POLK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Saturday in Polk County.&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Traverse driven by a 24-year-old Louisburg man was southbound on Highway D in Polk. The SUV struck a 70-year-old Polk man who was on the roadway.&nbsp; EMS transported the victim to Citizen's Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

POLK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Saturday in Polk County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Traverse driven by a 24-year-old Louisburg man was southbound on Highway D in Polk. The SUV struck a 70-year-old Polk man who was on the roadway.&nbsp; EMS transported the victim to Citizen's Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies in pedestrian accident 

KANSAS CITY —A woman who was identified by SAVE KC as high-risk for violence, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for her involvement in a double homicide that took place in south Kansas City last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2566/LINDA-ATER-PLEA-AGREEMENT">Linda Ater, 18,&nbsp; pled guilty</a>&nbsp;to 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She received 18 years for 2nd Degree Murder and 15 years for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, which will be served at the same time. She also received a three-year sentence for Armed Criminal Action, which will run consecutively, for a total of 21 years.&nbsp;

SAVE KC is a focused deterrence strategy involving the Prosecutor’s Office, the Kansas City Police Department, the City, and service providers, targeting those at-risk of violence. The identified clients are invited to a call-in where they are warned about enhanced enforcement and consequences if they continue engaging in criminal activity. Clients are offered services including housing support, job placement, mental health counseling, and more.&nbsp;

While the defendant was on the SAVE KC target list and was invited to a call-in, she did not attend.

“SAVE KC’s message is clear: give up crime, accept help, or face the full weight of prosecution. There are some, including the defendant, who do not heed our warnings and reject help. As a result, this young woman will spend the rest of her young years in prison,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “As we explain to SAVE KC clients, we care about your future, but violence will never be tolerated.”

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2567/LINDA-ATER-PCREDACTED">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road on Dec. 9 and located a man&nbsp; in the driver’s seat of a Nissan Sentra and a woman on the ground near the vehicle both suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both victims were confirmed deceased.&nbsp;

Video surveillance shows the Nissan pulling into the apartment complex parking lot and park in front of the building. An individual, later identified as Ater, exits the Nissan holding a firearm with an extended magazine. Just a minute later, the defendant fires in the direction of the victim in the driver’s seat and then retreats into another vehicle, which flees the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744318371060.png" alt="Ater photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Ater photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A woman who was identified by SAVE KC as high-risk for violence, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for her involvement in a double homicide that took place in south Kansas City last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2566/LINDA-ATER-PLEA-AGREEMENT">Linda Ater, 18,&nbsp; pled guilty</a>&nbsp;to 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. She received 18 years for 2nd Degree Murder and 15 years for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, which will be served at the same time. She also received a three-year sentence for Armed Criminal Action, which will run consecutively, for a total of 21 years.&nbsp;SAVE KC is a focused deterrence strategy involving the Prosecutor’s Office, the Kansas City Police Department, the City, and service providers, targeting those at-risk of violence. The identified clients are invited to a call-in where they are warned about enhanced enforcement and consequences if they continue engaging in criminal activity. Clients are offered services including housing support, job placement, mental health counseling, and more.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733792910134.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>While the defendant was on the SAVE KC target list and was invited to a call-in, she did not attend.“SAVE KC’s message is clear: give up crime, accept help, or face the full weight of prosecution. There are some, including the defendant, who do not heed our warnings and reject help. As a result, this young woman will spend the rest of her young years in prison,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “As we explain to SAVE KC clients, we care about your future, but violence will never be tolerated.”<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2567/LINDA-ATER-PCREDACTED">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road on Dec. 9 and located a man&nbsp; in the driver’s seat of a Nissan Sentra and a woman on the ground near the vehicle both suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both victims were confirmed deceased.&nbsp;Video surveillance shows the Nissan pulling into the apartment complex parking lot and park in front of the building. An individual, later identified as Ater, exits the Nissan holding a firearm with an extended magazine. Just a minute later, the defendant fires in the direction of the victim in the driver’s seat and then retreats into another vehicle, which flees the scene.&nbsp;

 Security camera showed KC teen commit murder

GREENE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1p.m. Saturday in Greene&nbsp; &nbsp;County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Aprilla Tuono motorcycle driven by a 42-year-old Springfield man was westbound on Route YY one and one half miles east of Springfield. 

The motorcycle traveled off the road at a high rate of speed and struck an embankment. The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

GREENE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1p.m. Saturday in Greene&nbsp; &nbsp;County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Aprilla Tuono motorcycle driven by a 42-year-old Springfield man was westbound on Route YY one and one half miles east of Springfield. The motorcycle traveled off the road at a high rate of speed and struck an embankment. The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after ejected in motorcycle accident

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after he broke into a home in a Kansas City suburb.

Just after 11p.m. April 9, police responded to a burglary in progress at a residence near SE Ranson Road and SE 11th Street in Lee's Summit, according to a media release. As officers were arriving on scene the caller reported that they had located a prowler inside the home in a child’s bedroom and were physically detaining him. 

 Officers on scene quickly entered the home and took the man into custody without incident.  Investigation on scene would reveal that the suspect,&nbsp; later identified as&nbsp;42-year-old Robert M McDowell III &nbsp;had entered the home by breaking in a back door prior to being found in the child’s bedroom.

&nbsp;There were no injuries reported by the homeowner, the suspect reported minor injuries and was treated and released at a local hospital into police custody.&nbsp; Based on spontaneous statements by McDowell on scene, investigators obtained a search warrant for McDowell’s cell phone. 

 Investigators were also attempting to determine if the defendant was intoxicated or impaired during the incident. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office charged McDowell with Burglary 1st Degree and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography 1st Degree, with an $80,000.00 bond. The Lee’s Summit Police Department is working with providers to offer assistance resources to the victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744459997697.png" alt="McDowell photo Lee's Summit Police" />
 <figcaption>McDowell photo Lee's Summit Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after he broke into a home in a Kansas City suburb.Just after 11p.m. April 9, police responded to a burglary in progress at a residence near SE Ranson Road and SE 11th Street in Lee's Summit, according to a media release. As officers were arriving on scene the caller reported that they had located a prowler inside the home in a child’s bedroom and were physically detaining him. Officers on scene quickly entered the home and took the man into custody without incident. Investigation on scene would reveal that the suspect,&nbsp; later identified as&nbsp;42-year-old Robert M McDowell III &nbsp;had entered the home by breaking in a back door prior to being found in the child’s bedroom.&nbsp;There were no injuries reported by the homeowner, the suspect reported minor injuries and was treated and released at a local hospital into police custody.&nbsp; Based on spontaneous statements by McDowell on scene, investigators obtained a search warrant for McDowell’s cell phone. Investigators were also attempting to determine if the defendant was intoxicated or impaired during the incident. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office charged McDowell with Burglary 1st Degree and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography 1st Degree, with an $80,000.00 bond. The Lee’s Summit Police Department is working with providers to offer assistance resources to the victims.

Burglary suspect caught in child's bedroom in KC suburb

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man is in custody following a stolen vehicle investigation in Shawnee County.

On Thursday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received information regarding someone attempting to sell a stolen vehicle on Facebook Marketplace, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The Sheriff’s Proactive Operational Response Ream (S.P.O.R.T.) was activated immediately.&nbsp; They determined a location for the seller and vehicle.

Just before 1 p.m. near NW Lower Silver Lake Road and NW Brickyard Road, deputies located a red Chevrolet Corvette that was reported stolen out of Olathe, Kansas. Deputies also found a stolen firearm out of Johnson County.

Cooper E. Rash, 19, of Lecompton, Kan., was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of stolen property: firearm with value less than $25,000; Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000.

Rash also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest out of Shawnee County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744374212055.png" alt="Rash photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Rash photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—A Kansas man is in custody following a stolen vehicle investigation in Shawnee County.On Thursday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division received information regarding someone attempting to sell a stolen vehicle on Facebook Marketplace, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The Sheriff’s Proactive Operational Response Ream (S.P.O.R.T.) was activated immediately.&nbsp; They determined a location for the seller and vehicle.Just before 1 p.m. near NW Lower Silver Lake Road and NW Brickyard Road, deputies located a red Chevrolet Corvette that was reported stolen out of Olathe, Kansas. Deputies also found a stolen firearm out of Johnson County.Cooper E. Rash, 19, of Lecompton, Kan., was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of stolen property: firearm with value less than $25,000; Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000.Rash also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest out of Shawnee County.

