Hutchinson –&nbsp;Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Lamoine Wiebe, 57, died Saturday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 Wiebe was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived but were unsuccessful. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Wiebe was serving a 233-month sentence for one conviction of voluntary manslaughter in Harvey County, Kansas. He had over two dozen previous convictions that included theft, burglary, robbery, flee or attempt to elude, obstruction, DUI and for drug crimes, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740867685381.png" alt="Wiebe-photo Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Wiebe-photo Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson –&nbsp;Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Lamoine Wiebe, 57, died Saturday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. Wiebe was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived but were unsuccessful. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Wiebe was serving a 233-month sentence for one conviction of voluntary manslaughter in Harvey County, Kansas. He had over two dozen previous convictions that included theft, burglary, robbery, flee or attempt to elude, obstruction, DUI and for drug crimes, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Inmate with over 2 dozen convictions dies in Kan.  prison

Associate Circuit Judge Joe Don McGaugh, a former lawmaker, will be off the bench for a year and must submit to a mental evaluation before returning to work

BY:&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>

The Missouri Supreme Court on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=217974" target="_blank">suspended an associate circuit judge</a>&nbsp;for a year without pay for leaving numerous cases unresolved for years, leaving families in limbo on divorces, child support and custody and, in one case, potentially pushing a home into foreclosure.

The court imposed the suspension on Associate Circuit Judge Joe Don McGaugh of Carroll County after an investigation by the Commission on the Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges. The court increased the penalty recommended by the commission from six months to 12 months.

“His performance issues extend well beyond his own grossly untimely performance of his duties,” Judge Ginger Gooch wrote in the decision. “The uncontested allegations also establish he was untruthful with attorneys, parties, and the commission on multiple occasions. He repeatedly failed to respond to court staff and, even worse, blamed court staff when he knew he failed to perform his judicial duties.”

McGaugh, a Republican, was appointed in 2017 and re-elected unopposed to a new four-year term in 2022. He was a member of the Missouri House when he was appointed to the bench and succeeded in office by his mother, state Rep. Peggy McGaugh.

The last time the court suspended a judge was in 2017, when two judges were suspended.

All seven judges of the Supreme Court agreed that McGaugh should be disciplined; Judges W. Brent Powell and Zel Fischer wrote dissents stating the high court did not have the constitutional authority to impose a discipline more severe than recommended by the commission.

The facts reported to the court show in detail the hardships imposed on families waiting for a ruling from McGaugh. In one case, McGaugh closed evidence on a divorce in September 2021 and did not issue his decision until February 2024.

During that time, the attorneys for both sides contacted McGaugh asking him when a ruling would be issued. In February 2022, McGaugh told the attorney for the wife that he had given the ruling to a court clerk but it could not be found.

At another point in 2022, the attorney warned McGaugh that the woman was in default on her home loan and faced foreclosure.

The commission asked McGaugh about the case in 2022 when it was not listed among the cases pending for a decision longer than 90 days. The commission again asked McGaugh about it in August 2023.

“Judge McGaugh responded the next day, ‘I submitted the judgment in person at my&nbsp;October law day in Ray County. I am at the State Fair until next week. I will follow up&nbsp;with the clerks,’” the decision states.

Among the discipline rules McGaugh violated, the court noted that one is “the duties of judicial office, as prescribed by law, shall take precedence over a judge’s personal and extrajudicial activities.”

In another case, McGaugh closed evidence on a child custody and support modification case in April 2018 but did not issue a decision until April 2024.&nbsp;

The decision lists seven other cases involving divorces, child custody and orders of protection where parties waited extraordinary periods for a decision.

“In sum, this is an egregious case of multiple instances in which a judge completely failed to timely perform his duties, compounded by a pattern of dishonesty toward lawyers, parties, court staff and the commission,” Gooch wrote. “At the time of this opinion issuing, multiple court cases remain unresolved due to Judge McGaugh’s delays, which have continued despite this extended disciplinary proceeding.”

McGaugh admitted to the charges against him in a stipulation filed with the discipline case but asked the high court to let him argue that an unnamed mental disability interfered with his ability to complete his work.

The commission included a finding that McGaugh has a mental disability “but the disorder should improve with time and treatment,” Gooch noted.

When an attorney claims a mental disorder, “including, but not limited to, substance abuse or dependency,” the disciplinary rules state, it does not excuse misconduct does allow for it to mitigate punishment.

To determine if McGaugh is ready to return to the bench in 2026, the court ordered him to continue treatments and undergo an independent evaluation in 10 months to determine if he has improved.

The court has the power to impose harsher, or lighter, punishments than the commission recommends, Gooch wrote, addressing the dissents.

There have been several previous instances where the commission recommended discipline but was not unanimous on the punishment, she noted. There was one case where the majority of the commission wanted the judge removed and one member voted for a six-month suspension and the court imposed the suspension.

The constitution “does not limit this court’s authority to impose such discipline as it sees fit after the commission recommends discipline be imposed,” she wrote.

In his dissent, Fischer wrote that past decisions were wrong and accepting or rejecting the recommendation of the commission is the court’s only choice.

“McGaugh’s repeated and astoundingly egregious failure to discharge his core judicial responsibilities is compelling evidence he is unfit to serve,” Fischer wrote.&nbsp; “If the constitution — the ultimate legal authority — so permitted, I would vote to remove him from office.”

