WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement continue their search for a suspect in a Kansas bank robbery.

Just after 9:30a.m. on Jan. 31, a suspect described as a man approximately 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, a neon mask and sunglasses entered the U.S. Bank, 10959 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money.

He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

&nbsp;Approximately ten minutes before the robbery, police in Kansas City, Kansas received an anonymous call reporting a man with a gun at an elementary school just east of the bank.&nbsp; The schools were briefly placed on lockdown.&nbsp; Officers determined there was no threat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738808549262.png" alt="Security camera image FBI" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement continue their search for a suspect in a Kansas bank robbery.Just after 9:30a.m. on Jan. 31, a suspect described as a man approximately 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, a neon mask and sunglasses entered the U.S. Bank, 10959 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money.He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.&nbsp;Approximately ten minutes before the robbery, police in Kansas City, Kansas received an anonymous call reporting a man with a gun at an elementary school just east of the bank.&nbsp; The schools were briefly placed on lockdown.&nbsp; Officers determined there was no threat.---------

Search continues for Kan. bank robbery suspect connected to school threat

NCAA President Charlie Baker issued the following statement Wednesday regarding President Donald Trump's executive order that inntended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women’s sports.&nbsp;

&nbsp;"The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes. We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard.

"The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy in the coming days, subject to further guidance from the administration. The Association will continue to help foster welcoming environments on campuses for all student-athletes. We stand ready to assist schools as they look for ways to support any student-athletes affected by changes in the policy."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716518230646.jpeg" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NCAA President Charlie Baker issued the following statement Wednesday regarding President Donald Trump's executive order that inntended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women’s sports.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738791483165.png" alt="President Trump signed the order during a White House ceremony Wednesday-image White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the order during a White House ceremony Wednesday-image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;"The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes. We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard."The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy in the coming days, subject to further guidance from the administration. The Association will continue to help foster welcoming environments on campuses for all student-athletes. We stand ready to assist schools as they look for ways to support any student-athletes affected by changes in the policy."

NCAA responds to Trump's No Men in Women's Sports Executive Order

The federal government is by far Kansas City’s largest employer and a major economic engine. Experts warn the region’s economy will feel the pain when jobs disappear

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>

Almost 30,000 federal employees in the Kansas City area are caught in the chaos that has defined President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

So far, the Trump administration has reinstituted a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-accountability-to-policy-influencing-positions-within-the-federal-workforce/" target="_blank">policy</a>&nbsp;making it easier to fire federal employees. It has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;remote workers to return to the office. Federal agencies have been placed under a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze/" target="_blank">hiring freeze</a>. And most civilian employees have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">emailed</a>&nbsp;a buyout offer that experts agree has tenuous legal standing.

“The federal workforce,” the Jan. 28 email to employees said, “should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.”

The email, headlined “Fork in the Road,” promised “restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status of a substantial number of federal employees.”

“It’s pretty gross,” said one federal employee in Kansas City who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. “I went so far as to change my voter registration” from Democrat to independent.

He said he hoped that could spare him from a potential loyalty sweep that might use party affiliation as a metric.

“I knew this would probably happen,” said another local federal employee who also asked not to be named. “But in the first week he was in office?”

Federal job cuts will have ‘outsized impact’

While federal workers brace for more changes and fear for their livelihoods, economists warn that any major reduction in federal jobs — and the inevitable disruptions in government services that follow — could be devastating to Kansas City’s economy.

“It can cascade really easily,” said Chris Kuehl, co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence.

Since the Truman administration, the federal government has played a major role in the Kansas City area’s economic health. With 29,883 federal employees here, the federal government is by far the metro’s largest employer, accounting for about 3% of overall employment. And that figure doesn’t include contract workers or private companies that depend on federal contracts to do business.

The Internal Revenue Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration are just some of the federal agencies that have a regional presence.

“Even a small adjustment in the federal workforce will have an outsized impact on the economy,” said Brent Never, an associate professor of public affairs at the&nbsp;<a href="https://bloch.umkc.edu/bloch-lead-scholars/index.html?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=visionpoint_blochleadscholars_pros&amp;utm_content=branded&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAqfe8BhBwEiwAsne6gZDfZ9PwXvRvMdE7Uk79jXOOxORKMMOUwvk6fjO4Ih0ElUuyxX5VSxoCcIcQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Henry W. Bloch School of Management</a>&nbsp;at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Federal employees tend to be fairly well paid and their salaries are fueled by money coming from outside the community, making them even more valuable in economic terms. Federal workers spend at stores and restaurants, and on services inside the community.

Frank Lenk, director of economic research at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marc.org/" target="_blank">Mid-America Regional Council</a>, estimates that each federal job, and the income it creates, fuels another job in the region. That means if 3,000 federal jobs permanently went away, Kansas City’s economy could lose about 6,000 workers overall.

“From an impact standpoint,” Lenk said, “those are powerful jobs.”

Federal workforce feels growing uncertainty

Before Jan. 20, the federal government’s approximately 3 million civilian employees probably would have said that they enjoyed job security.

But then came President Trump’s hiring freeze, his promises to slash jobs and his executive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;requiring every employee to return to the office or get fired.

The Kansas City federal worker who said he changed his voter party affiliation out of fear of being fired said he took his government job because of its benefits — especially the benefit of working remotely.

Only going into the office once a week means he can be around when his kids get home from school. He saves an hour a day not having to commute, which gives him time to cook, rather than having to pay to eat out. And he avoids other ancillary expenses like parking and extra child care. Parking alone, he estimates, will run thousands of dollars a year if he has to return to the office full time.

“You’re not making a lot in pay being a federal employee,” he said, “but that one benefit of being able to telework means everything.”

Diana Hicks, a national vice president with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afge.org/" target="_blank">American Federation of Government Employees</a>&nbsp;(AFGE) who oversees a district that includes Missouri and Kansas, said the union is fighting against the return-to-work order.

Many employees were hired with the promise of remote positions. And the benefit is baked into many of the union’s collective bargaining agreements, she said.

“They’re altering a condition of employment,” Hicks said.

The union is also advising its members to beware of the “deferred resignation” offer thousands of employees received on Jan. 28 in an email that came directly to employees from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Normally, communication from the government’s top personnel office would be filtered through individual agencies.

The “Fork in the Road”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">memo</a>, which had the same title and highly similar content as one that Twitter employees received from tech billionaire Elon Musk in 2022, read more like a scene from “Severance,” the dystopian TV show, than an HR memo.

