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

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%.

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.

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.

<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.

Trump sets 90-day pause on many tariffs, hikes China to 125%

Governor signs bill tweaking K-12 public school graduation rate calculations

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Tuesday establishing a task force dedicated to developing a long-term investment strategy for Kansas water resources modeled after the state’s rolling 10-year transportation program.

The Democratic governor praised members of the Republican-led Legislature for approving&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2172_00_03252025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2172</a>&nbsp;to create a dedicated funding source for addressing&nbsp; the state’s water challenges. The task force with 13 voting members must work to get a better handle on evaluation of water appropriations and state water laws.&nbsp; The task force will submit to Kelly and the Legislature a preliminary report in 2026 and a final report in 2027.

“Developing a comprehensive, long-term and sustainable water program is long overdue and a significant step forward in ensuring Kansas’ water supply is preserved for generations to come,” Kelly said. “I commend the Legislature for advancing my proposal and acting on this critical issue.”

The bill passed the House on a vote of 116-8 and it received unanimous support in the Senate. In January, Kelly recommended the Legislature authorize the task force. The Kansas Water Authority and Kelly administration conducted 14 public meetings last year to gather input on water policy.

The task force, with members from each of the state’s five conservation regions, must work to evaluate major risks to Kansas’ water quality and quantity, including issues of current and future economic growth. It must evaluate water infrastructure needs in every corner of the state.

“This is a critical step forward in addressing Kansas’ water challenges by establishing a dedicated task force and work group to guide our state’s water policy and funding decisions,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover.&nbsp;“This bill reflects a bipartisan legislative commitment to ensuring sustainable water resources for future generations, and I’m proud to see it move forward with the governor’s support.”

Kelly also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_sb45_01_032525.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 45</a>, which created an alternative school district graduation rate calculation that excluded students who transferred to homeschools and nonaccredited private schools or who enrolled as a credit-deficient student.

The governor signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_sb54_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 54</a>&nbsp;to require disclosure in court proceedings of third-party litigation funding agreements as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2118_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2118</a>&nbsp;requiring private entities that solicit a fee for filing or retrieving government documents to tell consumers the solicitations weren’t made on behalf of a government agency.

Kelly put a signature to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2030_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2030</a>&nbsp;to exclude dealers and manufacturers of nonmotorized trailers from the vehicle dealers licensing law. It wouldn’t apply to dealers of semitrailers and travel trailers.

Her signing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2122_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2122</a>&nbsp;meant the annual license fee of electric and hybrid vehicles would increase. The fee for electric hybrid vehicles would go from $50 to $70, while the plug-in electric hybrid vehicle fee would rise from $50 to $100. The all-electric vehicle would be hit with a fee of $165, up from $100.

She placed into law contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2016_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2016</a>&nbsp;to give active military members, their spouses and dependents stationed in Kansas but maintaining residency in another state to serve as poll workers for Kansas elections. In addition, the bill permitted county election officers to rely on obituaries posted online to remove a voter’s name from registration books.

The governor agreed to sign&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2168_01_03242025landsurveyreports.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2168</a>&nbsp;to extend the time required for filing of public land surveys from 30 days to 90 days to comply with industry standards. Meanwhile, Kelly signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2242_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2242</a>&nbsp;to authorize a Kansas governor to accept requests for concurrent jurisdiction from the federal government.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729533905311.png" alt="&nbsp;Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signs a bill complying with her request for the Legislature to create a special task force to put together a comprehensive&nbsp;water planning and investment task force modeled after the state's 10-year planning horizon for highway projects. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signs a bill complying with her request for the Legislature to create a special task force to put together a comprehensive&nbsp;water planning and investment task force modeled after the state's 10-year planning horizon for highway projects. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Governor signs bill tweaking K-12 public school graduation rate calculations</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Tuesday establishing a task force dedicated to developing a long-term investment strategy for Kansas water resources modeled after the state’s rolling 10-year transportation program.The Democratic governor praised members of the Republican-led Legislature for approving&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2172_00_03252025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2172</a>&nbsp;to create a dedicated funding source for addressing&nbsp; the state’s water challenges. The task force with 13 voting members must work to get a better handle on evaluation of water appropriations and state water laws.&nbsp; The task force will submit to Kelly and the Legislature a preliminary report in 2026 and a final report in 2027.“Developing a comprehensive, long-term and sustainable water program is long overdue and a significant step forward in ensuring Kansas’ water supply is preserved for generations to come,” Kelly said. “I commend the Legislature for advancing my proposal and acting on this critical issue.”The bill passed the House on a vote of 116-8 and it received unanimous support in the Senate. In January, Kelly recommended the Legislature authorize the task force. The Kansas Water Authority and Kelly administration conducted 14 public meetings last year to gather input on water policy.The task force, with members from each of the state’s five conservation regions, must work to evaluate major risks to Kansas’ water quality and quantity, including issues of current and future economic growth. It must evaluate water infrastructure needs in every corner of the state.“This is a critical step forward in addressing Kansas’ water challenges by establishing a dedicated task force and work group to guide our state’s water policy and funding decisions,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover.&nbsp;“This bill reflects a bipartisan legislative commitment to ensuring sustainable water resources for future generations, and I’m proud to see it move forward with the governor’s support.”Kelly also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_sb45_01_032525.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 45</a>, which created an alternative school district graduation rate calculation that excluded students who transferred to homeschools and nonaccredited private schools or who enrolled as a credit-deficient student.The governor signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_sb54_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 54</a>&nbsp;to require disclosure in court proceedings of third-party litigation funding agreements as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2118_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2118</a>&nbsp;requiring private entities that solicit a fee for filing or retrieving government documents to tell consumers the solicitations weren’t made on behalf of a government agency.Kelly put a signature to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2030_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2030</a>&nbsp;to exclude dealers and manufacturers of nonmotorized trailers from the vehicle dealers licensing law. It wouldn’t apply to dealers of semitrailers and travel trailers.Her signing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2122_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2122</a>&nbsp;meant the annual license fee of electric and hybrid vehicles would increase. The fee for electric hybrid vehicles would go from $50 to $70, while the plug-in electric hybrid vehicle fee would rise from $50 to $100. The all-electric vehicle would be hit with a fee of $165, up from $100.She placed into law contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2016_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2016</a>&nbsp;to give active military members, their spouses and dependents stationed in Kansas but maintaining residency in another state to serve as poll workers for Kansas elections. In addition, the bill permitted county election officers to rely on obituaries posted online to remove a voter’s name from registration books.The governor agreed to sign&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2168_01_03242025landsurveyreports.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2168</a>&nbsp;to extend the time required for filing of public land surveys from 30 days to 90 days to comply with industry standards. Meanwhile, Kelly signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2242_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2242</a>&nbsp;to authorize a Kansas governor to accept requests for concurrent jurisdiction from the federal government.

