KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.

The suspect accused in the stabbing identified as 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell of Kansas City has been charged&nbsp;with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.

Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a check the welfare call at 152 Highway and North Oak Trafficway involving a woman, later identified as Bossell, walking on the highway.

Callers were concerned for her safety and called police, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. Responding officers located Bossell on the side of the highway there. Ultimately, they requested EMS to respond for further treatment. 

EMS began to transport Bossell to the hospital for further treatment. While en-route to the hospital in the ambulance, at approximately 1:25a.m., she produced an edged weapon and stabbed the KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman causing significant injuries. 

The ambulance driver then stopped the ambulance at 152 highway and Platte Purchase and signaled to a KCPD police officer that had been following the ambulance for help. That KCPD officer took Bossell into custody at that location. Additional EMS crews responded and transported&nbsp; Hoffman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.

Just after 2p.m. Sunday, police were notified that Hoffman had died.&nbsp;

"Hoffman was a member of the Kansas City Fire Department for three years. He was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion," said&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson in a media release.

"The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham’s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted toserve and protect those in his community."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745790431024.png" alt="Graham Hoffman photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Graham Hoffman photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.The suspect accused in the stabbing identified as 38-year-old Shanetta Bossell of Kansas City has been charged&nbsp;with murder in the first degree and armed criminal action, according to the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745803226594.png" alt="Bossell photo Clay Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Bossell photo Clay Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a check the welfare call at 152 Highway and North Oak Trafficway involving a woman, later identified as Bossell, walking on the highway.Callers were concerned for her safety and called police, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. Responding officers located Bossell on the side of the highway there. Ultimately, they requested EMS to respond for further treatment. EMS began to transport Bossell to the hospital for further treatment. While en-route to the hospital in the ambulance, at approximately 1:25a.m., she produced an edged weapon and stabbed the KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman causing significant injuries. The ambulance driver then stopped the ambulance at 152 highway and Platte Purchase and signaled to a KCPD police officer that had been following the ambulance for help. That KCPD officer took Bossell into custody at that location. Additional EMS crews responded and transported&nbsp; Hoffman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries.Just after 2p.m. Sunday, police were notified that Hoffman had died.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Mayor Lucas Responds to First-Degree Murder Charges Filed in Death of KCFD Firefighter <a href="https://t.co/YcTPqHNWaT">pic.twitter.com/YcTPqHNWaT</a>&mdash; Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorLucasKC/status/1916661676897657070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Hoffman was a member of the Kansas City Fire Department for three years. He was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion," said&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson in a media release."The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham’s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted toserve and protect those in his community."

New details in fatal stabbing of Kansas City paramedic

The conclave to elect a new Pope will begin on May 7 according to the Holy See Press Office. The Cardinals present in Rome made the decision on Monday at their fifth General Congregation.

The conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745839969701.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The conclave to elect a new Pope will begin on May 7 according to the Holy See Press Office. The Cardinals present in Rome made the decision on Monday at their fifth General Congregation.The conclave will take place in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.&nbsp;

Vatican sets May 7th for Conclave to Elect New Pope

KANSAS CITY —Police investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 16-year-old&nbsp;Maximiliano Ruiz and 19-year-old&nbsp;Matthew Suri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to Becchina.

First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located Ruiz and Suri unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.

The investigation indicates that the victims were inside the vehicle at the location when they had an interaction with one or more suspects and shots were fired. Both victims were inside the vehicle when they were struck by the gunfire. Initial responding officers took one subject of interest into custody for further investigation. Detectives are working to determine that subject of interest’s exact involvement at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745702653802.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Police investigating a double homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 16-year-old&nbsp;Maximiliano Ruiz and 19-year-old&nbsp;Matthew Suri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to Becchina.First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located Ruiz and Suri unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.The investigation indicates that the victims were inside the vehicle at the location when they had an interaction with one or more suspects and shots were fired. Both victims were inside the vehicle when they were struck by the gunfire. Initial responding officers took one subject of interest into custody for further investigation. Detectives are working to determine that subject of interest’s exact involvement at this time.

KCPD: 16-year-old among victims in double-homicide 

A newly enacted law allows the attorney general to challenge temporary injunctions, a move inspired by a pending abortion-rights case

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=394" target="_blank">bill signed Thursday</a>&nbsp;by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe generated a lawsuit Friday challenging its constitutionality even as Attorney General Andrew Bailey wasted no time using new powers granted in the law.

The bill changes the deadlines and procedure for challenging the ballot language of measures placed before voters by the General Assembly or by initiative petition. It also allows the ballot summaries to be longer.&nbsp;

&nbsp;But a major focus of legislative debate was the provision of the bill giving the attorney general the power to appeal preliminary injunctions granted in cases where the state or a statewide official is blocked from enforcing a law or statute.

It was inspired by an ongoing abortion-rights lawsuit and included an emergency clause making the power to appeal preliminary injunctions effective immediately. The bill cited the need “to ensure judicial efficiency” as the reason it is “deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace and safety” of the state.

On Friday, attorney Chuck Hatfield filed a lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court on behalf of longtime progressive activist Sean Nicholson arguing the bill violates the constitution in six ways. The emergency clause, and the reason it gives for invoking the Constitution’s provision for&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++29&amp;bid=31769&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">making laws effective immediately</a>, are not an emergency, Hatfield wrote.

“There is no crisis or emergency which requires immediate or quick legislative action for the preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety, or morals,” Hatfield wrote.

Bailey followed through on the intent of the legislation Thursday by using the newly granted power to challenge two preliminary injunctions issued after voters&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">approved Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;overturning Missouri’s near-total ban on abortions.&nbsp;

The first preliminary injunction,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/20/missouri-amendment-3-abortion-regulations-trap-laws/">issued by Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang in December</a>, blocked state laws that required a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

The second,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/14/missouri-judge-blocks-discriminatory-abortion-clinics-rules-blamed-for-lack-of-access/">issued Feb. 14</a>, stopped enforcement of a licensing requirement for abortion clinics that providers argued was a key obstacle to renewing access to the procedure across the state. Hours later, Planned Parenthood clinics announced they would begin offering abortion services in Missouri.

In a statement issued Thursday, the ACLU of Missouri and the state’s two Planned Parenthood affiliates vowed to fight against the effort to alter the laws governing court cases.

“A majority of Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 to end Missouri’s abortion ban and protect reproductive freedom,” the statement read. “Rather than following the will of the people, the same anti-abortion politicians that fought against Amendment 3 and lost at the ballot box have changed the rules of both the initiative petition and the court procedures so they can try to reinstate Missouri’s abortion ban.”

A spokeswoman for Bailey’s office said in an emailed statement that he filed an appeal to challenge the court’s decision to “eliminate common-sense health and safety standards.

Abortion Action Missouri executive director Mallory Schwarz said in a news release that the bill signed by Kehoe is an admission that abortion rights backers have won at the ballot box and in the courts.&nbsp;

“The governor signing this attack on democracy just shows that the state is power hungry and obsessed with controlling Missourian’s lives, taking away their personal and private decision-making, and inserting itself into their bedrooms and doctors’ offices,” Scharz said.

