DAMASCUS —A U.S. airstrike in Syria killed a Senior ISIS Official, according to a statement Wednesday from the U.S. Central Command.

On June 16, U.S. Central Command conducted an airstrike in Syria, killing Usamah Jamal Muhammad Ibrahim al-Janabi, a senior ISIS official and facilitator. His death will disrupt ISIS’s ability to resource and conduct terror attacks.

CENTCOM, alongside allies and partners in the region, will continue to execute operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities and ensure its enduring defeat.

There is no indication any civilians were harmed in this strike.

In addition, U.S. forces destroyed a ground control station, command and control node in an area of Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and destroyed two Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea.according to a statement from U.S. Central Command.

DAMASCUS —A U.S. airstrike in Syria killed a Senior ISIS Official, according to a statement Wednesday from the U.S. Central Command.On June 16, U.S. Central Command conducted an airstrike in Syria, killing Usamah Jamal Muhammad Ibrahim al-Janabi, a senior ISIS official and facilitator. His death will disrupt ISIS’s ability to resource and conduct terror attacks.CENTCOM, alongside allies and partners in the region, will continue to execute operations to degrade ISIS operational capabilities and ensure its enduring defeat.There is no indication any civilians were harmed in this strike.In addition, U.S. forces destroyed a ground control station, command and control node in an area of Yemen controlled by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and destroyed two Houthi drone boats in the Red Sea.according to a statement from U.S. Central Command.

U.S. Airstrike in Syria kills senior ISIS official

KANSAS CITY —A driver who died in an accident that occurred June 7, in Kansas City has been identified as 53-year-old Lashan Townsend-Gunnels, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just before 8a.m. June 7, a Chevrolet Silverado was speeding northbound on Troost from 89th Street when a Honda passenger vehicle pulled out into the first lane of Troost from 85th Street. This caused the pickup to swerve into southbound lanes of oncoming traffic.

At 83rd Terrace, the Chevrolet’s driver locked the pickup’s brakes as a GMC Terrain pulled into the southbound lanes of Troost. The pickup struck the GMC on the driver’s side and forced it into a metal utility pole on the passenger side. The pickup then overturned onto its passenger side.

EMS transported the driver of the GMC, later identified as Townsend-Gunnels, to an area hospital. She had life-threatening injuries. EMS transported the driver of the&nbsp;pickup to a local hospital for treatment of&nbsp; serious injuries.&nbsp; The driver of the GMC was properly restrained, according to KCPD. Police did not have details on the seat belt usage by the driver of the pickup.

On June 15, the KCPD reported Townsend-Gunnels died shortly before midnight on Friday, according to staff at&nbsp;Research Hospital. This is fatality #48 compared to #35 at this time in 2023.

KANSAS CITY —A driver who died in an accident that occurred June 7, in Kansas City has been identified as 53-year-old Lashan Townsend-Gunnels, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Just before 8a.m. June 7, a Chevrolet Silverado was speeding northbound on Troost from 89th Street when a Honda passenger vehicle pulled out into the first lane of Troost from 85th Street. This caused the pickup to swerve into southbound lanes of oncoming traffic.At 83rd Terrace, the Chevrolet’s driver locked the pickup’s brakes as a GMC Terrain pulled into the southbound lanes of Troost. The pickup struck the GMC on the driver’s side and forced it into a metal utility pole on the passenger side. The pickup then overturned onto its passenger side.EMS transported the driver of the GMC, later identified as Townsend-Gunnels, to an area hospital. She had life-threatening injuries. EMS transported the driver of the&nbsp;pickup to a local hospital for treatment of&nbsp; serious injuries.&nbsp; The driver of the GMC was properly restrained, according to KCPD. Police did not have details on the seat belt usage by the driver of the pickup.On June 15, the KCPD reported Townsend-Gunnels died shortly before midnight on Friday, according to staff at&nbsp;Research Hospital. This is fatality #48 compared to #35 at this time in 2023.

Police ID driver who died a week after Kansas City crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a violent attack and have a Kansas felon in custody.

Just before 3p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;June 15, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of SW Western Avenue in Topeka in reference to a stabbing, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.

First responders&nbsp;located a man suffering multiple lacerations. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Police did not have an update on the condition of the victim.

As a result of the investigation, Xavian Locke, 24, was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Battery and a County Warrant.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and&nbsp;Criminal possess firearm; Convicted felon or drug offender, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718726438938.png" alt="Locke-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Locke-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a violent attack and have a Kansas felon in custody.Just before 3p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;June 15, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of SW Western Avenue in Topeka in reference to a stabbing, according to Police Lt. Jerry Monasmith.First responders&nbsp;located a man suffering multiple lacerations. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. Police did not have an update on the condition of the victim.As a result of the investigation, Xavian Locke, 24, was jailed on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Battery and a County Warrant.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and&nbsp;Criminal possess firearm; Convicted felon or drug offender, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas felon jailed for violent knife attack

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man who rammed into a federal agent’s vehicle while attempting to escape arrest pleaded guilty in federal court last week to illegally possessing ammunition and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, according to the United State's Attorney.

Charles D. Jackson, also known as “Grove Street” and “C Jackem,” 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

On Aug. 24, 2023, agents and task officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence. As officers approached on foot, an ATF agent pulled her vehicle into the driveway to pin in a black Kia sedan parked in the driveway and still running. All of the agents and officers were wearing clearly marked body armor identifying them as “ATF Police.”

The officers announced themselves and the ATF agent activated the emergency equipment on her vehicle. Jackson, who was fully reclined in the driver’s seat, popped up and put the car in drive. He rammed into the front of the ATF vehicle, then attempted to back up and drive forward several times in an apparent attempt to escape. However, the ATF agent pushed the Kia into the garage with her vehicle, immobilizing it.

The ATF vehicle was damaged as a result of Jackson ramming it. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Jackson must pay restitution for the damage.

On the floorboard of the front’s driver’s seat where Jackson had been sitting, agents located a loaded AR-style 5.56-caliber pistol with no serial number and with an extended magazine, which contained 39 rounds of ammunition.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jackson has a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery.

Under federal statutes, Jackson is subject to a sentence of up to 16 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man who rammed into a federal agent’s vehicle while attempting to escape arrest pleaded guilty in federal court last week to illegally possessing ammunition and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, according to the United State's Attorney.Charles D. Jackson, also known as “Grove Street” and “C Jackem,” 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.On Aug. 24, 2023, agents and task officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence. As officers approached on foot, an ATF agent pulled her vehicle into the driveway to pin in a black Kia sedan parked in the driveway and still running. All of the agents and officers were wearing clearly marked body armor identifying them as “ATF Police.”The officers announced themselves and the ATF agent activated the emergency equipment on her vehicle. Jackson, who was fully reclined in the driver’s seat, popped up and put the car in drive. He rammed into the front of the ATF vehicle, then attempted to back up and drive forward several times in an apparent attempt to escape. However, the ATF agent pushed the Kia into the garage with her vehicle, immobilizing it.The ATF vehicle was damaged as a result of Jackson ramming it. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Jackson must pay restitution for the damage.On the floorboard of the front’s driver’s seat where Jackson had been sitting, agents located a loaded AR-style 5.56-caliber pistol with no serial number and with an extended magazine, which contained 39 rounds of ammunition.Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jackson has a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery.Under federal statutes, Jackson is subject to a sentence of up to 16 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

KC man rammed ATF vehicle while attempting to avoid arrest

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and asking for help to locate a suspect.