It offered employees the chance to resign now, but retain pay and benefits until Sept. 30. It was sent to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel, U.S. Postal Service workers, and people working in the areas of immigration enforcement and national security.

Employees who decide to accept it need only reply to the email, adding the word “resign,” by Feb. 6.

“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency,” the memo advised employees who don’t accept the resignation offer.

But accepting it, many legal experts warned, would come with no guarantees and many questions. For one thing, a continuing resolution currently funding the U.S. budget expires March 14, more than six months before the promised last paycheck. And that’s not the only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/breaking-down-opm-s--fork-in-the-road--email-to-federal-workers" target="_blank">legal hurdle</a>&nbsp;that could render the offer much less than promised, experts said.

Unions representing federal workers urged caution.

“There is not yet any evidence the administration can or will uphold its end of the bargain, that Congress will go along with this unilateral massive restructuring, or that appropriated funds can be used this way, among other issues that have been raised,” the National Treasury Employees Union told members in an email.

AFGE said the offer should not be viewed as voluntary.

“It is an attempt to get federal employees to resign,”&nbsp; said Hicks. “This is essentially a fast track, ‘You have a week to respond with no guarantee.’”

It is unclear how many employees have returned the email. But a&nbsp;<a href="https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/01/survey-most-feds-say-opms-resignation-offer-too-uncertain-to-accept/" target="_blank">survey</a>&nbsp;of 4,600 federal employees conducted by the Federal News Network found that three-quarters of respondents said they would decline.

Regardless of whether employees choose to leave, however, the Trump administration has promised a major overhaul of the civilian workforce and promised “restructurings, realignments and reductions in force.”

That means many of Kansas City’s federal employees are likely to end up on the job market. Kuehl said many will need training to easily fit into jobs currently available in private industry. So far, that doesn’t seem to be on the new administration’s to-do list.

Never, the UMKC professor, speculated that many of the federal employees who lose their jobs will face underemployment when they move to their next job.

“That has a large effect on a family’s wealth over time,” he said.

The federal downsizing could have economic implications beyond just the salaries that disappear. The services federal jobs provide will probably be disrupted, and that could also affect the region. If tax refunds are delayed, small-business or education loans go unprocessed or Social Security benefits aren’t paid, the effects will ripple through the economy.

On top of that, a raft of other executive orders have threatened federal funding to organizations across the region, creating widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/29/federal-funding-freeze-threat-causes-panic-in-kc-health-nonprofits/" target="_blank">uncertainty</a>.

The Trump administration may be betting that there’s enough bloat in the federal government to take out thousands of jobs without services being affected.

“That’s the open question,” Lenk said. “Can you have this kind of reduction and not have it significantly affect government services?”

And as for the administration’s stated goal to trim costs in order to cut the federal deficit, questions also exist about whether this plan will help.

Reducing the deficit may be a worthy goal, Never said, but cuts that cause disruptions in federal services and affect the economy could actually lead to bigger problems for the country than a large deficit.

“We have the most attractive debt because people know we’re good for it,” Never said. “But when the government becomes erratic, there start to be questions about our intent on paying our bills. That’s what would make our debt more expensive.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/03/kc-federal-workers-braces-for-job-cuts-as-trump-plans-purge/" 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.