In the lawsuit, Hatfield wrote that until the passage of the bill signed Thursday, Missouri court procedure did not allow an appeal of preliminary injunctions.&nbsp;

Hatfield wrote that “the grant of the right is one sided, favoring only the attorney general” and violates the state Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=I++++2&amp;bid=31702&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">guarantee of equal rights and opportunity</a>.&nbsp;

The power to appeal past preliminary injunctions is also “unconstitutionally retroactive because it is applicable to preliminary injunctions in place prior to the passage.”

The Missouri Constitution forbids ex post facto laws — laws making something a crime after the act — and laws that alter contracts or is&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=I++++13&amp;bid=31713&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">retrospective in effect</a>.

The bill’s provisions governing the revision of ballot language is a reaction to the legal fight over the wording for Amendment 3. In 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/20/missouri-secretary-state-ashcroft-lawsuit-abortion/">Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ruled</a>&nbsp;the ballot title written by then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was “argumentative” or unfairly biased and rewrote it. That&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/31/appeals-court-swats-down-ashcroft-arguments-on-missouri-abortion-rights-petitions/">decision was upheld&nbsp;</a>by the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals.

Under the bill, a ballot title deemed insufficient or unfair would be sent back to the secretary of state for revision. The courts would have to allow three attempts, all under increasingly tight deadlines, before taking over the job.

The bill also moves up the deadline for completing all court challenges from eight weeks before the election to 10 weeks before the election.

Along with creating unconstitutional powers for the attorney general and granting them in an unconstitutional way, Hatfield’s lawsuit alleges the bill was improperly changed to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++21&amp;bid=31761&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">alter its original purpose</a>&nbsp;and that the changes made violate the constitutional requirement that bills&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++23&amp;bid=31763&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">address a single subject</a>.

The bill filed by state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, began as “one new section relating to ballot summaries prepared by the general assembly.” It was changed to be “three new sections relating to ballot summaries” in a Senate committee before being passed as “five new sections relating to judicial proceedings.”

One provision allowing ballot titles to have 100 words instead of 50 has nothing to do with judicial proceedings, the lawsuit states.&nbsp;

And the power to appeal preliminary injunctions has nothing to do with ballot summaries prepared by lawmakers, it adds.

No hearings can be set for the lawsuit until notice is served on Bailey and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, the defendants in the case.

The political battle over abortion, and how the initiative process is used, is also continuing inside and outside the General Assembly.

On April 17, the Missouri House&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/17/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-jon-patterson-senate/">approved a proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that would overturn most provisions of Amendment 3, restoring the ban on abortions that was in place starting in 2022 but with new exceptions for medical emergencies, fatal fetal anomalies and for survivors of rape and incest in the first 12 weeks of gestation.

The bill has not been assigned to a state Senate committee.

Lawmakers have tried, and failed, to pass proposals that would change how many signatures must be gathered for initiatives and how majorities are counted for initiative measures that make the ballot.

A group called the Respect Missouri Voters Coalition has filed an initiative proposal to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2026-036.pdf" target="_blank">add new protections for initiative measures</a>&nbsp;to the state constitution. Any initiative changing a statute or the constitution could only be altered by lawmakers if 80% of members in both chambers vote for a bill that is then submitted to a statewide vote.

The bill signed Thursday will give far too much power to the secretary of state, Benjamin Singer, co-founder of the Respect Missouri Voters Coalition and CEO of Show Me Integrity, said in a news release.

“Missouri’s citizen initiative process is now dead for anything that the Secretary of State doesn’t like and wants to kill with biased language,” Singer said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676064784756.png" alt="The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A newly enacted law allows the attorney general to challenge temporary injunctions, a move inspired by a pending abortion-rights case</h2>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=394" target="_blank">bill signed Thursday</a>&nbsp;by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe generated a lawsuit Friday challenging its constitutionality even as Attorney General Andrew Bailey wasted no time using new powers granted in the law.The bill changes the deadlines and procedure for challenging the ballot language of measures placed before voters by the General Assembly or by initiative petition. It also allows the ballot summaries to be longer.&nbsp;&nbsp;But a major focus of legislative debate was the provision of the bill giving the attorney general the power to appeal preliminary injunctions granted in cases where the state or a statewide official is blocked from enforcing a law or statute.It was inspired by an ongoing abortion-rights lawsuit and included an emergency clause making the power to appeal preliminary injunctions effective immediately. The bill cited the need “to ensure judicial efficiency” as the reason it is “deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health, welfare, peace and safety” of the state.On Friday, attorney Chuck Hatfield filed a lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court on behalf of longtime progressive activist Sean Nicholson arguing the bill violates the constitution in six ways. The emergency clause, and the reason it gives for invoking the Constitution’s provision for&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++29&amp;bid=31769&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">making laws effective immediately</a>, are not an emergency, Hatfield wrote.“There is no crisis or emergency which requires immediate or quick legislative action for the preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety, or morals,” Hatfield wrote.Bailey followed through on the intent of the legislation Thursday by using the newly granted power to challenge two preliminary injunctions issued after voters&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">approved Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;overturning Missouri’s near-total ban on abortions.&nbsp;The first preliminary injunction,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/20/missouri-amendment-3-abortion-regulations-trap-laws/">issued by Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang in December</a>, blocked state laws that required a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion and a mandate that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.The second,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/14/missouri-judge-blocks-discriminatory-abortion-clinics-rules-blamed-for-lack-of-access/">issued Feb. 14</a>, stopped enforcement of a licensing requirement for abortion clinics that providers argued was a key obstacle to renewing access to the procedure across the state. Hours later, Planned Parenthood clinics announced they would begin offering abortion services in Missouri.In a statement issued Thursday, the ACLU of Missouri and the state’s two Planned Parenthood affiliates vowed to fight against the effort to alter the laws governing court cases.“A majority of Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 to end Missouri’s abortion ban and protect reproductive freedom,” the statement read. “Rather than following the will of the people, the same anti-abortion politicians that fought against Amendment 3 and lost at the ballot box have changed the rules of both the initiative petition and the court procedures so they can try to reinstate Missouri’s abortion ban.”A spokeswoman for Bailey’s office said in an emailed statement that he filed an appeal to challenge the court’s decision to “eliminate common-sense health and safety standards.Abortion Action Missouri executive director Mallory Schwarz said in a news release that the bill signed by Kehoe is an admission that abortion rights backers have won at the ballot box and in the courts.&nbsp;“The governor signing this attack on democracy just shows that the state is power hungry and obsessed with controlling Missourian’s lives, taking away their personal and private decision-making, and inserting itself into their bedrooms and doctors’ offices,” Scharz said.In the lawsuit, Hatfield wrote that until the passage of the bill signed Thursday, Missouri court procedure did not allow an appeal of preliminary injunctions.&nbsp;Hatfield wrote that “the grant of the right is one sided, favoring only the attorney general” and violates the state Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=I++++2&amp;bid=31702&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">guarantee of equal rights and opportunity</a>.&nbsp;The power to appeal past preliminary injunctions is also “unconstitutionally retroactive because it is applicable to preliminary injunctions in place prior to the passage.”The Missouri Constitution forbids ex post facto laws — laws making something a crime after the act — and laws that alter contracts or is&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=I++++13&amp;bid=31713&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">retrospective in effect</a>.The bill’s provisions governing the revision of ballot language is a reaction to the legal fight over the wording for Amendment 3. In 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/20/missouri-secretary-state-ashcroft-lawsuit-abortion/">Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ruled</a>&nbsp;the ballot title written by then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was “argumentative” or unfairly biased and rewrote it. That&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/31/appeals-court-swats-down-ashcroft-arguments-on-missouri-abortion-rights-petitions/">decision was upheld&nbsp;</a>by the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals.Under the bill, a ballot title deemed insufficient or unfair would be sent back to the secretary of state for revision. The courts would have to allow three attempts, all under increasingly tight deadlines, before taking over the job.The bill also moves up the deadline for completing all court challenges from eight weeks before the election to 10 weeks before the election.Along with creating unconstitutional powers for the attorney general and granting them in an unconstitutional way, Hatfield’s lawsuit alleges the bill was improperly changed to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++21&amp;bid=31761&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">alter its original purpose</a>&nbsp;and that the changes made violate the constitutional requirement that bills&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++23&amp;bid=31763&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">address a single subject</a>.The bill filed by state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, began as “one new section relating to ballot summaries prepared by the general assembly.” It was changed to be “three new sections relating to ballot summaries” in a Senate committee before being passed as “five new sections relating to judicial proceedings.”One provision allowing ballot titles to have 100 words instead of 50 has nothing to do with judicial proceedings, the lawsuit states.&nbsp;And the power to appeal preliminary injunctions has nothing to do with ballot summaries prepared by lawmakers, it adds.No hearings can be set for the lawsuit until notice is served on Bailey and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, the defendants in the case.The political battle over abortion, and how the initiative process is used, is also continuing inside and outside the General Assembly.On April 17, the Missouri House&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/17/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-jon-patterson-senate/">approved a proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;that would overturn most provisions of Amendment 3, restoring the ban on abortions that was in place starting in 2022 but with new exceptions for medical emergencies, fatal fetal anomalies and for survivors of rape and incest in the first 12 weeks of gestation.The bill has not been assigned to a state Senate committee.Lawmakers have tried, and failed, to pass proposals that would change how many signatures must be gathered for initiatives and how majorities are counted for initiative measures that make the ballot.A group called the Respect Missouri Voters Coalition has filed an initiative proposal to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2026-036.pdf" target="_blank">add new protections for initiative measures</a>&nbsp;to the state constitution. Any initiative changing a statute or the constitution could only be altered by lawmakers if 80% of members in both chambers vote for a bill that is then submitted to a statewide vote.The bill signed Thursday will give far too much power to the secretary of state, Benjamin Singer, co-founder of the Respect Missouri Voters Coalition and CEO of Show Me Integrity, said in a news release.“Missouri’s citizen initiative process is now dead for anything that the Secretary of State doesn’t like and wants to kill with biased language,” Singer said.

Lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of Missouri attorney general’s new powers

CASS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Sunday in Cass County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer driven by a 55-year-old Monnett man was northbound on Interstate 49 at the&nbsp;150.6 mile marker.

The SUV traveled off the left side of the road and struck a guard rail. The driver and three occupants were ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp;

EMS transported the driver to Research Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported a 4-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl, both of Aurora, Missouri, to Children's Mercy.&nbsp; EMS transported a 27-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, both of Aurora, Missouri, to Truman Medical Center. Only the 4-year-old was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CASS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Sunday in Cass County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Trailblazer driven by a 55-year-old Monnett man was northbound on Interstate 49 at the&nbsp;150.6 mile marker.The SUV traveled off the left side of the road and struck a guard rail. The driver and three occupants were ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp;EMS transported the driver to Research Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported a 4-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl, both of Aurora, Missouri, to Children's Mercy.&nbsp; EMS transported a 27-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, both of Aurora, Missouri, to Truman Medical Center. Only the 4-year-old was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man dead, 2 adults and 2 children injured in crash

SUN Bucks program provides eligible families with $120 per school-aged child for summer groceries

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — An estimated 138,776 Kansas school-age children could have received free summer meals last year — their families just didn’t submit the application.

Of the estimated 148,000 children eligible for SUN Bucks pending application, according to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there were applications submitted for 9,961 children. The program, also known as the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, gives families a $120 summer grocery card per eligible school-age child.

While most eligible children did not receive the SUN Bucks, 117,263 children automatically received them, according to DCF. The number of families who automatically received benefits were not counted into the 148,000 potential applications. Children in a household that had already submitted paperwork to receive free or reduced-price school lunches or applied for monthly food assistance programs, for example, were auto-enrolled. Families auto-enrolled for this summer received a letter in January.

The majority of states that offer SUN Bucks auto-enroll children in Medicaid. Kansas does not.

Haley Kottler, campaign director for food access at Kansas Appleseed, says DCF can’t auto-enroll children on Medicaid because of capacity issues with its internal system.

After&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usda-grocery-ebt-21-million-children-summer-2024-what-to-know/" target="_blank">federal funding was approved</a>, families had from<a href="https://www.propel.app/summer-ebt/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Aug. 12, 2024</a>, to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksde.gov/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/Weekly-News/Student-Health-and-Nutrition/PID/6197/mcat/6219/acat/2/ArtDateMonth/9-2024" target="_blank">Oct. 15, 2024</a>, to apply. This year, families have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">from Jan. 27 to Aug. 29</a>&nbsp;to apply — enlarging the window from two to seven months.

Kottler identified the small timespan as a reason for the low number of applications. The original application deadline was Sept. 11, 2024, and Kottler fought to change it. But she said that even with the extended window, applications didn’t increase.

“It made it really challenging, because a lot of families just didn’t know they were able to utilize this benefit,” Kottler said.

Erin LaRow, a spokeswoman for DCF, said her department spread the word via social media campaigns, messaging within the DCF phone system and self-service portal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/SUNBucks.aspx" target="_blank">dedicated webpage</a>&nbsp;and a statewide news release.

The department also shared a fact sheet, both in English and Spanish, with the Kansas State Department of Education.

David Rubel, a New York City-based education consultant, looked at 12 states’ potential number of applications vs applications submitted. He found the percentage of applications submitted in every state was less than 20%.

North Carolina had the highest results, with 19.3% of applications submitted, followed by Missouri, with 18.3%. He said the comparatively robust numbers are because of communication about the SUN Bucks program from school districts.

“It’s all about the school districts getting the word out to their families. And why I emphasize the school districts is because they’re the only ones who have the current contact information for the families,” Rubel said.

Amber Wheeler, the superintendent of Humboldt School District — which has 33% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it has posted a DCF infographic on their social media accounts.

Robin Button, the food and service director for Fort Scott School District — with 56.7% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it plans on posting the infographic and mentioning the program at its town hall.

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s promise to deport more people — and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/irs-share-taxpayer-info-ice-immigrants-rcna200250" target="_blank">use of federal documents to identify them</a>&nbsp;— immigrant families are wary of submitting more documentation. While the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">Kansas DCF website</a>&nbsp;states that receiving SUN Bucks would not affect a family’s immigration status, fear remains.