<h2>Associate Circuit Judge Joe Don McGaugh, a former lawmaker, will be off the bench for a year and must submit to a mental evaluation before returning to work</h2>BY:&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>The Missouri Supreme Court on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=217974" target="_blank">suspended an associate circuit judge</a>&nbsp;for a year without pay for leaving numerous cases unresolved for years, leaving families in limbo on divorces, child support and custody and, in one case, potentially pushing a home into foreclosure.The court imposed the suspension on Associate Circuit Judge Joe Don McGaugh of Carroll County after an investigation by the Commission on the Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges. The court increased the penalty recommended by the commission from six months to 12 months.“His performance issues extend well beyond his own grossly untimely performance of his duties,” Judge Ginger Gooch wrote in the decision. “The uncontested allegations also establish he was untruthful with attorneys, parties, and the commission on multiple occasions. He repeatedly failed to respond to court staff and, even worse, blamed court staff when he knew he failed to perform his judicial duties.”McGaugh, a Republican, was appointed in 2017 and re-elected unopposed to a new four-year term in 2022. He was a member of the Missouri House when he was appointed to the bench and succeeded in office by his mother, state Rep. Peggy McGaugh.The last time the court suspended a judge was in 2017, when two judges were suspended.All seven judges of the Supreme Court agreed that McGaugh should be disciplined; Judges W. Brent Powell and Zel Fischer wrote dissents stating the high court did not have the constitutional authority to impose a discipline more severe than recommended by the commission.The facts reported to the court show in detail the hardships imposed on families waiting for a ruling from McGaugh. In one case, McGaugh closed evidence on a divorce in September 2021 and did not issue his decision until February 2024.During that time, the attorneys for both sides contacted McGaugh asking him when a ruling would be issued. In February 2022, McGaugh told the attorney for the wife that he had given the ruling to a court clerk but it could not be found.At another point in 2022, the attorney warned McGaugh that the woman was in default on her home loan and faced foreclosure.The commission asked McGaugh about the case in 2022 when it was not listed among the cases pending for a decision longer than 90 days. The commission again asked McGaugh about it in August 2023.“Judge McGaugh responded the next day, ‘I submitted the judgment in person at my&nbsp;October law day in Ray County. I am at the State Fair until next week. I will follow up&nbsp;with the clerks,’” the decision states.Among the discipline rules McGaugh violated, the court noted that one is “the duties of judicial office, as prescribed by law, shall take precedence over a judge’s personal and extrajudicial activities.”In another case, McGaugh closed evidence on a child custody and support modification case in April 2018 but did not issue a decision until April 2024.&nbsp;The decision lists seven other cases involving divorces, child custody and orders of protection where parties waited extraordinary periods for a decision.“In sum, this is an egregious case of multiple instances in which a judge completely failed to timely perform his duties, compounded by a pattern of dishonesty toward lawyers, parties, court staff and the commission,” Gooch wrote. “At the time of this opinion issuing, multiple court cases remain unresolved due to Judge McGaugh’s delays, which have continued despite this extended disciplinary proceeding.”McGaugh admitted to the charges against him in a stipulation filed with the discipline case but asked the high court to let him argue that an unnamed mental disability interfered with his ability to complete his work.The commission included a finding that McGaugh has a mental disability “but the disorder should improve with time and treatment,” Gooch noted.When an attorney claims a mental disorder, “including, but not limited to, substance abuse or dependency,” the disciplinary rules state, it does not excuse misconduct does allow for it to mitigate punishment.To determine if McGaugh is ready to return to the bench in 2026, the court ordered him to continue treatments and undergo an independent evaluation in 10 months to determine if he has improved.The court has the power to impose harsher, or lighter, punishments than the commission recommends, Gooch wrote, addressing the dissents.There have been several previous instances where the commission recommended discipline but was not unanimous on the punishment, she noted. There was one case where the majority of the commission wanted the judge removed and one member voted for a six-month suspension and the court imposed the suspension.The constitution “does not limit this court’s authority to impose such discipline as it sees fit after the commission recommends discipline be imposed,” she wrote.In his dissent, Fischer wrote that past decisions were wrong and accepting or rejecting the recommendation of the commission is the court’s only choice.“McGaugh’s repeated and astoundingly egregious failure to discharge his core judicial responsibilities is compelling evidence he is unfit to serve,” Fischer wrote.&nbsp; “If the constitution — the ultimate legal authority — so permitted, I would vote to remove him from office.”

Missouri Supreme Court suspends Carroll County judge for ‘egregious’ behavior

WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt responded Saturday with his opinion on the wild meeting between&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President&nbsp;Donald Trump. 

On social media Schmitt wrote,&nbsp;Zelenskyy could have signed the deal five days earlier but wanted to come to the White House.&nbsp; He'd been difficult for two weeks. Yet he wanted the White House meeting. Trump was upbeat about it even just the day before publicly and privately the day of."

"Although he could have reset the whole thing Zelenskyy was antagonistic and over the top. There are no more cards to play. No more “it could be your sons next” or “one more year and we’ll have them on their knees.” 

"America has to move to our core interests now: Homeland and China."

"All he had to do was smile for the cameras, sign the minerals deal and have lunch. That’s it. He couldn’t do it. He failed his country and the relatively standard practice for an Oval Office meeting like this."

"There are now serious questions if we can even deal with him. He blew it. He had a one foot putt but was more interested in litigating issues that should be discussed behind closed doors (and have been) in public."

"It is in the national interest of the U.S. for there to be a peace deal. Now. Trump ran on this. It’s not a surprise."

"There will be no more money for war there. Not from us. Now is the time for peace."

WASHINGTON —Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt responded Saturday with his opinion on the wild meeting between&nbsp;the&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President&nbsp;Donald Trump. On social media Schmitt wrote,&nbsp;Zelenskyy could have signed the deal five days earlier but wanted to come to the White House.&nbsp; He'd been difficult for two weeks. Yet he wanted the White House meeting. Trump was upbeat about it even just the day before publicly and privately the day of."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WATCH: Full Meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Oval Office. <a href="https://t.co/Xf6cyErem7">pic.twitter.com/Xf6cyErem7</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1895602226472550410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Although he could have reset the whole thing Zelenskyy was antagonistic and over the top. There are no more cards to play. No more “it could be your sons next” or “one more year and we’ll have them on their knees.” "America has to move to our core interests now: Homeland and China.""All he had to do was smile for the cameras, sign the minerals deal and have lunch. That’s it. He couldn’t do it. He failed his country and the relatively standard practice for an Oval Office meeting like this.""There are now serious questions if we can even deal with him. He blew it. He had a one foot putt but was more interested in litigating issues that should be discussed behind closed doors (and have been) in public.""It is in the national interest of the U.S. for there to be a peace deal. Now. Trump ran on this. It’s not a surprise.""There will be no more money for war there. Not from us. Now is the time for peace."

Missouri U.S. Senator: Zelenskyy blew it during meeting with Trump

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

WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a campaign to compel people in the United States without legal authority to register with the U.S. government and then self-deport.

In doing so, Trump administration officials could carry out their plans for mass deportations without using agency resources for physical removals.

Noem said in a press release that if a person without legal status fails to register online, that person will be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.

It’s unclear how much the fine is, or what charges would be levied that would result in imprisonment. In response to State Newsroom’s request for comment, DHS said it was looking into those details.

“If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.

<a href="https://nipnlg.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/2023_post-deportation-assessment-guide.pdf" target="_blank">In order to return to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;after a voluntary departure, an approved visa petition is needed, like a work visa, as well as a waiver of inadmissibility from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

The registry is not up and running, but a form and process will be made available in the coming days,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration" target="_blank">according to the DHS website.</a>

Registering would require submitting fingerprint information and other personal information. Adults and children 14 and older would be required to register.

“Compelling mass self-deportation is a safer path for aliens and law enforcement, and saves U.S. taxpayer dollars, in addition to conserving valuable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources needed to keep Americans safe,” according to the DHS press release.

Tuesday’s late announcement comes as Noem&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/02/17/dhs-announces-ad-campaign-warning-illegal-aliens-self-deport-and-stay-out" target="_blank">has appeared in commercials</a>&nbsp;where she has warned immigrants without legal authorization “will be hunted down and deported.”

