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 — A bipartisan council of Kansas lawmakers voted Monday to extend by six months the deadline for the Missouri-based Kansas City Royals or the Kansas City Chiefs to accept economic development incentives from Kansas for construction of sports stadiums.

The Legislative Coordinating Council unanimously agreed to grant the reprieve so the Kansas Department of Commerce could present options for stadium deals to the LCC until Dec. 31, 2025.

A 2024 law that set the framework for issuance of STAR bonds to cover 70% of construction costs for one or both stadiums and support structures had a deadline of June 30, 2025. The statute gave the LCC authority to add another year to the timeline.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, recommended adoption of a six-month alternative for the presentation of formal proposals by the Department of Commerce to the LCC. He said he didn’t want the stadium issue to bleed into the 2026 session of the Legislature, which would convene in early January.

“We have had this law out there for a year now and each team has had a year to come to some type of conclusion,” Hawkins said. “Neither team has and quite frankly for the last month and a half, I have been very consistent across the board saying, ‘Let’s get it done.’ ”

He said he was persuaded to endorse a half-year extension because one of the teams waited from November to February for responses from the administration of Gov. Laura Kelly. Also, he said, the Kelly administration didn’t answer a proposal from a team — previously reported to be the Chiefs — for seven weeks.

“It doesn’t matter what team it was. That’s not fair to the teams, when they’re making proposals and they’re not getting responses back,” said Hawkins, who is a candidate for state insurance commissioner.

The LCC adopted the six-month extension but also voted to broaden the window of opportunity for stadium deals with Kansas to June 30, 2026. That could be a technicality, because the LCC could decide on behalf of the full House and Senate not to consider recommendations submitted after that date.

Missouri offered to finance up to 50% of the cost to renovate or build new stadiums for the Royals and Chiefs. Both franchises have played at a Jackson County, Missouri, complex since the early 1970s.

Sen. Tim Shallenberger, a Baxter Springs Republican serving as the Senate’s vice president, said he didn’t want to force the Chiefs or Royals to abruptly wrap up a deal with Kansas.

“When I was younger, I was a banker,” Shallenberger said. “Putting a deal like this together is not easy. You have landowners that look at the deadlines that we put out and use that as leverage. You have the teams look at the deadlines we put out and use that as leverage. Approved by the LCC by this December seems a little quick to me.

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, convened the LCC meeting because he recently observed signs of progress during confidential negotiations involving the Chiefs.

“We weren’t interested in being a pawn and extending for no reason at all,” Masterson said. “The sense was as long as there’s legitimate, real conversations about the possibility of that relationship … we could move forward.”

Chiefs president Mark Donovan asked Kansas lawmakers to amend the deadline to continue negotiations with Kansas on building a stadium, team headquarters, practice facility and related business developments.

In the correspondence, Donovan said complexity, importance and scale of the project made it clear “more time is needed to bring the effort to full fruition.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751922960434.png" alt="House Speaker Dan Hawkins, shown hear speaking to members of the Kansas House, recommended to colleagues on the Legislative Coordinating Council to change the deadline to Dec. 31, 2025, for presentation by the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals of proposals to make use of STAR bonds to build new sports stadiums in Kansas. A 2024 law offering bonds to cover 70% of stadium costs expired June 30, 2025. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Dan Hawkins, shown hear speaking to members of the Kansas House, recommended to colleagues on the Legislative Coordinating Council to change the deadline to Dec. 31, 2025, for presentation by the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals of proposals to make use of STAR bonds to build new sports stadiums in Kansas. A 2024 law offering bonds to cover 70% of stadium costs expired June 30, 2025. (Grace Hills/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>TOPEKA — A bipartisan council of Kansas lawmakers voted Monday to extend by six months the deadline for the Missouri-based Kansas City Royals or the Kansas City Chiefs to accept economic development incentives from Kansas for construction of sports stadiums.The Legislative Coordinating Council unanimously agreed to grant the reprieve so the Kansas Department of Commerce could present options for stadium deals to the LCC until Dec. 31, 2025.A 2024 law that set the framework for issuance of STAR bonds to cover 70% of construction costs for one or both stadiums and support structures had a deadline of June 30, 2025. The statute gave the LCC authority to add another year to the timeline.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, recommended adoption of a six-month alternative for the presentation of formal proposals by the Department of Commerce to the LCC. He said he didn’t want the stadium issue to bleed into the 2026 session of the Legislature, which would convene in early January.“We have had this law out there for a year now and each team has had a year to come to some type of conclusion,” Hawkins said. “Neither team has and quite frankly for the last month and a half, I have been very consistent across the board saying, ‘Let’s get it done.’ ”He said he was persuaded to endorse a half-year extension because one of the teams waited from November to February for responses from the administration of Gov. Laura Kelly. Also, he said, the Kelly administration didn’t answer a proposal from a team — previously reported to be the Chiefs — for seven weeks.“It doesn’t matter what team it was. That’s not fair to the teams, when they’re making proposals and they’re not getting responses back,” said Hawkins, who is a candidate for state insurance commissioner.The LCC adopted the six-month extension but also voted to broaden the window of opportunity for stadium deals with Kansas to June 30, 2026. That could be a technicality, because the LCC could decide on behalf of the full House and Senate not to consider recommendations submitted after that date.Missouri offered to finance up to 50% of the cost to renovate or build new stadiums for the Royals and Chiefs. Both franchises have played at a Jackson County, Missouri, complex since the early 1970s.Sen. Tim Shallenberger, a Baxter Springs Republican serving as the Senate’s vice president, said he didn’t want to force the Chiefs or Royals to abruptly wrap up a deal with Kansas.“When I was younger, I was a banker,” Shallenberger said. “Putting a deal like this together is not easy. You have landowners that look at the deadlines that we put out and use that as leverage. You have the teams look at the deadlines we put out and use that as leverage. Approved by the LCC by this December seems a little quick to me.Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, convened the LCC meeting because he recently observed signs of progress during confidential negotiations involving the Chiefs.“We weren’t interested in being a pawn and extending for no reason at all,” Masterson said. “The sense was as long as there’s legitimate, real conversations about the possibility of that relationship … we could move forward.”Chiefs president Mark Donovan asked Kansas lawmakers to amend the deadline to continue negotiations with Kansas on building a stadium, team headquarters, practice facility and related business developments.In the correspondence, Donovan said complexity, importance and scale of the project made it clear “more time is needed to bring the effort to full fruition.”