Just before 4:30p.m. Monday, police responded to the area of W. 149th and Hardy in Overland Park in reference an armed disturbance, according to a media release.

 Several young adult men were playing basketball in a cul-de-sac when a black vehicle drove up to them. 

 The driver of the vehicle asked if a specific person was in the area.  When the young men responded to the driver they did not know the person, the driver then shot several rounds into a nearby home. 

 There were no injuries.The suspect vehicle left in an unknown direction.  The driver is identified as a white male, in his mid to late twenties. 

 If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the lead Detective at 913-327-8750 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and asking for help to locate a suspect.Just before 4:30p.m. Monday, police responded to the area of W. 149th and Hardy in Overland Park in reference an armed disturbance, according to a media release. Several young adult men were playing basketball in a cul-de-sac when a black vehicle drove up to them. The driver of the vehicle asked if a specific person was in the area. When the young men responded to the driver they did not know the person, the driver then shot several rounds into a nearby home. There were no injuries.The suspect vehicle left in an unknown direction. The driver is identified as a white male, in his mid to late twenties. If you have any information regarding this incident please contact the lead Detective at 913-327-8750 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.&nbsp;

Police investigating Kansas drive-by shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man arrested after a two hour standoff at a Wichita apartment complex made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.

Jonathan Ross, 41, Wichita, is charged with aggravated criminal threat, two counts of aggravated assault, criminal threat, domestic battery, and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The last three charges are misdemeanors.

Just before 1p.m. June 12, police responded to an apartment building in the 600 block of E Douglas in Wichita.&nbsp; A woman told officers she was assaulted and threatened with a weapon by a man she lived with. 

The man, later identified as 41-year-old Jonathan Ross refused to come out of the apartment.&nbsp;

At 3 p.m., the Wichita Police SWAT team arrived and began negotiations. All businesses and apartments in the area were evacuated and vehicle and pedestrian traffic was closed in the area.&nbsp; Two hours later, police arrested Ross.

Ross remains jailed on a $125,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718662085008.png" alt="Ross-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Ross-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man arrested after a two hour standoff at a Wichita apartment complex made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.Jonathan Ross, 41, Wichita, is charged with aggravated criminal threat, two counts of aggravated assault, criminal threat, domestic battery, and two counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm in a city, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. The last three charges are misdemeanors.Just before 1p.m. June 12, police responded to an apartment building in the 600 block of E Douglas in Wichita.&nbsp; A woman told officers she was assaulted and threatened with a weapon by a man she lived with. The man, later identified as 41-year-old Jonathan Ross refused to come out of the apartment.&nbsp;At 3 p.m., the Wichita Police SWAT team arrived and began negotiations. All businesses and apartments in the area were evacuated and vehicle and pedestrian traffic was closed in the area.&nbsp; Two hours later, police arrested Ross.Ross remains jailed on a $125,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man jailed after standoff charged with attack on a woman

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting.

Just before noon Tuesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of N. 33rd Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found a man outside with an apparent gunshot wound. 

He was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released the name of the victim.

 Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting.Just before noon Tuesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 2000 block of N. 33rd Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found a man outside with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released the name of the victim. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

Homicide: Man found dead outside Kansas home

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and searching for suspects.

Just after 10p.m. Monday, police responded to reported of an armed robbery at W. 80th Street and Metcalf Avenue, according to Officer John Lacy.

A store employee reported two men entered the business wearing ski mask and displayed firearms and demanded cash.&nbsp; In the process of taking items from the business, the two suspects also battered the store employee. 

The first suspect was described as a black male in his twenties wearing a gray hoodie black pants and white shoes.  The second suspect was described as a possible Hispanic male also in his twenties wearing a black hood jacket, black pants and white shoes. 

 The store employee suffered minor injuries and was not transported to a local hospital.  The two suspects left eastbound on foot from the business.

  If you have any information please contact the lead Detective at 913-327-8750 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.  Officer John Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and searching for suspects.Just after 10p.m. Monday, police responded to reported of an armed robbery at W. 80th Street and Metcalf Avenue, according to Officer John Lacy.A store employee reported two men entered the business wearing ski mask and displayed firearms and demanded cash.&nbsp; In the process of taking items from the business, the two suspects also battered the store employee. The first suspect was described as a black male in his twenties wearing a gray hoodie black pants and white shoes. The second suspect was described as a possible Hispanic male also in his twenties wearing a black hood jacket, black pants and white shoes. The store employee suffered minor injuries and was not transported to a local hospital. The two suspects left eastbound on foot from the business. If you have any information please contact the lead Detective at 913-327-8750 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. Officer John Lacy #653Police Public Information Officer

Store employee battered during Kansas armed robbery

KANSAS CITY —Investigators recently recovered over 300 pounds of stolen telecommunications cable, taken in multiple KC area thefts, according to a social media report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.

 These thefts not only cost companies money in material losses and repair bills, but also affect consumers in the form of lost services and outages.&nbsp; Authorities have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718741274497.png" alt="Photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Investigators recently recovered over 300 pounds of stolen telecommunications cable, taken in multiple KC area thefts, according to a social media report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control. These thefts not only cost companies money in material losses and repair bills, but also affect consumers in the form of lost services and outages.&nbsp; Authorities have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Patrol recovers over 300 pounds of stolen telecom cables

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement and railroad officials are investigating a fatal accident.

Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, a Union Pacific train struck and killed an individual&nbsp; near N Kansas Ave and NE Norris Street, according to&nbsp;Meg Siffring with Union Pacific.

The train crew was not injured. Union Pacific is working with local authorities to understand what led up to the incident.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718757295503.png" alt="photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement and railroad officials are investigating a fatal accident.Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, a Union Pacific train struck and killed an individual&nbsp; near N Kansas Ave and NE Norris Street, according to&nbsp;Meg Siffring with Union Pacific.The train crew was not injured. Union Pacific is working with local authorities to understand what led up to the incident.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released.

Pedestrian dead after struck by train in Kansas

&nbsp;HALL COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the deadly stabbing of a Missouri man during an attempted robbery at a rest area on Interstate 80 in Nebraska.

Just after 7 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a disturbance at the westbound rest area at 4148 Interstate 80, according to a media release from the Hall County, Nebraska sheriff office.&nbsp; 

First responders found two victims who had suffered wounds from an assault with a knife. EMS transported both victims, a 72-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman, both of Eureka, Missouri, to the hospital in Grand Island.&nbsp; The man died of his injuries and the woman was reported in critical condition..

Local law enforcement provide the Nebraska State Patrol with a description of the suspect vehicle.&nbsp; Troopers located the vehicle and were able to make an arrest of a 22-year-old man from Elyria, Ohio.&nbsp;

Police have not released the names of the victims.

&nbsp;HALL COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the deadly stabbing of a Missouri man during an attempted robbery at a rest area on Interstate 80 in Nebraska.Just after 7 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a disturbance at the westbound rest area at 4148 Interstate 80, according to a media release from the Hall County, Nebraska sheriff office.&nbsp; First responders found two victims who had suffered wounds from an assault with a knife. EMS transported both victims, a 72-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman, both of Eureka, Missouri, to the hospital in Grand Island.&nbsp; The man died of his injuries and the woman was reported in critical condition..Local law enforcement provide the Nebraska State Patrol with a description of the suspect vehicle.&nbsp; Troopers located the vehicle and were able to make an arrest of a 22-year-old man from Elyria, Ohio.&nbsp;Police have not released the names of the victims.

