OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 2 p.m. April 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at milepost 158 on Interstate 35 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

Malaysia Brown, 31, of St. Louis, Missouri, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of a weapon; felon in possession of a firearm and&nbsp;Driving while license revoked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745974021607.png" alt="Brown-photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Brown-photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 2 p.m. April 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at milepost 158 on Interstate 35 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.Malaysia Brown, 31, of St. Louis, Missouri, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of a weapon; felon in possession of a firearm and&nbsp;Driving while license revoked.

Missouri woman was attempting to sell cocaine in Kansas

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City area man faces charges for fatal shooting that took place earlier this year.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2605/KCottonham-COMPLAINTREDACTED">Kaveon Cottonham</a>, a SAVE KC client, faces 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2604/KCottonham-PCREDACTED">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 8700 block of East 63rd Street on Jan. 14 on a reported shooting and found the Cottonham t lying on the pavement suffering from trauma. He was transported to an area hospital. A witness said the shooting occurred at an apartment near the 6400 block of Manchester Avenue.&nbsp;

When officers arrived at the apartment, they found the victim suffering from apparent trauma in a bedroom. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

Detectives determined based on surveillance footage and witness reports that Cottonham was in the apartment bedroom, striking the victim in the head, causing him to lose consciousness. 

A witness attempted to pull Cottonham off the victim but was unable to do so. Cottonham pulled a gun from the victim’s waistband and fired it into the victim’s face and then pointed the gun at the witness. The witness then fired at the Cottonham. who was struck by gunfire and left the scene as the witness attempted to render aid to the victim.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746308024297.png" alt="COTTONHAM-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>COTTONHAM-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City area man faces charges for fatal shooting that took place earlier this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2605/KCottonham-COMPLAINTREDACTED">Kaveon Cottonham</a>, a SAVE KC client, faces 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2604/KCottonham-PCREDACTED">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 8700 block of East 63rd Street on Jan. 14 on a reported shooting and found the Cottonham t lying on the pavement suffering from trauma. He was transported to an area hospital. A witness said the shooting occurred at an apartment near the 6400 block of Manchester Avenue.&nbsp;When officers arrived at the apartment, they found the victim suffering from apparent trauma in a bedroom. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Detectives determined based on surveillance footage and witness reports that Cottonham was in the apartment bedroom, striking the victim in the head, causing him to lose consciousness. A witness attempted to pull Cottonham off the victim but was unable to do so. Cottonham pulled a gun from the victim’s waistband and fired it into the victim’s face and then pointed the gun at the witness. The witness then fired at the Cottonham. who was struck by gunfire and left the scene as the witness attempted to render aid to the victim.&nbsp;

KC murder suspect wounded in violent bedroom fight

KANSAS CITY —Family and the community honored the life of Kansas City paramedic Graham Hoffman during a funeral service on Friday afternoon. Hoffman was&nbsp;killed in the line of duty last weekend.

The Kansas City Fire Department released a statement from Fire Chief Ross Grundyson on the tragic death of firefighter paramedic.

"I would like to start by giving my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Firefighter Graham Hoffman. This is a tragic loss for the family, the department, and the community. Graham was an outstanding Firefighter Paramedic, but more importantly a good person. Kind, caring, compassionate, and dedicated, Graham gave his all to this department and to the community he served."

"Graham made the ultimate sacrifice. We are eternally grateful for having known him and for having served with him."

"A line of duty death is a devastating event for a department and the mental health of our members is essential. KCFD members are encouraged to use the resources available to them. The Local 42CARES program provides invaluable resources for our members as well as having the city’s EAP program at their disposal.&nbsp; Beyond that we encourage our members to lean on one another and their chain of command during these tough times. KCFD is a family, and we are going through this together."

"This is a tragic event. Like all incidents where a KCFD member is significantly injured or killed we will review the incident and the circumstances involved to determine what, if any, changes can be made to internal policies and procedures."

"KCFD operates on three principles, Life Safety, Property Conservation, and Incident Mitigation. Life safety includes the safety of our members."

"Over the coming weeks I will work with the leadership of locals 42 and 3808, members of our department, and the Kansas City Police Department to solicit and evaluate suggestions for expanded safety measures. There is not a simple solution to this complex issue. The rights of our members to have a safe working environment relative to the nature of the work we do, and the rights of the citizens we serve, both must be considered and respected. Because it is a difficult challenge does not mean we do not face it. KCFD deals with difficult situations and challenges every day, and every day we produce successful outcomes. KCFD is full of bright, innovative, creative minds, and together we will work to make our job better and as safe as we can."

"To our elected officials, local, state, and nationally we appreciate your commitment to our safety. KCFD stands ready to work with you to provide insight into the work we do and the challenges we face."

"The Kansas City Fire Department lost an outstanding firefighter paramedic and an even better human being. Our department and our community are hurting. Let us remember him and honor the legacy he leaves behind."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746283159623.png" alt="Fire Chief Ross Grundyson during the funeral on Friday" />
 <figcaption>Fire Chief Ross Grundyson during the funeral on Friday</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Family and the community honored the life of Kansas City paramedic Graham Hoffman during a funeral service on Friday afternoon. Hoffman was&nbsp;killed in the line of duty last weekend.The Kansas City Fire Department released a statement from Fire Chief Ross Grundyson on the tragic death of firefighter paramedic."I would like to start by giving my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Firefighter Graham Hoffman. This is a tragic loss for the family, the department, and the community. Graham was an outstanding Firefighter Paramedic, but more importantly a good person. Kind, caring, compassionate, and dedicated, Graham gave his all to this department and to the community he served."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745790431024.png" alt="Graham Hoffman courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Graham Hoffman courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>"Graham made the ultimate sacrifice. We are eternally grateful for having known him and for having served with him.""A line of duty death is a devastating event for a department and the mental health of our members is essential. KCFD members are encouraged to use the resources available to them. The Local 42CARES program provides invaluable resources for our members as well as having the city’s EAP program at their disposal.&nbsp; Beyond that we encourage our members to lean on one another and their chain of command during these tough times. KCFD is a family, and we are going through this together.""This is a tragic event. Like all incidents where a KCFD member is significantly injured or killed we will review the incident and the circumstances involved to determine what, if any, changes can be made to internal policies and procedures."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746287664280.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>"KCFD operates on three principles, Life Safety, Property Conservation, and Incident Mitigation. Life safety includes the safety of our members.""Over the coming weeks I will work with the leadership of locals 42 and 3808, members of our department, and the Kansas City Police Department to solicit and evaluate suggestions for expanded safety measures. There is not a simple solution to this complex issue. The rights of our members to have a safe working environment relative to the nature of the work we do, and the rights of the citizens we serve, both must be considered and respected. Because it is a difficult challenge does not mean we do not face it. KCFD deals with difficult situations and challenges every day, and every day we produce successful outcomes. KCFD is full of bright, innovative, creative minds, and together we will work to make our job better and as safe as we can.""To our elected officials, local, state, and nationally we appreciate your commitment to our safety. KCFD stands ready to work with you to provide insight into the work we do and the challenges we face.""The Kansas City Fire Department lost an outstanding firefighter paramedic and an even better human being. Our department and our community are hurting. Let us remember him and honor the legacy he leaves behind."Respectfully,Ross Grundyson, Chief KCFD

Community honors KC firefighter who died in the line of duty 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Police conducting a homicide investigation in Olathe have identified the victim as 75-year-old Karen M. Peterson of Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.

Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of North Persimmon Drive in Olathe to check the welfare of a woman, according to&nbsp;Officer Sean Wilkes.

At the home, first responders found Peterson deceased inside the residence.&nbsp;A suspect has been taken into custody.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Police conducting a homicide investigation in Olathe have identified the victim as 75-year-old Karen M. Peterson of Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of North Persimmon Drive in Olathe to check the welfare of a woman, according to&nbsp;Officer Sean Wilkes.At the home, first responders found Peterson deceased inside the residence.&nbsp;A suspect has been taken into custody.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Homicide: Police ID 75-year-old Kan. woman found dead in her home

Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin rebuffed David Wasinger’s call for rules changes. The dispute recalls Lt. Gov. Bill Phelps’ losing battle for power in the 1970s

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri Senate appears on the verge of rekindling a 50-year-old fight over the role of the lieutenant governor, triggered in part by the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/30/missouri-senate-approves-budget-plan-with-boost-for-schools-child-care/">five hours of budget debate</a>&nbsp;this week.

At the start of Thursday’s session, Lt. Gov. David Wasinger recognized himself to speak, then quoted state Sen. Joe Nicola expressing his frustration at the short time allowed to read and understand the $49.7 billion spending package.

Wasinger said he was traveling in the state during the budget debate and heard similar complaints.&nbsp;

“The perceptions of the folks are the same perception that the senator has outlined,” Wasinger said. “So to give you a heads up, I will be, either yet this session be taking a far more active role, or it may happen next session, because I think some rules need to be changed within this chamber.”

Wasinger did not mention during his speech that his office budget was cut in the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by state Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield, who Wasinger defeated in the 2024 GOP primary. He lost one of the eight staff positions in his office, which is already the smallest of all statewide elected officials.

Friday morning, Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin — who by the rules holds the power to choose committee members, refer bills and decide parliamentary questions —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10236166263799469&amp;id=1312548800" target="_blank">used a social media post</a>&nbsp;to slap back at Wasinger’s remarks.

Wasinger was out of line giving a speech in the Senate chambers, O’Laughlin said, because that is&nbsp; “a right reserved for senators.”

“He advised that he would be introducing new rules maybe next session,” O’Laughlin wrote. “Uh…..no. He does not have the authority to do this because he is not a senator. He also advised that he would be using the senate caucus staff. Also no.”

If Wasinger wants change, she wrote, “one way to be helpful is to not insult the entire Senate body in a five-minute speech.”

Wasinger, like Nicola, never held public office before winning election in November. His campaign promised he would be “challenging the Jefferson City establishment” if elected but he has not attempted to exercise the kinds of powers generally inherent in the job of presiding over a parliamentary body.

In his speech from the dais, Wasinger said that while he ran as an outsider, he had remained silent because he wanted to observe the chamber.

“I didn’t want to come in and, you know, begin throwing hand grenades,” Wasinger said.

If Wasinger tries to exert some sort of authority over the Senate, he would run headlong into a five-decade old Missouri Supreme Court ruling that diminished the already meager role of the lieutenant governor.&nbsp;

In 1972, Bill Phelps was elected lieutenant governor, the first Republican to win the office since 1928.

He promised he would be a “full-time” lieutenant governor, despite the lack of actual responsibilities in the office. Along with being ready to take over upon the death, disability or impeachment of the governor, the officeholder is “<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++10&amp;bid=31822&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">ex officio president of the senate</a>.” In that role, the Constitution says, the lieutenant governor may join in Senate debate when it sits as a committee of the whole and cast the deciding vote in the case of ties.

As Phelps took office in 1973, the Senate changed its rules to put all substantive powers of the presiding officer in the hands of the president pro tem, elected from the members. The rules even allowed the president pro tem to dismiss the lieutenant governor from the dais.

And when then-state Sen. Bill Cason took the gavel from Phelps over his objections on the final day of the 1973 session, Phelps took the case to the Missouri Supreme Court.

At first, the case was only over the rule allowing the pro tem to relieve the lieutenant governor of the gavel. That rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/State-ex-rel-Danforth-v-Cason-1974.pdf">the 6-1 court said</a>, was unconstitutional.

The pro tem must yield, Judge James Finch wrote, when the “lieutenant governor is present and desirous of exercising his role as presiding officer of the senate.”

The opinion was issued in November 1973, just before the start of the 1974 session. The courts were forced to issue a clarification when Phelps also contended the rules giving the pro tem the power to name committees, assign bills and rule on parliamentary questions were invalid.

The court quashed that argument. The lieutenant governor may hold the gavel if he or she wishes, but cannot use any power inherent in the role of presiding officer because those duties had been assigned elsewhere under the rules.

The Senate has the power to write rules&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++18&amp;bid=31756&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">to govern its proceedings</a>, subject only to limits in the Constitution, the court decided.

“The powers and functions referred to…are not given to the lieutenant governor in (directly by the constitutional) or anywhere else in the Constitution,” the unanimous court ruled.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, Wasinger said he hopes to reduce the amount of time “wasted on the senate floor” where “arcane senate rules stall progress on or completely block good legislation that would improve the lives of Missourians.”

His goal, he said, is to remove those impasses.

“Many other states have made reforms to their senate rules, and it is time Missouri does so as well,” Wasinger said. “This isn’t about any individual senator – it’s about a system in Jefferson City in much need of common sense reforms.”

O’Laughlin, in her response to his speech, said Wasinger needs to learn the lesson she learned, that it takes more than certainty about the wisdom of an idea to accomplish anything in the Senate.

“Lesson One: Develop a personal relationship with each senator and offer to help navigate what is an extremely complicated system,” O’Laughlin wrote. “This is how you get something done. Ultimately it’s the ONLY way.”

A mocking voice from the rank and file of the Senate showed Wasinger will have more, not less, work to do after his speech. As he closed his speech, he invited members to contact his chief of staff, Katie Ashcroft, with any ideas for reforming the rules.

State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/meaccoleman/status/1917986425015881903" target="_blank">responded in kind</a>&nbsp;on social media.