Kan. lawmakers extend deadline for Royals, Chiefs to accept stadium incentives

Tavia Hunt, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt wrote in an Instagram post Monday that she was mourning the loss of those who died in the flooding in Texas including a distant relative of the family.

Tavia Hunt, the wife of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt wrote in an Instagram post Monday that she was mourning the loss of those who died in the flooding in Texas including a distant relative of the family.<div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLvT-cIxSIx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLvT-cIxSIx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLvT-cIxSIx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Tavia Hunt (@taviahunt)</a></div></blockquote>
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Wife of KC Chiefs owner mourns the loss of lives in Texas flood

Satanic Grotto claims religious discrimination while administration secretary cites safety concerns

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

TOPEKA — The group behind the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/28/loud-boisterous-rival-protests-of-religious-freedom-among-catholics-and-satanists-turn-violent/">black mass in March</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas Statehouse — which drew thousands of counter-protesters and ended in multiple arrests — was denied a permit to hold another protest this summer.

Michael Stewart, the Satanic Grotto leader, says the denial is religious discrimination. Adam Proffitt, the Kansas secretary of administration, says the permit was denied because of safety concerns and violence at the last protest.

Stewart was planning a “witching hour protest” from 9 p.m. to midnight on Aug. 2 with the same sentiment as the black mass: “to end Christian favoritism within our state government,” as the group’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSatanicGrotto/posts/731538195904812/" target="_blank">Facebook post</a>&nbsp;reads.

“This isn’t just a permit denial; it’s an outright cancellation of our right to protest, fueled by what appears to be a deeply biased agenda,” Stewart said in a news release. “The State of Kansas is actively working to silence voices that challenge the status quo, especially those from minority faiths and marginalized communities.”

Stewart told Kansas Reflector that his permit request was “flat out ignored” for a few weeks, and he only got a response after he showed up in person.

In response to a Kansas Reflector request for comment, Department of Administration spokesman Samir Arif pointed to a response Proffitt had given to Stewart.

“The State has increased safety concerns regarding any event occurring on the south steps after sundown, including whether adequate Kansas Highway Patrol resources are available to address these safety concerns after dark,” Proffitt wrote.

In the new release, Stewart said Capitol Police Chief Brandon Bichsel told him he had “no reservations” about the police’s ability to maintain security. Bichsel did not respond to a Kansas Reflector request for comment.

“Additionally, I decline to grant a permission to you, on behalf of the organization, due to improper acts that occurred when a previous permit space on the Statehouse grounds was granted to you for an event that occurred in March 2025,” Proffitt wrote, referencing the black mass.

The permit Stewart obtained for the black mass allowed the Satanic Grotto to protest outside of the Statehouse — but not inside — after Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/573/56" target="_blank">banned any protests inside the building</a>&nbsp;on the planned day. Before the black mass, Stewart told&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/12/kansas-satanists-plan-to-defy-governor-with-therapeutic-blasphemy-in-black-mass-at-statehouse/">Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;he planned to defy Kelly’s directive.

On the day of the black mass, Stewart entered the Statehouse and began a dedication to Satan. Counter-protesters physically intervened, including Marcus Schroeder — a 21-year-old from Wisconsin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wdtimes.com/news/local/man-who-pleaded-guilty-to-bomb-threat-in-watertown-arrested-again-in-kansas/article_c7f78cf5-f5df-4c6a-b98c-25d093e0bc6e.html" target="_blank">who had been charged with making a false bomb threat on a Pride parade</a>. After Schroeder attempted to grab Stewart’s copy of “The Satanic Bible” two times, Stewart punched Schroeder in the face twice, which resulted in both of their arrests.

“Your conduct created a risk to public safety, violated the terms of your permit, and caused injury to another person,” Proffitt wrote.

Shawnee County prosecutors decided&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/29/kansas-satanists-plan-new-protest-wont-face-charges-in-catholic-clash-at-statehouse/">not to pursue charges against Stewart</a>.

Restrictions didn’t stop Stewart at the last protest. But after his arrest, Stewart said he is hesitant to go forward with his planned “witching hour” event.

“We are going to do everything in our power to ensure the event can take place,” Stewart told Kansas Reflector. “However, after consultation with my criminal lawyer, I’m concerned the state is setting the ground for heavy consequences if we proceed.”

Stewart said he could face 18 months of incarceration if the prosecutors decide to pursue the charges from his black mass arrest. He said that being incarcerated would prevent him from serving the community.

“We aren’t done fighting,” he said. “We stepped up to the plate last time when it came to making a point with our safety and freedom. This time we will find other routes that hopefully illustrate the same points.”

The Department of Administration on July 1 denied Stewart’s request to reconsider its decision.