“There’s a chilling effect when it comes to programs like this,” Kottler said. “It’s absolutely causing them fear and to not apply.”

Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk have been pushing spending cuts — a crusade that has trickled down to state-level officials.

At the Kansas State Board of Education’s April meeting, a motion failed to allow KSDE Child and Wellness services to enter an agreement with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters to run public service announcements about summer meal programs. This means that stations associated with KAB won’t air promotional materials about the KSDE’s Sun Meals program, which is separate from the SUN Bucks program.

In the 2025-2026 Kansas legislative session, Republicans attempted to insert a provision in the budget that would ban the use of SUN Bucks on candy or soda. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the provision — and while the Senate overturned her veto, the House did not — ultimately upholding her veto.

LaRow with DCF said the department has received 1,294 SUN Bucks applications as of April 11.

Corrections: An earlier version of this story miscalculated the number of children who didn’t receive the SUN Bucks benefit, misstated a decision by the Kansas State Board of Education at its April meeting, and didn’t specify that KSDE’s Sun Meals program is separate from the SUN Bucks program.

Application is open now through Aug. 29, 2025.

Families who did not receive a letter from the Kansas Department for Children and Families in January&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">can check their eligibility</a>.

Families should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcfapp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal" target="_blank">apply through the DCF Self-service portal</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738161277873.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>SUN Bucks program provides eligible families with $120 per school-aged child for summer groceries</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — An estimated 138,776 Kansas school-age children could have received free summer meals last year — their families just didn’t submit the application.Of the estimated 148,000 children eligible for SUN Bucks pending application, according to the Kansas Department for Children and Families, there were applications submitted for 9,961 children. The program, also known as the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, gives families a $120 summer grocery card per eligible school-age child.While most eligible children did not receive the SUN Bucks, 117,263 children automatically received them, according to DCF. The number of families who automatically received benefits were not counted into the 148,000 potential applications. Children in a household that had already submitted paperwork to receive free or reduced-price school lunches or applied for monthly food assistance programs, for example, were auto-enrolled. Families auto-enrolled for this summer received a letter in January.The majority of states that offer SUN Bucks auto-enroll children in Medicaid. Kansas does not.Haley Kottler, campaign director for food access at Kansas Appleseed, says DCF can’t auto-enroll children on Medicaid because of capacity issues with its internal system.<h2>Why were applications so low?&nbsp;</h2>After&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usda-grocery-ebt-21-million-children-summer-2024-what-to-know/" target="_blank">federal funding was approved</a>, families had from<a href="https://www.propel.app/summer-ebt/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Aug. 12, 2024</a>, to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksde.gov/Home/Quick-Links/News-Room/Weekly-News/Student-Health-and-Nutrition/PID/6197/mcat/6219/acat/2/ArtDateMonth/9-2024" target="_blank">Oct. 15, 2024</a>, to apply. This year, families have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">from Jan. 27 to Aug. 29</a>&nbsp;to apply — enlarging the window from two to seven months.Kottler identified the small timespan as a reason for the low number of applications. The original application deadline was Sept. 11, 2024, and Kottler fought to change it. But she said that even with the extended window, applications didn’t increase.“It made it really challenging, because a lot of families just didn’t know they were able to utilize this benefit,” Kottler said.Erin LaRow, a spokeswoman for DCF, said her department spread the word via social media campaigns, messaging within the DCF phone system and self-service portal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/SUNBucks.aspx" target="_blank">dedicated webpage</a>&nbsp;and a statewide news release.The department also shared a fact sheet, both in English and Spanish, with the Kansas State Department of Education.David Rubel, a New York City-based education consultant, looked at 12 states’ potential number of applications vs applications submitted. He found the percentage of applications submitted in every state was less than 20%.North Carolina had the highest results, with 19.3% of applications submitted, followed by Missouri, with 18.3%. He said the comparatively robust numbers are because of communication about the SUN Bucks program from school districts.“It’s all about the school districts getting the word out to their families. And why I emphasize the school districts is because they’re the only ones who have the current contact information for the families,” Rubel said.Amber Wheeler, the superintendent of Humboldt School District — which has 33% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it has posted a DCF infographic on their social media accounts.Robin Button, the food and service director for Fort Scott School District — with 56.7% of students approved for free and reduced-price lunches — said it plans on posting the infographic and mentioning the program at its town hall.<h2>‘Chilling effect’ of recent politics</h2>In the wake of President Donald Trump’s promise to deport more people — and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/irs-share-taxpayer-info-ice-immigrants-rcna200250" target="_blank">use of federal documents to identify them</a>&nbsp;— immigrant families are wary of submitting more documentation. While the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">Kansas DCF website</a>&nbsp;states that receiving SUN Bucks would not affect a family’s immigration status, fear remains.“There’s a chilling effect when it comes to programs like this,” Kottler said. “It’s absolutely causing them fear and to not apply.”Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk have been pushing spending cuts — a crusade that has trickled down to state-level officials.At the Kansas State Board of Education’s April meeting, a motion failed to allow KSDE Child and Wellness services to enter an agreement with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters to run public service announcements about summer meal programs. This means that stations associated with KAB won’t air promotional materials about the KSDE’s Sun Meals program, which is separate from the SUN Bucks program.In the 2025-2026 Kansas legislative session, Republicans attempted to insert a provision in the budget that would ban the use of SUN Bucks on candy or soda. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the provision — and while the Senate overturned her veto, the House did not — ultimately upholding her veto.LaRow with DCF said the department has received 1,294 SUN Bucks applications as of April 11.Corrections: An earlier version of this story miscalculated the number of children who didn’t receive the SUN Bucks benefit, misstated a decision by the Kansas State Board of Education at its April meeting, and didn’t specify that KSDE’s Sun Meals program is separate from the SUN Bucks program.How to apply for SUN BucksApplication is open now through Aug. 29, 2025.Families who did not receive a letter from the Kansas Department for Children and Families in January&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Food/sunbucks.aspx" target="_blank">can check their eligibility</a>.Families should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcfapp.kees.ks.gov/apspssp/sspNonMed.portal" target="_blank">apply through the DCF Self-service portal</a>.

Correction: More than 138,000 Kansas children miss out on free summer meals despite eligibility

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday has died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City fire department was dispatched to North Oak and 152 on a routine medical call, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene.

Hoffman was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition.&nbsp;“KCFD crews worked tirelessly to save Firefighter Hoffman's life en route to North Kansas City Hospital. Lifesaving efforts continued in the emergency room before Graham was moved into surgery. Despite the heroic efforts of KCFD paramedics, the hospital medical team, Firefighter Hoffman, succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit," according to Grundyson

"Firefighter Graham Hoffman was 29 years old and was a member of the Department for three years. Graham was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion."