Mo. man dies after knife attack at Nebraska highway rest area

‘Do you really want to put that type of an economic generation in the hands of the state of Missouri?’ says one Kansas House member

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas City Royals and Chiefs could receive hundreds of millions of dollars in sales tax revenue to move from Missouri and build new stadiums across the state line under legislation passed Tuesday by Kansas lawmakers.

The House voted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240618140409_302207/">84-38</a>&nbsp;and the Senate voted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240618180827_709784/">27-8</a>&nbsp;to approve legislation that would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/17/chiefs-royals-ask-kansas-for-incentives-to-allow-teams-to-leave-missouri/">expand a state incentive program in an attempt to lure one or both teams</a>&nbsp;from Kansas City.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/hb2001/">The bill</a>&nbsp;now heads to Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, who said in a statement following the Senate vote that the effort to bring the teams to Kansas “shows we’re all-in on keeping our beloved teams in the Kansas City metro.”

“Kansas now has the opportunity to become a professional sports powerhouse with the Chiefs and Royals potentially joining Sporting KC as major league attractions, all with robust, revenue-generating entertainment districts surrounding them providing new jobs, new visitors and new revenues that boost the Kansas economy,” Kelly said.

Neither team has promised to move to Kansas, though both actively lobbied for the legislation’s passage. The Chiefs said in a statement that the team appreciated Kansas leaders reaching out for input on the legislation.

“We look forward to exploring the options this legislation may provide,” the statement said.&nbsp;

The Royals said the team was grateful to the legislature for its vote.&nbsp;

“The Kansas City Royals look forward to additional conversations as we evaluate where we will play baseball in the future,” the team said. “We will always prioritize the best interests of our fans, associates and taxpayers in this process.”

State Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from Stilwell, said during debate in the House that Missouri had a history of losing professional sports teams and implored fellow House members to pass the legislation.

“I ask you today, do you really want to put that type of an economic generation in the hands of the state of Missouri?” Tarwater said just before the vote.

Passage of the bill represents a monumental step in Kansas lawmakers’ attempts to court the teams. Both teams have signaled a willingness to move from their current stadiums at the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Missouri.

While neither team has announced a proposed site for a Kansas stadium, legislators speculated it could land in Wyandotte County near the Sporting KC soccer stadium, NASCAR track and outlet shops.

“We have the history of building amazing projects that have brought in retail commerce, restaurants, hotels and have improved an area that was largely just a field and turned it into a tax-generating machine for our state,” said state Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican.

The legislation, he said, would put Kansas in a “very good position to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals in the Kansas City metro area.”&nbsp;

The bill, which was not voted on by any legislative committee, would expand the state’s Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond program, which is meant to help finance tourism and entertainment districts to help pay for a professional football or baseball stadium of at least $1 billion.

A developer building a stadium under the program would be eligible to finance up to 70% of the project cost by issuing bonds and repaying them with the increased sales tax collections from the stadium site. The expansion would have initially allowed up to 75% of project costs but was tweaked before introduction. Debt on a stadium constructed under the expansion wouldn’t have to be repaid for 30 years instead of the normal 20.

The project could also receive a boost from liquor taxes generated in the STAR Bond district and revenues from a fund Kansas created when it legalized sports betting.

During House debate, state Rep. Paul Waggoner, a Hutchinson Republican, argued subsidized stadiums never generate the economic activity that they promise. He was alarmed by what he called “minimal transparency” in the deal-making process laid out in the legislation.

The bill says any agreement between the state and a team would be confidential until after it has been executed.

Waggoner called the legislation “bad public policy.”

“This is not your mother’s STAR Bonds,” Waggoner said. “This is a jacked up super-sized version of STAR Bonds.”

The bill limits the eligibility to National Football League or Major League Baseball teams currently near Kansas. The financing mechanism could be used for both stadiums and training facilities.

Both teams have pressed lawmakers in recent weeks to pass the bill with representatives from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/18/kansas-democratic-lawmakers-dined-with-kansas-city-royals-on-eve-of-stadium-vote/">Royals hosting dinner for Democratic lawmakers</a>&nbsp;at a steakhouse Monday night and the Chiefs throwing a lunchtime block party Tuesday steps from the Capitol.

Earlier this month, a nonprofit called Scoop and Score Inc. launched to advocate for a Kansas stadium deal. The organization, which does not have to disclose its donors, hired 30 lobbyists to advocate for the STAR Bond expansion legislation.&nbsp;

In a statement, former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., a lobbyist for Scoop and Score and the Chiefs, said the Legislature “stepped up in a big way, paving the path to make sure the Chiefs stay right where they belong —&nbsp;in Kansas City with their loyal fans.”

“The votes show overwhelming bipartisan support because Kansas lawmakers know what the Chiefs mean to us and how big of an economic opportunity this is for Kansas,” Ryckman said.

Several lawmakers expressed skepticism about STAR Bonds or the deal in front of them but voted for it anyway.

State Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from Hutchinson, said the idea disgusts him and lamented that the legislature does not move as swiftly to pass bills on issues including homelessness, hunger or childhood poverty. But he still voted for the bill.

“So I’m going to hold my nose and probably support this,” he said, “but not without protesting the fact that we get sent here to do things for people, and we never move with this sort of urgency or with this sort of passion or the energy that we have around this.”

In a meeting of House Democrats before the vote, Probst said he thought the Chiefs were using Kansas to “get Missouri worked up” so the state would “sweeten the pot” and offer the team more incentives to stay put.

Probst said he was bothered that the Chiefs were making an emotional appeal, invoking sports heroes, while being thin on details. Still, he said, it would be “catastrophic” if the Chiefs left the Kansas City metro area.

“I do not like this. It feels gross,” Probst said. “This whole show that’s going on feels disgusting to me. And it’s still the right thing to do. That’s how I see it.”

State Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, an Overland Park Democrat, said during that meeting that she was struggling with the proposal “because I don’t like misogynistic dude bro culture,” because the family that owns the Chiefs supported the anti-abortion constitutional amendment that Kansas voters rejected in 2022. She said she also doesn’t like Ryckman.

But, she said, her decision to support the bill was cemented when she saw testimony from the governor’s office that suggested the governor planned to sign the bill if passed.&nbsp;

Clayton said it would “warm the cockles of my cold, dead feminist heart” to see Kelly get credit for moving the teams to Missouri “and not the dude bros who have been working on this.”

“That is why I’m a ‘yes,’” Clayton said. “I want a woman getting credit for sports things. So I’m doing it out of spite, frankly.”

Across the rotunda, state Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Republican from Louisburg, argued STAR Bonds had generally not created anything new but rather subsidized development that likely would have occurred anyway.