Sheriff: Kan. teen tried to sell stolen car on Facebook Marketplace

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

WASHINGTON — Fired federal probationary workers saw setbacks this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court and an appeals court dealt blows in two separate cases, leaving the newly hired or recently promoted employees hit by the administration’s mass firings once again in limbo.

In a case that affected up to 24,000 fired probationary employees across 17 federal agencies, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 4th Circuit on Wednesday blocked a lower court order requiring the government to rehire the workers.

A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to stay the order, writing that the Trump administration is “likely to succeed in showing the district court lacked jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claims.”

Judge Allison Rushing, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, directed the order, with Judge James Wilkinson, a President Ronald Reagan appointee, concurring. Judge DeAndrea Benjamin, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, dissented.

The case centered on a lawsuit filed by the Democratic attorneys general for 19 states and the District of Columbia, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-attorneys-general-face-trump-administration-over-rehiring-fired-feds" target="_blank">allege</a>&nbsp;economic harm because the federal government did not provide legally required warning ahead of an influx of unemployed state residents.

Federal Judge James Bredar for the District of Maryland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-fired-federal-probationary-workers-reinstated-19-states-dc" target="_blank">issued a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;on April 2 requiring the government to rehire thousands of workers who either lived or reported to work only in the 19 plaintiff states and the District of Columbia while the case moved forward. They included:

The case marked the first time the government provided the number of probationary employees fired at each agency.

Bredar required the figures from the government to show compliance with his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/second-federal-judge-orders-reversal-some-trump-workforce-cuts" target="_blank">mid-March emergency order</a>&nbsp;that the agencies reinstate the workers. The documents showed that the majority of the employees were not recalled to active duty, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fired-fed-workers-won-their-jobs-back-many-linger-administrative-leave-limbo" target="_blank">placed on administrative leave</a>.

In the second case bearing on fired federal workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a lower court order mandating the federal government reinstate the jobs of 16,000 fired probationary federal workers across six agencies.

The unsigned two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040825zr_1b8e.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;stated the nine nonprofits that brought the case do not have legal standing. The justices did not address the question at the center of the lawsuit: whether the firings were illegal.

The Trump administration had escalated the case to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket after the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-appeals-court-turns-down-trump-attempt-block-rehiring-fired-workers" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s request to block the agencies from rehiring the employees.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup for the Northern District of California&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-rehiring-thousands-fired-probationary-federal-employees" target="_blank">extended</a>&nbsp;his temporary emergency order on March 13, mandating the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs reinstate employees who were fired under a directive from the Office of Personnel Management as part of an agenda by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-workforce-hit-trumps-sweeping-firings-thousands-probationary-employees" target="_blank">slash the federal workforce</a>.

As the case continues on the lower court track, lawyers for the American Federal of Government Employees, AFL-CIO faced the Trump administration in court Wednesday before Alsup, a Clinton appointee. Alsup ordered both to provide more information by the end of the day Friday, including a comprehensive list of those fired and statements about economic harms.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741729690736.png" alt="Department of Education in Washington -AP photo" />
 <figcaption>Department of Education in Washington -AP photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — Fired federal probationary workers saw setbacks this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court and an appeals court dealt blows in two separate cases, leaving the newly hired or recently promoted employees hit by the administration’s mass firings once again in limbo.In a case that affected up to 24,000 fired probationary employees across 17 federal agencies, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 4th Circuit on Wednesday blocked a lower court order requiring the government to rehire the workers.A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to stay the order, writing that the Trump administration is “likely to succeed in showing the district court lacked jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claims.”Judge Allison Rushing, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, directed the order, with Judge James Wilkinson, a President Ronald Reagan appointee, concurring. Judge DeAndrea Benjamin, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, dissented.The case centered on a lawsuit filed by the Democratic attorneys general for 19 states and the District of Columbia, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-attorneys-general-face-trump-administration-over-rehiring-fired-feds" target="_blank">allege</a>&nbsp;economic harm because the federal government did not provide legally required warning ahead of an influx of unemployed state residents.Federal Judge James Bredar for the District of Maryland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-fired-federal-probationary-workers-reinstated-19-states-dc" target="_blank">issued a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;on April 2 requiring the government to rehire thousands of workers who either lived or reported to work only in the 19 plaintiff states and the District of Columbia while the case moved forward. They included:<ul>
 <li>Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.</li>
 </ul>The affected agencies included:<ul>
 <li>The departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense (civilian employees only), Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, General Services Administration, Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration and the U.S. Agency for International Development.</li>
 </ul>The case marked the first time the government provided the number of probationary employees fired at each agency.Bredar required the figures from the government to show compliance with his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/second-federal-judge-orders-reversal-some-trump-workforce-cuts" target="_blank">mid-March emergency order</a>&nbsp;that the agencies reinstate the workers. The documents showed that the majority of the employees were not recalled to active duty, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fired-fed-workers-won-their-jobs-back-many-linger-administrative-leave-limbo" target="_blank">placed on administrative leave</a>.<h2>Supreme Court action</h2>In the second case bearing on fired federal workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a lower court order mandating the federal government reinstate the jobs of 16,000 fired probationary federal workers across six agencies.The unsigned two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040825zr_1b8e.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;stated the nine nonprofits that brought the case do not have legal standing. The justices did not address the question at the center of the lawsuit: whether the firings were illegal.The Trump administration had escalated the case to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket after the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-appeals-court-turns-down-trump-attempt-block-rehiring-fired-workers" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s request to block the agencies from rehiring the employees.U.S. District Judge William Alsup for the Northern District of California&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-rehiring-thousands-fired-probationary-federal-employees" target="_blank">extended</a>&nbsp;his temporary emergency order on March 13, mandating the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs reinstate employees who were fired under a directive from the Office of Personnel Management as part of an agenda by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-workforce-hit-trumps-sweeping-firings-thousands-probationary-employees" target="_blank">slash the federal workforce</a>.As the case continues on the lower court track, lawyers for the American Federal of Government Employees, AFL-CIO faced the Trump administration in court Wednesday before Alsup, a Clinton appointee. Alsup ordered both to provide more information by the end of the day Friday, including a comprehensive list of those fired and statements about economic harms.&nbsp;

Fired federal probationary employees thrown back in limbo after court losses

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged assault in Manhattan.

Just before 8:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of aggravated assault in the 700 block of Colorado Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.. &nbsp;

A 31-year-old man reported that a 41-year-old man armed himself with a sledge hammer during an incident, placing the victim in fear of harm.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged assault in Manhattan.Just before 8:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of aggravated assault in the 700 block of Colorado Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.. &nbsp;A 31-year-old man reported that a 41-year-old man armed himself with a sledge hammer during an incident, placing the victim in fear of harm.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police: Kan. man threatened another with a sledge hammer

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured while at the scene of a fire Wednesday night in Topeka.

Just after 10:30p.m. firefighters responded to a reported fire in a building at Cable Dahmer Chevrolet, 3731 SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke and flames coming from a building at the dealership. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, originating on or near the ventilation unit for the paint booth located in the vehicle body repair garage. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries on the scene.&nbsp; Authorities have not released an estimate on damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744381127495.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured while at the scene of a fire Wednesday night in Topeka.Just after 10:30p.m. firefighters responded to a reported fire in a building at Cable Dahmer Chevrolet, 3731 SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke and flames coming from a building at the dealership. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire.The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, originating on or near the ventilation unit for the paint booth located in the vehicle body repair garage. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries on the scene.&nbsp; Authorities have not released an estimate on damage.

Firefighter injured fighting blaze at Kansas car dealership

KANSAS CITY — A woman has established an online fundraiser for her nephew after a deadly home explosion on Wednesday night in the Kansas City suburb of Lexington, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jacob-cami-after-tragic-explosion?attribution_id=sl:bbd7666e-a17d-46eb-89a9-49432439c68f&amp;lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_content=amp13_t1-amp15_t3&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view the online fundraiser.</a>

&nbsp;"The fundraiser is for Jacob Cunningham's family who were tragically impacted by this gas leak turned explosion."

