial land is assessed at 32%. These baseline figures are then multiplied by the local county tax rate to determine a property tax bill.

In a hearing this week, Busick said farmers who participate in renewable energy projects shouldn’t be charged as if their land is only for agriculture.

“My purpose is not to attack farmers,” he said, “but when you repurpose your land for another purpose outside of agriculture, I think you should pay your fair share in that sense.”

Busick said the bill would exclude land where corn or soybeans is cultivated for biofuel production.

Scott Swain represents the Clean Grid Alliance, an advocacy group, and spoke in opposition to the bill. He said large-scale wind and solar power plants are an essential part of the state’s future energy generation.

“They’re putting a lot of money into communities and so we don’t want to necessarily tax them out,” Swain said. “If we do want to tax them out, then we need to raise the tax and nobody will come to the state, and that will probably settle a lot of concerns. I don’t think that’s where we want to go.”

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/janaroseschleis/">JANA ROSE SCHLEIS</a>A Republican lawmaker is proposing to raise taxes on Missouri farmers who participate in wind or solar energy projects.As utilities and energy developers increase solar and wind power, people in rural areas across the nation have been offered opportunities to lease their land to house a wind turbine or a field of solar panels.A bill proposed by Rep. Danny Busick, a Newtown Republican, would change the tax rate for agricultural land that is leased for solar or wind energy generation by reassessing it as commercial property.Busick’s district covers Kirksville and north central Missouri. His bill would nearly triple the assessment rate for agricultural land that hosts energy infrastructure.“It is a tax increase,” Busick said, “but I think it is designed to try to be fair to the players in this game.”According to the legislative research division, agricultural land is currently assessed at 12% of its value. Utility, industrial and commercial land is assessed at 32%. These baseline figures are then multiplied by the local county tax rate to determine a property tax bill.In a hearing this week, Busick said farmers who participate in renewable energy projects shouldn’t be charged as if their land is only for agriculture.“My purpose is not to attack farmers,” he said, “but when you repurpose your land for another purpose outside of agriculture, I think you should pay your fair share in that sense.”Busick said the bill would exclude land where corn or soybeans is cultivated for biofuel production.Scott Swain represents the Clean Grid Alliance, an advocacy group, and spoke in opposition to the bill. He said large-scale wind and solar power plants are an essential part of the state’s future energy generation.“They’re putting a lot of money into communities and so we don’t want to necessarily tax them out,” Swain said. “If we do want to tax them out, then we need to raise the tax and nobody will come to the state, and that will probably settle a lot of concerns. I don’t think that’s where we want to go.”

GOP legislator pushes tax hike on Missouri farmland used for renewable energy

DAYTONA BEACH — President Donald Trump attended the Super Bowl last Sunday. This Sunday he attended the&nbsp;Daytona 500, for the second time as president.

DAYTONA BEACH — President Donald Trump attended the Super Bowl last Sunday. This Sunday he attended the&nbsp;Daytona 500, for the second time as president.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump lap at the Daytona 500. <a href="https://t.co/e7KEURXLHz">pic.twitter.com/e7KEURXLHz</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1891220003891872103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸President Donald J. Trump Has Arrived: Air Force One SOARS Over the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Daytona500?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Daytona500</a> 🏎️ <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASCAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/yAcAPgH8ip">pic.twitter.com/yAcAPgH8ip</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1891199529988280662?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump, The Beast, and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Daytona500?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Daytona500</a>—It doesn&#39;t get more American than that! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASCAR</a> <a href="https://t.co/NbPubVuxAa">pic.twitter.com/NbPubVuxAa</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1891198367180407186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;This is your favorite President. I&#39;m a big fan. I am a really big fan of you people that you do this. I don&#39;t know, but I just want you to be safe. You&#39;re talented people, and you&#39;re great people, and great Americans. Have a good day. Have a lot of fun, and I&#39;ll see you later.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/IAOiQJ5jvE">https://t.co/IAOiQJ5jvE</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1891206029771186501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">EPIC!!! Happening Now at the <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASCAR</a> 500…LET’S GO!!! <a href="https://t.co/GXg83oHLUC">pic.twitter.com/GXg83oHLUC</a>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1891201831637852484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump takes laps in The Beast ahead of Daytona 500

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a bank robbery in Topeka and have released security camera images of the suspect.

Just before 5p.m. January 13, a suspect, described as a black male, 5-foot-10 inches tall, approximately 200-215 pounds and wearing&nbsp; a black jacket with a hood, dark colored jeans, dark colored tennis shoes and a face covering,&nbsp; entered&nbsp;Equity Bank, 3825 SW 29th&nbsp;Street in Topeka,&nbsp;according to a media release from the FBI. 

The suspect approached the teller and made a verbal demand for money and brandished a firearm.

The suspect fled the bank in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of money. There were no injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737990037407.png" alt="Photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a bank robbery in Topeka and have released security camera images of the suspect.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737989757231.png" alt="Photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 5p.m. January 13, a suspect, described as a black male, 5-foot-10 inches tall, approximately 200-215 pounds and wearing&nbsp; a black jacket with a hood, dark colored jeans, dark colored tennis shoes and a face covering,&nbsp; entered&nbsp;Equity Bank, 3825 SW 29th&nbsp;Street in Topeka,&nbsp;according to a media release from the FBI. The suspect approached the teller and made a verbal demand for money and brandished a firearm.The suspect fled the bank in an unknown direction with an undisclosed amount of money. There were no injuries.

Search continues for Kansas bank robbery suspect

LINN COUNTY—A friend has established an online fundraiser after two missing boys were found dead on a lake in Linn County.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-keagan-grubbs-family-in-their-time-of-need?attribution_id=sl:d91733f6-0df4-43e2-9acb-b3fe66dae3b2&amp;lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=sms">Click here to view </a>the online fundraiser

Just after 8p.m. January 27, sheriff's deputies responded to the Lake Chaparral Community in rural Linn County for a report of two missing 8-year-old boys who had not been seen for several hours, according to Linn County Sheriff James Akes.