<h2>The federal government is by far Kansas City’s largest employer and a major economic engine. Experts warn the region’s economy will feel the pain when jobs disappear</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>Almost 30,000 federal employees in the Kansas City area are caught in the chaos that has defined President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.So far, the Trump administration has reinstituted a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-accountability-to-policy-influencing-positions-within-the-federal-workforce/" target="_blank">policy</a>&nbsp;making it easier to fire federal employees. It has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;remote workers to return to the office. Federal agencies have been placed under a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze/" target="_blank">hiring freeze</a>. And most civilian employees have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">emailed</a>&nbsp;a buyout offer that experts agree has tenuous legal standing.“The federal workforce,” the Jan. 28 email to employees said, “should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.”The email, headlined “Fork in the Road,” promised “restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status of a substantial number of federal employees.”“It’s pretty gross,” said one federal employee in Kansas City who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. “I went so far as to change my voter registration” from Democrat to independent.He said he hoped that could spare him from a potential loyalty sweep that might use party affiliation as a metric.“I knew this would probably happen,” said another local federal employee who also asked not to be named. “But in the first week he was in office?”<h2>Federal job cuts will have ‘outsized impact’</h2>While federal workers brace for more changes and fear for their livelihoods, economists warn that any major reduction in federal jobs — and the inevitable disruptions in government services that follow — could be devastating to Kansas City’s economy.“It can cascade really easily,” said Chris Kuehl, co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence.Since the Truman administration, the federal government has played a major role in the Kansas City area’s economic health. With 29,883 federal employees here, the federal government is by far the metro’s largest employer, accounting for about 3% of overall employment. And that figure doesn’t include contract workers or private companies that depend on federal contracts to do business.The Internal Revenue Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration are just some of the federal agencies that have a regional presence.“Even a small adjustment in the federal workforce will have an outsized impact on the economy,” said Brent Never, an associate professor of public affairs at the&nbsp;<a href="https://bloch.umkc.edu/bloch-lead-scholars/index.html?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=visionpoint_blochleadscholars_pros&amp;utm_content=branded&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAqfe8BhBwEiwAsne6gZDfZ9PwXvRvMdE7Uk79jXOOxORKMMOUwvk6fjO4Ih0ElUuyxX5VSxoCcIcQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Henry W. Bloch School of Management</a>&nbsp;at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.Federal employees tend to be fairly well paid and their salaries are fueled by money coming from outside the community, making them even more valuable in economic terms. Federal workers spend at stores and restaurants, and on services inside the community.Frank Lenk, director of economic research at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marc.org/" target="_blank">Mid-America Regional Council</a>, estimates that each federal job, and the income it creates, fuels another job in the region. That means if 3,000 federal jobs permanently went away, Kansas City’s economy could lose about 6,000 workers overall.“From an impact standpoint,” Lenk said, “those are powerful jobs.”<h2>Federal workforce feels growing uncertainty</h2>Before Jan. 20, the federal government’s approximately 3 million civilian employees probably would have said that they enjoyed job security.But then came President Trump’s hiring freeze, his promises to slash jobs and his executive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;requiring every employee to return to the office or get fired.The Kansas City federal worker who said he changed his voter party affiliation out of fear of being fired said he took his government job because of its benefits — especially the benefit of working remotely.Only going into the office once a week means he can be around when his kids get home from school. He saves an hour a day not having to commute, which gives him time to cook, rather than having to pay to eat out. And he avoids other ancillary expenses like parking and extra child care. Parking alone, he estimates, will run thousands of dollars a year if he has to return to the office full time.“You’re not making a lot in pay being a federal employee,” he said, “but that one benefit of being able to telework means everything.”Diana Hicks, a national vice president with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afge.org/" target="_blank">American Federation of Government Employees</a>&nbsp;(AFGE) who oversees a district that includes Missouri and Kansas, said the union is fighting against the return-to-work order.Many employees were hired with the promise of remote positions. And the benefit is baked into many of the union’s collective bargaining agreements, she said.“They’re altering a condition of employment,” Hicks said.The union is also advising its members to beware of the “deferred resignation” offer thousands of employees received on Jan. 28 in an email that came directly to employees from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Normally, communication from the government’s top personnel office would be filtered through individual agencies.The “Fork in the Road”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">memo</a>, which had the same title and highly similar content as one that Twitter employees received from tech billionaire Elon Musk in 2022, read more like a scene from “Severance,” the dystopian TV show, than an HR memo.It offered employees the chance to resign now, but retain pay and benefits until Sept. 30. It was sent to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel, U.S. Postal Service workers, and people working in the areas of immigration enforcement and national security.Employees who decide to accept it need only reply to the email, adding the word “resign,” by Feb. 6.“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency,” the memo advised employees who don’t accept the resignation offer.But accepting it, many legal experts warned, would come with no guarantees and many questions. For one thing, a continuing resolution currently funding the U.S. budget expires March 14, more than six months before the promised last paycheck. And that’s not the only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/breaking-down-opm-s--fork-in-the-road--email-to-federal-workers" target="_blank">legal hurdle</a>&nbsp;that could render the offer much less than promised, experts said.Unions representing federal workers urged caution.“There is not yet any evidence the administration can or will uphold its end of the bargain, that Congress will go along with this unilateral massive restructuring, or that appropriated funds can be used this way, among other issues that have been raised,” the National Treasury Employees Union told members in an email.AFGE said the offer should not be viewed as voluntary.“It is an attempt to get federal employees to resign,”&nbsp; said Hicks. “This is essentially a fast track, ‘You have a week to respond with no guarantee.’”<h2>‘Reductions in force’ promised</h2>It is unclear how many employees have returned the email. But a&nbsp;<a href="https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/01/survey-most-feds-say-opms-resignation-offer-too-uncertain-to-accept/" target="_blank">survey</a>&nbsp;of 4,600 federal employees conducted by the Federal News Network found that three-quarters of respondents said they would decline.Regardless of whether employees choose to leave, however, the Trump administration has promised a major overhaul of the civilian workforce and promised “restructurings, realignments and reductions in force.”That means many of Kansas City’s federal employees are likely to end up on the job market. Kuehl said many will need training to easily fit into jobs currently available in private industry. So far, that doesn’t seem to be on the new administration’s to-do list.Never, the UMKC professor, speculated that many of the federal employees who lose their jobs will face underemployment when they move to their next job.“That has a large effect on a family’s wealth over time,” he said.The federal downsizing could have economic implications beyond just the salaries that disappear. The services federal jobs provide will probably be disrupted, and that could also affect the region. If tax refunds are delayed, small-business or education loans go unprocessed or Social Security benefits aren’t paid, the effects will ripple through the economy.On top of that, a raft of other executive orders have threatened federal funding to organizations across the region, creating widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/29/federal-funding-freeze-threat-causes-panic-in-kc-health-nonprofits/" target="_blank">uncertainty</a>.The Trump administration may be betting that there’s enough bloat in the federal government to take out thousands of jobs without services being affected.“That’s the open question,” Lenk said. “Can you have this kind of reduction and not have it significantly affect government services?”And as for the administration’s stated goal to trim costs in order to cut the federal deficit, questions also exist about whether this plan will help.Reducing the deficit may be a worthy goal, Never said, but cuts that cause disruptions in federal services and affect the economy could actually lead to bigger problems for the country than a large deficit.“We have the most attractive debt because people know we’re good for it,” Never said. “But when the government becomes erratic, there start to be questions about our intent on paying our bills. That’s what would make our debt more expensive.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/03/kc-federal-workers-braces-for-job-cuts-as-trump-plans-purge/" 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.

Nearly 30,000 federal workers in Kansas City brace for layoffs

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 10:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2021 blue Toyota RAV4 for a traffic violation&nbsp; southbound U.S. Highway 75, approximately four miles north of Independence, Kansas, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.

As the vehicle came to a stop, deputies observed a large object being thrown from the front passenger window. Upon investigation, deputies determined that the front passenger, identified as 45-year-old Cornelius Williams of Independence, Kansas, had discarded approximately one pound of suspected crystal methamphetamine.

A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of one ounce of suspected powder cocaine and one ounce of suspected crack cocaine. 

Both Williams and the driver 44-year-old Shequetta Dean of Independence, Kansas, were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where they were booked on the following charges:

Cornelius Williams was booked on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case• Littering from a vehicle; Transporting an open container; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use; Possession of marijuana• Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)

Shequetta Dean was booked on requested charges of Improper driving on a laned roadway; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use• Possession of marijuana; Transporting an open container; Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)

Following the arrests, deputies obtained a search warrant for the Apple Tree Inn, where Williams and Dean had been staying.

 The search resulted in the discovery of drug distribution paraphernalia, including scales, as well as additional drug-related items and over $6,000 in U.S. currency.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738676371751.png" alt="Williams photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just before 10:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2021 blue Toyota RAV4 for a traffic violation&nbsp; southbound U.S. Highway 75, approximately four miles north of Independence, Kansas, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.As the vehicle came to a stop, deputies observed a large object being thrown from the front passenger window. Upon investigation, deputies determined that the front passenger, identified as 45-year-old Cornelius Williams of Independence, Kansas, had discarded approximately one pound of suspected crystal methamphetamine.A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of one ounce of suspected powder cocaine and one ounce of suspected crack cocaine. Both Williams and the driver 44-year-old Shequetta Dean of Independence, Kansas, were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where they were booked on the following charges:Cornelius Williams was booked on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case• Littering from a vehicle; Transporting an open container; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use; Possession of marijuana• Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738676351120.png" alt="Dean photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Dean photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>Shequetta Dean was booked on requested charges of Improper driving on a laned roadway; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use• Possession of marijuana; Transporting an open container; Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)Following the arrests, deputies obtained a search warrant for the Apple Tree Inn, where Williams and Dean had been staying. The search resulted in the discovery of drug distribution paraphernalia, including scales, as well as additional drug-related items and over $6,000 in U.S. currency..

