CLAY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating after a couple who was fishing located a body in the Missouri River on Wednesday night, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Just after 8:30p.m. the couple called 911 and reported seeing a body in the water near 210 Highway and Edwards Road. 

When deputies arrived, they found the body of a man on the north side of the river. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Water Patrol Division assisted with recovering the man’s body.

Due to the state of the body, detectives have not yet been able to determine the man’s identity.

CLAY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating after a couple who was fishing located a body in the Missouri River on Wednesday night, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.Just after 8:30p.m. the couple called 911 and reported seeing a body in the water near 210 Highway and Edwards Road. When deputies arrived, they found the body of a man on the north side of the river. The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Water Patrol Division assisted with recovering the man’s body.Due to the state of the body, detectives have not yet been able to determine the man’s identity.

Sheriff: Couple fishing found body in the river

Democratic governor makes fourth appointment to the state’s highest court

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

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly appointed an attorney in private practice who has argued cases before the state and federal appellate courts to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court.

The governor said Thursday that she’d selected Larkin Walsh from among three finalists nominated by a merit-selection commission. She will replace Justice Evelyn Wilson, a Kelly appointee, who resigned July 4.

The selection by Kelly was the Democratic governor’s fourth appointment to the seven-justice Supreme Court.

“Larkin’s extensive legal experience and her background of service makes her an excellent addition to the Kansas Supreme Court,” Kelly said in a press release. “Her deep understanding of appellate courts, combined with her breadth of experience in civil practice, gives her a unique and invaluable perspective.”

Walsh has been a lawyer with the Stueve Siegel and Hanson law firm since 2024. Her primary areas of focus include appellate, civil rights, consumer protection, and labor and employment law. She has briefed and argued cases in the Kansas appellate courts, as well as in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Sixth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Tenth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

She spent eight years advising the judiciary at the federal district court and state appellate court levels. Walsh was a clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Carlos Murguia and was a research attorney for former Kansas Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier.

Walsh earned bachelor’s degrees at Southern Methodist University and a law degree from the University of Kansas.

“I am deeply honored by the governor’s trust, humbled by her confidence and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Kansas as a member of our state’s highest court,” Walsh said.

She said she had a “profound respect for the institution of the judiciary, its role in our three-part system of government and the responsibility of a justice to protect the foundational principles set forth in our state and federal constitutions.”

In 20 years practicing law, Walsh said her experiences reinforced her commitment to the fundamental mission of the courts to ensure access to fair and impartial justice through adherence to the rule of law.

“I will strive to be the type of justice that all Kansans deserve,” she said. “One who, with a clear understanding of the legal issues, will faithfully interpret and impartially apply the law to the unique facts of each case, irrespective of popular opinion or the political winds, while maintaining an awareness of each decision’s impact on people and on history. The citizens of Kansas deserve nothing less.”

In June, the nominating commission also recommended to the governor Douglas County District Court Judge Amy Hanley and Johnson County District Court Judge Christopher Jayaram.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602084193933.png" alt="The Kansas Supreme Court building in Topeka.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Supreme Court building in Topeka.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Democratic governor makes fourth appointment to the state’s highest court</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly appointed an attorney in private practice who has argued cases before the state and federal appellate courts to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Supreme Court.The governor said Thursday that she’d selected Larkin Walsh from among three finalists nominated by a merit-selection commission. She will replace Justice Evelyn Wilson, a Kelly appointee, who resigned July 4.The selection by Kelly was the Democratic governor’s fourth appointment to the seven-justice Supreme Court.“Larkin’s extensive legal experience and her background of service makes her an excellent addition to the Kansas Supreme Court,” Kelly said in a press release. “Her deep understanding of appellate courts, combined with her breadth of experience in civil practice, gives her a unique and invaluable perspective.”Walsh has been a lawyer with the Stueve Siegel and Hanson law firm since 2024. Her primary areas of focus include appellate, civil rights, consumer protection, and labor and employment law. She has briefed and argued cases in the Kansas appellate courts, as well as in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Sixth Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Tenth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.She spent eight years advising the judiciary at the federal district court and state appellate court levels. Walsh was a clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Carlos Murguia and was a research attorney for former Kansas Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier.Walsh earned bachelor’s degrees at Southern Methodist University and a law degree from the University of Kansas.“I am deeply honored by the governor’s trust, humbled by her confidence and grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Kansas as a member of our state’s highest court,” Walsh said.She said she had a “profound respect for the institution of the judiciary, its role in our three-part system of government and the responsibility of a justice to protect the foundational principles set forth in our state and federal constitutions.”In 20 years practicing law, Walsh said her experiences reinforced her commitment to the fundamental mission of the courts to ensure access to fair and impartial justice through adherence to the rule of law.“I will strive to be the type of justice that all Kansans deserve,” she said. “One who, with a clear understanding of the legal issues, will faithfully interpret and impartially apply the law to the unique facts of each case, irrespective of popular opinion or the political winds, while maintaining an awareness of each decision’s impact on people and on history. The citizens of Kansas deserve nothing less.”In June, the nominating commission also recommended to the governor Douglas County District Court Judge Amy Hanley and Johnson County District Court Judge Christopher Jayaram.

Gov. Kelly selects Leawood attorney to fill vacancy on Kansas Supreme Court

Thursday is opening day of the 2025 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

<a href="https://www.mostatefair.com/">Click here for schedules</a> and additional details.

 Make plans to Step On In and visit Missouri's largest and best agricultural showcase. From livestock shows, horticulture contests, vendors showcasing the latest in technology or watching Missouri's next generation of agricultural leaders, there's something for everyone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754585638658.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Thursday is opening day of the 2025 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.<a href="https://www.mostatefair.com/">Click here for schedules</a> and additional details.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Missouri State Fair is officially OPEN! Claudia and I enjoy coming to the <a href="https://twitter.com/MoStateFair?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MoStateFair</a> every year and look forward to spending time here over the next 10 days visiting with Missouri farm families. Agriculture is our state’s top economic driver, and the fair is an… <a href="https://t.co/XRLQxsGe8H">pic.twitter.com/XRLQxsGe8H</a>&mdash; Governor Mike Kehoe (@GovMikeKehoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMikeKehoe/status/1953508165909119068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> Make plans to Step On In and visit Missouri's largest and best agricultural showcase. From livestock shows, horticulture contests, vendors showcasing the latest in technology or watching Missouri's next generation of agricultural leaders, there's something for everyone.

The 2025 Missouri State Fair is open for business

By: NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

America's largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand celebrated the opening of their new $21 million, 90,000 square foot warehouse in Salina on Tuesday.

Beck's Hybrids, a family-owned company originating from Atlanta, Indiana looks to bring their experienced years of research and agricultural techniques to heart of Kansas. 

On Tuesday, August 5th, Beck's held an open house at their brand new facility located on 2201 N. Ohio. People in attendance got to experience first-hand the mission and passion the family-owned company with over a century of rich history, brings to local farmers. 

During the open house, President Scott Beck spoke to a large crowd about what Beck's is all about.

"Our purpose is helping farmers succeed," said Scott. "This location in Salina is meant to have close proximity for farmers to able to access products and be able to come in and look at our practical farm research."

Extensive research and successful practices &amp; resources for farmers

Beck's Hybrids uses products that ranges from corn, soybeans, wheat, corn silage, alfalfa, milo/grain sorghum, cover crops/forages, great harvest organics and Beck's better bedding. Working with farmers across 23 states, Beck's teaches and shows farming practices that farmers can utilize to improve their daily operations.