“If you have any ideas how @davidwasinger could do his job better,” she wrote, “please let Karen in my office know.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746232278286.png" alt=" Lt. Gov. David Wasinger watches the Missouri Senate on the first day of the 2025 legislative session (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Lt. Gov. David Wasinger watches the Missouri Senate on the first day of the 2025 legislative session (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin rebuffed David Wasinger’s call for rules changes. The dispute recalls Lt. Gov. Bill Phelps’ losing battle for power in the 1970s</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Senate appears on the verge of rekindling a 50-year-old fight over the role of the lieutenant governor, triggered in part by the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/30/missouri-senate-approves-budget-plan-with-boost-for-schools-child-care/">five hours of budget debate</a>&nbsp;this week.At the start of Thursday’s session, Lt. Gov. David Wasinger recognized himself to speak, then quoted state Sen. Joe Nicola expressing his frustration at the short time allowed to read and understand the $49.7 billion spending package.Wasinger said he was traveling in the state during the budget debate and heard similar complaints.&nbsp;“The perceptions of the folks are the same perception that the senator has outlined,” Wasinger said. “So to give you a heads up, I will be, either yet this session be taking a far more active role, or it may happen next session, because I think some rules need to be changed within this chamber.”Wasinger did not mention during his speech that his office budget was cut in the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by state Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield, who Wasinger defeated in the 2024 GOP primary. He lost one of the eight staff positions in his office, which is already the smallest of all statewide elected officials.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746232243953.png" alt="Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, speaks during a March GOP press conference at the midpoint of the legislative session (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, speaks during a March GOP press conference at the midpoint of the legislative session (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Friday morning, Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin — who by the rules holds the power to choose committee members, refer bills and decide parliamentary questions —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10236166263799469&amp;id=1312548800" target="_blank">used a social media post</a>&nbsp;to slap back at Wasinger’s remarks.Wasinger was out of line giving a speech in the Senate chambers, O’Laughlin said, because that is&nbsp; “a right reserved for senators.”“He advised that he would be introducing new rules maybe next session,” O’Laughlin wrote. “Uh…..no. He does not have the authority to do this because he is not a senator. He also advised that he would be using the senate caucus staff. Also no.”If Wasinger wants change, she wrote, “one way to be helpful is to not insult the entire Senate body in a five-minute speech.”Wasinger, like Nicola, never held public office before winning election in November. His campaign promised he would be “challenging the Jefferson City establishment” if elected but he has not attempted to exercise the kinds of powers generally inherent in the job of presiding over a parliamentary body.In his speech from the dais, Wasinger said that while he ran as an outsider, he had remained silent because he wanted to observe the chamber.“I didn’t want to come in and, you know, begin throwing hand grenades,” Wasinger said.If Wasinger tries to exert some sort of authority over the Senate, he would run headlong into a five-decade old Missouri Supreme Court ruling that diminished the already meager role of the lieutenant governor.&nbsp;<h2>“Full-time Phelps” case</h2>In 1972, Bill Phelps was elected lieutenant governor, the first Republican to win the office since 1928.He promised he would be a “full-time” lieutenant governor, despite the lack of actual responsibilities in the office. Along with being ready to take over upon the death, disability or impeachment of the governor, the officeholder is “<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++10&amp;bid=31822&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">ex officio president of the senate</a>.” In that role, the Constitution says, the lieutenant governor may join in Senate debate when it sits as a committee of the whole and cast the deciding vote in the case of ties.As Phelps took office in 1973, the Senate changed its rules to put all substantive powers of the presiding officer in the hands of the president pro tem, elected from the members. The rules even allowed the president pro tem to dismiss the lieutenant governor from the dais.And when then-state Sen. Bill Cason took the gavel from Phelps over his objections on the final day of the 1973 session, Phelps took the case to the Missouri Supreme Court.At first, the case was only over the rule allowing the pro tem to relieve the lieutenant governor of the gavel. That rule,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/State-ex-rel-Danforth-v-Cason-1974.pdf">the 6-1 court said</a>, was unconstitutional.The pro tem must yield, Judge James Finch wrote, when the “lieutenant governor is present and desirous of exercising his role as presiding officer of the senate.”That didn’t end the controversy.The opinion was issued in November 1973, just before the start of the 1974 session. The courts were forced to issue a clarification when Phelps also contended the rules giving the pro tem the power to name committees, assign bills and rule on parliamentary questions were invalid.The court quashed that argument. The lieutenant governor may hold the gavel if he or she wishes, but cannot use any power inherent in the role of presiding officer because those duties had been assigned elsewhere under the rules.The Senate has the power to write rules&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++18&amp;bid=31756&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">to govern its proceedings</a>, subject only to limits in the Constitution, the court decided.“The powers and functions referred to…are not given to the lieutenant governor in (directly by the constitutional) or anywhere else in the Constitution,” the unanimous court ruled.In a statement Thursday afternoon, Wasinger said he hopes to reduce the amount of time “wasted on the senate floor” where “arcane senate rules stall progress on or completely block good legislation that would improve the lives of Missourians.”His goal, he said, is to remove those impasses.“Many other states have made reforms to their senate rules, and it is time Missouri does so as well,” Wasinger said. “This isn’t about any individual senator – it’s about a system in Jefferson City in much need of common sense reforms.”O’Laughlin, in her response to his speech, said Wasinger needs to learn the lesson she learned, that it takes more than certainty about the wisdom of an idea to accomplish anything in the Senate.“Lesson One: Develop a personal relationship with each senator and offer to help navigate what is an extremely complicated system,” O’Laughlin wrote. “This is how you get something done. Ultimately it’s the ONLY way.”A mocking voice from the rank and file of the Senate showed Wasinger will have more, not less, work to do after his speech. As he closed his speech, he invited members to contact his chief of staff, Katie Ashcroft, with any ideas for reforming the rules.State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/meaccoleman/status/1917986425015881903" target="_blank">responded in kind</a>&nbsp;on social media.“If you have any ideas how @davidwasinger could do his job better,” she wrote, “please let Karen in my office know.”

Lieutenant governor sparks fight with push to secure larger role in Missouri Senate

Viewers in Kansas know Aisa Cymone Smith as the dynamic weekend sports anchor and sport reporter for KSN News 3. Most often found on the sidelines of football fields or courtside at basketball games, Smith is now making headlines herself, this time, as Miss Kansas USA 2025.

Born and raised in San Diego, Smith has called Wichita home for over two years. Since joining KSN, she’s transitioned from general news into full-time sports, a field where she’s building both her career and a legacy.

“Being on the sidelines has been a dream, but now I have the opportunity to stand on a different kind of stage,” Smith said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show. “Competing for Miss Kansas USA was a way for me to return to my roots in pageantry and amplify my platform for women in sports broadcasting.”

Smith has been involved in pageantry since age 12, a pursuit she says built her confidence and prepared her for a life in front of the camera. Although she took a break during college, her recent return led to a state crown and a new mission.

“I didn’t compete in a local pageant. I went at-large and chose to represent East Wichita,” she said. “Now, I’ll compete for Miss USA later this year — and if I win that, it’s on to Miss Universe.”

The date and location for Miss USA have yet to be announced, but Smith said preparation is already in full swing. In the meantime, she’s focused on deepening her community engagement through mentorship and service.

Her mentorship initiative, Girls Talk Game, supports women pursuing careers in sports media — a field where women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles. Smith hopes to change that.

“I want to be the mentor I didn’t always have,” she said. “A lot of girls don’t know where to start. I want to give them that starting point — to show them they belong.”

Smith brings more than encouragement — she brings experience. A former competitive cheerleader and track athlete, she ran collegiately at San Diego State and the University of Florida, where she earned her master’s degree and was part of an NCAA championship-winning team.

Beyond broadcasting, Smith is currently writing a children’s book titled There’s No One Like Me, inspired by her mother, who developed vitiligo more than a decade ago. The story aims to teach kids about diversity, acceptance, and the beauty in being different.

“She struggled with how people looked at her,” Smith said. “I wanted to create something that helps children understand skin differences and learn not to judge people by appearance.”

In addition to her work at KSN and with Girls Talk Game, Smith also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas, serves as a mentor and "big," and is involved with the Miracle League of Wichita, supporting adaptive sports for youth with disabilities.

“Being Miss Kansas USA isn’t just about the crown,” she said. “It’s about using the platform to serve, to uplift, and to represent the people of this state with pride.”

As she prepares for Miss USA and juggles her roles in sports, service, and storytelling, Smith is focused on one mission: making space for others — particularly women — to follow in her footsteps.

“Pageants and sports might seem like opposites,” she said. “But I’m proof you can love both — and succeed in both.”