Kelly signs bill creating long-term water resource planning, investment task force

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health reported eight new case of measles over the past week in the state, according to the the KDHE's online reportable infections disease web site. One person is hospitalized.

Kansas has 32 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state as of Wednesday, including Morton Stevens, Haskell, Kiowa, Grant, and Gray counties. Finney and Ford county are new to the list with active outbreaks.

The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.

Already, the U.S. has more measles cases this year than in all of 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">Other states with outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.

The multi-state outbreak confirms health experts' fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. The World Health Organization said last week that cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the Texas outbreak.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.

Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.

A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don't always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.

People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744217207299.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health reported eight new case of measles over the past week in the state, according to the the KDHE's online reportable infections disease web site. One person is hospitalized.Kansas has 32 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state as of Wednesday, including Morton Stevens, Haskell, Kiowa, Grant, and Gray counties. Finney and Ford county are new to the list with active outbreaks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744217094136.png" alt="Outbreak counties in yellow-KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Outbreak counties in yellow-KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744217179217.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Already, the U.S. has more measles cases this year than in all of 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">Other states with outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.The multi-state outbreak confirms health experts' fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. The World Health Organization said last week that cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the Texas outbreak.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>Do you need an MMR booster?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don't always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.<h2>Why do vaccination rates matter?</h2>In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KDHE: Measles now reported in 8 counties in Kansas

CRAWFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a vehicle in crash and looking for the driver who left a lot of merchandise behind.

On Tuesday, the Crawford County Kansas Sheriff shared photos of a crash involving a Chrysler 300.&nbsp; The Sheriff's office wrote, "Heyyyyy… if you left your camouflage Chrysler 300 with those stolen guns and the weed in it, we’d like to speak with you! Give us a call! 620-724-8274"

The sheriff's office did not report if they had received a response or possibly made an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744147265812.png" alt="Photos Crawford Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Crawford Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>CRAWFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a vehicle in crash and looking for the driver who left a lot of merchandise behind.On Tuesday, the Crawford County Kansas Sheriff shared photos of a crash involving a Chrysler 300.&nbsp; The Sheriff's office wrote, "Heyyyyy… if you left your camouflage Chrysler 300 with those stolen guns and the weed in it, we’d like to speak with you! Give us a call! 620-724-8274"<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744147484559.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The sheriff's office did not report if they had received a response or possibly made an arrest.

Kan. sheriff looking for crash victims who left stolen guns behind

DUNKLIN COUNTY —Three people died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday in Dunklin County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Nissan Murano driven by a 58-year-old Caruthersville, man was southbound on MO 25 two miles north of Kennett.

The driver was passing a southbound 2005 Toyota Sienna driven by a 58-year-old Campbell woman. The Nissan struck a northbound 2006 Dodge Caravan driven by a 77-year-old Paragould, Arkansas, woman head-on.