Beck's is loaded with a research and testing team that helps farmers get access to the wide diversity of Beck's products. Farmers can obtain this useful information by attending their "Becknology Days," as they can learn about all the resources and testimonies of successful farming. Plus, each year Beck's publishes 300 plus, page book comprising of more than 100 different research projects the company is doing. Every winter, Beck's holds 'insight meetings' where they share with farmers the major highlights of the year.&nbsp;

Scott emphasized the importance of agriculture from a national security standpoint.

"When people have food to eat, there are less riots and more stability among all of our communities," he said. "Supporting the farmers that are bringing that level of stability to our nation, state and local communities is really important. As much as we can do to support our farmers and research to do things better, the better all of our lives will be."

Words from Senator Moran and Mayor Lenkiewicz

Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz each made an appearance at the open house. Both expressed words of praise and admiration for the work Beck's Hybrids does.

"I came today (Tuesday) to get better acquainted with Beck's and welcome them to Salina," Moran said. "What a great family with values that are very helpful and meaningful to people across Kansas."

Moran plans on acknowledging Beck's Hybrids in Washington and wants to support them along the coming years.

"It would be great if the values that Beck's has, were values that were dominant in the United States," he said. "For the country to be well and better, we need people that have great values. We try to make sure the values that are necessary for the well-being of the country are those that are found in the nation's Capital as well."

Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz commented on the economic prosperity&nbsp; Beck's would bring to Salina.

"We are elated to have them here in the community, they (Beck's) will bring more jobs and it's another big piece to puzzle for the economic development and expansion of our community," said Lenkiewicz.

With Beck's being apart of the Salina community, Lenkiewicz stated the importance in facilitating relationships and growth from the government to a family-owned business.

"I'm a big believer that if a business is in the confines of zoning in the various structure, that we will just stay out of the way and let them do their thing," he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754497173613.jpeg" alt="Beck's Hybrids, largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand in the US establishes warehouse in Salina, KS on 2201 N. Ohio" />
 <figcaption>Beck's Hybrids, largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand in the US establishes warehouse in Salina, KS on 2201 N. Ohio</figcaption>
 </figure>By: NICOLAS FIERRO Salina PostAmerica's largest family-owned retail seed company and the third-largest seed brand celebrated the opening of their new $21 million, 90,000 square foot warehouse in Salina on Tuesday.Beck's Hybrids, a family-owned company originating from Atlanta, Indiana looks to bring their experienced years of research and agricultural techniques to heart of Kansas. On Tuesday, August 5th, Beck's held an open house at their brand new facility located on 2201 N. Ohio. People in attendance got to experience first-hand the mission and passion the family-owned company with over a century of rich history, brings to local farmers. During the open house, President Scott Beck spoke to a large crowd about what Beck's is all about."Our purpose is helping farmers succeed," said Scott. "This location in Salina is meant to have close proximity for farmers to able to access products and be able to come in and look at our practical farm research."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754502011853.jpeg" alt="Scott Beck during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids open house on Tuesday, August 5th" />
 <figcaption>Scott Beck during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids open house on Tuesday, August 5th</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Extensive research and successful practices &amp; resources for farmers</h2>Beck's Hybrids uses products that ranges from corn, soybeans, wheat, corn silage, alfalfa, milo/grain sorghum, cover crops/forages, great harvest organics and Beck's better bedding. Working with farmers across 23 states, Beck's teaches and shows farming practices that farmers can utilize to improve their daily operations.Beck's is loaded with a research and testing team that helps farmers get access to the wide diversity of Beck's products. Farmers can obtain this useful information by attending their "Becknology Days," as they can learn about all the resources and testimonies of successful farming. Plus, each year Beck's publishes 300 plus, page book comprising of more than 100 different research projects the company is doing. Every winter, Beck's holds 'insight meetings' where they share with farmers the major highlights of the year.&nbsp;Scott emphasized the importance of agriculture from a national security standpoint."When people have food to eat, there are less riots and more stability among all of our communities," he said. "Supporting the farmers that are bringing that level of stability to our nation, state and local communities is really important. As much as we can do to support our farmers and research to do things better, the better all of our lives will be."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754503411034.jpeg" alt="Welcome to Kansas Becknology Days sign at the open house on Tuesday, August 5th in Salina." />
 <figcaption>Welcome to Kansas Becknology Days sign at the open house on Tuesday, August 5th in Salina.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Words from Senator Moran and Mayor Lenkiewicz</h2>Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz each made an appearance at the open house. Both expressed words of praise and admiration for the work Beck's Hybrids does."I came today (Tuesday) to get better acquainted with Beck's and welcome them to Salina," Moran said. "What a great family with values that are very helpful and meaningful to people across Kansas."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754505984607.jpeg" alt="Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz both speaking during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids on Tuesday, August 5th" />
 <figcaption>Senator Jerry Moran and Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz both speaking during the "President's Speech" at Beck's Hybrids on Tuesday, August 5th</figcaption>
 </figure>Moran plans on acknowledging Beck's Hybrids in Washington and wants to support them along the coming years."It would be great if the values that Beck's has, were values that were dominant in the United States," he said. "For the country to be well and better, we need people that have great values. We try to make sure the values that are necessary for the well-being of the country are those that are found in the nation's Capital as well."Salina Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz commented on the economic prosperity&nbsp; Beck's would bring to Salina."We are elated to have them here in the community, they (Beck's) will bring more jobs and it's another big piece to puzzle for the economic development and expansion of our community," said Lenkiewicz.With Beck's being apart of the Salina community, Lenkiewicz stated the importance in facilitating relationships and growth from the government to a family-owned business."I'm a big believer that if a business is in the confines of zoning in the various structure, that we will just stay out of the way and let them do their thing," he said.

Beck's Hybrids opens $23 million facility in central Kansas

RENO COUNTY — The Hutchinson Police Department has confirmed that human remains discovered July 3, are those of 58-year-old Kimberly Dawn Barnes, a woman reported missing in July 2024, according to a media release from Hutchinson Police.

Since the remains were found, police have been in contact with the family of Ms. Kimberly Dawn Barnes. "After locating dental records for comparison, we have confirmed the deceased to be that of Ms. Barnes.”

“Based on the findings from the autopsy and the available evidence, there is currently no indication of criminal activity.”

The remains were first connected to a public plea for assistance last month. Police said they hope the identification brings peace to those who knew her.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754581604617.png" alt="Kimberly Dawn Barnes courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kimberly Dawn Barnes courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — The Hutchinson Police Department has confirmed that human remains discovered July 3, are those of 58-year-old Kimberly Dawn Barnes, a woman reported missing in July 2024, according to a media release from Hutchinson Police.Since the remains were found, police have been in contact with the family of Ms. Kimberly Dawn Barnes. "After locating dental records for comparison, we have confirmed the deceased to be that of Ms. Barnes.”“Based on the findings from the autopsy and the available evidence, there is currently no indication of criminal activity.”The remains were first connected to a public plea for assistance last month. Police said they hope the identification brings peace to those who knew her.

Police confirm remains are of missing Kansas woman

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with robbing a bank, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Darrel D. Gray, 65, of Benton was indicted on one count of bank robbery. Gray is accused of using force, violence, and intimidation in July 2025, to take money from Community National Bank &amp; Trust in El Dorado.&nbsp;Employees of the bank told police that a man came in with a bag, placed it on the counter and demanded money. After the bank staff complied, they called 911, according to a media release from police.