Those who are required to register include immigrants in the U.S. without legal authorization, “Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration” and those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, or those with Temporary Protected Status, according to the DHS website.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740574621163.png" alt="DHS Secretary Kristi Noem courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>DHS Secretary Kristi Noem courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a campaign to compel people in the United States without legal authority to register with the U.S. government and then self-deport.In doing so, Trump administration officials could carry out their plans for mass deportations without using agency resources for physical removals.Noem said in a press release that if a person without legal status fails to register online, that person will be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.It’s unclear how much the fine is, or what charges would be levied that would result in imprisonment. In response to State Newsroom’s request for comment, DHS said it was looking into those details.“If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.<a href="https://nipnlg.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/2023_post-deportation-assessment-guide.pdf" target="_blank">In order to return to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;after a voluntary departure, an approved visa petition is needed, like a work visa, as well as a waiver of inadmissibility from a U.S. embassy or consulate.The registry is not up and running, but a form and process will be made available in the coming days,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration" target="_blank">according to the DHS website.</a>Registering would require submitting fingerprint information and other personal information. Adults and children 14 and older would be required to register.“Compelling mass self-deportation is a safer path for aliens and law enforcement, and saves U.S. taxpayer dollars, in addition to conserving valuable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources needed to keep Americans safe,” according to the DHS press release.Tuesday’s late announcement comes as Noem&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/02/17/dhs-announces-ad-campaign-warning-illegal-aliens-self-deport-and-stay-out" target="_blank">has appeared in commercials</a>&nbsp;where she has warned immigrants without legal authorization “will be hunted down and deported.”Those who are required to register include immigrants in the U.S. without legal authorization, “Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration” and those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, or those with Temporary Protected Status, according to the DHS website.&nbsp;

DHS will require migrants without legal status to register with U.S. government

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before midnight Friday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a silver Honda Accord was&nbsp; northbound in the southbound lanes of Blue Ridge Cutoff at a high rate of speed.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy was operating a black Ford Explorer patrol vehicle, traveling non-emergent, southbound on Blue Ridge Cutoff. 

The Honda struck the patrol vehicle head-on. The deputy was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Honda was pronounced deceased at the scene. The deputy is currently in stable condition. Police released no additional details.

This is fatality #8 compared to #20 at this time last year.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before midnight Friday in Kansas City.According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a silver Honda Accord was&nbsp; northbound in the southbound lanes of Blue Ridge Cutoff at a high rate of speed.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy was operating a black Ford Explorer patrol vehicle, traveling non-emergent, southbound on Blue Ridge Cutoff. The Honda struck the patrol vehicle head-on. The deputy was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Honda was pronounced deceased at the scene. The deputy is currently in stable condition. Police released no additional details.This is fatality #8 compared to #20 at this time last year.

Driver dies after wrong-way crash into KC deputy

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

Only surgical abortions will be offered initially as the clinics await state approval to restart medication abortions

Two of Missouri’s nine Planned Parenthood clinics are poised to start performing regularly-scheduled surgical abortions next week, though clinic leadership says access to medication abortions is in the hands of the state.&nbsp;

The first elective abortion in Missouri since the procedure was banned in 2022 was performed earlier this month in a Kansas City Planned Parenthood clinic. It will now be offering regular appointments for surgical abortions along with the clinic in Columbia, which has not offered the procedure since 2018.&nbsp;

Two weeks ago, Jackson County judge Jerri Zhang&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/14/missouri-judge-blocks-discriminatory-abortion-clinics-rules-blamed-for-lack-of-access/">struck down the final few regulations for Missouri abortion providers</a>, calling them “unnecessary” and “discriminatory,” opening the door for abortions to resume.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/06/missouri-planned-parenthood-clinics-delay-abortion-amendment-3-lawsuit/">The regulations run afoul of the constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;granting the right to abortion, which voters passed in November as Amendment 3.

Among these now defunct regulations is a requirement that abortion clinics submit a complication plan for medication abortions.

While Zhang blocked the regulations connected to the complication plan, the statute itself remains, said Emily Wales, president and CEO with Planned Parenthood Great Plains.&nbsp;

Wales said Planned Parenthood submitted a complication plan to the state last week, but there has been no indication as to how long it will take to review the plans. Until that approval arrives, medication abortions cannot begin, Wales said.&nbsp;

“I do not have an anticipated timeline for approval or denial of the pending complication plans,”&nbsp;Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services&nbsp;spokeswoman Sami Jo Freeman said in an email.

Freeman confirmed the plans were received from both Planned Parenthood affiliates the Thursday and Friday prior. &nbsp;

“We’re in uncharted territory here, because we don’t have regulations that tie to the statute, because they’re blocked,” Wales said. “I would be somewhat surprised if (the state) came back and said they are fine with the plan.”

<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, 63% of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;rather than surgical procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group. That number is increasing as the number of states with bans and restrictions on abortions grow.&nbsp;

In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad.

Wales said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state green lights it.

“We are hoping that the state acts in good faith,” Wales said. “And recognizes that our process for managing complications is in line with the standard of care nationally.”

Abortions to resume in Columbia, Kansas City

The first elective abortion to take place in Columbia since 2018 is scheduled for Monday.

Nearly seven years ago, the clinic in central Missouri stopped seeing abortion patients after a new law required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;

Soon, appointments will be available at least one day a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas City clinic, located 125 miles west on Interstate 70, performed the first elective abortion in nearly three years in Missouri on Feb. 15. No other patients have undergone the procedure since.&nbsp;

But beginning Wednesday, the clinic will begin seeing patients for regularly-scheduled surgical abortions at least one day a week. Initially, they are scheduling patients up until 12 weeks in pregnancy, but Wales said they intend to expand the gestational age as they figure out scheduling.&nbsp;

The clinic also hopes to expand the pain management offered for surgical abortions. Initially, they plan to offer patients Valium and local anesthetic. Down the road Wales said they hope to also offer IV sedation.

The lag between the first abortion patient and the second was due to logistics. But weather and a holiday weekend also played a role.&nbsp;

A snowstorm that week forced the clinic to cancel other appointments and the physicians who came in to perform the first abortion hadn’t been scheduled to work the weekend of President’s Day. Instead, they offered to come in on their day off to take part in the historic moment.

While Columbia and Kansas City will only be offering appointments one day a week for the first couple months, both hope to expand as they adjust providers’ schedules and new staff physicians come on board.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which runs clinics in Kansas, Western Missouri and Oklahoma, has five physicians based in the Kansas City area. Wales said they hope to add at least one more staff physician in the coming months. The clinics also rely on a network of about half a dozen out-of-state contracted physicians to coordinate care at the clinics, which primarily includes contraceptives, STI testing, cancer screenings and wellness checks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The equipment used in surgical abortions has been on a tri-state tour in recent years, Wales said. After the Columbia clinic ended the procedure, the equipment went to Oklahoma, which at the time was seeing a surge in Texans following that state’s 6-week ban. When Oklahoma’s ban went into effect, the equipment was sent to Kansas as more Texans and Oklahomans started traveling north for the procedure.&nbsp;

Wales said it’s not immediately clear what the demand for abortion appointments will be in Missouri. In 2023, Kansas saw a 58% increase in abortion appointments as bans took effect in neighboring states. Wales is anticipating the clinics in Columbia and Kansas City could see patients traveling in from Iowa, Arkansas and even Louisiana.&nbsp;

“One of the challenges for us is that we still have an overwhelming need in Kansas, and we’re going to have to take some time to figure out how patients travel,” Wales said. “If the demand is higher in Missouri, we will increase access there.”