“I understand the excitement behind the prospect,” she said. “It is like it’s Christmas Eve and there’s visions of sugar plums, only its royal blue and crimson and gold in this case.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718763171046.png" alt=" A red-clad crowd packs Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector)." />
 <figcaption> A red-clad crowd packs Arrowhead Stadium to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play (Eric Thomas/Kansas Reflector).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Do you really want to put that type of an economic generation in the hands of the state of Missouri?’ says one Kansas House member</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA, Kansas — The Kansas City Royals and Chiefs could receive hundreds of millions of dollars in sales tax revenue to move from Missouri and build new stadiums across the state line under legislation passed Tuesday by Kansas lawmakers.The House voted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240618140409_302207/">84-38</a>&nbsp;and the Senate voted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20240618180827_709784/">27-8</a>&nbsp;to approve legislation that would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/17/chiefs-royals-ask-kansas-for-incentives-to-allow-teams-to-leave-missouri/">expand a state incentive program in an attempt to lure one or both teams</a>&nbsp;from Kansas City.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.org/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/hb2001/">The bill</a>&nbsp;now heads to Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, who said in a statement following the Senate vote that the effort to bring the teams to Kansas “shows we’re all-in on keeping our beloved teams in the Kansas City metro.”“Kansas now has the opportunity to become a professional sports powerhouse with the Chiefs and Royals potentially joining Sporting KC as major league attractions, all with robust, revenue-generating entertainment districts surrounding them providing new jobs, new visitors and new revenues that boost the Kansas economy,” Kelly said.Neither team has promised to move to Kansas, though both actively lobbied for the legislation’s passage. The Chiefs said in a statement that the team appreciated Kansas leaders reaching out for input on the legislation.“We look forward to exploring the options this legislation may provide,” the statement said.&nbsp;The Royals said the team was grateful to the legislature for its vote.&nbsp;“The Kansas City Royals look forward to additional conversations as we evaluate where we will play baseball in the future,” the team said. “We will always prioritize the best interests of our fans, associates and taxpayers in this process.”State Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from Stilwell, said during debate in the House that Missouri had a history of losing professional sports teams and implored fellow House members to pass the legislation.“I ask you today, do you really want to put that type of an economic generation in the hands of the state of Missouri?” Tarwater said just before the vote.Passage of the bill represents a monumental step in Kansas lawmakers’ attempts to court the teams. Both teams have signaled a willingness to move from their current stadiums at the Truman Sports Complex in Kansas City, Missouri.While neither team has announced a proposed site for a Kansas stadium, legislators speculated it could land in Wyandotte County near the Sporting KC soccer stadium, NASCAR track and outlet shops.“We have the history of building amazing projects that have brought in retail commerce, restaurants, hotels and have improved an area that was largely just a field and turned it into a tax-generating machine for our state,” said state Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican.The legislation, he said, would put Kansas in a “very good position to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals in the Kansas City metro area.”&nbsp;The bill, which was not voted on by any legislative committee, would expand the state’s Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond program, which is meant to help finance tourism and entertainment districts to help pay for a professional football or baseball stadium of at least $1 billion.A developer building a stadium under the program would be eligible to finance up to 70% of the project cost by issuing bonds and repaying them with the increased sales tax collections from the stadium site. The expansion would have initially allowed up to 75% of project costs but was tweaked before introduction. Debt on a stadium constructed under the expansion wouldn’t have to be repaid for 30 years instead of the normal 20.The project could also receive a boost from liquor taxes generated in the STAR Bond district and revenues from a fund Kansas created when it legalized sports betting.During House debate, state Rep. Paul Waggoner, a Hutchinson Republican, argued subsidized stadiums never generate the economic activity that they promise. He was alarmed by what he called “minimal transparency” in the deal-making process laid out in the legislation.The bill says any agreement between the state and a team would be confidential until after it has been executed.Waggoner called the legislation “bad public policy.”“This is not your mother’s STAR Bonds,” Waggoner said. “This is a jacked up super-sized version of STAR Bonds.”The bill limits the eligibility to National Football League or Major League Baseball teams currently near Kansas. The financing mechanism could be used for both stadiums and training facilities.Both teams have pressed lawmakers in recent weeks to pass the bill with representatives from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/18/kansas-democratic-lawmakers-dined-with-kansas-city-royals-on-eve-of-stadium-vote/">Royals hosting dinner for Democratic lawmakers</a>&nbsp;at a steakhouse Monday night and the Chiefs throwing a lunchtime block party Tuesday steps from the Capitol.Earlier this month, a nonprofit called Scoop and Score Inc. launched to advocate for a Kansas stadium deal. The organization, which does not have to disclose its donors, hired 30 lobbyists to advocate for the STAR Bond expansion legislation.&nbsp;In a statement, former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., a lobbyist for Scoop and Score and the Chiefs, said the Legislature “stepped up in a big way, paving the path to make sure the Chiefs stay right where they belong —&nbsp;in Kansas City with their loyal fans.”“The votes show overwhelming bipartisan support because Kansas lawmakers know what the Chiefs mean to us and how big of an economic opportunity this is for Kansas,” Ryckman said.Several lawmakers expressed skepticism about STAR Bonds or the deal in front of them but voted for it anyway.State Rep. Jason Probst, a Democrat from Hutchinson, said the idea disgusts him and lamented that the legislature does not move as swiftly to pass bills on issues including homelessness, hunger or childhood poverty. But he still voted for the bill.“So I’m going to hold my nose and probably support this,” he said, “but not without protesting the fact that we get sent here to do things for people, and we never move with this sort of urgency or with this sort of passion or the energy that we have around this.”In a meeting of House Democrats before the vote, Probst said he thought the Chiefs were using Kansas to “get Missouri worked up” so the state would “sweeten the pot” and offer the team more incentives to stay put.Probst said he was bothered that the Chiefs were making an emotional appeal, invoking sports heroes, while being thin on details. Still, he said, it would be “catastrophic” if the Chiefs left the Kansas City metro area.“I do not like this. It feels gross,” Probst said. “This whole show that’s going on feels disgusting to me. And it’s still the right thing to do. That’s how I see it.”State Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, an Overland Park Democrat, said during that meeting that she was struggling with the proposal “because I don’t like misogynistic dude bro culture,” because the family that owns the Chiefs supported the anti-abortion constitutional amendment that Kansas voters rejected in 2022. She said she also doesn’t like Ryckman.But, she said, her decision to support the bill was cemented when she saw testimony from the governor’s office that suggested the governor planned to sign the bill if passed.&nbsp;Clayton said it would “warm the cockles of my cold, dead feminist heart” to see Kelly get credit for moving the teams to Missouri “and not the dude bros who have been working on this.”“That is why I’m a ‘yes,’” Clayton said. “I want a woman getting credit for sports things. So I’m doing it out of spite, frankly.”Across the rotunda, state Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a Republican from Louisburg, argued STAR Bonds had generally not created anything new but rather subsidized development that likely would have occurred anyway.“I understand the excitement behind the prospect,” she said. “It is like it’s Christmas Eve and there’s visions of sugar plums, only its royal blue and crimson and gold in this case.”

Kansas lawmakers approve tax incentive bill to lure Chiefs, Royals away from Missouri

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

An attorney for Darrell McClanahan III says the party’s appeal is too late to deny him a spot in the gubernatorial primary

The Missouri Republican Party is continuing its effort to remove an “honorary KKK member” from the primary ballot for governor, but his attorney says the move comes too late and the party should know it.

On May 17, Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker ruled that Darrell McClanahan III of Milo would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=19&amp;di=3167655">remain on the ballot</a>&nbsp;for the GOP nomination for governor. The party’s attorney, Lowell Pearson of Jefferson City, filed a notice of appeal Monday with the Western District Court of Appeals seeking to reverse that decision.

McClanahan, who is listed first on the ballot among nine candidates, is not running a full-scale campaign. He has not organized a committee to raise and spend money on his behalf. Only three contenders – state Sen. Bill Eigel, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe – are running full-scale campaigns, raising and spending millions and traveling extensively.

The appeal is too late, said David Roland, McClanahan’s attorney. Ashcroft certified the list of state candidates and issues on the ballot on June 11 and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.125&amp;bid=35761&amp;hl=">under state law</a>&nbsp;the courts cannot “order an individual or issue be placed on the ballot less than eight weeks before the date of the election.”

Roland filed a motion seeking to dismiss the appeal and impose sanctions for a frivolous court action.