Police arrested him nine hours after the robbery.&nbsp;

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754493045523.png" alt="Gray photo Butler County" />
 <figcaption>Gray photo Butler County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with robbing a bank, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Darrel D. Gray, 65, of Benton was indicted on one count of bank robbery. Gray is accused of using force, violence, and intimidation in July 2025, to take money from Community National Bank &amp; Trust in El Dorado.&nbsp;Employees of the bank told police that a man came in with a bag, placed it on the counter and demanded money. After the bank staff complied, they called 911, according to a media release from police.Police arrested him nine hours after the robbery.&nbsp;The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

Police: Kansas man arrested 9 hours after he robbed a bank

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will waive age limits for new applicants so even more patriots will qualify to join ICE in its mission to arrest murderers, pedophiles, gang members, rapists, and other criminal illegal aliens from America’s streets, according to a media release from the agency.

All ICE law enforcement recruits will be required to go through medical screening, drug screening, and complete a physical fitness test.

“We are ENDING the age cap for ICE law enforcement,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Secretary Noem.&nbsp;“Qualified candidates can now apply with no age limit.&nbsp;<a href="https://join.ice.gov/">JOIN.ICE.GOV</a>.”

"In the wake of Biden’s open borders disaster, our country&nbsp;needs dedicated Americans to join ICE to remove&nbsp;the worst of the worst out of our country."

Backed by significant new funding through the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill,&nbsp;ICE is offering a robust package of federal law enforcement incentives, including:

ICE encourages Americans with a commitment to public safety, national service, and upholding the rule of law to apply today to jumpstart a fulfilling career in federal law enforcement.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will waive age limits for new applicants so even more patriots will qualify to join ICE in its mission to arrest murderers, pedophiles, gang members, rapists, and other criminal illegal aliens from America’s streets, according to a media release from the agency.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">You spoke, we listened and we took action – the age cap for joining ICE has now been REMOVED. We must Defend the Homeland.<a href="https://t.co/3c7b0Ry86A">https://t.co/3c7b0Ry86A</a> <a href="https://t.co/xEeCXwnjTR">pic.twitter.com/xEeCXwnjTR</a>&mdash; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICEgov/status/1953080223827705972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>All ICE law enforcement recruits will be required to go through medical screening, drug screening, and complete a physical fitness test.“We are ENDING the age cap for ICE law enforcement,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Secretary Noem.&nbsp;“Qualified candidates can now apply with no age limit.&nbsp;<a href="https://join.ice.gov/">JOIN.ICE.GOV</a>.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Protect. Serve. Deport. <a href="https://t.co/nZkBEj3GGi">https://t.co/nZkBEj3GGi</a> <a href="https://t.co/2nNr5nh3vx">pic.twitter.com/2nNr5nh3vx</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1952771243112862206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"In the wake of Biden’s open borders disaster, our country&nbsp;needs dedicated Americans to join ICE to remove&nbsp;the worst of the worst out of our country."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/smcq5ynxLB">https://t.co/smcq5ynxLB</a> <a href="https://t.co/bpElwEIiou">pic.twitter.com/bpElwEIiou</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1953263174087786644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Backed by significant new funding through the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill,&nbsp;ICE is offering a robust package of federal law enforcement incentives, including:<ul>
 <li>A maximum $50,000 signing bonus</li><li>Student loan repayment and forgiveness options</li><li>25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents</li><li>Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers</li><li>Enhanced retirement benefits</li>
 </ul>ICE encourages Americans with a commitment to public safety, national service, and upholding the rule of law to apply today to jumpstart a fulfilling career in federal law enforcement.

Now teenagers and seniors can be ICE agents

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

Just after 7:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 4000 Block of Morrell in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Police found a woman who had been shat and was unresponsive in front of a residence there. Officers called for EMS who responded and declared the victim deceased at the scene. Homicide detectives responded and are investigating this case as a homicide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754563530575.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 7:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 4000 Block of Morrell in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Police found a woman who had been shat and was unresponsive in front of a residence there. Officers called for EMS who responded and declared the victim deceased at the scene. Homicide detectives responded and are investigating this case as a homicide.

Homicide: Woman found dead in front of Kansas City home

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Today, <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> is announcing that it will invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years — that&#39;s $100 billion more than they were originally going to invest.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Xzjjek0Qwd">pic.twitter.com/Xzjjek0Qwd</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1953203962795962563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tim_cook</a> presents <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> with a gift made with the glass that Apple will be manufacturing in Kentucky 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/N2doBsPNEa">pic.twitter.com/N2doBsPNEa</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1953206264298954857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/Apple?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Apple</a> CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tim_cook</a>&#39;s full remarks from the Oval Office: &quot;I&#39;m very proud to say that today, we&#39;re committing an additional $100 billion to the United States, bringing our total U.S. investment to $600 billion... We believe deeply in the promise of this great nation.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/XZgY250nJk">pic.twitter.com/XZgY250nJk</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1953210002359107907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Apple is expanding our US commitment to $600 billion over the next four years. And our new American Manufacturing Program will bring even more jobs and advanced manufacturing to the US. <a href="https://t.co/6KWkTGJN3O">pic.twitter.com/6KWkTGJN3O</a>&mdash; Tim Cook (@tim_cook) <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/1953196912410345798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 $100 billion investment: Apple CEO brings gift to White House

CHEROKEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Cherokee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Tacoma driven by Dale L.&nbsp;Fillenwarth, 70, Carl Junction, Missouri, was northbound on SE 118th Street.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield at SE Old 96 Road. As eastbound 2020&nbsp; Peterbilt semi driven by Matthew A&nbsp;Mussati, 38, Jay, Oklahoma, struck the the Toyota.

Fillenwarth was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical.&nbsp;Mussati was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

CHEROKEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Cherokee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Tacoma driven by Dale L.&nbsp;Fillenwarth, 70, Carl Junction, Missouri, was northbound on SE 118th Street.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield at SE Old 96 Road. As eastbound 2020&nbsp; Peterbilt semi driven by Matthew A&nbsp;Mussati, 38, Jay, Oklahoma, struck the the Toyota.Fillenwarth was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical.&nbsp;Mussati was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Missouri man dies after crash with a semi on Kansas highway

RENO COUNTY — A former USD 309 Nickerson school district employee is in custody for alleged child sex crimes.

Authorities arrested Ryan Stoecklein, 29, on Wednesday and just before 11a.m., booked him into the Reno County jail on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child under 18 and attempted unlawful sexual relations, according to the county arrest report.

According to the complaint, "Between January 1 and March 24, 2025, in Reno County, Kansas, Ryan James Stoecklein did unlawfully and feloniously attempt to engage in consensual sexual intercourse and lewd fondling or touching with a person who was a student enrolled at the school where the offender was employed, to wit: Nickerson High School, who was 16 or more years of age, to-wit: JMFG (DOB: xx/xx/2007), and who was not married to the offender, while the offender was a teacher or other person in a position of authority, by completing an overt act towards the perpetration of the crime, done by a person who intended to commit such crime but failed in the perpetration thereof or was prevented or intercepted in executing such crime, a severity level 7 person felony."