The drivers of the Nissan and the Dodge and 27-year-old passenger in the Dodge were pronounced dead at the scene. Survival Flight transported a 21-year-old passenger in the Dodge and a 50-year-old passenger in the Nissan to Region One Health in Memphis. The 27-year-old passenger in the Nissan was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DUNKLIN COUNTY —Three people died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday in Dunklin County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Nissan Murano driven by a 58-year-old Caruthersville, man was southbound on MO 25 two miles north of Kennett.The driver was passing a southbound 2005 Toyota Sienna driven by a 58-year-old Campbell woman. The Nissan struck a northbound 2006 Dodge Caravan driven by a 77-year-old Paragould, Arkansas, woman head-on.The drivers of the Nissan and the Dodge and 27-year-old passenger in the Dodge were pronounced dead at the scene. Survival Flight transported a 21-year-old passenger in the Dodge and a 50-year-old passenger in the Nissan to Region One Health in Memphis. The 27-year-old passenger in the Nissan was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 dead, 2 injured after Missouri head-on crash 

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run have identified the victim as 66-year-old Jeffrey Leigh of Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 8:30a.m. April 1, police were dispatched to report of an accident in the 4300 block of State Line Road, according to a statement from KCK Officer Jovanna Cheatum.

When officers arrived on scene, they located a pedestrian later identified as Leigh deceased in the roadway. The initial investigation revealed a large construction dump truck struck Leigh and left the scene. Police&nbsp;located the driver of the vehicle, according to Cheatum. They are cooperating with detectives.&nbsp; An autopsy on the victim helped police identify him.

This remains incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Traffic Division.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743534048942.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run have identified the victim as 66-year-old Jeffrey Leigh of Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 8:30a.m. April 1, police were dispatched to report of an accident in the 4300 block of State Line Road, according to a statement from KCK Officer Jovanna Cheatum.When officers arrived on scene, they located a pedestrian later identified as Leigh deceased in the roadway. The initial investigation revealed a large construction dump truck struck Leigh and left the scene. Police&nbsp;located the driver of the vehicle, according to Cheatum. They are cooperating with detectives.&nbsp; An autopsy on the victim helped police identify him.This remains incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Traffic Division.

Police ID victim in fatal dump truck, pedestrian hit-and-run

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office have positively identified human remains that were found near Garnett, Kansas in April of 1973, providing answers to a family after 52 years.

On April 18, 1973, the decomposing remains of an unidentified male were located three miles southeast of Garnett, Kansas, off 1550 Road. He was found wearing a brown corduroy jacket, a green long-sleeved buttoned shirt, jeans, a black leather belt with a large belt buckle, brown hiking boots, and a navy blue stocking cap. He was also wearing two gold rings with crosses, a ring with the number “78” and a silver chain with a large cross.

During the autopsy in 1973, the coroner ruled the man’s manner of death a homicide due to signs of trauma. It was determined the man was around 20-years-old and believed to have brown hair and a slender build. Over the years, many attempts were made to identify the remains and learn what happened to the man.

In 2024, DNA was extracted from the remains so that a DNA profile could be utilized for forensic genetic genealogy testing. This advanced testing, conducted by Othram, attempts to uncover family relationships in order to identify any living relatives of the person who is unidentified. The funding to conduct the testing was provided by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), administered by the National Institute of Justice, and managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International.

In early 2025, KBI learned the testing had identified relatives of the unknown man. After further investigation, KBI agents and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office located the man’s siblings. They conducted interviews and collected DNA from a sibling for comparison. The unidentified person was then positively identified as Jimmy Allen Dollison.

Jimmy Dollison had been living in Kansas City, Kansas when he went missing. He disappeared sometime in October or November of 1972, when he was 16-years-old. According to family members, he was reported missing by his parents, but the family never learned what happened to Jimmy.

The KBI and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the circumstances of Dollison’s death. Anyone who has information about the disappearance or murder of Jimmy Dollison is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or report tips online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kbi.ks.gov%2Fsar%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019616f0254d-ff9985bf-4b8c-4d01-bc48-88282324d6fb-000000/tIjY96t5nUzkLaJWYi5w37hsskU2VE0j-PuUqXq3654=400">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744141977526.png" alt="Jimmy Dollison courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jimmy Dollison courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office have positively identified human remains that were found near Garnett, Kansas in April of 1973, providing answers to a family after 52 years.On April 18, 1973, the decomposing remains of an unidentified male were located three miles southeast of Garnett, Kansas, off 1550 Road. He was found wearing a brown corduroy jacket, a green long-sleeved buttoned shirt, jeans, a black leather belt with a large belt buckle, brown hiking boots, and a navy blue stocking cap. He was also wearing two gold rings with crosses, a ring with the number “78” and a silver chain with a large cross.During the autopsy in 1973, the coroner ruled the man’s manner of death a homicide due to signs of trauma. It was determined the man was around 20-years-old and believed to have brown hair and a slender build. Over the years, many attempts were made to identify the remains and learn what happened to the man.In 2024, DNA was extracted from the remains so that a DNA profile could be utilized for forensic genetic genealogy testing. This advanced testing, conducted by Othram, attempts to uncover family relationships in order to identify any living relatives of the person who is unidentified. The funding to conduct the testing was provided by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), administered by the National Institute of Justice, and managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International.In early 2025, KBI learned the testing had identified relatives of the unknown man. After further investigation, KBI agents and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office located the man’s siblings. They conducted interviews and collected DNA from a sibling for comparison. The unidentified person was then positively identified as Jimmy Allen Dollison.Jimmy Dollison had been living in Kansas City, Kansas when he went missing. He disappeared sometime in October or November of 1972, when he was 16-years-old. According to family members, he was reported missing by his parents, but the family never learned what happened to Jimmy.The KBI and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the circumstances of Dollison’s death. Anyone who has information about the disappearance or murder of Jimmy Dollison is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or report tips online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kbi.ks.gov%2Fsar%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019616f0254d-ff9985bf-4b8c-4d01-bc48-88282324d6fb-000000/tIjY96t5nUzkLaJWYi5w37hsskU2VE0j-PuUqXq3654=400">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>.