"Jake, Cami and Alistair had just returned home for the evening. I am being told that when Jake flipped the light switch, the home exploded. Leaving only debris. Also causing damage to several other homes on the block, the woman wrote on the online fundraiser."

"Jake his 10 year old daughter Cami Lamb were transported to a local hospital. Soon after Jake was Life Flighted to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Cami was Life Flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital. Both were severely burned." 

" Jake's 5 year old son Alistair died as a result of the explosion. Both Jake and Cami are considered critical but stable." 

The immediate need is for funeral cost for Alistar. Then costs associated with the medical care for both Jake and Cami, There will loss of income while Jake is out of work recovering from injuries. as he is the sole provider for his family.

The family has also set up an Account at Bank Midwest Bank 1211 Main street, Lexington, MO 64067 c/o Catherine Woods (Cathie). She is handling all the arrangements at this time for the family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744302842121.jpeg" alt="KANSAS CITY — A woman has established an online fundraiser for her nephew after a deadly home explosion on Wednesday night in a Kansas City suburb." />
 <figcaption>KANSAS CITY — A woman has established an online fundraiser for her nephew after a deadly home explosion on Wednesday night in a Kansas City suburb.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — A woman has established an online fundraiser for her nephew after a deadly home explosion on Wednesday night in the Kansas City suburb of Lexington, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744331759176.png" alt="Jacob Cunningham with his two children-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Jacob Cunningham with his two children-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jacob-cami-after-tragic-explosion?attribution_id=sl:bbd7666e-a17d-46eb-89a9-49432439c68f&amp;lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_content=amp13_t1-amp15_t3&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view the online fundraiser.</a>&nbsp;"The fundraiser is for Jacob Cunningham's family who were tragically impacted by this gas leak turned explosion.""Jake, Cami and Alistair had just returned home for the evening. I am being told that when Jake flipped the light switch, the home exploded. Leaving only debris. Also causing damage to several other homes on the block, the woman wrote on the online fundraiser.""Jake his 10 year old daughter Cami Lamb were transported to a local hospital. Soon after Jake was Life Flighted to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Cami was Life Flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital. Both were severely burned." " Jake's 5 year old son Alistair died as a result of the explosion. Both Jake and Cami are considered critical but stable." The immediate need is for funeral cost for Alistar. Then costs associated with the medical care for both Jake and Cami, There will loss of income while Jake is out of work recovering from injuries. as he is the sole provider for his family.The family has also set up an Account at Bank Midwest Bank 1211 Main street, Lexington, MO 64067 c/o Catherine Woods (Cathie). She is handling all the arrangements at this time for the family.-----------

Online fundraiser for family in deadly KC area home explosion

SALINE COUNTY —Two people including a Salina Police officer were injured&nbsp; in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Thursday in Salina.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Freestar driven by Susan K. Price, 71, Salina, was southbound on Lewis Street at a stop sign at Crawford Street. The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2024 Ford Explorer driven by Officer Melissa K.&nbsp;Short-Eshleman, 49, Salina, who had lights and sirens on and was responding to another accident.

EMS transported both drivers to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SALINE COUNTY —Two people including a Salina Police officer were injured&nbsp; in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Thursday in Salina.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Freestar driven by Susan K. Price, 71, Salina, was southbound on Lewis Street at a stop sign at Crawford Street. The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2024 Ford Explorer driven by Officer Melissa K.&nbsp;Short-Eshleman, 49, Salina, who had lights and sirens on and was responding to another accident.EMS transported both drivers to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas police officer injured in 2-vehicle crash

KANSAS CITY — Charges&nbsp; have been filed against a man who broke into a Kansas CIty wine bar last Month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2563/Werts_Evan--Complaint_Redacted2">Evan A. Werts faces</a>&nbsp;2nd Degree Burglary, 1st Degree Property Damage, and two counts of Stealing.&nbsp;

Werts was previously charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Property Damage for an incident last year and posted bond. He had been complying with a GPS monitoring system and strict special conditions of his bond for months, which led to the court’s decision to allow modifications of some of his restrictions.&nbsp;

While out on bond, the defendant turned off his GPS monitoring system right before committing a weekend’s burglary. As a result, the Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion to revoke bond, and the court issued a no-bond warrant.&nbsp;

“In this case, the defendant was given an opportunity, based on his compliance and positive behavior, to have access to tools to improve himself, but instead chose to commit a new felony," said Prosecutor Johnson.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2562/Werts_Evan--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to Vita’s Place on a burglary call on March 30. Video footage revealed a male, later identified as Werts attempt to kick in the rear door of the business but was unsuccessful. He then broke in and entered a window on the front door of the business. Two bottles of wine, one bottle of whiskey, and cash from the register were missing from the business.&nbsp;

Werts is being held for a mental health evaluation and will be taken into custody as soon as he is released.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744317708339.png" alt="Werts as seen in security camera images from Vitas Place" />
 <figcaption>Werts as seen in security camera images from Vitas Place</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Charges&nbsp; have been filed against a man who broke into a Kansas CIty wine bar last Month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2563/Werts_Evan--Complaint_Redacted2">Evan A. Werts faces</a>&nbsp;2nd Degree Burglary, 1st Degree Property Damage, and two counts of Stealing.&nbsp;Werts was previously charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Property Damage for an incident last year and posted bond. He had been complying with a GPS monitoring system and strict special conditions of his bond for months, which led to the court’s decision to allow modifications of some of his restrictions.&nbsp;While out on bond, the defendant turned off his GPS monitoring system right before committing a weekend’s burglary. As a result, the Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion to revoke bond, and the court issued a no-bond warrant.&nbsp;“In this case, the defendant was given an opportunity, based on his compliance and positive behavior, to have access to tools to improve himself, but instead chose to commit a new felony," said Prosecutor Johnson.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2562/Werts_Evan--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to Vita’s Place on a burglary call on March 30. Video footage revealed a male, later identified as Werts attempt to kick in the rear door of the business but was unsuccessful. He then broke in and entered a window on the front door of the business. Two bottles of wine, one bottle of whiskey, and cash from the register were missing from the business.&nbsp;Werts is being held for a mental health evaluation and will be taken into custody as soon as he is released.&nbsp;

Doorbell camera saw man breaking into KC wine bar

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Jus after 1:30p.m. April 4, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a reckless driver on U.S. 75 near 266th Road. The suspect was driving on the shoulder of the highway and into oncoming traffic.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle, a 2019 Toyota Avalon driving south on U.S. 75, just north of Holton.

 The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near 192nd Road. As a result of the traffic stop, the driver, Josiah Desmond Jerrell Williams, 38, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of cocaine, possession of stimulant, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, incapable of safely operating; 2nd offense, transporting an open container of alcohol, violation of driving restrictions, improper driving on laned roadway and traffic contraband into correctional facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744146190527.png" alt="Williams photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Jus after 1:30p.m. April 4, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a reckless driver on U.S. 75 near 266th Road. The suspect was driving on the shoulder of the highway and into oncoming traffic.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle, a 2019 Toyota Avalon driving south on U.S. 75, just north of Holton. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near 192nd Road. As a result of the traffic stop, the driver, Josiah Desmond Jerrell Williams, 38, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of cocaine, possession of stimulant, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, incapable of safely operating; 2nd offense, transporting an open container of alcohol, violation of driving restrictions, improper driving on laned roadway and traffic contraband into correctional facility.

Sheriff: Reckless Kansas driver was transporting cocaine

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

The Immanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger, Kansas was built in 1887. The
church was moved from the unincorporated community in south Russell County to
south Hoisington in 1971. Mostly unused for decades, Debbie Deutsch has had her
eye on the structure for years.

Deutsch opened the Corinthians Hill Event
Center, just north of Great Bend and Barton Community College, in 2020 with the
idea to have a church on site for wedding ceremonies and receptions.


"This was always the vision," said Deutsch. "I wanted to be able to offer weddings that can be done in a church as well as for inclement weather. Rather than having to sit at a table to watch a bride and groom when it's pouring outside. You can at least go inside a church while it's pouring. It was always the plan."