If you are interested in Girls Talk Game you can find more information <a href="https://www.instagram.com/girlstalkgame?igsh=MXFqeW5maHQ5cGJwNw%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=qr">here.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200742312.jpeg" alt="Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch Post&nbsp;Viewers in Kansas know Aisa Cymone Smith as the dynamic weekend sports anchor and sport reporter for KSN News 3. Most often found on the sidelines of football fields or courtside at basketball games, Smith is now making headlines herself, this time, as Miss Kansas USA 2025.Born and raised in San Diego, Smith has called Wichita home for over two years. Since joining KSN, she’s transitioned from general news into full-time sports, a field where she’s building both her career and a legacy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200618081.jpeg" alt="Asia Cymone Smith - Photo Courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Asia Cymone Smith - Photo Courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Being on the sidelines has been a dream, but now I have the opportunity to stand on a different kind of stage,” Smith said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show. “Competing for Miss Kansas USA was a way for me to return to my roots in pageantry and amplify my platform for women in sports broadcasting.”Smith has been involved in pageantry since age 12, a pursuit she says built her confidence and prepared her for a life in front of the camera. Although she took a break during college, her recent return led to a state crown and a new mission.“I didn’t compete in a local pageant. I went at-large and chose to represent East Wichita,” she said. “Now, I’ll compete for Miss USA later this year — and if I win that, it’s on to Miss Universe.”The date and location for Miss USA have yet to be announced, but Smith said preparation is already in full swing. In the meantime, she’s focused on deepening her community engagement through mentorship and service.Her mentorship initiative, Girls Talk Game, supports women pursuing careers in sports media — a field where women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles. Smith hopes to change that.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200567604.png" alt="Girls Talk Game" />
 <figcaption>Girls Talk Game</figcaption>
 </figure>“I want to be the mentor I didn’t always have,” she said. “A lot of girls don’t know where to start. I want to give them that starting point — to show them they belong.”Smith brings more than encouragement — she brings experience. A former competitive cheerleader and track athlete, she ran collegiately at San Diego State and the University of Florida, where she earned her master’s degree and was part of an NCAA championship-winning team.Beyond broadcasting, Smith is currently writing a children’s book titled There’s No One Like Me, inspired by her mother, who developed vitiligo more than a decade ago. The story aims to teach kids about diversity, acceptance, and the beauty in being different.“She struggled with how people looked at her,” Smith said. “I wanted to create something that helps children understand skin differences and learn not to judge people by appearance.”In addition to her work at KSN and with Girls Talk Game, Smith also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas, serves as a mentor and "big," and is involved with the Miracle League of Wichita, supporting adaptive sports for youth with disabilities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200707128.jpeg" alt="Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Being Miss Kansas USA isn’t just about the crown,” she said. “It’s about using the platform to serve, to uplift, and to represent the people of this state with pride.”As she prepares for Miss USA and juggles her roles in sports, service, and storytelling, Smith is focused on one mission: making space for others — particularly women — to follow in her footsteps.“Pageants and sports might seem like opposites,” she said. “But I’m proof you can love both — and succeed in both.”If you are interested in Girls Talk Game you can find more information <a href="https://www.instagram.com/girlstalkgame?igsh=MXFqeW5maHQ5cGJwNw%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=qr">here.</a>&nbsp;

Aisa Cymone Smith takes on new title as Miss Kansas USA 2025

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a encounter at a Kansas residence.

On May 1,&nbsp;members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force, served a search warrant in 200 Block of SE Swygart Street in Topeka related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police&nbsp;LT Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrant, officers located cocaine,&nbsp;marijuana,  firearms and drug paraphernalia. As part of the investigation, it was discovered there were signs of animal cruelty, cockfight occurring. Officers seized a total of 28 animals.

As a result, Israel Hernandez-Zavala, 40 years of age, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Unlawful conduct of cockfighting, Unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia, Cruelty to animals, Unlawful discharge of firearms in the city limits, Distribution of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Distribute or possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction, Possession of cocaine, Kansas drug tax Arrest warrants (4)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746223211611.png" alt="Hernandez-Zavala photo Shawnee&nbsp; County" />
 <figcaption>Hernandez-Zavala photo Shawnee&nbsp; County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a encounter at a Kansas residence.On May 1,&nbsp;members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force, served a search warrant in 200 Block of SE Swygart Street in Topeka related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police&nbsp;LT Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrant, officers located cocaine,&nbsp;marijuana, firearms and drug paraphernalia. As part of the investigation, it was discovered there were signs of animal cruelty, cockfight occurring. Officers seized a total of 28 animals.As a result, Israel Hernandez-Zavala, 40 years of age, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Unlawful conduct of cockfighting, Unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia, Cruelty to animals, Unlawful discharge of firearms in the city limits, Distribution of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Distribute or possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction, Possession of cocaine, Kansas drug tax Arrest warrants (4)

Police discover cockfighting operation at Kansas home

PETTIS COUNTY—The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a shooting that injured two Pettis County Sheriff's deputies.

Just after 6a.m. Friday, the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office was attempting to serve a search warrant relating to a narcotics investigation at a residence in the 27000 block of MO-BB Highway,. according to the Patrol.&nbsp;

While doing so, a suspect fired shots, and two deputies were struck.

One deputy subsequently returned fire. The suspect was not struck, taken into custody, and transported to the Pettis County jail. Both deputies were initially transported to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

At this time, one deputy has been released from the hospital, while the other still remains in the care of medical professionals.&nbsp; The location of the shooting is approximately 90 minutes east of Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746212173398.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>PETTIS COUNTY—The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a shooting that injured two Pettis County Sheriff's deputies.Just after 6a.m. Friday, the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office was attempting to serve a search warrant relating to a narcotics investigation at a residence in the 27000 block of MO-BB Highway,. according to the Patrol.&nbsp;While doing so, a suspect fired shots, and two deputies were struck.One deputy subsequently returned fire. The suspect was not struck, taken into custody, and transported to the Pettis County jail. Both deputies were initially transported to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.At this time, one deputy has been released from the hospital, while the other still remains in the care of medical professionals.&nbsp; The location of the shooting is approximately 90 minutes east of Kansas City.

2 Missouri sheriff's deputies shot while serving a warrant 

DICKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement and school district officials provided an update to their investigation of a reported school threat at Chapman Middle School.

Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, a concerned parent of a Chapman Middle School student contacted police about a gun that was going to be brought to school, according to a media release from police. The parent told the on-duty Chapman officer that student told them that another student from the school was going to bring a gun to the school on May 2, and "start shooting everyone."

The officer immediately contacted USD 473 officials, others with the police department and the Dickinson County Sheriff's office to coordinate a quick response to the allegation.

A team of officers and deputies responded to the USD 473 District Office and met with school staff. At the same time,&nbsp; officers and deputies began several interviews of students and parents from the school district. After several hours of interviews, the investigation was suspended for the evening with no findings of a credible threat to the students or staff.

On Thursday, officers, deputies and USD 473 officials continued interviews with more students at the school. After several hours of interviews, it was concluded there is no credible threat to students or staff at Chapman Middle School.

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement and USD 473 staff are investigating an alleged threat at the middle school in Chapman.

On Wednesday, an officer with Chapman Police was notified of a potential harmful event that may occur at a later date at the Chapman Middle School, 624 Marshall Ave, Chapman, according to a social media report from the Chapman Police Department.

Chapman police immediately made contact with USD 473 staff and contacted the Dickinson Co. Sheriff’s Office and an investigation began immediately.