No set date to begin abortions again in St. Louis

The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis’ Central West End was the last clinic in Missouri to provide an abortion before Roe v. Wade was overturned.&nbsp;

Clinic leadership, wary of the ongoing court battle, has not yet started scheduling out abortion appointments in St. Louis.

Dr. Margaret Baum, interim chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which runs clinics in eastern and southern Missouri and southern Illinois, said it was too soon to provide a timeline of when surgical abortions will return to St. Louis.

“We moved all of our services to Illinois, our nursing staff, our anesthesia equipment, physician presence, all of those things,” she said. “So it’s going to take a little bit of time to bring things back to Missouri.”&nbsp;

The St. Louis location previously offered abortions up to 21 weeks, six days gestation. Baum said she imagines they will offer the procedure up until that point again once services restart.&nbsp;

A 20 minute drive across the river in Fairview Heights, Illinois, patients can be seen up to 28 weeks, six days gestation.

While a lot of uncertainty remains around surgical abortions, Baum said the St. Louis clinic is ready to start providing medication abortions as soon as the state clears them to do so.&nbsp;

But even though medication abortion is easier to provide — it requires fewer staff and less equipment —&nbsp;Baum said the clinics in Springfield and Rolla won’t be able to make the medication available to patients because neither clinic has doctors on staff, citing a state law that requires only physicians perform the procedure.&nbsp;

She said bringing physicians to Springfield and Rolla “is certainly a discussion, but “right now, we have to focus our physician power in our very, very busy service in Illinois, and bringing things back to Missouri.”

Baum is one of two long-term staff physicians and one contracted physician at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers.&nbsp;

When she started at Planned Parenthood in St. Louis several years ago, an ultrasound technician saw patients, then Baum reviewed the ultrasound images before moving on with the procedure. But then Missouri law changed and suddenly she was required to do the ultrasound, cutting into her time with other patients.&nbsp;

Then came the mandatory 72 hour waiting period between seeing a provider and having an abortion. That was followed by a requirement that the same physician who walked the patient through the required informed consent process also be the one to do their abortion 72 hours later.&nbsp;

Across the river in Illinois, there was no waiting period, no physician consent requirement and no pelvic exam required for medication abortions.&nbsp;

While Baum said Planned Parenthood celebrated the judge’s most recent decision, many are also wary of what the state could do next.&nbsp;

This legislative session, dozens of bills have been filed seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/19/missouri-born-alive-survivors-bill-abortion-medication-lawsuits/">restrict Amendment 3.</a>&nbsp;This includes multiple proposed constitutional amendments seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/05/missouri-abortion-ban-constitutional-amendment-stinnett-rape-incest-exception/">put an abortion ban on the ballot</a>&nbsp;as soon as this year.

“It is important to remember that while we celebrated this victory last Friday, it is temporary, so we are still a little bit nervous that things could change,” she said. “We don’t know what will happen in January, when the actual court case takes place. So before we put too much effort into reopening services in St. Louis, if things could then change, we still have to focus where we have this facility in Illinois, to keep that running.”&nbsp;

Legal battles continue to complicate planning

On Saturday, Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a request for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, asking a Cole County judge to temporarily halt the Columbia and Kansas City clinics from performing abortions. The state has been attempting to move Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit against the state from Jackson County to Cole County.

The filing is part of a separate lawsuit filed late last year by the attorney general’s office arguing that Planned Parenthood doesn’t have the grounds to sue because of a 2010 settlement agreement between Planned Parenthood and the state.&nbsp;

“More than anything, I think it’s an attempt to get out of a court where they’re unhappy with the outcomes they’re seeing,” Wales said. “But also to delay, distract and prevent Missourians from access and care.”

Planned Parenthood has requested that the case be transferred to Jackson County. A status hearing in the Cole County case is scheduled for March 12.

Bailey is also expected to appeal the most recent order out of Jackson County which allowed Planned Parenthood to restart surgical abortions.