“There is literally no way that their appeal could succeed,” Roland said in an interview with The Independent. “They were only asking for one thing in their petition, and that was an injunction to prevent his name from being certified for the ballot. That ship sailed back in May when the secretary of state did exactly what the law required him to do, certifying the name for the ballot.”

Pearson declined to comment on the appeal or Roland’s filing.&nbsp;

The state party doesn’t want McClanahan on the ballot because he admitted being an “honorary member” of the Ku Klux Klan in a lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League. McClanahan also faces felony property damage and stealing charges in a case being&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22WR-CR00256&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0005_CT44#header">heard in Wright County</a>.

The state Republican Party sued Ashcroft to remove McClanahan, but Walker wrote that by accepting his $500 filing fee, the party was stuck with him. McClanahan was a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022 and his views were known, Walker wrote.

The Republican Party “is a sophisticated entity and the record shows that it was not only aware of a party’s authority to reject a filing fee offered by a candidate,” Walker wrote, “but that segments of the Missouri Republican Party have already adopted a policy of rejecting filing fees from any candidate who has not completed a prescribed vetting process.”

A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/23/gop-candidates-will-remain-on-vernon-county-ballot-pending-review-by-missouri-appeals-court/">case from Vernon County</a>, testing whether a political party can reject a filing fee paid at the county clerk’s office to keep a candidate off the ballot, is set for a hearing June 25 before the Western District Court of Appeals.

The Vernon County case was decided May 8 and the appeal began immediately. The appeals court stayed the ruling of the trial court that removed the candidates and set up an expedited process that will test whether the court has authority to act.

The state Republican Party didn’t seek to expedite the case at trial in Cole County and let the ruling become final in the regular legal schedule, Roland wrote in his brief asking the court to dismiss the appeal.

As a major political party, Roland wrote, the GOP “is a sophisticated party well versed in this State’s election laws.”

And Pearson, he wrote, is a “highly respected attorney who is experienced in litigating under this state’s election laws.”

With no ability to provide the relief being sought, Roland wrote, the appeal wastes the court’s time.

“An appeal that presents no justiciable question and is obviously devoid of merit is frivolous,” he wrote.

Because the party didn’t seek to speed up the case or the appeal, Roland said, the court would be unlikely to rule before the primary. No transcript of circuit court proceedings has been requested and the case file has not been prepared, he noted.

“If they were serious about it, they should have already had the transcript prepared,” Roland said. “They should have gone ahead and filed the legal file today alongside their notice of appeal. That is the only possible way they were going to get this case heard before the election.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718755945502.png" alt="Darrell McClanahan of Milo, a candidate for governor who the Missouri Republican Party attempted to remove from the ballot for being an ‘honorary’ KKK member. He is shown in a photo from his 2022 campaign for U.S. Senate, standing in front of the flag of the Missouri State Guard, a military force formed in 1861 to oppose the Union in the Civil War (Campaign photo)." />
 <figcaption>Darrell McClanahan of Milo, a candidate for governor who the Missouri Republican Party attempted to remove from the ballot for being an ‘honorary’ KKK member. He is shown in a photo from his 2022 campaign for U.S. Senate, standing in front of the flag of the Missouri State Guard, a military force formed in 1861 to oppose the Union in the Civil War (Campaign photo).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>An attorney for Darrell McClanahan III says the party’s appeal is too late to deny him a spot in the gubernatorial primary</h2>The Missouri Republican Party is continuing its effort to remove an “honorary KKK member” from the primary ballot for governor, but his attorney says the move comes too late and the party should know it.On May 17, Cole County Circuit Judge Cotton Walker ruled that Darrell McClanahan III of Milo would&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=19&amp;di=3167655">remain on the ballot</a>&nbsp;for the GOP nomination for governor. The party’s attorney, Lowell Pearson of Jefferson City, filed a notice of appeal Monday with the Western District Court of Appeals seeking to reverse that decision.McClanahan, who is listed first on the ballot among nine candidates, is not running a full-scale campaign. He has not organized a committee to raise and spend money on his behalf. Only three contenders – state Sen. Bill Eigel, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe – are running full-scale campaigns, raising and spending millions and traveling extensively.The appeal is too late, said David Roland, McClanahan’s attorney. Ashcroft certified the list of state candidates and issues on the ballot on June 11 and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.125&amp;bid=35761&amp;hl=">under state law</a>&nbsp;the courts cannot “order an individual or issue be placed on the ballot less than eight weeks before the date of the election.”Roland filed a motion seeking to dismiss the appeal and impose sanctions for a frivolous court action.“There is literally no way that their appeal could succeed,” Roland said in an interview with The Independent. “They were only asking for one thing in their petition, and that was an injunction to prevent his name from being certified for the ballot. That ship sailed back in May when the secretary of state did exactly what the law required him to do, certifying the name for the ballot.”Pearson declined to comment on the appeal or Roland’s filing.&nbsp;The state party doesn’t want McClanahan on the ballot because he admitted being an “honorary member” of the Ku Klux Klan in a lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League. McClanahan also faces felony property damage and stealing charges in a case being&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=22WR-CR00256&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0005_CT44#header">heard in Wright County</a>.The state Republican Party sued Ashcroft to remove McClanahan, but Walker wrote that by accepting his $500 filing fee, the party was stuck with him. McClanahan was a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022 and his views were known, Walker wrote.The Republican Party “is a sophisticated entity and the record shows that it was not only aware of a party’s authority to reject a filing fee offered by a candidate,” Walker wrote, “but that segments of the Missouri Republican Party have already adopted a policy of rejecting filing fees from any candidate who has not completed a prescribed vetting process.”A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/23/gop-candidates-will-remain-on-vernon-county-ballot-pending-review-by-missouri-appeals-court/">case from Vernon County</a>, testing whether a political party can reject a filing fee paid at the county clerk’s office to keep a candidate off the ballot, is set for a hearing June 25 before the Western District Court of Appeals.The Vernon County case was decided May 8 and the appeal began immediately. The appeals court stayed the ruling of the trial court that removed the candidates and set up an expedited process that will test whether the court has authority to act.The state Republican Party didn’t seek to expedite the case at trial in Cole County and let the ruling become final in the regular legal schedule, Roland wrote in his brief asking the court to dismiss the appeal.As a major political party, Roland wrote, the GOP “is a sophisticated party well versed in this State’s election laws.”And Pearson, he wrote, is a “highly respected attorney who is experienced in litigating under this state’s election laws.”With no ability to provide the relief being sought, Roland wrote, the appeal wastes the court’s time.“An appeal that presents no justiciable question and is obviously devoid of merit is frivolous,” he wrote.Because the party didn’t seek to speed up the case or the appeal, Roland said, the court would be unlikely to rule before the primary. No transcript of circuit court proceedings has been requested and the case file has not been prepared, he noted.“If they were serious about it, they should have already had the transcript prepared,” Roland said. “They should have gone ahead and filed the legal file today alongside their notice of appeal. That is the only possible way they were going to get this case heard before the election.”

Missouri GOP files appeal in hopes of striking ‘honorary KKK member’ from ballot

House, Senate restrain members to avoid amending deal anchored to income tax cuts

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature deflected bipartisan interest in tweaking Tuesday a bill negotiated by Gov. Laura Kelly and top Republican House and Senate leaders delivering a projected $2 billion reduction in state income and property taxes during the next five years.

In a special session of the Legislature, the Senate voted 34-4 and the House 121-2 to forward the unaltered package to the Democratic governor. The Legislature took action on the tax measure before diving into legislation shaping economic development incentives intended to draw the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals to new stadiums in Kansas.