<a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/kake.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/b8/4b85d371-d587-4e69-ba84-ad3cc6e6dfa4/6893e1163ec77.pdf.pdf">Click here to read the full complaint.</a>

Stoecklein is being held on a $120,000 bond and will make a court appearance on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754530743944.png" alt="Stoecklein photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Stoecklein photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — A former USD 309 Nickerson school district employee is in custody for alleged child sex crimes.Authorities arrested Ryan Stoecklein, 29, on Wednesday and just before 11a.m., booked him into the Reno County jail on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child under 18 and attempted unlawful sexual relations, according to the county arrest report.According to the complaint, "Between January 1 and March 24, 2025, in Reno County, Kansas, Ryan James Stoecklein did unlawfully and feloniously attempt to engage in consensual sexual intercourse and lewd fondling or touching with a person who was a student enrolled at the school where the offender was employed, to wit: Nickerson High School, who was 16 or more years of age, to-wit: JMFG (DOB: xx/xx/2007), and who was not married to the offender, while the offender was a teacher or other person in a position of authority, by completing an overt act towards the perpetration of the crime, done by a person who intended to commit such crime but failed in the perpetration thereof or was prevented or intercepted in executing such crime, a severity level 7 person felony."<a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/kake.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/b8/4b85d371-d587-4e69-ba84-ad3cc6e6dfa4/6893e1163ec77.pdf.pdf">Click here to read the full complaint.</a>Stoecklein is being held on a $120,000 bond and will make a court appearance on Thursday.

Former Kan. school employee accused of sex crimes with student 

OKLAHOMA CITY – A woman is going to spend time in a federal prison for forgery. Amanda Christine Dailey, 37,&nbsp;of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve six months in federal prison for forging the signature of a federal judge, according to&nbsp; U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

According to public records, in August 2022, Dailey filed a petition for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. A year later, in August 2023, Dailey purchased a vehicle from a car dealership, which she financed in part with a loan from a federal credit union. Public records reflect that, in order to be approved for financing, Dailey presented a false order which purported to show the discharge of her Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. In reality, Dailey had not been granted a discharge, and the false order she presented included the forged signature of Judge Sarah A. Hall, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma.

On October 1, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Dailey with forging a signature of a federal judge. Dailey pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025, and admitted she forged a court order with Judge Hall’s signature.

At the sentencing hearing on July 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Dailey to serve six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted the seriousness of the offense, and the need to deter Dailey and others from perpetrating similar offenses in the future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698688483875.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY – A woman is going to spend time in a federal prison for forgery. Amanda Christine Dailey, 37,&nbsp;of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve six months in federal prison for forging the signature of a federal judge, according to&nbsp; U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.According to public records, in August 2022, Dailey filed a petition for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. A year later, in August 2023, Dailey purchased a vehicle from a car dealership, which she financed in part with a loan from a federal credit union. Public records reflect that, in order to be approved for financing, Dailey presented a false order which purported to show the discharge of her Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. In reality, Dailey had not been granted a discharge, and the false order she presented included the forged signature of Judge Sarah A. Hall, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma.On October 1, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Dailey with forging a signature of a federal judge. Dailey pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025, and admitted she forged a court order with Judge Hall’s signature.At the sentencing hearing on July 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Dailey to serve six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted the seriousness of the offense, and the need to deter Dailey and others from perpetrating similar offenses in the future.

Forging judge's signature lands woman in federal prison

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

LENEXA — Melanie Arroyo lives in two worlds.

There’s the one where the Lenexa City Council member has to “assimilate and perform” like her white counterparts, she said. Then there’s the authentic world, where she is aware of how vulnerable she is in this country, “simply because I’m brown and because I have an accent.”

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, which was packed with residents who were upset about last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-07-31/released-immigration-raids-el-toro-loco-restaurant-lenexa-kansas-city-homeland-security" target="_blank">raid by federal authorities</a>&nbsp;at El Toro Loco restaurants in Lenexa and Kansas City, Kansas, Arroyo revealed that city police had recently investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship.

It started with someone complaining to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation about testimony Arroyo submitted in February to a state Senate committee in opposition to a bill that would eliminate in-state tuition for immigrants. The individual — whom the KBI declined to identify — questioned whether Arroyo was a U.S. citizen and eligible to hold public office.

The KBI referred the complaint to Lenexa police, who questioned Arroyo. She hired an attorney and presented documentation from her 2018 naturalization. Police closed the case last week, two days before the El Toro Loco raids.

For Arroyo, the police inquiry was a painful reminder that a single disgruntled resident can disrupt her life by making a false allegation.

Arroyo told Kansas Reflector she decided to talk about her experience after the unrelated federal raid in Lenexa, which raised questions about whether agents had violated the rights of workers who were detained without regard for whether they had committed a crime, had a lawful immigration status, or were U.S. citizens.

Arroyo said the two situations were connected only by the underlying motive, “which is xenophobia.”

“I felt like I had this obligation to come forward with my story, to let people know in Kansas City that everybody needs to wake the f*** up,” Arroyo said. “You guys are still living in 2024, thinking that our judicial processes are intact, and they’re not. I’m living in the summer of 2025, being directly impacted by this, and so we need to adapt to the circumstances that we’re in. And I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t know what the solutions are.”

Those who attended Tuesday night’s council meeting gasped when Arroyo revealed the police inquiry. They responded to her remarks with a standing ovation that lasted 20 seconds before Mayor Julie Sayers restored order with her gavel.

Councilwoman Courtney Eiterich expressed solidarity with Arroyo. Eiterich said her husband is an immigrant and that they have had conversations about whether he needs to keep naturalization papers with him.

In Lenexa and across the country, Eiterich said, authorities carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations are violating constitutional rights with the support of federal courts.

“I teach high school government, and this is really difficult for me to wrap my head around and try to explain to my students how this is happening and what is our role in trying to fix it. And I don’t have any answers,” Eiterich said.

Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin defended the police investigation of Arroyo.

He said Arroyo’s testimony before the Legislature indicated she had overstayed her visa and didn’t acknowledge her naturalization. He pointed to a city ordinance that requires office holders to be citizens.

“We felt we had no choice but to investigate the matter because it is the city’s obligation to ensure compliance with our own ordinances,” McLaughlin told the council.

“We stand behind our actions,” he added.

Arroyo submitted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_fed_st_1/documents/testimony/20250227_25.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony</a>&nbsp;in opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb254/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 254</a>, which was supported by Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach. A Senate committee held&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/03/kansas-republicans-punt-immigration-bill-after-kicking-opponents-out-of-hearing/">a contentious hearing on the proposal</a>&nbsp;in February and advanced the bill in March, but the full Senate never gave it consideration.

The testimony describes her experience growing up as “an undocumented immigrant girl” in the Kansas City area who didn’t speak fluent English. She said she was able to enroll in Kansas universities “with the condition that I resolved my immigration status.” She studied studio art and psychology at the University of Saint Mary and Johnson County Community College, then earned master’s degrees in clinical counseling and art therapy at Emporia State University.

Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the KBI, said a Johnson County resident referenced Arroyo’s testimony in a voicemail left at the agency’s Lenexa office. The KBI referred the matter to city police, Underwood said, because the state agency typically doesn’t investigate immigration-related matters. Underwood said the complaint didn’t come from Kobach.

“The information was sent to the Lenexa Police Department for follow-up as they deemed appropriate,” Underwood said.

In a brief interview after the city council meeting, McLaughlin acknowledged there was no evidence to support a complaint about Arroyo’s citizenship status.

But, he said, “just because evidence doesn’t exist doesn’t mean we don’t investigate.”

Two dozen community members voiced concerns to the council about the investigation of Arroyo and the raid on a local restaurant.