KBI: Remains found in 1973 positively identified as Kansas teen

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop in Shawnee County.

Just after 9a.m. April 4, a Sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black 2006 Audi A6 with an expired license plate that did not belong to that vehicle near South Kansas Avenue and SE 15th Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

The driver, David R. Adams, 51, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Vehicles; operate a vehicle without registration or with an expired tag and&nbsp;Vehicle liability insurance

A passenger, Raven A. Coats, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744146541300.png" alt="Adams photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Adams photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop in Shawnee County.Just after 9a.m. April 4, a Sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black 2006 Audi A6 with an expired license plate that did not belong to that vehicle near South Kansas Avenue and SE 15th Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, the deputy found illegal narcotics.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744146523383.png" alt="Coats photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Coats photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, David R. Adams, 51, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Vehicles; operate a vehicle without registration or with an expired tag and&nbsp;Vehicle liability insuranceA passenger, Raven A. Coats, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body,

Sheriff: Stolen license plate led to Kan. traffic stop drug bust

RILEY COUNTY —Fire crews continue to monitor hot spots after a controlled burn traveled beyond a boundary and consumed hundreds of acres in Riley County.

On Monday afternoon, Riley County Fire District #1 was&nbsp; to reports of a grass/brush fire near the intersection of Harmony Road and Dial Road in the extreme northeastern corner of Riley County, according to&nbsp; Vivienne Leyva, Riley County Public Information Officer.

 The fire began after a permitted prescribed burn spread out of control, according to the initial 911 report.&nbsp;Upon arrival, volunteer firefighters found approximately 20 acres actively burning.

Riley County Commissioners issued a disaster emergency declaration due to the fire's size and potential impact. Mutual aid was requested, and firefighting resources from Pottawatomie, Marshall, and Nemaha counties responded. The State of Kansas also deployed contracted aircraft to assist with water drops and the Dickinson County Wildland Task Force. A total of 66 personnel, 40 vehicles/apparatus, 2 planes, and 11 fire stations responded to this fire.&nbsp;

“After sunset, winds died down and firefighters were able to get a handle on the head fires in the riverbed,” said RCFD#1 Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We’ve learned over the last few years to aggressively attack any fires in this area, requesting resources immediately. Thanks to everyone’s quick response and a favorable wind change, we were able to conduct back burns and get this fire under control.”An estimated 650 acres were burned in the Harmony Road Fire. 

No injuries were reported and no livestock were lost. In addition, no structures were threatened by the fire and no evacuations were necessary.&nbsp;Today, crews RCFD#1 crews will continue to monitor conditions and watch for areas of flare up.&nbsp;Crews from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are also in the area working with heavy equipment to move and consolidate piles of burning brush to isolate any remaining hot spots and prevent further spread.&nbsp;“We are incredibly grateful for the assistance from neighboring counties, the State of Kansas, and our dedicated volunteer firefighters,” said Russel Stukey, Fire Chief of Riley County Fire District #1 and Director of Riley County Emergency Management. “Their quick action kept a bad situation from getting worse.”Responding Agencies include:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744145631095.png" alt="Image from video of Kansas Forest Service crews working in Riley County Tuesday" />
 <figcaption>Image from video of Kansas Forest Service crews working in Riley County Tuesday</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Fire crews continue to monitor hot spots after a controlled burn traveled beyond a boundary and consumed hundreds of acres in Riley County.On Monday afternoon, Riley County Fire District #1 was&nbsp; to reports of a grass/brush fire near the intersection of Harmony Road and Dial Road in the extreme northeastern corner of Riley County, according to&nbsp; Vivienne Leyva, Riley County Public Information Officer. The fire began after a permitted prescribed burn spread out of control, according to the initial 911 report.&nbsp;Upon arrival, volunteer firefighters found approximately 20 acres actively burning.Riley County Commissioners issued a disaster emergency declaration due to the fire's size and potential impact. Mutual aid was requested, and firefighting resources from Pottawatomie, Marshall, and Nemaha counties responded. The State of Kansas also deployed contracted aircraft to assist with water drops and the Dickinson County Wildland Task Force. A total of 66 personnel, 40 vehicles/apparatus, 2 planes, and 11 fire stations responded to this fire.&nbsp;“After sunset, winds died down and firefighters were able to get a handle on the head fires in the riverbed,” said RCFD#1 Deputy Chief Doug Russell. “We’ve learned over the last few years to aggressively attack any fires in this area, requesting resources immediately. Thanks to everyone’s quick response and a favorable wind change, we were able to conduct back burns and get this fire under control.”An estimated 650 acres were burned in the Harmony Road Fire. No injuries were reported and no livestock were lost. In addition, no structures were threatened by the fire and no evacuations were necessary.&nbsp;Today, crews RCFD#1 crews will continue to monitor conditions and watch for areas of flare up.&nbsp;Crews from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks are also in the area working with heavy equipment to move and consolidate piles of burning brush to isolate any remaining hot spots and prevent further spread.&nbsp;“We are incredibly grateful for the assistance from neighboring counties, the State of Kansas, and our dedicated volunteer firefighters,” said Russel Stukey, Fire Chief of Riley County Fire District #1 and Director of Riley County Emergency Management. “Their quick action kept a bad situation from getting worse.”Responding Agencies include:<ul>
 <li>Blue Rapids Fire District #7</li><li>Dickinson County Wildland Task Force</li><li>Marshall County Emergency Management</li><li>Nemaha County Emergency Management</li><li>Nemaha County Fire District #3</li><li>Pottawatomie County Consolidated Fire District #1</li><li>Riley County Emergency Management</li><li>Riley County Fire District #1</li><li>State of Kansas Agencies</li>
 </ul>