Police took the suspect/patient into custody.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745790431024.png" alt="Graham Hoffman photo Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Graham Hoffman photo Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic, 29-year-old Graham Hoffman, critically injured in a stabbing while transporting a patient to the hospital on Sunday has died, according to&nbsp;Fire Chief Ross Grundyson.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City fire department was dispatched to North Oak and 152 on a routine medical call, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We will remember forever the service and sacrifice of Graham Hoffman of the Kansas City Fire Department. Our condolences to his family, all at KCFD, and all in our community. <a href="https://t.co/dfDEBoyD6f">pic.twitter.com/dfDEBoyD6f</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1916592243776901391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed firefighter paramedic Graham Hoffman in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene.Hoffman was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition.&nbsp;“KCFD crews worked tirelessly to save Firefighter Hoffman's life en route to North Kansas City Hospital. Lifesaving efforts continued in the emergency room before Graham was moved into surgery. Despite the heroic efforts of KCFD paramedics, the hospital medical team, Firefighter Hoffman, succumbed to his injuries in the intensive care unit," according to Grundyson"Firefighter Graham Hoffman was 29 years old and was a member of the Department for three years. Graham was a vibrant individual who loved life and loved serving his community. He was an excellent paramedic who treated his patients with the highest level of skill and compassion.""The Kansas City Fire Department grieves with Graham’s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a senseless act that has taken a great young man from his family, friends, and coworkers, and deprived our city of a dedicated firefighter, and a leader on and off the job who only wanted toserve and protect those in his community."Police took the suspect/patient into custody.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KC firefighter paramedic stabbed by patient has died

BENTON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident that occurred just before 9p.m.&nbsp; Friday in Benton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Avenger driven by a 44-year-old Clinton woman was southbound on MO 7 over the Mile Long Bridge.&nbsp; The car crossed into the path of a northbound Chevy Tahoe driven by a 26-year-old Clinton man. The&nbsp; car struck the SUV head-on.&nbsp;

After impact the Tahoe struck the bridge. The SUV and the boat it was towing fell into the water. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745799954594.png" alt="Photo courtesy KYTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KYTV</figcaption>
 </figure>BENTON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident that occurred just before 9p.m.&nbsp; Friday in Benton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Avenger driven by a 44-year-old Clinton woman was southbound on MO 7 over the Mile Long Bridge.&nbsp; The car crossed into the path of a northbound Chevy Tahoe driven by a 26-year-old Clinton man. The&nbsp; car struck the SUV head-on.&nbsp;After impact the Tahoe struck the bridge. The SUV and the boat it was towing fell into the water. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 dead after head-on crash and SUV falls into Truman Lake

KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located two male shooting victims unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745702653802.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City.Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located two male shooting victims unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.The investigation indicates that the victims were inside the vehicle at the location when they had an interaction with one or more suspects and shots were fired. Both victims were inside the vehicle when they were struck by the gunfire. Initial responding officers took one subject of interest into custody for further investigation. Detectives are working to determine that subject of interest’s exact involvement at this time.

Double homicide: Two found with gunshot wounds in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic was critically injured while transporting a patient to the hospital.

While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed the firefighter paramedic in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene. 

The firefighter was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition where they are receiving treatment for the injuries sustained and remains in critical condition, according to Hopkins.

The suspect/patient in this incident was apprehended by the Kansas City Police Department and is in custody. Police have released no additional details early Sunday.

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic was critically injured while transporting a patient to the hospital.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City fire department was dispatched to North Oak and 152 on a routine medical call, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed the firefighter paramedic in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene. The firefighter was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition where they are receiving treatment for the injuries sustained and remains in critical condition, according to Hopkins.The suspect/patient in this incident was apprehended by the Kansas City Police Department and is in custody. Police have released no additional details early Sunday.

Patient stabbed KC firefighter paramedic during transport

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a home invasion burglary have captured a suspect.

Just before 3a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an in-progress burglary to a residence in&nbsp; the 6800 block of SE US 40 Highway, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

An 84-year-old woman was home alone when she heard someone shattering glass windows and doors. Home surveillance video showed two masked individuals with a firearm and burglary tools attempting to kick in a door into the residence.

Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and found that the individuals had fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.

Valuable information was gathered and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies for assistance.

On April 22, Shawnee&nbsp; County Sheriff Brian Hill along with members of the Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit located one suspect in a Dodge Durango leaving the drive thru of a restaurant in the 1700 block of SE 29th Street. The Dodge was pinned in and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Erick M. Weems Jr., 30, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested chargesof&nbsp; Aggravated burglary, Criminal damage to property, Theft &lt; $1,500,&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license suspended; 3rd of subsequent conviction, Driving while a habitual violated; 3 rd of subsequent conviction. Weems Jr. also had multiple warrants for his arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745530375789.png" alt="Weems photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Weems photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a home invasion burglary have captured a suspect.Just before 3a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an in-progress burglary to a residence in&nbsp; the 6800 block of SE US 40 Highway, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.An 84-year-old woman was home alone when she heard someone shattering glass windows and doors. Home surveillance video showed two masked individuals with a firearm and burglary tools attempting to kick in a door into the residence.Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and found that the individuals had fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.Valuable information was gathered and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies for assistance.On April 22, Shawnee&nbsp; County Sheriff Brian Hill along with members of the Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit located one suspect in a Dodge Durango leaving the drive thru of a restaurant in the 1700 block of SE 29th Street. The Dodge was pinned in and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.Erick M. Weems Jr., 30, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested chargesof&nbsp; Aggravated burglary, Criminal damage to property, Theft &lt; $1,500,&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license suspended; 3rd of subsequent conviction, Driving while a habitual violated; 3 rd of subsequent conviction. Weems Jr. also had multiple warrants for his arrest.

Arrest for burglary at 84-year-old Kansas woman's home

KANSAS CITY —A four-month-investigation culminated with the arrest of a Kansas City area woman this week for possession of child sexual abuse material.

Clay County, Missouri sheriff’s investigators received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip in this case in December, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. They have worked through several legal processes over the last several months to gather evidence in the case to make an arrest of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom and obtain a search warrant of her house in the 14100 block of Lora Street, Smithville. 

On Thursday, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives served the warrant&nbsp; at the residence. She has been charged with two class B felony counts of possession of child pornography. The Court set her bond at $25,000.

 The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be warranted as analysis of evidence seized from the home progresses. 

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. It is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745673760530.png" alt="Bottom photo Clay County" />
 <figcaption>Bottom photo Clay County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A four-month-investigation culminated with the arrest of a Kansas City area woman this week for possession of child sexual abuse material.Clay County, Missouri sheriff’s investigators received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip in this case in December, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. They have worked through several legal processes over the last several months to gather evidence in the case to make an arrest of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom and obtain a search warrant of her house in the 14100 block of Lora Street, Smithville. On Thursday, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives served the warrant&nbsp; at the residence. She has been charged with two class B felony counts of possession of child pornography. The Court set her bond at $25,000. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be warranted as analysis of evidence seized from the home progresses. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. It is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.