Suspected Kan. drug dealer threw a pound of crystal meth from SUV

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects in connection with an aggravated robbery.

Just after 7a.m. Monday, police responded to a residence in the 1300 block of SW Tyler in Topeka on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to Police LT Matt Danielson.

 Officers learned the victim’s vehicle was stolen while being robbed a gunpoint. Just before 12:30p.m., police were checking areas in South Topeka and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle associated with the aggravated robbery. 

The driver of that vehicle initiated a vehicle pursuit that ended near the intersection of SE 25th and SE California after the driver crashed into another moving vehicle. 

The victims involved in the crash were uninjured and three occupants inside the suspect vehicle ran. 

Police ultimately took 27-year-old Breylin Bakerf Topeka, along with two juveniles into custody a short time later and transported them to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning in connection with the robbery and vehicle pursuit.

One juvenile was released to a guardian and the second juvenile was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

Breylin Baker was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and a&nbsp;Warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738794821817.png" alt="Baker photo Shawnee Coll" />
 <figcaption>Baker photo Shawnee Coll</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects in connection with an aggravated robbery.Just after 7a.m. Monday, police responded to a residence in the 1300 block of SW Tyler in Topeka on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to Police LT Matt Danielson. Officers learned the victim’s vehicle was stolen while being robbed a gunpoint. Just before 12:30p.m., police were checking areas in South Topeka and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle associated with the aggravated robbery. The driver of that vehicle initiated a vehicle pursuit that ended near the intersection of SE 25th and SE California after the driver crashed into another moving vehicle. The victims involved in the crash were uninjured and three occupants inside the suspect vehicle ran. Police ultimately took 27-year-old Breylin Bakerf Topeka, along with two juveniles into custody a short time later and transported them to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning in connection with the robbery and vehicle pursuit.One juvenile was released to a guardian and the second juvenile was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.Breylin Baker was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and a&nbsp;Warrant.

Kansas carjacking suspect crashed during police pursuit

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are actively investigating a fatal shooting in Johnson County.

Just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to an armed disturbance in the 15900 block of West 127th Street in Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.

First responders found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Police have identified and contacted all individual involved. Police have not reported an arrest or the name of the man who died.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are actively investigating a fatal shooting in Johnson County.Just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to an armed disturbance in the 15900 block of West 127th Street in Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.First responders found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.Police have identified and contacted all individual involved. Police have not reported an arrest or the name of the man who died.

Police investigate deadly Kansas shooting

WILSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2005 Saturn Ion driven by&nbsp; Leisa&nbsp;Snyder, 35, Altoona, was westbound on Kansas 47 four miles east of Altoona.

The car crossed the center line and struck the rear axle of an eastbound 2024 IHC semi driven by&nbsp; Dalano&nbsp; Hill, 35, Decatur, Georgia.

Snyder was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Countryside Funeral Home. Hill was not injured. Snyder was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WILSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Wilson County.The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2005 Saturn Ion driven by&nbsp; Leisa&nbsp;Snyder, 35, Altoona, was westbound on Kansas 47 four miles east of Altoona.The car crossed the center line and struck the rear axle of an eastbound 2024 IHC semi driven by&nbsp; Dalano&nbsp; Hill, 35, Decatur, Georgia.Snyder was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Countryside Funeral Home. Hill was not injured. Snyder was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after car strikes rear axle of semi

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Lawrene.

Just before 3a.m. Wednesday, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical units were dispatched to a&nbsp; fire at 1821 W. 26th Street, according Interim Chief McKenzi Ezell

Initial reports to the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center indicated that a porch was on fire and that passersby could see flames from Iowa Street.

&nbsp;First crews arrived on scene and observed heavy smoke and fire on the exterior of the apartment building. The flames extended from the first floor to the third floor. At approximately 3:07a.m. two additional fire units were requested to assist in providing additional response support.

Residents of six apartment units were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the Red Cross. The remainder of the residents that were evacuated were able to return to their apartments. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Lawrene.Just before 3a.m. Wednesday, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical units were dispatched to a&nbsp; fire at 1821 W. 26th Street, according Interim Chief McKenzi EzellInitial reports to the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center indicated that a porch was on fire and that passersby could see flames from Iowa Street.&nbsp;First crews arrived on scene and observed heavy smoke and fire on the exterior of the apartment building. The flames extended from the first floor to the third floor. At approximately 3:07a.m. two additional fire units were requested to assist in providing additional response support.Residents of six apartment units were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the Red Cross. The remainder of the residents that were evacuated were able to return to their apartments. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

Residents from 6 units displaced after Kansas apartment building fire

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

WASHINGTON — Two large unions and an alliance that together represent millions of government and retired workers are suing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for allowing a “massive and unprecedented” intrusion into Americans’ personal data, beginning last week when the newly confirmed secretary handed over the department’s payment system to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and Alliance for Retired Americans filed suit Monday arguing that members of Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency broke federal privacy laws by infiltrating the system that handles trillions in payments — including income taxes, Social Security benefits and veterans pay.

“Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/1-Complaint-7.pdf" target="_blank">complaint</a>&nbsp;filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

The plaintiffs are represented by two legal aid groups, the Public Citizen Litigation Group and the State Democracy Defenders Fund.

“Secretary Bessent’s action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoing access to that information for an unspecified period of time means that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords,” the complaint continued.

A rally was also scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon at the Treasury Department to protest Musk’s moves.

DOGE, an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, is not a government department. Agencies within the executive branch can only be created&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10158#:~:text=These%20orders%20and%20proposals%20have,various%20statutory%20functions%20and%20duties." target="_blank">by Congress</a>.

Trump convened DOGE, following a campaign promise to major campaign donor Musk, via an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;signed on his first day in office. The order renamed the U.S. Digital Service — the information technology arm of the federal government — to the U.S. DOGE Service.

The order also established an 18-month “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization” for the purposes of “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”

Trump and Musk — and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who is no longer part of the temporary endeavor — touted on the campaign trail the creation of an entity that would cut $2 trillion in government spending.