Deputies quickly assessed the need for more resources, the Linn County Fire Department responded to the area and assisted in the search for the boys. Searchers found evidence leading them to believe the boys had been around the lake. The Sheriff’s Office utilized an aerial drone to search above the water and the two boys were discovered deceased in the water and trapped under the ice. 

The Overland Park Fire Dive Team was called in for assistance retrieving the two juveniles from the icy water.&nbsp; The sheriff released no additional details early Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738196645303.png" alt="Keegan Grubbs photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Keegan Grubbs photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>LINN COUNTY—A friend has established an online fundraiser after two missing boys were found dead on a lake in Linn County.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-keagan-grubbs-family-in-their-time-of-need?attribution_id=sl:d91733f6-0df4-43e2-9acb-b3fe66dae3b2&amp;lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=sms">Click here to view </a>the online fundraiserJust after 8p.m. January 27, sheriff's deputies responded to the Lake Chaparral Community in rural Linn County for a report of two missing 8-year-old boys who had not been seen for several hours, according to Linn County Sheriff James Akes.Deputies quickly assessed the need for more resources, the Linn County Fire Department responded to the area and assisted in the search for the boys. Searchers found evidence leading them to believe the boys had been around the lake. The Sheriff’s Office utilized an aerial drone to search above the water and the two boys were discovered deceased in the water and trapped under the ice. The Overland Park Fire Dive Team was called in for assistance retrieving the two juveniles from the icy water.&nbsp; The sheriff released no additional details early Tuesday.

Online fundraiser continues after boys died under ice on Kan. lake

Republican state legislators are filing a flurry of bills addressing junk food, vaccines, fluoride.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">ANNA CLAIRE VOLLERS</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

Republican state legislators across the country are filing a flurry of bills to advance the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda promoted by activist lawyer and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s in line to be the next U.S. health secretary.

Under the MAHA banner, state lawmakers are working to regulate candy and soda purchases under social welfare programs, remove fluoride from public water systems, roll back state vaccination requirements, and remove ultra-processed food from schools.

They’ve&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Leo4AzHouse/posts/pfbid02JfgSgCw6Q2cCBMg6wtZu6BaURnikQMoqnvzDvxEcawMRbGPybnEkQBewqNrXneNnl" target="_blank">enlisted celebrities</a>&nbsp;to help. They’re using&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Jacob4Wyoming/status/1886478813804048864" target="_blank">#RFK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Leo4AzHouse/posts/pfbid02JfgSgCw6Q2cCBMg6wtZu6BaURnikQMoqnvzDvxEcawMRbGPybnEkQBewqNrXneNnl" target="_blank">#MAHA</a>&nbsp;hashtags on social media to share legislative wins. Lawmakers even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=983860476948534&amp;set=pb.100059737712851.-2207520000" target="_blank">walked the red carpet</a>&nbsp;at a January gala celebrated as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/the-maha-gala#:~:text=more%20than%20800%20of%20US%20health%20secretary%20nominee%20Robert%20F.%20Kennedy%20Jr.%E2%80%99s%20most%20loyal%20followers%20have%20gathered%20to%20celebrate%20the%20official%20start%20of%20the%20Make%20America%20Healthy%20movement" target="_blank">official start</a>&nbsp;of the MAHA movement in the Trump era.

“It’s pretty exciting for me,” said Wyoming Republican state Rep. Jacob Wasserburger, who has sponsored a MAHA bill in his state.

“I was a pretty overweight kid when I was growing up. … When I was about 16, I started trying to get healthy, and it seemed to me like there were some badly flawed issues with our health care in this country that weren’t being addressed,” he said.

Kennedy is a vocal vaccine skeptic with controversial and sometimes misleading views on a number of public health policies, from fluoride in public water to the underlying causes of HIV and autism. He’s decried ultra-processed foods, government overreach and greedy corporations for harming human health and the environment.

His often unorthodox — and in some cases, false — views have inspired some conservative lawmakers and given political cover to others, spurring them to reshape public health policy in myriad ways.

One popular MAHA measure is to prevent families who qualify for food stamps from using their benefits to purchase candy or soda.

Republican legislators in states including&nbsp;<a href="https://azmirror.com/2025/02/04/republicans-follow-lead-of-rfk-jr-with-effort-to-ban-snap-users-from-buying-soda-candy/?nvep=&amp;hmac=&amp;emci=89624625-bae3-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&amp;emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&amp;ceid=53701" target="_blank">Arizona</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/h0109/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/05/buying-candy-soda-with-food-stamps-banned-under-proposed-kansas-bill/" target="_blank">Kansas</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1821889" target="_blank">Tennessee</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0403.html" target="_blank">Utah</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/WY/bill/HB0323/2025" target="_blank">Wyoming</a>&nbsp;have introduced bills directing their respective state agencies to ask the federal government to allow them to remove candy and soda from the list of eligible products that can be purchased with food stamps, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/governor-sanders-calls-for-reforms-to-the-snap-program/" target="_blank">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;to the feds in December asking them to bar junk food items from SNAP, which is a federal program administered by the states.

In Wyoming, Wasserburger sponsored a bill that would prevent people in SNAP from using their benefits to purchase candy and soda.

“I’m all in favor of people having food choice and freedoms, but if taxpayers are going to be funding the cost of that food with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the funding should be going to what it says: nutrition,” Wasserburger told Stateline.

“Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for the soda and candy bars. Anybody can go buy that with their own money.”

The bill recently passed the Wyoming House and is headed to the Senate.

Proponents of the SNAP bills argue candy and sugary drinks harm the health of recipients, many of whom are children. And taxpayers, they say, shouldn’t have to pay for unhealthy foods that can lead to obesity and other issues.

Critics of the bills argue that the fundamental problem for SNAP recipients is that healthy food is&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/05/buying-candy-soda-with-food-stamps-banned-under-proposed-kansas-bill/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20fundamental%20problem%20for%20SNAP%20recipients%20and%20for%20all%20of%20us%20is%20that%20healthy%20food%20is%20more%20expensive%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Karen%20Siebert%2C%20a%20lobbyist%20for%20a%20network%20of%20food%20banks%20that%20serve%20all%20105%20Kansas%20counties%20including%20Harvesters%2C%20Kansas%20Food%20Bank%20and%20Second%20Harvest%20Community%20Food%20Bank." target="_blank">more expensive</a>&nbsp;and can be harder to find in low-income neighborhoods. Lobbyists contend that identifying foods as “good” or “bad” amounts to government overreach.