“Should your organization wish to reserve a space for its event, the ending time cannot go past sundown, and someone other than you must take responsibility for the application and event,” said Pat Doran, chief counsel for the Department of Administration, in an email to Stewart.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751902703997.png" alt=" Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart punches counter-protester Marcus Schroeder after Schroeder attempted to take Stewart’s prayer materials during a black mass inside the Kansas Capitol. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart punches counter-protester Marcus Schroeder after Schroeder attempted to take Stewart’s prayer materials during a black mass inside the Kansas Capitol. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Satanic Grotto claims religious discrimination while administration secretary cites safety concerns</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The group behind the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/28/loud-boisterous-rival-protests-of-religious-freedom-among-catholics-and-satanists-turn-violent/">black mass in March</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas Statehouse — which drew thousands of counter-protesters and ended in multiple arrests — was denied a permit to hold another protest this summer.Michael Stewart, the Satanic Grotto leader, says the denial is religious discrimination. Adam Proffitt, the Kansas secretary of administration, says the permit was denied because of safety concerns and violence at the last protest.Stewart was planning a “witching hour protest” from 9 p.m. to midnight on Aug. 2 with the same sentiment as the black mass: “to end Christian favoritism within our state government,” as the group’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSatanicGrotto/posts/731538195904812/" target="_blank">Facebook post</a>&nbsp;reads.“This isn’t just a permit denial; it’s an outright cancellation of our right to protest, fueled by what appears to be a deeply biased agenda,” Stewart said in a news release. “The State of Kansas is actively working to silence voices that challenge the status quo, especially those from minority faiths and marginalized communities.”Stewart told Kansas Reflector that his permit request was “flat out ignored” for a few weeks, and he only got a response after he showed up in person.In response to a Kansas Reflector request for comment, Department of Administration spokesman Samir Arif pointed to a response Proffitt had given to Stewart.“The State has increased safety concerns regarding any event occurring on the south steps after sundown, including whether adequate Kansas Highway Patrol resources are available to address these safety concerns after dark,” Proffitt wrote.In the new release, Stewart said Capitol Police Chief Brandon Bichsel told him he had “no reservations” about the police’s ability to maintain security. Bichsel did not respond to a Kansas Reflector request for comment.“Additionally, I decline to grant a permission to you, on behalf of the organization, due to improper acts that occurred when a previous permit space on the Statehouse grounds was granted to you for an event that occurred in March 2025,” Proffitt wrote, referencing the black mass.The permit Stewart obtained for the black mass allowed the Satanic Grotto to protest outside of the Statehouse — but not inside — after Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/573/56" target="_blank">banned any protests inside the building</a>&nbsp;on the planned day. Before the black mass, Stewart told&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/12/kansas-satanists-plan-to-defy-governor-with-therapeutic-blasphemy-in-black-mass-at-statehouse/">Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;he planned to defy Kelly’s directive.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751902665131.png" alt=" Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart begins praying during a black mass ceremony that Statehouse officials had forbidden inside the building. Christians opposing presence of the Satanic Grotto tried to physically stop Stewart, which led to punches being thrown and Stewart’s arrest. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart begins praying during a black mass ceremony that Statehouse officials had forbidden inside the building. Christians opposing presence of the Satanic Grotto tried to physically stop Stewart, which led to punches being thrown and Stewart’s arrest. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>On the day of the black mass, Stewart entered the Statehouse and began a dedication to Satan. Counter-protesters physically intervened, including Marcus Schroeder — a 21-year-old from Wisconsin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wdtimes.com/news/local/man-who-pleaded-guilty-to-bomb-threat-in-watertown-arrested-again-in-kansas/article_c7f78cf5-f5df-4c6a-b98c-25d093e0bc6e.html" target="_blank">who had been charged with making a false bomb threat on a Pride parade</a>. After Schroeder attempted to grab Stewart’s copy of “The Satanic Bible” two times, Stewart punched Schroeder in the face twice, which resulted in both of their arrests.“Your conduct created a risk to public safety, violated the terms of your permit, and caused injury to another person,” Proffitt wrote.Shawnee County prosecutors decided&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/29/kansas-satanists-plan-new-protest-wont-face-charges-in-catholic-clash-at-statehouse/">not to pursue charges against Stewart</a>.Restrictions didn’t stop Stewart at the last protest. But after his arrest, Stewart said he is hesitant to go forward with his planned “witching hour” event.“We are going to do everything in our power to ensure the event can take place,” Stewart told Kansas Reflector. “However, after consultation with my criminal lawyer, I’m concerned the state is setting the ground for heavy consequences if we proceed.”Stewart said he could face 18 months of incarceration if the prosecutors decide to pursue the charges from his black mass arrest. He said that being incarcerated would prevent him from serving the community.“We aren’t done fighting,” he said. “We stepped up to the plate last time when it came to making a point with our safety and freedom. This time we will find other routes that hopefully illustrate the same points.”The Department of Administration on July 1 denied Stewart’s request to reconsider its decision.“Should your organization wish to reserve a space for its event, the ending time cannot go past sundown, and someone other than you must take responsibility for the application and event,” said Pat Doran, chief counsel for the Department of Administration, in an email to Stewart.

Kansas officials dash satanists’ plans for ‘witching hour’ protest at Statehouse

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/laurenlifke/">Lauren Lifke</a>

A federal judge gave Justice Department lawyers until noon Tuesday to confirm, in writing, the administration’s plans for implementing an executive order on birthright citizenship after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted nationwide injunctions on the order Friday.

Justice Department attorney Brad Rosenberg said at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on Monday that the Trump administration does not plan to begin acting on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/" target="_blank">the order</a>&nbsp;— which would deny citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. if neither parent was a citizen — for another four weeks. That’s the grace period set in the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a884_8n59.pdf" target="_blank">Friday ruling</a>.

But U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman was looking for more than verbal assurances.

“I want to know if the government thinks that it can start removing children from the United States who are subject to the terms of the executive order, and who are not plaintiffs or members of the plaintiff’s organization,” Boardman said.

She ordered Rosenberg to submit in writing, by noon Tuesday, the government’s view of what it can do under the executive order. She also gave Rosenberg until next Monday to respond to the motion by immigrant parents and soon-to-be parents to turn the case into a class action lawsuit — the reason for Tuesday’s hearing.

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that Boardman and judges in two other districts in the U.S. could only block the executive order against plaintiffs that brought the respective cases, but said the district judges did not have the authority to impose nationwide injunctions.

But the ruling, as well as a concurring and a dissenting opinion, all said “that courts may award injunctive relief beyond the named parties when the case is brought as a class action.”

So attorneys for pregnant immigrants were back in court Monday, seeking to turn&nbsp;<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CASA_v_Trump_Amended_Complaint.pdf" target="_blank">the case</a>&nbsp;into a class action for “all children who have been born or will be born in the United States on or after February 19, 2025, who are designated by Executive Order 14,160 to be ineligible for birthright citizenship, and their parents.”

<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CASA_v_Trump_Motion_for_Class_Certification_.pdf" target="_blank">That class</a>&nbsp;involves thousands of babies who have been born since Feb. 19, the day President Donald Trump’s executive order was scheduled to take effect, and thousands more who will be born while the case is decided, as well as their parents, the motion said.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/birthright-citizenship-repeal-projections" target="_blank">recent study</a>&nbsp;by the Migration Policy Institute estimated that eliminating birthright citizenship could affect up to 250,000 babies a year.

The attorneys also asked Boardman to grant a&nbsp;<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CASA_v_Trump_Motion_for_TRO_and_Preliminary_Injunction.pdf" target="_blank">preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;against Trump’s order immediately, to prevent any harm to their clients while the requst for class certification proceeded.

“Removal is not the only irreparable harm that we’re concerned about,” said William Powell, an attorney for the plaintiffs, during Monday’s hearing. “We’re obviously also concerned about other potential ways in which the order could be enforced to deprive newborns of potential rights.”