With more than 40 years of interior design experience, Deutsch operates
Cornerstone Interiors in Great Bend, and eventually started decorating for
people’s weddings. 


Along with a house and venues on site for receptions and events, Deutsch hired
a moving company to haul the church Wednesday morning from its location near Hoisington
to the foundation installed at Corinthians Hill.


"I have wanted this church for about 10 years," said Deutsch. "Probably five years ago, I approached the owner and asked him if he would be willing to sell it. He said yes. I wasn't quite ready for it. When I was ready for it about a month ago, I approached him again. We made a deal, and the movers had availability."

Deutsch said the church is roughly 61 feet long by 32 feet wide and was listed
to fit “300 souls” inside. Renovations to the church will get started soon in
its new location.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

"I have a vision for the whole thing," added Deutsch. "I'm not done, trust me."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744218088588.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostThe Immanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger, Kansas was built in 1887. The
church was moved from the unincorporated community in south Russell County to
south Hoisington in 1971. Mostly unused for decades, Debbie Deutsch has had her
eye on the structure for years.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DFjBjgl076Q?si=_ttp4d6RoSmjnAK9&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Deutsch opened the Corinthians Hill Event
Center, just north of Great Bend and Barton Community College, in 2020 with the
idea to have a church on site for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
"This was always the vision," said Deutsch. "I wanted to be able to offer weddings that can be done in a church as well as for inclement weather. Rather than having to sit at a table to watch a bride and groom when it's pouring outside. You can at least go inside a church while it's pouring. It was always the plan."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744218056494.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>With more than 40 years of interior design experience, Deutsch operates
Cornerstone Interiors in Great Bend, and eventually started decorating for
people’s weddings. 
Along with a house and venues on site for receptions and events, Deutsch hired
a moving company to haul the church Wednesday morning from its location near Hoisington
to the foundation installed at Corinthians Hill.
"I have wanted this church for about 10 years," said Deutsch. "Probably five years ago, I approached the owner and asked him if he would be willing to sell it. He said yes. I wasn't quite ready for it. When I was ready for it about a month ago, I approached him again. We made a deal, and the movers had availability."Deutsch said the church is roughly 61 feet long by 32 feet wide and was listed
to fit “300 souls” inside. Renovations to the church will get started soon in
its new location.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;"I have a vision for the whole thing," added Deutsch. "I'm not done, trust me."

🎥Historic Kansas church moved a second time

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Peterbilt semi driven by Eugene Merrell, 48, Tonganoxie, was northbound on U.S. 69 just north of 270th Street&nbsp;n the number two lane.

The semi traveled off the road to the right, struck the bridge rail over 207th street, crossed into the number one lane, traveled off the road to the left, entered the median and overturned in the median. Vehicle one came to rest in the Southbound lanes facing East. The semi's water tank came to rest in the median approximately 50 feet north of the vehicle.

Merrell was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Johnson County Medical Examiners Office.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger Colin&nbsp;Cowdin, 28, Ottawa, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. They were both properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744314060936.png" alt="Image of the crash scene KC Scout camera" />
 <figcaption>Image of the crash scene KC Scout camera</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Peterbilt semi driven by Eugene Merrell, 48, Tonganoxie, was northbound on U.S. 69 just north of 270th Street&nbsp;n the number two lane.The semi traveled off the road to the right, struck the bridge rail over 207th street, crossed into the number one lane, traveled off the road to the left, entered the median and overturned in the median. Vehicle one came to rest in the Southbound lanes facing East. The semi's water tank came to rest in the median approximately 50 feet north of the vehicle.Merrell was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Johnson County Medical Examiners Office.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger Colin&nbsp;Cowdin, 28, Ottawa, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. They were both properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

Kansas man dies when semi carrying water tank overturns

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans adopted a budget resolution Thursday, clearing the way for both chambers of Congress to write a bill extending 2017 tax cuts and bolstering funding for border security and defense, though the blueprint set vastly different targets for spending cuts.

<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025100" target="_blank">The cliff-hanger 216-214 vote</a>&nbsp;followed a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill. Far-right members of the GOP Conference said repeatedly they wouldn’t accept the outline, since it requires the House to write a bill that cuts spending by at least $1.5 trillion, while senators set themselves a floor of $4 billion in cuts.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-punts-vote-trump-backed-budget-now-amid-battle-over-spending-cuts" target="_blank">forced to postpone a floor vote</a>&nbsp;on the budget resolution on Wednesday evening. But Johnson was able to secure the votes needed after he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced Thursday morning that they were in agreement about meeting the higher threshold for spending cuts.

Johnson said both chambers of Congress “are committed to finding at least $1.5 trillion in savings for the American people, while also preserving our essential programs.”

“Many of us are going to aim much higher and find those savings because we believe they are there,” Johnson said. “We want to make the government more efficient, effective and leaner for the American people. And I think that will serve every American of every party. And we’re happy to do that.”

Despite the difference in reconciliation instructions, Thune said the Senate is “aligned with the House” when it comes to cutting spending over the next decade.

“The speaker has talked about $1.5 trillion,” Thune said. “We have a lot of United States senators who believe that is a minimum.”

Thune added he believes it’s time for Congress “to get the country on a more sustainable fiscal path and that entails us taking a hard scrub of our government and figuring out where we can find those savings.”

Democrats, and some centrist Republicans, have expressed deep concerns the House’s instructions require the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to cut at least $880 billion.

The panel, which also oversees Medicare and other programs, could not recoup that level of spending without pulling hundreds of billions from Medicaid,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-tax-cut-plans-may-depend-savings-medicaid-what-it-and-who-relies-it" target="_blank">the state-federal program</a>&nbsp;for lower-income Americans and some people with disabilities.

The budget resolution has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who’s repeatedly urged the House to adopt the measure. “Great News! “The Big, Beautiful Bill” is coming along really well. Republicans are working together nicely. Biggest Tax Cuts in USA History!!! Getting close. DJT,” Trump posted on social media Thursday morning prior to the vote.

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz were the only members of the Republican Party to vote against approval.

“If you were trying to hasten financial collapse of our country and bribe voters to go along with it, the strategy wouldn’t look much different than what Congress is doing today,” Massie wrote on social media. “The big beautiful bill cuts taxes while keeping spending on an increasingly unsustainable trajectory.”

Spartz wrote in a social media post of her own that the reconciliation instructions “we voted on today are still setting us up for the largest deficit increase in the history of our Republic, &amp; opening up a ‘pandora’s box’ by changing accounting rules to hide it.

“In good conscience, I couldn’t vote YES.”

The House adopting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/14/text" target="_blank">68-page budget resolution</a>&nbsp;only marks the start of the months-long journey of writing and voting on the reconciliation package.

Republicans hope to use that bill to permanently extend the 2017 tax law, increase spending on border security and defense by hundreds of billions of dollars and rework energy policy.

The budget resolution includes different budget targets for many of those goals, and for raising the debt limit. It calls on the House to increase the country’s borrowing authority by $4 trillion, while the Senate’s instructions say that chamber would lift the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion.

Writing the various elements of the reconciliation package will fall to 11 committee chairs in the House and 10 committee leaders in the Senate, as well as Johnson, Thune and a lot of staffers.

In the House, the Agriculture Committee needs to slice at least $230 billion; Education and Workforce must reduce spending by a minimum of $330 billion; Energy and Commerce needs to cut no less than $880 billion; Financial Services must find at least $1 billion in savings; Natural Resources has a minimum of $1 billion; Oversight and Government Reform has a floor of $50 billion; and the Transportation Committee needs to reduce deficits by $10 billion or more.

Four Senate committees — Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP — must each find at least $1 billion in spending cuts over the 10-year budget window.

House committees that can increase the federal deficit include the Armed Services Committee with a cap of $100 billion in new spending, Homeland Security with a $90 billion ceiling for new funding for programs it oversees, Judiciary with a maximum of $110 billion and Ways and Means, which can increase deficits up to $4.5 trillion for tax cuts.

Senate committees also got instructions for increasing the deficit, which will allow them to spend up to the dollar amount outlined in the budget resolution. Those committees include Armed Services at $150 billion; Commerce, Science and Transportation with $20 billion; Environment and Public Works at $1 billion; Finance with $1.5 trillion in new deficits, likely for tax cuts; Homeland Security at $175 billion and Judiciary with $175 billion.