Out of control: Permitted burn consumed 650 Kansas acres

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — The IRS and Department of Homeland Security reached an agreement Monday to share tax information of immigrants who have final orders of removal to help immigration agents find and deport the immigrants, according to documents filed in court.

No information between the two agencies has been shared yet, according&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147.30.1_1.pdf" target="_blank">to the filings</a>&nbsp;in federal court in the District of Columbia, but the partnership would impact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/removal-system-united-states-overview" target="_blank">more than 1 million immigrants</a>&nbsp;with final removal orders, as the Trump administration carries out mass deportations of immigrants without permanent legal status.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and submitted to the court, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can ask the IRS to provide information about immigrants with orders of removal or immigrants involved in criminal investigations.

Some of that tax information includes sensitive details such as current addresses and information about child tax dependents.

It would be the first time the IRS shared sensitive tax information to carry out immigration enforcement.

In 2023, immigrants in the country without legal authority paid more than $89 billion in taxes,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/topics/tax-contributions" target="_blank">according to the left-leaning think tank the American Immigration Council.</a>

In order to file taxes without a social security number, someone who is not a U.S. citizen would use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or an&nbsp;ITIN. As of 2022, there were more than 5.8 million active&nbsp;ITINs,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tigta.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2024-11/2024400012fr.pdf" target="_blank">according to a report by the Treasury Department Inspect General</a>.

The government filed the document in a case brought by immigration rights groups the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and Immigrant Solidarity DuPage. The groups are trying to block the IRS from sharing tax records with DHS for immigration enforcement, arguing that such sharing violates IRS disclosure laws.

The Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147.31.0.pdf" target="_blank">moved Monday</a>&nbsp;to dismiss the suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing that “providing information to assist criminal investigations—is lawful.”

A hearing on a preliminary injunction to block such information sharing between IRS and DHS is set for April 16 before federal Judge&nbsp;Dabney L. Friedrich, whom President Donald Trump appointed in 2017.

Friedrich ruled against the groups last month, when they asked for a temporary restraining order following a story by The Washington Post that the agencies were considering sharing information in order to find immigrants to deport.

“A single news report about future cooperation between the IRS and DHS does not establish that the plaintiffs’ members are facing imminent injury,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147.16.0.pdf" target="_blank">March 19 order.&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744140809307.png" alt="&nbsp;Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ahead of&nbsp; raid in Arizona Tuesday" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ahead of&nbsp; raid in Arizona Tuesday</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — The IRS and Department of Homeland Security reached an agreement Monday to share tax information of immigrants who have final orders of removal to help immigration agents find and deport the immigrants, according to documents filed in court.No information between the two agencies has been shared yet, according&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147.30.1_1.pdf" target="_blank">to the filings</a>&nbsp;in federal court in the District of Columbia, but the partnership would impact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/removal-system-united-states-overview" target="_blank">more than 1 million immigrants</a>&nbsp;with final removal orders, as the Trump administration carries out mass deportations of immigrants without permanent legal status.According to a memorandum of understanding signed by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and submitted to the court, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can ask the IRS to provide information about immigrants with orders of removal or immigrants involved in criminal investigations.Some of that tax information includes sensitive details such as current addresses and information about child tax dependents.It would be the first time the IRS shared sensitive tax information to carry out immigration enforcement.In 2023, immigrants in the country without legal authority paid more than $89 billion in taxes,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/topics/tax-contributions" target="_blank">according to the left-leaning think tank the American Immigration Council.</a>In order to file taxes without a social security number, someone who is not a U.S. citizen would use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or an&nbsp;ITIN. As of 2022, there were more than 5.8 million active&nbsp;ITINs,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tigta.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2024-11/2024400012fr.pdf" target="_blank">according to a report by the Treasury Department Inspect General</a>.<h2>Groups challenging information sharing</h2>The government filed the document in a case brought by immigration rights groups the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and Immigrant Solidarity DuPage. The groups are trying to block the IRS from sharing tax records with DHS for immigration enforcement, arguing that such sharing violates IRS disclosure laws.The Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147.31.0.pdf" target="_blank">moved Monday</a>&nbsp;to dismiss the suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing that “providing information to assist criminal investigations—is lawful.”A hearing on a preliminary injunction to block such information sharing between IRS and DHS is set for April 16 before federal Judge&nbsp;Dabney L. Friedrich, whom President Donald Trump appointed in 2017.Friedrich ruled against the groups last month, when they asked for a temporary restraining order following a story by The Washington Post that the agencies were considering sharing information in order to find immigrants to deport.“A single news report about future cooperation between the IRS and DHS does not establish that the plaintiffs’ members are facing imminent injury,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147/gov.uscourts.dcd.278147.16.0.pdf" target="_blank">March 19 order.&nbsp;</a>Last updated 1:17 p.m., Apr. 8, 2025