Potential members of the class are also documenting stress and anxiety, Powell said. He shared an anecdote about a plaintiff who is experiencing a more stressful and difficult pregnancy because she fears what will happen once her child is born.

“It is confusing to them exactly what these things mean,” Powell said. “We can’t really assure them the order is fully blocked, because it’s not.”

President Donald Trump issued the order on Jan. 20, his first day back in office. It claimed that citizenship does not automatically extend to everyone born in the U.S., excluding mothers who are here illegally or on a temporary visas unless the father has citizenship or is here with permanent legal resident status.

Rosenberg argued against class certification, which he said would be “prejudicial” to the government, and noted that the plaintiffs could have moved for class certification before Friday.

The case filed by CASA and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project includes 15 women — some under pseudonyms because of their legal status — in nine states, including Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Washington. Some are in the U.S. without documentation, some are here on visas, many have asylum or other immigration applications pending in various stages.

This article was originally published by&nbsp;<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/" target="_blank">Maryland Matters</a>, a part of States Newsroom.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751473648646.png" alt=" Demonstrators march past a Southeast Baltimore Royal Farms, where immigrant advocacy group CASA said that ICE activity has been observed. (Christine Condon/ Maryland Matters)" />
 <figcaption> Demonstrators march past a Southeast Baltimore Royal Farms, where immigrant advocacy group CASA said that ICE activity has been observed. (Christine Condon/ Maryland Matters)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/laurenlifke/">Lauren Lifke</a>A federal judge gave Justice Department lawyers until noon Tuesday to confirm, in writing, the administration’s plans for implementing an executive order on birthright citizenship after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted nationwide injunctions on the order Friday.Justice Department attorney Brad Rosenberg said at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt on Monday that the Trump administration does not plan to begin acting on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/protecting-the-meaning-and-value-of-american-citizenship/" target="_blank">the order</a>&nbsp;— which would deny citizenship to anyone born in the U.S. if neither parent was a citizen — for another four weeks. That’s the grace period set in the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24a884_8n59.pdf" target="_blank">Friday ruling</a>.But U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman was looking for more than verbal assurances.“I want to know if the government thinks that it can start removing children from the United States who are subject to the terms of the executive order, and who are not plaintiffs or members of the plaintiff’s organization,” Boardman said.She ordered Rosenberg to submit in writing, by noon Tuesday, the government’s view of what it can do under the executive order. She also gave Rosenberg until next Monday to respond to the motion by immigrant parents and soon-to-be parents to turn the case into a class action lawsuit — the reason for Tuesday’s hearing.The Supreme Court ruled Friday that Boardman and judges in two other districts in the U.S. could only block the executive order against plaintiffs that brought the respective cases, but said the district judges did not have the authority to impose nationwide injunctions.But the ruling, as well as a concurring and a dissenting opinion, all said “that courts may award injunctive relief beyond the named parties when the case is brought as a class action.”So attorneys for pregnant immigrants were back in court Monday, seeking to turn&nbsp;<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CASA_v_Trump_Amended_Complaint.pdf" target="_blank">the case</a>&nbsp;into a class action for “all children who have been born or will be born in the United States on or after February 19, 2025, who are designated by Executive Order 14,160 to be ineligible for birthright citizenship, and their parents.”<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CASA_v_Trump_Motion_for_Class_Certification_.pdf" target="_blank">That class</a>&nbsp;involves thousands of babies who have been born since Feb. 19, the day President Donald Trump’s executive order was scheduled to take effect, and thousands more who will be born while the case is decided, as well as their parents, the motion said.A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/birthright-citizenship-repeal-projections" target="_blank">recent study</a>&nbsp;by the Migration Policy Institute estimated that eliminating birthright citizenship could affect up to 250,000 babies a year.The attorneys also asked Boardman to grant a&nbsp;<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CASA_v_Trump_Motion_for_TRO_and_Preliminary_Injunction.pdf" target="_blank">preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;against Trump’s order immediately, to prevent any harm to their clients while the requst for class certification proceeded.“Removal is not the only irreparable harm that we’re concerned about,” said William Powell, an attorney for the plaintiffs, during Monday’s hearing. “We’re obviously also concerned about other potential ways in which the order could be enforced to deprive newborns of potential rights.”Potential members of the class are also documenting stress and anxiety, Powell said. He shared an anecdote about a plaintiff who is experiencing a more stressful and difficult pregnancy because she fears what will happen once her child is born.“It is confusing to them exactly what these things mean,” Powell said. “We can’t really assure them the order is fully blocked, because it’s not.”President Donald Trump issued the order on Jan. 20, his first day back in office. It claimed that citizenship does not automatically extend to everyone born in the U.S., excluding mothers who are here illegally or on a temporary visas unless the father has citizenship or is here with permanent legal resident status.Rosenberg argued against class certification, which he said would be “prejudicial” to the government, and noted that the plaintiffs could have moved for class certification before Friday.The case filed by CASA and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project includes 15 women — some under pseudonyms because of their legal status — in nine states, including Maryland, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Washington. Some are in the U.S. without documentation, some are here on visas, many have asylum or other immigration applications pending in various stages.This article was originally published by&nbsp;<a href="https://marylandmatters.org/" target="_blank">Maryland Matters</a>, a part of States Newsroom.

Judge: Trump admin. has until Tuesday to put birthright citizenship plans in writing

RANDOLPH COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a shooting in Moberly, according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.

Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 Block of East Logan Street in Moberly.&nbsp; First responders found a woman deceased at the residence from an apparent gunshot wound. An autopsy to determine the cause of death is pending.

Results of the investigation will be turned over to the Randolph County Attorney for review. The Patrol has not released the name of the victim or possible suspect details.

RANDOLPH COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a shooting in Moberly, according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control.Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 900 Block of East Logan Street in Moberly.&nbsp; First responders found a woman deceased at the residence from an apparent gunshot wound. An autopsy to determine the cause of death is pending.Results of the investigation will be turned over to the Randolph County Attorney for review. The Patrol has not released the name of the victim or possible suspect details.