And even some Republicans say the definitions in the bills are&nbsp;<a href="https://azmirror.com/2025/02/04/republicans-follow-lead-of-rfk-jr-with-effort-to-ban-snap-users-from-buying-soda-candy/#:~:text=Heap%20agreed%20with%20supporters%20of%20the%20bill%20that%20obesity%20is%20a%20major%20issue%20in%20Arizona%20and%20across%20the%20country%2C%20but%20sided%20with%20opponents%20that%20the%20definitions%20in%20it%20were%20too%20vague.%C2%A0" target="_blank">too vague</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://azmirror.com/2025/02/04/republicans-follow-lead-of-rfk-jr-with-effort-to-ban-snap-users-from-buying-soda-candy/#:~:text=Those%20definitions%20would%20preclude%20SNAP%20participants%20from%20purchasing%20granola%20bars%2C%20sports%20energy%20bars%20and%20possibly%20many%20cereals%20like%20Honey%20Nut%20Cheerios%2C%20while%20allowing%20the%20purchase%20of%20things%20like%20potato%20chips.%C2%A0" target="_blank">Arizona’s bill</a>, for example, could have prevented SNAP participants from buying granola bars and some cereals, while allowing them to buy potato chips. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/05/buying-candy-soda-with-food-stamps-banned-under-proposed-kansas-bill/#:~:text=Under%20those%20definitions%2C%20Kit%20Kat%20and%20Twix%2C%20which%20contain%20flour%2C%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20be%20restricted.%20Certain%20juices%20that%20contain%20high%20amounts%20of%20sugar%20but%20are%20more%20than%20half%20fruit%20juice%20by%20volume%20also%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20be%20banned." target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;bill defines prohibited candy in such a way that Kit Kat and Twix bars, which contain flour, wouldn’t be restricted.

Many of the state bills follow on the heels of a federal version, the&nbsp;<a href="https://brecheen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1372" target="_blank">Healthy SNAP Act</a>, which Republicans reintroduced in Congress last month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739629912875.png" alt="RFK Jr. swearing in ceremony on Thursday- image Whit House" />
 <figcaption>RFK Jr. swearing in ceremony on Thursday- image Whit House</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Republican state legislators are filing a flurry of bills addressing junk food, vaccines, fluoride.</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">ANNA CLAIRE VOLLERS</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a> Republican state legislators across the country are filing a flurry of bills to advance the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda promoted by activist lawyer and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who’s in line to be the next U.S. health secretary.Under the MAHA banner, state lawmakers are working to regulate candy and soda purchases under social welfare programs, remove fluoride from public water systems, roll back state vaccination requirements, and remove ultra-processed food from schools.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN 🇺🇸 Based on all health indicators and global comparisons, Americans are becoming sicker, beset by illnesses that our medical system isn&#39;t addressing effectively. The Trump Administration IS CHANGING THAT! 1/4 <a href="https://t.co/oIeHWvqK4e">pic.twitter.com/oIeHWvqK4e</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1890190620641440243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>They’ve&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Leo4AzHouse/posts/pfbid02JfgSgCw6Q2cCBMg6wtZu6BaURnikQMoqnvzDvxEcawMRbGPybnEkQBewqNrXneNnl" target="_blank">enlisted celebrities</a>&nbsp;to help. They’re using&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Jacob4Wyoming/status/1886478813804048864" target="_blank">#RFK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Leo4AzHouse/posts/pfbid02JfgSgCw6Q2cCBMg6wtZu6BaURnikQMoqnvzDvxEcawMRbGPybnEkQBewqNrXneNnl" target="_blank">#MAHA</a>&nbsp;hashtags on social media to share legislative wins. Lawmakers even&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=983860476948534&amp;set=pb.100059737712851.-2207520000" target="_blank">walked the red carpet</a>&nbsp;at a January gala celebrated as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/the-maha-gala#:~:text=more%20than%20800%20of%20US%20health%20secretary%20nominee%20Robert%20F.%20Kennedy%20Jr.%E2%80%99s%20most%20loyal%20followers%20have%20gathered%20to%20celebrate%20the%20official%20start%20of%20the%20Make%20America%20Healthy%20movement" target="_blank">official start</a>&nbsp;of the MAHA movement in the Trump era.“It’s pretty exciting for me,” said Wyoming Republican state Rep. Jacob Wasserburger, who has sponsored a MAHA bill in his state.“I was a pretty overweight kid when I was growing up. … When I was about 16, I started trying to get healthy, and it seemed to me like there were some badly flawed issues with our health care in this country that weren’t being addressed,” he said.Kennedy is a vocal vaccine skeptic with controversial and sometimes misleading views on a number of public health policies, from fluoride in public water to the underlying causes of HIV and autism. He’s decried ultra-processed foods, government overreach and greedy corporations for harming human health and the environment.His often unorthodox — and in some cases, false — views have inspired some conservative lawmakers and given political cover to others, spurring them to reshape public health policy in myriad ways.<h2>Candy, soda and SNAP</h2>One popular MAHA measure is to prevent families who qualify for food stamps from using their benefits to purchase candy or soda.Republican legislators in states including&nbsp;<a href="https://azmirror.com/2025/02/04/republicans-follow-lead-of-rfk-jr-with-effort-to-ban-snap-users-from-buying-soda-candy/?nvep=&amp;hmac=&amp;emci=89624625-bae3-ef11-90cb-0022482a94f4&amp;emdi=ea000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&amp;ceid=53701" target="_blank">Arizona</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/h0109/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/05/buying-candy-soda-with-food-stamps-banned-under-proposed-kansas-bill/" target="_blank">Kansas</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1821889" target="_blank">Tennessee</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0403.html" target="_blank">Utah</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/WY/bill/HB0323/2025" target="_blank">Wyoming</a>&nbsp;have introduced bills directing their respective state agencies to ask the federal government to allow them to remove candy and soda from the list of eligible products that can be purchased with food stamps, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.arkansas.gov/news_post/governor-sanders-calls-for-reforms-to-the-snap-program/" target="_blank">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;to the feds in December asking them to bar junk food items from SNAP, which is a federal program administered by the states.In Wyoming, Wasserburger sponsored a bill that would prevent people in SNAP from using their benefits to purchase candy and soda.“I’m all in favor of people having food choice and freedoms, but if taxpayers are going to be funding the cost of that food with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the funding should be going to what it says: nutrition,” Wasserburger told Stateline.“Taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for the soda and candy bars. Anybody can go buy that with their own money.”The bill recently passed the Wyoming House and is headed to the Senate.Proponents of the SNAP bills argue candy and sugary drinks harm the health of recipients, many of whom are children. And taxpayers, they say, shouldn’t have to pay for unhealthy foods that can lead to obesity and other issues.Critics of the bills argue that the fundamental problem for SNAP recipients is that healthy food is&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/05/buying-candy-soda-with-food-stamps-banned-under-proposed-kansas-bill/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20fundamental%20problem%20for%20SNAP%20recipients%20and%20for%20all%20of%20us%20is%20that%20healthy%20food%20is%20more%20expensive%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Karen%20Siebert%2C%20a%20lobbyist%20for%20a%20network%20of%20food%20banks%20that%20serve%20all%20105%20Kansas%20counties%20including%20Harvesters%2C%20Kansas%20Food%20Bank%20and%20Second%20Harvest%20Community%20Food%20Bank." target="_blank">more expensive</a>&nbsp;and can be harder to find in low-income neighborhoods. Lobbyists contend that identifying foods as “good” or “bad” amounts to government overreach.And even some Republicans say the definitions in the bills are&nbsp;<a href="https://azmirror.com/2025/02/04/republicans-follow-lead-of-rfk-jr-with-effort-to-ban-snap-users-from-buying-soda-candy/#:~:text=Heap%20agreed%20with%20supporters%20of%20the%20bill%20that%20obesity%20is%20a%20major%20issue%20in%20Arizona%20and%20across%20the%20country%2C%20but%20sided%20with%20opponents%20that%20the%20definitions%20in%20it%20were%20too%20vague.%C2%A0" target="_blank">too vague</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://azmirror.com/2025/02/04/republicans-follow-lead-of-rfk-jr-with-effort-to-ban-snap-users-from-buying-soda-candy/#:~:text=Those%20definitions%20would%20preclude%20SNAP%20participants%20from%20purchasing%20granola%20bars%2C%20sports%20energy%20bars%20and%20possibly%20many%20cereals%20like%20Honey%20Nut%20Cheerios%2C%20while%20allowing%20the%20purchase%20of%20things%20like%20potato%20chips.%C2%A0" target="_blank">Arizona’s bill</a>, for example, could have prevented SNAP participants from buying granola bars and some cereals, while allowing them to buy potato chips. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/05/buying-candy-soda-with-food-stamps-banned-under-proposed-kansas-bill/#:~:text=Under%20those%20definitions%2C%20Kit%20Kat%20and%20Twix%2C%20which%20contain%20flour%2C%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20be%20restricted.%20Certain%20juices%20that%20contain%20high%20amounts%20of%20sugar%20but%20are%20more%20than%20half%20fruit%20juice%20by%20volume%20also%20wouldn%E2%80%99t%20be%20banned." target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;bill defines prohibited candy in such a way that Kit Kat and Twix bars, which contain flour, wouldn’t be restricted.Many of the state bills follow on the heels of a federal version, the&nbsp;<a href="https://brecheen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1372" target="_blank">Healthy SNAP Act</a>, which Republicans reintroduced in Congress last month.