They included Kansas Rep. Susan Ruiz, LGBTQ+ activist Jae Moyer, immigration attorney Anne Parelkar, two pastors, and Roeland Park City Council member Jen Hill, who was Arroyo’s 8th grade English teacher in 2005.

Even then, Hill said, Arroyo’s “voice carried strength, clarity and purpose.”

“It’s because I know her so well that I’m both saddened and outraged by the recent false allegations questioning her citizenship,” Hill said. “These claims are not only entirely unfounded, they are a blatant attempt to discredit her based on her ethnicity, rather than recognizing the immense value of her service and her character.”

Sara Rohleder told the council this was the first local government meeting she had ever attended, and “that’s saying a lot.” She referenced the approximately 150 people who attended the meeting and pointed out that many of them were in the 18-25 age range.

“I’m very concerned,” Rohleder&nbsp; said. “I don’t know what future I have. I don’t know what future my cousins have, who are younger than me. I think this sets a very dangerous precedent. I think this is very, very serious, and I really strongly feel — I honestly feel comfort in knowing that it’s not just me who’s feeling this, because it’s a very isolating time. Look at all these people. Everyone’s here because they care about what’s going on.”

Muñeca Nieves described herself as a proud Afro-Caribbean woman who works for the federal government. She said she had lost 40 pounds by walking to work every day, but&nbsp;“I don’t do it anymore, because I’m brown.”

“Every time a black SUV comes by, I get scared,” Nieves said.

She also said she was “extremely disappointed” in the Lenexa city attorney’s insistence that police were just “following the rules” when they investigated Arroyo.

“Those rules equate to racial profiling,” Nieves said, “which is against the law.”

Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the council at the end of the meeting and&nbsp;acknowledged the hurt expressed by Arroyo.

“I apologize if I made you feel that way,” Layman told her.

Layman said Homeland Security Investigations notified her a week in advance that they would execute a criminal search warrants, authorized by a federal judge, at the El Toro Loco in Lenexa. They mutually agreed that Lenexa police officers would not be on site, she said.

She said the federal raids were related to an ongoing investigation into labor exploitation.

Layman said her department is focused on public safety and serving all who live, work and visit Lenexa, regardless of immigration status.

“Our responsibility is to protect the public, uphold the law, maintain public order and serve our community with honor, integrity and professionalism, and that is in regardless of our personal beliefs or opinion,” Layman said.

In an interview, Arroyo said Layman was unaware of the political and historical weight of asking someone for their papers. But Arroyo also stressed that she doesn’t think Lenexa police are the problem.

“My concern is that we are not aware of the times that we’re living in,” Arroyo said, “and we’re failing to meet the moment.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508240926.png" alt=" Lenexa City Council member Melanie Arroyo talks with supporters after the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting. Arroyo revealed city police investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Lenexa City Council member Melanie Arroyo talks with supporters after the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting. Arroyo revealed city police investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</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 Reflecto</a>rLENEXA — Melanie Arroyo lives in two worlds.There’s the one where the Lenexa City Council member has to “assimilate and perform” like her white counterparts, she said. Then there’s the authentic world, where she is aware of how vulnerable she is in this country, “simply because I’m brown and because I have an accent.”“It feels lonely,” she said.At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, which was packed with residents who were upset about last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-07-31/released-immigration-raids-el-toro-loco-restaurant-lenexa-kansas-city-homeland-security" target="_blank">raid by federal authorities</a>&nbsp;at El Toro Loco restaurants in Lenexa and Kansas City, Kansas, Arroyo revealed that city police had recently investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship.It started with someone complaining to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation about testimony Arroyo submitted in February to a state Senate committee in opposition to a bill that would eliminate in-state tuition for immigrants. The individual — whom the KBI declined to identify — questioned whether Arroyo was a U.S. citizen and eligible to hold public office.The KBI referred the complaint to Lenexa police, who questioned Arroyo. She hired an attorney and presented documentation from her 2018 naturalization. Police closed the case last week, two days before the El Toro Loco raids.For Arroyo, the police inquiry was a painful reminder that a single disgruntled resident can disrupt her life by making a false allegation.Arroyo told Kansas Reflector she decided to talk about her experience after the unrelated federal raid in Lenexa, which raised questions about whether agents had violated the rights of workers who were detained without regard for whether they had committed a crime, had a lawful immigration status, or were U.S. citizens.Arroyo said the two situations were connected only by the underlying motive, “which is xenophobia.”“I felt like I had this obligation to come forward with my story, to let people know in Kansas City that everybody needs to wake the f*** up,” Arroyo said. “You guys are still living in 2024, thinking that our judicial processes are intact, and they’re not. I’m living in the summer of 2025, being directly impacted by this, and so we need to adapt to the circumstances that we’re in. And I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t know what the solutions are.”Those who attended Tuesday night’s council meeting gasped when Arroyo revealed the police inquiry. They responded to her remarks with a standing ovation that lasted 20 seconds before Mayor Julie Sayers restored order with her gavel.Councilwoman Courtney Eiterich expressed solidarity with Arroyo. Eiterich said her husband is an immigrant and that they have had conversations about whether he needs to keep naturalization papers with him.In Lenexa and across the country, Eiterich said, authorities carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations are violating constitutional rights with the support of federal courts.“I teach high school government, and this is really difficult for me to wrap my head around and try to explain to my students how this is happening and what is our role in trying to fix it. And I don’t have any answers,” Eiterich said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508202926.png" alt=" Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin during the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting defends the police investigation of a councilwoman. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin during the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting defends the police investigation of a councilwoman. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>No evidence for inquiry</h2>Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin defended the police investigation of Arroyo.He said Arroyo’s testimony before the Legislature indicated she had overstayed her visa and didn’t acknowledge her naturalization. He pointed to a city ordinance that requires office holders to be citizens.“We felt we had no choice but to investigate the matter because it is the city’s obligation to ensure compliance with our own ordinances,” McLaughlin told the council.“We stand behind our actions,” he added.Arroyo submitted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_fed_st_1/documents/testimony/20250227_25.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony</a>&nbsp;in opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb254/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 254</a>, which was supported by Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach. A Senate committee held&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/03/kansas-republicans-punt-immigration-bill-after-kicking-opponents-out-of-hearing/">a contentious hearing on the proposal</a>&nbsp;in February and advanced the bill in March, but the full Senate never gave it consideration.The testimony describes her experience growing up as “an undocumented immigrant girl” in the Kansas City area who didn’t speak fluent English. She said she was able to enroll in Kansas universities “with the condition that I resolved my immigration status.” She studied studio art and psychology at the University of Saint Mary and Johnson County Community College, then earned master’s degrees in clinical counseling and art therapy at Emporia State University.Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the KBI, said a Johnson County resident referenced Arroyo’s testimony in a voicemail left at the agency’s Lenexa office. The KBI referred the matter to city police, Underwood said, because the state agency typically doesn’t investigate immigration-related matters. Underwood said the complaint didn’t come from Kobach.“The information was sent to the Lenexa Police Department for follow-up as they deemed appropriate,” Underwood said.In a brief interview after the city council meeting, McLaughlin acknowledged there was no evidence to support a complaint about Arroyo’s citizenship status.But, he said, “just because evidence doesn’t exist doesn’t mean we don’t investigate.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508157109.png" alt="Overland Park resident Sara Rohleder speaks at the Aug. 5, 2025, Lenexa City Council meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Overland Park resident Sara Rohleder speaks at the Aug. 5, 2025, Lenexa City Council meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Public outcry</h2>Two dozen community members voiced concerns to the council about the investigation of Arroyo and the raid on a local restaurant.They included Kansas Rep. Susan Ruiz, LGBTQ+ activist Jae Moyer, immigration attorney Anne Parelkar, two pastors, and Roeland Park City Council member Jen Hill, who was Arroyo’s 8th grade English teacher in 2005.Even then, Hill said, Arroyo’s “voice carried strength, clarity and purpose.”“It’s because I know her so well that I’m both saddened and outraged by the recent false allegations questioning her citizenship,” Hill said. “These claims are not only entirely unfounded, they are a blatant attempt to discredit her based on her ethnicity, rather than recognizing the immense value of her service and her character.”Sara Rohleder told the council this was the first local government meeting she had ever attended, and “that’s saying a lot.” She referenced the approximately 150 people who attended the meeting and pointed out that many of them were in the 18-25 age range.“I’m very concerned,” Rohleder&nbsp; said. “I don’t know what future I have. I don’t know what future my cousins have, who are younger than me. I think this sets a very dangerous precedent. I think this is very, very serious, and I really strongly feel — I honestly feel comfort in knowing that it’s not just me who’s feeling this, because it’s a very isolating time. Look at all these people. Everyone’s here because they care about what’s going on.”Muñeca Nieves described herself as a proud Afro-Caribbean woman who works for the federal government. She said she had lost 40 pounds by walking to work every day, but&nbsp;“I don’t do it anymore, because I’m brown.”“Every time a black SUV comes by, I get scared,” Nieves said.She also said she was “extremely disappointed” in the Lenexa city attorney’s insistence that police were just “following the rules” when they investigated Arroyo.“Those rules equate to racial profiling,” Nieves said, “which is against the law.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508115025.png" alt=" Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the city council during an Aug. 5, 2025, meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the city council during an Aug. 5, 2025, meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Police chief responds</h2>Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the council at the end of the meeting and&nbsp;acknowledged the hurt expressed by Arroyo.“I apologize if I made you feel that way,” Layman told her.Layman said Homeland Security Investigations notified her a week in advance that they would execute a criminal search warrants, authorized by a federal judge, at the El Toro Loco in Lenexa. They mutually agreed that Lenexa police officers would not be on site, she said.She said the federal raids were related to an ongoing investigation into labor exploitation.Layman said her department is focused on public safety and serving all who live, work and visit Lenexa, regardless of immigration status.“Our responsibility is to protect the public, uphold the law, maintain public order and serve our community with honor, integrity and professionalism, and that is in regardless of our personal beliefs or opinion,” Layman said.In an interview, Arroyo said Layman was unaware of the political and historical weight of asking someone for their papers. But Arroyo also stressed that she doesn’t think Lenexa police are the problem.“My concern is that we are not aware of the times that we’re living in,” Arroyo said, “and we’re failing to meet the moment.”