Trump has since named Musk a temporary “special government employee,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-speaks-to-reporters/655306" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters Monday, adding that she was “not sure” which security clearances Musk has.

The Washington Post first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/31/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-systems/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that a top Treasury official was placed on administrative leave by the Trump White House for refusing to allow personnel from so-called DOGE to access the federal payment system.

WIRED reported that Musk’s DOGE team is largely made up of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/" target="_blank">engineers ages 19 to 24</a>&nbsp;who have ties to Musk’s other companies.

WIRED further&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that one 25-year-old engineer, Marko Elez, now reportedly has the ability to read and write code for two of Treasury’s most sensitive systems — the Payment Automation Manager and the Secure Payment System, both managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

States Newsroom reached out to the White House, the Department of the Treasury, and to representatives of DOGE for comment but did not receive responses.

Representatives from the U.S. DOGE Service continued accessing sensitive government files over the weekend when personnel demanded entry into computer systems at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.

At least two USAID security officials were put on administrative leave after initially refusing to grant access, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/usaid-washington-workers/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>.

Democratic lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-refused-entry-usaid-agency-shuttered-trump-administration" target="_blank">protested</a>&nbsp;outside the agency’s main office on Monday and vowed a legal fight. States Newsroom witnessed the lawmakers being denied entry into the USAID offices.

USAID employees who work in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center were told in emails and text blasts not to report to the office Monday.

The agency’s website,&nbsp;<a href="http://usaid.gov/" target="_blank">USAID.gov</a>, and its X social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/USAID" target="_blank">account</a>&nbsp;went dark Saturday. Musk owns X.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738775286116.png" alt="Elon Musk at an inauguration event - File photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk at an inauguration event - File photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Two large unions and an alliance that together represent millions of government and retired workers are suing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for allowing a “massive and unprecedented” intrusion into Americans’ personal data, beginning last week when the newly confirmed secretary handed over the department’s payment system to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738777717486.png" alt="U.S. Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy during a rally against Musk on Tuessday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy during a rally against Musk on Tuessday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and Alliance for Retired Americans filed suit Monday arguing that members of Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency broke federal privacy laws by infiltrating the system that handles trillions in payments — including income taxes, Social Security benefits and veterans pay.“Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/1-Complaint-7.pdf" target="_blank">complaint</a>&nbsp;filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.The plaintiffs are represented by two legal aid groups, the Public Citizen Litigation Group and the State Democracy Defenders Fund.“Secretary Bessent’s action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoing access to that information for an unspecified period of time means that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords,” the complaint continued.A rally was also scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon at the Treasury Department to protest Musk’s moves.<h2>What is DOGE?</h2>DOGE, an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, is not a government department. Agencies within the executive branch can only be created&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10158#:~:text=These%20orders%20and%20proposals%20have,various%20statutory%20functions%20and%20duties." target="_blank">by Congress</a>.Trump convened DOGE, following a campaign promise to major campaign donor Musk, via an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;signed on his first day in office. The order renamed the U.S. Digital Service — the information technology arm of the federal government — to the U.S. DOGE Service.The order also established an 18-month “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization” for the purposes of “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”Trump and Musk — and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who is no longer part of the temporary endeavor — touted on the campaign trail the creation of an entity that would cut $2 trillion in government spending.Trump has since named Musk a temporary “special government employee,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-speaks-to-reporters/655306" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters Monday, adding that she was “not sure” which security clearances Musk has.<h2>Youthful engineers</h2>The Washington Post first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/31/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-systems/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that a top Treasury official was placed on administrative leave by the Trump White House for refusing to allow personnel from so-called DOGE to access the federal payment system.WIRED reported that Musk’s DOGE team is largely made up of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/" target="_blank">engineers ages 19 to 24</a>&nbsp;who have ties to Musk’s other companies.WIRED further&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that one 25-year-old engineer, Marko Elez, now reportedly has the ability to read and write code for two of Treasury’s most sensitive systems — the Payment Automation Manager and the Secure Payment System, both managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.States Newsroom reached out to the White House, the Department of the Treasury, and to representatives of DOGE for comment but did not receive responses.<h2>DOGE in USAID</h2>Representatives from the U.S. DOGE Service continued accessing sensitive government files over the weekend when personnel demanded entry into computer systems at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.At least two USAID security officials were put on administrative leave after initially refusing to grant access, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/usaid-washington-workers/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>.Democratic lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-refused-entry-usaid-agency-shuttered-trump-administration" target="_blank">protested</a>&nbsp;outside the agency’s main office on Monday and vowed a legal fight. States Newsroom witnessed the lawmakers being denied entry into the USAID offices.USAID employees who work in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center were told in emails and text blasts not to report to the office Monday.The agency’s website,&nbsp;<a href="http://usaid.gov/" target="_blank">USAID.gov</a>, and its X social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/USAID" target="_blank">account</a>&nbsp;went dark Saturday. Musk owns X.

Lawsuit Filed Over Attempts by Elon Musk’s DOGE to take Over U.S. Benefit Payment System

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is going to prison for murder.

A Jackson County judge sentenced 26-year-old Kequan Herring to 32-years in prison for a fatal shooting near 19th Street and Park Tower Drive in 2023, according to Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

The judge sentenced him to 22 years for 2nd Degree Murder, 15 years for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and 10 years for each count of Armed Criminal Action. The murder charge will run consecutive to one Armed Criminal Action count. The other Armed Criminal Action count and Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction will run concurrent with the murder count.&nbsp;

In December, Herring was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2497/Kequan-Herring-PC-Statement-redacted">According to court records</a>, officers were dispatched to a residence on a shooting call on November 28, 2023, and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.