MSHP: Woman found dead from gunshot wound in Mo. home

President Donald Trump on Friday signed his 'One Big Beautiful tax and spending cut bill''

<a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/the_one_big_beautiful_bill_act.pdf">Click here to read the bill</a>

The 900 pages of&nbsp;&nbsp;legislation&nbsp;is a collection of&nbsp;tax breaks, spending cuts and includes&nbsp;new funding for national defense and immigrant deportations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751666035602.png" alt="President Trump signed the bill during a ceremony July 4.Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the bill during a ceremony July 4.Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump on Friday signed his 'One Big Beautiful tax and spending cut bill''<a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/the_one_big_beautiful_bill_act.pdf">Click here to read the bill</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND! <a href="https://t.co/mOpYN0tiZ0">pic.twitter.com/mOpYN0tiZ0</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1941253557665321187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 900 pages of&nbsp;&nbsp;legislation&nbsp;is a collection of&nbsp;tax breaks, spending cuts and includes&nbsp;new funding for national defense and immigrant deportations.

Read the final version of the tax and spending bill Trump signed into law

OSAGE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday on Kansas Turnpike in Osage County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson driven by Christian Kaufman, 69, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 335 just south of the Shawnee County line.

The motorcycle traveled off the road to the right. The driver overcorrected back onto the Turnpike and the vehicle overturned. The motorcycle skidded of the road to the right, struck a delineator post, a grassy ditch, rolled and the driver was ejected. The motorcycle continued to roll and caught fire.

Kaufman was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call. He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

OSAGE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday on Kansas Turnpike in Osage County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson driven by Christian Kaufman, 69, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 335 just south of the Shawnee County line.The motorcycle traveled off the road to the right. The driver overcorrected back onto the Turnpike and the vehicle overturned. The motorcycle skidded of the road to the right, struck a delineator post, a grassy ditch, rolled and the driver was ejected. The motorcycle continued to roll and caught fire.Kaufman was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call. He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies in violent motorcycle crash, fire

WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the death of a 50-year-old inmate who died Saturday while in law enforcement custody.

The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office notified the KBI of the death on Saturday, July 5, at approximately 9:30 p.m. KBI agents responded to investigate, according to a statement from the agency.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., Charles L. Adair, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, received medical care in the detention center’s infirmary for a pre-existing wound on his leg.

Preliminary information indicates that when personnel attempted to transfer him back to his cell, Adair caused a disturbance by yelling, refusing to listen to commands, and physically resisting. Multiple sheriff’s deputies responded and handcuffed Adair to gain compliance. They transported him to his cell, where several deputies placed him on the lower bunk. They began attempting to remove the handcuffs, while Adair continued to resist. They gained control, removed the cuffs, and left the cell.

Immediately after, at 8:37 p.m., medical staff were called to evaluate Adair who they found unresponsive. Life-saving measures were initiated. EMS responded to the facility and continued medical intervention. Despite efforts, Adair was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.

KBI agents did not observe any obvious signs of physical injury to Adair resulting from the incident. An autopsy will be conducted.

Adair had been in the facility since he was arrested July 4, on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751825756436.png" alt="Adair photo from an arrest in 2022 in Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Adair photo from an arrest in 2022 in Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the death of a 50-year-old inmate who died Saturday while in law enforcement custody.The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office notified the KBI of the death on Saturday, July 5, at approximately 9:30 p.m. KBI agents responded to investigate, according to a statement from the agency.At approximately 8:30 p.m., Charles L. Adair, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, received medical care in the detention center’s infirmary for a pre-existing wound on his leg.Preliminary information indicates that when personnel attempted to transfer him back to his cell, Adair caused a disturbance by yelling, refusing to listen to commands, and physically resisting. Multiple sheriff’s deputies responded and handcuffed Adair to gain compliance. They transported him to his cell, where several deputies placed him on the lower bunk. They began attempting to remove the handcuffs, while Adair continued to resist. They gained control, removed the cuffs, and left the cell.Immediately after, at 8:37 p.m., medical staff were called to evaluate Adair who they found unresponsive. Life-saving measures were initiated. EMS responded to the facility and continued medical intervention. Despite efforts, Adair was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.KBI agents did not observe any obvious signs of physical injury to Adair resulting from the incident. An autopsy will be conducted.Adair had been in the facility since he was arrested July 4, on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations.

Man found dead in Kan. jail cell after struggle with deputies

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/">Berenice Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-shuran-yu/">Jessica Shuran Yu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/">Carlos Nogueras Ramos</a>, Graphics by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/chris-essig/">Chris Essig</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edison-wu/">Edison Wu</a> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>

Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning for 10 missing&nbsp;girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic,&nbsp;a Christian camp for young girls at the center of the&nbsp;catastrophic floods that swept&nbsp;the Texas Hill Country, local officials said at a news conference.

At least 68 people were killed by the flooding in Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said. At least 11 additional deaths were confirmed in surrounding counties, pushing the storm's overall toll to at least 79. That surpassed the estimated 68 deaths directly caused by Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas in 2017.

More than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies were on the ground combing the&nbsp;area Sunday, Leitha said.

Among the dead in Kerr County were 28 children and 30 adults.

"We have increased our number of personnel who are navigating the really challenging shores along the bank line, but we're continuing to make progress," said Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville.

Friends and families posted desperate messages online seeking help locating the missing campers. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number of people unaccounted for.

"We will be relentless in going after and assuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event," Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference held earlier in the day with state and federal officials.

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Abbott said he visited Camp Mystic the previous day and saw the aftermath of the flood's devastation.

"It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," he said. "We know that parents and families, they want information, they want closure, and we want them to know that we are working as swiftly as possible to get them accurate information that will provide that closure."

Colonel Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said officials expect the death toll to rise between Sunday and Monday.

Abbott expanded the disaster declaration he issued Friday night to include Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties given continued rain and ongoing flooding. And on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved Abbott's request for a federal disaster declaration, making Kerr County eligible for federal aid. The move opens up grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday said that the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol had already been involved in rescue efforts while U.S. Customs and Border Protection were assisting with coordination.

In the span of 36 hours, first responders have rescued more than 850 people, some clinging to trees to stay safe amid the rising water, Abbott said.

In response to criticisms of the warning provided by National Weather Service ahead of the flood, Noem said upgrading their technology was among the reforms Trump sought to make at the department.

However, the agency has been dealing with staffing shortages after cuts by the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/weather/nws-job-cuts-weather-service-hiring.html">led to nearly 600 layoffs and retirements.</a>&nbsp;Whether those cuts had any effect on the National Weather Service's ability to predict or warn people of the oncoming flood remains an open question. Though, the agency itself said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-floods-warning-forecast-nws/">adequate staffing.</a>

As floodwaters receded in the Kerrville area, the damage was becoming clear. Dozens of tree trunks were snapped in half, some at 90 degree angles. Black and silver power lines were tangled with branches along the side of the road. A few tree trunks appeared to have been stripped bare of their bark from the rushing water.