In an email Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said the office intends to appeal the judge’s Feb. 14 order “immediately.” As of Thursday, the office had not filed an appeal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740781567276.png" alt="A surgical room is prepped for patients on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Planned Parenthood Great Plains in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>A surgical room is prepped for patients on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Planned Parenthood Great Plains in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Only surgical abortions will be offered initially as the clinics await state approval to restart medication abortions</h2>Two of Missouri’s nine Planned Parenthood clinics are poised to start performing regularly-scheduled surgical abortions next week, though clinic leadership says access to medication abortions is in the hands of the state.&nbsp;The first elective abortion in Missouri since the procedure was banned in 2022 was performed earlier this month in a Kansas City Planned Parenthood clinic. It will now be offering regular appointments for surgical abortions along with the clinic in Columbia, which has not offered the procedure since 2018.&nbsp;Two weeks ago, Jackson County judge Jerri Zhang&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/14/missouri-judge-blocks-discriminatory-abortion-clinics-rules-blamed-for-lack-of-access/">struck down the final few regulations for Missouri abortion providers</a>, calling them “unnecessary” and “discriminatory,” opening the door for abortions to resume.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/06/missouri-planned-parenthood-clinics-delay-abortion-amendment-3-lawsuit/">The regulations run afoul of the constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;granting the right to abortion, which voters passed in November as Amendment 3.Among these now defunct regulations is a requirement that abortion clinics submit a complication plan for medication abortions.While Zhang blocked the regulations connected to the complication plan, the statute itself remains, said Emily Wales, president and CEO with Planned Parenthood Great Plains.&nbsp;Wales said Planned Parenthood submitted a complication plan to the state last week, but there has been no indication as to how long it will take to review the plans. Until that approval arrives, medication abortions cannot begin, Wales said.&nbsp;“I do not have an anticipated timeline for approval or denial of the pending complication plans,”&nbsp;Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services&nbsp;spokeswoman Sami Jo Freeman said in an email.Freeman confirmed the plans were received from both Planned Parenthood affiliates the Thursday and Friday prior. &nbsp;“We’re in uncharted territory here, because we don’t have regulations that tie to the statute, because they’re blocked,” Wales said. “I would be somewhat surprised if (the state) came back and said they are fine with the plan.”<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, 63% of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;rather than surgical procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group. That number is increasing as the number of states with bans and restrictions on abortions grow.&nbsp;In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad.Wales said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state green lights it.“We are hoping that the state acts in good faith,” Wales said. “And recognizes that our process for managing complications is in line with the standard of care nationally.”<h2>Abortions to resume in Columbia, Kansas City</h2>The first elective abortion to take place in Columbia since 2018 is scheduled for Monday.Nearly seven years ago, the clinic in central Missouri stopped seeing abortion patients after a new law required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;Soon, appointments will be available at least one day a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas City clinic, located 125 miles west on Interstate 70, performed the first elective abortion in nearly three years in Missouri on Feb. 15. No other patients have undergone the procedure since.&nbsp;But beginning Wednesday, the clinic will begin seeing patients for regularly-scheduled surgical abortions at least one day a week. Initially, they are scheduling patients up until 12 weeks in pregnancy, but Wales said they intend to expand the gestational age as they figure out scheduling.&nbsp;The clinic also hopes to expand the pain management offered for surgical abortions. Initially, they plan to offer patients Valium and local anesthetic. Down the road Wales said they hope to also offer IV sedation.The lag between the first abortion patient and the second was due to logistics. But weather and a holiday weekend also played a role.&nbsp;A snowstorm that week forced the clinic to cancel other appointments and the physicians who came in to perform the first abortion hadn’t been scheduled to work the weekend of President’s Day. Instead, they offered to come in on their day off to take part in the historic moment.While Columbia and Kansas City will only be offering appointments one day a week for the first couple months, both hope to expand as they adjust providers’ schedules and new staff physicians come on board.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which runs clinics in Kansas, Western Missouri and Oklahoma, has five physicians based in the Kansas City area. Wales said they hope to add at least one more staff physician in the coming months. The clinics also rely on a network of about half a dozen out-of-state contracted physicians to coordinate care at the clinics, which primarily includes contraceptives, STI testing, cancer screenings and wellness checks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The equipment used in surgical abortions has been on a tri-state tour in recent years, Wales said. After the Columbia clinic ended the procedure, the equipment went to Oklahoma, which at the time was seeing a surge in Texans following that state’s 6-week ban. When Oklahoma’s ban went into effect, the equipment was sent to Kansas as more Texans and Oklahomans started traveling north for the procedure.&nbsp;Now, it’s back in Columbia.&nbsp;Wales said it’s not immediately clear what the demand for abortion appointments will be in Missouri. In 2023, Kansas saw a 58% increase in abortion appointments as bans took effect in neighboring states. Wales is anticipating the clinics in Columbia and Kansas City could see patients traveling in from Iowa, Arkansas and even Louisiana.&nbsp;“One of the challenges for us is that we still have an overwhelming need in Kansas, and we’re going to have to take some time to figure out how patients travel,” Wales said. “If the demand is higher in Missouri, we will increase access there.”<h2>No set date to begin abortions again in St. Louis</h2>The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis’ Central West End was the last clinic in Missouri to provide an abortion before Roe v. Wade was overturned.&nbsp;Clinic leadership, wary of the ongoing court battle, has not yet started scheduling out abortion appointments in St. Louis.Dr. Margaret Baum, interim chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which runs clinics in eastern and southern Missouri and southern Illinois, said it was too soon to provide a timeline of when surgical abortions will return to St. Louis.“We moved all of our services to Illinois, our nursing staff, our anesthesia equipment, physician presence, all of those things,” she said. “So it’s going to take a little bit of time to bring things back to Missouri.”&nbsp;The St. Louis location previously offered abortions up to 21 weeks, six days gestation. Baum said she imagines they will offer the procedure up until that point again once services restart.&nbsp;A 20 minute drive across the river in Fairview Heights, Illinois, patients can be seen up to 28 weeks, six days gestation.While a lot of uncertainty remains around surgical abortions, Baum said the St. Louis clinic is ready to start providing medication abortions as soon as the state clears them to do so.&nbsp;But even though medication abortion is easier to provide — it requires fewer staff and less equipment —&nbsp;Baum said the clinics in Springfield and Rolla won’t be able to make the medication available to patients because neither clinic has doctors on staff, citing a state law that requires only physicians perform the procedure.&nbsp;She said bringing physicians to Springfield and Rolla “is certainly a discussion, but “right now, we have to focus our physician power in our very, very busy service in Illinois, and bringing things back to Missouri.”Baum is one of two long-term staff physicians and one contracted physician at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers.&nbsp;When she started at Planned Parenthood in St. Louis several years ago, an ultrasound technician saw patients, then Baum reviewed the ultrasound images before moving on with the procedure. But then Missouri law changed and suddenly she was required to do the ultrasound, cutting into her time with other patients.&nbsp;Then came the mandatory 72 hour waiting period between seeing a provider and having an abortion. That was followed by a requirement that the same physician who walked the patient through the required informed consent process also be the one to do their abortion 72 hours later.&nbsp;Across the river in Illinois, there was no waiting period, no physician consent requirement and no pelvic exam required for medication abortions.&nbsp;While Baum said Planned Parenthood celebrated the judge’s most recent decision, many are also wary of what the state could do next.&nbsp;This legislative session, dozens of bills have been filed seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/19/missouri-born-alive-survivors-bill-abortion-medication-lawsuits/">restrict Amendment 3.</a>&nbsp;This includes multiple proposed constitutional amendments seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/05/missouri-abortion-ban-constitutional-amendment-stinnett-rape-incest-exception/">put an abortion ban on the ballot</a>&nbsp;as soon as this year.“It is important to remember that while we celebrated this victory last Friday, it is temporary, so we are still a little bit nervous that things could change,” she said. “We don’t know what will happen in January, when the actual court case takes place. So before we put too much effort into reopening services in St. Louis, if things could then change, we still have to focus where we have this facility in Illinois, to keep that running.”&nbsp;<h2>Legal battles continue to complicate planning</h2>On Saturday, Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a request for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, asking a Cole County judge to temporarily halt the Columbia and Kansas City clinics from performing abortions. The state has been attempting to move Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit against the state from Jackson County to Cole County.The filing is part of a separate lawsuit filed late last year by the attorney general’s office arguing that Planned Parenthood doesn’t have the grounds to sue because of a 2010 settlement agreement between Planned Parenthood and the state.&nbsp;“More than anything, I think it’s an attempt to get out of a court where they’re unhappy with the outcomes they’re seeing,” Wales said. “But also to delay, distract and prevent Missourians from access and care.”Planned Parenthood has requested that the case be transferred to Jackson County. A status hearing in the Cole County case is scheduled for March 12.Bailey is also expected to appeal the most recent order out of Jackson County which allowed Planned Parenthood to restart surgical abortions.In an email Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said the office intends to appeal the judge’s Feb. 14 order “immediately.” As of Thursday, the office had not filed an appeal.

Planned Parenthood to restart regular abortion appointments in Kansas City next week

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities investigating the cause of a deadly fire in Topeka that killed 34-year-old Daron Weather have determined the fire was intentionally set.

Just before 5:30a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;firefighters from the Topeka Fire Department responded to a house fire at 435 SE California Avenue, according to Fire Marshal&nbsp;Alan Stahl.