Detectives found shell casings behind the residence and bullet holes through the back entrance wall of the residence. There were some apparent bullet holes in nearby residences as well.&nbsp;

Surveillance video from the area of the shooting captured the defendant shooting at the back of the victim’s residence, running out of camera view and then driving away. Detectives used cell tower mapping, which placed the defendant in the area of the homicide at the same time it took place. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702072810901.png" alt="Herring-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Herring-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is going to prison for murder.A Jackson County judge sentenced 26-year-old Kequan Herring to 32-years in prison for a fatal shooting near 19th Street and Park Tower Drive in 2023, according to Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.The judge sentenced him to 22 years for 2nd Degree Murder, 15 years for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and 10 years for each count of Armed Criminal Action. The murder charge will run consecutive to one Armed Criminal Action count. The other Armed Criminal Action count and Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction will run concurrent with the murder count.&nbsp;In December, Herring was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2497/Kequan-Herring-PC-Statement-redacted">According to court records</a>, officers were dispatched to a residence on a shooting call on November 28, 2023, and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.Detectives found shell casings behind the residence and bullet holes through the back entrance wall of the residence. There were some apparent bullet holes in nearby residences as well.&nbsp;Surveillance video from the area of the shooting captured the defendant shooting at the back of the victim’s residence, running out of camera view and then driving away. Detectives used cell tower mapping, which placed the defendant in the area of the homicide at the same time it took place. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Cell tower mapping helped convict KC man of murder

On Tuesday night,&nbsp; members of the Kansas congressional delegation held a moment of silence on the House floor in honor of those who lost their lives in the Flight 5342 crash last week.

Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes said, "We grieve with the families and friends they left behind and pray for those in our districts who are still in shock at the loss of their loved ones."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738723460196.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Tuesday night,&nbsp; members of the Kansas congressional delegation held a moment of silence on the House floor in honor of those who lost their lives in the Flight 5342 crash last week.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Tonight, my colleagues and I held a moment of silence on the House floor in honor of those who lost their lives in the Flight 5342 crash last week. We grieve with the families and friends they left behind and pray for those in our districts who are still in shock at the loss of… <a href="https://t.co/pZoQq5dxto">pic.twitter.com/pZoQq5dxto</a>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1886953683679588426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes said, "We grieve with the families and friends they left behind and pray for those in our districts who are still in shock at the loss of their loved ones."

Moment of silence: Kan. lawmakers honor victims of midair collision 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement&nbsp; investigating a deadly stabbing at a Kansas City home have identified the victim as 23-year-old Darrell McKelby, according KCPD&nbsp; Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

&nbsp;Just before 2a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of Quincy in Kanas City on a reported knife attack, according to Gonzalez.

At the scene, first responders observed a residence with an open door and several people outside summoning officers to the home.

Officers entered the residence to locate any potential victims and observed&nbsp; McKelby suffering from apparent stab wounds. Emergency medical aid was immediately given to the victim by responding officers until EMS arrived and transported him to an area hospital where he&nbsp; was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates the incident may have started over a verbal argument that escalated to violence. A woman,&nbsp; McKelby's mother, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte' was identified as a suspect and taken into custody on scene for further questioning.

Detectives are not currently looking for any additional individuals responsible.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738679900796.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement&nbsp; investigating a deadly stabbing at a Kansas City home have identified the victim as 23-year-old Darrell McKelby, according KCPD&nbsp; Officer Alayna Gonzalez.&nbsp;Just before 2a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of Quincy in Kanas City on a reported knife attack, according to Gonzalez.At the scene, first responders observed a residence with an open door and several people outside summoning officers to the home.Officers entered the residence to locate any potential victims and observed&nbsp; McKelby suffering from apparent stab wounds. Emergency medical aid was immediately given to the victim by responding officers until EMS arrived and transported him to an area hospital where he&nbsp; was pronounced deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates the incident may have started over a verbal argument that escalated to violence. A woman,&nbsp; McKelby's mother, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte' was identified as a suspect and taken into custody on scene for further questioning.Detectives are not currently looking for any additional individuals responsible.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police ID KC man stabbed by his mother

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary to a recently abandoned residence in Shawnee Countu.

On February 1, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a possible burglary in progress at a residence in southeast Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 This was the same residence as a recent incident where three individuals were located deceased. A pickup truck with a trailer full of items was seen leaving the residence.

 The driver quickly unhooked the trailer and left it on the roadway nearby.

Deputies responded and located the trailer with the stolen items. Deputies returned to residence and found it had been burglarized. Most items inside the residence had either been stolen or damaged, along with three missing vehicles.

Deputies located one stolen vehicle in the 1800 block of SE 72nd Terrace, one in the 1400 block of NW Logan Street and one in the 400 block of NE Lake Street.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to please contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (785-251-2200 or DetectiveLeads@snco.us) immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738063965850.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary to a recently abandoned residence in Shawnee Countu.On February 1, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a possible burglary in progress at a residence in southeast Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. This was the same residence as a recent incident where three individuals were located deceased. A pickup truck with a trailer full of items was seen leaving the residence. The driver quickly unhooked the trailer and left it on the roadway nearby.Deputies responded and located the trailer with the stolen items. Deputies returned to residence and found it had been burglarized. Most items inside the residence had either been stolen or damaged, along with three missing vehicles.Deputies located one stolen vehicle in the 1800 block of SE 72nd Terrace, one in the 1400 block of NW Logan Street and one in the 400 block of NE Lake Street.Anyone with information on this incident is asked to please contact the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division (785-251-2200 or DetectiveLeads@snco.us) immediately.

Sheriff: Burglary at Kan. home where 3 were found dead 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>

WASHINGTON — Former Hawaii U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/intel-nominee-gabbard-tries-win-over-skeptics-us-senate-confirmation-hearing" target="_blank">Tulsi Gabbard</a>&nbsp;got a step further on Tuesday in her bid to serve as the next director of national intelligence after a U.S. Senate panel propelled her nomination to the Senate floor.

Gabbard — who has stood among President Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees — managed to secure enough votes in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to advance her nomination, 9-8, along party lines, the panel confirmed to States Newsroom.

The lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve faced serious concerns from lawmakers of both parties regarding her nomination following a series of controversies, including over her foreign policy views and meetings she took part in with then-Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

But Gabbard provided further clarity to some of her past statements and actions last week in front of the Senate intelligence panel and described her vision on working “to end the politicization of the intelligence community,” if confirmed.

Tuesday’s committee vote by no means guaranteed Gabbard’s confirmation, but the outcome brought her closer to potentially securing the post responsible for overseeing the vast intelligence community.

That community, made up of 18 agencies and organizations, has a budget of more than&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10524" target="_blank">$100 billion</a>.

Gabbard, who is now a Republican but ran an unsuccessful 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, managed to win the support of senators on the panel who voiced skepticism surrounding her nomination, including GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young of Indiana.

Collins said Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://mainemorningstar.com/briefs/sen-collins-to-support-nomination-of-tulsi-gabbard-for-intelligence-chief/" target="_blank">Gabbard addressed her concerns</a>&nbsp;regarding the nominee’s views on Edward Snowden — a former contractor at the National Security Agency who leaked classified information regarding surveillance efforts.