Police investigate a Kansas city council member’s citizenship after a complaint left via voicemail

Five soldiers were shot but are in stable condition

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/author/ross-williams/">Ross Williams</a> <a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/">Georgia Recorder</a>

An Army sergeant who is accused of opening fire on five of his fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia Wednesday used his personal weapon in the shooting, according to the installation’s commanding general.

Sgt. Quornelius Radford, who was assigned to a unit within the second Brigade Combat Team, allegedly shot five soldiers late Wednesday morning, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the installation’s commanding general. All five victims were in stable condition.

Lubas, the installation’s commanding general, said other soldiers were able to physically subdue Radford until law enforcement officers arrived and took Radford into custody nearly 40 minutes later.

“The shooting occurred at the soldier’s place of work. It did involve his co-workers,” Lubas told reporters Wednesday afternoon. “We’re still not certain about the motivations, but again, he’s been interviewed by Army investigators, and we believe we’ll gain more information here shortly.”

Lubas said the weapon used in the shooting is believed to be a personal handgun, but he said how the firearm ended up at the workplace is still under investigation.

“I’m very confident in the security of this installation. We’ve got a great partnership with local law enforcement,” Lubas said. “As you can see here at our gates, we have armed guards in protective equipment.

“This one’s a bit difficult, and we’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of place of duty,” he said.

Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting at 10:56 a.m., the base was placed on lock down at 11:04, medical personnel were dispatched at 11:09 and a suspect was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.

Fort Stewart is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River and is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and about 10,000 troops and family members. It is located in Hinesville about 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

Georgia leaders including Gov. Brian Kemp denounced the shooter and offered thanks for the law enforcement and emergency personnel.

“As we remain in close contact with law enforcement on the ground, Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by today’s tragedy at Ft. Stewart,” Kemp said in a statement on social media. “We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same.”

The base is represented by Republican Congressman Buddy Carter, who offered a statement in support of the victims and first responders.

Georgia Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop said the effects of the attack will reverberate beyond Georgia.

“The events today will not only be felt at Fort Stewart but across our entire military,” Bishop said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the casualties and all those impacted by this unfortunate occurrence.”

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal law enforcement agents are providing support.

Georgia Recorder Editor Jill Nolin contributed to this report.&nbsp;

FORT STEWART, Georgia– Five Soldiers were shot Wednesday in an active shooter incident in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, according to a media release from the base. All Soldiers were treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment. There was no active threat to the community.

Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting in the 2nd ABCT complex at 10:56 a.m. The shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.

The installation was locked down at 11:04 a.m. and Fort Stewart lifted the lockdown of the main cantonment area at 12:10 p.m. 2nd ABCT complex is still locked down.

 Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to treat the wounded Soldiers at 11:09 a.m.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754497102931.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Five soldiers were shot but are in stable condition</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/author/ross-williams/">Ross Williams</a> <a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/">Georgia Recorder</a>An Army sergeant who is accused of opening fire on five of his fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia Wednesday used his personal weapon in the shooting, according to the installation’s commanding general.Sgt. Quornelius Radford, who was assigned to a unit within the second Brigade Combat Team, allegedly shot five soldiers late Wednesday morning, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the installation’s commanding general. All five victims were in stable condition.Lubas, the installation’s commanding general, said other soldiers were able to physically subdue Radford until law enforcement officers arrived and took Radford into custody nearly 40 minutes later.“The shooting occurred at the soldier’s place of work. It did involve his co-workers,” Lubas told reporters Wednesday afternoon. “We’re still not certain about the motivations, but again, he’s been interviewed by Army investigators, and we believe we’ll gain more information here shortly.”Lubas said the weapon used in the shooting is believed to be a personal handgun, but he said how the firearm ended up at the workplace is still under investigation.“I’m very confident in the security of this installation. We’ve got a great partnership with local law enforcement,” Lubas said. “As you can see here at our gates, we have armed guards in protective equipment.“This one’s a bit difficult, and we’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of place of duty,” he said.Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting at 10:56 a.m., the base was placed on lock down at 11:04, medical personnel were dispatched at 11:09 and a suspect was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.Fort Stewart is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River and is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and about 10,000 troops and family members. It is located in Hinesville about 40 miles southwest of Savannah.Georgia leaders including Gov. Brian Kemp denounced the shooter and offered thanks for the law enforcement and emergency personnel.“As we remain in close contact with law enforcement on the ground, Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by today’s tragedy at Ft. Stewart,” Kemp said in a statement on social media. “We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same.”The base is represented by Republican Congressman Buddy Carter, who offered a statement in support of the victims and first responders.Georgia Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop said the effects of the attack will reverberate beyond Georgia.“The events today will not only be felt at Fort Stewart but across our entire military,” Bishop said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the casualties and all those impacted by this unfortunate occurrence.”President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal law enforcement agents are providing support.Georgia Recorder Editor Jill Nolin contributed to this report.&nbsp;-----------------FORT STEWART, Georgia– Five Soldiers were shot Wednesday in an active shooter incident in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, according to a media release from the base. All Soldiers were treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment. There was no active threat to the community.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The President has been briefed on the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The White House is monitoring the situation.&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1953135134665802048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our federal law enforcement agents in Georgia are coordinating to provide support as the situation at Fort Stewart develops. I am praying for all the victims and for our troops at the base.&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1953137964168405387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFortStewartHunterArmyAirfield%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0696cnEND7m9ujYRCsx5nonjp4fmurusZBqGcSzKdntmdhoWDX67gD57gysUrbLCLl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="679" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting in the 2nd ABCT complex at 10:56 a.m. The shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.The installation was locked down at 11:04 a.m. and Fort Stewart lifted the lockdown of the main cantonment area at 12:10 p.m. 2nd ABCT complex is still locked down. Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to treat the wounded Soldiers at 11:09 a.m.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Army sergeant accused of using personal handgun in shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Nebraska reportedly is being considered as a home to one of the state-run, federally funded migrant detention centers that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hopes to launch across the country in the likeness of “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Noem, in an interview with CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alligator-alcatraz-model-kristi-noem-homeland-security/" target="_blank">published Monday</a>, said she hopes to establish a handful of similar detention centers near airports and jails in other states in the coming months, using Florida’s so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades as a model. She said she had already appealed to governors and state leaders.&nbsp;