KC area woman jailed after 4-month child porn investigation

A Kansas City man was sentenced this week in connection with a woman’s fatal strangulation in 2023, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2597/Darion-Hall-Judgement-23cr1197_Redacted_FINAL">Darion Hall</a>, 25,&nbsp;pled guilty to one count of 2nd Degree Murder and a judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2596/DHall_Redacted-FINAL">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 4300 block of East 7th Street on March 14, 2023, and found a female victim in the yard. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide and the cause of death as strangulation.&nbsp;

The day of the homicide, Hall was observed driving a reported stolen auto. It was found abandoned near 7th and Norton, about two minutes from the victim’s residence. Surveillance video also captured Hall at a drug store on Independence Avenue where he was involved in an attempted strong-arm robbery.&nbsp;

A witness saw a man, later identified as Hall, near the victim after she was strangled. She described the defendant’s clothing, which matched the same clothing the defendant wore during the attempted robbery.

Detectives submitted to the crime lab the defendant’s clothing for testing. The lab reported the DNA collected from the defendant’s hoodie matched DNA from the victim.&nbsp;

Trial Team Leader Hallie Schuman and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mitchell Widener prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745443272385.png" alt="Hall photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hall photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A Kansas City man was sentenced this week in connection with a woman’s fatal strangulation in 2023, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2597/Darion-Hall-Judgement-23cr1197_Redacted_FINAL">Darion Hall</a>, 25,&nbsp;pled guilty to one count of 2nd Degree Murder and a judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2596/DHall_Redacted-FINAL">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 4300 block of East 7th Street on March 14, 2023, and found a female victim in the yard. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide and the cause of death as strangulation.&nbsp;The day of the homicide, Hall was observed driving a reported stolen auto. It was found abandoned near 7th and Norton, about two minutes from the victim’s residence. Surveillance video also captured Hall at a drug store on Independence Avenue where he was involved in an attempted strong-arm robbery.&nbsp;A witness saw a man, later identified as Hall, near the victim after she was strangled. She described the defendant’s clothing, which matched the same clothing the defendant wore during the attempted robbery.Detectives submitted to the crime lab the defendant’s clothing for testing. The lab reported the DNA collected from the defendant’s hoodie matched DNA from the victim.&nbsp;Trial Team Leader Hallie Schuman and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mitchell Widener prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.&nbsp;

DNA test led to conviction in KC woman's strangulation death

JOHNSON COUNTY —An Overland Park resident contacted Animal Control regarding an owl that was unable to fly, leading them to believe it was injured, according to a social media report from Overland Park Police.

 Animal Control Officers,  determined the owl was young, still learning to fly and likely fell out of its nest.&nbsp; Officers attempted to encourage it to perch on nearby trees, but it was uncooperative. 

The young owl later took shelter in a bush in the community. This appears to be a natural situation with a young bird learning to fly, and no immediate intervention seems necessary at this time. Police thanked the Animal Control staff for their help.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745547333000.png" alt="Photo Overland Park Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —An Overland Park resident contacted Animal Control regarding an owl that was unable to fly, leading them to believe it was injured, according to a social media report from Overland Park Police. Animal Control Officers, determined the owl was young, still learning to fly and likely fell out of its nest.&nbsp; Officers attempted to encourage it to perch on nearby trees, but it was uncooperative. The young owl later took shelter in a bush in the community. This appears to be a natural situation with a young bird learning to fly, and no immediate intervention seems necessary at this time. Police thanked the Animal Control staff for their help.

Police: Owl that fell from a tree was just learning to fly

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump sat down to meet privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City this morning. <a href="https://t.co/QChPiZRKzM">pic.twitter.com/QChPiZRKzM</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1916106599506043104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to… <a href="https://t.co/q4ZhVXCjw0">pic.twitter.com/q4ZhVXCjw0</a>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1916089502088524203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Trump and Zelensky meet just before pope's funeral

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 17-year-old Charles Sanders.

Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police were called to report of a shooting in the 7800 block of NE 75th Court, according to Offier Jake Becchina. 

First responders found Sanders unresponsive in the front yard of a residence there. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who transported the boy to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. A short time he was declared deceased by medical personnel.

Homicide detectives responded to the scene and took over this investigation. Preliminary information indicates that Sanders had an interaction at that location with one or more suspects that led to shots being fired and Sanders being struck.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745490778650.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 17-year-old Charles Sanders.Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police were called to report of a shooting in the 7800 block of NE 75th Court, according to Offier Jake Becchina. First responders found Sanders unresponsive in the front yard of a residence there. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who transported the boy to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. A short time he was declared deceased by medical personnel.Homicide detectives responded to the scene and took over this investigation. Preliminary information indicates that Sanders had an interaction at that location with one or more suspects that led to shots being fired and Sanders being struck.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect information.

Police: 17-year-old dies after shooting outside Kansas City home

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 — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill Friday she feared would funnel more public money to private educational institutions.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb24/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 24</a>&nbsp;broadened the scope of the Kansas Promise Scholarship, which offers financial aid to Kansans in community college or a technical training program, to include two private institutions — Wichita Technical Institute and the Heartland Welding Academy.

Typically, the scholarship is reserved for not-for-profit schools.

“I have serious concerns about the precedent that would be set by providing state funding to for-profit educational institutions that are not accountable to the state or taxpayers,” said Kelly, a Democrat, in an announcement.

The bill also would have raised the maximum allocation that could be given to institutions across the state from $10 million to $15 million. The scholarship program covers the cost of tuition, books, fees and supplies for students in families below a certain income threshold who want to attend community college or technical school.

”This program is meant to support Kansans as they pursue an education,” Kelly said, “not funnel public money to private, for-profit institutions.”

The Senate passed the bill with unanimous support, and the House passed it 76-48 with nine Republican representatives joining Democrats in opposition.

SB 24 originally dealt with the duties of the state insurance commissioner. Legislators gutted it during negotiations at the end of the session and inserted the contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb44/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 44</a>, in which the scholarship expansion was initially proposed.

Mike O’Neal, who brought the scholarship bill to legislators in January, is a lobbyist for Wichita Technical Institute, among other high-profile clients, and a former House speaker.

“Given the demand for high-quality technical training in Kansas, it makes sense to expand the current eligibility for participation in the Promise Scholarship Act,” O’Neal said in committee testimony in February.

James Genandt, the president of Kansas Technical Colleges, opposed the bill, arguing it would hinder the success of existing programs. Last year, scholarship applications were paused months before the original deadline because of dwindling funds, he said.

“More institutions in the mix will only accelerate the problem,” Genandt said.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said he was disappointed in the governor’s veto, describing the scholarship program as a successful tool for job development and talent retention.&nbsp;

“Whether the student attends a public or private school is irrelevant,” Hawkins said, “especially as we face workforce shortages across many industries.”

The Legislature concluded its veto session April 11, leaving no opportunity for Republicans to attempt to override the veto.