During last week’s confirmation hearing, Gabbard took heat for refusing to call Snowden a traitor.

However, Collins managed to get Gabbard to say that she would not support a pardon for Snowden, if confirmed.

Gabbard also garnered the support of Young, who in a Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenToddYoung/status/1886799486640386197" target="_blank">post on social media</a>&nbsp;backed the nominee while sharing a letter she wrote to the Indiana Republican outlining multiple commitments she will make, if confirmed.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738022744738.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Gabbard last month-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Gabbard last month-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>WASHINGTON — Former Hawaii U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/intel-nominee-gabbard-tries-win-over-skeptics-us-senate-confirmation-hearing" target="_blank">Tulsi Gabbard</a>&nbsp;got a step further on Tuesday in her bid to serve as the next director of national intelligence after a U.S. Senate panel propelled her nomination to the Senate floor.Gabbard — who has stood among President Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees — managed to secure enough votes in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to advance her nomination, 9-8, along party lines, the panel confirmed to States Newsroom.The lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve faced serious concerns from lawmakers of both parties regarding her nomination following a series of controversies, including over her foreign policy views and meetings she took part in with then-Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.But Gabbard provided further clarity to some of her past statements and actions last week in front of the Senate intelligence panel and described her vision on working “to end the politicization of the intelligence community,” if confirmed.Tuesday’s committee vote by no means guaranteed Gabbard’s confirmation, but the outcome brought her closer to potentially securing the post responsible for overseeing the vast intelligence community.That community, made up of 18 agencies and organizations, has a budget of more than&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10524" target="_blank">$100 billion</a>.Gabbard, who is now a Republican but ran an unsuccessful 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, managed to win the support of senators on the panel who voiced skepticism surrounding her nomination, including GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Todd Young of Indiana.Collins said Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://mainemorningstar.com/briefs/sen-collins-to-support-nomination-of-tulsi-gabbard-for-intelligence-chief/" target="_blank">Gabbard addressed her concerns</a>&nbsp;regarding the nominee’s views on Edward Snowden — a former contractor at the National Security Agency who leaked classified information regarding surveillance efforts.During last week’s confirmation hearing, Gabbard took heat for refusing to call Snowden a traitor.However, Collins managed to get Gabbard to say that she would not support a pardon for Snowden, if confirmed.Gabbard also garnered the support of Young, who in a Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenToddYoung/status/1886799486640386197" target="_blank">post on social media</a>&nbsp;backed the nominee while sharing a letter she wrote to the Indiana Republican outlining multiple commitments she will make, if confirmed.&nbsp;

Gabbard nomination for intel chief headed to Senate floor after panel approval

KANSAS CITY —A man is facing charges in connection with a fatal wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 that occurred January 28.

Javier Garcia-Arellano, 26, is charged with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2494/Redacted-Complaint">class B felony of Driving While Intoxicated resulting in death</a>, according to the&nbsp;Jackson County prosecutor's office.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2495/Probable-Cause">According to court records</a>, officers were dispatched to westbound Interstate 70 west of Noland Road in Independence shortly after midnight on a crash with fatal injuries. The crash investigation revealed a Toyota Camry operated by Garcia-Arellano was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of Interstate 70 and struck a westbound Kia Optima head-on.

 After the collision, the Toyota continued traveling east where it was struck by a Freightliner tractor trailer and then collided with another vehicle.

The driver of the Kia died in the crash and the other two drivers sustained injuries.

Garcia-Arellano told police he had been drinking alcoholic beverages that night into the early morning. According to court records he said he had as many as twelve to fourteen alcoholic beverages since 6p.m.

 Toxicology reports confirmed the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol.&nbsp;&nbsp;Javier Garcia-Arellanos did not have a valid driver's license and one prior arrest for driving while intoxicated, according to a&nbsp; Kansas Highway Patrol arrest in May of 2023

He is in custody on a $150,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738358683112.png" alt="GARCIA-ARELLANO is being held for immigration authorities, according to online jail records" />
 <figcaption>GARCIA-ARELLANO is being held for immigration authorities, according to online jail records</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A man is facing charges in connection with a fatal wrong-way crash on Interstate 70 that occurred January 28. Javier Garcia-Arellano, 26, is charged with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2494/Redacted-Complaint">class B felony of Driving While Intoxicated resulting in death</a>, according to the&nbsp;Jackson County prosecutor's office.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2495/Probable-Cause">According to court records</a>, officers were dispatched to westbound Interstate 70 west of Noland Road in Independence shortly after midnight on a crash with fatal injuries. The crash investigation revealed a Toyota Camry operated by Garcia-Arellano was traveling eastbound in the westbound lane of Interstate 70 and struck a westbound Kia Optima head-on. After the collision, the Toyota continued traveling east where it was struck by a Freightliner tractor trailer and then collided with another vehicle.The driver of the Kia died in the crash and the other two drivers sustained injuries.Garcia-Arellano told police he had been drinking alcoholic beverages that night into the early morning. According to court records he said he had as many as twelve to fourteen alcoholic beverages since 6p.m. Toxicology reports confirmed the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol.&nbsp;&nbsp;Javier Garcia-Arellanos did not have a valid driver's license and one prior arrest for driving while intoxicated, according to a&nbsp; Kansas Highway Patrol arrest in May of 2023He is in custody on a $150,000 bond.&nbsp;

Driver in fatal I-70 crash said he had 14 drinks

WASHINGTON — Two employees of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority have been charged after authorities say they leaked a video of the&nbsp;American Airlines Flight 5342 crash with an Army Black Hawk helicopter&nbsp;to CNN, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority.

The employees made an "unauthorized copy" of the video and gave it to the media outlet.

Mohamed Lamine Mbengue, 21, was charged with computer trespass. He was booked into the Arlington County Adult Detention Center and later released on his own recognizance. &nbsp;&nbsp;

 Jonathan Savoy, 45,&nbsp; Upper Marlboro, was also charged with computer trespass. He was released on a summons by a magistrate.