State lawmakers embrace RFK Jr.’s health policies

SHAWNEE COUNTY – A man is recovering in the hospital following a shooting in Topeka and police have made an arrest.

Just before 10:30 a.m. Feb. 11, police responded to a reported shooting near SE 2nd Street and Golden Avenue, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.&nbsp;

First responders located a man who had reportedly been shot by someone who is known to him. American Medical Response (AMR) and the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) responded to provide medical care, and the individual was transported to a local hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;

Shortly after, officers located a vehicle believed to belong to the suspect in the 300 block of SE Lime Street.

While officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, no one was located at the address.

On Thursday, police reported the arrest of Robert Bennett, 27, of Topeka. He is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Assault.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739488198366.png" alt="Bennett -photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Bennett -photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY – A man is recovering in the hospital following a shooting in Topeka and police have made an arrest.Just before 10:30 a.m. Feb. 11, police responded to a reported shooting near SE 2nd Street and Golden Avenue, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.&nbsp;First responders located a man who had reportedly been shot by someone who is known to him. American Medical Response (AMR) and the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) responded to provide medical care, and the individual was transported to a local hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries.&nbsp;Shortly after, officers located a vehicle believed to belong to the suspect in the 300 block of SE Lime Street.While officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, no one was located at the address.On Thursday, police reported the arrest of Robert Bennett, 27, of Topeka. He is being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Battery and Aggravated Assault.

Kan. man accused of shooting that left victim in critical condition

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">MEG CUNNINGHAM</a>

Egg prices are expected to increase by 20% in 2025, largely due to the spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza

For some people in rural Missouri, soaring egg prices have little impact on their shopping habits. They have backyard chickens that save them the trouble of dealing with a nationwide shortage.

But for those who don’t have access to a homegrown grocery store in their backyard,&nbsp; rising prices mean changes to their weekly shopping list.

“I’m going to have to stop buying eggs,” said Margaret Bunch, a Callaway County resident who relocated to the area over a year ago from Brookfield, Missouri.

“Back in Brookfield… I knew people who had chickens,” Bunch said. “I would have tried to buy (eggs) if they had plenty. But I’m not that well acquainted with people here.”