At Cross Kingdom Church, Pastor Justin Carpenter started collecting clothing, nonperishable food, toiletries and cat and dog food Friday afternoon. They had reached capacity with donations and were turning other potential helpers away. So far, only about half a dozen people had shown up seeking help. Because the areas most affected has lost cell service, it’s been hard to reach people in need.

“The biggest thing would be to get the word out into the community that we’re here and ready to give everything out,” he said.

Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old San Angelo man, has dealt with this type of tragedy before. During flooding in the summer of 1987, he spent more than 30 days looking for bodies. The first one he found was of a child in a tree, 20 feet up.

But he said this flood is twice as bad as it was in 1987. On Saturday, he was back patrolling the river for bodies. A former volunteer with the Red Cross, he said he's gotten used to the morbid practice.

“I’m used to death. I’ve been around it a lot," Lawrence said.

He noted there are about 20 camps along the river in this area and said the camp counselors should receive training to check the weather every night.

"I'm not blaming them. They just have to do that,” he said.

Nearly 20 camps are clustered along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville

An early morning flash flood swept through Camp Mystic on July 4. It’s one of nearly 20 camps along the Guadalupe River that serve school-aged children.

President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

"Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"

About 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, causing flooding along the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.

The death toll in an area historically prone to major flooding has raised questions about whether people near the river, including many vacationers in town for the Fourth of July weekend, received sufficient warning

The private forecasting company AccuWeather and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.

“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement that called the Texas Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.

Local officials defended their actions Friday while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.

One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.

However, Porter emphasized that people and officials should always take safety precautions when there is a potential for flooding.

"People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Porter said. "Flash Flood Warnings indicate an immediate risk to life and property in the warned area."

At the Sunday afternoon news conference, Abbott said local officials in Kerrville faced a tough decision about whether to order residents to evacuate after the flash flood warnings.

"It's a difficult decision about whether or not to begin evacuating people, because if you have a warning telling everybody to evacuate, you could actually lead them to their death," Abbott said. "But we know that some deaths in Kerrville were people ... who got swept away who were trying to evacuate, and so local officials know best about the terrain, the danger spots and things like that."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751840301335.jpeg" alt="A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville. Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune" />
 <figcaption>A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville. Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/">Berenice Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-shuran-yu/">Jessica Shuran Yu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/">Carlos Nogueras Ramos</a>, Graphics by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/chris-essig/">Chris Essig</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edison-wu/">Edison Wu</a> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning for 10 missing&nbsp;girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic,&nbsp;a Christian camp for young girls at the center of the&nbsp;catastrophic floods that swept&nbsp;the Texas Hill Country, local officials said at a news conference.At least 68 people were killed by the flooding in Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said. At least 11 additional deaths were confirmed in surrounding counties, pushing the storm's overall toll to at least 79. That surpassed the estimated 68 deaths directly caused by Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas in 2017.More than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies were on the ground combing the&nbsp;area Sunday, Leitha said.Among the dead in Kerr County were 28 children and 30 adults."We have increased our number of personnel who are navigating the really challenging shores along the bank line, but we're continuing to make progress," said Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville.Friends and families posted desperate messages online seeking help locating the missing campers. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number of people unaccounted for."We will be relentless in going after and assuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event," Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference held earlier in the day with state and federal officials.At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Abbott said he visited Camp Mystic the previous day and saw the aftermath of the flood's devastation."It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," he said. "We know that parents and families, they want information, they want closure, and we want them to know that we are working as swiftly as possible to get them accurate information that will provide that closure."Colonel Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said officials expect the death toll to rise between Sunday and Monday.Abbott expanded the disaster declaration he issued Friday night to include Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties given continued rain and ongoing flooding. And on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved Abbott's request for a federal disaster declaration, making Kerr County eligible for federal aid. The move opens up grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday said that the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol had already been involved in rescue efforts while U.S. Customs and Border Protection were assisting with coordination.In the span of 36 hours, first responders have rescued more than 850 people, some clinging to trees to stay safe amid the rising water, Abbott said.In response to criticisms of the warning provided by National Weather Service ahead of the flood, Noem said upgrading their technology was among the reforms Trump sought to make at the department.However, the agency has been dealing with staffing shortages after cuts by the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/weather/nws-job-cuts-weather-service-hiring.html">led to nearly 600 layoffs and retirements.</a>&nbsp;Whether those cuts had any effect on the National Weather Service's ability to predict or warn people of the oncoming flood remains an open question. Though, the agency itself said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-floods-warning-forecast-nws/">adequate staffing.</a>As floodwaters receded in the Kerrville area, the damage was becoming clear. Dozens of tree trunks were snapped in half, some at 90 degree angles. Black and silver power lines were tangled with branches along the side of the road. A few tree trunks appeared to have been stripped bare of their bark from the rushing water.At Cross Kingdom Church, Pastor Justin Carpenter started collecting clothing, nonperishable food, toiletries and cat and dog food Friday afternoon. They had reached capacity with donations and were turning other potential helpers away. So far, only about half a dozen people had shown up seeking help. Because the areas most affected has lost cell service, it’s been hard to reach people in need.“The biggest thing would be to get the word out into the community that we’re here and ready to give everything out,” he said.Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old San Angelo man, has dealt with this type of tragedy before. During flooding in the summer of 1987, he spent more than 30 days looking for bodies. The first one he found was of a child in a tree, 20 feet up.But he said this flood is twice as bad as it was in 1987. On Saturday, he was back patrolling the river for bodies. A former volunteer with the Red Cross, he said he's gotten used to the morbid practice.“I’m used to death. I’ve been around it a lot," Lawrence said.He noted there are about 20 camps along the river in this area and said the camp counselors should receive training to check the weather every night."I'm not blaming them. They just have to do that,” he said.<h2>Nearly 20 camps are clustered along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville</h2>An early morning flash flood swept through Camp Mystic on July 4. It’s one of nearly 20 camps along the Guadalupe River that serve school-aged children.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751840204584.png" alt="Source: Google Map and American Camp Association Credit: Edison Wu" />
 <figcaption>Source: Google Map and American Camp Association Credit: Edison Wu</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social."Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"About 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, causing flooding along the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.The death toll in an area historically prone to major flooding has raised questions about whether people near the river, including many vacationers in town for the Fourth of July weekend, received sufficient warningThe private forecasting company AccuWeather and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement that called the Texas Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.Local officials defended their actions Friday while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.However, Porter emphasized that people and officials should always take safety precautions when there is a potential for flooding."People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Porter said. "Flash Flood Warnings indicate an immediate risk to life and property in the warned area."At the Sunday afternoon news conference, Abbott said local officials in Kerrville faced a tough decision about whether to order residents to evacuate after the flash flood warnings."It's a difficult decision about whether or not to begin evacuating people, because if you have a warning telling everybody to evacuate, you could actually lead them to their death," Abbott said. "But we know that some deaths in Kerrville were people ... who got swept away who were trying to evacuate, and so local officials know best about the terrain, the danger spots and things like that."