After the investigation, the officials feel that there is no credible threat. The investigation isn’t complete.  An official statement will be released on Friday.  Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

DICKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement and school district officials provided an update to their investigation of a reported school threat at Chapman Middle School.Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, a concerned parent of a Chapman Middle School student contacted police about a gun that was going to be brought to school, according to a media release from police. The parent told the on-duty Chapman officer that student told them that another student from the school was going to bring a gun to the school on May 2, and "start shooting everyone."The officer immediately contacted USD 473 officials, others with the police department and the Dickinson County Sheriff's office to coordinate a quick response to the allegation.A team of officers and deputies responded to the USD 473 District Office and met with school staff. At the same time,&nbsp; officers and deputies began several interviews of students and parents from the school district. After several hours of interviews, the investigation was suspended for the evening with no findings of a credible threat to the students or staff.On Thursday, officers, deputies and USD 473 officials continued interviews with more students at the school. After several hours of interviews, it was concluded there is no credible threat to students or staff at Chapman Middle School.-----------DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement and USD 473 staff are investigating an alleged threat at the middle school in Chapman.On Wednesday, an officer with Chapman Police was notified of a potential harmful event that may occur at a later date at the Chapman Middle School, 624 Marshall Ave, Chapman, according to a social media report from the Chapman Police Department.Chapman police immediately made contact with USD 473 staff and contacted the Dickinson Co. Sheriff’s Office and an investigation began immediately.After the investigation, the officials feel that there is no credible threat. The investigation isn’t complete. An official statement will be released on Friday. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Police update investigation of reported threat at Kan. middle school

KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson recently highlighted several felony cases involving road rage incidents to warn residents about the severe legal consequences that can result from momentary anger on roadways.&nbsp;

Since 2022, the Prosecutor’s Office received approximately 19 cases involving road rage incidents that escalated to assaults, vehicular injuries, or the use of firearms. So far this year, the Prosecutor’s Office has received and charged four cases already involving road rage.&nbsp;

Nationwide, road rage incidents involving firearms&nbsp;<a href="https://everytownresearch.org/road-rage-shootings-remain-alarmingly-high/">doubled from 2018 to 2023</a>, with hundreds of people killed or wounded every year.&nbsp;

“What begins as a temporary traffic annoyance can escalate into tragedy in seconds,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “Driving behaviors like someone cutting another vehicle off, driving slowly in a passing lane, swerving to avoid something in the road, or forgetting to use a turn signal, can trigger potentially deadly responses.&nbsp;

“We are urging all drivers to remember that a moment of rage is not worth a lifetime of consequences or your freedom. If you encounter an aggressive driver, do not engage. If you feel threatened, call 911, or drive to the nearest police station, hospital, or fire station.”

Prosecutors are handling several serious road rage cases this year:&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746194817276.png" alt="Adam Burnett photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Adam Burnett photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson recently highlighted several felony cases involving road rage incidents to warn residents about the severe legal consequences that can result from momentary anger on roadways.&nbsp;Since 2022, the Prosecutor’s Office received approximately 19 cases involving road rage incidents that escalated to assaults, vehicular injuries, or the use of firearms. So far this year, the Prosecutor’s Office has received and charged four cases already involving road rage.&nbsp;Nationwide, road rage incidents involving firearms&nbsp;<a href="https://everytownresearch.org/road-rage-shootings-remain-alarmingly-high/">doubled from 2018 to 2023</a>, with hundreds of people killed or wounded every year.&nbsp;“What begins as a temporary traffic annoyance can escalate into tragedy in seconds,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “Driving behaviors like someone cutting another vehicle off, driving slowly in a passing lane, swerving to avoid something in the road, or forgetting to use a turn signal, can trigger potentially deadly responses.&nbsp;“We are urging all drivers to remember that a moment of rage is not worth a lifetime of consequences or your freedom. If you encounter an aggressive driver, do not engage. If you feel threatened, call 911, or drive to the nearest police station, hospital, or fire station.”Prosecutors are handling several serious road rage cases this year:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Adam Burnett was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action after allegedly chasing and firing at a vehicle that cut him off on March 23. He could face five to 15 years in prison.</li><li>Christian Eubanks was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Armed Criminal Action, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child after he allegedly fired at another vehicle while his toddler was in his car on March 21.&nbsp;</li><li>Joshwa Pearman was charged with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action after he allegedly fired at another vehicle during a road rage incident on Jan. 22.</li><li>Brian K. Watson was charged with 1st Degree Assault and Leaving the Scene of an Accident after he allegedly struck a pedestrian with his car and fled the scene on Jan. 18. The defendant has a history of road rage incidents.&nbsp;</li><li>And Isaiah Francis was charged this week of 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action in connection with a fatal road rage incident that took place on Nov. 8, 2024.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

Prosecutor warns about legal consequences from road rage 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The American dream Maranda Kealy was promised as a kid is nowhere to be found, she said at a rally Thursday in Topeka attended by hundreds in a display of collective action against President Donald Trump’s second term.

“It’s not the one any of us were promised,” she said.

Kealy, a 22-year-old from the small town of Harveyville about 45 minutes southwest of Topeka, held a sign that read, “Dude: This is so not the American dream.”

“We were promised freedom and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Kealy said, “but the administration has taken that to mean life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for some people, not all.”

The political grassroots group 50501 organized the event in honor of International Workers’ Day, celebrated on May 1 along with the European holiday May Day. The same group convened weeks before on April 5 at the state Capitol for a day of action,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/07/kansans-flood-streets-across-the-state-to-condemn-d-c-cartel-if-you-can-nows-the-time-to-speak/">drawing a crowd of thousands</a>. Thursday’s protest was more modest, with a crowd of around 300.

Kealy works for the U.S. Postal Service, and she is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Both were impetuses for her presence on the Statehouse grounds.

“Every American deserves due process. Every American deserves a chance to live the American dream, and every person deserves a chance to have their voice heard,” Kealy said.

A mishmash of anti-Trump, pro-Ukraine, anti-Putin, pro-democracy, anti-Elon Musk signs and American flags — both upside down and right side up — speckled the south lawn of the Kansas Statehouse as the event’s speakers railed against the Trump administration and the president’s supporters.

The event’s speakers included 50501 organizers, Overland Park Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher, the vice president of chapter 66 of the National Treasury Employees Union in Kansas City, Daniel Scharpenburg, and the Rev. Nori Rost, a Unitarian Universalist minister in Lawrence and social justice advocate.

Scharpenburg’s union represents roughly 6,000 employees of the Internal Revenue Service.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard,” he said to the crowd, “but we are not OK.”

The IRS’s Kansas City office is facing the possibility of being halved, Scharpenburg said. He lobbed critiques at the Trump administration’s moves to clamp down on unions.

“I have to say, if they were not afraid of working people, they would not try to union bust, right?” he said.

The American Federation of Laborers and Congress of Industrial Organizations, an international federation of more than 60 unions, said May 1 is “the day the world celebrates the bravery of workers throughout history who have sacrificed for safety, dignity and justice on the job.”

“Our solidarity is our strength,” the AFL-CIO said in a Thursday message. “We take pride in knowing that we are a global movement standing up to the billionaires who are threatening our rights and freedoms.”

Holscher reminded the crowd of the president’s promise to lower prices at the grocery store. The crowd laughed.

“It is quite apparent, however, in these first 100 days of the Trump administration, we have been sold a bill of goods,” Holscher said.

She criticized state Republican leaders, referring to them as MAGA extremists, for a handful of their decisions during the 2025 legislative session, including&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/07/let-kansans-live-free-leaked-emails-to-efficiency-portal-call-for-abortion-rights-school-funding/">the creation of the Committee on Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;and their “assault” on public education funding.

She warned of Republicans sending Kansas “back to the deficit days of the Brownback administration.”

The rally was 61-year-old Army veteran David Beck’s first time participating in something like it.