IRS to share immigrants’ tax info with DHS

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

Some worry the anti-discrimination legislation could be used against protesters on college campuses

The Missouri House gave initial approval Monday to a bill that seeks to prevent antisemitism in public schools and colleges, with some raising concerns it could punish those who speak out against Israel.

The bill would require the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Higher Education to assign a staff member to monitor “antisemetic discrimination and harassment” and investigate whether schools have responsibility for incidents. It also encourages schools to teach pieces of Jewish-American heritage.

State Rep. George Hruza, a Republican from Huntleigh, said the bill was inspired by his mother, a Holocaust survivor who had frequent nightmares about her time in a concentration camp.

“It was not until we arrived in the United States that the nightmares went away and she started speaking about her experience and embraced her Jewish heritage,” Hruza said. “She felt safe in the United States. On Oct. 7, 2023, that all changed.”

That day, Hamas attacked Israel and started the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant groups. The conflict spurred the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/over-10000-antisemitic-incidents-recorded-us-oct-7-2023-according-adl" target="_blank">highest number of antisemetic incidents</a>&nbsp;in a year recorded by the Anti-Defamation League.

Hruza hopes the legislation can cut back on these incidents, citing a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/03/13/affton-school-district-responds-another-racist-graffiti-incident-police-release-surveillance-video-suspect/" target="_blank">recent case in Affton</a>&nbsp;where a man spray-painted Nazi and white supremecist graffiti on school buildings.

Dissent for the bill stems from the use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism" target="_blank">International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism</a>. The definition has been adopted by a majority of U.S. states and included in&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-combating-anti-semitism/" target="_blank">orders at the federal level</a>&nbsp;— though the lead drafter of the definition has spoken against its application “as a tool to target or chill speech on a college campus.”

Alongside the IHRA definition are examples of antisemitism, which the bill adopts. The list includes “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” and applying double standards to Israel as discriminatory. Both Hruza’s bill and the IHRA say criticism of Israel is okay when it is “similar to criticism toward any other country.”

When a House committee debated the bill earlier this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/testimony/witnesses-hb937.pdf?c=61595" target="_blank">some argued</a>&nbsp;the legislation was an “attempt to silence criticism of Israel on college campuses.”

State Rep. Stephanie Hein, a Springfield Democrat, voted “present” in committee on the bill and struggled to weigh the good pieces against controversial elements.

“There is a lot of emotion behind this subject…&nbsp; and there are a lot of good things in this bill,” she said Monday. “The area of contention is the definition that is used.”

State Rep. Wick Thomas, a Kansas City Democrat, asked Hruza if the bill “might also be about ending critiques of Israel and the Palestinian conflict.”

“The bill is intended to keep the Jewish students safe on campus. It really is not taking sides or some kind of position on the conflict in the Middle East,” Hruza said.

Although the bulk of the bill’s pushback came from Democrats, positions were not clearly split by party lines.

State Rep. Ian Mackey, a Democrat from St. Louis, said he didn’t think the legislation would impede free-speech rights.

“The First Amendment has always confined speech to a reasonable time, place and manner,” he said. “You do not have the right to do that on a college campus in front of students who are simply trying to get to class.”

Republican Rep. Darin Chappell, of Rogersville, told Hruza he had concerns.

He has argued in the past against recognizing minority groups in state law, Chappell said, “to be lionized and set above on a pedestal.”

He can’t set those convictions aside, Chappell said, simply because&nbsp; “it is one of my colleagues on this side of the aisle that is presenting (this bill).”