Bunch is feeling the pain of rising egg prices in central Missouri, where one dozen can run upwards of $6. A form of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1, picked up in October and began spreading quickly through the country toward the end of the year. It’s deadly for birds, who usually pick the disease up from wild birds traveling through their farm, but it can infect mammals, like livestock and humans.

In the last 30 days across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks" target="_blank">23 million birds have been tested and confirmed</a>&nbsp;for avian influenza.

It’s putting poultry farmers across the country on edge as they try to respond to what epidemiologists call an endemic. Georgia this week lifted a statewide ban on poultry sales and auctions that it imposed after bird flu was detected in the northeastern part of the state. Poultry from 103 commercial farms in the area are still subject to quarantine, but the mechanisms that get chicken and eggs to our grocery stores are allowed to resume.

While there is little risk of bird flu spreading to the general public, the effects on consumers are widespread.

In December alone, retail egg prices were up 8.4%. From December 2023 to December 2024, egg prices rose 36.8%, USDA said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000708111" target="_blank">average price</a>&nbsp;of one dozen grade A eggs went up nearly 50 cents from November to December last year.

Egg prices aren’t expected to drop anytime soon. The USDA predicts prices will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings" target="_blank">increase about 20%</a>&nbsp;over the course of the year, compared to just over 2% for other food products.

Missouri has been subject to similar outbreaks, just not on such a large scale.

At least 4 million of the 23 million birds infected in the last 30 days have been in Missouri. Southwestern Missouri counties like Newton, Lawrence, McDonald and Jasper have been the most affected, but few of those farms produce the eggs we buy. Many farms affected in Missouri produce turkey or chickens raised for meat, and prices for poultry other than eggs are expected&nbsp;<a href="https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/outlooks/110745/LDP-M-367.pdf?v=79073" target="_blank">to rise slightly</a>&nbsp;throughout the year.

Reported cases in Missouri started picking up in mid-December,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks" target="_blank">USDA data show.&nbsp;</a>

Missouri officials responded by pausing swap meets and auctions — where farmers buy, sell or trade animals — in the impacted southwest Missouri counties.

It’s the state’s first line of response when addressing the spread of the disease, which came to the U.S. in 2022 and has been spreading among birds since.

“There’s not an end,” said Steve Strubberg, the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s chief veterinarian. “We are just working towards an end and trying to keep it contained in these smaller areas. We don’t want it to affect anything statewide.”

Although the virus has been spreading throughout the country for years, this particular outbreak has affected hens that lay eggs, Strubberg said.

The virus typically spreads between birds through their feces and saliva. It’s usually picked up by wild birds, which may stop off at a farm during their winter migration because it has a water source. Then, poultry at that farm may visit the water source and contract bird flu due to the illness that wild birds left behind.

The types of land that are optimal for dairy or meat production are also attractive for migrating birds like ducks and geese, according to Maurice Pitesky, a specialist at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

“Overlapping of wild animals and domesticated farm animals — it’s created a higher probability of transmission,” Pitesky said in a briefing with reporters. “It’s not the only way the virus is transmitted, but it certainly makes it a riskier scenario.”

Large commercial operations are likely better positioned to deal with an outbreak before it spreads too far, because those chickens are typically kept indoors and don’t come into contact with wild birds.

“The risk is harder on those smaller operations,” Strubberg said. “Their birds stay outside and are often exposed to migrating waterfowl.”

Consumers in Missouri may have noticed that during the current&nbsp; shortage it has been more difficult to find cage-free or pasture-raised eggs in stores. A handful of states have laws in place that ban the sale of eggs that are not raised through those methods, and national grocery chains like Whole Foods have done the same.

Bird flu is having a disproportionate impact on cage-free egg layers. About one-third of hens used for eggs were cage-free, but accounted for 60% of bird flu cases for 2024.

This week, Nevada confirmed its first human case of bird flu in a dairy farm worker who was exposed through cattle. A total of 78 cases were confirmed in humans in the U.S. last year, primarily people who work on poultry or dairy farms.

Human symptoms include a fever, sore throat, body aches and fatigue, similar to a typical flu virus.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends those who are in close contact with animals wear personal protective equipment to prevent coming into contact with disease particles.

“One of the real challenges, especially in agriculture, is you have a lot of workers that are undocumented,” Pitesky said.

“Especially because a lot of these workers live in multi-generational, multi-familial homes, the virus can spread really quickly in those environments and spread even further before any kind of detection is made,” he added.

The Jasper County Health Department is working closely with poultry farmers to monitor employees who may start showing symptoms.

“We’re recommending they seek testing through a local facility and take Tamiflu or an antiviral as needed,” said Debbie Darby, the county’s health department administrator. They recommend workers wear personal protective equipment while interacting with animals or in spaces they occupy.

Poultry and meat products sold on the shelves of grocery stores are safe to consume. Unpasteurized dairy products can result in a person contracting the virus, said Taylor Nelson, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Missouri. But the risk of the virus spreading from person to person is very low, she said.