“This is not where I want to be,” he said.

He lives about 90 miles from Topeka and was born and raised in southeast Kansas. Everything is at stake, he said.

“What hasn’t he harmed?” he asked, referring to Trump.

Tina Hallenbeck, of Alma, celebrated her birthday by protesting the “scary, scary things” she sees happening under the Trump administration.

She said she was especially concerned for her husband, a retired active duty Army Gulf War veteran and a federal employee with a year left to retire.

Hallenbeck appeared at the Capitol dressed in the red uniform of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood about a near-future dystopia where women are forcibly assigned to produce children.

“It feels like it makes a statement. Somebody’s going to see this,” Hallenbeck said. “Today, May Day, it’s my birthday, I’m 58 years old, and this is what I’m doing today, and it’s a shame that I have to be, but I have to be. We have to be vigilant. We can’t have 1930s Germany in the United States.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746189500700.png" alt=" Kansans rally on May 1, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of a 50501 event in honor of International Workers’ Day. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansans rally on May 1, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of a 50501 event in honor of International Workers’ Day. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The American dream Maranda Kealy was promised as a kid is nowhere to be found, she said at a rally Thursday in Topeka attended by hundreds in a display of collective action against President Donald Trump’s second term.“It’s not the one any of us were promised,” she said.Kealy, a 22-year-old from the small town of Harveyville about 45 minutes southwest of Topeka, held a sign that read, “Dude: This is so not the American dream.”“We were promised freedom and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Kealy said, “but the administration has taken that to mean life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for some people, not all.”The political grassroots group 50501 organized the event in honor of International Workers’ Day, celebrated on May 1 along with the European holiday May Day. The same group convened weeks before on April 5 at the state Capitol for a day of action,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/07/kansans-flood-streets-across-the-state-to-condemn-d-c-cartel-if-you-can-nows-the-time-to-speak/">drawing a crowd of thousands</a>. Thursday’s protest was more modest, with a crowd of around 300.Kealy works for the U.S. Postal Service, and she is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Both were impetuses for her presence on the Statehouse grounds.“Every American deserves due process. Every American deserves a chance to live the American dream, and every person deserves a chance to have their voice heard,” Kealy said.A mishmash of anti-Trump, pro-Ukraine, anti-Putin, pro-democracy, anti-Elon Musk signs and American flags — both upside down and right side up — speckled the south lawn of the Kansas Statehouse as the event’s speakers railed against the Trump administration and the president’s supporters.The event’s speakers included 50501 organizers, Overland Park Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher, the vice president of chapter 66 of the National Treasury Employees Union in Kansas City, Daniel Scharpenburg, and the Rev. Nori Rost, a Unitarian Universalist minister in Lawrence and social justice advocate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746189553917.png" alt="The Rev. Nori Rost appears at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Rev. Nori Rost appears at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Scharpenburg’s union represents roughly 6,000 employees of the Internal Revenue Service.“I don’t know if you’ve heard,” he said to the crowd, “but we are not OK.”The IRS’s Kansas City office is facing the possibility of being halved, Scharpenburg said. He lobbed critiques at the Trump administration’s moves to clamp down on unions.“I have to say, if they were not afraid of working people, they would not try to union bust, right?” he said.The American Federation of Laborers and Congress of Industrial Organizations, an international federation of more than 60 unions, said May 1 is “the day the world celebrates the bravery of workers throughout history who have sacrificed for safety, dignity and justice on the job.”“Our solidarity is our strength,” the AFL-CIO said in a Thursday message. “We take pride in knowing that we are a global movement standing up to the billionaires who are threatening our rights and freedoms.”<h2>‘Not where I want to be’</h2>Holscher reminded the crowd of the president’s promise to lower prices at the grocery store. The crowd laughed.“It is quite apparent, however, in these first 100 days of the Trump administration, we have been sold a bill of goods,” Holscher said.She criticized state Republican leaders, referring to them as MAGA extremists, for a handful of their decisions during the 2025 legislative session, including&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/04/07/let-kansans-live-free-leaked-emails-to-efficiency-portal-call-for-abortion-rights-school-funding/">the creation of the Committee on Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;and their “assault” on public education funding.She warned of Republicans sending Kansas “back to the deficit days of the Brownback administration.”The rally was 61-year-old Army veteran David Beck’s first time participating in something like it.“This is not where I want to be,” he said.He lives about 90 miles from Topeka and was born and raised in southeast Kansas. Everything is at stake, he said.“What hasn’t he harmed?” he asked, referring to Trump.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746189594733.png" alt=" Tina Hallenbeck, of Alma, rallies at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Tina Hallenbeck, of Alma, rallies at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Tina Hallenbeck, of Alma, celebrated her birthday by protesting the “scary, scary things” she sees happening under the Trump administration.She said she was especially concerned for her husband, a retired active duty Army Gulf War veteran and a federal employee with a year left to retire.Hallenbeck appeared at the Capitol dressed in the red uniform of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood about a near-future dystopia where women are forcibly assigned to produce children.“It feels like it makes a statement. Somebody’s going to see this,” Hallenbeck said. “Today, May Day, it’s my birthday, I’m 58 years old, and this is what I’m doing today, and it’s a shame that I have to be, but I have to be. We have to be vigilant. We can’t have 1930s Germany in the United States.”

May Day rally draws hundreds to Kansas Capitol to protest Trump administration

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Firefighter/paramedic Graham Hoffman’s Funeral will be held on Friday, May 2, at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. A public visitation will take place from 11a.m.-1p.m. followed by the funeral service and procession. The procession will begin at approximately 3 p.m.

Firefighter Hoffman will be cremated so there will not be a graveside service.

Early Sunday, while transporting a patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed Hoffman in the chest.&nbsp;Hoffman was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition and later died.&nbsp;Hoffman, 29, was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department for three years.&nbsp;

Clay County prosecutors have charged the suspect in the attack.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746182319192.png" alt="-The procession will travel south on Interstate 35 just after 3 p.m., through the Interstate 29 interchange and proceed over the Christopher Bond Bridge. It will continue onto U.S. 71 Highway South and exit at Bannister Road, head east and then turn south at Hillcrest Road&nbsp;traveling past KCFD Station 42 at 6006 E. Red Bridge Road. It will then go north on Blue Ridge Boulevard to Bannister Road, travel north on Interstate 435 back north of the Missouri River and exit at Pleasant Valley Road and conclude after driving west to the White Chapel Funeral Home." />
 <figcaption>-The procession will travel south on Interstate 35 just after 3 p.m., through the Interstate 29 interchange and proceed over the Christopher Bond Bridge. It will continue onto U.S. 71 Highway South and exit at Bannister Road, head east and then turn south at Hillcrest Road&nbsp;traveling past KCFD Station 42 at 6006 E. Red Bridge Road. It will then go north on Blue Ridge Boulevard to Bannister Road, travel north on Interstate 435 back north of the Missouri River and exit at Pleasant Valley Road and conclude after driving west to the White Chapel Funeral Home.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Firefighter/paramedic Graham Hoffman’s Funeral will be held on Friday, May 2, at the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. A public visitation will take place from 11a.m.-1p.m. followed by the funeral service and procession. The procession will begin at approximately 3 p.m.Firefighter Hoffman will be cremated so there will not be a graveside service.Early Sunday, while transporting a patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed Hoffman in the chest.&nbsp;Hoffman was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition and later died.&nbsp;Hoffman, 29, was a member of the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department for three years.&nbsp;Clay County prosecutors have charged the suspect in the attack.