If the process to reach agreement on a final reconciliation package is anything like the path to adopting the budget resolution, it will be long, winding and filled with drama.

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-adopts-plan-b-budget-gop-seeks-billions-border-security" target="_blank">voted for a completely different budget resolution</a>&nbsp;in February that would have set up Congress to enact Republicans’ agenda in two reconciliation bills instead of one.

Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., referred to the reconciliation instructions in that budget proposal as “Plan B.”

That tax-and-spending blueprint would have had lawmakers first write a bill increasing funding for border security and defense, and rewriting energy policy, before debating another bill later in the year to extend the 2017 tax law and cut federal spending.

The House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-overcome-own-members-doubts-push-through-sweeping-budget" target="_blank">voted about a week later to approve its original budget resolution</a>, but not without a bit of theatrics.

Johnson didn’t originally have the votes and opted to recess the chamber before calling lawmakers back about 15 minutes later to approve that version of the budget resolution.

The Senate made changes to its reconciliation instructions in the House-approved budget resolution, before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">voting to send it back across the Capitol</a>&nbsp;for their colleagues to vote on final approval, which they did Thursday.

Each time the Senate voted on a budget resolution it undertook a marathon amendment voting session, known as a vote-a-rama, where lawmakers stay on the floor overnight to debate various aspects of the outline.

Senators will need to undertake one more of those when they debate the actual reconciliation package later this year, though the stakes will be much higher.

The budget resolution is a blueprint for how Congress wants to shape tax and spending policy during the 10-year budget window. It’s not a bill so it never becomes law. And it contains no actual money, it’s simply a plan for how lawmakers want to structure policy.

The reconciliation package, once written, will have the chance of becoming law, so any amendments offered during the Senate’s vote-a-rama will carry greater weight than the proposals voted on when the chamber took up the two budget resolutions.

Democrats will have an opportunity to challenge centrist GOP senators on whether they support or want to remove every single policy that Republicans put in their reconciliation package.

That could create real issues for GOP leadership if they include tax policy or spending cuts that cannot garner the backing of senators like Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, Maine’s Susan Collins and others.

The final reconciliation package will need support from nearly every Republican in Congress. GOP leaders will not be able to lose more than three House lawmakers or three Republican senators, under their very slender majorities.&nbsp;

Four or more Republicans opposing the reconciliation package in one chamber, either because it cuts too much spending or doesn’t cut enough, would likely prevent it from becoming law.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744299694388.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune during the press briefing ahead of the vote -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune during the press briefing ahead of the vote -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans adopted a budget resolution Thursday, clearing the way for both chambers of Congress to write a bill extending 2017 tax cuts and bolstering funding for border security and defense, though the blueprint set vastly different targets for spending cuts.<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025100" target="_blank">The cliff-hanger 216-214 vote</a>&nbsp;followed a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill. Far-right members of the GOP Conference said repeatedly they wouldn’t accept the outline, since it requires the House to write a bill that cuts spending by at least $1.5 trillion, while senators set themselves a floor of $4 billion in cuts.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-punts-vote-trump-backed-budget-now-amid-battle-over-spending-cuts" target="_blank">forced to postpone a floor vote</a>&nbsp;on the budget resolution on Wednesday evening. But Johnson was able to secure the votes needed after he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced Thursday morning that they were in agreement about meeting the higher threshold for spending cuts.Johnson said both chambers of Congress “are committed to finding at least $1.5 trillion in savings for the American people, while also preserving our essential programs.”“Many of us are going to aim much higher and find those savings because we believe they are there,” Johnson said. “We want to make the government more efficient, effective and leaner for the American people. And I think that will serve every American of every party. And we’re happy to do that.”Despite the difference in reconciliation instructions, Thune said the Senate is “aligned with the House” when it comes to cutting spending over the next decade.“The speaker has talked about $1.5 trillion,” Thune said. “We have a lot of United States senators who believe that is a minimum.”Thune added he believes it’s time for Congress “to get the country on a more sustainable fiscal path and that entails us taking a hard scrub of our government and figuring out where we can find those savings.”Democrats, and some centrist Republicans, have expressed deep concerns the House’s instructions require the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid, to cut at least $880 billion.The panel, which also oversees Medicare and other programs, could not recoup that level of spending without pulling hundreds of billions from Medicaid,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-tax-cut-plans-may-depend-savings-medicaid-what-it-and-who-relies-it" target="_blank">the state-federal program</a>&nbsp;for lower-income Americans and some people with disabilities.The budget resolution has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, who’s repeatedly urged the House to adopt the measure. “Great News! “The Big, Beautiful Bill” is coming along really well. Republicans are working together nicely. Biggest Tax Cuts in USA History!!! Getting close. DJT,” Trump posted on social media Thursday morning prior to the vote.Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie and Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz were the only members of the Republican Party to vote against approval.“If you were trying to hasten financial collapse of our country and bribe voters to go along with it, the strategy wouldn’t look much different than what Congress is doing today,” Massie wrote on social media. “The big beautiful bill cuts taxes while keeping spending on an increasingly unsustainable trajectory.”Spartz wrote in a social media post of her own that the reconciliation instructions “we voted on today are still setting us up for the largest deficit increase in the history of our Republic, &amp; opening up a ‘pandora’s box’ by changing accounting rules to hide it.“In good conscience, I couldn’t vote YES.”<h2>Only a beginning</h2>The House adopting the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/14/text" target="_blank">68-page budget resolution</a>&nbsp;only marks the start of the months-long journey of writing and voting on the reconciliation package.Republicans hope to use that bill to permanently extend the 2017 tax law, increase spending on border security and defense by hundreds of billions of dollars and rework energy policy.The budget resolution includes different budget targets for many of those goals, and for raising the debt limit. It calls on the House to increase the country’s borrowing authority by $4 trillion, while the Senate’s instructions say that chamber would lift the debt ceiling by up to $5 trillion.Writing the various elements of the reconciliation package will fall to 11 committee chairs in the House and 10 committee leaders in the Senate, as well as Johnson, Thune and a lot of staffers.In the House, the Agriculture Committee needs to slice at least $230 billion; Education and Workforce must reduce spending by a minimum of $330 billion; Energy and Commerce needs to cut no less than $880 billion; Financial Services must find at least $1 billion in savings; Natural Resources has a minimum of $1 billion; Oversight and Government Reform has a floor of $50 billion; and the Transportation Committee needs to reduce deficits by $10 billion or more.Four Senate committees — Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP — must each find at least $1 billion in spending cuts over the 10-year budget window.House committees that can increase the federal deficit include the Armed Services Committee with a cap of $100 billion in new spending, Homeland Security with a $90 billion ceiling for new funding for programs it oversees, Judiciary with a maximum of $110 billion and Ways and Means, which can increase deficits up to $4.5 trillion for tax cuts.Senate committees also got instructions for increasing the deficit, which will allow them to spend up to the dollar amount outlined in the budget resolution. Those committees include Armed Services at $150 billion; Commerce, Science and Transportation with $20 billion; Environment and Public Works at $1 billion; Finance with $1.5 trillion in new deficits, likely for tax cuts; Homeland Security at $175 billion and Judiciary with $175 billion.<h2>The back story</h2>If the process to reach agreement on a final reconciliation package is anything like the path to adopting the budget resolution, it will be long, winding and filled with drama.The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-adopts-plan-b-budget-gop-seeks-billions-border-security" target="_blank">voted for a completely different budget resolution</a>&nbsp;in February that would have set up Congress to enact Republicans’ agenda in two reconciliation bills instead of one.Budget Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., referred to the reconciliation instructions in that budget proposal as “Plan B.”That tax-and-spending blueprint would have had lawmakers first write a bill increasing funding for border security and defense, and rewriting energy policy, before debating another bill later in the year to extend the 2017 tax law and cut federal spending.The House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-overcome-own-members-doubts-push-through-sweeping-budget" target="_blank">voted about a week later to approve its original budget resolution</a>, but not without a bit of theatrics.Johnson didn’t originally have the votes and opted to recess the chamber before calling lawmakers back about 15 minutes later to approve that version of the budget resolution.The Senate made changes to its reconciliation instructions in the House-approved budget resolution, before&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">voting to send it back across the Capitol</a>&nbsp;for their colleagues to vote on final approval, which they did Thursday.<h2>Politically difficult votes ahead</h2>Each time the Senate voted on a budget resolution it undertook a marathon amendment voting session, known as a vote-a-rama, where lawmakers stay on the floor overnight to debate various aspects of the outline.Senators will need to undertake one more of those when they debate the actual reconciliation package later this year, though the stakes will be much higher.The budget resolution is a blueprint for how Congress wants to shape tax and spending policy during the 10-year budget window. It’s not a bill so it never becomes law. And it contains no actual money, it’s simply a plan for how lawmakers want to structure policy.The reconciliation package, once written, will have the chance of becoming law, so any amendments offered during the Senate’s vote-a-rama will carry greater weight than the proposals voted on when the chamber took up the two budget resolutions.Democrats will have an opportunity to challenge centrist GOP senators on whether they support or want to remove every single policy that Republicans put in their reconciliation package.That could create real issues for GOP leadership if they include tax policy or spending cuts that cannot garner the backing of senators like Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski, Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell, Maine’s Susan Collins and others.The final reconciliation package will need support from nearly every Republican in Congress. GOP leaders will not be able to lose more than three House lawmakers or three Republican senators, under their very slender majorities.&nbsp;Four or more Republicans opposing the reconciliation package in one chamber, either because it cuts too much spending or doesn’t cut enough, would likely prevent it from becoming law.&nbsp;