“Monitoring for any changes in transmission patterns of avian influenza is very important, so if viral mutation does happen, we can identify it and try to stop the spread,” she said in an email. “For now, the risk of catching avian influenza from another person is very low.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/12/missouri-bird-flu-egg-prices-2025/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739399659085.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">MEG CUNNINGHAM</a><h2>Egg prices are expected to increase by 20% in 2025, largely due to the spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza</h2>For some people in rural Missouri, soaring egg prices have little impact on their shopping habits. They have backyard chickens that save them the trouble of dealing with a nationwide shortage.But for those who don’t have access to a homegrown grocery store in their backyard,&nbsp; rising prices mean changes to their weekly shopping list.“I’m going to have to stop buying eggs,” said Margaret Bunch, a Callaway County resident who relocated to the area over a year ago from Brookfield, Missouri.“Back in Brookfield… I knew people who had chickens,” Bunch said. “I would have tried to buy (eggs) if they had plenty. But I’m not that well acquainted with people here.”Bunch is feeling the pain of rising egg prices in central Missouri, where one dozen can run upwards of $6. A form of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1, picked up in October and began spreading quickly through the country toward the end of the year. It’s deadly for birds, who usually pick the disease up from wild birds traveling through their farm, but it can infect mammals, like livestock and humans.In the last 30 days across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks" target="_blank">23 million birds have been tested and confirmed</a>&nbsp;for avian influenza.It’s putting poultry farmers across the country on edge as they try to respond to what epidemiologists call an endemic. Georgia this week lifted a statewide ban on poultry sales and auctions that it imposed after bird flu was detected in the northeastern part of the state. Poultry from 103 commercial farms in the area are still subject to quarantine, but the mechanisms that get chicken and eggs to our grocery stores are allowed to resume.While there is little risk of bird flu spreading to the general public, the effects on consumers are widespread.In December alone, retail egg prices were up 8.4%. From December 2023 to December 2024, egg prices rose 36.8%, USDA said. The&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000708111" target="_blank">average price</a>&nbsp;of one dozen grade A eggs went up nearly 50 cents from November to December last year.Egg prices aren’t expected to drop anytime soon. The USDA predicts prices will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings" target="_blank">increase about 20%</a>&nbsp;over the course of the year, compared to just over 2% for other food products.<h2>How Missouri factors in</h2>Missouri has been subject to similar outbreaks, just not on such a large scale.At least 4 million of the 23 million birds infected in the last 30 days have been in Missouri. Southwestern Missouri counties like Newton, Lawrence, McDonald and Jasper have been the most affected, but few of those farms produce the eggs we buy. Many farms affected in Missouri produce turkey or chickens raised for meat, and prices for poultry other than eggs are expected&nbsp;<a href="https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/outlooks/110745/LDP-M-367.pdf?v=79073" target="_blank">to rise slightly</a>&nbsp;throughout the year.Reported cases in Missouri started picking up in mid-December,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks" target="_blank">USDA data show.&nbsp;</a>Missouri officials responded by pausing swap meets and auctions — where farmers buy, sell or trade animals — in the impacted southwest Missouri counties.It’s the state’s first line of response when addressing the spread of the disease, which came to the U.S. in 2022 and has been spreading among birds since.“There’s not an end,” said Steve Strubberg, the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s chief veterinarian. “We are just working towards an end and trying to keep it contained in these smaller areas. We don’t want it to affect anything statewide.”Although the virus has been spreading throughout the country for years, this particular outbreak has affected hens that lay eggs, Strubberg said.<h2>How the bird flu spread changed in 2024</h2>The virus typically spreads between birds through their feces and saliva. It’s usually picked up by wild birds, which may stop off at a farm during their winter migration because it has a water source. Then, poultry at that farm may visit the water source and contract bird flu due to the illness that wild birds left behind.The types of land that are optimal for dairy or meat production are also attractive for migrating birds like ducks and geese, according to Maurice Pitesky, a specialist at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.“Overlapping of wild animals and domesticated farm animals — it’s created a higher probability of transmission,” Pitesky said in a briefing with reporters. “It’s not the only way the virus is transmitted, but it certainly makes it a riskier scenario.”Large commercial operations are likely better positioned to deal with an outbreak before it spreads too far, because those chickens are typically kept indoors and don’t come into contact with wild birds.“The risk is harder on those smaller operations,” Strubberg said. “Their birds stay outside and are often exposed to migrating waterfowl.”Consumers in Missouri may have noticed that during the current&nbsp; shortage it has been more difficult to find cage-free or pasture-raised eggs in stores. A handful of states have laws in place that ban the sale of eggs that are not raised through those methods, and national grocery chains like Whole Foods have done the same.Bird flu is having a disproportionate impact on cage-free egg layers. About one-third of hens used for eggs were cage-free, but accounted for 60% of bird flu cases for 2024.<h2>Can you get bird flu from eggs?&nbsp;</h2>This week, Nevada confirmed its first human case of bird flu in a dairy farm worker who was exposed through cattle. A total of 78 cases were confirmed in humans in the U.S. last year, primarily people who work on poultry or dairy farms.Human symptoms include a fever, sore throat, body aches and fatigue, similar to a typical flu virus.The Centers for Disease Control recommends those who are in close contact with animals wear personal protective equipment to prevent coming into contact with disease particles.“One of the real challenges, especially in agriculture, is you have a lot of workers that are undocumented,” Pitesky said.“Especially because a lot of these workers live in multi-generational, multi-familial homes, the virus can spread really quickly in those environments and spread even further before any kind of detection is made,” he added.The Jasper County Health Department is working closely with poultry farmers to monitor employees who may start showing symptoms.“We’re recommending they seek testing through a local facility and take Tamiflu or an antiviral as needed,” said Debbie Darby, the county’s health department administrator. They recommend workers wear personal protective equipment while interacting with animals or in spaces they occupy.Poultry and meat products sold on the shelves of grocery stores are safe to consume. Unpasteurized dairy products can result in a person contracting the virus, said Taylor Nelson, an infectious disease doctor at the University of Missouri. But the risk of the virus spreading from person to person is very low, she said.“Monitoring for any changes in transmission patterns of avian influenza is very important, so if viral mutation does happen, we can identify it and try to stop the spread,” she said in an email. “For now, the risk of catching avian influenza from another person is very low.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/12/missouri-bird-flu-egg-prices-2025/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

As bird flu spreads, Missourians pay the price at the grocery store

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The chair of the House Elections Committee told Republicans in a private Zoom meeting last year that he would prefer to eliminate advanced voting altogether and vowed to ram through legislation in the 2025 session to eliminate the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day.

The comments by Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican, were part of a weekly Zoom call organized by House Majority Leader Chris Croft with Johnson County Republicans and invite-only guests. Loud Light Civic Action, a voting rights advocacy group, released a video of the February 2024 Zoom meeting after receiving it this week from an anonymous source. During meeting, Proctor identified Loud Light and Kansas Appleseed as “bomb throwers.”

The video surfaced after Proctor’s committee on Thursday advanced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb4/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 4</a>, which would require mail-in ballots be received at the election office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Current law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they are received by Friday.