House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat, applauded the veto and thanked Kelly for “protecting public dollars.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745616511736.jpeg" alt="Students traverse the Garden City Community College campus during a fall semester orientation event Aug. 18, 2024. (AJ Dome for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Students traverse the Garden City Community College campus during a fall semester orientation event Aug. 18, 2024. (AJ Dome for 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 — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill Friday she feared would funnel more public money to private educational institutions.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb24/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 24</a>&nbsp;broadened the scope of the Kansas Promise Scholarship, which offers financial aid to Kansans in community college or a technical training program, to include two private institutions — Wichita Technical Institute and the Heartland Welding Academy.Typically, the scholarship is reserved for not-for-profit schools.“I have serious concerns about the precedent that would be set by providing state funding to for-profit educational institutions that are not accountable to the state or taxpayers,” said Kelly, a Democrat, in an announcement.The bill also would have raised the maximum allocation that could be given to institutions across the state from $10 million to $15 million. The scholarship program covers the cost of tuition, books, fees and supplies for students in families below a certain income threshold who want to attend community college or technical school.”This program is meant to support Kansans as they pursue an education,” Kelly said, “not funnel public money to private, for-profit institutions.”The Senate passed the bill with unanimous support, and the House passed it 76-48 with nine Republican representatives joining Democrats in opposition.SB 24 originally dealt with the duties of the state insurance commissioner. Legislators gutted it during negotiations at the end of the session and inserted the contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb44/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 44</a>, in which the scholarship expansion was initially proposed.Mike O’Neal, who brought the scholarship bill to legislators in January, is a lobbyist for Wichita Technical Institute, among other high-profile clients, and a former House speaker.“Given the demand for high-quality technical training in Kansas, it makes sense to expand the current eligibility for participation in the Promise Scholarship Act,” O’Neal said in committee testimony in February.James Genandt, the president of Kansas Technical Colleges, opposed the bill, arguing it would hinder the success of existing programs. Last year, scholarship applications were paused months before the original deadline because of dwindling funds, he said.“More institutions in the mix will only accelerate the problem,” Genandt said.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said he was disappointed in the governor’s veto, describing the scholarship program as a successful tool for job development and talent retention.&nbsp;“Whether the student attends a public or private school is irrelevant,” Hawkins said, “especially as we face workforce shortages across many industries.”The Legislature concluded its veto session April 11, leaving no opportunity for Republicans to attempt to override the veto.House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, a Lenexa Democrat, applauded the veto and thanked Kelly for “protecting public dollars.”

Kansas governor vetoes scholarship bill that would have extended public funds to two private schools

Pope Francis' funeral mass takes place at St. Peter's Square, followed by a procession and cortège to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major for his burial.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/international-telecasts/pope-francis-funeral-mass-in-vatican-city/432696">Click here to watch beginning at 3a.m. CDT</a>&nbsp;or the video below

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745658396155.jpeg" alt="Image from CSPAN video" />
 <figcaption>Image from CSPAN video</figcaption>
 </figure>Pope Francis' funeral mass takes place at St. Peter's Square, followed by a procession and cortège to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major for his burial.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/international-telecasts/pope-francis-funeral-mass-in-vatican-city/432696">Click here to watch beginning at 3a.m. CDT</a>&nbsp;or the video below<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE --&gt; Pope Francis&#39; Funeral Mass in Vatican City – LIVE on C-SPAN <a href="https://t.co/mwpDK8FsiQ">https://t.co/mwpDK8FsiQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1916036383530995983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pope Francis&#39; casket drives by the Colosseum in Rome en route to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. <a href="https://t.co/QL8AJdcd9M">pic.twitter.com/QL8AJdcd9M</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1916085179371683994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kielce Gussie, an American journalist with Vatican News, delivers the first reading at the funeral mass for Pope Fancis. <a href="https://t.co/PfkRfnSTlx">pic.twitter.com/PfkRfnSTlx</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1916084533453013404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump at Pope Francis Funeral. <a href="https://t.co/QhPK6RUUxQ">pic.twitter.com/QhPK6RUUxQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1916041263771459660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and First Lady <a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELANIATRUMP</a> catch up with <a href="https://twitter.com/CardinalDolan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CardinalDolan</a> of New York this morning at St. Peter&#39;s Basilica in Vatican City… <a href="https://t.co/BYfpAkt7Ht">pic.twitter.com/BYfpAkt7Ht</a>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1916094099469332731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pay their respects to Pope Francis in St. Peter&#39;s Basilica. <a href="https://t.co/PVSR33OU5p">pic.twitter.com/PVSR33OU5p</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1916102475121103198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Pres. Trump and Melania Trump arrive Rome Italy for Pope Francis Funeral ... <a href="https://t.co/jzwSNgnbKe">pic.twitter.com/jzwSNgnbKe</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1915879817133621549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Pope Francis' funeral mass in Vatican City

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/henry-redman/">Henry Redman</a>

FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday, accusing her of obstructing an immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/fbi-investigating-milwaukee-county-judge-after-third-courthouse-ice-arrest/" target="_blank">action</a>&nbsp;last week.

Dugan was arrested at 8:30 a.m. at the county courthouse, according to the U.S. Marshal’s Service. She was scheduled to make an initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries at 10:30 on Friday. According to a criminal complaint, she’s been charged with obstructing or impeding before a department or agency of the United States and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest.

Online court records show that the government did not request that Dugan be held in detention and that she was released on an O/R bond, meaning she was released from custody without having to post bail and signed an agreement that she’d appear in court when required.

The agency’s director, Kash Patel, wrote on the social media platform X that Dugan had “intentionally misdirected federal agents away” from Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 30-year-old Mexican immigrant accused of misdemeanor battery. In the now-deleted post, Patel accused Dugan of creating “increased danger to the public.”

Flores-Ruiz appeared in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18 for a pre-trial conference on charges of misdemeanor domestic battery. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/23/ice-arrested-mexican-immigrant-after-hearing-before-judge-dugan/83233154007/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appeared outside Dugan’s courtroom, she led Flores-Ruiz and an attorney out a side door and down a private hallway.

ICE agents later apprehended Flores-Ruiz on foot. This is the third time since March that immigration agents have appeared at the Milwaukee County courthouse to conduct arrests — a tactic that local officials have said threatens to undermine the work of the local justice system by making immigrants fearful of coming to the courthouse to testify in court.

In an initial statement, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he was aware of Dugan’s arrest and that the legal process should be allowed to play out.

“Like any individual in this country, I believe she is entitled to due process,” Crowley said. “We should let the facts come to light and the legal process play out.”

But later, he accused the FBI of politicizing the arrest to punish perceived enemies.

“It is clear that the FBI is politicizing this situation to make an example of her and others across the country who oppose their attack on the judicial system and our nation’s immigration laws,” he said. “FBI Director Kash Patel issued a public statement on X, which he hurriedly deleted, making unsubstantiated claims about Judge Dugan’s case before charges were officially filed and she could have her moment in court. Director Patel’s statement shows that Trump’s FBI is more concerned about weaponizing federal law enforcement, punishing people without due process, and intimidating anyone who opposes those policies, than they are with seeking justice.”

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said the administration of President Donald Trump is attacking democratic values.

“In the United States, we have a system of checks and balances and separations of power for damn good reasons,” she said. “The President’s administration arresting a sitting judge is a gravely serious and drastic move, and it threatens to breach those very separations of power. Make no mistake, we do not have kings in this country and we are a Democracy governed by laws that everyone must abide by. By relentlessly attacking the judicial system, flouting court orders, and arresting a sitting judge, this President is putting those basic Democratic values that Wisconsinites hold dear on the line. While details of this exact case remain minimal, this action fits into the deeply concerning pattern of this President’s lawless behavior and undermining courts and Congress’s checks on his power.”