 Upon arrival, crews found a single story house with smoke and flames. Crews extinguished the fire and during a search of the home they found the body of Weather who was deceased.&nbsp;

The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary&nbsp; and&nbsp;Topeka Fire is not seeking any suspects in this case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740798705939.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Authorities investigating the cause of a deadly fire in Topeka that killed 34-year-old Daron Weather have determined the fire was intentionally set.Just before 5:30a.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;firefighters from the Topeka Fire Department responded to a house fire at 435 SE California Avenue, according to Fire Marshal&nbsp;Alan Stahl. Upon arrival, crews found a single story house with smoke and flames. Crews extinguished the fire and during a search of the home they found the body of Weather who was deceased.&nbsp;The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary&nbsp; and&nbsp;Topeka Fire is not seeking any suspects in this case.

Fire Marshal: Kansas man died in house fire he started

BOONE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Friday in Boone County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Nissan Sentra driven by 35-year-old Columbia man was eastbound on Route FF at North Cline Road. The car traveled off the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.

Boone ambulance transported the driver to University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

BOONE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Friday in Boone County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Nissan Sentra driven by 35-year-old Columbia man was eastbound on Route FF at North Cline Road. The car traveled off the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.Boone ambulance transported the driver to University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after ejected in rollover accident

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced U.S. Senator Jerry Moran will serve as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation.

“The subcommittee will work on legislation to advance policies that put safety first while bolstering innovation and efficiency,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Recent tragedies demonstrate that our nation’s aviation system is facing a critical inflection point, and as Chairman, I will work to make certain air travel remains the safest method of transportation. I also look forward to supporting our nation’s rapidly evolving commercial space sector by advancing policies which promote the industry’s growth and capabilities.

Kansas is home to the Air Capital of the World, and my work on this subcommittee will be informed by the global aviation and aerospace companies that call our state home and the small businesses that fill critical links in our supply chains.”The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation has jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the civil aviation and space policy functions of the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce and National Space Council within the Executive Office of the President.Chairman Moran’s Priorities for the 119th Congress:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740755212461.jpeg" alt="File image -Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran during confirmation hearing for Sean Duffy to lead the Dept. of Transportation" />
 <figcaption>File image -Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran during confirmation hearing for Sean Duffy to lead the Dept. of Transportation</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announced U.S. Senator Jerry Moran will serve as the Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation.“The subcommittee will work on legislation to advance policies that put safety first while bolstering innovation and efficiency,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“Recent tragedies demonstrate that our nation’s aviation system is facing a critical inflection point, and as Chairman, I will work to make certain air travel remains the safest method of transportation. I also look forward to supporting our nation’s rapidly evolving commercial space sector by advancing policies which promote the industry’s growth and capabilities. Kansas is home to the Air Capital of the World, and my work on this subcommittee will be informed by the global aviation and aerospace companies that call our state home and the small businesses that fill critical links in our supply chains.”The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation has jurisdiction over the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the civil aviation and space policy functions of the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce and National Space Council within the Executive Office of the President.Chairman Moran’s Priorities for the 119th Congress:<ul>
 <li>Aviation Safety:&nbsp;Investigating recent aviation accidents and subsequent safety reports to make certain our nation’s aviation safety regulators are equipped and able to effectively manage our air travel equipment and systems.</li><li>Oversight:&nbsp;Ensuring the proper implementation the&nbsp;FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which Sen. Moran helped draft and unanimously pass in both chambers of Congress, to address the current and future demands of the aviation industry.</li><li>Space Exploration:&nbsp;Supporting critical NASA programs, including the Artemis campaign, and prioritizing STEM education to equip the next generation to further our nation’s space goals.</li><li>Commercial Space Growth:&nbsp;Enabling growth in the commercial space sector, which is already supporting critical national security missions and bolstering the U.S. in our space race against China and other adversaries. &nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

Sen. Moran to chair important Senate Commerce Subcommittee 

SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating an AT&amp;T employee in Salina in connection with an elaborate theft, fraud scheme.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Feb. 20, AT&amp;T corporate investigators contacted authorities in Salina regarding possible employee theft at the store, 2596 S. Ninth Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

 The investigation determined that 30-year-old Brandon L. Campbell, an employee, had allegedly engaged in fraudulent transactions between March 1, 2023, and Feb. 11, 2025.

According to Feldman, Campbell would purchase phones online, bring them to the store, and use another employee’s login credentials to manipulate trade-in values, inflating the amount higher than it should be. He would then allegedly take credit or cash for the price difference.

On Feb. 27, Campbell was taken into custody and booked into the Saline County Jail. He faces charges including one count of felony theft, 31 counts of making a false writing, and unlawful acts concerning computers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740756960405.png" alt="Campbell photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Campbell photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating an AT&amp;T employee in Salina in connection with an elaborate theft, fraud scheme.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Feb. 20, AT&amp;T corporate investigators contacted authorities in Salina regarding possible employee theft at the store, 2596 S. Ninth Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman. The investigation determined that 30-year-old Brandon L. Campbell, an employee, had allegedly engaged in fraudulent transactions between March 1, 2023, and Feb. 11, 2025.According to Feldman, Campbell would purchase phones online, bring them to the store, and use another employee’s login credentials to manipulate trade-in values, inflating the amount higher than it should be. He would then allegedly take credit or cash for the price difference.On Feb. 27, Campbell was taken into custody and booked into the Saline County Jail. He faces charges including one count of felony theft, 31 counts of making a false writing, and unlawful acts concerning computers.

Kan. cell phone store employee accused in theft, fraud scheme

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.

On Thursday, Kansas Highway Patrol posted a photo taken by Trooper Ely on patrol on Interstate 70 in Saline County.

The patrol did not report whether the trooper gave the driver a warning or a ticket with a significant fine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740777188831.png" alt="-Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>-Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.On Thursday, Kansas Highway Patrol posted a photo taken by Trooper Ely on patrol on Interstate 70 in Saline County.The patrol did not report whether the trooper gave the driver a warning or a ticket with a significant fine.

Driver caught traveling 111mph on Interstate 70

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“You either make a deal or we are out.” - President Trump <a href="https://t.co/nSkkhlJmSD">pic.twitter.com/nSkkhlJmSD</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1895536621011026218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Full Heated Exchange between President Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office. <a href="https://t.co/oMJUGPqbSU">pic.twitter.com/oMJUGPqbSU</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1895540802262126924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/wFkXJPCjVj">pic.twitter.com/wFkXJPCjVj</a>&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1895540552277639616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ukrainian President Zelenskyy departs the White House. <a href="https://t.co/OK2TIOzLZg">pic.twitter.com/OK2TIOzLZg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1895547078765404273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 No peace deal: Trump, Zelenskyy have heated Oval Office meeting

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement have submitted a new charging affidavit to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office requesting charges be filed against Mark Gridley to increase the total to 8 victims, according to a statement from Lawrence Police.

 All allegations made against Gridley thus far reportedly occurred at Prairie Park Elementary School over a two-day period from February 6th to February 7th. The victims range in age from six to eleven years old.

Since being notified of the first allegations on February 8th, the Lawrence Police Department has dedicated every available resource to investigate this case, to include the entire investigations division, all of the department's School Resource Officers, and numerous officers from the patrol division. Other local and federal law enforcement agencies and USD 497 have also assisted.