A majority in the Senate voted to cut off debate on the tax bill and avoid consideration of amendments Republican and Democratic senators were preparing to offer. Focus of dissent in terms of the tax bill negotiated by Senate President Ty Masterson, House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Kelly centered on removal from the package of $55 million in reductions to property taxes and repeal on July 1 of the state’s 2% sales tax on groceries. The bill also included a provision expanding by $6 million the state’s childcare tax credit, which drew criticism.

“I’m champing on the bit. I’m ready to vote for this thing,” said Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth. “Coming to this point, we’re all a little frustrated. We didn’t all get exactly what we wanted. We are delivering tax cuts to all Kansans.”

Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican not seeking reelection in 2024, made the motion to halt the Senate debate and call a vote. Olson, who endorsed a Kelly tax plan early in the session and voted for the compromise tax bill, said the negotiated package wasn’t ideal, but work of legislators often required some form of compromise.

“We can sit here and pick it apart,” he said. “I think we’re going in the right direction.”

In the House, Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, offered an amendment to Senate Bill 1 that would have added a 75% property tax rebate to unemployable, disabled veterans. That tax break had been considered during the regular legislative session, but became snarled with a bundle of special-interest tax breaks. One of those would have benefitted owners of restaurants, childcare facilities and fitness clubs, including owners of the Genesis Health Club chain.

Rep. Adam Smith, the Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, asked peers in the House to vote down Miller’s amendment. He said it was important to follow the Senate’s lead and preserve all elements of the tax bill negotiated by Kelly, Hawkins and Masterson.

“This is one of those tough ones,” Smith said. “This is the struggle we’ve had really for two years trying to find not only the right dollar amount, but the proper policy pieces to go into this bill. I do worry that any changes to the original agreement by the legislative leaders and the governor’s office — we don’t have a choice to come back and override this if there is a veto.”

Prior to convening of the special session, Kelly said she would sign the tax bill if adopted by the Legislature. She previously vetoed three major tax bills because they weren’t financially sustainable for state government.

While a handful of senators voted against undermining debate on the tax proposal and then voted for passage of the bill, outgoing Sen. Alicia Straub left no doubt she was disturbed by behind-the-scenes wrangling between GOP legislative leadership and the governor ahead of the special session. She appeared frustrated by explosion of interest in trying to convince owners of the Chiefs or Royals to relocate those professional teams to Kansas.

“This special session and tax bill may go down in history as the deflategate of special sessions,” the Ellinwood Republican said. “I refuse to play ball with billionaire globalists, cheaters, liars and thieves. Kansas deserves better.”

Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, inquired as to why repeal of the state food sales tax law was taken off the table. And, outgoing Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, expressed dismay the negotiators stripped from the deal much of the residential property tax reductions contained in previous legislation.

The tax legislation was presented Monday to a joint session of the House and Senate tax committees. The regular process of assigning a bill to those committees for hearings, debate and amendment was bypassed. Senate leadership decided the bill would be brought directly to the floor for consideration. After a handful of speeches outlining objections to the bill, and before any amendment could be offered, a motion was approved to proceed to final action.

Another senator who chose not to seek reelection, Hutchinson Republican Mark Steffen, said he was astounded negotiations led to a doubling of the state tax credit on childcare expenditures. He said the tax policy incentivized parents to enter the workforce, place children in daycare and weaken “traditional” family structures in Kansas.

Masterson pushed back against Steffen’s assertion bolstering a childcare tax provision in state law could undermine the nuclear family.

“That is so over the top. I find it incredibly offensive,” the Senate president said. “That’s akin to saying Trump somehow is going to destroy democracy.

Sen. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, said it was bizarre of Steffen to assert that parents who made use of childcare services were “bad parents.” She said that common practice meant economic circumstances required parents to work on behalf of their families and ridiculed the senator’s attempt to demonize certain parents.

Meanwhile, Steffen took Republican colleagues in the Legislature to the woodshed while accusing them of raising by 20% state government spending during his four-year term in the Legislature.

“Think of that,” he said. “We’ve got problems with wokeism, with big business trying to control our government.”

The bill moving to the House would create a two-rate state income tax structure with the upper rate at 5.58% and the lower rate at 5.2%. Under existing law, the three-rate approach taxed Kansans at rates of 3.1%, 5.25% and 5.7% based on income.

The bill also would raise the personal income tax exemption from $2,250 to $9,160 and raise the standard deduction by 3%. It also would eliminate the state’s income tax on Social Security benefits, which would allow seniors to avoid more than $100 million annually in state income tax payments. Only a dozen states tax Social Security payments.

The child care tax credit in Kansas would be doubled to 50% of the comparable federal tax break. The residential property tax exemption in the bill tied to funding of Kansas public schools would be nearly doubled to $75,000 from the current level of $42,000.

Negotiations led to removal of broader property tax cuts and repeal of the state’s sales tax on food, which is scheduled to expire Jan. 1.