Trump-supported budget squeaks by in U.S. House after GOP assurances of vast spending cuts

MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating the meth overdose involving a toddler.

Just before noon Wednesday, police were dispatched to 320 Pacific Avenue in Osawatomie for a 2-year-old inn medical distress, according to a media release from police.

First responders were informed the girl was having a seizure due to ingesting an unknown amount of methamphetamine. When police arrived the child was in critical condition. Miami County EMS transported the child to Children's Mercy Hospiital.

During the investigation, officers applied for and received a search warrant for the home, and found a small amount of marijuana along with meth and marijuana paraphernalia.

Police also learned that, in fear of getting in trouble, the biological mother of the child never called for medical attention for the child. The woman did destroy, "flush" evidence of the meth and the child's overdose.&nbsp; A grandparent contacted police about what actually happened, according to Chief of Police David Stuteville.&nbsp;

Police took 34-year-old Jacci Marie Hays into custody on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment, interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

Stuteville asked the community to keep the child and first responders who worked the case in your thoughts and prayers. "Cases like this take a toll on everyone involved."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744281009009.png" alt="Hays photo from her drug arrest in Sept. 2024 in Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Hays photo from her drug arrest in Sept. 2024 in Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating the meth overdose involving a toddler.Just before noon Wednesday, police were dispatched to 320 Pacific Avenue in Osawatomie for a 2-year-old inn medical distress, according to a media release from police.First responders were informed the girl was having a seizure due to ingesting an unknown amount of methamphetamine. When police arrived the child was in critical condition. Miami County EMS transported the child to Children's Mercy Hospiital.During the investigation, officers applied for and received a search warrant for the home, and found a small amount of marijuana along with meth and marijuana paraphernalia.Police also learned that, in fear of getting in trouble, the biological mother of the child never called for medical attention for the child. The woman did destroy, "flush" evidence of the meth and the child's overdose.&nbsp; A grandparent contacted police about what actually happened, according to Chief of Police David Stuteville.&nbsp;Police took 34-year-old Jacci Marie Hays into custody on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment, interference with law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.Stuteville asked the community to keep the child and first responders who worked the case in your thoughts and prayers. "Cases like this take a toll on everyone involved."

Kansas mom jailed after 2-year-old overdoses on meth

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

Democrat praises investment in economy, water policy; blasts K-12 decisions

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly made an end-of-session plea to the Kansas Legislature after signing a massive state budget bill investing in economic development, water resources and disability services while triggering more than 35 vetoes of provisions labeled as unwarranted earmarks, power grabs or financial gaffes.

Kelly, who has leaned on her veto pen in disputes with House and Senate Republicans since taking office in 2019, said she was concerned the budget endangered the state’s long-term fiscal health and could jeopardize funding for essential programs and services that mattered the most to Kansans. She said it was folly for GOP leadership in the Legislature to adjourn the annual session before release of updated revenue reports evaluating financial implications of the budget.

“This budget will put Kansas in the red by fiscal year 2028,” Kelly said Wednesday in a message to the Legislature. “Given the ongoing economic uncertainty we are experiencing, I urge the Legislature to seriously consider revisiting this budget.”

She said Kansas demonstrated financial resilience during the past seven years after enduring damaging tax and spending decisions under a previous governor. She repeated a warning to not ignore the history of careless decisions leading deep cuts, unnecessary debt and higher taxes.

“We risk losing all of that progress and returning to the dark days of four-day school weeks and crumbling roads and bridges if we don’t correct the structural imbalance we are currently facing,” the governor said.

Kelly said she was enthusiastic about portions of Senate Bill 125 that provided $6 million to safeguard Kansas’ water supply, a $1.75 million increase in matching funds for local conservation districts and $3 million for a pilot project to manage sedimentation in John Redmond Reservoir.

She thanked the Legislature for $50 million invested in the state’s aviation industry because those commitments would continue “the state’s historic success” in economy development. She praised lawmakers for allocating $1 million to create rural remote workspaces as well as investments to attract innovative businesses in cybersecurity and biotechnology.

The budget appropriately invested in early childhood education while adding $10 million for special education programs in the state’s K-12 public education system, Kelly said. There was $1.25 million to expand rural child care, she said. The governor appreciated $14 million to help 200 people with intellectual or developmental disabilities move off the state’s waiting list for services.

However, the governor said it was troubling the Legislature didn’t address rising health costs by expanding eligibility for Medicaid. Forty states and the District of Columbia have opened that door to billions of dollars in federal funding aimed at lower-income residents without quality, affordable health care.

“Not only will expanding Medicaid make it easier and more affordable for Kansas families to access health care,” she said, “it would also have substantial economic benefits for Kansans.”

She line-item vetoed a provision requiring the state to unenroll and reenroll people in the Medicaid program at an annual cost of $3.5 million to $4.3 million. She said federal regulations forbid caregivers and parents from being denied Medicaid health care coverage without an individual review. In addition, the governor said, the concept was a “highly inefficient, administratively burdensome, costly process.”

Kelly, known as a public education advocate as governor and during her 14-year tour in the Kansas Senate, said she was disappointed with a collection of budget decisions regarding K-12 schools. She was critical of the elimination of funding for teacher professional development programs and literacy training for teachers.

She objected to the “extremely troubling” decision by the Legislature to finance grants for emergency medical equipment in private schools with money that should be applied to public schools. She suggested the maneuver raised questions about whether lawmakers were challenging Kansas Supreme Court rulings in the Gannon v. State school finance lawsuit that concluded the Legislature violated the Kansas Constitution by inadequately funding schools.

“While I have corrected this via a line-item veto, I remain extremely concerned about the future of education funding in Kansas,” Kelly said. “The Legislature must stop playing games with school finance, especially when it underfunds our public schools and could land the state back in court, relitigating issues we’ve worked to solve in a bipartisan manner.”

The governor also vetoed a budget item that directed school districts to adopt an online curriculum not vetted by the Kansas Board of Education. Constitutional authority for curriculum decisions rested with the elected 10-member state Board of Education, she said.

Kelly used a veto pen to dispatch the appropriation of $3 million to the state treasurer, rather than to an executive branch agency, for operation of the “pregnancy compassion awareness” program. Her veto message recalled the August 2022 statewide vote that defeated a proposed amendment to the Constitution reversing a state Supreme Court decision that women had a basic constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy.

“I continue to believe that housing the pregnancy crisis center program in the office of the state treasurer is inappropriate and simply politically motivated,” the governor said. “Kansas women facing unplanned pregnancies deserve meaningful support from medical professionals who can provide evidence-based guidance, not from largely unregulated pregnancy resource centers.”