No one survived the Wednesday night collision. Crews are still searching for remains.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738667971605.png" alt="Mbengue photo Arlington County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Mbengue photo Arlington County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — Two employees of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority have been charged after authorities say they leaked a video of the&nbsp;American Airlines Flight 5342 crash with an Army Black Hawk helicopter&nbsp;to CNN, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority.The employees made an "unauthorized copy" of the video and gave it to the media outlet.Mohamed Lamine Mbengue, 21, was charged with computer trespass. He was booked into the Arlington County Adult Detention Center and later released on his own recognizance. &nbsp;&nbsp; Jonathan Savoy, 45,&nbsp; Upper Marlboro, was also charged with computer trespass. He was released on a summons by a magistrate.No one survived the Wednesday night collision. Crews are still searching for remains.

Airport workers arrested for leaking mid-air plane crash video to media

KANSAS CITY—Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run in downtown Kansas City.

According to KCPD officer&nbsp; Alayna Gonzalez, a gold four door sedan was northbound on South Grand Boulevard and struck a pedestrian crossing,&nbsp; from west to east, on the crosswalk at 12th Street.

After the collision, the driver left the scene in an unknown direction. EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later, according to Gonzalez&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run in downtown Kansas City.According to KCPD officer&nbsp; Alayna Gonzalez, a gold four door sedan was northbound on South Grand Boulevard and struck a pedestrian crossing,&nbsp; from west to east, on the crosswalk at 12th Street.After the collision, the driver left the scene in an unknown direction. EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later, according to Gonzalez&nbsp;

Fatal hit-and-run: Pedestrian struck while in KC crosswalk

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a deadly stabbing and have arrested the victim's mother.

&nbsp;Just before 2a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of Quincy in Kanas City on a reported knife attack, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

At the scene, first responders observed a residence with an open door and several people outside summoning officers to the home. 

Officers entered the residence to locate any potential victims and observed a man suffering from apparent stab wounds. Emergency medical aid was immediately given to the victim by responding officers until EMS arrived and transported the him to an area hospital where he&nbsp; was pronounced deceased. 

Preliminary investigation indicates the incident may have started over a verbal argument that escalated to violence. A woman, the victim's mother, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte' was identified as a suspect and taken into custody on scene for further questioning. 

Detectives are not currently looking for any additional individuals responsible. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to begin collecting evidence and gather witness statements.This incident is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of those involved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738679900796.png" alt="Police on the scene early Tuesday-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene early Tuesday-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a deadly stabbing and have arrested the victim's mother.&nbsp;Just before 2a.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the 500 block of Quincy in Kanas City on a reported knife attack, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.At the scene, first responders observed a residence with an open door and several people outside summoning officers to the home. Officers entered the residence to locate any potential victims and observed a man suffering from apparent stab wounds. Emergency medical aid was immediately given to the victim by responding officers until EMS arrived and transported the him to an area hospital where he&nbsp; was pronounced deceased. Preliminary investigation indicates the incident may have started over a verbal argument that escalated to violence. A woman, the victim's mother, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte' was identified as a suspect and taken into custody on scene for further questioning. Detectives are not currently looking for any additional individuals responsible. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to begin collecting evidence and gather witness statements.This incident is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of those involved.

Mother in custody after deadly stabbing at KC home

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734473282160.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Kennedy during a meeting in December- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Kennedy during a meeting in December- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moved one step closer to becoming Health and Human Services secretary on Tuesday after a Senate committee favorably reported his nomination to the floor.The Finance Committee’s 14-13 party-line vote doesn’t necessarily guarantee Kennedy will receive Senate confirmation, though it signals he does have the chance despite decades of spreading false information about vaccine safety.Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who backed Kennedy in committee, said during a floor speech later Tuesday he had received hundreds of messages personally and thousands into his office expressing strong support from some and dismay from others about the prospect of Kennedy gaining Senate confirmation.“The most notable opponents of Mr. Kennedy were pediatricians on the front lines of our children’s health, who regularly have to combat misinformation,” Cassidy said. “They are aware that children are now contracting diseases that they would not have contracted if the child was vaccinated.”Cassidy, who worked as a physician for decades before becoming a senator, said Kennedy and the Trump administration have assured him they will protect “the public health benefit of vaccination.”“Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed that he and I would have an unprecedentedly close, collaborative, working relationship if he is confirmed,” Cassidy said. “We will meet or speak multiple times a month.”<h2>Pledges by Kennedy</h2>Cassidy said Kennedy and the Trump administration committed that if confirmed, Kennedy would:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Work within the current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems and not establish parallel systems;</li><li>Maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee on immunization practices recommendations without changes;</li><li>Keep statements on the CDC’s website that state vaccines do not cause autism;</li><li>Provide at least 30 days notice to the HELP Committee if HHS wants to make changes to any of the federal vaccine safety monitoring programs;</li><li>Allow the HELP Committee chairman to choose a representative on any board or commission formed to review vaccine safety; and</li><li>Appear before the HELP Committee on a quarterly basis if requested.</li>
 </ul>“If Mr. Kennedy is confirmed, I will use my authority of the Senate committee with oversight of HHS to rebuff any attempt to remove the public’s access to life-saving vaccines without ironclad causational scientific evidence that can be accepted and defended before the mainstream scientific community and before Congress,” Cassidy said. “I will watch carefully for any effort to wrongly sow public fear about vaccines between confusing references of coincidence and anecdote.”Cassidy said that if Kennedy is confirmed as HHS secretary by the full Senate, he expects Kennedy would support overhauls Cassidy has planned for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.“We also need to reform institutions, like FDA and NIH, and those, as has already been indicated, are my priorities as chairman of the HELP Committee. I look forward to his support in accomplishing this,” Cassidy said.<h2>‘Manifestly unqualified’</h2>Democrats raised their concerns about how Kennedy’s confirmation would impact the country’s public health system, just before the committee voted.Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock said that Kennedy is “manifestly unqualified for the job he seeks.”“We need a serious person at the helm of the HHS, an agency responsible for the health of about half of all Americans,” Warnock said. “Mr. Kennedy appears more obsessed in chasing conspiracy theories than chasing solutions to lower health care costs for working families in Georgia and to make sure that we are protected.“The last thing we need is a dilettante dabbling in conspiracy theories at HHS.”<h2>‘Go wild’</h2>North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said that he believes Kennedy will “go wild” as HHS Secretary.“I hope he goes wild and actually finds a way to reduce the cost of health care,” Tillis said. “I hope he goes wild and instead of having the discussions that we have had for the 10 years that I’ve been in the Senate of making Medicaid work and making people on Medicaid healthier, I hope he goes wild and figures out how to do it because the status quo has not achieved much in the way of gain.“I hope he goes wild on food safety discussions so that we can actually approve our food safety supply.”&nbsp;