Funeral procession details for KC paramedic killed in the line of dutiy

JOHNSON COUNTY —Police are&nbsp;conducting a homicide investigation in Olathe.

At the home, first responders found a 75-year-old woman deceased inside the residence. The circumstances surrounding her death are under investigation. Police have not reported the name of the victim or other details.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Police are&nbsp;conducting a homicide investigation in Olathe.Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of North Persimmon Drive in Olathe to check the welfare of a woman, according to&nbsp;Officer Sean Wilkes.At the home, first responders found a 75-year-old woman deceased inside the residence. The circumstances surrounding her death are under investigation. Police have not reported the name of the victim or other details.

Homicide: 75-year-old Kansas woman found dead in her home

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

Missouri’s voter-approved paid sick leave law officially went into effect Thursday, allowing thousands of qualified employees to begin accruing paid time off.

“No Missourian should have to choose between a day’s pay and their family’s well-being,” said Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice, which led the campaign for the law, in a press release. “Tens of thousands of Missourians who work full-time do not get any paid sick days, but that changes today.”

But while advocates for the policy celebrated Thursday’s milestone, the new law remains at risk of being overturned by the GOP-dominated Missouri legislature.&nbsp;

Republicans have vowed to pass legislation rolling back the paid sick leave and modifying an accompanying boost to the minimum wage. That bill has stalled in the face of Democratic opposition, and the legislative session ends May 16.&nbsp;

Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, has been a particularly loud voice urging repeal of the law.

“Our side of the aisle has great concern for the burden that this would place on businesses,” she told reporters Thursday, “and if we’re going to promote economic growth and jobs, we need to really be cognizant of that.”

Proposition A passed with nearly 58% of the vote in November, garnering support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights groups, as well as over 500 business owners. The measure expanded access to paid sick time for many employees, effective Thursday. It also increased the minimum wage to $15 this year, which went into effect in January, to be adjusted for inflation thereafter.&nbsp;

Under the law, employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year must now provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours.

“I’m a single mother of four, and I am now able to start earning paid sick for the first time in my life,” said Andi Phillips, a server in Springfield, in the press release.

“I can’t explain how huge of a relief it is that I can now earn time off to better take care of my family and give my kids a better future,” Phillips said. “I never wanted a handout, just an opportunity to be the best version of myself for my kids and now I have that.”&nbsp;

The Missouri Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/missouri-supreme-court-upholds-voter-approved-paid-sick-leave-law/">upheld the law earlier this week</a>, dealing a blow to a coalition of business groups who argued the measure violated the single-subject and clear title requirements for ballot measures, and that the fiscal summary was misleading. The Supreme Court found the election results valid.&nbsp;

The Missouri House passed legislation that would repeal the paid sick leave part of the law and remove the requirement that the minimum wage be indexed to inflation. That bill awaits action in the Senate.&nbsp;

The Senate Democrats have been in negotiations with Republicans for weeks to modify the bill, in what they’ve said is an effort to maintain the will of the voters in expanding paid sick leave rather than gut it entirely, as well as make it easier for businesses to comply.&nbsp;

The Republicans could also force the bill through in a rarely-used procedural maneuver known as the previous question, or PQ. That requires the signatures of 10 members of the 34-member Senate and must be approved by a similar majority to shut down debate. It’s use to end a filibuster is seen as a last-resort option by Senate leadership, and the last time the chamber deployed it was eight years ago.&nbsp;

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters Thursday he doesn’t know whether the two sides will come to an agreement.&nbsp;

“I would like to see us come to some sort of conclusion, because the law is in effect,” he said. “People are earning sick time, and anything we do at this point could be taking away from people…I’m just saying, I am in good faith negotiations with the other side of the aisle on this and welcome to having those conversations as we continue on. Whether or not we come to a conclusion, I don’t know.”

Speaker of the House Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, told reporters Thursday that modifying the law remains a priority and that he sees action on Prop A as necessary before the legislature can make progress on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_e5c05ad9-c2d0-4609-ab75-3a02f13960b0.html" target="_blank">a bill that seeks to bring businesses to downtown St. Louis.&nbsp;</a>

“For me, Prop A has to be addressed before we do anything like that,” Patterson said, referring to the bill that seeks to revitalize downtown St. Louis. “…There’s no point to try to attract businesses when you’re telling them with Prop A that it’s going to be very difficult for you, you have these sick leave provisions that can lead to criminal penalties.”

That is an “absurd way to look at Proposition A,” state Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Springfield Democrat, responded to Patterson’s comments. When Missouri workers are successful, she said, businesses will be, too.

“The idea that providing workers with more protections is a business killer is wild,” she said.&nbsp;“…To try to make this seem like this is something that will kill business, that will keep businesses from opening, I think it’s absurd, and I think it’s quite disappointing, and I think it sends absolutely the wrong message.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746181702741.png" alt=" Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin said it is a priority of her party to roll back a paid sick leave expansion that was approved by voters in November (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin said it is a priority of her party to roll back a paid sick leave expansion that was approved by voters in November (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s voter-approved paid sick leave law officially went into effect Thursday, allowing thousands of qualified employees to begin accruing paid time off.“No Missourian should have to choose between a day’s pay and their family’s well-being,” said Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice, which led the campaign for the law, in a press release. “Tens of thousands of Missourians who work full-time do not get any paid sick days, but that changes today.”But while advocates for the policy celebrated Thursday’s milestone, the new law remains at risk of being overturned by the GOP-dominated Missouri legislature.&nbsp;Republicans have vowed to pass legislation rolling back the paid sick leave and modifying an accompanying boost to the minimum wage. That bill has stalled in the face of Democratic opposition, and the legislative session ends May 16.&nbsp;Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, has been a particularly loud voice urging repeal of the law.“Our side of the aisle has great concern for the burden that this would place on businesses,” she told reporters Thursday, “and if we’re going to promote economic growth and jobs, we need to really be cognizant of that.”Proposition A passed with nearly 58% of the vote in November, garnering support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights groups, as well as over 500 business owners. The measure expanded access to paid sick time for many employees, effective Thursday. It also increased the minimum wage to $15 this year, which went into effect in January, to be adjusted for inflation thereafter.&nbsp;Under the law, employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year must now provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours.“I’m a single mother of four, and I am now able to start earning paid sick for the first time in my life,” said Andi Phillips, a server in Springfield, in the press release.“I can’t explain how huge of a relief it is that I can now earn time off to better take care of my family and give my kids a better future,” Phillips said. “I never wanted a handout, just an opportunity to be the best version of myself for my kids and now I have that.”&nbsp;The Missouri Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/missouri-supreme-court-upholds-voter-approved-paid-sick-leave-law/">upheld the law earlier this week</a>, dealing a blow to a coalition of business groups who argued the measure violated the single-subject and clear title requirements for ballot measures, and that the fiscal summary was misleading. The Supreme Court found the election results valid.&nbsp;The Missouri House passed legislation that would repeal the paid sick leave part of the law and remove the requirement that the minimum wage be indexed to inflation. That bill awaits action in the Senate.&nbsp;The Senate Democrats have been in negotiations with Republicans for weeks to modify the bill, in what they’ve said is an effort to maintain the will of the voters in expanding paid sick leave rather than gut it entirely, as well as make it easier for businesses to comply.&nbsp;The Republicans could also force the bill through in a rarely-used procedural maneuver known as the previous question, or PQ. That requires the signatures of 10 members of the 34-member Senate and must be approved by a similar majority to shut down debate. It’s use to end a filibuster is seen as a last-resort option by Senate leadership, and the last time the chamber deployed it was eight years ago.&nbsp;Senate Minority Leader Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters Thursday he doesn’t know whether the two sides will come to an agreement.&nbsp;“I would like to see us come to some sort of conclusion, because the law is in effect,” he said. “People are earning sick time, and anything we do at this point could be taking away from people…I’m just saying, I am in good faith negotiations with the other side of the aisle on this and welcome to having those conversations as we continue on. Whether or not we come to a conclusion, I don’t know.”Speaker of the House Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, told reporters Thursday that modifying the law remains a priority and that he sees action on Prop A as necessary before the legislature can make progress on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_e5c05ad9-c2d0-4609-ab75-3a02f13960b0.html" target="_blank">a bill that seeks to bring businesses to downtown St. Louis.&nbsp;</a>“For me, Prop A has to be addressed before we do anything like that,” Patterson said, referring to the bill that seeks to revitalize downtown St. Louis. “…There’s no point to try to attract businesses when you’re telling them with Prop A that it’s going to be very difficult for you, you have these sick leave provisions that can lead to criminal penalties.”That is an “absurd way to look at Proposition A,” state Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Springfield Democrat, responded to Patterson’s comments. When Missouri workers are successful, she said, businesses will be, too.“The idea that providing workers with more protections is a business killer is wild,” she said.&nbsp;“…To try to make this seem like this is something that will kill business, that will keep businesses from opening, I think it’s absurd, and I think it’s quite disappointing, and I think it sends absolutely the wrong message.”