In addition, Kelly vetoed creation of an “unvetted program with no guardrails” in the office of state treasurer that would help expand the state’s workforce. She said it was inefficient for the Legislature to defund an existing workforce program, “Love, Kansas,” in the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Kelly vetoed a provision in the budget that would have increased the cost of office space for journalists in the Capitol.

“This item appears to be targeted at the Kansas Capitol press corps to stymie their ability to effectively report on the actions occurring in the people’s house,” the governor said. “Provisions like this set a dangerous precedent and undermine one of the core principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.”

Kelly said she couldn’t allow the Legislature to approve a no-bid $1 million earmark for the O’Connell Children’s Shelter in Lawrence. She said the expenditure circumvented established methods of awarding grants that would include rigorous review of qualified applicants.

“We have made great progress towards eliminating no-bid contracts recently,” Kelly said. “We should not take an unnecessary step backwards.”

Kelly vetoed a directive that the state Department of Commerce devote $500,000 to Wichita State University’s aviation research institute to work on unmanned aircraft systems and $500,000 to the Salina campus of Kansas State University for development of a commercial credentialing process for drones.

“The Department of Commerce did not request this item and it did not go through the agency vetting process,” she said. “I cannot ignore the deficiencies in the process that led to this being included in the budget.”

The governor vetoed a $750,000 earmark for a feasibility study on launching a dental school at Wichita State. She urged higher education and dentistry professionals to collaborate on a strategy for starting the school and present it to the 2026 Legislature.

Meanwhile, Kelly vetoed $500,000 to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for a forensic genetic genealogy DNA analysis system to identify human remains. The KBI didn’t request the funding through the normal appropriations process, the governor said.

Kelly deleted a plan calling on the Kansas Highway Patrol to collaborate with a third-party entity to build an aviation hangar in Wichita that would be leased by the state.

She also vetoed “poorly written” provisos directing the state Department of Health and Environment to spend not less than $250,000 on preventing transmission of tuberculosis and a separate requirement that KDHE spend up to $96,000 to control tuberculosis. A $263,000 earmark for cerebral palsy research, not requested by KDHE, was vetoed because “intent behind this budget proviso is unclear,” the governor said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744278649866.jpeg" alt="emocratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed the Republican-led Legislature's large budget bill after issuing dozens of line-item vetoes and recommending lawmaker revisit the blueprint before adjourning the 2025 session. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>emocratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed the Republican-led Legislature's large budget bill after issuing dozens of line-item vetoes and recommending lawmaker revisit the blueprint before adjourning the 2025 session. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Democrat praises investment in economy, water policy; blasts K-12 decisions</h2>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly made an end-of-session plea to the Kansas Legislature after signing a massive state budget bill investing in economic development, water resources and disability services while triggering more than 35 vetoes of provisions labeled as unwarranted earmarks, power grabs or financial gaffes.Kelly, who has leaned on her veto pen in disputes with House and Senate Republicans since taking office in 2019, said she was concerned the budget endangered the state’s long-term fiscal health and could jeopardize funding for essential programs and services that mattered the most to Kansans. She said it was folly for GOP leadership in the Legislature to adjourn the annual session before release of updated revenue reports evaluating financial implications of the budget.“This budget will put Kansas in the red by fiscal year 2028,” Kelly said Wednesday in a message to the Legislature. “Given the ongoing economic uncertainty we are experiencing, I urge the Legislature to seriously consider revisiting this budget.”She said Kansas demonstrated financial resilience during the past seven years after enduring damaging tax and spending decisions under a previous governor. She repeated a warning to not ignore the history of careless decisions leading deep cuts, unnecessary debt and higher taxes.“We risk losing all of that progress and returning to the dark days of four-day school weeks and crumbling roads and bridges if we don’t correct the structural imbalance we are currently facing,” the governor said.<h2>Good news … right thing</h2>Kelly said she was enthusiastic about portions of Senate Bill 125 that provided $6 million to safeguard Kansas’ water supply, a $1.75 million increase in matching funds for local conservation districts and $3 million for a pilot project to manage sedimentation in John Redmond Reservoir.She thanked the Legislature for $50 million invested in the state’s aviation industry because those commitments would continue “the state’s historic success” in economy development. She praised lawmakers for allocating $1 million to create rural remote workspaces as well as investments to attract innovative businesses in cybersecurity and biotechnology.The budget appropriately invested in early childhood education while adding $10 million for special education programs in the state’s K-12 public education system, Kelly said. There was $1.25 million to expand rural child care, she said. The governor appreciated $14 million to help 200 people with intellectual or developmental disabilities move off the state’s waiting list for services.However, the governor said it was troubling the Legislature didn’t address rising health costs by expanding eligibility for Medicaid. Forty states and the District of Columbia have opened that door to billions of dollars in federal funding aimed at lower-income residents without quality, affordable health care.“Not only will expanding Medicaid make it easier and more affordable for Kansas families to access health care,” she said, “it would also have substantial economic benefits for Kansans.”She line-item vetoed a provision requiring the state to unenroll and reenroll people in the Medicaid program at an annual cost of $3.5 million to $4.3 million. She said federal regulations forbid caregivers and parents from being denied Medicaid health care coverage without an individual review. In addition, the governor said, the concept was a “highly inefficient, administratively burdensome, costly process.”<h2>Education, ‘falls short’</h2>Kelly, known as a public education advocate as governor and during her 14-year tour in the Kansas Senate, said she was disappointed with a collection of budget decisions regarding K-12 schools. She was critical of the elimination of funding for teacher professional development programs and literacy training for teachers.She objected to the “extremely troubling” decision by the Legislature to finance grants for emergency medical equipment in private schools with money that should be applied to public schools. She suggested the maneuver raised questions about whether lawmakers were challenging Kansas Supreme Court rulings in the Gannon v. State school finance lawsuit that concluded the Legislature violated the Kansas Constitution by inadequately funding schools.“While I have corrected this via a line-item veto, I remain extremely concerned about the future of education funding in Kansas,” Kelly said. “The Legislature must stop playing games with school finance, especially when it underfunds our public schools and could land the state back in court, relitigating issues we’ve worked to solve in a bipartisan manner.”The governor also vetoed a budget item that directed school districts to adopt an online curriculum not vetted by the Kansas Board of Education. Constitutional authority for curriculum decisions rested with the elected 10-member state Board of Education, she said.<h2>Power grabs</h2>Kelly used a veto pen to dispatch the appropriation of $3 million to the state treasurer, rather than to an executive branch agency, for operation of the “pregnancy compassion awareness” program. Her veto message recalled the August 2022 statewide vote that defeated a proposed amendment to the Constitution reversing a state Supreme Court decision that women had a basic constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy.“I continue to believe that housing the pregnancy crisis center program in the office of the state treasurer is inappropriate and simply politically motivated,” the governor said. “Kansas women facing unplanned pregnancies deserve meaningful support from medical professionals who can provide evidence-based guidance, not from largely unregulated pregnancy resource centers.”In addition, Kelly vetoed creation of an “unvetted program with no guardrails” in the office of state treasurer that would help expand the state’s workforce. She said it was inefficient for the Legislature to defund an existing workforce program, “Love, Kansas,” in the Kansas Department of Commerce.Kelly vetoed a provision in the budget that would have increased the cost of office space for journalists in the Capitol.“This item appears to be targeted at the Kansas Capitol press corps to stymie their ability to effectively report on the actions occurring in the people’s house,” the governor said. “Provisions like this set a dangerous precedent and undermine one of the core principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.”<h2>Special-interest earmarks</h2>Kelly said she couldn’t allow the Legislature to approve a no-bid $1 million earmark for the O’Connell Children’s Shelter in Lawrence. She said the expenditure circumvented established methods of awarding grants that would include rigorous review of qualified applicants.“We have made great progress towards eliminating no-bid contracts recently,” Kelly said. “We should not take an unnecessary step backwards.”Kelly vetoed a directive that the state Department of Commerce devote $500,000 to Wichita State University’s aviation research institute to work on unmanned aircraft systems and $500,000 to the Salina campus of Kansas State University for development of a commercial credentialing process for drones.“The Department of Commerce did not request this item and it did not go through the agency vetting process,” she said. “I cannot ignore the deficiencies in the process that led to this being included in the budget.”The governor vetoed a $750,000 earmark for a feasibility study on launching a dental school at Wichita State. She urged higher education and dentistry professionals to collaborate on a strategy for starting the school and present it to the 2026 Legislature.Meanwhile, Kelly vetoed $500,000 to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for a forensic genetic genealogy DNA analysis system to identify human remains. The KBI didn’t request the funding through the normal appropriations process, the governor said.Kelly deleted a plan calling on the Kansas Highway Patrol to collaborate with a third-party entity to build an aviation hangar in Wichita that would be leased by the state.She also vetoed “poorly written” provisos directing the state Department of Health and Environment to spend not less than $250,000 on preventing transmission of tuberculosis and a separate requirement that KDHE spend up to $96,000 to control tuberculosis. A $263,000 earmark for cerebral palsy research, not requested by KDHE, was vetoed because “intent behind this budget proviso is unclear,” the governor said.