 The experts at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County have been instrumental in this investigation with their expertise in not only interviewing children but also in providing the needed support services for the victims and their families. Police have also worked very closely each step of the way with Douglas County District Attorney Dakota Loomis and his staff.

Every person involved in this investigation is committed to seeking truth and justice for the children and their families, while being cognizant that the work they are doing is on behalf of the most vulnerable members of the community.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739224850023.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement have submitted a new charging affidavit to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office requesting charges be filed against Mark Gridley to increase the total to 8 victims, according to a statement from Lawrence Police. All allegations made against Gridley thus far reportedly occurred at Prairie Park Elementary School over a two-day period from February 6th to February 7th. The victims range in age from six to eleven years old.Since being notified of the first allegations on February 8th, the Lawrence Police Department has dedicated every available resource to investigate this case, to include the entire investigations division, all of the department's School Resource Officers, and numerous officers from the patrol division. Other local and federal law enforcement agencies and USD 497 have also assisted. The experts at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Douglas County have been instrumental in this investigation with their expertise in not only interviewing children but also in providing the needed support services for the victims and their families. Police have also worked very closely each step of the way with Douglas County District Attorney Dakota Loomis and his staff.Every person involved in this investigation is committed to seeking truth and justice for the children and their families, while being cognizant that the work they are doing is on behalf of the most vulnerable members of the community.

More victims: Speech pathologist at Kan. school accused of child sex crimes

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

Legislation that would remove the expiration date on a pair of laws affecting transgender minors passed the Missouri Senate Thursday after a fight by Senate Democrats.

It now heads to the Missouri House for consideration.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/bill-text/perfected-sb10.pdf?c=66925" target="_blank">bill in question</a>, which contained a litany of provisions removing sunset dates for various programs, would make permanent a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and restrictions on transgender athletes in public schools.

The Senate tacked on the provisions impacting transgender minors earlier this month, with Democrats beginning their opposition after the changes were already voted onto the bill.

Senate Democratic Leader Doug Beck, of Affton, told reporters that his party moved too slowly and that the anti-transgender amendments to the bill were “spontaneous” and, therefore, unexpected.

He described the slow response as “growing pains” for a caucus with a large portion of new senators.

Democrats filibustered the bill when it came up for consideration twice, slowing down the legislation but not stopping what Republican Senate leaders described as a “top priority.”

State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia, held the floor with proposed amendments that would add an expiration date on statutes opposing same-sex marriage.

His first proposal would add a sunset to language in state law that says “any purported marriage not between a man and a woman is invalid.”

His amendment failed with 19 opposed, including one Democrat — state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis.&nbsp;Webber said the vote is an indicator of senators’ motives to “pick on” LGBTQ+ people, rather than the stated intention of protecting children.

“We’re not here talking about kids. We’re not talking about sports,” he said on the Senate floor. “We’re talking about a policy of othering.”

Passing the bill out of the Senate, GOP lawmakers applauded the provisions on gender-affirming care and transgender athletes.

“I want my little girl to be able to participate in sports,” said state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville. “I want to make sure that she’s able to flourish in a sport and not have her dreams and her potential to be completely removed or deserted due to an unfortunate circumstance.”

GOP Sens. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles and Nick Schroer of Defiance said the provisions “protecting children” are the reason they voted in favor of the legislation. But they had reservations on other pieces of the bill removing sunsets on the a tax that funds Missouri’s Medicaid program,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/house-sends-bill-to-governor-renewing-taxes-critical-to-funding-missouri-medicaid/">which has been a sticking point in previous years</a>.

Two Republicans voted in opposition to the bill, Sens. Mike Moon of Ash Grove and Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740756744377.jpeg" alt=" Democratic State Sens. Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City and Stephen Webber of Columbia hold the floor earlier this month during discussion of a bill that would make anti-transgender legislation permanent (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Democratic State Sens. Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City and Stephen Webber of Columbia hold the floor earlier this month during discussion of a bill that would make anti-transgender legislation permanent (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Legislation that would remove the expiration date on a pair of laws affecting transgender minors passed the Missouri Senate Thursday after a fight by Senate Democrats.It now heads to the Missouri House for consideration.The&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/bill-text/perfected-sb10.pdf?c=66925" target="_blank">bill in question</a>, which contained a litany of provisions removing sunset dates for various programs, would make permanent a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and restrictions on transgender athletes in public schools.The Senate tacked on the provisions impacting transgender minors earlier this month, with Democrats beginning their opposition after the changes were already voted onto the bill.Senate Democratic Leader Doug Beck, of Affton, told reporters that his party moved too slowly and that the anti-transgender amendments to the bill were “spontaneous” and, therefore, unexpected.He described the slow response as “growing pains” for a caucus with a large portion of new senators.Democrats filibustered the bill when it came up for consideration twice, slowing down the legislation but not stopping what Republican Senate leaders described as a “top priority.”State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia, held the floor with proposed amendments that would add an expiration date on statutes opposing same-sex marriage.His first proposal would add a sunset to language in state law that says “any purported marriage not between a man and a woman is invalid.”His amendment failed with 19 opposed, including one Democrat — state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis.&nbsp;Webber said the vote is an indicator of senators’ motives to “pick on” LGBTQ+ people, rather than the stated intention of protecting children.“We’re not here talking about kids. We’re not talking about sports,” he said on the Senate floor. “We’re talking about a policy of othering.”Passing the bill out of the Senate, GOP lawmakers applauded the provisions on gender-affirming care and transgender athletes.“I want my little girl to be able to participate in sports,” said state Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville. “I want to make sure that she’s able to flourish in a sport and not have her dreams and her potential to be completely removed or deserted due to an unfortunate circumstance.”GOP Sens. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles and Nick Schroer of Defiance said the provisions “protecting children” are the reason they voted in favor of the legislation. But they had reservations on other pieces of the bill removing sunsets on the a tax that funds Missouri’s Medicaid program,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/house-sends-bill-to-governor-renewing-taxes-critical-to-funding-missouri-medicaid/">which has been a sticking point in previous years</a>.Two Republicans voted in opposition to the bill, Sens. Mike Moon of Ash Grove and Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold.

Missouri Senate passes bill to remove expiration date on transgender health care ban

On Thursday, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), declassified and publicly released files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida, among other locations, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The first phase of declassified files largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the U.S. Government.

“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,”&nbsp;said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.&nbsp;“The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.” &nbsp;

“The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice,”&nbsp;said FBI Director Kash Patel.&nbsp;“There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued. If there are gaps, we will find them. If records have been hidden, we will uncover them. And we will bring everything we find to the DOJ to be fully assessed and transparently disseminated to the American people as it should be. The oath we take is to the Constitution, and under my leadership, that promise will be upheld without compromise.”

Attorney General Bondi requested the full and complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein. In response, the Department received approximately 200 pages of documents, however, the Attorney General was later informed of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein that were not previously disclosed. The Attorney General has requested the FBI deliver the remaining documents to the Department by 8:00 AM on February 28 and has tasked FBI Director Kash Patel with investigating why the request for all documents was not followed.