And CBS said potential sites already under consideration include Nebraska, Arizona and Louisiana.

Many states that support President Donald Trump’s mission of securing the border have empty or underused prison-like facilities, Noem noted. She said locations Homeland Security is considering are by airports and runways, which she said would help cut costs through “quick turnarounds.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates under the umbrella of Homeland Security.

State-owned property that could fit her site preferences could include land near the Omaha Correctional Center by Eppley Airfield and the Nebraska National Guard base near the Lincoln airport.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s office shared a statement Tuesday, saying that his team “continues to be in communication with federal partners on how Nebraska can best assist in these efforts.”

Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple said the governor is “<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/24/pillen-orders-nebraska-agencies-to-fall-in-line-with-trump-immigration-crackdown/">staunchly committed&nbsp;</a>to keeping Americans safe, our nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-visits-nebraska-national-guard-on-texas-mexico-border-with-speaker-arch-sen-tom-brewer/">borders secure”</a>&nbsp;and getting criminals “off our streets.”

She said it was premature to comment on potential detention operations, adding: “Gov. Pillen will make details public at the appropriate time.”

An ICE spokesperson told the Examiner in a statement Tuesday that the agency could not confirm “individual pre-decisional conversations” but said it would “confirm that ICE is exploring all options to meet its current and future detention requirements.”

The agency blamed the Biden administration’s border policies, and added: “ICE is proud to say we have enhanced enforcement and routine daily operations that have resulted in a significant number of arrests” necessitating greater detention capacity.

Noem’s strategy reportedly builds upon the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center that opened last month at a jetport in the South Florida marshlands. It was built in just days and has the capacity to house at least 3,000 migrants.

The effort would be assisted by the $45 billion set aside for ICE in President Donald Trump’s recently adopted “big beautiful bill.”

Nebraska State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, a legislative watchdog on criminal justice issues, criticized the notion of Nebraska as a host site.&nbsp;

“The idea of Nebraska operating a state-run detention facility is crazy and should not move forward,” he said. “Our focus should be on addressing the current budget deficit and reversing the decline of our state’s economy, both of which will only worsen with proposals like this.”

McKinney said that under the Trump administration, “enforcement efforts have expanded far beyond individuals labeled as criminals.”

“Many law-abiding immigrants are being unjustly detained and torn away from their families,” he said.

Nebraska State Sen. Margo Juarez was terse in her reaction. Her South Omaha area district includes the worksite where a June 10 high-profile immigration raid took place, the largest enforcement operation in Nebraska since Trump took office the second time.

“There is no way we will welcome an Alcatraz,” Juarez said. “Look elsewhere.”

More than 70 undocumented immigrants were apprehended during the ICE-led raid at Glenn Valley Foods. Roughly 25 of the workers are still being detained at a North Platte jail, hours from where their families live. That jail contracts with the federal government to hold ICE detainees who are in removal proceedings.

Douglas County officials had previously opted not to renew a federal contract under which it was paid to hold ICE detainees at its Omaha jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751400984359.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Nebraska reportedly is being considered as a home to one of the state-run, federally funded migrant detention centers that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hopes to launch across the country in the likeness of “Alligator Alcatraz.”Noem, in an interview with CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alligator-alcatraz-model-kristi-noem-homeland-security/" target="_blank">published Monday</a>, said she hopes to establish a handful of similar detention centers near airports and jails in other states in the coming months, using Florida’s so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades as a model. She said she had already appealed to governors and state leaders.&nbsp;And CBS said potential sites already under consideration include Nebraska, Arizona and Louisiana.Many states that support President Donald Trump’s mission of securing the border have empty or underused prison-like facilities, Noem noted. She said locations Homeland Security is considering are by airports and runways, which she said would help cut costs through “quick turnarounds.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates under the umbrella of Homeland Security.State-owned property that could fit her site preferences could include land near the Omaha Correctional Center by Eppley Airfield and the Nebraska National Guard base near the Lincoln airport.Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s office shared a statement Tuesday, saying that his team “continues to be in communication with federal partners on how Nebraska can best assist in these efforts.”Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple said the governor is “<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/24/pillen-orders-nebraska-agencies-to-fall-in-line-with-trump-immigration-crackdown/">staunchly committed&nbsp;</a>to keeping Americans safe, our nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-visits-nebraska-national-guard-on-texas-mexico-border-with-speaker-arch-sen-tom-brewer/">borders secure”</a>&nbsp;and getting criminals “off our streets.”She said it was premature to comment on potential detention operations, adding: “Gov. Pillen will make details public at the appropriate time.”An ICE spokesperson told the Examiner in a statement Tuesday that the agency could not confirm “individual pre-decisional conversations” but said it would “confirm that ICE is exploring all options to meet its current and future detention requirements.”The agency blamed the Biden administration’s border policies, and added: “ICE is proud to say we have enhanced enforcement and routine daily operations that have resulted in a significant number of arrests” necessitating greater detention capacity.Noem’s strategy reportedly builds upon the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center that opened last month at a jetport in the South Florida marshlands. It was built in just days and has the capacity to house at least 3,000 migrants.The effort would be assisted by the $45 billion set aside for ICE in President Donald Trump’s recently adopted “big beautiful bill.”Nebraska State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, a legislative watchdog on criminal justice issues, criticized the notion of Nebraska as a host site.&nbsp;“The idea of Nebraska operating a state-run detention facility is crazy and should not move forward,” he said. “Our focus should be on addressing the current budget deficit and reversing the decline of our state’s economy, both of which will only worsen with proposals like this.”McKinney said that under the Trump administration, “enforcement efforts have expanded far beyond individuals labeled as criminals.”“Many law-abiding immigrants are being unjustly detained and torn away from their families,” he said.Nebraska State Sen. Margo Juarez was terse in her reaction. Her South Omaha area district includes the worksite where a June 10 high-profile immigration raid took place, the largest enforcement operation in Nebraska since Trump took office the second time.“There is no way we will welcome an Alcatraz,” Juarez said. “Look elsewhere.”More than 70 undocumented immigrants were apprehended during the ICE-led raid at Glenn Valley Foods. Roughly 25 of the workers are still being detained at a North Platte jail, hours from where their families live. That jail contracts with the federal government to hold ICE detainees who are in removal proceedings.Douglas County officials had previously opted not to renew a federal contract under which it was paid to hold ICE detainees at its Omaha jail.