The House approved the bill with an amendment from Democratic state Rep. Raychel Proudie of Ferguson that bans schools from discriminating against textured hair and protective styles, like locks and braids. The legislation is often dubbed the CROWN Act and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/22/black-lawmakers-ask-missouri-house-committee-to-ban-discrimination-based-on-natural-hair/">has been proposed by Missouri lawmakers</a>&nbsp;since 2020.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744116184957.png" alt="State Rep. George Hruza speaks, a Republican from Huntleigh, speaks during House debate (Tim Bommel/House Communications)." />
 <figcaption>State Rep. George Hruza speaks, a Republican from Huntleigh, speaks during House debate (Tim Bommel/House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Some worry the anti-discrimination legislation could be used against protesters on college campuses</h2>The Missouri House gave initial approval Monday to a bill that seeks to prevent antisemitism in public schools and colleges, with some raising concerns it could punish those who speak out against Israel.The bill would require the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Higher Education to assign a staff member to monitor “antisemetic discrimination and harassment” and investigate whether schools have responsibility for incidents. It also encourages schools to teach pieces of Jewish-American heritage.State Rep. George Hruza, a Republican from Huntleigh, said the bill was inspired by his mother, a Holocaust survivor who had frequent nightmares about her time in a concentration camp.“It was not until we arrived in the United States that the nightmares went away and she started speaking about her experience and embraced her Jewish heritage,” Hruza said. “She felt safe in the United States. On Oct. 7, 2023, that all changed.”That day, Hamas attacked Israel and started the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant groups. The conflict spurred the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/over-10000-antisemitic-incidents-recorded-us-oct-7-2023-according-adl" target="_blank">highest number of antisemetic incidents</a>&nbsp;in a year recorded by the Anti-Defamation League.Hruza hopes the legislation can cut back on these incidents, citing a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/03/13/affton-school-district-responds-another-racist-graffiti-incident-police-release-surveillance-video-suspect/" target="_blank">recent case in Affton</a>&nbsp;where a man spray-painted Nazi and white supremecist graffiti on school buildings.Dissent for the bill stems from the use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism" target="_blank">International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism</a>. The definition has been adopted by a majority of U.S. states and included in&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-combating-anti-semitism/" target="_blank">orders at the federal level</a>&nbsp;— though the lead drafter of the definition has spoken against its application “as a tool to target or chill speech on a college campus.”Alongside the IHRA definition are examples of antisemitism, which the bill adopts. The list includes “claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor” and applying double standards to Israel as discriminatory. Both Hruza’s bill and the IHRA say criticism of Israel is okay when it is “similar to criticism toward any other country.”When a House committee debated the bill earlier this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/testimony/witnesses-hb937.pdf?c=61595" target="_blank">some argued</a>&nbsp;the legislation was an “attempt to silence criticism of Israel on college campuses.”State Rep. Stephanie Hein, a Springfield Democrat, voted “present” in committee on the bill and struggled to weigh the good pieces against controversial elements.“There is a lot of emotion behind this subject…&nbsp; and there are a lot of good things in this bill,” she said Monday. “The area of contention is the definition that is used.”State Rep. Wick Thomas, a Kansas City Democrat, asked Hruza if the bill “might also be about ending critiques of Israel and the Palestinian conflict.”“The bill is intended to keep the Jewish students safe on campus. It really is not taking sides or some kind of position on the conflict in the Middle East,” Hruza said.Although the bulk of the bill’s pushback came from Democrats, positions were not clearly split by party lines.State Rep. Ian Mackey, a Democrat from St. Louis, said he didn’t think the legislation would impede free-speech rights.“The First Amendment has always confined speech to a reasonable time, place and manner,” he said. “You do not have the right to do that on a college campus in front of students who are simply trying to get to class.”Republican Rep. Darin Chappell, of Rogersville, told Hruza he had concerns.He has argued in the past against recognizing minority groups in state law, Chappell said, “to be lionized and set above on a pedestal.”He can’t set those convictions aside, Chappell said, simply because&nbsp; “it is one of my colleagues on this side of the aisle that is presenting (this bill).”The House approved the bill with an amendment from Democratic state Rep. Raychel Proudie of Ferguson that bans schools from discriminating against textured hair and protective styles, like locks and braids. The legislation is often dubbed the CROWN Act and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/22/black-lawmakers-ask-missouri-house-committee-to-ban-discrimination-based-on-natural-hair/">has been proposed by Missouri lawmakers</a>&nbsp;since 2020.

Missouri House advances bill targeting antisemitism despite free-speech concerns

SHAWNE COUNTY—The Topeka Rescue Mission reported on Monday a staff member was injured during a “tragic incident” outside of the mission.

According to a statement from the mission, the incident occurred Friday.

“Our entire TRM team is devastated by this event,” said CEO, La Manda Cunningham. “Each of our employees is precious to our team and our mission, so when one of us is injured in any way it has a significant and far-reaching impact.  Due to this being a personnel issue coupled with our desire to respect our employee’s privacy we are unable to share much information at this time."

The employee remains in stable but critical condition, according to the statement.

The mission is working closely with and fully cooperating with the Topeka Police Department in their investigation.

"The mission will continue to provide support to our injured employee, all affected employees, family members, and guests staying with us at the mission, as well as those unsheltered neighbors who are also impacted by the occurrence."

“Each of our staff members is precious to us, not just as employees but also as loved members of God's family.  We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff, and we will be working closely with authorities to understand this event while also praying for the suspect who was apprehended immediately,” added Mrs. Cunningham.&nbsp; The mission is "providing spiritual support to all employees who are struggling with the emotional impact of this incident."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744109113316.png" alt="Photo courtesy Topeka Rescue Mission" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Topeka Rescue Mission</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNE COUNTY—The Topeka Rescue Mission reported on Monday a staff member was injured during a “tragic incident” outside of the mission.According to a statement from the mission, the incident occurred Friday.“Our entire TRM team is devastated by this event,” said CEO, La Manda Cunningham. “Each of our employees is precious to our team and our mission, so when one of us is injured in any way it has a significant and far-reaching impact. Due to this being a personnel issue coupled with our desire to respect our employee’s privacy we are unable to share much information at this time."The employee remains in stable but critical condition, according to the statement.The mission is working closely with and fully cooperating with the Topeka Police Department in their investigation."The mission will continue to provide support to our injured employee, all affected employees, family members, and guests staying with us at the mission, as well as those unsheltered neighbors who are also impacted by the occurrence."“Each of our staff members is precious to us, not just as employees but also as loved members of God's family. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff, and we will be working closely with authorities to understand this event while also praying for the suspect who was apprehended immediately,” added Mrs. Cunningham.&nbsp; The mission is "providing spiritual support to all employees who are struggling with the emotional impact of this incident."

Police investigate after Rescue Mission staff member critically injured

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee,&nbsp; introduced bipartisan legislation to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, according to a statement from the senator's office.

Kansas U. S. Senator Jerry Moran joined a dozen other Senators to co-sponsored the bill. Kansas Junior Senator Roger Marshall and the Senators from Missouri are have not signed on to support the bill.

The Trade Review Act of 2025, modeled after the War Powers Resolution of 1973, would reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs without the approval of Congress.

“Trade wars can be as devastating, which is why the Founding Fathers gave Congress the clear Constitutional authority over war and trade. This bill reasserts Congress’s role over trade policy to ensure rules-based trade policies are transparent, consistent, and benefit the American public. Arbitrary tariffs, particularly on our allies, damage U.S. export opportunities and raise prices for American consumers and businesses,”&nbsp;Sen. Cantwell said.&nbsp;“As representatives of the American people, Congress has a duty to stop actions that will cause them harm.”

The bill restores Congress’ authority and responsibility over tariffs as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution by placing the following limits on the president’s power to impose tariffs:

The full bill text is available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/04032025_trade_review_act.pdf">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743626000304.png" alt="President Trump announcing his tariffs on Wednesday- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Trump announcing his tariffs on Wednesday- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee,&nbsp; introduced bipartisan legislation to reaffirm Congress’ key role in setting and approving U.S. trade policy, according to a statement from the senator's office.Kansas U. S. Senator Jerry Moran joined a dozen other Senators to co-sponsored the bill. Kansas Junior Senator Roger Marshall and the Senators from Missouri are have not signed on to support the bill.The Trade Review Act of 2025, modeled after the War Powers Resolution of 1973, would reestablish limits on the president’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs without the approval of Congress.“Trade wars can be as devastating, which is why the Founding Fathers gave Congress the clear Constitutional authority over war and trade. This bill reasserts Congress’s role over trade policy to ensure rules-based trade policies are transparent, consistent, and benefit the American public. Arbitrary tariffs, particularly on our allies, damage U.S. export opportunities and raise prices for American consumers and businesses,”&nbsp;Sen. Cantwell said.&nbsp;“As representatives of the American people, Congress has a duty to stop actions that will cause them harm.”The bill restores Congress’ authority and responsibility over tariffs as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution by placing the following limits on the president’s power to impose tariffs:<ul>
 <li>To enact a new tariff, the president must notify Congress of the imposition of (or increase in) the tariff within 48 hours.</li><li>The Congressional notification must include an explanation of the president’s reasoning for imposing or raising the tariff, and</li><li>Provide analysis of potential impact on American businesses and consumers.</li><li>Within 60 days, Congress must pass a joint resolution of approval on the new tariff, otherwise all new tariffs on imports expire after that deadline.</li><li>Under the bill, Congress has the ability to end tariffs at any time by passing a resolution of disapproval.</li><li>Anti-dumping and countervailing duties are excluded.</li>
 </ul>The full bill text is available&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/04032025_trade_review_act.pdf">HERE</a>.On Monday, Cantwell announced that the National Retail Federation (NRF) sent a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/download/national-retail-federation-letter-of-support-for-trade-review-act">letter</a>&nbsp;endorsing the bipartisan Trade Review Act.The NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association. In the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/download/national-retail-federation-letter-of-support-for-trade-review-act">letter</a>, David French, the NRF’s Executive Vice President, Government Relations, writes:“The Trade Review Act of 2025 will provide Congress with the opportunity to review and vote on whether to keep announced tariff actions in place. Requiring an explanation as well as an assessment of the tariff actions from the administration is critical. We have seen that the recently announced ‘reciprocal’ tariffs will have a significant negative impact on businesses, especially small retailers. One estimate indicates these tariffs could lead to a $2,100 tax increase per household. The increased tariffs are not sustainable for small businesses that have to pay the tax. Many are concerned about their ability to stay in business as a result.”“We applaud you for introducing such important legislation to reassert Congress’s role in setting trade and tariff policy. We strongly urge the Senate to quickly support and pass the bill.”