Overall, the bill endorsed by the Legislature would reduce state revenue by nearly $2 billion over five years. The annual adjustments would range from $380 million to $471 million. The high end would occur the first year of implementation because some provisions of tax reform would be retroactive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718753958727.png" alt=" Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, presided over debate Tuesday on a negotiated tax-reduction bill during a special session of the Legislature called by Gov. Laura Kelly. The bill passed the House and Senate by wide margins. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, presided over debate Tuesday on a negotiated tax-reduction bill during a special session of the Legislature called by Gov. Laura Kelly. The bill passed the House and Senate by wide margins. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>House, Senate restrain members to avoid amending deal anchored to income tax cuts</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature deflected bipartisan interest in tweaking Tuesday a bill negotiated by Gov. Laura Kelly and top Republican House and Senate leaders delivering a projected $2 billion reduction in state income and property taxes during the next five years.In a special session of the Legislature, the Senate voted 34-4 and the House 121-2 to forward the unaltered package to the Democratic governor. The Legislature took action on the tax measure before diving into legislation shaping economic development incentives intended to draw the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals to new stadiums in Kansas.A majority in the Senate voted to cut off debate on the tax bill and avoid consideration of amendments Republican and Democratic senators were preparing to offer. Focus of dissent in terms of the tax bill negotiated by Senate President Ty Masterson, House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Kelly centered on removal from the package of $55 million in reductions to property taxes and repeal on July 1 of the state’s 2% sales tax on groceries. The bill also included a provision expanding by $6 million the state’s childcare tax credit, which drew criticism.“I’m champing on the bit. I’m ready to vote for this thing,” said Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth. “Coming to this point, we’re all a little frustrated. We didn’t all get exactly what we wanted. We are delivering tax cuts to all Kansans.”Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican not seeking reelection in 2024, made the motion to halt the Senate debate and call a vote. Olson, who endorsed a Kelly tax plan early in the session and voted for the compromise tax bill, said the negotiated package wasn’t ideal, but work of legislators often required some form of compromise.“We can sit here and pick it apart,” he said. “I think we’re going in the right direction.”In the House, Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, offered an amendment to Senate Bill 1 that would have added a 75% property tax rebate to unemployable, disabled veterans. That tax break had been considered during the regular legislative session, but became snarled with a bundle of special-interest tax breaks. One of those would have benefitted owners of restaurants, childcare facilities and fitness clubs, including owners of the Genesis Health Club chain.Rep. Adam Smith, the Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, asked peers in the House to vote down Miller’s amendment. He said it was important to follow the Senate’s lead and preserve all elements of the tax bill negotiated by Kelly, Hawkins and Masterson.“This is one of those tough ones,” Smith said. “This is the struggle we’ve had really for two years trying to find not only the right dollar amount, but the proper policy pieces to go into this bill. I do worry that any changes to the original agreement by the legislative leaders and the governor’s office — we don’t have a choice to come back and override this if there is a veto.”Prior to convening of the special session, Kelly said she would sign the tax bill if adopted by the Legislature. She previously vetoed three major tax bills because they weren’t financially sustainable for state government.<h2>Globalists and wokeism</h2>While a handful of senators voted against undermining debate on the tax proposal and then voted for passage of the bill, outgoing Sen. Alicia Straub left no doubt she was disturbed by behind-the-scenes wrangling between GOP legislative leadership and the governor ahead of the special session. She appeared frustrated by explosion of interest in trying to convince owners of the Chiefs or Royals to relocate those professional teams to Kansas.“This special session and tax bill may go down in history as the deflategate of special sessions,” the Ellinwood Republican said. “I refuse to play ball with billionaire globalists, cheaters, liars and thieves. Kansas deserves better.”Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, inquired as to why repeal of the state food sales tax law was taken off the table. And, outgoing Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, expressed dismay the negotiators stripped from the deal much of the residential property tax reductions contained in previous legislation.The tax legislation was presented Monday to a joint session of the House and Senate tax committees. The regular process of assigning a bill to those committees for hearings, debate and amendment was bypassed. Senate leadership decided the bill would be brought directly to the floor for consideration. After a handful of speeches outlining objections to the bill, and before any amendment could be offered, a motion was approved to proceed to final action.Another senator who chose not to seek reelection, Hutchinson Republican Mark Steffen, said he was astounded negotiations led to a doubling of the state tax credit on childcare expenditures. He said the tax policy incentivized parents to enter the workforce, place children in daycare and weaken “traditional” family structures in Kansas.Masterson pushed back against Steffen’s assertion bolstering a childcare tax provision in state law could undermine the nuclear family.“That is so over the top. I find it incredibly offensive,” the Senate president said. “That’s akin to saying Trump somehow is going to destroy democracy.Sen. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, said it was bizarre of Steffen to assert that parents who made use of childcare services were “bad parents.” She said that common practice meant economic circumstances required parents to work on behalf of their families and ridiculed the senator’s attempt to demonize certain parents.Meanwhile, Steffen took Republican colleagues in the Legislature to the woodshed while accusing them of raising by 20% state government spending during his four-year term in the Legislature.“Think of that,” he said. “We’ve got problems with wokeism, with big business trying to control our government.”The bill moving to the House would create a two-rate state income tax structure with the upper rate at 5.58% and the lower rate at 5.2%. Under existing law, the three-rate approach taxed Kansans at rates of 3.1%, 5.25% and 5.7% based on income.The bill also would raise the personal income tax exemption from $2,250 to $9,160 and raise the standard deduction by 3%. It also would eliminate the state’s income tax on Social Security benefits, which would allow seniors to avoid more than $100 million annually in state income tax payments. Only a dozen states tax Social Security payments.The child care tax credit in Kansas would be doubled to 50% of the comparable federal tax break. The residential property tax exemption in the bill tied to funding of Kansas public schools would be nearly doubled to $75,000 from the current level of $42,000.Negotiations led to removal of broader property tax cuts and repeal of the state’s sales tax on food, which is scheduled to expire Jan. 1.Overall, the bill endorsed by the Legislature would reduce state revenue by nearly $2 billion over five years. The annual adjustments would range from $380 million to $471 million. The high end would occur the first year of implementation because some provisions of tax reform would be retroactive.

Kansas Legislature adopts $2 billion tax bill crafted by GOP leaders, governor

BUTLER COUNTY—Investigators have released the name of the 3-year-old whose body was found in a Kansas waterway over the weekend as Michael Aikman, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.&nbsp; His cause of death was confirmed as an accidental drowning, according to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensics Science Center.&nbsp; 

A child welfare agency placed the boy into temporary foster care with relatives at a rural Kansas home, according to Cundiff.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-michaels-funeral-and-charlies-needs?lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the online fundraiser to assist the family.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's office responded to the 12000 Block of SW. Prairie Creek Road just outside of Andover after a report of a missing 3-year-old boy, according to Cundiff.

First responders found the property to be large with a combination&nbsp; of timber and waterways. Multiple agencies responded to help with the search including water rescue from the August Department of Public Safety.

The initial report indicated the boy was playing outside the residence while an adult was present and doing yard work. The child wandered off but was still believed to be on the property. A search of the area included the water, drones, divers and K9s continued until just after 3a.m. Sunday.

Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, shortly after the search began again, the body of the boy was found in a waterway not far from the residence on the property.

Authorities believe this is an accidental drowning.&nbsp; An autopsy will&nbsp; determine the specific cause of death, according to Cundiff. There is no suspicion of foul play.&nbsp; The child is a family member of the residents but not their child.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718671558095.png" alt="Photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY—Investigators have released the name of the 3-year-old whose body was found in a Kansas waterway over the weekend as Michael Aikman, according to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff.&nbsp; His cause of death was confirmed as an accidental drowning, according to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensics Science Center.&nbsp; A child welfare agency placed the boy into temporary foster care with relatives at a rural Kansas home, according to Cundiff.<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-michaels-funeral-and-charlies-needs?lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the online fundraiser to assist the family.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's office responded to the 12000 Block of SW. Prairie Creek Road just outside of Andover after a report of a missing 3-year-old boy, according to Cundiff.First responders found the property to be large with a combination&nbsp; of timber and waterways. Multiple agencies responded to help with the search including water rescue from the August Department of Public Safety.The initial report indicated the boy was playing outside the residence while an adult was present and doing yard work. The child wandered off but was still believed to be on the property. A search of the area included the water, drones, divers and K9s continued until just after 3a.m. Sunday.Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, shortly after the search began again, the body of the boy was found in a waterway not far from the residence on the property.Authorities believe this is an accidental drowning.&nbsp; An autopsy will&nbsp; determine the specific cause of death, according to Cundiff. There is no suspicion of foul play.&nbsp; The child is a family member of the residents but not their child.&nbsp;

3-year-old who drowned in Kan. creek was in foster care

By TONY GUERRERO&nbsp;Hays Post

Police have arrested a suspect on charges of second-degree murder for the death of a 5-month-old boy on April 2 in Hays.

According to a media release from the Hays Police Department, 28-year-old Abraham Duran Leon of Hays was arrested on June 17.

Emergency personnel were dispatched at 12:15 p.m. on April 2 to Room 206 at the Rodeway Inn, 3404 Vine St., responding to a report that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/obituaries/fernando-leon">Fernando Leon III</a>, an infant, was not breathing.

Abraham, the father of Fernando, was also present in the motel room and was arrested for interference with law enforcement before being released days later, according to Chief of Police Don Scheibler.

Hays police officers arrived as Ellis County EMS was performing CPR on Fernando. He was then transported to Hays Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.

The Hays Police Department and the Ellis County Coroner's office investigated the death. An autopsy report revealed the child had methamphetamine in his system and died from complications related to methamphetamine intoxication.

Abraham Leon is currently held in the Ellis County Jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The child's mother, Brandi Niehoff, who has been ruled out as a suspect, was previously convicted in connection with the death of the child's older brother.