Will Nebraska be home to the next ‘Alligator Alcatraz?’

Union leaders say more than 3,000 members went on strike because the agreement offered by the aerospace manufacturing company doesn’t equally benefit all employees

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

BERKELEY — Christy Williams stood outside the Boeing facility in St. Louis for hours on Tuesday next to her handwritten sign declaring: “We aren’t building toasters!”

For the last three years, Williams and her son have helped build F-15 fighter jets at Boeing in the St. Louis area — something she called her life’s dream.&nbsp;

“We’re putting our bodies at risk with the physical and strenuous (work), and on top of all the chemicals and other just the dirty air that we’re in there breathing,” said Williams, an assembly mechanic. “We signed on for this because we wanted to build the best fighter jet in the world.”

On Monday, Williams walked out from her job alongside 3,200 workers at Boeing’s three facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles and Mascoutah, Ill., after her fellow members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted Sunday to reject a four-year labor agreement.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-district-837-members-in-st-louis-reject-latest-boeing-offer-strike-for-fair-contract/" target="_blank">union statement</a>&nbsp;announcing the strike, its members “assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies.”

Chad Stevenson, a plant chairman for the union at the St. Louis facility, said the company’s offer was rejected because it wouldn’t equally benefit the longtime workers who endured pay freezes when the company’s contracts were “lean” over the last several years.

“Our members took concessions to help this company and continued to produce the same amount and the same quality of work,” said Stevenson, who works as an assembly mechanic. “So really it was over eight years, top-scale wasn’t raised. And we’re ready for them to make a competitive, fair offer in these negotiations and take it back before membership and let them decide again.”

The company issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/specialty/iam837#fact-sheets" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;in response to the strike, stating that the employees rejected an offer that “featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules.”&nbsp;

“We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers,” said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president, general manager and senior St. Louis site executive.

Williams called the 40% number “a farce” because it was nearly impossible to meet the criteria to earn it.

“If everybody was going to get 40%, we would already be on the floor,” she said. “Just quit playing with the math, give us something fair and let us get back to work.”

The company’s rejected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Contract-Summary.pdf?v=2" target="_blank">offer</a>&nbsp;included a 20% wage increase over four years and $5,000 ratification bonuses. However, top-scale wage earners wouldn’t see that same increase, Stevenson said.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Wage-Growth-Max.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;Boeing posted regarding the labor agreement, entry-level workers making $34.25 per hour could potentially go from making $71,240 to $108,222 annually after the four-year contract.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754496573660.png" alt=" Mechanical engineer Christy Williams strikes outside of her employer, Boeing aerospace company, in Berkeley, Mo. She joined 3,200 other union members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers who went on strike at midnight on Sunday to get better wages and retirement plans (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Mechanical engineer Christy Williams strikes outside of her employer, Boeing aerospace company, in Berkeley, Mo. She joined 3,200 other union members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers who went on strike at midnight on Sunday to get better wages and retirement plans (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Union leaders say more than 3,000 members went on strike because the agreement offered by the aerospace manufacturing company doesn’t equally benefit all employees</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>BERKELEY — Christy Williams stood outside the Boeing facility in St. Louis for hours on Tuesday next to her handwritten sign declaring: “We aren’t building toasters!”For the last three years, Williams and her son have helped build F-15 fighter jets at Boeing in the St. Louis area — something she called her life’s dream.&nbsp;“We’re putting our bodies at risk with the physical and strenuous (work), and on top of all the chemicals and other just the dirty air that we’re in there breathing,” said Williams, an assembly mechanic. “We signed on for this because we wanted to build the best fighter jet in the world.”On Monday, Williams walked out from her job alongside 3,200 workers at Boeing’s three facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles and Mascoutah, Ill., after her fellow members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted Sunday to reject a four-year labor agreement.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-district-837-members-in-st-louis-reject-latest-boeing-offer-strike-for-fair-contract/" target="_blank">union statement</a>&nbsp;announcing the strike, its members “assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies.”Chad Stevenson, a plant chairman for the union at the St. Louis facility, said the company’s offer was rejected because it wouldn’t equally benefit the longtime workers who endured pay freezes when the company’s contracts were “lean” over the last several years.“Our members took concessions to help this company and continued to produce the same amount and the same quality of work,” said Stevenson, who works as an assembly mechanic. “So really it was over eight years, top-scale wasn’t raised. And we’re ready for them to make a competitive, fair offer in these negotiations and take it back before membership and let them decide again.”The company issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/specialty/iam837#fact-sheets" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;in response to the strike, stating that the employees rejected an offer that “featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules.”&nbsp;“We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers,” said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president, general manager and senior St. Louis site executive.Williams called the 40% number “a farce” because it was nearly impossible to meet the criteria to earn it.“If everybody was going to get 40%, we would already be on the floor,” she said. “Just quit playing with the math, give us something fair and let us get back to work.”The company’s rejected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Contract-Summary.pdf?v=2" target="_blank">offer</a>&nbsp;included a 20% wage increase over four years and $5,000 ratification bonuses. However, top-scale wage earners wouldn’t see that same increase, Stevenson said.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Wage-Growth-Max.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;Boeing posted regarding the labor agreement, entry-level workers making $34.25 per hour could potentially go from making $71,240 to $108,222 annually after the four-year contract.For “max rate” employees, the growth would go from $95,326 to $110,718 after four years, according to a fact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Wage-Growth-Max.pdf" target="_blank">sheet</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stevenson said the numbers on the entry-level fact sheet didn’t add up, and the pay progression to get to top-scale pay is much slower than other Boeing sites and other aerospace manufacturers. He explained that in some cases, it takes 20 years to reach top-scale pay, and union members become “highly skilled and versatile” well before that time. The union is looking to decrease the amount of time, he said, which is called auto progression.&nbsp;“They act like maybe St Louis is less important, in their opinion,” he said, “but it is just important to this company. It’s their hub for the defense sector, and it’s also a matter of national security. We build the aircraft and munitions that defend this country with several of our products.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754496537827.png" alt=" Missouri Democratic state Rep. Doug Clemens of St. Ann spoke with Boeing employees on strike on Aug. 5 outside of company facility in Berkeley (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Democratic state Rep. Doug Clemens of St. Ann spoke with Boeing employees on strike on Aug. 5 outside of company facility in Berkeley (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Democratic state Rep. Doug Clemens, who represents a district that partially includes St. Louis Lambert International Airport, visited with the workers on the picket line on Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp;He told them that his father worked for McDonnell Douglas, which was a major&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_manufacturer" target="_blank">aerospace manufacturing</a>&nbsp;corporation and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_contractor" target="_blank">defense contractor</a>&nbsp;headquartered in St. Louis and was later acquired by Boeing in 1997.&nbsp;His father retired shortly after Boeing took over, he said, and the first thing the company did was cut health-care benefits to retirees.“As far as the strike goes, it’s high time to have a strike,” Clemens said. “It’s high time that Boeing is put in its place when it comes to supporting its own workers.”