Last year, Proctor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li_2024/b2023_24/measures/sb14/" target="_blank">proposed legislation</a>&nbsp;that would balance the elimination of the three-day grace period by adding three days to the early voting period. But his supposed compromise also would have moved back the voter registration deadline by three days. Loud Light, Kansas Appleseed and other organizations opposed the changes, and the package didn’t have enough support for the Legislature to become law.

As the proposal was being debated last year, Proctor joined Croft’s weekly call to talk about election laws. Proctor told the group of about 30 participants that he had tried to compromise in an attempt to get enough support to override a potential veto from the governor.

“The only way we’re going to get it passed is if we get bipartisan support on it,” Proctor said. “And so I had a deal, and then Loud Light and Appleseed, which are the kind of bomb throwers in the election debate, they blew it up. And I told all of them — and you know, please don’t put this on Facebook or in the news — I told them all, this is your year for a deal. You can either negotiate and we can get a deal, or next year I’m ramming the thing through the way I want it to look.”

“If it was up to me, Election Day would be Election Day,” Proctor added. “There wouldn’t be early voting. Mail-in ballots would only be for military or severely disabled. But I got to bring 84 people with me, so I’m trying to chip away at it.”

This year’s proposal, which was introduced by Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, would end the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots without making any other changes. The Senate passed the bill on a 29-10 vote, with Topeka Republican Sen. Brenda Dietrich joining Democrats in opposition.

A statement from Loud Light said Proctor’s comments from a year ago show he is being disingenuous now with his public explanation for eliminating the three-day grace period. Proctor, who didn’t respond to an email seeking comment for this story, said he wants to avoid ballots being dismissed because of problems with the postmark.

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_electns_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_electns_1_20250211_11_testimony.html" target="_blank">testimony the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office provided to Proctor’s committee</a>, 2,110 ballots were received after Election Day last November and counted. There were 603 ballots received after the grace period, and 104 ballots arrived after Election Day with no postmark.

“Proctor’s secret meeting shows how some politicians would rather disenfranchise voters than try to win their vote,” said Davis Hammet, president of Loud Light. “Politicians love to play games, but our ability to vote and have our vote counted, our democracy, cannot be treated like a game. Rep. Proctor’s comments are disturbing.”

Mike Fonkert, deputy director of Kansas Appleseed, said the organization supports policies that both make voting easy and secure elections.

The state and nation have a long history of allowing individuals to vote by mail, Fonkert said.

“It is reasonable to allow extra time for ballots to arrive, especially as Kansans continue to encounter more frequent issues with mail delivery interruption across this state,” Fonkert said. “Casting us as ‘bomb throwers’ is dismissive of the important work that we do to protect the rights of Kansas to participate in elections.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739644898383.jpeg" alt=" Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee, has advanced legislation requiring mail-in ballots to be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, eliminating the three-day post-election grace period from current law. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee, has advanced legislation requiring mail-in ballots to be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day, eliminating the three-day post-election grace period from current law. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The chair of the House Elections Committee told Republicans in a private Zoom meeting last year that he would prefer to eliminate advanced voting altogether and vowed to ram through legislation in the 2025 session to eliminate the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day.The comments by Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican, were part of a weekly Zoom call organized by House Majority Leader Chris Croft with Johnson County Republicans and invite-only guests. Loud Light Civic Action, a voting rights advocacy group, released a video of the February 2024 Zoom meeting after receiving it this week from an anonymous source. During meeting, Proctor identified Loud Light and Kansas Appleseed as “bomb throwers.”The video surfaced after Proctor’s committee on Thursday advanced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb4/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 4</a>, which would require mail-in ballots be received at the election office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Current law allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they are received by Friday.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0X7MLXASbWE?si=7z4o1y5lAU7B0OCr" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Last year, Proctor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li_2024/b2023_24/measures/sb14/" target="_blank">proposed legislation</a>&nbsp;that would balance the elimination of the three-day grace period by adding three days to the early voting period. But his supposed compromise also would have moved back the voter registration deadline by three days. Loud Light, Kansas Appleseed and other organizations opposed the changes, and the package didn’t have enough support for the Legislature to become law.As the proposal was being debated last year, Proctor joined Croft’s weekly call to talk about election laws. Proctor told the group of about 30 participants that he had tried to compromise in an attempt to get enough support to override a potential veto from the governor.“The only way we’re going to get it passed is if we get bipartisan support on it,” Proctor said. “And so I had a deal, and then Loud Light and Appleseed, which are the kind of bomb throwers in the election debate, they blew it up. And I told all of them — and you know, please don’t put this on Facebook or in the news — I told them all, this is your year for a deal. You can either negotiate and we can get a deal, or next year I’m ramming the thing through the way I want it to look.”“If it was up to me, Election Day would be Election Day,” Proctor added. “There wouldn’t be early voting. Mail-in ballots would only be for military or severely disabled. But I got to bring 84 people with me, so I’m trying to chip away at it.”This year’s proposal, which was introduced by Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, would end the three-day grace period for mail-in ballots without making any other changes. The Senate passed the bill on a 29-10 vote, with Topeka Republican Sen. Brenda Dietrich joining Democrats in opposition.A statement from Loud Light said Proctor’s comments from a year ago show he is being disingenuous now with his public explanation for eliminating the three-day grace period. Proctor, who didn’t respond to an email seeking comment for this story, said he wants to avoid ballots being dismissed because of problems with the postmark.According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_electns_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_electns_1_20250211_11_testimony.html" target="_blank">testimony the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office provided to Proctor’s committee</a>, 2,110 ballots were received after Election Day last November and counted. There were 603 ballots received after the grace period, and 104 ballots arrived after Election Day with no postmark.“Proctor’s secret meeting shows how some politicians would rather disenfranchise voters than try to win their vote,” said Davis Hammet, president of Loud Light. “Politicians love to play games, but our ability to vote and have our vote counted, our democracy, cannot be treated like a game. Rep. Proctor’s comments are disturbing.”Mike Fonkert, deputy director of Kansas Appleseed, said the organization supports policies that both make voting easy and secure elections.The state and nation have a long history of allowing individuals to vote by mail, Fonkert said.“It is reasonable to allow extra time for ballots to arrive, especially as Kansans continue to encounter more frequent issues with mail delivery interruption across this state,” Fonkert said. “Casting us as ‘bomb throwers’ is dismissive of the important work that we do to protect the rights of Kansas to participate in elections.”