Gov. Tony Evers said the arrest was another example of the Trump administration’s attacks on the judiciary.

“Unfortunately, we have seen in recent months the president and the Trump Administration repeatedly use dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level, including flat-out disobeying the highest court in the land and threatening to impeach and remove judges who do not rule in their favor,” he said. “I have deep respect for the rule of law, our nation’s judiciary, the importance of judges making decisions impartially without fear or favor, and the efforts of law enforcement to hold people accountable if they commit a crime. I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law.”

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) said the arrest was “shocking.”

“This Administration’s willingness to weaponize federal law enforcement is shocking and this arrest has all the hallmarks of overreach,” Moore said. “Federal law enforcement coming into a community and arresting a judge is a serious matter and would require a high legal bar. I will be following this case closely and facts will come out, however, I am very alarmed at the increasingly lawless actions of the Trump Administration, and in particular ICE, who have been defying courts and acting with disregard for the Constitution.”

The ACLU of Wisconsin wrote on social media that ICE making arrests at courthouses interferes with the work of local justice officials.

“Judges have a duty to maintain order in their courtrooms and ensure the fair administration of justice, and federal law does not require state judges to act as agents of federal immigration enforcement,” the organization said. “Everyone is due their day in court, and when ICE starts showing up to courts looking to make arrests, it risks interfering with those rights. In recent weeks, the administration has attacked the integrity of our judicial system, refused to comply with a Supreme Court order, and arrested a judge for using her authority to protect the fair administration of justice.”

Wisconsin Examiner, a States Newsroom affiliate,&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/04/25/fbi-arrests-milwaukee-county-judge/" target="_blank">produced this story</a>.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/henry-redman/">Henry Redman</a>FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday, accusing her of obstructing an immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/fbi-investigating-milwaukee-county-judge-after-third-courthouse-ice-arrest/" target="_blank">action</a>&nbsp;last week.Dugan was arrested at 8:30 a.m. at the county courthouse, according to the U.S. Marshal’s Service. She was scheduled to make an initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries at 10:30 on Friday. According to a criminal complaint, she’s been charged with obstructing or impeding before a department or agency of the United States and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest.Online court records show that the government did not request that Dugan be held in detention and that she was released on an O/R bond, meaning she was released from custody without having to post bail and signed an agreement that she’d appear in court when required.The agency’s director, Kash Patel, wrote on the social media platform X that Dugan had “intentionally misdirected federal agents away” from Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 30-year-old Mexican immigrant accused of misdemeanor battery. In the now-deleted post, Patel accused Dugan of creating “increased danger to the public.”Flores-Ruiz appeared in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18 for a pre-trial conference on charges of misdemeanor domestic battery. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/23/ice-arrested-mexican-immigrant-after-hearing-before-judge-dugan/83233154007/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents appeared outside Dugan’s courtroom, she led Flores-Ruiz and an attorney out a side door and down a private hallway.ICE agents later apprehended Flores-Ruiz on foot. This is the third time since March that immigration agents have appeared at the Milwaukee County courthouse to conduct arrests — a tactic that local officials have said threatens to undermine the work of the local justice system by making immigrants fearful of coming to the courthouse to testify in court.In an initial statement, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he was aware of Dugan’s arrest and that the legal process should be allowed to play out.“Like any individual in this country, I believe she is entitled to due process,” Crowley said. “We should let the facts come to light and the legal process play out.”But later, he accused the FBI of politicizing the arrest to punish perceived enemies.“It is clear that the FBI is politicizing this situation to make an example of her and others across the country who oppose their attack on the judicial system and our nation’s immigration laws,” he said. “FBI Director Kash Patel issued a public statement on X, which he hurriedly deleted, making unsubstantiated claims about Judge Dugan’s case before charges were officially filed and she could have her moment in court. Director Patel’s statement shows that Trump’s FBI is more concerned about weaponizing federal law enforcement, punishing people without due process, and intimidating anyone who opposes those policies, than they are with seeking justice.”U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said the administration of President Donald Trump is attacking democratic values.“In the United States, we have a system of checks and balances and separations of power for damn good reasons,” she said. “The President’s administration arresting a sitting judge is a gravely serious and drastic move, and it threatens to breach those very separations of power. Make no mistake, we do not have kings in this country and we are a Democracy governed by laws that everyone must abide by. By relentlessly attacking the judicial system, flouting court orders, and arresting a sitting judge, this President is putting those basic Democratic values that Wisconsinites hold dear on the line. While details of this exact case remain minimal, this action fits into the deeply concerning pattern of this President’s lawless behavior and undermining courts and Congress’s checks on his power.”Gov. Tony Evers said the arrest was another example of the Trump administration’s attacks on the judiciary.“Unfortunately, we have seen in recent months the president and the Trump Administration repeatedly use dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level, including flat-out disobeying the highest court in the land and threatening to impeach and remove judges who do not rule in their favor,” he said. “I have deep respect for the rule of law, our nation’s judiciary, the importance of judges making decisions impartially without fear or favor, and the efforts of law enforcement to hold people accountable if they commit a crime. I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law.”U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) said the arrest was “shocking.”“This Administration’s willingness to weaponize federal law enforcement is shocking and this arrest has all the hallmarks of overreach,” Moore said. “Federal law enforcement coming into a community and arresting a judge is a serious matter and would require a high legal bar. I will be following this case closely and facts will come out, however, I am very alarmed at the increasingly lawless actions of the Trump Administration, and in particular ICE, who have been defying courts and acting with disregard for the Constitution.”The ACLU of Wisconsin wrote on social media that ICE making arrests at courthouses interferes with the work of local justice officials.“Judges have a duty to maintain order in their courtrooms and ensure the fair administration of justice, and federal law does not require state judges to act as agents of federal immigration enforcement,” the organization said. “Everyone is due their day in court, and when ICE starts showing up to courts looking to make arrests, it risks interfering with those rights. In recent weeks, the administration has attacked the integrity of our judicial system, refused to comply with a Supreme Court order, and arrested a judge for using her authority to protect the fair administration of justice.”Wisconsin Examiner, a States Newsroom affiliate,&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/04/25/fbi-arrests-milwaukee-county-judge/" target="_blank">produced this story</a>.

FBI arrests Milwaukee County judge

WASHINGTON — The funeral mass for Pope Francis is scheduled 2a.m. CDT on Saturday in Rome. Missouri. U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt is joining President Trump and the first lady on the trip.

On Social media Schmitt wrote, "I’m truly humbled to be representing my country along side President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the funeral of Pope Francis."&nbsp; The U.S. delegation left for Rome early Friday.

WASHINGTON — The funeral mass for Pope Francis is scheduled 2a.m. CDT on Saturday in Rome. Missouri. U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt is joining President Trump and the first lady on the trip.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">I’m truly humbled to be representing my country along side President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the funeral of Pope Francis. En route to Rome now. <a href="https://t.co/TLTOs3imsX">pic.twitter.com/TLTOs3imsX</a>&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1915765638208893326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Social media Schmitt wrote, "I’m truly humbled to be representing my country along side President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the funeral of Pope Francis."&nbsp; The U.S. delegation left for Rome early Friday.