The investigation into the death of Fernando Leon III continues and anyone with information should call Detective J.B. Burkholder at 785-625-1030.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712771901192.png" alt="Leon-photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Leon-photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO&nbsp;Hays PostPolice have arrested a suspect on charges of second-degree murder for the death of a 5-month-old boy on April 2 in Hays.According to a media release from the Hays Police Department, 28-year-old Abraham Duran Leon of Hays was arrested on June 17.Emergency personnel were dispatched at 12:15 p.m. on April 2 to Room 206 at the Rodeway Inn, 3404 Vine St., responding to a report that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com/obituaries/fernando-leon">Fernando Leon III</a>, an infant, was not breathing.Abraham, the father of Fernando, was also present in the motel room and was arrested for interference with law enforcement before being released days later, according to Chief of Police Don Scheibler.Hays police officers arrived as Ellis County EMS was performing CPR on Fernando. He was then transported to Hays Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased.The Hays Police Department and the Ellis County Coroner's office investigated the death. An autopsy report revealed the child had methamphetamine in his system and died from complications related to methamphetamine intoxication.Abraham Leon is currently held in the Ellis County Jail and is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.The child's mother, Brandi Niehoff, who has been ruled out as a suspect, was previously convicted in connection with the death of the child's older brother.The investigation into the death of Fernando Leon III continues and anyone with information should call Detective J.B. Burkholder at 785-625-1030.

Father arrested for death of 5-month old son in NW Kansas

Lawyers representing Planned Parenthood and the Missouri Attorney General argued Monday over HIPPA protections during a St. Louis Circuit Court hearing

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

ST. LOUIS — A circuit court judge heard arguments Monday over whether the Missouri attorney general’s efforts to access medical records of transgender youth violate privacy protections.

Monday’s hearing was convened at the request of Bailey in the hopes that the court would amend a previous order that requires patients to waive HIPAA rights before their medical records could be shared. If they don’t waive HIPAA, their documents would be exempt from the attorney general’s request for medical records.

HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects patients from their providers disclosing their personally identifiable health information.

St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Joseph Whyte did not immediately rule following the hearing. Richard Muniz, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said if the decision is unfavorable, his organization will appeal.

“Our commitment to our patients is that we will fight this as long as we need to,” Muniz told The Independent. “Today, we’ve already signaled that we are going to appeal because we think that we shouldn’t have to turn over documents, especially patient records, but we shouldn’t have to partake in this investigation at all.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718739260758.jpeg" alt=" Advocates with PROMO and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri rally outside of the St. Louis Civil Courts building Monday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Advocates with PROMO and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri rally outside of the St. Louis Civil Courts building Monday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Lawyers representing Planned Parenthood and the Missouri Attorney General argued Monday over HIPPA protections during a St. Louis Circuit Court hearing</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>ST. LOUIS — A circuit court judge heard arguments Monday over whether the Missouri attorney general’s efforts to access medical records of transgender youth violate privacy protections.Monday’s hearing was convened at the request of Bailey in the hopes that the court would amend a previous order that requires patients to waive HIPAA rights before their medical records could be shared. If they don’t waive HIPAA, their documents would be exempt from the attorney general’s request for medical records.HIPAA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects patients from their providers disclosing their personally identifiable health information.St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Joseph Whyte did not immediately rule following the hearing. Richard Muniz, interim president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, said if the decision is unfavorable, his organization will appeal.“Our commitment to our patients is that we will fight this as long as we need to,” Muniz told The Independent. “Today, we’ve already signaled that we are going to appeal because we think that we shouldn’t have to turn over documents, especially patient records, but we shouldn’t have to partake in this investigation at all.”Bailey launched his investigation in March 2023 looking into gender-affirming care of minors after the affidavit of Jamie Reed, who worked at Washington University’s adolescent Transgender Center. In April, another circuit court judge ruled that Bailey may continue his investigation — adding that patients must waive HIPAA rights before their private health information could be shared.Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Washington University and Planned Parenthood Great Plains are also arguing against the attorney general’s civil investigative demands.The April decision, beyond giving patients the ability to protect their medical records, granted Bailey power to investigate Planned Parenthood under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, a state law that allows the attorney general’s office to investigate deceptive marketing practices.Matthew Eddy, an attorney representing Planned Parenthood said during his arguments Monday that the attorney general’s authority under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act has yet to be fully litigated.Health care providers are fearful of what the attorney general might do with more information.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/24/therapists-social-workers-face-scrutiny-in-missouri-ag-investigation-of-transgender-care/">Prior reporting by The Independent</a>&nbsp;revealed Bailey’s use of the Division of Professional Registration, which is investigating therapists as a result of a complaint from his office.After the attorney general’s office received a list of minor patients that received care at the Washington University Transgender Center and other documents, therapists and social workers that had written letters of support for patients to go to the Transgender Center had their licenses at risk. As of early May, 16 of 57 cases were still open.<h2>Hearing</h2>Deputy Solicitor General Sam Freeland, representing the attorney general, argued Monday that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/45/164.512">a federal regulation</a>&nbsp;allows medical records to be released when ordered by the court. He told the judge this exception was “not discussed by the plaintiff.”“HIPAA has not barred the disclosure of the documents in question,” Freeland argued.He said Planned Parenthood had the burden of proof to show that HIPAA covers the documents.Eddy this was “simply not correct.”“Planned Parenthood has proven the general rule that HIPAA protects disclosure,” he said. “The burden is on the respondent to show that the exception applies.”Eddy further attacked the premise of Bailey’s investigation, which Freeland argued was not on the table Monday.He said the attorney general’s civil investigative demands, which Eddy said were titled as an investigation into the Washington University Transgender Center, “had no allegations as to Planned Parenthood’s conduct.”“He can’t point to a single complaint from a patient, a patient’s parent,” Eddy said.Eddy said the attorney general “had 54 incredibly broad requests for information.”“Included in the requests are information that would be deeply sensitive to transgender minors,” he told the judge.Muniz told reporters one of the requests was for “any document that mentions TikTok,” calling the investigation a “sprawling phishing expedition.”In press releases, Bailey has expressed a belief that all gender-affirming medical providers are connected.“I launched this investigation to obtain the truth about how this clandestine network of clinics subjected children to puberty blockers and irreversible surgery, often without parental consent,” he said in a statement following the hearing Monday. “We are moving forward undeterred with our investigation into Planned Parenthood. I will not stop until all bad actors are held accountable.”Muniz said Planned Parenthood does not have a formal relationship with Washington University, which was the focus of Reed’s affidavit and the beginning of Bailey’s investigation.Supporters of Planned Parenthood rallied before the hearing, calling the investigation a political attack.“(Bailey) only wants (the records) so he can politicize gender affirming care and to put a target on transgender and gender-non-conforming patients,” Margot Riphagen, Planned Parenthood St. Louis’s vice president of external affairs, said during the rally.Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director of LGBTQ advocacy organization PROMO, called the attorney general’s actions “scary.”“He has pushed credentialing committees of social workers, professional counselors and family and marital therapists to investigate every single provider on the eastern side of the state that has offered a letter of support for a trans or gender expansive kid to receive care,” she said, referencing a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/24/therapists-social-workers-face-scrutiny-in-missouri-ag-investigation-of-transgender-care/">Division of Professional Registration investigation</a>&nbsp;that stemmed from the AG’s complaint.Around 40 people attended the rally, filling the courtroom until a small group were standing in the back. Most wore t-shirts with phrases like “protect trans kids” or “I fight with Planned Parenthood” and filed into the seats behind Planned Parenthood’s lawyers before sitting on the opposing side.“Thank you,” a few people told Eddy as they walked out of the St. Louis courtroom.