Gov. Laura Kelly signs budget bill, issues dozens of line-item vetoes, asks Legislature to try again

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faces charges for a violent robbery that critically injured an 89-year-old woman.

&nbsp;today announced a felony charge against a Kansas City man who snatched a purse from an elderly woman downtown last month.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2565/Locke-Zachary---Complaint">Zachary Locke faces</a>, 42, who snatched a purse from the elderly woman is charged with one count of 1st Degree Robbery, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2564/Locke-Zachary---PC_Redacted">According to court records</a>, on March 24, Kansas City police were dispatched near West 12th Street and Central Street on March 24, where they found the elderly victim lying on the sidewalk. She said she was walking when she felt a tug on her purse from behind. She held on to her purse but fell due to the force of Locke pulling her purse from her. She was taken to an area hospital and sustained multiple broken bones.&nbsp;

Detectives identified the defendant after area canvassing and a review of camera footage. In an interview with detectives, the Locke admitted he stole the victim’s purse and saw her fall to the ground.&nbsp; &nbsp;He is being held without bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744058584219.png" alt="Locke photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Locke photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faces charges for a violent robbery that critically injured an 89-year-old woman.&nbsp;today announced a felony charge against a Kansas City man who snatched a purse from an elderly woman downtown last month.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2565/Locke-Zachary---Complaint">Zachary Locke faces</a>, 42, who snatched a purse from the elderly woman is charged with one count of 1st Degree Robbery, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2564/Locke-Zachary---PC_Redacted">According to court records</a>, on March 24, Kansas City police were dispatched near West 12th Street and Central Street on March 24, where they found the elderly victim lying on the sidewalk. She said she was walking when she felt a tug on her purse from behind. She held on to her purse but fell due to the force of Locke pulling her purse from her. She was taken to an area hospital and sustained multiple broken bones.&nbsp;Detectives identified the defendant after area canvassing and a review of camera footage. In an interview with detectives, the Locke admitted he stole the victim’s purse and saw her fall to the ground.&nbsp; &nbsp;He is being held without bond.&nbsp;

Man robbed, severely injured 89-year-old Kansas City woman

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a violent Kansas offender on new allegations after an arrest.

Just after 1p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; Sheriff Deputies responded to a residence to check the welfare of a minor child at 318 Friend Street in the City of Soldier, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Deputies encountered a man behind the residence who barricaded himself inside a camping trailer. Deputies identified the man as Jose L. P. Alacantar Jr., 52, of Holton. 

Alacantar was wanted for a parole violation. He was on parole for aggravated assault with a weapon. Shortly before 5:30 P.M. Alacantar surrendered to deputies.  Alacantar is being held in the Jackson County Jail for the felony warrant and requested charges that include interference with law enforcement and registered offender violations.&nbsp; He has been registered since January for a conviction in Allen County for felony aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon, according to the offender registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744228973082.png" alt="Alcantar photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Alcantar photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a violent Kansas offender on new allegations after an arrest.Just after 1p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp; Sheriff Deputies responded to a residence to check the welfare of a minor child at 318 Friend Street in the City of Soldier, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Deputies encountered a man behind the residence who barricaded himself inside a camping trailer. Deputies identified the man as Jose L. P. Alacantar Jr., 52, of Holton. Alacantar was wanted for a parole violation. He was on parole for aggravated assault with a weapon. Shortly before 5:30 P.M. Alacantar surrendered to deputies. Alacantar is being held in the Jackson County Jail for the felony warrant and requested charges that include interference with law enforcement and registered offender violations.&nbsp; He has been registered since January for a conviction in Allen County for felony aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon, according to the offender registry.

Registered offender jailed after standoff at Kansas home

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will pause his sweeping tariffs for 90 days on countries willing to negotiate new trade deals but will not relent on China, according to a post Wednesday on his social media platform.

Stocks surged upon his announcement after days of wrecked markets erased trillions of dollars from investors. The Nasdaq saw the biggest single-day hike in five years as of Wednesday afternoon, according to financial media.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744061043393.png" alt="&nbsp;President Trump during an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday- White. House photo" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;President Trump during an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday- White. House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will pause his sweeping tariffs for 90 days on countries willing to negotiate new trade deals but will not relent on China, according to a post Wednesday on his social media platform.Stocks surged upon his announcement after days of wrecked markets erased trillions of dollars from investors. The Nasdaq saw the biggest single-day hike in five years as of Wednesday afternoon, according to financial media.The pause will not extend to China, which he announced will see a further hike to 125% on imports to the U.S. “effective immediately,” he said.“At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable,” Trump posted on Truth Social.“Conversely, and based on the fact that more than 75 Countries have called Representatives of the United States, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and the USTR, to negotiate a solution to the subjects being discussed relative to Trade, Trade Barriers, Tariffs, Currency Manipulation, and Non Monetary Tariffs, and that these Countries have not, at my strong suggestion, retaliated in any way, shape, or form against the United States, I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately,” Trump continued.The tariffs, which the administration maintains are “reciprocal,” went into effect just after midnight Wednesday.The announcement came just hours after the president posted on social media “BE COOL!” and “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.”Trump’s sudden pause also came hours after U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nervous-senators-both-parties-press-trump-trade-rep-tariffs-high-104" target="_blank">defended</a>&nbsp;the steep tariffs before nervous lawmakers on Capitol Hill for the second day in a row.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for a list of countries whose tariff rates will drop to a universal baseline of 10%.<h2>A rollercoaster few days</h2>Trump’s April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement sent shock waves through the economy after he unveiled import taxes on trading partners and allies, some as high as 46% as in the case of Vietnam, a major tech exporter to the U.S.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters outside the White House Wednesday that the tariffs were “a successful negotiating strategy.”“As I told everyone a week ago in this very spot, do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded,” Bessent said.The administration met with Vietnamese officials Wednesday, according to Bessent, and meetings with Japan, South Korea and India are expected shortly, though he didn’t provide details.When asked by reporters if Trump’s tariff policy was mainly now focused on China, Bessent said “it’s about bad actors” but added that China “is the biggest source of the U.S. trade problems.”The trade war — though Bessent said he is “not calling it a trade war” — between the U.S. and China expanded rapidly overnight Wednesday when Chinese officials raised levies on U.S. goods to 84%.“The US’s practice of escalating tariffs on China is a mistake on top of a mistake, which seriously infringes on China’s legitimate rights and interests and seriously damages the rules-based multilateral trading system,” according to a translation of a&nbsp;<a href="https://gss.mof.gov.cn/gzdt/zhengcefabu/202504/t20250409_3961684.htm" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Wednesday from the country’s State Council Tariff Commission.<h2>European Union</h2>Bessent did not answer shouted questions about whether the European Union would see a 90-day reprieve from Trump’s 20% tax on EU imports.The European bloc of 27 nations approved new tariffs on a range of American goods Wednesday in retaliation to an earlier round of levies that Trump imposed.EU lawmakers did not yet publish a final list of the U.S. products it targeted Wednesday.The EU import taxes are set to begin April 15 and are in response to Trump’s “unjustified and damaging” 25% tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum that went into effect in mid-March, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_25_1025" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;from the European Commission.“These countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the US agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome,” the statement continued.