In private video, House elections chair says he wants to end early voting, grace period in Kansas

JOHNSON COUNTY—A Kansas family escaped injured after fire at their home caused by a space heater.

Just after 8:30 p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a house fire at 1201 S Payne Street in Olathe, according to a social media report.

The fire displaced three adults who got help from friends. A fire investigator said a space heater caused the blaze. There were no injured.

According to the fire department, when using space heaters, keep anything that can burn at least 3 ft away. Plug directly into outlets and Turn off and unplug before sleeping or leaving the home.The Olathe Police Department and Johnson County MED-ACT also helped at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739631636182.png" alt="Images from video provided by Olathe Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Images from video provided by Olathe Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—A Kansas family escaped injured after fire at their home caused by a space heater.Just after 8:30 p.m. Thursday, firefighters responded to a house fire at 1201 S Payne Street in Olathe, according to a social media report.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739631616484.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The fire displaced three adults who got help from friends. A fire investigator said a space heater caused the blaze. There were no injured.According to the fire department, when using space heaters, keep anything that can burn at least 3 ft away. Plug directly into outlets and Turn off and unplug before sleeping or leaving the home.The Olathe Police Department and Johnson County MED-ACT also helped at the scene.

Kansas family escapes fire at their home

A judge ruled the state’s abortion clinic licensing requirements were ‘discriminatory,’ opening the door for providers to renew access to the procedure

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739588698024.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A judge ruled the state’s abortion clinic licensing requirements were ‘discriminatory,’ opening the door for providers to renew access to the procedure</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>A Missouri judge on Friday blocked a licensing requirement for abortion clinics that providers argued was a key obstacle to renewing access to the procedure across the state.&nbsp;Hours later, Planned Parenthood clinics announced they would begin offering abortion services in Missouri.&nbsp;“Abortion care will be restored immediately,” said Emily Wales, President and CEO of Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “The people voted, the court responded and we will do our part: serving Missourians in their home state.”In a three-page ruling issued late Friday afternoon, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang said the regulations mandate physicians to perform certain exams and testing that are “unnecessary.”&nbsp;The licensing requirement is “discriminatory,” Zhang wrote, “ because it does not treat services provided in abortion facilities the same as other types of similarly situated health care, including miscarriage care.”Planned Parenthood clinics had previously said it could begin taking walk-in medication abortion appointments in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis if the judge ruled in their favor.&nbsp;“Our health center staff are quickly readying to restart this critical care in the coming days,” said Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers.Abortion Action Missouri announced Friday evening the expansion of its clinic escorts program to include the Planned Parenthood in St. Louis.“Barely a year after launching the campaign to end Missouri’s abortion ban, the court upheld the will of the people,” Mallory Schwarz, executive director of Abortion Action Missouri, said.“With this change the landscape for Missourians and the entire Midwest region will be transformed,” she said, “as patients will have greater access to abortion care than they have had in years.”Coalition Life also announced it would again gather outside the clinic in St. Louis and re-establish its sidewalk counseling efforts.“This ruling reinforces the need for pro-life agencies and advocates to offer life-affirming alternatives to women,” said Brian Westbrook, the group’s executive director. “Coalition Life remains steadfast in our mission to provide resources, education, and support to women facing unexpected pregnancies.”Stephanie Bell, a spokeswoman with Missouri Stands with Women — one of several political action committees formed last year to defend the state’s abortion ban — said the fight is not over.“We will not stop fighting to protect both women and unborn children from reckless, profit-driven practices,” Bell said. “No woman should suffer, and no innocent life should be taken, in the name of an industry that refuses to be held accountable.”The day after voters narrowly decided to overturn the state’s near-total abortion ban and protect the right to an abortion in the state constitution, the ACLU of Missouri, Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers sued the state to strike down those statutes.Zhang previously blocked a number of “targeted regulation of abortion provider” statutes, better known as TRAP laws, such as a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion and a requirement that physicians performing the procedure have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals were put on hold.But the licensing requirements have left clinics&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/06/missouri-planned-parenthood-clinics-delay-abortion-amendment-3-lawsuit/">unable to offer abortion in Missouri</a>.Friday’s ruling will certainly be appealed by the state. A spokeswoman for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. By 2020, when abortions were still legal, that number fell to 167, a drop that abortion providers attributed to the state’s growing list of regulations.Missouri’s trigger law banning all abortions with limited exceptions for medical emergencies went into effect the same day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.Last November, Missourians narrowly approved Amendment 3, which states, in part, that “the right to reproductive freedom shall not be denied, interfered with, delayed, or otherwise restricted unless the government demonstrates that such action is justifiable by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”The lawsuit seeking to strike down Missouri’s remaining abortion restrictions was filed soon after.&nbsp;Efforts by the Republican legislative majority to repeal or modify the terms of the Amendment 3 have led to 17 bills and proposed constitutional amendments filed in the Missouri House, and another 19 in the state Senate.Organizers with “What’s Next,” a group of Missouri activists who have pressed for a constitutional amendment beyond what voters approved last year with no restrictions on abortion, said attempts to unravel Amendment 3 should make abortion rights advocates think twice before celebrating Friday’s ruling.“Today’s temporary court ruling on abortion is progress, but a far cry from any sort of win,” the organization said in a statement to the media. “What remains in our state is a constitutional right for government interference, and we expect no less from our hostile legislature.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR54&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">only House measure</a>&nbsp;to receive a hearing so far is a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban abortions except in cases of&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/05/missouri-abortion-ban-constitutional-amendment-stinnett-rape-incest-exception/">medical emergency, rape or incest</a>. Filed by state Rep. Melanie Stinnett, a Republican from Springfield, it would only allow abortions for rape or incest in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and only if a report has been filed with law enforcement.None of the Senate proposals have been scheduled for a hearing.The Independent’s Rudi Keller and Anna Spoerre contributed to this story.&nbsp;