Missouri paid sick leave law now in effect, though legislative challenges still loom

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on drug allegations.

Just before 1:30a.m. April 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Corolla on U.S. Highway 75 near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Police arrested the back seat passenger, Summer Rose Kennedy-Webb, 27, of Olathe. She was booked into jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribute opiate, opium, narcotic, certain stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745845658403.png" alt="Kennedy-Webb -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Kennedy-Webb -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on drug allegations. Just before 1:30a.m. April 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Corolla on U.S. Highway 75 near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Police arrested the back seat passenger, Summer Rose Kennedy-Webb, 27, of Olathe. She was booked into jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribute opiate, opium, narcotic, certain stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Back seat passenger jailed after Kansas traffic stop

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sterlingsewell/">Sterling Sewell</a>&nbsp;-

A Senate bill allowing homeschooled student participation in public and charter school activities and athletics passed the Missouri House on Wednesday.

Sponsored by state Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, the bill would prohibit public and charter schools from banning homeschooled or full-time virtual students from taking part in school athletics and activities.

A similar bill proposed by Brown in the last session stalled in the House. This year, Brown’s bill passed unanimously out of the Senate and passed the House Wednesday on a 91-53 vote.

Because the House made minor changes, the bill is headed to a conference committee to work out differences between the two chambers. The legislative session adjourns May 16.

State law allows public school districts to ban or restrict the participation of homeschoolers in athletics. The policy of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, which many schools follow, is to allow homeschoolers to participate in sports if they are enrolled in one credit hour of coursework at a public school.

State Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican from Neosho, said the bill “ensures that every child has access to opportunities that add to and foster their academic, social and personal growth.”

Baker, whose children have been homeschooled, argued that homeschoolers’ parents who pay taxes should be able to send their children to programs in publicly funded schools.

State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia and former teacher, said she was sympathetic to the bill’s intent, but expressed concerns that the passage could lead to an unfunded mandate.

State funding for education is partially determined by the level of enrollment in a school. Steinhoff’s concern is that potential homeschoolers who take part in public school programs or utilize school resources would not be considered in enrollment counts.

“(Schools) will not be getting state money to support these students participating in these activities,” Steinhoff said.

Baker said the strain brought by increased participation would likely be minimal, as few homeschoolers would be likely to participate in each school.

Several Democrats also expressed concerns that the bill could be unfair to public school students as homeschoolers may not have to meet the same standards as public school students. Steinhoff pointed specifically to grade and attendance requirements for some athletic programs in schools.

“There’s also some requirements and conditions in accessing the privileges provided by our schools,” Steinhoff said. “Often you have to keep your grades up, you have to keep your attendance up, you have to maintain positive relationships with peers and adults.”

Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, spoke to the long history of this legislation, beginning with its first proposal in 2014 by former House Speaker Elijah Haahr. Deaton, along with other legislators, have taken up the bill unsuccessfully since then.

Deaton also pointed out a provision of the bill which allows schools to require homeschoolers to attend courses, rehearsals or practices related to their participation in school activities.

“For example, if you’re going to be involved in a band, and there’s a band class directly related to that, you absolutely should have to play in that band class,” Deaton said.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sterlingsewell/">Sterling Sewell</a>&nbsp;-A Senate bill allowing homeschooled student participation in public and charter school activities and athletics passed the Missouri House on Wednesday.Sponsored by state Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, the bill would prohibit public and charter schools from banning homeschooled or full-time virtual students from taking part in school athletics and activities.A similar bill proposed by Brown in the last session stalled in the House. This year, Brown’s bill passed unanimously out of the Senate and passed the House Wednesday on a 91-53 vote.Because the House made minor changes, the bill is headed to a conference committee to work out differences between the two chambers. The legislative session adjourns May 16.State law allows public school districts to ban or restrict the participation of homeschoolers in athletics. The policy of the Missouri State High School Activities Association, which many schools follow, is to allow homeschoolers to participate in sports if they are enrolled in one credit hour of coursework at a public school.State Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican from Neosho, said the bill “ensures that every child has access to opportunities that add to and foster their academic, social and personal growth.”Baker, whose children have been homeschooled, argued that homeschoolers’ parents who pay taxes should be able to send their children to programs in publicly funded schools.State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia and former teacher, said she was sympathetic to the bill’s intent, but expressed concerns that the passage could lead to an unfunded mandate.State funding for education is partially determined by the level of enrollment in a school. Steinhoff’s concern is that potential homeschoolers who take part in public school programs or utilize school resources would not be considered in enrollment counts.“(Schools) will not be getting state money to support these students participating in these activities,” Steinhoff said.Baker said the strain brought by increased participation would likely be minimal, as few homeschoolers would be likely to participate in each school.Several Democrats also expressed concerns that the bill could be unfair to public school students as homeschoolers may not have to meet the same standards as public school students. Steinhoff pointed specifically to grade and attendance requirements for some athletic programs in schools.“There’s also some requirements and conditions in accessing the privileges provided by our schools,” Steinhoff said. “Often you have to keep your grades up, you have to keep your attendance up, you have to maintain positive relationships with peers and adults.”Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, spoke to the long history of this legislation, beginning with its first proposal in 2014 by former House Speaker Elijah Haahr. Deaton, along with other legislators, have taken up the bill unsuccessfully since then.Deaton also pointed out a provision of the bill which allows schools to require homeschoolers to attend courses, rehearsals or practices related to their participation in school activities.“For example, if you’re going to be involved in a band, and there’s a band class directly related to that, you absolutely should have to play in that band class,” Deaton said.Another concern, voiced by Rep. Michael Burton, a Democrat from Lakeshire, involved vaccine requirements.Missouri public school students are required to have several vaccines to attend school. Burton said he worries that unvaccinated homeschoolers participating in school activities could put public school students at risk.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/homeschoolers-participation-nears-in-public-school-athletics-activities/article_d1b30f94-e9db-4491-9326-b04fe2c40eca.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;This story was updated at 12:45 p.m. to reflect that the bill is on its way to a conference committee.