The Department remains committed to transparency and intends to release the remaining documents upon review and redaction to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims.&nbsp;Click on the links below.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), declassified and publicly released files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida, among other locations, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.The first phase of declassified files largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the U.S. Government.“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,”&nbsp;said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.&nbsp;“The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.” &nbsp;“The FBI is entering a new era—one that will be defined by integrity, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice,”&nbsp;said FBI Director Kash Patel.&nbsp;“There will be no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned — and anyone from the prior or current Bureau who undermines this will be swiftly pursued. If there are gaps, we will find them. If records have been hidden, we will uncover them. And we will bring everything we find to the DOJ to be fully assessed and transparently disseminated to the American people as it should be. The oath we take is to the Constitution, and under my leadership, that promise will be upheld without compromise.”Attorney General Bondi requested the full and complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein. In response, the Department received approximately 200 pages of documents, however, the Attorney General was later informed of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein that were not previously disclosed. The Attorney General has requested the FBI deliver the remaining documents to the Department by 8:00 AM on February 28 and has tasked FBI Director Kash Patel with investigating why the request for all documents was not followed.The Department remains committed to transparency and intends to release the remaining documents upon review and redaction to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims.&nbsp;Click on the links below.<ul>
 <li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391271/dl?inline">A. Evidence List</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391276/dl?inline">B. Flight Log_Released in U.S. v. Maxwell</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391281/dl?inline">B. Flight Log_Released in U.S. v. Maxwell_Part1</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391291/dl?inline">B. Flight Log_Released in U.S. v. Maxwell_Part2</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391296/dl?inline">B. Flight Log_Released in U.S. v. Maxwell_Part3</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391301/dl?inline">B. Flight Log_Released in U.S. v. Maxwell_Part4</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391306/dl?inline">B. Flight Log_Released in U.S. v. Maxwell_Part5</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391311/dl?inline">B. Flight Log_Released in U.S. v. Maxwell_Part6</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391321/dl?inline">C. Contact Book_Redacted</a></li><li><a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1391326/dl?inline">D. Masseuse List_Redacted</a></li>
 </ul>

Read phase 1 of the Epstein files released by the Dept. of Justice

KANSAS CITY —The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Kansas City.

Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, KCPD officers were notified of a domestic assault which occurred in the 7000 Block of North Robinhood lane, according to a media release from the patrol.&nbsp;

The female victim of the assault left the home where the assault occurred and met officers at a secondary location. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital. After speaking with the victim, police responded to the original residence to arrest the suspect just after 8:30p.m.&nbsp; Officers made contact with the 57-year-old suspect. 

The suspect exited the home armed with a large knife and advanced toward police. During the confrontation, one officer fired his duty weapon striking the suspect.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene. One officer received minor injuries during the altercation. The officer was treated at the scene and released. The Patrol released no additional details late Thursday including the name of the suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740743663867.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Kansas City.Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, KCPD officers were notified of a domestic assault which occurred in the 7000 Block of North Robinhood lane, according to a media release from the patrol.&nbsp;The female victim of the assault left the home where the assault occurred and met officers at a secondary location. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital. After speaking with the victim, police responded to the original residence to arrest the suspect just after 8:30p.m.&nbsp; Officers made contact with the 57-year-old suspect. The suspect exited the home armed with a large knife and advanced toward police. During the confrontation, one officer fired his duty weapon striking the suspect.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene. One officer received minor injuries during the altercation. The officer was treated at the scene and released. The Patrol released no additional details late Thursday including the name of the suspect.

Domestic assault suspect dead after KC officer-shooting

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage incident and have two suspects in custody.

Just before at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to what was believed to be an attempted armed carjacking in the 1900 block of W 75th Street in Prairie Village, according to a media release.

A motorist was stopped at the red light when two suspects pulled next to them on a motorcycle. The suspect passenger opened the victim’s driver’s side door. The victim was able to pull the door shut and drove west on W 75th Street. One suspect pulled out a handgun and fired several shots at the victim as they drove away.

 The suspects fled eastbound on W 75th Street into Missouri and were apprehended by Kansas City Missouri Police Officers after an accident. 

Both suspects were taken to the hospital. Police&nbsp;determined the shooting was attributed to a road rage incident not an attempted carjacking. The suspects remain in custody. Police did not release their names or possible charges.

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage incident and have two suspects in custody.Just before at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to what was believed to be an attempted armed carjacking in the 1900 block of W 75th Street in Prairie Village, according to a media release.A motorist was stopped at the red light when two suspects pulled next to them on a motorcycle. The suspect passenger opened the victim’s driver’s side door. The victim was able to pull the door shut and drove west on W 75th Street. One suspect pulled out a handgun and fired several shots at the victim as they drove away. The suspects fled eastbound on W 75th Street into Missouri and were apprehended by Kansas City Missouri Police Officers after an accident. Both suspects were taken to the hospital. Police&nbsp;determined the shooting was attributed to a road rage incident not an attempted carjacking. The suspects remain in custody. Police did not release their names or possible charges.

Suspects arrested for Kansas road rage shooting

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured in a house fire Thursday in Topeka.

Just before 6:00 p.m., firefighters responded to a reported house fire at 1835 SW Lincoln in Topeka, according to a media release. Upon arrival, crews found a two-story house with smoke and flames on both floors. Two people were in the residence when the fire started and self-evacuated. One person was taken to the hospital for treatment&nbsp; of minor injuries. Crews extinguished the fire.

Investigators determined the&nbsp;cause of the fire was accidental, associated with a space heater. There were no working smoke detectors in the home, according to the fire department. Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740708752618.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured in a house fire Thursday in Topeka.Just before 6:00 p.m., firefighters responded to a reported house fire at 1835 SW Lincoln in Topeka, according to a media release. Upon arrival, crews found a two-story house with smoke and flames on both floors. Two people were in the residence when the fire started and self-evacuated. One person was taken to the hospital for treatment&nbsp; of minor injuries. Crews extinguished the fire.Investigators determined the&nbsp;cause of the fire was accidental, associated with a space heater. There were no working smoke detectors in the home, according to the fire department. Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

One hospitalized after fire at two-story Kansas home

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 19-year-old&nbsp;Diego Lopez-Hernandez, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 19-year-old&nbsp;Diego Lopez-Hernandez, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Just after 2a.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 3700 block of St. John Avenue on a reported shooting.Upon arrival, no shooting victims were immediately located at the scene. While officers were speaking with bystanders in the area, they were notified a shooting victim. later identified as Lopez-Hernandez, arrived by a private vehicle at an area hospital. The victim was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Further investigation revealed the incident may have occurred at a separate location near Sunrise Drive and Cliff Drive Place.Just after 6a.m. detectives were notified by hospital staff Lopez-Hernandez had been pronounced deceased. There is currently no preliminary information regarding what lead up to the shooting. A subject of interest has not been identified and no one is in custody at this time.