Texas flooding death toll rises as search continues for missing girls, other survivors

Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>

The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.

As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.

The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.

State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;

“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”

The administration says it is reviewing the programs.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;

Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.

“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;

The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;

For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.

Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.

“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.

Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.

Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.

The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.

A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;

“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713959557029.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”The administration says it is reviewing the programs.“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

States in ‘triage mode’ over $6B in withheld K-12 funding

As it did in 2023, the ACLU of Missouri is arguing that the ballot summary for a constitutional amendment on abortion is misleading and should be rewritten

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A fight over wording for a proposal to reverse the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">abortion rights amendment</a>&nbsp;Missouri voters added to the state Constitution in November will look very much like a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/31/appeals-court-swats-down-ashcroft-arguments-on-missouri-abortion-rights-petitions/">similar fight in 2023</a>.

The ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Cole County with two objectives: Keep the proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" target="_blank">designated as Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;off of the November 2026 ballot or, failing that, completely reword the ballot language crafted by lawmakers. The job of defending the proposal and the way it is written will fall to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who is the lead defendant.

In 2023, the ACLU of Missouri also challenged ballot language, written by then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, but with the intent of getting a citizen initiative on the ballot.

“It certainly feels a lot like deja vu to go back into Cole County and argue again over a misleading and inaccurate ballot summary statement from a Missouri politician,” ACLU attorney Tori Schafer said in an interview with The Independent.

One of the main proponents of the legislative measure, Sam Lee of Campaign Life Missouri, said the lawsuit was expected. He said he doesn’t think the measure will be thrown off the ballot and said the ballot language is defensible and should stand.

“You get a dozen lawyers in a room, and they’ll write it 12 different ways,” Lee said. “And as long as it’s fair and impartial, there are a variety of ways of doing it.”

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/24/abortion-is-now-illegal-in-missouri-in-wake-of-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/">banning abortions</a>&nbsp;in almost all instances. That led to an initiative campaign, which resulted in a 52% majority approving a constitutional amendment that made abortion legal up until the point of fetal viability.

But except for a short period, abortions have remained unavailable because the question of which of Missouri’s abortion regulations remain in force&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/">is tied up in court</a>. Prior to the total ban, for example, Missouri required a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion, that a woman seeking an abortion be given a lengthy document about fetal development and that all abortions take place in specially licensed ambulatory surgical centers.

The lawsuit over those issues is being heard in Jackson County Circuit Court, where Judge Jerri Zhang could issue a decision at any time on a request for an injunction against the laws.

The proposal passed by lawmakers would repeal the voter-approved initiative in its entirety and replace it with language that would allow the ban to be reinstated. It would carve out limited exceptions, allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest, fetal anomaly or medical emergencies during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The proposal would also ban gender transition surgeries or medications for people under 18, and require all lawsuits that raise questions about state laws on reproductive health care be filed in Cole County.

The ballot language written by lawmakers, and being challenged in the lawsuit, would state:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu-mo.org/sites/default/files/petition_for_declaratory_judgment_and_injunctive_relief.pdf" target="_blank">the lawsuit</a>, the ACLU is arguing that the ballot language is unfair and misleading.

The “summary statement uses language which is intentionally argumentative and likely to create prejudice for the measure,” the petition states.

The most glaring omission is that it does not mention what it is replacing, the lawsuit states.&nbsp;

“Among other things, the summary statement fails to advise voters that it will repeal a measure they just adopted in the last election cycle,” attorneys wrote.

The language should at least inform voters that there will be no protected right to obtain an abortion, Schafer said.

“The courts back in 2023 made sure we had a fair and accurate ballot summary statement and fair ballot language,” she said. “We know that they’ll do the same this year.”

The gender-affirming treatments language and the provision directing venue of reproductive health care cases to Cole County are impermissible, the lawsuit states. They violate the Constitution’s requirement that constitutional amendments address&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XII++++2(b)&amp;bid=32078&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">only one subject</a>.

“We know that the reason that Missouri politicians put that piece about Cole County in there is because they don’t like the fact that we’ve been successful on the (legal challenges to restrictive laws) in Jackson County,” Schafer said. “It was a very politically motivated reason that they put that in.”

Lee said he thinks all the subjects relate to reproductive health care and will survive that part of the challenge.

“It’s a weak argument, because even supporters of what passed in November last year link reproductive health care with transgender care,” he said.

The return to court over ballot language on abortion rights is the latest round of a seemingly endless contest.&nbsp;

Abortion rights supporters will never give up, Schafer said.

“I feel like what we’re asking for is a very simple thing, which is just get politicians out of health care and let people make their own health care decisions,” she said. “And so that is our stance on that.”

If the legislative measure makes it to the ballot and passes, Lee said, he expects a new initiative to reverse it. Lee has been an anti-abortion activist for decades, including many years as an influential lobbyist.

Asked when he expects the debate to end, Lee said:

“Not in my lifetime. I’m not saying that because of me personally. I’m just saying I don’t expect it to be settled anytime soon.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719493597787.png" alt="The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>As it did in 2023, the ACLU of Missouri is arguing that the ballot summary for a constitutional amendment on abortion is misleading and should be rewritten</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A fight over wording for a proposal to reverse the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">abortion rights amendment</a>&nbsp;Missouri voters added to the state Constitution in November will look very much like a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/31/appeals-court-swats-down-ashcroft-arguments-on-missouri-abortion-rights-petitions/">similar fight in 2023</a>.The ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Cole County with two objectives: Keep the proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" target="_blank">designated as Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;off of the November 2026 ballot or, failing that, completely reword the ballot language crafted by lawmakers. The job of defending the proposal and the way it is written will fall to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who is the lead defendant.In 2023, the ACLU of Missouri also challenged ballot language, written by then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, but with the intent of getting a citizen initiative on the ballot.“It certainly feels a lot like deja vu to go back into Cole County and argue again over a misleading and inaccurate ballot summary statement from a Missouri politician,” ACLU attorney Tori Schafer said in an interview with The Independent.One of the main proponents of the legislative measure, Sam Lee of Campaign Life Missouri, said the lawsuit was expected. He said he doesn’t think the measure will be thrown off the ballot and said the ballot language is defensible and should stand.“You get a dozen lawyers in a room, and they’ll write it 12 different ways,” Lee said. “And as long as it’s fair and impartial, there are a variety of ways of doing it.”When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/24/abortion-is-now-illegal-in-missouri-in-wake-of-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/">banning abortions</a>&nbsp;in almost all instances. That led to an initiative campaign, which resulted in a 52% majority approving a constitutional amendment that made abortion legal up until the point of fetal viability.But except for a short period, abortions have remained unavailable because the question of which of Missouri’s abortion regulations remain in force&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/">is tied up in court</a>. Prior to the total ban, for example, Missouri required a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion, that a woman seeking an abortion be given a lengthy document about fetal development and that all abortions take place in specially licensed ambulatory surgical centers.The lawsuit over those issues is being heard in Jackson County Circuit Court, where Judge Jerri Zhang could issue a decision at any time on a request for an injunction against the laws.The proposal passed by lawmakers would repeal the voter-approved initiative in its entirety and replace it with language that would allow the ban to be reinstated. It would carve out limited exceptions, allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest, fetal anomaly or medical emergencies during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.The proposal would also ban gender transition surgeries or medications for people under 18, and require all lawsuits that raise questions about state laws on reproductive health care be filed in Cole County.The ballot language written by lawmakers, and being challenged in the lawsuit, would state:“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:<ul>
 <li>Guarantee access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages;</li><li>Ensure women’s safety during abortions;</li><li>Ensure parental consent for minors;</li><li>Allow abortions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, and incest;</li><li>Require physicians to provide medically accurate information; and</li><li>Protect children from gender transition?”</li>
 </ul>In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu-mo.org/sites/default/files/petition_for_declaratory_judgment_and_injunctive_relief.pdf" target="_blank">the lawsuit</a>, the ACLU is arguing that the ballot language is unfair and misleading.The “summary statement uses language which is intentionally argumentative and likely to create prejudice for the measure,” the petition states.The most glaring omission is that it does not mention what it is replacing, the lawsuit states.&nbsp;“Among other things, the summary statement fails to advise voters that it will repeal a measure they just adopted in the last election cycle,” attorneys wrote.The language should at least inform voters that there will be no protected right to obtain an abortion, Schafer said.“The courts back in 2023 made sure we had a fair and accurate ballot summary statement and fair ballot language,” she said. “We know that they’ll do the same this year.”The gender-affirming treatments language and the provision directing venue of reproductive health care cases to Cole County are impermissible, the lawsuit states. They violate the Constitution’s requirement that constitutional amendments address&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XII++++2(b)&amp;bid=32078&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">only one subject</a>.“We know that the reason that Missouri politicians put that piece about Cole County in there is because they don’t like the fact that we’ve been successful on the (legal challenges to restrictive laws) in Jackson County,” Schafer said. “It was a very politically motivated reason that they put that in.”Lee said he thinks all the subjects relate to reproductive health care and will survive that part of the challenge.“It’s a weak argument, because even supporters of what passed in November last year link reproductive health care with transgender care,” he said.The return to court over ballot language on abortion rights is the latest round of a seemingly endless contest.&nbsp;Abortion rights supporters will never give up, Schafer said.“I feel like what we’re asking for is a very simple thing, which is just get politicians out of health care and let people make their own health care decisions,” she said. “And so that is our stance on that.”If the legislative measure makes it to the ballot and passes, Lee said, he expects a new initiative to reverse it. Lee has been an anti-abortion activist for decades, including many years as an influential lobbyist.Asked when he expects the debate to end, Lee said:“Not in my lifetime. I’m not saying that because of me personally. I’m just saying I don’t expect it to be settled anytime soon.”

Lawsuit challenges ballot language for proposed Missouri abortion ban 

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

Just after 5a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 100 block of N Belliare in Kansas City, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders were directed to the rear of a nearby residence where an adult male victim was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS pronounced him deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result of an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police do not have a suspect in custody or and have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751741241391.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City Missouri.Just after 5a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 100 block of N Belliare in Kansas City, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751741015533.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders were directed to the rear of a nearby residence where an adult male victim was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS pronounced him deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result of an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police do not have a suspect in custody or and have not released the name of the victim.

Homicide: Argument escalated to gunfire outside KC home

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives have released the name of the victim in the June 30, homicide in the 1200 Block of N. 7th St. Traffickway in Kansas City, Kansas.&nbsp;

The victim has been identified as 67-year-old Carl Nabors, according to KCK Police. Police arrested the suspect, 33-year-old Jamahal Fountain and he has been charged by the Wyandotte County District Attorney with second-degree murder. 

He is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $300,000 bond

.Both the victim and suspect were homeless, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751721607643.png" alt="Fountain photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Fountain photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives have released the name of the victim in the June 30, homicide in the 1200 Block of N. 7th St. Traffickway in Kansas City, Kansas.&nbsp;The victim has been identified as 67-year-old Carl Nabors, according to KCK Police. Police arrested the suspect, 33-year-old Jamahal Fountain and he has been charged by the Wyandotte County District Attorney with second-degree murder. He is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $300,000 bond.Both the victim and suspect were homeless, according to police.

Police: Homeless man accused in Kansas man's killing

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegaions.

Just after 11p.m. June 30, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop at 181st and Shawnee Heights Road in rural Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751462525176.png" alt="Self photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Self photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegaions.Just after 11p.m. June 30, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop at 181st and Shawnee Heights Road in rural Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751462625443.png" alt="Bishop photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Bishop photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics. Two women were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.Summer D. Self, 30, of Vassar is being held on requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamineHailey J. Bishop, 25, of Quenemo is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine.